her eyes (she's on the dark side)

Prague, eighteen months earlier.

The hotel room smelled faintly of soap and expensive perfume.

Jimin stood in front of the mirror fastening a pair of earrings while her boyfriend sat cross-legged on the bed dismantling a lock that most definitely didn’t belong to him. The lock had arrived three hours earlier. It had already lost.

Neither of them had spoken much for the past twenty minutes. Not because anything was wrong, but because silence had never been uncomfortable between them.

"You know," Jimin said eventually, smoothing the skirt of her dress, "most boyfriends buy flowers." 

"Flowers die."

"How romantic."

"It’s just factual."

She caught his reflection in the mirror. "Facts aren't romantic, baby."

"I bought you a knife once."

"Ah yes, how could I forget?"

"It had your initials engraved on it."

"It did."

"A custom knife seems significantly more thoughtful than flowers."

Jimin considered this. "That's actually a valid point."

His attention returned to the lock. "You see."

A small smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. "You know, most women would probably be concerned by the fact their boyfriend measures affection in weaponry."

"You and I both know that you aren't most women, Jimin."

"No."

His hands paused briefly. "No," he agreed.

Jimin reached for her clutch resting on the dresser before turning to look at him again. "How do I look?"

"Expensive."

"You know, normal boyfriends would say beautiful."

"I assumed that part was obvious." 

She rolled her eyes. "Smooth recovery."

For the first time since she'd started getting ready, he finally looked up.

The dress was black and tailored perfectly, the neckline low enough to turn heads without demanding attention, understated but impossibly elegant. The entire look radiated effortless luxury - the kind that suggested old money, impeccable taste, or a very successful crime.

For several long seconds, he said nothing. Jimin immediately notices, and a slow smile appears. "You okay there, baby?" 

His eyes flicked back to the lock. "Yep."

Her smile only widened. "Are you sure?"

He shakes his head and returns his attention to the lock to adjust one of the components with entirely unnecessary concentration.

"I'm fine."

"Mhm."

"I am."

"So why won’t you look at me?"

"Because." 

Jimin laughed. "That's not an answer."

"It is an answer."

"It's a terrible answer."

His attention remained fixed firmly on the lock. Unfortunately for him, Jimin knew him far too well. Slowly, she crossed the room, the mattress dipping as she sat on the edge of the bed. Still he refused to look up.

"You're blushing."

"No I’m not."

"You are."

"I'm really not."

"You absolutely are."

"I’m a grown man."

"And?"

"I think you're imagining things."

"I think you're embarrassed because your girlfriend looks incredible."

He finally looked at her, for exactly one second before immediately looking away again. Eighteen months together had done absolutely nothing to prepare him for moments like this.