Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Routine. It’s important. There’s no fumbling to get ready at the last minute or running around the apartment to make sure nothing important is left behind. The body moves mechanically after doing the same routine over and over, there’s no conscious thinking, just moving.

Jungkook loves routine.

He wakes up earlier than he needs to just in case, prepared for anything that could interrupt his need to be on time. With eyes closed and sleep still tugging at him, routine helps him brush his teeth and collect the clothes he laid out the night before without thinking about it. Even responding to Hoseok’s late night texts are part of it, Jungkook standing outside of the running shower in his underwear, laughing tiredly at Hoseok’s shenanigans before finding the playlist he has made for the morning.

It’s routine, important, a necessity for Jungkook to have in his busy life. He doesn’t allow anything to interrupt it.

Jungkook touches lightly over the black and white striped tie hanging from his throat, patting it down until it lays flat against the white, crisp dress shirt. He inhales deeply, watching his cheeks form into bubbles in the mirror before deflating.

Once he’s tucked his shirt into the band of his pants, he straps on his belt and reaches for his comb. The wind knocks at the windows, signaling that Jungkook either shouldn’t put too much effort in slicking his hair back and curling it over his forehead just right, or he should use Yoongi’s extra, super, mega hold hairspray.

Jungkook considers it, but the smell is strong and his roommate will definitely know he’s used it. The day is going to suck already, he doesn’t need a scolding from Yoongi as well. Not that Yoongi ever sticks to his scoldings well, he is a bit of a sucker for the wide eye, innocent look Jungkook sends his way whenever he’s in trouble.

Said roommate is currently passed out on the living room couch, one arm hanging off and mouth opened wide around quiet snores. There’s lipstick smudged over his cheeks and his pants are half off, hanging from one leg. Jungkook smiles fondly as he pulls the cloth the rest of the way off, just to throw the blanket on the back of the couch over him.

It’s surprising they work so well at living together when Jungkook is big on routine and Yoongi wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole. But taking care of Yoongi after a night out with Hoseok is part of the routine and Jungkook finds himself leaving the apartment after cleaning Yoongi’s mess right on schedule.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are the busiest day of the week for Jungkook. Normally, classes start at nine and go through until four, where Jungkook is skipping over bushes and hidden pathways to get to work on time. Despite this, Jungkook has taken an extra shift at the tutoring center for the mornings. Seven in the morning. It’s a devastating time and Jungkook’s feeling the exhaustion already, but he’s stubborn.

His mother had insisted it would be too much for him, uncaring that the president of the school himself asked Jungkook to tutor his son. Between needing to work to afford to live and attempting to maintain a high enough grade point average to keep his scholarship, Jungkook can get quite worn out throughout the semester. But he agreed to do it, and he told his mother he can handle it even if he wasn’t sure, so now he has to prove her wrong.

Even if Jungkook dies of exhaustion and extremely high blood pressure from eating too much microwaveable ramen.

The campus is pretty empty given the early hour and anyone who is awake drag their feet or sucks down their coffee from the student center like their lives depend on it. Coffee makes his hands a bit shaky, his stomach jittery, but Jungkook wanders into the student cafe anyway in case it’s his last chance to ever see it.

It’s dramatic, some would say. But also some (most people) don’t seem to dislike the President Kim’s son the way Jungkook does. He’s insanely popular even though Jungkook didn’t think that would still be a thing in college. He lives up on a high horse and a podium of privilege, not needing to work hard or care about school at all. He doesn’t have to worry about living his life drowning in debt, and despite how amazing it is to not pay for a higher education, he’s doing nothing to deserve a free ride.

It surprised him when the President came to him, stressing the important of his son’s grades when his son didn’t care himself. Jungkook had been resistant at accepting at first. But, with a handful of praise over Jungkook’s grades that left Jungkook’s back hurting from bowing in gratitude and an implied bribe at helping him with his tuition, Jungkook gave in.  

Reminding himself of this, Jungkook slams his way into the tutor center, his hands burning around a coffee that tastes too cheap for the price. The President’s son rarely shows up to class; Jungkook prays he’s a consistent man and treats his tutoring sessions the same way.

But with twenty one years of bad luck, Jungkook should have known today he wouldn’t suddenly be granted it.

“Jeon, you’re late.”

Kim Taehyung.

He sits perched on the back of one of the couches in the waiting room, elbows resting on top of his spread knees. There’s a shit eating grin on his lips as he tilts his head back, taking Jungkook in.

Jungkook adjusts the glasses perched on the nose he’s trying hard not to wrinkle. Taehyung is as done up as always, hair styled in perfect blond waves and pale eyeshadow dotted around his kohl lined eyes. He wears a loose, almost see through floral blouse that he has tucked into a pair of slacks that Jungkook knows are more expensive than anything in his life.

It’s annoying really, that just one glance at him and he’s reminded of how wealthy Taehyung is. Reminded that Taehyung is here for free, though he could afford it without problem, and doesn’t even fucking try.

Meanwhile, Jungkook’s working so hard he barely sleeps and some nights he has to skip dinner and lie to Yoongi about it.

“No I’m not,” Jungkook says as he gestures towards the clock hanging in the middle of the room, ignoring the fact that he is indeed two minutes late because he had a crisis outside of the academic building about whether or not he should go through with this. “Give me a sec and I’ll be right with you, Mr. Kim.”

Taehyung presses his lips together, amusement in his eyes and Jungkook tries not to run off.

Jungkook makes quick work of setting up a room, making sure the whiteboard is clean and spreading out the materials that he had gotten from Taehyung’s professor. The faster he starts, the faster it gets over with.

Before he can open the door and call Taehyung in, Taehyung is sauntering past him and into the study room. With his lips puckered, he teases his fingers around Jungkook’s tie, tugging slightly until Jungkook frowns and pushes his hands off.

“You make a pretty cute teacher, Jeon.”

Kim Taehyung is maddening.

Jungkook smoothes down his shirt, hoping the sweat on his palms doesn’t stain the material. “Did you bring your assignments like I asked?”

“Mhm,” Taehyung hums as he drops a bag to the table before taking a seat. Despite the elegant way he carries himself, Taehyung sits laid back with his legs spread as far as they could possibly go. “I attempted it.”

Sitting beside Taehyung, Jungkook waits for him to retrieve the packet of homework. He hands it off with a tired sigh that Jungkook returns when he realizes Taehyung only answered one out of thirty questions.

“This is quite simple,” Jungkook murmurs, trying not to assume that Taehyung only answered one out of apathy and instead because he doesn’t understand it. Even if past experience tells him the opposite. “Do you have your notes, Mr. Kim?”

“You can call me Taehyung,” Taehyung muses as he pulls a notebook from his bag. “Tae, Tae Tae, babe, whichever you prefer.”

Jungkook takes the notebook without looking at Taehyung’s eyes. They’re always bright like that, but there’s teasing in his smile and Jungkook refuses to let his cheeks burn beneath it.

The notes consist of doodles (impressive ones, Jungkook will admit it) in the margins and nothing else related to chemistry except for the top headline. It’s not surprising. They’ve had enough shared classes together that Jungkook knows Taehyung has a tendency to focus on the lines of his notebook more so than whatever the professor is saying.

“Okay, good start,” Jungkook tries. Luckily, it is basic enough of chemistry that he doesn’t need to rely on Taehyung’s notes as much. It’s so basic, that Taehyung must be re-taking it if he’s in the first year class as a sophomore.

“What’s your major?” Taehyung asks, unconcerned with his obvious lack at of attempt.

“Biochemistry. This first page here is just labeling of the periodic table. The groups here, those are the vertical lines, are put together based on similar properties -”

“Is biochemistry difficult?”

Jungkook glances up from the packet. Taehyung still looks amused. Jungkook’s mother used to scold him when he made faces, telling him his face would stick that way. He never believed it until he met Taehyung. “Um, a bit yeah. Anyway, the horizontal lines are called periods -”

“What exactly does one do with biochemistry?”

With a loud exhale from his nose, Jungkook continues explaining the assignment. The first page is just labeling the different parts of the periodic table, something Taehyung could do easily just by opening the first page of his textbook.

Taehyung stays quiet then but with every glance, Jungkook knows he isn’t paying attention. He fidgets a lot, stares a lot with that dumb grin on his face and constantly plays with his pencil by his lips.

Jungkook takes the pencil away because it’s distracting . It has nothing to do with the attention it brings to his full lipped, heart shaped mouth, or anything, but the hums Taehyung lets out whenever the wood touches his lips.

“This here is called the atomic number - Taehyung-ssi, are you paying attention?”

Taehyung raises his brows. “Hm? Of course. Atomic number, please continue.”

So Jungkook does and for the first page it goes smoothly, but the distractions continue with sighing from Taehyung and a brief intermission of Taehyung trying to steal his pencil back.

He’s successful and immediately presses it to his lips. “What’s your zodiac sign?”

“Virgo,” Jungkook responds without thinking. He frowns, glaring. “Why?”

“Hm, I can work with that,” Taehyung says. “I’m a Capricorn.”

“Fascinating. Now back to Chemistry -”

“Isn’t that what I was talking about?” Taehyung muses, folding a hand under his chin. There’s a gleam in his eyes that makes Jungkook flush. “Tell me, Jungkookie, how come I never see you at any parties? You’re on the track team with Jiminie, right?”

Jungkook clears his throat. This is going to take awhile, he can tell getting Taehyung to pay attention will be like pulling teeth but Jungkook’s a patient guy. They have a little less than two hours before Jungkook has to go to his first morning class, if he runs across campus.

“I am. I don’t have time for partying.”

The truth is, Jungkook isn’t a huge fan of it. It’s so obvious when he’s dragged to one by Yoongi and Hoseok, that they’ve stopped inviting him. Whether it’s because they know Jungkook is uncomfortable or because he’s a mood killer, Jungkook isn’t sure.

Jungkook’s more comfortable around smaller crowds, quieter music. Even with alcohol in his system, he prefers spending his free time with a handful of his friends, not the entire campus of people he barely knows.

Taehyung wrinkles his nose and taps Jungkook’s cheek with the eraser end of his pencil until Jungkook’s pulling away. “It’s college. There’s always time for partying. You should come to Joon’s this Friday. Everyone will be there.”

The nerves are back as Jungkook fidgets with the homework packet, embarrassed under Taehyung’s constant gaze. “I can’t. It’s not really my thing.”

Even if Jungkook did enjoy partying, he doesn’t have time between studying to death and trying not to have a lifelong debt just to afford the four years of stress.

“Oh please,” Taehyung whines, lips pouting as he pokes Jungkook’s cheek with the pencil. “One party. You’re stiff, Jungkookie. Loosen up a bit.”

“I’m plenty loose.”

The embarrassment flushes through Jungkook so quickly he nearly runs out of the study room when Taehyung’s face lights up. It’s so bright he shines with it, rays of laughter bouncing off the walls and landing on Jungkook’s cheeks until they burn.

“Are you? Did you have other intentions here than just studying? I’m open minded enough to consider it.”

There’s mirth in Taehyung’s eyes when he says it, teeth gripping at his bottom lip as he reaches over like he might just grab Jungkook’s tie again.

Jungkook huffs out, scrambling Taehyung’s things together across the table and dodging the touch. He isn’t sure why Taehyung is messing with him and wasting his time like this.

“We - we should focus. We don’t have much time left and we haven’t even started the second page.”

Taehyung leans back in the chair and gestures towards the packet but his eyes never leave Jungkook’s face.

They don’t end up getting much done with Taehyung’s constant questions, but Jungkook is satisfied with at least half of the packet finished and some hours of volunteer work complete.

It wouldn’t matter to him whether or not Taehyung passed or failed, but the president had stressed how important it was for Taehyung to do well. Though that really isn’t Jungkook’s problem, the idea of a couple thousand being chopped away from his annual tuition is a good motivator.

“So, I have a question,” Taehyung says, tapping the pencil to the packet. “This is the Atomic Number, right?”

It seems silly, but Jungkook is relieved that Taehyung is finally showing that he has been paying attention. He’s been dreading these sessions and today has confirmed his suspicions that they would be rough to get through.

“Yes, that’s right Taehyung.”

Taehyung pushes his lips together, brows furrowing as he glances back at the paper. Jungkook opens his lips to explain more, to relieve the question still lingering in Taehyung’s expression but that same amusement returns to Taehyung’s eyes.

“So if that’s the Atomic Number, what’s your number?”

Really, Jungkook shouldn’t have been surprised.

An awkward laugh leaves his lips as Jungkook pushes the packet back to Taehyung. “It isn’t relevant.”

“No?” Taehyung says, quirking a brow. “What if I need your help? Or I need to reschedule?”

It’s confusing, how Taehyung sounds concerned but looks like he’s having a laugh. If he is having a laugh, Jungkook doesn’t get what’s so funny. “There’s a receptionist up front for a reason.”

He refuses to give Taehyung his number. The torture stays in one place. He really doesn’t need it to follow him through classes and work, too. He’s been successful in avoiding Taehyung outside of classes, which being busy and not going to parties had helped with. He only sees Taehyung in passing, usually in the student center, or at track meets.

“I’ll just ask Jimin,” Taehyung hums as he leans back in his chair, watching as Jungkook moves to leave. “Will I see you Friday?”

There’s a tug on his neck before Jungkook can rise from his seat and really, Jungkook is regretting the tie. Taehyung rubs at the fabric though his eyes never leave Jungkook’s face.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jungkook agrees because he has a feeling Taehyung isn’t going to let it go.

Taehyung peers his eyes at him. “You better be there, Jungkookie. It’ll be a great way for us to work on our chemistry.”

Heat soars to Jungkook’s ears. “If you were concerned about chemistry, you would have focused on finishing your homework.”

Taehyung grins lopsidedly, hand still wrapped around Jungkook’s tie as he nears. “How about this. If I finish this packet by class on Wednesday, you’ll go to Joon’s.”

Really, Jungkook doesn’t understand why Taehyung is so insistent. They have never spoken much, only here and there when they’ve been forced to partner with each other in class. Partnered together as in Jungkook doing all the work and not getting much more than a shrug or a twirl of a pencil from Taehyung as he claimed not to know any of the answers.

“Deal?” Taehyung pushes, raising an eyebrow.

Jungkook peels Taehyung’s hand from his tie. “I can’t, really.”

There’s a pout to Taehyung’s lips as he swings his arms. “Please?

“No.”

Jungkook feels trapped when Taehyung pushes into his space. The pout is gone, the innocent of his eyes slipping away as Taehyung plants his hands on the wall behind Jungkook’s head, trapping him.

“What if I told daddy dearest that I stopped showing up to the sessions because how you made me feel so unintelligent. ‘Oh this is an easy one, Tae, how don’t you get it?’”

Jungkook’s eyes grow wide as he pushes his hands against Taehyung’s chest, urging him back. “I didn’t say it like that.”

Tapping his own chin, Taehyung purses his lips in consideration. “Really? That’s how I remember it.”

Over the last two years, much of Jungkook’s contempt towards Taehyung had been out of annoyance and a bit of jealousy that Jungkook would never admit out loud. Sometimes he felt bad for it, trying not to judge someone just because they have it a bit easier than him.

Jungkook wonders how quickly contempt can turn to hate.

“Fine. Deal.”

Taehyung jumps on his toes, a smile of victory on his face like he hadn’t just threatened Jungkook to get his way. “Okay good, see you tomorrow then!”

Jungkook whips around as Taehyung pushes past him. Tutoring is only scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays. That’s the only thing Jungkook agreed to because he barely has any time on his schedule for it. “What?”

“How else am I going to finish this packet?” Taehyung asks as he swings himself from the door. “I barely got anything done today.”

As Taehyung leaves, Jungkook rubs a hand down his face. He really should have listened to his mother. A few thousand more in debt is worth not dealing with this.

He only gives himself a moment to catch his breath before taking off in a run across campus. It’s moments like these that Jungkook is glad that he’s fast, because he hates being late and Taehyung kept him longer than he had time for.

He has a routine that he needs to follow and he knows, in the pit of his gut, that Taehyung is going to fuck it up.

The morning before his second session with Taehyung, Jungkook is just as nervous. He considers multiple excuses to not go, not wanting to give into Taehyung’s threats because the President is more than aware of Taehyung’s apathy for school, but he finds himself tracking into the tutor hall five minutes before scheduled.

It isn’t the worst thing in the world, Jungkook tells himself. At least Taehyung isn’t trying to make Jungkook to do his work for him and his questions are pretty innocent. But he kind of needs Taehyung to focus and he really doesn’t want to go to Senior Namjoon’s party on Friday.

Taehyung is waiting for him despite arriving early. He has two cups of coffee in hand, a lollipop between his lips, this time sitting properly on the waiting room couch. His normal curly style is pushed back with a red bandana and his normal dark, amused eyes are a piercing blue.

“Good morning,” Taehyung says, much too awake at the early hour as he hands off one cup. “No tie today?”

As soon as his hand is free, Taehyung reaches up to undo the button at Jungkook’s collar. He cocks his head, admiring. “Cute.”

Jungkook considers packing aloe with him to soothe his heated face as he follows after Taehyung. “I don’t have as much time today. My first class is on the other side of the campus at eight o’clock.”

“I’ll drive you,” Taehyung offers as he saunters into the study room before Jungkook. Today Taehyung’s dressed much more casually, a plaid shirt thrown over a loose tank top. His jeans are so ripped he might as well not be wearing them, his knee and most of his calf popping out of the loose material.

“No - no, it’s fine,” Jungkook says, adjusting his bag over his shoulder. Taehyung points his lollipop at him, ignoring the signs that ban food and drink in the study rooms. “Exercise is good.”

Taehyung halts in the entrance of the study room, turning to Jungkook. It’s deliberate and slow the way he rakes his eyes over Jungkook’s body.

“You work out often?”

“I’m on the track team, remember? With Jimin?”

Jungkook clears his throat. Taehyung hovers a hand over Jungkook’s arm and Jungkook finds himself nodding before he realizes what he’s nodding too. Taehyung hums appreciatively as he squeezes Jungkook’s bicep and Jungkook wonders if Taehyung is determined to aggravate him when he licks over his bottom lip.

“We should work out together sometime.”

Ignoring this, Jungkook pushes past Taehyung where he blocks the entrance and places his coffee onto the table. “We should focus today, Taehyung-ssi. If you can.”

“Put a bag over your head and maybe I could,” Taehyung sighs like he’s distraught, dropping his backpack onto the table. He completes it with a look of devastation in and a pout thrown in Jungkook’s direction.

“Wh-what?”

The pout turns into a smirk as Jungkook settles himself into his seat. The piercing blue contacts makes Taehyung’s gaze seem even more intimidating. He looks like a predator, ready to devour when he tilts his head back and parts his lips, eyes peering at Jungkook.

“I told you, you’re a cute teacher,” Taehyung responds as he presses his elbow onto the table. The stance shows off the strength in his neck, the sharp of his jaw, and Jungkook looks away. “So go on cutie, teach.”

“Focus this time?” Jungkook asks as he opens the packet to where they left off.

Taehyung sighs, rolling his eyes but he nods. “Yes, sir .”

This time, it’s Jungkook’s turn to peer his eyes at Taehyung. What look he is going for, he isn’t sure, but whatever it is, it doesn’t work as Taehyung reaches over and touches his knuckle to Jungkook’s hot cheeks.

The second session progresses nearly the same as the first, except they manage to finish two whole pages instead of just one. Taehyung finally fills a few pages of his notebook with actual notes, though they’re scattered, hard to read or hard to find amongst even more doodles.

“We should probably meet before class tomorrow.” Taehyung asks as he packs his bag.

Jungkook yawns. He had homework after work, which kept him up into the early hours of the morning. The stress for today’s meeting hadn’t helped his sleep, keeping it broken and Jungkook restless.  “What time?”

“How’s six?”

Jungkook startles, nearly tumbling from his chair. They say going to bed earlier and having a full night’s sleep is good for your health, but Jungkook isn’t sure how anyone is expected to do that.

“I think you can handle it on your own.”

Taehyung pouts his lips. “Please. I need to really pass this class.”

“Then you really need to pay attention.”

Ignoring him, Taehyung settles in the chair directly beside Jungkook and plants a hand to his knee. “Then we’ll finish it tonight. You can come to my place.”

Jungkook doesn’t understand Taehyung one bit and his stomach is a mess and his skin is frying off. He’s trying to do his job, make an honorable living despite not being paid.

“I work tonight.”

Taehyung sighs. “Fine, fine. Can you give me your number so I can message you if I need help then?”

Reluctantly, Jungkook takes the phone that’s offered to him to input his phone number. Taehyung looks sincere this time and it’s confusing how quickly he goes from looking like he doesn’t give a shit, to now looking worried.

“Perfect,” Taehyung says as he flies from his seat. “Ciao baby.”

Jungkook remains in his seat long after Taehyung is gone, sulking in misery and confusion until Hoseok comes in to kick him out. He has to run to get to class in time, rushing through the door out of breath and filling with annoyance when he sees only the first row of desks available.

He’s studious, but he hates being front row. The professors call on him enough as it is and even though Jungkook usually knows the answers, he hates the attention on him.

Even if the other students aren’t paying attention or look like they could care less, Jungkook’s stomach always tilts when his name is called.

“Sorry professor,” Jungkook hums, bowing his head apologetically as he takes his seat.

“No worries, Jungkook-ssi. I hope everything is fine. I was concerned when I didn’t see you waiting outside.”

Jungkook flushes. “I picked up volunteer hours at the tutoring center.”

His professor purses her lips. “Don’t overwork yourself, Mr. Jeon.”

He opens his lips to promise he won’t, but his bag vibrates loudly on his desk and he flushes apologizing again.

It doesn’t take long for Jungkook to regret handing his phone number as more texts start coming through. There’s more questions about Jungkook’s job (Burger Deluxe) and his favorite snacks (everything tasty), memes that Jungkook pretends not to laugh at and absolutely nothing to do with chemistry.

The texting lasts even through Jungkook’s shifts and he ignores the fact that he’s constantly checking his phone to see if Taehyung has responded. Sometimes he doesn’t reply, usually out of embarrassment from a too personal question, but he always finds something else to change the subject when really he could just stop texting all together.

jungkook: you better be doing your homework

taehyung: or what? you’ll punish me?

Jungkook shuts off his screen and tries not to throw his phone at the family waiting patiently for their dinner. He adjusts the paper hat placed on his head, face burning.

taehyung: are you into that jeon? they DO say it’s the quiet ones

jungkook: what do they say about the row of chemicals at the bottom of the periodic table?

“Who are you texting?”

Jungkook jumps where he stands by the counter in the kitchen, finding Yoongi staring amusedly at him. He crosses his arms, tilting his head in question and Jungkook finds the urge to hide his phone.

“You know how President Kim asked me to tutor his son?”

Interest has Yoongi’s brows raising. “Taehyung-ssi, yeah. How’s that going?”

“Oh, it’s awful hyung,” Jungkook complains, head hanging as his phone beeps again and he has to resist the urge to look at the message. “We worked together three hours and barely got through a thirty question packet.”

Yoongi rubs the top of Jungkook’s head, fluffing his hair. “I bet it’s not that bad.”

“It is,” Jungkook says seriously. It really isn’t; Taehyung is just frustrating and confusing.

Yoongi laughs loudly at that, lips pulling back to reveal teeth and gums. “Go easy on him, Jungkookie. Taehyung’s had a really hard time with school.”

Jungkook frowns at that, glaring at Yoongi but Yoongi doesn’t offer more as he walks past Jungkook to the refrigerator.

He would be more understanding if Taehyung just found the class difficult, if he put effort in and was still struggling. But it is hard to feel sympathetic when Taehyung has only tried to continue messing with him.

There’s something about the feel of his feet pounding into the pavement, the heat covering his skin and the sweat slipping down his neck that Jungkook feels addicted too. The adrenaline, the dopamine, filtering through his system and pushing him more and more . It’s what he loves best about running.

His heart pumps quickly in his chest, lungs trying to catch as much air as possible as Jungkook slows to a jog. His hair is damp to his forehead and his shirt is uncomfortably sticking to his chest, but he feels euphoric.

It’s a stress reliever. Jungkook feels loose as he grabs his water bottle on the sideline. His workload has grown in only a couple of days, he even has to swap shifts with someone at work to focus on the amount. Plus, Taehyung hasn’t stopped texting him about Namjoon’s party and though he hasn’t threatened him again, Jungkook hasn’t forgotten it.

“Hey!”

Jungkook leans back against the fence as Jimin jogs over to him. His blue hair is glued to his forehead, his shirt discarded somewhere on the track. The air is starting to cool, but Jimin’s skin burns bright red for exertion.

“What are you? A speed demon?” Jimin asks, panting as he rests his palms to his knees and glares at Jungkook. They don’t have practice today and Jungkook really doesn’t have the time to spare, but it was hard to say no when Jimin asked.

It’s okay to take a break, right?

“No, I just don’t have munchkin legs.”

Jimin rips up, not hesitating to lift his leg as high as he can to kick Jungkook. Jungkook stops him easily, grabbing him the ankle and twisting gently.

Neither one of them run with the same crowd, though Jungkook really doesn’t spend time with anyone but Yoongi. Jimin’s part of the party crew as Jungkook calls it. They don’t have fraternities here, but Jimin’s crew is the closest thing to it. They’re the ones running through campus shirtless with paint on their skin during school events, handing out fliers every week for ‘exclusive parties’ and off campus keggers.

But Jimin is kind, funny, and doesn’t hold that air of arrogance around anyone. He’s from a family of wealth but he works hard at school, Jungkook’s found him often in the library. He even reaches out to Jungkook whenever he’s struggling.

Jungkook really only has Yoongi and Hoseok as friends, though they don’t count because he grew up with them. But Jimin is the closest thing to that. They just don’t hang out often unless it’s to run.

Because Jimin just happens to be Taehyung’s best friend, maybe boyfriend. Jungkook’s undecided.

“You’re a shit,” Jimin huffs, ripping his leg from Jungkook. “Are you coming to Joon’s tonight?”

Jungkook’s stomach rattles as he shakes his head, depositing the empty water bottle into his bag. Jimin frowns then, eyebrows stitching together as he reaches for his own.

“Tae Tae said you were.”

It’s difficult not to groan as Jungkook presses his fingers to his temple, chest still heaving from exertion.

“I have a question about Taehyung.”

There’s amusement on Jimin’s face as he finishes downing his bottle and crunches it in his hand. He wipes at his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand. “I’m not giving away his phone number.”

Jungkook stills in his attempts at pulling off his own sweat soaked shirt. “What? No, I already have it.”

Jimin raises his eyebrows at that. “Oh really.”

There’s something about his tone, the way he purses his lips, that makes Jungkook feel hot. He throws the sweaty shirt to the ground, savoring the cool air dancing over his skin.

Maybe they aren’t dating.

“Why do you say it like that?”

Jimin shrugs, but his lips are pressed into a grin that confuses Jungkook more. “Come to the party, Kook. You need a break.”

“This was my break,” Jungkook clarifies, but Jimin isn’t listening as he waves his arm over his head, calling for someone.

And dread sinks down Jungkook’s spine when Jimin glances at him with a grin. He doesn’t even have to turn around to see who it is, he can practically feel Taehyung’s amused eyes on him.

“Jeon,” Taehyung says, sauntering up to the fence separating the track and the bleachers. He isn’t shy about the way his eyes drag down Jungkook’s body, nor the way he licks his lips when he props his elbows on the fence. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“I told you he was with me,” Jimin snorts.

Taehyung ignores this with a wave of his hand, biting at his bottom lip. “Will I see you tonight?”

Jungkook is trapped. There are plenty of ways he can get out of this, but he doesn’t truly know if Taehyung would tell his father that Jungkook’s made him feel bad. When he hasn’t . Taehyung may not care about school, but that doesn’t make someone a liar.

It just isn’t something Jungkook can take the chance in risking. It’s more than just the money; if the President hates him, he could make life hell for Jungkook.

“Yeah.”

Taehyung’s cheeks bunch over his smile. He reaches over the fence, making Jungkook jolt when his finger presses into the dip between his collarbones. “You should wear this.”

Jimin’s laugh filters through the air as his shoulder smacks against Jungkook’s. “Tae, your flirting could really use some improvement.”

Definitely not boyfriends.

Taehyung walks backwards, winking at Jeongguk as Jimin jumps over the fence to join him. He doesn’t respond nor return the wiggle of Taehyung’s fingers in a wave. Is that what Taehyung is doing? Flirting?”

Jungkook doesn’t think so. If he was, why suddenly? It’s not like they just met.

The music is loud. So loud that Jungkook can feel it vibrating through his body as he tries to make it through the overheated living room. The strict, no separation rule he had set into place before arriving here has already been broken, and they haven’t even been here long.

Yoongi and Hoseok know everyone apparently, as it was easy for them to get dragged off without Jungkook realizing. He’s unfamiliar with the house, on which way to go to even start looking. There’s some people he recognizes, some he could approach to talk to. But one, Jungkook doesn’t want to. And two, he doubts anyone here wants to talk about science while shit faced.

Relief comes in the form of an open space, air that doesn’t feel too stuffy to breathe. There’s light too, pouring out from the kitchen. It’s a massive house, one that looks like it holds several bedrooms. The kitchen is just as large, holding a table in the middle that’s covered in cups. There’s a crowd surrounding it and it isn’t any quieter here, but at least there’s more space.

Hoseok’s laughter stands out anyway, his teeth out as he bends over and laughs. Jungkook almost sends his thanks into the sky before he spots who Hoseok throws an arm around.

Kim Taehyung.

Jungkook considers sinking back out and finding Yoongi instead, but he hears his name and a minute later there’s hands on his back, pushing him forward.

Jimin’s eyes are heavy and unfocused, his grin lopsided as he pushes Jungkook towards Hoseok and Taehyung. He’s unaware of Jungkook’s attempts to stop him, his heels digging into the linelolium. He might be small but he’s strong, pushing Jungkook without losing his breath.

Taehyung notices them first, a smile already plastered on his face when his eyes fall onto Jungkook. He’s quick to sink away from Hoseok’s touch and get into Jungkook’s space, thrusting his cup into Jungkook’s chest.

“You actually came,” Taehyung laughs. “I didn’t think you would.”

Frowning at that, Jungkook pushes back the cup. He may not be too up with party culture, but he sure as hell knows not to accept a drink from anyone. “You threatened me.”

Taehyung sighs, throwing an arm around Jungkook’s shoulder. He throws his head back as he takes a long sip of his drink and hands it back to Jungkook. “I was just kidding, baby. Have a drink.”

With burning ears, Jungkook accepts the drink with the attempt at cooling down. Taehyung doesn’t let his shoulder go even when Hoseok approaches and punches him gently in the chest.

“Oh no, back off Kim,” Hoseok huffs, stealing Taehyung’s attention. “I know that look. Don’t you dare.”

“What look?” Taehyung murmurs innocently before he turns back to Jungkook and pokes him in the cheek. “You wanna play?”

Jungkook clears his throat. “No, no thank you.”

It makes Taehyung smile wider. “So polite. You need to experience the party life, Jeon. One round.”

Jungkook looks warily at the table, at the red cups set up in diamond form. Hoseok’s clapping his back, cheering excitedly as he swears Taehyung is the beer pong champ.

It’s been awhile since Jungkook’s gotten drunk. Since high school, on a last minute camping trip he had gone on with Hoseok and Yoongi to celebrate Jungkook getting into the same school as them.

“Okay, just one round.”

Taehyung sticks to his word of just one round. Jungkook had worried he wouldn’t, especially when his head started to feel the alcohol in his system. Yoongi had found him halfway through the game, forcing a water bottle onto him that he sips at now. Even barely awake, wasted out of his mind, Yoongi would find a way to tend to him.

He also holds a can of beer that will probably be warm by the time he gets to it, but Taehyung had insisted before pulling him away from the kitchen and Hoseok. Jungkook considers downing it in fear of Taehyung pulling him into the crowded living room, but he diverts it and heads to the back porch instead.

“Come on, you smoke?”

Jungkook feels flustered by Taehyung’s attention, the hand on his arm and the smile inches from his face.

Taehyung truly is attractive. He wears a headband again, pushing his hair so it curls back. His ears are aligned with earrings that dangle and sparkle, his full lips a deep read but the rest of his face clear of makeup. He wears an oversized tank top despite the cool air outside, showing off the ridges of his ribcage and the thin muscle on his sides. Those same ripped jeans are back, the ones that really don’t cover much more than his crotch and ankles.

Up close, Jungkook can’t think about it because Taehyung smiles whenever his face reddens.

Maybe the alcohol actually is affecting him.

“Um -”

Taehyung wrinkles his nose as he pushes open the door. The porch is closed in, the top half of the walls screen windows that are opened as wide as they can go. There’s plants covering the ground and hanging from the ceiling, an old floral couch in the middle. There’s a few wicker chairs too and all the seats are occupied, but Taehyung fits himself on the arm of the couch.

“I won’t force you, but you should try it,” Taehyung says before he’s elbowing the man next to him. “Joonie, this is Jungkook.”

Kim Namjoon is friends with Yoongi; they’ve met a handful of times before. But there’s no recognition in his eyes as he holds up a hand in a wave. Well, Jungkook can’t quite be sure if there’s recognition in them, as Namjoon’s eyes are so heavy that they’re barely cracked open.

“He’s never been to a party before.”

Namjoon wrinkles his nose at that but he’s smiling, waving his hand for Jungkook to come over. There’s nowhere to sit so he just stands awkwardly by Taehyung’s legs as Namjoon holds up a thin, green looking cigarette towards him.

“Welcome dude,” Namjoon says, nudging the blunt towards him. “You’re Yoongi’s brother, eh?”

No, Jungkook thinks, but he nods as he takes the blunt from Namjoon hesitantly. Yoongi’s constantly telling everyone that he’s his baby brother, so he doesn’t clarify that they’re technically not.

“Like this,” Taehyung says as he takes it, turning to Jungkook as he digs into his pocket for a lighter. “You sure you wanna smoke, Jeon?”

“I smoke.”

Taehyung raises his eyebrows at that, amusement returning. “I don’t believe you.”

It’s one thing Jungkook probably shouldn’t do; but it helps him when he’s struggling to sleep at night. Even if it makes him even sleepier in the morning. He doesn’t do it often, only on the weekends because if he oversleeps then, it doesn’t make him late for class or work. It just puts him behind on his homework, so Jungkook still tries not to.

“Why?”

Taehyung curls his lips around the end before he lights it, not answering Jungkook’s question. He inhales, lips pulling back before he lets the smoke curl from his lips.

It’s distracting and Jungkook doesn’t pull his eyes away, even when Taehyung catches him staring at his mouth and grins.

“Because you don’t seem the type,” Taehyung says as he offers Jungkook the blunt again. “Go on, baby.”

Jungkook doesn’t know why Taehyung insists on calling him that or why his ears insist on burning every time, but he takes the blunt between his lips.

And proceeds to choke.

Taehyung huffs out a laugh, but it doesn’t seem cruel as he takes the blunt from Jungkook and stands. They’re about the same height, Taehyung maybe a bit taller as he crowds into Jungkook’s space.

“Like this,” Taehyung says as he pulls the blunt to his lips.

It isn’t a lie; Jungkook knows how to smoke, but he doesn’t insist on convincing him when Taehyung leans forward and breathes smoke over his lips.

Jungkook grows taut, body frozen still. Taehyung pinches his chin, guiding him to part his lips but Jungkook doesn’t move.

Their lips don’t press together, but they’re close Taehyung presses onto Jungkook’s bottom lip to open his mouth and exhales.

It’s dizzying and Jungkook pulls away after he inhales. Taehyung is messing with him again he thinks as Taehyung rests his butt back to the arm of the couch and lets his amused eyes wander over Jungkook.

“You get red a lot,” Taehyung comments, breath tight as he inhales again.

The music is a dull vibration, quiet enough that the people on the porch can hear themselves talk. Taehyung speaks quietly but it sounds like he’s yelling and Jungkook feels his neck grow hot too.

It makes Taehyung huff out a smoky laugh.

“You look like your body is about to break in half, come here.”

“What are you doing?” Jungkook asks, even if he takes a step forward. Taehyung grips the bottom of his shirt, pulling it where it’s tucked into his jeans. He tilts his chin, raising a brow as he brings the blunt back to his lips.

“Working on our chemistry like I said,” Taehyung murmurs, a gleam in his eyes.

“I think you and I have two different definitions of chemistry,” Jungkook says, fiddling with his glasses because Taehyung’s gaze makes him nervous.

Taehyung snorts. “Is that so?”

He cups the back of Jungkook’s neck, carefully indicating for him to lean down as he breathes in the smoke again. This time, Taehyung pushes closer, dangerously close, and Jungkook panics thinking he’ll touch their lips together but someone’s calling his name and saving the day.

Yoongi saunters up to them, his cheeks reddened. “You alright?”

Jungkook nods. It’s really hot on the porch, even with the outside air breezing through the open room. He wants to stretch out his collar and cool himself down, but Taehyung notices too much of everything for him to get away with it.

“Taehyung stop being a shit to Jungkook,” Yoongi says as he takes the blunt from Taehyung.

“I literally haven’t done anything,” Taehyung hums, holding his hands up in innocence. “I’m just trying to show him the party life.”

Yoongi peers his eyes at that, handing the blunt off to Jungkook. “I know you, Kim. If my brother doesn’t make it home safe both physically and mentally, I’ll make your life hell.”

For a moment, the amusement slips from Taehyung’s eyes despite the casual way in which Yoongi threatens him. It comes back a moment later as he kicks at Yoongi.

“Fuck off. Don’t you have a dick to suck?”

Yoongi huffs out a laugh. “Man, I’m trying.”

Jungkook is going to die of embarrassment. He and Yoongi rarely talk about sexual things. It’s awkward when they do. When Jungkook first came to him when he wanted to lose his virginity, Yoongi was extremely textbook, extremely father like. It was just as terrifying as getting the sex talk from his actual father.

Hoseok jokes like sex jokes are his oxygen, but even those embarrass Jungkook. He isn’t a virgin, isn’t new around sex, but sometimes the vulgarity of it all makes his face too hot.

Taehyung glances at his watch. “By now, Jimin-ah has probably dragged Hobi off to the bathrooms if you want to join them and leave me and your dongsaeng alone.”

What , Jungkook thinks, finding it hard to glance at Yoongi.

“Take care of him, Kim!”

Yoongi is gone without hesitation and Jungkook stares after him, wondering when the fuck any of that happened.

“It’s gross, I know,” Taehyung says, nudging Namjoon to hand him back the roach. “Not the whole poly thing, I’m not judgmental. But like, that’s your hyung, I get it.”

The whole poly thing , Jungkook feels his eyes bugging out of his head.

Taehyung narrows his eyes as he stands. It’s alarming the way his eyes darken, thick brows pressing together as he pokes at Jungkook’s chest. “Are you judging?”

“What? N-no. I just - I just didn’t know.”

Taehyung relaxes immediately, smiling at him. He pokes Jungkook in the cheek. “You’re cute. Come on, I’m fucking high and wanna dance.”

Jungkook stays still, staring at the people around them but none of them pay him any mind. He is being pulled away a second later, dragged towards the suffocating crowd.

It’s fucking hot, Jungkook thinks the moment Taehyung pulls him into the sea of people. Their bodies are forced together but Taehyung’s eyes are closed, head swaying to the pounding music.

Jungkook doesn’t know what to do with his hands. There isn’t much space to move properly and he wishes he were more high, or drunker, but he only feels pleasantly loose. His nerves, though, are still strong enough to make him feel as if he’s never had hands before.

Taehyung slings an arm around Jungkook’s shoulders, bringing him impossibly closer. He opens his eyes then, weaving his free hand through his hair to take in Jungkook.

It’s really hot around the dancing bodies.

“Is it physically impossible for you to loosen up?” Taehyung asks, fingers gripping at the back of his neck.

“Why are you so concerned with it?” Jungkook asks, finally planting his hands to Taehyung’s hips. Neither one of them are moving much, though Taehyung sways his head to the music and taps his fingers to the back of Jungkook’s neck.

“I know my father isn’t paying you,” Taehyung says as he slips his hand down Jungkook’s chest and catches his fingers at the collar of his shirt. “I thought I’d help you get that stick out of your ass as repayment for your help.”

Jungkook frowns at that, but he feels hot when Taehyung drags down the collar of his shirt. His eyes are slightly hazy, heavy, and he keeps licking his lips in a way that is not good for Jungkook.

It could be easily argued that Jungkook hasn’t helped much, though that’s more Taehyung’s fault than his own. He could also tell Taehyung that President Kim implied a reduction in tuition, but there’s more concerning matters to talk about first.

“I don’t have a stick in my ass.”

Taehyung snorts, giggling quietly. “Yes you do, baby.”

He rubs his hands down Jungkook’s forearms then, tickling down them until he takes both of Jungkook’s hands into his own. He tugs, pulling Jungkook until their chests are plastered together.

“Still hot though.”

Jungkook is. His ears are burning and there’s sweat building at his neck. Taehyung has no shame, the teasing back in his eyes as starts to rock his hips.

“Me?”

Taehyung grins at that, sliding his hands back up his arms until he’s cupping the sides of Jungkook’s neck. It makes it hard to breathe, the closeness of everyone, the proximity of Taehyung and the way Taehyung looks at Jungkook’s mouth.

“Mhm,” Taehyung hums with a nod, pressing his lips together. The lipstick is dark, standing out against his tan skin even in the dim lighting of the living room. Taehyung ducks forward, those red stained lips sliding over Jungkook’s ear and a tiny part of him hopes that some stays behind. “Hard to pay attention while thinking about going down on you in the middle of the study center.”

Jungkook squeezes his eyes closed at the words said into his ear. He can feel Taehyung’s laugh before he’s turning, planting his back to Jungkook’s chest.

It’s difficult to dance, it’s difficult to forget Taehyung’s words. He’s never been interested in Taehyung like that, but the image is in his head.

And it doesn’t help that Taehyung arches when he dances, pressing into his hips.

It doesn’t help when Taehyung grabs Jungkook’s hands and plants them to his abdomen, fingers locking between his as he rests his head back against Jungkook’s shoulder.

Jungkook’s clothes are sticking to his skin when Taehyung turns back again. His eyes are dark as he hooks an arm around Jungkook’s shoulders, the other cupping the side of his neck.

A thumb presses under his chin and something sizzles down Jungkook’s back, making him gasp before his eyes are meeting with Taehyung’s.

“Is school work the only thing that relaxes you?” Taehyung asks.

Before, Jungkook had thought maybe Taehyung’s expression was stuck on amused. That his eyes would always be filled with laughter and his mouth a permanent smirk. But Jungkook’s realizing he has this look too and Jungkook isn’t sure which one he hates more.

Taehyung’s eyes are dark and heavy with something that makes Jungkook’s stomach twist. His lips part often, his breathing labored from the dancing.

“Wouldn’t call it relaxing,” Jungkook laughs, wishing he didn’t sound as overwhelmed as he feels. “But yeah.”

The amusement comes back as he slides his hands down Jungkook’s back. “Come on, let’s go study somewhere then.”

Realistically, Jungkook knows they won’t be studying. He highly doubts that Taehyung has any of his material with him, that he would pay attention to the stuff Jungkook could tell him from memory.

When Taehyung grabs more drinks, he knows, he knows that they aren’t studying but he follows after Taehyung anyway.

“This is my favorite part of partying,” Taehyung says as he leads him upstairs. “Disappearing.”

Jungkook stifles a laugh that quick dies on its own as Taehyung pushes open a door, revealing a bedroom.

He’s seen movies, he knows what people do in bedrooms at parties.

With the door closed, the music muffles and Jungkook can now hear the pounding of his heart as Taehyung jumps onto the bed. He sticks a bottle of soju between his thighs, opening the other.

“Why do you like going to parties if you prefer to be alone?”

Jungkook feels dumb for asking when Taehyung frowns around the lip of the bottle, leaning back to hold his weight on one hand.

“I don’t prefer to be alone. You’re here with me.”

“We could be alone literally anywhere else.”

Taehyung grins at that, raising an eyebrow. “Is that so? Would you prefer to go somewhere else?”

No, Jungkook thinks. He’d prefer to be at home, finishing his studies so he doesn’t have to do them after work tomorrow. The party isn’t bad, per se, Jungkook just isn’t a fan of wasting time.

“Jeon,” Taehyung huffs, amused as always. “Come have a drink. Let me help you relax.”

That implies a lot and Jungkook stays rooted where he’s standing, even when Taehyung throws his head and complains loudly.

“You’re like an old man in a really hot, younger body,” Taehyung says with a whine. He jumps from the bed, thrusting the unopened bottle against Jungkook’s chest and grabbing his hand to drag him to the bed. “When was the last time you had fun?”

“I’m having a blast right now,” Jungkook deadpans.

This earns a small smile from Taehyung. Maybe he does need a drink, Jungkook thinks, because his eyes linger on his mouth and he doesn’t think that way about Taehyung.

Taehyung is too frustrating, annoying, pretentious. He watches Jungkook take a drink, smile growing.

“Good boy,” Taehyung hums, picking up his knee to place his elbow onto it, securing his fist beneath his chin. Jungkook wants to get rid of his hot ears. There’s no use for them anyway, right? “Are you truly uncomfortable?”

Jungkook shakes his head. “No, I’m just trying to understand you.”

Taehyung snorts, eyes heavy. “There’s nothing to understand, boo. You look like you need about an ounce of Xanax and I’m trying to help my community here.”

“I don’t look that tense,” Jungkook denies in offense, frowning before he takes another gulp.

It isn’t that he’s uncomfortable, he’s just suddenly very nervous. The awareness of how alone they are, how close they are, has hit him full force and he can’t read Taehyung enough to know his intentions.

One thing Jungkook likes as much as routine and being punctual, is avoiding awkward situations.

“When was the last time you got laid, Jeon?”

Jeongguk sputters as he chokes on the sip he takes, coughing loudly and Taehyung, the shit he is, laughs instead of helps.

“That long?” Taehyung huffs, reaching out to steady the bottle as Jungkook coughs.

“No,” Jungkook breathes, wiping at the tears that build at the corners of his eyes beneath his glasses. “I get laid plenty.”

Another snort. Jungkook can’t tell if Taehyung is mocking him or not. “Jimin-ah tells me the only thing you do is study and work.”

“I’m a broke college student,” Jungkook argues. He sighs, shoulders sinking as he realizes Taehyung is messing with him again. “Why are you talking about me with Jimin-ah hyung?”

Taehyung taps the head of his bottle against Jungkook’s. “Who’s prying now, baby?”

Jungkook’s mouth parts in bewilderment. Taehyung is another breed of human, he thinks. One that makes no sense and is infuriating.

His lips look nice wrapping around the head of the soju bottle.

“I should go,” Jungkook says, attempting to stand but Taehyung is grabbing for him. The pout is back, full lips pushed out and eyes so wide that Jungkook’s heart almost skips a beat.

“Truly, I just want you to have fun,” Taehyung says, holding out a pinky finger. “You have to go to at least one party in college and if it’s just this one, I want to make sure you have a fun time.”

Jungkook eyes him suspiciously. “Why?”

There’s no response for a minute as Taehyung takes another sip. Jungkook follows pursuit, praying the silence doesn’t turn awkward. If it does, it would be his fault, because Taehyung seems like the type to deflect awkwardness.

“What’s your favorite thing besides biochemistry?”

Jungkook frowns at that. He wouldn’t say biochemistry is his favorite thing, it’s just something he’s smart about and hopefully will offer him a career that will help him pay off his debt faster. “Um, I like cats. Big cats.”

“Cats,” Taehyung breathes, clenching his eyes shut. “Oh my god, okay. What else?”

Jungkook is getting hot again under Taehyung’s attention. He drinks faster, gulping. “I’m a part of the environmental club at school. I like that.”

Taehyung watches him as Jungkook rubs his sweaty palms over his thighs. He hates when this happens. He knows the body needs to sweat, but really in this situation? There’s no purpose behind it.

“Okay, but what about hobbies?”

“That is a hobby.”

Letting out a groan, Taehyung nearly flails back onto the bed. “What about video games?”

Jungkook rubs at the back of his neck. “I play them a lot when I’m home.”

Taehyung lifts his leg higher, resting his chin on his forearm as he peers at Jungkook. “Wanna come to mine and play them sometime?”

At least he doesn’t ask why Jungkook doesn’t play them now, Jungkook thinks. “Uh, why?”

Taehyung laughs at that. “I’m trying to be your friend, Jeon. Have you heard of it?”

Jungkook goes to swat at Taehyung, but Taehyung catches his hand and quickly intertwines their fingers. “Of course I’ve heard of a friend. I just don’t understand why. We’ve known each other for like a year.”

“I know, I’ve been trying to be your friend,” Taehyung says, squeezing their fingers. “But you’re a bit anti social. I blame it on that stick up your ass.”

Jungkook grunts, pushing their clasped hands but he doesn’t let go. His head feels a bit heavy, but nothing too much. It feels nice and maybe Jungkook does need time to relax sometime, but he can’t conjure time out of his ass.

“Yeah, yeah,” Taehyung interrupts as soon as Jungkook’s mouth open. “No stick up there, got it. Turn around.”

There’s that look again, the smirk, the dark eyes, and despite his words, Taehyung doesn’t let go of Jungkook’s hand either.

“Why?”

“Is that your favorite word?”

Jungkook huffs before he turns around. The hair on the back of his neck stands up being unable to see Taehyung, to know what he’s doing. He never told Jungkook he couldn’t look at him, but Jungkook stays rock still anyway.

He tenses even more when he feels hands on his back, rubbing over his shoulders. He winces when Taehyung digs a thumb into the back of his neck.

“Do you get headaches?”

“Um, yes?” Jungkook asks. He takes another sip, breathing out through his nose.

He doesn’t know why he just doesn’t get up and leave.

“This is why,” Taehyung says softly, rubbing more at his neck. It hurts, forcing a gasp from Jungkook’s lips. “You’re too tense.”

But it also feels good as Taehyung continues, rubbing, circling, and digging his thumbs into Jungkook’s neck and shoulders.

It feels too good and Jungkook flushes when he sighs a bit too loudly. Taehyung only hums in response, fingers digging harder.

He sips at his drink nervously, finding his body taking over and sinking into Taehyung’s touch. Jungkook has always been careful to massage his legs and stretch, but he hasn’t felt his body loosen up as much like this before.

“Do you always do this when you sneak off?” Jungkook finds himself asking.

Taehyung laughs quietly. “Uh, not quite this but touching, yes.”

Jungkook flushes so hard he’s afraid his cheeks might just fall off. He doesn’t realize he’s pulling away until Taehyung is laughing.

“Don’t worry, just touching your back,” Taehyung hums as he circles his thumbs down Jungkook’s spine. “Though if you wanted me to touch elsewhere, I would.”

Jungkook grits his teeth. He needs to go soon because his body is reacting in a way he can’t control and it’s Taehyung .

He’s about to turn around and tell Taehyung he thinks his body is loose enough when Taehyung grinds his thumbs into the bottom of his spine, pulling a low groan from Jungkook’s lips.

The room is too quiet and Jungkook bites his bottom lip hard enough it could bleed. He may be tipsy, but he’s definitely not drunk. If he was drunk, he wouldn’t care about the buzz in his belly and the way his dick twitches in interest.

It’s Taehyung .

“We should go dance again,” Jungkook tries, even though the nerves inside of him make him want to hightail it out of Namjoon’s house all together.

Taehyung pulls his hands away, planting them behind himself as Jungkook turns around. His eyes are dark again, contrasting with that fucking smirk of his.

Maybe he should drink more and get over the panic he feels wanting to wander his eyes over the length of Taehyung’s body and settle where his shirt rides up.

“I thought you wanted to study?”

It’s Taehyung and he’s infuriating .

“Study my ass while I walk out,” Jungkook grits out.

The room lights up with a laugh that’s loud enough to make the music sound non existent. It’s difficult for Jungkook not to turn around and see the face Taehyung makes when he laughs, but he has to remain strong in his exit.

Taehyung doesn't let him go far, though, and he’s barely in the hallway before there’s arms wrapping around him.

“Wait, I need to study a bit more,” Taehyung huffs in his ear, the laugh still in his tone.

“Then let me go,” Jungkook breathes even though there’s a voice inside of him telling him he doesn’t want Taehyung to. Maybe the alcohol.

To his surprise, Taehyung does, letting Jungkook walk off. But a whistle is quick to follow once Jungkook puts enough distance between them.

He can’t help but look over his shoulder and find Taehyung really staring at his ass. At least it looks genuine when Taehyung glances up and his eyes go wide like he wasn’t expecting to be caught.

It slips away quickly, morphing into that expression that usually sits on his face.

“I thought you just had a flat ass, Jungkook, but after some research I see it’s quite nice,” Taehyung calls. “Muscular.”

Jungkook almost runs back downstairs.

Almost. Taehyung’s wrapping an arm around his shoulders before he can and Jungkook slows his steps to let him.

“Come on, you wanna dance baby? Let’s dance.”

**

There’s a handful of things Taehyung knows about Jeon Jungkook. He’s uptight, he’s a know it all and a bit rude about it, he’s the fastest man alive, he gets embarrassed easier than anyone Taehyung has ever met, and he’s really fucking hot.

Even though Jungkook’s a member of the Flat Ass Society, the jeans he wears are so thin and so tight that Taehyung can see every muscle in his legs. Including the ones that bulge in his ass cheeks when he walks. And his thighs? They’re like brick houses, two brick houses beside each other and Taehyung wants to live in them.

Taehyung feels honored by the invitation to stare at his ass, though the comment had thrown him off. He wasn’t expecting Jungkook to say something like that.

Nor was he expecting the invitation to keep dancing. Taehyung wanted to talk alone some more, to keep making Jungkook flush, to try to get the stick out of his ass.

Because despite what Jungkook says, there’s definitely one up there.

The music is fast, pumping through the room and Taehyung’s veins. He feels a little breathless as he moves his body to it, but light and hot at the same time. Jungkook seems to move to it effortlessly, his eyes closed and neck arching back like he’s desperate for the cool air that sit on top of the dance floor.

Taehyung grips Jungkook’s hip, pulling him close so he doesn’t lose him when he closes his eyes too. He lied earlier; this is his favorite part of partying.

The buzz inside of him, strong enough for him to feel nothing but the music and the heat of Jungkook’s body against him, but not too strong to make him sloppy. The pounding of his heart, which he isn’t sure is because of the dancing or the way Jungkook’s arm curls around the back of his neck.

Taehyung blinks his eyes open, grinning around a teasing comment but he stops when he sees Jungkook.

The dude’s lit, eyes half open and his grin like a creepy old man making a perverted joke.

Fuck. Yoongi’s going to tear his life into pieces.

“Jeon,” Taehyung says over the music, grabbing Jungkook’s chin to lift his head. His eyes are unfocused for a moment before they land on Taehyung.

The arm around his neck tightens and Jungkook’s body presses into his more.

Maybe Taehyung shouldn’t have gotten him his last drink before dragging him back to the dance floor. He hadn’t even seemed tipsy at all, his body too taut to be so.

But the alcohol has clearly caught up to him now.

“The baby is drunk,” Taehyung laughs, trying to remain cool but Yoongi is definitely going to kill him.

He prays to the creators of Mario Kart or whatever other gods are out there that Yoongi is completely occupied as he tries to lead Jungkook from the dance floor.

At least Jungkook can walk properly, Taehyung thinks. He doesn’t stumble too much and he seems more alert outside of the dance floor, but his face is burning red and his words slur too much to be sober.

“Hot,” Jungkook complains as Taehyung guides him into the kitchen after making sure it’s Yoongi free. “I’m so hot.”

“I’m well aware,” Taehyung teases.

Jungkook is cute as his face crumples in complaint, lips pouting out. Cute, until he hangs his head back and grabs the bottom of his sweat soaked shirt to pull it off.

Super fuck.

His torso is just as red as his face, just as sweaty. Taehyung grabs his elbow, dragging him towards the sink.

“Have some water, baby,” Taehyung says as he quickly fills one of the solo cups. “How drunk are you?”

“None drunk,” Jungkook replies as he quickly downs the contents of the cup.

Taehyung hastily pulls it back. “Drink slowly or you’ll be sick.”

Jungkook curls around Taehyung’s side, taking back the cup when Taehyung fills it again. Taehyung is feeling hot too, the heat radiating from Jungkook’s skin and coating his own.

This isn’t what he had planned when he asked Jungkook to come to Namjoon’s party. He wanted to see if Jungkook was really as uptight as he seemed, if he could hang.

Well, he can’t hang and Taehyung wasn’t expecting to feel so fond. He wasn’t expecting to want to tend to Jungkook the way he does when his other friends get shit faced.

He’ll blame it on the fact that Yoongi is lurking somewhere and Yoongi’s threatened him over Jungkook too often for him not to be wary.

“What time’s it?”

Jungkook gives him a dopey smile, his lips glistening from the water and red from the way he sucks on his bottom lip. He adjusts his glasses, leaving them more askew then they were before.

“Don’t know.”

He gets a wrinkle nose in response to this. “Gotta get up early tomorrow. Homework. Fucking homework.”

It doesn’t fit, the swear coming from Jungkook’s lips. Taehyung cards a hand around his neck, keeping his head supported. “Well, I’ll take you home then.”

Another wrinkled nose and Jungkook pulls back. He scratches at his belly and fuck, his pants are really tight, leaving Taehyung with the impression it isn’t just the alcohol and the dancing that’s made Jungkook hot.

Any other time, Taehyung would make a teasing comment or a more serious flirting one at the bulge between Jungkook’s legs. But right now he grabs Jungkook’s shirt and tries to wrestle it back over his head.

“Don’t,” Jungkook argues, fighting off the shirt. “I know what that means.”

Taehyung huffs out a laugh. Never in his life would he imagine Jungkook to be adorable .

“What does that mean, you big baby?”

Jungkook rips his shirt from Taehyung. “Stop trying to take my clothes off.”

It’s ridiculous and Taehyung laughs again, pushing into Jungkook’s space.

His eyes blow open wide, focused on Taehyung’s face when Taehyung grabs his cheeks. He’s glad for Jungkook’s attention, but Jungkook immediately presses into his body on instinct.

“It means - it means, you want to bone.”

Taehyung snorts loudly. He does, sometime, but not now. He holds his pinky finger in front of Jungkook’s face, making Jungkook’s eyes go cross when he looks at it.

“Pinky promise, I’m just taking you home to sleep so you can do your fucking homework tomorrow.”

There’s amusement in Jungkook’s eyes as he smacks his own pinky against Taehyung’s.

“Fucking,” is all Jungkook says as he squeezes Taehyung’s finger.

With some convincing, Taehyung manages to get Jungkook’s shirt back on and to the bathroom before they leave. He doesn’t want to leave Jungkook alone, unsure how drunk he really is, but he shuts the door and leans against it to give him privacy.

Life is cruel, Taehyung thinks as he finds Yoongi slumping towards him. He tries to remain calm, a poster child of coolness, even when Yoongi’s eyes narrow.

He looks a bit ridiculous, shirt completely unbuttoned and lipstick smeared over the side of his neck and mouth. His jeans are unbuttoned too, his hair a wreck and cheeks flushed, but his eyes are too murderous for Taehyung to laugh.

“Where’s Kook?”

Taehyung shrugs, pressing harder into the door. “I think he went home.”

Yoongi’s eyes narrow more. “Namjoon-ah told me he left with you. Did you take him home?”

Taehyung taps his foot uneasily against the ground. “Yep.”

“Liar,” Yoongi huffs, crossing his arms over his chest.

The man is about a head shorter than Taehyung, his arms toothpicks, but he’s terrifying. Taehyung is no fool, he’ll admit it. He’s seen Yoongi in action enough to know that looks can be deceiving.

They met the year before university started for Taehyung, when Jimin dragged him to an underground fight club to show off his new, badass college fuck buddy Hoseok.

Or so Taehyung had thought that’s who they were going to see before Yoongi jumped off the stage and wrapped his bloody knuckles around Jimin’s waist and plastered a fat kiss to his neck.

“I swear on my dog.”

“You don’t have a dog.”

Taehyung sighs. True. “Yeah, but it would still be cruel to swear on a poor, precious little dog’s life.”

Yoongi jabs him hard in the chest. At the same time, the bathroom door opens and Taehyung struggles not to fall back.

Maybe he should, he thinks quickly, and hide Jungkook in the bathroom but it’s too late when Jungkook grabs him to steady him.

“It’s so hard to pee when you’re hard,” Jungkook complains.

Taehyung is burning when he feels Jungkook press against him and Yoongi’s eyes narrow. The fucking shirt is off again, hanging in Jungkook’s hand and Taehyung panics.

“It’s not what it looks like.”

Yoongi ignores him, grabbing Jungkook’s wrist and pulling him away from Taehyung. It’s awkward when Yoongi sighs and grabs Jungkook’s neck, inspecting his face.

“How much did you have to drink?”

Jungkook holds up one finger.

“Sure,” Yoongi murmurs. “You’re smacked, Kookie.”

Taehyung sinks aside as Yoongi straightens our Jungkook’s pants, helping him button them before he shucks off his own shirt and helps Jungkook into it. He keeps it unbuttoned and pulls Jungkook’s over his own torso.

“It’s cold outside, you need something on,” Yoongi says.

“He really didn’t drink that much,” Taehyung offers. “Plus, it’s a party. Everyone is smacked.”

Yoongi glares at him. “Come on, let’s go home.”

It’s ironic, Yoongi of all people, who he has seen shitfaced more times that Taehyung can count, seems annoyed that Jungkook is drunk.

“Taehyung is taking me home,” Jungkook murmurs, rubbing the back of his hand against his nose. “He pinky promised no boning.”

There’s death in Yoongi’s eyes when they turn on Taehyung.

Taehyung quickly holds out his pinky finger to Yoongi. He puts on his best innocent, winning smile as he waves the digit in Yoongi’s face.

“You know I take pinky promises serious,” Taehyung says.

Yoongi looks unsure, eyes worried when they look to Jungkook who leans his head on Taehyung’s shoulder. Taehyung’s heart is thumping wildly.

“Remember what I taught you?” Yoongi asks Jungkook. “Pressure points?”

Jungkook nods.

Yoongi nods, clapping his shoulder. “If Taehyung touches you, knock him out. Be careful not to kill him though.”

Taehyung grimaces at Yoongi’s pleased smile when Jungkook promises to try.

“Text me as soon as you’re home,” Yoongi instructs, pulling away. “I don’t care if you’re Jimin’s best friend, Taehyung.”

With a salute of understanding, Taehyung quickly wraps an arm around Jungkook’s lower back and tries to run him out of the house.

The outside air is cold and it doesn’t take long for Jungkook to shiver, his fingers fumbling to button up Yoongi’s shirt. Taehyung only watches for a minute, smiling before he stops Jungkook to help.

“You have a low tolerance, huh?”

Jungkook nods, smacking his lips. He takes Taehyung’s hand and Taehyung only hesitates for a minute before intertwining their fingers.

“Your hyung is going to kill me.”

The giggle that Jungkook lets out is cute, contagious. “I got my stomach pumped once. High school. It scared him.”

The smile on Taehyung’s mouth softens as he swings their hands. “You? A partier?”

“No,” Jungkook huffs out. “One of the only - only times I drank.”

“Well, you should have told me you were a lightweight, Jeon. My life is on the line.”

Taehyung hates awkward moments, usually avoids them, but he finds the silence between them awkward. Especially when Jungkook’s feet drags and he fixes his pants, groaning softly.

Especially when Jungkook curls around his arm and their clasped fists press into his body.

“Wanna go to bed.”

“This is your apartment?”

Jungkook nods without opening his eyes.

Taehyung sighs, unwrapping himself from Jungkook to reach into his jeans pockets. His pants are really so tight that Taehyung doesn’t understand how he got them on. He ignores the way Jungkook groans as Taehyung’s hand digs into his pocket to retrieve his keys.

He finds the apartment number before leading Jungkook up, his body growing heavier as he sinks his weight into Taehyung.

It’s almost a relief when Taehyung gets him to the apartment. Flicking on the light, he finds the neatest college apartment he’s ever seen. There isn’t a single thing out of place, not even a piece of clothing on the ground.

He can’t imagine Yoongi to be too neat, but he can’t imagine Jungkook has any time to keep the apartment clean.

“Welcome,” Jungkook slurs as he stumbles out of his shoes. “Welcome to my crib.”

Taehyung snorts, steadying Jungkook to his feet before helping him with the shoes.

“Looks dope.”

Jungkook hums.

As prude and shy Jungkook seems, drunk Jungkook has no shame as he starts to unbutton his pants before Taehyung can even get off the last shoe.

“I hate - hate these pants.”

“Me too,” Taehyung breathes as he stands and grabs Jungkook’s elbow so be doesn’t fall. Jungkook grunts as he tries to pull them down his hips, but he gives up with a heavy sigh when they stick around the top of his thighs. “Keep them on for now. Where’s your room?”

Jungkook swats his neck with the side of his hand, grunting. “Not today, sir .”

Taehyung laughs, taking Jungkook’s hand into his own. “You’re a hot mess, Jeon. I’m just trying to put you to bed.”

“Oh,” Jungkook murmurs, letting Taehyung guide him towards where he assumes the bedrooms are. “Is that? Is that it? Can’t figure out what you’re doing.”

Taehyung opens the first door he finds, taking in the mess and the boxing posters on the wall before deciding this one isn’t Jungkook’s.

“No,” Taehyung laughs. “I’m just trying to learn chemistry, baby.”

“Remember the atomic number,” Jungkook sighs as Taehyung presses open the next door.

There’s a light on from the desk lamp, glowing across the empty walls and the made up bed. The desk is the only messy part, stacked with textbooks and loose leaf paper with scribbling on it. There’s shoes stacked along the sides of the wall, clothes folded out on a chair on the end of the bed like Jungkook’s already chosen his outfit for tomorrow.

Taehyung wants to wander, be nosy, but it isn’t right when Jungkook is out of it and probably wouldn’t let him when sober.

“You should focus more,” Jungkook slurs as he starts to struggle with his pants again. “Your dad really wants - wants you to do well.”

Taehyung clicks his teeth in annoyance, grabbing the sides of Jungkook’s legs to tug. He is well aware of what his father wants and he doesn’t want to talk about it ever, but especially now.

“Most guys don’t talk to me about my father when they undress for me.”

His intentions with Jungkook were to have him undress for him, eventually. But not now, though Taehyung is amused that the first time Jungkook does it’s like this. Jungkook is cuter than expected, messier, as he stumbles out of his pants and Taehyung tries not to look at where he stretches his briefs.

His Super Mario briefs. Maybe Taehyung likes him a little more than he thought.

“Do you - you sleep with a lot of guys?”

“Is that your business baby?” Taehyung asks as he plants a hand to Jungkook’s back and helps him to the bed.

“No,” Jungkook says quickly. He smiles dopily again when he crawls into bed, immediately falling to his stomach.

“Your side,” Taehyung says, helping Jungkook into position before removing his glasses for him. “In case you get sick.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose. “Wanna lay on my stomach.”

Taehyung punches Jungkook’s cheek. “Looks like we finally got that stick out of your ass, Jeon.”

“No stick,” Jungkook mumbles, clasping his hands around Taehyung’s wrist. “You can stay. It’s - it’s cold.”

Taehyung glances at the empty side of the bed. Sober Jungkook would definitely disagree. Taehyung is unsure if sober Jungkook dislikes him or is just a stiff.

Taehyung can’t quite figure him out but he’s determined to.

“I shouldn’t.”

Jungkook pouts with his eyes closed.

“What if I roll on my stomach, get sick and die?”

Taehyung rolls his eyes and extracts his hand from Jungkook. “You need to text Yoongi that you’re home.”

There’s a phone being thrown at him a second later. Surprisingly there’s no passcode and Taehyung shoots Yoongi a quick message to let him know Jungkook’s arrived safe and unharmed.

He considers sending Yoongi a picture so he actually believes it, but Jungkook is back on his stomach and moving around too much to get comfortable.

Taehyung feels his ears grow hot.

“On your side,” Taehyung sighs but he feels more fond than annoyed as he crawls onto the bed and tugs Jungkook onto his side.

Even drunk, Jungkook is as strong as he looks, pulling Taehyung down beside him.

“Sorry,” Jungkook mumbles. “Felt good.”

And god, Taehyung rolls onto his back, wishing Jungkook hadn’t groaned when he said that.

“Go to bed, baby.”

Jungkook nods, curling an arm under his head and keeping his other planted around Taehyung’s wrist.

He waits for Jungkook’s grip to loosen so he can get some water for the both of them, but his eyes grow heavy and Jungkook never lets go.

When Taehyung wakes, he frowns at the abrupt flood of downy softener clogging his nose. It smells like Jungkook and it’s already bad enough he's dreamt of him, he isn’t fond of Jungkook being the first thinks of when he wakes as well.

It’s also bad enough that Taehyung catches himself thinking about Jungkook when they’re studying (trying not to study) together. This is crossing the line.

It isn’t until Taehyung pulls his head from the pillow, realizing it’s not his own, that he understands why he’s thinking about Jungkook.

At the same time, Jungkook curls into his back and snuggles his face between Taehyung’s shoulder blades.

“Fuck,” Taehyung mumbles, slumping back onto the bed. He’s overheated, his clothes from last night too hot and the heat from Jungkook not helping. He’s a fricking koala bear, clinging onto Taehyung with all of his strength and weight.

It doesn’t feel too bad, except knowing Jungkook is going to panic when he wakes makes Taehyung want to leave rather than fall back asleep.

Taehyung carefully pulls himself from Jungkook, stilling when he huffs out a breath. He makes sure he remains asleep, that he hadn’t gotten sick during the night, before he removes himself completely.

Pulling the phone from his pocket, Taehyung finds it’s already noon. He cusses, hanging his head and hoping Yoongi still sleeps like the dead. It’s unlikely he hadn’t came home after worrying about Jungkook.

Taehyung freezes. It’s unlikely Yoongi hadn’t checked on him and seen them in bed.

“Fuck,” Taehyung mumbles, breathing in. He isn’t afraid. He’s cool, chill. Totally not afraid.

Taehyung flies from the ground when he steps out of the hallway and finds Yoongi standing against the front door. His arms are crossed, his expression blank before he approaches.

“Are you sneaking out?”

“Uh, yes?”

“Why?” Yoongi huffs, moving until he is an inch away from Taehyung.

Taehyung stares down at Yoongi, unsure as what to say. There is no route here that he can go and mull over Yoongi, even if that’s Taehyung’s specialty.

“He was refusing to sleep on his side, hyung. I was afraid he would choke in his sleep but I don’t want him to panic when he wakes.”

Yoongi peers his eyes but surprisingly, the annoyed look leaves his expression and he sighs. “Did he really drink that much?”

“I don’t know. Three maybe.” Taehyung grimaces as he remembers the last drink had been handed off by Jin. Who knows what kind of alcohol he had mixed into it. Jin’s Juice always gets someone fucked up, especially if they’re a lightweight. “One was made by Jin.”

Yoongi groans, pinching Taehyung’s chest harshly and making him yelp as he jumps back.

“Why would you do that?” Taehyung gasps, clutching his hands to his chest. “There’s nothing wrong with getting shit faced sometimes, dude.”

He’s saved by Hoseok, who saunters from the kitchen to throw an arm around Taehyung’s shoulders. He nuzzles his hair before plopping a kiss to the crown of his head.

“Ignore him. Hyung’s protective,” Hoseok mumbles, tone fond.

“Am not,” Yoongi denies but his cheeks redden. “How come you weren’t shitfaced then?”

Taehyung wipes at his torso proudly. “I can handle my liquor just fine. Plus, I promised you I’d take care of the baby for you. Which he isn’t, by the way. He’s a full, well endowed grown up.”

Hoseok giggles as Yoongi smacks Taehyung’s chest. Taehyung uses Hoseok as a shield, hiding behind him.

“You swore you’re only bothering Kook to get your grades up,” Yoongi scolds and Taehyung wants to leave now more than ever.

Yoongi is the life of the party, fun to be around, one of Taehyung’s favorite people ever, but sometimes it feels like he has two fathers.

Two fathers who get on him for his studies, but at least Yoongi understands better than it’s just fucking hard for Taehyung.

“Which, you need to focus -”

“I know ,” Taehyung complains, twisting Hoseok in front of him more even though Yoongi’s expression is soft now. “I promise I am trying. I just didn’t think it through. It’s hard to focus when Jungkook is there, being hot as fuck. It’s distracting, you know?”

Yoongi groans, cupping a hand over his face.

“Plus, is it really fair of you to get involved in Jungkook’s sex life when you haven’t even told him you’re boning Hobi here?”

The moment the words leave Taehyung’s lips, he fills with regret. He covers his hands over his mouth as Yoongi’s face morphs into a tomato.

“Op,” Hoseok huffs, backing off and leaving Taehyung to be eaten alive.

“That’s none - none of your -” Yoongi makes a frustrated noise, shaking a finger at him. “I have an explanation.”

Taehyung throws his hands up in defense. “No need to explain, hyung. It’s none of my business. Is that were you trying to say? Just like my sex life isn’t any of yours?”

Yoongi flings his hand out, making Taehyung flinch, but it’s just a gentle pat to his chest.

“Sleep with one eye open, Kim.”

Thankfully for Taehyung, he’s saved by a loud groan floating out from the hallway, effectively grabbing Yoongi’s attention.

“Sounds like Kook is up,” Yoongi announces. “Text me when you’re home safe, Tae.”

There’s an amused shake of the head thrown his way as Yoongi pads off.

“Really protective,” Hoseok whispers before he ruffles his fingers back into Taehyung’s hair, cooing softly, “of both of you.”

He swats at Hoseok as Hoseok grabs his cheeks, making another soft coo sound. Taehyung won’t deny he’s fond as he shoves Hoseok after Yoongi.

“Will you be this amused when hyung kills me?” Taehyung shouts.

Hoseok laughs as he walks backwards. “Yeah. We might fight about it, but make up sex is the best, Tae Tae.”

Taehyung is thankful for the save as he makes it to the front door, ignoring the part of him that for some reason, wishes to stay to make sure Jungkook is alright.

Chapter Text

When Jungkook was younger, if anyone asked him what he wished to be when he was older, the answer was always the same; a rich man. Not a greedy man; anyone that had a house with more than one room and bathroom was a rich man in Jungkook’s eyes at the time.

That’s what he really wanted; a bedroom to himself. Even if he liked that he could roll only a few feet and nuzzle up with his mother if he ever had a nightmare. Most of the time he liked being able to peek an eye open and check on his younger brother, though sharing a space with him had also aggravated Jungkook often when they fought as children.

Jungkook still has this same goal, though it’s been a bit modified. Find a good paying job with good advancement opportunities; get promoted until he’s a wealthy man that can afford a house for his parents with multiple rooms.

The goal is to also buy Yoongi a house, thanking him for raising him well. But he’s always used that to disguise the fact that he wishes for Yoongi to live with him forever. He feels childish admitting it, even though it’s likely that Yoongi probably already knows.

It seems like an easy enough goal to reach, an average goal that most people have and accomplish, but it feels like get rich or die trying.

Jungkook’s bones ache, his body heavy with exhaustion, his mind forming into mush. This job is one step that he needs to achieve to fulfill his goal, but he can only hear ‘the cheeseburger without cheese’ one more time before he loses it all.

“Yes m’am,” Jungkook murmurs, punching the order in and wondering if they should check the ‘hamburger’ option to make sure people can see it.

The weekend has been the worst one in a long time. First, Jungkook woke late noon on Saturday, distant memories of Taehyung in his mind that unsettled him. Then he continued to be sick and in bed, eating only Yoongi’s hangover stew. His headache made it too difficult to focus on work and as soon as his boss saw his state, he sent him home. The whole day was a waste.

Relaxing and letting loose only caused him more problems, and Jungkook wasn’t even that loose at the party. He was too tense and nervous to enjoy himself, rattled by Taehyung and his constant amused face. The part that he probably enjoyed he only remembers pieces of, which is one of the main reasons Jungkook doesn’t understand the purpose of getting drunk.

Today, Sunday, Jungkook woke up before the sun, trying to cram in as much studying before work that he could. It wasn’t much, because Jungkook got called in early and he couldn’t say no after losing money the day before.

He feels dead on his feet.

The need to call his mother is strong, but she’ll worry the moment he says hello. It’s been some time since he’s seen her last, traveling often not as much of an option for her. And Jungkook doesn’t want her to waste the money, to move her aching bones to come see him over nothing. Because she will, before he even hangs up if she hears how tired he sounds or just how much he misses her..

“Could I get the cheeseburger?”

Jungkook sighs, tapping on the screen in front of him. He hadn’t even called the next customer up yet. He wishes he were in the back today. Working with the customers usually make him nervous and tires him faster than working behind the scenes, but when he’s tired and grumpy, it’s even worse.

“Would you like cheese on that?”

There’s a laugh and Jungkook goes still at the familiar sound, body snapping taut before he rips his head up.

Taehyung is there, hands fiddling against the counter and that damn smirk on his face. He’s dressed more casual than usual; a soft, cream colored sweater hanging low on his shoulders, pants that look like leggings hugging his legs and his wrists heavy with thick, golden bands.

“I would, yeah,” Taehyung hums, eyes bright again as they drag from the hat on Jungkook’s head to the bowtie around his neck. “Extra, actually.”

He hasn’t heard from Taehyung since the party. Part of him thought he heard Taehyung in his apartment the next morning, but blamed in on the sick, sleepy haze he was in. He thought he heard Taehyung and Yoongi discussing sex , specifically his sex life, which only muddled Jungkook’s mind more.

The confusing thoughts have wandered into his brain uninvited the last two days. He’s perturbed not knowing which thoughts are memories of the party and which are due to his body betraying him and being attracted to Taehyung. But there’s flashes of Taehyung’s body on his, hands on his neck, Taehyung sinking to his knees in front of him to yank off his pants and hopefully not anything else.

Jungkook had laid in bed, wondering if they were just dreams too because he had woken with come drying to his skin beneath his underwear. He wondered, until Yoongi padded in to assure him that Taehyung wasn’t sneaking out to be an asshole and that he had only slept over to make sure he didn’t choke in his sleep.

It had been difficult not to show how mortified he was, not even remembering Taehyung staying over and wondering why Yoongi was clarifying that he wasn’t sneaking out.

It’s sat with him since, whether it is true or not why Taehyung stayed. It isn’t a common thing to happen, it isn’t something that one hears happening often. But Jungkook doesn’t know what to do with the fact that Taehyung was concerned and took care of him.

“I like the bow tie,” Taehyung hums, reaching over the counter to straighten it, his knuckle brushing up to rub at Jungkook’s neck. “Hope you wear the tie tomorrow, though.”

“Anything else?” Jungkook mumbles, dropping his gaze because Taehyung’s is always intense and the touch is making the skin on Jungkook’s arms layer with goosebumps.

“What time are you off?”

Jungkook grits his teeth. “I’m here until closing.”

Taehyung sighs sadly, head leaning towards his shoulder and lips pushing out into a pout for a minute. “Then make that two cheeseburgers and the sweet fries, please. For here.”

Thankfully for Jungkook’s exhausted body, the diner has been relatively slow after the lunch rush. The dining area is empty and has been for the last handful of hours. Which has been great, but he suspects it’s no longer going to be unoccupied.

“Why?”

There’s a card being thrusted at him before Taehyung responds. “If you haven’t eaten, you can order yourself something with my card.”

Jungkook hasn’t. He had been in such a rush to leave the apartment that he forgot the lunch he prepared the night before. Plus, he’s made it a rule not to eat out often, to not waste the money. Even with his employee discount, it’s still money that’s better used somewhere else.

“I did,” Jungkook says, flushing. It makes him uncomfortable borrowing money, especially because he isn’t sure how to read Taehyung yet. “But thank you.”

“I got a C on my chem packet,” Taehyung says as Jungkook hands him back the card. “I didn’t do so well on the last half, but it’s improvement.”

Jungkook feels really hot. He wishes Taehyung didn’t look so amused all the time so he could figure out if this is good news or bad news.

For himself, he would be devastated. But President Kim had made it seem like Taehyung was on his way towards academic probation. This could actually be improvement and after only a few sessions, that would be good news.

“I’m sorry. I should have checked it over before you handed it in,” Jungkook replies, dropping his eyes from Taehyung’s gaze in apology. The second half had been the part Taehyung had done himself, the part he promised to complete in exchange for Jungkook’s number.

Taehyung had been successful in distracting him enough that Jungkook didn’t even realize they barely talked about the packet while texting.

“You shouldn’t have been so distracting while I was studying. Maybe then, we could have finished the packet together.”

Jungkook glares. It’s definitely teasing, Taehyung radiates it with his lips rubbing together and eyes lit. He shoves the card and receipt across the counter and towards Taehyung instead of responding.

The bangles on Taehyung’s wrist chime when he reaches for the card, grabbing Jungkook’s wrist instead and holding it in his hand.

“Is it okay if I bring my astronomy homework tomorrow too? There’s a part I’m stuck on.”

Jungkook glances towards the kitchen where the rest of his coworkers are, most of them too preoccupied to notice them but there’s a few set of eyes that glance his way. They’re a nosy bunch. Jungkook had to ban Yoongi from visiting after his coworkers started barreling him with questions about his cute senior boyfriend.

“I don’t know if I can tutor tomorrow actually,” Jungkook says, growing nervous. “I’m behind on my own homework and sleep. And -”

Jungkook hesitates when Taehyung’s lips push into a pout.

Homework and sleep won’t matter if the President hates his guts because his son fails out of college.

“Yeah, okay. Sure, bring whatever.”

Taehyung lights up, hands clapping in front of himself. “Perfect, baby. We can do our homework together, so you won’t get behind. Wear a mask so I won’t bother you.”

Jungkook sucks through his teeth as he pulls his hand away. He really isn’t that attractive. About average, probably. Not enough to be distracting.

Taehyung is that kind of attractive though. His features elegant yet soft, captivating in a way that usually adds to Jungkook’s annoyance. But it isn’t usually his looks that distract Jungkook, despite him being pretty to look at.

He would prettier if his mouth were forever sewn shut.

“You should just work on focusing more.”

It’s the wrong thing to say, Jungkook thinks as Taehyung’s expression changes drastically. The amusement slips away, eyes narrowing before Taehyung wrings out his wrists and clears his throat.

It startles Jungkook, the sudden annoyance screwing itself into Taehyung’s features. It looks wrong compared to the normal amused state that usually resides there.

“Is Jiwon-ssi here?”

“Why?” Jungkook asks, furrowing his brows but not surprised that Taehyung knows his manager.

“I’d like to leave a customer review,” Taehyung hums, pushing his shoulder towards his chin.

Oh no . Jungkook gapes at Taehyung, sweat building on the back of his neck as he watches Taehyung tilt over the counter to look for his boss.

“Jiwon-ssi!”

“I was just kidding,” Jungkook says quickly. Taehyung is a loose cannon; Jungkook doesn’t know what he’ll do at any given time. Jungkook’s felt a little rude tonight, not towards Taehyung but other customers as well. He’s already been spoken to about wearing a smile more often, he doesn’t need another reason for Jiwon to pull himself.

“I’ll wear a bag over my head,” Jungkook grits out, whispering as he tries to block Taehyung from spotting his manager. “Tae, I was kidding.”

Taehyung’s smile is back as he reaches over the counter and tickles a finger under his chin. He wrinkles his nose as he coos, eyes sparkling.

“I know, baby,” Taehyung murmurs before winking.

It doesn’t relieve Jungkook any when his manager steps out from the back and Taehyung rounds the counter to meet him. Panic makes his stomach tight as Taehyung plants a flirty hand to Jiwon’s chest. They talk quietly, making it impossible for Jungkook to eavesdrop and figure out what Taehyung is doing.

He feels like he’s intruding when Taehyung’s hand trails to Jiwon’s neck and his smile turns from amusing to something that makes the feeling in Jungkook’s stomach feel more like butterflies.

Jungkook rushes Taehyung’s order to the kitchen when Jiwon drops his eyes, flushing beneath Taehyung’s gaze.

Oh .

“He came in earlier looking for you.”

Jungkook glances at his coworker, Jinhwan, as he takes the order ticket from him.

“What?”

Jinhwan grins, wagging his eyebrows. “Asked if you were here then left. I didn’t know you knew Taehyung?”

“Doesn’t everyone know Taehyung?” Jungkook replies. The panic is loud in his voice and Jinhwan frowns, eyes narrowing in confusion.

“Yeah. Everyone’s well acquainted with Taehyung,” Jinhwan snorts. “Most people don’t look like they’re terrified, though. He might be a hoe, but he’s a real sweetheart, Kook-ah.”

Jungkook frowns at that. “I’m not scared of him,” he says as he turns and looks over his shoulder, finding Taehyung sauntering off towards the dining area.

Finding his boss walking straight towards him.

There’s a flush in Jiwon’s cheek as he claps a hand to Jungkook’s shoulder. “You should have told me you had so much homework, Jungkook-ssi. You can leave early. It’s slow enough.”

The panic returns and Jungkook immediately shakes his head. “No, it’s fine. There’s only a few hours left. I don’t have that much work.”

Jiwon smiles when he rolls his eyes. “I’ll keep your pay the same, a secret between you and me, yeah? Go do your studies.”

Jungkook isn’t sure if he’s being messed with again as Jiwon walks off. He’s mentioned his workload plenty of times before and no one has cared enough to send him home. Which, he isn’t complaining because he needs the money, but why now?

His managers are all kind and caring though. When he’s sick, he can’t come in because of germs but they find a way to get him another shift to make up for it. Often, he finds food waiting for him in the break room if he hasn’t brought his own. They’re understanding when it comes to Jungkook’s schedule and fitting work around school. But it’s still a business, that needs a hard working, reliable employee.

An employee that doesn’t flake a few hours before his shift is over because he’s tired and has homework.

Once Taehyung’s food is ready, Jungkook stacks it on a tray and heads towards him, ignoring Jiwon’s call to remove his hat and name badge and go home.

“What are you doing?”

Taehyung glances at him as if he hadn’t noticed Jungkook walking up to him, a dainty hand pressed beneath his chin and eyebrow cocked. “Hm?”

“Did you seduce my boss into sending me home?”

“Who do you take me for, Jeon?”

Jungkook slides into the booth, passing Taehyung his tray while trying to whisper and show his annoyance at the same time. His annoyance that Taehyung seems oblivious to.

He thinks of what Jinhwan had said, what he called him. He wonders how much truth is behind it because it isn’t the first time Jungkook’s heard something like that about Taehyung. Even Taehyung’s implied it himself.

Gossip has never been his thing though he’s listened to Yoongi and Hoseok’s stories whenever they tell them. Jimin gossips a lot too, but Jimin’s never been anything but fond of Taehyung.

Plus, Jungkook and his friends have different opinions on casual sex anyway. Just it happening once is risque to Jungkook, but Yoongi has always assured him that there’s nothing wrong with it.

“You looked like you were seducing him.”

Taehyung huffs at that, his grin wide and boxy. “Baby, that’s far from seduction.”

Jungkook groans at that, clenching his eyes shut and wishing he could slam his head into the table. When he looks up, Taehyung is staring at him with a warm look on his face.

“I simply told Jiwon-ssi that you were overloaded with work and I would really appreciate it if he could help me out in getting you to relax. Or you might drop in his restaurant and nobody wants that lawsuit. A favor for a favor is all.”

Jungkook exhales through his nose harshly, not wanting to know what the favor would be. Taehyung still doesn’t seem to notice as he unwraps one burger and hands the other to Jungkook.

“I’m only behind because of the last time you wanted to help me relax.”

There’s a frown on Taehyung’s lips, thick brows stitching together. “Well catch up now, then. Jiwon-ssi said he’d compensate you.”

Jungkook tries not to be irritated, he does. Clearly, Taehyung doesn’t realize that he can’t just get paid for doing nothing, that Jungkook truly is stressed about being behind. It isn’t a joke or something Jungkook’s making bigger than it is.

“I can’t accept getting paid for not working, Taehyung.”

“Then clock out and I’ll compensate you.”

Jungkook drops his head, forehead pressing into his unwrapped burger.

“How much do you get paid an hour?”

“Five won.”

Taehyung’s frown grows at his lie, hands still around his wallet. “You’re stressed about homework, stop wasting time arguing with me and take it. The quicker you do, the quicker you can take your cute ass home and get it done.”

There’s won thrusted at him a few seconds later, a lot more than Jungkook would make in an entire shift.

“Clearly it’s my fault you’re stressed, so it’s the least I can do.”

Maybe, Taehyung seems genuine because he speaks softly, but he also seems too nonchalant as he brings his burger to his mouth. Taehyung doesn’t understand and Jungkook thinks it may be a waste of time trying to explain it.

The frustrating thing about Taehyung isn’t just that he doesn’t try hard, that he doesn’t put in effort, but that he doesn’t seem to understand people who do . The teasing, the indifference, the way he looks confused by Jungkook’s insistence of working and studying, are all signs of it.

“I don’t want your money. Thank you for your kind intentions, but I’m going back to work.”

Jungkook plants the money to the table when Taehyung refuses to take it from his hand.

“It’s just going to stay here if you don’t take it.”

It's not that Taehyung is annoying, he’s maddening . Jungkook doesn’t even intend to curl his fingers into a fist, but he does, letting it hang by his side. Taehyung is grinning as he chews, a bit of ketchup smeared over his lips.

“Well, one of the servers can take it.”

“Isn’t that you?”

The smirk, the gleaming eyes, they’re part of a recipe to get Jungkook irritated. Jungkook grunts as he fists the money in hand and shoves it into his apron. He’ll find a way to sneak it back to him, somehow.

There’s fingers around Jungkook’s wrist before he can leave, the cool metal of Taehyung’s bangles touching his palm.

“See you tomorrow, baby. Try to sleep tonight.”

Routine is important. Routine is needed. Routine is hard when you’re working on an hour of sleep.

Jungkook rushes from his apartment, skipping getting dressed in his day clothes and stopping at the cafe for coffee. He only checks on Yoongi to make sure he’s alive, sprays his hair with dry shampoo, and bolts from the apartment.

It had been a bad idea, but he didn’t trust that the two hours with Taehyung would actually be a good time to do his homework. He stayed up doing his, keeping awake into the early morning hours. Some of it he could have pushed off for today, but it’s a new week, with new assignments, and he doesn’t want to be even the tiniest bit behind.

The beginning of the semester he had covered the wall above his desk with his syllabi and calendars, trying to set up a schedule so he can prepare for the times when more than one of his classes has a big exam or project at the same time. That time is approaching quickly now and Jungkook wants to start working on some now, so he won’t drown.

Taehyung is a wild card. If Jungkook plans two hours of tutoring and tries to work around that, he could be stuck in a situation he doesn’t want. He thinks Taehyung could have him waste the whole day away without realizing and then he’d be screwed.

When he arrives at the tutoring center, he’s late. He’s prepared for the comment from Taehyung about it, because Jungkook’s starting to learn that at least Taehyung is consistent with his teasing.

“About time you showed up, Jeon. I was getting worried.”

Taehyung looks well rested, a full face of makeup on though it’s light. There’s a bandana wrapped around his neck, a red plaid patterned. It’s the only color in his all black attire and Taehyung grins when he notices Jungkook’s eyes linger on it.

At least he brought coffee, Jungkook thinks as he takes it with a thank you that comes out as a yawn.

“You look shitty, Jeon.”

Jungkook glares, ignoring that as he gulps down his coffee and consequently burning his tongue. Taehyung doesn’t wait for him to set up like he usually does, shoving past Jungkook to open the door for him.

“Did you sleep?”

“Yes,” Jungkook sighs as he slumps his backpack onto the table, praying he hadn’t forgotten anything in his hurry. He doesn’t have much time today to go back to the apartment, but there’s a nagging worry at the back of his mind that maybe he did.

Being a good, dedicated student has it perks when it comes to professors. They’re usually understanding. If he had forgotten any of his work, they’d let him bring it to their office hours or the next class.

Taehyung peers his eyes at him, stopping Jungkook from sitting with fingers pressed beneath his chin.

His face grows hot under Taehyung’s gaze.

“You should have gone home early last night. I don’t get why you were being stubborn about it, baby.”

Lack of sleep and stress is a dangerous combination. Jungkook hates being grumpy, hates wanting to snap at people like he does now. It isn’t anyone else’s fault that he’s overloaded.

Well, maybe it’s a tiny bit of Taehyung’s fault.

“Let’s just work,” Jungkook huffs, pulling away. “Astronomy, right? I don’t know much about it.”

“You know, lack of sleep will set you behind just as much as one night of relaxation,” Taehyung says as he sits across from Jungkook and takes out his notebooks. “It’s actually better for your health to take some time to yourself and unwind.”

“Some of us really don’t have the privilege to relax or sleep,” Jungkook grunts, harsher than he intended, as he grabs the packet from Taehyung before he can hand it to him.

Patience is always something Jungkook likes to have and maybe he should have cancelled this morning because patience seems like a foreign concept to him today.

“This seems easy. This part is probably explained in your textbook, not much thinking behind it.”

Taehyung snags the packet back, the amused smirk finely gone from his face. But Jungkook doesn’t like this new expression either. It’s angry, worse off than the way he looked when he thought Jungkook was judging Yoongi’s relationship.

“Some of us don’t have the ability to easily understand when we read. Sorry my attempt at helping pissed you off so badly.”

Guilt dumps itself into Jungkook as the room suddenly grows tense. It stays quiet between as Taehyung stares down at his textbook, his finger tapping hard against the table.

He had been so focused on his annoyance with Taehyung that he didn’t realize he was being rude. Even if it was in ignorance, Taehyung had offered him food and money, possibly cared for him while he was wasted. His mother would take a wooden spoon to Jungkook’s ass in a second if she knew how he behaved.

“Let me see,” Jungkook says softly, extracting the textbook from Taehyung’s grip. He scooches closer so they can share the work between them. “We’ll start with this part here. It’s asking to match the instruments with their use. And if you turn here -”

Jungkook flips to the back of the textbook, relieved to see the glossary. He really doesn’t know anything about astronomy, but he’s always been good at teaching himself enough to help others. Technically, Jungkook is the head tutor in the science sector, but he bounces from different subjects whenever he’s needed.

“Here you should be able to find the word and the definition should match up exactly,” Jungkook explains as he searches for the first word; Astrolabe. “Because this worksheet looks to come directly from the textbook.”

Taehyung stays quiet, even when Jungkook hands him off the textbook to do the next one himself.

Jungkook finds he hates the silence and he wishes the amused grin would return. Maybe it’s the guilt, maybe it’s because he always feels uncomfortable after he’s snapped at someone.

“How many classes are you taking?” Jungkook asks as he pushes up the glasses perched on his nose. He shouldn’t distract Taehyung because for once he’s being productive, but the silence is really bothering him and he can’t figure out why.

“Three,” Taehyung responds as he scribbles down onto the paper.

Three classes isn’t even full time, he understands why Taehyung looks well rested even if he was studying as much as he should.

But Jungkook’s been too focused on his own opinion of Taehyung that he didn’t think that maybe it’s just hard for Taehyung. Because he looks as if he’s focusing now, but looking closer, his eyes are darting off and his brows push together in frustration. His leg shakes a mile a minute, rattling the table between them. He’s answered the question wrong, matching a tool to the wrong definition and Jungkook is nervous to speak up about it and make him feel bad.

“I might be wrong but I think that’s actually infrared telescopes. See, they use longer wavelengths rather than ultraviolet that uses shorter. The definitions are almost the same, it’s easy to get it confused.”

Taehyung huffs, erasing his answer with more strength than needed.

Jungkook takes the pencil, sliding his fingers through Taehyung’s instead and settling their clasped hands into his lap. He moves the paper closer, handing off the textbook to Taehyung to read.

“You’re going to rip the paper,” Jungkook tries to joke but it comes out awkward. Taehyung doesn’t let go of his hand nor acknowledge Jungkook’s comment in any way. “I find it helps me understand things like this when I read out loud. And because so many things are acronymed, it’s helpful to have a glossary of your own that’s easy to access because it’s hard to remember what everything means when there’s so many.”

Taehyung sits quietly as Jungkook writes down the definitions on a fresh page. He can feel Taehyung’s eyes on him, but the silence remains.

“I hate when everything is acronyms, makes it confusing,” Jungkook goes on.

“Why are you holding my hand?”

Jungkook tenses, mouth falling open around nothing. Taehyung doesn’t let go, only squeezes tighter.

“Uh, well, I - I noticed you kept holding my hand the other night so I thought maybe it would help because um, you seemed frustrated.”

Taehyung shifts, pressing his elbow to the table but he still doesn’t let Jungkook’s hand go. The smirk has returned and Jungkook’s eased by it.

There isn’t a whole lot that Jungkook remembers from the night of the party, but there had definitely been hand holding. He just can’t remember which of them had initiated it, but he remembers the feeling of their palms pressed together. It had to of been Taehyung.

“Just say you like holding my hand and go, baby.”

The attempt to pull his hand away fails as Taehyung grips onto his fingers so he can’t. Jungkook sighs in defeat, accepts the consequences of his own actions, and turns back to the textbook.

It takes them a bit of time to finish, but at least they do. Normal Taehyung returns, interrupting with flirty comments or questions. They’re just as annoying, but Jungkook is selfish and finds himself relieved that Taehyung no longer seems angry with him.

“Do you like looking at the stars?”

Jungkook hesitates with his pencil over the paper. Maybe they should study like this more often, as it keeps the pencil far from Taehyung’s mouth.

“Sure, I guess.”

Taehyung snorts, rubbing Jungkook’s  knuckles. “You free Friday night?”

“I’m not going to another party,” Jungkook says immediately. They’ve finished with the astronomy packet and Jungkook is confident Taehyung will get a high grade on it. “You should use note cards to help you remember the vocab. Study a few each day until your exam.”

“Not even a two person party?” Taehyung muses, ignoring Jungkook’s instructions as his fingers stretching out to press into the material of his pajama pants. It gives Jungkook the ability to take his hand back, leaving Taehyung’s hand laid over his thigh.

“Um, I don’t know. But, we only have a short time for your chem homework,” Jungkook says, glancing at the clock as he wrings out his hand. His wrist aches from the angle Taehyung had been holding it. “Did you -”

Jungkook stutters over his words when Taehyung curls his fingers so he’s cupping Jungkook’s thigh, his fingers moving towards the inside.

The butterflies in his stomach don’t make sense. They’re probably mistaken as hunger pains or something. A left over after effect of the blurred thoughts in Jungkook’s mind, the ones that make his cheeks hot when he thinks about them.

He should grow the courage and just talk to Yoongi about it. But it makes him nervous .

“Did you bring that too?”

Taehyung pulls his hand away when Jungkook tenses and Jungkook busies himself with extracting Taehyung’s money from his pocket to keep himself from grabbing Taehyung’s hand and placing it back on his thigh.

It's the exhaustion messing with his head. He likes cuddling, intimacy when he’s tired. He often seeks out Yoongi when he’s grumpy, curling into him. Yoongi always pretends to be put off by it, but he never pushes him away.

“Shouldn’t you be doing your homework?” Taehyung asks, distracted sounding as he uses his now free hand to fiddle with one of his earrings.

“I finished it,” Jungkook explains as he opens Taehyung’s backpack to find his work, using it as a way to slip Taehyung’s money inside.

“What?”

Jungkook ignores Taehyung to pull out his homework, the edges crumpled from being shoved in. The entire thing is messy, a handful of crumpled papers inside, stray coins and pen caps littering the bottom.

One piece of paper sticks out the most, the F at the top in bright red lettering.

Jungkook clears his throat, focusing on the chemistry homework instead.

“Looks like you got some done too.”

With just a glance, Jungkook sees a lot of the answers are wrong. But there was an attempt made this time, unlike before.

“So you didn’t sleep,” Taehyung says, crossing his arms as he leans back into his chair, making their legs brush under the table.

“I did.”

“How long?”

“Five hours,” Jungkook lies. “When is this due?”

“Did you eat?”

“Yes. Now -”

Taehyung is out of the chair before he can finish, pulling his things from Jungkook and shoving them back inside his bag.

“Come on. Let’s get breakfast. I’m starving.”

Jungkook remains in his seat, even when Taehyung turns to him with an expectant look.

“If that’s due today, we should really finish it.”

It bothers him that someone could care so little for their grades. He would die if he failed even the most insignificant piece of homework.

Taehyung sinks back to him, resting his butt on the table and cupping his hand under Jungkook’s jaw.

It’s embarrassing how easily Taehyung makes his ears hot. It’s a simple touch, maybe Jungkook is just touched deprived.

The pull between annoyance to whatever the hell this is makes Jungkook dizzy. There’s something about Taehyung’s frustrating charm that makes Jungkook unable to shield himself from it, to say no to it.

He’s never been able to say no easily to anything, but it’s never been like this.

“I can’t hand in my homework if I drop dead of starvation, baby. Come on. I know you didn’t eat because you ran in here still in your pajama pants. They’re cute, by the way.”

Jungkook flushes, dropping his gaze as he stares down at the dark blue material covered in ducks.

Trying to convince Taehyung to do homework while eating proves to be difficult. Especially when Taehyung buys enough food to cover the entire table between them and too much food to actually eat in the short amount of time they have free.

Especially when Taehyung continues to plop food in front of Jungkook, making it impossible for him to finish his plate.

He wants to bring up Taehyung’s comment earlier, but he’s worried about bringing up the tense atmosphere again so he skips over the comment about Taehyung focusing, hoping he knows that Jungkook’s apology is for both.

“I’m sorry,” Jungkook says, avoiding eye contact. “I am grateful for your kindness and your consideration. I’m grumpy and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

“I know you slipped me my money back,” Taehyung replies, cheeks bulging with food. “You’re not sneaky, Jeon.”

Jungkook flushes, shoving his mouth so he doesn’t have to answer. That doesn’t go unnoticed either, as Taehyung kicks out his feet under the table and slides them over Jungkook’s calf.

It makes him jolt, flush, and Taehyung’s amusement has returned full force.

“It’s just, I’m a really hard worker and I don’t want anything to make my boss think differently,” Jungkook explains quietly. “I can’t lose my job. It might just look like a stupid job at a burger place, but I need the money.”

It’s the one thing about rich people he’s always hated; how they look down at minimum wage workers like they too don’t rely on them. He used to see it with his mother, the way the executives would walk by her like she wasn’t there, sometimes bumping into her and never apologizing. Yet they would be the first people to complain if there was something a mess in the building, suddenly needing the maid they so carelessly ignore.

Taehyung pulls his foot away, resting his elbows to the table and cupping his cheeks. “If Jiwon fires you because you need a break, I’ll tell the media that Burger Deluxe is rat infested.”

Jungkook coughs, trying to drown out Taehyung’s voice so the neighboring table doesn’t overhear. “It’s really fine. You shouldn’t do that to your friend.”

Taehyung snorts, rubbing at the bandana around his throat. “Jiwon isn’t my friend.”

“Oh, you two definitely seemed friendly.”

Jungkook stabs his utensil in a piece of meat as he freezes, eyes staring straight ahead. Did he just say that?

Without even looking, he knows the grin that will be on Taehyung’s face will make his body burn beneath it.

“We’ve...hung out,” Taehyung replies, implication in his tone. “No need to be jealous, Jeon. I’m trying to hang out with you too.”

Jungkook’s heart pounds in his chest and he accidentally rips the meat up too quickly, sending it flying across the table. He knows his face must be red because his palms are starting to sweat as Taehyung giggles.

“I’m not - I’m not jealous.”

Taehyung presses his lips together, barely suppressing his grin as he stabs another piece of meat and holds it out to Jungkook.

When Jungkook doesn’t move, Taehyung nudges the meat towards him until Jungkook bends his head forward.

The fingers are back under his chin, gripping around it as Taehyung guides the meat to Jungkook’s mouth.

“It’s okay if you are, baby. It’s cute. So Friday? Wanna hang?”

Jungkook is no longer sure he knows what hang out means, at least now how Taehyung means it. He takes his time chewing, using it as an excuse to stall on his response.

“If you have homework, we can do that,” Taehyung says, holding out another piece of food for Jungkook to take. Soon, Jungkook’s stomach is going to burst and he’s going to be even more tired while weighed down with food. He has track tonight, so maybe that will help him burn off the heavy feeling. “If you don’t, you can help me with anatomy.”

Jungkook chokes when Taehyung licks his lips, thumping a fist to his chest. “Is that the other class you’re taking?”

“No,” Taehyung supplies, cocking his head. “Oceanography is the third. But anatomy is a subject that I find fascinating.”

There’s sweat on Jungkook’s neck as he grabs for his bag. “I should probably get to class.”

Taehyung hums, glancing at a thin, silver band watch hidden beneath his sleeve. “Oh yeah, it’s already ten past nine.”

Jungkook barely gets out an apology or a thank you before he takes off in a run.

Putting effort into getting across campus is worthless, Jungkook thinks once he’s made contact with the locked classroom door. He knows the rules; if you aren’t there after fifteen, you’re absent. He sighs heavily, resting his forehead to the cold metal. He considers guilting his professor with puppy eyes through the door window, but that would be pointless too. They’re considerate of him; but he’s been messing up lately.

“Fuck,” Jungkook cusses, pushing away from the door. He tries to remind himself it isn’t a big deal; it’s one absence. He could probably find a way to lie and get it excused but his homework .

The buildings on campus are set up by subject, so thankfully he doesn’t have to travel far to get to the professors’ offices. He needs to do something productive to make up for his absence, like sit in his professor’s office and study until she gets out of class; but he’s too nervous to face her.

Instead, Jungkook slips his homework into the box outside of her office and quickly scribbles an apology note about missing it. He doubts having lunch is a reasonable excuse, even though having lunch with the President’s son could probably work.

Jungkook freezes, pen hovering over the note. No, he can’t do that.

“Jungkook, right?”

Whipping around, Jungkook finds Namjoon. He’s slinking down the hallway, hands tucked deep into his pockets and a beanie pulled over his head. His shirt is long, too long, but he has the sleeves pushed up into his elbows.

The senioritis is setting in for everyone. Yoongi used to dress up for class, especially if he would have to go to a professor’s office, but now he barely changes out of his clothes from the night before.

Jungkook’s starting to feel senioritis and he’s only in his second year.

“You have Professor Jung?” Namjoon asks, throwing a thumb at the office door Jungkook stands before. “She’s a tough ass. How’re you doing in her class?”

Jungkook rubs at the back of his neck. He avoids social situations for a reason; he never knows how to get out of them. Even saying excuse me feels rude. “Um, good. I have her for macromolecular biochem.”

Namjoon raises his eyebrows at that before he presses a heavy hand to Jungkook’s shoulder. “Shit, man. Tae always goes on about how smart you are. If you’re doing good in that class, you must be.”

His palms are sweating now. Jungkook glances down the hallway, knowing it isn’t long enough for Professor Jung to be here already, but wishing she was.

“He talks about me?”

Namjoon snorts, eyebrows crunching together. There’s definitely judgement in his eyes as he shakes his head. “Of course. Never shuts up about you. Oh, by the way, he asked me to bribe Yoongi into convincing you to come to our bonfire, but since you’re here -”

Jungkook stares at Namjoon. There’s a dimple appearing in his cheek when he smiles, his eyes still as heavy as the last time they saw each other, but now with amusement.

“I’m busy that night.”

Taehyung talks about him nonstop?

“I didn’t tell you when it was,” Namjoon laughs.

Jungkook lets out his own laugh, sounding much more awkward than Namjoon’s. “What does Taehyung say about me?”

The amusement grows in Namjoon’s face and Jungkook wonders how close him and Taehyung are; if they’re perhaps related because the amusement on Namjoon’s face makes him feel just as hot.

“That you’re too smart and it annoys him,” Namjoon says and Jungkook deflates. Wait, no, he doesn’t care. “He says the same thing about me, his best friend, because I’m majoring in aerospace engineering. So basically that means he likes you a lot.”

What?

Jungkook must be making a face; staring or spacing out or something because Namjoon laughs louder, the sound coming from his chest and he flinches from it.

“Come to the bonfire,” Namjoon says, tapping over his eyebrows with two fingers in goodbye. “See you there, yeah?”

Despite having every intention not to go, Jungkook nods and Namjoon accepts it with a nod of his own before he leaves. He wants to text Taehyung and tell him he isn’t going, ask him why he didn’t just ask him himself. But his phone is vibrating there and Jungkook is slumping against the office door.

capricorn soulmate: what do you think?

Jungkook makes a choking noise, cheeks flushing as he glances down the hallway before staring back down at the photo Taehyung sent. He’s in a bathroom somewhere, a public bathroom that Jungkook recognizes but can’t place. Despite the public setting, he’s shameless, his shirt unbuttoned and hanging off his shoulders. His pants are loose, hanging off his hips and billowing around his legs. The bandana is still around his neck, and Jungkook wonders if it’s meant to cover something up when he spots the dark mark beneath Taehyung’s belly button.

jungkook: what am I looking at?

capricorn soulmate: my new shirt

Jungkook snorts. One, that’s the same shirt Taehyung was wearing earlier; the pants are different. Two, Jungkook can barely see it. It hangs off his shoulders in a way that makes it hard to see, and shows off the hard and soft of Taehyung’s torso.

The sweat returns to his palms as he wonders if Taehyung intended for Jungkook to focus on his bare skin; if he was thinking about him after he left, so much so that he sent a picture like this.

No, no of course not.

jungkook: when did u change your contact name to capricorn soulmate?

The phone rings a second later and Jungkook slumps further into the wall of the hallway, suddenly nervous again.

“Why aren’t you in class, baby?”

Jungkook grits his teeth. The teasing in Taehyung’s tone confirms his suspicions, he knows why Jungkook isn’t in class.

“Why are you naked in a public restroom?”

Taehyung lets out a loud laugh that has a smile flickering on Jungkook’s mouth. “I’m not naked, Jeon. But if you want me to be, I can meet you. Where you at?”

They are nowhere near each other, but Jungkook feels his flight or fight kick on. He shoves away from the wall, holding his bag to his chest as he takes off down the hallway.

“That’s - that’s not what I meant. I have class.”

“You’ve already skipped one. Skip the rest with me.”

The words are on the tip of Jungkook’s tongue, the frustration inside of him wanting to snap them, but he chokes on them instead. It’s a strangled sound when Jungkook rounds the corner and smacks into Taehyung. Taehyung’s brows furrow in concern as he reaches out and grabs Jungkook’s hip.

He knew he recognized those bathrooms.

The shirt is still unbuttoned and when Jungkook’s hand collides against his bare chest, he jerks it back like he’s been burned.

“What are you doing here?”

Taehyung grins, squeezing Jungkook’s hip. “I was hoping to get you flustered in class, but then I realized you weren’t there.”

“Creep,” Jungkook complains, shoving at Taehyung’s chest. “This is borderline stalking behavior?”

Taehyung frowns at that as he looks around the empty hallway. “Being in the Science Building? Most of my classes are here.”

“And which one do you have now?”

Taehyung’s eyes light up with amusement and he reaches out, squeezing Jungkook’s cheek. “Jungkook 101. Come on, you can’t go to your next class so early anyway.”

If Jungkook were late to class, so was Taehyung. It would make sense for him to be in the Science Building if he tried to make it, but he can’t imagine Taehyung running across campus to get to class on time. Especially if he had enough time to change his pants.

“Why do you have different pants on?”

“Spilled food on them,” Taehyung replies easily. “I always carry a spare you know, in case . Can’t walk around with cum pants.”

Jungkook swats Taehyung until he laughs. He’s shameless and makes his ears burn hot.

“Namjoon told me you wanted me to come to the bonfire, I said no.”

Taehyung side eyes him at that. “Not surprising. But you’re still going.”

Jungkook huffs out. “No.”

Taehyung turns. They’re still in the hallway, standing in front of a small room that’s sectioned off for students to sit and wait for class. Jungkook doesn’t know if anyone is looking at them because he can’t look away from Taehyung when he pushes into Jungkook’s space.

“I’ll find a way to convince you,” Taehyung says under his breath, fingers coming up to brush lightly down Jungkook’s neck. It tickles, and Jungkook shivers in response. “So you should just agree and save me the effort.”

Embarrassment makes him want to run but he likes the feeling, likes when Taehyung touches him and he feels the words get stuck in his throat when he wants to ask for more.

**

When Taehyung was younger and someone asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, his answer always changed. He wanted to be a businessman like his grandfather, an artist like his mother. He wanted to clean houses like the women who worked at his. He wanted to be a doctor when his older brother broke his ankle, but changed his mind when he had to get his shots.

He wanted to travel to space and dig for dinosaurs like any other young kid. One time he wanted to be a police officer. Another time he wanted to write books even though he never could write more than a few pages before giving up. In high school he considered following Jimin’s same goal in becoming a teacher even though he hated every one he’s ever had.

His biggest mistake was cheating his way through all of his science classes, upping his grade too high to make his mother proud and causing his father to force him to take it in college.

At least he had the option to choose which field, deciding on Earth Sciences because even though it confuses him, it was the one subject out of all of them he wanted to learn more about.

And it is interesting at times, but the jargon makes his brain mush. It makes him feel bad when he doesn’t understand, and cheating backfired on him, causing Taehyung to give up.

There isn’t a point in trying when it only ends in frustration and Taehyung rather remove the stress of it all if he’s just going to fail anyway.

He wishes his father would get that through his head and just accept the fact that school isn’t for Taehyung. Maybe he can pick up a craft somewhere else, something less textbook and more hands on. An engineer, maybe. An automotive tech. A bartender at one of the clubs he frequents.

It isn’t possible. His father’s made it clear that if he doesn’t graduate, he doesn’t return home.

Taehyung thinks fuck all, usually, but there are times where the idea of it hurts his chest so bad that he gets up and drags himself to the stupid tutoring sessions in hopes that maybe today, he will be able to do better.

At least his tutor is cuter than the thousands before him and makes it easier to get through. Even if his stubbornness and rudeness frustrates Taehyung sometimes.

“Mr. Kim. Your father requested you in his office.”

Taehyung looks up from where he’s doodling in the margins of his notebook, filling the pages with drawings of eyes and mouths that look too much like they belong to the same cute tutor he can’t seem to get his mind off of.

“Excuse me?”

His chemistry professor points to the secretary standing in the doorway of their classroom. “Professor Kim has requested you in his office. Don’t forget to do the reading for Monday. I’ve sent the work over to Jungkook-ssi like you’ve requested.”

Taehyung nods as he pulls his things into his bag and follows after the secretary. He has no intention of doing the reading even if Jungkook tries to force him to. Jungkook should receive a medal for his patience, somehow finding it and actually making Taehyung work when Taehyung tries so hard to learn about Jungkook instead.

It isn’t usual for his father to call him from class or to even acknowledge him during work hours. Unless he’s in trouble, which is likely.

He isn’t nervous, just dreading it. He hates meeting with his father, getting scolded and listening to the other bullshit that spouts from his lips. It could be about anything, from grades to skipping class, to his brother Soohyun coming home and finding him coming down from a wicked high.

Whatever. He’s well aware of the shit Soohyun did in college, which is the same thing Taehyung gets up to. But there’s a stuffy air about Soohyun that comes from him being an ass kisser that makes him the child the family’s most proud of.

Scoldings from his father aren’t something new to him, it’s something he’s experienced enough that usually he can be quite numb to it. Usually. Sometimes it aggravates him, upsets him. But it never makes him nervous, because he knows what to expect.

Well, he usually does. Nerves spark inside of him as he walks past the windowed walls, eyes landing on Jungkook inside his father’s office.

Jungkook is red, sitting politely with his hands crossed over his thighs. He only glances at Taehyung when he enters, dropping his gaze while he walks over to him. He must be on his way to track given his outfit, spandex hugging his legs and his school sweater so big Jungkook appears tinier than ever wearing it.

“Abeoji,” Taehyung greets, bowing in front of his father. He’s dressed to the nine, an expensive suit on that his mistress probably bought him. He doesn’t stand but gestures for Taehyung to sit. “Jeon.”

Jungkook squeaks out his hello. He’s seen Jungkook nervous before, always shy, but never like this. His hands are fumbling over one another, leg shaking beneath the bag he has placed upon his lap.

“What is it?”

“Tone,” his father says, scolding him before Taehyung can even sit. “Professor Ma Ri came to me over your exam grade this week.”

Taehyung can feel Jungkook looking at him. He had never told Jungkook he had an exam because he knew Jungkook had one too.

If Taehyung has already given up on his attempts, he doesn’t need Jungkook to waste his time. Especially if it affects Jungkook’s grades too.

Jungkook is oddly serious about school, almost obsessive in the way he talks about it. Taehyung doesn’t know why but he’s sure Jungkook is going to drop from the stress of it all. It’s normal to take time for yourself, it’s important to. There’s plenty of kids out there going to class, procrastinating and fucking around at times, and still passing with flying colors. Jungkook is smart enough that he could be able to do this too if he let himself.

“Would you like to explain it?”

“I failed,” Taehyung grunts, sinking back into his chair. “Nothing new, Appa. Not sure why we’ve called a meeting for it.”

His father narrows his eyes, red creeping up his neck. Taehyung doesn’t like it as much as Jungkook’s red skin.

“We called a meeting because you’ve been tutoring for a few weeks now and I’ve seen little to no improvement.”

Taehyung frowns at that. It worsens when Jungkook immediately jumps up to respond, sounding flustered in a way that Taehyung doesn’t like.

“I’m sorry sir. I will work harder. I can add a session on Saturday mornings if Taehyung-ssi is willing -”

“No,” Taehyung interrupts harshly, making Jungkook’s eyes narrow at him in annoyance. “I didn’t tell Jungkook-ssi that I had an exam. And I’ve gotten excellent marks on my homework packets, which is thanks to Jungkook’s help.”

“Your attendance -”

“Did you hire Jungkook to babysit me?” Taehyung snaps defensively. “He’s to help me with my work. It isn’t his responsibility to make sure I’m going to class. I’m not sure why he’s here for this.”

Jungkook is so red and for once, Taehyung hates it. Normally, Taehyung’s goal is to see how red Jungkook can get, to see his flustered look and shy eyes. It isn’t anything like that now, with shame written loudly across Jungkook’s face.

“I am - I am sorry sir. It is my fault Taehyung missed his first class on Monday. We were studying and I didn’t realize the time.”

His father waves a hand at Jungkook, getting him to quiet. “I do not hold you accountable for his attendance Jungkook-ssi, but I did ask you to request a copy of the syllabi from his professors, which if you had done, you would have known the exam was coming up.”

Jungkook nods, apologizing quietly and really, it’s so ridiculous that Taehyung feels a tension growing inside of him that only appears when he gets pissed off.

“Taehyung, your scores are affected by your attendance. What are you doing that you cannot go to class?”

It isn’t anyone’s fucking business, Taehyung thinks. He’s starting to grow agitated, angry and he hates feeling that way. He rarely lets himself get there and he doesn’t want Jungkook to see it.

“Smokin’ dope and fucking,” Taehyung grunts. “My two favorite past times.”

His father sighs, rubbing a hand down his face in exhaustion. Jungkook is silent, lips pressed together and eyes stuck on his hands.

“You’re being crude.”

“Blame the nannies that raised me.”

His father’s nostrils flare at that.  “Please, don’t start on that again. You’ve lived a life people dream of, Taehyung. Did you know how hard Jungkook-ssi worked to get to a place you don’t even care about being in?”

His father looks to Jungkook but he’s shrinking in on himself, shoulders curving forward like he wants to disappear.

“He grew tending to a sick mother, working part time to feed his younger brother, and still managed to excel in school. He continues to do it now. You should work hard on doing well just to show your gratitude towards him.”

Jungkook’s fingers are shaking and he won’t look up, even when addressed. Taehyung didn’t know these things, though he has been trying to ask Jungkook more and more about his life. He sometimes writes the answers to Jungkook’s questions in the margins of his notebook.

But what Jungkook’s life has to do with his, he has no idea. Taehyung may not like his father but he will admit he’s a smart man; smart enough to know that you can’t easily compare two people’s lives and experiences.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have given Jungkook even more work to do then,” Taehyung snaps, pushing himself up with his hands on the arm of the chair. “It’s your job to raise a smart son, Abeoji, not Jungkook’s.”

Jungkook snaps his head up at that, quickly shaking it. “I don’t mind, sir. I swear -”

His father holds up a hand, cutting off Jungkook with his murderous eyes on Taehyung. “Watch your tongue. Jungkook-ssi, if picking up Saturdays works well for you, you’d be greatly compensated for your dedication and hard work.”

Jungkook nods, insisting it is and Taehyung storms out, irritated and unable to take anymore.

Anger is a horrible feeling because it feels like he’s crawling out of his skin when it hits. It makes his knuckles tense and arms tremble, like he needs to punch something just to get rid of the feeling in his body. He isn’t the violent type at all, but maybe that’s why he hates it so much.

He makes it halfway across the green before Jungkook’s caught up to him, the track star that he is. He grabs Taehyung’s shoulder, jerking him back.

“You should have told me about your exam,” Jungkook huffs, annoyed as he throws his track bag over his shoulder.

“My grades aren’t actually your problem, baby,” Taehyung snaps.

Jungkook glares hard at him, eyebrows pressing together. “It is my business. I promised President Kim I would get your grades up.”

Taehyung scoffs as he yanks from Jungkook’s touch. “Well that was stupid of you, Jeon. He’s been trying to get my grades up since I first started school. You’re supposed to learn from mistakes, hm? Not keep making them. That’s my father’s fault, not yours. So learn it now before you make the same mistake that he has.”

He can hear Jungkook storming after him as he walks off, but he doesn’t stop him. Not until they’re farther away, hidden away from the buildings and anyone looking through the windows.

“Stop,” Jungkook huffs, grabbing Taehyung’s shirt and yanking him back. It’s rough, rougher than Taehyung’s ever imagined Jungkook could be. His back presses into the gravelly textured brick building, Jungkook’s hand planting to his shoulder.

The rough edge only lasts for a second before Jungkook softens, his hand falling limp on Taehyung’s shoulder.

“We’ll figure out a way that works for you,” he says. “People learn differently.”

Taehyung huffs, laughing at the genuineness in Jungkook’s eyes. “I don’t need your help, Jungkook. Unless you’re willing to do the work for me, my grades aren’t going up.”

Jungkook huffs through his nose, letting Taehyung go completely. “I would.”

It’s said firmly but there’s regret in Jungkook’s eyes.

Taehyung glares at that. “You could get expelled and I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”

“If it’s our only option,” Jungkook exclaims, holding his hands out to gesture Taehyung. “Unless you want to help me find a way that learning is easier for you.”

Taehyung groans at that, wiggling around because he’s starting to feel heavy. His chest is starting to ache and he fucking hates it. He avoids this feeling as much as he can.

“Just let it go, Jeon. I’ll tell my father -”

“Why won’t you try?” Jungkook asks, more flustered than he should be. “That’s what annoys me, you know. You don’t try.”

Taehyung stares hard at Jungkook as Jungkook reaches out and grabs his hand, threading his fingers together like he did last time he said something to upset him.

It does make him feel better, but Taehyung won’t admit it because he doesn’t like anyone knowing that there’s something wrong.

“You don’t know me enough to know that,” Taehyung says. He doesn’t like talking about it; he rather avoid the subject. It’s why he prefers messing around, he can’t take the seriousness of it all.

If he did, if he confronted it, the feeling in his chest would consume him to the point where he wouldn’t be able to take it anymore.

“I’m continuing the study sessions,” Jungkook announces, pulling Taehyung’s hand so he comes closer. “Including Saturdays. It’s up to you if you show up. And don’t call me Jungkook again, I don’t like it.”

Taehyung storms off before Jungkook can get another word out. He isn’t a violent person, he hates it actually, but he wants to pound his own chest until the frustration releases from inside of it.

He whips out his phone as he pounds his feet over the pavement, ignoring his father’s message to call Namjoon instead.

“Joon baby, I need to get high. Where are you?”

When Taehyung first started college, he wanted to have an optimistic mindset. These were different teachers with different personalities. The school was designed to help students succeed and graduate with a job.

The first time Taehyung asked a professor for help, they were so condescending, Taehyung swore not to do it again. The first grade that came back wasn’t great, and when he asked his professor to explain it; they were rude. There were too many upturned noses and comments about how they expected more from the son of the President.

Taehyung’s done with people making him feel stupid. His professors are so used to it now that they no longer make comments anymore. Taehyung prefers it that way, prefers people to stop expecting something from him.

“Go easy,” Yoongi grunts, pulling the joint from Taehyung’s lips. His face is furrowed, those concerned eyes on him.

Taehyung prefers the tight, heavy feeling in his chest when it’s like this and not frustration. He likes when he can’t breathe, as long as if it’s from holding his breath and not because of other people’s words.

“What’s going on man?” Namjoon asks.

Namjoon ended up being at Hoseok’s, which wasn’t surprising. They’re sat in the living room, Hoseok on the couch with Yoongi between his legs, Namjoon across from them and Taehyung between.

“Nothin’,” Taehyung says. They won’t push; they never do. Even if Yoongi gets the look in his eyes like he might, he won’t. The silence falls for a long moment before it’s finally accepted.

“I told Jungkook you wanted him to come to the bonfire,” Namjoon says as he leans back on both hands.

Taehyung frowns at that. He doesn’t want to talk about Jungkook, nor about the fact that Namjoon wasn’t supposed to tell Jungkook that he wanted him to go.

It’s childish, whatever, but Jungkook is easier to say yes to other people than him.

“I know.”

Yoongi grunts at that. His head is cocked to the side as he smokes, Hoseok’s fingers in his hair and rubbing at his scalp. “Kookie can’t come. Cheol Su is going to be there.”

Hoseok’s fingers freeze in Yoongi’s hair. “Who invited him?”

“Gong Cheol Su?” Taehyung asks as he digs his fingers into the pile of chips sitting on the table between them all. God bless Jung Hoseok for getting them before they sat down.

“Mm,” Hoseok hums, leaning over Yoongi’s head to squeeze his cheeks. “You remember when Yoongi baby got into that fight at the Club? It was with Mr. Gong Cheol Su, wasn’t it, baby?”

Hoseok cooes while he speaks, making Yoongi flush and his face turn grumpy but he never shoves Hoseok off.

The intimidating Min Yoongi, known for kicking ass and taking name, completely melts when shown any affection from any of them.

“I don’t know who invited him but he messaged me the other day to see if I was going,” Yoongi grunts. “Wants to make up or something. I think it’s because of my ranking down at the Club.”

The sudden aggravation is alarming to Taehyung. Yoongi can get scoldy and sometimes frustrated looking, but never angry. He usually looks fond when he scolds Taehyung or just genuinely worried because sometimes Taehyung does take it too far.

“I hope you told him to fuck off,” Hoseok says, still cooing and Taehyung snorts.

Taehyung is relieved when the joint is passed back to him, leaning back as he smokes so he can watch the scene around him. He feels better now, lighter, no longer pissed. It was unfair to yell at Jungkook, he knows. But Jungkook was so willing and ready to do anything for his father, and Taehyung’s father is a piece of shit.

It pisses him off because he’s heard what his father has said about people with less money than them, the nasty assumptions he’s made about poor people. Taehyung doesn’t know where Jungkook falls on the line when it comes to social class, but he definitely knows his father doesn’t actually give a shit that Jungkook struggled in life.

“Cheol Su is the one that hurt Kook,” Yoongi explains and Namjoon nods like he knows. It grabs Taehyung’s attention, the only one clearly out of the loop. “And then tried to talk shit when I confronted him.”

The night of that match, Jimin had been a wreck. There are rules in place and Yoongi had ignored every one of them. It was hard to see his face from where Taehyung had been sitting, not until he came off stage and there was blood covering his knuckles and dripping from his nose.

He hadn’t hurt Cheol Su too badly, nothing worse than a brutal fight on the ring could do. But Yoongi had broken rules to do so and left Cheol Su unable to exit the boxing ring himself. If he hadn’t had the reputation he did, Yoongi could have been banned from the Club.

Taehyung hadn’t known why at the time; neither did Jimin. But now he’s understanding a bit. Yoongi is protective, extremely so when it comes to Taehyung. Even more so to someone he’s raised like a little brother.

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t go,” Taehyung says as he stubs out the joint. “It’s my spot, I’ll tell him to fuck off.”

He wants to ask what Cheol Su did but he wants to stop talking about Jungkook. Even though talking about it makes Taehyung realize he wants Jungkook at the bonfire still. Which means having to talk to him.

Taehyung sighs, head hanging back. “Even though Jungkook is a dick.”

Yoongi kicks him for that. “He isn’t. You just get on his nerves.”

Everyone laughs at that, even Taehyung. He knows he gets on Jungkook’s nerves, but he thinks it’s in a good way. Maybe. Jungkook still seems dedicated on helping him.

Shit. The only time Jungkook has made him feel dumb like his previous professors had, he quickly made up for it and helped him. Even if Taehyung didn’t really feel any better about what he was doing, Jungkook was still patient and kind.

Taehyung feels worse about his outburst now. The heaviness returns to his chest so quickly that he slumps back and lies on the ground of Hoseok’s living room floor to suffer through it.

Taehyung shows up to the study session.

It isn’t him trying; but after some deliberation on Hoseok’s floor, his guilt growing worse, he thinks he understands why it’s important to Jungkook.

His father can go to Hell. Taehyung’s instinct is to make life harder on him, but he feels bad if Jungkook is getting mixed in with that.

“Hey baby. Is that what you preferred to be called?”

Jungkook whips his head up when Taehyung enters with his usual grin. He looks relieved when Taehyung sits down, throwing his backpack onto the table. He doesn’t answer Taehyung’s question but he doesn’t mind, he likes how obvious Jungkook is about things but thinks he’s not.

“I will continue tutoring but there’s two things you need to do for me.”

Jungkook nods without hesitation and Taehyung wishes he wouldn’t be so easy. He’s strict about not letting anything get in the way of his studies and work, yet he takes on more and more that it has to end up doing so anyway.

“Tell me why it’s important to you. Tutoring me.”

Jungkook goes red, glancing down at the textbook laid out before him. It’s all equations and words Taehyung doesn’t understand, mixing around in his head as he attempts to focus on them while Jungkook thinks.

“Your father implied a reduction in my tuition if I helped,” Jungkook admits, quietly like he’s embarrassed.

Taehyung isn’t surprised. He figured Jungkook’s obedience had something to do with either grades or money.

“If he didn’t, would you still say yes?”

Jungkook nods without hesitation and Taehyung doesn’t find that surprising either.

“Okay,” Taehyung says, clapping his palms to the table. “I’ll do it but you have to hang out with me on Friday nights.”

Jungkook’s eyes blow wide, hands freezing where they hover over his textbook like he was going to reach for it. “What?”

“Just hanging. We can do whatever. No studying or minimal homework if it actually has to be done. Like due at midnight or Saturday morning kind of deal.”

Jungkook gapes at him, his neck reddening again. “Why?”

“Is it a deal or not?”

Taehyung doesn’t answer the question because he isn’t sure himself. It’s important to him that Jungkook takes some time to relax, to do something other than stress himself out. He doesn’t know why it’s important, but it is.

Maybe it’s because he hates how uptight Jungkook is. Maybe it’s because he’s been on the receiving end of Yoongi’s worrisome rants that Jungkook’s going to work himself to his death.

Maybe because he’s starting to understand why Yoongi is so protective over Jungkook; he just gives that vibe off and Taehyung can’t help it.

“Fine.”

A grin slips onto Taehyung’s mouth then, this time it’s more genuine. “Good.”

Jungkook exhales harshly through his nose, cranking his neck before he takes Taehyung’s backpack into hand. “You have a make up exam this Friday coming up. I requested your syllabi like President Kim asked me to.”

It’s difficult not to roll his eyes at that. Taehyung wouldn’t be surprised if Jungkook actually became his babysitter one day.

“Professor Ma Ri doesn’t do make up exams.”

It turns awkward as Jungkook clears his throat, focusing too much on the inside of Taehyung’s bag. He says something, but his words are rushed and too quiet to comprehend.

“What was that, baby?”

Jungkook looks over his bag, glaring. “I said.”

It’s just as quiet and rushed the second time, Jungkook burying his face into the bag so it makes it even harder to hear.

“Oh okay,” Taehyung hums, grinning as Jungkook pops back out of the bag with a burning face.

“I told Professor Ma Ri I would help her during the winter session if she could give you a make up exam.”

Taehyung’s mouth falls open and he punches Jungkook on instinct. “You sly baby. Don’t do that for me.”

“I only have one class during the winter session,” Jungkook explains, flustered as he takes out Taehyung’s failed exam. “It really isn’t a big deal.”

It is, Taehyung thinks, his chest heavying again. Most people go home during the winter session.

“If getting your tuition lowered is that important to you, I can just pay off this semester for you,” Taehyung offers.

He thought it would be a nice gesture to offer, but Jungkook glares at him with anger. It confuses Taehyung how Jungkook looks aggravated when offered help. He had bit his head off last time, when all Taehyung was trying to do was help him find time to do his homework, something Jungkook is always going on about.

“I want to help you,” Jungkook says quietly. “So shut up and let’s work on this.”

Taehyung grins, taking Jungkook’s hand into his own. “Did you just tell me to shut up? Looks like I’m rubbing off on you.”

“I finished the work I have due next week, so I’m free when you are.”

Taehyung groans, letting his head fall to the table. Typical Jungkook. “As long as you’ve slept.”

Jungkook nods like it’s a habit and Taehyung wonders if Jungkook believes he’s actually good at lying. He won’t bring it up though he might ask Yoongi about it.

“I looked over the exam and some of the questions are worded oddly,” Jungkook says as he lays the failed exam before them. “There was a couple that I understood why you answered them the way you did, because of the wording. So I’m going to explain them differently, okay?”

Taehyung rests his eyes on Jungkook instead of the textbook. It is easy for him when it’s read out to him, especially because Jungkook has a way of explaining things in a way that is easier for Taehyung to understand.

When the words get muddled in his head, that’s when Taehyung shuts down. He tries to focus on Jungkook reading them instead, hoping that balloon of aggravation and insecurity doesn’t make him start running away with jokes.

“Okay, baby,” Taehyung says as he takes Jungkook’s idle hand and curls his fingers in the spaces between Jungkook’s. “That means you’re going to the bonfire with me on Friday.”

Jungkook clears his throat, cheeks turning pink before he starts reading and ignoring the fact that Taehyung won.

“Are you allergic to fun as well as a sore loser?”

Jungkook turns to Taehyung from where he was spacing off to the side, eyeing the buildings they walk by. “Shut up.”

Taehyung grins, swinging their clasped hands between them. “You’re making it seem like I’ve kidnapped you.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose at that. “You did.”

He kind of did. Jungkook, the fake that he is, had tried to bail on their agreed upon Friday night hang out. Thankfully Yoongi had been home taking an online class when Taehyung arrived to pick him up, helping him force Jungkook out of the apartment.

It came with a warning not to mess with Jungkook, just like always. An even quieter, only for Taehyung’s ears, to kick Cheol Su out if he really does show up before Jungkook can see him.

“We agreed to this,” Taehyung says, rubbing Jungkook’s knuckles. “You agreed to this so it can’t be a kidnapping.”

Jungkook doesn’t respond, eyes going back to the stores. The lights collect in his big round eyes and Taehyung finds it difficult to pull his own eyes away.

“Where are we going?”

Taehyung hums instead of responding, guiding Jungkook to an alley that connects to the main road market road. It is a thin road, barely lit and Jungkook’s fingers tighten around his hand.

“Afraid of the dark, baby?”

“No,” Jungkook grunts, elbowing Taehyung but his grip is tight. “Are you leading me down here to murder me?”

Taehyung huffs out a laugh, curling towards Jungkook to pinch his cheek between his fingers. “You don’t know how cute you are. I’m showing you a very top secret place, Jeon. I’m taking a complicated way to get there so you can never find it again.”

Jungkook’s eyes go wide at Taehyung’s cryptic words before they narrow. It isn’t true. This is the only way Taehyung knows how to get to where they’re going.

No parties was a strict rule, but Taehyung’s never listened to rules well. He doesn’t get what’s wrong with parties if Jungkook just doesn’t drink. Maybe the size, so Taehyung’s set up a small one - just their closest friends and Jungkook’s. The loud noise? He’ll have Jungkook in charge of the volume.

The possibility of getting in trouble? Taehyung’s taking him to the one spot that he’s always gone to to get drunk or high with Jimin or Namjoon, a place that he’s never seen anyone else in.

They have to walk over old railroad tracks, far enough away from the city that it seems quiet. Jungkook’s grip tightens when Taehyung leads him down a hill, off to a dirt path that leads his spot.

Jimin’s brother had found it when they were younger, going there to hang out with his high school friends. It’s a pit of sorts, Taehyung isn’t sure what it used to be used for, but there’s an abandoned freight car down there that Namjoon’s decorated with a litany of different sprayed drawings.

The fire is already lit in the middle, a handcrafted bonfire pit that Yoongi helped them with their first year. Jungkook sinks into Taehyung’s side, their friends shadowed figures until they get closer.

“This isn’t really a party,” Taehyung says, tickling his lips to Jungkook’s ear. “But it’s just a chill night, okay? And Yoongi’ll show up sometime later so, make sure you don’t drink. I’ve had enough scolding this week.”

Jungkook nods. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

Taehyung huffs out a fond smile as he drags Jungkook over towards the fire. Jungkook seems to relax when he spots Hoseok, his face glowing from the reflection of the flames.

“Kook-ah, finally,” Hoseok huffs, grabbing Jungkook and pulling him from Taehyung. “I’ve been trying to get Jungkook to a bonfire forever, Tae Tae. How’d you do it?”

Taehyung grabs a beer from the cooler before sitting on top of it. “I promised him the best blow job of his life.”

Jungkook flushes, shaking his head immediately and waving his hand but Hoseok is throwing his head back and laughing.

“Don’t embarrass him,” Hoseok huffs, pinching Jungkook’s cheek as he squeezes his arm tighter around him. “Don’t drink anything Jin makes. It’s poison.”

“Not true!” Jin yells from across the fire, eyes offended as he pads over. He holds a hand out to Jungkook. “We met a few weeks ago, if you remember.”

“Jin-ssi,” Jungkook says, nodding his head. Taehyung wonders how much Jungkook remembers from that night.

If he would be embarrassed by how readily he stripped from his clothes and talked about being hard. If he’d get tongue tied trying to explain how he tried to rub off against the sheets before Taehyung stopped him.

“Don’t forget me,” Jimin complains, ruffling Jungkook’s hair. “Ready to get that stick out of your ass?”

Laughter fills the air as Jungkook shoves Jimin and goes back to Hoseok, his refuge.

Maybe Taehyung is selfish because this is what he wanted to do tonight; just be around his friends. His family is gone to different parts of the world for the weekend, taking their personal maids and assistants with them and leaving the house too empty for him.

Plus, Taehyung feels a punishment coming. Just s scolding wasn’t his father’s way. He probably thinks taking some of Saturday away from Taehyung for studying is punishment too, but jokes on him because he likes being around Jungkook. He had his makeup exam today and he doesn’t feel confident about it; a failed grade could result in house arrest.

Which, Taehyung has always ignored and slipped out of the house anyway. His parents are never home enough to keep an eye on him, but he doesn’t want to deal with it. His Butler gets stressed by it and Taehyung feels bad when he does it; knowing the man is getting too old to deal with him anymore.

“Taehyung-ah,” Jimin calls, a scolding in his tone but Taehyung can handle it coming from him. He sits on Taehyung’s lap a second later, arm curling around his neck. “What’s this I hear that you’re still fucking around with Jiwonie and didn’t tell me?”

Taehyung flushes, glancing at Jungkook but he’s being pulled away by Hoseok.

“We aren’t,” Taehyung says, shoving Jimin off before he stands.

Jimin wrinkles his nose at that. “Ah, don’t lie. You know he lives with Donghyukie, who told me you kept him up with how loud you are and how would he know you sound like a dying animal when you have sex if it isn’t true?”

Taehyung makes a noise of offense as he shoves Jimin again. It turns into bantering, swatting to one up the other and Taehyung missed it.

The last two weeks have been filled with exams and projects, Jimin has been just as busy as Jungkook except Jimin pushes everything off until last minute like Jungkook should be doing.

“It was just one time,” Taehyung huffs, laughing when Jimin tries to headlock him but he slips out of it. “He did something for me so I did something for him.”

Jimin swats him in the chest, face twisting. “Don’t be gross.”

Taehyung snorts before he chugs down the can. He feels embarrassed for a moment and that’s another feeling he hates. Jimin never judges him for anything, he shouldn’t be embarrassed. “Coming from you, that’s ironic.”

“I’m pure,” Jimin huffs, chest puffing.

“Is that why I have messages from you about how you want to lick the come from -”

Jimin is shoving him back, pursuing another fight that lasts until Yoongi shows up.

Taehyung grins at how Jimin flushes before skipping across the ground to Yoongi, holding a hand for him so he doesn’t fall down the hill. Taehyung empties the can, nose wrinkling at the warm backwash at the bottom before he searches for Jungkook.

There’s a beer in his hand as he talks to Namjoon. He just holds it, thumb pressing into the aluminum side. Taehyung curls into Jungkook’s side, slighting behind him, sliding his hand over his arm and touching between the space of his fingers. The can is still full, and mostly warm.

“Hey,” Taehyung hums, lips against Jungkook’s ear and making him jump. He flushes immediately, eyes darting to the ground after glancing in Namjoon’s direction. “I thought you said no drinking tonight.”

“One beer won’t hurt,” Jungkook says, taking a sip of it as if to prove a point but his nose wrinkles. Hoseok must have forced it into Jungkook’s hand and Taehyung wonders if he struggles to say no to things with his best friends too.

“That’s what they all say,” Namjoon hums. “One beer turns into two and next thing you know, you’re laid out naked in the back of some car you don’t remember getting into.”

Taehyung snickers when Jungkook’s mouth falls open, his ears turning red. “That happened to you, hyung?”

Namjoon grins as he takes a step like he’s going to walk off. “Taehyung. My parents’ car, though.”

Jungkook whips around to look at Taehyung for confirmation.

“Not my best night,” Taehyung sighs as he takes Jungkook’s hand. A few more people have arrived but it’s still a small crowd, the noise barely louder than the crackle of fire.  “Come on, Jeon.”

The best part about nights like these are the quiet around them, just the soft sound of their voices and laughter. He likes the cool air contrasting with the warm waves radiating from the fire and wrapping around him. He doesn’t mind the dirt beneath his ass, though Jungkook looks at it like he might worry about it.

The clothes he has on aren’t expensive, but Taehyung’s noticed that Jungkook wears them every time he isn’t dressed up for class. Taehyung tugs on Jungkook’s wrist, tugging him into his lap instead.

“So you don’t get your pants dirty,” Taehyung hums, shifting a hand to Jungkook’s back when he tenses.

“It’s okay -”

“Stay,” Taehyung hums, curling an arm around Jungkook’s waist to keep him there. It takes a minute, but he relaxes enough to rest back against Taehyung’s chest. He keeps his eyes around to make sure Cheol Su actually doesn’t show up. The threat hadn’t been anything specific, Taehyung just told him he’d have a problem if he showed his face.

He didn’t explain why nor did Cheol Su ask. Everyone that attends the fights downtown know Taehyung rolls with Yoongi.

“Good boy,” Taehyung murmurs, grinning from his own amusement. He wishes he could see the way Jungkook’s face burns in response. Especially when he picks at a bag of snacks on the ground and opens them, his body snapping taut when the sound rips loudly through the air.

Jungkook is quick to discard the chips, looking around as if anyone would care.

“Cute,” Taehyung murmurs.

“How - how often do you do this?” Jungkook asks, fingers shaking before they take the hand around his waist into his own.

For claiming that Taehyung is the one comforted by hand holding, Jungkook sure takes his a lot.

“Often,” Taehyung replies as he squeezes his fingers and stretches to grab the blunt being handed to him by Namjoon. He inhales, blowing softly onto Jungkook’s skin until he shivers. “I like it better than parties. Want some?”

Jungkook nods his head, twisting in Taehyung’s lap but never reaching for it.

It’s cute the way Jungkook’s gaze locks onto Taehyung’s mouth without a hint of embarrassment in his expression.

This time when Taehyung brings Jungkook’s lips down to his own to exchange smoke, he makes sure their mouths press together.

Jungkook jerks his head back, coughing lightly. He licks at his lips, the nerves suddenly there before he asks for Taehyung to do it again.

It’s so quiet that his voice seems to blend in with the wood splintering behind him.

“Okay,” Taehyung murmurs, folding a hand behind Jungkook’s head and bringing him down. He cocks his own, mouth parting.

He lets the smoke trail from his mouth to Jungkook’s, grinning when his tongue follows. He only touches Jungkook’s tongue quickly before pulling away, making Jungkook choke again.

He’s burning, lovely in the way his eyes look as if he’s a deer caught in headlights.

“Do it yourself,” Taehyung hums, offering the blunt to Jungkook.

Jungkook shakes his head. “No. No, I like it when you do that.”

Taehyung’s soul nearly soars from his body as he grins. “You like kissing me, Jeon?”

Before Jungkook can respond, Yoongi is pushing between them to grab the blunt he holds between himself and Jungkook.

“Hands above the waist,” Yoongi grunts. “I need a drink, I can’t watch this.”

Jungkook makes an embarrassed noise, moving to get off of Taehyung’s lap but Taehyung squeezes tighter. Maybe if Yoongi thinks Jungkook is fond of him, he won’t kill him so easily.

Taehyung’s chest tightens as he realizes he just wants Jungkook to be fond of him.

“We’re just sitting, hyung,” Taehyung says as he hooks a chin over Jungkook’s shoulder and Jungkook shrinks into his chest. He knows Jungkook’s mind is racing a mile a minute as he squeezes Taehyung’s fingers. “Stop being an old man.”

Yoongi wrinkles his nose as he plops himself back beside Hoseok. “I have my eye on you Kim.”

It makes Jungkook tense again, his hand laxed like he wants Taehyung to let go so he does. He curls his hand over Jungkook’s stomach instead, feeling Jungkook’s abdomen flex under his touch. Jungkook breathes unevenly, his body too stiff to be comfortable even when he smokes.

“Here,” Taehyung says. He shifts off his jacket, lying it on the ground beside him for Jungkook to sit on. He thinks Jungkook likes being touched, is just shy, but he doesn’t want to make the mistake of being wrong. Jungkook scrambles to pick it up.

“Do you know how expensive this is?” Jungkook breathes as he curls it back around Taehyung’s shoulders, twisting back in his lap to do so. He looks honestly frazzled, eyes open wildly.

“I do. I bought it?” Taehyung asks in confusion.

Jungkook huffs out, shaking his head as he forces Taehyung to put it back on. Taehyung cups Jungkook’s neck, holding him still.

“You look uncomfortable getting your pants dirty. You are tense on my lap yet you don’t want my jacket?”

Jungkook stares at him for a long moment before he huffs out and twists back around, remaining on Taehyung’s lap.

Taehyung smiles to himself as he cups Jungkook’s thigh. It takes awhile for Jungkook to relax and when he does, he’s a heavy weight against Taehyung’s chest.

The chatter around them is quiet and Jungkook is unfocused, playing with Taehyung’s fingers in his lap. Taehyung tries to listen to the conversation around them, a laugh bubbling in his chest whenever he hears someone else laugh. But he’s focused on the way it feels when Jungkook traces the lines of his palm and the slow beat of Jungkook’s pulse beneath his chin.

Jungkook shivers when Taehyung’s breath hits his skin, his thumb rubbing at the vein on the inside of Taehyung’s wrist.

It’s calming and it feels good being like this with Jungkook. He finds himself liking the way Jungkook feels against him more than he thought he would. He can hear the slick sound of someone making out, quiet giggles from the other side. Namjoon’s talking, playing with the radio and flicking through channels.

“You wanna tell me why Yoongi made sure Gong Cheol Su knew that he wasn’t allowed to be here?” Taehyung asks, interrupting the silence between them.

Jungkook goes tense for a moment before he shrugs. “Hyung does as he wants, Taehyung.”

It’s too defensive sounding to be true. Taehyung wants to push more, to understand how they even know each other. Cheol Su graduated the year before and he ran with a whole different crew than Jungkook. Cheol Su fit the leather wearing, biker stereotype well and he was proud of it.

The guy was a bit of a dick, but he was fun to party with. Taehyung’s just avoided it because of his beef with Yoongi.

He will even more now that he knows it’s because of Jungkook, even if he doesn’t know the reason.

Taehyung doesn’t push, only sighs, pressing his lips against Jungkook’s pulse.

When Jungkook clamps their hands together, his head tilts just a little and Taehyung presses another kiss there. Jungkook hums, leaning closer until his neck presses into Taehyung’s smile.

“You okay?”

Jungkook nods, shivering again when Taehyung licks his lips and plants an open mouthed kiss to his skin.

It isn’t the reaction that Taehyung’s expecting and he wants to do it again, but his heavy eyes search across the fire and find Yoongi watching Hoseok curl his hand around Jimin’s neck and Taehyung realizes they should probably go.

Jungkook didn’t know about his hyung and his dating life, probably for a good reason, and Taehyung doesn’t want Jungkook nor Yoongi uncomfortable. It isn’t his business.

It’s also the first time Taehyung doesn’t feel like a sixth wheel. They’re all pretty good at including him but of course there’s times where he just can’t be. It isn’t that kind of relationship with Jungkook, though Taehyung wants it to be.

But for once, he isn’t alone while his friends absorb themselves into each other.

“Wanna go?” Taehyung hums, rubbing Jungkook’s fingers as he murmurs the words against Jungkook’s jaw.

Jungkook nods, head tilting some and Taehyung presses another kiss there. His attention is where Taehyung expected it to be, curious eyes watching Hoseok and Jimin. Taehyung grins when Jungkook frowns, eyes burrowing together.

“Or did you want to stay and watch?” Taehyung breathes, squeezing Jungkook’s thigh until he squeaks and rips himself from Taehyung’s lap.

“We’ll go,” Jungkook huffs. “Hyung, I’m going home.”

Yoongi nods from across the fire, waving his hand as Taehyung throws up a peace sign.

Taehyung thinks it’s dumb if Yoongi’s hiding it from Jungkook, as he turns over his shoulder and finds Yoongi reaching for Hoseok the moment Jungkook’s turned around.

“Have you asked Yoongi about Hoseok yet?”

Jungkook looks up at Taehyung, his hand strong against Taehyung’s back as they walk up the dirt hill. “No. It isn’t my business.”

“Aren’t they both your best friends?”

Jungkook nods but he doesn’t look bothered by it. Taehyung can’t relate; he would have been hurt if Jimin didn’t tell him about Yoongi and Hoseok. He had been hurt at first when he found out about Yoongi, but it only lasted a few minutes until Jimin explained how nervous he was to tell him. “We don’t talk about those things.”

“What things?” Taehyung presses on, trying to maintain his grin because he knows what Jungkook means, he’s just cute about it.

“Sex things,” Jungkook grunts quietly, flushing. He jumps to the flattened part of the ground, reaching out to pull Taehyung up with him.

“Why not?”

“It’s embarrassing,” Jungkook admits, dragging his head back and glaring up at the sky.

Taehyung chuckles. “Are you a virgin, Jeon? No judgment if you are.”

“No,” Jungkook grunts, pushing him away. “Just because I don’t like talking about sex doesn’t mean I don’t like sex. It’s just intimate.”

Taehyung is intrigued by that. It matches with Jungkook’s personality, though Taehyung would have bet his entire life savings that Jungkook was a virgin.

“Right. Isn’t that what you said? You get laid all the time.”

Jungkook giggles at that, holding a hand to his mouth to hide it behind his palm. “I heard you do.”

The worst part of bonfire nights is leaving by himself because the walk home feels like an eternity. But it’s nice having Jungkook beside him this time, even if he’s dragging out conversation that Taehyung doesn’t want to talk about.

“Who you gossiping with about me, baby?”

Jungkook’s amusement slips away. “I’m no - not. No one.”

Taehyung hums, cocking his head. “Well just ask me, next time. If you’re curious.”

Jungkook’s eyes are wide with that same look that he wore after Taehyung snapped at him for making him feel bad about not paying attention. Taehyung had actually been aggravated then, he isn’t now, and he gives Jungkook a smile to make sure he knows.

People talk, he doesn’t truly care about that.

“I just overheard what Jimin hyung said, a bit. About um, Jiwon.”

Taehyung bites the inside of his cheek, watching Jungkook as he stares ahead and refuses eye contact. “One time, yeah. Would you like to know about anyone else I hooked up with?”

The annoyed eyes are back as Jungkook wrinkles his nose but he softens the moment he looks at Taehyung’s amused grin.

“No.”

“Jealous?”

“ No ,” Jungkook complains, shoving into him.

“Did you have fun?” Taehyung asks, curling an arm around Jungkook’s shoulders. The scent of fire and weed cling to him and he wants to nuzzle into Jungkook’s neck and taste his skin.

Jungkook nods, but his body is tense and he doesn’t say the word out loud.

Taehyung sighs, hoping the relaxed state that Taehyung had worked to get Jungkook into isn’t ruined. “Isn’t it uncomfortable being tense all the time?”

“I’m not tense,” Jungkook huffs, but even his voice has a rigid tone to it.

“What is it?” Taehyung asks, moving so his fingers slide at the back of his neck. He’s touchy, even more so when it’s later, but Jungkook never seems to mind. He makes it a point to hesitate before he touches, waiting for Jungkook to give him permission, but sometimes he slips up and grabs Jungkook without thinking.

“I’m not used to being touched so much,” Jungkook admits. “I can’t figure out why you’re doing it.”

“Do you want me to stop?”

“No.”

Taehyung grins, curling his arm back around Jungkook’s shoulders. “Do you like when I touch you, baby?”

Jungkook shoves him off then, lips curling into a pout. “See? I can’t tell.”

One thing that Taehyung has learned about Jungkook is that he either overthinks everything, or he blurts what’s on his mind without thinking and then gets embarrassed. The latter is how Taehyung is successful in learning about Jungkook while he helps him with his homework and is how he looks now, surprised and embarrassed every time the words leave his lips.

“You can’t tell if you want me touch you?” Taehyung laughs, following after Jungkook. The shops are starting to close down, some lights off but enough on to light the path for them.

“I can’t tell if you do it because - just because or, if you want to -”

“If I want to what?” Taehyung encourages lowly, grinning when Jungkook huffs out and glares at him more.

“Hang out.”

Jungkook turns then, facing him.

“Hang out,” Taehyung repeats, confused. He’s fond, overly so and he knows his smirk is probably less amused and more because of that feeling instead.

“Yes,” Jungkook seethes before he turns on his heel and practically storms off.

Taehyung chases after him, bumping his body to curl an arm around his shoulders and stop him. He cups Jungkook’s cheek with the arm curled around his shoulders, thumb pressing against his bottom lip and his body thrums with want and amusement.

“What does hang out mean, Jeon?”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose, hand planting to Taehyung’s belly lightly like he’s trying to balance himself. When Jungkook doesn’t answer, Taehyung leans his head down, parting his lips over the same spot he had kissed before. Jungkook exhales shakily, fingers twisting into Taehyung’s shirt.

“Cat got your tongue?” Taehyung breathes, making sure his tongue flicks against Jungkook’s skin.

“You - you make hangout sound like you mean sex stuff.”

A laugh blurts past Taehyung’s lips before he can stop it. The pout growing on Jungkook’s face is endearing, even if it’s matched with annoyed eyes .

“Do you want to do sex stuff with me, baby?” Taehyung asks, pressing down hard on Jungkook’s bottom lip and Jungkook parts his lips so easily it makes Taehyung feel as if he’s still sitting in front of the bonfire.

Jungkook groans, face hot before he slips out of Taehyung’s grip. “Shut up.”

Taehyung hooks a finger in a loop at the back of Jungkook’s jeans. “My lips are sealed.”

It falls quiet then, Jungkook fidgeting with his hands and looking straight ahead like he’s aware of Taehyung watching him.

It’s not until they’re making their way to the neighborhood of college apartments that Taehyung gives in and breaks the silence.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, tell me and I won’t do it,” Taehyung says, keeping it general because he means anything really. But especially the touching.

It’s been nagging him as they’ve walked, thinking about how Jungkook really agrees to anything.

“No, I - I do like it,” Jungkook huffs. “Hyung says I look too much into things.”

Taehyung rubs a hand at the back of Jungkook’s neck and touches where he had kissed with his thumb. “Did you like it when I kissed you there?”

Jungkook’s eyes widen like he hadn’t expected it to ever be brought up. Taehyung bites at the inside of his cheek, suppressing his smile as not to embarrass Jungkook too much.

The response is breathy, quiet, and Taehyung grins because even if he can’t hear it, he can see it on Jungkook.

“Speak up, baby.”

Jungkook pinches Taehyung in complaint. “Yes.”

He’s fast walking again but Taehyung knows if he really wanted to be far from Taehyung, he easily could. But he lets Taehyung grab him, circle his arms around him. He keeps his touch light so Jungkook doesn’t have to push him off if he wants the space.

When he doesn’t, Taehyung leans in and kisses his neck.

Jungkook plants his hands to Taehyung’s chest like he might push him off, but his fingers curl into his shirt instead.

It’s light at first, a closed mouth kissed beneath his jaw. But Taehyung tests the waters and parts his lips, gently sucking the skin into his mouth.

Jungkook whimpers quietly, tensing and head hesitantly arching further to the side.

The invitation sends a wild feeling through Taehyung, his heart thumping in his chest as he parts his lips more, sucks harder. When Jungkook gasps, Taehyung licks over his skin in apology.

He loosens his grip to pull back, but Jungkook’s curling a hand around the back of his neck, tugging his lips back to his throat.

Taehyung kisses a hickey into Jungkook’s neck, beneath the first patch of reddened skin. Jungkook’s grip is tight on his nape, his harsh breaths making Taehyung want to pull Jungkook tight to his body and cover him with marks.

When Taehyung licks over his skin, Jungkook finally lets him go.

The nerves have returned, his eyes blown out and dark. “I - I should get inside.”

It’s strange, but Taehyung had meant he wouldn’t do anything to make Jungkook uncomfortable. The echo of Jungkook’s whimper is in his mind, the memory of how he arched his neck planting to his eyelids and making a twinge of arousal peak through his system.

“Where - where are you going?”

Taehyung walks Jungkook down the road, trying not to look at the darkening skin on his neck.

Jungkook looks awkward but Taehyung doesn’t feel it. He wants to kiss and touch Jungkook more, always has, but Jungkook is the innocent type. He’s probably thinking over it too hard, explaining why his brows are so scrunched.

“I don’t know yet,” Taehyung says. “If Jimin-ah left his apartment unlocked, I’ll go there.”

Jungkook turns at that, fingering his keys when they stop in front of his apartment. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t live near campus. I usually stay at Jimin’s when I’m here.”

Jungkook pushes up on his toes, glancing between Taehyung and his apartment. “Is this going to be a thing? Every time you walk me home, I invite you inside?”

Taehyung snorts at Jungkook’s frown. His skin is going to purple and bruise and Taehyung kind of likes the prospect of waking up to see it.

“I guess that would be up to you, baby.”

It’s strange that Taehyung finds Jungkook adorable, even when he huffs out in annoyance. “Come on.”

Taehyung grins when Jungkook turns without waiting for him and heads inside. “I guess I have a reason to walk you home more often.”

Jungkook grunts at that, walking off until he presses the elevator button.

Taehyung curls around his back, leaning into scape his teeth over the reddened skin on Jungkook’s skin. When Jungkook jumps, Taehyung presses his lips closed around his laugh.

“Definitely tell me when you like things too,” Taehyung hums before he trails inside of the elevator, leaving Jungkook in a state of shock outside of it.

The elevator ride itself is quiet, Jungkook’s eyes wide and curious on Taehyung. He looks away whenever Taehyung catches him and even though it’s kind of dumb, Taehyung’s chest is too warm.

It’s quiet even when Jungkook leads him inside and placed a set of blankets and pillows on the couch.

It’s quiet until Taehyung sits on the couch and Jungkook doesn’t leave.

“Why?”

“Hm?” Taehyung asks, stretching across the couch and Jungkook is obvious in the way his eyes dance over the length of him.

“Why do you want to know what I like?”

Taehyung watches as Jungkook fumbles with his own hands, eyes dropping from Taehyung’s body to his toes.

“Because I liked kissing you there too.”

Jungkook accepts this with a nod. He lingers for a moment like he might say something else about kissing but he doesn’t.

“Sleep well, Taehyung-ssi. Wake up early so we can start that paper of yours tomorrow.”

With a snort, Taehyung leans his head onto the back of the couch and watches Jungkook scurry from the room.

“Night, baby!”

Chapter Text

Jungkook is screwed, majorly. He stares at himself hard in the mirror, the shower water running behind him. The sight of his neck makes butterflies erupt in his stomach, the dark purple standing out even beneath a layer of makeup.

There’s no way to hide it. He shouldn’t have let Taehyung do that. Fuck, he doesn’t even know why he did. It felt good, yeah, but -

Jungkook presses down against the hickey, groaning lowly when his cock throbs in response.

Taehyung is maddening. He doesn’t know his intentions. It is never obvious when he’s being serious or if he says things to make Jungkook flush, or because he really wants something from him.

Jungkook doesn’t do casual hookups and he doesn’t like Taehyung, but he finds he wants the feeling of his mouth back onto his neck.

Groaning again, this time in frustration, Jungkook presses the heel of his hands against his eyes as he tries not to think about it. He woke up earlier than normal, it wouldn’t be a problem if he got aroused, he’d have time to…fix it, but he really doesn’t like the idea of being aroused while thinking of Taehyung.

Taehyung is annoying and infuriating, not arousing.

He savors his embarrassment instead, focusing hard on judging himself for the way he acted needy and admitted things he didn’t want to until he feels shame instead of arousal. Taehyung hadn’t seemed to judge him when he admitted to not liking talking about sex and it’s embarrassing because it’s so normal for people to talk about it.

Having sex and doing stuff like that is just as embarrassing as talking about it, really. Taehyung does do with such ease, a confidence that both frustrates and arouses him.

“Why are you still in the bathroom?” Yoongi calls through the door when Jungkook shuts off the water. “Are you okay?”

Jungkook pats a more concealer over the hickey. It’s normal to talk about it yet Jungkook can’t even do it with his best friend. Yoongi probably hasn’t told him about him and Hoseok more for Jungkook’s sake than his own. He knows Taehyung thought there was something wrong with Yoongi not telling him, but Jungkook knows Yoongi.

He wouldn’t keep it from him to hide it, but to not make Jungkook uncomfortable.

Guilt heavies his chest as he thinks how often Hoseok and Yoongi put themselves out for Jungkook’s benefit.

Despite this, when he opens the bathroom door, he can’t find the courage to bring it up.

Yoongi looks at him for only a moment before his eyes land on Jungkook’s neck. They grow wide, red creeping up into Yoongi’s cheeks.

Maybe it isn’t just Jungkook that’s uncomfortable talking about sex with his best friend.

“What -”

“Don’t,” Jungkook complains, squeezing his eyes closed.

Yoongi gasps quietly, grabbing Jungkook’s face and tilting his head. He presses a thumb against his neck and Jungkook seethes at the dull throb of pain.

“Where the hell did you get that?”

Jungkook bites his tongue.

“Taehyung,” Yoongi says, poison in his tone as he steps back and Jungkook has to jump to grab his hands.

“No,” Jungkook argues. “I did it to myself.”

Yoongi frowns. “Yourself?”

Jungkook nods rapidly, mind working a mile a minute. “I uh, was um - you know, with myself and thought -”

Yoongi groans at the same time as Jungkook, face morphing into displeasure as he pulls away from Jungkook. “I don’t actually care if you have sex, Kook. I just -”

There’s a heavy awkward silence between them as Yoongi seems to struggle with the discomfort of it all and finding the words to say. There isn’t anything that could make this less awkward and Jungkook could do without the conversation anyway.  

“I - I didn’t. No sex involved.”

It’s getting even more awkward with every word.

“Listen to me,” Yoongi says carefully, hands out and Jungkook shakes his head. No, he doesn’t want this conversation. Not before he’s had his morning coffee, not even after it. Preferably never. “You get overwhelmed easily, and Tae can be overwhelming.”

Jungkook groans, twisting around and wondering if he can just run out of the apartment.

“You also fall really easily, Kookie. Not everyone takes sex as serious as you do, okay? So just -”

Jungkook feels like a child when Yoongi talks to him, maybe that’s why he hates this topic so much.

Maybe it’s because Yoongi’s right, he mixes up sex and feelings and he gets embarrassed whenever he remembers how stupid he used to be.

“It wasn’t anything,” Jungkook insists. He does get overwhelmed easily because he’s feeling that way right now, his throat starting to turn tight and it isn’t anything. It’s just a fucking hickey and a whirlwind of sudden confusion, not a big deal. “Honestly, we didn’t do anything. Did you tell Taehyung about Cheol Su?”

Yoongi freezes with a confused look on his face. “What? No. He was there that night I fucked him up though.”

Jungkook groans. The one thing he had never expected Taehyung to ask him was what happened with Cheol Su. “I thought maybe you told him to explain this -”

Waving aimlessly at Yoongi’s protective stance is enough to get Yoongi to notice the way he’s standing. He cups the back of Jungkook’s neck, pulling him in. “I wouldn’t tell anyone, Kookie. And yeah, that’s why I worry about you. Tae is a really great guy, nothing like that used up tissue, but I just -”

“Can we stop talking about this?” Jungkook interrupts, sounding as desperate as he feels.

With a nod, Yoongi pinches Jungkook’s sore neck. “My baby is growing up.”

“I’m an adult,” Jungkook complains as he swats Yoongi’s hand away, even though he knows Yoongi is just messing with him to ease the awkwardness. “There isn’t anything to worry about.”

Yoongi effectively dodges Jungkook’s swatting hands, getting his fingers beneath Jungkook’s chin to tickle the skin there. “You can talk to me about anything, you know?”

And Jungkook knows . Even if it’s awkward or embarrassing, it’s still Yoongi.

“I mean it, hyung. There isn’t anything to talk about. Unless you have something to talk to me about?”

Yoongi’s hand falls from Jungkook’s chin as he pushes his lips into a pout. He holds Jungkook’s gaze, his eyes growing more nervous like he knows what Jungkook means.

They aren’t necessarily discreet; though Jungkook’s never noticed before Taehyung told him. The three of them have always been close; Hoseok the biggest cuddle bug he knows. Yoongi the affectionate type because he knows Jungkook and Hoseok always need it.

“Nope,” Yoongi says, smacking his lips. “Just want you to be careful, Kookie. You aren’t usually with your heart.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose at that. “I gotta go, hyung.”

There’s fingers catching on his wrist as Jungkook tries to leave. He doesn’t want to be reminded how often he’s crushed on someone just because they’ve given him attention and how often that left his chest feeling so uncomfortably heavy.

“Come to my next fight. This Friday. Hoseok and Jimin will be there,” Yoongi says, “if you can.”

Jungkook is thrown off by the invitation; Yoongi never asks him to come to his fights. “Okay.”

“Invite Tae if you want,” Yoongi grins. “He seems to be stuck by your side anyway.”

Heat warms its way up Jungkook’s skin as he pulls away. Taehyung’s insistence on hanging with him on Friday’s is strange and Jungkook is trying not to think about it.

Yoongi is right; Jungkook falls too easily and he’s trying not to think about it.

“Okay, okay. Can we be done now?”

Yoongi snorts, waving his fingers goodbye. “Fine, fine. Get out of here.”

For the first time, Jungkook gets to the tutoring center before Taehyung. He doesn’t know what to do with himself so he sets up the study room and goes over Taehyung’s syllabi to decide what they should focus on today.

When Taehyung arrives, he pokes his head into the study room with a curious expression. Jungkook’s heart accelerates at the sight of him, his usual amused grin making Jungkook feel something different than annoyed for once.

“Hey baby, you’re early,” Taehyung hums as he settles the coffee onto the table. “Working without me?”

Jungkook doesn’t respond as Taehyung sits beside him. Taehyung’s head is cocked in curiosity, lips rubbing over each other before he reaches out.

Part of Jungkook hoped that Taehyung wouldn’t bring it up, that they would forget it happened and never speak it of it again. When he woke and Taehyung was gone, skipping their Saturday tutoring session, it made Jungkook more nervous to talk about it.

But Taehyung brushes his fingers over Jungkook’s neck, humming softly the moment he sits down.

“I should teach you about makeup,” Taehyung comments, amusement in his tone. “Did you use Yoongi’s? It’s too pale for you.”

Jungkook grows hot. “Um, yeah. I don’t own any.”

Taehyung leans back, rubbing at his chin as he watches Jungkook. Jungkook doesn’t know what to say to fill the silence and he doesn’t want to look at Taehyung because looking at Taehyung means looking at his mouth.

“We should change that,” Taehyung comments. “I’d like to leave more there.”

Jungkook breathes out harshly, heart pounding and there’s a shake in his fingers as he reaches for Taehyung’s bag. Clearing his throat does little to rid the thick feeling inside of it. “So - so you have an um, exam coming up next week.”

Taehyung laughs softly but he doesn’t interrupt.

“You did really well on your make up exam. I - I think we should take that same approach for Astronomy. Though, a lot of the contents of this one is just memorization. I brought flash cards because I find they work the best for um -”

Taehyung grabs Jungkook’s hand, spreading his fingers and slipping his own between them. Jungkook stops speaking, flushing hard when Taehyung drops their clasped hands to the table.

“So, does that work for you?”

“Sure thing, tutor-nim.”

Jungkook nibbles on his bottom lip, meeting Taehyung’s gaze. “Right. Yeah.”

Another laugh and Jungkook knows this session is going to be harder than the others.

And it is. Taehyung won’t stop brushing his fingers over his neck and twirling a piece of hair behind Jungkook’s ear. He fiddles with the studs in Jungkook’s earlobe and smiles every time Jungkook huffs out because of it.

Jungkook’s always prided himself on his ability to focus, even if he has to really force himself. But with Taehyung, it’s nearly impossible.

“You seem distracted today.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose at Taehyung’s amused tone. He attempts to glare at him but there’s a sparkle in Taehyung’s eye that has him changing his mind.

“You’re distracting.”

“Me?” Taehyung asks, tone mock innocent though his face lights up even more. “I’m just sitting here.”

“Yeah but,” Jungkook makes a noise of frustration, “you know what you’re doing.”

Taehyung folds a hand under his chin, eyebrow arching. “And what am I doing Jeon?”

He shouldn’t play into it, Jungkook knows this. It will lead to even more distraction, forgetting their work all together.

But Jungkook feels flustered and confused between wanting to know if Taehyung is just teasing or if he likes it as much as Jungkook does.

It’s frustrating being near Taehyung and his hands and wanting to be touched but being too shy to ask for it or initiate it himself.

“Flirting with me so we don’t study.”

Taehyung grins as he leans forward into Jungkook’s space. “That’s not just why.”

“Then why?”

There’s a hand cupping his chin then, thumb reaching out to rub over the corner of his mouth. “You’re smart baby, you’ll figure it out.”

Jungkook watches as Taehyung stands and starts to pack his things, quietly at first but the frustration in his chest doesn’t let him stay that way.

“You can just tell me.”

Taehyung laughs lightly. “Where’s the fun in that?”

He’s said it before, but Taehyung is maddening .

Jungkook stands to stop Taehyung from leaving, propping a hand to his chest. “Please tell me.”

“You think too much,” Taehyung comments, rolling his eyes. “Yet all that thinking and you still haven’t figured it out.”

Jungkook adds pressure to his touch when Taehyung tries to move. The amusement is still in his eyes when Taehyung bites his bottom lip, looking contemplative for a minute.

“I don’t want to study. I quite enjoy making you flush,” Taehyung finally says, cocking his head. He tongues at the corner of his mouth and Jungkook feels hot under his gaze. “I also flirt so you know how much I want you, Jeon. I hope to one day be able to see how much of you I can get red.”

Jungkook’s breath gets stuck in his lungs, his hand faltering in keeping Taehyung back so he moves closer. He leans down, breath cascading over Jungkook’s cheek before he places his lips at the corner of his mouth.

“Can I go now?” Taehyung hums.

Swallowing doesn’t get rid of the choked feeling in Jungkook’s throat. He manages a nod though, lips pressing tightly together so he doesn’t embarrass himself with a squeaking voice.

“Take it easy baby,” Taehyung hums. “I put food in your bag. Make sure you eat it.”

Jungkook doesn’t move until Taehyung is gone. Peeking in his bag he spots a plastic container of food he doesn’t remember seeing Taehyung put in there.

He slumps into a chair, head hanging back. He’s more confused now than ever.

There’s an ache blanketing over Jungkook’s forehead, digging into his temple and making him feel sick from it. He rubs away at it, focusing his eyes and trying not to show it every time his feet hit the turf.

Water isn’t a relief when Jungkook makes it back, his time less than usual. He ignores that with a wave towards his coach to gulp the water down.

“You okay?”

Jungkook nods, peering at Jimin. Even the sun is bright and bothersome, though the air is starting to cool enough that soon the season will be over and they’ll have to move their practices inside.

“Did you eat?”

Jungkook nods again but stops himself. It’s habit from Yoongi’s constant nagging, now Taehyung’s too.

He doesn’t mean to lie but whenever Jungkook skips lunch because he has no time between classes, he gets a long lecture from Yoongi that he tries to avoid.

If he tells Taehyung that he didn’t grab anything for breakfast because he stayed up too late and overslept, their tutoring sessions come to a halt.

“No, I’ve had everything back to back, I didn’t get a chance.”

Jimin’s eyes widen at that and he jogs over to his bag. A moment later, there’s a protein bar being shoved into his chest.

“Not only will Yoongi hyung kill you but so will I,” Jimin threatens. He’s gone a second later, after a pointed look at the protein bar but now Jungkook is too nauseous to eat.

He watches as Jimin runs towards their coach, whispering something while waving wildly at Jungkook.

Jungkook shoves the rest of the bar into his mouth when he watches Jimin approach, smiling with bulging teeth when Jimin looks to him proudly.

“Come on, loser, Coach said we can go.”

Jungkook goes to shove at Jimin’s back but Jimin is darting around him to throw an arm over his shoulder instead.

“I told Coach I’m bringing you to the infirmary but I’m just going for food,” Jimin says. “Your scores really sucked, man. And I could eat.”

It isn’t on purpose. Jungkook used to be much better about making sure he had packed a meal to bring with him the night before or filling his bag with quick to make meals he could chow down when he had the opportunity too. But time has been away from him and he’s more exhausted than ever.

He really did try to go to bed early the night before too, but he waited up for Taehyung to finish his paper so he could edit it and a little past midnight, Taehyung told him he finally finished.

It was a lie, so Jungkook spent the rest of the night and morning hours finishing it for him.

It’s part of the reason he has the headache; the lack of sleep and anxiety behind technically cheating.

“Please don’t tell hyung, it was a mistake and he’ll worry. And Hoseok will be quick to tell him too.”

Jimin looks conflicted as he taps in the code to his apartment. “Don’t forget again, yeah?”

Jungkook nods as he follows Jimin inside and he is thrown off by the sight of Taehyung. He’s laid over Jimin’s couch, head hanging against the back and a bowl of popcorn in his lap.

It makes Jungkook’s heart races and he stumbles, pressing a firm hand to Jimin’s back as not to fall. They’re supposed to meet up later, at the Club for Yoongi’s fight. He’s been trying not to think too much about it because it makes butterflies erupt in his empty stomach.

Another part of him has considered cancelling because he’s a walking zombie, but another part of him knows Yoongi must have invited him for a reason.

And all of him wants to hang out with Taehyung.

That honey smile is on Taehyung’s lips when he notices them. He moves the popcorn aside to stand, coming straight for Jungkook.

“Well this is a lovely surprise,” Taehyung greets. “You know I have a rule not to take home the guys Jimin does, but you might be an exception.”

Jungkook flushes, burning even more when Jimin groans in disgust. He moves from between them, allowing Taehyung to move closer until his fingers are back on that sore skin of Jungkook’s neck.

It’s going to become a permanent feature, he’s sure of it.

“You look like shit, baby. You alright?”

Jungkook nods immediately, biting on his bottom when Taehyung pinches the skin.

If anyone were to mention that a few of the nights he stayed up late was because he got too wrapped up in thoughts about Taehyung’s mouth and not studying, Jungkook would deny it.

“Just tired.”

“You said you were going to bed around midnight,” Taehyung says, brows scrunching together as he presses the back of his hand to Jungkook’s forehead. “You said this morning you were feeling refreshed.”

“I did at the time,” Jungkook lies, voice coming out harsher than intended but he softens when Taehyung grabs his hand.

The dynamic between them has become strange and unexplainable and Jungkook doesn’t mind for once.

“I’m making dinner before we head out,” Jimin calls, giving Jungkook a soft look like he knows he’s thankful he isn’t telling Taehyung either.

“I’ll help,” Jungkook says but Taehyung is holding tight to his hand and Jimin is insisting he sit down and rest.

“If you wanted to skip tutoring and slept in, you could have,” Taehyung tells him, swinging their hands.

“I wouldn’t have. My body is on a time clock and I would have just woken and been unproductive.”

Taehyung wrinkles his nose at that. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” he says before tugging Jungkook back to the couch.

They’re only on the couch for a moment, Taehyung tugging Jungkook into his side before he feels Taehyung pressing against his neck.

With a quick nip at his skin, Taehyung is leaping from the couch again. “You smell like sweat. S’hot.”

Jungkook snorts at that, shrugging his shoulder hard to shove Taehyung off. “Don’t be weird.”

Taehyung flashes him a goofy grin as he curls his arm around Jungkook to play with the hair at the back of his head. “You look tired. I can tell hyung I kidnapped you if you’d rather go home than out tonight.”

Tired is an understatement, but Jungkook shakes his head anyway. Coffee was made for a reason. “I can’t bail on our Friday night hangouts.”

The smile Jungkook gets is blinding, brighter than Taehyung’s usual amused grins. His eyes shine with it briefly, crinkling around the corners as his lips stretch back enough to show all of his teeth.

Taehyung doesn’t respond though. Instead, he rests his head to the side and continues to shine his smile onto Jungkook, fingers still twirling through Jungkook’s hair.

Jungkook clears his throat as he diverts his eyes, watching his sweaty palms rub his thighs. He doesn’t look away long though, pulled back by a gentle tug of his hair.

“You know, Jimin-ah only cooks for someone when something’s wrong. His mother always told him food is the cure to everything.”

Taehyung’s eyes are wide as he rubs his fingertips over Jungkook’s scalp. It feels really good and Jungkook wants to sink into it, thinking of the way Taehyung’s hands had felt rubbing the tension from his shoulders.

“I’m fine. Did you turn in your paper?”

There’s nothing about Taehyung’s expression that would suggest he’s lying but Jungkook knows . Taehyung nods without a beat like lying comes second nature to him.

He’s less bothered by Taehyung’s grades possibly dropping even more and more bothered that Taehyung’s breaking his promise to try.

“You’ll do good, I’m sure,” Jungkook says. “Your argument was really strong.”

Taehyung snorts. “I don’t even know what I was arguing, baby.”

Another lie. Taehyung had found the argument on his own, strengthened it with minimal help from Jungkook.

“And no homework talk,” Taehyung whines. “It’s Friday.”

He plants a sloppy kiss to Jungkook’s cheek before flying from the couch. “I’m going to get ready. If you change your mind about going, text me so I can meet you at yours? I have to dress appropriately.”

Jungkook takes in the ripped jeans takes in the pull over Taehyung wears, ripped over the shoulder and showing off his collarbone. It’s paired with black jeans, these ones for once not showing skin.

“What’s wrong with that outfit?”

Taehyung snorts like Jungkook’s said something ridiculous. “Not enough skin. Laters, baby.”

Jungkook watches Taehyung leave, wanting to bury himself into the couch instead of think about how his poor nerves really don’t need to think of Taehyung showing more skin.

The crowd at the Club makes Jungkook nervous. It’s thick and everyone is typically riled up. It’s usually out of fun; hyping up whoever they’ve come to see fight. But some crowds are aggressive in their chanting and cheers, beer sloshing out of the plastic cups they hold. He’s only been to one fight before but he’s heard the stories. It had been such a rough experience that Hoseok never invited him again.

He’s always nervous because of Yoongi too. He hates that Yoongi fights, though saying so has always been useless. Even though he’s never really been hurt, just the sight of blood or bruises on Yoongi makes Jungkook feel sick. Hoseok doesn’t fight as often, preferring to be Yoongi’s cornerman, but he’s started plenty of fights outside of the ring.

The nerves are worse tonight as Taehyung sidles up beside him and he gets to see the outfit Taehyung felt he needed to wear.  His usual tattered jeans are back, matched with a mesh black shirt. The material so see through that Jungkook can see the dark of his nipples even in the dim lights of the club. There’s a piece of leather around his neck, a metal pendant over his throat and it almost resembles a collar.

It makes Jungkook breathless.

“Missed me?”  Taehyung says as he curls an arm around Jungkook’s shoulders. He instantly unbuttons one of the buttons of Jungkook’s plaid shirt. Jungkook figured he would, unbuttoning two when he put it on to save the Taehyung trouble, but Taehyung unbuttons the two beneath it instead. “Cutie.”

“What are you wearing?”

Taehyung pulls back, nose scrunching when he looks down at his attire. There are fishnets beneath the ripped jeans, standing out dark against his skin. “You don’t like?”

When Taehyung turns, Jungkook’s eyes follow the rip on his backside, high enough to show off the rounded fat of Taehyung’s ass pressing into the netted fabric. Taehyung grins over his shoulder, batting his eyelashes.

“They’re - yeah. I like them.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, taking Jungkook’s hand and slipping it into his back pocket. “Stick close to me, baby. This crowd can get rowdy.”

Jungkook nods, turning to peer into the crowd. Hoseok went backstage after Jungkook lied and promised he’d be okay alone while he waited for Taehyung and Jimin.

Thankfully, he was only alone for a very short time before Taehyung appeared.

“Who is Yoongi fighting?” Taehyung asks as he maneuvers Jungkook through the crowd. He wonders if they look odd together; Taehyung dressed the way he is and Jungkook in a simple plaid shirt and jeans. He wonders if he looks boring beside Taehyung, like he doesn’t belong here. “That scrawny kid from Ulsan?”

“It’s the weight class,” Jungkook huffs in amusement. “Yoongi’s scrawny.”

Taehyung laughs too. “Yeah, but he’s like you. You don’t look as big beneath your clothes, but once they’re off -”

A moan leave Taehyung’s lips as he grips Jungkook’s bicep, overdone and dramatic but Jungkook flushes anyway.

“Cute,” Taehyung hums, poking his nose.

It’s hot closer to the ring. Sweat builds at the back of Jungkook’s neck when Taehyung pulls him to the barrier, flashing a sweet smile to every person they pass as he apologizes for pushing into them.

It makes Jungkook feel trapped but Taehyung threads their fingers together.

It feels like a date.

“Are you feeling better?” Taehyung asks as he steps around him, shielding him from the crowd behind him.

Jungkook nods.

“Yes.”

“Me too,” Taehyung hums in Jungkook’s ear. “Jacked off for like an hour.”

Jungkook hooks his elbow back, connecting it with Taehyung’s ribs but Taehyung is laughing. It drags the attention from people around them and Jungkook shrinks back into Taehyung’s chest.

Luckily Jimin pops up then, jumping off the barrier and keeping Taehyung from talking about it. For a minute at least, as Jimin and Taehyung seem to be just as crude as the other.

“What?” Taehyung gasps with amusement. “I was thinking of you.”

Jungkook side eyes Jimin. They’re in the middle of the crowd; he can’t kiss Taehyung but he wants to. He also wants to shove Taehyung for making his ears burn hot.

“You have a foul mouth,” Jungkook mumbles, eyeing said mouth. “Do you hear the things you say?”

Taehyung nods proudly as he brushes a knuckle over Jungkook’s cheek and tilts his head so he’s arching back to look at him. “Told you, I like how red you get.”

It only makes Jungkook redder. “Messing with me again.”

“Promise I’m not,” Taehyung says as his tongue prods at the corner of his mouth because he’s the devil. The devil carrying the heat from Hell and smacking it onto Jungkook’s skin.

There’s lips against his a moment later. A kiss to seal the promise but more, Taehyung licking at his lips, much more at ease about an audience than Jungkook.

The sound of Hoseok whistling has Jungkook yanking himself away, heart thudding from surprise. Taehyung wears a dopey smile, cheeks round around his grin.

“Okay?” Taehyung says, holding out his pinky finger.

Jungkook grabs it with his hand and holds it against his chest.

Jimin and Hoseok are both looking at them when Jungkook turns to face them. Hoseok has an arm over Jimin’s shoulders, a grin on his lips and around the lollipop he holds between his teeth. Jimin’s eyes are a mask of Hoseok’s amusement, his own arms crossed over his chest.

“You been kissin’ a lot lately,” Hoseok comments.

Jungkook hates his friends. He doesn’t understand the point of friendship.

“Shut up.”

Hoseok’s grin only splits wider open at that. “My baby. Do you want me to threaten him like Yoongi? Since he’s not here.”

Hoseok scrunches his face together, peering at Taehyung but he can’t hold it. He lets out a shaking laugh instead, growing louder when Jimin tells him his impersonation sucks.

“Wanna drink?” Taehyung asks, rolling his eyes at his friends and moving away from Jungkook.

Jungkook shakes his head and waits for Taehyung to turn around so he can catch a glimpse of the way his butt looks again.

New friends are definitely needed, Jungkook thinks, when he turns back around and Jimin and Hoseok are cooing at him.

“Look, Hobi, our babies have a crush on each other,” Jimin whispers loud enough for Jungkook to hear. He jumps behind Hoseok when Jungkook leaps at him, fists at the ready.

“Shut up. Stop calling me baby.”

“You don’t seem to mind when Tae calls you it,” Jimin says, holding his own fist out when Jungkook comes near. “You really are good at everything, huh? Taehyung’s never worked hard for someone like this.”

It’s playful and doesn’t make sense, so Jungkook only grunts incoherently. Taehyung does not have a crush on him, and if he did, well Jungkook doesn’t have one back.

“You’re lying,” Jungkook says instead, despite not wanting to entertain Jimin’s teasing before it gets worse.

Hoseok shakes his head. “That’s Tae’s get dick quick outfit. He only wears it on special occasions.”

Jungkook grows hot and it’s too crowded for him to run off like he wants. Luckily, he only has to stand the teasing a little longer before Taehyung shows up again, drinks in hand.

It’s difficult to look at Taehyung’s outfit and not feel a spark inside of him as he remembers Hoseok’s words.

“Ginger ale,” Taehyung says as he hands Jungkook the cup. “Are you hot? You’re red?”

Jungkook shakes his head as he sips at the drink, making sure it’s Ginger Ale before he strains his eyes at the ring so he doesn’t have to look anywhere else.

Taehyung laughs quietly, knocking their shoulder but doesn’t comment on it.

The fight is stressful. Jungkook seems to be the only one not excited, worry filling him every punch that’s thrown Yoongi’s way. The rough of Hoseok’s voice makes it worse, his cussing every time the opponent gets a punch in. It isn’t often, Yoongi is quick on his feet, dodging most of them, but it doesn’t stop Hoseok from yelling where he stands on the other side of the barrier, close to the corner of the ring.

Taehyung is quieter; which is surprising. He watches with big eyes, cheering whenever Yoongi’s gloved hand hits the opponent. It’s another part of Yoongi’s life that he doesn’t share much with Jungkook, another attempt at not causing him stress.

It makes Jungkook feel bad; but he gets worked up whenever Yoongi talks about it. He’s waiting for the day Yoongi turns into one of the horror stories. And it’s wrong. He’s Yoongi’s best friend and he should be just as supportive as the others around them.

Jungkook wishes his brain would shut up for one second and let him enjoy something, but he stands beside Taehyung and watches Yoongi, worrying about what a shit friend he is.

It seems like an effortless win, but Yoongi is panting when the referee holds up his hand to claim victory. His face isn’t cheerful, but angry looking as he spits out the guard in his mouth. Hoseok is quick to duck beneath the ropes along the ring and jump up, helping Yoongi take the gloves from his hands.

Jungkook watches, chest warming, as Hoseok grabs Yoongi’s cheeks and places a messy kiss to his lips. The crowd around them erupts in cheers and Jungkook looks away when the kiss grows heavy.

“Oh love,” Taehyung sighs, wrapping an arm around Jungkook’s shoulder. There’s nothing but softness in his expression when he glances at Jungkook like he’s making sure he’s okay.

The smile Yoongi wears is blinding, his head tilting down shyly.

“Come on, backstage,” Jimin says, patting Jungkook’s chest when he squeezes behind him. “I want a kiss too.”

There’s fingers in Jungkook’s hand before he’s being pulled after Jimin. Taehyung flashes him a smile as he tugs Jungkook along and Jungkook wonders if he’s aware of how nervous he is.

Jungkook wishes he could just stop being nervous all of the time.

It isn’t as crowded backstage, but it is busy. People rush around, some cheering. There’s other fighters getting ready for the next fight, jumping on their feet to pump themselves up.

When Jimin pushes up the door to Yoongi’s room, Jungkook yelps quietly and jumps behind the wall beside it.

It’s his own fault that Yoongi won’t tell him things because he can’t handle much. He feels embarrassed when he eyes the way Hoseok is pushing into Yoongi, his tongue visibly working it’s way into Yoongi’s mouth.

Yoongi pulls away at the company, clearing his throat and sending an apologetic look towards Jungkook. “I need a fucking drink, man.”

Jimin rushes over to Yoongi, grabbing his hands and inspecting them despite the protective gloves he had worn. Up close, Jungkook can see a bruise forming over his jaw and his lip is split.

“You okay?” Jungkook asks, ignoring what he saw and his nerves as he approaches Yoongi.

Yoongi’s eyes are wide when he nods. Jungkook knows him well enough to know he wants to say something and Jungkook wonders if that’s why he was invited this time; so Yoongi can tell him without telling him.

“I’m bad ass, huh?”

Jungkook snorts, pinching Yoongi’s chin to inspect the cut on his mouth. It isn’t deep, not even bleeding.

He hates that Yoongi fights. But he knows Yoongi loves it.

“Yeah, you did awesome hyung.”

Yoongi grins. “Thanks, Kook.”

“We should go out instead of watching the next fight,” Hoseok interrupts, his body vibrating with energy. “Whaddya say, hyung?”

Yoongi is interrupted as a knock sounds at the door before it opens. Jungkook doesn’t look to see who it is, more concerned with the way Yoongi grows taut and moves forward to step in front of him.

Hoseok does too and Taehyung’s hand is grabbing his, causing concern to fill Jungkook before he turns around.

The nerves inside of Jungkook grow tenfold as he spots who is in the doorway. So much so he suddenly feels sick.

Cheol Su.

“Hey,” he greets, waving a hand. His eyes glance at Jungkook and Jungkook desperately wants to hide.

Another reason Yoongi never invites him is because Cheol Su used to frequent the Club just as much as Yoongi and Hoseok do. But he knows Yoongi wouldn’t have invited him if he knew Cheol Su would be here.

“What do you want?” Yoongi asks, an unfriendly grunt in his tone. “Thought you were banned from the Club?”

Cheol Su looks to Jungkook again and Taehyung’s hand squeezes even tighter around his. It doesn’t make sense; Jungkook never told Taehyung what happened and he knows Yoongi wouldn’t have. Hoseok might, but he doubts it.

“Nah. A healthy donation forgives past grievances,” Cheol Su says with a laugh that no one returns. “Just wanted to say congratulations man. You kicked ass.”

“Appreciate it,” Yoongi replies, though he looks anything but grateful.

Cheol Su looks at Jungkook again, lips parting when he steps forward but he’s stopped by Hoseok.

It’s unlike Hoseok to look anything but friendly and cheerful. It’s very rare, something that Jungkook has only witnessed a few times, like during a fight, or when one of them is getting messed with. He presses his fingers into Cheol Su’s chest, pushing him backwards.

“Don’t,” Hoseok says, voice low. It makes Jungkook’s free hand shake and he squeezes into a fist, but it doesn’t stop the tremor from moving from his fingers to the rest of his body. “Thanks for your kind words, but you should go.”

Cheol Su’s jaw tightens as his lips press together. It’s the same expression he wore the last time they spoke. But his tone is lighter, not as mocking and cruel as the words he had spat at Jungkook that night.

“No problem,” Cheol Su says, hands flying up in surrender. “I’ll be around a lot more, thought we could find some peace.”

Yoongi spits to the ground. “I’m not as forgiving as the owner of this place.”

Taehyung lets go of Jungkook’s hand and for a moment he panics, needing the comfort, but then Taehyung is sliding his arm over his shoulders and pulling him close. It drags Cheol Su’s attention to them and he rolls his eyes.

“Whatever. Take care, man.”

It is quiet and tense as Cheol Su steps out, slamming the door behind him. Jungkook’s heart races, more guilt filling him that once again he’s ruined a good moment.

“Drinks,” Hoseok huffs, turning around with a big smile as he claps his hands. He only glances at Jungkook for a second, knowing Jungkook likes to hide in situations like this.

He’s much too aware of the eyes on him and it makes him feel like he’s choking. He isn’t a baby, he doesn’t want to be treated like one.

“Sound good, baby?” Taehyung whispers as he cups Jungkook’s cheek, guiding his head towards him. He is soft again and it feels intimate the way he tips Jungkook’s chin.

Jungkook nods out of habit but be stops himself. “No, I want to go.”

It feels too selfish to say loudly, whispering the words instead. Yoongi will follow him and he should be out celebrating his win, not tending to him.

Taehyung nods, rubbing his skin. Jungkook braces himself for the insistence he come; Taehyung’s normal push for Jungkook to ‘let loose’ but this time, he doesn’t..

“I’ll walk you home.”

Jungkook hesitates. Taehyung looks genuine enough; not teasing like usual. He doesn’t make a comment about his get dick outfit or tease Jungkook about sleeping over.

“No. It’s fine, I - I should go celebrate with hyung.”

Taehyung frowns at that. “You don’t need to go out to celebrate.”

He pulls away then, but curls an arm around Jungkook’s shoulders to keep him close.

“Come on gays, let’s celebrate at Chim’s. I spent all that money on boos, we should drink it.”

Jungkook tenses, anticipating his friends to complain or insist but they don’t.

Instead, Yoongi shoves Taehyung off to curl an arm around Jungkook, throwing a fist up when Taehyung opens his mouth to complain. Hoseok ruffles his hair and snatches Taehyung, pulling him away and out of the room with Jimin running after them to leap on Taehyung’s back.

“Let’s go celebrate,” Yoongi says, knocking their temples together. “You good?”

Jungkook nods. “Pinky promise.”

Yoongi grins at that, gums and all. “Don’t kiss me to seal the promise, Kook. I heard that’s a thing you do now.”

Jungkook wants to run .

Staying inside was a good idea, Jungkook thinks as he wraps his blanket around himself. He’s tired, but the celebrations aren’t too loud and Jungkook could sleep if he wanted to.

He doesn’t want to. He knocks his head on the arm of the couch, feet tucked on top of Taehyung’s lap as he watches Namjoon explain something with great passion. He had been here waiting for them when he returned from the club, Jin by his side and a bag of takeout in hand.

“Nah man. You can’t mix the blacks with the colors, it makes them dingy.”

“I own like two colored things. I’m not washing them separately,” Yoongi shoots back. Since the end of the fight, he’s been a bit more openly touchy towards Jimin and Hoseok, Jungkook thinks. He can’t figure out if he’s just noticing it or if the way Yoongi brushes his fingers through the hair behind Jimin’s ear every time he speaks is new or not.

Namjoon looks at Yoongi like he’s absurd. “You don’t wear black all of the time.”

There’s a collective hum of agreement that Yoongi does, in fact, only ever wear black. A rumble of laughter follows and Jungkook smile sleepily at the sound. He’d deny focusing on the way Taehyung giggles, or the way his fingers rub the bone of his ankle.

“Anything colored you’ve seen me in was probably Hoseok’s,” Yoongi mumbles. He sits in the arm chair, Jimin perched beside him and Hoseok sitting between his legs.

Where Yoongi is all black in his t-shirt and jeans, even the bucket hat he wears, Hoseok is an array of colors. His pants bright red and his shirt yellow, the plaid button up he has over it a mix of different greens and blues. Even his socks are loud, the fabric covered in tiny smiling tacos.

Jimin is a mix between the two; black ripped jeans and a fitted shirt; the bright colored pattern reminding Jungkook of that gum with the zebra on it.

They fit nicely.

Jungkook glances to Taehyung, who talks to Jin beside him. He plays distractedly with Jungkook’s ankles, his thighs vibrating beneath him the way they do when they’re studying and Taehyung’s frustrated. He doesn’t look it though, an air of peace and amusement around him.

For a second, Jungkook wonders if they fit as nicely as Yoongi does with Hoseok and Jimin.

Taehyung is pretty, delicate yet strong. His presence demands attention while Jungkook’s repels it. Jungkook looks simple in his oversized hoodie and track pants, while Taehyung still is wearing the outfit he wore to the Club. Even then Jungkook had looked boring beside him; he usually does.

“Isn’t that right, Jungkook?”

Jungkook rips his eyes away from Taehyung, noticing both him and Jin looking at him.

“What?”

Taehyung grins. “See something you like?”

Jungkook kicks at him, but Taehyung holds onto his foot so he can’t. He tucks himself further into his blanket instead, hiding his cheeks. He isn’t ticklish, but he tries to yank his foot back again when Taehyung caresses his fingers over the arch at the bottom of his foot.

Laughter fills the room when Jungkook jumps from his position and yanks his leg with all of his strength. Taehyung’s eyes are blazing with it when Jungkook curls his legs protectively beneath his butt.

“Cutie,” Taehyung whispers, taking Jungkook’s blanket and wrapping it around his back just to tug him forward. There’s people around them and Jungkook panics, heart thumping but Taehyung just touches their noses. “What were you thinking about over there, Jeon?”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose and pulls back. He glances at the others, finding only Hoseok openly watches them with a grin so big it makes Jungkook want to die. He can tell Yoongi is trying not to by how tense he is, though he relaxes when his eyes flick up and meet Jimin’s crinkled ones.

“That paper you wrote,” Jungkook lies. “I’m going to email your professor and ask her for a copy of her recommended improvements.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes before he pushes his lips out, tugging on the blanket again until Jungkook sighs and settles into his space. “Every time you talk about school work, you owe me a kiss.”

Jungkook chews on his bottom lip. “What?”

There’s a dip in the couch when Jin gets up from it and Taehyung moves in closer. Jungkook’s brain feels fuzzy by his presence. There’s still the sound of Namjoon’s voice but his words are going through one ear and out the other as Jungkook focuses on Taehyung.

“I said,” Taehyung whispers, pulling his knees up until they knock into Jungkook’s, “every time you mention school or school work, that’s a kiss you owe me. So far you’re at two.”

He can’t help the way he watches Taehyung’s mouth when he speaks. He’s thinking about kissing him; feeling the soft of his lips against his own. It doesn’t help his wrecked state and he pushes his lips into a pout.

“Those don’t count. You didn’t create the game until after.”

Taehyung huffs out a laugh, rolling away from him. He shakes his head, giggling under his breath but doesn’t explain. Jungkook feels flustered; even more so when Taehyung turns and he can see the bare of Taehyung’s ass beneath the netted fabric and realizes that means he isn’t wearing any underwear.

And if he is, it isn’t covering much.

“Come on, Jeon.”

Jungkook pulls away from the couch without hesitating. He wonders if this night is going to end in another lecture from Yoongi; a conversation about how good of a guy Taehyung is but how stupid Jungkook is.

The degrading thoughts haven’t been around this often in awhile and Jungkook hates them. It’s like attention brings them out.

Taehyung leans against the kitchen counter as Jungkook follows him into the kitchen. The smell of smoke lingers in the air, mixing in with the food laid out across the table.

“Come here.”

Jungkook steps over the cool tile, thankful he’s wearing socks, to reach Taehyung. His throat closes up when Taehyung spreads his legs and tugs him in.

Was Taehyung serious about kissing him? Jungkook’s palms turn sweaty quickly as Taehyung cups the side of his neck like he might.

“Wanted you alone,” Taehyung murmurs. “You don’t like attention on you, do you?”

Jungkook shakes his head, exhaling shakily when Taehyung moves away from the counter so their chests are touching. They’re roughly the same height, allowing Taehyung to easily press their noses together again.

“I’m into it,” Taehyung admits, taking Jungkook’s hands and swinging them around them. “The people around you oblivious to the heat between two people.”

Taehyung grins, eyeing Jungkook before he plants their hands behind him.

Jungkook bites the inside of his cheek at the first touch of Taehyung’s bare skin. The grin on Taehyung’s lips grow as Jungkook’s fingers skate over the rough edging of the fishnets, guided by Taehyung.

“You know what I mean?” Taehyung breathes, and there’s that drop in his voice that has Jungkook’s stomach tightening. “Making those wonder what I’m whispering in your ear to make you so red?”

It’s hot in the kitchen, Jungkook thinks as his fingers slip through the holes of Taehyung’s fishnets. It’s really hot, maybe someone forgot to turn the stove off. They ordered takeout, Jungkook can’t think straight.

Taehyung lets go of Jungkook’s hand when his palm cups his ass and slips his fingers over Jungkook’s chest instead. Jungkook doesn’t know if he can move; if he can touch. He wants to, he realizes it as he feels how soft Taehyung’s skin and how full his ass feels against his hand. But he lets his hand rest there, unmoving.

“But you’d get red even if I was talking about the weather,” Taehyung laughs lightly but it isn’t mocking. “Or school. Do you have a learning kink, Jungkook?”

Jungkook groans. “Shut up.”

The giggle Taehyung responds with makes Jungkook’s heart flip inside of his chest. “Do you know anything about clouds?”

It throws Jungkook off enough that he remains quiet, confused as to why Taehyung asks about clouds like he’s trying to ask Jungkook if he’s okay to take his clothes off. “Um, no?”

“You know, other planets have clouds too,” Taehyung continues, rubbing his palm up Jungkook’s chest and to his shoulder. Jungkook’s fingers flex over Taehyung’s ass and he wants to move his fingers further, grip between his legs but just thinking about it is too much. “Venus has these clouds made of sulfur dioxide.”

“I guess Venus isn’t participating in clean energy,” Jungkook breathes distractedly.

Taehyung knocks their foreheads together as he laughs. “What?”

Jungkook flushes, wanting to retreat but Taehyung is wrapping his arms around his shoulders. Jungkook feels like he’s breathing in sulfur dioxide himself, his chest tight and breathing sounding short to his own ears.

“Nothing,” Jungkook says, swallowing thickly. “It pollutes the air. Like, car emissions and stuff.”

Taehyung quirks a brow. Jungkook likes the feeling of Taehyung wrapped around him and he blames his sleepiness. He’s always cuddly when he’s tired.

Even though it feels like he’s wide awake when Taehyung brushes his fingers over the back of his neck and into his hair.

“Is that right? Tell me more.”

Jungkook flexes his fingers against Taehyung’s ass again, hesitantly pressing his other hand to the small of his back. It makes Taehyung’s smile twitch bigger.

“It’s used in making wine too,” Jungkook teaches. “Keeps bacteria from growing, and is used as a sanitizer, I - I think. When it’s mixed with -”

The words fumble from Jungkook’s lips as Taehyung presses into him, their bodies alight and touching. Taehyung bends his head back, eyes on Jungkook’s face.

“Didn’t I say no more school talk?” Taehyung asks in amusement. “This isn’t a tutor session, baby. We haven’t covered sulfur dioxide in chemistry yet.”

Jungkook presses his lips together, eyes widening. “You tricked me.”

Taehyung grins, guilt in his eyes. “I did not. I was talking about clouds.”

With a groan, Jungkook finally squeezes Taehyung’s ass properly. It’s meant to be in retaliation for Taehyung’s teasing but it only worsen’s Jungkook’s own torture when Taehyung gasps. His lips part prettily around the sound and Jungkook wants to groan again.

“How do you even know they’re made of sulfur dioxide?” Jungkook asks, heart thumping when Taehyung takes the hand on his back and presses it to his other ass cheek. “The Venus clouds.”

“I know things,” Taehyung says. “I like space. Did you know that the moons around Uranus were named after Shakespeare characters?”

Jungkook shakes his head. He’s focusing too much on his hands, pulling his fingers from the fishnets to slip his hand better beneath the rip in Taehyung’s jeans.

“There’s like twenty something discovered so far,” Taehyung goes on as he rubs his hands down Jungkook’s back. He wonders if Taehyung is going to kiss him finally, if he wants him to. “My favorite are these two.”

Jungkook yelps when Taehyung grips his butt, squeezing his hands over his cheeks. Laughter rings through the kitchen and Jungkook buries his head into Taehyung’s neck to hide from it.

He doesn’t pull away, he likes the feeling of Taehyung’s hands and he wants to pull them back when Taehyung removes them to cup his cheeks. He can hear the sound of footsteps over his thudding heart, but he ignores it when Taehyung’s lips brush over the corner of his mouth.

“You owe me a kiss Jeon,” Taehyung jokes under his breath. “Take your time, baby. Let’s go back and listen to Namjoon’s laundry tips now, hm?”

Jungkook nods, rubbing his hand over Taehyung’s butt once more before pulling away. It makes Taehyung’s eyes sparkle and Jungkook runs over to the stove to make sure it’s been turned off.

It’s Hoseok’s footsteps they had heard as he appears a moment later, grinning from ear to ear. “Yoons asked me to get him another drink. I think he actually wanted me to make sure Taehyung wasn’t eating you.”

“Was trying to,” Taehyung says, tugging Jungkook along.

Only Namjoon and Jin are in the living room when they emerge and Jungkook quickly runs to the couch, taking the blanket and wrapping himself back in it. The material is soft and he tries not to think about how his body throbs.

Taehyung is confusing and a tease and Jungkook wants to kiss him.

“What were you doing?”

“Talking about space,” Taehyung says as grabs Jungkook’s legs and throws them over his lap again. “Uranus’ moons.”

Namjoon snorts. “Poor Kook. Don’t ever get Tae started on space, he’ll never shut up. Next thing you know, he’ll be listing off the top ten largest moons and expect you to remember their names.”

Jungkook watches as Taehyung kicks at Namjoon. He’s never heard Taehyung mention space before. He’s in Astronomy, but he was struggling in it.

“We were talking about the small moons, isn’t that right baby?” Taehyung says as he looks to Jungkook. “They’re nice too.”

Jungkook groans hiding himself further into the blankets and Namjoon throws them a disgusted look. The sound of Jin’s laughter cracks through the room and Jungkook considers pushing himself beneath the cushions of the couch, but he thinks that would be noticeable.

“Don’t do this in front of me,” Namjoon grunts. “I’m begging you.”

Somewhere amongst it all, Jungkook falls asleep.

When he wakes, it’s quiet. His neck aches from the awkward angle it had been hanging and when he stretches out, he finds a pillow that must have been under his head at some point.

There’s a weight in his lap that keeps him from moving too much and moving his hand, he connects with soft hair.

Jungkook freezes when he spots the fluff of blond hair in his lap a moment before Taehyung lifts his head. It takes him a few moments to gather his surroundings, remembering where he is and why Taehyung is there.

“You’re awake,” Taehyung says, smiling softly before he sits. “Did you know you snore?”

“I don’t,” Jungkook slurs sleepily, shoving at Taehyung but Taehyung just grabs his hands instead.

“You do. You’re even cuter when you sleep.”

“Shut up,” Jungkook huffs, leaning closer to Taehyung and resting his head on the back of the couch. There’s a wild urge inside of him to pull Taehyung into him, hold him close and press their lips together.

Taehyung turns so his knees knock against Jungkook’s and then he’s shifting so his legs are now over Jungkook’s lap. It makes the urge to hold him closer grow, and Jungkook wonders if Taehyung would mind if he asked him to spoon.

There’s a gentle hand over Jungkook’s cheek a second later, a thumb rubbing gently over his skin.

“Go back to sleep.”

Jungkook shakes his head, fighting it. He wants to be selfish and stay here, because he likes being around Taehyung, but he’s always struggled with selfish indulgence.

Yoongi’s warning is in the back of his mind as he looks at Taehyung’s lips, remembering the kiss he owes him.

“Yoongi is here still,” Taehyung says softly. “There’s no point in returning home. You’re exhausted, baby. Sleep.”

Jungkook grabs Taehyung’s wrist to inspect the time. He’s slept too much, it’s late and he has work to do. Work he pushed off the night before to do Taehyung’s work and was unable to do today because of his promised Friday night relaxation time.

“I should -”

Taehyung stops him with a hand cupping his neck, his touch light like he’s offering Jungkook room to move away, or hesitating like a question. Jungkook nods, wanting Taehyung to do whatever it is he’s asking to do.

There’s lips on his before Jungkook can finish nodding.

It’s just a brush of skin on skin, Taehyung’s lips wet and soft. Jungkook shudders from the feeling, Taehyung’s thumb brushing over his neck as he angles his head.

Before Jungkook can register the fact that he should move his lips back, Taehyung is pulling away.

“What was that for?” Jungkook breathes. He definitely can’t go back to sleep now, not with the way his heart is racing. He’s wide awake, only a bit of heaviness hanging to his eyelids. He watches Taehyung’s mouth, wanting it back on his.

Taehyung grins, his hand still cupped over Jungkook’s neck and Jungkook doesn’t move, even if it’s twisted at an odd angle.

“I was trying to think of something to convince you to stay.”

“Oh.”

Taehyung watches him for awhile as Jungkook tries to think of what else to say.  It would be perfectly normal for him to ask Taehyung to kiss him again, but he feels awkward doing so.

“I’m going to do it again,” Taehyung whispers like he can read Jungkook’s mind, letting silence return between them before Jungkook nods.

The television reflects off Taehyung’s grin before he leans in, kissing Jungkook a second time. This time, Jungkook angles his head to meet him, their lips slotting in a way that makes heat pour into his chest.

It’s been a long time since Jungkook has kissed anyone and he feels nervous thinking about it, but Taehyung’s distracting him with his lips tugging at his bottom lip. Their lips mold together like they’re meant to be together. Their noses brush, pushing against each other. Taehyung pulls back for a breath, tugging Jungkook’s glasses from his face before he kisses him again.

When Jungkook sits, moving from the back of the couch, Taehyung’s cupping his cheeks and kissing him deeper.

He doesn’t know what to do with his hands, leaving them useless in his lap as he sighs into Taehyung’s mouth.

It’s lazy the way their mouths work over the other, Taehyung’s teeth nibbling over his bottom lip and earning a harsh breath every time he tugs too hard.

Jungkook curls a hand around the back of Taehyung’s neck when Taehyung pulls back like he might move away. It makes Taehyung laugh softly before he’s pushing his parted lips against Jungkook’s again.

The first touch of Taehyung’s tongue has Jungkook shivering, pressing closer. The television is quiet, making it so Jungkook can hear every slick sound their mouths make, every sigh Taehyung lets out.

The warmth on Jungkook’s skin absorbs into him and turns into a heat, coiling in his stomach when Taehyung’s tongue glides over his own. But Taehyung’s hands are burning just as much as they move from his cheeks to his neck, rubbing down to his chest and gripping at his shoulders.

Jungkook’s being guided forward a second later, until his body is fitting over Taehyung.

His heart starts to race when Taehyung shifts so they’re laying side by side, Taehyung’s fingers pushing into his hair as he licks into his mouth. Taehyung giggles into it when Jungkook groans and grips at Taehyung’s hip, keeping them close because he craves the heat that radiates from Taehyung’s body. He likes the way Taehyung’s teeth feel scraping over his lip before tugging, the way he licks at it afterwards as if to apologize if he were too rough.

He’s breathing heavily when Taehyung pulls back to look at him. His mouth is slick and swollen, his grin pushing his cheeks up before he cocks his head and kisses at Jungkook’s neck.

A groan rumbles in Jungkook’s throat when Taehyung works his teeth over Jungkook’s already bruised skin and lower. He sucks another hickey into Jungkook’s neck, beneath the first and Jungkook tenses as not to push closer into Taehyung.

There’s a distant thought in the back of his mind that his friends are somewhere else in the house, but he ignores it when Taehyung’s hand shifts under his sweater to rest at the bare skin over his spine.

It’s intimate, embarrassing, but Jungkook moans softly as he lets Taehyung pull him into his body and tangles their legs.

“Go to sleep,” Taehyung breathes against his neck, nuzzling over the bruises he’s left behind.

Despite his words, Taehyung’s mouth is back on his a second later.

“Sleepy baby,” Jungkook thinks he hears whispered against his mouth.

Fisting a hand into Taehyung’s shirt, Jungkook kisses back a bit feverishly. It’s difficult not to rub against him; but the embarrassment he feels at doing so is enough to stop him.  The way Taehyung touches and kisses him makes him feel as if he’s burrito’d himself in the blanket again.

Jungkook whines in complaint when Taehyung pulls back. His mouth throbs as much as his neck and he ducks his head forward for one more.

“Should stop,” Taehyung hums, letting Jungkook kiss him as he rubs his hand down Jungkook’s spine and grips into the band of Jungkook’s pants. “Want you to sleep but I’m getting hard.”

Jungkook gasps lightly at that, eyes fluttering shut as Taehyung’s words make his stomach erupt in butterflies. He says it so bluntly, without any shame and Jungkook could never even imagine saying something like that outloud. “Sorry.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, shifting his hand to squeeze gently at Jungkook’s ass.  “Not something you should apologize for, baby. If hyung wakes up and catches me touching you, he might be ruined forever.”

Jungkook grips tightly into Taehyung’s shirt, hips bucking up slowly as Taehyung’s deep voice turns into a drawl and his lips shift over his ear, making the words vibrate against his skin. Taehyung squeezes his butt again before sliding down and gripping at the back of his thigh.

The way his fingers dig into his thigh has Jungkook gasping, the sound too similar to a moan that he almost rips himself from the couch.

He wants to ask Taehyung what he means; how he wants to touch him, but he thinks he’ll melt into nothingness if Taehyung does.

“Okay,” Jungkook breathes, body curling when Taehyung tugs his leg up. This time, Jungkook presses his lips tightly together when their hips rub together. “You’re making it hard to sleep.”

Taehyung laughs softly. “Is that what I’m making hard?”

Jungkook groans as Taehyung laughs at his own joke. Thankfully Taehyung lets his thigh go, letting Jungkook readjust before his interested cock really does get hard. He feels hot to the root, burning as he tries not to focus on how intimate this is, and how much he really does want more.

Taehyung shifts back so he can guide Jungkook’s head to his chest, hand under his chin so he can plop another kiss to his lip. He kisses him a few times, quick pecks that has Jungkook pushing his lips out for more until he yawns. There’s a heaviness in his body, but not enough to wash away the pulse running through him that wants more.

None of it makes sense but his mind doesn’t get a chance to worry too much as the sound of Taehyung’s humming and the fingers in his hair lull him to sleep.

When Jungkook wakes a second time, he feels overheated. There’s something hard against his front, and he freezes when he registers the soft snores.

He squeezes his eyes closed, hiding his face against Taehyung’s chest when he registers the throb between his legs as the source of what woke him.

There’s the blanket thrown over them now, the sigh of someone else being awake, and Taehyung’s arm is lazily wrapped around his back. Jungkook lays there, trying to figure out a way to roll off the couch without waking Taehyung.

Taehyung shifts, curling into Jungkook. He rubs his lips together, eyes working over the back of his eyelids like he might wake any second. He radiates heat, his arms wrapping around Jungkook’s back so their bodies press tightly together. Jungkook tries to hold back a groan when Taehyung shifts, curling a leg over his and stitching their bodies together.

Taehyung wakes then, blinking his eyes open and grinning when he sees Jungkook.

“Morning, cutie.”

Jungkook’s heart pounds when Taehyung snuggles closer, the leg hooked over him tightening and dragging him close. It makes him press into Taehyung, a groan stifling in his chest when his cock presses into Taehyung’s thigh. He freezes, hoping Taehyung doesn’t notice.

But luck has never been on Jungkook’s side and one of his eyes is blinking open, the amusement loud in them.

“Sleep well?” Taehyung asks, his tone just as amused as he tickles Jungkook’s neck and wiggles his body more than necessary. Jungkook bites back a groan at the feeling, his cock twitching when Taehyung’s thigh moves against him. “Good dreams?”

Jungkook lets out his groan, the one now from embarrassment, trying to hide his face again but Taehyung is cupping his jaw so he can’t. He rubs at his bottom lip, pressing down until his lips part and it really doesn’t help the situation.

“Want my help?” Taehyung breathes, lips ghosting over Jungkook’s.

It had been a dream, Jungkook had thought. A product of his stressed, overworked brain. He thought, until he feels Taehyung’s teasing grin shift over his own.

They really did kiss the night before, and wrap around each other in an intimate way. Like they are now.

“Could suck you off,” Taehyung offers, hands trailing to Jungkook’s stomach, squeezing between them like he might touch. “Eat you out.”

Jungkook pushes against Taehyung’s chest, consequently falling off the edge of the couch and to his back.

Taehyung is leaning over the couch a second later, looking down at him. His eyes rake down Jungkook’s body, his grin growing.

Jungkook snaps his legs together, knees bending to cover himself.

This is mortifying .

Jungkook wants to die right here on the floor.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” Taehyung laughs quietly. “I’d get hard sleeping next to me too.”

Jungkook flies up from the ground. “Oh my god.”

Taehyung’s laugh follows him as Jungkook rushes from the living room and towards the bathroom. He barely registers Yoongi in the kitchen, whom he only waves a quick hand to before he hides away.

Jungkook plants a hand over his eyes, groaning at himself because he’s about to die from embarrassment. It is better than facing himself in the mirror, where he’d see the marks Taehyung left on his skin and Taehyung’s sweater hanging off his frame.

I could suck you off , wracks through his brain and Jungkook cups a palm between his thighs, praying for his cock to fuck off and stop reacting to Taehyung.

**

Taehyung is screwed. Majorly screwed. He hasn’t been hit with this amount of fondness in a long time, and never as hard.

“You know you’re staring right?”

Jimin sits beside him, amusement in his voice but Taehyung doesn’t care. He knows he is and he’s already told Jungkook why, so he doesn’t care if he’s been caught doing it.

“And? Your point?”

Jimin shoves his shoulder into Taehyung. “You’re drooling.”

That Taehyung cares about. He wipes at his mouth, feeling his chin dry. “Shut up.”

Jimin’s laughter is enough to catch Jungkook’s attention where he sits in the cafeteria, amongst a group of people Taehyung only recognizes from around but doesn’t know. He smiles shyly, cheeks bunching up but he shrinks in his chair.

Lately he’s been unbuttoning his shirts like he’s saving Taehyung from doing it, but Taehyung likes it. The other day he nearly got Jungkook’s entire shirt unbuttoned before he noticed.

“You guys fucked on my couch didn’t you?”

Taehyung only shrugs. He grins when Jungkook’s eyes flicker to him again. They grow wide before the glance back to the person next to him.

“Tae,” Jimin complains, shoving Taehyung and stealing from the plate he hasn’t touched. Jungkook hasn’t touched his either.

Frowning, Taehyung glances at the clock. Jungkook is never in the cafeteria because he never has time to. He should be in class now.

Taehyung raises a brow when Jungkook glances at him again, silently calling him out for skipping.

“We didn’t,” Taehyung laughs. “Sure wanted to, though.”

Jimin snorts. “I know. I heard you offering to suck him off. You’re gonna give him a heart attack, Tae. Go easy on him. Yoongi looked like he was going to have a heart attack, did you know you talked so loudly?”

Taehyung leans back in his chair and finally pulling his eyes away from Jungkook. He glances at him like he wants to look, so Taehyung will be kind and look away so Jungkook can stare back.

“What’s up with the Cheol Su guy?” Taehyung asks, ignoring Jimin’s question. “I’m getting the vibe Yoongi hyung’s hate towards him has do with Jeon.”

Jimin shrugs, but it’s obvious he’s lying with how wide his eyes go before he responds. Taehyung peers his own at him.

“You know. Tell me.”

“It’s not my place,” Jimin says immediately. “Hyung only told me because Hoseok and I were upset after the fight. But he was a dick. It would even piss you off.”

That makes Taehyung want to know more but he doesn’t push. He looks back to Jungkook, catching him staring.

Taehyung smiles in victory but it doesn’t last long when the man next to Jungkook tickles underneath his chin. He’s tall, a few inches taller than Jungkook with gangly arms and long legs that stretch beneath the table. He also wears a dress shirt and tie, but his is paired with a beret at the top of his head instead of the messy, fingers through the hair look Jungkook is sporting.

Jimin laughs again, choked out spurts of laughter that makes Taehyung want to elbow him. “Your face just fell so hard,” he huffs. “Oh god, you’re fucking whipped, aren’t you?”

“Shut up,” Taehyung grits out. He isn’t whipped. Is he interested? Yes. Not whipped. “Find me someone who isn’t whipped for Jeon. I’m talking about your boyfriends, if you were wondering.”

For a moment, Jimin looks like he might argue but he nods. “True. But not like that. You’re looking at the poor boy like you might rip his head off, Tae. He looks about twelve.”

“He’s like seven feet tall,” Taehyung says, raising his voice but Jungkook doesn’t look his way. Instead, his nose wrinkles when he smiles at the monster tall guy next to him.

All he gets from Jimin is laughter until Taehyung stands up. There’s still amusement in his voice, but he’s grabbing at Taehyung’s hand to stop him. It doesn’t work and Taehyung can faintly hear the soft, ‘whipped’ Jimin lets out behind him.

It isn’t until Taehyung is nearly at the table that Jungkook glances to where he had been sitting again. His face falls for a moment before he finds Taehyung again.

The reaction is immediate, his eyes widening and back straightening. His fingers fidget over the table before slipping below it like he’s planting them to his lap.

“Hey baby,” Taehyung greets, tickling underneath Jungkook’s chin. “Thought you were in class.”

“I’m doing freshmen orientations and tours today,” Jungkook says, his cheeks already reddening. “Um, everyone this is Kim Taehyung. President Kim’s son.”

There are eyes on him immediately then and usually Taehyung doesn’t care, but he doesn’t need everyone’s first thought of him to be that. Jungkook doesn’t know the way he feels about  it but he rolls his eyes at Jungkook anyway.

“Nice to meet you,” the skyscraper next to Jungkook says. “Yoon Sanha. Jungkook-ssi and I were in the same program back in Busan. He’s the reason I chose this school.”

“Wonderful,” Taehyung says. The boy is friendly, eyes bright and innocent and Taehyung knows Jimin is laughing at him.

He feels ridiculous, but not enough to stop himself from cupping Jungkook’s cheek. He wishes he could plant his lips to Jungkook’s, kiss him again, but he can’t tell if Jungkook really hates public affection like that or not.

Jungkook doesn’t push him off when he sneaks kisses between studying, though he pauses for a few minutes after words like he has to catch his breath before continuing.

“You didn’t tell me you had a boyfriend,” Sanha says to Jungkook. “Is that the real reason you aren’t coming home for break?”

Taehyung really likes when Jungkook gets flustered.

“Not,” is all Jungkook says before he’s lurching from his seat. He grabs Taehyung’s arm, eyes narrowing as he goes to shove Taehyung away from the table. “Are you messing with me?”

Frowning at that, Taehyung allows Jungkook to weave him through the tables and towards the hallway leading outside. “I was just saying hi.”

“Jimin was laughing,” Jungkook blubbers out.

Taehyung goes still, watching Jungkook for a moment before he sighs. It’s going to take a lot of effort to finally get Jungkook to realize that while he teases, he’s never making fun of him. “Jimin thought I was jealous. But I’m not. I was just saying hi.”

The look on Jungkook’s face is suspicious. “What would you be jealous of?”

“Nothing. Because I wasn’t,” Taehyung clarifies. He frowns when Jungkook’s confused look turns into an amused one.

He’s been rubbing off on Jungkook too much lately.

“ Anyway ,” Taehyung says loudly before Jungkook can say anything. “Why are you doing the orientation? I thought you would try to relax? Not take on too much.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. Definitely spending time with him too much. Taehyung loves it. “He asked me. You know I couldn’t say no. Plus, you aren’t holding up your end of the bargain either.”

The sudden change of expression has Taehyung frowning. Jungkook’s eyes widen like he hadn’t meant to say that and he goes to walk away but Taehyung grabs his hand and links their fingers.

“Yes I am. What does that mean?”

“Nothing,” Jungkook says, squeezing Taehyung’s fingers. “This isn’t getting in the way of anything. I don’t have to make up the class I’m missing. She’s just going to send me my notes.”

“Jeon. What did you mean? You know I can’t help interrupt during the sessions, but I am trying.”

“I know.”

“So what did you mean?”

Jungkook lurches forward, landing his lips to Taehyung’s so harshly their teeth clack. He quickly moves back to apologize, but Taehyung tugs him back.

He pushes his lips back in Jungkook’s face, waiting for Jungkook to kiss him again. Jungkook does after a sharp inhale; this time softer. He doesn’t pull right away either, but lets his lips linger over Taehyung’s.

Jungkook’s lips are just as soft as the way he kisses, enveloping Taehyung’s bottom lip before the top. Taehyung flickers his eyes opening, grinning at the sight of Jungkook’s furrowed brows and clenched eyes.

Since they’ve kissed, it’s all Taehyung has wanted. He isn’t whipped; he just likes physical intimacy. And Jungkook.

Taehyung grabs Jungkook’s hands and plants them to his cheeks, but Jungkook is pulling away.

“I should get back,” Jungkook says breathlessly.

“And what are you going to tell Tokyo Skytree out there?” Taehyung asks, waving towards the way they came.

“What?” Jungkook laughs, nose wrinkling and it’s cute. “Sanha?”

“Yeah. The tall kid. He wanted to know why you didn’t tell him about your boyfriend?” Taehyung grins as he bends his head forward and presses it to Jungkook’s cheek. “I’m hurt, baby.”

Jungkook flushes to his temples. “Shut up. I’ll see you later, okay? You have to finish that study guide for Friday.”

Taehyung’s cheeks are starting to hurt from grinning as Jungkook turns on his heel to leave. It isn’t until he is a few feet away that Taehyung realizes Jungkook used his own trick against him.

“Wait, Jeon. Did you kiss me to change the subject?”

There’s an ache in Taehyung’s neck that he rubs at as he makes his way across the yard. His head hurts too, his stomach a bit sour. From whatever he consumed last night and the hate he has for his father.

For someone who is so concerned with his attendance, he sure calls Taehyung out of class a lot.

Part of Taehyung isn’t surprised to see Jungkook waiting in the office as well, though he’s aggravated by the sight. If he knew these meetings were going to be a thing, he would have never agreed to be tutored.

There’s something about Jungkook that makes Taehyung feel protective, though Jungkook’s only ever said positive things about his father.

Maybe Taehyung is just lucky to be the President’s son and witness every side of him but his kind side.

The look on his father’s face isn’t unfriendly as Taehyung enters the office and immediately slumps into the chair beside Jungkook.

Jungkook doesn’t meet his gaze and taking a closer look, Taehyung noticed sweat starting to collect at his hairline. He’s dressed for class this time, a white dress shirt on and green tie hanging from his throat.

There’s a hickey there, though faded, right above his collar. Jungkook lets Taehyung kiss him often; even in the middle of talking. Knowing that makes it even harder not to do, especially when Jungkook’s breath shakes when Taehyung kisses his neck.

“Hello Father,” Taehyung greets sarcastically. “How art thou today?”

President Kim peers his eyes at that, lips pressing together. He doesn’t respond but instead grabs a folder from his desk, turning it and showing the glossy see through cover and the paper inside.

Jungkook exhales sharply, his hands clasping in his lap, so tightly his knuckles turn white.

“I am pleased to see that you’ve been improving,” President Kim says and Taehyung frowns in confusion. He has been getting some high seventies, but he hasn’t gotten anything higher yet.

The paper has a 81 circled at the top but Taehyung never handed in a paper.

“Thanks to you, Jungkook-ssi.”

Jungkook bows his head, but doesn’t respond.

What ?

Taehyung reaches over to take the folder from his father. It’s definitely his name in the margins, but Taehyung had never finished this paper. He only did parts of it before giving up, too frustrated to continue. The words had started to mix up in his brain and he was confused at what point he was trying to make. It wasn’t even worth that much of his grade, so he abandoned it.

“I’m sure you helped quite a lot for Taehyung to write a paper like this,” his father says and he actually does sound pleased.

“President Kim -”

His father holds up a hand, shaking his head for Jungkook to be quiet.

“I’d like to take you to lunch to show you my gratitude and thank you for your hard work in helping my son. Professor Ma Ri says you delivered it yourself, because Taehyung left it at your apartment. You’ve really shown a dedication that I appreciate.”

Taehyung glances to Jungkook. His leg is shaking so badly that Taehyung wishes to reach over and cup his knee to calm him.

Realization settles onto Taehyung’s shoulders. Jungkook had mentioned that paper a handful of times after Taehyung lied about finish. It’s also the only thing he’s given up on in awhile, which would explain Jungkook’s comment in the cafeteria.

Even if giving up on one thing is huge improvement for Taehyung.

“It - it is nothing, Mr. President.”

His father nods at that. “Please join me around noon. I’ll contact your professor to excuse your absence.”

No one noticed Taehyung’s silence and if they do, no one mentions it. When they’re excused, Jungkook looks like he wants to bolt but he walks quietly beside Taehyung as they exit the building.

“What did you do?”

Jungkook doesn’t respond as he starts walking ahead of Taehyung, ignoring the folder Taehyung holds out for him.

“Jeon, I never finished this paper.”

Holding his head high, Jungkook clutches his backpack to his chest and keeps walking.

He whirls around when Taehyung grabs his arm.

“You almost did,” Jungkook says in a hurry. “You had an outline and a good argument point with solid facts to back it up, it just needed a little filling in. It was easy. I just had to paraphrase the paragraphs you half wrote.”

It’s not true. Taehyung barely wrote over a page and the requirement was four.

“When did you do this?”

“The night before it was due. I went on the doc to edit it for you and - and saw that you hadn’t finished it.”

Taehyung breathes through his nose. He keeps his hand on Jungkook’s arm, pulling him with him even though it’s impossible for anyone to hear them. That was the night before Jungkook had looked like he was dead on his feet, because of Taehyung.

It infuriates him that Jungkook won’t just sleep .

“Jungkook, that’s cheating.”

“It isn’t,” Jungkook tries to argue. “You did most of the work.”

“I didn’t,” Taehyung grunts, shoving the folder into Jungkook’s chest. “I gave up after the first page.”

“A thank you would be fine,” Jungkook snaps, his face burning in embarrassment.

“Saving a few dollars on your tuition won’t mean much if you get expelled, Jungkook.”

Jungkook’s nose flares at that. Taehyung does it on purpose, knowing Jungkook doesn’t like when Taehyung says his name.

“I made sure to make it believable,” Jungkook whispers.

Taehyung groans, rubbing a hand down his face. He can’t explain why he’s mad actually, but he’s pissed. “It’s barely believable I’d get an 81. You’re right, anything more would be a clear sign I didn’t write it.”

Jungkook’s eyes go wide at that and he grabs Taehyung’s hand to hold it immediately. “If you had kept up with it, you would have earned that grade yourself.”

Taehyung tries to take his hand away but Jungkook doesn’t let him.

“My grades are really none of your fucking concern baby,” Taehyung huffs. “When are you going to understand that?”

“Why are you this angry?” Jungkook whispers, eyes narrowing at him.

Really, Jungkook is the smartest person he knows but sometimes he doesn’t act like it.

“I’ve told you ten thousand times you need time for yourself. You don’t need to stress yourself over my grades when you’re uptight and losing sleep over your own. And what if you got caught, hm? And got expelled? Who’s going to take care of your sick mother and younger brother then, huh?”

Jungkook finally lets Taehyung’s hand go to shove him hard in the chest. “Shut up. You don’t know anything about my life.”

“Just like you don’t know anything about mine.”

Angry isn’t a good look on Jungkook’s face. The red isn’t right, the sweaty skin not as nice to look at, the watering in his eyes making Taehyung’s chest too tight.

“I know plenty. You grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth, handed opportunities that some of us work our ass off to get, and yet you just let them waste away. Without a care.”

“Is that right?” Taehyung growls, pushing into Jungkook’s space until he hits the wall of one of the buildings they stand between.

“Yes,” Jungkook says, breathing harshly around his stuttered word.

“Well if I didn’t care, why do I waste my time going to those stupid tutoring sessions?”

“To fuck around,” Jungkook replies, the anger slipping from his tone as he stares to shake. “All you do is fuck around and you never pay attention. Whenever we start to make progress, you just -“

“Well if you constantly had to be reminded of how stupid you are, you wouldn’t want to deal with it either.”

Silence falls between them, only the sound of their frustrated breathing. Jungkook stares at him with wide eyes, mouth hanging open and if Taehyung wasn’t suddenly feeling so angry, maybe he’d find it cute.

“You’re not stupid,” Jungkook says quietly.

Taehyung laughs at that, nodding his head. “Whatever. Don’t do it again.”

Jungkook’s arm jumps out, stomping Taehyung as he turns his heel to leave.

“Remember when I got angry when you tried to help? It’s the same thing.”

Taehyung watches Jungkook as he huffs out, his eyes big with something Taehyung doesn’t understand as he closes the space between them.

Jungkook’s breath hitches when Taehyung moves so close their chests are almost touching. It’s almost comical how easily Jungkook moves into Taehyung’s touch when Taehyung lays a hand over his jaw.

“It isn’t the same, baby.”

“It is,” Jungkook breathes. “You admitted to cheating before, I don’t get how this is different.”

“I regretted cheating because it made people think I was someone else. I don’t give a shit now what people think and I don’t need anyone putting expectations over me that I know I can’t fulfill.”

Jungkook huffs at that, a fist clenching into Taehyung’s jacket.

“Stop, saying that sh-”

Taehyung kisses him before he can finish.

It’s the only thing he can think of that will get Jungkook to shut up, to make him freeze in that way he does right before he changes the subject.

Plus, Taehyung doesn't want to fight, doesn’t want to feel this frustration in his chest because Jungkook doesn’t understand that he is going to drop and he should care more about it.

Jungkook gasps, falling still as their lips meet, his hand coming up to press against Taehyung’s chest.

But it isn’t to push him away, rather to grip onto his shirt and pull him closer.

Taehyung bites at his bottom lip, tugging and sucking enough to make Jungkook gasp before he pulls away.

“I told you not to make assumptions about me based on gossip,” Taehyung whispers against his skin, teeth scraping over the bruise until Jungkook shivers. “Have fun at lunch, Jeon.”

“You’re not coming?” Jungkook asks, snapping out of it at the sound of Taehyung’s voice. He sounds breathless and Taehyung’s chest swells.

“If you noticed, I wasn’t invited,” Taehyung says as he turns, waving a hand over his head and wishing he could just run. “Ciao, baby!”

The frustration doesn’t leave his chest.

This isn’t the way this works, usually. People don’t stay on Taehyung’s mind too long. It’s the annoyance, Jungkook is frustrating assuming he knows anything about Taehyung’s life.

Taehyung doesn’t know why it bothers him because it never does.

“Why are hiding out in my apartment?”

Glancing up from where he sits on the ground, Taehyung finds Hoseok leaning against the bedroom door frame. He’s smiling, but his eyes are worried.

“Not hiding,” Taehyung says as he flicks a piece of lint on the ground. “I didn’t want to walk all the way home.”

“You have a car.”

“Irrelevant.”

Taehyung sighs at that, rolling his eyes. Hoseok looks expectant, his amusement growing and Taehyung knows that look.

“What’d you hear?”

“Oh, nothing,” Hoseok sings as he clasps his hands behind his back and takes a step inside. “Just that you and a certain friend of mine were arguing out by the main yard.”

Taehyung knocks his head back against the wall, groaning.

His problem with gossip is people take it to heart. If they hear it, it’s truth. Taehyung loves gossip himself, but he takes it with a grain of salt.

“And that you and said friend,” Hoseok starts slowly, swinging his arms as he comes closer, “ate each other’s faces.”

When Hoseok is close enough, Taehyung kicks out, his foot smacking against Hoseok’s shin.

“A simple kiss is not eating face,” Taehyung grunts.

Hoseok’s eyes go wide, his mouth falling open as he leaps into Taehyung and grabs his cheeks. “Why didn’t you tell me this as soon as you got here? Why are you sulking?”

“Not sulking,” Taehyung sighs, his words coming out strangled sounding from how Hoseok squeezes his cheeks. “You know it’s annoying when people are so good at something that they don’t realize how hard it is for people who aren’t.”

Hoseok falls to his butt, resting on Taehyung’s legs. “Is this about kissing?”

“No,” Taehyung complains, shoving Hoseok off of him but a smile takes to his lips. “You know Jeon is going to drop one of these days. He’s taking on too much and I'm pretty sure he isn’t sleeping. Jimin keeps mentioning having to bring him food and that makes me worried too.”

It’s part guilt that makes him feel angry. He had texted Jungkook he finished that paper past midnight, meaning Jungkook must have stayed up for another two or three hours to complete it.

“I know. Yoongi usually finds him awake when he comes in after work and he works late into the night,” Hoseok responds. He narrows his eyes before his face explodes into sunshine. “That’s why you’re sulking.”

Hoseok is flying up to his feet before Taehyung can even ask what he means. He claps his hands together in delight.

“Oh, I have to tell hyung.”

“No,” Taehyung blurts, even though he really doesn’t know what Hoseok could tell Yoongi. “Whatever it is, I’m sure Yoongi hyung doesn’t need to know.”

There’s no convincing him as Hoseok shakes his head, laughing. “You have a teeny little heart boner for our Jungkookie, don’t you?”

Taehyung shoves Hoseok again. He should have taken sanctuary somewhere else, he knows better. “No, a dick boner yes. A massive one.”

Holding out his hands a foot apart, Taehyung sets an example.

Hoseok cackles at that. “Dude, you always do as Yoongi asks, you wouldn’t go against him just to get laid. Jimin says you almost fought a four year old in the cafeteria because you were jealous.”

There is no heart boner, at all and Taehyung isn’t going to waste his energy trying to convince Hoseok of this. And he wasn’t jealous. There isn’t anything to be jealous of.

“He was eighteen, I think,” Taehyung snaps.

Snorting, Hoseok clamps a hand to Taehyung’s shoulder. “Sure. Don’t think I’ve forgotten you asking hyung to hook you up with Jungkook after that first track meet. How long have you’ve had this heart boner?”

Taehyung shoves past Hoseok. “Not at all. He’s an annoying, uptight know it all. It’s only for Yoongi’s sake that I am worried he may drop. Hyung is scary when he’s upset.”

Hoseok snorts loudly at that as he follows behind Taehyung, repeating his words with a mocking tone.

“So explain the kiss then.”

Taehyung whips around. “Jungkook wouldn’t shut up about me not trying hard in school. He said everything is handed to me and I don’t care and you know that’s not true.”

Hoseok softens, his eyes less bright and more warm. “Yeah, I know. Though that doesn’t explain why you kissed him.”

“To get him to shut up.”

Wrapping an arm around Taehyung’s shoulder, Hoseok sighs and presses their temples together. “It is true that you don’t try anymore, Tae.”

Taehyung frowns at that but he doesn’t push Hoseok away, not when his embrace eases the tension in his chest. “I have been trying.”

“Okay,” Hoseok murmurs, squeezing Taehyung’s cheek. “Kookie is a little biased, okay? He’s been like this since he was little, all work and no play.”

Taehyung slumps his shoulders as Hoseok drags him from the hallway. He’s sure there’s more to Jungkook’s story, especially with how defensive he had gotten over Taehyung’s comment about his mother and brother.

But there’s more to Taehyung’s then him growing up wealthy and he’s starting to wonder how long Jungkook has thought that.

They’ve shared a few classes together before and Taehyung’s always thought him to be uptight, rude in the way he comes off when it came to working together.

But this time, Jungkook has been more patient and less condescending. He has been active in trying to find a best way to help Taehyung study.

Which makes sense seeing as Taehyung’s father offered him a reduction in his tuition.

Bitterness clogs his throat.

“Don’t go around kissing him if you don’t mean it,” Hoseok says. “There’s a reason we’re protective of him because he just gives off that vibe, you know? He thinks way too much and he’s probably going to overthink every part of it and he gets bitchy when he’s overwhelmed.”

Taehyung glances down at his feet. He did kiss Jungkook to shut him up, but he also meant it. He’s meant every kiss because he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about kissing Jungkook since they first have.

“Okay. He must get that from you. You’re the biggest bitch when you’re grumpy.”

This time, it’s Hoseok shoving Taehyung down the hall, wrestling with him until they’re merging out of the hallway and into the kitchen.

Hoseok halts suddenly, making Taehyung stumble as he goes to shove him some more.

Sitting at the table, his shirt wet and sticking to his chest is Jungkook.

His hair is damp too, rain droplets sliding down the side of his face before he wipes them with a dish towel. The atmosphere is tense immediately, possibly from the way Yoongi’s face is hard where he stings Jungkook’s bag out in the sink.

“Oh hey,” Hoseok says, oblivious to the tension as he pops over to Jungkook. “Get caught in the rain?”

Jungkook doesn’t answer as his eyes glide over Taehyung.

“Yeah, showed up at Jimin’s like this,” Yoongi replies, “looking for Taehyung. Figured if he wasn’t at Jimin’s, he was here.”

Taehyung keeps his eyes trained on Jungkook but he avoids the gaze to shake out his hair, droplets spraying across the kitchen.

“What’s up, baby?”

Jungkook’s look in response isn’t friendly. He grabs something from the table, his shoes squeaking and squishing as he crosses the linoleum.

A folder is being pressed into Taehyung’s chest a second later. “I thought you should look at the professor’s notes. I don’t mean to sound like an annoying, uptight know it all but she praised your argument and research and I’m pretty sure that was all your doing, not mine. You got points off for length and you were missing a few sources, which was my fault not yours.”

Taehyung’s heart sinks in his chest as Jungkook turns away and heads out of the kitchen. The wet shirt clings to his back, showing off his tense muscles and the way his arms flex when he tightens the fists by his sides.

Shit.

Discarding the folder, Taehyung follows after him and ignores when Yoongi calls after him to stay.

Jungkook yelps when Taehyung comes onto him, jumping into the bathroom behind him before he can close the door.

“You are uptight and annoying,” Taehyung declares when Jungkook spins around to look at him. “I don’t know if you mean to come off as a know it all, but you do.”

Jungkook’s jaw tenses as he grits his teeth. “You’re annoying. You talk a lot of shit.”

Taehyung grins. “Is that why you’re always looking at my mouth?”

A frown forms onto Jungkook’s mouth but the red in his cheeks are always an indicator that he doesn’t mean it.

“See what I mean? You don’t take anything seriously,” Jungkook continues, breathing harshly through his nose before his words. He’s cute even when he’s angry and shit, maybe Taehyung’s a little more gone for him than he’d like to admit. “I know you don’t understand it, but I’m not uptight. I have to do well, I have to make money -”

“I’m sorry,” Taehyung says, crossing his arms over his chest because he really wants to take Jungkook’s hand but he doesn’t know if he can. He doesn’t do well at this thing; dealing with things that make his chest feel funny. Jungkook is right about that. “Thank you for finishing my paper for me, just please don’t do it again. I have improved you know. It’s only been a few weeks. Isn’t that enough to prove that I am taking it serious? Or trying to?”

Jungkook softens as he nods. “I’m sorry for assuming that you’re not. It is frustrating to me. But I keep reminding myself that you always mention that you feel as if you’re not -“

Taehyung presses his fingers to Jungkook’s lips, chest tightening too much. That’s something he can’t talk about right now. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

Without hesitation, Jungkook nods and reaches up to pull his fingers away and hold them between his own.

“Sorry.”

Taehyung lifts Jungkook’s drooping chin with his free hand. “And you are uptight, baby. It is possible to find some free time for yourself or at least not adding on extra work you don’t need to do to succeed.”

“But -”

“Even if tutoring me helps with your tuition, what if you become so sleep deprived or stressed that you hurt yourself or something? Then you can’t work and you’ll be right where you started.”

The frown on Jungkook’s face grows. “You sound like Yoongi hyung.”

“See? That must mean I’m improving,” Taehyung jokes lightly as Jungkook tugs on his hand.

It’s a lot softer this time, more hesitant when he leans forward and catches Jungkook’s sharp exhale. He cups his hands around Jungkook’s wet neck, head cocking to the side so their lips slot together perfectly. Jungkook rests his hand to his spine, fingers rubbing over his shirt.

It makes him breathless when Jungkook pulls him in, arms tightening around his waist as he deepens the kiss. Jungkook isn’t one to initiate and Taehyung hopes it means he isn’t angry with him.

He could spend the rest of the night, week, standing in Hoseok’s bathroom with his lips slotted between Jungkook’s, but he pulls away with a gasp when a loud pound sounds through the door.

“Are you killing each other?” Yoongi calls.

It’s followed by a quieter, still easily heard scolding by Hoseok. “Don’t be a cock block, Yoons.”

“No,” Taehyung yells back, holding Jungkook’s gaze. He traces a finger over Jungkook’s slicked mouth, wondering why this kiss feels different.

Taehyung doesn’t just avoid talking about things; he avoids thinking about them as well.

“Go away!”

“What was that for?” Jungkook breathes, brows stitching together.

Taehyung hums, touching over Jungkook’s bottom lip and his chest expands when Jungkook’s lips part easily. “It’s a promise that I am trying. You’re supposed to seal promises with kisses.”

There’s a spark in Jungkook’s eyes at that. “I promise to relax some and not come off as a know it all. I don’t mean to.”

Taehyung laughs at that, holding a pinky up for Jungkook. “Okay, deal.”

Jungkook shakes his head, nervous as he grabs Taehyung’s pinky with his hand and moves it aside. “I thought promises were sealed with kisses.”

Cocking a brow, Taehyung grabs Jungkook’s jaw again. “See, you are a know it all baby.”

Before Jungkook can respond, his lips just starting to push into a pout, Taehyung kisses him again.

He’s pulling away just as the door bursts open and Yoongi appears, followed by Hoseok who cusses loudly. Hoseok’s arms are wrapped around Yoongi like he’s trying to hold him back before he sinks away to hide unsuccessfully behind him instead.

Yoongi stands still before leaning against the door frame, an air of ease and disinterest forming around him though they both know the truth.

“Everything okay?”

“You’re an idiot,” Hoseok huffs, grabbing Yoongi by the shoulder and tugging him out of the bathroom. “What if their dicks were out?”

“It’s only been two minutes,” Yoongi seethes out, his voice fading as Hoseok tugs him away.

“I’d have your dick out in half that time.”

Jungkook’s shoulders shake as he giggles. His eyes sparkling bright when Taehyung looks at him to savor the laughter. He doesn’t laugh often and Taehyung is determined to hear it more. Jungkook takes Taehyung’s hand, swinging it between them.

“Can you kiss me again, Taehyung?”

Surprise has Taehyung falling still. He sees how red Jungkook gets instantly, eyes widening in panic.

“Of course,” Taehyung hums, rubbing Jungkook’s cheek before he closes the space between them.

Kissing Jungkook was a mistake. Taehyung meant it that he would try, even if he felt frustrated. Jungkook makes it easier to deal with that frustration. He doesn’t get irritated with him or make him feel dumb. He offers help and praises him, even if he’s partially wrong in his response.

But, Jungkook’s lips push into a pout when he talks and Taehyung wants to kiss him so badly sometimes he spaces out thinking about it. It’s worse now that they’re not in the study room, but tucked away on Namjoon’s back porch. Saturday tutor sessions are bad for Jungkook’s schedule, and Taehyung feels selfish because he enjoys them.

“What are you doing for vacation?”

Jungkook looks up from where he’s grading Taehyung’s homework. It’s been quiet for a few minutes while Taehyung’s played with some of Namjoon’s plants, trying his hardest not to bother Jungkook.

“Uh, I’m staying here. Work. I asked Jiwon if there’s extra shifts this week, I’d like to work them.”

Taehyung wrinkles his nose at that. He’s very lucky he doesn’t need to work; he feels like he would hate it. “You’ll be alone. Everyone is going home.”

Jungkook doesn’t respond as he checks one of Taehyung’s answers as correct.

“You aren’t going home with Yoongi?”

Jungkook shakes his head, marking the next one as wrong before he circles which part of the formula is incorrect. He glances at the leg that Taehyung is trying to shake before he reaches over and cups Taehyung’s thigh.

That’s another thing about Jungkook; he doesn’t scold him or get angry when Taehyung can’t stop fidgeting or moving. He just lets him or takes his hand or something. Taehyung is surprised he has any skin left on his hands from how often his nannies used to smack them when he couldn’t keep them still.  

“He tried to convince me to go but I can’t. Plus, Eomma will bother me over the eye bags.”

It’s one of the rare times Jungkook actually acknowledges how tired he looks. Today is better than he has looked, thanks to Taehyung. He only kept Jungkook out for a short time on their Friday night adventure; the arcade.

“Then sleep.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose at that and narrows his eyes. “It’s really fine. Seeing her will just, I don’t know, upset me because I won’t want to leave.”

“Then come with me.”

With a groan, Jungkook takes all of his attention away from Taehyung’s homework to look at him. “It’s really okay. I promise.”

“Are you willing to back that promise up with a kiss?”

A smile breaks through Jungkook’s pout. “You’re a pain in my ass. Just say you’re going to miss me and go.”

Taehyung curls an arm around Jungkook’s shoulders, pulling him in. “I’m really rubbing off on you, babe. Can’t wait until I can rub off on you.”

Jungkook groans in complaint, but there’s amusement in his eyes when he pinches Taehyung. “That might be your worst pick up line yet.”

Taehyung’s cheeks hurt from grinning. “I don’t know. I’m pretty proud of it.”

The homework falls to the side, forgotten as Jungkook pinches Taehyung’s chin. He hesitates, shyly looking over Taehyung’s expression before he parts his lips.

It’s difficult when Jungkook gets shy and tense, making Taehyung feel like he’s doing something wrong. But when he moves to pull back, Jungkook grabs him to keep him close.

“It was bad.”

“I want you bad,” Taehyung says immediately, reaching up to trace Jungkook’s lips. “What do you say? Wanna skip out on work and go do some rubbing off?”

Jungkook pinches Taehyung’s stomach hard enough for him to gasp, but it doesn’t really hurt. He only squeezes Jungkook closer. “You already know the answer to that.”

Taehyung giggles nodding. He softens when Jungkook rubs over his pinched skin and cups Taehyung’s shaking thigh again. “You’re right. I am going to miss you and worry no one is making sure you eat and rest.”

“I’ll be fine, I promise,” Jungkook says before he plants his lips to Taehyung’s lips. It’s a quick kiss, just a peck that Taehyung returns, smacking his lips loudly until Jungkook’s giggling.

“Just agree to come with me,” Taehyung says. “I’ll get my way. Save me the work.”

Jungkook snorts, reaching up to curl his fingers in the low collar of Taehyung’s shirt. “Not this time. Extra shifts mean extra money.”

A sharp breath leaves Jungkook’s lips when Taehyung crawls over him, thighs planting on top of his and knees spread around his waist. “Come with me.”

Jungkook giggles but his face is bright red when Taehyung hovers over him, planting Jungkook’s hands to his lap. “Taehyung, I can’t.”

Taehyung pushes out his bottom lip, leaning down to press their foreheads together. “Then you’re never leaving this spot. I’m going to have to sit on your lap forever.”

It would be easy for Jungkook to toss him off. The grip around Jungkook’s wrists is loose and Jungkook looks like he could bench press him, so it would easy for him to push him off of his lap. But instead, Jungkook cocks his head to the side and leaves his hands limp in Taehyung’s lap.

“Please.”

Jungkook shakes his head, mischief in his eyes but it quickly slips away when Taehyung brushes his lips over the side of his neck.

Yoongi had been right; Jungkook is sensitive. Though Taehyung doesn’t think he meant it like this. Even the softest brush of lips on Jungkook’s skin has his eyes darkening and his breath unstable.

“You - you can’t seduce me away from money.”

Taehyung pulls back, head tilting up as he laughs. He clutches hard onto Jungkook as not to fall off from how the laughter racks through him.

“I’m not trying to seduce you, Jeon,” Taehyung huffs once his laughter has died. “I’m trapping you here until you agree to come with me.”

Jungkook tilts his head on the back of the wickered couch, frowning up at him. He moves his hands like he might slip them from Taehyung’s grasp, but he puts in minimal effort.

“Then we’ll be here awhile.”

“We shall,” Taehyung replies, cocking his head. “If you won’t give me what I want, can you do something else for me?”

Jungkook nods without hesitation. It always amazes Taehyung, though sometimes it frustrates him how quick Jungkook is to comply.

“Stick your tongue out.”

Jungkook’s brows crunch together for a moment, lips parting before shutting closed. “What?”

“Go on,” Taehyung hums, stroking a finger over Jungkook’s cheek.

It’s cute how hesitantly Jungkook sticks his tongue past his bottom lip before sucking it back into his mouth. He narrows his eyes before sticking it out fully, a look of determination and annoyance in his eyes that’s a result of Taehyung’s amusement.

“Shy,” Taehyung hums and he doesn’t care that it sounds like praise. “Keep it like that.”

Taehyung’s heart balls up into his throat as he ducks forward and parts his lips, sucking at the tip of his tongue. It makes his ears hot, the way Jungkook sucks in a sharp breath, tongue jerking back slightly from the inhale before he pushes it back.

Fingers grip into Taehyung’s throat as he takes Jungkook’s tongue into his mouth, lips tight around the muscle before he can feel Jungkook’s against his own. He groans softly as he rubs his tongue over Jungkook’s, arousal washing through him.

He just meant to tease Jungkook, but he should have known his body reacts to him too much.

Jungkook groans in return and Taehyung pulls away in satisfaction. His fingers are bruising against Taehyung’s thighs and Taehyung wishes he would touch his ass again. There’s spit collected around his mouth and Taehyung laps it it, licking it from Jungkook’s skin. He looks cute with his tongue still slightly sticking out of his mouth, laid over his bottom lip before he realizes it from Taehyung’s gaze and sucks it back into his mouth.

“What - what was that for?”

Taehyung hums, reaching forward to rub at Jungkook’s mouth. “You listen well.”

“Shut up,” Jungkook grunts. “It’s an odd thing to request.”

“Felt good though, right? Did I convince you to stop studying so I can suck you off, instead?”

Jungkook flushes more, hands gripping into Taehyung’s thighs. “You really like BJs, don’t you?”

Taehyung can’t help the laugh that leaves his lips. “Please don’t call it that. You’re stuck here with me until you agree to vacation with me, so we might as well have some fun.”

A moment later, Taehyung is being lifted. Jungkook stands, pushing up easily despite the weight in his lap as he takes his hands from Taehyung. Those hands grip the back of his thighs a second later when Taehyung yelps, scrambling to grab for Jungkook’s shoulders.

“You’re infuriating,” Jungkook says, voice tight as he struggles to keep Taehyung up and Taehyung refuses to let go. “And annoying.”

Something hard presses against Taehyung’s back and Taehyung grins, sinking down some as Jungkook uses the wall to help keep him up. “Maybe you should keep my mouth busy so I can’t annoy you so much, baby.”

Jungkook nods, hands gripping tighter into the back of Taehyung’s thighs to pull him close. The breath sweeps from Taehyung’s lungs when their bodies press together. It is overwhelming how effortlessly sexy Jungkook is, and he doesn’t even know it.

Even in his usual pressed shirt and tie, his big round glasses that make his eyes seem too big. But today even more so, in just a hoodie and jeans, his hair a fluffy mess like he didn’t even comb it.

“You don’t really annoy me,” Jungkook nibbles on his bottom lip as his eyes drop to Taehyung’s mouth. “So, yeah.”

Taehyung hums, cupping the side of Jungkook’s neck to rub his skin. “So then, why won’t you come on vacation with me?”

“I didn’t say I like you, you’re just not annoying all the time,” Jungkook tries but there’s no bite to his words.

“But you like me a little bit?”

Jungkook whips his head back, whining softly as his face starts to redden. Taehyung bites at the corner of his mouth, wondering what exactly Jungkook means like that.

“I have to finish grading your homework.”

“Kiss me first,” Taehyung says, gripping harder around Jungkook’s neck so he won’t drop him. “Please, please?”

Jungkook looks at him for a minute before he nods.

The thing is, kissing Jungkook is the best thing Taehyung’s ever done and also a really shitty idea. He likes how Jungkook whimpers into it too much, craves to feel his heated skin and taste the coffee on his lips. He wants to explore as much of Jungkook’s body as he can, enjoys the shaky way Jungkook breathes and his face mixes between overwhelmed and wanting.

Jungkook’s grip on Taehyung’s thigh slips until his foot dances across the ground. He tightens his grip around Taehyung’s other thigh, curling it around his hip and pushing closer until Taehyung’s planted to the wall.

It’s hot. As hesitant and soft Jungkook kisses, there’s moments where he’s eager, rougher. Taehyung likes both, opens his lips ready to accept whichever way Jungkook wants to kiss him.

“Baby,” Taehyung sighs against his lips, trailing his fingers down Jungkook’s neck because he also likes to feel the way his heart beats beneath his jaw. Jungkook fists a hand into his hair, tilting Taehyung’s head as his tongue tickles over his lips.

Kissing Jungkook is a bad idea because Taehyung does want to get better grades, at least to make Jungkook feel better, but since they started this whatever, studying quickly turns to panting and slicked lips.

Jungkook always stops it first, not surprising as he’s the more responsible one. He’s shy with the opened windows surrounding the study room. Taehyung had laughed when he came in during their last session and found all the blinds closed.

Taehyung grins into Jungkook’s kiss, pushing a hand beneath Jungkook’s hoodie as he wonders if that is why Jungkook asked for them to study somewhere else today.

His nerves light like sparklers when Jungkook’s teeth catch on his bottom lip. He suckles softly before flicking his tongue, a groan rumbling from him when his tongue touches Taehyung’s.

Taehyung grips Jungkook’s cheeks, wanting another groan. He gets it when their tongues meet again, dancing over each other in the space between their mouths. It pulses something hot between Taehyung’s legs, the slick sound mixing in with Jungkook’s shaky exhales.

His heart is thudding hard in his chest when Jungkook pulls away, just to lick at his throat instead. It’s early in the morning still, the smell of coffee still in the air. Taehyung’s always been a fan of lazy, sleepy kisses, but this one is turning desperate as Jungkook bites into his neck and pushes his hips forward.

“Fuck,” Taehyung gasps when Jungkook’s teeth dig over his pulse. He cards his fingers through Jungkook’s hair, eyes falling closed as the throb in his groan beckons his hips forward.

Jungkook hikes Taehyung’s hips higher, pressing his forehead to Taehyung’s. They look at each other for a minute, Jungkook’s lips slick and drool collecting at the corner before he kisses him again.

It’s hot, especially the way Jungkook grunts when Taehyung rolls his hips. There’s an ache in his leg, but it doesn’t matter. It’s a distant feeling to the way Jungkook makes his skin burn, his body pulse with a pleasure that’s steadily building.

“Namjoon - Namjoon is home,” Jungkook breathes, voice hitching as Taehyung kisses over his jaw. Jungkook is hesitant in the way he meets Taehyung’s hips, almost as if he’s unsure if he can.

“Make it quick,” Taehyung breathes, cupping the back of Jungkook’s neck. His cock twitches beneath his pants when Jungkook jerks, hips rocking against his own.

Jungkook’s face twists, his eyebrows pushing together and Taehyung can’t tell if he’s pained or if it’s from pleasure. His fingers dig into Taehyung’s thigh, arching Taehyung’s hips and Taehyung moans .

He quickly plants a hand to his mouth as he registers the volume of it. But he can feel the thick of Jungkook’s cock against his ass, already so hard just from a little grinding and kissing.

Jungkook is quick to move away, panting heavily as he lets Taehyung’s other leg fall to the ground, though he reaches out to grab Taehyung’s elbow to make sure he doesn’t fall.

The flush on Jungkook’s skin is worse than ever, sweat building over his neck. His hoodie is collected around his hips from Taehyung touching beneath it, allowing Taehyung to see just how hard he strains against his jeans.

“Sorry, we shouldn’t.”

Taehyung reaches out, gripping Jungkook’s wrist loosely until he takes a step forward on his own. “Let me help you, baby. I’ll keep it quiet.”

Jungkook shivers when Taehyung trails his fingers between his legs, tracing the outline of his cock before stopping over the head. He bites hard on his bottom lip before he shakes his head.

“No, no, I really shouldn’t,” Jungkook breathes, desperate sounding. “I’m sorry.”

Taehyung nods, pulling his hand away. Despite his words, Jungkook frowns when Taehyung pulls away.

The stress in his eyes is immediate and Taehyung wants to groan. Jungkook really does over think too much but he doesn’t want to make him feel bad.

“Don’t apologize,” Taehyung tells him as he takes Jungkook’s hand. Jungkook is still panting, refusing to meet his eyes. “It’s cool, babe. I don’t care.”

“We - we should get back to work,” Jungkook huffs, still flustered. There’s a pinch in his voice that makes Taehyung’s chest ache.

Taehyung jumps from the wall, grabbing Jungkook’s hand. He cards a hand over Jungkook’s cheek before pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “It’s fine, baby. I promise.”

Jungkook exhales like he can’t breathe. He nods. “I’m sorry.”

As stressed as Jungkook gets, Taehyung has never really seen his eyes water like they do now. It’s confusing and he curls his arms around Jungkook’s neck. “What’s wrong?”

Jungkook shakes his head, laughing. “Nothing. I just feel stupid.”

Taehyung cocks his head at that, rubbing Jungkook’s cheek. He isn’t crying, the watery eyes are a result of frustration.

“You’re not,” Taehyung promises softly. “That’s me, remember?”

With a grunt, Jungkook playfully shoves Taehyung. “You’re not, shut up.”

Taehyung hums, wiggling his nose against Jungkook’s. “If you don’t want me to -”

“I want you to,” Jungkook says quickly, eyes widening. “I wanted to - touch you like that. I'm just - too nervous.”

Taehyung nods in understanding, smiling before he kisses Jungkook again. “What time do you work today? Wanna get some ice cream?”

Jungkook is pouting when he grabs Taehyung’s hip, eyes still wide with worry. He looks conflicted, thoughts running a mile a minute until Taehyung decides for them.

He pulls away from Jungkook to collect his things. “Let’s go, baby. I am hungry and I don’t think I can focus with an erection.”

There’s a choking noise from the doorway and Taehyung snorts when he finds Namjoon and Jin there. Namjoon looked mortified, but Jin looks delighted.

Jungkook jumps, turning around so his back is facing Namjoon and Jin and fondness fills Taehyung’s chest.

“We’re going for ice cream, you wanna come?” Taehyung asks as he takes Jungkook’s bag too and purposefully hands it to him so it’s hovering over his crotch. Embarrassed and still hard, Taehyung is impressed.

“No,” Jin laughs, shaking his hands in front of him. “I know what that’s code for.”

“Why would we make that the code word?”

Jin wraps an affectionate hand around the back of Namjoon’s neck. “Joonie’s code word is making ramyun.”

Taehyung chokes at that. “Every time I call you, you say you’re making ramyun.”

Jin puffs his chest, amused and unaware of the way Jungkook hides behind Taehyung’s back. Namjoon resembles Jungkook, so red he could be suffering from heat stroke.

“We should go,” Jungkook huffs, gripping onto the back of Taehyung’s shirt.

The track and field star that Jungkook is has Taehyung running from the apartment. He lifts Taehyung again with ease, allowing him to hold onto his back as they rush out towards the sidewalk.

Jungkook’s whole demeanor is off. He keeps swallowing, his palms are sweaty when Taehyung links their fingers, and he won’t make eye contact.

“It really is okay,” Taehyung says, cocking his head when Jungkook won’t make eye contact. “Even if we were farther in that that, dick in ass or whatever, you could stop anytime.”

Jungkook makes a strangled noise at that. “You have a foul mouth.”

Taehyung snorts. “So you’ve said a thousand times.”

Jungkook softens some as Taehyung tucks his chin over his shoulder. “Because it’s true. I hope you’re buying the ice cream as an apology for making me suffer through how annoying you are.”

“Thought you said I wasn’t annoying?”

Jungkook pulls away, face twisting in complaint. “You misheard me. I said you were the most annoying.”

“Nope, you said I wasn’t annoying.” Taehyung says, jogging after him when Jungkook starts to run. “Admit you like it, Jeon!”

When Jungkook suddenly turns, Taehyung hits into him harder than he intends. But Jungkook tightens his arms around him, making it so he doesn’t go head first into the pavement.

“I like it,” Jungkook grunts. “Okay? Ice cream now?”

Taehyung smiles in victory, eyes searching over Jungkook’s expression to make sure he’s telling the truth. “Okay, baby. We can plan our vacation.”

Jungkook groans loudly. “I take everything back. You’re the worst human ever to exist.”

Despite his words, Jungkook smiles, eyes bright even when they roll dramatically.

"Cutie," Taehyung hums, his heart too fond to handle it. "I'll buy you as much ice cream as you want."

Maybe he's whipped, whatever. 

Chapter Text

When Jungkook came out as gay, he felt so nervous he nearly threw up. The tremble in his body had been the worst he’s ever felt. It hurt the way his hands shook, the pressure in his face building so much that he thought his whole face might fall off.

Yoongi had watched him like that, only for a minute before he had taken Jungkook’s hands into his own. There were tears in Yoongi’s eyes even when Jungkook hadn’t said anything because he couldn’t get the words out.

I know, Kookie.

It felt impossible that that was something Yoongi could know without him saying. But later he found out it was because of how nervous Jungkook was that Yoongi knew where he was going with it. It was later that he found out Yoongi knew why he was acting like that because Yoongi felt that same way before.

Jungkook wonders if that’s how nervous Yoongi is about telling him about Hoseok, Jimin. It doesn’t matter to him if he does tell hims him out loud or not, he’d want to save Yoongi from feeling that amount of anxiety.

Hoseok never came out; he always insisted there was no reason to. It wasn’t a big deal, nothing that needed to be announced. Jungkook wishes he had that mindset, though he worries Hoseok plays it off as not to admit the reason he hasn’t told his parents is because he’s too afraid to. Yoongi’s the only one who has told his parents and it went well, as all of them expected.

Maybe one day he’ll tell his own.

“I have a date. Yes, with a boy,” Taehyung grunts unhappily into his phone. Jungkook sits awkwardly in the study room, trying to focus on his work and not eavesdrop. He has no idea who Taehyung is on the phone with, but he’s been rude since he answered it. “Your concern for my sex life is very kind, hyung. Maybe if you got some dick once in awhile, you wouldn’t be such an uptight asshole.”

Taehyung hangs up with a frown, tossing his phone so it skates across the table. It falls awkward for a minute as Taehyung sighs and gestures towards the work laid out in front of them.

“Sorry. Where were we?”

Jungkook watches Taehyung take the textbook from him. He wonders if he should ask Taehyung if he is okay; if he should bring it up at all. Taehyung likes to deflect, that’s one thing Jungkook has figured out about him.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

Raising a brow, Taehyung pushes his lips out like he’s confused. “Talk about what?”

“Whatever just made you angry,” Jungkook says, waving his hand to the phone. It is hard for him to say it outloud. He tries to avoid that conversation too; but if Taehyung wants to talk about it, he’ll try.

“I’m not angry, baby,” Taehyung says with a smile as he holds his hand out for Jungkook to take. “My hyung isn’t a homophobe per se, his concern is more about passing on the genes than who I’m fucking. Not sure why he’s so interested as he’s the oldest and his kid will inherit everything, not mine.”

Jungkook nibbles at his bottom lip. Taehyung can be so carefree about things, light about stuff and Jungkook is envious. “I never told my brother.”

Taehyung looks up at that, fingers squeezing Jungkook’s fingers. It’s silent for a long time and Jungkook grows warmer by the second, wishing he never said anything at all.

“Is he older or younger?”

“Younger.”

Taehyung nods, rubbing his thumb over Jungkook’s hand. “I never told my parents. They walked in on me with a guy in my bedroom. Real awkward coming out with a dick in your mouth.”

Jungkook laughs nervously. Taehyung grins when he does and it isn’t his usual amused, teasing. It’s bright, eyes shining in a much softer way.

“They don’t care,” Taehyung says before Jungkook can respond. “Well, my parents are big on image so I’m sure they would care if I got married to a man or something.”

“I’m sorry.”

Another thing Jungkook has noticed about Taehyung is he doesn’t let the situation stay serious for too long. And just as always, Taehyung’s eyes light up with amusement as he props his hand under his chin, looking at Jungkook like he might eat him whole.

“Don’t be sorry, Jeon. Anyway, chemistry.”

Jungkook clears his throat, glancing back down at their work. “Right. This number here represents where the electron resides. See the rings here? You’re going to use this to figure out the amount of energy in an atom.”

“Jeon.”

Jungkook glances up from the shiny textbook page, Taehyung’s eyes on him and blazing. “Gimme a kiss, baby.”

“We need to work, Taehyung.”

“I don’t want to.”

Jungkook frowns at that. He’s well aware Taehyung never wants to study, but he never comes out and says it.

“Well, we have to.”

Taehyung shakes his head, resting his head on his propped hand. “Nope. It’s time for a break, anyway.”

They’ve only been here for twenty minutes. And half of that time, Taehyung was on the phone arguing with his brother.

“Taehyung. Focus.”

“I can’t.”

Jungkook softens at that but Taehyung doesn’t say it in the way he blurts sometimes, aggravated and insecure. This time he still looks amused but Jungkook doesn’t want to risk offending him.

“Well, I can help with that.”

Taehyung rubs at his bottom lip for a moment. “I know. I know exactly what I need to focus.”

Jungkook tenses. He doesn’t know the right route to take here.

“What - what’s that?”

Taehyung holds out two fingers then and hooks them, beckoning Jungkook forward. Jungkook grabs the arms of his chair and moves closer, until their chests press together.

“I can’t focus,” Taehyung hums, cupping Jungkook’s cheek and pressing his thumb into the corner of Jungkook’s mouth, “because I want to kiss you.”

The air coming out of Jungkook’s lungs feels weak and sharp. Taehyung eyes his mouth, but doesn’t move forward.

There are windows surrounding them; anyone could see. Usually no one is here at this time; Hoseok is the other head tutor and he never comes in as early as Jungkook. But someone must be here to let Taehyung in before Jungkook arrives.

He wants to resist; knowing it will lead to further distraction, but there’s barely part of a day that goes by where he isn’t thinking about kissing Taehyung. Sometimes, Jungkook even gets annoyed with himself over it.

“Okay.”

Taehyung grins before he pulls Jungkook forward. He kisses at the corner of his mouth first, and Jungkook thinks that’s going to be all before their lips are slotting together.

Taehyung has plush lips that feel good rubbing at his own. His skin is soft under Jungkook’s fingers when he runs them up his arm and circles them around Taehyung’s wrist.

It won’t help them from getting distracted, Jungkook realizes when Taehyung sighs and parts his lips, pushing up against Jungkook’s until his own part. There’s a tongue gliding over his own when Taehyung reaches for his chest, quickly unbuttoning the top button beneath his tie.

It’s intoxicating and Jungkook can’t breathe when Taehyung pulls back.

It’s more than just one button he undid; Jungkook hadn’t even noticed with the way Taehyung had been probing his tongue into his mouth. He feels hot to the touch, wishing he could take the rest of his shirt off to air his sweaty skin without distracting Taehyung further.

“Okay, work now? Are you any good in algebra?”

“Is that your way of flirting with me?”

Jungkook flushes as the lopsided grin thrown his way. He points at the chemical equation rather, to explain. “No. I didn’t do so well in algebra so this part was hard for me.”

Taehyung raises a brow at that. “You didn’t do well? What are we talking? C? F?

Attempting to move in for another kiss, Jungkook swats Taehyung back but holds him close because he’s weak. “I got a B.”

For a moment, Taehyung only looks at him. But then he snorts so loudly it sounds like it hurts. “How terrible. Can I even trust you to teach me this?”

“Shut up,” Jungkook complains, shuffling the textbook towards Taehyung more aggressively then intended. It makes Taehyung giggle so Jungkook tosses the notebook at him in the same manner. “Read it yourself then.”

Taehyung clears his throat, stretches his arms out before he flicks through the pages and lands on a random one. “What is this? Quantum numbers. Neils Bohr?” Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Sounds like a bore. You’re probably good at it.”

Jungkook grunts. “That won’t be on your quiz.”

Taehyung flicks through a few more pages before he gasps loudly. He slumps in his chair, pressing a hand to his face and worry rattles through Jungkook.

“What is it?” Jungkook asks, trying to pry Taehyung’s hand from his face when he lets out another pained gasp.

“Wanna kiss more.”

It’s kind of cute when Taehyung widens his eyes and pouts. It’s really cute.

“You’re so annoying,” Jungkook huffs.

Not even a half hour in and they’ve got nothing done. It feels like the first day again but Jungkook isn’t as stressed about it. He doesn’t actually have anything to due until after vacation and it’s only reading two chapters, which Taehyung had tried to convince him that meant no homework at all.

Jungkook thinks it’s the most important thing they should be doing in their sessions together, as Taehyung needs help understanding things, but he hasn’t mentioned it in fear of Taehyung shutting down or becoming rude.

“You’re more annoying than usual,” Jungkook says, letting Taehyung take his hand and kiss his palm. It makes butterflies erupt in his stomach.

“Excited for you to sleepover,” Taehyung says before he sucks his bottom lip between his teeth.

The nerves return quickly. Taehyung has mentioned it a few times, slipping it into the conversation here and there about having Jungkook sleep over his house during their Friday night hangout. At least he stopped asking him to go on his vacation with him and Jungkook knows it isn’t a big deal, but -

He’s nervous. He’s always nervous and it’s just worse with Taehyung.  He’s been waiting for Taehyung to bring up how embarrassing Jungkook had been, calling him a tease for rubbing against him and making him stop before he can finish. Taehyung hasn’t since they got their ice cream, but Jungkook’s nerves haven’t stopped anticipating it.

As much as Jungkook wants it to happen again, he’s terrified of embarrassing himself again.

“Didn’t you just tell your hyung you had a date?”

Taehyung frowns at that. “Yeah, and?”

There’s clearly confusion on Taehyung’s face and Jungkook laughs. Taehyung isn’t dumb at all, he’s quite smart, but he’s definitely not dumb enough to realize why kissing Jungkook when he’s dating is wrong.

“Well, you shouldn’t kiss me if you’re dating someone.”

Taehyung laughs loudly, squeezing Jungkook’s knee. “I’m not dating anyone, baby. I was talking about you. My brother wanted to meet tonight before he leaves for Barcelona, but Friday nights are for Jeon Jungkook and Jeon Jungkook only.”

Jungkook’s ears burn. “Oh.”

They’re dates? Taehyung’s never referred to their Friday night hangs out as that before. Is tonight a date? At Taehyung’s house? Is that why he wants Jungkook to sleep over?

Jungkook had meant it when he told Taehyung he wanted to touch him, to be touched, but he doesn’t think his nerves are ever going to let him.

Clicking his teeth, Taehyung shakes his head. “Jealous baby. When are you going to admit it?”

Jungkook clears his throat and grabs the textbook so he can turn the pages to where they’re supposed to be. “Says you. Yoongi told me you interrogated him about Sanha. You know he isn’t actually that tall? Six foot?”

Taehyung frowns at that, arms crossing over his chest as he sinks back into his chair. “Not because I was jealous. I was just surprised you knew Robert Pershing Wadlow.”

A gasp leaves Taehyung’s as Jungkook kicks him under the table. “I don’t know who that is.”

“The tallest man on record,” Taehyung supplies with a grin. “I looked it up so I could make that joke.”

And Jungkook is fond, even if he is curious to know why Taehyung would be jealous of Sanha. He isn’t jealous of Yoongi or Hoseok and Jungkook is far closer to them than Sanha. Sanha lived down the road, goes to school with his little brother.

“Anyway,” Taehyung goes on with a roll of his eyes, “what time am I picking you up? Five?”

Letting out a long groan, Jungkook slips his hands under his glasses and rubs at his eyes.

“Make it seven. I have a paper due.”

“Yeah, over a week from now,” Taehyung comments with a huff.

“And I told you, I’m waiting to see if Jiwon has any doubles for me to work. If he does, I won’t be able to get the paper done on time.”

And Taehyung glares at him, just like he does every time Jungkook mentions working over the vacation. He holds the glare for a minute, lips curling before he sucks air through his teeth. “Okay fine, work on it tonight. I promise I won’t bother you.”

Taehyung is reaching to slip off Jungkook’s glasses then. Everything blurs, though his vision isn’t so bad that he can’t completely see. It’s enough that makes him feel a strange kind of vulnerable he likes to avoid. He has back up glasses for this reason, one of the few things he’ll spend his money on that’s not technically a necessity.

“Past experience tells me that’s not true,” Jungkook deadpans.

Taehyung sighs, letting go of Jungkook’s hands to get his glasses. A second later, the metal is gliding over the side of his face and everything focuses.

Now, Taehyung is a lot closer than he had before.

There’s a tightness in Jungkook’s throat that he wants to clear as Taehyung cocks his head and trails a finger over his jaw, the touch light as a feather.

“I’ll even work on something productive. How does that sound?”

“Didn’t you say I distract you the most?”

Taehyung grins at that, eyes dropping to Jungkook’s mouth as he speaks.

The heat must have came on, because suddenly the room is feeling stuffy.

“Hm? Doesn’t sound like something I’d say,” Taehyung says, his expression one of consideration though his eyes are the same, dark amusement. “It’s not your ego I’m looking to stroke.”

Jungkook huffs at that, his body tightening from the implication. It’s such a bad line, almost cringey, but the butterflies in his stomach have gone wild.

“Stop messing around,” Jungkook grunts, pushing Taehyung’s hand away only for him to intertwine their fingers.

It may be a funny sight for anyone passing by, Jungkook as red as a tomato and Taehyung wearing a smile that could seduce even the strongest of man. Hoseok would find it amusing and the whole school would know by morning.

“Who said I was messing?” Taehyung asks, biting at his bottom lip. Taehyung has the ability to change the heat in the room, a super power ability to make the room so stuffy and hot that Jungkook feels his neck starting to sweat.

Their homework lays between them, completely forgotten about.

“You aren’t going to keep your promise,” Jungkook replies. “You didn’t kiss me.”

Taehyung snorts. “If you want a kiss baby, just ask.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose at that. He’s literally stuck his tongue down Taehyung’s throat but it feels embarrassing to ask for it.

“I should go. I can’t be late to class again.”

Taehyung grips Jungkook’s wrist, tugging him close. There’s lips on his a second later, a hand curling around the back of his head to hold him there.

“I’ll see you tonight, baby.”

Embarrassment makes Jungkook’s goodbye sound like gibberish before he’s running out of the study room.

There’s an ache in his wrist, his fingers starting to cramp from how fast he types. Jungkook glances at the clock, urging himself to move faster.

If he finishes the outline before Taehyung picks him up, he won’t feel as bad about it tomorrow. No matter what Taehyung says, he knows there will be little to no studying involved.

He could just insist that he really can’t; but when Taehyung told him he didn’t believe his excuses, Jungkook didn’t try to convince him. Plus, Jungkook made a deal with him and Taehyung is insistent he doesn’t back out or the tutoring sessions are over.

The bell to their apartment is ringing before Jungkook can finish and he cusses quietly. Taehyung is early but he shouldn’t be surprised. No matter what time Jungkook gets to the tutoring center, Taehyung is always there first.

Jungkook scrambles his things together before throwing on a jacket as he listens to Yoongi answer the door. His face is flushed from rushing and he hopes Taehyung doesn’t take it for what it usually is.

“You’re not coming to Hoseok’s? We’re off to Busan tomorrow.” he hears Yoongi say as Jungkook rushes to the front of the apartment with his sleepover bag. He stops when he gets to the end of the hallway, realizing Taehyung might not be wrong if he assumes it’s him causing his red face.

Despite the cold night, Taehyung’s turtle neck is cropped, falling just beneath his ribs, showing off a soft tummy and a silver chain wrapped daintly around his waist; connecting to a diamond piercing snug in his belly button. He has overalls on, but the top hangs loose from his waist, the bottoms rolled and showing off bare, sharp ankles.

Perched on his nose is a pair of circular glasses, the bands the same golden color as the bangles around his wrist. His blond hair is soft looking, perfectly falling over his forehead though the rest looks as if he’s teased his fingers through it to style it. He’s a mix of casual and dressed up; his ears just adorned with chains and diamonds as his belly.

And if the sight of Taehyung makes Jungkook trip over his feet, he’ll never mention it.

“No. Can’t you tell I’m studying tonight?”

Yoongi snorts at that, crossing his arms. “That’s all you better be doing.”

Taehyung leans against the door frame, arms crossing over his chest. “You act like I didn’t walk in on you taking two dicks at one -”

Jungkook clears his throat loudly, making Yoongi whip around and a smirk grow on Taehyung’s face. He knows he is just as red as Yoongi, whose face completely changes color.

“I’d love to stay and chat, Yoongi baby, but I have some studying to get to,” Taehyung says as he pushes off the door frame, immediately reaching for Jungkook’s hand. “Say goodbye to your hyungie, baby.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose at that but he does let Yoongi cup the back of his neck. He wants desperately to go home with Yoongi and Hoseok, but he can’t. He can’t miss the work and he can’t see his sick mother without wanting to stay. Yoongi offered to even pay for him to go, but once again, Jungkook is too nervous.

He hates it.

“Be safe,” Yoongi says as Taehyung drags Jungkook from the apartment, following after them. He even steps through the threshold, brows pinched. “Stay in line, Kim!”

There’s a strange expression on Taehyung’s face as he hurries the pace and nearly makes them run to the elevator. He breathes out harshly, cheeks turning into round mounds once they’ve reached it.

“If I turn up dead, tell the police it was Yoongi.”

“I would never turn him in,” Jungkook replies.

Taehyung frowns at that as he shoulders into the elevator, fingers still embracing Jungkook’s hand. “You know, hyung has gone into detail explaining sucking cock to me. Yet-”

Jungkook lunges like a reflex, swatting at Taehyung but Taehyung only tightens his grip and drags Jungkook closer.

“Yet with you, suddenly he’s Virgin of the Year. What’s up with that?”

Shrugging is his best answer so Jungkook goes for it.

“Hm,” Taehyung hums, swinging their hands. “You’re cute when you get red, baby.”

Jungkook wonders if Taehyung says that to make him redder because it works. He pulls his hand away, wanting to hide his burning face but Taehyung is throwing an arm over his shoulders as the elevator lands. He grabs the shell of Jungkook’s ear, rubbing gently before clicking his teeth.

“Not full flush potential. Don’t worry, the night isn’t over yet. I have fun shit planned.”

Jungkook pulls to the side enough to look at Taehyung, who’s a picture of ease compared to the panic Jungkook feels building in his chest.

“You said we were studying.”

Taehyung sighs, ruffling Jungkook’s hair as they step outside and Jungkook is thankful for the cool air. “We will, Jeon. I prefer to take the hands on approach to studying. I have a feeling that will make you a bit pink.”

Taking his arm from Jungkook’s shoulder, Taehyung pulls out his car keys and lights up the dark sky with red lights.

“What does that mean?” Jungkook yells after him.

The house Taehyung pulls up to is grandiose, though the driveway is so long it seems small when they first turn onto the pavement. The grass is as perfect of a green as Jungkook has ever seen it; those animal shaped trees lining the rocky driveway. There’s colorful looking trees and bushes, gardens that Jungkook wishes he could see when the sun is the brightest.

“What is this?”

Taehyung laughs as he kills the engine, fingers tapping on the steering wheel as he tilts his head towards Jungkook. The lights of the house reflect in his eyes, making the blue even more piercing.

“Welcome to Casa del Taehyung.”

Jungkook freezes, eyes growing wide as he takes in the massive house. Taehyung’s house. The same house that the president of his university lives in.

“Your house?”

“Mm,” Taehyung hums, puckering his lips together as he undoes his seatbelt. “Don’t tell me you’re both smart and multilingual. I won’t be able to keep my pants on.”

Jungkook doesn’t register the joke as he stares up at the house. It’s easily ten times the size of his family home, if not more, and his entire apartment building could probably be reshaped to fit inside.

“Your father lives here.”

Another laugh, this time unsure. “Um, yeah sometimes?”

“Sometimes?” Jungkook asks. He considers staying in the car. He isn’t sure if he can face the President right now, not like this.

It wouldn’t be good for the President to see them slacking off. Seeing him and Taehyung just hanging out might make the President’s idea of him change.

Jungkook mentally scolds himself for that thought. The President shouldn’t judge someone based on that anyway. Taehyung’s right; it’s normal for college kids to party. He had a teacher in high school warn him from Yoongi’s crowd, about going down the wrong path because Yoongi smoked on school grounds and had a graffiti kink, but Jungkook didn’t and graduated with the highest GPA in his grade.

And he still followed after Yoongi and Hoseok, finding this university and still holding the highest GPA in his grade.

Jungkook glances at the light shining in Taehyung’s eyes and finds himself thankful he followed Yoongi and Hoseok here.

“Well, like he isn’t here now. Might be here tomorrow. He’s abroad a lot, fucking his mistress I think,” Taehyung sniffs before he jumps out of the car. “Come on, Jeon! The night awaits.”

Despite Taehyung’s words (which Jungkook isn’t sure how to respond to), Jungkook half expects the President to be there when Taehyung opens the door. Thankfully he isn’t, though Jungkook doesn’t calm any as Taehyung grabs his wrist again and leads him towards a wide, spiral staircase.

“I didn’t think running a college could get you a place like this,” Jungkook notes in amazement, careful not to touch anything and accidentally break something he can’t replace. Even the railings of the staircase look as if they are worth more than everything Jungkook’s ever owned put together.

“It doesn’t,” Taehyung says. “Eomma. Long story, nothing really too exciting. What do your parents do?”

Jungkook presses his lips closed. He isn’t ashamed of his parents, more defensive than anything and Taehyung has a tendency to think without speaking.

“Nothing too exciting.”

Taehyung knocks their shoulders together. “Tell me. You’re intelligent, majoring in biochemistry so? I don’t even know what career that leads one into. Medical? Well, if we go off your looks, I’d say one of your parents must be a model -”

Through Taehyung’s ramblings, Jungkook feels the need to apply aloe to his cheeks. The burning only worsens as they turn down a hallway, the walls covered in paintings.

Nude paintings.

“Eomma,” Taehyung explains with a lazy wave of his hand to the walls.

“Oh,” Jungkook gasps, folding a hand over his eyes. He’s going to die right here in the Kim household. At least his mother won’t be alone when she gets the news, she’ll have Yoongi with her. “Those are of your mother?”

“No,” Taehyung snorts, wrapping an arm around Jungkook’s waist to guide him and thankfully not taking his hand away from shielding his eyes. “She painted those. Loves the nude body. Her and I are alike that way.”

God, maybe Jungkook should call Yoongi and warn him about his death before it happens.

Once they’ve passed the paintings, Taehyung eases Jungkook’s hand from his face and holds it in his own.

He feels childish; but he isn’t convinced those weren’t of Taehyung’s mother.

“This part of the house is all mine,” Taehyung says as he leads Jungkook to a door that opens up to a staircase. Jungkook admires the paintings on the wall, framed drawings of galaxies and moons. Some of them are done by a child, though still better than anything Jungkook could come up with. There’s dates scribbled at the bottom of each one, beside a small ‘ KTH ’.

Taehyung doesn’t spare them a glance, nor allow Jungkook to look at each one like he wants to as he pulls him along.

“I wanted the guest house,” Taehyung says. “I had to apply to college, you know? Didn’t just get in because of my father. This was a reward for that.”

The stairs lead to an open space that looks to be a living room. There’s a section of couches and bean bag chairs facing a television bigger than Jungkook, surrounded by shelves of games and gaming systems.

Jungkook wants to explore, but Taehyung doesn’t let him. They walk past a bathroom and what Jungkook assumes is a bedroom when he glances inside. He tugs his head back to get a further look when Taehyung keeps moving, taking in the framed picture of Taehyung above his bed.

He flushes. Taehyung’s turned away from the camera, on his knees with his bare thighs on displace. The shirt hanging from his shoulders shows off the muscles over his shoulder blades and the top of his spine, covering the lower half of his back and the swell of his ass.

There’s mirth in Taehyung’s eyes where he looks over his shoulder and right at Jungkook like one of those photographs whose eyes follow you everywhere.

Jungkook rips his eyes away and runs to Taehyung’s side.

“Do you paint like your mother?”

Taehyung shrugs. “I used to. She made me when I was younger. Specialized tutors and shit. I don’t hate it, but she definitely took the fun out of it. Here we are!”

The end of the hallway ends in two glass doors that Taehyung pushes open, revealing a balcony. It looks over the back of Taehyung’s house, where Jungkook finds the moon reflecting over what looks to be a pool.

“What is this?”

Taehyung swings his hand out to indicate a set up of blankets and pillows one one side of the balcony. There’s a telescope in front of it, arching over the railing and pointed towards the darkening night sky.

“I made a study room,” Taehyung announces, chest puffed in pride. “I have a star catalog due at the end of the semester, I thought I’d work on it a bit now.”

Jungkook’s own chest puffs out too, but from the air that gets stuck in his lungs as he takes it all in. Taehyung’s star catalog is supposed to be done every week, which he has lied about doing, but Jungkook doesn’t feel the need to mention it. Not right now.

“So we’re really going to study?”

Taehyung bites at his grin, eyebrows wagging. “What did you have in mind, baby?”

Jungkook launches himself across the balcony, pulling his backpack in front of himself before he sits amongst the blankets and pillows. They’re surprisingly soft, fluffed up like the pillows are new and never been used. “I have to write an argument that biochemistry research can positively impact sustainable food energy.”

Scrambling with his things, Jungkook doesn’t realize Taehyung hasn’t moved from where they were standing until he laughs.

“That sounds riveting.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose at that. “It’s actually really interesting. I’ve collected most of the points for my essay and have nearly finished the outline, which took me a short time because it’s a cool topic.”

Plopping down beside him, Taehyung grabs the notebook Jungkook is taking from his bag. “When is it due?”

“Um, the rough draft, the Tuesday after vacation and the final a week from then.”

Jungkook yelps when Taehyung swats him with his own notebook.

“Don’t you ever do your homework last minute like normal students?”

Jungkook snatches back the notebook before Taehyung can hit him again. “You say I need to not be so stressed but doing that is stressful.”

Taehyung grins, leaning back so their shoulders brush. He won’t be able to concentrate well with Taehyung so close, he fidgets too much.

And he smells good. Like vanilla.

“So you admit you have a stick lodged right between those firm asscheeks of yours?”

“Oh my god,” Jungkook grunts, shoving Taehyung with his shoulder. The night air erupts in a series of giggles that make Jungkook’s cheeks hurt from smiling. “Why do you always say stuff like that?”

“Because it makes you red,” Taehyung admits without hesitation, his grin softer than usual as he pushes himself back against Jungkook. “Do you want me to stop?”

Jungkook is thrown off by the question, his lips parting in surprise as he turns to look at Taehyung. The amusement is still in his eyes, his grin still soft, but there’s something else there that makes Jungkook wonder if someone as confident and carefree as Taehyung ever gets nervous.

“No.”

Taehyung huffs, his grin taking over his face. “Good. Cause I wasn’t planning on it. Get to essaying, baby, I have some other stars to look at.”

He leaps back from the blankets them, padding over towards where the telescope is set up. Jungkook doesn’t look at his butt as he walks or way, or thinks how it is as round as the moon. He doesn’t.

Jungkook does, however, rip his eyes away when Taehyung catches him with a look over his shoulder and shakes his head in response.

“Don’t get distracted,” Taehyung calls and Jungkook bends his head so low his nose touches the notebook in his lap.

Before, Jungkook would say he doesn’t understand how someone can be so distracted by a person, especially when that person is being quiet and staying to themselves. Now Jungkook completely understands. He can’t help but watch Taehyung as he kneels before the front of the telescope, one eye squeezing shut.

His side profile must have been made by gods, carved from marble that not even Myron’s work could compare. Despite the sharp edge of his jaw, his cheeks are soft and round, as are his lips when he pushes them out in concentration.

Pride swells in Jungkook’s chest as Taehyung pulls away and dots something in his notebook before peering back into the eyeglass.

It isn’t until Taehyung is turning to look at him that Jungkook realizes he had wasted all of that time watching Taehyung and didn’t even look at his essay once. It hasn’t been that long of a time, but it feels like it had lasted forever.

“What did you want to be when you were younger?”

Taehyung pulls his attention away from the notebook, frowning at Jungkook. “I don’t know. Everything.”

“I’m going to be a pharmacologist or toxicologist,” Jungkook tells him. “You’ll laugh, but imagine a little kid saying that.”

Taehyung doesn’t laugh, but instead presses his lips together in a smile that makes his cheeks rise like dough. “I can imagine a young Jungkook saying that. How did you manage to befriend someone as cool as Yoongi?”

The laugh comes then, a little squeak that makes Jungkook want to kick at Taehyung.

“Shut up. My apartment house was very tiny, everyone inside of it grew up like one family. Yoongi and I met each other there. Hoseok in school, I think. I can barely remember, it feels like they were always there.”

Taehyung nods in understanding. “Jimin is like that for me. Had to suffer through the same shitty private schooling as me. At least he turned out better than me.”

It goes quiet for a moment before Taehyung clears his throat and wrinkles his nose. “You better finish that essay by the time I’m done.”

Jungkook nods, accepting the change of subject but waits for Taehyung to turn back to the telescope before he focuses on his own notes.

*

When Taehyung came out as gay, his parents had just sighed. That’s it. After the walking in on him incident, Taehyung had announced his sexual preferences in the middle of breakfast the next day.

Just a sigh, maybe his mother even ignored him as she was reading the newspaper. Butler Kang found him afterwards, clasped a hand to his shoulder and that was as much of a response he got. Not that Taehyung wanted a celebration or a fight; but being ignored by his parents has always been one of the most frustrating things about growing up.

Now he wishes they did ignore him.  

When Taehyung’s private physician tried suggesting just testing for a learning disability, their reactions were louder, enraged. That physician was fired and Taehyung was dragged through specialist to specialist, his parents on a quest to prove that it wasn’t anything like a disability; but a result of Taehyung’s ignorance and apathy.

Taehyung lets them and every doctor believe as they want. It has become apathy but Taehyung finds himself not wanting it to be that way as he watches Jungkook, head bent over his notebook and scribbling with such concentration that Taehyung is sure he doesn’t even realize his tongue is sticking out of his mouth.

There had only been one tutor Taehyung liked growing up, but she hadn’t been around for long. She didn’t call Taehyung stupid or a brat, though she would scold him when his attention would falter. The scoldings never helped, the swatting of his hands didn’t keep them from moving on their own.

It was infuriating, being a kid who couldn’t control the shake in his legs and the need in his body to just move , and knowing he had to sit still or the ruler would come down against his knuckles.

Every part of him has been denied, ignored, or swatted at.

Taehyung’s always had a reservoir of energy inside of him that’s desperate to let loose. It isn’t just the fidgeting fingers and shaking legs, but also his inability to keep himself from blurting out something the moment it enters his brain. He doesn’t give a fuck usually, but he feels bad when it interrupts Jungkook’s concentration.

“Did you finish your star gazing already?” Jungkook asks as he nudges a head towards the telescope.

It took Taehyung like twenty minutes and then he pretended to work some more after he let awkwardness slip into their conversation. He didn’t plan this night out properly.

“No,” Taehyung murmurs, tapping his fingers beneath Jungkook’s chin to tilt his head higher. He looks over his face, smiling. “Still looking at the stars.”

Taehyung likes how red Jungkook gets more than he admits.

Taehyung likes Jungkook more than he’ll ever admit. He has a feeling Jungkook won’t believe him or make him feel as if another part of him is being ignored, shunned.

“You’re flirting is horrible,” Jungkook huffs, pulling away shyly to look back at his laptop. It’s a rented model from the library, a dinosaur that Taehyung is surprised even fit into Jungkook’s backpack. “Namjoon says you like space a lot, why didn’t you tell me?”

Taehyung ignores that. He may know a lot of random facts about planets, but he wouldn’t be able to sit down and explain things to Jungkook the way Jungkook can. He knows Jungkook would tease him, but he’d prefer not to make himself look like a fool.

“Are you an expert at flirting then?” Taehyung hums, quirking a brow at him.  “If you’re so good at it, teach me tutor-nim.”

“Ah, I didn’t mean it like that,” Jungkook whines, the red now creeping to his neck and Taehyung wants to kiss him there again.

“Too late. Give it your best shot, baby.”

Jungkook huffs, moving the laptop aside. They’re getting off track here and Taehyung wanted to actually try and let Jungkook finish his paper, but it’s hard.

“Flirting is in the eye contact and body language, not the cheesy pick up lines.”

Taehyung suppresses his grin, or tries to. Only Jeon Jungkook would talk about flirting like it’s an equation that needs to be solved.

“Is that so?”

Jungkook nods, humming. “I read an article about it once.”

It proves to be really difficult not to laugh as Taehyung’s cheeks bulge with the force of trying to keep it in. Jungkook looks so serious when he speaks that Taehyung doesn’t want to be offensive if he isn’t joking.

“Were you researching for a purpose by chance?” Taehyung asks, voice loaded with  an amusement that Jungkook narrows his eyes at. Taehyung curls toward him, reaching out to play with the buttons of his jacket.

It’s leather, of course, the stuff of Taehyung’s wet dreams. It doesn’t match Jungkook’s normally uptight posh look, possibly belonging to Yoongi, but it looks good wrapped around his shoulders. The shirt beneath it is white and thin, the indent of his chest pressing into it and showing off the hard of his nipples.

“What? No, it just popped up and I got curious,” Jungkook huffs defensively as he fidgets with his glasses.

“That’s cute,” Taehyung hums, shifting so he can place his hand on Jungkook’s chest, fingers tickling beneath the edge of his jacket. The air is growing colder, but Jungkook’s body feels warm beneath his palm. “Let me try.”

Jungkook nods, his Adam’s apple bopping as he swallows. Taehyung keeps his touch light, reading Jungkook’s reaction and making sure he isn’t tense because he is uncomfortable.

It worried him the way Jungkook reacted when he told Taehyung to stop touching him the other day. He had been overly apologetic, his worried expression as if he were expecting Taehyung to yell or slap him. He said he wanted Taehyung to touch him; and Taehyung’s been trying to find the right way without making Jungkook panic and not overstep his boundaries either.

“You come here often?”

A laugh bursts from Jungkook’s lips, his eyes squeezing closed, nose scrunching. He leans closer as he laughs and Taehyung shifts his hand further beneath the jacket, fingers scraping the bare skin of Jungkook’s collar until he sees goosebumps.

“Shut up, I’m being serious,” Taehyung jokes. Jungkook is hot to the touch, contrasting with the cool night air. Taehyung moves his hand so he’s cupping the side of Jungkook’s neck, feeling the vibrations of his laugh that stutter into a nervous breath.

Jungkook’s eyes widen as Taehyung touches the hinge of his jaw with his pointer finger, his tongue flicking out to wet his bottom lip and suddenly the atmosphere doesn’t feel so amusing.

“Which chemical bond is the strongest?”

Jungkook’s eyes drop to Taehyung’s mouth as he speaks but he doesn’t answer for a moment. He shifts, breathing unevenly as Taehyung’s hand curls to the back of his neck to play with the hair there.

“What?”

Taehyung grins. “I said, what is the strongest chemical bond?”

Jungkook flicks his eyes up to meet Taehyung’s. His hand is stuck out before him, frozen in space like he doesn’t know what to do with it.

“Um, ionic?”

“Are you not sure?” Taehyung asks as he takes Jungkook’s frozen hand and places it on his bare stomach. Jungkook’s fingers curl like a turtle hiding in its shell.

“I don’t remember.”

“You don’t remember,” Taehyung repeats, pinching Jungkook’s chin. They’re closer now and Taehyung wants to be closer, sinking into Jungkook.

“Silicone fluorine bonds are some of the - the strongest,” Jungkook says thickly as he stretches out his fingers so slowly that it’s endearing, “but those are covalent.”

Taehyung hums, tensing when Jungkook opens his palm over his belly, fingers touching the  chain around him and the heat of his hand warms his chilled skin. He knows his skin is covered in goosebumps just as much as Jungkook’s is and he wonders if Jungkook can feel it.

“There’s one bond I wasn’t sure about,” Taehyung breathes, rubbing up Jungkook’s chin until the tip of his nail touches his bottom lip. He curls closer as Jungkook’s hand breezes over his belly to curl around his side.

It makes the breath get stuck in Taehyung’s lungs and his only intention here was to be playful, make Jungkook flush, but there’s a heat inside of him instead.

“The Jungkook Taehyung bond.”

Jungkook’s fingers dig gently into his skin when Taehyung presses onto his bottom lip with his thumb. He really doesn’t understand much about the chemical bonds and the energy sharing or whatever, but he wishes he did so he could come up with something to compare the charge between them.

“Taehyung,” Jungkook breathes, tongue flicking out when he speaks to swipe over the tip of Taehyung’s thumb.

A shiver rushes down Taehyung’s spine and the need to kiss Jungkook suddenly becomes as difficult to control as the energy inside of him.

“What, baby?”

There’s a twinge of discomfort in Taehyung’s spine but he can’t complain when Jungkook’s palm centers over his spine and their chests nearly touch.

“Are you cold?”

Taehyung wrinkles his nose fondly, tilting his head. Jungkook must know he’s about to kiss him, he’s close, eyes on Jungkook’s mouth, and he isn’t moving away.

“I’m fine,” Taehyung hums. He shifts his hand down, rubbing his palm over Jungkook’s chest until his perked nipple slides beneath his hand. “Are you?”

Jungkook gasps quietly, brows stitching together. “Is anyone here?”

Excitement rushes through Taehyung at the implication. Tentatively he moves his hand so his thumb can press over Jungkook’s nipple, eyes focused on the way Jungkook licks his lips.

“Do you want to be alone with me?”

Jungkook rolls his eyes at that, but his pupils are blown wide, giving Taehyung the impression that he’s more flustered than annoyed. “I was wondering if that’s why you wanted me here. Because you didn’t want to be alone.”

Taehyung is taken back by the question. His whole intention on getting Jungkook here was to convince him to stay for vacation. Each year, Taehyung’s parents send him off somewhere but this year, he was being punished for something because they both are leaving, and keeping him behind.

And when Jungkook said he’d be staying on campus, Taehyung saw it as a sign that the two of them shouldn’t be alone. But he’s yet to tell Jungkook this.

“Why do you say that?”

Jungkook sighs as he looks around them, licking again at his lips. “Because this house is huge and I would hate being here alone.”

The words have never left Taehyung’s mouth before, have always sat in his mind because he feels selfish for hating it. But Jungkook gets it without question.

Maybe this time, it’s Taehyung’s ears that are red. “Yeah, it sucks when it’s empty.”

Jungkook smiles, the heat of the moment simmering. “I’ll stay as long as you want me to. But I have to work.”

Taehyung wants to remind Jungkook that his essay isn’t due for another two weeks, but he remains quiet and hooks his finger around the one Jungkook holds out for him.

“As long as I don’t have to.”

It’s nice, even though it’s quiet. Taehyung puts a bit of distance between him and Jungkook, not wanting to disturb him with his fidgeting. He texts his thoughts instead of saying them out loud, though he slips up here and there.

“You shouldn’t smoke so much,” Jungkook says, interrupting the silence between them. It’s gotten quite late but Jungkook still seems wide awake, laptop balancing on his thighs as he leans back to look at where Taehyung is leaning against the railing.

“It’s medicinal,” Taehyung hums before he blows the thick smoke into the air.

Jungkook frowns at that. Taehyung suspects Jungkook to be the rule abiding type, never crossing the line. It’s why Taehyung hadn’t believed him when he claimed to smoke.

“Medicinal,” Jungkook snorts.

“It is,” Taehyung replies as he pads back to Jungkook to sit beside him. He offers the thin blunt to him but Jungkook shakes his head. “There’s a whole documentary about how a certain part of weed helps with like seizures and stuff. Kids going their first day in years without one after they start treatment. Cancer remission, shit like that.”

“I know,” Jungkook huffs and of course he does. “I meant medicinal for you?”

Taehyung grins. “Mhm. I said the weed was medicinal, not that I needed it.”

Jungkook laughs at that. He stretches, arms lifting over him and pulling at his clothes to reveal the hardened part of his stomach.

Taehyung feels the urge to tickle him and he does, fingers grazing beneath his belly button until Jungkook is flailing backwards.

“Don’t, I’m ticklish.”

“You’d look good in a crop top,” Taehyung comments. He breathes in the smoke until his lungs hurt, trying not to imagine it.

But he does anyway because Taehyung’s always sucked at controlling his brain.

“Shut up.”

“I’m serious,” Taehyung exclaims. “You do realize you’re sexy, right? You’d probably look good in anything.”

Silence follows as Taehyung inhales. A moment later, the blunt is being plucked from his fingers.

Jungkook looks like he’s been sunburned and his skin is a second away from peeling off.

“Oh come on, you must know that. You’re a genius and you have glasses.”

“What does glasses have to do with it?” Jungkook huffs in embarrassment.

Taehyung feels a dopey grin taking over his lips as he leans back, watching the smoke trail from Jungkook’s lips as he moves his homework away from him.

They’re getting distracted again. Even if Jungkook started the conversation, Taehyung knows it’s his fault.

“Well, it means you can see well. Unless - oh my god, are they fake? For the aesthetic?”

Jungkook chokes out his laugh, eye watering as he shakes his head and hands off the blunt. “No, my vision truly sucks.”

Taehyung jumps up, blunt hanging between his lips as he grabs Jungkook’s hands and tugs him to stand. “Come on, baby. I know what we can do. Fashion show.”

Taehyung trails his eyes down Jungkook’s body, planting his hands to his hips. There’s plenty of clothes he wants to see Jungkook in; anything of his, really. Jungkook looks alarmed, but he lets Taehyung drag him away from the balcony anyway.

In hindsight, this was a bad idea. Taehyung feels attacked on all sides; Jungkook’s cute shy expression, matched with how fucking good he looks.

Taehyung was right. Jungkook looks good as fuck in a crop top.

Jungkook holds out his hands, showing off the loose shirt that only covers his chest and part of his rib cage. It’s a simple white shirt with a red rose embroidered over the chest. Taehyung had wanted to find a shirt that would fit Jungkook’s broad chest and was thin enough to show off how hard his nipples still are.

His legs are thicker than Taehyung’s, making the seams of his jeans scream as they try not to rip around Jungkook’s legs. They’re his signature look, the jeans so ripped that there’s more skin revealed than covered. Taehyung had worked some curls into Jungkook’s hair, swept blush over his cheeks and attempted to put mascara on him, but he fidgeted too much.

Taehyung’s heart is beating a mile a minute.

“I'm afraid to move and rip your pants,” Jungkook admits, sucking on his bottom lip.

“They’re already ripped,” Taehyung says as he digs into his dresser drawer. He stops over soft material, hesitating. “Rip ‘em up. As long as my dick isn’t falling out, I’ll still wear them.”

This is edging towards danger territory but Taehyung has always been a risk taker.

“Here, try these.”

Jungkook looks at the lump of gray that he catches before he heads towards the bathroom. Taehyung breathes in, fingers dancing over his thighs as he waits. He fidgets with the chain around his belly, gently taking it off and replacing the piercing with a simple diamond stud just to have something to do with his hands.

Other than he really wants to do and touch over every inch of Jungkook’s skin. The urge grows worse when Jungkook steps back out of the bathroom.

The sweatpants hang low on his hips, revealing the part of his abdomen that forms into a V before it disappears underneath the clothing. They are looser, not as tight on his thighs, but just enough that the defined shape is still visible.

“See,” Taehyung breathes, gesturing limply. Sweatpants were made by the devil. “Look how sexy you are.”

Jungkook turns, facing the ceiling to floor material. It worsens for Taehyung as his eyes catch in the dip at the bottom his spine and the shift in his back muscles when he moves.

He wonders if Jungkook was sculpted from marble.

“I feel strange showing so much skin.”

It should be illegal for one person to be overwhelmingly adorable and overwhelmingly hot at the same time, Taehyung thinks as he grows fond with his eyes tracing over Jungkook’s body.

“You take your shirt off at track meets all the time,” Taehyung says as he stands behind Jungkook and hooks his chin over his shoulder.

They fit together nicely and look even better.

“How do you know?” Jungkook laughs as his eyes meet Taehyung’s through the mirror.

“I’ve been going to them ever since I first saw you in spandex.”

Jungkook makes a noise of complaint at that, face scrunching. “I never know when you’re messing with me.”

Taehyung bites at the inside of his cheek. He’s teasing most of the time, but it’s the kind of teasing where he’s also high key serious at the same time.

“I’m serious,” Taehyung says with a smile. “You look good, Jungkook. Don’t you think so?”

Jungkook tenses when Taehyung skates his hands over Jungkook’s hips and towards his belly button. They’re barely touching and Jungkook’s stomach muscles flex beneath his hands.

“Yeah,” Jungkook says, but his eyes are focused on the reflection of Taehyung’s hands.

“Sexy baby,” Taehyung murmurs, his own belly twisting at the sight, worsening when Jungkook shivers. “It’s unfair. You’re ridiculously smart, attractive, and good at sports. I feel like it’s selfish to have more than two of those qualities at the same time.”

“I’m not.”

It’s so quiet that Taehyung can barely hear it over the beating of his heart.

“Lie,” Taehyung hums, trailing his fingers back up and slipping them beneath the cropped shirt. Jungkook’s hands squeeze into fists by his sides and he stops, ready to pull away when Jungkook huffs out a harsh breath that makes Taehyung’s cock twitch.

Oh, fuck.

“Is this okay?” Taehyung asks, turning away from the mirror long enough to whisper the words into Jungkook’s ear.

Jungkook doesn’t respond right away as Taehyung rubs his hand up to his chest, feeling his heart pumping a mile a minute.

“Yeah, yeah - s'good.”

Taehyung bites on his bottom lip as he brings his hand back down, making sure to drag his palm over Jungkook’s nipple and earning himself another harsh breath.

“You - you have nice hands.”

Aroused and fond is a deadly combination Taehyung thinks as he works his fingers through the dips of Jungkook’s abdomen again. Jungkook’s back to watching his hands and Taehyung follows his gaze, digging his chin into Jungkook’s shoulder when he sees Jungkook twitch beneath his sweatpants.

“Do I?” Taehyung hums. “I like yours too.”

Jungkook releases his fist when Taehyung grabs it and plants his palm to his abdomen. He gets another shiver when he ghosts Jungkook’s hand over his own stomach.

“Do you believe me yet?” Taehyung asks, voice more controlled than he had been expecting as arousal washes through him just watching Jungkook touch himself. “That you’re sexy?”

“Taehyung -”

Taehyung turns so his lips brush against Jungkook’s neck. “What, baby?”

Jungkook breathes through his nose as he touches himself, taking over and guiding Taehyung’s hand low until his fingers graze over the band of his sweatpants. The hum Taehyung lets out sounds rougher than intended; already so turned on by Jungkook shyly asking to be touched.

“Do you think we look sexy together?” Taehyung asks when Jungkook doesn’t respond. He pulls his hand from Jungkook’s, tickling it up his arm before he dances across his chest. He stops beneath his chin, lifting Jungkook’s head so their eyes can meet. Jungkook licks his lips, eyes darker than Taehyung’s ever seen them. “Because it sure looks like you do.”

He keeps a hand under Jungkook’s chin as he uses his other to cup over Jungkook’s. He watches Jungkook’s expression as he moves their hands lower, fingers dipping beneath the band of his briefs.

“Oh,” Jungkook breathes, body tensing when he touches himself.

“Tell me when to stop,” Taehyung breathes, focusing on the way Jungkook’s eyes flutter shut before he moves his hand again.

The outline of Jungkook’s cock is printed against the material of his sweatpants, disappearing when Taehyung’s knuckles take its place. He wishes he could feel Jungkook when he cups Jungkook’s hand over himself.

“Relax, you’re tense,” Taehyung says, stroking Jungkook’s racing pulse with his thumb.

It’s sudden the way Jungkook pulls away, huffing out as he whips around. He looks really overwhelmed, his chest now as red as his cheeks.

Taehyung tips his chin, inspecting his face. “Nervous or uncomfortable?”

“Confused.”

Taehyung pulls back, eyeing the stress in Jungkook’s brow. “Confused about what?”

Jungkook swallows thickly. There’s sweat building at his hairline and Taehyung wonders what it will take to get Jungkook just to relax about things.

“So you’re not just joking when you say you want me?”

Taehyung huffs out a laugh at the ridiculousness of it, but he has to quickly grab Jungkook’s shoulders when he frowns. He’s said it a thousand times already, made it obvious, but Jungkook still looks as if he truly doesn’t know the answer.

“I'm definitely not joking,” Taehyung says, touching over Jungkook’s cheek before he takes off the glasses perched on to Jungkook’s nose and ticks them into the pocket of his overalls. “I told you this. But I’m not going to touch you if you’re uncomfortable.”

Jungkook shakes his head and Taehyung sighs, unsure as to what that means. He hovers his hands over Jungkook’s chest, nudging his head to indicate them.

“Do you want me to? You’re going to have to tell me if you do.”

Jungkook breathes out sharply, gripping Taehyung’s hip. His eyes search over Taehyung’s face and Taehyung can see the thoughts running through his head.

“Nervous,” he finally decides. “Not uncomfortable.”

Taehyung nods, resting his palm to Jungkook’s chest. “Do you want me too, baby?”

As shy as Jungkook can be, there’s a moment when it slips away. The way he grips Taehyung’s hip isn’t shy; fingers digging into his bare skin. “Yes.”

“Touch me however you want,” Taehyung breathes before he closes the space between their lips.

Jungkook doesn’t move at first, his lips parted around harsh breaths as Taehyung sucks down on his bottom one. His fingers flex against Taehyung’s hip before curling towards his back, flattening over the low of his back.

Taehyung rubs over Jungkook’s pulse, his other hand running down to his bare skin before Jungkook finally moves.

It’s hesitant, the kiss softer than Taehyung craves but it sizzles something hot to the pit of his stomach. Jungkook’s lips are wet from constantly licking them, slick as they slip over his own.

He’s still tense, trembling as Taehyung curls his fingers into his hair, angling his head to kiss him deeper. His hand is still on Taehyung’s back as Taehyung wanders, touches as much skin as he can.

Jungkook huffs when Taehyung drags his fingers to the band of his sweatpants, just holding onto them so his knuckles dig into Jungkook’s skin.

When Taehyung licks at Jungkook’s lips, Jungkook’s hand rubs up his back, tugging his shirt up until his hand rests between his shoulder blades. Taehyung takes it slow, gliding his tongue over teeth until their tongues touch.

Jungkook’s harsh breath is twisted with a moan, rumbling in his throat and Taehyung takes more, greedy in the way he rubs his tongue over Jungkook’s. Every scrape of Jungkook’s teeth over his tongue has Taehyung moving closer, kissing deeper.

It must be what Jungkook feels like when he turns red, every inch of his skin burning. It drags to Taehyung’s core as he shifts his hand beneath Jungkook’s waistband, pushing it down until he can feel Jungkook’s hard length.

Their lips smack wetly together as Jungkook pulls back, breathing harshly. Taehyung hesitates with his palm curling over him, licking at his swollen lips before Jungkook kisses him again.

It’s tentative the way Jungkook licks into Taehyung’s mouth, the way Taehyung rubs Jungkook’s cock through his underwear. He isn’t even being touched but he feels like it, the nerves in Taehyung’s body setting off with every rumble in Jungkook’s throat.

When Jungkook licks deeper, Taehyung sucks - lips clamping down onto Jungkook’s tongue and pulling him in.

The moan Jungkook lets out is overwhelmed, desperate, his free hand coming up to grab the back of Taehyung’s head like he needs it to ground himself, like he needs to push until his tongue is licking at the back of Taehyung’s throat.

And Jungkook takes it, keeping his tongue out to let Taehyung use as he wants, without Taehyung having to ask. He drags his hand over Jungkook’s length as he sucks and licks over Jungkook’s tongue. It’s messy, spit collecting at his chin and Taehyung knows every inch of Jungkook is probably red.

“Fuck,” Taehyung gasps as he pulls away to catch his breath, eyeing the spit connecting their mouths before he bites at Jungkook’s bottom lip, twisting his teeth over it. “Wanna stroke you off.”

The nerves are loud in Jungkook’s eyes, sharing the space with the arousal that has Jungkook bucking up into his hand. He nods and Taehyung wishes he could hear what a fucked out Jungkook sounds like.

Because he's always been attracted to Jungkook, found him to be one of the hottest guys on campus, but that is nothing compared to how he looks now. He truly doesn’t get it; how Jungkook can be surprised that Taehyung wants him when he looks the way he does.

It is only made worse by how adorable he is; but Jungkook doesn’t need to know that yet.

“You really have no idea how hot you are?” Taehyung breathes as he rubs at Jungkook’s spit slicked mouth.

Jungkook’s only response is a low moan as Taehyung drags his thumb over the head of his cock, matching the way he touches Jungkook’s lips.

“Turn around baby.”

The grip on Taehyung’s back doesn’t release for a moment. He wonders if they stop too much if Jungkook will run off, or if eventually the nerves and tension in Jungkook’s body will alleviate.

But he doesn’t run, nor relax his muscles. Instead, he turns as he’s asked, eyes dropping instead of looking in the mirror.

“Look how good you look,” Taehyung hums, wrapping back around Jungkook. Even his stomach is flushed and his pants are tented, his cock straining against the material.

Jungkook slowly lifts his eyes but he settles them on the hand Taehyung moves his between his legs. He lets out an overwhelmed sound as Taehyung hooks a finger over the band and slowly reveals his cock.

Taehyung hums as he slips his palm over Jungkook’s pelvis. He’s already so hard, cock curled towards his belly and leaking at the tip. His cock twitches back towards his belly when Taehyung spreads his fingers and pushes them closer, in time with Jungkook’s body tensing.

“Cute,” Taehyung murmurs, finding Jungkook’s eyes still on his hand in the mirror. “You get turned on as easily as you get red.”

Jungkook closes his eyes as he groans, but Taehyung is digging a thumb into his jaw until his eyes open again.

“Taehyung,” Jungkook breathes. It comes out hitched, the want clear in his voice. Taehyung grins at that, teeth digging into his bottom lip.

“Eyes up here,” Taehyung murmurs softly. “Can I?”

Jungkook doesn’t look up, keeping his eyes focused on Taehyung’s fingers spreading over the base of his cock. Taehyung’s own body throbs with want and heat, the need to rub off against Jungkook hard to ignore.

“Yes.”

Taehyung doesn’t hesitate after Jungkook’s given him the go ahead, tickling his fingers over the curve of Jungkook’s cock before sliding his palm over the head. He pulls back Jungkook’s foreskin with his fingers, sighing at how red and swollen the head of his cock is.

Jungkook shifts his legs apart, licking his lips as Taehyung’s palm rubs up his length and presses against the head. He looks mesmerized, lips parted and eyes focused on them like he doesn’t want to miss a second of it.

Shy Jungkook, leaking just from Taehyung petting over his cock.

“You’re so pretty,” Taehyung murmurs casually. “Even your stomach is red.”

Jungkook gasps quietly, his cock twitching beneath under Taehyung’s palm and Taehyung giggles.

“Does my baby like praise?”

“Shut up.”

Taehyung turns, mouthing at Jungkook’s jaw as he curls his fingers around Jungkook to stroke him properly. “Just saying, baby. You seem to like it.”

He loosens his grip on Jungkook’s chin, but only for Taehyung to reach his thumb against Jungkook’s bottom lip.

“And you’re so malleable,” Taehyung whispers before he pushes his thumb between Jungkook’s lips.

Jungkook’s eyes flutter closed then, the vibration of his groan against the tip of Taehyung’s finger. It’s quiet save for the harsh breathes leaving Jungkook’s nose, and the slick sound growing as Taehyung strokes Jungkook off.

He’s beautiful and Taehyung feels his skin burning hot just watching Jungkook.

“Good?” Taehyung breathes, pulling his thumb from Jungkook’s mouth. Jungkook knocks his head back, eyes clenching closed before he swallows.

“Yeah.”

Taehyung grins, turning Jungkook’s head back so he can watch. Jungkook’s eyes are heavy with want as Taehyung focuses on Jungkook’s face, and not the way his fingers look on Jungkook.

It’s intimate; heavy the way Jungkook holds his gaze as Taehyung works his hand over him. His weight presses into Taehyung’s chest as his thighs spread and tense, his hips moving like he might fuck up into Taehyung’ fist.

Taehyung grabs Jungkook’s hip so he can’t, smiling fondly at the way Jungkook’s face twists in response.

“Tae -”

“Hm?” Taehyung hums, glancing between Jungkook’s legs. He’s positively dripping, precome streaming from the tip of his cock and towards the ground when Taehyung reaches down to cup a hand over his balls. “You like watching yourself this much? Make a mess?”

Jungkook groans lowly. “Wanna come.”

Taehyung smiles at that. “Who has a foul mouth now?”

The red on Jungkook’s skin is darker than ever and embarrassment crosses Jungkook’s face as his thighs clench together. There’s a vibration in Jungkook’s body like he’s struggling not to tremble, and he’s so quiet.

“Shut up,” Jungkook groans in embarrassment, his voice barely louder than the sound of Taehyung’s hand moving.

It’s difficult, feels like torture when Taehyung pulls away. Jungkook’s complaint is immediate, half turning to Taehyung before he stops him. He presses his slick hand to Jungkook’s neck, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

“Watch me,” Taehyung murmurs before he sinks to his knees.

He hears Jungkook’s overwhelmed gasp as Taehyung cups over his thighs and kneads the flesh. Up close, he can see light colored freckles scattered around Jungkook’s belly, one on his hip and below his belly button.

“Touch me how you want,” Taehyung instructs, noticing the way Jungkook’s hands clench into fists by his hips before he tilts his chin and flicks out his tongue.

Jungkook’s fingers are hesitant as they card through Taehyung’s hair. He doesn’t look to see if he’s watching them in the mirror as he licks a stripe up the underside of Jungkook’s cock. He curls his fingers around the base when he envelopes his lips around the head, flicking out his tongue to taste the precome collected there.

“Oh,” Jungkook breathes, cupping the sides of Taehyung’s head and flexing his fingers into his scalp as Taehyung lowers himself onto Jungkook’s cock. He takes his time, savoring the heavy feeling on his tongue and the stretch of his lips.

Jungkook’s wider than he’s used to, pulling at his lips but Taehyung likes the way it feels when Jungkook’s cock prods at the back of his throat.

“Oh, shit,” Jungkook grunts, accidentally gripping Taehyung’s hair too tightly as Taehyung constricts his throat. He keeps himself there, eyes fluttering shut around a groan as he holds Jungkook in his throat.

An apology falls from Jungkook’s lips when his hips rock forward, making Taehyung gag. It flushes pleasure through Taehyung’s body and his own cock weeps needily beneath his briefs. He can’t touch himself with the stupid overalls he’s regretting wearing.

Taehyung glances up at Jungkook as he pulls off to catch his breath, watching as Jungkook’s gaze flicks from the mirror and back to Taehyung. He has his lip trapped beneath his teeth, his nostrils flaring with each harsh breath.

When Taehyung wraps his lips around Jungkook again, he pushes his hands up Jungkook’s torso. Feeling over the muscles and reaching towards his nipples when he swallows around Jungkook. He doesn’t take it slow any longer, bobbing his head and curling his hand around the base to stroke his spit over Jungkook’s shaft.

Jungkook moans are quiet, but each sound is pretty. Squeaky little gasps and moans that are higher pitched than Taehyung anticipated.

When Jungkook snaps hips forward, Taehyung’s groan washes out every sound in the room. He knows Jungkook is close by the staccato of his moans, the way his fingers hurt as they grip into Taehyung’s hair, the way he can’t control his hips.

Taehyung pulls back enough to stroke Jungkook quickly, tongue lapping at the head as Jungkook’s eyes move from the mirror and back to his. Pleasure looks good on Jungkook’s face, mouth screwing open around fast pants that has Taehyung’s toes curling into his bedroom floor.

“I’m -” Jungkook gasps, hand tugging away from Taehyung’s hair to cover his face as his hips buck up hard. Taehyung lets his eyes fall closed, angling Jungkook’s cock against his tongue at the first spurt of come from the tip.

It’s one of Taehyung’s favorite things; being the reason someone crumbles apart. He likes the moment he makes someone else orgasm. He likes the sound; the feeling, the taste of come on his tongue. And Jungkook comes hard, body seizing and folding forward as he fills Taehyung’s mouth until it’s leaking from the corner of his mouth.

“Holy -” Jungkook rumbles incoherently, face still covered as Taehyung slides his lips over the throbbing head and rubs his come covered tongue against Jungkook. It’s messy, dripping onto the ground and over Taehyung’s chin but it makes his own cock throb like he could come just from giving head.

Jungkook’s legs tremble when Taehyung moves to press open mouth kisses to the bottom of Jungkook’s cock. He licks at the mess he made; cleaning the come from Jungkook.

“Look at me,” Taehyung instructs quietly, whispering against Jungkook before he pulls off.

It takes a minute for Jungkook to pull his hand away, but when he does he looks overwhelmed. Taehyung rubs at his thighs as Jungkook touches his cheeks, hand moving to touch over the come at the corner of Taehyung’s mouth.

Taehyung’s knees feel as weak as Jungkook’s look when he stands, pulling Jungkook’s clothes up his hips as he does. He’s quick to curl his hands around Jungkook’s arms, noticing the shyness starting to creep back into his expression before he kisses him.

It’s hard not to rub against Jungkook and he fails, hips working in circles against Jungkook’s soft cock as Jungkook prods his tongue into Taehyung’s mouth like he wants a taste of his own come. He has wandering hands too, no longer hesitant in the way they slip over Taehyung’s bare skin.

“So sexy,” Taehyung breathes, cocking his head to whisper the words against Jungkook’s mouth. “Cute baby.”

Jungkook groans quietly. “Wanna make you come too.”

Taehyung is fond as he pulls back. “What was that?”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose and doesn’t repeat himself. “Can I?”

It looks as if Jungkook might cover his face again and it’s cute. Jungkook remains still as Taehyung pulls away, eyes stuck on him as Taehyung strips the crop top from his body.

“What do you want to do to me?” Taehyung asks as he grips the overalls hanging from his hips. It’s a shame he hadn’t planned this more and wore pretty underwear for Jungkook.

But Jungkook still looks as amazed when Taehyung turns so his back is facing him and slowly peels the clothes over the round of his ass. It’s similar to the position he’s in in the photograph above his bed, one that had captured Jungkook’s attention when they walked by.

“You have to use your words,” Taehyung says as Jungkook rubs his thighs the more of Taehyung’s body is revealed. “So I know exactly what you want.”

Jungkook swallows, eyebrows pinching together. “I can - I can suck you off too.”

Taehyung grins at that as he steps out of the overalls, bending for Jungkook. “Have you ever given head, baby?”

“Yeah.”

Taehyung turns, hand cupping between his legs to squeeze his length. A groan pushes into his throat but he swallows it down. “And did you like it?”

Jungkook licks his lips when Taehyung approaches. “ Taehyung. ”

With a laugh, Taehyung traces his fingers over Jungkook’s cheek. “Are you whining because you want a cock in your mouth that bad or because you’re shy?”

The heat on Jungkook’s face is unforgiving, close to blistering. Jungkook huffs at that, but lets Taehyung take his hands and tug him forward.

Plenty of times, Taehyung has thought of how Jungkook would look in his bed. He wants him sprawled across his sheets when Taehyung wrecks him; but he drags himself to the small couch in his dressing room; too eager to be touched. Jungkook seems eager too, falling down to his knees before Taehyung is fully sat.

Jungkook nods nervously, hands spreading over Taehyung’s thighs and pushing them further open. Taehyung rests back on his hands, letting Jungkook take his time removing the material covering him. He pulls his the underwear completely off and Taehyung laughs quietly as he hooks a leg over Jungkook’s shoulder and presses his heel into his back to urge him forward.

“You don’t have to.”

“Want to,” Jungkook mumbles, flicking his eyes up at Taehyung before he lowers his head.

In the back of Taehyung’s mind, he wonders if Jungkook’s more experienced than he lets on or if he’s read other articles than just how to flirt. He folds his lips over his teeth before taking Taehyung into his mouth, stroking his fingers around the base until his fist meets his lips. He keeps his eyes closed like in concentration, though maybe because he’s so shy, as he tongues at Taehyung. There’s no teasing; no hesitation, Jungkook sucks down on his cock like he wants one thing; Taehyung to come.

Pleasure makes Taehyung’s stomach feel like it’s knotted, his body tense as he strokes his fingers through Jungkook’s hair. Jungkook strokes him quickly when he sucks on the head of his cock, lips rubbing over the crown.

Taehyung is thinner than Jungkook but just as long. Jungkook only takes Taehyung halfway down his throat before he pulls back, gasping lightly and resting his cheek to Taehyung’s thigh.

“Fuck,” Taehyung grunts, thighs clenching as Jungkook mouths wetly at his balls, hiding his face further. Taehyung strokes lightly over his cheek before cupping the back of his neck, grinding his hips forward. “Look at me, Jeon.”

Jungkook shakes his head as he buries his face between Taehyung’s legs, his teeth scraping over the inside of Taehyung’s thigh. As many hickies as Taehyung leaves behind, Jungkook never leaves his own.

The feeling of his mouth bruising the inside of his thigh feels better than his mouth sucking down his length. Taehyung moans quietly, body tensing when Jungkook’s teeth twist too roughly. His thighs spread wider, leg slipping from Jungkook’s shoulder to fall sloppily against the couch.

“Look - look at me,” Taehyung pants quietly as he cups Jungkook’s cheek again and curls his fingers around the base of his cock. Jungkook groans in complaint, but lifts his head to look at Taehyung.

He is sinful how quickly his mouth falls open when Taehyung guides his cock back to his mouth. Even more so when his lips stretch around the width of him, eyes fluttering when Taehyung slips over his tongue.

“Want - want me to come in your mouth?” Taehyung whispers, stroking himself quickly as Jungkook works his mouth above his fist. “On your chest?”

Instead of responding, Jungkook grips Taehyung’s thighs and pushes himself further down Taehyung’s cock.

He mimics Taehyung, pushing down as much as he can, taking Taehyung into his mouth until his throat can constrict around the head. He gags lightly, tears collecting at his eyelashes but he doesn’t pull back right away; holding Taehyung in his throat before he pulls off with a loud gasp.

It’s too much, watching Jungkook eagerly takes him back into his mouth, pulling him over the edge.

His fingers flex into the sweaty bangs at the top of Jungkook’s head and holds Jungkook onto his pulsing cock, hips circling up and thighs clenching around Jungkook’s head. It makes the muscles over his belly ache the way his body seizes up, his thighs trembling from the force of his orgasm.

Jungkook gasps loudly when Taehyung pulls him back, eyes dazed as Taehyung quickly milks his orgasm out. Come collects against Jungkook’s cheeks and it’s adorable the way he quickly flicks his tongue out to catch it.

Taehyung’s body throbs with his orgasm, his legs trembling as Jungkook rubs over his thighs and licks the last few drops of come from the tip. It’s speckled across Jungkook’s cheeks and chin and Taehyung desperately wants to take a picture.

“Even prettier covered in come,” Taehyung muses, out of breath and anticipating the embarrassed groan Jungkook lets out before he buries his face into Taehyung’s thigh again.

Taehyung waits until his nerves stop vibrating and he’s caught his breath before he pulls Jungkook from between his legs. He kisses him softly, bending forward to catch Jungkook and kiss the shyness away from him.

“So good,” Taehyung murmurs, tracing circles over Jungkook’s cheeks. “Wasn’t expecting you to be so good with your mouth, baby.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I told you I’ve done stuff before.”

Taehyung grins. “I wanna see everything you know. Will have to keep those tutoring sessions private from my father, though.”

When Jungkook whines again in complaint, Taehyung’s decided he likes that just as much as his red skin.

Taehyung has joked that sex would make Jungkook relax, but he had been wrong. It makes him worse than ever.

He’s tense as he lets Taehyung clean him and when they brush their teeth beside each other, his eyes constantly flick from his own reflection to Taehyung.

The red never leaves his cheeks and he isn’t as chatty as usual. He isn’t one to go on and on either way, but Taehyung only gets a shrug when he asks Jungkook wants to watch before bed.

“Do you want to sleep in my bed?” Taehyung asks as he watches Jungkook replace the crop top with a shirt he had brought of his own. “There’s plenty of other bedrooms, if you’re not -”

“That’s fine,” Jungkook says before Taehyung can finish.

Taehyung grins, crossing his arms over chest. “Suddenly you’re shy?”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose at that but doesn’t respond as he adjusts the shirt so it’s covering the entirety of his torso. He doesn’t look upset; just nervous and Taehyung reaches out to take his hand and pull him close.

“Want a kiss,” Taehyung says, tilting his head as he rests against the counter and leaves room for Jungkook to move in or pull away.

Jungkook moves in, not hesitating to press a kiss to Taehyung’s lips.

“Another one.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes but he presses another kiss to Taehyung’s lips.

“One more.”

“Tae,” Jungkook huffs out with a laugh, but he complies.

The tension fades as Taehyung makes Jungkook press kisses to his mouth, laughter spilling between them. Taehyung takes his own kisses, pressing them to Jungkook’s cheeks before he tilts his head and kisses at his neck.

He leaves a mark, regretting not being able to suck hickies into Jungkook’s skin earlier. Jungkook grips his shoulders tightly, sighing out as Taehyung’s teeth dig into his throat.

“It’s important you tell me why you’re being so quiet,” Taehyung says as he pulls back and hugs Jungkook close to him. “Did you want to stop?”

Jungkook shakes his head, closing his eyes. “Please. It’s really dumb. Can we not talk about it?”

“No,” Taehyung says instantly, but gently. He hates being serious usually; but this time it’s important. “It isn’t dumb. It’s actually important for me to know if I did something.”

“You didn’t,” Jungkook says. He presses a quick kiss to his lips. “I promise. I want to do it again.”

Taehyung sighs as he strokes his fingers over Jungkook’s neck and feels over his rapid pulse. Jungkook does look like he’s being honest, but he also looks embarrassed.

“Well, we can’t until you tell me,” Taehyung sighs. He wiggles his body, trying to make the conversation less serious seeming, hoping to relax Jungkook enough into talking. “Because I’m not going to fuck you if you look like a mope every time.”

Jungkook lets out a loud noise of complaint, pinching Taehyung. “Shut up. It’s just dumb and I’m embarrassed saying it. But it isn’t you. It isn’t that I don’t want it.”

Taehyung sighs, looking over Jungkook’s face. “Well, tell me so I can make sure you look like you’re living your best life instead of looking like I kicked you in the face.”

Despite their close proximity, Jungkook talks quickly and so quietly that Taehyung strains to hear him. He moves his head as he talks, inching forward until his face is burying against Taehyung’s chest. He finishes speaking, ending his his explanation with a strangled noise.

“I heard none of that,” Taehyung cooes, rubbing his fingers over Jungkook’s hair. The edge of his glasses dig into Jungkook’s face, but he still doesn’t pull back.

“Hyung says I overthink too much.”

“I would agree,” Taehyung says softly.

“That’s all I’m doing now. Just overthinking.”

Taehyung presses a kiss to Jungkook’s cheek. He understands then, even if Jungkook doesn’t fully explain in a way that Taehyung can hear.

“Stop thinking. There isn’t anything to think about. Come cuddle with me, hm? You know, if you wake up before me, feel free to wake me up any way. You have my permission to touch my body as much as you want.”

Jungkook pinches him again, this time a smile appearing on his lips. “I’m going to stick my foot in your mouth.”

Taehyung pulls himself from Jungkook, who bends backwards as he starts to laugh. “Kinky. Are you into that?”

The laughter quickly dies from Jungkook when Taehyung touches his foot over Jungkook’s. He shakes his head just as fast. “No.”

“Don’t be shy,” Taehyung teases, ticking his head back and forth as he teases. “Baby has a foot kink.”

“Oh my god,” Jungkook huffs, shoving himself away from Taehyung and forcing open the door to his bedroom.

Taehyung trails lazily after him, resting against the door frame as he takes in Jungkook standing at the edge of his bed, glaring up at the photograph of Taehyung.

He swears he hears a pained, ‘oh my god’ before Jungkook’s flopping onto the bed, starfished out with his limbs spread.

Taehyung sits at the edge of the bed, savoring the warmth spilling in from the windows and the way it makes Jungkook seem golden.

It had taken him a while to calm down once he laid beside Taehyung and Taehyung is sure he hadn’t slept much. He’s glad to see him sleeping now, even if he drools onto Taehyung’s favorite pillow and snores.

He’s careful to pull himself from the bed and quiet as he moves around the room to find his phone and slippers.  There’s an array of messages given the early hour, mostly from Jimin on behalf of Yoongi or wishing him well while he’s gone. A lot of texts worrying about meeting Yoongi and Hoseok’s parents for the first time.

There’s plenty teasing him of his date with Jungkook and Taehyung feels like his grin is foolish as he pads through his apartment and reads them. He had wanted the guest house because it comes with a kitchen, but his parents claimed that if Taehyung had his own kitchen then they would never see him.

Which is precisely why Taehyung wanted his own kitchen.

“Morning.”

Taehyung snaps his head up at the sound of the voice. His father stands there, sitting at the head of the table with a cup of coffee in his hand. He’s fully dressed in a suit, hair done and perfected despite the early hour.

“What are you doing here?”

His father narrows his eyes. “It’s nice to see you too, Taehyung. I’m stopping by to make sure things are in order before I leave. Your mother should be in Barcelona by now.”

“You’re not traveling together?”

President Kim laughs at that, a sarcastic sound. Taehyung doesn’t know when his parents stopped being together and just married for legal purposes; but it’s annoying sometimes.

“Your mother is going for some art exhibit with your brother. It is a shame you couldn’t get your grades up enough to go. Or to America with me.”

Taehyung scratches at his neck, glancing further into the kitchen. Butler Kang is there, making coffee that Taehyung hopes is for him, and pretending not to listen.

“I didn’t want to go. America makes my skin greasy.”

He doesn’t mention that being alone with his father is more of a punishment than being trapped inside of his home for a week.

His father narrows his eyes at that. “Son, I really need you to spend this week reflecting and getting your shit together. You should be looking for internships and putting yourself into companies next year. With this track record, even your family name won’t be able to get you into a job.”

Taehyung digs his fingers into his palms. “You know, a ‘good morning son’ would have been just fine. It is quite early, you know? Couldn’t you wait until you get home to lecture me about my grades?”

Taehyung’s father stands up then, finger pointed at the ready but his lips press shut when Taehyung’s name floats out from the hallway.

Shit, Taehyung grimaces at the sound of Jungkook’s voice. He really didn’t think his father would be returning until after fall break. He didn’t think Jungkook would wake up before he returned and start exploring the house. It can be complicated for someone who isn’t used to it. Namjoon still gets lost when he visits.

“In here, Jeon.”

A pleased smile erupts over his father face as he realizes who else is here. Taehyung prays Jungkook is just as modest as he usually is and breathes out in relief when Jungkook enters the kitchen fully clothed. Only the dark hickey on his neck suggests anything; but he doubts his father will put two and two together.

He freezes at the sight of Taehyung and his father, mouth falling open and panic rushing into his eyes. He clamps his hand to the side of his neck, drawing even more attention to the fact that he’s marked there.

“Pres-President Kim,” Jungkook says, bending down so low his shirt rides up his back. “I hope you don’t mind I am here. I - we worked late and Taehyung said - Mr. Kim said it would be best I stay the night instead of driving me home.”

His father waves a carefree hand but Jungkook still doesn’t uncover his neck. Taehyung grins. It makes Jungkook look guilty of something other than studying. “It’s fine, Mr. Jeon. You are always welcome in my home. Are you staying the week?”

Jungkook chokes, red rushing up to his cheeks. “What?”

Taehyung tenses when his father clasps a hand to Taehyung’s shoulder, his body rocking from the force of it. “I think that best. Mr. Jeon is good at keeping you in check. He’s made sure you haven’t skipped since we last spoke. Give Kang a break, he’ll die of an early age after dealing with you.”

It’s hard not to roll his eyes at that. On the positive side, this helps Taehyung convince Jungkook to stay. But it also makes Taehyung regret getting Jungkook here.

“I know he’s a handful, Mr. Jeon,” President Kim goes on. “Most people don’t put up with him as long as you have.”

Jungkook finally removes his hand, fingers flexing before he curls his arms behind his back. Taehyung doesn’t miss the way his hands turn into fists before disappearing.

Taehyung doesn’t know what to make of it.

“I enjoy my sessions with Taehyung, President Kim. He’s actually very intelligent and fun to be around.”

Taehyung glares at Jungkook for that but Jungkook is looking at his father instead. It’s the response Taehyung expects, his father looking amused but not being rude in front of someone that isn’t a family member.

“I’m sure, Mr. Jeon. You’re very dedicated. Would you not prefer to return home instead of waste your vacation babysitting a grown man?”

The red seeps from Jungkook’s neck to the start of his collarbone. For some reason Taehyung can’t understand, Jungkook is out to please his father. He’d agree to whatever his father asked him and it’s annoying.

“I’ll be returning home for the winter session, President Kim.”

It’s a lie; Jungkook has told him he’s taking a class for the winter session. He also is helping Professor Ma Ri because she offered Taehyung a makeup exam.

Taehyung wonders if he can somehow sneak Jungkook to Busan while being on house arrest.

“Good. I’m about to head out. Mr. Jeon make yourself at home and if you need anything, Butler Kang here can help. Do you drive?”

Jungkook fidgets with his fingers, glancing at Butler Kang when he approaches with two cups of coffee in his hand. Taehyung wonders if he had peeked in on them earlier and seen them together. He’s a glorified babysitter at most times, but he’s gotten so old sometimes he no longer attempts it.

Taehyung’s father had been right; he had given Butler Kang a run for his money. There was plenty of things he has done that could have caused the gray hair and wrinkles making his face sag.

“Yes sir.”

“Kang, allow Mr. Jeon here to take Taehyung’s car if he needs it. But Mr. Jeon, Taehyung here isn’t to leave the house unless it’s for school. Please do not let him convince you to take him anywhere.”

Jungkook’s eyes are wide when they look to Taehyung, who only shrugs. He hadn’t told Jungkook that and he was hoping not to.

It had been true. Taehyung needs alone time sometimes, but he hates being alone most of the time. Especially stuck in the house when he wants to get out. He thinks maybe Jungkook would have agreed to stay with him if he had just explained that.

“I’ll take good care of him, President Kim.”

Taehyung grins behind his coffee cup as a sparkle lights in Jungkook’s eyes. He waits for his father to leave to put his mug down and kiss Jungkook like he wants to, knowing Butler Kang wouldn’t mention it.

Jungkook flushes when Taehyung pulls away, bambi-like eyes glancing over his shoulder at Butler Kang.

“He’s cool,” Taehyung hums, pressing a finger under Jungkook’s chin and kissing him sweetly. “You don’t have to stay with me.”

“I will,” Jungkook says immediately, head tilting and Taehyung grins, pressing a kiss over the bruised skin of his neck. He nibbles his teeth, savoring the way Jungkook breathes sharply through his teeth. “I just have work.”

“Call out,” Taehyung murmurs, curling an arm around Jungkook’s waist until their chests are pressing together.

“Your butler,” Jungkook huffs, pushing the heel of his hand against Taehyung’s shoulder.

Taehyung snorts. It’s the first time Jungkook’s truly pushed him away and he moves back without hesitation. But it’s confusing when Jungkook huffs out heavily through his nose and tugs him back.

“Promise, he’s cool?”

Taehyung plants a kiss to Jungkook’s lip. “Promise. Don’t want Daddy Dearest to know I’m trying to turn his favorite student bad.”

Jungkook snorts at that. “You wouldn’t be able to if you tried.”

The hesitancy and conflict from the night before is gone as Jungkook’s eyes light up with a playfulness that Taehyung’s been craving to see.

“Is that a challenge, Jeon?”

Jungkook shrugs. “I’m stubborn. Stuck in my ways.”

“You are,” Taehyung hums, rubbing their noses together. “But I’m determined.”

*

The water is warmer than the cool air surrounding it, but not enough to make his skin red. His skin reddens either way, from the way the edge of the heated pool bites into his back and the knee pressed hard between his legs.

Water droplets slip down Taehyung’s face, his bangs stuck to his forehead. It’s overwhelming the way he looks at Jungkook when he touches him, soft and concentrated, dark and hungry. Jungkook closes his eyes, wishing he could cover his face but Taehyung’s grip is tight over his hands.

“Look at you,” Taehyung huffs against his jaw, leg grinding up between Jungkook’s legs so the material of his swimming trunks rub roughly at this thighs. “You look good like this.”

Jungkook swallows the moan bubbling in his throat as Taehyung rubs his knee into his cock, the heated water of the pool sloshing against his chest. He can feel Taehyung’s smile rub over the crook of his neck before he bites down.

He tries not to make a sound, embarrassed by the way the echo loudly off the walls of the pool house. The water reflects over the ceiling, the windows covering a smog that Jungkook hopes hides them.

Taehyung had said Butler Kang goes home at night, but he’s still nervous he might come into the pool house and catch them.

“Tae,” Jungkook breathes, overwhelmed as pleasure washes through him. He rips his hand from Taehyung to grip at the back of his neck.

Taehyung hums but Jungkook doesn’t respond as he hovers their lips and uses Taehyung’s neck as support. He rolls his hips, rocking his cock over the wet slide of Taehyung’s thigh, wishing he had enough confidence to take his trunks off. Taehyung frees his hand to grip his hip and plant the other to Jungkook’s spine to urge him to move.

“Fuck,” Jungkook huffs, knocking their foreheads together. The friction is uncomfortable, Jungkook would prefer slippery lube to water, but his cock twitches and throbs - much less caring than he is about how he gets off. “Feels good.”

Taehyung’s mouth pulls back into a boxy grin that he presses against Jungkook’s mouth. He pushes his knee up, holding Jungkook down against it as he circles his hips.

It’s frustratingly slow and unsatisfying, but Jungkook comes against Taehyung’s thigh with his teeth clenching hard against Taehyung’s bottom lip.

“Mm,” Taehyung hums, kissing Jungkook softly before he’s sinking into the water and away from Jungkook before Jungkook can take care of him. “Gonna need to get you new clothes. You only brought one pair of pants and you’ll soil them at some point.”

Jungkook jumps into the water, hands stretched above his head to close the distance between them.

Taehyung is laughing when Jungkook emerges from the water, arms tight around Taehyung’s middle to toss him into it.

The shared kiss tastes like chlorine but Jungkook lets Taehyung kiss him as long as he wants to, his hands roaming over Taehyung’s bare torso.

There’s no finesse in the way he pushes his fingers below the band of Taehyung’s trunks, and he frowns when Taehyung pulls away. “You wanna touch me, baby?”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose. “Not anymore.”

Taehyung giggles, splashing water at him. “Let me see your fingers.”

At this point, Jungkook is used to Taehyung’s odd requests. He offers his hands to Taehyung, letting him inspected the pruned skin before he peppers a kiss to them.

Jungkook’s breath hitches when Taehyung presses one finger to his tongue and wiggles his eyebrows.

It makes Jungkook happy to see the glow in Taehyung’s eyes, though he isn’t sure when it’s gone from always amused to always soft. He hated listening to the way President Kim spoke to Taehyung earlier and he’s starting to wonder if Taehyung’s insecurities stem from having a father like that.

He wants to ask, but it isn’t his place.

“Wanna go paint the town red?” Taehyung asks, tugging Jungkook through the water. “We can hit up a club. Or a movie? Bar hop?”

“You’re not allowed,” Jungkook groans, pushing into Taehyung’s space until it’s his back hitting the edge of the pool.

Taehyung looks surprised, eyes overwhelmed and round as Jungkook cages him against the side. Jungkook cocks his head, kissing at Taehyung’s chin.

“Not so shy?” Taehyung asks, quirking a thick brow. “Get a little taste of dick and suddenly you’re a whole new man.”

Jungkook groans, ripping himself away to launch himself out of the pool as the night air drowns in Taehyung’s laughter.

It takes some fumbling and kisses before they’re dried off and stripped of their soaked trunks. It takes even longer to get dressed in something dry as Jungkook curls his fingers between Taehyung’s legs to return the favor.

There’s a knock at the door before Jungkook can finish but Taehyung shakes his head, head tilting back as he covers a hand over his mouth and bucks up into Jungkook’s touch. He comes at the sound of another knock, his chest burning red as he stains his belly white.

“Who - who is it?” Taehyung calls as Jungkook wipes his stomach off with one of the pool towels. He giggles quietly, shoulders shrugging up to his jaw as he tosses a pair of briefs at Jungkook and hitting him in the chest with them.

If he had known he was staying at Taehyung’s for a week instead of one night, he would have brought more stuff. Luckily he packs two or three extra pairs of underwear even though he’s never needed the extra. He’ll have to return home but he doesn’t even think Taehyung will allow him to go to work.

Jiwon already called him out for the day, offering him sick pay because it wasn’t busy. But Jungkook had seen Jinhwan bitching on twitter about it being busy and short staffed.

Surprisingly, it isn’t the usual stress on Jungkook’s mind, but the burning worry that Taehyung is hanging out with Jiwon again to get Jungkook time off.

“It is me, Mr. Kim. I brought you the food your ordered.”

Jungkook swats at Taehyung’s chest as Taehyung pulls on his own briefs. The damp skin makes it hard to pull his jeans over his legs. “You said he went home for the night.”

“Oops, I forgot he was coming back,” Taehyung says with a shit eating grin on his lips. He grabs Jungkook’s pants and helps him shimmy them over his hips. “I’ll be right there! You know, if you wore looser pants, you wouldn’t have this problem.”

“If you stopped trying to take them off of me, I wouldn’t have this problem either.”

Taehyung snorts. “See? I don’t think of it as a problem.”

Jungkook can’t look Butler Kang in the eye when they enter the house and the food waiting for them. He looks much different around Taehyung than the President, body not as taut and his eyes not focused on the ground.

The table is covered in take out boxes, the smell of spices and meat floating into the air. Taehyung claps his hands happily before he takes a seat and beckons Jungkook over.

“Eat as much as you want,” Taehyung says, handing Jungkook a box of rice. There’s more food here than he’s ever seen. Well, there’s more at the cafeteria but that’s there to feed an entire campus of students, this is only for two. “I’m starving. Orgasms really drains you.”

Jungkook chokes, glancing at Butler Kang but he’s walked out of the room.

“Is it weird having a butler?”

Taehyung shrugs as he pushes a dumpling into his mouth, cheeks rounding as he starts to munch. He fills a bowl in front of Jungkook as he eats, opening every box until food is spilling over the edge and onto the table. He even shifts take out boxes closer to him, raising a brow when he shows off the contents to Jungkook.

Jungkook feels like he’s being spoiled.

“No,” Taehyung says as he swallows. “He’s always been here. There are maids too, but I don’t see them as often.”

“This room is bigger than my home.”

Taehyung goes still, glancing around the dining room. Maybe Jungkook’s is bigger, but not by much. Jungkook quickly grows hot and stuffs his mouth so he doesn’t have to talk again.

It becomes too awkward and Jungkook should have expected that. What should Taehyung say to something stupid like that?

God, Jungkook’s heart lurches in his chest.

“I know. Yoongi’s mother gave me a tour of her home once, over a video call. She wanted to show off baby pictures.” Taehyung snorts loudly, much more at ease than Jungkook. Maybe even unaware of Jungkook’s turmoil. “Very proud of the cactuses in her window.”

The tension in Jungkook’s chest releases, but only some. “She works really hard on them. There’s this man that used to have a garden on the roof. I think she took some of his plants after he died.”

Taehyung cups a hand under Jungkook’s chin and a moment later, there’s a piece of meat rubbing against his lips. Jungkook opens his mouth despite there already being food in there, flushing when Taehyung’s eyes sparkle.

“Tell me more,” Taehyung says, pulling his hand away to put food in his own mouth.

It is hard to tell Taehyung and answer all of his questions with the food that’s constantly being guided towards his mouth. He doesn’t tell Taehyung to stop though, attempting to talk while chewing.

“Some nights, I would sleep at Yoongi’s because it wasn’t as cramped,” Jungkook explains. “It was just him and Eomma Min. Sometimes Hoseokie.”

Taehyung tilts his head as he listens. “I feel bad for your family. You snore so loud, I’m surprised they slept.”

A giggle fills the room as Jungkook slaps at the hand Taehyung brings up to his mouth. “I do not snore.”

“You drooled all over my pillow. I had to change the case.”

Jungkook hides his face behind his hands. He definitely did drool. He had been mortified when he woke up and had prayed Taehyung hadn’t seen.

Taehyung eases Jungkook’s hand away gently to kiss his cheek. “Cutie.”

It’s quick how Jungkook’s body reacts, his heart thudding in his chest. He’s been trying hard not to show how much he’s overthinking, not wanting Taehyung to worry or think he’s doing anything wrong. He also doesn’t want to ruin whatever it is with his thoughts and have Taehyung stop touching him.

But, Jungkook’s always had a hard time wondering if someone is flirting because they want sex or flirting because they genuinely like him. And as absurd as it is that Taehyung would ever crush on someone like him, Jungkook wants him to.

It’s another stressful thought. Jungkook falls easily when someone gives him attention and he’s never sure if he’s misreading the situation. It’s what had started the problems between him and Cheol Su. Jungkook had been so dumb.

He feels dumb now worrying. He feels dumb that he can’t enjoy someone else’s attention without it dragging out a box load of insecurities.

“Were they at least good to you? Your family?”

Jungkook nods, chest suddenly heavy with a longing to see his family. “Strict and my father was gone a lot because he had a lot of debt he had to pay off. Not very affectionate, but he showed it in his own way, I guess.”

“What did he do?”

Jungkook shrugs. “Odd jobs here and there. Whatever he could get.”

Taehyung falls back into his chair, hands coming down to lay on his lap as he swallows the last of the food in his mouth. He watches Jungkook for a moment. “Tell me about your Eomma.”

Jungkook clears his throat, fingers tapping against the table. He’s too full to keep eating but it could distract him from having to answer.

“She used to work on a farm, and she used to make clothes. When she moved to Busan, she got a job as a janitor basically, for some huge company. She started to lose the feeling in her fingers and in her toes when I was still young.”

Jungkook clears his throat, wishing Taehyung would interrupt like he normally does but he doesn’t. He taps his fingers a few times again, understanding why Taehyung fidgets so much when he’s uncomfortable.

“On top of her losing the ability to use her hands, she developed some problem with her immune system. She gets sick constantly,” Jungkook explains lowly. “Sometimes, like hospitalized sick.”

Taehyung reaches across the table, taking Jungkook’s hand. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to talk about it.”

There’s pressure in Jungkook’s throat as Taehyung squeezes his fingers.

“Hyung says I’m sensitive. Just ignore me,” Jungkook laughs shakily.

Taehyung shakes his head before he’s pushing out of his chair. A second later, Jungkook’s chair is being moved back and there’s a heavy weight resting onto his lap.

Fingers stroke gently over Jungkook’s cheeks before lips crash over his forehead. The kisses are placed over his eyelids and down his nose, and Jungkook squeezes his fingers around the arm of the chair before Taehyung kisses him.

There’s no heat in the kiss; just a gentle glide of lips. Jungkook breathes heavily through his nose, tilting his head back and letting Taehyung kiss him until the static is gone from his chest.

When Taehyung pulls back enough to see him, he’s wearing a soft smile on his lips and Jungkook is hit with the feeling so suddenly and quickly that he feels as if his world is tilting.

He likes Taehyung. Kim Taehyung. Annoying, apathetic, draining Taehyung.

Fuck, Jungkook thinks, squeezing his eyes closed and praying Taehyung can’t somehow read minds.

Chapter Text

Jungkook thinks he understands why Taehyung finds relaxation so important. He feels good, loose, his mind a bit more free and light.

But there are plenty of things in life that are important to have and people just can’t afford them. For some reason, this seems to be a foreign concept to Taehyung.

For some reason, Jungkook is no longer annoyed but fond of Taehyung’s expression when he explains.

“I’m just saying,” Jungkook goes on, a bit breathless from the steam in the room and the heat clinging to skin, making it so sweat rolls over his skin in streams. “I’m not greedy for money, Tae. I need a good job after school to take care of my mother and make sure my brother can go to school too. I had help taking care of her, he doesn’t because I’m here. He should still be able to go to school even if he can’t get the scholarships for it.”

Taehyung listens quietly, turned on the bench with one knee propped and no shame in how it pulls the towel around his waist and reveals his private parts. He keeps his head tilted against the wooden walls of the sauna, eyes on Jungkook.

He doesn’t respond for a minute but then he stretches his fingers out like he needs them to be held.

And Jungkook reaches up and intertwines their fingers without even thinking about it. A habit he thinks he likes a little too much.

“Why doesn’t he ask the palm tree to help him? I thought you said they were friends.”

Despite Taehyung’s avoidance of serious situations, the jokes do release the tension in Jungkook’s chest that comes from thinking about his brother instead of annoys him.

Taehyung breaks out in a boxy grin. He too is sweating, his hair matted to his forehead and streams of sweat pouring down his shoulders and chest. His skin is a deep red, a color Jungkook wants to see Taehyung with more often.

“Stop, I’m being serious,” Jungkook says, tugging on his hand like he may take it back but Taehyung tightens his grip. “Everyone on my street has a lot on their plate. Even people who want to help, can’t.”

Taehyung softens. “I know, I’m sorry. Sometimes you get this look in your eyes that I can’t stand and I uh, just want it to go away. I’m not very good at serious things.”

It's such a sudden shift that Jungkook wonders if he’s about to have heat stroke.

“But we should get out,” Taehyung continues before he can respond. “I’m about to die. Whoever thinks this is enjoyable is sadistic.”

There’s still a part of Jungkook that is extremely embarrassed by showing off his bare skin, but Taehyung doesn’t make a comment when Jungkook keeps his towel wrapped tightly around his hips as he slips his underwear on underneath. Even when Taehyung’s eyes rake over his body and his eyes shine with amusement and something else.

Jungkook braces himself for a comment that will make him blush, but he doesn’t expect the way Taehyung takes his clothes and darts off in a run.

“Hey!” Jungkook calls, waddling after Taehyung to catch him but he just misses as Taehyung shuts himself into one of the dressing rooms. The lock sounds loudly through the room. “Taehyung!”

“Guess you’ll just have to wear my clothes,” Taehyung sing songs through the door.

Jungkook sighs, waddling back to where Taehyung’s clothes lie in a heap. He stares at them like they’re an enemy before taking them.

The shirt is a bit loose on him because of Taehyung’s broader shoulders. There’s a man with a bright yellow ski mask on it, the words Skin Graphx written in graffiti over the top. It contrasts with the pants, thin stretchy material covered in leopard print.

Jungkook feels ridiculous, but he doesn’t think much of it as Taehyung steps out of the dressing room.

Instead, he thinks about how nice it is to see Taehyung in his clothes. His sweaty skin, though patted dry, still makes the dress shirt cling to his chest. He has it mostly unbuttoned and he’s rolling the sleeves to his elbows.

The pants are loose, unbuttoned and hanging off his hips but Jungkook’s mouth still waters at the sight.

“Why do you never wear underwear?”

Taehyung snorts loudly as he pulls the pants higher up his hips to button them. “Too much work. Plus, my balls like to feel free, Jeon.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes at that. “The tightness of your pants proves that otherwise.”

The giggle Taehyung lets out has Jungkook smiling.

It’s a lot nicer with Taehyung than Jungkook ever expected.

There isn’t ever a moment that goes by that Jungkook isn’t reminded that he has a full blown, crush on Taehyung crisis happening.

“You’ve been talking a lot of shit lately, babe. Thought you didn’t like it when I did that?”

Sometimes, Taehyung looks like a predator the way he approaches Jungkook. But he is soft when he curls an arm around Jungkook’s neck to lead him towards the exit.

“Because you do it too much,” Jungkook explains. “Even if it’s uncomfortable, being serious is still something you have to be sometimes.”

Taehyung’s grin falters as he starts humming, arm squeezing tighter around Jungkook’s neck so he stroke his fingers over Jungkook’s chest.

“We balance each other out, baby. You the serious one, me the carefree fun one.”

Jungkook elbows Taehyung gently. “I’m plenty of fun. Each of us can be a little of both, you know.”

Past the sauna and the dressing rooms is the pool. Jungkook’s overwhelmed by the life Taehyung lives and he finds himself wishing it was something he could have grown up with.

The bitterness is no longer directed towards Taehyung, nor his parents, but just life in general.

“Fine. I’ll tell you something, but I don’t want to talk about it, got it? Just so you know I’m not all sunshine and bubbles.”

Jungkook braces himself but let’s Taehyung take his time as he steps into the warm, pool area. The smell of chlorine fills his nose and he thinks he hears a splash but focuses on Taehyung when he speaks instead.

“I hate that you’re smart like you hate that I’m rich. But if I had to pay the world to take back every time I’ve ever been called dumb, I’d do it even if it meant losing all of my money.”

It’s said softly but the pool house takes Taehyung’s voice and makes it echo across the walls. He still somehow looks light when saying it, though his eyes flicker with a pain that Jungkook feels in his chest.

“Tae -“

“Ah, ah,” Taehyung interrupts, bopping Jungkook’s nose. “I said I didn’t want to talk about it, baby. And don’t act different just because I told you. Forget I said it, yeah?”

Jungkook huffs at that. He definitely wants to talk about it more. He wants to know who called Taehyung that so he can glare at them and he wants to assure Taehyung that he isn’t dumb at all.

“I would eat nothing but crumbs the rest of my life if it meant my mother would be healthy and happy,” Jungkook replies. “So I get it.”

Taehyung is quiet for a moment, eyes moving over Jungkook’s face like he’s searching for what to say. He doesn’t say anything at first, but plants a soft kiss to the corner of Jungkook’s mouth.

“I hope you get that without having to starve,” Taehyung whispers. “Now, no more serious talk. Unless it’s about sex because I’d very much like to know your limits when it comes to -“

But Taehyung doesn’t get to finish as another splash sounds through the pool house and he is whipping around to investigate instead. His shoulders broaden as he moves, leaving Jungkook in the hallway as he turns around the corner towards the pool.

Jungkook follows after him, stopping when he finds a man padding away from the pool, feet slapping loudly over the tile. He has a towel over his head, drying out his hair and making it so Jungkook can only see his body.

A very revealed body as the man is wearing nothing but a speedo. He’s very strong looking, his thighs thicker with muscle than his own.

“What are you doing here?” Taehyung says, his voice ice cold and defensive.

The man reveals his face and a boxy grin on his lips that reminds Jungkook of Taehyung. The amusement in his eyes is the same, but nothing else. He’s very handsome with a strong jaw and thick eyebrows.

But Jungkook doesn’t pay his face any attention when he spots the tattoo on his shoulder, the same one that Cheol Su and his friends have.

“Abeoji said you were going to America with Eomma.”

Oh .

The man snorts loudly. “If Appa believes that, he’s just as dumb as you.”

Jungkook grits his teeth as he plants a hand to Taehyung’s back. Nerves rattle inside of him and he wants to say something but his mind is moving too fast.

He doesn’t know if Taehyung would be angry at him for telling off his brother and he knows Taehyung is uncomfortable with him knowing he hates being called that.

Plus, Jungkook can barely defend himself let alone someone as tough as Taehyung.

But Jungkook feels frustrated with himself that his tongue seems to turn to lead and his mouth isn’t opening like he wants it to.

“That doesn’t explain why you’re here,” Taehyung goes on, sounding unbothered. “Don’t you have some executive asses to lick?”

The man laughs. He looks a few years older than them and Jungkook tries to remember how old Taehyung said he was. If there’s a reason him and Cheol Su have the same tattoo.

“Appa said you have a babysitter. My interest was piqued,” the man says with a careless shrug.

Jungkook wants to hide behind Taehyung when the man’s eyes turn to him and Taehyung broadens like he wants that too.

“Kim Soohyun,” the man introduces. “And you are?”

“None of your business,” Taehyung grits out, hand waving out as Jungkook goes to side step him to introduce himself properly. “Enjoy your swim, hyung, we’re leaving.”

Soohyun clicks his teeth. “Not so fast! This doesn’t look like a babysitter. Perhaps the date you mentioned the other day? Can you speak?”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose at the condescending tone. “I’m Taehyung’s friend, Jeon Jungkook.”

“Friend,” Soohyun repeats, eyes zoning in on Jungkook’s neck. He throws the towel over his shoulder before crossing his arms. “You’re the tutor, aren’t you? Does Appa know you’re fucking him, Tae Tae?”

Taehyung growls at that, pressing a hand to Jungkook to guide him away. “Fuck off, hyung. Go jack off to milf porn or whatever it is that you hets do.”

Jungkook stumbles over his feet as Taehyung pushes him out of the pool house, the sound of Soohyun’s voice echoing behind him.

“Sorry,” Taehyung says as the cool outside air surrounds them. “He’s harmless, he just hates me. I’m sorry he talked to you like that.”

Jungkook shifts his fingers into his shirt but Taehyung is quick to retrieve them and clasp their hands together.

“He’s not harmless.”

Taehyung goes quiet for a minute. “They’re just words, baby.”

And Jungkook doesn’t press it, knowing Taehyung already knows how harmful words can be.

The mood shifts into something less carefree and when the sky outside turns dark and the rain begins to fall, Jungkook wonders if the earth is in tune with Taehyung.

He’s quiet mostly, curling onto the couch with his head on Jungkook’s lap. So quiet that Jungkook thinks he falls asleep until he laughs under his breath at the comedy they’re watching.

Even if the mood is down, Jungkook likes the softness of it all. He likes that Taehyung lets him play with his hair and even closes his eyes at the feeling. He likes when Taehyung turns to look up at him, a pout on his lips until Jungkook bends low and kisses him.

And he likes that Taehyung is comfortable enough to fall asleep with him.

He likes the feeling Taehyung makes him have, he just doesn’t know what to do with it.

The moment Jungkook agreed to tutoring Kim Taehyung was the moment Jungkook should have realized his life would be flipped upside down. Taehyung is chaotic, messing up his routine and sleep schedule. Distracting him from his work, and making him too confused as to what he should be focused on.

He has yet to be late to work since he’s started the job last year, it’s important for him to show that he’s a reliable employee. But when Jungkook’s head rolls back and his eyes find the clock, he jolts up from the chair with a panic filling him that his reputation has been shattered.

“What is it?” Taehyung yelps, startled from Jungkook’s sudden movement. He stops Jungkook from scrambling to pull his pants up, eyes alarmed.

Jungkook waves at the clock on the wall. “I - I was supposed, work at two. It’s almost three.”

Taehyung is frustrating, rolling his eyes and clamping his hands down on Jungkook’s shoulders to keep him still and attempting to shove him back into the chair. “It’ll take you way too long to get back to campus. You might as well call out.”

Never, has Jungkook ever done that and he isn’t trying to start now.

But since the incident with Taehyung’s brother and the quiet of the day before, Taehyung’s been more energetic than ever. And Jungkook finds himself wanting to help with that, making it so Taehyung doesn’t have to think about whatever it is bothering him the way Jungkook always does.

“I can’t,” Jungkook seethes. His body is pulsing from nerves and arousal, a flicker of it still inside of him from the way Taehyung had touched him between his legs while they kissed.

Taehyung snorts, relaxed as he pads lazily to where Jungkook’s phone had been dropped. “You should put a passcode on this. I read your thirst texts to Yoongi about me last night.”

Jungkook glares at Taehyung’s teasing grin. Those texts don’t exist, thanks.

Plenty of texts from Yoongi instructing him to use a condom and links on how to properly prep himself are there, though. Followed by awkward messages about how Jungkook can talk to him about sex if he ever wanted to.

He definitely needs a passcode.

Jungkook doesn’t wait to see what Taehyung is doing as he crosses the room to where he had put his stuff while he’s at Taehyung’s. He quickly pulls off his sleep shirt, but stops when he hears Taehyung speak.

“Jiwonie, it’s Tae.”

There’s a lightness in Taehyung’s voice that has Jungkook’s ears hot. The heat in Jungkook’s belly isn’t arousal or embarrassment; but jealousy.

“Jungkookie isn’t feeling too good,” Taehyung lies, even adding a sigh at the end. “Up all night at the hospital. Burning up.”

Jungkook groans, glaring at Taehyung but Taehyung avoids his eyes. He turns when Jungkook goes to grab his phone, ducking beneath Jungkook’s arms.

“Yes! That’s what I was thinking. Food safety, you know? No one wants fries dipped in influenza.”

“Taehyung -”

Taehyung kisses him, hugging the phone to his ear. Jungkook can distantly hear Jiwon speaking, but he’s distracted by the way Taehyung pushes his tongue into his mouth.

Taehyung hums in response to whatever Jiwon says, a soft ‘mhm’ rumbling from his throat as he sucks down on Jungkook’s bottom lip.

“Thank you for understanding,” Taehyung says breathily as he rests their foreheads together. “I’ll tell Jungkookie you said that.”

With a pleased smile, Taehyung hangs up and presses the phone into Jungkook’s chest. He keeps his hand there and Jungkook wonders if he can feel how erratic his heart beat is. “See? It’s easy.”

“You lied,” Jungkook complains, but the bite leaves his lips as Taehyung steps into his space and touches him like he had been before.

“Didn’t lie,” Taehyung hums, cocking his head as he says the words against Jungkook’s lips. “You are burning up, baby.”

Jungkook groans softly. Taehyung is going to be the death of him. The death of his career, his education, and himself.

“I can’t call out of work just for a BJ,” Jungkook grunts, but his body betrays him as he grinds up into Taehyung’s touch.

Taehyung snorts, nipping at his nose. “Then I’ll give you something else.”

The breath gets stuck in Jungkook’s throat as Taehyung’s other hand slips beneath his joggers, no hesitation in the way his fingers dip between his butt cheeks.

“Tae,” Jungkook gasps.

Taehyung is quick to pull his hands back, but Jungkook is burying his face into Taehyung’s neck to hide the embarrassment he feels as he guides Taehyung’s hand back between his cheeks.

“You better not be calling in any favors to get me off,” Jungkook breathes shakily. “Off from work and like, off off.”

Taehyung bites at his bottom lip, eyes on Jungkook as his fingers rub between his cheeks. It entices a sharp gasp from Jungkook’s lips that has his cheeks burning in embarrassment.

“Are you telling me what to do, Jeon?” Taehyung responds, voice rough and betraying the fact that he’s more affected by touching Jungkook than he lets on.

“No,” Jungkook gasps. He doesn’t know how to tell Taehyung he wants him all for himself. He doesn’t know if he’s allowed to say anything like that at all. “Just touch me.”

Taehyung grins. “Demanding. I like it.”

It’s just one day, Jungkook thinks. As hard as he works, he can afford just one day of relaxation.

The problem with ‘just one day’ is that when it’s said, it’s with good intention, with passion, with a denial that Taehyung is affecting him as much as he is.

One day turns out to be five. Jungkook only goes to one of his scheduled shifts at work, and barely even touches his essay. He doesn’t even think about the essay until he’s laying in bed, too tired to actually get up and do it.

Relaxing is exhausting.

Jiwon calls him out of work following his lie about being sick, and he seizes up with guilt when he shows up to his shift. He’s the kind of nervous wreck that has Taehyung teasing with the intent on calming him, but it only adds to his nervousness.

Taehyung appears half way through his shift, refusing to leave the booth despite not ordering anything with the insistence that being alone in an empty house is worse than being alone in a busy place.

But Taehyung isn’t alone in a busy place as Jiwon sits across from him, offering up a free plate of fries. If Jungkook almost breaks his fingers from punching in orders, it isn’t anyone’s business.

Jungkook isn’t surprised when Jiwon tells him he doesn’t have to stay to close.

He’s growing comfortable to it; the lazing around Taehyung’s house. The kisses, the touching, just listening to Taehyung talk about whatever. He shows him a lot too, cool photos online he found of different planets, claimed ufo sightings. He talks with an excitement that Jungkook hasn’t seen and it screws his heart over worse than it already is.

Taehyung listens as well, probing Jungkook with questions of home and things he likes. He only teases gently when they’re nerdy things; commenting on how only old people play Sudoku and if Jungkook’s sweater vest collection was stolen from the retirement home near campus.

Soohyun has yet to return again though Jungkook braces himself for his sudden appearance. It’s only ever Butler Kang, who tends to Jungkook too often despite Jungkook insisting he can make his own coffee and clean his own clothes.

It’s nice. And Jungkook hates that it’s coming to an end. That soon his day will be too filled with class, work, and track to laze around with Taehyung.

Even more so, as much as he’s looking forward to Taehyung’s confidence growing in school, he’s dreading the day the tutoring sessions end.

“Stop moving around so much.”

Jungkook bites his tongue instead of telling Taehyung off for being hypocritical. His scalp burns and he’s quite sure that is a bad sign. Not that he knows anything about this; but he knows the body is designed to feel pain when something is wrong.

“If all my hair falls off -”

“You’ll still be the sexiest man on campus,” Taehyung cuts him off, a grin in his voice as he combs the bleach to Jungkook’s ends. “It’s supposed to feel like that. Is it unbearable?”

Jungkook shakes his head, whining softly. It’s like a cool burn, tingling, but nothing too painful.

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

Taehyung presses a happy kiss to his cheek. “Next is a piercing, or a tattoo. Decide what you want, I’ll pay.”

“I am not,” Jungkook responds immediately.

At this point, he’s sure he’d give Taehyung anything he wanted.

“Mhm,” Taehyung hums, his disbelief clear in his tone, as he pulls a plastic cap back over Jungkook’s head. “You also said you’d never let me color your hair.”

“Because you’re the devil and have weird devil powers.”

Taehyung removes his gloves before he perches himself on Jungkook’s knees, flashing him a smile.

“I think you should get my name.” Jungkook sucks in a breath when Taehyung drags a finger over Jungkook’s hip. He would never get someone else’s name, but the idea still sends a whirlwind through him. “Or maybe Baby, right here.”

It tickles when Taehyung’s finger grazes over the dark hickey still staining his neck. His eyes light up, burning as he presses into the sore skin. “Yes. Definitely. Baby right there.”

Jungkook’s stomach swoops, just like it always does when Taehyung’s attention focuses on him. “I’ll look like I’m in a gang. Some dangerous gang leader’s most prized possession.”

Taehyung laughs loudly and excitedly. It makes Jungkook’s heart feel too much and his brain tire itself out.

“Not a gang leader. Mine.” Taehyung presses a kiss to his lips, cupping his hand over Jungkook’s neck. “Everyone on campus will know you belong to big, bad Kim Taehyung.”

It’s teasing, Jungkook is pretty sure. He can’t tell. His cheeks feel hot from Taehyung’s words and he isn’t sure if he means them the way Jungkook wants to take them. If it’s just banter, or if Taehyung really would call Jungkook his.

“I’m shaking in my boots,” Jungkook murmurs, amusement gone as the feeling washes over him.

“No more tall boys trying to take what’s mine,” Taehyung teases under his breath, kissing Jungkook before he can complain again about Sanha just being his brother’s friend.

By the time Jungkook is washing out his new hair, his lips are swollen from Taehyung biting them. He considers getting a piercing on his lip before he laughs, the sound vibrating off the bathroom walls.

“What’s so funny?” Taehyung asks where he leans against the sink counter. He’s wearing a mesh shirt again, this one smaller on him and showing his broad chest and belly button ring. He had a black jean jacket over it, the material ripped and torn but he discarded it somewhere else. He had pulled out combat boots to wear, insisting that Jungkook take him out to a club.

Jungkook agreed; he couldn’t not when Taehyung reminded him that he had been good all week and hadn’t snuck out.

Plus, Jungkook feels bad that he’s trapped inside even if the house seems like a dream to Jungkook. He doesn’t know what Taehyung has done to be punished, and he gets angry thinking it has to do with his grades.

Taehyung has shown tremendous improvement, even if it’s not all straight As and perfect attendance. And really the only thing Jungkook has down is show him patience and tried to find different techniques when the one he normally uses to explain don’t work.

It makes him wonder just what kind of tutors Taehyung had before.

“Just thinking,” Jungkook says, “about a lip piercing.”

Taehyung’s eyes light up with delight. “Oh please, please. One right here.”

He taps the middle of his bottom lip, eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Jungkook murmurs in embarrassment.

“We can get one together,” Taehyung goes on like he didn’t hear him. “A proper date. I’ve always wanted a tongue -“

“A date?”

The words slip past Jungkook’s lips before he can stop them. He burns hot immediately after words, worsening when Taehyung freezes with his mouth half opened.

“Yeah. I’ll get you food or whatever.”

Jungkook would laugh normally, but he’s still focused on the word date .

Taehyung seems to realize this a he rolls his eyes and grins. “Not a big deal, baby. Can I dress you again tonight?”

Rubbing a towel over his head, Jungkook hides his face behind it for a moment. He said date. He’s said it before too.

It really isn’t a big deal. He’s sure plenty of people go on platonic dates where they kiss and suck each other off all of the time.

Jungkook is suddenly stressed.

“Yes.”

Taehyung grins. “Look in the mirror.”

The hair is still wet, sticking out around his head. There’s dye smudged around his hairline that Taehyung swore he knew how to get off and a bit around the curve of his ears.

The bright red hair is alarming and Jungkook isn’t sure how he feels about it. He’s never colored his hair before.

“Isn’t it so pretty?” Taehyung asks, tucking his chin over Jungkook’s shoulder. “Fitting.”

Jungkook bites the inside of his cheek when Taehyung curls his arms around his waist from behind and presses their cheeks together.

Being around Taehyung feels like taking a breath for the first ever and getting choked at the same time.

“I’m not done.”

Jungkook groans when Taehyung swats his neck playfully and keeps him from moving. He sat through makeup, eyes watering before Taehyung gave up on the eyeliner. He is dressed in Taehyung’s clothes, his hair styled, he doesn’t know what else Taehyung can do.

Jungkook’s normal getting ready routine is a lot quicker. The most time is taken up by him trying to tame his bedhead.

The outfit is nice, though Jungkook feels a bit strange in it. The shirt he wears has a collar that dips so low, it shows off the beginning of his abdomen. Taehyung’s given him an oversized khaki jacket, a dark green color decorated in an array of black buckles, and a pair of black, ripped jeans that Taehyung had found buried in his closet. These aren’t as tight as the other jeans Jungkook has tried on, but they still hug his legs. Some of the rips are high up his thighs, revealing the bulge of muscle beneath them.

“Here,” Taehyung says, wandering back into the room with a sharpie in hand. Taehyung’s changed too; putting on a loose striped sweater that he has tucked into a high waisted skirt. There’s a belt tight around his small waist and his legs are covered in fishnets again.

Sometimes it’s hard for Jungkook to breathe.

Taehyung’s wrists tinkle from the bracelets decorating his arm. He has much more make up on than Jungkook does, his eyes dark with eyeshadow and his contacts a silver that contrasts oddly with his bright white hair.

He had tried to touch up his roots, but his normal blond hair looks more white than anything now.

Perhaps Taehyung is less of a devil and more of an angel.

Jungkook almost laughs at the thought.

“Tilt your head.”

And without asking why, Jungkook does. He remains still as Taehyung draws over his neck, the felt point of the pen bringing a tickling sensation to his body.

“Mmm,” Taehyung hums, rubbing his lips together before smacking them. “Yes, I like this a lot.”

Jungkook glances at the mirror, his face turning as red as his hair as he takes in the words written across his neck. Baby.

“Taehyung,” Jungkook complains, touching the word gently as not to smudge it. He likes the sight of it more than he’ll admit. “Your handwriting is so shitty.”

Taehyung giggles, eyes focusing on the obviously fake tattoo. He bites his lip hard, eyes growing dark before he presses a kiss to Jungkook’s lips. “I fucking love it. Come on. Let’s party.”

For once, Jungkook thinks maybe they look better together. More fitting in their dark colors and grunge-y clothes. He tries not to think about it, about Taehyung wanting him to dress in something other than his plaid shirts and button ups. The sweater vests he teases about but claims to love.

Jungkook feels good and he likes the way he looks like this. It just will take some getting used to.

The night air is a lot colder than he had expected but Taehyung still looks excited, closing his arms over his chest to keep himself warm. Jungkook attempts to shrug his jacket off but Taehyung swats it away. “We’ll be in a car, baby. It’s fine.”

Jungkook hasn’t yet had the chance to drive Taehyung’s car and it makes him nervous. He makes it to the end of the driveway before he jumps out, offering the keys to Taehyung.

“If I crash your car, I can’t pay to fix it.”

Taehyung frowns at him for a long moment. “No one would expect you to.”

“Please just - I can’t.”

Taehyung snorts, but he climbs out of the car and takes over the driving without another word.

It doesn’t help Jungkook’s nerves.

He isn’t sure why he even feels them; he’s been relaxed over Taehyung for most of the week. He’s gone to clubs before. Once maybe. Maybe it’s the outfit, the reveal of so much skin. Maybe it’s the way Taehyung keeps his hand cupped over Jungkook’s thigh, driving with one hand and risking their safety.

“You’re going to have fun,” Taehyung says, glancing away from the road to Jungkook. “I promise. If you don’t, we can leave.”

Jungkook nods, rubbing his fingers in the rips in his jeans until he touches his skin.

“Did you tell Yoongi I was taking you out? If so, Yoongi might rush home to make sure I’m not corrupting his baby.”

Jungkook huffs out a laugh. He did, actually. But he doubts Yoongi will rush home. “Not a baby.”

“My baby,” Taehyung hums, lips tilting up as he squeezes Jungkook’s thigh.

My baby. Jungkook might collapse into a heap if Taehyung keeps it up.

“He’s only worried about me because I don’t say no.” Jungkook nibbles on his bottom lip. “I let people push me into doing things I don’t want to do. That’s why I got my stomach pumped that one time.”

Taehyung sighs. “I hope you’re comfortable with telling me,” he says, and for someone who hates being serious, he looks intense now. “I think you should let yourself do more things, but I don’t think you should do anything you don’t want to do. Got it?”

Jungkook nods. He wishes he stopped making the situation serious all of the time. He breathes out, blowing until his cheeks are big and round. It falls silent as they drive, nothing but the music playing quietly from the radio.

Crowds usually make Jungkook nervous, but he doesn’t feel it with Taehyung’s hands on him. His lips taste like alcohol but Jungkook doesn’t mind. He takes a few sips of his own, just enough to feel warm and wash the anxiety away. He catches Taehyung stealing sips from his drink despite having his own but Jungkook doesn’t even worry about having to be the one to drive home.

Sometimes, being with Taehyung makes him not worry as much. In the moment.

The music thrums through him and he likes it; enjoys the way Taehyung grins into the kisses as he dances and holds onto Jungkook tight.

He even doesn’t mind the crowd; the looks their way and people seeing them together like this.

“Baby.”

Jungkook shivers when Taehyung nibbles at his ear, hips lazily grinding in time with the music. He’s beautiful under the neon lights; reflecting off his hair and making his skin glow. The sweater makes him sweat, his neck coated in it but Jungkook buries his face against Taehyung’s throat anyway.

“It’s hot,” Taehyung says, pulling from Jungkook and airing a hand towards his neck. Neither one of them dressed right; trying to fight off the outside cold air doesn’t work well for a sticky, hot club.

Jungkook bites on his bottom lip as Taehyung starts to pull the sweater from where it’s tucked beneath his skirt.

“Tae -”

Taehyung waggles his eyebrows, blowing Jungkook a kiss before he lifts the sweater off.

“What are you staring at? Dance with me?” Taehyung says with a cheeky grin, grabbing the hand Jungkook isn’t hold his drink with.

This week, Jungkook has often had Taehyung bare and intimate. Each time it overwhelms him, makes him feel like he’s on fire, suffocating from the smoke. Now is the same, his fingers tentatively gripping over the knobs in Taehyung’s spine. The sweater hangs in Taehyung’s hand as he throws an arm over Jungkook’s shoulder, working his body with a purpose that has Jungkook wishing he could strip from his own clothes.

When Taehyung touches him, Jungkook’s eyes flutter shut and he doesn’t think of the surroundings. He doesn’t think of anything but the way Taehyung’s hand feels cupping between his legs, and the smooth of his tongue licking over the sweat trailing from his neck.

“Oh baby,” Taehyung coos against his ear. “So shy, but would let me touch you around all these people?”

The touch is light; teasing, a question for more and Jungkook’s always liked that Taehyung asks before he touches him. He probably would let Taehyung do as he wants; even if he dies from embarrassment.

“Would you get on your hands and knees for me too? Right here in the middle of the dance floor?”

Jungkook groans, heat trailing down his spine. “I wouldn’t.”

“Baby,” Taehyung laughs. “You know how hard your dick just twitched when I said that?”

Taehyung grinds his hand down, teeth grating at Jungkook’s ear once more before he pulls away. “Cutie.”

It sounds like it would be mocking, but Taehyung says it with such warm eyes that Jungkook can’t be sure. He rubs a hand at the back of his neck, his palms just as sweaty as his throat. “I need the bathroom. Wanna get us more drinks?”

Taehyung pouts his lips, tugging on Jungkook’s jacket. “You’re supposed to invite me to the bathroom, Jeon.”

Jungkook huffs out a laugh at that. “I’m not doing sex things in a club bathroom, Taehyung. They’re dirty.”

The amused look returns. It hasn’t been around often anymore; replaced by something softer, warmer.

“Can I fuck you in my car then?”

“No,” Jungkook says, pinching Taehyung’s chin. “You can’t drive.”

“In my bed?” Taehyung breathes, warming his hands up Jungkook’s chest until his fingers are dipping into the collar.

Jungkook’s breath hitches when Taehyung stretches the material to touch his nipples.

“Just want to fuck you,” Taehyung hums, licking at his smile. “You can pick the place.”

It’s much too hot and stuffy in the club. Without responding, Jungkook presses a kiss to Taehyung’s lips and tries not to hightail it through the crowd so he can splash cold water on his face.

The idea of being with Taehyung like that has his body tingling, and not just from nerves.

It’s intimate; more so than handjobs and blowjobs. He knows in the grand scheme of things it’s all the same and not a big deal, but it feels that way.

And Jungkook wants that with Taehyung. Wants more than just his fingers, but to feel Taehyung inside of him. Even if the act makes Jungkook want to hide his face, he already feels a throb between his legs at the mere thought of it.

The cold water doesn’t help any. Jungkook stares at his red face in the mirror, the sweat collecting at his forehead and the fake tattoo on his neck, undisturbed by his damp skin.

It makes his belly swoop. He’d never get a tattoo, especially not one so visible, but being Taehyung’s -

Jungkook rips his eyes from his reflection before the anxiety can attack his chest. He soaks his hands in the cool water, teasing it over his forearms until he feels more at bay. He’s thankful he left the coat in the car, though he’s dreading leaving the club and being attacked by the cold.

The crowd isn’t as cozy when Jungkook’s alone. He shifts through it quickly, apologizing to those he bumps into though they don’t notice him.

It makes sense that no one notices him and he likes it. Likes less attention on him, likes when he can blend into the background.

The only time he doesn’t mind is during track. He’s too focused on running that it doesn’t phase him, but so often Jungkook is brought up to the front of the class to demonstrate or explain and it makes him want to drop out of school.

Jungkook doesn’t like that Taehyung doesn’t notice him, even if he doesn’t make a move to show himself more. He wonders how Taehyung even noticed him before the tutoring, remembered who he was. But Jungkook really shouldn’t have expected someone like Taehyung to notice him.

Even now, when they’re friends or whatever.

He’s beautiful, sweaty white hair clinging to his forehead. Body arched backwards as his pretty mouth falls open around a laugh. He’s being pulled back a second later as someone tugs a white shirt over his head.

Jungkook feels unsettled by the sudden sight of Jiwon. It should be because that’s his manager and he’s been the worst employee this week, but he knows that isn’t the reason.

Jiwon smiles big, bunny teeth popping out, as he secures the shirt over Taehyung, who is attempting to push him off but failing. Jiwon’s own bare torso tells Jungkook where the shirt came from and he turns on his heel, pushing back through the crowd.

The heat is overbearingly uncomfortable now, so much so. Jungkook is less polite as he pushes through the thick of it, irritated by the lack of space.

So irritated, that despite being a pacifist, his fingers clench into a fist when a hand grips hard onto his elbow.

His fist hovers in front of him as he takes in the sight of Cheol Su. He wears a dopey grin, the amusement in his eyes reminding him of how Taehyung used to look at him.

But different, colder. Compared to Cheol Su, Taehyung’s always amused look is more teasing and less malicious.

He wears a shirt that’s been cut jaggedly at the sleeves, showing off the ink on his shoulder. Everyone he runs with has them; a self proclaimed bike gang. At least, that’s what Yoongi calls it.

Jungkook hadn’t spent a lot of time with Cheol Su’s friends. Cheol Su always preferred it be just the two of them, but when he did - he always stood out.

He stopped wearing suspenders from how often Cheol Su would tease and snap them against his chest.

Jungkook feels like an idiot for falling for him whenever he looks back on it.

“Kookie,” Cheol Su greets, the slight slur in his voice telling him that he’s drank a lot more than Jungkook has. He isn’t even tipsy and if he were, the way his heart attacks his sternum would sober him up. “What’re you doing here?”

“I’m leaving,” Jungkook says, twisting his arm until Cheol Su loosens his grip. He can’t be touched right now by anyone, but especially him.

“Ah, you can’t leave yet!” Cheol Su exclaims, ignoring Jungkook’s discomfort and circling his arm around Jungkook’s shoulders instead. “We have some catching up to do! Let me buy you a drink.”

Jungkook’s heart thumps so loudly he’s sure Cheol Su can feel it. He feels stuck. He doesn’t even know where he was going since he can’t leave Taehyung here alone. He can’t leave as Cheol Su starts to pull him towards the bar, deciding for him.

**

Taehyung perches himself at the bar, his body throbbing with heat and energy. It’s a club he comes to sometimes, not often enough, and one that fits the dark, grunge aesthetic Taehyung was going for.

Jungkook looks so good in it, Taehyung’s been hard since they left the house.

“Who’s the new man?” the bartender asks, slipping Taehyung’s drink to him. Jungkook is terrified of driving his car but he’s going to have to. Taehyung is out to get shit faced. His mind has been too busy lately and he needs a break from it.

Even if getting drunk around Jungkook is dangerous business because Taehyung has loose lips and he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from confessing to Jungkook.

He’s already told him too much. Not just telling him how much he hates being called dumb, but Jungkook also witnessed it with his own eyes.

Fucking Soohyun. Dressed up in his fine clothes, neat hair and fake ass polite grin, while hiding the scars and tattoos that would reveal his party life beneath them.

Normally, Taehyung wouldn’t judge someone for turning their life around. But he knows his brother still dabbles in shit that would make their mother faint, and he’s such a hypocritical, judgmental asshole anyway.

Taehyung feels himself getting worked up thinking about it and he rolls his eyes hard until the thoughts go away.

“Is that any of your business?” Taehyung asks, flashing a smile to the bartender. He’s actually very friendly, pretty in a way that seems delicate and causes a lot of harassment, but also large tips from customers. But he had teased him for wearing Jiwon’s shirt, even if Jiwon’s intentions were only to keep him covered because the crowd around isn’t always the best.

Taehyung doesn’t really give a shit. Most of the people here either admire Yoongi or keep their tails tucked between their legs when he walks by. And everyone here knows Taehyung runs with Yoongi’s crew.

The bartender snorts. “Cheol’s here, was asking about him. You know Cheol and his fake bike gang think they run the streets of Seoul, know everyone and everything. See a new comer and come sniffing.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes. He still doesn’t know what Cheol Su did to Jungkook but he feels a bitterness towards him knowing he did anything. And it only grows worse knowing he’s poking into Taehyung’s business in regards to Jungkook.

“He’s one of ours, that’s all anyone needs to know,” Taehyung answers, fluttering his eyes towards the bartender. “You know Min Yoongi, Eunwoo-ssi?”

The bartender waves a rag over his shoulder, crossing his arms. “I sure do. Big fan. I heard he fucked up Cheol hard. Caused a rift here for awhile.”

Taehyung downs half of his glass before handing it over to Eunwoo to refill it. “Remind Cheol of that if he asks again, got it?”

Taehyung hates when his happy mood is ruined, and he’s suddenly annoyed. The mention of Cheol Su might ruin Jungkook’s mood too, he isn’t sure. He’s been in the bathroom for awhile. It had seemed to take awhile to ward Jiwon away before Jungkook could see and he has no idea how long he had been at the bar waiting for his drinks.

The sight of his boss that he’s been lying to about being sick could rattle Jungkook. Taehyung smiles, thinking of how flustered Jungkook could be if he had saw him.

The smile doesn’t last long as he worries his comment was too much, making Jungkook want to hide like he does when he’s overwhelmed. He can’t tell sometimes.

But he wants Jungkook to know how badly he wants him even if he can’t put the truth of it into words. He wants to feel Jungkook around him with their chests pressed together, wants to take Jungkook apart in the worst way.

Taehyung only makes it halfway through the crowd when a hand grabs him, stalling him. He’s a second away from throwing a punch, not in the mood to deal with someone who thinks they can touch him as they please, but halts when he sees Hoseok.

It’s surprising that Taehyung hadn’t noticed him. He’s wearing a neon yellow shirt with a matching neon pink hat tugged backwards over his head, causing his ears to fold over.

“What are you doing here?” Taehyung yells over the music.

“Yoongi wanted to surprise Koo,” Hoseok explains and Taehyung snorts so loudly it hurts. “But Jimin said we shouldn’t cock block. So we’re here. Don’t tell me you brought Kook to this club, Tae.”

Taehyung knew Jimin was his best friend for a reason. “Why shouldn’t I?”

Hoseok waves a hand aimlessly. “Not his scene. And he hates crowds like this. They don’t know him here, Tae. Even if someone made him the slightest bit uncomfortable it would cause a problem with Yoongi, you know that.”

Guilt washes through Taehyung. He is still trying to find out the right balance of being playful and not pushing Jungkook too much.

He had told him he doesn’t like to say no to people and Taehyung’s trusted that Jungkook doesn’t seem to have a problem with saying no to him.

And Taehyung has always had trouble assessing a situation before stepping into it, but Jungkook’s helped him become better at it.

He’s trying, and he feels frustrated that he still is messing up.

“And you really shouldn’t have left him alone,” Hoseok goes on, though he is soft as he ruffles Taehyung’s hair.

Taehyung doesn’t explain that sometimes Jungkook seems to need a moment to catch his breath, and he’s always trying to be aware of when those moments are.

“He’s in the bathroom,” Taehyung says.

After pushing through the crowd, Taehyung finds that Jungkook is not in the bathroom. It is as dirty as Jungkook thought it to be; but Taehyung still spots a pair of knees pressed to the ground and between two ratty sneakers in one of the stalls.

“Gotta find him,” Taehyung says as he steps out of the bathroom where Hoseok is. “Cheol Su is here.”

It’s frightening how quickly Hoseok’s face changes. It’s always bright except when Yoongi’s fighting or Cheol Su is mentioned. And Hoseok is sunshine; the friendliest person Taehyung knows.

It means Cheol Su really fucked up.

“Is anyone ever going to tell me what he did?”

If anyone is loose lipped, it’s Hoseok. He’s infamous for spreading gossip around campus which is why it’s surprising that Taehyung doesn’t know this.

Hoseok glances at him as they round the side of the crowd. “Total tool bag. Played Kook like a puppet, you know? We were at this party, Jungkook just started here, when he met Cheol. You don’t remember?”

Taehyung shakes his head, frowning when Hoseok frowns at him first.

“You were fucking wasted man, drunk or high I don’t know, but I’m not surprised you don’t remember. You told Yoons that you thought someone put something in Kook’s drink. Yoongi nearly tore the party down, ripped the cup from Kook and dumped it onto the floor.

“Kook hadn’t drank anything and Cheol swore he didn’t, but Yoongi was suspicious after that. Warned Kook to stay away from him. He didn’t, fell for him hard. Like, doodling his name in the margins of his notebook kind of hard.”

Taehyung’s stomach drops. He doesn’t remember that at all. He doesn’t ever remember even seeing Jungkook at a party before.

It’s hard to believe Jungkook has gone to a party before, without Taehyung pushing him to go.

It’s hard to believe Jungkook would fall for someone like Cheol Su. One of the reasons Taehyung won’t admit that he likes Jungkook is because Taehyung was sure Jungkook’s type was someone as on top of their shit as him.

“I don’t know exactly what happened but one night, Kook came over, upset because Cheol got mad at him,” Hoseok goes on over the music, gripping hard onto Taehyung’s shoulder to shout into his ear as they walk. “Something about how Kook didn’t want to fuck around at the time or didn’t want to have sex and Cheol was yelling at him for being a fucking tease and making him feel guilty for stopping.”

It isn’t just his bad mood or how the whole night since they’ve left the house feels like shit. This is different; consuming.

Rage makes the alcohol in Taehyung’s stomach churn.

“Next thing we know, Cheol Su is at the Club talking shit. Bad mouthing Kook and calling him names. Tellin’ too many people things that weren’t true, about how his whole stupid little biker gang had a turn. Yoongi lost it.”

Taehyung feels like he might. He walks faster, pulling away when Hoseok grabs his arm to stop him. He isn’t even looking for Jungkook any longer, but Cheol Su.

The rage inside of him only grows when he finds the two of them together.

Taehyung barely looks at Jungkook, only glancing at the way he shrinks in on himself before he shoves his body between them. They aren’t too close, but close enough, Cheol Su hovering over Jungkook where he presses himself into the edge of the bar, probably there looking for Taehyung.

Guilt makes his rage come out angrier. Hoseok is right; he shouldn’t have left Jungkook alone here. He doesn’t look like he fits even in the clothing, and some people see someone they think to be weak and hone in on them.

“What’s up Cheolie,” Taehyung says, reaching behind him to grab Jungkook’s hip and assure him he is okay. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

Cheol Su grins. He knows what he’s doing; pissing off Taehyung and he looks proud of it. “We’re just talking, man.”

Jungkook knots a hand beneath the shirt Taehyung wears, fingers knotting together against his spine so that Taehyung can feel the way he trembles.

“Go talk to someone else then,” Taehyung says, patting Cheol Su on the chest. The stupid fake fraternity tattoo is revealed on his shoulder and he wonders if Jungkook noticed Soohyun had the same. Both of them pretentious assholes in different ways. “Or better yet, go hop on that little bike of yours and fuck off.”

Cheol Su grits his teeth, fingers flexing over the bottle of soju he holds but the look quickly disappears. “Calm down, now. Can’t have a conversation? I won’t keep him long. You and Min’s posse can return to passing him around -”

Taehyung’s arm is hooking back before he even thinks of throwing a punch.

The volume of the music drowns out the crack but Taehyung feels the pain in his knuckles and shooting up his arm. He ignores it, fights off the arms wrapping around his waist to hold him back, mentally cursing Jungkook’s strength.

There’s commotion in seconds, people from the bar forcing themselves between, some cheering. Cheol Su’s fist barely makes contact with Taehyung’s jaw before Hoseok’s hand is coming down to punch it away.

It only lasts a second, but it feels like a million years before Eunwoo is shoving himself between the two of them, one hand pressed to Taehyung’s chest and the other Cheol Su’s. Taehyung’s tongue throbs from biting it, the metallic taste quickly coating his taste buds.

“Get the fuck out,” Eunwoo yells, turning his harsh words to Cheol Su.

Yoongi and Jimin appear through the crowd growing around them, their eyes wide in alarm but Yoongi’s quickly turn to daggers as they land onto Cheol Su.

Cheol Su lifts his hands in peace, eyes nothing but acid and poison when they look to Taehyung. The embrace around Taehyung tightens, and he fights against it when Cheol Su spits in his direction. Jimin’s there with a hand against his chest, eyes filled with warning.

Since they were little, Jimin’s been the rational mind of the two of them. Always down for adventure and risks, but he was the one to stop it from going too far. When he could.

Taehyung didn’t get into a lot of fights in school, but enough that people would learn to leave him the fuck alone. Him and his brother used to fight all the time when they were younger, but Soohyun is big and strong and wasn’t afraid to use that strength against him.

Jimin’s kicked his ass plenty of times though.

“Don’t,” Jimin says, eyes softening as he wipes at the blood collecting around the corner of Taehyung’s mouth.

“I’ll have Min force you out,” Eunwoo goes on, nodding his head towards where Yoongi approaches. If it weren’t for his eyes, he’d look relaxed with his slumped shoulders and the way he fiddles with the cigarette behind his ear.

Taehyung knows that look means he’s thinking about lighting it and stubbing it into Cheol Su’s forehead.

“He’ll break your legs, you’ll need the help.”

Cheol Su spits again, shoving Eunwoo’s hand roughly before he turns on his heel to flee.

Yoongi is shoving Taehyung off of Jungkook a second later. It adds to Taehyung’s irritation but he bites back his words because it’s Yoongi.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Jungkook insists, chest puffing out as he dodges Yoongi’s touch. “He really was just saying hello, I promise.”

“Would you kiss on it?” Taehyung snaps, tone coming out harsher than intended and he doesn’t realize it until Jungkook’s eyes grow wide. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say it like that. Seeing him near you really pissed me off.”

Jungkook huffs out, nostrils flaring out as he swats Yoongi’s hand away from his face. Yoongi falters when Jungkook even presses a hand to his chest to shove him back.

“You told him?” Jungkook snaps at Yoongi. A sharp breath leaves his lips as his fist comes up to press over his heart and fall limply to his side. “I made it clear that I didn’t want anyone to know.”

“Baby,” Taehyung starts, reaching out but he stops when Jungkook turns those narrowed eyes onto him.

“It isn’t any of your business what happened! I know you probably wanted to know for a good laugh, but it wasn’t any of your business!”

The sudden shift in the air is startling, the tension from Jungkook swallowing Taehyung whole. He can make out Hoseok cussing quietly before he’s pressing a napkin to Taehyung’s mouth, ignoring the way Taehyung tries to shove him off.

“The three of you treat me like a baby all the time and I’m not,” Jungkook goes on, growing flustered and concern roots itself into Taehyung as his eyes turn glassy. He doesn’t seem to be aware of the crowd still around him. “I can handle things, you know? I can - handle them.”

He’s not handling them. His hands are shaking, held out like he wants to prevent anyone from coming near. His breath comes out sharp, quick, and the moment his voice cracks Taehyung is pushing forward.

It is important for Taehyung to learn when Jungkook needs space, but concern fills him so quickly he needs to calm him.

He’s stopped by a hand pressing into his chest, smacking harder than he thinks Jungkook intended.

“If you think I would laugh at something like that -“

“You laugh at everything!”

It goes quiet as Jungkook looks to Taehyung in his eyes, showing him the panic and anger in them before he’s darting away from them.

Jimin grips onto Taehyung before he can follow after, and Taehyung considers shoving his hand off as he watches Yoongi and Hoseok push through the crowd after him.

The hold Jimin has on Taehyung doesn’t last long, but when Taehyung finally pulls free and pushes through the crowd, he can’t find them anywhere.

He heads for outside on a hunch Jungkook needed the cool air. He’s noticed how often Jungkook runs his hands under cold water at home, rubbing it up his arms and patting his red neck.

You laugh at everything!

Hasn’t Jungkook noticed that he has made changes? Has he forgotten that Taehyung hates serious things and can’t handle them?

“He’s fine, Tae. One time he snapped at Hoseok and hid out at my apartment for two days because he was embarrassed,” Jimin tries to tell him but Taehyung isn’t listening.

“Taehyung -“

Taehyung whirls around, breathing heavily. “Do you know what Cheol Su did?” he asks, waiting for Jimin to nod. “Well, what if he’s angry because he thinks that’s what I’m doing? What if I pushed too far when I didn’t mean to?”

Jimin softens, and Taehyung knows Jimin well enough to know it isn’t pity in his eyes, but his mind is already working overtime.

“I’m sure you didn’t.”

Taehyung sniffles, turning back on his heel to keep searching.

When they don’t find the three in the club and find Yoongi’s car gone, they hop into Jimin’s and head to Jungkook’s apartment.

It’s quiet, leaving Taehyung to the thoughts he’s usually able to shut off.

There’s an unsettling feeling in Taehyung’s chest. He doesn’t understand what made Jungkook so upset, so upset that he directed it at them. Protecting him from a dickhead isn’t babying him. Taehyung would protect anyone he cares about, even those who can protect themselves just fine.

And Taehyung knows how it feels. There’s been times when he felt Jungkook was shaming him when he wasn’t. It’s easy to understand if Jungkook thinks Taehyung’s teasing and flirting is the same as the pressure Cheol Su placed on him.

He understands why now Jungkook was so worked up the one time he pushed Taehyung away. He was expecting Taehyung to be angry.

It makes him sick.

Taehyung sighs. He’s never nervous, rarely anxious, but the sight of Jungkook and Yoongi’s apartment has his insides rattling with the unfamiliar feeling.

If his thoughts are true and he did do something to cause Jungkook to storm off, he should give him space but he ignores that and heads right for Jungkook’s room the moment Hoseok opens the door. He’s always been the selfish type and he selfishly needs to see Jungkook, to see if he’s calmed.

Apart of him needs to explain even though he knows he will choke up in his attempts to. Taehyung doesn’t confront problems, but Jungkook needs to see he would for him, even if it takes him practice.

Taehyung never needs anything from anyone, doesn’t ever let himself get too close because he can’t deal with the feeling of someone giving up on him. He needs from Jungkook; needs that confirmation that he isn’t so frustrated with him that he’ll be done with him too.

The door is cracked enough that he can make out Yoongi’s dark red hair. Jungkook’s voice filters out, quiet and choked.

“No, something is definitely wrong with me if my best friend can’t even tell me he’s in love.”

Taehyung stills. This isn’t a conversation for him.

“Jungkook, that isnt -“

But Jungkook doesn’t let Yoongi finish. “No, clearly there is. It’s not just that. I can’t even enjoy myself with Taehyung because it stresses me out. That shouldn’t stress me out. People fuck around with people all the time, it doesn’t mean anything. Yet I’m stressed because I’ve hated him since I met him -“

Taehyung is half pulling away when he stops, heart hammering from Jungkook’s words. He knocks hard on the door, announcing himself before he enters. Jungkook stops pacing around the bed where Yoongi sits, eyes blowing wide at the sight of Taehyung.

“Just wanted to make sure you were okay,” Taehyung grits out.

One thing that Taehyung has always excelled at is not letting himself feel pain. Or thinking that he’s able to protect himself from it. The moment the pressure hits his chest, he’ll close off.

He’s been struggling since the club, but the moment he hears the word hate, he closes down as easily as he used to.

“If you hated me that much, you should have told me,” Taehyung snaps. “Though, I don’t know what the hell that has to do with anything that happened tonight.”

Jungkook opens his lips to speak but it’s Yoongi that does, standing up from the bed abruptly,

“Tae -“

“Got it,” Taehyung interrupts, holding his hands up like a white flag. He doesn’t know why he left himself get so stressed and worried in the first place. “Don’t worry.”

Someone calls after him as he walks off, but he ignores it. He spots his keys thrown on the table by the door and he snatches them, dodging Jimin and Hoseok to push through the door

“Fuck it,” Taehyung grumbles as he presses his car keys into his palm hard enough it hurts.

**

When I heard Taehyung going on about his new toy, I didn’t expect him to be talking about you -

Him and I could have traded stories -

Jungkook stares up at the ceiling, wishing he could turn his brain off. His friends are right, Jungkook can’t handle anything.

Just the sight of Cheol Su made his emotions go haywire; the nerves, panic, fear. The anger that spurted out of him wasn’t towards Taehyung or his friends, but once he started spewing he couldn’t stop.

That's how his brain works; one bad thought comes in and then they just don’t stop.

There’s nothing that tells him he can trust Cheol Su’s words, but they make his chest ache anyway. They worsen the thoughts in his head, making them twist around like poisonous snakes until he’s convinced himself every thought is true.

“You’re going to be late,” Yoongi calls from outside his door. Up earlier than normal to check on him because all Jungkook does is stress people out.

The clock ticks beside him. Jungkook doesn’t care for once. He wants to skip out in his tutoring session. It feels like torture just getting himself out of bed to head there.

He’s dreading how awkward it will be. Taehyung always speaks his mind. And if he doesn’t, the silence between them will be conversation enough.

The worst part is he knew Taehyung heard him, heard him say how he used to hate him.

Which - wasn’t really hate. Annoyance maybe. But Jungkook stopped feeling that way a long time ago. Not that he can tell Taehyung. He’s learned from his mistakes, admitting he has feeling for someone that only wants sex leaves his heart shattered.

When Jungkook tried to ask Cheol Su when they could become official, he should have known. He had been a wreck of nerves with Cheol Su’s hands down his pants, and he had been ignored with kisses to quiet him.

But he ignored it, didn’t think about how wrong it was until Cheol Su was yelling at him for leading him on.

Has he ignored those same signs with Taehyung? He doesn’t think so. Taehyung is so different than Cheol Su, but at the time - he would have had said the same thing about Cheol Su.

But Taehyung never said he wanted more the way Cheol Su had. This time around, it’s more on Jungkook.

Seeing the way Taehyung’s eyes were void of that amusement and softness has been haunting him.

It takes some time but Jungkook finally pulls himself from bed and shrugs on something decent to wear. He avoids the mirror as much as he avoids Yoongi, ignoring the marks left behind by Taehyung and the smudge of Baby still staining his skin.

He grabs the bag of Taehyung’s clothes to return to them before heading out.

The air is cold and Jungkook hates the busy campus. The last week he’s been mostly to himself, just with Taehyung and the crowd makes him want to shrink in on himself.

His gut twists with dread when he enters the tutoring hall and finds the couch empty. The room isn’t though, Hoseok waiting by the receptionists desk despite never being here this early.

It makes the dread worse.

“I’m fine,” Jungkook says, waving Hoseok off when he approaches.

He doesn’t feel fine and he knows Hoseok knows that. He wants to feel fine, but when Jungkook enters the same room him and Taehyung always study in, he doesn’t think he’s going to be.

On top of the table is the backpack Jungkook had left behind at Taehyung’s house, his laptop beside it, and Taehyung no where to be found.

Chapter Text

Even when Jungkook is not running late, only having a small period of time between class and work makes him anxious enough that his body moves fast anyway. It’s worse when he has to sit still, when he has no choice other than to just wait .

Jungkook hates lines for that reason. The one he is standing in now is quite long, stretching across the entirety of the Admissions building though it feels as if it stretches across the entirety of the country. Impatience makes him fidget, fingers working tirelessly over each other. It doesn’t help that a be quiet rule has apparently been adopted and there’s only the soft murmurings of the other students floating through the room, leaving him nothing to be distracted by.

He’s usually allergic to waiting last minute, both with homework and paying bills. But he’s been doing a lot of things that are un-Jungkook like lately. Past Jungkook would have laughed at the idea of forgetting his tuition payment, because that was the only thing Past Jungkook ever thought about it.

Jungkook huffs out a breath, wishing Past Jungkook’s mind would come back. Past Jungkook had his shit together, didn’t allow pretty boys with annoyingly cute smiles distract him from what’s important.

When the line doesn’t move for what feels like an hour, Jungkook huffs in irritation and peeks around the people in front of him to find out what the hold up is. Whoever is at the receptionist desk seems to be having trouble and of course he is, because it’s Jungkook’s luck.

Jungkook squints through his glasses, taking in the pale green colored hair and the way the man’s body bends as he leans an elbow on the counter, body twisting like he may be flirting with the student behind the window.

It only takes Jungkook a second to realize who he is looking at before his heart starts to take off in a race. His hair is shorter, no longer covering the length of his neck, and now the color of mint chocolate ice cream. Before, he’d always wore the nicest of clothes to class. Now, he’s in a shirt that is much too large on him, fitted over slacks that seem just as big.

But Taehyung being Taehyung, he has the shirt tucked in the back, showing off the swell of his ass.

Jungkook feels his palms sweating as he drops his gaze to his feet. The ache in his chest is astounding, making his frustration with being stuck in line grow so rapidly it feels like he might run out and risk the late payment.

But Taehyung doesn’t hold up the line for too much time after that. He draws a heart against the glass with a finger before he saunters from the counter, wiggling his fingers towards the receptionist. Completely unbothered and unaware of Jungkook hiding behind the tall football player in front of him.

As much as Jungkook hates going unnoticed by Taehyung, it allows him to watch Taehyung as much as he can until he disappears around a corner.

Jungkook misses him. And it hurts even more knowing it’s his own fault he hasn’t been around. Again. Because Jungkook always does that and then regrets it.

It’s only been about three weeks since Taehyung has stopped showing up to their tutoring sessions. Jungkook no longer has his hopes up that he will appear, but he still goes there every other morning just in case. He hasn’t grown the courage to tell the President about it yet, but since the President hasn’t reached out, he’s figured Taehyung told him.

Sitting alone in the tutoring room is the only time Jungkook allows himself to think about anything. He’s begged for more shifts to make up for the ones he’s missed during vacation, making it so he’s too distracted to think about anything and is too tired when he comes home at night.

He uses that as an excuse to not talk to Yoongi, who still waits up every night and sits on the couch to do just that.

They haven’t. It’s Jungkook’s fault and eventually, Jungkook stopped going home so he could avoid Yoongi’s worried eyes.

After Taehyung leaves the line, it moves more steadily. It seems like no time before Jungkook is approaching the receptionist, paperwork and payment in hand.

“Jeon Jungkook,” Jungkook says before rattling off his student id number. “I have a tuition payment.”

The receptionist taps away, never making eye contact. He’s attractive enough, curls falling over his forehead and horn rimmed glasses perched on his nose. There’s ink scrawled up his arms and holes in his ear lobes that Jungkook could stick his finger through without problem.

He wonders if Taehyung was flirting with him. He fits Taehyung’s type more than Jungkook did.

Jungkook wonders if that’s why Taehyung always wanted to dress him up, so they could fit better.

“Mr. Jeon,” the receptionist says, finally glancing up at him, “it says here that your payment for November and December were already paid.”

Jungkook freezes, fingers tightening around the card. No. He never turned on automatic payments and he had just checked his account over four times while in line to make sure he actually has the right amount in there.

“That can’t be right. I - I haven’t paid them yet.”

The receptionist snorts, amusement in his eyes. “I think that’s called a blessing, man. Someone else must have paid it but you look panicked.”

Jungkook feels panicked. Where did the money come from? Did he pay it and forget? He’s been doing such un-Jungkook things lately, it wouldn’t be surprising if he can’t remember them all.

“Who paid it?” Jungkook asks, wishing there wasn’t a window between them so he could stick his head in and peek at it himself.

The receptionist squints his eyes as he reads despite wearing glasses, which are fake upon further inspection. “A card ending in 1230 is all I can tell you. There’s no other information.”

Jungkook frowns at that. Normal people would be thrilled, relieved. He can pay extra towards his tuition, something he’s never been able to do before. Or actually buy food, or pay Yoongi back for the back rent he’s owed him even though Yoongi’s promised him it’s fine.

But Jungkook knows he won’t touch a cent of it, too worried that this is all a joke.

There’s limited time before he has to work now that he had to wait in line, but Jungkook trucks across campus and to his apartment in a hurry anyway. His worry trumps his fear of talking to Yoongi, giving him the courage to push through the front door of his apartment and face him.

He isn’t alone but Jungkook only waves a quick hello to Hoseok on the armchair before turning onto Yoongi.

“Kook -”

“Did you pay my tuition?” Jungkook demands, breathlessly. “Because you can’t afford that. You have your own loan payments.”

Yoongi stares at him, confused, for what feels like an hour before he smacks his lips and shakes his head.

“No. I would if I could, you know that.”

Jungkook huffs out through his nose. He was sure it was Yoongi; a peace offering that he shouldn’t be the one to make. It’s Jungkook’s responsibility; he’s just a coward. “Well someone did.”

Slowly, Yoongi stands and Jungkook finds himself stepping back. Thousands of times this has happened; so often Jungkook has allowed his fears to make it so he’s hidden from his best friend.

Jungkook doesn’t know why Yoongi even puts up with him.

“Why are you upset?” Yoongi asks, gently.

He hadn’t felt upset until Yoongi mentioned it. His chest feels tight suddenly and he clenches his hands into fists as hard as possible to relieve it.

It feels like he’s been upset every minute of every day lately. More sensitive than usual. It’s like he told the world he can handle things and the world laughed in his face and set out to prove him that he can’t.

“Come get something to eat,” Yoongi goes on when Jungkook doesn’t respond. “We don’t have to talk about anything. Just spend some time with your hyung.”

“I have work,” Jungkook blurts. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your time with Hobi hyung.”

Yoongi sighs out, rubbing his temples. Hoseok just watches on, silent with his arm propped on the arm of the chair and rubbing at his lips.

It’s odd for Hoseok to be quiet. Jungkook did that.

“It’s - one of the reasons I didn’t tell you was because that,” Yoongi says, still soft as he waves a hand at Jungkook. “Nothing is different and I don’t want you to feel like a third or fourth wheel. This is your apartment, Hobi is your -”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Jungkook rushes out, eyes darting around because he can’t take Yoongi looking at him like that. He shouldn’t have come. He’s making it worse. “I really need to go.”

Hoseok calls after him when Jungkook turns on his heel, but he’s jetting from the front door before he can even get up from the chair.

Despite running, Jungkook gets to work late. He apologizes profusely, even when Jiwon huffs out a laugh and pats his shoulder like it’s okay.

“It’s dead tonight, Jeon. I think Junhoe and Yo-yo are in the back seeing who can throw a fry the farthest.”

It is dead, most of the booths empty. All except one.

Jungkook’s mood is growing worse as he takes in Jin’s face and the mop of minty hair across from him. He punches into the cash register, wishing someone else was on he could trade positions with.

Taehyung knows he works here. He shouldn’t be here unless he wants to make Jungkook feel worse.

Not that Jungkook’s ever made it so Taehyung would know how badly he’d be affected by them not talking.

It’s getting to the point where Jungkook doesn’t even know what happened anymore.

“Jeon. Go deliver this to booth eight.”

Jungkook glares at the tray Jiwon is holding out for him like the fries might jump off and attack him.

“Why?”

The frown on Jiwon’s face is understandable. Jungkook’s always done as he was asked and never questioned it.

“I figured you wanted to see your boy?” Jiwon hesitates, glancing down at Taehyung and back at Jungkook. “Or not? I could -”

Jungkook grabs the tray before Jiwon can deliver it himself. It shakes in his hands, just a small tremor but the way the box of fries vibrates on the plastic tray seems loud and obnoxious.

Jin spots him first, eyes lighting up as he waves his hand. The air leaves Jungkook’s lungs, time seeming to slow as Taehyung turns and looks over his shoulder.

It feels just as bad as the last time they saw each other. Taehyung’s face closes off just as quickly, lips pressing together as he turns back around and stares out the window,

“Hey - hey Jin hyung,” Jungkook greets, hoping his voice isn’t shaking as much as he feels like it is. “How are you?”

“Good,” Jin says as he grabs the tray before Jungkook can place it down like he’s supposed to. “You coming over again tonight?”

Jungkook tries not to glance at Taehyung, but he fails. Taehyung continues to look out the window,.

He can’t even stomach looking at Jungkook and Jungkook feels himself getting upset again.

It must be noticeable as Jin glances between them and his mouth sets into a grimace.

“Oh, of course, yeah,” Jungkook laughs awkwardly.

“You should go home some time,” Jin goes on, eyes soft. “I know Yoongi’s worried about you.”

This makes Taehyung look at him, thick brows stitched together and Jungkook clenches his fists into the pockets of his apron.

“I uh, I was just there, before I came to work,” Jungkook says. It isn’t technically a lie. “Everything’s good. It’s just, you and Namjoon’s is closer to campus.”

That part is a lie but Jin doesn’t call him out on it.

Taehyung won’t stop looking at him now.

“Um, anyway, enjoy -”

“Since when do you work Fridays?”

The sound of Taehyung’s voice has Jungkook’s heart beating up his sternum. He’s missed the deep rumble of Taehyung’s voice so much it feels like every word is stabbing him in the gut.

Maybe crush wasn’t the right word for Taehyung. If Taehyung were just a crush, it wouldn’t be still bothering him.

“I um, picked up an extra shift,” Jungkook says. He can’t look him in the eye or his own will turn glassy. He has the blue contacts in and Jungkook has always loved them, even though they made Taehyung more intense than he already is.

“Sorry,” Taehyung says blandly, fitting a fist under his chin. He’s much less bothered by Jungkook, an air of disinterest and lack of care surrounding him. “We wouldn’t have came if we knew.”

Jungkook grits his teeth. “Right. Well, enjoy your food.”

“We’ll take it to go.”

It’s impossible for Jungkook to respond with how tight his throat is so he only nods and turns on his heel. He hears the scolding tone of Jin’s voice as he rushes off, blinking back the tears that make his vision blurry.

Jungkook has not wanted to go home and cuddle his mother so bad ever in his life.

Usually exercise makes Jungkook feel a bit better. But after track practice, he feels worn down and exhausted. His belly rumbles with hunger, his legs ache as much as his chest does, and he feels like he’s a second from breaking apart.

As often as he’s felt this way, he has never crumpled completely. This thought helps him through; reminds him that he may be weak but he is still strong.

After the week he’s had, Jungkook doesn’t feel strong this time.

“Hey, Kook!”

Jungkook is strong enough to go to track practice even though Jimin is there and Jimin doesn’t accept Jungkook’s avoidance as much as Yoongi and Hoseok do. He needs to focuses on these things instead of continuously putting himself down for things he can’t control.

It’s easier said than done.

“Hyung is making barbecue tonight. Will you be there?”

Jungkook shoves his things into his duffel bag, busying himself so he doesn’t have to respond.

Jimin doesn’t accept it, grabbing his shoulder so his presence is known. “You should come. If you’re not working.”

“I’ve had a really shitty day,” Jungkook breathes, adjusting his glasses. “I might go for a walk. Kind of want to be alone.”

Jimin frowns at that. He presses a hand to Jungkook’s forehead, insisting on it when Jungkook tries to dodge it. Jungkook finally gives in, knowing he won’t be able to get out of this until Jimin can make sure he isn’t hot and clammy.

“Is this about Taehyung? Because he’s also been in a shitty mood lately.”

“No,” Jungkook lies, backing up until his back smacks into the locker he didn’t realize he was standing so close to. The knob of the lock digs into his back and sends a sharp pain through him. “I didn’t do well on a really important assignment and I miss my mom, so. Yeah.”

Jimin grabs Jungkook’s shoulder, pulling him into a hug.

“He misses you,” Jimin whispers. “Taehyung and your hyungs. It wouldn’t feel so hard if you let them back in.”

Part of Jungkook knows Jimin is just trying to make him feel better, but he wishes Jimin would just drop it. It had the opposite effect, making his heart even worse.

“Right. I’ll see you,” Jungkook says, avoiding the sad look Jimin sends his way. He hates pity more than anything.

It’s become a routine of his to show up at Namjoon’s doorstep at the end of the day. With his avoidance issues, he hasn’t had another place to go. Namjoon doesn’t seem to mind, even leaves the door unlocked for him when he is home.

Namjoon doesn’t lecture him about going home and doesn’t probe more than a simple ‘how are you’. Jungkook is waiting for the day it comes, but so far so good.

The only downside is when he wakes up to Namjoon’s not so quiet moaning floating through the house. At least he has the decency to look embarrassed when he comes out, unlike Jin who gleams with pride.

He finds Namjoon on the back porch, book in lap. There’s a heater plugged in, keeping the cold winter air out. It seems like a waste of energy but Jungkook is under the impression either Namjoon or Jin are loaded.

Rich people waste things; Jungkook is trying not to let it bother him.

“Wanna smoke?” Jungkook greets, slumping onto the couch.

Jungkook has been smoking too much lately.

Namjoon grins. “I’m going to Yoongi’s in a little. You coming?”

Rubbing his sweaty palms over his thighs, Jungkook shakes his head. “I have too much work. I really need to focus. I - I haven’t been doing well.”

Namjoon frowns at that as he carefully lays his book to the side and pulls open the drawer in the table between them, where he hides his stash. It rattles when it’s opened; filled with trinkets that Jungkook has learned Namjoon picks up like a magpie finding something silver.

“Grades?”

Jungkook huffs out. He can’t say the words out loud so he digs in his bag, pulling out the paper he had gotten back today and flopping it onto the table.

“Today has been shit,” Jungkook huffs. “This topped it off.”

There is judgment in Namjoon’s eyes, he thinks, as Namjoon glances at the paper and then curls his fingers towards him.

“I’ll be late to dinner. Let me get some snacks and then tell me what’s going on.”

For some reason, Namjoon’s silence makes it easy for Jungkook to talk. Sometimes too much. Maybe it’s because they still don’t know each other that well. Maybe it’s because Namjoon always has Jungkook rant while he’s smoking. He knows once Namjoon and him get to know each other better, Namjoon will be less quiet and more willing to advise. Jungkook’s dreading it.

But either way, once Jungkook starts talking to Namjoon, he can’t stop.

“It is like one thing after another. Why can’t it ever just be one bad thing at a time?” Jungkook rants, voice tight. “You know what I mean?”

Namjoon watches him from where he sits, never interrupting. He’s so quiet that Jungkook can’t be sure he is even listening, but he’s word vomiting. Jungkook is word vomiting and he can’t stop. He’s talking so quickly he feels breathless and light headed, or maybe that has to do with the fact that he’s had no time to eat anything today and he’s running on about an hour of sleep.

“I haven’t gotten anything under an 86 in like, I don’t know, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a grade that low.”

The cursed paper is sitting on the table between them, hidden amongst the snacks Namjoon had brought out for comfort food and the ashtray that’s slowly being filled. He wishes he could stamp the butt of the blunt right over the bright 83 on the top.

Jungkook snorts at the ‘great job, Jungkook’ his professor wrote beside it. A joke. She had torn the paper apart, made Jungkook feel like he’s never strung more than two words together before nor know a thing about sustainable food energy, and then said great job.

The worst part is Jungkook knew he wouldn’t do well on this paper. He was supposed to work on it the week he spent making himself look like a fool in front of Taehyung instead.

“Dude,” Namjoon interrupts finally, laughter in his voice as he pushes up and grabs the blunt from Jungkook’s fingers. “I don’t want to sound rude or dismissive, but it isn’t a big deal.”

Jungkook scoffs at that. He hadn’t expected the lecture to come so soon. Maybe Namjoon is more tired by him than he lets on.

He has no where else to go.

“That’s hardly going to affect your GPA and I bet with the ass kissing you do, you’d be able to weasle some extra credit out of your professor to bring your grade up before the end of the semester,” Namjoon goes on, waving aimlessly. “And I wouldn’t consider someone paying your tuition a problem .”

There is judgement in Namjoon’s eyes and Jungkook glares at him until he laughs.

“Tae was right, Kook-ah. You really do stress yourself out too much.”

Jungkook goes still at the mention of Taehyung’s name. No one has yet to ask him about what happened, and that’s all thanks to Jungkook’s avoidance problem.

“You um - he. When did he say that?”

Namjoon doesn’t seem to catch Jungkook’s nerves, and maybe he’s too high to even voice them properly. “The other day. He came over and saw your schedule on the calendar. Which, dude, why did you put it there?”

Jungkook blanks at that. Taehyung had said he didn’t know Jungkook was working Friday, had he been lying? “I put it there in case Yoongi hyung asks where I am.”

Namjoon just stares at him. “You know, if you talked to him, you could probably go home and sleep on a bed. Not my couch.”

Jungkook quickly stands, not hearing Namjoon’s sigh before he grabs Jungkook’s arm. It makes him dizzy, and he grabs a bag of pretzels when he’s forced to sit down but he’s feeling too sick to eat them. “Sit down. I’m fine with you being here, Kook-ah. But I also know that Yoongi hyung is upset that you’re not home.”

Guilt washes into Jungkook in waves. He curls in on himself, sticking his hands between his clenched thighs.

“I know you probably don’t mean it this way and he probably knows you better than me, but he told me you haven’t been home since he told you about his relationship,” Namjoon explains softly.

And no . That isn’t why he hasn’t been home. Yoongi must know that. Is he avoiding talking about it? Yes. Is it because he doesn’t accept it? No. He’s tremendously happy for his brother.

“Which is kind of shitty. Yoongi’s been nervous about telling you for as long as I’ve known him.”

Jungkook blanches at that. Yoongi’s never nervous. And how long has Namjoon and Yoongi known each other?

He’s always been fine with Yoongi not telling him. He understood why he didn’t, but he didn’t realize it was something Yoongi was keeping from him for so long.

“I have avoidance problems,” Jungkook blurts, words coming out quickly because no. No, that isn’t why Jungkook hasn’t been home and he prays Yoongi knows that. The idea of him not has him feeling so sick he feels as if he could pass out. “I get embarrassed about being upset and then it’s hard for me to look at whoever I got upset in front of in the face again.”

He’s getting upset now. Namjoon must know by the look of alarm in his eyes. He’s quickly stubbing out the blunt into the ashtray but Jungkook shakes his head when he comes near. He can’t be touched.

“Because I don’t make sense when I’m upset and the moment one thing bothers me, my brain reminds me of every other single fucking thing that bothers me until I feel like I’m drowning. And I’ve been drowning, hyung.”

Namjoon is touching him and he can’t be touched. He shoves off Namjoon’s hands just for Namjoon to intertwine their fingers and squeeze them. It feels like his whole face is throbbing with the force of his heart beat.

“Hey, breathe, Kook. It’s cool. You’re cool, man. Focus on my touch, not your thoughts.”

Jungkook feels lightheaded and his inhale doesn’t feel as if it’s going deep enough. His chest aches from his attempts and there’s a stuffy feeling behind his face.

He can’t get upset in front of Namjoon. He’ll have nowhere else to go.

“I have to go.”

Namjoon doesn’t let go of his hands, but strengthens his grip on them. He’s stronger than he looks. “Not until you calm down. Breathe through your nose.”

Aggravation fills him as he tries and can’t. He chokes on it instead.

No one understands this. That it isn’t easy for him just to calm down or just stop thinking. It may be well intended but it makes him feel worse .

“That’s - that’s why I haven’t gone home. Because Yoongi should have been able to tell me, me - his best friend. And - and when he did, I - I still made it about myself. And I’m starting to realize how - how fucked up I am and - and I need to fix it and not - not ruin it, but I can’t.”

His glasses are fogging up and it isn’t until then he realizes he is crying. He doesn’t even know what he’s trying to say, growing more and more frustrated with himself.

Embarrassment makes him want to run and Namjoon is letting his hands go, saying something that is muddled in Jungkook’s ears, but Jungkook is stopped before he can fully stand.

Through his fogged glasses, all he sees is mint before they’re being pulled from his face. The pain in his chest intensifies as Taehyung’s blurry face comes into view and the scent of vanilla washes through his nostrils.

“Hey Jeon, calm down,” Taehyung whispers, palms cupping Jungkook’s wet cheeks. “Breathe through your nose. Like this.”

Jungkook’s body is thrumming with nerves as he watches Taehyung’s chest broaden as he inhales. He follows suit, eyes on Taehyung’s mouth because it’s easier to look at than his eyes when he exhales.

It doesn’t make his chest feel any better and his body still trembles from the after effects of panic, but he can breathe.

Taehyung’s hands are on his cheeks and he’s there, watching him cry.

“I need - I need to go,” Jungkook says, even though there’s a thousand different things he’d rather say. He is going to throw up and he’s already embarrassed himself enough, he doesn’t want to mess up Taehyung’s probably very expensive pants by throwing up in his lap.

Taehyung’s touch is gone then and Jungkook wants it back. He stands up in a rush, desperate to get out. He feels like he’s being pulled and tugged in two different places at once. Part of him wanting to push into Taehyung’s embrace because somehow he’s became that person for Jungkook, and the other part of him wanting to run far away as possible.

But Jungkook doesn’t get to do either as he stands and his head spins as if the world is turning around him. There’s lights at the corner of his vision before his breath swoops out of him and he falls.

**

Since school has started, Taehyung has hated it. He never thought he could hate it more, but then Jeon Jungkook came along.

Now, sitting in class and trying to focus doesn’t just make him feel bad because he’s dumb, but everything reminds him of Jungkook.

He swears he can still feel Jungkook’s touch, hear Jungkook’s voice, even though it’s been weeks.

He doesn’t want to forget it; what it feels like, how he sounds. But life is giving him something else he never asked for.

God, he sure did never ask for Jungkook but he had been happy to have him.

Taehyung groans at the intrusive thought, trying to push it out and capturing the attention of the students around him. Even his professor goes quiet and searches for the source of the sound.

“Mr. Kim. Is everything alright?”

Taehyung groans again, this time low and pained as he clutches his stomach. “I think I am going to be sick.”

Most students would get a sympathetic look, a soft tone when told to go to the infirmary. But Taehyung gets narrowed eyes and a pursed lip.

“Drinking excessively is bad for your health, Mr. Kim.”

Taehyung stands, throwing his bag over his shoulder. Whatever. It’s not like he ever gave anyone a reason to think differently.

“Putting your nose in other people’s business and being a judgmental asshole is also bad for your health, Professor. Ciao.”

There’s a rumble of noise from the class and the professor starts sputtering, but Taehyung doesn’t spare them another second as he leaves and lets the door slam behind him.

The hallway is empty as everyone is in class and the sound of his angry stomping echoes around him. He slows when he spots a familiar face, eyeing Jungkook inside the class with lab glasses strapped over his regular glasses.

He’s attentive to the professor, scribbling down in his notebook without even looking at what he’s writing.

Taehyung has to stop himself from pressing his face into the window to watch Jungkook better.

He jerks himself away, whipping out his phone to find somebody, anybody to make him feel less alone.

It takes awhile to track someone down, but finally he finds Hoseok walking out of the English building. Hoseok yelps when Taehyung jumps onto his back, feet skipping over the sidewalk and nearly falling.

“If I die, you’re a dead man,” Hoseok grunts but there isn’t as much bite in it as he probably intended there to be. He even ruffles Taehyung’s hair again. “Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”

Taehyung pulls away, stretching his arms out as he breathes in the cold air. “I’m going to lay down some words of wisdom for you, Hobe-man; fuck school. Fuck going to class. Fuck pretentious professors and know it alls who turn their nose up at you because they know what the hell nomenclature means.”

Hoseok doesn’t say a word, quietly following after him and Taehyung misses the way his lips press into a frown.

“I don’t want anything to do with something that starts with ‘no men’,” Taehyung goes on, “you know what I mean?”

He turns around then and stops when he finds Hoseok a few feet behind him, his frown full force.

“What?”

“What?” Hoseok repeats, gripping the straps of the backpack he wears as he closes the space between them. “What’s been up with you lately, man?”

Taehyung’s chest heavies. “Nothing. Living life like always. Today’s actually a good day. Pops has yet to call me an idiot but after -”

Taehyung is cut off when Hoseok’s hands come crashing down against his cheeks, pushing them in until his lips pucker out. It doesn’t hurt, but the worry in Hoseok’s eyes does.

“Don’t say that word. Honestly, what’s going on? Is something going on at home? Is it the same reason Jungkook has been looking like a zombie and refusing to talk to Yoongi or I?”

The feeling worsens . He knew it would be hard to rid every trace of Jungkook from his life, not that he’s tried. But it’s even harder when two of his best friends are Jungkook’s too.

He knows Jungkook has been avoiding going home after demanding Jin explain what he said to Jungkook at the burger place. But he’s quite sure that has more to do with Jungkook finally confronting Yoongi’s relationship, not what happened between him and Jungkook.

“I’m cool,” Taehyung lies as he shrugs Hoseok off. Hoseok doesn’t give up though, squeezing his cheeks until they hurt and pulling him down to kiss his forehead. “I promise. I’m cool.”

Hoseok finally lets him go but Taehyung isn’t sure he believes him. “I worry about you, Tae. If it’s family stuff, you know you can stay at mine as often as you want.”

And risk seeing Jungkook even more?

Taehyung has always felt the world to be cruel. But if he put himself in that place, it would be his own fault he would be tortured.

“Just say you want me to pay your rent and go,” Taehyung says instead, voice light so Hoseok knows he’s joking. “You can be my sugar baby if you promise to keep Yoongi from killing me.”

Hoseok grunts as he elbows Taehyung in the side. “If it’s Jungkook stuff, please tell me what’s going on.”

Taehyung hesitates, fiddling with his fingers. Even that reminds him of Jungkook.

At work, Jungkook had looked awful. He wonders if he’s eating, sleeping. He wonders why he cares when Jungkook hates him so much.

“He probably hasn’t came home because he just found out his two best friends have been fucking for like five years and never told him.”

The way Hoseok’s face changes into one of sadness has Taehyung regretting saying anything.

“Do you think he’s angry? He’s never been angry at us before. Especially not that angry.”

Taehyung thinks he doesn’t want to talk about Jungkook. “No, I don’t think he’s angry. I don’t know. He hates me -”

“He doesn’t hate you.”

“ Anyway ,” Taehyung grunts desperately. His palms might start sweating like Jungkook’s do. Maybe that’s a symptom of Jungkook withdrawal. “I do know that talking about it makes Jungkook nervous so you’re going to have to force him. I know he panics and gets stressed easily, but you might have to do it anyway.”

It falls quiet after that and Taehyung sighs, his need for a distraction being unmet.

“Come to mine today. We’re making barbecue,” Hoseok finally says. “And do as you advised, confront Jungkook and make him listen.”

Taehyung snorts. “No thanks. I don’t have anything for him to listen to.”

Hoseok sighs, hooking their arms together. “Come on. We’ll go get him. And you can tell him you love him and I’ll tell him not telling him was all Yoongi’s fault.”

It’s a joke but Taehyung doesn’t laugh. The word love rings around in his brain, too loudly. He didn’t love Jungkook, it wasn’t that yet.

But he wanted to.

The first thing Taehyung hears when he picks the lock to Namjoon’s door is Jungkook’s frantic sounding voice. It ignites a worry inside of him that is so strong he forgets the need to avoid Jungkook, he forgets his annoyance that Hoseok brought him to him after Taehyung insisted he didn’t want to see Jungkook.

It frazzles him, seeing Jungkook. It frustrates him that he stops in the doorway, unsure if he can calm Jungkook the way he used to. That he isn’t the one holding Jungkook’s hand, but Namjoon.

Taehyung forgets it all when Jungkook whips around and he sees the tears streaming from his face.

It’s intense, his fear, when Jungkook tumbles backwards and he barely catches him, his hands coming beneath Jungkook right before his head hits the edge of the couch.

It’s chaotic, the way Hoseok tries to shove Taehyung off of him, his voice loud as he yells for Namjoon to call Yoongi.

It’s dangerous, how quickly anger flushed through him when Hoseok manages to shove him off.

“Come on, Kookie,” Hoseok huffs, the panic clear in his voice though it’s obvious he’s trying to restrain it. He guides Jungkook onto his back, waving at Taehyung away before he grabs his legs and start to lift them. “Wake up, baby.”

Jungkook’s eyes open but they’re quick to roll back again. He groans low and deep, the sound punching Taehyung in the gut.

Namjoon’s blabbering something but Taehyung can’t focus; can’t think. He doesn’t know what to do in this situation, but he doesn’t think yoga is the answer.

“Keep him laying down,” Hoseok orders out quickly as Jungkook attempts to lift himself.

“I’m fine,” Jungkook wheezes, giving in beneath Taehyung’s gentle touch. “Just fine.”

“Not fine,” Taehyung grunts, patting his cheeks. No one seems to be in the mindset of calling an ambulance and it’s frustrating. He isn’t positive Jungkook didn’t hit his head. “Open your eyes.”

Jungkook squeezes them closed instead.

“We need to take him to the emergency room,” Taehyung grunts. “You should have called an ambulance.”

For the first time in a long time, Taehyung is understanding what it feels like to panic and why Jungkook avoids it.

“Do you know how expensive ambulances and the ER are?” Hoseok breathes. “He used to pass out often in high school. Worked himself too much. We never called the ambulance because he never wanted his mother to know. Joon, fetch me some juice please.”

All this time, Taehyung had felt like the dumb one and Jungkook a genius. But that’s the dumbest thing he’s ever heard.

“Just -” Hoseok huffs out, glaring at Taehyung. “Just keep talking to him. I know what signs to look for to see if he needs the doctor.”

For the last few weeks, that’s all Taehyung truly wanted to do. But not like this. He’s nervous to now, hand hovering over Jungkook’s face before he clamps it down.

He hates the way Jungkook feels cold and clammy.

“Hey baby,” Taehyung says softly, rubbing at his cheek. “Open your eyes for a surprise.”

Jungkook does, his eyes unfocused for a moment before they’re glaring onto Taehyung. He looks almost angry, nose wrinkling and lips curling at the sound of his name.

Taehyung grins but it feels too forced. “Surprise. You ever see someone so beautiful?”

With another groan, Jungkook hangs his head back and tries to pull his legs from Hoseok and away from Taehyung.

“Slowly,” Hoseok says and Taehyung helps, securing a hand to the back of Jungkook’s head to help him sit up.

The moment he does, Jungkook breaks down.

“Hey,” Taehyung tries, but Jungkook is blocking him with a trembling arm. He chokes out, chest heaving.

Hoseok attempts to bring a glass of juice to his lips, rubbing at his back, but Jungkook is trying to shove him off too.

Taehyung can’t watch it.

“I’ll - I’ll get something,” Taehyung says in a rush before he darts out of the room.

The tremor in his hands is frustrating as he paces around in the other room, trying to figure out what to do and how to do it. He isn’t good at these things.

A shout startles him, his heart racing and eyes clenching closed. It continues, a mix of Jungkook and Hoseok’s voices. He tries to focus on the tone, but it’s his parents’ face that pop up into his head.

Get away from me, get away from me!

Taehyung used to scream that at them until his throat hurt. He hates the way Jungkook sounds when he screams it. He hates how desperate he sounds, begging for his best friend to leave him alone.

“Tae start my car,” Namjoon says, jogging into the room he’s in and tossing the keys. “Meeting Yoon at the infirmary.”

For once, Taehyung can’t stomach the sight of Jungkook. He’s an earthquake, sobbing softly and rubbing at his hands and thighs erratically. His breath comes out sharp and Taehyung wants to touch him, but it took too long for them to calm him enough to get in the car.

The silence probably makes it worse but Taehyung doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t think he should even be here.

He doesn’t want to leave Jungkook’s side.

The first sight of Yoongi has Jungkook’s breath coming out harsher, panicked. He waves Yoongi off but Yoongi ignores it, grabbing his cheeks.

When Jungkook’s knees buckle, Taehyung grabs his waist in fear of him falling again.

“I’m not positive he didn’t hit his head when he passed out,” Taehyung says, but Yoongi is so focused on Jungkook, he isn’t sure he’s even heard.

Jungkook is being pulled away them by a doctor and the receptionist a second later. Yoongi won’t let go of him, leaving the three of them standing in the waiting room.

Taehyung feels like he’s going to be sick or pass out himself.

“Fuck,” Hoseok groans, rubbing a hand down his face. “Fuck, fuck, fuck. That scared the shit out of me.”

There’s a tremor in Taehyung’s hands. He’s never afraid. Never that afraid. And if Hoseok has seen it before, often, he knows it isn’t something one gets used to.

“Jungkook hasn’t had a panic attack in a long time,” Hoseok huffs, fingers working over themselves as he starts to pace. “I think he’s having a mental breakdown. I’m going to have a mental breakdown.”

Taehyung reaches out, taking Hoseok’s hand into his own. It doesn’t calm him but he huffs out and curls into Taehyung until his nose is pressing into Taehyung’s shoulder.

It stays quiet until the echoes of feet have Hoseok yanking away.

“How is he?”

Yoongi storms into the waiting room like he’s on his way to murder. He wracks a hand through his hair, his face so pale Taehyung worries he’s the next to pass out.

“Kicked me out. Gonna sedate him or something because he can’t calm down. I don’t know, I barely heard Dr. Jung,” Yoongi huffs, rubbing his hand over his face next. “What happened?”

All eyes turn to Namjoon, who’s hands immediately lift up in defense.

“I don’t know. He was upset when he came over and I think I made him more upset but he talked so quickly, I couldn’t understand him.”

“Has he been eating?” Yoongi asks, eyes growing with worry.

“I don’t know.”

“Sleeping?”

“I don’t know ,” Namjoon snaps, the tension in the air already palpable and wearing at all of them. “I let him crash on my couch. I don’t babysit him.”

“Sorry. I’m sorry,” Yoongi says immediately. “Kook stretches himself too thin. I should have forced him to come home so I could have noticed he was spiraling.”

It isn’t Yoongi’s fault, but there’s a guilt in his eyes like he thinks it is.

“He picked up extra shifts at work,” Taehyung supplies. “And he would have convinced you he was fine anyway. Not your fault.”

Yoongi nods at that, rubbing at his jaw. “I need to talk to the doctor. You guys should go.”

Hoseok makes a strangled noise at that. “I’m not going anywhere, babe. You should know that.”

Eyes turn to Taehyung but he clenches his jaw, folding his arms over his chest. He’s not going anywhere either.

He’d be truly dumb if he were to pretend that even after all these weeks, he doesn’t still feel too much for Jungkook. It wasn’t even the situation that made him realize it, he always knew it.

And he can deal with Jungkook hating him as long as he lets Taehyung take care of him. He’ll learn what to do; he’ll research it or something.

“Namjoon-ah, take Taehyung home then,” Yoongi sighs. His eyes look regretful when he looks at him. “I think it’d be best if you weren’t here when he woke up.”

Taehyung laughs at that, the sound just as icy as it feels. “Yeah. Got it. I’ll walk.”

It’s the truth behind Yoongi’s words that makes the anger coil hot through his body.

He ignores Yoongi calling after him as he forces his way out the front door of the infirmary. He ignores the hand grabbing him and he hates himself when he turns with a fist out like he might strike.

It’s Hoseok, who is quick to shove Taehyung’s fist back at him. “It’s not like that.”

“I know what it’s like. I got it.”

“Don’t be that way,” Hoseok says gently. “You looked like you might pass out too, Tae. Yoongi doesn’t want Jungkook getting upset when he sees you’re upset.”

Taehyung shoves away from Hoseok, walking backwards. “Not upset. I’m fucking dandy, Hobes.”

And though Taehyung has always been good at hiding his emotions and pretending they’re not there, he knows both Hoseok and he know just how upset he is.

The music vibrates through the wall Taehyung leans against. It isn’t loud enough for Taehyung to make out what song it is, nor to drown out the moans in the room. Taehyung watches on lazily. He had tried to get away, even put a sock on the door and they still interrupted.

They know he’s here and they don’t seem to care. Even when smoke filters through the room from as Taehyung brings cigarette after cigarette to his lips.

He’s fucked up. He doesn’t even know what on; but he’s flying high and numb at the same time.

“Want to join us?”

“No,” Taehyung huffs, smoke tickling his lips as he watches the girl press back on her calves, her delicate fingers brushing through her curly red hair to pull it into a knot at the top of her head. She’s quick to undress, her heavy looking breasts bouncing as they slip from beneath her silky looking shirt.

“I’d prefer if you respect basic party rules,” Taehyung hums, tilting his head to breathe the smoke out above him. The other girl is handsy, her hair a dark green, all Taehyung can see of her as she buries her head between the red head’s legs.

It makes him think of what he would look like with Jungkook. His hair still red and Taehyung’s now a minty green.

Thinking of Jungkook makes Taehyung want to smoke something else. Drink something else.

Taehyung lifts himself, the high pitched moan the girl lets out making a throb pulse between his legs. He stumbles a bit, hand pressing into the wall for support. It makes him think of Jungkook again.

Everything makes him think of Jungkook.

He barely gets the door open before the bed starts to squeak and he slams it shut. He, a man who respects rules, makes sure the sock is still on the door knob before he takes off.

He doesn’t even know where he is and he doesn’t remember who he came with. The last time he remembers he had been at a club just outside of campus. Jimin was there. That feels like hours ago.

Taehyung peers his eyes around. None of these people are Jimin. Or Jungkook.

Jimin had insisted they go out after today’s events. When Taehyung admitted that he can’t get the image of Jungkook falling out of his thoughts. He hadn’t felt a fear like that in a long time. He doesn’t remember ever feeling so afraid.

I think it’d be best if you weren’t here when he woke up.

It’s the first time he’s been angry at Yoongi, too. He knows Yoongi is just worried about Jungkook, he gets it. The sight of him might make Jungkook panic, or at least not help him feel better.

Taehyung’s a shitty person, he gets it. He’s been that way his whole life but for some reason, he just needs to know exactly what shitty thing he did to Jungkook to make him hate him so much.

Normally, he wouldn’t care. He’s had plenty of people spit nasty words at him or tell him off. He doesn’t give a shit. But the idea of making Jungkook uncomfortable, reminding him of Cheol Su, has him so angry at himself that his stomach is starting to rot from his techniques at forgetting.

“Yo, you alright?”

Taehyung frowns as a familiar face comes into view. He has a baby face, much too young to be at a party like this. Hypocritical, since Jimin and he used to lie about their ages to get into parties when they were in high school.

“Do I know you?”

The man smiles, steading Taehyung with a grip on his arm. He’s strong.

“Sanha. Jungkook’s friend.”

Taehyung feels his lips curl. “Oh, Sasquatch.”

The baby faced guy laughs. He seems sober. “What are you doing so far from campus?”

Taehyung laughs. He has no idea where the fuck he is. “What are you doing at a party? You’re seven years old.”

The baby face laughs again. Taehyung hates him. He probably gets to laugh with Jungkook. His eyebrows move around his face too much and it makes Taehyung feel nauseous.

“Come on. Who did you come with? You look pretty fucked up, man.”

“Babies don’t cuss,” Taehyung sighs, but he lets Sanha drag him through the crowd. “Shouldn’t you be in Busan? Jungkook’s mother is in Busan. He misses her.”

Jimin had told him that when they first headed out earlier. It makes his heart ache. He’s never had a parent that loved him. If he did, he wouldn’t want to be apart from them either.

Sanha shakes his head as he guides Taehyung with a strong grip around his arm down the porch steps. “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about. How much have you had to drink?”

Taehyung doesn’t have the answer to that question. Jungkook has the answer to all of the questions. Taehyung huffs out a laugh. He misses Jungkook and his smart brain.

“Did you come here with him?”

Taehyung glances at the busy city, breathing in the fresh air. He thinks he knows where he is. It’s far from campus, but close to home. He doesn’t remember how he got here.

“Who?”

“Jungkook,” the tall man beside him laughs, pulling the phone from Taehyung’s pocket. “You keep saying his name.”

Has he? Taehyung slaps his fingers over his lips, telling his mouth to stop. He can’t give Jungkook the satisfaction knowing he’s made Taehyung feel something after he proudly built up a wall thick enough that the whole army couldn’t even break it down.

“No. We - we are not talking anymore.”

The tall man isn’t listening, or maybe Taehyung isn’t speaking loud enough. He starts to walk off. Home is a certain way, he’ll figure it out. His father would love to see him like this. Just as much as he loves that Taehyung has been skipping class again.

A hand grips onto Taehyung’s arm and a moment later, there’s an unfamiliar face in his view and a phone is being shoved to his ear.

“Taehyung?”

Taehyung chuckles lightly. Oh no.

“Hyung,” Taehyung says sweetly, grabbing the phone. “Hyungie.”

“Don’t hyungie me,” Yoongi snaps. He’s angry. Taehyung doesn’t give a flying shit, everyone’s been angry at him lately. “You know what kind of day we’ve all had, right? Do you really think I need Jimin calling me in pure panic because you disappeared?”

Taehyung pulls away, glancing at the phone. It says Jeon Jungkook. Worry makes him feel sick. “Is my baby okay?”

No. Taehyung’s heart pulses as he remembers. Not his baby.

“My baby Jungkook,” Taehyung tries, hiccuping out a laugh. “Just Jungkook, I mean. Jeon Jungkook.”

“He’s about as fine as you are,” Yoongi says, and there’s a hitch in his breath that Taehyung really isn’t fucked up enough to deal with. “I’m coming to get you. I can’t believe you pulled this shit on a day like this.”

Taehyung hangs up and lets the phone topple to the ground. He really can’t hear another word.

He’s crashing and he’s crashing quickly. His knees hit the ground but he barely registers the pain. It’s dull, a lot less painful than the way he fucked up his hand punching Cheol Su.

Taehyung huffs out a laugh, looking around at the empty street as he curls up his legs towards his chest to rest his head on his knees. The world morphs around him, colors sprinting across his vision.

And Jungkook, he always thinks of Jungkook. So much so that he sees them, standing before him before he falls to the ground until his head bounces against the side of the pavement.

Taehyung lets out a pained noise, burying his face into his knees. He’s hallucinating, he must be.

The panic starts when he sees Jungkook on the back of his eyelids and he doesn’t know how much time passes before his face is being lifted and Yoongi is there instead.

“Come on,” Yoongi says softly, gently as he rubs Taehyung’s cheeks. They feel wet. It must be raining. “Let's get you home.”

When Taehyung wakes, it takes him awhile to figure out where he is. His body throbs just as much as his head does. He figures it out just in time, as his stomach lurches and he rushes to the bathroom.

Bits of the night filter into his brain as he lays over the toilet seat. He doesn’t know when he started to forget, but he remembers something about red and green. And Goliath.

He doesn’t let himself think about it too much, dragging himself back to Hoseok’s couch before falling asleep.

Sleep stays with him until the night is dark, only interrupting him with stomach pain here and there. Whoever dropped him at Hoseok’s has left him be, and it isn’t until he’s getting up from the couch that he remembers why no one is here.

Jungkook passed out.

Taehyung sighs, ruffling his fingers through his sweaty, gross hair as he searches for his phone. He finds it in the hallway towards the bathroom.

It’s lit up with messages and missed calls. A quick glance through them and he knows Jimin is pissed at him. There’s an apology from Yoongi, but he doesn’t understand what for. He calls Hoseok, reading his heartfelt message about how much he loves him and knowing he’s the least likely to give him a headache.

He wonders what he did to worry everyone and Hoseok sounds relieved when he answers the phone.

“I’m on my way home,” Hoseok says. “You looked dead when I checked on you. I was nervous to leave you.”

“I’m fine,” Taehyung says. He’ll be hungover for days. “How is Jungkook?”

“Fine. The doctor put him on sick leave. He hasn’t been eating, I guess. Wanted to admit him to the psych ward but Yoongi convinced him he’d be better at home,” Hoseok murmurs, worry in his tone. “Yoongi’s been a wreck, Tae Tae. He didn’t mean to snap at you, you know that?”

“I don’t remember it,” Taehyung says, falling back onto Hoseok’s couch. It’s the most uncomfortable thing he’s ever been on and he already wants to nap again. “Tell hyung it’s fine. I probably deserved it.”

Hoseok is quiet for a moment and Taehyung can imagine him nibbling on his bottom lip before he speaks.

“You kept saying that last night. That you deserve everyone hating you,” Hoseok whispers. “You know no one hates you, right? If you weren’t wasted I would have punched you in the mouth because you kept calling yourself that nasty word your dad always called you, Tae. Pissed me off because I love you so much, got it?”

Taehyung presses his eyes closed, his tired state messing with his emotions. He knows no one hates him; he also knows if they did, they’d have a good reason to.

“Jungkook hates me.”

There’s silence for too long and Taehyung regrets saying it; opening up. He hasn’t said a word about it to anyone since it happened, even when Yoongi followed him around and tried to force him to talk about it, tried to explain on Jungkook’s behalf.

“He doesn’t,” Hoseok promises. “It’s Jungkook -”

“Get here,” Taehyung interrupts, his heart twisting inside his chest. “And I love you too, Hoseokie.”

Hoseok cooes over the phone, accepting the fact that he doesn’t want to talk about it because he’s the best person in the world. “I’m almost home. Get that forehead ready for some smooches.”

It isn’t only smooches that Hoseok brings, but bowls of soup and Jimin and Yoongi. There’s a glare in Jimin’s eyes but it falters when he grabs Taehyung and hugs him.

“You scared me, jerk,” Jimin whispers. “How did you get all the way there? What were you on? You kept talking to the air, calling someone Goliath.”

Taehyung shrugs, the truth. He’s being punched gently in the chest a second later.

“Hey! It was your idea to go out?”

“For a drink,” Jimin cries. “I needed a drink. Not to lose my best friend while my boyfriends are in a hospital waiting room! I told you to stay away from that shit, Tae. You never do well when you start to trip out!”

“Hey,” Yoongi huffs, coming between them. He curls an arm around Taehyung’s shoulders and the other around Jimin’s, forcing them together. Jimin’s face squishes into his chest when Hoseok joins, yipping happily before he curls his arms over Yoongi’s.

The pressure makes the heaviness in his chest crack and he whimpers quietly into Jimin’s hair.

**

There’s a distant beeping that makes Jungkook aware of the fact that he is no longer dreaming. It takes him a few minutes to pull himself awake completely, and he regrets it the moment he peeks an eye open.

It’s bright, too bright. Pain explodes over his head and he groans lowly, shifting in a bed that’s so uncomfortable it makes his shoulders ache too.

He feels like he’s been smashed in the head and spine. He attempts to turn on his side as nausea washes through him, but is restrained by a pinch in his arm.

Jungkook frowns at the sight of the tube in his arm, panic rising. The beeping grows faster in pace and he turns to look around at the hospital room before the door is flying open.

He’s in the campus’ medical center, Jungkook thinks as he takes in the doctor walking in. He recognizes him from the time Jungkook swore he had an STD. He had not been judgemental of panic even though Jungkook was having an allergic reaction to his new laundry detergent. But either way, Jungkook still had been too embarrassed to come back, even when he was sick.

It takes him a second longer to remember why he’s here and his heart lurches in his chest.

“Mr. Jeon, do you know where you are?”

Jungkook nods, shifting up the bed. “Yes, Doctor Jung-nim.”

Dr. Jung smiles as he takes a seat. “You remember me, that’s good. Do you know why you’re here?”

Jungkook nods his head, clenching his fingers into the sheet over him. Embarrassment fills him that everyone saw him like that.

That Taehyung saw him like that.

The doctor doesn’t seem too concerned with the monitor, though he jots down something in his notebook when it picks up.

”I gave you a sedative to calm you,” the doctor explains. “Do you often experience episodes of panic?”

Jungkook shakes his head. “Not like, panic attacks. Not since high school.”

More noting. Jungkook hates it.

“Your vitals are quite low. Dehydrated. Can you tell me when was the last time you ate, Mr. Jeon?”

Jungkook twists to the side. He doesn’t remember. “It isn’t on purpose. I just forgot to pack a lunch and didn’t have time to eat between class.”

“I’m concerned about that, Mr. Jeon,” Dr. Jung continues, almost robotically, as he moves across the room and sits on the other side of Jungkook, forcing him to look at him. “I’m concerned that that happens often. Your hyung says you leave quite early in the morning and come home quite late. That your schedule is packed the entire day. He also says you have a tendency to panic.”

Jungkook wheezes. “My hyung?”

Dr. Jung flicks through his notebook before he hums. “Yes. Yoongi? Your brother? He brought you in. I asked him a few questions while we waited for you to wake.”

Yoongi hadn’t even been there when Jungkook fainted. At least, he doesn’t think so. He hadn’t known Taehyung was there either.

He wonders if Taehyung came with Yoongi.

“He’s outside, isn’t he?”

Dr. Jung smiles, showing off pearly white teeth. “He is. But you haven’t been out long, Mr. Jeon. I believe if you do not rest and nutrition yourself properly, collapsing will be a constant feature in your life. As well as many health -“

His words go through one ear and out the other. Jungkook knows this. It really was an accident. Sometimes he doesn’t realize that he hasn’t eaten and then he feels too sick to. But there’s not much he can do about his packed schedule. Dr. Jung works on a college campus, he should know that.

“I’m insisting you take a sick leave from work,” Dr. Jung says as he starts as he grabs a sheet that looks too much like a doctor’s note from Jungkook’s point of view. “And it’s almost the end of the semester, which means exams, and I’ll want you to check in with me more often, okay? I’ll talk to your advisor about lowering your workload for next semester. I also suggest you meet with the counseling center -”

Jungkook yanks himself up into a sitting position so quickly it feels as if he nearly rips the IV from his arm. Dr. Jung grows alarmed, standing up to press a hand to Jungkook’s chest.

“I can’t do that,” Jungkook blabbers. “If I don’t take extra classes, I have to take summer courses and I can’t afford those.”

The doctor sighs, handing off the sheet that is definitely a doctor’s note. “And if you keep showing up at the clinic’s door step half out of it, you won’t be able to afford the medical bills either.”

His words are spoken gently and he must realize that they upset Jungkook either way, because a moment later he’s calling Yoongi in.

Yoongi is whiter than Jungkook’s ever seen him, his skin void of all color. He immediately sits on the edge of the hospital bed and takes Jungkook’s cheeks into his hand.

There’s a kiss being pressed to his forehead a second later and Jungkook is embarrassed, but the guilt he feels is more powerful.

“I’m sorry,” Jungkook breathes as he tips his head and lets Yoongi rest his chin on the top of his head. “I was avoiding coming home.”

“I know,” is all Yoongi says as he rubs over Jungkook’s back. He wishes he could fold himself into Yoongi even more as he feels the pressure in his chest start to grow. “I know why you didn’t come home, Kookie. Don’t worry.”

Jungkook’s last year of high school, his mother had been in the hospital for weeks. There had been a flu going around that her immune system couldn’t fight off without help.

That was the last time Jungkook had a breakdown this bad. It felt like normal, overwhelming stress that he pushed through every time.

His brother had witnessed it, terrified before he ran upstairs to get Yoongi’s mother.

The guilt sat heavily with him for weeks. Yoongi and Hoseok missed class to visit him, his brother had cried, he lied to his mother.

Jungkook feels that same guilt now.

“Eat it,” Yoongi says, tone soft as he plops more food than anyone can eat at one time onto the plate in front of him. “How’d it go at the clinic?”

“I lied to them,” Jungkook admits, even though it makes Yoongi’s face twist in frustration. “I don’t want to be admitted anywhere.”

Yoongi sighs, reaching over the table to cut Jungkook’s meat. He feels like a child and he knows Yoongi needs to do it to make himself feel better, but it makes him feel worse.

“You’re not going to get admitted, Jungkook. It’s college; kids have breakdowns sometimes. That’s why the clinic is here. It’s the only thing that stupid President did right.”

Jungkook rubs at his thighs. He had heard the Dr. Jung telling Yoongi how it might better he spend the next week at the local hospital’s psych ward, but he hasn’t mentioned it. “You haven’t had a breakdown.”

Yoongi glances at him, quiet for a moment. “Comparing yourself to me ain’t it, Koo. I have an easier major. I don’t have the same pressure. I’m cool with passing with lower grades as long as I graduate because the field I want to go into isn’t as demanding.”

Everything he says is true; but at this point, he might as well be speaking another language because none of it is sticking into his brain. His own thoughts are too strong, fighting off every positive one that come near.

“You have me to deal with,” Jungkook whispers. “That’s an added stress.”

Planting the knife and fork to the table, Yoongi takes Jungkook’s hands instead.

“I don’t have you to deal with. Don’t think those things, Jungkookie. If I had to spend every moment of my life taking care of you, I’d feel fulfilled and happy.”

It’s a lie, it must be, but Yoongi looks genuine when he says it.

“You don’t mean that.”

Yoongi’s face is twisting in what is probably supposed to be offense, but there’s a gleam in his eyes that ruins it. “You calling me a liar, you little shit?”

Jungkook huffs out a laugh, desperate for Yoongi’s eyes to remain bright. “I am. What are you going to do about it?”

Yoongi snorts. “Haven’t heard of me? Min Yoongi, boxing champ. People run when they see me.”

Amusement fills Jungkook, washing away the static inside of him. “When I see you, all I remember is how you cried when we went to the shelter to adopt a kitten for your Eomma.”

Yoongi wrinkles his nose at that. “That never happened.”

“And I remember you washing my Eomma’s hair when her hands were too cramped and you trying to teach my brother how to bake cookies and almost burning the apartment building down.”

Jungkook smiles softly when Yoongi does, his chest feeling heavy. Heavy in a good way. A way he wants to cling onto.

“The only time you were scary was when you forced me to take you as my date to prom because you were insistent that I needed to go. A real menace you are.”

Yoongi laughs at that, soft little giggles that make his shoulders shake. “Your Eomma spent years trying to make you a tuxedo to surprise you. You had to go. And going stag isn’t embarrassing, Kook, but I understood why you thought so.”

Jungkook’s shoulders slump. He had cried when she gave it to him, knowing how hard it was for her to stitch anything yet seeing how strong she was.

“When you went to your prom with Hobi, was that because you two?” Jungkook isn’t sure how to say it; not sure what exactly Yoongi and Hoseok are. “You two were? Something.”

Yoongi’s smile falters for a second. “Ah, not really. Not yet. That um, was actually the first night we messed around.”

Jungkook wheezes at that.

“That time I caught you picking flowers,” Jungkook says, suddenly remembering, “you said you messed up and they were to make someone feel better. Were they for Hobi?”

Yoongi parts his lips before he rubs them together and nods.

They don’t ever talk about it.

Jungkook can’t handle things.

He wants to be better.

“It was. We uh, hooked up a few times. You know like, scattered times. It was a ‘we shouldn’t be doing this but it keeps happening’ kind of thing. And I was freaking out about it. Met Jimin. Hurt Hobi.”

Yoongi sucks through his teeth, cocking his head. He goes quiet for a moment and Jungkook gives him his time, not feeling as tense or uncomfortable.

He can’t imagine it; doesn’t understand how he didn’t notice it.

“I didn’t tell you about it because I was trying to figure it all out. I was afraid if you knew, you’d worry about something happening and ruining our friendship,” Yoongi admits.

He’s right; Jungkook would worry about that.

“And I was worried I would fuck up somehow and cause the ruin. It’s not that I thought you couldn’t handle knowing,” Yoongi sighs as rests his elbow on the table and leans his hand against his fist. “It’s just you’re not the only one that has a hard time handling things.”

Jungkook nods in understanding. He hurts that Yoongi couldn’t come to him, but that’s also how Yoongi is. Rarely has he ever told or shown anyone that something is bothering him.

“I wouldn’t make it official with Hoseok until I told you and Jimin wouldn’t be official with either us if it weren’t all of us together,” Yoongi says, lips quirking up. “But I thought, it’s been so long that I’ve kept it from you that if I tell you now, you would be angry with me. I didn’t know what to do, but I wasn’t doing the right thing.”

This time, Jungkook grabs Yoongi’s hand. “I’m not angry that you didn’t tell me. I’m angry with myself that I can’t be the same best friend to you as you are to me.”

He gets swatted at for that. “I told you to stop saying that stuff. You’re more than my best friend, you’re my baby brother.”

The pressure in Jungkook’s face is welcomed for the first time in a long time.

“Does that mean Hoseok’s not your best friend either, but your boyfriend ?”

Yoongi’s face crumples at that, eyes peering before he pinches Jungkook. “You are seven years old.”

Jungkook’s laugh fills the room as Yoongi gets up, turning but Jungkook sees how red and smiley he gets.

There are times when Jungkook needs the cold to cool his heated skin. It makes him feel better; more focused when his anxiety strikes makes him feel feverish.

Sometimes the cold gnaws at his bones and makes his hands shake in a way that triggers his anxiety.

Even bundled, the cold seeps in. Jungkook buries his face into his scratchy scarf, tucking his gloved hands between his thighs. It doesn’t help.

It isn’t even the worst part of the winter yet.

Rain splatters onto the ground, soaking his shoes and the bottom of his work pants. His toes already feel like ice and he should go back inside, but he’s worried about missing the bus.

It doesn’t help that he’s been nervous all day about facing Jiwon and giving him his doctor’s note. He was afraid of the questions, of disappointing. But Jiwon had been kind.

“Hey!”

Jungkook buries himself into his scarf further, shrinking into the glass window wall that’s been keeping him somewhat dry. A car pulls up in front of him but he doesn’t acknowledge it, the sky too dark for him to approach a stranger.

“Hey! You’re Jungkook, right?”

Nerves rattle through him as he peeks over his scarf. He has to get closer to see who it is but he won’t.

It doesn’t seem to matter as the car’s hazards light up the road and a moment later, a man is getting out of the car.

Yoongi used to teach him how to protect himself, but Jungkook knew that if the time every came where he would have to, he’d seize up and forget everything. Just like he is doing right now.

It isn’t until the man is nearly a foot from him and Jungkook is wondering if he should kick him in the balls, that Jungkook recognizes him as Kim Soohyun, Taehyung’s brother.

“I was hoping to catch you.”

Jungkook pulls from his scarf, glancing around. Given the weather, there’s not many people around.

Taehyung had said Soohyun wasn’t harmful, but hate rushes through him as he remembers the way he called Taehyung dumb.

“You - you were?”

Soohyun runs his fingers through his damp hair as he huddles beneath the bus stop. He’s dressed nicely, leather gloves on, a peacoat around his shoulders that looks almost as expensive as his car. His hair had been perfectly styled and slicked back before the rain.

The perfect disguise for a murderer.

“Yeah. I’m headed to campus right now to see my father, you need a ride?”

Without even thinking about it, Jungkook shakes his head.

“Oh come on, it’s freezing and dark. There may be creeps lurking around.”

Jungkook almost laughs at that. He doesn’t think Soohyun is a creep per se, but Jungkook’s wondering if he is wrong about that. It shouldn’t have been possible for Soohyun to know it was him after only meeting him just the one time. He was hiding in his scarf, on a dark, rainy night.

The idea that Soohyun had been following him or watching him makes him want to flee.

“I’m okay. Thank you though.”

Soohyun is curling a hand beneath Jungkook’s elbow before he can finish speaking, persistent in the way he tugs him from the bench. He still wears a smile though, one that reminds him of Taehyung.

“My father is quite fond of you. He’d wring my neck if he knew I saw you and left you here.”

Jungkook rubs his own neck, unsure what to make of the President talking about him to his family.

Soohyun makes it sound like a joke, but Jungkook wonders just how true that is.

“I won’t tell him.”

Soohyun snorts, tugging on his elbow again until he comes. “He’ll figure it out. Dude knows everything.”

Unsure as to how to politely get out of this, Jungkook lets Soohyun guide him to the car and open the door for him.

The inside is sleek and all leather, the new car smell still lingering. He feels uncomfortable and like his body is too big inside, so he sticks his hands between his thighs and clenches hard around them, curling forward to make himself smaller.

It’s awkward.

“You work at that burger joint?”

Jungkook nods before he realizes it's dark and Soohyun probably can’t see him. “Uh. I’m on leave right now. For um, exams.”

They’re coming in close and Jungkook is more thankful than ever that someone paid his tuition. Without work, he wouldn’t be able to eat and sleep as much as the doctor needs him to. But without having to pay his tuition, he has extra cash.

“Cool.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. Cool isn’t quite the word but Soohyun isn’t being rude to him. He’s just trying to make conversation, Jungkook tries to convince himself.

“So um, what did you mean you were hoping to run into me?”

Soohyun taps his gloved fingers around his steering wheel. “I have a friend that was talking about a Jungkook and I was wondering if it was you.”

“Probably not,” Jungkook responds. Being around Soohyun makes him want to crawl out of his skin and he isn’t sure why.

Maybe because what he said to Taehyung, maybe because he has the same tattoo as Cheol Su.

“I hope not,” Soohyun laughs without amusement. “I’d have to tell my father to keep you away from Tae.”

Jungkook clears his throat and cracks his neck. What the fuck . “Then definitely not me.”

When Soohyun glances at him, his face doesn’t look as friendly as it did before.

“Has Tae ever taken you to one of those boxing matches he loves so much?”

Jungkook lies, shaking his head. It’s an instinct he doesn’t understand.

“I’m surprised,” Soohyun laughs again. He laughs more than Taehyung does. “He runs with this crew down there. Young kids thinking they’re bad you know? There’s this boxer, Min Yoongi -”

There’s sweat growing on Jungkook’s palms and suddenly he’s regretting wearing so many layers. The heat blows from the dashboard too, the seat warmers on, and Jungkook wonders if he might pass out a second time.

“Started beef with this guy there. One of those you don’t want to fuck with guys right? Which takes big balls because Min is like, two feet tall on his tip toes.”

Jungkook wonders if he should open the door and tumble out of the car at the next red light. But every light they pass is green. He’s even too nervous to crack a window, though he desperately needs the air.

“I heard it was over some guy named Jungkook,” Soohyun goes on. “I don’t need that kind of heat around my baby brother, you know? He’s got anger issues and loves pressing buttons. I don’t need him getting hurt because he can’t keep his mouth shut. And he must be fond of you if he brought you to his part of the house. Butler Kang told me.”

Jungkook relaxes some. Maybe he’s just being biased because the only thing he’s ever heard about Soohyun is him being a dick. Which, Jungkook still thinks he is, but maybe he really does mean no harm.

“I understand,” is all Jungkook responds with. If they were closer, he would ask Soohyun more. Like what does he mean Taehyung must be fond of him? What did Butler Kang tell him?

“Luckily the guy, Cheol Su, and I go way back. I could convince him to lay off my brother for being one of Min’s boys.”

His relaxation vanishes at the mention of Cheol Su and his body goes taut. He tries not to react as Soohyun looks at him again like he’s expecting him to react.

“But the Jungkook guy is one of Cheol Su’s,” Soohyun goes on, knowing in his voice. “That’s why I wanted to make sure it wasn’t you. Cheol Su wouldn’t back off if my brother was messing with one of his.”

The sight of the campus as Jungkook considering jumping out of a moving car.

“I’m in Niejdlik building,” Jungkook lies, pointing to the closest dormitory.

Soohyun hums an affirmative as he pulls towards it. Jungkook prays there’s someone outside who he can pretend to talk to or the door is unlocked.

“Thank you so much,” Jungkook says, trying not to appear as if he’s rushing to get out as he spots a student headed towards the front door.

“No problem, and Jungkook?”

Jungkook grips onto the door, keeping it half shut. “Yeah?”

“Your last name is Jeon, right?”

Soohyun grins though Jungkook is sure he can’t see how startled Jungkook is becoming.

“Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, goodnight and thank you.”

Jungkook doesn’t care if Soohyun catches him running inside the building. He sits himself on a bench inside, in front of the Dorm Director’s office to ease his breath before he calls Yoongi to pick him up.

He tosses his phone aside when he remembers Yoongi is at work. He knots his hands into fists, not even bothering to clean his rain splattered glasses.

He stays there for a bit before deciding to brave the rain and walk home. His encounter with Soohyun has rattled him and he’s nervous about being spotted again, but his apartment is just off campus.

It’s difficult not to run, not wanting to slip over the sidewalks. He takes off his winter jacket in case Soohyun does drive by again, shoving it between his arms as he ducks his head and takes off.

He doesn’t understand if he was being threatened or not; but it felt like it.

When lights flash over his leg and a car slow besides him, Jungkook feels as if he could cry. He’s only a few days past his breakdown and he really, really doesn’t want another one so soon.

But the voice isn’t Soohyun’s, it’s more familiar.

“What are you doing?”

It makes his heart beat just as fast, though. Jungkook can’t see Taehyung well through his blurry glasses, but he recognizes his car.

“Walking home.”

Jungkook is sure Taehyung frowns at that and it’s confirmed by the tone of his voice when he says, “get in.”

“I’m good,” Jungkook says. “Thank you.”

It doesn’t stop Taehyung from trailing after him, the car driving slowly to match the pace Jungkook walks, which feels close to running.

“Just get in,” Taehyung calls. “You’re not well, Jungkook. You shouldn’t be in the rain.”

He grits his teeth. He doesn’t want to be reminded that Taehyung was there, saw the way he lost himself.

When Jungkook doesn’t respond, the car stops. He desperately wants to run back to Taehyung and run away at the same time.

He isn’t expecting to hear the car door shut and beep like it’s being locked, and he’s ashamed to admit the butterflies that erupt in his stomach when Taehyung’s shoulder bumps into his.

Taehyung walks beside him, eyes ahead and hands tucking into his raincoat. It looks thin and Jungkook knows he must be cold because the shirt he wears beneath it barely covers the bottom half of his torso, his dangling belly button ring revealed beneath the lip of his shirt.

“You don’t have to,” Jungkook says, unsure if he can be heard underneath the rain smacking against the pavement.

Taehyung completely ignores him, not even looking his way and acknowledging the fact that he’s being spoken to. The rain is falling hard enough to already soak Taehyung’s hair but he doesn’t even wip it back and out of his eyes.

“Seriously, I’m okay.”

Nothing.

Jungkook let’s out an aggravated noise as he turns on his heel and storms back to where Taehyung haphazardly parked his expensive car in a no parking zone.

“Unlock the car,” Jungkook grits out as he grabs the passenger door.

He doesn’t need Taehyung getting sick because of him.

The car comes alive as it beeps again, lights skating across the road. Jungkook is sure Taehyung is grinning in victory but he doesn’t look to see if he’s right as he throws himself into the passenger seat.

He’s hit with the scent of vanilla, radiating from the many air fresheners Taehyung has along his dashboard. There are balled up fast food bags on the ground and receipts shoved into the cup holders between the seats.

Taehyung doesn’t say anything as he opens up the driver’s door, nor when he pushes the engine button and takes off.

Jungkook can barely hear the rain over the pounding of his heart. Thankfully, he doesn’t live too far away.

“You gonna tell me why you’re risking your health knowing how worried your hyungs already are?”

There is no malice in Taehyung’s words but they stab at him anyway.

He wonders if Taehyung worried too.

He feels even guiltier wanting him to.

He doesn’t feel like he should tell Taehyung about Soohyun, so he doesn’t. He has a feeling it might make Taehyung angry and when Jungkook’s chest feels as heavy as it does now, he can’t handle anger well.

Soohyun told Jungkook that Taehyung struggles with anger issues, but so far all of it has seemed understandable in Jungkook’s mind.

He wonders if Taehyung’s standing up for himself is something Soohyun considers to be an anger issue .

“I got off at the wrong bus stop.”

Taehyung glances at where Jungkook’s hands clench and unclench on his lap.

It goes quiet again after that, though Jungkook expects Taehyung to call him out on his lie.

It makes him sad. He wishes it was back to normal, even if Taehyung made him shy and nervous, he also made him laugh and feel good.  He misses looking at Taehyung and always finding Taehyung looking back.

“Can I ask you a question?”

Taehyung nods his head, clearly aware that Jungkook keeps glancing at him.

“How does your brother know Cheol Su?”

This catches Taehyung’s attention, finally pulling Taehyung’s eyes onto him. He doesn’t answer at first, jaw tightening as he starts to tap his fingers at the steering wheel.

It reminds him of Soohyun just a handful of minutes earlier.

“My brother is more known at the Club than I am,” Taehyung finally says. “And at the Club, there’s all kinds of fake, wannabe gangs. People associated with whoever they rock with grouped together because of rivalries and all that shit. We’re the Min’s Boys, though calling us a gang is a stretch. I ain’t getting Yoongi’s name tattooed anywhere on my body.”

Jungkook laughs quietly when Taehyung’s lips quirk up at that.

“Cheol started fighting because of Soohyun, I think. Their crew took on an ‘badass’ biker image because they thought it looked intimidating or whatever. Took the whole gang thing a bit too serious.”

Jungkook nods in understanding as he turns his eyes out of the window to watch the passing apartment buildings.

It makes him sick that Cheol Su is still talking about him. Calling him his .

“Are you friends with him?”

Taehyung laughs at that, the sound cold. “Not really. We used to party together before his and Yoongi’s beef started. Acquaintances at most.”

There’s a thickness in Jungkook’s throat that feels suffocating. He spots his apartment building in the distance and finds he doesn’t want to get out of the car.

“Did he talk to you about me?”

The idea of Taehyung knowing anything about what happened is upsetting to him. But even more so is Taehyung listening to the things Cheol Su has said about him and believing them.

He isn’t sure if he believes Cheol Su’s words about Taehyung and him sharing stories together. Taehyung has lied to him about school before, but Jungkook wouldn’t take him for someone to make things up to look cool or whatever Cheol Su is trying for.

“I don’t care to listen to anyone bragging about what they do behind closed doors. Makes them sound like grade A douche bags, if you ask me.”

Jungkook watches Taehyung as he curves the wheel and idles the car in front of the apartment building. He doesn’t get out of the car.

“You talk about yours.”

Taehyung leans back against his door, eyes searching over Jungkook. It’s dark, but the street lights are enough to make out his face. It is more serious than Jungkook’s ever seen, but somehow void of emotion again. The way he’s turned reveals the ‘fuck school’ in bold letters across his chest and Jungkook wonders if Taehyung was on his way to see his father too.

“I make jokes, to my friends. When you asked about Jiwon, I played off what you were implying and because you’re cute when you’re jealous. But I didn’t tell you anything nor brag.”

Jungkook sucks in a breath. He’s always been amazed by how easily Taehyung admits things.

“I didn’t even tell Jimin that we used to fuck around, Jungkook.”

Used to. Jungkook knew Taehyung dropping their tutoring sessions without a word was a sign Taehyung was done with him, but the confirmation hurts.

“Even if I was angry at you, I wouldn’t do that.”

This time, Taehyung talks soft and slowly in a way that make Jungkook wish he was playing with his hair while he talked to him.

Jungkook digs his fingers into thighs. He wishes he didn’t bring it up.

He is trying to get better at handling things.

“Are you?” Jungkook asks, hesitating. Does he want to know? “Angry with me?”

Another laugh, another lacking amusement but it isn’t cold. He drags his fingers through his wet hair, making it stand up over his forehead. “No, Jungkook, I’m not angry with you.”

“You sure? You keep calling me Jungkook.”

“That’s your name.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose and glares. Taehyung is still just as frustrating as always. “Well, that's not what you call me.”

Taehyung leans in then, his old amused grin back. He taps a fingers under Jungkook’s chin, head cocking to the side.

“Go inside and dry off. Drink tea so you don’t get sick, baby .”

Normally, Jungkook would push Taehyung’s hand off, but he has missed Taehyung’s touch too much to do so.

It feels ridiculous to be so affected by something so simple, but Taehyung is right there, touching him, his face only a few inches away from his own.

Taehyung’s grin falters when Jungkook doesn’t respond, but swallows instead. He pulls his touch away and let’s his hands fall limp into his lap.

“Let me make you tea too. As a thank you for driving me home.”

Taehyung waves him off, adjusting in his seat to grab the steering wheel again. “No need to thank me. Have a good night.”

**

When Taehyung was younger, he had been smacked so hard in the mouth for cussing that the shape of his mother’s rings stayed printed on his cheeks for what felt like weeks. He still has a scar over the corner of his mouth, hard to see but he notices it sometimes in the mirror.

He stares at that hand while he’s being scolded, but he doesn’t listen to what she says. He knows he hasn’t been going to class often, and that he got probably the worst grade on record on the paper she’s currently holding.

He’s forced to look at her when she grips his chin and presses her manicured nails into his skin. “Are you high?”

Taehyung isn’t. He didn’t sleep last night though. He wishes he were high but he pinky promised his friends he wouldn’t touch another substance until Jin’s Birthday Bash.

And even then he has to be monitored. Taehyung understands now why Jungkook hates feeling like a baby.

“I am not,” Taehyung huffs, pulling his head from her grip. “Are you? I think Xanax is worse than weed, Eomma.”

“ Taehyung . Do not speak to your mother like that.”

Taehyung glances lazily at where his father sits behind his desk. He knew he would be called into his office again one day. He’s surprised Jungkook isn’t here, unless he told his father that Taehyung stopped showing up to the tutoring sessions.

Sometimes Taehyung stands outside the building, feeling like a creep just to watch Jungkook go running inside. The same time every morning. No one else ever enters and Taehyung wonders if Jungkook is waiting for him to. He hadn’t meant to be a creep, he just didn’t have the nerve to ask how Jungkook was doing and even if he did, he needed to see him himself.

He’s been looking like shit.

“Sorry, Appa.” Taehyung rolls his eyes as hard as he can. “Hypocrisy runs in this family just as much as drug use does, apparently.”

His cheek stings from the pain of his mother’s hand. It’s ballsy with the amount of windows in his father’s office, but not giving a fuck also runs in the family.

“You’re a disgrace,” he hears his father say. He wants to rub at the sting on his cheek but he doesn’t want to give his mother the satisfaction. “We have done everything to assure you succeed, and to help you do so.”

Taehyung braces himself. It’s in his father’s tone. He’s going to call him that word and Taehyung is going to react.

“But instead, you sit with every single excuse you can think of. Acting as if you’re an idiot. An ungrateful brat, is what you are! Acting as if you’re -”

Taehyung tightens his fists when he sees his father’s mouth start to shape the word but there’s a loud bang on the door that has him pressing his lips together instead.

“Come in.”

The air is tense and the moment Jungkook steps inside the office, it worsens. Jungkook must notice as his nervous wide eyes jerk between Taehyung and his parents before he bows.

“President Kim, you called me?”

Jungkook looks awful. He’s pale, the bags under his eyes worse than they’ve ever been before. He isn’t dressed up in his button up or sweater vest, nor his track outfit. Taehyung vaguely remembers Jimin mentioning the doctor insisted that Jungkook take a break from everything but class. Taehyung has been worried about what he’s been doing in his free time after he found Jungkook walking, pale as a ghost, in the pouring rain.

“Yes, yes. Come in, Mr. Jeon. This is my wife, Yoonhee.”

Jungkook side eyes Taehyung before he bows before his mother. “Yoonhee-ssi, it’s so nice to finally meet you.”

The difference on his mother’s face is astounding. She smiles sweetly at Jungkook, even gently petting his red cheeks. “Oh, he is adorable. Your hyung said you were quite fond of him. I see why.”

Taehyung doesn’t respond but folds a hand beneath his chin, unbothered. His brother doesn’t know shit about it.

The red grows on Jungkook’s face. His fingers are twisted in the sleeves of his jacket and he tucks them between his legs when he sits.

Taehyung wants to hold his hand.

“You don’t know how grateful I am to you,” his mother goes on, making Jungkook look even more embarrassed. “Taehyung has been impossible all of his life. You must share your secrets.”

Jungkook glances at Taehyung and Taehyung shakes his head slightly. He doesn’t give a shit what his parents say, he doesn’t need Jungkook to worry.

“Jungkook, I have a huge request,” his father starts. And no . Taehyung glares at what he thinks his father is doing. “Soohyun told me you’ve taken a leave from work and your coach is reporting you have quiet for the season?”

What ? Taehyung thinks, glancing at Jungkook to watch his hands for signs of lying. When the hell did he see Soohyun?

Jungkook nods, unblinking as he stares at his father.

“I was wondering if you could spare me some of your time. You’ve already helped so much, but I’m afraid my wife is right, Taehyung is impossible. This isn’t your fault, of course.”

Taehyung bites his cheek, body thrumming with anger.

“Anything you need, President Kim.”

There’s a shake in Jungkook’s voice and the urge to touch him is growing too strong.

He doesn’t know why he gives a shit. Jungkook hates him; he’s associated him with Cheol Su in his head. Believes he’s the same kind of asshole.

Taehyung feels desperate to prove him wrong.

“This must stay between the four of us. As it is, unprofessional of me. Especially in my position. But I’m hoping if you’re heavily compensated, it makes the risk worth it.”

Jungkook is sweating, palms rubbing over his thighs. Taehyung sits quietly, trying not to get backhanded again, this time by the hand his mother has covered in heavy looking rings.

“It is very important to me that Taehyung passes his classes. We don’t want -” His father stops himself, clearing his throat before he smiles. “My wife and I want to see Taehyung walking the stage, you see.”

Bullshit, Taehyung thinks. He just doesn’t want any of his colleagues to see how dumb his son is.

“What - what is it? Sir?”

His father goes quiet for a moment, before folding his hands onto the desk. “I need you to take Taehyung’s exams for him.”

“Absolutely not,” Taehyung says, interrupting loudly before anyone can get another word in. “No fucking way. Not a chance in Hell .”

Jungkook jumps from the sudden sound of Taehyung’s voice. His father grows red in the face, a vein popping over his forehead.

“Taehyung -” his mother starts, but he isn’t listening.

“Jungkook is on work leave and off of track because he fucking passed out,” Taehyung says so angrily that spit flies from his mouth. “Because he’s been so overloaded he doesn’t have time to eat. He’s in six classes as is. That means six exams, and you want him to take three more? No fucking way and don’t you dare agree, Jeon.”

Jungkook shrinks in on himself, arms covering over his stomach and into the back of the chair. He knows, he knows, it isn’t any of his business, but it is.

Even if Jungkook doesn’t like him back, he’s made Taehyung feel good for the first time in years. Even if Jungkook doesn’t want him around, Taehyung still needs Jungkook to be okay.

“As a University President, Appa, you should be more concerned about your students having mental breakdowns,” Taehyung snaps. He doesn’t think he’s going to be able to stop himself. He feels it sizzling inside of him, ready to burst out of him.

“Jungkook is a strong boy, Taehyung -”

Taehyung doesn’t want to hear a word of it. He hates the way Jungkook’s eyes are wide and how he shrinks into himself.

He can’t stop seeing the way Jungkook had fallen, panicked to the point he wouldn’t let anyone near him.

“You go through with this and I’m reporting you to the board,” Taehyung interrupts as he stands. He doesn’t register his mother moving until more pain bursts over his cheek.

“Do not threaten your father,” his mother snaps. Taehyung’s teeth throb from the blow and he jumps when gentle fingers grab the hand over his cheek.

Jungkook’s there in a second, and he hovers his hand away when Taehyung flinches like he isn’t sure he can touch.

“He’s fine. I’m sorry you had to see that, Mr. Jeon,” Yoonhee apologizes with fake sincerity. “Taehyung’s never been an easy one to scold. Old fashioned practices only seem to work.”

There’s something in Jungkook’s glassy eyes that has Taehyung’s heart aching. He doesn’t want Jungkook to see this part of his life. He doesn’t want Jungkook to see how badly he struggles with anger.

“You won’t report it to the board,” Jungkook says. “I’ll do it. Because of my grades, I am excused from three of my exams. And you’re in basic Chemistry, Taehyung. I could take that exam with my eyes closed.

“But I will go to the board if I hear you call another student an idiot, President Kim.”

Jungkook turns then, the trembling in his hands betraying the confidence he pretends to have. Taehyung’s heart lurches when his father leans back, his eyes growing wide in surprise.

“I - I heard you outside. I could hear everything in the hallway,” Jungkook stammers out. “I - I know how much and what companies help fund this school’s programs. I am sure they won’t - they won’t appreciate the university President calling one of his students an idiot because he struggles with his studies. Especially Allies Inc. Their vision is ‘a world where limitation does not distinguish and define’ after all. And I’m quite sure they offer a very charitable contribution each year.”

Taehyung has never, ever in his life ever wanted to kiss Jungkook as badly as he wants to right now. His father looks thrown off by Jungkook’s boldness as much as Taehyung is. But Jungkook’s nerve doesn’t last long before he’s bowing low and nearly running from the office.

Snatching his bag, Taehyung takes off after him, ignoring his father’s call after him.

“Jeon!”

Jungkook ignores him and keeps storming off.

Taehyung cusses under his breath. Even sick, Jungkook is fast.

“Baby!”

It is successful in getting Jungkook to whip around, but he doesn’t look pleased.

“No,” Jungkook says, stepping back. “I’m sorry. I have to go. I am supposed to meet with hyung. If I don’t, he gets weird and will blow up my phone and I’m on low battery.”

“Baby,” Taehyung says again but he never got over his addiction to calling Jungkook that. He cups Jungkook’s elbow, wanting to pull him close. “You’re not doing those exams. I will kill you if you even attempt it.”

Jungkook narrows his eyes at him. “I am. I worked hard during those tutoring sessions. You’re passing those classes whether I have to do them myself or not. And that’s it.”

“I worked hard too,” Taehyung snaps defensively.

“I know,” Jungkook says without hesitation. “Which is why I’m angry right now. You should be worried about your grades for you. Not for me, not to spite your parents. Show them you’re as smart as you are, Taehyung. That’s the best way to slap your mother in the face the way she slapped you.”

Jungkook softens as he curls a finger underneath Taehyung’s sore cheek. His eyes grow sad and Taehyung hates it; hates pity, but he isn’t sure that’s exactly what Jungkook is feeling.

“You should go see Dr. Jung,” Jungkook murmurs. “You’re bleeding.”

Taehyung curls his fingers around Jungkook’s wrist before he turns and presses a kiss to his palm. He can’t say the words, but he needs Jungkook to know them. I’m sorry, I miss you.

A sharp breath leaves Jungkook’s lips as he tenses, but his fingers stiffen out like he’s giving Taehyung space to kiss more.

Maybe. Taehyung needs to stop just relying on the small indications that Jungkook is okay with it and just ask him.

“I’ll take the exams,” Taehyung says. “You don’t have to. Trust me, I’ll take them. If that doesn’t convince you, then know if you do those exams and get sick again, Yoongi will murder me and spend his life in prison and you’ll have to bear the weight of that.”

Jungkook huffs out a breath, rolling his eyes. “I know you can do them, Taehyung.”

He turns then, walking off slower. Taehyung doesn’t know if that means anything, if that means Jungkook wants him to walk with him or not.

“Jeon!” Taehyung calls, heart skipping a beat. “You’re the only one that believes in me.”

Jungkook turns around, walking backwards. There’s a grin on his lips when he says, “didn’t you say I was the smartest person you know?”

Taehyung cannot do this.

He stares at the study guides, at the shapes and words on the paper and he wants to scream. He’s too tired for this and maybe he shouldn’t have smoked first.

Taehyung flips through his notebooks, finding the notes he had written word for word of what Jungkook said. He remembers the sound of his voice, the look in his eyes as he explains things.

Its distracting because in the margins are doodles of Jungkook, little notes about things he had said unrelated to schoolwork.

Taehyung sighs, running a finger underneath each word so he focuses and retains each one. He says them under his breath, quietly so Jimin won’t hear where he’s studying across the room.

It feels like it takes forever just for Taehyung to finish half of the study guide. He needs a break though, swearing he actually does, before he hands his paper to Namjoon.

“Tell me if this is correct,” he says before he flies into the kitchen.

Every year before exams, Namjoon hosts a study party. Taehyung has never attended it until this year and he did come just to study, but he is disappointed that Jungkook isn’t here with everyone else.

Namjoon offers him the paper back, thankfully explaining which parts he had gotten wrong and why they are wrong.

“Thanks. You’re no Jungkook, but close enough.”

Namjoon swats him in the chest. “Shut up. Thank god I’m not him. I’d throw up if you looked at me the way you look at him.”

Taehyung wrinkles his nose around a growl and punches Namjoon back.

He’s trying. Trying to go at it by himself but when Monday rolls around and there’s a few questions he isn’t sure about, he finds himself standing outside of the tutoring center.

There’s no reason Jungkook should be here but he hopes so. The reception area is empty except for the woman he signs in with.

“Uh, is Jungkook here?”

The woman doesn’t look at him as she nods. It’s that way with everyone lately. Exam week makes the campus look as if a zombie apocalypse has happened.

“Where?”

She flits a hand in the general direction of the study rooms. Taehyung bites his tongue. He shouldn’t be too hard to find, no one else would be willing to wake up this early to study.

He is easy to find but Taehyung had been wrong about Jungkook being the only one here. He hesitates when he walks by the windows and spots Jungkook’s forehead nearly pressed to another man’s as he points down to a textbook.

There’s a static in Taehyung’s chest that he should, needs to ignore, but he is opening the door before he can stop himself. He knocks as he opens it, making Jungkook nearly fly out of his chair as the other with him only slowly lifts his head.

Jungkook’s face turns red immediately.

“Taehyung. What - what are you doing here?”

“Hey Jeon,” Taehyung greets as he leans against the doorframe. “Just making use of the great things this university offer us. Figured no one would be here.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose. The other man’s eyes are sparkling and Taehyung frowns.

“I’m always here at this time.”

It’s awkward. Taehyung hates awkward.

Shifting away from the door, Taehyung drops his bag on the table. Despite there being six other empty chairs, he parks himself beside Jungkook.

“Do you mind if I study in here?”

Jungkook looks a bit lost for words, growing redder.

“I’m sure there’s plenty of other rooms.”

Taehyung slowly lets his eyes travel to the other man at the sound of his voice. His eyes are bright with amusement.

“This one has better lighting.”

He has no idea, but when Jungkook nor his friend comment, Taehyung pulls out his study guide and starts working.

Everything is done but the parts he needs help with, so Taehyung spends his time pretending not to eavesdrop. Jungkook takes a deep breath, which he continues to do between each pause.

It’s when Taehyung glances at Jungkook and sees the way the pen he holds trembles that he wonders if this was a bad idea. If he messed up again and made Jungkook uncomfortable.

“Kookie baby, can you help me with this?” Taehyung asks as he digs through his bag, pretending like he isn’t aware that he’s interrupting.

He keeps digging himself into a bigger hole but Taehyung has always had impulse control problems.

“Um, with what?”

Taehyung yanks out a pen buried at the bottom of the bag before rolling it to Jungkook. “This chem shit.”

Jungkook frowns, glancing at the man who Taehyung is started to get annoyed with. He just looks like an annoying person.

“Who’s your professor? I have Yoon for chem. Total bore,” the man says as Jungkook glances at Taehyung’s work.

It makes Taehyung feel worse. Jungkook does everything he’s asked so easily.

“Ma Ri,” Taehyung answers. He wants to tug the study guide back from Jungkook, regret filling him but Jungkook is smiling.

It makes his heart swell as Jungkook sucks his bottom lip into his mouth like he’s trying not to.

“You’re one of Min’s boys, aren’t you?”

Taehyung raises an eyebrow at the stranger, trying not to show how affected he is just by Jungkook’s smile.

His smile directed at Taehyung’s work.

“Mhm,” Taehyung hums. “Heard of me?”

The man grins as he leans back in his chair and Jungkook stills, staring down at the paper as his smile vanishes. He doesn’t have a familiar face, though his cat like eyes make him stand out - Taehyung doesn’t recognize him.

“Yeah. I go to the Club sometimes. Rumor has it he got into a fight with one of those biker dudes and hasn’t shown his face since.”

Jungkook’s sharp exhale is quiet but Taehyung is so tuned into him he hears it.

Taehyung laughs quietly. “Nothing like that. Family shit, you know how it is.”

The man flashes him a toothy grin. “Right on. I’m Moonbin by the way.”

Taehyung feels like being petty, but he doesn’t. Instead, he smiles and takes the hand that is offered to him.

The strength in Moonbin’s grip isn’t accidental.

“Taehyung.”

Jungkook clears his throat, giving Taehyung a look he doesn’t understand. But apparently Moonbin does as he stands, wiping his hands on his legs.

“I should head out. Thanks for your help, Jungkook-ah.”

Taehyung frowns when he stands completely. He’s tall .

What is it with tall men making him jealous? He’s plenty tall himself.

“Nice meeting you,” Taehyung says with a half wave. He can feel Jungkook’s eyes boring into him as Moonbin leaves.

“What are you doing?” Jungkook whispers despite them now being alone.

“I need help,” Taehyung says as he shifts his study guide so Jungkook can see.

Jungkook softens, his smile flickering back. “From what it looks like, you don’t need help at all.”

Taehyung bites his cheek so his smile won’t show Jungkook how that makes him feel. “I do. There were a couple questions I couldn’t figure out.”

He flips to them, showing them off and Taehyung freezes when he spots the ‘ Jungkook ’ scribbled on the side. He quickly closes the packet.

“Oh, well, funny thing. I just remembered the answer.”

Jungkook narrows his eyes suspiciously. “Did you come here just to mess with me? Make me embarrassed in front of Moonbin?”

Taehyung frowns at that. “Why do you care about being embarrassed in front of Moonbin? Are you -”

“No,” Jungkook grunts before Taehyung can finish. He snatches Taehyung’s packet, quickly opening it again. “You know I get embarrassed in front of anyone.”

Leaning an elbow on the back of his chair, he tries to remain calm that Jungkook doesn’t spot his doodled name. He hopes there’s only the one. “I also know you have a tall man kink.”

Jungkook glares so hard Taehyung almost laughs.

“I do not.”

“Mhm,” Taehyung insists. “You know tall is the number one leading characteristic of cheaters? All tall men cheat.”

It's hard not to laugh when Jungkook’s eyes grow with amusement.

Taehyung’s cheeks feel hot.

“All tall men suck. Except for Namjoon,” Taehyung says seriously. “Whomst I call Daddy Long Legs, by the way. Jin hates it.”

The room fills with Jungkook’s giggle that he hides behind his hands. Taehyung joins him, laughing quietly as he pulls Jungkook’s hands from his face so he can hold his fingers and not let them go.

“You don’t really call him that, do you?” Jungkook chokes out.

It feels normal, nice.

Taehyung desperately doesn’t want to ruin it.

“Mhm. Sure do,” Taehyung sounds proudly. “So no more hanging out with tall dudes, Jeon. Except Namjoon.”

Jungkook stays quiet for a moment, sucking on his bottom lip and growing tense when Taehyung drops his eyes to his mouth.

“You sound jealous.”

It’s a weak comeback, soft spoken and clearly meant to be joking, but Taehyung is.

“I am,” Taehyung admits, tone also joking. I miss you, I miss you. “Never said you could tutor anyone but me, baby.”

Jungkook lets out a breath that sounds like he’s been holding it. “You um, stopped coming.”

Taehyung cringes internally. Don’t avoid, don’t avoid runs through his mind but the tension slowly seeping into his body makes his fight or flight go into over drive.

“When someone says they hate you, you probably shouldn’t force yourself around them,” Taehyung says as he pulls his hands from Jungkook, heart dampening when Jungkook easily lets him go.

It’s too much and Taehyung hates when he can’t breathe. He grabs the packet to shove it into his bag, but Jungkook lays a hand flat onto it and stops him.

“Wait. Don’t go,” Jungkook says under his breath, eyes wide and Taehyung’s angry at himself that he can’t stop upsetting Jungkook. “Please sit back down. I didn’t mean to ruin it.”

Taehyung had been so ready to feel he didn’t even realize he was half out of his seat. Jungkook didn’t ruin a thing.

“You scared Moonbin away, I still have a half hour left,” Jungkook says. He lets out a laugh that sounds forced. “How are almost as tall as tall boys? Can I hang out with them?”

Confusion fills Taehyung. He doesn’t want Jungkook to date anyone, tall or small.

“I’m making a joke,” Jungkook rushes, turning red again. “A really bad joke. I meant you. Because you’re almost as tall as everyone you call gigantic.”

Taehyung melts back into his chair. He smiles at Jungkook’s attempt at using humor to lighten the situation like Taehyung always does because he needs it.

And Jungkook knows that.

“Depends,” Taehyung playa along, flashing Jungkook a cocky grin, “what’s their name?”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I just said it was you. Shut up and tell me what question you need help with.”

Taehyung’s cheeks hurt from the way his smile pushes into them and it only worsens when Jungkook scooches closer to him.

“I don’t by the way,” Jungkook whispers as Taehyung taps on the question he needs help with. “I don’t hate you, that is.”

Taehyung isn’t aware of the tightness in his chest until he exhales out and it releases.

The first exam, Taehyung feels anxious again. He waits outside of the classroom, waiting for the door to open up to his death. He spent the morning with Hoseok asking him question after question, cheering him as he got them right, but he isn’t feeling confident. A lot of it is equations, and Taehyung isn’t confident.

Taehyung’s chest is tight as he exhales, puffing out his cheeks. He can do this. He knows his father’s been modifying his other grades; he doesn’t know how but there are a lot of high Cs that Taehyung never earned, even on things he never even remembers working on.

He wants to earn this one; mostly to spite his parents and so Jungkook doesn’t have to.

So Jungkook knows he worked hard to helped him and it actually worked.

It’s been a long time since Taehyung has had a reason to be motivated. He knows Jungkook wants him to be his own motivation, but whatever works, right?

“Taehyung.”

Taehyung whips around at the sound of Jungkook’s voice. He looks just as shitty as the last time they saw each other, his hair a ruffled mess and his glasses needing a cleaning. He holds a textbook to his chest, the image of test tubes beneath his arms.

“You came.”

Taehyung wrinkles his nose at that, glancing at the closed door and Jungkook. “You didn’t come here to take the exam for me, did you? I told you I was coming.”

Jungkook snorts at that. “Unfortunately, your professor would know it’s me and not you. I was supposed to take the exams in your father’s office. I came to wish you luck.”

Maybe Jungkook meant it when he said he doesn’t hate him, but Taehyung still doesn’t know why he would say it anyway.

“Thank you, Jeon.”

“Don’t be afraid to scribble things out on the sides of the paper until you can figure it out. And don’t get frustrated with yourself or it’ll make things harder on you. Oh, and -”

Taehyung takes Jungkook’s hand before he can finish. He squeezes it gently, desperately wanting to kiss Jungkook.

They aren’t okay - Taehyung doesn’t fucking know, but he just knows his heart is swelling because it feels normal.

“Okay, sorry,” Jungkook huffs, smiling and Taehyung’s crashing with how much he missed him. “You’ll do fine. Okay?”

“Come to Jin’s,” Taehyung says. “It’s this Saturday, after exams. Before everyone goes home for the break.”

Taehyung knows Jungkook isn’t going home. The idea of him being the only person on campus, even though he knows that won’t be true, makes his chest ache.

“Uh - I’ll think about it,” Jungkook says, offering him a smile. “I wasn’t cleared to go back to work yet, so. I’m not sure.”

Concern makes Taehyung’s heart drop. “Did you tell Dr. Fuck that not having money is going to make you stress?”

Jungkook sniffles his nose before rubbing it. “Actually, someone paid my tuition. I suspect Yoongi, but he denies it. So, I have some extra, emergency cash and the next tuition payment ahead of time.”

Taehyung bites at his smile, looking down at his toes. His father had instructed him to go to the admissions building and pay half of Jungkook’s monthly tuition as a compensation for his help.

Instead, Taehyung paid the rest of the semester and all of spring semester. The scolding he got for being ‘reckless’ with his father’s money had been worth it.

“Oh good,” Taehyung says as the door opens and his professor appears. His nerves are back. “I’ll see you, yeah?”

“You got it!” Jungkook says, pushing up on his toes to call after Taehyung like a mother shouting after their child on the first day of school. “Remember, I know you can do this. Trust me.”

And maybe Taehyung believes Jungkook doesn’t hate him. He is the smartest person Taehyung knows, because he knows how much Taehyung needs to hear that even if he’s never told him.

Chapter Text

When Taehyung was younger, all he and Soohyun did was fight. Tugging at hair, punches, destroying the other’s belongings, tattling to their parents with both truth and lies. Sometimes it was more, angrier, fingers digging into throats and shoving heads against the wall, nasty words spit with no other intent than to dig as painfully into the other as possible.

But there were times when their fighting could almost be considered bonding. Maybe in Soohyun’s mind, he considered teaching Taehyung how to fight as that.

Taehyung took it as a way to punch his anger into his brother without his parents punishing him. His brother was always stronger than him, always made it so Taehyung couldn’t punch him, dig his anger into his skin, unless it was controlled in the boxing ring.

He taught him a lot either way, though Soohyun’s desperate need not to have a ‘pussy brother’ makes him less thankful for it. It was never something bothered him though. If his brother was trying to use the word to make him feel weak, or like a coward, it never worked.

Because one thing Taehyung is confident about himself in is that he’s neither weak nor a coward. He was, at least, until Jungkook came around.

Jungkook, the stereotype for a weak and cowardly person, is anything but that. Jungkook, the only thing that has ever made Taehyung feel weak and cowardly.

It’s ridiculous, the way Taehyung can’t get him out of his head. Annoying, really. Annoying in the way that he has to blurt the first thought that isn’t him out loud just to stop whatever intrusive thoughts force their way through. Annoying because Taehyung can shut off easily when any of his closest friends upset him, but he can’t fucking do it with Jungkook.

It gets him so frustrated that it makes his skin crawl, his body on edge. It makes him feel like he is losing his composure because he’s always been good at control, but his thoughts of Jungkook are telling him he is not.

Taehyung isn’t handling it well and the pills he shoves down his throat to stop his thoughts make him feel weaker.

Soohyun’s number one rule had always been never to hit a man when his back was turned, which is surprising when Taehyung walks past his room and is gripped roughly by his neck from someone behind him.

“What’s up, baby bro?” Soohyun asks, fingers digging in harshly. The breath wheezing from Taehyung’s lips is enough to stall him from hitting back, and giving Soohyun enough time for his knee to push hard into his back.

Taehyung hates feeling weak.

“We have dinner tonight, where are you going dressed so pretty? Trying to convince the folks you’re not worthless for once?”

Taehyung tries to elbow him off but it only makes him strengthen the grip on his throat.

“I’m - not going.”

Soohyun laughs. “No? I really enjoy watching your face though when Appa goes on about how much he wants Jungkook as a son more than you.”

His brother lets out a loud grunt when Taehyung manages to elbow him hard enough for him to let go. His neck throbs once his fingers are gone but he doesn’t give his brother the pleasure of knowing.

He isn’t weak.

“If you were not a fuck , I would tell you to come with so we both don’t have to deal with it.”

Soohyun recovers easily, stalking across the floor like he might attack again. “Nah, I’m busy. Got some shit to handle for the Club. Word around is Min has a new boy to play with.”

Taehyung tightens his fingers into a fist. He can see it in Soohyun’s eyes, he knows the name before he even says it.

He isn’t weak, but Jungkook makes him so.

“Jungkook, heard of him?” Soohyun asks, wiggling his brows. “Not your boy, right? Because if so, it would be a shame if Appa heard his precious, genius, Jeon Jungkook spreads his legs around town.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, breathing in to control the anger in his chest. But he wants to punch Soohyun so hard in the mouth that he’ll never even be able to pronounce Jungkook’s name again.

“Shouldn’t listen to gossip, hyung. I heard you suck more dicks than I do,” Taehyung shoots back, tone unfazed. “Should I tell Appa that?”

He doesn’t give a shit what anyone says about himself, but he doesn’t want to hear a word spoken about Jungkook.

Weak, weak, weak for Jeon Jungkook.

Soohyun rolls his eyes. “You speak about that with such pride, I’m amazed baby bro. Never seen someone so proud of being a cocksucker.”

Taehyung grins, shrugging a shoulder. “The rumors must not be true then, because once you get that sweet taste of cock in your mouth, you’d understand.”

For a moment, Taehyung can see the disgust seep into Soohyun’s anger but he quickly blinks it away.

“Is that why you and Jungkook are together? If I see him tonight, will he be so eagerly willing to choke on it?”

The coolness Taehyung was trying to portray away drains from him so quickly he is almost dizzy with it. Soohyun’s eyes shine with victory and Taehyung doesn’t care that he’s gotten one over him, figured out a weakness to use against him.

Weak, weak, weak rings in his head so loudly he isn’t sure if he’s angry at his brother or himself.

“Don’t need to answer, I already know. Offered him a ride the other day and he was as eager as you,” Soohyun laughs with malice. “Poor thing was soaked from walking in the rain, he showed his gratitude well.”

Tension sweeps through Taehyung. The night he found Jungkook in the rain was the same night Jungkook asked him about his brother.

He knows every word that seeps from Soohyun’s mouth is a lie but he wants to what Soohyun was really doing around him.

Rage radiates through him and he feels like he can’t control it. He knows it can, he has.

He doesn’t want to.

“Might go for a second round. Heard he’s downtown. Landed himself one of the Star boys,” Soohyun goes on, taking Taehyung quiet rage and running with it. “You should warn him, jumping from crew to crew like could really cause some problems with Min.”

“Fuck off, Soohyun. I’m not in the mood.”

He needs the pills he swallowed to set in quickly, before he stops being the dumb, worthless child and becomes the criminal, murderous child.

“Just saying. Spoke with Cheollie the other day. Seems quite unhappy his bitch -“

Weak, he feels sometimes under his brother’s strength. Or used to, before Yoongi taught him the proper way to use to fight, not needing strength but skill.

He isn’t forgiving, fingers gripping right around Soohyun’s windpipe in a desperation for him to stop fucking talking about Jungkook.

It had been a lie when he told Jungkook he was harmless. He isn’t. But Taehyung knew he would leave, knew he would never be around Jungkook again and hadn’t wanted him to stress.

He believed the harm was only directed towards him and not Jungkook, and he needs his brother to realize it must stay that way.

It’s a voice clearing behind them that has Taehyung releasing his grip.

It’s that voice that has Taehyung’s anger skyrocketing.

“What is going on here?” His father grunts, that same anger Taehyung hates that he has too mirrored in his eyes.

“Oh nothing, Appa,” Taehyung says before sighing dramatically. He needs to get out of here and never come back. “I was just telling hyung here that he should stop offering Jungkook sexual favors for helping me. He already has enough to use against the family, don’t you think?”

Both his father and brother sputter at the same time and Taehyung side steps them, allowing his father to turn his rage onto his brother instead. For once.

Maybe his father really does care for Jungkook, Taehyung thinks as he slips down the hallway unnoticed. The only good thing about his father would be that if it’s true.

It wouldn’t matter. Taehyung doesn’t want any of his family around Jungkook, around himself.

Jungkook makes him feel weak but there’s a strength inside of him everytime he remembers how genuine Jungkook looked when he said he believed in him.

Given Yoongi’s new heightened protectiveness, it is easy to locate Jungkook.

If Yoongi knew how he felt, maybe he wouldn’t tease about it, confusing Taehyung and making him walk even faster. Or it seems fast, the drug flooding in Taehyung’s system making him unsure as to whether he’s running or dragging his feet.

It helps calm his anger but it does little about his need to be near Jungkook. It does nothing to clear his thoughts, just numbs the emotions that come with it.

The drug is completely worthless when it comes to his eyes landing on Jungkook, the feeling erupting in his chest worse than ever. He hates the way it makes him feel because Jungkook isn’t alone and Jungkook is with the Star boy just like Soohyun said.

He had looked into Moonbin after he poked his nose into Yoongi’s business (and not because of Jungkook, whatsoever), and found he's alright. He runs with a crew that supports Yoongi, including Eunwoo, who had easily tossed Cheol Su after their fight. He sells to Namjoon, the source for the weed that he consumes like he’s hungry for it.

But Taehyung still doesn’t like him around Jungkook. And it isn’t jealousy, okay? At least Soohyun has given him another reason to justify his dislike towards him.

It should be his biggest concern, it is. But Taehyung can’t help the heaviness in his chest because it’s definitely a date. There’s no way it can’t be.

It’s a fancy ass restaurant with fancy ass, expensive food. And Jungkook is dressed up, hair perfectly styled and a dress up shirt that Taehyung narrows his eyes at because Jungkook never wears the top buttons unbuttoned except with him.

It’s such a simple thing but Taehyung is already in a roughed up mood and the drugs he took before Soohyun nearly strangled him aren’t helping like they should.

“Yo, you work here?”

There’s a boy leaning against the side of the building, the cigarette dangling from his mouth dropping to the ground when he jumps.

“Yes?”

Taehyung yanks his wallet from his pocket, pulling out a small bill that he shoves towards the boy’s chest. “Tell the bartender, Yoongi, to check his phone. It’s an emergency.”

The boy still looks shocked but Taehyung pays him no mind after he darts inside.

taehyung : so you’re just going to let jeon date right in front of me where’s protective yoongi when i need him

Taehyung stares at the message, shaking his head. He looks around inside, making sure no one he recognizes is there. No one that could tell Soohyun he is there.

The rage is inside of him but it’s so dull that Taehyung is only aware of it, doesn’t feel it.

He watches as the boy runs up to the bar, watches as Yoongi’s face crumples in alarm before he’s rushing for his phone.

And Taehyung, the master of finding something funny in a serious situation, laughs softly when Yoongi glares at his phone and then facepalms himself.

taehyung : meet me out back ASAP

Taehyung only watches as Yoongi whips his head around the restaurant before he takes off to the backdoor.

There have been plenty of times Yoongi has snuck out the back to smoke with him while he’s been downtown that the area is familiar to him. His feet move mechanically, his head heavy.

Yoongi has a pinched nose like he’s annoyed as he steps out, fingering a cigarette that Taehyung stops Yoongi from smoking.

“No time. You need to get Moonbin out of here.”

Yoongi snorts around a grin. “I like this side of you, Tae. You should show how much you care about things more. If it makes you feel any better, Kook isn’t into him. At all. I know this.”

“How?” Taehyung demands before he holds up a hand and shakes his head. “No, that's not actually why I’m here. Get Moonbin away and I’ll explain.”

Yoongi peers suspiciously at him, dangerous in the way that threatens a lecture when he realizes Taehyung is high. It’ll be soft, until it isn’t, because sometimes Taehyung pushes and pushes and deserves the anger from his friends.

“Moonbin’s cool, Tae. He rolls with Eunwoo’s crew. Joon buys his weed from him.”

“Yeah and that’s all great but I want to know how Soohyun knows Jungkook’s here with him.”

It goes quiet as Yoongi’s expression changes, amusement slipping away and forming into the same protective look when he tells Taehyung to back off. Except deadlier, less soft.

“What? The Star boys and your brother’s crew don’t get along, man.”

“Well, I’m telling you, Soohyun is the one who told me Kook was here with one of the Star boys. If it isn’t Moonbin, we need to figure out who it is.”

Yoongi nods, jaw tightening. “I’ll get rid of him. Did you bring bags for his body parts?”

Taehyung shoves Yoongi. “I support you but also no, you’re in public. Just, I don’t know, tell him Jungkook’s underage, get him somewhere private, threaten him, and I’ll get Jungkook out of the downtown. You know, since you’re working.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes, calling out the part of Taehyung that is just here because he needs to see Jungkook the way his body needs oxygen to breathe.

“If you’re not being serious, I will kick your ass.”

“I am,” Taehyung insists. “Pinky promise. Soohyun told me he was here, right after he told me Kook begged for his cock a few nights ago.”

Yoongi moves like he might punch, fist directed nowhere and not at Taehyung. If anyone hates Soohyun as much as he does it’s Yoongi.

Soohyun had been his first enemy when Yoongi joined the club, an amateur fighter beaten to the ground. It made Yoongi stronger, nastier, just like it did with Taehyung.

“You know he didn’t,” Yoongi says as if Taehyung is the one accusing him.

“I know,” Taehyung says and it’s enough to soften Yoongi’s eyes.

Taehyung knows well all of his friends hold someone else closer, that he’s pushed them to the point where they’ll chose someone else always, but Taehyung doesn’t give a shit if every person in his life chose Jungkook first.

“I’ll get him out,” Yoongi finally says. “You get Jungkook home and we’ll figure it out. But do not say a word to him about it, got it?”

There’s a finger pressed hard to his chest then but Yoongi’s eyes are still so soft.

Maybe it doesn’t make sense that Taehyung thinks it’s okay for Yoongi to be weak for Jungkook but it’s not okay for himself.

“I wouldn’t.

**

It’s a nice restaurant. A little too nice. The tablecloths look like silk, the chandeliers over his head true crystal and probably more expensive than Jungkook’s life.

He feels out of place in his cheap clothes.

The silverware is true silver, shiny and polished. The price of the food makes Jungkook’s heart skip a beat and it must show on his face because a second later, the menu is being pulled away from him.

“Don’t worry, I’m buying.”

Moonbin smiles softly as he scans over the menu and lists off his suggestions.

Jungkook doesn’t understand him.

It had been a request from Professor Ma Ri to help Moonbin for his upcoming exam. He wasn’t expecting Moonbin to offer him dinner as a thank you and Jungkook couldn’t find it in himself to say no.

The problem is, the place is fancy. And Jungkook can’t tell if Moonbin is flirting or just being nice. Wealthy people probably come to places like this for no reason, it probably shouldn’t feel like a date.

But this is everything a date should be to Jungkook and he can’t help but think maybe Moonbin thinks so too. He doesn’t want it to be one, that would be awkward, but he doesn’t understand why someone would bring him to a place like this for no reason.

It doesn’t help that Yoongi is across the room at the bar, looking just as expensive in his work uniform, and glaring at them. It isn’t friendly at all, giving Jungkook a slight understanding as to why people find his soft, gooey hyung scary.

“This is really too expensive. I didn’t mind helping. You don’t owe me anything.”

Moonbin shakes his head, laughing softly. “I thought I was going to bomb that exam but I came out of it feeling like I got an A. Thanks to you, the miracle worker.”

Jungkook hates how easily he blushes. He wishes he had the menu back to hide behind. He doesn’t know how to respond and thankfully he doesn’t have to as the waiter pops up by his side.

He would feel relieved if he wasn’t face to face with Yoongi’s glare. The suspicion is clear in his eyes as he looks at Moonbin and then quirks a brow at Jungkook.

“I’m sorry sir, you ordered the wine but your date here is underage.”

Jungkook feels his eyes blow wide as Moonbin whips his head at Yoongi and then back at Jungkook.

“You’re what?”

“I am not,” Jungkook wheezes though he doesn’t want to drink anyway. He has an exam in the morning and that’s another reason he didn’t want to come out tonight.

He needs to get better at saying no and sticking to it.

Yoongi breathes through his teeth, avoiding his eyes as he scribbles something onto the pad he’s holding.

Jungkook doesn’t miss the way Yoongi tilts it towards Moonbin, wrapping his arms around his waist like he might scold Jungkook but turning his fingers so the notepad is in Moonbin’s eye sight.

He doesn’t miss it, because Moonbin’s eyes zero in on it before the color drains from his face.  

“If you wanted to drink illegally, Jungkook-ah, you shouldn’t have come to your hyung’s job. You know I’ll tell Eomma.”

Jungkook narrows his eyes at Yoongi. There’s a tick in his jaw that doesn’t seem playful and Jungkook is riddled with confusion.

The laugh Moonbin lets out sounds strained. He’s mentioned knowing of Yoongi and Jungkook wonders if Yoongi knows of him too.

It makes him nervous if Yoongi does and if he has a legit reason for glaring at Moonbin. Which he does when he turns again, eyes latching onto Moonbin shaking his head.

“I'm not. I mean, not a date, Min. Just thanking Jeon for his help. A genius this one is. Tell your Eomma that.”

The compliment doesn’t pull out a proud Yoongi like it normally does. Instead, Yoongi doesn’t even look his way as he lets out a soft, “hm” and pulls out a small notebook. “How’s the pork belly sound, baby bro?”

Jungkook wants to hide under the table. He’s thankful Moonbin orders quickly so Yoongi can leave, but then he’s stuck with Moonbin’s questioning eyes. Yoongi never calls him that.

“That’s fine, hyung.”

And Yoongi only nods his head before walking off, not even taking Moonbin’s order.

“I’m not underage,” Jungkook laughs awkwardly as soon as Yoongi is gone. “Hyung is just - um, that way.”

Moonbin snorts as he rubs at his eyebrow, stress appearing on his face. “ You’re Min’s baby brother?”

The sweat is building on Jungkook’s palms but he put his nice pants on and is afraid to ruin them. He plays with the fancy napkin instead, though he’s sure it’s more expensive than his pants.

“Yes?”

He isn’t expecting the way Moonbin laughs almost painfully as he rubs at his face. The look in his eyes is dread when he pulls his eyes away.

“Ah shit.”

“Why - why ‘ah shit’?”

Another laugh as Moonbin glances worriedly around the restaurant. “Word around has it that Min’s brother is apart of his crew now and he’s been very um, persuasive, I guess, that no one bother him or he’ll make his fight with Cheol look like a flick on the wrist.”

Dread fills Jungkook. He loves his hyung but his protectiveness makes embarrassment flood him quickly.

The mention of Cheol Su makes Jungkook’s stomach twist uncomfortably.

“What did he have written on the notepad?”

Moonbin’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline at this. He shrugs more times than necessary until he gives in under Jungkook’s glare.

“More or less that if I’m here because of Cheol Su he’ll make me choke on my own dick. Which I’m not, by the way. I can’t stand that biker shit crew.”

Jungkook groans, knocking his head down until it jumps against the table.

“He’s all talk,” Jungkook replies. Which he probably shouldn’t because he knows Yoongi isn’t all talk and he doesn’t want to ruin Yoongi’s reputation either. He just doesn’t want Moonbin to be too afraid to come near him.

“My crew is cool with Min’s boys,” Moonbin says quickly. “But I have a feeling that he doesn’t just mean bother in a bad way.”

Jungkook lets out a noise that embarrasses him further. “What?”

Moonbin’s hands quickly fly up in defense, eyes glancing in the direction that Yoongi left in a way that makes Jungkook want to run away.

“I meant it when I say that I just want to thank you, Jungkook. But I also am cool with getting to know you more.”

Oh . Jungkook hesitates, unsure as to what to say.

“Why?” blurts from his lips so quickly he almost slaps a hand to his mouth in hopes of taking it back.

“You’re cool man. And hot, just don’t -“

Moonbin’s lips snap shut so quickly it’s almost comical as Yoong returns, bottle in hand. It’s quiet as he pops the cork and pours the wine into two glasses.

He barely pours two sips into Jungkook’s and places a glass of water beside it.

“Hyung, can I have a word?”

Yoongi nods without hesitation. If Jungkook didn’t know him as well as he did, he would think Yoongi’s expression was impassive. But there’s a tightness in his jaw and a wrinkle in his nose that sounds otherwise.

“Excuse me, Moonbin-ssi.”

Moonbin looks pale.

Yoongi guides Jungkook with a hand on his elbow towards the back, through a door that says staff only.

It’s much brighter than the candle lit dining area, and much louder with shouts of orders instead of soft, classical music.

“I love you hyung but you’re embarrassing me.”

Yoongi scoffs at that, crossing his arms over his chest. “Is it a date?”

“No,” Jungkook breathes. “Well, I have no idea to be honest but I’m not interested and I don’t know why you’re acting this way.”

Yoongi plants a hand to Jungkook’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “I like Moonbin, he’s a cool guy -“

“Really? Because your face says murder. And I know you threatened him.”

Shrugging slightly, Yoongi lets out a soft giggle. “That’s just my face, Koo. He’s a cool guy but I will break all of his fingers if he touches you. I’m in the mood to break all of his fingers now, to be honest.”

Jungkook groans loudly, planting a hand to his forehead. “I’m not even interested, but if I was, you would need to back off.”

“I wouldn’t,” Yoongi says instantly, stubborn. There isn’t even shame on his face when he says it.

“And why not?”

He’s caught Yoongi, who frustratedly opens his mouth a few times before actually speaking.

“Jimin will kill me if I don’t sabotage this,” Yoongi grunts in a way that Jungkook may he think he could be lying.

“What does that mean?” Jungkook wheezes desperately.

“I can’t tell you,” Yoongi says with another shrug and his face tells him that he won’t, even if Jungkook presses him more.

Jungkook groans again. “He’s nice. Stop glaring at him. He looked as if he might pass out when he realized I’m your brother.”

The smile on Yoongi’s face in response is too big, too proud. Jungkook rolls his eyes at him before he turns and pushes back into the dining room.

“I’m really sorry about that,” Jungkook says as he sits back down. “I had some trouble lately so, yeah.”

“I heard,” Moonbin responds and it doesn’t seem judgmental. “Explains why Kim acted that way when you were tutoring me.”

Realistically, Jungkook should have expected Taehyung to come into the conversation at some point. From an outsider view, his behavior was probably strange. But his body grows taut at the sound of his name anyway.

“What do you mean?”

Moonbin sips idly at his drink before he places it onto the table and rests his cheek against his hand. Jungkook refrains from telling him it’s rude to put your elbows on the table.

“Word also has it that someone has finally locked Kim down. I don’t know him well enough, but Eunwoo-ssi tells me monogamy and Kim are enemies.”

Jungkook’s laugh sounds like he’s gasping for air. He gives in and rubs his palms over his thighs before squeezing them between his thighs.

“Word of advice, Taehyung hates gossip.”

It shouldn’t be a feeling he has, but something warm ignited inside of him at the idea of people thinking of them together.

It is quickly followed by a heaviness at how not true it is. They’re barely even talking right now. He sees him sometimes and gets a smile, but it isn’t anything like before.

Jungkook considers downing the entire bottle of wine so he doesn’t have to feel how badly he misses him. He fills half a glass instead, ignoring the sour taste as it slips down his throat.

“Good to know, but it’s shit I can’t involve myself in, Jungkook. Shit like your brother looks about a second away from risking it all and murdering me,” Moonbin says, starting off strong but his breath comes out raspy at the end. “I’ll be right back.”

Glancing at the bar, Jungkook finds it to be true. He isn’t just glaring, but curling his finger for Moonbin to come over.

Jungkook wants to bury himself.

He tries not to watch Moonbin head to the bar and busies himself with admiring the threaded design on the napkin instead.

When the tablecloth shifts, Jungkook glances across for him to ask Moonbin what Yoongi wanted, but finds Taehyung there instead.

His sudden appearance has the breath rushing from his lips.

He looks like he fits in this place, a fitted suit jacket over a silky, floral shirt that dips so low Jungkook can see the curve of his chest beneath the assortment of necklaces he wears. His ears are lined with earrings and when he lifts an elbow to the table to rest his cheek against his hand, Jungkook finds his wrists just as decorated.

It’s annoying how his first thought is worried, worried that Taehyung is here on a date with someone else.

“Hey there, Jeon. I wasn’t expecting to see you in a place like this.”

Taehyung’s voice is honey, his lips quirked and eyes bright in the way that Jungkook has missed the most.

“On a date?”

Jungkook grips into his thighs as he shakes his head. Somehow he forgot how intimidating Taehyung can be when doing nothing at all.

“No. Just with a friend.”

“Moonbin?” Taehyung scoffs.

“If you already know, why are you asking?”

Jungkook expects Taehyung to shine with brightness at his comeback, he isn’t expecting the way Taehyung’s tongue jabs into his cheek before he frowns.

It’s frustrating. Taehyung doesn’t have the right to frown. He wouldn’t be tutoring anyone else if he didn’t stop showing up.

But the thought is ridiculous in too many ways that Jungkook wishes he could pull it from his brain.

“I was texting Yoongi to see if you’re around. Wanted to hang out.”

Jungkook’s chest is tight.

For the most part, Taehyung has avoided him the last couple of weeks. Except for the one time he was with Moonbin and the time he accidentally stumbled upon him in the rain.

It would be Jungkook’s luck that Taehyung finally reaches out to him and he’s too busy to come.

Because he would. He misses Taehyung so much it hurts him sometimes.

“Why didn’t you text me ?”

Taehyung only shrugs, giving away the fact that he doesn’t have an answer.

That he’s messing with him again.

Jungkook grits his teeth. “You should probably go. If I get home early maybe -“

Nerves make Jungkook choke on his words.

Taehyung glances lazily towards the bar, lifting a brow. “Where’d your date go, anyway? Kind of rude to leave you for so long.”

Jungkook frowns, glancing towards the bar where he finds Yoongi tending to someone else and Moonbin nowhere to be found.

“What are you doing?”

Taehyung’s eyes are already on him when Jungkook looks back at him, intense in a way that makes goosebumps erupt across his skin.

“Trying to kidnap you,” Taehyung admits shamelessly with a cock of his head. “Wanna hang out.”

Wrinkling his nose, Jungkook kicks at Taehyung underneath the table.

“Are you saying that because I’m here with Moonbin?”

Taehyung shakes his head and Jungkook can’t tell if he’s lying or not.

He can’t tell because Jungkook wants him to be lying.

As obnoxious and as rude as Taehyung can be, thinking when he’s jealous makes Jungkook’s heart soar. He fills his glass again, glaring over it when he brings it to his lips.

It makes Taehyung’s grin falter for a moment but it’s back when Jungkook finishes drinking and glides the glass across the table.

“How’d you even know I was here?”

“Like I said, I was texting Yoongi.”

Jungkook laughs. Jimin will kill me if I don’t sabotage this rings loudly in his memory. The fact that Moonbin still hasn’t returned confirms that it worked.

“Don’t want to waste the food he order -“ Taehyung starts but he stops when Jungkook quickly stands.

“Need the bathroom.”

He needs the cold water as thoughts try to invade his head. They only grow worse when he realizes Moonbin isn’t in the bathroom either and he wants to dunk his head beneath the faucet.

He doesn’t understand .

There’s water dripping down his neck when the bathroom door opens and through the mirror he finds Taehyung sneaking in. His eyes are dark when approaches and Jungkook feels like he can’t move.

“Why are you and Yoongi out to sabotage a date that isn’t a date?”

“So it is a date?”

“I literally just said it wasn’t.”

“Are you sure?”

Jungkook whips around, breath sticking to his lungs at Taehyung’s proximity. “Why do you care?”

Taehyung grins, eyes dilated in a way that Jungkook suspects his behavior is more because he isn’t sober than anything.