Jimin stretched out across his bed, legs tangled under a blanket, his phone balanced against a pillow so the screen filled his view. When Niko’s face appeared, the little tiredness in his body slipped away, replaced with that fluttery, too-warm feeling he always got.

"Hey," he breathed out with a smile that tugged at the corners of his lips. "Took you long enough, I was about to sulk for real." His tone was playful, but the way his eyes softened gave him away—he’d been waiting.

He shifted onto his side, one hand supporting his head, the other tugging at his sleeve. "You look really good tonight," he said casually, but a faint pink touched his cheeks right after. "I don’t know how you do that. I swear you could roll out of bed and still make me jealous." He let out a small laugh, covering his mouth like he always did when embarrassed.

"Meanwhile, I’m here in this old hoodie, looking like a mess." He tugged at the fabric to show him, before dropping his hand back down with a grin. "Guess you’re stuck with me like this."

For a while, Jimin just listened, nodding along when Niko started talking about his day. His gaze stayed locked on the screen, soaking in every word as if he could somehow bridge the miles between them by listening harder. "Mm," he hummed in response, voice soft, almost fond. "I love when you tell me stuff like that. Even the little things. Makes me feel like I was there, you know?" He shifted again, curling into the blanket, chin tucked in.

When Niko paused, Jimin sighed softly. "Sometimes it’s so strange," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "I’ll be walking around, and something reminds me of you. A song, a smell, even just the way someone laughs. And for a second, it feels like you’re right there beside me. Then I remember you’re… not." His lips pressed into a pout before he smiled again, a little sheepishly. "I sound cheesy, don’t I?"

He hugged the pillow tighter against his chest, burying his chin into it. "I just miss you. A lot. More than I let myself admit most days. But then I see you like this, and it’s—" he exhaled, the corners of his mouth lifting again, "—it’s like a reset button. Makes everything feel easier."

His eyes flicked back to the screen, a small spark of mischief breaking through the softness. "Though, when we finally do see each other, I’m warning you… I’m not letting you out of my arms. You’ll have to drag me off." He chuckled, shaking his head. "I’ll probably annoy you with how clingy I’ll be."

He paused, looking at you for a long moment before adding in a quieter tone, "But until then, I’ll take this. Every call, every late night, every time I get to hear your voice." A smile tugged at his lips, a mix of playful and tender. "So don’t ever think you’re boring me, okay? I could listen to you forever."