a day on the beach [dated to 2/9]

[caughtinalie]

It's really not warm enough for a beach trip, but maybe that's why they're doing it. It's an impractical trip, a flight of fancy that hadn't been planned or anticipated, a spare afternoon where none of them have other plans, or at least no plans that can't be changed. They have a free few hours and Jin's truck and nothing in the world sounds better than spending a few stupid hours together.

The hyungs all pile into the cab, Jin hyung and Joonie hyung up front, the other two just behind them while Jimin and Taehyung and Jungkook make themselves comfortable in the bed. Or at least as comfortable as they can with a few blankets, their cheeks turning a frigid pink as the wind whips at their skin. It's next to impossible to carry on any conversation back there, but that hardly stops them from trying, the three of them screaming and laughing into the wind, rejoicing in the opportunity to just be away from the rest of the world, to exist in just this exact moment with nothing else weighing them down.

Jimin's ears are ringing by the time hyung pulls onto the familiar stretch of beach, body buzzing from the vibration of the truck on the road as he hops out.

It's even colder here than it'd been in the city, the wind rushing off the water, chilling Jimin to the bone despite his big, puffy coat. But it feels amazing, the sand soft under his shoes as he runs up ahead, glancing back at his friends as he comes dangerously close to the edge of the water, hands still stuffed in the pockets of his coat. The dulled sunlight glints off the truck, a little blink as the sun is enveloped in another blanket of clouds.

They've only just got here, still have hours to spend doing just about whatever they want and yet, some part of Jimin is already dreading when it all ends.

Comments

[caughtinalie]

It's like watching a nature documentary, that moment where the film slows down so the viewer can fully appreciate what's unfolding. Except Namjoon isn't a lion on the attack or a leaping gazelle, but just a boy with long, long legs and awkward knees and no sense of balance and Jimin can only stare as he wobbles and then steadies and then leans, leans, leans.

He tries to reach out in time, tries to catch Namjoon by the arm or the elbow, but he isn't quick enough and the sound that bubbles free of his chest can only be described as a cackle when some of the splash hits his legs and outstretched arm.

"Hyung!" he breathes through his giggles, shifting to get better footing himself before holding his hand out again to help Namjoon out of the cold. "Oh no, you're all wet! Are you okay?"

[iwishicould]

"Aissh." He takes Jimin's hand and rights himself, feeling embarrassed but a self-conscious smile forms and he laughs, despite it. Jimin's laughter carries on the wind, bright and kind, even though Namjoon had splashed him, too. His desire to scold himself suddenly eases.

"It's okay," He says with a grin, "I guess that one doesn't want to be caught. Ah, it's pretty, though." He eyes where the owner of the shell had decided to stop, a bit safer from outstretched hands. Namjoon briefly considers another path around the pool that would allow him to try again, but cold wind against the wet leg of his jeans convinces him not to. He shakes hair out of his face before looking back to Jimin. "We'll find you a different one."

[caughtinalie]

"Too pretty for the likes of us," he agrees with a soft smile, his mind wandering briefly to Taehyung. Except Namjoon still doesn't know how Taehyung feels about him, he's pretty sure, and he's more than just pretty anyway. It's not a perfect metaphor at all, but the idea still catches a bit, lingers in that way that feels uncomfortably true before Jimin forces it from this thoughts, determined to not let himself dwell when he's having such a good day.

"Hmm?" he says instead, wiping some of the wet off his arm as he stands. He frowns a little at the though, appreciating the sentiment, but suddenly a little nervous. "Do you think it scares them when we pick them up?"

[iwishicould]

"Not pretty enough for Jiminie, I think," he says, absent-mindedly as he scans other areas of the pool from above. Sometimes they joked about Jimin being some sort of precious fairy, but it suited so well that it stuck as a metaphoric association in Namjoon's head; bright and delicate and bringing joy, not unlike the beautiful, albeit elusive shells sitting peacefully under the surface of the water.

Jimin's question brings him out of the pool-induced hypnosis once again, and he looks back up. "Ah, it must feel a little weird, maybe, to be lifted up like that. But as long as we're good to them and put them back, it should be alright."

"I wonder if we can find another inlet to check out... but maybe we shouldn't go too far just yet." He looks out across the length of the beach ahead of them, and then back towards the truck, smiling as his eyes rest on their friends.

[caughtinalie]

"I don't know," Jimin remarks with a loose, fond smile as he thinks about it. "I think I'd like to be lifted if it's by someone I know. Not by a creature twenty times bigger than myself." He thinks about when Taehyung gives him piggy-back rides or when Jungkook picks him up just for fun. As much as Jimin often hates being so small and slight and soft, he can't deny that he likes when his friends mess around with him like that.

"We could see if the others want to join us," Jimin says, following Namjoon's gaze back toward the rest of the group. It's a dumb idea though, no one else in the group likes crabs quite as much as Namjoon and it's obvious they're all having fun with each other right now as it is. His gaze lingers for a moment on Hoseok then drags to Taehyung before Jimin pulls in a breath and looks back up at Namjoon. "It's kind of nice that it's just us for right now though."

[iwishicould]

Namjoon's gaze also sticks to Taehyung for a moment longer than normal, not that he's aware of where Jimin is looking. A feeling twists in his chest as he automatically assures himself that Taehyung is safe and happy. They all were, and he can stop worrying for now.

"Wait, really?" He turns toward Jimin with light surprise on his face. "I mean, I like it here, but I thought maybe it'd be more exciting for you to spend time with--" Taehyung "--uh, the others, rather than hang out with a weird, boring hyung, picking up crabs."

[caughtinalie]

Though Namjoon doesn't say Taehyung's name out loud, the implication is loud and clear and Jimin smiles a little, feeling suddenly awkward. Because it's more complicated now, in ways Namjoon doesn't know, ways no one knows but Jimin and Hoseok. And he's too nervous to mention it now, especially considering he hasn't talked to Taehyung yet.

But he only shakes his head as he smiles at Namjoon. "You are not boring, hyung," he argues, cocking his head a little. "Maybe a little weird, but I guess we all are. I like spending time with you even if we're not... you know." He pauses then, considering before he asks, "Are you saying you'd rather be just with Jin hyung right now instead of all of us?"

[iwishicould]

"What, no!" He responds automatically, before even realising it. After a second, he looks down, self conscious and smiling widely. "Once again Jiminie, you're right, of course." He turns back to look at the tidepool again. "I like spending time with all of you. I'm glad we all found time to come here together. The classroom is good, but this is a nice change of atmosphere. We're not trespassing for once, too."

His eyes lock on something, and he carefully kneels down on a rock at the edge of the still water, this time determined not to fall. Once stable, he reaches a hand once again down into the cold crystal of the pool, fingers curling around a very small shell not too far in. Pulling it out, fingers dripping, he inspects it in his palm for a second; a cone shape, about the size of a fingernail, delicate and spiralled, orange-pink and almost sparkling. Once he's determined the shell had no resident, he holds it out to Jimin.

"Here, you can have this one."

[caughtinalie]

Namjoon's response is immediate and emphatic and Jimin can't help but grin a little as he watches the expression on his hyung's face shift to realization. He can only hope that maybe one day Namjoon will understand and accept that his friendship alone is more than enough, that he is more than enough, that Jimin will always cherish the time they spend together.

Until then, he'll just keep trying to make it clear.

He nods in agreement with Namjoon, still grinning as Namjoon walks along the edge of the little inlet and then kneels. Instinctively, Jimin leans forward, ready to catch Namjoon by the arm should he overbalance again and only relaxing after Namjoon's scooped something out of the water, something small and delicate and shimmery.

"Oh," he breathes when Namjoon holds out to him. Jimin steps in to accept it, holding it carefully in the palm of his hand. He can't help the smile that splits his face when he looks up at Namjoon again. "It's so pretty. If I was a crab, I'd want to make this one my home. I wonder why it's empty."