Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The sun is scorching hot on that summer day. Sweat drips down Taehyung’s back, and he hasn’t heard a single word come out of their teacher’s mouth for a little while, even though he’s sure he’s talking. Well, he can clearly hear him, but he’s definitely not listening.

He’s talking about some rules about a game they’ll be playing… was it dodgeball? He couldn’t care less.

He’s too distracted to think about something as unimportant as the rules of dodgeball when Park Jimin is right next to him looking so soft and pretty. 

Jimin. His boyfriend. Kim Taehyung’s boyfriend. ‘Wow…’ the word makes him dizzier than any hot summer day could. ‘That’s my boyfriend…’ he thinks. It’s still a bit surreal to him that they’re now dating. ‘Maybe another week…’ and he’ll finally register the fact that Jimin likes him back.

They warmed up a while ago, by running around the field three times and stretching, yet he’s still so red in the cheeks. Taehyung can see Jimin from the corner of his eye, and even though it’s a bit blurry, he could confidently draw out his profile on a canvas, if asked. From his fluffy, ruffled hair to his chin, not before stopping to admire his button nose and plump lips.

He shakes his head. He should stop staring. It might look suspicious. And that’s the last thing they want right now. He tears his eyes away from the prettiest pink and focuses on the dull brown sand of the ground.

Taehyung has his hands behind his back this whole time, gently massaging the spot below his shoulder blades, where his backpack never stops to abuse him during exam season. It’s a dull pain right now, he’s just massaging it to distract himself from… his biggest distraction. So, when Jimin looks over with worry in his eyes and rests his arm on Taehyung’s shoulder, he already knows he zoned out way too far into his head again.

He gives Jimin a quick nod of reassurance and a smile to drive the point home. ‘I’m fine!’ he says with his eyes. Jimin smiles and nods back, satisfied at the moment. And suddenly the worry in his eyes is replaced by a familiar look. ‘We’ve got a secret…’ it said. Taehyung’s chest erupts with butterflies, ‘Ah. Our secret…’. And just like that , shyness takes over and Jimin looks away. He looks around to see if anyone noticed anything.

Everyone seems to be in their own world. Taehyung lets out a breath. Safe. ‘What a fun secret…’

Jimin lets go of his shoulder and his arm dives lower, lower down his back ‘till it brushes Taehyung’s hand, very intentionally. And Taehyung, as weak as he was, takes the chance to hook one finger around Jimin’s. He hooks their pinkies together and gives it the tiniest squeeze.

He can’t see it, but he can feel Jimin’s heart hiccup and he has to battle a smile. His tummy flips around and his own cheeks are starting to feel hot.

Jimin lowers his hand and Taehyung takes it completely, squeezing it softly and making the older blush further.

At this point, their teacher stops to check on Jimin. “Park, are you alright back there? Didn’t have your breakfast? You look like you’re gonna faint!”

Their teacher seems worried that the heat is the reason he’s looking all red like a little tomato. ‘Hah, if only they knew…’ Taehyung feels way too smug.

Jimin lies and agrees, but he’s all shy about it. “Sorry, I overslept today and got late… so I had to.” He pats his cheek with the back of his free hand to try and calm himself.

Taehyung can only admire him with a smile for now, strangely proud that he made Jimin all flustered. He tugs at their intertwined fingers again.

He shouldn’t enjoy it, but there is something about trying not to get caught that is so thrilling. So, both of them feign innocence and turn back towards the teacher, pretending to listen to whatever rules they were discussing.

Since both of them hadn’t been paying attention during the rules, they got eliminated first, and as a result, they are the last students in the showers. ‘A blessing in disguise…’ Taehyung thinks happily. They barely get a moment like this. A moment away from everything and everyone. A private little moment of being together, alone. It’s a strange kind of excitement, settling on his skin like the humidity in the room.

“What was that?” Jimin asks, his head still stuck inside his shirt because he was too lazy to unbutton it before putting it on.

Taehyung snorts and unbuttons the first button to free him, fondness bubbling in his chest. “What was what?”

His head pops out and he’s still all red over his cheeks. “You know, that thing you did back there.” Jimin looks too embarrassed to say it. Taehyung tilts his head in confusion, but he clicks his tongue in annoyance. He knows his boyfriend is doing it on purpose. “That thing! The pinky thing. What was that?”

“Ah, that…” Taehyung tries to lock eyes but both of them fail miserably. “I dunno…” He mumbles, “… felt like it. Was it bad?”

Jimin approaches him with a serious expression and gulps, tucking a damp strand of Taehyung’s bangs away from his eyes. “Please, do it again.”

Taehyung thinks he would rather do something else. His eyes travel down his boyfriend’s pretty features. He’d rather kiss Jimin, he concludes, on the pinks of his cheeks and especially on the pinks of his lips. Jimin seems to read his mind. His cheeks blush even more, inviting him to do as he was thinking.

But… not here… not now.

Not when there was a risk of someone walking in on them.

So for now, he takes Jimin’s hand in his own and links their pinkies together like they’re making a promise.

And maybe they are, as they stare at their linked fingers, their linked hearts beating faster every second, when Taehyung says, “I want to kiss you later.”

A tiny gasp escapes Jimin, “Ok…” he says, already out of breath from just hearing about it.

They leave the room, anticipation fizzling in their nerves, waiting for time to go by faster.

And so, this little game of tug and pull, a secret language of ‘kiss me’ and ‘soon’, becomes more frequent the more time they have to spend apart. Everyday begins with a promise, and hopefully, everyday ends with more.

Chapter Text

“Have you seen Jimin?” Taehyung finds himself asking for the umpteenth time to one more classmate. He’s been looking for Jimin ever since the end of first period. It’s true that they have different subjects on Friday mornings but Jimin is nowhere to be found and Taehyung knows for a fact that he’s avoiding him, he can feel it in his tummy.

They’ve had this habit since third grade, where they would wait for each other outside the school’s enclosure so they could walk to class together. Since they live far away from each other, this was the only option for them, just to walk together and talk about anything and everything.

With the years, those few minutes became their private little space. It wasn’t a long way, but their peace only became slower with the passing years, for the sake of stretching their time alone for just a little piece of infinity longer.

It wasn’t much, but it was theirs.

They couldn’t spend much time together but they became inseparable.

So when Taehyung got a weird text today, he already knew something was off.

[From Penicillium:]

don’t wait for me today

Not a ‘i’m sick, sorry tete’ or a ‘i overslept, tell mrs choi’ but a plain ‘don’t wait for me’.

Taehyung found it a bit odd, but Jimin has been a bit odd lately. He became distant, absent perhaps. He's had the bad habit of isolating himself during exam season but it was never this bad before.

“I haven’t seen him, sorry,” his classmate says, then goes back to her group. It drives Taehyung nuts how carefree they look when their class president has vanished. How rude of them!

He can’t help the increasing feeling of abandonment growing in his chest. He takes a deep breath and tries again by checking one last place at the end of the hall, and he feels so dumb for not checking there in the first place.

“It’s locked!” Jimin shouts from the inside. “Go away!”

‘I found you’, Taehyung thinks.

He insists, knocking once more and resting his forehead on the closed door. “Jimin-ah, it’s me.”

It takes a couple of heartbeats for Taehyung to hear the door being unlocked. He backs up so he doesn’t fall over when Jimin opens the door.

TaeHyung’s eyes soften as he looks at Jimin. He didn’t acknowledge how much he missed him ‘till this moment. His hands twitch in need to reach out, but he doesn’t just yet, and Taehyung can see in his eyes a faint 'you're here’.

Jimin looks like he’s been crying. “Hi, Taetae,” he says, but he’s not looking at Taehyung as he steps back into the room and sits on the floor next to his belongings.

A shiver runs up Taehyung’s spine like he’s being soaked from head to toe with a bucket of cold water. He’s rooted on the spot and he can’t quite explain why. Well, he knows why, but he rather hear it from Jimin’s lips instead. “Hi.”

He closes the door behind him and walks into the robotics classroom. This club has been like Jimin’s second home since the start of this term. And eventually, his safe place too. If he was overwhelmed, he could just focus his mind into building and creating and nothing else. Even if that meant that Taehyung wouldn’t see him for the rest of the day.

“What do you want?” Jimin asks a bit harshly, but his words sound like rain.

“Just wanted to know if you're okay,” Taehyung says, slowly approaching him. “Are you?”

Jimin sighs, sniffling onto his wrist. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“...Okay.”

Taehyung takes his backpack off and sits next to him on the cool floor. Sighing onto the silence just like Jimin did before him. 

Jimin looks confused. “What are you doing?”

“You don’t want to talk, so I’m staying here with you ‘till you are ready to do so.” Taehyung rests his back against the wall and accommodates the best he can on the hard surface.

“Why are you always so nice?” Jimin says, like he is genuinely asking. As if he didn’t know Taehyung and his heart shrinks inside his rib cage.

“It’s nothing,” he shrugs. 

Another heartbeat, two, three. Four. “I got a B on my essay.” 

“That’s good.”

“No, it’s not.” Jimin rests his head against the wall, chewing on his bottom lip as he does when he’s frustrated. “I never got a grade so low in my whole life.”

Taehyung knows what he’s talking about, what he means by that. It’s the project he was supposed to have done during one of their study dates that ended up with them cuddling instead. Too caught up on each other to even notice the world moving on around them. Too in love to even think of something so irrelevant as the life outside each other’s arms.

Having your first boyfriend is exciting, but young love is not a rose path. It’s falling, and falling over again ‘till you learn how to walk alone before walking with someone else. It’s losing yourself to the desire of that someone, to have them close and be loved. It’s intoxicating ‘till you drown.

Taehyung stares at him, waiting for Jimin to say the words that seem to be stuck on his tongue but his eyes already storm with unshed tears. ‘Go on,’ he gestures with his eyes. Taehyung already knows that if Jimin cries, he will follow.

“You are distracting,” Jimin confesses, like a secret that has been eating him from inside and out. “My grades have been falling ever since… since…”

‘Since we started dating,’ Taehyung guesses for his misfortune. He hums, acknowledging his mistake of caring too much, too deep, and his own eyes fill with fear. Those butterflies that once bloomed in his tummy are now gone and trying to escape as they become a lump in his throat.

Jimin rubs his own neck, impotence being clear in his gestures. “Taehyung, I–”

“I’m sorry for loving you.” The words slip out before he can do anything about it. Too raw and fragile as his voice waters with sorrow.

“What?” Jimin breathes out.

“I’m sorry,” Taehyung corrects, trying to cover his sincere words, and stands up.

Or attempts to, when Jimin grabs his sweater paw. “Don’t do this to me, not now.” A single tear slips down his chubby cheek and TaeHyung has to stop himself from whipping it away. “I thought avoiding you would help but it just made things worse. Please, don’t go.”

“Jimin.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.” Jimin stares at him with doe eyes before he bumps his forehead against Taehyung’s shoulder. “Stay with me.”

Taehyung turns to him, and with his heart on his sleeve, he nods. They are hurt, and fragile. No one told them this wasn’t an easy path, but they stayed. As Taehyung does. He slips his hand inside Jimin’s and squeezes their intertwined fingers against his drumming chest.

Jimin steps closer, just a breath away when Taehyung tugs, throwing caution to the wind as he leans in. He thinks, just for a second, how delicious of a treat it would be to steal time for their lips to meet, but he adverts himself and bumps their foreheads together in a silent plea. ‘Say you love me,’ he sighs.

Jimin closes his eyes, Taehyung’s breath feels fresh against his flustered cheeks and Taehyung knows he wants to say it back. So he waits.

A heartbeat, two.

Yet nothing comes out.

Taehyung steps back, still holding Jimin’s hand to keep himself grounded as he looks around the room. “You’ve been here so many afternoons and I never stopped to appreciate it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know studies mean a lot to you,” Taehyung starts, “What I mean is that I understand it, ‘cause you mean a lot to me, Jimin-ah, and I would never put myself in your way. I want to be there for you, holding your hand through all the hardship we encounter. And if that means that you blame me for your bad grades, that’s fine. I don't care. I don’t regret any minute spent with you.”

Jimin can’t contain himself anymore, and sobs into Taehyung’s chest. Taehyung embraces him in his arms, caressing his nape gently as the older catches his breath. It’s a slow process, but Taehyung is patient.

A tear of his own slips down Taehyung’s cheek and Jimin feels it fall on the crown of his head. He looks up at Taehyung, and despite everything, offers him a gentle smile.

Jimin wipes his tears away with the sleeve of his jacket and bumps his head against his shoulder once more. This time, Taehyung stares at him, expectantly.

A heartbeat, two.

“I love you too.”

Chapter Text

“Aah…” Jimin drops the travel bags he's been carrying onto the floor and stretches his arms above his head. Several cracks resonate across the resort room and he releases his arms with a sigh, quite pleased with how his back feels after that.

“You sound like a potato chip.” Taehyung says as he thanks the helper at the door and enters the warm room, locking it while looking around. He arranges his bags next to the dressing table that the resort room came with, and picks up the bags Jimin dropped to move them there too.

“Hey, YOU drive for 3 hours straight and I'll see how you sound, passenger princess.” He sticks out his tongue at him.

Taehyung giggles but doesn't fight back, too busy inspecting the cupboards, the lights, the bathroom and the instant coffee on the table top.

Life had gotten quite hectic after the both of them had started working full time jobs. Barely having any time to themselves, they had begun to notice their mental health decline. So, Jimin had booked a resort room on the rainy hillsides as a getaway for their weekend. 

He had specifically picked this one because of how scenic it looked, sure that Taehyung would enjoy it.

“Did you notice the little lake outside? I wonder if we can go for a walk near it…” Taehyung walks over to the other side of the room and opens the curtains to the balcony, marveling at the misty sight it leads to. “Also, I saw there was a bird watching event happening tomorrow! I'm so glad we got binoculars…” he chatted away, while taking several pictures with his phone.

‘Seems like I made the right choice...’ Jimin thinks to himself.

“Oh, and the private campfire event. We HAVE to go. You can't fall asleep on me. I've been craving toasted marshmallows ever since I saw it on the website.” he turns around and points at him in warning.

“Mhmm…” Jimin nods at him fondly. It was sweet to see him so excited, although Jimin would much prefer enjoying this beautiful room (and this enormous bed) to the fullest.

And with that thought, his legs remind him that they exist and that they are in pain. He drops backwards onto the bed in the middle of the room and instantly feels his muscles melt into the soft mattress.

“Tsk, Jimin… those are outside clothes!” Taehyung walks over to him and tugs at his arm. “Don't sleep on the bed with those! Get up!”

“Don't wanna….” He goes pliant, refusing to move now that he's slowly becoming one with the bed.

“No, please!!” Taehyung grabs onto his jacket and shakes him. “Take it off!”

“Nooo…” he can feel himself drifting off to sleep.

“Jimin-ah, come on!! At Least take your jacket off!!” Taehyung starts unzipping his jacket himself in his annoyed state. 

Jimin is suddenly wide awake, thoughts of sleep running away by the second as he hears the zipper being pulled.

Taehyung is leaning over him, looking so bothered and determined, and so… so handsome. Hair ruffled from the travel, cheeks flushed from the cold, brows knit together in concentration. Jimin feels his stomach swoop. His lithe fingers look so attractive as they work hard on getting his jacket off. His boyfriend is indeed a sight to behold, especially from this particular spot. A sight he had missed for a while now.

He looks so hot, Jimin thinks. Should he take the chance…?

He swallows his nerves. “Do it, then.” One of his hands come up to assist Taehyung's fiddling fingers. “Since you want them off so bad,” he says, sitting up a little, voice dripping with suggestiveness as he guides Taehyung to push the jacket off of his shoulder.

Taehyung's head shoots up at the tone, eyes wide with shock. “Huh…?”

‘Cute.’ Jimin looks back at him, eyes hooded with lust, teeth sinking into his bottom lip to reign in a smirk.

“Take my clothes off, babe.” He pushes himself up toward him, inviting him with his eyes to do the same.

But instead, Taehyung's gaze turns sour. He abruptly lets go of him and stands up straight.

Jimin feels scalded by just his look. The wind blows outside, whining as it tries to enter their little room to occupy the emptiness that has just settled between them.

‘Ah…’ he thinks, embarrassment growing in his belly. ‘Still too early for that I guess…’. He drops down onto the bed.

The stress had started to get to them. Jimin would barely be home since his work was an hour long commute away, and most of the time he would end up working overtime. Taehyung's office was much closer, but wasn't any better when it came to the timings too.

It got to a point where all they did on the weekends was rest and rest and rest. But they craved to spend time with each other. They craved each other .

But it seemed like there was just one problem.

They craved eachother in entirely different ways.

Taehyung awkwardly rubs at his hands. “The… the canteen is gonna close soon. We should go have lunch.”

“Right…” Jimin covers his eyes with his arm. His pride is a little hurt and he's not ready to face him yet. There's silence for awhile. Then he hears shuffling and the bathroom door clicking close soon after, so he opens his eyes and stares up at the ceiling.

He missed it. He missed having sex with Taehyung. He missed having Taehyung so close to him that they might as well meld into one. He missed the intimacy that sex brings.

But he understands that Taehyung isn't mentally available for that yet. He understands that Taehyung requires emotional intimacy first. That Jimin needs to make him feel loved and cared for, first.

When Jimin had initiated sex to relieve their stress for the umpteenth time, Taehyung had finally broken down and had admitted to how lonely he felt during it all, because they barely got to spend time as a couple. As best friends.

It broke Jimin's heart to know he made him feel that way. That he'd made him feel like the only thing he wanted from him was his body. He needed to correct this misunderstanding immediately.

The bathroom door swings open and Taehyung steps out, avoiding eye contact.

He needed to correct it now.

“Tae, I'm sorry…” he says, sitting up on the bed. “I just miss you.” he extends a hand out for him.

“I know…” Taehyung immediately comes to him and grabs it, rubbing soothing circles on his knuckles. “I miss you too.”

The same thing, yet so different. But they understand. They smile at each other, trusting the other to know.

Taehyung tugs at his arm. “Come on, time for food.”

After lunch and a quick nap, they walk along the lake, just like Taehyung wanted to.

As the sun slowly sets in the background, it turns the shivering water into glitter. Orange splashes across the sky and birds noisily make their way home. A few people are also walking and playing around, enjoying the view just like them. Mist is starting to thicken and settle around.

The sand crunches against their boots as they walk and Jimin sneaks a glance at Taehyung.

In the light of the setting sun, he looks beautiful. Calm and at peace. The tension between his brows is no longer present and his shoulders look relaxed. He had a small, blissful smile on his face. Jimin's heart tingles at the sight.

He's not sure if he can hold his hand. He really wants to. He wants to get closer. But would Taehyung let him?

He keeps his hands in his pocket.

They stop at a particularly scenic spot for Taehyung to snap some photos. A bird flies over them and sits on the water. A few more join in. A cold wind blows with a force enough to push them away, making him shiver.

Jimin rubs his palms on his jacket. ‘Would the cold be a good enough excuse to hold hands?’

“Shush…” Jimin hears from behind him, before he gets engulfed in a warm hug. “Stop thinking.” says the voice of his lover, warming him from the inside as well.

Jimin lets out a sigh. Taehyung knows him too well. “I know… I'm sorry…” he says, hands moving up to cup his arms.

Taehyung hums, “I'm sorry too…”. They sway aimlessly for a few moments. But Jimin's mind is swaying much faster, from one thought to the other.

He can tell that their dynamic is changing as they get older. It's especially evident since they started working. It’s not the same as it was when they were still irresponsible college students.

It's scary.

… Will they be ok?

Taehyung already has the answer to that. He always does.

“Hey… We're going to be ok.” reading Jimin's mind, his beloved tries to ease his worries.

Jimin isn’t shocked that he knows what he’s thinking. Afterall, they’ve been together for so long. Maybe that's why change is so scary. But he has to ask: “How are you so sure?”

Taehyung hums again. “Because you listen, and you care. And you love me…” He leans back to look him in the eye, “... don't you?”

“I do…” Jimin tries to face him fully. “I do!”. He hopes he knows how much he truly means it.

Taehyung smiles knowingly. “And I love you too. Now stop worrying and just…be with me.” He goes back to hugging him. “Just be.”

Just be present in the moment with me.

“Ok…”, Jimin allows his mind to rest.

He turns his gaze forward and stares at the magical path the setting sun had created on the lake. He marvels at how it painted everything with a warm, orange hue. The breeze blows against them, now a gentle caress.

He basks in the warmth radiating from the body pressed against his back. At their harmonizing heartbeats. At the puffs of their breaths. At how small they are compared to the vastness in front of them.

‘Oh… so this is what he meant.’ Jimin notices the tension in his own jaw leaving. ‘This is what we were missing. What we were forgetting.’

Two kids run past them, kicking up dirt and startling the birds in the water. They were followed by their worried parents.

The world is noisy. But it feels quiet.

Taehyung hums an unknown tune only for Jimin to hear. “The sunset looks beautiful, doesn't it?”

‘Not as beautiful as you, my love.’ Jimin wanted to say. He so badly wanted to place a gentle kiss on his beloved’s chin. But somehow, it didn't feel like the right time to do so. This moment, this mood… it felt too serene to disturb. This feeling of being so content felt fragile, he dare not move.

He can’t kiss him right now, so he hugs his arms a little tighter. Taehyung responds by placing his head against his, nuzzling into his hair.

They breathe out in unison. 

“Yeah… it's beautiful, my love.”

Chapter Text

The rain pours over their already soaked uniforms. The moonson did not only leave their limbs numb from the cold, but also made it more difficult to maneuver the field they train in.

Taehyung is next in line, and he can barely hear his own thoughts over the raindrops crashing over the deep puddles around him. Not even his sergeant would shut up for him to start with–hopefully–the last maneuver of the day as there is barely light anymore even though they are yet to have dinner.

“Come on, soldier! We don’t have the whole day!” his sergeant urges.

There’s a single thought that clearly resonates in his mind before his feet start to move forward: ‘mandatory military service sucks’.

He runs into the field and hops towards the first obstacle. Jumping from wheel to wheel with the grace of a bunny despite the slippery surface of the worn out tires.

He remembers the first time he did this same exercise, and how much he had wished for the floor to be this muddy instead of the sandlike ground that scratched his limbs.

It’s his best mark so far, yet his sergeant doesn’t sound pleased. “This is not a walk in the park, come on.”

Taehyung adjusts his helmet, he can see a few water drops fall over his nose and it really doesn’t help with the focus part. It’s not as uncomfortable as his vest, all heavy from the accumulated water, as if it wasn’t a pain in the ass before.

As the first half has been quite easy so far, the second has been a pain in the ass for Taehyung since the moment it was implanted.

He was never good at climbing, not even as a child, where all you do is run around and climb every surface possible and imaginable. Of course he did that too at some point, but he never got down by his own choice. ‘Like a cat stuck in a tree’, his grandmother would always tease him.

He got lucky the last three times and he could complete the climb down with ease. But this was the first time he’s gonna try while a storm breaks over them.

His sergeant complains once more, he never stops complaining, really. Taehyung decides to ignore it once on the top. His tummy twists when he looks down, he’s not half way done yet and the floor seems to get further every passing second he stares at it without blinking. His ears are filled with white noise and his vision blurs for a brief moment, when a sound stands out over everything else.

Not the rain, not the sergeant, not even his own rushed breathing and drumming heart. But a voice, crystal clear.

“You can do it, Taehyung-ah!” Jimin shouts from the finish line.

Taehyung squints his eyes, double checking he didn’t pass out. Was that an angel or is Jimin really cheering for him? 

He would like to say that something heroic bubbled out of him. The adrenaline of the moment made him climb off successfully. To his misfortune, it didn’t.

Once his feet met the wall once more, he slipped and his whole body fell flat onto the–thankfully soft–mud puddle with a loud splat.

It’s weird, the feeling of numbness and the increasing sting of the collision, growing from his torso to his limbs. He hisses under his breath, trying to stand up right away but he’s struggling.

He takes his time, and manages to kneel in his second attempt where all his troops look at him like he’s some kind of injured animal that doesn’t deserve assistance. If this was really war, he already knows he’s gonna be left behind, and it makes him want to cry.

He looks down at his body for any sign of injuries, when Jimin rushes to him, worry clear in his tired features. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah.” He doesn’t sound convincing to his own ears, but he hopes he does to Jimin’s at least.

“You fell from quite a high wall, are you sure?” A soldier says. Taehyung didn’t even notice he was there, ears ringing and head strangely heavy.

“Yeah, I’m all good.”

“You sure you’re okay?” Jimin insists.

“I’m fine.”

Jimin’s lips tug up the slightest smile and Taehyung’s heart flutters.

“You’ve got some mud on your face.” Jimin steps closer and his hand closes the gap between them by gently caressing Taehyung’s cheek.

Taehyung’s next intake of air is sharp enough that Jimin heard it, and they hope it wasn’t enough for the fellow soldiers to hear it too. “Thank you, Park.”

“It’s nothing, Kim.”

“Sergeant, I’ll take him to the infirmary to check for any wounds.”

Jimin puts Taehyung’s arm over his shoulder, and even though they struggle to walk, Taehyung is adamant. “I don’t wanna go to the infirmary.”

“We are not going there,” Jimin whispers. “Come on.”

Jimin leads them to the barracks, walking towards his own bed instead, knowing it would be impossible for Taehyung to climb up on his own.

Once sat, Jimin rubs his back and Taehyung hisses under his touch. “Does your back hurt?” He nods. “Take off your shirt, let me check.”

“...What?”

“I’m just gonna see if you got any injury.”

“Alright…” Taehyung gets off his vest with the help of Jimin and a lot of strength not to complain out loud. Jimin, out of innocent altruism, tries to get the first button but Taehyung stops him. “I can do it.”

Jimin giggles and that just makes Taehyung realize what he’s about to do and he blushes. “What is it?”

“Don’t look,” he deadpants.

“Come on, we showered together for like half a year now!”

Taehyung already feels naked with his clothes on. “But this is different!”

“Why?!”

 “‘Cause it’s just us now!”

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No…” Taehyung adverts his eyes, seeking. ‘Cause they feel something but they don't know what it is. They’ve kissed before but they don't know what they really want. “...don’t go.”

He undoes one button, then another. Jimin stops him before he continues with the third. “Just do this if you are comfortable.”

“I’m doing it because I’m very uncomfortable.” Taehyung takes Jimin’s hand and gently puts it away on the bed. “I’ll turn around now.”

He takes his time, he already knows he’s gonna get sick after this by the way his body feels hot and cold at the same time. Soaked and sweaty, shivering under his own touch. Under Jimin’s gaze.

He slips the shirt down his shoulders and takes his undershirt off, exposing his back completely to Jimin who gasps at the sight.

“How does it look?” Taehyung asks nervously.

“Very red. I don’t want to even think about how it would look if you didn’t wear your vest.” Jimin touches the area between his shoulder blades and Taehyung closes his eyes shut at the sting sensation running across his whole back. “Sorry.”

“‘s okay…” Taehyung feels Jimin’s hand move across his back, massaging the reddened skin carefully so as not to inflict more pain. “Why are you doing this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you so kind to me…” Taehyung hisses again when Jimin rubs at a particular spot, “…after everything we went through.”

“It’s nothing,” Jimin shrugs. “You would do the same.”

There’s a moment of silence. ‘Would I?’ he asks himself. The answer to that is so scary.

He really hopes he does.

“I think I should lay down.” Taehyung puts his undershirt back on and Jimin hums.

He turns to him and there’s something warm swimming inside Jimin’s eyes. He places the back of his hand over Taehyung’s forehead, the younger feels himself heat up under the featherlike touch of his knuckles. He can’t tell if it’s a fever or just the fact of having Jimin so close.  “Do you want me to stay with you?”

“Y-yeah,” he finds himself pleading.

Taehyung lies down carefully and Jimin crawls a bit closer if even possible. “Rest a bit, Taehyungie.” Jimin caresses his flustered cheek, not quite decoding he’s the reason why they are all red and not his upcoming cold as he rubs it with his thumb. Taehyung leans onto his touch, unwillingly, and it makes Jimin sigh a smile.

The storm outside doesn’t seem to stop any time soon, yet they enjoy its noisy silence.

Taehyung feels himself dozing off under his touch, he feels like home in this unfamiliar place. With Jimin, he’s home.

Chapter Text

 

At day, I would like to drape you, from head to toe, with the finest garments that a man can craft.

At night, I would like to rip apart all my hard work, piece by piece, to drape your bare body with my own.

Please return to me soon, for I am so lonely without you here.

 

Park Jimin lifts the feather from the paper, reads what he just wrote once again, and wonders, with reddened cheeks:

‘Is this too risky to send? Would it, perhaps, put my beloved in danger, lest it fall into the wrong hands?’

The white dove perched on his writing desk bats its wings and coos loudly. The messenger bird was growing impatient as the sun traveled down in the sky. 

Jimin chuckles, “I'm sorry, I'm still a little scared about writing him letters.”

He pets its feathers and gives it some seeds to buy more time. He goes over the letter again, feeling more and more embarrassed at his words.

But he wants him to know he’s always thinking of his beloved. He wants him to know just how much he yearns for him.

When he goes to the palace to begin his duties as the royal seamster, and not get a glimpse of his face; While he samples the fabric, instructs the royal tailors and creates new and interesting ways to drape the cloth in;

Especially when he needs to drape them on a mannequin and not his lover's body;

He thinks of him.

Desire overpowers his fear, so he shrugs away any doubt and signs the letter:

 

Your Moon.

 

He places a gentle kiss over it. He then rolls the sheet up, puts it into a small container and wraps it around the bird’s leg.

“I trust you to deliver this to him and only him. You will do that, won't you?” he says to the bird.

The dove squawks, seemingly offended that he'd even insinuate it being bad at its job, before being yanked into his coat.

“Now, you stay quiet, alright?” He whispers to the bird as he makes his way out of the back entrance of the palace, making sure to look as nonchalant as possible. He climbs over the rocks and rubble to a cherry blossom tree. The sun is well on its way to sleep.

He pulls the obedient bird out of his coat.

“Travel safely, little one. Deliver my message to my dear.”, he tells it and releases it into the air. The bird flutters around for a bit, before gaining a sense of direction and flying off into the sky to fulfill its duty.

Jimin watches on with a heavy heart, anxiety bubbling away in his chest, just as it always does when he sends letters like this to his lover;

The youngest Prince of the Dynasty, Kim Taehyung, who had been away for close to a month, working his hardest to assist the establishment of diplomatic relationships with the neighbouring kingdoms.

The wind rushes, disturbing the petals and raining them on the man who stands waiting for news of his dearest Taehyungie.

Ever since he sent the letter, the days have become a blur for Jimin. The same old routine, the same old tasks, the same old people.

Every morning, he walks to the cherry blossom tree and waits for the sight of white feathers amongst a sea of pink petals.

For days there wouldn't be any sight of the bird, so then he walks back, disappointed. He then puts on a smile and makes his way to the palace to do his daily duties as the royal seamster.

He makes small talk with his apprentices and the guards, he inspects the garments, he checks up on the inventory and he collects & works on the requests sent in from the palace dwellers, all while missing the sight of a particular someone.

He then goes on his second ‘walk’ of the day and waits under the cherry blossom tree, in case the bird would show up late. And if it didn't, it would be another sleepless night filled with worries about the safety of his lover.

Fortunately, this time the bird showed up three days later, early in the morning. It had been waiting for him and swooped down to perch on his shoulder as soon as he had gotten closer.

Jimin didn’t wait to get back to the privacy of his study this time, excitement bubbling in his veins to see what his beloved had to say. 

 

You are irresistible, my love.

Not a day goes by without my tongue missing the taste of your name.

 

Jimin's heart sings at the words, yearning and growing. He knows that feeling all too well. He reads on.

 

Not a day goes by without my eyes missing the sight of your breathless face underneath me.

Not a day goes by without my hands itching to feel your skin’s warmth again. My lips cannot go another day like this, waiting to meet yours, to place a trail of kisses along the arch of your back-

 

Jimin shuts his eyes and clutches the paper a little tighter, recalling all the sleepless nights spent together with Taehyung. His skin comes alight, as if he could feel the ghostly touch of his beloved’s wicked fingers.

He takes a deep, steadying breath, deciding to read the rest of the letter at a more… appropriate time. He has work to do, afterall.

He tucks both the bird and the letter into his coat and makes his way towards the palace.

On his way to his study, however, he overhears some courtesans talking rather loudly amongst themselves.

“I'm sure the negotiations are going smoothly! Afterall, the Highness has sent his own sons to make sure of it!”

“Yes! I think that was a very intelligent decision from the Majesty! Using the beauty of the youth to charm his way around these matters!!” they all let out bellowing laughter.

‘How obnoxious…’ Jimin curses. ‘Do they not know to keep their voices down in the hallway?’

How dare they reduce his Taehyungie to merely his looks! His intelligence is unmatched by even the crown Prince, if Jimin were to be honest. He’s definitely not biased.

He's ready to storm out of there when he hears something that pricks him like the needle of his embroidery kit.

“I heard their youngest princess is coming of age soon, do you think perhaps…?”

“Hmm… that young Prince Taehyung’s time is coming?”

“You think so too, don’t you? The King has thought about every detail indeed!” They once again laugh like it’s the most joyous thing they could ever think of.

How Jimin wishes he hadn’t heard that. How he wishes he could have taken a different route to his office. How he wishes he could have savored the letter he received without the nagging reminder that he was an imposter, a tempter… a traitor. That there really wasn't any future for him that involved Taehyung.

That he was nothing but a mere seamster.

That night, in a frenzy of overthinking and rage, Jimin decides to write back. His usual neat, round handwriting is replaced by fast, aggressive scribbles, out of desperation to keep up with his racing mind. He writes, as he struggles to see clearly through his misty eyes:

 

You have quite the way with words, don't you?

I may be the royal seamster. But you have the better skill in spinning believable lies and weaving them together so seamlessly you'd put the finest of our craftsmen to shame.

How am I to trust the colourful words sounded from the tongue that would inevitably utter the name of another?

 

His breath is ragged as he re-reads his harsh words and feels a pang of guilt. What if Taehyung truly didn’t know about this? Is it right for him to blame him without asking for an explanation? Afterall, he was just following his father’s orders. Is his bitterness towards him justified at all?

He sniffles. ‘No, this isn’t right.’ He crumples up the paper and lights it on fire with the night lamp next to him.

As he watches the resentment turn into ash and float away, the pungent smell of burning paper accompanying his calming breaths, he recollects himself and picks up a fresh piece of paper.

 

I heard the youngest daughter of the kingdom you're visiting is of age and searching for a groom. What perfect timing for the King to send you along on this task!

 

He should have seen this coming. He should have known there was more to it than just for Taehyung to gain political experience.

He wipes his nose with the silk napkin Taehyung had gifted him.

 

Well, it's safe to expect you to be betrothed before you step foot into my chamber again. Kingdoms coming together in wedlock! Oh, what joy!

Please let me know if I will have to start on the embroidery on your wedding outfit. I will make sure the young Princess is incapable of looking away from you.

 

‘Ah…’ a few drops of ink fall haphazardly onto the parchment. The paper sucks the pigment up, thirsty for more. ‘The bitterness just won't leave…’ Jimin thinks, as he watches the ink bloom on the paper, next to the happy words that hid behind them all the pain and anger he felt. Not at Taehyung though, never at Taehyung.

 

I will make sure that you shine the brightest, brighter than the bride!

 

He’s just angry at the world. At every God. At everyone.

At himself. Because, if only… if only…

 

Afterall, I am your seamster!

 

He does not sign the letter this time. A few drops of tears from his eyes do, instead.

‘No, no no no…’ Jimin's mind repeats over and over as he makes his way through the castle. ‘My fault. It's all my fault.’ he thinks as he nears the King's leisure room. He had been summoned in the middle of his task.

He should have known. He should have known better than to mention his position of royal seamster in his last letter.

Now, it's fallen into the wrong hands. Maybe that's why he hasn't received any letter for the past week. He's definitely gotten his beloved in danger. Maybe even publicly embarrassed him. Possibly got him exiled. Death, even!

‘Don’t jump to conclusions, calm down.’ he says to himself as he enters the room. The King is sitting on a plank made of gold and gems. He's wearing one of Jimin's creations with their kingdom's emblem embroidered onto it, while enjoying a massage. Jimin forces his anxiety to settle and brightens his expression, bowing low to the King.

“Your Majesty, to what do I owe this honour?”

“Ah, Park Jimin. Our finest craftsman.” The King commands the servants to leave with just a jerk of his head. Jimin starts to sweat again, not lifting himself up from his bowing position. He lifts his gaze enough to get a glimpse of the King's face and look away, too scared to look for long. It's the same face as his beloved, just without the innocence, the kindness and the youthfulness that seems to overflow from Taehyung's eyes.

He cannot make out the expression on his Majesty’s face. He's always had a tight control over his emotions, never letting it show. Jimin supposes that this is where Taehyung gets his impenetrable steel face from, something he's always found attractive, as someone who wears his heart on his sleeve.

But currently he wishes for anything but being scrutinised by a much colder, terrifying version of it.

He finally hears the King break the stretching silence with a hum. “You seem to be quite dreary lately. I hope all is well?” Jimin sees him stroke his beard from his peripheral vision.

‘This is torture.’ he thinks. ‘He's playing me like a cat does with a mouse.’

“I'm doing well, your Highness.” Jimin says, racking his brain for the most appropriate response. “The many ideas of my craft that I’m blessed to create these days keep me up at night, hence the demeanour. Please forgive my appearance.” he bowes even lower.

A beat goes by. Then two. Then three. Jimin starts to mentally list out all the things he wishes to do, eat and see before he's inevitably beheaded.

If nothing, he just wants to get a glimpse of his lover from the corner of his eyes before they are forced to shut permanently.

“That's good to hear!” Jimin startles at the sudden loudness of his Majesty's voice. “The neighbouring kingdom has sent many gifts as a token of friendship. As you may know, they are quite famous for their highly bejeweled fabrics…”

That is true, Jimin had lamented to Taehyung about not being able to accompany him, so that he could see the workmanship himself.

Wait, that means his Taehyung was safe? That he had succeeded in his task?

… That their secret love was safe?

Jimin's knees buckle in relief.

“... You look weak. I insist that you rest more, Park.” the King says.

“I will, Sire. My apologies for worrying you.”

“I trust that you will know not to push yourself to breaking, despite me handing over the fabrics for you to work on?”

Jimin's ears perk up. “Of course! If I will be handling such precious gifts then I will make sure to do it in good condition!”

“Good, good.” he claps his hands twice and several servants walk in with the gifts. “Also, Prince Taehyung has personally sent over some things for you to look at. He mentioned that you would like to go and study at their kingdom.”

Jimin's head snaps up at that, accidentally making eye contact with the King. He looks back down, pushing back his excitement. “Yes! That I do, your Highness!”

“I will write a letter of recommendation and send it to them. So, I'd suggest you start preparing for that.”

“Thank you! Thank you, that would be an honour!!” Oh, he wants to kiss Taehyung. He couldn't wait for him to get home so he could express just how happy he is.

“That is all. The servants will take these to your study for you. You may leave… to rest!” The King says sternly.

Jimin bows and walks backwards, before turning and walking out of the room, in an entirely different mood from when he entered. The servants follow him to the study and place everything where he instructs them to.

Jimin spots a thick book among the pile that Taehyung had sent him, so he picks it up.

“Tsk, Sir! You promised the Majesty you'd rest!” One of the old servants notices and chides him.

“Shush! I'll rest when I please. Now off you go, old man!” He sticks his tongue out at the servant, who laughs and leaves him alone.

He flips through the many illustrations in the book, of the dresses for women and men and others. There were some for children as well. He marvels at them with sparkling eyes, until he lands on one particular illustration.

A wedding suit from the neighbouring kingdom.

The long and colourful outfit had very specific jewels shown to be sewn into it. Jimin finds it fascinating.

It's beautiful, and he can't help but blush at the image of Taehyung that his mind decides to conjure. ‘It would suit him so well.’ he thinks dreamily.

He flips the page and his mood instantly sours. It was an illustration of a wedding gown.

‘This is probably how the princess would look when she…’ he bites his lip to quell the sudden wave of sadness in his chest.

‘Of course, this is how it all would turn out.’ he scoffs. He shuts the book and throws it back on the pile, sadness transforming into anger. The book tumbles down and falls, fluttering open. Jimin instantly feels guilty for taking out his anger on such a valuable object. He picks it up.

A note falls from it.

 

I've sent a gift for you, my beloved. Do not hesitate to look through the pile!

 

Jimin quickly picks up the note and looks around. He's alone, thank goodness.

He does as the note says, curiosity erasing any trace of anger. He pulls out a beautiful fabric… no, an outfit.

It was… the wedding suit from the book.

‘Hah… how cruel.’ he lets out a humorless laugh. He drops the clothes to the ground. ‘Is this how you wanted to break my heart? To discard me?’

He looks over at the note again, hoping to burn it with just his gaze, until he notices that it was folded. When he unfolds it, there is another message in it:

 

I hope you wouldn't find this request strange, but I would like you to wear the suit when I come back home to see you.

 

Jimin flushes with both shame and embarrassment. He should stop doubting his Taehyungie. He isn't so heartless. But instead he's requesting him to wear a wedding suit of all things! What is he implying?

 

Don't be shy to decorate yourself! There are two. I will wear the other one, and we can say our vows, the moon and stars as our witnesses, and pretend that it is all real.

That we are wed.

And if you'll let me, I will take it off of you myself, and worship you until the sun sets fire to the sky.

 

‘Oh. Oh, God. There are indeed two.’ Jimin finally notices. Both the deepest shade of red he's ever seen.

Jimin sinks to the floor. He can't take it. He needs to see Taehyung right now. His heart hurts. It hurts so good. It hurts in just the right way.

 

We will consummate our pretend marriage magnificently. And then we can pray together, for it all to be made real. For us to be together, despite it all.

Once more, I promise, my dearest. I am only yours, yours, yours.

 

Jimin is a sobbing, trembling mess. His lover sure knows how to break him apart and put him back together again.

A flutter of wings pulls him back from his current task of melting to the ground. Their messenger dove is perched on his writing desk, sheepishly avoiding his gaze.

He gets up to bring the bird some water.

“So you were late to bring me the message this time. Do you know how worried I was? Where had you gone, then? Off to find a lover for yourself, hmm?” he says as he places the glass in front of it and unties the note from its leg.

The bird coos apologetically and ducks its head to quench its thirst.

Jimin laughs silently and unfurls the letter. He was right, the bird had wandered off for a while, delaying the delivery by a few days. He reads:

 

My dearest,

Who fed you these lies? Who made you worry so?

 

‘No one, love. I did it to myself.’ he thinks in response. ‘My own mind was playing tricks on me when I should have trusted you to return to me.’

 

Tell me who, for I will grant them their worst nightmares. And I will make sure you only see dreams of you and I together.

 

Jimin's stomach swoops. Alright, maybe he should tell him just to see what he would do.

 

Moon and Star. We belong together in this bleak night sky.

 

He sucks in a breath and closes his eyes. Not again. Why is he crying every second chance he gets today? ‘Not now…’ he tells himself. ‘Read what he has to say…’.

 

My love, my sweetheart.

No woman has the beauty and the power to keep me away from you, my dearest.

 

He writes.

 

I will come back to you. I know I will. You must know I will. It's the truth. Please wait for me.

 

He promises.

But what good are promises, when you don't have the right to uphold them. Afterall, his Taehyung was only the second son of the second wife. A mere pawn in the highness’s game of power.

Still, Jimin lets his heart hope. He reads the last line of the letter:

 

  I was, and am, and forever will be, yours.

 

Your Star.

 

Jimin lets the storm thundering in his chest run free and fall from his eyes. He brings the letter to his lips and places the lightest kiss on the many promises of his lover. He hopes that they could be together no matter what, in whatever way possible.

But for now, just these words are enough.

He inhales the faint scent of his beloved, lingering on the letter. It doesn't feel as warm and satisfying as being engulfed in it in the cover of night.

His cheeks colour, but his heart sinks. The sun is sinking as well. He should send the bird back soon.

He pulls out an empty sheet that mimics his heart.

The dove coos, telling him to make it fast and feed it. He pets its wings as an apology and gives it a handful of seeds.

He turns back to his desk and lifts the feather. The ink drips from it as he once again lets the longing he feels spill all over the blank scroll, for only the eyes of his lover to see, praying with every stroke of the pen, for their forbidden love to one day be accepted.

Chapter Text

Jimin watches the clouds as they float leisurely in the noon sky. His car makes its way through the busy roads of Seoul. He fiddles with the drink in his hand, another one kept inside a bag for the person he is off to visit. He shoots a few mails that need his immediate attention and pockets his phone as his destination comes into view.

“We’re here, Jimin.” his manager reminds him, just in case. 

They’ve been busy with the enlisting process and some last minute projects. Still, Jimin made sure to clear his schedule for today, as TaeHyung had invited him to the set for his last day of shooting a collaboration music video.

He arrived a bit late, as is usual of him. No matter how hard he tries, he could almost swear ‘late’ is his second name at this point.

So when he enters the dressing room, he has to look twice as TaeHyung stares at him with a bright smile, while his whole face is covered in various cuts and bruises, even a burn mark. In complete contrast to the special effects makeup done on him, his costume of the day was that of a wedding suit. He was dressed as a groom, and that made something bubble inside Jimin’s tummy. But he’s not sure of what it is.

“Jiminie…!” he says, standing to hug his ‘best friend’. “Thought you wouldn’t make it.”

Jimin brushes his bangs aside, tucking a strand behind his ear as he tries not to stare at his fake blind eye for too long. “Hey, you look…” he mumbles, “… handsome.” His eyes trail down to the cut painted on his lips.

“They did a good job on the makeup, didn’t they?” He says, pointing out the same eye Jimin was trying to avoid. It made him feel a bit uneasy to look at it. “Will you be staying to watch? We’re gonna start the karaoke scene”

“Do you want me to stay?” Jimin asks, as if it wasn’t the whole purpose of him coming here today.

“Of course I do! Are you planning on abandoning me when I need my soulmate energy the most?” Taehyung pouts at him, hands coming to wrap around his waist in protest.

“Aww, my baby. I would never!”, he resists the urge to squish his cheeks in order to not ruin his makeup, and slides him the drink. “Here, for you!”

They really shouldn’t be this bold for the sake of maintaining the secrecy of their relationship. But they’ve always been–as SeokJin hyung likes to say–a bit insufferable. The real suspicious situation would be if they weren’t all over each other all the time.

TaeHyung barely gets time to brush his lips against the straw when the hairstylist pulls him back to the chair for some last details. TaeHyung smiles at Jimin apologetically through the mirror, and even though he smiles back, he can’t fight the feeling of loneliness growing inside him.

Jimin fidgets with his sweater paws, looking around at all the staff helping for this production to be as perfect as possible. At the end of the room, a bride that Jimin recognizes as IU, TaeHyung’s co-star, is watching their interaction. She notices him looking over and stands from her seat to greet him. “Hello, Jimin-ssi, thank you for coming!” she says sweetly. She’s just as elegant as TaeHyung, with her white blood-stained dress, and yet, her makeup doesn’t have as much impact on him as TaeHyung’s does.

“Thank you for inviting me.” Jimin bows.

“TaeHyung-ssi, we gotta go now.” JiEun pats him on the shoulder and gestures to the set, trying to be as polite as possible.

“Yes, noona.” She gets out of the room and onto the set. TaeHyung watches her go with a smile, Jimin can see it dim before it comes alight again once TaeHyung looks back at him. “Let’s go?”

Jimin hesitates, but TaeHyung offers his hand to him, and who is Jimin to refuse. He takes it, and TaeHyung leads them to the set.

“I’ll be right back.” he says, giving his hand a squeeze. Jimin squeezes his hand back. Taehyung giggles at the gesture before heading to the camera director for instructions.

‘Fighting,’ Jimin gestures.

Once the music starts, the sweet voice of IU takes over the set like spring rain, cutting him deep just for his emotions to bloom raw as shivers crawl all over his skin.

She steps on the makeshift stage and sings to the faceless crowd. TaeHyung comes along, placing a flower over her ear all the same and smiles fondly at her. And like a mirror, she smiles back. Jimin recognizes the gesture, the smile. The memory of them on stage flashing over his eyes like a fever dream, or a long forgotten promise.

Their hands meet on the microphone and she brushes his hair out of his eyes, just like Jimin did moments ago. It churns his stomach in a weird way, as the two of them stare longingly into each other’s eyes. The tension is palpable. Jimin could swear they were about to kiss if the director hadn’t shouted ‘cut’ at the right time.

They pull apart, seemingly flustered as they step down to watch the results, giggling to each other. Or that’s what Jimin assumes, until he notices TaeHyung coming towards him. “How was it?”

“You are an amazing actor.” He sounds nonchalant, but he means it.

“Thank you, Jiminie. Noona makes it so easy.”

“Ah… What a lovely junior!” she teases back. “Besides, I knew where to look for inspiration.” she says, staring right at Jimin.

They are called back by the director, and TaeHyung quickly places a peck on his cheek before going back to work. It makes his heart flutter, just like the first time TaeHyung did it without Jimin being the one initiating.

A feeling is short-lived, before it’s crushed by the reality before his eyes.

Everytime he sees them holding hands Jimin feels his heart shrink inside his ribcage. It happens again, and again. Wandering, running, dancing, simply… being. Never apart from each other, and leaving little to none of the music video without them intertwining their fingers.

‘Keep it together, Jimin. Be professional,’ he chides himself.

Jimin doesn’t know how to describe the tingling sensation itching on his insiders every time he sees TaeHyung holding a hand that is not his own.

He fears his possessive younger self must be taking over him again, so he quietly steps back from the production crew until he bumps against a wall and lets himself sit down on the cool floor, with his knees against his chest. His manager looks over at him with a worried look, he dismisses it with a thumbs-up.

He breathes in and out, as slowly as his drumming heart lets him. He wonders why, after ten years of experience in the industry and so many hours of work behind his back, years of Taehyung professing his love in elaborate manners and him doing the same, he finds himself facing these uncertain emotions. He knows they are just acting, following a script, but Jimin still wishes he was… her.

He wishes he could be this openly in love with him, just once, on camera.

But, he can’t. Heck, they weren’t even allowed to sing a romantic song together. Shooting a romantic music video was far from reality.

Jimin startles from his daydreaming when he hears the loud voice of the director boom even louder through the megaphone. They are about to shoot the last scene and this time, TaeHyung doesn’t look around. Jimin can tell that he’s completely focused, still in the headspace of his character. He stays close to JiEun, holding her hand through the last reviews before they shoot the next part. It’s almost like he forgot Jimin was even there.

They prepare the last details and step into the set.

Once again, Jimin lets his mind fizzle out from reality, as he watches them run around hopelessly, a tight grip on each other’s hands.

It’s not until he’s startled by TaeHyung’s raged scream that he stands, almost tripping on his own feet as he tries to reach him on autopilot.

But he stops himself.

He sees TaeHyung on the floor, performing to his fullest, and his perfectionist self tells him not to step onto the set, knowing damn well that if he lets his worry take over him it will ruin TaeHyung’s hard work. And he doesn’t want that.

The lights turn red and Jimin's breathing quickens again. His own eyes fill with tears at the sight of the two lovers crying as they see their lives fall apart. At the sight of TaeHyung like this.

At the sight of him squeezing her hand.

Just like he did, not so long ago.

The director calls ‘cut’ and the whole set claps at the couple. JiEun is smiling through her tears while TaeHyung still pants on the floor from his intense acting. Afterall, JiEun is more experienced in this field to quickly regulate her emotions.

Jimin’s brows knit in worry, clenching the water bottle he’s holding for TaeHyung. Yet when he looks his way, all his thoughts evaporate in thin air as TaeHyung grins at him.

Any bitter emotion left in his heart is pushed away and gone for the moment as he walks to TaeHyung and hugs him close. There are no words needed for him to express how proud Jimin is of Taehyung, how much he admires his skills and the hard work he puts in everything he does.

Jimin’s sniffles don’t cease for a while longer, and TaeHyung, still too deep in his character, can’t manage to stop crying even after finishing the very last scene. “Why are you crying, Jiminie?” TaeHyung asks, despite his own state, rubbing Jimin’s back.

“Y-you just…” Jimin pulls back and looks at him with doe eyes, tears falling out of his control.  “You looked so broken.”

“It was just acting, my love. I’m perfectly fine, see.” TaeHyung takes Jimin’s hand, caressing his own cheek with it. Jimin wipes a stray tear with his thumb as soon as it falls. The makeup smudges, serving as a reminder to the falseness of the situation. “It’s alright.”

They lock eyes, and as TaeHyung’s tears cease shortly, his own seem to unleash long repressed emotions.

‘My love’...

Jimin stares at his ‘blind eye’.  It’s hard to regulate emotions when just the thought of losing him like that is so painful to imagine. Losing him… without ever loving him to his fullest.

Everything felt so real.

They looked so real.

“I thought you were gonna kiss her…” Jimin, sniffles onto his wrist. “You looked so in sync and, you know… you looked s-so good together.”

“There wasn’t any kiss in the script, Jimin,” he laughs. Not quite understanding Jimin’s remark.

“But… you just looked like–” he struggles to find the words. “... you both looked so in love. I just think it would, like, I don’t know, get the message across to the audience?”

“Is it really necessary to kiss to show how in love we are?”

Jimin’s eyes widen with newfound tears. What does he even mean by that? “Are… are you in love with her?”

‘No,’ Jimin hoped he would say. ‘Not nearly as much as I’m in love with you.’ 

Instead, TaeHyung chuckles softly. “Aish, Jiminie, I'm glad you think we have good chemistry. That’s all that was. You already know she has a partner.”

“That’s not…”

Jimin looks down as more tears fall before he can do anything about it. He thinks–hopes–that maybe TaeHyung didn’t notice, but it seems like he did the moment he gently holds Jimin’s chin to make him look at him.

TaeHyung tilts his head, looking confused. “What is it, Jimin?”

He doesn’t dare to answer, can’t even hear over his racing heartbeat either. The younger frowns, not quite understanding what is that sadness swimming in his soulmate’s eyes.

TaeHyung takes his hand, and leads them outside the set that seems to have Jimin’s mind spinning.

He opens his car and invites Jimin to sit inside. No one seems to be around, as all the staff members are currently wrapping up the set, yet still, TaeHyung checks up over the tinted glass that no one can see them. It breaks Jimin’s heart. It’s always going to be like this, right?

Jimin sniffles, not being able to make eye contact now that is just them. “I’m so sorry.”

“Why?” TaeHyung asks, clearly shocked.

“For ruining everything. For being so bitter. For–” Jimin chokes on his words, TaeHyung waits. “I just want to love the love of my life without having to hide. Love you like you loved IU noona, or… the character Jihye, on that set.”

“Oh, Jiminie…”  TaeHyung takes his hand, squeezing it three times close to his heart. His other hand comes to wipe Jimin’s tears away and Jimin leans into the touch. “I know, sweetheart.”

“You looked so good together…” he mumbles, embarrassment taking over his senseless jealousy. What exactly is he jealous about when he knows Taehyung loves him?

“That’s because I’ve got a little secret up my sleeve.” TaeHyung smirks. “Wanna know what it is?”

TaeHyung can see his hesitation, and proceeds with caution.

“I was thinking of my dearest, most treasured person in this world.” TaeHyung confesses, with a smile that feels longing, a far desire of his hopeless heart behind it. “I was thinking of you, my love.”

Jimin’s eyes widen as he leans for a hug, their jointed fingers still holding together as their hearts drum against them in unison. Jimin is the one that squeezes his hand this time.

“Is it necessary to tell the world how in love we are, isn't it enough that we know?” Taehyung asks, echoing the previous sentiment.

Jimin doesn’t answer, instead, he nuzzles further onto his arms. For TaeHyung, everything is worth the time.

Chapter Text

The golden rays of sunlight peak from between the thick, cozy blanket of clouds. Dew rolls down from the palms of the leaves in a plip! plop! rhythm. The birds awake, singing welcoming songs to the sun and announcing the arrival of another joyous day.

The forest alongside a small river is starting to get active.

The wind rustles the leaves of the old trees, carding its way through its unkempt locks.

Time to wake up, my dear. It seems to say.

The branches of the trees shiver in response.

Just a little longer, darling. It protests.

The wind whines. It swirls around, yellow-red leaves flying about and following its every movement. Then, from between the rusted leaves emerges a lithe form, their long limbs settling onto a branch of one of the trees.

“But I've missed your face.”

The forest groans. Climbers crawl up towards the figure on the tree and form the silhouette of a sleeping person. Wild flowers bloom from its stems and poof! They explode in a shower of pollen, revealing another form, who still seems to be adamant about their sleep. They yawn and rub at their eyes, lying on the branch with a leg dangling off leisurely.

“There, you've seen it. Would you need anything else, my lord?” says Taehyung, the forest deity.

The aforementioned ‘lord’ giggles and swishes their wrist. A gust of wind blows right at the sleepy God and brushes away the remaining pollen stuck to his curly, brown hair, unruly from being well rested.

“The sight of you is just enough for now. I'm truly blessed.” teases Jimin, the deity of the wind, admiring the soft glow emanating from the forest deity’s face.

Taehyung stretches his limbs and blinks away the morning dew on his lashes. He sits up and gives the deity a lopsided smile, cheeks rounding out sweetly.

“Seems like you've had a good night's sleep” comments Jimin, eyeing his bed head. It's sticking up in completely unusual directions, well, more than it normally does.

“Of course, with you by my side, I always float into the land of dreams so easily.” Taehyung replies with the brightest smile. Jimin's own face splits into a grin, every fiber of his body filling with happiness.

A ray of light leaks from between the clouds, close to the wind deity, making his long, light hair floating in the air around him glisten brilliantly. Taehyung watches the way it glimmers as it moves, like it's made of real silver. His hand reaches towards it all on its own.

Taehyung glides a few fingers through it, watching the way it catches the light and flits away. Jimin smiles shyly, cheeks pink.

The thin sunrays framing Jimin move away and Taehyung lets out a surprise ‘ah!’. He tries to grab the light in an attempt to move it back, almost falling off of his branch. His lover laughs at his antics.

“I'll let you bask in the morning light.” he says, whistling at the clouds to move out of the way. They obediently break apart and both the Gods are bathed in warm sunlight.

Taehyung tilts his face upwards, feeling the warmth awaken his skin. “And what about the gentle breeze?” he asks, selfishly.

Jimin lets out a laugh, “Anything for you, love”. With the soft grase of his fingers along Taehyung's jaw, Jimin makes the wind blow gently against him. Taehyung closes his eyes and sighs, content.

“I'll get you some fragrant flowers as thanks.” he promises.

“Well, I won't say no to that! Would you get me the ones from the day before? The ones that were almost blue?”

“You always ask for those!”

“And you always get me them!” he says, laughing.

“My love, I would get you the moon if you asked, as the humans say, but I'm not sure hyung would be very delighted to be unceremoniously dragged out of his lair.” Taehyung snickers.

“You're lucky he isn't here now or he would have pushed the tide into your face.” Jimin warns, to which Taehyung lets out a yelp and shields himself. It seems to have happened one too many times.

The sunlight falling on them shifts again and they both look up towards the sky. Clouds are hurrying towards the river, bumping into eachother in their haste.

“Time to go herd the clouds?” Taehyung asks, a tinge of sadness in his voice.

Jimin nods, eyes still on the clouds. “Mhmm, I guess you need to go tend to your forest as well?” he looks back and gives him an understanding smile.

Taehyung hums. He takes a chunk of Jimin's hair into his hand and brings it to his lips. He places a gentle kiss on the strands and gazes back at Jimin, sweet fondness dripping from his eyes like honey from a bee's nest. ‘Don’t go’ they say. And Jimin is a weak, weak God. If he stays any longer, he might just be intoxicated by it.

So, he grabs Taehyung's face, squishes his cheeks together and tilts his head. He kisses his hair too, nuzzles his nose into it to inhale the sweet scent of grass, flowers and musk, before letting go and ascending to the sky to start his duty.

Taehyung watches him go with a tiny wave, hoping for time to pass by quickly, even though they have eternity together.

After herding the clouds towards the river to graze, the wind deity supposes it’s a good time to get away for a bit. He makes his way to the nearest tree and lands on its protruding branch. It gives him a good view of the sky, so he can still monitor the clouds from his resting spot.

He bundles up his hair and tries to put it in a low knot, but it's no use. It always comes undone after a while.

Leaves rustle behind him, a telltale sign of someone trying to sneak up on him. Jimin suppresses a smile, pretending to be fussing with his hair even though he was done tying it up. Stealth wasn’t their forte, he thinks.

Soon, a handful of dry red leaves land on his head. But they slide right off, much to the annoyance of the prankster, who lets out a ‘tsk’.

Jimin laughs and tilts his head back, looking towards the direction of the sound. “I could tell you were up to no good.”

The forest deity shrugs in response. “Taking a break?” he asks from a few branches above Jimin.

“Yes, I needed one desperately.” he says, fanning himself.

Taehyung hums. He shakes the branch he's perched on lightly, causing a shower of flower petals to rain on Jimin. They twist and twirl as they gracefully fall down.

Jimin giggles, “Stop it! You know it never works!” as the petals, too, glide off of him.

“Who cares if it doesn’t? I just like doing it!” He continues to shake the branch to emphasize his point.

Jimin twirls a few petals into his palm and blows it back up towards Taehyung, who swats them away with a laugh.

The clouds rumble.

“They sound pretty moody…!” Taehyung drops down from his branch and lands next to Jimin. The branch bends with the force, causing Jimin to yelp and grab onto Taehyung, who lets out a surprised laugh.

“You can very well fly, sir. Why are you afraid?”

Jimin answers by pinching his arm.

“The clouds are being quite difficult today. Just like someone I know…” says Jimin. The clouds and the ‘someone’ grumble back in annoyance. He sticks his tongue out at the clouds and turns his attention back towards the Forest deity.

“How has the forest been feeling? Do the trees have anything fun to say?” he asks, soothing the spot he bruised a while ago as a silent apology.

“Oh, they have quite a lot! Such gossip mongers...”. Taehyung smoothes out the bumps on Jimin's hair, his knot coming undone by the second. “A few branches over, a new family of birds moved in.”, he points at a tree a little to their right.

Jimin lets out a happy sound. “Did they send you a feather then?”

“They did! Look!” He points at the feather woven into his hair. It shines iridescent purple as he turns his head around. “Isn't it pretty?”

“It's beautiful!”

“Also, the foxes over at the big rock gave birth to a litter of five!”

Jimin claps his hands in excitement. “That's amazing! Have you gone over to bless them yet?”

“Not yet. I was hoping you would join me? They would love to have your blessings too!”

“I would love to! I'll bless them to have the fluffiest tail, much like your hair.” Jimin ruffles his hair and makes it impossibly poofy.

“Jimin!” Taehyung squeals and tries to swat his hand away.

Jimin coils his finger around a curl and tugs it playfully. “That's for trying to sneak up on me!”

“Ah, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please, let go!”

He complies, but not before brushing Taehyung's hair behind his ear, awfully fond of the way his eyes crinkle with his smile. Jimin caresses his fingers across the flowers blooming on his cheek. So warm, a complete contrast to his cold fingertips.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are in this form?” Jimin asks, because he deserves to hear it everyday.

“Hmm, I don't recall.” Taehyung teases, scooting closer, hand coming up to hold Jimin's. “You should tell me anyway. You know, just in case.”

“Beautiful…” Jimin mutters, mesmerised. His thumb grazes his bottom lip, the air around them quieting down as they bask in each other's loving gaze.

A loud roar rips apart from the sky.

“Ugh, they're at it again.” Jimin mumbles as he watches the clouds butt heads. He shouts at them to quit it.

“Better get back to work then.” Taehyung sighs.

Jimin leaps off the branch to fly towards them. But Taehyung doesn't feel like letting him leave just yet. He reaches out belatedly, only to find his fingers glide through silky hair as Jimin's loosened knot comes undone. It escapes from between his fingers, much like the wind itself.

“Would you like me to pick some wild flowers to put in your hair tonight?” he shouts in an attempt to slow Jimin down.

“I'd love that, darling. Have you come up with a new way to do my hair?” he shouts back, mid flight.

“I have! I've been practicing, see!” he points at the tiny new braid at the back of his head.

“I can't wait for it, love!”

“Then get back soon!”

“If the sky sheep co-operate, I'll run to you immediately!”, says Jimin and rushes to the sky, leaving a floating trail of leaves behind him.

After herding the clouds back over the trees, blessing the newborn foxes, visiting the newcomers and conversing with the plants, the two Gods lay around mindlessly biding their time.

Jimin is lying on Taehyung's lap with a flower in hand, occasionally tickling his neck with it to get a giggle out of him. Taehyung plays with his hair, eyes too beautiful and sweet for Jimin to look at for too long.

The sun is on its way to set when Jimin asks, “Would you like a shower, my dear?”

Taehyung's fingers don’t pause brushing Jimin's fringes. “When have I ever said no to that, sweetheart?”

To that, Jimin gets up and whistles at the clouds, commanding them to form a fight circle. The smell of damp earth wafts through the surroundings.  Two big clouds step into the circle, ready to face eachother off. Jimin whistles a loud and clear signal and the clouds charge ahead.

They butt heads and grind their fluffy horns, and the other clouds around them cheer on loudly. One knock of the head, and a BOOM echoes across the sky. Another knock of heads and the clouds slowly start to melt. A last knock and all the clouds descend to the ground, millions of hooves clip-clopping, pitter-pattering.

Taehyung lifts his hands up and feels the rain on his face. His hair is starting to stick to his scalp, his clothes are getting drenched and his skin is soaked. Puddles are forming at his feet. He jumps into them, splashing water everywhere. He does a happy twirl and starts an impromptu dance. The forest seems to join in on the dance as well, leaves shaking, branches swaying. Some animals rush outside to join, while some rush inside to watch from under a shelter.

“Don't you just love the rain? Come dance with me!” Taehyung offers a hand to Jimin, dancing towards him.

Jimin shys away. “Oh, I can't! Last time I spun around too long and hurt you!” he ducks and hides behind the uprooted tree behind them.

“Oh come now,” Taehyung jumps over the trunk. “A little dance wouldn't hurt. Please? We won't spin too much.” He offers his hand again.

Jimin hesitantly takes it and is dragged off by a happy forest deity, spinning and dipping him every now and then, keeping his promise of not overdoing it. The wind and raindrops mimic their every movement.

Once they had tired themselves out from dancing to the rhythm of raindrops, the wind deity quickly dried them both up. He made sure to properly dry his lover’s hair, so that it doesn't tangle.

Now, they sit under a tree close to the river, with Taehyung's back against the bark and Jimin's head resting against his chest. The croaks of frogs emanate from their surroundings and fireflies dance to their nightly song. The full moon is hiding behind a thin veil, as if giving the two lovers privacy. Or perhaps needing privacy himself, as his own lover, the Rabbit deity, was visiting. The dampness of the rain still in the air settles on their skin, making the two Gods cuddle impossibly close.

“Seems like the frogs are performing a different one tonight.” Taehyung comments.

“Good, I was growing quite tired of their old routine!” says Jimin, nuzzling further into the crook of his neck.

Taehyung’s fingers grasp onto Jimin's long, silver strands of hair, playing with them mindlessly. They slip away from his fingers, floating back in an invisible breeze. It's always so enchanting to watch.

He nuzzles his nose against his crown. “Shall I braid your hair, then?”

Jimin gasps, excitement akin to the first time he was asked the same question many centuries ago. “Of course, please!” he settles down in front of him, brushing all his hair back for Taehyung to decorate.

Taehyung summons a creeper with a woven basket full of the flowers he had plucked just for Jimin. He gathers all of his hair and smoothes them down with the reverence of a devotee.

And what are they, if not each other’s devotees?

He gently combs through them with his fingers, untangling any knots. He parts it into small sections and starts to braid a new pattern as promised. He’d been practicing it on his climbers and creepers, even on his own hair.

Jimin sighs, relieved that his hair is finally under control. It's times like this when he's glad that his lover is so skilled at weaving.

“I plucked the ones with the best colours and the sweetest scents. Here!”, Taehyung offers a flower for Jimin to see. He takes it and sniffs it, humming at the aroma.

“I made sure they matched well too.” He places a few flowers in between the sections and braids over them. “My Jiminie always deserves to have the prettiest things...”

“I do, don't I...? That's why I have you.” Jimin turns around to see how he would react.

Much to his delight, Taehyung hides his embarrassed face in Jimin's hair. Jimin laughs at him a little before whining at him to get back to braiding.

And once he's done, the two Gods fall asleep to whispered praises, the croaking lullaby of the frogs and the babbling of the river, all warm and loved in each other's embrace.

Chapter Text

Missed you once, missed you twice.

Missed you a whole three times tonight.

Missed you four, missed you five.

I miss you, come spend the night?

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep*

The alarm on Taehyung's phone beeps louder and louder, the longer he ignores it.  He groans at the annoying device.

It's a chilly morning and he's not entirely ready to sacrifice the warmth of his bed. But the incessant beeping is only shunning away the precious sleep he so desperately wants to cling to. So he shuffles around to find the damned phone, eyes still stubbornly closed.

He finds it buried somewhere underneath his blanket. He must have fallen asleep while on the phone at some point. When he pulls it up, the light from the phone screen burns his eyes, no matter how dim it was.

6:30am

He immediately jams his finger on the snooze button. He can afford five more minutes of sleep, he tells himself, before rolling over to the other side of the bed.

Muscle memory kicks in and he tries to snuggle into the warm body next to him. But his searching hands land on the cold and empty spot beside him. Taehyung’s eyes open at the unfamiliarity of the feeling. 

‘Ah… right.’ he lets out a deep disappointed sigh, loneliness settling into his chest. He rolls back onto his back and stares at the hotel room ceiling.

It's been close to two week. He looks at his phone again to confirm. Yep. 11 days… And he's still not used to this.

He sighs again, putting his arm over his eyes not in an effort to fall asleep, but to pretend that just for a little longer, he was still dreaming. 

And without meaning to, he does drift back into dreamland, if only for a brief moment, before being brought back to wakefulness by the ringing of his phone.

He instinctively goes to press the snooze button, but stops once he takes a proper look at the notification.

1 missed call: 💋 Jiminie 💋

A smile blooms on his face looking at the kiss emojis decorating the contact name.

‘He's probably getting dinner ready now…’ he muses. He calls the number back, only letting it ring for a few seconds before cutting the call. He giggles, enjoying this daily ritual they've developed a little too much.

It was his idea, actually. 

On the day his boss informed him that he'll have to work overseas for about a month, he went right home and insisted that he and Jimin, his boyfriend of over a year, add little kiss emojis to their contacts.

‘It's like flying kisses!’ he had explained. ‘I'll give you a missed call, that means I'm sending you a kiss! You know, coz miss rhymes with kiss…’ he had trailed off, feeling ridiculous for saying it out loud.

‘This is so cheesy, Taehyungie! How'd you come up with this?” Jimin had laughed at the idea initially, but was honestly endeared by it.

And now, it's become a part of their routine.

Taehyung fondly recalls that day with his arms behind his head, when his phone rings again, this time for a longer period of time.

This time, he answers.

“Hello?”

“Hello, sleepy head!” Jimin's cheery voice fills his ear, pulling his lips into a smile.

“Hi…” he says, giddy but still groggy.

His boyfriend immediately catches on, “Oh, you don't sound awake. You were gonna oversleep again, weren't you?” 

“Haha… yeah” he buries himself further into his blanket.

“You really can't do without me waking you up everyday, huh?”

“Mmm… don't wanna wake up. Miss you…”

“Those are completely unrelated feelings. You can miss me when you're up and awake as well.” Jimin chides him. He can hear the sound of utensils being moved around in the background.

Taehyung whines and tosses to the other side. Waking up is such a difficult task.

“Nuh-uh! Wake up, Taehyungie.” Jimin's voice booms through the speaker he had accidentally turned on. When'd he do that? “You have work!! If you get late, then you'll have to stay there longer than you planned to! We can't have that now, can we?”

Oh that sounds like a nightmare. “No… don't wanna stay without you.”

“So, get up!” comes Jimin's voice in a ‘matter of fact’ tone.

“Mmm… what's for dinner?” He tries to change the subject.

“I'm making kimchi fried rice and egg today. Got some leftover fried chicken too, so I guess I'll finish that up as well.”

“That sounds good…”

“Well you should be worrying about your breakfast, which is company sponsored might I add. Not drooling over my humble and simple dinner, babe.”

He has a point. “Alright, alright. I'm getting up.” he throws the blanket to the side and stretches his legs.

“Well done!”

“I'll video call you when you're going to bed later. I'm gonna go take a quick shower now.”

“Oh…! Take me with~” Jimin sing-songs.

“Eww! Creep. Are you my stalker?”

He hears a resounding ‘tsk’ from the speaker of his phone. “What happened to ‘I miss you, Jimin! I can't live without you, Jimin! The sound of your voice is what gives me the energy to wake up, Jimin!’”

“That was the Taehyung of 5 minutes ago. I am a changed man now.”

“Rude. Go eat your bland ass breakfast. I'll make sure to put extra spice in my food!”

“Haha… I'll call you later. Promise.”

“You better. Bye!”

“Bye…” Taehyung cuts the call, feeling a lot warmer as the chill of early morning leaves his skin. He makes his way to the bathroom to start his day.

—————

“Ah, damn it.” Taehyung curses as he looks at the time on his watch. It's well past the time he promised to call back. Work got hectic and he got a bit carried away.

He has a meeting to prepare for in a few minutes. His co-workers are gonna be here in the meeting room soon too. He checks his appearance in the window next to him, smoothing down any kinks on his suit and bumps in his hair.

He settles down in a chair and clicks on Jimin's contact, pondering whether he should call or not.

Besides, Jimin must have gone to sleep by now…

He decides to give Jimin a missed call to see if he's still awake. In less than 5 seconds, he gets a missed call back.

‘Haha, typical night owl...’ he worries. He hits the video call button anyway.

He's immediately greeted by a sleepy looking Jimin in bed.

“Finally remembered your lonely boyfriend, hmm? Are the people over there that pretty?”

“None hold a candle to your beauty, my sweet.” Taehyung replies in a dramatic tone.

Jimin, despite his state, joins his antics. “The man doth lie whenever he pleases…” he says with a ‘hmph’.

“Nay… he speaketh the truth and only the truth!”

A few coworkers had entered the meeting room by then. They glance at him, bemused. Taehyung flushes, and quickly gets up, changing the topic.

“Sorry, baby. Work got me busy…” he says as he moves towards the window again.

“It's fine. Not like I waited or anything. I was catching up on my syllabus.” He shows Taehyung a textbook.

He could tell Jimin was lying, but pointing it out wasn't going to get him anywhere, so Taehyung chooses to ignore it.

“How was school today? Kids being tough again?” He knows Jimin loves to teach, but sometimes the kids can be rowdy, and the parents equally rude. He hopes nothing happens while he's gone.

“No, surprisingly! I guess the weather is bringing their energy down as well.” They both sigh in unison.

“You're dressing warmly, aren't you?” Taehyung asks.

“Of course! And that's my line!”

“Learnt from the best…”

Jimin hums, satisfied at that. He nuzzles into the pillow. Taehyung wishes he could brush away the hair that falls onto his face. ‘Just a little longer…’ he tells himself. 

“How's The States been treating you, TaeTae?”

“Oh, it's been fine. Weather's not too bad.” He says, not bothering to check the view outside the window. The phone screen has a better one afterall. “I dunno… could have done with a bit more of Jimin, honestly.”

His boyfriend giggles and his heart swells. “That's too bad, Jimins are only available in Korea right now. Guess you'll have to wait until you get back.”

“That's fine. I'm a very patient man.”

“I'm sure you are… but another week and a half is a long time to be deprived of Jimins. Would you be able to survive?”

“Well… it depends on whether you can survive without a supply of Taehyung.”

“I'm barely holding up. I feel withdrawal everyday. Oh, I feel faint as we speak!” Jimin falls back into his pillow with a hand to his forehead.

He laughs at his dramatics. His cheeks hurt from smiling, just as much as his heart hurts from longing. “I miss you.” he says, wondering if he's the only one feeling this way.

Jimin goes quiet and sighs “... I miss you, too.”

They stare at eachother through the screen, unable to say the things stuck in their throat.

“Also,” Jimin decides to break the silence. “I made food for two AGAIN! Guess I'll be having the same thing for lunch tomorrow…” 

That warms Taehyung's heart. He's not the only one feeling the absence afterall.

“Hey, you got to save time tomorrow-” Taehyung notices his co-workers calling him over. “Ah… I gotta prepare for a meeting soon, love. You go to bed.”

“Hmmm… I'm not sleepy yet.” he sees Jimin shift in bed while rubbing his eyes.

“Say that with both your eyes open this time.”

“Shut up… it's hard to go to sleep.”

Taehyung walks over to join his co-workers, “Why?”

“Coz I miss you, you dumbass.”

A laugh blooms in his chest at how offended his boyfriend sounds. 

“You can miss me when you're asleep and dreaming as well.” he teases as he takes the few pages his co-workers pass over to him to look through.

“Ha-ha… ok, smarty pants. Tell your boss to send you home already.”

“Ok, sleepy head. I'll try my best. Goodnight…”

“And good luck, love.”

The call ends, but Taehyung doesn't put away his phone. He waits.

His co-workers have all gathered around and started discussing the upcoming meeting.

“Taehyung, that would leave us with just the presentation to get through, right?” Someone asks him. He wasn't paying attention, too busy looking at his phone screen.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah.” He nods, hiding his phone away.

“Dude…!” “Stop zoning out!”

“Sorry…” he sheepishly smiles.

He turns to pay attention to them, but his phone buzzes. He watches as the phone rings for two seconds and stops. A smile grows on his face again. He watches as his phone comes alight again. The obnoxious emoji decorated contact fills the screen, making him a tiny bit embarrassed. He could feel the looks being thrown his way. It buzzes for just a few more seconds and cuts off. This happens one more time, before it stops.

“Are you gonna get that…?” another colleague next to him asks, sounding a tad annoyed despite his smile.

“Sorry… give me a minute. I'll be done after this.” He excuses himself quickly. His co-workers give him an unimpressed look, then sigh in resignation, all too familiar with his love-sick behaviour. He bows several times in apology and exits the room, promising that he'll be back soon and focus after this. 

Taehyung exits the meeting room and unlocks his phone. The notifications he sees fills his whole being with sparks of energy, from his fingertips to his toes. 

3 missed calls: 💋 Jiminie 💋

Two messages pop up on screen. 

2 messages: 💋 Jiminie 💋

‘Who knew such a silly idea would bring us this much joy while being away from eachother?’ he thinks as he blissfully taps on the little box on his screen.

💋 Jiminie 💋