Barcelona, while a beautiful city full of life and culture, was hot in the dead of August.

Jungkook fanned himself with his hand as he scanned the key card to his hotel room. Upon entering, he blasted the air conditioner and carefully set down a paper bag on the desk. He scrimmaged through the drawers to find a pen and sat once he had one in his possession.

He hummed as he pulled a postcard out of the bag, a colorful picture of La Sagrada Familia depicted on the front. Turning the card over, he wrote a short message.

Tae -

I went to the small gelateria you recommended and ordered the chocolate and hazelnut flavor you loved. It was good, but I bet the mint chocolate chip was better.

I got lost walking around the streets and couldn't remember my hotel's name. Somehow I ended up near La Sagrada Familia. It was so incredible, Tae. I don't know how people can create such amazing things. I didn't get to see the inside, but one day we should go there together.

Four weeks down. I hope not many more to go.

- Kookie

Jungkook finished his message and placed the postcard in his suitcase, stacking it behind multiple other ones. There were cards from Toyko and Moscow, Paris and London. He purchased the most touristy postcard he could find from each city the tour took him to, jotting down small notes for Taehyung. Upon his return home, he planned on gifting them to the elder.

A small gift showing Taehyung how much Jungkook thought about him during their weeks apart.

Originally he planned on sending them as he traveled from city to city. Selfishly, however, he wanted to see Taehyung's face when he handed over the postcards. Jungkook wanted to share his stories and plan their own adventures simultaneously. He counted down each and every day until they were reunited.

Except he didn't exactly know when that would be.

Namjoon and Yoongi met constantly with him, providing updates as they received them from Big Hit. Apparently, there was a ton of interest in Jimin, Yeonjun, and himself around the world. Everyone was demanding access to see the performers live. The two producers speculated half a dozen cities could be added, meaning multiple more weeks on the road.

Jungkook loved it.

Jungkook hated it.

As the tour went on, he'd often reveal to Jimin and Jin how much he yearned for Taehyung to be with him. It wasn't fair, he argued, since Jin joined the tour to be with Namjoon and Jimin was slowly testing the waters with Yoongi. If only he could have Taehyung with him, he'd enjoy the experiences that much more.

It was funny how his priorities shifted, how his dreams evolved. Before, the tour would have been more than enough. Performing and doing what he loved would've easily fulfilled him. But now . . .

It meant nothing because he wasn't sharing it all with the one he loved most.

Jungkook tried not to disclose the extent of these sentiments with Taehyung. He didn't want to take this opportunity for granted when it had been unceremoniously ripped away from the elder. There was a need living within Jungkook to make Taehyung proud; he didn't want to let him down.

So he often relied on Jimin and Jin, the two closest people he had with him during the tour. They were overly sweet to him, often giving him reassuring squeezes or special treats. It was a little uncharacteristic of them, but Jungkook appreciated it nonetheless.

A loud knock sounded as he zipped away the postcards. He went to the door, peering through the peephole and smiling once he saw who was on the other side.

"Wow, you look happy to see me."

Jungkook ushered Jimin inside, letting the door fall closed behind them.

"I'm always happy to see you," he replied, shaking his head as the elder plopped onto his bed.

"What've you been up to?" Jimin asked as he stretched out his muscles, a steady stream of pops sounding as he rotated his hips.

Jungkook briefly filled him in on his adventure of the afternoon, before asking what Jimin did to fill his rare free time.

"I was with Yoongi," Jimin answered with a soft smile, his eyes lighting up.

"Oh, yeah? Was it a date?" Jungkook joined him on the bed, propping his head up against the pillows.

The elder shrugged his shoulders casually. "You could call it that."

Jimin and Yoongi were slowly exploring a romantic relationship with the other. Both were a little unsure on how to navigate, however. The producer was still recently out of a relationship with Hoseok and Jimin was nervous about what dating his colleague would look like. Especially after the way Big Hit handled Jungkook and Taehyung's relationship, there was quite a bit of uncertainty on how'd they react regarding Jimin and Yoongi.

Jungkook tried to reassure his friend that the company most likely would take the news better. After all, Yoongi wasn't really in the public eye. There was no bad press attached to him. As long as they disclosed things properly, Big Hit should have no problem with the two of them.

Even still, Jimin wanted to be careful while he was on this first tour. Only the people he trusted knew what was going on.

"Well," Jungkook grinned at Jimin, "whatever you two are doing is clearly making you happy. So please continue."

Jimin groaned and put his hands over his eyes. "Kook, don't even go there."

"What?" Jungkook scrunched his eyebrows together. "Don't go where?"

"Nevermind that," the elder deflected, color rising to his face.

The younger stared at his friend for a moment before realizing. "Oh, wow! You two are sleeping together!"

Jimin shook his head, but still hid behind his hands.

"I know you too well, my friend," Jungkook replied with a cocky expression plastered on his face. "And hey, I'm not judging. Actually, I'm quite jealous -"

"I will beat you with a pillow unless you shut it," Jimin warned, his hands reaching to his pocket as his phone buzzed. He had a moment to look at the text preview before the younger sprung into action.

"Is this lover boy now?" Jungkook teased, raising himself up and leaning across Jimin to grab his phone.

The elder tried swatting away his hands but wasn't able to protect his phone in time.

Once he had the device firmly in his grip, Jungkook bolted to the bathroom and locked the door. He needed good material to light-heartedly blackmail his friend with in the future. With a shit-eating grin on his face, he unlocked Jimin's phone, grateful in this moment that he knew the password.

But it wasn't Yoongi who texted.

Jungkook stared at the messages, shock and disbelief replacing the smile on his face. His heart beat rapidly in his chest and heat rose to his cheeks.

Swiftly, he opened the door to find Jimin standing on the other side.

Jungkook looked at the phone and started reading the messages.

"Make sure he's eating well. Go out and buy him some of those candies he likes. If he looks sad, can you make sure to give him lots of hugs? Tell him that whatever he's doing, he's making me so proud."

Jimin stared back at the younger. "You weren't supposed to see that."

It was quiet for a few moments as Jungkook scrolled through all of the messages, reading the dozens of sweet orders Taehyung asked of both Jimin and Jin.

"He just wanted to make sure you didn't feel alone," Jimin explained, a touch of admiration for Taehyung coating his tone. "Tae didn't want you to know he put us up to half of the nice things we've been doing for you."

Jungkook looked in awe at the phone, speechless. Taehyung had asked Jin and Jimin to look out for Jungkook during the course of the tour, being pillars of support when needed. In the texts, Taehyung asked the two boys to shower the younger with love and affection. He asked for them to fill in while he couldn't be there.

"Fuck, I love him so much," Jungkook breathed at last, handing the device back to Jimin.

The elder smiled knowingly. "He seems to be doing a lot better now that he's in therapy."

Jungkook nodded his head in agreement. "I'm so proud of him for going. He's inspired me to go once we get home. It sounds like his therapist is really great and I'd like to benefit from his help, too. God knows I need it."

"I'm proud of both of you," Jimin said sweetly. "My two best friends are so strong."

They talked for a little while longer before Jimin announced the urge to practice his routines. He invited Jungkook, but the younger revealed his own need to video chat Taehyung. The elder didn't argue with that, so he let Jungkook walk him to the door.

"Oh, and Kookie?" Jimin said right before leaving.

"Yeah?"

The elder turned and wrapped his arms tightly around his friend. He ruffled Jungkook's hair in an affectionate gesture before breaking away. Jimin smiled at the younger in triumph, completing the task he was nicely asked to do.

"That was from Taehyung."

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

》《