Chapter Text
"Okay, these are the last three applicants that Taehyung cleared. For the love of all that is holy, please choose one."
Kim Seokjin leaned forward from his seat on Jimin’s couch and placed a stack of manila folders on the coffee table. He handed the first file to Jimin, who flicked it open with a huff, glanced inside and closed it immediately.
"No thanks."
"What do you mean , 'no thanks'!?" Jin cried.
"No. A negative response. The opposite of yes. I tacked on the 'thanks' cos I wasn't raised in a barn." Jimin replied, eyeing the rest of the files with disdain.
"What's wrong with him?" Jin flicked open the rejected file and frantically perused the applicant details, looking for whatever issue Jimin apparently had.
"He's 45 years old. How am I supposed to gossip and have fun with someone almost twenty years older than I am?" Jimin was pouting but he didn't care. He was frustrated and just wanted Jin to leave so he could open a bottle of wine and drown in a hot bubble bath.
Jin rolled his eyes. "Jimin, the open position is for your bodyguard , you're not supposed to gossip and have fun with them, they’re supposed to protect you!"
"I had fun with Taehyung before you stole him from me!" Jimin replied indignantly.
Kim Taehyung, his best friend and bodyguard of five years, had gone and fallen in love with his assistant Jin, the pair marrying last spring. The disgustingly happy couple had asked one of their closest friends to act as a surrogate for them, and Mina was due to give birth to their baby girl any day now. Jin was staying on as Jimin's assistant and Taehyung was going to be a stay-at-home dad.
Jimin was elated for them, truly, but now he was tasked with choosing a new personal bodyguard and nobody felt right.
Jin inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. Jimin knew that he was counting down from ten - he did that a lot lately. Jimin sighed and reached for the last two applicant files in front of him. He wasn’t trying to be difficult, he had just adjusted to the dynamic that he shared with Taehyung. A bodyguard was an extremely personal position. It wasn’t the same as the regular security that monitored his whereabouts and tailed him at public events. His personal bodyguard was with him at all times.
For five years, Taehyung had been the first person he saw in the morning and the last person he said goodnight to. Jimin had been signed with Baseline Records in New York City and releasing music with comfortable but unspectacular success for three years before his third album 'Serendipity' rose to the top of the American charts. The album unexpectedly blew up, gaining him worldwide attention and a startling influx of fans.
Up until that point he had lived in relative anonymity, occasionally signing autographs and taking pictures with excited teenage girls and shy shop assistants.
His fame sky-rocketed rapidly. One person recognising him on the street every now and then became almost every person he walked past. A five minute trip to the grocery store would take him an hour as he struggled to say no to the dozens of people now asking for autographs, photos and moments of his time.
The first time Jimin was mobbed at a department store, Min Yoongi, the CEO of Baseline, responded swiftly. Yoongi had put in a call to a security agency that specialised in entertainment industry clients - Mono Private Security - and Taehyung had been hired by the next afternoon.
Jimin sighed, unenthusiastically flicking open the next file.
Name: Jeon Jungkook
Age: 29
Nationality: Korean
Languages spoken: English, Korean, Japanese
Previous experience: Five years with Jinjihan Security Services in Seoul;
Four years with Mono Private Security in New York City - employment current.
Previous clients :...
Jungkook’s dossier continued with further details of his experience and abilities as well as a long list of celebrity clients and written recommendations. By all accounts he was competent, professional and a pleasure to employ.
Jimin closed the file and tossed it across the table, watching it slide to a stop in front of his beleaguered assistant.
“He’ll do.”
Jin’s eyes widened comically. “What? He’ll…he’ll do!? Are you seri…you know what, no takesies-backsies, you said he’ll do…he’s hired!”
Jin grabbed the files, holding them upright and tapping them on the table to neaten the edges. He stood up, blew a kiss at Jimin and swept out the door of Jimin’s top floor apartment, locking it behind him with his personal key.
Jimin slumped back into the pillows of his enormous, plush couch. He had bought it on a whim, adamant that it would be perfect for entertaining, his theatre size television the perfect accompaniment to a ten-seater corner lounge. Only…Jimin didn’t know ten people.
He began his idol training at 15, leaving his beloved family and their hometown of Busan behind to move to Seoul, where he garnered attention for his fluid, elegant dance style and breathy vocals. He wasn’t in training for very long before he was hand-picked by a young solo idol to debut as his backup singer and dancer. He was grateful for the opportunity, but as time went on and he remained in the background, he began to wonder if he would ever see the spotlight shining on him.
At 19 years of age, Jimin performed on the MAMA award stage, elated to be there even if it wasn’t in his own artistry. He threw himself into the performance regardless, always eager to make the best of every situation. His effort proved fruitful, as a week later he was called into the management office and handed a printed out email from a man named Jung Hoseok.
Hoseok, only a year older than Jimin, was an up-and-coming talent agent for Baseline and had been watching the MAMA awards as he did every year with his family. His attention was captured by Jimin and his remarkable stage presence, and Hoseok had reached out to Jimin’s idol company the next morning.
Disbelieving at first, Jimin ignored the email, only to get pulled into management twice more in the following month, the staff beginning to be irritated by the “New York agent who won’t stop calling.” Jimin didn’t know it yet, but although he was only 20 years old, Hoseok had an uncanny ability to scout talent - every single artist or group he dropped in Yoongi’s lap became a success within a year. This ability meant that Yoongi would look the other way when Hoseok’s recruitment efforts bordered on harassment.
Three months later, Jimin was on a plane to the United States of America, everything he owned in one large suitcase and an overnight bag. Hoseok picked Jimin up from the airport, introduced himself as Hobi and informed Jimin that he was going to sleep in Hobi’s spare room until he was rich and famous enough to buy himself a NYC penthouse apartment.
After the unexpected global success of Serendipity, Jimin was given his own full time personal assistant. Jin had been working for Baseline for a few years, flitting between multiple signed artists and administration work. He was two years older than Jimin and embraced his seniority with gusto, letting Jimin call him Hyung even though Jin had immigrated to America when he was 12 and hadn’t used honorifics in many years.
In the eight years since Jimin had moved to America, he had made precisely four friends he considered close enough to invite to a movie night at his home: Hobi, Yoongi, Tae and Jin. With the help of Hobi, Jimin learnt pretty quickly to meet every compliment, every invitation, every Facebook friend request with a healthy dose of skepticism. The more famous you became, the more people ended up at your door, and nine times out of ten they didn’t knock with pure intentions.
Jimin sighed, throwing himself forward and standing up from the couch. Now that Jin was gone, taking with him the cause of Jimin’s anxiety, so was the desire for wine and a bath. He decided that stripping down to his boxers and face planting onto his collection of feather pillows was a much better idea. Considering how organised Jin was, Jimin would probably be meeting his new bodyguard in the morning, so he may as well be well rested.
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Jungkook dropped down from the chin-up bar, muscles burning and sweat dripping down his temple. He lifted the bottom of his t-shirt and wiped his face, reaching for his water bottle and gulping down the cool liquid. His favourite part about working at Mono was the employee gym that owner Kim Namjoon had installed in the basement.
As if summoned by Jungkook’s thoughts, the elevator door that opened straight into the gym dinged, opening to reveal his boss and friend.
“Kook! Morning.” Namjoon smiled, his dimples a contrast to his imposing build.
“Hi, Hyung.” Jungkook had been in America for four years now, but he still held on to the familiarity of honorifics with his colleagues of Korean heritage. Namjoon had been born in America and had never used them, but he accepted Jungkook’s use with fond affection.
“Guess what?” Namjoon asked brightly. A little too brightly, Jungkook thought with suspicion.
He narrowed his eyes. “What?”
“New client for you!” Namjoon replied, still a little too enthusiastically.
“What happened to Savi?”
Jungkook had been guarding pop star Savi for over a year now. ‘Pop star’ might have been a stretch, considering Savi had one hit song and a string of publicity linked to failed relationships instead of her somewhat lacking musical prowess. Jungkook was absolutely positive his role as private security was unnecessary, but Savi liked to pretend she was famous enough to need him, and if she was paying good money, who was it hurting?
“We’ve assigned Paulson to her for the foreseeable future. Our new client needs someone fluent in Korean.” Namjoon replied.
“Why do you look so guilty?” Jungkook frowned.
“I don’t look guilty!” Namjoon replied, guiltily.
“You look exactly like that time you ate my meatball sub out of the staff fridge.”
“I didn’t know it was yours!”
“Was it yours, though!? It belonged to someone, Hyung!” They may have gotten off topic.
“Look…it’s another musical artist. This one is a little bigger than Savi. Your hours, and responsibilities, will increase…pretty dramatically.”
Jungkook was confused. “I don’t mind Joon, you know I’ve been bored out of my mind carrying Savi’s bags and looking intimidating when there’s nobody around to intimidate. I’m up for a challenge.”
Namjoon seemed to relax as he smiled. “I’m glad to hear you say that, because you’ve been assigned as a personal bodyguard to Park Jimin.”
“What? Wow…um…okay. But…what about Taehyung? They’ve been together for longer than I’ve worked here.” Jungkook’s head was spinning.
Park Jimin was easily one of the biggest artists in the world right now. Namjoon used footage of Taehyung protecting him as training videos. Jimin couldn’t leave his home without the paparazzi knowing about it, and he was swarmed by fans and media alike on a weekly basis.
“You remember Tae married Jimin’s assistant a couple of years ago?” Jungkook nodded. “Well, they’re having a baby, and Tae handed in his resignation to be a full time dad.”
“Wow. So…when do I start?”
“We have a meeting with Jimin and his assistant Jin in one hour. There’s a file on your desk for you to look over after you make yourself…less sweaty. See you upstairs.” Namjoon nodded his head and turned around, heading back to the elevator and leaving Jungkook to shower. Protecting Park Jimin. His life was about to get very, very hectic.
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Jungkook knocked quietly on the briefing room door. He had showered and made an attempt at looking presentable, donning a button up shirt and styling his hair off his face. If he was honest with himself, he was nervous about meeting Jimin. He had never met him despite years of working in the entertainment industry, but Jungkook loved his music. Knowing Jimin’s level of popularity, Jungkook was expecting a certain level of brattiness.
Jungkook had moved to America with his younger sister Dahyun four years ago when she was accepted into a NYC college to study architecture with a full scholarship. Their parents had let her go without complaint on the condition that her big brother made the trip with her.
Jungkook didn’t mind. After his military service he had taken a job at a private security company in Seoul that specialised in corporate security: guarding rich bankers and company owners who had ruffled enough feathers making their way to the top that they needed someone to watch their back. None of his clients were what one might call morally replete, and he had no qualms quitting after five years of employment to move to a foreign country to watch over his baby sister.
While Dahyun was apartment hunting for them, Jungkook looked for a new job that would pay well enough to cover the rent while Dahyun studied. Dahyun found a small two bedroom flat in Brooklyn and Jungkook found an ad for Mono Private Security in Manhattan. Twenty five minutes on the subway in the morning was a worthwhile sacrifice for cheap rent and a brand new life.
Dahyun was the one who had introduced him to Jimin’s music. Jungkook had shot off a quick text, after Namjoon had left the gym, to tell her who his new assignment was. She had sent back an indecipherable keyboard smash.
The file he had found on his desk was a quick introduction to Jimin, a rough idea of his schedule and a list of names of people Jungkook would be regularly interacting with while in Jimin’s employ. The list was surprisingly short for a celebrity - the only people Jimin apparently saw often enough to be mentioned were his assistant, his label CEO, his agent and his now former bodyguard.
“Come in.” Namjoon’s voice came from behind the briefing room door.
Jungkook opened the door, stepping inside the briefing room and nodding at Namjoon who was sitting on one side of a small table. On the other side sat three men. Taehyung, who he had met briefly at work training days, a man that he had never met whom he assumed was Jimin’s assistant Jin, and in the middle of them sat Park Jimin.
Jungkook had seen his face plastered on hundreds of magazines, billboards and buses. He had seen him on television performing on talk shows, award shows and even a streaming concert that Dahyun had made him sit and watch with her while they ate American snack food and got drunk on cheap wine.
In person, Park Jimin was even more beautiful. He was dressed casually - or, as casual as one could be in a $500 tracksuit that Jungkook recognised from one of Savi’s shopping sprees - and his face was bare, his pink hair fluffy and hanging in his eyes. He didn’t look particularly happy to be there, but he smiled politely anyway.
Jungkook leaned over the table, shaking hands with the three guests before taking a seat next to Namjoon.
“Gentlemen, thank you for coming. Taehyung, it’s nice, if not a little strange, to see you here. Shouldn’t you be putting together nursery furniture?” Namjoon began with a playful jab at Taehyung.
“You know I had to check out the new guy, boss. No offence.” Taehyung directed a boxy grin at Jungkook.
“We’ve met, Taehyung.” Jungkook frowned.
“I know, but we don’t know each other very well, and I’d like to change that before I hand over my Jimin.” Taehyung wrapped one arm around Jimin’s shoulders and squeezed, earning him a sad smile from the singer.
“Why do I feel like this is an interview? Have I already been hired as Jimin-ssi's replacement or do I have to pass a test first?” Jungkook understood being protective of his friends, but he worked for the same company as Taehyung - Namjoon only hired the best, and Jungkook’s competency shouldn’t be in question.
“You’re hired, Jungkook, but this meeting is a chance for you to get to know one another.” Namjoon reassured him.
“And the first step is passing my vibe check.” Taehyung smirked.
"Alright...what do you want to know?" Jungkook sat back and crossed his arms over his chest.
At that, Jin leaned forward. “First of all, I have a list of your previous clients. With respect, none of them are anywhere near Jimin’s level of fame. I don’t doubt your capability at all, but I do want to make sure you’re very aware of the task you’re about to be handed.”
Jungkook nodded. “I appreciate your bluntness Seokjin-ssi. You’re right, this will be my first time guarding someone of Jimin’s level of interest to the public. Anything you can tell me about what to expect that differs from my previous experience would be great.”
“How about instead of telling you, I'll show you.” With that, Jin reached for his briefcase that was laying flat on the table in front of him. He pulled out a small laptop and opened it, clicking away for a moment before he tilted the screen towards Jungkook and Namjoon.
Open on the laptop screen was a YouTube video. Jin pressed play and Jungkook could see that it wasn’t a professional job - it looked like a recording from a phone. The screen showed a large crowd of at least thirty people gathered in front of a café that Jungkook recognised as being located in downtown Manhattan. Before anything of interest could happen, Jin paused the video.
“For context, Jimin was inside this café a couple of weeks ago. He was alone with Taehyung, both of them wearing a mask and a hat, as unrecognisable as they could be. Someone, we think a staff member, tipped off social media. Taehyung called Jimin’s private driver and in the five minutes it took him to arrive, this is the crowd that had gathered outside.” Jin pressed play on the video again.
Jungkook watched the screen as a black car pulled up to the curb. Seconds later, the door to the café opened and the crowd outside erupted into shouts and flashing camera lights. The person recording was standing back from the main crowd, so Jungkook could clearly see Jimin leave the café, Taehyung with one arm wrapped firmly around his shoulders and another arm braced out in front of him, trying to hold the crowd back.
The crowd surged around Jimin, screaming shouts of his name indeterminate from one another. Jungkook watched as the Jimin on screen curled into Taehyung, one hand gripping his bodyguard’s shirt as he desperately tried to avoid the hands that had begun to grab at him. The car was only a few feet away but they were being swamped by fans and media alike, Taehyung stuck in place as he pulled Jimin closer to his body.
The driver of the private car had jumped out on the edge of the video screen, shoving a few people aside as he opened the back door to the vehicle. The driver leaned into the crowd, one hand reaching for Taehyung, who yanked Jimin’s smaller frame up with one arm and shoved through the crowd forcefully. With Jimin’s feet off the ground and his arms clasped firmly around Taehyung’s neck, Taehyung reached his other hand for the driver, who grabbed his wrist and tugged them through the last few hysterical fans. Taehyung held Jimin close and swiftly ducked into the back seat of the car and the driver slammed it shut behind them. The driver ran back to his seat, pulling away from the curb with a screech as the crowd continued to scream until the video ended.
Jin leaned forward and exited the YouTube window before closing the laptop and leaning back in his seat. Taehyung still had one arm around Jimin, who was resolutely staring at his hands.
“So, that’s what you’re in for.” Taehyung began. “To be honest, that’s a pretty normal Monday.”
“Can I ask something?” Jungkook ventured.
“That’s why we’re here.” Jin responded.
“If it’s like that when you go out…why do you keep going out? Don’t get me wrong, I understand the desire to live a normal life…but you’re obviously past that point. Why push your luck?” Jungkook directed his question at Jimin.
For the first time since Jungkook entered the meeting room, the pop star spoke, and with fire behind his eyes.
“Do you really understand the desire to live a normal life?” Jimin’s voice, so soft and delicate in the interviews Jungkook had seen, was cold and hardened by anger. “You can say that all you like, but first you would have to understand what it’s like to not live a normal life. I know I asked for this. I chose this career and I’m grateful for it. But I haven’t gone for a walk along the river by myself in five years. I can’t shop by myself, I can’t eat in a restaurant by myself, I can’t sit in a movie theatre and eat an extra large buttery popcorn by myself. I can’t do it with a friend other than Taehyung either because then they would be at risk too. I can’t go on dates without it being splashed across every newspaper and gossip rag in the country. My entire life exists in a bubble that I can’t step out of for even a moment without a camera shoved in my face or an unflattering picture taken with a zoom lens. Sometimes, I just want a cup of fucking coffee. Do you understand that desire?”
The room fell silent as Jungkook held Jimin’s piercing gaze.
“I do. I didn’t mean to upset you. I apologise.” Jungkook was internally kicking himself for getting off on the wrong foot with his new charge within five minutes of meeting him. That had to be a record.
At his apology, Jimin took a deep breath and Jungkook watched him drop his shoulders and visibly soften.
“I accept your apology.” Jimin offered him an olive branch in the shape of a small smile, which Jungkook gratefully returned.
Taehyung’s eyes flickered between the two of them before he pulled his arm back from around Jimin’s shoulder and clapped his hands together.
“Right. Some more Jimin Protecting 101. He doesn’t take photos or give autographs anymore. He did in the beginning but the sheer number of people who ask now makes it impossible.” Taehyung opened his mouth to continue but Jimin interrupted him.
“Sometimes I sneak autographs if I’m not busy or if they’re especially nice. Like, if a shop assistant asks for an autograph for their kid, I will almost always say yes.”
Jin rolled his eyes. “Jimin is a bleeding heart - he will frequently make life harder for himself in an effort to be kind, and thus, make your life harder.”
Taehyung nodded. “Facts, baby.”
“Not while we’re at work.” Jin admonished, but he couldn’t stop the small smile that quirked the corner of his mouth.
Jimin raised his hand in the air. “I know what I won’t miss!” He dropped his hand and pointed his thumb, first at Taehyung and then at Jin. “These two being gross. Jungkook, if you fall for anyone in my entourage we’re gonna have a problem.”
Jungkook chuckled. “Sounds like I won’t have a lot of spare time to be dating, so we shouldn’t have any issues.”
Namjoon took that moment to join the conversation. “Can I assume Jungkook’s hours and schedule will be virtually identical to what Taehyung’s has been during his assignment?”
“That’s correct.” Jin nodded. “Jungkook, every week will look a little different depending on interviews, photo shoots, recording schedules and performances. Some appointments such as yoga, dance practice, vocal practice, gym sessions and massage therapy will be at the same time every week. Additional salon appointments, outfit fittings, business lunches and philanthropic ventures occur monthly. You’ll receive a weekly schedule in your email every Sunday evening. You can expect to work most days from 8am until 10pm. On Sunday, Jimin has a day off, and he usually chooses to stay in and not go anywhere, so you’ll have the day off as well. However, you’re still on call if he does decide to go out. We will need two weeks' notice if you need a day off.”
“Wow…that’s…that’s a lot of hours.” Jungkook was a little taken aback.
Savi never woke up before noon and didn’t go out much during the week, so Jungkook’s job was really centred on shadowing her from club to club on the weekend and occasionally taking her shopping.
“Is that going to be an issue?” Jin raised his eyebrows, casting a quick glance in Namjoon’s direction as well.
“No! Not an issue. Just…an adjustment. I…I’m not complaining, I just spend a lot of time with my sister in the evenings and we will have to get used to…spending less time together.” Jungkook swallowed.
The money he made from these hours would make a huge difference to how he and Dahyun lived. A few less dinners with her during the week and soon they would be able to afford an apartment closer to her college. If Jungkook made enough money, he could even cover Dahyun’s college accommodation while she finished her Masters so he could finally move into his own place. He loved Dahyun and he was more than happy to support her while she studied, but he was nearly 30 years old and some privacy would be nice.
“That’s really sweet.” Jimin murmured, and, for the first time, he smiled wide at Jungkook. It wasn’t the smile Jungkook had seen on magazine covers or during interviews. This smile lit up Jimin’s face like sunshine, his round cheeks bunched up to his eyes that almost squeezed shut, his signature slightly crooked front tooth a perfect imperfection as he utterly glowed.
Jungkook felt his stomach dip as he smiled back. He was going to have to snap out of this and any other mild infatuation if he was going to do his job properly. No more internally coo-ing over crooked teeth and pretty eye smiles. He could do this…no problem.
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Jimin had a problem.
“Maybe this isn’t the best idea.” He picked at a rough cuticle on his thumb before Taehyung slapped his fingers away. They were sitting in the back of Jimin’s private car on the way back to Jimin’s apartment. They were meeting Jungkook there in half an hour to give him a tour of the building.
“Stop that, your manicurist will kill you. And what’s not the best idea?” Taehyung asked.
“Hiring Jungkook.”
Jimin had no idea what to expect this morning as he sat in the briefing room between Jin and Taehyung, waiting for his new bodyguard to arrive. When Jungkook had knocked quietly and let himself in, Jimin had schooled his face into a carefully blank mask to avoid his jaw dropping and a potential drooling issue. Jungkook was hot. He was dressed in a simple button up and slacks, but his outfit did nothing to hide his wide shoulders and small waist. His dark hair was styled off his forehead and he had a sharp jawline and big, brown eyes.
Considering the fact that Namjoon and Taehyung were both ridiculously attractive as well, Jimin had begun to wonder if that was an off-the-books requirement in Mono’s hiring policy.
“What’s wrong with him? I thought he was nice. You were a little mean, if anything.” Taehyung replied casually.
“Nothing’s wrong with hi…hey! I wasn’t mean! How was I mean?” Jimin demanded.
“ Sometimes I just want a cup of fucking coffee…do you understand that desire? ” Taehyung repeated Jimin’s words back to him verbatim. “I get it…you know I do. But I don’t think he meant any harm. He’ll find out soon enough why you need to try and escape every now and then. But anyway, back to what you were saying…why is hiring him a bad idea?”
Jimin chose not to reply, pursing his lips and looking out the car window at the busy Manhattan traffic. He jerked as he felt long fingers digging into his ribs.
“Tell me. Tell meeee. Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me…” Taehyung stopped to inhale before continuing and Jimin rushed to cut him off.
“Oh my God, he’s hot, okay? He’s super hot and I feel like I’m going to embarrass myself staring at his gorgeous brown eyes all day long. It’s a little weird that everyone at your workplace is attractive, by the way.”
Taehyung wheezed with laughter, dramatic enough that Jimin’s driver Hajoon glanced in the rearview mirror in concern. Jimin rolled his eyes at Hajoon in the mirror and the young man smiled fondly before concentrating on the slow moving traffic again. Jimin lamented the days where he could catch the much faster Subway. The thought of being trapped in a train full of people who would potentially recognise him now sent a shiver down his spine.
They were coming up to Jimin’s building, and Hajoon slipped the Mercedes into a side street, heading towards the private entrance for residents cars only. They pulled up to the gate and Hajoon rolled his window down, fist bumping Gary, the 6’4” security guard sitting in his tiny cubicle reading Spiderman comics.
Gary had an impeccable memory and knew the names and faces of every one of the residents of the thirteen apartments in the building. That included their frequent, accepted companions or staff like Jin. Hired by the owner of the building, Gary guarded the car park entrance for eight hours a day and two men named Sully and Alexander took the other two shifts so that the complex had someone checking ID before entrance around the clock.
Similarly, three staff members named Rita, Hector and Abigail manned the front desk at the ground floor street entrance in shifts. The ground floor was simple - an expansive desk, a lounge style waiting area and the elevator bank. The next six floors housed two expensive apartments each, and the seventh was one giant penthouse style apartment - Jimin’s home.
The complex certainly wasn’t the biggest or fanciest that Jimin could afford, but it was small, secure and all of the residents were famous enough that they kept their mouths shut in exchange for mutual discretion.
Hajoon pulled into one of the two carparks reserved for Jimin and the three of them exited the vehicle. They took the parking lot elevator to the ground floor, where Hajoon waved goodbye before heading out until he was needed again. Jimin and Taehyung continued up to Jimin’s apartment. As soon as they got inside, Tae sprawled face down on the couch as Jimin headed to the kitchen to make them both a coffee.
“I assume you’re done with the hysterical mocking laughter?” Jimin asked, returning to the living area and carefully setting two steaming mugs on the coffee table.
“For now.” Taehyung’s voice came muffled from a cushion. The bodyguard sat up, hugging the cushion to his chest as he looked around the sparse room.
“When are you going to get a cat or something? This place is so lonely.” Taehyung reached forward and grabbed one of the mugs of coffee, blowing on it before taking a small sip.
“And do what with it when I’m away on tour? I can’t keep a pet; it’d be cruel. I can’t even keep plants, they would all die. Maybe if I hired a live-in housesitter while I was away, but that’s a little too ‘famous person’ isn’t it?” Jimin took the other mug and inhaled deeply. He loved coffee.
“You are a famous person, Jimin.” Taehyung smiled.
“I’ll think about it.” Just as Jimin went to take a sip of his coffee, the intercom buzzed. “That must be Jungkook.”
Jimin put the mug back on the coffee table and stood, looking down at himself and adjusting his shirt before running a hand through his hair.
“Jagiya, he’s about to be your bodyguard, I promise he will see you in states of far less put-togetherness. I’ve actually lost count of how many times I’ve had to pull you out of bed by your feet, hair in ten different directions and drool on your pillow.” Taehyung teased.
“It was a solid six months before you saw me drool, thank you very much.” Jimin poked his tongue out at Taehyung before heading to the phone on the wall next to his front door.
“Hello?” He spoke into the receiver.
“Hi Jimin!” Rita bubbled into Jimin’s ear. Of the three building receptionist staff, she was the only one Jimin had convinced to stop calling him ‘Mr Park’. “I have a Jeon Jungkook here to see you.”
For a second the sound was muffled and then Rita spoke in a whisper. “He is so pretty, I might cry. Just saying.”
Jimin laughed out loud. “My new bodyguard, so you’ll be seeing a lot of him. Send him up, Rita.” Jimin hung up and turned to Taehyung.
“Rita is in love already.”
Taehyung tsked and pretended to swoon. “Aren’t we all?”
A moment later, Jimin heard a knock at his front door. He peeked through the peephole and smiled as he saw Jungkook, the elevator door closing behind him. Jimin opened the door and smiled, moving aside and waving Jungkook into his apartment.
“Um…welcome!”
Jungkook slipped inside, bending down to take his boots off and line them up neatly in the entryway. He stood and looked around somewhat awkwardly.
“So…Rita seems nice. Do the receptionist staff man that desk on their own? I didn’t see any additional security.”
Straight to business then. Jimin ushered Jungkook further into his apartment as he responded. “No additional manpower downstairs, but the elevators are keycard activated as you would have seen. I assume Rita swiped you up?” Jungkook nodded. “The elevators don’t move without a keycard, and they’re programmed to only work for the floor of the corresponding apartment. The front desk has a master keycard. While you’re here, I guess you can take Taehyung’s. It’s yours now. Jin and I have the others to this apartment.”
Taehyung stood up from the couch and reached into his back pocket, moving to hand his keycard to Jungkook who accepted it with a nod of thanks and slipped it into his wallet.
“This is my apartment…um, obviously. You don’t have to come up here usually if you don’t want to, I can just meet you downstairs in the carpark. I’ll introduce you to the guys that guard the entrance there. You can park in one of my allotted spots every day and we will just travel together in my car.” Jimin pulled on his fingers as he explained.
“Oh, I don’t usually drive. I have a car but I hate New York traffic. I catch the subway in every morning. I’ll still meet you at your car though.” Jungkook smiled.
“Okay, great. Would you like a coffee? Tea?” Jimin moved towards the kitchen.
“Just water would be great.” Jungkook replied.
“Sparkling? Still?” Jimin held out two bottles that he pulled from the fridge.
“Um…tap is fine. Or…still, I guess.” Jungkook was looking around the apartment, taking everything in. “Is the front door the only entrance to this place?”
“Yeah. I have a balcony but you can’t reach it from the ground. I mean, unless you’re Spiderman.” Jimin giggled but trailed off as Jungkook just continued to look around, barely acknowledging his attempt at humour. Jimin swallowed and looked at Taehyung who was observing their interaction with a small smile.
“Well, I’m gonna let you two get to know one another. I have a cot to build!” Taehyung announced, joining Jimin in the kitchen and dropping his empty mug in the sink.
Jimin looked at him with wide eyes and leaned in to whisper in his ear. “What!? No, don’t leave us, please stay.”
“You have to get to know him eventually…you’ll be fine.” Taehyung murmured in his ear, squeezing his waist and moving past him towards the front door. Jimin swallowed, pulling on his fingers as he turned to Jungkook. He could do this. This was fine.
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Jungkook looked up as Taehyung announced that he was about to head off. He watched as Taehyung approached Jimin in the kitchen, the singer looking like a deer in the headlights as he whispered frantically in Taehyung’s ear. Whatever he said didn’t seem to make a difference as Taehyung replied quietly and squeezed his waist before heading to the front door. He waved goodbye to Jungkook before leaving the bodyguard alone with his new charge.
Jimin was pulling on his fingers again. Already, Jungkook was aware that it seemed to be a nervous habit. Jungkook moved into the kitchen to accept a glass of water.
“Nice place.” He recited the pleasantry, but if he was honest, the apartment seemed more like a display house than a home. The furniture was all beautiful, and clearly expensive, but there were no warm touches that indicated that anyone lived here. No books on the coffee table, no photos of loved ones, no plants or quirky fridge magnets or paperwork scattered about waiting to be tended to. Jungkook supposed Jimin had ‘people’ to help with all that, and there was no point in decorating with plants if nobody was here to water them. The art hanging on the walls was artistically impressive, he supposed, but he was willing to bet it was hung by a designer, not Jimin himself.
Jimin seemed to notice that Jungkook’s compliment was more cursory than genuine.
“I know it isn’t very homey. I…I’m not here all that often, to be honest. But…follow me.” Jimin turned and rushed out of the kitchen, heading down a dark hallway.
Jungkook paused, a little taken aback by the abrupt departure, before he followed Jimin who had opened a door at the far end of the hall and disappeared inside. Jungkook poked his head around the corner to see what he assumed was Jimin’s bedroom. He stepped inside and his eyes widened.
This room was a stark contrast to the rest of the lifeless apartment. The walls were painted a pale creamy yellow and fairy lights hung around the ceiling like a canopy.
A king sized bed was tucked into one corner, light from a wall of windows with tied back silk curtains casting a warm glow on comfortable looking lilac coloured bedding. Throw pillows were all over the mattress, some for sleeping but most decorative, and a soft looking buttercup yellow crocheted rug was folded up in one corner. The bedside table looked vintage, the wood painted white and chipped in some places. It was arrayed with a pile of books and a lamp shaped like a cat.
In another corner of the room was a desk painted white like the bedside table, with a salt lamp, an essential oil diffuser and a collection of oil blends to one side and a laptop in the middle. The mouse pad had a cat on it too. Above the desk hung a print of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, stuck to the wall with blu-tack instead of a professional frame job.
Next to the desk was a small bookshelf made from what looked like untreated pine. It was filled to the brim with books in Korean, Japanese and English, mostly novels with some manga. One shelf was entirely filled with a set of encyclopedias - the old ones that people used before the internet, bound in leather and edges painted gold.
Jungkook moved further into the room and turned to see that the wall with the door was positively covered by photos in mismatched frames. Taehyung was there, Jin too. Photos of people that Jungkook assumed were Jimin’s family - parents, grandparents, a younger brother. Jungkook recognised landmarks from Seoul, a beach in Busan, wildflowers native to their mutual home country, even a photo of latte art - the frothed milk poured in the shape of a delicate rose.
The room was warm, personal, and effortlessly charming.
Jimin was standing beside his bed, wringing his hands again.
“I know my apartment is a bit sad. But I do have a personality. I could decorate the rest but…I don’t really have the time. Or anyone to share it with. I just wanted to show you that…I’m not a robot.” Jimin finished in a small voice.
Jungkook’s heart ached at the vulnerability of the man in front of him.
“I know you’re not a robot. This room is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with me.” Jungkook replied softly.
The two stared at each for a moment in only slightly uncomfortable silence. Jimin took a deep breath and squared his shoulders.
“Okay, well…we should sit, and…get to know one another. I have a gym session at 2pm so Hajoon - that’s my driver - will be here to pick us up at 1:30. In the meantime, is there anything you want to know?” Jimin talked over his shoulder as he led Jungkook out of his bedroom and back into the sterile living area. They both sat at one end of the enormous couch, a space between them.
“I did have a question about what happens when we get in a sticky situation like in the video Jin played for me. You and Taehyung are obviously very close friends and have years of experience together, so I’m sure you’re very comfortable with him physically. How do you feel about me…uh…handling you in the same way?” Jungkook asked.
Jimin giggled, a joyful sound that warmed Jungkook’s chest. “You’re my bodyguard, it’s a part of the job. I’ve been in situations where security who were complete strangers to me have had to basically throw me over their shoulder and run. I promise it won’t be weird.”
Jungkook smiled. “Good to know. Your turn for a question.”
Jimin hummed. “Got any good celebrity gossip for me?”
Jungkook let out a sharp bark of laughter. “I thought we were getting to know one another professionally?”
“I’m a celebrity, gossip is technically my job.” Jimin shrugged.
“Ah, Jimin-ssi, I’m afraid I’ve never guarded anyone with genuinely worthwhile gossip. Plus, you know, it’s my first day and I should probably maintain some sort of professional appearance.” Jungkook smiled, teasing.
“Jimin.” The singer replied.
“Sorry?” Jungkook asked, confused.
“You can call me Jimin. Or…Jimin-ah. You’re older than me and we’re about to work very closely together. May as well get started without the formalities, right?” Jimin looked hopeful and Jungkook began to realise just how much the man in front of him sought genuine connection. How strange his life must feel sometimes, to be surrounded by so many people but still count his close friends on one hand.
“Okay, Jimin-ah. You can call me Hyung. Um...if you want to.”
Jungkook didn’t think he imagined the faint pink that spread across Jimin’s round cheeks.
“Okay…Hyung.” Jimin murmured, and Jungkook’s stomach did that thing again.
“A real question then. You mentioned your sister the other day. Do your parents live here too?” Jimin leaned forward on the couch, crossing one leg over the other and resting his chin in one hand, his elbow propped on his knee.
“Nope, they still live in Seoul. We moved to the States four years ago so that Dahyun could study her degree abroad…it was always a dream of hers. What about you? I noticed a photo of Busan on your wall. And what looked like a younger brother?” Jungkook leaned back into the comfortable couch.
“I was born in Busan. When I started idol training I left behind my parents and my little brother Sangmin and moved to Seoul to live in the company dorms. I don’t get home nearly as often as I’d like. It doesn’t really feel like home anymore but…” Jimin huffed out a small laugh, “...neither does here, I guess.”
“I’d like to get back to Korea more often too. Once Dahyun finishes her Masters I’m sure we will. I love Busan…the beaches there are beautiful.” Jungkook smiled.
“They are. Anyway, it's my turn again. What does qualify you to be my bodyguard, hmm?” Jimin pretended to look very serious, like this was an interview instead of a get-to-know-you chat.
Jungkook cleared his throat, sitting up straight and pretending to answer very seriously as well.
“Well, aside from my military service training and nine years experience as a bodyguard, I have a blackbelt in Taekwondo, ten years of Muay Tai training, Jojutsu spear, staff and sword training, firearms certification, training from the NYPD in hostage negotiation and I can eat ten Krispy Kreme donuts in five minutes.”
Jimin had looked impressed up until that last one. “That’s it? The world record is five dozen Krispy Kremes in nine minutes.”
“I can do 200 pushups?” Jungkook offered.
“So can I.” Jimin replied, smug.
“How do you know what the donut eating world record is, anyway?” Jungkook circled back to Jimin’s odd knowledge.
“I know lots of weird things. The Wikipedia rabbit hole is a dangerous place.” Jimin nodded sagely.
“Tell me about it. Did you know tardigrades can survive in the vacuum of space?” Jungkook flopped back onto the couch and smiled as Jimin gasped and shook his head.
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They talked for an hour, taking it in turns asking questions, some superficial and some serious.
Jimin learned that Jungkook could eat kimchi jjigae for every meal and never tire of it.
Jimin revealed that he was terrified of heights, and the time he had to perform on a raised platform above a stadium of people, he had to take a valium beforehand so he didn’t throw up all over the audience. He was so disappointed with his dull performance that he had it written into his contract that he never again had to perform ‘at a height at which the artist felt unsafe or physically uncomfortable.’
In the middle of a lightning round of 20 Questions - all of which revolved around ‘favourites’ like colour, ice cream flavour and Beatles album - the intercom buzzed and Jimin startled, laughing at his own skittishness before he walked to the intercom and picked up the phone.
"Yes?"
"Hi Jimin. The mail arrived! It's a lot this time. Can Jerry bring it up?" Rita asked.
"I don't mind coming down to collect it, I'm sure Jerry has things to do." Jimin replied.
"Oh, no...it's multiple boxes...he's got it all packed up on a removalist trolley." Rita giggled.
"Oh wow...okay, send him up." Jimin opened the front door and waited a moment for the ding of the elevator, smiling as the doors opened and Baseline delivery man Jerry appeared, obscured behind a mountain of sealed boxes.
Yoongi didn’t trust the postal service in the city (much like he didn’t trust street vendor hot dogs or door to door salesmen) so he hired someone to work as a full time delivery driver, transporting everything from artist fanmail to record samples for agents he was trying to poach for his own team.
"Hey, Mr Park, where do you want these?" Jerry rolled the trolley into the entryway and paused.
"Jerry, I’ve told you a million times to call me Jimin. Um...just here is fine, I'll sort them later. Wow...that's a lot of boxes." Jimin stared at the stack that was taller than him. Jungkook had moved from the couch and was standing near the kitchen, eyebrows raised at the imposing sight.
"This is only half of it...a whole bunch got binned after the sniffer dogs went through it. Staff has gone through and checked for creepy stuff too."
While the majority of the letters Jimin received were lovely, he had certainly been sent his fair share of hateful, threatening ones as well. Now his mail was content checked before it was passed onto him.
"Thanks Jerry. Here…" Jimin pulled a $50 note from his wallet and handed it to the delivery man.
"Always generous, Mr Pa…Jimin. My daughter's Barbie collection thanks you."
Jimin giggled as Jerry smiled and nodded his head at Jungkook as he backed out of the apartment. Jimin waved goodbye before closing his front door and turning to face the mountain of mail.
"You read all of these!?" Jungkook sounded shocked.
"No...I wish I could. It's just too much."
Jimin sighed, disappointed with himself. When he received a couple of letters a week, he could sit down and write back to each one. Now, there weren't enough hours in a year to get through them all.
Jungkook noticed his disappointment.
"Jimin, nobody in their right mind would ever judge you for not being able to read all of these...you know that right?"
Jimin sighed. "I guess so. I do what I can, though. I set aside two hours every Sunday night to read as many as possible. We don’t have to leave for another hour. Wanna read some letters with me? Some of them are pretty funny."
"Sure!" Jungkook replied, smiling as Jimin beamed at him.
Jimin reached for the top box and hefted it into his arms, waddling over to the couch before gently placing it on the floor next to the coffee table. He skipped into the kitchen and grabbed a letter opener from the top drawer before skipping back and slicing the box open. Inside were dozens and dozens of neatly stacked letters, opened by Baseline staff and then returned to the same envelope. Jimin grabbed two envelopes, handing one to Jungkook before flopping back into the couch and opening his own.
Dear Jimin,
How are you? My name is Sarah and I am 10 years old. I want to get Twitter so I can follow you but mom says I’m not allowed to and if I want to write to you I have to send a letter. I didn’t even think stamps existed anymore because snail mail is so old and stupid but whatever.
I love your music so much. You’re so beautiful and I wish I could dance like you. Mom says if I still love you in a year, she will pay for my dance lessons so I can learn to dance like you. Don’t worry I will definitely still love you in a year.
I was wondering if you have any pets and if you could post a photo of your pet on your Twitter. My cousin Milly is 14 and she has an account so I can check it there. I have a pet. He is a poodle named Harry and he isn’t very clever but he’s really cute even though he doesn’t know how to fetch.
My hand hurts from writing all of this so I’m going to go now. I love you very much Jimin and I hope you are having a really nice day. Maybe one day we can meet and you can also meet Harry.
Love forever, Sarah.
Jimin smiled fondly as he folded the letter back up and slid it into the envelope. He put the letter aside and reached for another. Before he opened it, he snuck a glance at Jungkook who was concentrating really hard with a small frown creasing his brow.
“Anything interesting?” Jimin asked.
“This is…” Jungkook paused to flick through the pages with his thumb, “...eleven pages of lyric suggestions for your next album.”
Jimin laughed. “Well, are they any good?”
Jungkook cleared his throat before reading from the first page.
Lips like honey,
Tongue like butter,
Baby you make me,
Want to nutter…
Jimin’s jaw dropped before he reached to cover his mouth with one hand and snorted with laughter.
“They are not all like that!” He gasped.
“Oh no, they get way better. Do you wanna know what rhymes with grassy knoll?” Jungkook looked at the letter he was holding and cleared his throat as if he was about to recite classical poetry.
Jimin could feel tears forming in his eyes as he threw his head back and shrieked with laughter. “No! Oh my God, please no.”
He looked at Jungkook who was watching him with a fond expression. Jimin wiped his eyes and sat up properly, his giggles dying out as he shook his head.
“I really love my fans. They’re called Minnies, you know. They named themselves”
“Grassy knolls aside, I think the Minnies really love you too.”
Jimin smiled and opened the second letter.
Hi Jimin …
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Jungkook felt like a bit of an asshole. He had knocked on the briefing room door this morning expecting to be met with an entitled brat. With Jimin’s level of fame, he was expecting Savi, but times a hundred. Jungkook had spent less than a day with the singer so far and already knew that he was nothing like Savi. Jimin was nothing like any celebrity he had ever met in four years of working in entertainment industry security.
Granted, they hadn't actually been anywhere yet. Maybe Jimin was rude to the wait staff, but somehow Jungkook doubted that. The singer was humble, sweet and funny. In other words, Jungkook was screwed.
He was about to open another fan letter when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He tugged it free and laughed to see a string of unanswered messages from Dahyun.
Dae: ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Dae: oh my GOD KOOKIE, if you’re lying I am going to put itching powder in all your underwear.
Dae: WRITE BACK TO ME!!!
Dae: Are you seriously working for PARK JIMIN?!
Dae: I bet you’re bullshitting, I’m getting the itching powder…
Jungkook: LEAVE MY UNDERWEAR ALONE
Jungkook: I couldn’t answer, I’ve been in meetings all morning you psycho.
Jungkook: MEETINGS WITH PARK JIMIN
Dae: Pics or it didn’t happen.
Jungkook: I am not asking him for a picture.
Dae: WHY NOT?
Jungkook: Because I’m a professional???
Jungkook slipped his phone back into his pocket and snorted quietly to himself. Jimin looked up and raised his eyebrows in question.
“Just my sister. She’s…a fan. I told her this morning that you were my new charge and she hasn’t stopped messaging me with some pretty intense capitalisation.” Jungkook rolled his eyes fondly.
“She’s a fan? Give me your phone.” Jimin held his hand out so Jungkook typed his passcode in and then handed it over.
Jimin tapped the screen a couple of times before raising the phone to his eye level, adjusting his hair and tapping the screen again.
“Hi Dahyun. Jungkook told me that you’re a fan and I just wanted to say thank you, and I look forward to meeting you one day soon! Hope you’re having an awesome day. Bye!” Jimin waved at the phone screen with an enormous, utterly gorgeous smile on his face, before tapping the screen once more and handing Jungkook his phone back.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Jungkook smiled before opening his chat with Dahyun and sending the file through. Thirty seconds later his phone vibrated.
Dae: This is the ghost of Jeon Dahyun. Dayhun has shuffled off this mortal coil. Please leave her collection of Park Jimin memorabilia to the Museum of Natural History.
Jungkook laughed out loud, leaning forward to show his phone screen to Jimin, who joined him with a peal of giggles. Jungkook sat back and smiled. Jimin was apparently generous and kind too.
He was totally screwed.
In an effort to distract himself, Jungkook opened the fan letter that had been sitting in his lap since Dahyun texted.
Dear Jimin,
You don’t know me, but you will one day soon.
I believe in fate, and I believe my fate lies with you.
You are surrounded by people who don’t appreciate your talent and beauty, but I do. I appreciate everything about you.
I will wait patiently until our fates collide.
Your beloved.
Jungkook cringed. Little creepy, but he supposed a couple of odd letters had to slip through the cracks. He slid the letter back into the envelope and put it to the side. That one probably didn’t need to be kept.
Jimin giggled again at the new letter he was reading and Jungkook smiled. He was suddenly very much looking forward to settling into his new job.