The holiday is the most fun Jimin has had in a long time.
He wakes up to Jungkook drooling on his shoulder, Link drooling on his leg, and the sun nearly blinding him through the windows. He shakes both of them off, kissing Jungkook swiftly on the lips, and murmurs, " Happy Birthday, America. Let's get the fuck up."
While Jungkook makes them breakfast, Jimin takes a minute to look around the house in disbelief that it hasn't changed at all since the last time he was here. It smells the same - like fresh air and sunshine - and everything about it feels comfortable, just like he remembered it to be. Damp towels hanging from the porch railings, faded pictures of Jungkook and Suri from childhood crowd the living room, and the wide plank floorboards creak with every step. Jimin sits on a bar stool, elbows resting on the counter, watching Jungkook flip pancakes.
Jungkook looks over his shoulder.
" Hey, hand me the blueberries and strawberries."
Jimin scoffs. " What if I wanted chocolate chips?"
" Jimin, honestly. It's the Fourth of July, I'm using patriotic colours."
Jimin puts his hands up. " Oh, stupid of me. Carry on."
After breakfast, they spend the morning on the beach, enjoying the hot sun and the cold beer, pretending that 10am isn't too early to be drinking. Link is happy to run in and out of the water, and Jimin is happy to watch Jungkook read his new book, sunglasses perched on his nose, dragging his finger across the page.
Junsu grills the burgers and hot dogs to take on the boat with them for lunch, and Suri and her husband Hwan show up right as Jimin and Jungkook are making their way down the dock with food and drinks.
Jimin climbs into the boat with Link, watching on as Jungkook and Suri already begin bickering over something extremely stupid, he's sure which ends in Suri shrieking, " You're an asshat!" Jungkook smirks and pulls her into a long hug, anyway.
Junsu and Nari make their way into the boat, as well, and as Junsu manoeuvres his way away from the dock, Suri takes a seat next to Jimin, wrapping an arm around him. " And why are you so quiet?"
Jimin hugs her back. " Just thinking."
" Good things?"
He clears his throat. There's no way he's going to tell her what he's thinking about how relaxed and calm and downright happy he feels. " I'm thinking I can't believe I'm going to be trapped on a boat with you people for the rest of the day."
She laughs. " There he is."
Junsu takes them around the lake, whipping in and out of the wake, everyone laughing at the way Link can't seem to keep his tongue in his mouth, saliva flying around as usual. Jungkook sits up front with Hwan for a while and eventually makes his way back to Jimin, squinting in the sunshine. He settles in next to him, placing his hand on Jimin's bare knee, moving his thumb in slow circles.
" I've missed you," he says over the sound of the wind.
" You are ridiculous," Jimin replies, but drops his head onto Jungkook's shoulder, anyway, cold beer in one hand, grabbing Jungkook's hand in the other.
They're still on the boat past nine o' clock when the fireworks start up in the distance. They can hear people on the shore hollering, clapping during the finale, and Jimin refuses to look away from the brightening sky, even though he can feel Jungkook's gaze glued to his face, unwavering the entire time.
It's late by the time they get the boat put away and have showered, the feel of the lake in them. Jimin is laying down in bed, bedside lamp casting a yellow glow over the wood panelling of the room, and droplets of water from his shower are dripping off of the ends of his hair and down his neck. He thinks he could fall asleep just like this, half wet, half naked, lights still on.
Jungkook walks in, closing the door behind him quietly. His hair is slicked back from the water, face red from the steam, skin tanned evenly from the sun except for the patch of skin atop his shoulders, pink and probably hot to touch. The towel around his waist is loose and low, and Jimin can't believe how effortlessly beautiful he is. It's not the first time he's had that thought; it's not even the first time he's had that thought today.
He drops his towel, digging through his bag to find a clean pair of boxers, and Jimin sits up taller in the bed. " Kook."
He looks over pulling the boxers in over his hips. " Jimin."
" It's was a good idea, coming here."
Jungkook smiles. " I think so, too. I've missed my family. I'm glad we had some time with them."
" I agree." Jimin kicks of the sheets.
" Come here."
He complies immediately, climbing into bed and settling on his side next to Jimin. " Hi," he whispers.
Jimin smirks. " Hi."
Jungkook leans across Jimin and turns out the light. The room goes pitch black, but Jimin's eyes begin to adjust slowly. He slides over closer to Jungkook and kisses the side of his mouth. Jungkook exhales.
" How many nights have we spent in this bedroom?" he asks, spreading his legs apart when Jimin's hand starts to drift downward.
He hums against his neck, kissing. " I dunno. A lot." He squeezes at Jungkook's hip, sliding one finger into the waistband of his boxers. " Never like this though."
Jungkook nods, smiling. " No, never like this." He places his finger under Jimin's chin and draws him in for a kiss, slow and deep. " I've thought about it," he admits when he pulls away.
Jimin pulls back and kisses up and down his jaw, feeling the barely there stumble against his lips. " Thought about what?"
" Having you here with me, in my bed doing that," he says with emphasis when Jimin palms at Jungkook's cock through his boxers.
" Oh yeah?"