Chapter Text
Seoul shone in bright artificial colors as soon as the sun set. Jungkook decided to get some soju, beer, and ice cream at the nearest supermarket to spend the evening in front of his computer at home.
It had been ages since he had been gaming. Moving to a new city, starting a new job in a hip start-up for innovative cosmetics and completely refurbishing a new apartment took time and strength. He hadn't even found time to earnestly greet his neighbors yet. So far, he had only met an older lady living one floor further up in his apartment complex.
Jungkook had been busy trying to take a breath in the last couple of months between his hectic schedule.
Everything else had to take a back seat. But now, after four months of finding his way around and settling into the new surroundings, he felt like resuming the things that made him happy despite all the work:
Games, concerts, going out with friends, and his special passion, BDSM. Or more precisely: the B in the acronym, that one especially.
Jungkook hadn't found a decent Rigger a year prior before he had moved from Busan to Seoul, due to his ex-partner breaking up with him because "they did not harmonize the way they did in the past" and, that one had particularly hurt, "Jungkook being too much." Wanting too much. Being clingy.
Not going to lie, these words had hurt terribly and they had left a mark. Jungkook still hung on these words, still clung to them. Subconsciously hurting him. He rolled them around on his tongue sometimes or caught himself thinking about them during the most mundane of activities.
Jungkook was an impulsive person, someone that forgot things easily and would be deemed a little chaotic by outsiders, at least regarding his mind. But stuff like that, hurtful, traumatic things, these ones clung to him and were hard to let go off.
Ordinary break-ups were horrific, but these types of break-ups tended to be way worse in Jungkook's opinion.
Being a Submissive, what he had been in their dynamic, as well as a rope bunny, life was drained of all color, your chest hollow without your Dominant. He knew it was the same and vice versa. One shared intimacy of a particular kind could result in very hurtful breakups. Jungkook got goosebumps just thinking of how he had felt.
Afterward, he had been hesitant to find someone new. He went to playdates occasionally, to the small dungeon he had known in Busan. To get the itch off. As he moved to Seoul, he already had done some research on the capital city's BDSM scene, but he had been too busy to consider checking it out.
That special feeling buzzing beneath his skin, that longing for something he could do on his own but was way more fun doing with somebody else, to give up control, was present enough for him to open the bookmarks in his browser to check out the small very shitty made website advertising regular meetings for those interested in Bondage and Shibari.
He often failed to take care of himself, be it knowing when to eat or even when to pee. He had trouble feeling his body, especially when he was in a zone, meaning working a lot or fixating on things. Being in the scene had always helped him get that under control better. When Jungkook was tied up, he suddenly felt his body in all its parts and his needs.
Next Sunday. Jungkook sipped on his drink, the ice cubes melting in the plastic cup, wetting his fingertips. He looked at the goofy-looking typeface, the jumping bunny gif in the corner, and the glittery pink hearts that swayed from one to the other side. The person responsible for this website must be unhinged.
Jungkook liked that.
He hoped the people meeting up to play around with rope would be welcoming to another potential member.
OOO
Two turns. Jungkook looked at his mobile phone, which showed him the way to the location. Frowning, he tried not to run into the people walking toward him. One more turn. And once more.
His new plateau sneakers squeaked on the asphalt.
Suddenly he was standing in a small side street of another side street, and it was quiet around him. Like a parallel universe, the buzzing of Seoul's streets had stopped. There was not a soul. Jungkook checked the time again. He had a habit of being a little late; of course, this was the case today, too.
A few more steps. His eyes searched for some kind of sign that would lead his way, his mobile phone forgotten in his hand, and then he saw it: on a metal door, a purple sign on which was handwritten crookedly: Ropes. Meeting place.
His heart picked up speed. Jungkook had been in the scene for a couple of years now. He viewed himself as experienced, but of course, he couldn't know it all. Still eager to learn and grow, meeting new people that had the same interests as him.
Pressing his finger on the small doorbell, the palm of his hands sweaty. He waited with bated breath as the door got opened a minute later, enthusiastically.
Before him stood a man, bigger than him, with short black hair and eyes that were the kindest he had ever seen. Jungkook looked down at the figure that was dressed in a big black shirt and short jeans shorts, thighs bulging deliciously.
His gaze wandered back to the person's face.
"Hey," the person with the monster thighs said, "I am Namjoon. Welcome to our little group meeting! What's your name?"
"Jeon Jungkook," Jungkook spluttered and bobbed his head, meeting a disarming smile on Namjoon's face. Namjoon opened the door a little wider. "Come in!"
It turned out that the group, which consisted of almost a hundred individuals, but often around twenty people came to the meetings, met in a former dance studio.
It was very nicely decorated: Some political posters, pride flags, photos of marches and BDSM events, then some rows of bondage material and toys.
Jungkook eyed the ropes in different colors with interest.
Namjoon kindly showed him around, immediately thrusting a soda into his hand. Showed him the small kitchen, the bathroom, showers that were used more at small internal events than at their regular meetings, and the large room where a group of thirteen individuals had gathered tonight.
"Fourteen, with you," Namjoon said as he stepped into the mirrored room.
Everything was neat and tidy, the floor beneath their feet gleaming in mahogany. Jungkook had left his shoes at the door, next to a small mountain of other people's shoes thrown on top of each other.
The small group of people looked up as they entered the space. They were all sitting on the floor, naked feet and all kinds of rope here and there. It was warm. Jungkook pressed his fingers to his cheek, still nervous buzzing beneath his skin.
"We have a new guest," Namjoon said and made a sweeping motion with his arms toward Jungkook. "This is Jeon Jungkook."
He was met by a chorus of greetings and a mess of names being shouted at him. Jungkook bowed his head and then simply sat down next to a man with dyed blue hair.
Jungkook liked eccentric people.
"Kim Taehyung," his seatmate said, "nice to meet you." Taehyung had an exceptionally handsome face. A boxy smile and kind eyes. Jungkook made himself comfortable on the floor, palms still sweaty.
"We're having an educational night tonight. You up for some knowledge?"
Jungkook nodded and tried a smile. He succeeded—Taehyung's lips stretched wider and exposed white teeth. Why was everyone in this group attractive as hell? Jungkook felt some whiplash. First monster thighs with the kindest face, now Taehyung with his avant-garde punk rock looks.
"Of course," he answered, quietly, "I was a little out of it. Moved from Busan to Seoul a few months ago and decided that it was time to get familiar with the scene here," he explained.
While talking, his hands did that thing again—touching his cheeks. His fingers wandered to his ear and pulled. Nervous habits. Grounding him.
Taehyung just smiled at him, small wrinkles around his eyes while he nodded enthusiastically.
"Happy to have you here, then," someone else said. Jungkook's head moved to the person sitting in front of him. Jungkook had been so nervous, he had immediately zeroed in on Taehyung, blending everyone else out.
The person before him was stunning. Someone that eyes shouldn't miss. Ever.
As soon as he interlocked gazes with cat eyes, his palms got even more sweaty. The person before him had black hair, a button nose, rosy cheeks, and full lips that Jungkook considered the most sinful lips he had ever seen.
"Park Jimin, nice to meet you. We're always happy to greet new people interested and practicing rope bondage," Jimin said as he nodded toward him. Jungkook's gaze wandered down Jimin's face. The man was a little smaller than him, a little thinner. Ropes in black were lying in his hand, a stark contrast to his white T-Shirt and blue Jeans.
"How old are you?" Jimin asked, curious.
"Twenty-seven," Jungkook answered, trying to get more comfortable in his seating position.
"I am two years older. You can call me hyung."
Jungkook nodded, still busy with staring at Jimin. The man had lush lips, moisturized. Extremely well taken care-off appearance. One gaze to his hands and he noticed Jimin's were manicured, looking soft, the rope tightly in one hand, rubbing his thumb against it. Very pretty hands, fitting to that very pretty individual.
"I am teaching some basics tonight," Jimin said, "do you want to learn or do you rather watch?" he asked, and Jungkook watched enraptured how Jimin smiled at him. His eyes crinkled.
Jimin had kind eyes, too. Equally, intimidating and kind.
Jimin was a Rigger. Now, his interest got even worse.
"I know some ties," Jungkook said. A strand of hair fell into his hair that he swiftly put behind his ear as he held eye contact with Jimin, "it's been a while since I tied someone else than myself. Usually, I am the one getting tied."
He couldn't suppress the grin to stretch his lips. He felt nervous, sure, but he was not a newbie.
"Oh," Jimin said and his smile turned into a grin, too, "then you wouldn't mind being my model tonight? Taehyung here declined."
Jungkook's head turned to Taehyung who opened his mouth and closed it. "Sure, I am not feeling like it today..or… ever," the blue-haired man said as he grimaced. Oh. Taehyung seemed to be a Rigger too.
"I am only doing easy ties tonight, we have some people here that are very new to this," Jimin explained, "so it's nothing challenging or complicated. I understand though, if you don't want to do this tonight. With a stranger at that."
Funny. Although Jimin indeed was a stranger, Jungkook very much wanted to be Jimin's model tonight. Was it because it had been so long since he experienced the rope? Saliva gathered in his mouth at the thought of feeling the rope on his skin. The texture would leave rope marks—pretty lines painted by jute and force.
Jungkook swallowed. "I would like to be your model, I really don't mind."
Now, as he watched around the room, his tunnel vision faded and he made a conscious decision to really look at the people that were present. They were grouped in pairs, and now that Jungkook had joined them, this equation worked out.
Across from Taehyung, Namjoon had sat down. "Well? Are you joining us?" Namjoon asked him, smiling.
Namjoon put a hand on Jimin's shoulder and shook him gently. Jimin swayed gently back and forth like a grass seaweed.
"Our Jimin here is the founder and leader of this group. Seoul's bondage scene would be very dull without him. He is one of the best Riggers, in my opinion. Very artsy."
Jimin shook his head and raised his hand to wave as if then the compliment would fly away to somewhere else. "Ah, that is too much praise," Jimin said, and there, on his full cheeks spread a faint blush. Cute.
Jungkook got to know a lot of Riggers. Jimin here was, at this point, someone soft at heart. No sign of dominance yet.
Those were usually the scariest ones. For the heart and the body.
"Let's better start or people will complain about being too late at home for tomorrow's work day."
Namjoon laughed and clapped his hand.
Jimin eyed Jungkook. He swallowed.
"Did you drink and eat enough today?" Jimin asked quietly and jutted his chin up. He took Jungkook's hand gently in his hand as Jungkook rubbed closer. Today he wore a simple black shirt and black jeans. He had hoped to get tied up today but didn't dare to hope too much.
His skin was buzzing.
"I did, I am feeling great, actually. You, too?" Jungkook asked back, raising his eyebrow playfully. Jimin grinned.
"I am feeling great too—especially now that I have such a beautiful model," Jimin said, "thank you for asking. I wanted to show them how to do a basic chest harness today. How do you feel about that?"
The chest harness was one of Jungkook's favorites. Especially in everyday life. He could even do it on his own, but unfortunately, he hadn't practiced it in the last few months because his head was just too busy with other things than the rope.
He liked wearing it on days when he felt anxious or nervous, on days when he needed some kind of reassurance.
The chest harness generated comfort, for him at least, because the rope embraced him. The rope usually fitted snugly and yet was not cumbersome in everyday life because it was easy to move around with.
Jungkook's breath got stuck in his throat at the thought of feeling that embrace tonight.
"I like the idea. I–ah, the chest harness is one of my favorites in day-to-day life, at least in the past. Like I said– it's been a while. So I'd actually love to feel the ties embracing me like that," he said, honestly.
Things quietened down around them. Jungkook sat up straight and rolled his shoulders. People listened to their negotiation of consent.
It was not the first time he had been a model, nor the first time for educational purposes. Back in the days, he had often volunteered when friends that were Riggers needed someone to show different ties.
He also once taught a class on self-suspension—meaning tying yourself and suspending on your own, something Jungkook had done in the past when he had no Rigger he trusted.
"If you don't like something: what are the signs I should look at? Do you have a word you want to say, or do you want to tell me right away?"
"I'll tell you. No safeword, not now at least."
Not now at least. Jimin was a stranger. The words just tumbled out of his mouth, in the heat of the negotiation. Heat coiled into his stomach, a little shame because of the slip-up.
Jimin's lips curved upwards.
"Okay," Jimin said and took a deep breath. Then, he looked at the rest of their little group.
"To most of you, this is not really new, but it's good to tie the basics from time to time in the group, and we all like being here, do we?"
People around them nodded.
"So. Jungkook here is kind enough to be my model for tonight as the model I asked canceled shortly before. I plan on doing a basic chest harness with you today. There are several chest harnesses one can tie. We will practice one together today that I deem a good starter."
Jimin blinked at Jungkook.
"It's best if you all would sit around us."
There was some shuffling, then. People moving around them. Taehyung next to him smiled and took the red rope into his hand, signaling Namjoon to come closer. Jungkook wondered if both were in a relationship. If so, they were a beautiful match.
His hand was still lying in Jimin's. The man now gently rubbed the palm of his hand with his thumb. "You mind me if I touch you more? Like, hug you? Caress you?" Jimin asked.
"Hmm, no, I don't mind." He really didn't. Jungkook had a good feeling about Jimin. He trusted his intuition.
All Riggers had a different style of tying. As Jungkook looked into Jimin's face, he wondered what Jimin's style might be. He found the other attractive, and there was some undeniable sexual tension between them already there.
Without him noticing, his palms weren't sweaty anymore in Jimin's hold. Pressing his thumb into Jungkook's palm, massaging small circles, Jungkook calmed down slowly.
"Any places where you don't like to be touched?"
Jungkook's cheeks heated up immediately. Around them, everyone was listening attentively.
"No, all is fine with me, although I prefer lighter touches when I don't know the Rigger well."
It was like a confession, although they clearly negotiated consent here. But telling Jimin he liked to be touched by him everywhere, or rather, that it was indeed fine for him, was hinting once again at the potential of more.
Maybe Jungkook was just too stuck in his head. Jimin nodded, pressing his thumbs still into his palms.
"Okay, thank you for telling me honestly. Let's start," he said and now that spell that had bound them together as they had exchanged intimate details ended as Jimin looked at the people around them.
"The basic chest harness," Jimin said and sat upright, rolling his shoulders, "a good thing to practice as beginners, and can be used as a base for other ties as well. One can also tie this one on their own," he explained. Jimin looked at him, one hand intertwined with Jungkook's.
Jimin wore a gentle and curious expression on his face. It must be interesting for him too, to get to know Jungkook's body. To move and tie him to his will and design.
Jimin started pulling Jungkook towards him, the other hand now on his shoulder to make him come closer and also turn around.
With his back to Jimin, a little apart still but closer, Jimin began his work.
It was a quick tie, and it was over too soon. Jimin explained, slowly, in a quiet voice what he did but Jungkook decided to not listen, he knew how one did the chest harness.
Jungkook decided to feel.
And Jimin was intent on that as if he knew that Jungkook needed this right now. Even though he explained for an audience, Jimin made sure Jungkook felt well taken care of.
Raised himself up to press his upper body against Jungkook's back as soon as he was busy with the knots in front. Hugged him in that position. Jungkook felt Jimin speaking along his neckline, felt the compressed air, his presence. Jimin's presence was grounding.
He pressed Jungkook tightly against his chest, wrapping the rope tightly and slowly around his body.
Jimin reached into his hair to make sure he didn't get any hair caught in the rope, even though Jungkook had tied it (albeit messy). Ran his fingertips along the back of his neck and shoulders. Gripped the ropes around Jungkook's chest to move him as he pleased.
Bondage was addicting. That headspace one could slip into as a rope bunny always teetering at the fringes of Jungkook's mind, waiting, as he got tied up. He felt his head lolling a little to the side. Jungkook decided to look down and let his bangs fall into his face.
Decided to close his eyes halfway through. His neck tingled.
As it was done and Jungkook had a chest harness tied neatly around his chest, over his T-Shirt, Jimin pulled him once again against his own chest. Caressing his hair and his temples, he said: "Don't forget that you're connecting with someone, it's like dancing together. You're having a conversation without words here."
Jungkook opened his eyes, head placed on Jimin's shoulder. He looked up at Jimin, and their gazes met. For a brief moment, Jungkook felt like bursting into tears.
He felt comforted, warm, and cuddly. Jimin provided in pressing him even closer against his chest, his attention on Jungkook's body as his fingers danced along the rope he had tied around Jungkook's chest. Jimin cupped his cheek and caressed the small space beneath his eyes.
His arms were still free to move but Jungkook decided to just lie there, against Jimin, looking at him as he reveled in the feeling that he had come home.
OOO
Jungkook had gone home with that harness on, a jacket that Namjoon had borrowed him thrown over so no one would classify him as strange on his way back. He had promised to come to their next meeting, too—bringing back the rope as well as the jacket.
He was giddy coming home that night, cheeks hurting from smiling so much. When he entangled the harness from his body before sleep, he felt defeated. Jungkook needed to be tied up again. Now. Sooner than later. He longed for it, badly.
With all that stress and radical change, he had not realized how touch-starved he had been.
The next morning, he tied that chest harness on his own, on his naked skin. Standing before a mirror, just dressed in boxer shorts, he took a deep breath as soon as he was done. He planned to just throw on a wide shirt for work, one that would conceal the harness easily.
It was satisfying, it truly was. But he missed the connection he had felt the night before in Jimin's arms, under Jimin's touch, his rope, and attentive eyes following his body lines.
Matter of fact, his head was not only spinning with the feeling of jute rope against his skin. His mind was taking all moments he had experienced with Jimin, taking them apart, replaying them.
Too much so, that he was half hard in his pants just thinking about the way Jimin's voice and breath had flowed along his skin as he had held him close, further tightening the rope, the low quiet tone, explaining what he did while holding Jungkook together, so he wouldn't break apart.
As he left his apartment, he ducked his head and walked down the floor quickly to the elevator. He was a little scared to meet his neighbors. Jungkook wasn't very good at this—although he could handle any conversation in a work context, he wasn't very comfortable talking to strangers in private.
At least he had given each of his neighbors a small gift with a card at the door and introduced himself in writing. Three days later he realized that he had missed writing his name on the small cards! To be honest, he felt quite embarrassed so that was another hurdle to finally introduce himself in person.
The working day went well and Jungkook was sure that this was also due to the chest harness that was hidden under his oversized t-shirt and provided comfort. On his way home on the train, he decided to indulge in it more often and to try self-suspension again. After all, he had prepared one of his rooms especially for that purpose.
It was still warm and humid these days. Summer reached his high to turn into autumn. Jungkook wiped his forehead, his hair was loose today. It had grown so long that it almost reached his shoulders.
When he reached the third floor, he left the elevator and entered the hallway to his apartment. Now that he was fairly alone, he put his hand on the rope at his shoulder and tugged at it, stopping when he saw one of his neighbors standing in the floor, unlocking their apartment door.
The figure looked eerily familiar.
Jungkook stood frozen, his hand on the rope under his shirt on his shoulder. His gaze was fixed on Jimin who turned to him, probably confused by the human presence in the hallway.
"Oh," Jungkook said as soon as their gazes met. "I have so far failed to introduce myself."
He could think of nothing better to say than that. It seemed to work all the same: Jimin turned to him and smiled broadly as soon as he realized who Jungkook was.
"What a nice surprise!" said Jimin and pulled his bag, which was dangling from his arm, closer to him. "Thank you for the gift months ago," Jimin said, "one can always use a plant."
Jungkook wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole.
"I forgot to write my name on the card," he said, lost. Jimin nodded, "Oh no problem at all. I can be quite shy. That's why I didn't come by your apartment, either," Jimin admitted.
Those were reassuring words. Jungkook swallowed and broke out of his stupor to walk to the door. "You, shy? You didn't seem like that yesterday," Jungkook said, rummaging for the key. His head was still busy trying to wrap around the information that Jimin lived next door to him.
"Ah, it's not so strong in some aspects of my life, but it is in others," Jimin laughed and unlocked the latter's door as well.
"It's nice to have seen you again," Jimin said, quietly, before making moves to go into his flat.
"I thought so too," Jungkook said, and he really meant it. Even if he just needed a moment to freak out about this news on his own to act all normal about it.
When his door slammed shut behind him and he threw his bag on the floor, Jungkook threw his hands to his face and sat down on his sofa. The rope on his skin was burning.
When he looked through his fingers at his coffee table, he made a small meek sound.
Turns out the man that deeply impressed him yesterday as a Rigger, was his neighbor.
OOO
At present it was raining in torrents. Jungkook pushed his head deeper into his hood, an umbrella in his hand. As soon as he caught sight of the metal door, he exhaled loudly. A glance at his watch showed him that he was—unusually—thirty minutes early. Would anyone even be there yet?
He rang the bell anyway. If no one was there, he would just wait until someone came. But all his worries vanished immediately when the door opened and there stood Jimin. His neighbor. Still a weird fact Jungkook was unaccustomed to fathom.
They had only seen each other one other time, in the lift. There, Jimin had simply asked him if Jungkook still wanted to come to the next meeting of their little rope bondage group and if he would be interested in being suspended by Jimin this time.
With his heart pounding wildly, he had agreed. When was the last time he had been suspended? It had been ages.
When asked if it was to be a demonstration this time, Jimin denied it. This meeting was meant for practice, but so that everyone could do what they wanted.
"I'm looking forward to working with you," Jimin said politely and then headed off to his flat. Jungkook had popped open a beer as soon as he got home. His heart had not stopped beating frantically after that: whenever Jungkook thought about being tied up by Jimin again, he heard his own erratic pulse in his ear.
That itch that Jungkook always felt when he needed the ropes was ignited like a fire.
Jimin smiled at him, eyes turning into little half-moons as he opened the door wider.
"Come in!"
Jungkook trudged into the hallway dripping rainwater and awkwardly closed his umbrella to place it in a small bucket where another umbrella was already sitting.
The boots he had put on because of the heavy rain followed and joined a pair of Chelsea boots. Jungkook freed himself from his rain jacket, hanging it next to a leather jacket.
"We're alone?" he asked, suddenly having a lump in his throat.
He heard the other still smiling as he said, "More like the first ones. I'm always there a little earlier to check the ropes and other equipment."
Jungkook pulled his hood off his head as he followed Jimin down the corridor into another room, a former dance hall which differed from the other hall at the last meeting in that here there were hooks on the ceiling and rope of all colours and types hung along a length of wall.
On the other side was a table with a box that was open.
"I was just getting the safety equipment ready. I also," Jimin spoke, pointing to another box on the floor by the ropes, "brought some new jute ropes that I conditioned this week."
"Oh," Jungkook made and immediately went to the box with the new rope. "I can hang these with the others. Have you checked them all yet?"
"Ah yes, I have. Thanks for asking," Jimin said, and then set about unpacking and lining up safety scissors, belt cutters and a box that looked suspiciously like a first aid kit, also from the big box.
"How... how long have you been doing this? Doing rope bondage and shibari?" asked Jungkook timidly after they had both been unpacking quietly for several minutes. Being silent with Jimin wasn't strange at all, which Jungkook in turn found strange. As someone who often struggled socially with poor self-worth and resulting brooding over every little fact, silence with people he didn't yet know well was often very awkward.
Jimin closed the now empty box and placed it under the table.
"I've been doing this for nine years. Started very early, a little too early if you ask me now," Jimin told and laughed, leaning against the table behind him.
"But back then I met a mentor who showed me a lot. At first, I was a rope bunny for two years, until I realized that being a Rigger was more fulfilling to me. Now and then I still practice on myself, but that has more to do with the fact that I think it's important as a Rigger to feel what your bunny feels. To not forget what rope does on your skin and body."
Jungkook stared at the sand-colored jute rope in his hand. Jimin was one green flag after another. Had he found a diamond here? It wasn't easy to find a good Rigger. And it was even harder to find a good Rigger who was a decent human being.
"And how long are you in the scene?" Jimin asked, tilting his head. Silky black hairs once again fell into his face.
"It started when I met one of my best friends. Hoseok introduced me to the scene. After joining a fetish party with him and being tied up the first time by one of the participating Riggers, I was never the same," Jungkook chuckled, "that was five years ago."
"Ahh, bondage has that type of effect, no? BDSM as a whole. It's... addicting," Jimin said quietly and nodded. Their eyes locked and there was this tension again, that one that had been immediately there when they both met each other for the first time.
They had chemistry.
Jungkook bit into the soft flesh of his lower lip and Jimin followed the movement with his eyes.
The atmosphere got interrupted when the doorbell rang again. Jimin apologized and went to open it. Jungkook made an effort to put the last ropes on the wall, sorted by color and type. He heard the familiar voices of Namjoon and Taehyung and hurried to open his backpack to get out the rope he had borrowed last time as well as Namjoon's jacket. He wanted to give back both things.
"Jungkook! I missed you!" Taehyung exclaimed and ran towards him to pull him in a bone-shattering hug. "We need to exchange numbers. I want to invite you to ours, okay? Let's have some drinks and munch on cheese."
Jungkook hugged Taehyung tightly. He felt lucky enough to feel safe so quickly in this space. His heart was full, wanting to have connections with like-minded people.
"I'd love that," he said, pulling out his phone from the back of his jeans, "let's exchange numbers right about now."
As Namjoon joined them and hugged Jungkook equally tight as Taehyung just did, he dared to think that he maybe found good friends here. Friends to trust. People that could be more than acquaintances at the regular bondage group meeting.
OOO
Jungkook was flying, face up.
One leg was in knots, lifted high, his other was held up by his thigh. His arms were tightly tied against his chest that was tied into a harness, his hips were decorated with knots. Jimin had worked on him well. His whole body was tied up by several jute ropes, combinations drawing marks on his skin. With the sand-colored ones, he had held in his hands over an hour ago.
What made his breath hitch the first time was Jimin whispering into his ear, as he held him close in a hug, the first line of rope being tied around him, that Jungkook had looked so pretty holding the newly conditioned jute in his hand, so the choice had been easy.
Jimin knelt on the floor beside him and watched Jungkook experience ecstasy. Even though he had clothes on, he felt the ropes tight against his skin. Jimin tied you up very tight. Borderline hurting. Jungkook loved it. He didn't even want to imagine what it would be like if he were naked.
Today he had put a tight top under his hoodie, as well as tight jeans. Hoodie lying forgotten next to Jimin. The posture was uncomfortable, a little, but Jimin had at least given him the opportunity to lift his head.
Jute squeezed him everywhere. It was wonderful. Jungkook closed his eyes, moving slightly back and forth each time Jimin nudged him. It was a lullaby. It drove him into a trance.
Jungkook felt all the tension leave his body. He sank down into subspace.
He didn't really know how long he hung there but he came back slowly from the mulled warm feeling all over his body and mind when he felt Jimin pulling him close and starting to untie his legs. A hand gripped into his hair and pulled, gently.
Bending his head back.
"Are you good?"
Jungkook opened his mouth and closed it. Suddenly, he noticed all the sounds around them. Of course. They weren't alone. People tied up others around them, untied them, practiced. There was some embarrassment growing in his belly in particular. It was uncomfortable, coming back from subspace and feeling negative feelings immediately.
"‘M sorry," he whispered. He had too much saliva in his mouth.
Jimin's hand left his hair and wandered to his cheek. His other was busy untying the knots on his leg. As soon as one leg was free, Jimin's hand on his face was gone to help his feet find the floor. His other leg followed, quickly.
Jimin hurried.
Then he was back again, his hands cradling Jungkook's face, who now stood bent on the floor, hips, chest and arms still tied to the ceiling.
"Why are you sorry? What are you apologizing for? You were— you are perfect, Jungkook," Jimin said quietly, caressing his nose and cheeks.
"For falling into subspace," he said, mind way clearer now, eyes opening. There was wet in eyes. Again. He felt like a total failure. Jimin had wanted to practice and he—
"But that's amazing," Jimin said, "that means you really enjoyed this. I love that you enjoyed this. I want you to enjoy me tying you up."
Jungkook sniffled.
"Look at me."
Jungkook focused on Jimin's face. His cheeks wore a blush. His pupils were dilated. Jimin's face looked heated, longing, like someone that enjoyed himself.
"I really don't mind you falling into subspace. I feel honored, to be honest. You trust me even though we don't know each other that well," Jimin said, slowly.
For Jungkook's stubborn head to understand.
"Okay," he said, breathing deeply in and out. His chest was tight—partly because of the rope pressing down on him and the sudden panic of being a burden, for taking up too much space.
Being too much.
He shook his head. That was not the right time or place to be thinking about this.
Jungkook didn't want to ruin his experience with Jimin right now with doubts and embarrassment.
"We are all here to enjoy ourselves. If you enjoyed yourself tonight, then this group has perfectly fulfilled its purpose," Jimin whispered and then he pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.
Jungkook blinked, happily, at the floor, face down as Jimin untied his hips and then his chest and arms. Like the first time he had tied him up with the basic chest harness, Jimin pressed him close and hugged him from behind. Caressed his body and was careful not to get Jungkook's hair in between.
As Jimin was done, they were both sitting on the floor, Jimin sitting before him and massaging his underarms for blood circulation.
"Let's go home together, I'll ask Joon if he can tidy up the place together with Tae."
Jungkook blinked at the other man that massaged his wrists with such concentration, he had his eyebrows pulled together and his tongue pressed against his cheek. Jungkook bit his lower lip, and maltreated the flesh with his teeth as he watched someone—a stranger—seriously caring for him.
"Do you have someone else in your care?" Jungkook whispered into the small space in between their bodies. Around them, people were still busy, roaming around, talking, some suspended in the air while others were sitting on the floor.
Jungkok wanted to know if Jimin had other rope bunnies or subs.
"No," Jimin said, slowly, "my last rope bunny and sub," their gazes met as Jimin pressed hard on the pressure points along his underarm, "was Taehyung. Before he fell in love with Joon and Tae began his journey as a Rigger. That was ages ago, at least it feels like that. Afterward, I was busy teaching and giving workshops. No time to find someone, basically. Also, lots of unpleasant dates when I tried searching for someone."
"No interesting person that ever stepped into this room?" Jungkook asked, lowering his voice the way Jimin did. They sounded like they were telling secrets to each other.
"Until the last meeting, actually. When someone that was exactly my type was visiting our group and I got lucky enough to tie them up two times already," Jimin said. Jungkook watched plump lips move. He felt tired after the suspension but his heart still picked up speed after Jimin confessed that he was interested in Jungkook.
"If you want, we can try… a session or something. See if we are compatible," Jungkook said while looking at Jimin's eyes. Bedroom eyes. Jimin's gaze was sharp, eating him up. Jungkook wanted to be swallowed whole.
"I will give you my number," Jimin said, "and if you think like that tomorrow, after having a good night of sleep, then you message me."
"Okay," Jungkook breathed.
Jimin accompanied him home, after Jungkook felt like leaving the place. Taehyung said goodbye by reminding him to message him within the next few days to set up a date to meet up. Jimin took his hand in his, they held hands the whole time they took public transport to come home.
It was grounding. Aftercare in the smallest of ways. Jimin told him about himself as they sat in the public train, his hand squeezing Jungkook's as he told him about his work as a dance instructor for entertainment companies, him being a freelancer that chose the jobs he found most interesting.
Jimin also told him that he did pole dancing and when Jungkook asked if he would teach him some basic steps for pole, he told him that Jungkook "could visit him, anytime," setting the blood flow in his face ablaze.
As they stood before Jungkook's door, Jimin once again kissed his cheek, rubbing his hands in between his fingers.
"You have my phone number."
Jungkook nodded. Jimin had given him his number in the subway.
"You'll take a long shower and then go to bed. Make yourself some tea. A late-night snack."
Jungkook nodded.
"Promise?" Jimin asked and raised an eyebrow.
"Promise," Jungkook said.
As he closed the door behind Jimin, he felt empty and at the same time, not. He would have liked to invite Jimin in but that was way too fast, way too quick for the state of their whatever-this-was.
He did all Jimin told him he should do. With one little addition: Jungkook jerked off, fast, pent-up energy in his bones as he painted the tiles of his shower with his cum. His fingers danced along the pale rope marks.
Behind his closed eyelids, he thought back on the rope tied tightly against his body. His immobilization. That Jungkook had been at Jimin's mercy.
Tired, eyelids heavy, Jungkook fell into comatose sleep as soon as his head hit his cushions. He dreamed of brown cat eyes and gentle hands tying him up roughly, fast breathing against his ears, and Jimin's sweet perfume in his nose.
OOO
All plans to spend time together, to meet Taehyung and Namjoon and to plan a possible session with Jimin had to take a back seat. First there was the workload, which was huge due to a new project that was suddenly assigned to him. And then there was a bad cold with a fever that just knocked him down.
Jungkook: I'm so sorry Tae, I wish I could at least see you at the group meeting... but I'm really not feeling well
Tae (rope bondage): It's fine. We are very worried! Is there anything we can do? Should we 'apologize' to Jimin?
It seemed the group had already come to their own conclusions about Jimin's and his relationship with each other. Jungkook lay in bed, a cooling pad on his head with condensation dripping down his temples. A desperate attempt to fight down his fever.
Jungkook: I will tell him myself :) thank you!
After all, he had Jimin's number and they had already written to each other briefly when Jungkook frantically told him between night shifts at his desk that unfortunately he was currently immersed in work and would get back to him for a concrete meeting to discuss a possible scene together whenever that project was done.
Jimin had been extremely understanding, but also a little concerned about Jungkook's health with all the work. He left the chat with Taehyung and clicked on Jimin's name on his phone.
Jungkook: Hey! I am sorry I am not messaging you more often
He pulled his eyebrows together. The wet in his neck got uncomfortable quickly. Jungkook moved around in his bed. It felt like he had already soaked his bedding with his sweat.
Jungkook: Hey! Unfortunately, I won't make it to tonight's group meeting. If you planned with me being your model
Jungkook: Hey! Unfortunately, I won't make it to tonight's group meeting :(
He sighed and threw the phone next to him. There was a headache coming, he felt it in his temples already, listening to his body attentively. The last couple of days, he first didn't recognize that he was fatigued because of a beginning cold.
Now, that he felt like a train ran him over, he was diving into the discomfort the cold caused. He was sweaty, itchy, sore. His limbs ached. The thrumming, the pressure. His shoulders were tense. Jungkook groaned and placed his hands on his sweaty face. As his phone made an annoying high ping sound (he had turned the volume of his phone up the first time in years today), he grabbed the phone immediately.
Jimin: That's okay Jungkook <3 how are you? Work is still a lot?
While feeling like crawling out of his skin, shedding it somehow, that message alone made him smile.
Jungkook: I have been sick, since yesterday. Would love for this flu to go away quickly because there is still much to do. Thank you for checking on me though. Will message you again when I am free of this flu and the workload.
He put the phone aside again. Lying on his bed, he blinked at the ceiling. His nose was clogging up again. Jungkook sighed again, annoyed. He felt nervous, irritated. Sick. And utterly alone. Somehow being sick in this apartment in Seoul for the first time made the feeling even worse.
In Busan, he had people to call. Here? Not so much. Not yet.
He didn't want to be a burden to the few contacts he had made so far.
Jungkook decided to get up and pull some new tissues out of the cardboard in his living room as well as make tea. Due to him being so busy and then surprised by the cold, he did not have much medicine to take at home.
"I can do this," he whispered to himself, his hands in fists. Jungkook was an adult. Independent. He could survive a simple cold, couldn't he?
The sudden ring of his doorbell startled him while handling his electric kettle on the kitchen counter. With naked feet and wide pajamas, he went to the door. One look through the peephole, and he felt hot and then cold again.
Jimin. Jimin was standing in front of the door, holding a bag.
Carefully he opened a crack and looked through the small opening.
"Hey. I-I still have my sleeping clothes on."
Jimin looked at him worriedly and lifted the bag. "I packed all the cold remedies I could find at home right away. Gave Namjoon sovereignty over the group for today. I won't judge you for your appearance, I promise."
Jungkook opened the door wider, enough for Jimin to see him. Then he was overcome by a sneeze. Pitiful, he took a handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose.
He was the most unattractive person ever.
Jimin moved closer to the door and made an effort to get inside.
"Go back to bed. I'll take care of everything."
Jungkook sniffed his nose and looked up into Jimin's pretty face.
The older man lifted his hand and reached into his loose pajama top.
"Let me take care of you, Jungkook." Jimin's voice was in a tone that accepted no objection. Jungkook opened his mouth to close it again.
His knees went weak. Jungkook sniffled and nodded, turned around and just left the door open. He heard Jimin close the door behind him and take off his shoes. He felt a little icky and moody that he allowed Jimin to come into his messy home while feeling horrible and quite honestly—ugly.
"Go ahead and get into bed. I'll find my way," Jimin said and that tone now was way more like the one Jungkook had come to know already. Soft. Warm.
Jimin's flat had to be cut similarly to his own. Jungkook whispered softly, "Okay," and walked defeated to his bedroom.
Jungkook's head touched his pillow and he pulled his blanket up to his nose. He blinked at the ceiling, once again, while all at once there was the sound of another person who seemed to be moving around in his flat.
Suddenly he realized how alone he had been here.
He had never invited anyone over in the last five months since he had been living in Seoul. Jungkook had successfully been hiding. Even under the excuse that everything was new and he needed time to adapt.
He thought back to Busan and his life there at that time. Jungkook had often been alone there, but never for several months at a time. Hoseok and Seokjin would have never allowed that.
Tears gathered in the corners of his eyes. He closed his eyes and the salt water ran down his temples. Again he rummaged in his pyjama trousers to find a new handkerchief to blow his nose.
His eyes felt heavy. All was heavy. His body sinking into his mattress, Jungkook rolled onto his side.
He fell asleep with the handkerchief in his fist and tears streaming down his face.
Jimin's hand and gentle voice brought him back from a deep sleep. Jungkook blinked his eyes, all blurry, until his eyes adjusted to the soft light (who had turned off his little night lamp and turned off the overhead light?) in his bedroom.
Jimin had sat down next to him, on the bed. He radiated warmth. His hand was lukewarm as it slid along his face.
"I made you some soup. After that, you'd best take some more medicine and try to sleep again," Jimin said quietly. He helped Jungkook up, who was still half asleep, leaning on his elbows.
Jimin hit the pillows behind him as soon as he had managed to sit up. His head throbbed.
"I made seaweed soup," Jimin said, picking up the plate and dipping a spoon into it, then holding it to Jungkook's lips. Jungkook sank into the cushions behind him, his mind not yet fully there.
He opened his mouth and Jimin put the spoon in his mouth. The soup was warm. Not too hot. It tasted tangy and rich, beef chopped so thin that Jungkook only had to swallow as it melted in his mouth.
After a few more spoonfuls, he murmured softly, "Thank you Jimin."
The man next to him smiled openly at him.
"If you don't mind, I'll be happy to stay until morning. I've already made myself comfortable on the sofa while the soup simmered."
Jungkook opened his mouth to indicate to Jimin that he should give him another spoonful. Jimin gave in immediately.
Jungkook pressed his tongue against the softly cooked beef and soft seaweed and looked at Jimin sitting there in sweatpants and a loose black shirt.
Jimin had abdicated his responsibilities for today's rope bondage meeting to take care of him. Jungkook had finally been able to find sleep, the moment he realized he was no longer alone and there was someone that watched over his well-being.
Had he neglected himself the last couple of months?
"If you don't mind, I'd like you to stay," he mumbled. There was enormous fear that he was too needy. This disappeared when Jimin raised his hand and ran over his sweaty hair, tenderly.
"I'll be happy to take care of you. Of course, I don't mind," Jimin whispered and rubbed his thumb over the bit of fat under his chin.
With that confirmation, Jungkook found sleep later peacefully. His belly was full of warm soup and different kinds of medicine to battle his cold. Jimin was lying near him on his couch, just one room away from him. He imagined hearing him breathing.
A part of him, the dark part, whispered in his ear that Jimin had ulterior motives. But a much larger part wanted to believe that Jimin was simply a good person.
Jungkook felt warm, he felt cared for. He wanted to believe, at least for one night, that he was deserving of that.