Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was going to be a hectic day for Taehyung. Actually, for his whole department.

While he walked down the street he was reviewing some of his notes from his tablet, making sure he had everything well prepared and nothing was left behind. He dodged people as he darted through the street, without even looking up from his tablet, just relying on his side vision. It was a skill he had developed through the years. When he was a kid, he did it with a book in his hands. Now, he did it with his tablet, while working.

When he arrived at the building that housed Loom & Gloom’s workshops, he put his tablet back in his bag, and took out a small ID card that he put right between his teeth while he closed his bag again and went through the automatic doors.

The cool air from inside the building hit him in the face when he stepped through the threshold, contrasting with the end-of-August heat from outside. He nodded with a smile to the people behind the reception desk, as well as to the security guard while he approached the doors, passing his card through one of the sensors and getting to the other side, where the elevators were.

The building's first three floors are dedicated completely to the workshops. Loom & Gloom’s production line was way too big for all the pieces of clothing to be made in just one building, but this was where it all started. Patterns for every single piece, as well as first prototypes and models were created there. From there, copies of the patterns were distributed to different workshops throughout the country, and all first models were safekept for future needs.

While the elevator went up, Taehyung got his tablet out again, unlocking it to keep looking at his notes. When it got to the sixth floor, the elevator stopped and the doors opened.

When Taehyung walked to the floor hall, a young man came up running to him, holding a tablet almost identical to his.

“Good morning, Taehyung-ssi,” he said.

“Good morning, Beomgyu. Everything ready for today’s meeting?”

“Yes, sir. Everyone has confirmed they are coming. And we got a message from downstairs. Jimin-nim wishes you good luck, and regrets not being able to make it to the meeting.”

Taehyung nodded. He had also gotten a text message from Jimin. Not anything as formal as what Beomgyu said, communication between departments was always really boring, but with the same meaning overall. Jimin’s own collection was being presented publicly in a couple of weeks, so he was buried in tons of work. The end of summer was the busiest time of the year for Jimin’s department, as well as the end of winter for his own department.

“Very well, time to give everything its final touches. The meeting starts in a couple of hours, so I’m sure we have plenty of time.”

“Alright. Just don’t overwork yourself. Everything will go smoothly.”

“I don’t think worrying about me is in your job description, Beomgyu.”

“And I don’t think I’ll have much of a job anymore if you kill yourself working, so I’ll keep worrying.”

“They’d probably give my job to Kang Taehyun, so you’d just end up working for him instead.”

“Yeah, like I’d want to work for that fucker.”

Taehyung let out a faint laugh while he opened the door to his office, feeling how part of the weight was lifted from his shoulders.

“Alright, I’ll try to keep it moderate,” he concedes, finally. “I’ll see you in a while. Make sure everything is ready.”

“Don’t worry, it will be.”

◈

A couple hours later, Taehyung was still in his office, buried in a mountain of notes and sketches, away from everything that surrounded him and was not related to the meeting.

At some point, Jimin had messaged him, wishing him good luck again, and he had answered quickly to get back to work. Beomgyu would have probably scolded him for not taking some time to properly answer his friend. They were just one floor apart all day, and still, they hadn’t seen each other in days. He definitely wanted to see Jimin, but work was being hard for both of them at the moment.

He was still immersed in his notes when someone knocked on the door, startling him, making him drop some of his sketches to the floor.

“Come in,” he yelled, as he dropped to the floor to pick them up.

“Everyone is ready, Taehyung-ssi,” said Beomgyu, opening the door to the office. “Taehyung-ssi?”

“Yes, yes, I’m here.” He got back up again quickly, holding the papers in one hand.

Beomgyu stared at him silently, with his mouth opened.

“The meeting,” he said, finally. “Ready?”

“Yes, let’s go.”

He left the sketches on his desktop, which could now be safely declared a disaster area, and he fished his tablet from between the piles of paper. He stopped to look at himself in the full-body mirror he had in his office, making sure he was impeccable.

A light Gucci shirt, very season appropriate, but also elegant enough for the meeting, matched with tight black pants and shining shoes. Kim Taehyung might have had flaws (not that he could name any), but sure as hell dressing up was not one of them.

No, when it came to clothes, he was pure genius.

He just needed everyone else to see it as well.

He left the office with Beomgyu, marching down to the meeting room that they had on that same floor. The whole office seemed completely empty now that almost everyone was waiting for them there.

Tae would like to have the whole department in those meetings. Everyone had a role in the creation of the collections, so everyone deserved to be present while their boss revealed what the new line was going to be about. However, the meeting room was not big enough for such a massive meeting.

“Well, let’s go,” he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else, before opening the door to the meeting room and going in.

He greeted everyone in the room with a bow, and a low murmur formed as an answer. Besides people from his own department, the chiefs for the different workshops were there. They were the only ones from outside the department that would know about the collection theme and inspiration before he presented it to the company board.

Taehyung approached the big table, where Beomgyu had left a laptop prepared with the presentation already connected to the projector on the ceiling. As soon as he unlocked it, the first slide lit up the wall behind him with the words “Loom & Gloom’s Spring-Summer Collection 2021”.

“Alright, let’s get this started. As all of you know, we are here to define the theme and line we are going to follow for the next spring-summer collection for Loom & Gloom. Before getting down to it, I’d like to thank everyone for coming, especially our mates from the workshops. I know these are difficult times, with the autumn-winter collection coming right up, so I thank you for taking a little time for us.

» Now, knowing that we all have plenty of things to do, I’ll try to make this quick and go straight to the point. I’ve been giving it a lot of thought these past months, and I came up with what I want to do for this collection. And it is going to be different. We are going to take some risks this time. Loom & Gloom is a brand designed as an affordable line, created with average people on mind, and our collections follow this line of thought. This year, however, we are going to give it a twist.

As words rolled off his tongue, he could see an air of uncertainty building up in the room. It wasn’t a problem, it was what he had expected. His idea would be controversial at first, but he had plenty of confidence in himself.

“So, we are going to take inspiration from the greater brands to create our new collection. Givenchy, Chanel, Dior. Brands that mean Haute Couture. We’ll take inspiration from their prêt-à-porter lines for our more casual line, while our more elegant pieces will be directly inspired in Haute Couture designs. We are going to bring elite fashion to Loom & Gloom.”

As he finished talking, he saw that the nervous looks in the room had spreaded, and silence got a hold of the room.

“Any question?” he asked, trying to break that silence.

Some of them move awkwardly in their chairs, saying nothing, and looking each other with the eyes, until someone made the first comment.

“I’m not sure I see it.” Sukja, chief of one of the workshops, was the first one to speak. She was the most veteran of all the workshop chiefs, and the rest of them really looked up to her. “I don’t want to impose on the Design department, as is none of my business, but I can’t say that this is very in line with the brand philosophy.”

Sukja’s words made some of the others nod in agreement.

“I understand your worries, Sukja-nim, but that’s exactly what I’m looking for. Something that goes outside the brand's usual stuff, something that makes us stand out and shine over everything that we have done before.”

Sukja looked at him, seemingly pondering on his words for a while, before speaking again.

“Alright,” she said, catching Taehyung completely off-guard. “You seem pretty confident, so I’ll support you. If you get the approval of the board, the workshops will be behind you all the way. Give us your designs, and we will make them come to life. We are not scared of challenges.”

Sukja’s words again created a reaction in all the others. The other workshop chiefs agreed with her, and that made everyone else start to agree as well. Taehyung had not expected to convince all of the workshop people so quickly, but having Sukja speak in his favor definitely had helped a great deal.

He may yet be able to do this.

◈

“It didn’t go that bad.” Beomgyu was taking down the laptop and storing all the cables and stuff in a small cabinet.

The meeting had ended a while ago, and everyone had left already. Only Taehyung and him remained in the room.

“No, not that bad,” said Taehyung, absently.

“Now’s when the hard part begins.”

Taehyung noded, silently. In about a month he would have to do that same meeting again, although in front of the directors board, to try and get their approval. If he managed to get it, he would have under six months to create the new collection.

It was going to be one hell of a challenge.

But one he was definitely ready for.

Chapter Text

Jungkook still got lost in that building.

He had been working there for a couple of weeks already, but, somehow, he was unable to remember the building’s distribution. For starters, it was huge. True, he didn’t have to work with the whole building, just floors four and above, but still, it was a challenge.

Not that there were usually many issues, most of his days there consisted in basically monitoring the servers and the network status. However, priorities were weird there, so it was difficult when there were multiple issues at the same time. For some reason, the fifth floor had the top-most priority from March to August, while the sixth floor had it from September to February. Besides, all other floors were always second to those two, no matter the time of the year.

It seemed like an awful system to Jungkook, but he was no one to complain. He just needed to be there and make sure that everything that broke was fixed as quickly as possible. Still, it was weird.

The elevator dinged as he arrived at the sixth floor, where he had his next issue. He checked his tablet, just to make sure this one was still his only one at the moment, and then turned to the desk at the floor hall.

“Hi, can I help you?” The girl behind the desk must have been around his same age, with brown hair, wide smile and shiny eyes.

“Yes, I’m from the IT department, I got a ticket about an issue in office 607.”

The girl checked her computer quickly, and then looked back at Jungkook.

“Ah, yes, Mr. Kim’s office. That would be through this hall, first left, and then at the far end.”

“Thank you.”

He started walking following the directions she had given him. Every floor in this building was completely different, as far as he had seen. His own floor was just a maze of corridors and offices, while in this one every room seemed to have glass walls, and the corridors seemed much wider.

He arrived at another desk when he reached the end of the corridor the receptionist had told him. This time, it was a guy sitting behind it, and he seemed even younger than Jungkook. How on Earth there were so many young people in this company.

The guy raised his head and looked at Jungkook.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi. IT department. Is this office 607? Mr. Kim’s office?”

“Ah, yes, we were expecting you. Just one second.”

He turned to pick up the phone next to him and pressed some buttons on it.

“The IT person is here, Taehyung-ssi.” He paused. “Yes.” Paused again. “Alright.” He then hung up the phone and looked back at Jungkook. “You may enter.”

Jungkook smiled and passed by the desk to the door behind it.

At the other side there was a wide office, bigger than the whole department where Jungkook worked from. The far wall of the room was a huge window through which light poured on the office. There were mannequins and rolls of fabric everywhere, and in the center there was a huge desk with a man sitting on it.

He had wavy dark hair and was dressed as if he was ready to go into the runway. His skin was like made of porcelain, completely flawless. And his eyes.

Jungkook had to remind himself to breathe when he saw the man get up and approach him.

“Hi, there,” he greeted him, holding out his hand. “I’m Kim Taehyung, Head of Design. You’re new, right?”

Jungkook had to force himself to react again, shake the other’s hand, and, again, breathe .

“Y-yes, I’m Jeon Jungkook. I’ve been working here a couple of weeks only.”

“Great, I’m sure we will see each other often. I’m not that great with computers, you know? I tend to break stuff.”

“Well, that’s mostly why I’m here. Tell me what’s the problem.”

Jungkook walked to Taehyung’s desk and started listening to the other when he told him what the issue was, as well as he started typing in some commands.

◈

Tae’s computer worked just fine now.

The new IT guy, Jungkook, was actually really good at his work. He had fixed the problem really quickly, so Tae could go back to work as soon as possible.

“Taehyung-ssi,” sounded Beomgyu’s voice through the intercom. “Jimin-nim is here to see…”

Beomgyu couldn’t finish the sentence before the door to Taehyung’s office opened.

“Tete!”

Tae looked at Jimin, completely dressed in white, with his light hair gleaming at the sun that came through the window behind Tae’s desk, before leaning over the intercom.

“Alright, let him in, Beomgyu,” he said, with a faint smile.

Jimin rolled his eyes before approaching Tae’s desk and taking a seat in one of the chairs.

Park Jimin was Head of Design at Loom & Gloom. It was the same position that Taehyung held. The brand’s line of design was split into two Design departments, so they needed two Heads. Jimin’s department was in charge of the Autumn-Winter collections, while Taehyung’s was in charge of the Spring-Summer ones.

He was also Taehyung’s best friend, since long before they had started working there. They had met at Design School, and had instantly become inseparable. They had graduated and started working at Loom & Gloom right away, rising through the ranks quickly. In the blink of an eye, they were both in charge of their respective departments.

Jimin carried himself around with confidence, but not in the same way as Tae. Where Tae knew that he always looked just impeccable, and took pride in it, Jimin could be wearing rags and you’d still think that the guy was stunning. It had something to do with that stupid smile of his.

“How are you, my friend?,” he asked, loudly.

“Well, someone is in a good mood,” Tae said, smiling. “I’m fine. What about you? You seem to have gotten laid recently.”

“I always have gotten laid recently.” Jimin winked at him, and Tae rolled his eyes so hard he could almost see his brain cells dying. “Anyways, how’s life treating you. I heard your meeting went well.”

“Ah, so that's why you’re here.” Tae couldn’t stop himself from grinning. He loved Jimin, but the guy could not resist some good gossiping. They hadn’t seen each other in weeks, but, a soon as he heard something juicy, he had made room in his schedule to go visit Tae. “Well, tough luck, Min. I’m not telling you shit.”

“C’mon Tete, don’t be mean,” Jimin pouted, looking him in the eye.

“You’ve been asking around, haven’t you?”

Jimin’s smile widened, and Tae sighed.

“You can’t blame me for being curious, Tete. I’ve heard you caused quite the stir.”

“I’m not even going to ask how you know that. But you know I can’t tell you anything before the board gives me the green light. And neither can anyone else.”

Jimin pouted even more.

“I thought we were friends. Good friends.”

“Ah, go to hell, asshole.” Tae threw his arms up, leaning back on his chair and covering his face with his hands. “We are good friends and you know it. Have you ever told me your themes before the board meeting?”

Jimin remained silent, and averted Tae’s gaze.

“There you have it. We are still friends, but this is work, Min. Now get the hell out of my office, asshole. You have a collection to finish, and it’s due next week.”

◈

Jungkook had hoped he could talk to Hoseok in person, but they probably wouldn’t see each other that night. When Hoseok had to work late, he usually arrived when Jungkook was already sleeping.

Jungkook almost dropped the phone when he read that last comment, and he thanked the heavens that Hoseok was not there with him, because he was sure he was blushing so hard right now. And Hoseok would not let that opportunity pass.

Jungkook let out a sigh before writing the next message.

This time the phone did drop. Luckily, there were not many people on the bus, and no one seemed to notice that his face was so red he may very well explode at any moment. He picked the phone quickly and wrote back.

Jungkook dropped his phone in his bag, and turned to the window. Stupid Hoseok and his stupid ideas. He didn’t have a crush on Taehyung.

He didn’t.

Did he?

Chapter Text

Working at Loom & Gloom meant that Jungkook had to get used to some stuff.

For starters, everyone seemed to be always in a hurry. All the time. Apparently, there was some kind of huge event approaching, although he had not gotten a hold of what it was exactly. That meant everyone had really tight schedules, and computers breaking were always a source of anger. That was not really good for him, as the guy who had to fix the broken computers, but he understood, at a certain degree.

Besides, everybody treated him nicely, so that was fine.

He had not been to the sixth floor since last time, when he had helped Kim Taehyung with his computer. It had not been a huge mess, just some firewall issues with the program he used for designing. It had been a couple of days already, but Hoseok words were still stuck in his head.

“How is it going, Jungkook-ssi?”

The voice kicked him out of his own thoughts, reminding him that he was working.

He was at the fifth floor, the department that had top-most priority at the moment. The receptionist’s computer was acting up, and she had lost access to the day’s agenda, which was a huge mess, apparently.

“It doesn’t seem good,” he said, turning back to the girl. “The computer has lost all connection to the server’s calendars, but I have no idea where the issue comes from. I’m trying to patch it, so you don’t have to wait too long, but it’s not going well. I might have to go and get you a temporary one from downstairs.”

The girl made a small pout, and Jungkook got back to work while she turned away.

Something else he had had to get used to was how everyone just depended on computers for almost everything but had absolutely no idea about how they worked. It’s not like he expected everyone to be an engineer, of course, mostly because that would leave him out of job, but he wouldn't be surprised at all if some of these people came to him and told him that they firmly believed that tiny men worked inside the cases to make the computers function.

The sound of the elevator distracted him, and, when he raised his head, he realized he was completely alone at the desk. There was no sign of the receptionist whatsoever.

The doors to the elevator opened and a guy came out. The best way to describe him was beautiful, although Jungkook had met enough people working there to assume that it was a basic requirement for all job openings.

He was holding a cup of coffee in one hand and sunglasses on the other. He looked at the desk and then noticed Jungkook, so he walked toward him.

“Hi, there,” he said, smiling. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Park Jimin, head of design, handsome boss of this floor.”

Head of design? Wasn’t that what Taehyung had said he was as well? Jungkook didn’t remember quite well, but it had been something along his lines. Maybe he just remembered wrong.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Park. I’m Jeon Jungkook.”

“I had no idea we had new people at reception. When did you start?”

“What?” he said, not understanding quite well what he meant. Then it dawned on him. “Oh, no, no. I don’t work here. I mean, I do work here, as in Loom & Gloom, just not on this floor.”

Jungkook stopped talking just enough to see the puzzled look on Park Jimin’s face.

“I work at the IT department,” he said, finally. “I’m trying to get this computer fixed, although I’m not having much luck at it.”

“Ah, yes, yes.” Jimin’s face lit up like he suddenly understood everything. “I remember now Taehyung texting me something about a new guy in IT. He said you’re quite good.”

Jungkook could feel his face turning bright red.

“He… He did?”

Jimin just nodded, like it was nothing, and Jungkook felt his blush growing stronger.

“Anyway, I’m glad we have you on board. It’s always good to have someone good at what they do around here. Keep up the good work.”

“Ah, yes, thank you, Mr. Park.”

Jimin smiled and waved with his hand, and Jungkook buried himself behind the computer again, in order to hide his face as much as possible.

“Oh, I almost forgot.”

The voice startled him, and when he looked up he saw Jimin coming back to him.

“This Friday is our new collection presentation, and we are gathering at my house after that to celebrate that we are finally free. I usually invite everyone, and everyone includes you, so feel free to come if you want to.”

“Ah, eh… Thanks?”

“That’s the spirit, kid,” he said, a wide smile on his lips. “I’ll have my assistant email you the address and all that, so I hope to see you there.”

“Thank you, Mr. Park.”

This time, Jimin really turned away and left through one of the corridors, leaving Jungkook with that stupid computer.

◈

Taehyung looked at his watch.

Jimin’s presentation was the next day, and that meant he just had another week to prepare anything he needed for his meeting with the board. It may have seemed like a lot, but it actually wasn’t. Not for someone as perfectionist as him, at least.

He was going over the list of materials the different providers offered them. Again. He needed to find the perfect ones for his project. He knew everything had to be perfect. Otherwise, he risked the board saying no.

Tae raised his head up when the door to his office opened, and Beomgyu came in.

“Hey, Taehyung-ssi, sorry to bother, but I just got a call from the Purchases department. They need you to go downstairs to sign some delivery.”

Taehyung raised a brow, leaving the material samples over his desk.

“What? I’m not expecting any delivery.”

“It’s not for us, apparently. It’s for Jimin-nim’s department, but they can’t get a hold of him, and they need either his or your signature.”

Tae sighed.

“Can’t they wait for him to come back?”

Beomgyu just shrugged.

“Ah, alright, I’ll go now. Hopefully it won’t take too long. Thank you, Beomgyu.”

Purchases was on the fourth floor, along with some other small departments, like Marketing. They were not very big, as they just focused on the needs of the Design departments, and the brand had larger, more important similar departments somewhere else.

He was not used to going down there, since it was Beomgyu who usually managed that kind of stuff for his department, and Taehyung had given him permission to sign anything he needed to sign in his name a long time ago.

Apparently, Jimin hadn’t done the same with his own assistant.

The elevator door opened, and Taehyung was now on the fourth floor. God, he hated it here. All the corridors looked alike, and everything was narrow and cramped, and gave him some sort of anxiety feeling he didn’t like one bit. He enjoyed his own department’s corridors, with walls made of glass, and plenty of light everywhere.

That could have been one of the reasons why he had delegated this kind of job on Beomgyu.

Well, maybe the main reason.

Anyways, he needed to get this done, so he may as well get it done quick.

He looked for the Purchases department, although it was not really easy. There were no indications whatsoever, and he barely remembered from the last time he had been there, so it became kind of a guess game. One that he didn’t particularly enjoy.

He knocked on the door and went into the department.

“Hi, I’ve been told I have to sign something for you guys.”

He stopped to look around.

That was definitely not the Purchases department. There were monitors with weird stuff on them, some computer towers piled on one corner and just one desk.

And, sitting behind the desk, chewing what seemed to be some sort of gummy, was the IT guy, looking at him with wide eyes.

“Mr. Kim?” he said, almost choking.

“Fuck, this is not Purchases?”

“No, this is the IT department, Mr. Kim.”

“I swear to god, one day this building will kill me.” He was about to apologize and leave, but then he realized something. “Wait, this is the whole IT department? You alone with a bunch of computers? Where’s everyone else?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, sir. I’m the only member of the department.”

“Only you? For the whole building?” Taehyung let out a whistle. “That is both impressive and scary. Jungkook was it, right?”

Wait, had he blushed?

“Eh, y-yes, sir.”

“Oh, god, quit it with the “sir” and all that. I can’t be more than a couple years older than you.”

“Ah, yes, yes si… I mean… Taehyung-ssi?”

“That’s more like it.” Taehyung put his hands in his pockets, and took a quick stroll around the office.

It wasn’t big, that one was very much granted, but at least it didn’t seem to be badly equipped. The monitors looked like they were brand new, and every piece of electronics on Jungkook’s desk seemed to be top notch technology. Not that he knew much about it, but well.

“So, you have to fix everything that breaks in this building? Isn’t that like… Tough?”

He saw Jungkook shrug slightly. He had definitely blushed, he was sure of it.

“Is not that bad, actually. I’m not in charge of anything in the first floors, because, you know, that’s “expensive and specialized equipment”, so the manufacturer takes care of it when they need something.”

“Still, that’s four floors of people breaking stuff constantly that you have to take care of.”

Jungkook looked at him, unsure of what to say next.

“You don’t break that much stuff, you know? Especially your department. I barely go there. I haven’t, since I had to go to your office.”

“Really? Well, I guess that is good to know.”

“And when nothing is broken, like right now, I just have to make sure the servers don’t go down, or that you guys keep having Internet.” He pointed to the monitors on the wall, and Taehyung realized that they were filled to the brim with numbers, and graphs, and symbols he didn’t quite understand. “It’s not that hard of a job actually.”

“Well, you sure make it sound easy. Even though I didn’t understand anything you just said.”

Jungkook’s laugh made Taehyung turn towards him.

It was a small laugh, like it was scared to intrude, but it sounded beautiful. And Taehyung thought that it made Jungkook’s eyes shine. And, without realizing it, he was smiling. Just the faintest smile, nothing too big or too evident, but it was there.

“Anyways,” he said, scratching the back of his head, “I probably should go and stop bothering you.”

Jungkook seemed about to say something, but, instead, he just nodded and smiled. He seemed so tiny .

“I’ll see you around, Jungkook.”

“Yeah, you too s… Taehyung-ssi.”

Taehyung left, still smiling. Suddenly, he wasn’t so bothered about having to come down here.

…

Oh, fuck, he still had to go to the Purchases department.

Chapter Text

At first, Jungkook didn’t know if he wanted to come to the party. He worked at Loom & Gloom, that much was true, but he didn’t actually work for the company, so that made him feel a bit of an outsider. Besides, he didn’t know that many people yet, so he wasn’t sure how interacting with his co-workers would go.

However, he had made the mistake of telling Hoseok about it, and suddenly he didn’t have any other option. Besides, the email Mr. Park’s assistant had sent him said that he could bring someone with him, and Hoseok was determined to meet Kookie’s hot crush , as he called Taehyung.

Not that Jungkook intended to go anywhere near Taehyung with Hoseok, but whatever.

“Just promise me you’ll behave,” Jungkook had asked, just before they had left the house.

“I always behave.”

“C’mon, even you have to admit that is simply not true.”

Jungkook loved Hoseok. He was his best friend, had been for years. But somehow he always managed to embarrass Jungkook in public. Sometimes even in private.

“I can promise to try and be on my best behaviour,” he said, finally.

“I’m not quite sure your best behaviour can be even considered good behaviour, but I guess it’ll have to do.”

The party was supposed to start after the new collection’s public presentation and runway, to which Jungkook was not invited. Apparently only the Heads of each department and some other few people were. He could’ve argued that, being the only member of the IT department, he could be considered its head, but well. It wasn’t like he was itching to go.

“Damn, your boss sure has a big house,” Hoseok said, once they arrived.

“I’m not sure he is my boss,” he answered. “Although I’m not sure he isn’t, either.”

Regardless, Hoseok was right. Jimin’s house was huge, and it was booming with light and music, and he could hear people shouting from the inside. The party seemed like a complete success.

They went up the driveway and to the front door. When Jungkook went to ring the bell, he saw that the door was actually open, so they just went inside.

On the other side, the music was loud, but not unbearable. He could hear himself think, and he could speak with Hoseok without much trouble. There were plenty of people, but they didn’t seem to be crowded or packed.

“Jungkook! You came.”

The voice startled him, not expecting anyone to recognize him, let alone say anything to him. At least not that early in the night. He turned to the voice to find Jimin himself, waving as he walked towards them. He was holding a glass of wine on one hand, and another man was walking alongside him. He was blonde, beautiful (ugh, another one), and had a bit of an absent look about him.

“Mr. Park,” Jungkook said, as a greeting. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“Ah, no, please. Cut the formalities, or I’ll kick your ass.”

Jungkook looked at him, completely puzzled.

“This is a party, Jungkook, not work. You call me Mr. Park once more and I swear to god I’ll throw you in the pool.” The man besides Jimin laughed, and Jimin glanced briefly at him. “Just call me Jimin.”

Jungkook just nodded.

“And this box of laughter here is my boyfriend, Yoongi. He’s Head of Photography for the brand, so you may see him at work from time to time.” He winked at Jungkook before turning to Yoongi. “Jungkook is our new computer genius at the branch. Really good at what he does.”

“I see. Nice to meet you, Jungkook-ssi,” Yoongi said, still laughing.

Jungkook nodded again and shook Yoongi’s hand.

“And I’m Hoseok.”

Kook froze in the spot. Had he forgotten to introduce his friend because he was nervous around his possible boss? Well, maybe.

“I’m Jungkook’s friend and roommate.”

“Nice to meet you then, Hoseok,” Jimin said, shaking Hoseok’s hand. “Just friends then? Well, that certainly is a shame. You two look cute together.”

Jungkook could feel his face turning bright red.

“Okay, that is enough,” Yoongi said, grabbing Jimin by the arm. “Sorry about him, we’ll leave you alone now. Please have fun.”

Jimin was about to complain, but his boyfriend dragged him away before he could say anything else.

“I told you we’d make a cute couple,” Hoseok said.

Jungkook looked at him, not believing what his friend had just said. In fact, he was not believing anything that had just happened.

“I need a drink,” he said. “Or maybe four.”

“Alright, let’s get you some alcohol. Then I want to check out that pool.”

◈

Did Taehyung enjoy these parties?

Well, the answer was a bit tricky. Overall? Yes. Everyone in the branch was invited, and they all relaxed and had a great time, including himself. They made them twice a year, and he knew everyone looked forward to them.

However, it was also kind of hard, because it was a party at his best friend’s house, but he barely saw him. He was too busy being the perfect host that he was. However, he tried to have fun all the time, and he tried to steal Jimin from their guests from time to time. Yoongi helped him with that.

Right now it wasn’t one of those times. He didn’t even know where Jimin was, so he had come to the backyard to sit by the pool with a drink. He had found that there were people in the water, which, being the end of summer, didn’t quite surprise him. Not with people going out for a swim during his own parties, in cold February.

He scanned the backyard, checking out the people out there. He knew Beomgyu was also somewhere around, probably hiding from Kang Taehyun, but he did not have time for those two and their shenanigans that night.

He smiled when he recognized a familiar face, and walked over the other side of the pool to get closer.

“Jungkook,” he said, smiling, as he approached the IT guy and his companion.

They both turned to face him, and he saw Jungkook blushing so hard that it could be seen even without light.

“Taehyung-ssi,” he said, finally. “How are you?”

“Well, not too bad, not too bad. Enjoying the party?”

“We are, yes. Ah, this is my friend Hoseok. Hoseok, this is Kim Taehyung.”

“A real pleasure,” said Hoseok, holding out his hand, with what seemed to be a grin on his face.

Taehyung shook it with a smile.

“Likewise,” he said. “So, mind if I join you for a while?”

“Please, be our guest,” it was Hoseok who accepted. He was sure Jungkook was too busy blushing.

The guy needed to check on his blood pressure. He could explode anytime.

“I was telling Kookie about trying to go out for a quick swim,” Hoseok said, pointing to the pool.

Kookie, eh? Interesting.

“And I was reminding you that you didn’t bring a bathsuit,” said Jungkook, rolling his eyes.

“Well,” said Taehyung, shrugging, “I can assure you, you wouldn’t be the first one to get in that pool in your underwear. Or even naked.”

“Please, don’t encourage him.”

“Look, all I’m saying,” he continued, “is that we throw these parties so everyone can relax and have a great time. If going for a swim naked in a stranger’s pool is what makes you happy, you should go for it. I’m sure most of those guys wouldn’t mind it.”

He pointed at the pool at the same time as one of the people who were swimming was coming out of it, lean muscles dripping wet, and the bathsuit stuck to his skin, leaving little room for imagination.

“Fuck, he’s hot,” said Hoseok.

“Well, that he certainly is.” Taehyung could not restrain his laugh. “He’s Seokjin, one of our main models. We tailor every piece of cloth around him. I could introduce you, if you’re interested.”

Hoseok’s eyes lit up.

“I am very much interested.”

Taehyung smiled even wider, and turned and waved in Seokjin’s direction.

“Jin!”, he shouted, getting the model’s attention, and then signaling for him to come.

“You are encouraging him, you know?” he could hear Jungkook complain.

Taehyung turned to look at him, and then just shrugged, with a smile on his face.

“Hey Tae, nice seeing you.” Jin had just gotten to where they were, still with just his bathsuit on, still dripping to the floor.

“Hi, Jin. I wanted to tell you that you were great on the runway today. Really rocking those outfits, as always.”

“Thanks! In six months I’ll be rocking your outfits, so make sure they’re good.”

“Aren’t they always?.” They both laughed. Working with Jin had always been a pleasure for Tae. The model was quick and charming, and they had a good relationship. And being able to see him in his underwear so often was a big plus. “Anyway, I wanted to introduce you to some friends. These are Jungkook and Hoseok. Guys, this is Kim Seokjin, the handsome face of Loom & Gloom.”

Jin greeted both of them by shaking their hands, and Taehyung could see that Jungkook was not the only one prone to blushing.

“Hoseok was thinking about going for a swim, but he didn’t bring a bathing suit.” He winked quickly in Jin’s direction, hoping Jungkook and Hoseok didn’t notice.

“Well, I don’t think that has ever been a problem.” Jin held his hand out to Hoseok. “Want to come with me? We can check if Jimin has any spare ones, if you’re really shy.”

“Yeah, sure, why not,” Hoseok said, taking Jin’s hand, with a beaming smile on his face. “It’s a party, isn’t it?”

“Have fun, you two,” Taehyung said. “And don’t do anything Jimin wouldn’t be proud of.” Although he wasn’t quite sure there was something Jimin wouldn’t be proud of.

And, with that, Jin and Hoseok strolled away, leaving Jungkook and Taehyung alone.

“Don’t worry,” the elder said, watching them go. “Jin’s a really good guy, you know? He’ll treat Hoseok nicely.”

“Yeah, I’m more worried about Hoseok treating Jin nicely.”

Taehyung turned away from the couple and looked at Jungkook. He was smiling while watching them go.

“You know, I was nervous coming to this party. I barely know anyone, and I was sure Hoseok would end up hooking up with someone and leaving me alone.” Jungkook paused to look at Tae, and he then noticed the empty glass in his hand. “I’m glad I’m at least with you, Taehyung-ssi. You’re nice.”

Tae smiled, placing a hand in Jungkook’s shoulder.

“Well, you are nice too, Kookie .”

“Oh, fuck, I knew bringing Hoseok here would be a bad idea.”

“C’mon, don’t be like that.” He could not stop smiling. “Is a really nice nickname. I happen to like it a lot.”

Jungkook looked at him again, and Taehyung could’ve sworn right there that no one in the history of humankind had ever been redder.

“I may need another drink,” he said, quietly.

◈

Chapter Text

When Jungkook woke up, he had a horrible headache.

His mouth was dry, and his eyes felt heavy. He barely remembered anything that had happened last night, which was just wonderful. He didn’t even remember how he had gotten home. The room was completely dark, which, being honest, was something he was thankful for. Still, he tapped the nightstand, searching for the lamp.

He didn’t find it.

Weird.

Wait a moment, there wasn’t supposed to be a light switch there.

He turned it on.

“Fuck,” he said, once his eyes adapted to the blinding light.

That wasn’t his room. It wasn’t even his fucking house.

He looked around, trying to recall last night's events. Had he gone home with someone? Had he hooked up with someone? God, he could never show his face at work again.

He was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday, which was weird. He didn’t know what to make of it. His shoes and socks were off, and his pants were unbuttoned, but they were still there.

He patted himself down and looked around, searching for his phone or the rest of his stuff, but he didn’t find it. He guessed whoever he had gone with had taken them, or maybe he had left them somewhere else. It wasn’t like he could remember anything about how he had arrived there.

Well, he was not going to find out anything just laying there, so, gathering his remaining strength, he got up and walked to the door, while buttoning up his pants again. He didn’t know where his shoes or his socks where, so barefoot it was. When he opened the door, light from the corridor poured into the room. Jungkook peeked outside, but he didn’t see anyone.

However, lying on the floor, just outside the room, was a little dog, a black Pomeranian. Jungkook saw the dog looking at him, and he reached down to pat him in the head, smiling.

Well, he didn’t think serial killers had cute dogs, so that was a good sign, probably.

He walked to the end of the corridor, where the sunlight was coming from, and heard the little dog trot behind him. He then reached a living room with a huge glass wall, which was where all that light came from. He thought the furniture was really fancy, and that apartment must have cost a fortune.

“Ah, Kookie, you’re awake.”

Jungkook froze on the spot, immediately recognizing that voice. He turned around slowly, facing Taehyung. He was wearing a white loose tank top, and some gray sport shorts. Really short shorts.

“You got me worried last night, you know? You drank quite a lot. But I’m glad you’re ok.” Taehyung glanced down, seeing the dog next to Jungkook’s feet, and he reached down to pick him up. “And I see you’ve met Tannie.”

Jungkook stared at him longer than he probably should’ve, building courage to ask.

“Taehyung-ssi… What happened last night?”

Taehyung looked at him with a soft smile.

“Can’t remember anything, can you?”

Jungkook bit his lip.

“Did we…?”

“Hm?” Jungkook didn’t finish the sentence, but he didn’t need to. Taehyung's eyes opened when he realized what he was implying. “Oh, god, no. No, Jungkook. You were out cold, I’d never do that.”

Jungkook let out a sigh, happy to maintain his dignity. Part of it, at least. Passing out at your boss’ party sure didn’t help his ego.

Besides, Taehyung had almost sounded disgusted when he had said it, like just thinking about doing it with Jungkook made him sick or something. He guessed he just wasn’t up to Loom & Gloom’s beauty standard.

“So,” he said, finally. “How come I ended up here?”

“I wasn’t going to leave you at  the party in that state,” Taehyung explained, “and your friend Hoseok was nowhere to be found. I think he got along a bit too well with Jin. Anyways, I decided to bring you here. I left you in the guest bedroom. Tried to take your pants off, too, so you could sleep better, because they looked horribly uncomfortable, but you kicked me in your sleep, so I left them.”

Jungkook felt the redness coming out on his skin.

“I kicked you?”

“Ah, don’t worry, I’ve been through worse.” Taehyung turned around and started walking, still with Tannie in his arms. “Come, I’ve made us breakfast. I think some coffee will do you good.”

“Taehyung-ssi, wait.”

Tae stopped and turned around, looking at him.

“Thank you for taking care of me last night,” he said, bowing a little, and then staring at the floor. “I’ll leave now, I don’t want to intrude anymore.”

“Oh, shut up.”

Jungkook raised his head, and he could feel his eyes tearing up.

“You’re not going anywhere but that kitchen. You’re going to have breakfast, you’re going to take a shower, and you’re going to gather some strength. I’m not going to let you go outside with a hungover and famished. Intruding my ass...”

He then turned back again and started walking towards the kitchen. Jungkook’s brain wasn’t working properly at the moment, but somehow his body started following Taehyung.

It turned out, Taehyung had not only made coffee, but also pancakes. And, fuck, did they smell delicious. The moment Jungkook entered the kitchen, his stomach started rumbling like some broken piece of heavy machinery. He was actually starving, so maybe going out in the heat wouldn’t have been such a great idea after all.

“Help yourself to anything you like,” Taehyung said, leaving Tannie on the floor and taking a seat by the table. “I can make some more if you want.”

Jungkook sat across the table, still read, still completely embarrassed by his behaviour last night. Not that he recalled much of it, but, well, the outcome spoke by itself.

“You’re being too sweet, Taehyung-ssi, taking so much care of me.”

“I’m not sweet,” Taehyung replied, waving a butter knife at him. “Say that again and I’ll chop you to pieces and feed you to Yeontan, just to prove you wrong.”

Jungkook looked at the dog, who was staring at him, tongue out and tail wiggling. He couldn’t help but smile. He looked a little bit like Hoseok.

Fuck, Hoseok.

“I need to call Hoseok, tell him I’m fine. Where’s my phone?”

“Your phone is dead,” Taehyung said, “and I don’t have any charger for it, so I’ll lend you my phone to call your friend, if you want. But first, eat.”

“But he must be worried.”

“Look, if he went home with Jin, he wouldn’t have had time to think about you. And besides, I asked Jimin to tell him you were fine if he saw him. You worry too much.”

Jungkook sighed, but nodded and started eating. He really needed food.

“Look, I’m sorry.” Taehyung let down the butter knife, and looked down to the floor.

“Uh?” Jungkook was caught off guard, with a piece of pancake in the mouth, which he had to swallow quickly. “Sorry about what?”

“I was with you last night. I should’ve stopped you from drinking yourself to oblivion, but I didn’t. I’m sorry about it.”

“What?” Jungkook let down his cutlery, and looked at Taehyung closely. “You don’t have to be sorry about that. You’re not my guardian. I’m an adult, Taehyung. If I can’t control my drinking, that’s my problem.”

“I may not be your guardian, but I’m your friend.”

Jungkook’s jaw dropped.

“Or, at least, I want to think I’m starting to be your friend. And letting you pass out at a party is not very friend-like.”

Jungkook looked at him, and, even though he could tell he was blushing like crazy, he didn’t feel embarrassed. At least not now.

“Okay, let’s do this,” he said, making Taehyung look up again. “Let’s boldly assume that you let me pass out, which you didn’t, but anyways. You also brought me home and took care of me, and even fixed me breakfast. All that and the fact that I kicked you last night, I’d say we are very much even.”

Taehyung laughed. He had made him laugh, and it sounded beautiful. Hangovers meant that any little noise could fuck you up real good, but Taehyung’s laugh was not noise. It was music, played by the angels in his vocal chords. It was soothing. It healed Jungkook’s mind.

“Alright, alright,” he said, finally, still laughing. “We’re even then.”

“And just so you know,” he added, cutting Taehyung’s laugh, which he hated doing, “I also like to think that I’m starting to be your friend.”

They looked at each other without saying anything, until they were interrupted by small bark, which made them look down.

“I think Tannie also wants to be your friend,” Taehyung said.

◈

After breakfast, Taehyung had insisted that he took a shower, which he did, although he had put the same clothes back on. It didn’t help much his hygiene, but it sure made his headache partially go away.

Once that was done, Jungkook left. He had thanked Taehyung a thousand times for taking care of him, but he needed to go home and get a change of clothes. Besides, he didn’t want to keep bothering Taehyung. He had needed to insist a couple times until the other had finally agreed.

He may have spent longer saying goodbye to Tannie than to Taehyung, but he was sure his new friend would understand. And so would Taehyung.

When he finally got to his apartment, at first he thought Hoseok wasn’t there, but then he heard the water running in the shower. He went to his bedroom to get his charger, and came back to the living room and plugged in his phone. By then, the door to the bathroom opened, and Hoseok came out, wearing nothing but a towel at his waist.

“Kookie!” he said. “Where have you been? I got here a while ago, and you weren’t here.”

“You spent the night with Jin-ssi?”

Hoseok nodded, sitting on the couch next to him.

“I slept at Taehyung’s,” Jungkook said, quietly.

“Really?” Hoseok seemed suddenly really interested in the topic. “You slept with your hot crush, Kookie! Was it good? Tell me everything.”

“We did not sleep together, J. I don’t think he’s interested in me that way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Apparently, I got really drunk,” he said, his head low. “Which must have been true, because my head hurts like crazy. I must have passed out on him, so he took me home with him to take care of him. We’ve slept in different rooms, and I had all my clothes on. So, no funny business. He was just being nice, and thoughtful.”

“God, Kookie, I’m so sorry.” Hoseok got closer to him, and hugged him tightly. “I should’ve been there for you. I’m really sorry.”

“You don’t have to. I’m glad you had a good time with Jin-ssi.”

He looked at his friend, and saw a small smile get drawn on his face.

“You like him, don’t you?” he asked.

“I think I do.” He rarely saw Hoseok blush, so he was surprised when his friend’s cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. “He’s not just smoking hot, you know? He’s funny and smart. I think I’d like to get to know him more, but without alcohol, and with definitely more clothes on. You know, like a date.”

“Look at you, Jung Hoseok, going on dates and all that. When did you grow up on me?”

“Oh, shut up, or I’ll tell how good he is in bed.”

“And that is enough information for today,” he said, getting up. “I’m going to get a second shower and change clothes, and then I’ll go cry a bit because my crush just wants to be friends with me.”

“Oh, Kookie, don’t be like that.”

Hoseok looked at him with a sorry look on his face, and Jungkook just shrugged.

“It’s better this way, J. Best not to mix work and feelings.”

He smiled shyly at Hoseok, and then turned around and went into the bathroom, trying not to think that that was the first time he had admitted out loud having a crush on Taehyung.

Chapter Text

The next week came by and went in a hurry. Taehyung spent most of his time preparing for the meeting with the Board of Directors. He had everything tied up, and had prepared for any possible outcome.

Or so he had thought.

Friday came, the day he was supposed to go down to Loom & Gloom’s headquarters, and he was nervous as he had ever been. True, he had done this before, for his previous collections, but this year was completely different. This year he had a plan, so much at stake, and it would be so easy for the Board  to just say no to his project, to tell him to go with something simpler, something safer, something closer to the brand’s style.

And that scared him.

In the end, as it turned out, he had not prepared for everything.

Just as he entered the meeting room, he knew it was not going to end well. It was not a feeling, it was not a hunch. It was plain knowledge, because, at the end of the table, presiding the meeting, was Bang Sihyuk, CEO of Gloom International, the company that owned Loom & Gloom.

He had never been in one of these meetings before. Not with him, and, to the best of his knowledge, not when it had been Jimin the one presenting his collection. Taehyung didn’t know what his presence there meant, but he was sure it was nothing good.

Somehow, Taehyung managed, with the help of Beomgyu, to get his speech and presentation done. It was the same one he had given his department a few weeks back, with a couple twists here and there, small mistakes fixed and that. It was as if he just pressed auto-pilot, and just hoped for the best. He had practiced so many times, it was all sealed in his brain already, pure muscle memory.

The hard part came after that, though. When the scripted part ended, he was out there, at the wolves’ mercy. And he had never been more nervous.

“Any question?” he asked, as the last slide of his presentation appeared on the wall behind him.

Immediately, every face on the table turned away from him, and towards CEO Bang, who seemed to be deep in thought.

He didn’t speak right away. Instead, he took his time. But in the end, he just smiled.

“You know,” he said, his eyes almost closed behind his round glasses, “when Sukja-nim told me about your idea, I thought she must have been joking.”

Sukja-nim? That was why he was in that meeting? The workshop chief knew the international CEO and had run her mouth as soon as she knew about Taehyung’s plan. He was about to pass out.

“Then I thought I was going to have to fire you, so I started looking for someone to replace you.”

Taehyung felt his knees go weak. The CEO of Gloom International was talking about firing him, and he was doing it with a wide and open smile on his face. He looked like he had never broken anything in his life, and yet, he could end Taehyung’s career with just a few words.

“But then I convinced myself to give you an opportunity,” he added, finally. “I’m not saying I love your idea, don’t get me wrong. I’m expecting something like this to fail miserably. But I’m willing to give you a chance.”

And, at that moment, Taehyung knew that he wasn’t the only one who didn’t quite understand what the CEO had said.

“Mr. Bang...,” one of the directors started.

Bang held out a hand, silencing him, in order to continue.

“You have this board’s approval to go with your idea for this collection, Mr. Kim,” he said. “However, there are conditions. First, you’ll have to work with the same budget as the previous collection had. Not one won more.”

Taehyung managed to nod in acceptance. It didn’t seem like a crazy condition.

“And I’ll expect nothing but excellence from this collection, Mr. Kim. You won’t be allowed any mistake. Fail this Board, and your days working in fashion will be over. Is that clear?”

“Y-yes, Mr. Bang,” he managed to say.

“Good. Meeting adjourned, then.” The CEO got up and picked up his stuff, and so did the rest of the Board.

Taehyung was frozen in the spot, not sure if what had just happened could be considered a victory. It didn’t feel like a victory. Yes, he was allowed to bring his collection to life, but he also felt he had just been handed a grenade without its pin.

“Mr. Kim, a word, if you please.”

Taehyung darted, turning towards the voice. He realized almost everyone had left, and only Beomgyu and him were still there. And Bang Si Hyuk, standing right in front of him, with that smile still on his face.

“I’ll wait for you outside, Taehyung-ssi,” Beomgyu said, bowing to the CEO and leaving the meeting room.

“I just wanted to assure you, I have nothing against you or your idea,” the CEO said.

Taehyung looked at him, still shocked.

“I mean no disrespect, sir,” he said, trying to compose himself as much as he could, “but it sure seems you’re just waiting for me to fail.”

As a matter of fact, he had said that before.

“Oh, I do expect you to fail,” he nodded. “But I’m also hoping that you don’t.”

“I can’t say I follow.”

“All my years in this business are screaming at me right now, telling me that you’re going to just crash with this idea. But I honestly want you to go and work your ass off. Prove me wrong, kid. That’s why I’m allowing you to go with this. If you manage to do that, we’ll talk again.”

Taehyung didn’t even know how to answer that. Not that he had time to do so, since, just as he finished speaking, the CEO turned around and left the meeting room. Taehyung saw Beomgyu bowing again as the man passed by, before coming back to the room.

“Are you alright, Taehyung-ssi? What did he say?”

Taehyung grabbed Beomgyu’s shoulder, with his mind still trying to process everything that has just happened.

“Beomgyu,” he said, finally, with his eyes still completely lost. “I need a drink.”

◈

Jungkook had had a completely shitty day, which was  just what he needed to finish an already shitty week.

It wasn’t even that anything bad had happened. It had actually been a very plain week, but, somehow, he had been grumpy and tense all the time. He didn’t know what had gotten into him, but it was annoying the fuck out of him.

He just wanted to get home, go to bed, and stay there until Monday.

If only.

When he got to his flat, he thought Hoseok would still be at work, but the fact that he was laying on the sofa, curled between Jin’s arms while they watched a movie, proved him wrong.

“Hey, Kookie.” Hoseok paused the movie when he entered, and they both sat up on the sofa.

“Hi, Jungkook-ssi,” said Jin, smiling.

Jin was so nice, and he seemed to care so much about Hoseok, that he wanted to be good to him. Wanted him to feel welcomed into their life. He just didn’t have the spirit to cope with their love.

“Hi, guys,” he said, and he could hear the apathy in his own voice. He could actually see it too, in the way Hoseok’s face changed. “I won’t bother you, I’m going straight to bed.”

“You ok?” Jin asked.

Couldn’t he just be an asshole? It would be much easier to be gloomy and sad around him.

“He’s just been recently rejected by his crush.” Well, at least Hoseok spared him the effort of even having to explain.

“Aw, that’s bad. Sorry, Jungkook-ssi.”

“It’s not a big drama,” he answered. “But thank you anyway, Jin-ssi.”

“If it’s any consolation,” Jin continued, “I can’t think of anything anyone would see in you and not like.”

“Well, you know him, so maybe you could go and ask him.” Jungkook didn’t even realize what he had said until after, and then immediately turned bright red. “Fuck,” he muttered.

“I know him?” Jin seemed to be completely shocked by this information. “Can I ask who he is?”

Hoseok looked at Jungkook, and he just shrugged. If he was going to be Hoseok’s boyfriend, and everything pointed in that general direction, he could trust him.

“Kim Taehyung,” muttered Hoseok, quietly, like speaking his name could break Jungkook.

Jin’s eyes opened, like everything just made so much sense now.

“Just, don’t actually ask him anything,” Jungkook asked. “Please.”

Jin nodded slightly.

“You don’t have anything to worry about. Just know that we’re here for you. Both of us.”

Again, nice. He could even feel his eyes tearing up. Why couldn’t he find someone like Jin? Someone that was good, that cared for him. Although, he didn’t just want “someone”.

He wanted Taehyung.

“I’m sorry, I have to go now,” he said, just before turning and running for his bedroom.

He heard Hoseok getting up, but he didn’t follow him. He knew when he just needed some time alone.

It was fine, he just needed time to think, time to hurt. He would get over it. He would get over him.

But for now, he just needed to process the pain.

◈

“I still can’t believe the CEO himself was at your presentation.”

Jimin and Taehyung were walking down the street, going towards Loom & Gloom’s building. It had been such a long time since they had been able to come to work together, first due to Jimin’s collection, then because of Taehyung’s meeting.

“I can’t believe it either,” Taehyung said. “And I was there, Min. I talked to him. It was scary.”

“At least you get to do your mystery collection. That’s good.”

“Well, we’ll see what it is”

They got to the building eventually, and got into the elevator together.

“You start mass production of your collection today, right?”, Taehyung asked.

Jimin nodded.

“I have an online meeting with the chiefs of the workshops of all the country. That’s going to be fun.”

“Can’t say I envy you, that’s for sure.”

“Want to eat together?” The elevator reached Jimin’s floor.

“Sure, why not,” Taehyung answered, as the doors opened and Jimin stepped outside. “I’ll see you later then, Min.”

Jimin just waved as the doors closed again, and the elevator went up again.

He got to the sixth floor and went straight to his office. Once there, he saw Beomgyu already at his desk. He worked too hard. Taehyung needed to give him some extra days off.

“Taehyung-ssi, wait,” Beomgyu said, blocking Taeyhung’s way into his office.

“What’s wrong?”

“Look, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t stop him. He doesn’t have an appointment or anything, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer, and I didn’t want to get in trouble, but I know I work for you, not for them, and it’s so messed up.”

He spoke so fast, that Taehyung barely understood anything.

“Slow down, Beomgyu,” he said, placing his hands on his assistant’s shoulders. “Who are you talking about?”

Beomgyu breathed, trying to calm down.

“There’s a member of the Board of Directors waiting for you at your office,” he said, finally.

Ah, of course there was. They were not going to leave him alone, were they? After his talk with the CEO, if he had never again seen a member of the Board, it would still have been too soon.

“Alright, relax, I’ll deal with him,” he said, trying to calm Beomgyu. “You just take a break, go outside and take some fresh air.”

His assistant nodded, and Tae patted him on the shoulder with a smile, before he left down the corridor, and Tae went into his office.

When he entered, the guy was standing next to the glass wall in the back of the room, watching over the city. He was ridiculously tall, and was wearing a nice suit that fit him like it was made for him, which it probably was. He turned when Tae entered the office, and bowed slightly towards him.

“Mr. Kim…,” he started.

“Let’s get this over quickly,” Tae snapped, going straight to his desk, and leaving his bag over it. “Who are you and what exactly do you want from me?”

The man looked at him without saying anything, and moved to the other side of the desk.

“I sense you’re not quite happy with me being here.” His voice was calmed, and that was annoying Tae, for some reason.

“Well, I’m glad you noticed, I was scared I was being subtle.” He sat on his chair, and gestured to the other man to do the same, although he didn’t plan to let that meeting go on for too long. “Understand that I can’t take it lightly when you come to my office unannounced, without an appointment, and pushing my assistant aside, scaring the hell out of him. You may be a member of the Board of Directors, but that doesn’t give you the right to be an asshole.”

Kim Taehyung, always making friends among people who had the ability to fire him.

The stranger looked at him for a second, as if pondering over his words.

“I understand,” he said, finally. “I didn’t think it would be that much of a problem, but I see it now. Please, accept my apologies, Mr. Kim. And I’ll make sure to apologize properly to your assistant before I leave.”

Tae sighed, but nodded. He had not expected the guy to apologize right away, but well, it wasn’t a bad thing. Although he now had to listen to what he had to say.

“I haven’t introduced myself,” he started. “I’m Kim Namjoon, Assistant Director at the National Design Division.”

“That sounds important,” Taehyung said.

“Only when the actual Director is absent,” Namjoon answered, shrugging. “Anyway, I’m here under direct orders of the Board, and please, be aware that I probably like this situation as little as you do.”

“I’m not liking where this is going, Mr. Kim.”

“And you shouldn’t.” He looked like he was genuinely displeased with the whole situation. Or at least with having to tell Taehyung about it. “The Board has decided that, even though Mr. Bang himself has given green light to your collection project, you should be supervised during the length of the design process.”

Taehyung looked at him, and Kim Namjoon looked back.

“This is a joke,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

“It is not.”

They held each other’s glaze once more.

“And the person who has to supervise me…”

“That would be me. I told you I wasn’t that important.”

“Okay, let’s see if I got this right.” Tae leaned over his desk, staring at Namjoon. “The CEO of one of the biggest companies in the country approves my project, but his Board of Directors still decides that I can’t be trusted, and they send someone to look over me. So you, Assistant Director of a National Division, get stuck for six months babysitting me and making sure I don’t make a mess.”

Namjoon grinned.

“Well, you got it pretty much right.”

Taehyung rubbed his eyes, thinking about it.

It was not an ideal situation, that much was granted. However, Namjoon seemed as pleased with it as him, so maybe he could use that to his advantage. They hadn’t started with the right foot, but he didn’t seem like a bad person.

“I guess we both just got fucked by our company.”

Chapter Text

It had almost been two weeks since the last time he had seen Jungkook.

They had parted ways as friends, or that was what Taehyung would like to think. It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about the boy, because he had, but the meeting with the Board of Directors had had him horribly occupied, and, after that, dealing with the whole Kim Namjoon situation had taken most of his mind.

He was now sitting at his desk, thinking again about Jungkook. He had seemed like a nice guy when they had first met, and even nicer after that, especially at the party. Then that morning at Taehyung’s house had actually been funny. They had talked, they had had breakfast, they had spent time with Tannie. He had had such a great time with Jungkook, that now he wanted to get to know him better.

He didn’t have his phone number, though. And going down to his department without a work-related issue just seemed creepy to him. That could make Jungkook get a wrong idea about him, and he didn’t want that.

At some point, Taehyung found himself typing mindlessly into his computer. When he realized, he had searched “Ways to get your computer to break” into the search engine, and a page list was now in front of him.

He scrolled down, passing obvious ways of breaking a computer physically. He wanted something that could be fixed, not to throw the computer through the window. He could have been working on his collection. Instead, he spent the better part of the next half hour researching this weird topic.

“Beomgyu,” he called through the intercom, after a long while. “I’m going to need you to call IT, my computer is not working.”

Beomgyu didn’t answer right away. Instead, the door to Taehyung’s office opened, and his assistant came into the room, wearing an inquisitive look about him.

“What did you do?” he said, smirking.

“I don’t know, it just broke,” Taehyung lied.

“You know I’ve been working for you for a couple years already, right?”

Taehyung looked at him puzzled.

“So?”

“So,” Beomgyu continued, “I know you’re afraid to touch anything you’re not supposed to in that computer. That’s why it only breaks when a new update just rolled in.”

“And a new update didn’t just roll in?” He was sure he remembered something about that.

“Oh, it did.” Beomgyu nodded, but he was still smiling. “That’s why we had to call IT last time.”

Taehyung bit his lip, not sure what to say next.

“You know, I could just get you his number. It would take me, like, two minutes.”

“I know you could get me his whole family’s medical records if I gave you an afternoon.”

Yeah, Beomgyu’s stalker abilities were scary.

“So?”

“So?” Taehyung repeated. “That’s creepy, Beomgyu. I don’t want to creep him out.”

“Oh, yeah, because breaking your computer on purpose just to get to see him won’t do that.”

He saw Beomgyu roll his eyes before turning around and leaving the office.

“I’ll make sure he hurries,” he said, before closing the door.

Taehyung then realized he was smiling.

And kind of nervous.

◈

Jungkook checked his tablet again when the elevator doors closed. It was still the same number.

It was ok. Or, at least, he wanted to think it was. Taehyung didn’t think about him in a romantic way, and that was fine. It didn’t mean they couldn’t be friends, or work together. They were adults. And Jungkook still had to do his job, so it would be better if he got used to it quickly.

Besides, it wasn’t like they had had this awesome love story that had ended in tragedy. They had barely talked a few times. Yes, Jungkook was still trying to get over him, that was for sure, but hiding like a teenager would definitely not help.

The elevator opened and he stepped out. He waved hello at the people on the reception desk and went straight to Taehyung’s office. Beomgyu, Taehyung’s personal assistant, was sitting at the desk at the door of the office, like last time. He greeted him with a smile, and phoned Taehyung to let him know that Jungkook had arrived.

“Good morning, Taehyung-ssi,” he said when he went into the office.

“Jungkook, good to see you.”

He was stunning, like every time they had seen each other. Beautiful clothes, beautiful hair, beautiful eyes. He made Jungkook forget how to breathe.

He had to force himself to react.

“So, what seems to be the problem?” he asked, trying to get the conversation flowing towards computing.

“I have no idea, honestly,” Taehyung said, shrugging. “It was just working fine one minute, and the next it just broke.”

“Let’s have a look.”

Jungkook sat at Taehyung’s desk, feeling the seat still warm from when the other had been sitting there, and started typing into the computer.

“Wow, this is a huge mess,” he said, almost without realizing. “Were you doing something weird when it happened?”

“No, just working. You know, as usual.”

Jungkook nodded, still browsing through the computer, finding more and more stuff that was just plain wrong.

“It’s going to take me some time to fix all this,” he said, still going through everything. “I could take the computer downstairs and bring you another one, if you want.”

“Oh, no, no.” He turned towards Taehyung, who, he then realized, was standing very close to him. “I couldn’t make you take this downstairs and bring another one just by yourself. You can work here, I don’t mind.”

Jungkook nodded, and turned back again to the computer. Some people didn’t like to have him around, or wait for him to fix whatever was wrong. He was glad Taehyung had that kind of patience.

“Besides, we could catch up in the meantime, if you want. We haven’t seen each other in a while.”

Fuck.

No, it was ok. They were friends, they could catch up. That's what friends did. And it didn’t have to be bad, for neither of them. Just two friends, chatting. That was fine.

“Yeah, sure, why not?” he answered.

“If you need me to be quiet to focus, just tell me, ok? I don’t want to bother.”

“No, it’s ok, Taehyung-ssi. We can talk.”

At the end of the day, he actually wanted to talk to Taehyung. He wanted them to be friends, since it was obvious they were not going to be anything more.

“So,” Taehyung said, close to his ear. He was standing very close to him. “What have you been up to, these past weeks?”

“Not much, actually.” He shrugged. “Just work, mostly, and seeing Hoseok and Jin-ssi be all gross and in love in my living room.”

“Ah, so they are still seeing each other?”

“Yes. I think they make a nice couple. Jin-ssi is very nice.”

“I’m glad for them. It’s good to have someone like that. I know I wish I did.”

“You’re single, Taehyung-ssi?” Jungkook knew he was going to regret going in that direction, but well. He had always been kind of a masochist.

“I am. It’s hard for me to meet someone I genuinely like. I’m kind of picky in that way.”

Yes, Jungkook had noticed.

No, he couldn’t let his thoughts wander in that direction. That would do him no good.

“I’m sure you’ll meet someone nice for you, Taehyung-ssi. You deserve someone nice.”

And so did Jungkook, but whatever.

“Thank you, Jungkook. You’re very nice.”

If only.

They spent the better part of the next two hours just talking about stuff, like it was nothing, while Jungkook fixed Taehyung’s computer. Jungkook ended up feeling pretty good about the situation. Talking to Taehyung made him realize that it wasn’t the end of the world if the guy didn’t like him back. They could be friends, and Jungkook would be fine with that.

It still hurt a little, but it had only been a couple hours. Just some more time, and he would be fine.

“So, I think this is finally fixed,” he said, eventually. He typed in a few more commands as final checks. “I don’t know how you managed to do something like this, but… Please, don’t do it again.”

Taehyung chuckled a bit.

“I have no idea how it happened, but I’ll try my best to never do it again.”

“Well, I’ll do a basic clean up, since I’m here, and then I’ll leave.”

“Great, thank you very much.”

Clean ups were something he did everytime he fixed some unit, basically because no one else did it, even though it was such an easy way to improve performance.

It was something he was used to do, and he didn’t even think when doing it. However, this time, maybe because he was more relaxed by Taehyung, or maybe because something else, he was actually paying attention to the screen.

That’s when he saw it.

It was right there, at the top of the browser’s history. There were a good dozen of pages, at least, all of them with the same theme. How to make a computer break. It was the last thing Taehyung had been looking at before he had come.

He glanced at Taehyung, who couldn’t see the screen from where he was sitting, and the boy smiled at him. Jungkook felt something break inside of him as he smiled back.

All those thoughts he had about being fine with Taehyung vanished in a second. It was like someone had grabbed his heart and squeezed real hard.

Somehow, he managed to keep a cool head, and do what he was supposed to do. He cleaned the browser’s history and freed some memory before gathering his stuff and getting up.

“I’ll be leaving now, Mr. Kim,” he said, coldly.

He could see the look on Taehyung’s face shift as soon as he spoke.

“Jungkook? Is everything ok?” He even got up, and reached out to Jungkook.

“No,” he said, avoiding Taehyung’s touch. “No. It’s… It’s better if I just leave.”

“Wait…”

But he didn’t. He went around the desk and directly to the door, begging himself to hold long enough. Just past the corridor. Just until the elevator doors closed behind him. He ignored Taehyung’s shouts, even though he could hear him calling out to him. He needed to be alone, to be safe.

Only then would he allow himself to cry.

Chapter Text

Taehyung had run after Jungkook, but he had beat him to the elevator, and that was when he had lost him. He had gone to his department, but he wasn’t there. He had asked later at the entrance desk, and they had told him that Jungkook had left early.

The next day, he had asked again when he arrived to work, but apparently he had called in sick. That was when he had started to actually worry.

“You know, it’d be nice if you actually paid attention to me.” Beomgyu’s voice got him out of his own thoughts, and he realized he had been ignoring the boy for a while now.

“Sorry, Beomgyu, it’s just…”

“Jungkook?”

He looked at his assistant, and then just nodded.

“What happened, anyway?”

“Wouldn’t I like to know that.” Taehyung rubbed his eyes, feeling so tired so suddenly.

“If this is how you flirt with people, I am so glad you’ve never been interested in me.”

He threw a sharp look at Beomgyu.

“Let’s not talk about each other’s flirting habits, shall we? ‘Cause you sure don’t have the high ground there.”

Beomgyu’s cheeks lit up a bright red as he said that, and Taehyung grinned.

“That’s mean,” he said, avoiding Taehyung’s gaze.

Taehyung was about to say something back, but he was interrupted by the door to his office opening suddenly.

“You piece of shit!”

They both looked at the door, and the person standing there, startled by the sudden entrance.

“What the…?” Beomgyu stepped towards the door, with a stern look on his face. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to wait outside. This is a private meeting.”

“Wait, Beomgyu,” Taehyung got up from his chair, and waved for Beomgyu to calm himself, before turning again to the door. “Hoseok-ssi, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to break that stupid face of yours, that’s what.”

Hoseok stepped closer to Taehyung’s desk, and Tae realized that he had a really angry look on his face.

“That’s it,” Beomgyu said. “I’m calling security.”

Beomgyu motioned to pick up the phone in Taehyung’s desk, but Tae held his hand, stopping him from doing so.

“Beomgyu, no,” he said, looking his assistant in the eye. “Please, I’d like to talk to Hoseok-ssi in private.”

Beomgyu looked at him like he was about to protest, but he then just sighed and nodded, walking to the door.

“One loud voice from you,” he said, stopping next to Hoseok, “and I’ll call security. Have that in mind.”

He then walked away and closed the door behind him.

“Well, you’ve got your dog well trained, that’s for sure.” Hoseok’s volume was lower now, but the look of pure hatred hadn’t gone away.

“Stop.” Taehyung snapped. “I don’t mind you coming into my office and threatening me, Hoseok-ssi. Or, at least, I’m willing to know where this comes from. But disrespecting my friends is where I draw the line.”

The look on his face was stern, and Hoseok held it for a while, before scoffing.

“You’re the first one to have disrespected a friend.”

“What the hell are you talking about? And how did you manage to get up here, anyways?”

“My company sent me here to cover for Jungkook, since he called in sick. Because of you, I might add.”

Taehyung threw a puzzled look at Hoseok. He knew Hoseok worked for the same company as Jungkook, and that he had actually gotten Jungkook his job in the first place. Jungkook had told him that day at his house, over breakfast.

“What do you mean because of me ?”

“Well, you’re the last one he saw before he snapped like a twig. Why don’t you do the math, genius?”

Hoseok’s words were filled with hatred, that much was true. However, that didn’t tell Taehyung much.

“Well, we were just talking, and he was fixing my computer, and then…”

And then, Taehyung realized.

“So, you’ve finally connected the dots,” Hoseok said with a smirk, probably reading the look on his face.

“Oh, I’m so stupid.”

“Well, you definitely are that.”

Jungkook had cleaned up his computer. Which meant he had cleared his browser’s history. Fuck.

“Beomgyu, send me Jungkook’s address,” Taehyung said, picking up his bag, and darting towards the door.

“Already on it,” came Beomgyu’s voice from the intercom.

“He was listening?” Hoseok snapped. “And how the hell does he have Jungkook’s address?”

“Oh, Beomgyu is always listening,” Taehyung said, before going outside the office, and running towards the elevator.

“Wait!” he heard Hoseok call. “I still have to kick your ass!”

◈

Jungkook was a mess.

He shouldn’t be. He knew he shouldn't. However, he still was.

He had come the day before in the afternoon, and had locked himself in his room to cry. When Hoseok had come home, he had managed to make Jungkook let him in, and he had cried some more on his shoulder. He had told him about what had happened, and how he felt, and how he knew it was stupid for him to feel this way, but he still did.

That morning he had barely gotten out of bed, and had asked Hoseok to call the company for him and tell them he wasn’t feeling that well, which was true. He feared that, if he went back to work, he may just run into Taehyung and he would break right there.

Or maybe he wouldn’t run into Taehyung, but Taehyung would make them meet by means of some intricate plan.

Hoseok had kissed him on the forehead before leaving, and had left some ice cream for him in the freezer. He was already a mess, so he wouldn’t mind also becoming a cliché.

It had been a couple hours since Hoseok left. Well, probably. He wasn’t really tracking time at the moment. He was lying on the sofa, watching something on the TV, although he wasn’t paying that much attention. His eyes felt puffy due to all the ugly crying, even though he hadn’t cried since Hoseok left. His hair was messy, he was wearing his pajamas, and was eating the ice cream with a big spoon.

Overall, he didn’t look that great, which was the main reason why, when someone knocked on the door, he let out a moan of disgust. Well, that, and the pure thought of having to actually move.

He dragged himself out of the sofa and to the front door, and opened, expecting to see some messenger carrying a parcel for Hoseok, or something like that.

He didn’t expect Kim Taehyung to be standing at the other side of the door, looking like he had just run a half-marathon, and still, somehow, managing to look just perfect.

“Fuck, Kookie, you look horrible,” he said.

Yeah, because that was just what he needed to hear.

“Not in the mood,” he said, motioning to close the door.

However, Taehyung held the door, moving closer to him.

“Wait, Kookie.”

“Don’t call me that,” he snapped. It hurt when he called him that, for some reason.

The look on Taehyung’s face was like something inside him had shattered. So, Gucci guy had feelings. Good to know.

“Fine, sorry, Jungkook-ssi,” he said, then. “Please, let's talk about this. Don’t shut me out.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Well… Hoseok-ssi told me that it’s my fault that you’re like this.”

“Of course he did,” Jungkook mumbled, rolling his eyes. He was going to murder Hoseok in his sleep.

He let out a sigh, and walked back to the living room, leaving Taehyung at the door. He sat on the sofa, waiting for the other to come in. He waved to point at one of the other seats. Yes, he was allowed to come in. No, he was not allowed to sit at Jungkook’s Sofa of Sadness and Despair.

Taehyung entered the flat and closed the door behind him, and then made his way to one of the seats in the living room. He chose the one that was furthest from Jungkook, although he didn’t know if he was respecting his personal space, or just trying to get this done quickly without much closeness.

“I know you saw my browser’s history,” he said, looking down. He was rubbing his hands together, like he was actually nervous.

“You wanted me to see it,” Jungkook answered, taking his ice cream and his spoon from the table.

“What?” Taehyung then raised his head and looked at him directly. “No I didn’t.”

Jungkook scoffed, taking a bite from the ice cream.

“Cut the crap, I’m the IT guy. There’s no way you’d think I wouldn’t see that.”

“Well, maybe it’s just that I’m that stupid.” Jungkook looked at Taehyung, and he could see that he was not enjoying this. He seemed really nervous. “Because I am, you know?”

He let the ice cream back at the table, and moved closer to where Taehyung was sitting. Just a tad, not too much.

“Even if you didn’t want me to see it,” he said, “and you are just that stupid, it doesn’t change the fact that you lied to me. You tricked me. You messed your computer on purpose so you could have me there with you, like some kind of sick game, heavens know what for.”

“It was not a game, Jungkook-ssi. It wasn’t, I promise. And I know it was bad. It was messed up.” Taehyung’s voice seemed like it was about to break. “It’s just…”

Jungkook waited for him to end the sentence. He didn’t.

“Just what?” he asked, finally.

“I wanted to see you.”

He didn’t say it too loud, just barely anything more than a whisper. However, every word felt like a hundred darts had just landed on Jungkook’s heart, making him ache.

“Then why do all that?” he asked, his voice also at the brink of breaking. “Why not come down to my department? Why not talk to me like a normal person? Weren’t we supposed to be friends ?”

“I know, it was stupid. I told you I’m stupid.” Taehyung buried his face between his hands, hiding himself away. “I was scared of creeping you out, of being too forward. I thought it’d be better if it seemed like a casual encounter. Besides, I’m not sure I want us to just be friends.”

Jungkook got up like a spring, and took a few steps away from Taehyung.

“No,” he said.

Taehyung raised his head and looked at him. His eyes were red and shiny, like he was about to cry.

“What…?”

“You told me you were not interested in me that way. You told me, Taehyung.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve never said that.” This time it was him who got up, and came a step closer to Jungkook. “I would never say that.”

“At your house.” Jungkook was starting to feel like the air was missing from his lungs. “I asked you if you and I had slept together that night. You said that you would never do something like that.”

He looked at Taehyung in the eyes, and he saw the look of pure disbelief in them.

“Are you serious right now?” Taehyung’s voice was a little louder now, and Jungkook didn’t know how to understand that. “You were drunk, Jungkook. For the love of god, you were unconscious . I would never take advantage of you that way. That’s what I would never do.”

Taehyung’s words hit him like a mace, and he stumbled back to the sofa, falling into the cushions. All this time. All this time he had been just getting it all wrong.

He just wanted to cry.

And so he did.

He curled up in a ball, and just let it all out. Tears, snot, noises. The whole package. So many emotions, so many feelings, all of them piling on his chest over the past few weeks, and now coming outside in the most messy way possible.

“Jungkook,” he heard Taehyung say, even before he felt his arms around him.

His hug was shy at first, like he wasn’t too sure about being allowed to, but then Jungkook leaned closer to him, and Taehyung held him tighter in his arms, stroking his hair, and mumbling words of comfort to him.

And he just let it all go. He cried into Taehyung’s chest, sobbing and drooling all over him. It was a mess, and it was disgusting, probably, but it was just what he needed right now.

He just let himself be vulnerable.

Chapter Text

They spent a while on the sofa, Jungkook curled up in Taehyung’s arms. Taehyung was afraid to move too much, even after Jungkook stopped crying, so he just stood put. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, and he could feel his phone vibrating on his trousers every once in a while, but he still didn’t move.

“I’m sorry.”

The sound of Jungkook’s voice against the silence made him startle, and he looked down to Jungkook. His eyes were all red and puffy, and he still had some tears on his face.

“You don’t need to be sorry for anything, Jungkook-ssi.” Taehyung wiped the tears from the youngest’s face with his thumbs. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. I’m the one who messed up.”

Jungkook looked at him, but didn’t say anything, so Taehyung didn’t either. They just stared at each other for a while, in silence.

Then they heard the front door opening, and they both turned, startled, just to see Hoseok standing there, looking at them.

“Well,” he said, closing the door and coming towards them. “I guess I don’t need to kick your ass anymore?”

“We’ll talk about that,” Jungkook said, looking at his friend. “Later. What are you doing here?”

“I was worried.” He shrugged, taking a seat in the same spot Taehyung had been sitting not too long ago. “I would have come earlier, but I guess someone has to work in that place, since you two clearly aren’t up to the task.”

“Yeah, I probably should go back,” Taehyung said, scratching his neck, and then turning to Jungkook. “You’re ok?”

Not that he actually wanted to go back, but he didn’t want to push Jungkook too much.

Jungkook nodded, and Hoseok got up from his seat.

“We can go back together, then,” he said. “I promise I won’t try to hit you.”

“I thought the intention was to ‘break my stupid face’,” Taehyung said, looking at Hoseok.

“Hoseok!” Jungkook was turning red. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“He made you a mess!”

“That doesn’t give you the right to go breaking people’s faces, Hoseok.”

“It does, because you’re my friend,” Hoseok said, shrugging.

“It kind of does, actually.” Taehyung had to agree with him.

“Oh, please, don’t get on his side.”

“I’m just saying,” Taehyung said, “that if it had been someone close to me, like Jimin or Beomgyu, I would have probably done something similar.”

“Anyways,” Hoseok said, interrupting. “We should probably go, I’d like to take something to eat on our way, since I’m missing my lunch break to check up on you.”

“Wait, is it already lunchtime?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck.”

Taehyung fished his phone from one of his pockets, and unlocked it to see a bunch of messages from Beomgyu.

“Well, my assistant is definitely going to murder me,” he said, “so keep an eye out for that in the news.”

“Ah, good,” Jungkook said, and he was actually smiling for the first time since Taehyung had arrived. “It’ll be nice to know someone when I go to jail for killing J.”

“What did I do now?” asked Hoseok.

Jungkook looked at him.

“Ah, right, the threatening, and all that,” Hoseok said, looking to the side.

“The good news, however,” Taehyung kept going, “is that I have the rest of the day free now, so I’ll probably get to relax a bit before being killed.”

“Free?” Jungkook asked, to which Taehyung nodded. “So, you don’t actually need to leave?”

He raised his head from the phone and looked at Jungkook.

“Do you want me not to leave?”

“I don’t know.” He was actually blushing! “Kind of.”

“Good grief, I’m too old for this,” Hoseok said, darting suddenly towards the door. “I’m leaving you two. Just, please, don’t do it on the sofa. I just had it cleaned.”

And with that, he closed the door behind him, and they were alone again.

“I swear to you, I’m murdering him,” Jungkook said. “You’re now friends with a murderer. Get used to it.”

“I can live with that, I think.”

Taehyung sat next to Jungkook on the sofa, looking at him. He seemed happier now. Calmer. His eyes were brighter. Sadness had faded away a bit. Jungkook was even more beautiful now.

“So,” he said, snapping out of his own thoughts. “What do you want to do now, Jungkook-ssi?”

“Not sure. We could watch a movie, order something to eat.”

“That sounds great.”

“And, Taehyung?”

Taehyung looked at him.

“I think I’m ok with you calling me Kookie.”

That caught him completely off guard.

“You sure?” he managed to mumble.

“Yes, I am.” He was smiling. And blushing. Again. It was adorable. “Just not in front of Hoseok. I would never hear the end of it.”

He chuckled, and Taehyung couldn’t help but to join him.

“You got it, Kookie.”

◈

“I still can’t believe you just left and spent the rest of the day at his place.”

Jimin sat across the table, placing two cups of coffee on it. They were in a coffee shop close to Loom & Gloom’s building.

It had been a day since he had gone to Jungkook’s. They had ordered some food and had spent the afternoon watching TV. They had had a great time, and, even though Taehyung would have liked for something else to happen, he wasn’t disappointed that it hadn’t. He didn’t mind taking things slow with Jungkook. He didn’t want to risk another breakdown.

That night, when he was already at home, he had gotten a call from Jimin, telling him to meet him for coffee the next day, and not allowing him to refuse. Not that he was going to refuse meeting his best friend, but having the choice was always nice.

“And I can’t believe my assistant just tattled on me,” Taehyung said, taking his cup of coffee.

“Oh, don’t be too hard on Beomgyu-ssi. He’s just looking out for you. He worries about you.”

“I don’t need him to, Min. I am capable of taking care of myself.”

Jimin looked at him while he sipped from his cup.

“Yeah, no, sorry, but I don’t see it,” he said, calmly. “The kid is right in worrying about you.”

“Great, now my best friend is in cahoots with my assistant to make my life miserable.”

“Oh, don’t be such a drama queen. That’s my thing.” Jimin crossed his arms over his lap, and looked at Taehyung. “So, did you two finally smooch?”

“What?” Tae almost dropped his coffee. “Of course not. It wasn’t the time for anything like that.”

“Oh, I highly agree. The right time would have been when you took him home.” Jimin shrugged, like he was laying down simple facts. “It would have saved us all of this pointless drama.”

“He was drunk, Jimin. Drunk. What’s so hard to understand from that?”

“Well, he wasn’t drunk the next morning. Besides, it was about time you found a new dad for Tannie. The single parent stuff doesn’t fit you. You’re too pretty for your own good.”

“How are we still friends?”

Jimin laughed, and, even though he tried to hold it, Taehyung couldn’t help but do the same. Of course they were friends. They would always be, even if Jimin was a bit too much sometimes.

“It’s just not like you, you know?” Jimin said, then.

“What do you mean?”

“I get that you like this guy,” he said, looking at him. “But skipping work just to get to see him? C’mon, you’re not a teenager anymore, Tete.”

“I know, I know,” he sighed. “But it’s new to me, you know.”

“What is?”

“This kind of… Flirting, if it can be called that.”

“Well that’s a load of bull.” Jimin leaned forward on his chair, pointing at him. “I know you. You’ve had plenty of people behind you, you definitely know how flirting works.”

“That’s my point exactly. I’ve had plenty of people behind me. I’ve never had to do anything. Have you seen me? Guys are just drawn to me.”

“Ego.”

Taehyung ignored him.

“But he’s different,” he kept going. “Jungkook is shy, or at least he seems to be shy. I don’t think he’d ever come after me, not in that way. So I have to make my way out to him if I want something to happen, and I’m not sure I know how.”

Taehyung looked at Jimin, and saw him looking back at him with an interrogative look.

“What?” he asked.

“Boy, you must really like this guy.”

Taehyung opened his mouth even before starting to speak.

“That’s it. That’s what you get from all this?” He leaned back in the chair, throwing his arms into the air. “You know, we are friends. This is the time when you’re supposed to give me some deep and meaningful advice.”

“Have you even met me?” Jimin shrugged as he speaked, taking another sip from his coffee. “When have I ever done something that was even remotely deep or meaningful?”

“Well, you tricked Yoongi into being your boyfriend. How did you do that?”

“First of all, I didn’t trick him.” He faked  a hurtful face. “We are very much in love, thank you, and have been since the beginning. He just didn’t know it at the time.”

“He literally ran away from you. Several times.”

“Only twice.” Jimin loved to tell the story of how he and Yoongi had started dating in the first place. “And it wasn’t because he didn’t like me, it was because he did. When I asked him to go on a date, he got nervous and ran away. So, by the third time, I messaged him, telling him to prepare, because I was going to ask him again.”

“A real life Prince Charming,” Taehyung said, chuckling. “But see? You went for it, because Yoongi was not going to ask you out. I feel like I have to do the same.”

“Yeah, I love my Yoon, but he is definitely not outspoken.”

“So what should I do?”

Jimin shrugged, again.

“I don’t know. Message him telling him that you’re going to ask him out?”

Taehyung hummed. He did now have Jungkook’s number, but, somehow, he didn’t see that plan working out for them as it had for Jimin and Yoongi.

Chapter Text

“Ok, so that would be everything,” Taehyung said, as he rolled in the last slide of his presentation, which he had done now three times. “Thank you all for coming.”

He bowed to the room, and his little audience bowed their heads to him in response.

Last time he had done this in front of the Board of Directors and the CEO of the international branch himself, so doing it now for his fellow Heads of departments, people who he worked with on a daily basis, and whom he considered his friends in most cases, was definitely much easier.

Sure, it was a purely informative meeting, to let them know what the brand would be focusing on for the next six months, but it was a meeting he usually enjoyed. Especially having Jimin smiling at him during the whole presentation, and Yoongi by his side, trying not to fall asleep.

He felt safer in this meeting than he had felt in the previous ones.

“Good presentation,” said Beomgyu, coming to his side to help him pack everything. “You were relaxed. I liked that.”

“Yeah, well, not having Bang Sihyuk in the room sure helped.”

They both chuckled. Taehyung still got shivers when he thought about the meeting with the CEO, but well, there was nothing to be done about it. It was in the past, so he just had to move on.

“Good work, Tete.” Taehyung lifted his head to see Jimin passing by his side, with a beaming smile on his face. “I’ll see you later, alright?”

Tae waved at him as he left the room, and did the same with Yoongi, who only gave him a thumbs up while he yawned and followed his boyfriend. The last one to pass by was Kim Namjoon, who was now present at all his meetings. He nodded to him, and Taehyung nodded back before going back to finish collecting his stuff.

“Taehyung-nim.”

Both him and Beomgyu turned around to see who had called him, and Taehyung could immediately hear Beomgyu scoffing.

“I’ll wait for you outside, Taehyung-ssi,” he said, before leaving them.

Taehyung nodded to him, and turned back again.

“Taehyun-ssi,” he said.

“Sorry about that,” Taehyun said, lowering his head.

“I guess you still haven’t figured things out.” He crossed his arms, and looked to the other boy.

Kang Taehyun was Head of Accessory Design at Loom & Gloom, and, even though Taehyung hadn’t had much of a relationship with him, he knew through Beomgyu that he tended to be somewhat arrogant, and, at times, a bit of a brat.

“You could say that. I want to make things right between us, but he’s just not making it easy, you know?”

“No,” Taehyung said, bluntly. “As a matter of fact, I don’t know. I asked Beomgyu to leave me out of this, and I would like to ask the same of you. He’s my friend, but I know enough of the story to know that I don’t want any part of it.”

Taehyun looked at him like he had just taken his favorite shirt and torn it to pieces in front of him. He guessed what Beomgyu said was true, Taehyun was used to getting things his way.

“As you want,” he said, recomposing himself. “I wanted to congratulate you for this collection. It’s going to be a lot of work, but I think that it’s a great idea.”

“Well, thank you, Taehyun-ssi,” he gave him a welcoming nod. “I look forward to working with you to get this collection to truly shine.”

“So do I. I always enjoy working with you.” They held gazes for a second, until Taehyun smiled and broke eye contact. “Anyways, I should probably leave you. Duty calls, you know?”

Taehyung nodded at him before he left, and then picked up what was left of his stuff, and followed him outside the meeting room, where Beomgyu was waiting for him.

“Ah, you’re done hiding?” he said, as Beomgyu started walking by his side.

“Don’t be mean. You know it’s not easy.”

He looked at his assistant, and could see, even though he was trying to hide it, that he was blushing. Taehyung sighed.

“I’m not saying you have to go back to being best friends.” He placed his hand on Beomgyu’s shoulder, making them both stop in the corridor. “But you work together. You need to be able to be in the same room as him without going crazy.”

“I thought you didn’t want to get involved.” Beomgyu was looking to the side, avoiding his gaze.

“And I don’t.” He took his chin and lifted his head, looking him in the eye. “But I worry about you. You know you’re my friend, I’m going to be by your side no matter what. Even if I don’t want to get involved.”

“I just don’t get why you forgave him so easily.”

“I didn’t,” he shrugged. “I just never took it personally, so I had nothing to forgive. I just wish you felt the same as I did.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to let it go. I just don’t want to hold a grudge forever.”

“And you won’t, trust me. But you need to take your time, I get that, and that’s ok. Don’t try to rush it.”

Beomgyu nodded slightly, and Taehyung could see in his eyes how hard it was for him to talk about this kind of stuff, so he just hugged him, trying to let him know that it was just ok.

“We should get going,” Beomgyu said, against his shoulder. “We have a lot of stuff to do today.”

“Yeah, we don’t want you to fall behind schedule.” He laughed and let go of Beomgyu, patting him on the shoulder before starting to walk again. “You have a reputation to maintain.”

◈

The next stop in Beomgyu’s tight schedule were the workshops, where they had an appointment with Jin and one of the tailors to check on the model’s measurements. They did that several times during the development of the new collection’s design process, although Taehyung only needed to be present for that first one.

They greeted the tailor that would be working with them that day when they entered the room they have booked for that appointment. Taehyung hadn’t met this one before, which didn’t really come as a surprise, since people from the workshops and from the design departments didn’t usually mingle too much, except in parties like Jimin’s one.

“Seokjin-ssi is getting ready,” Beomgyu said, checking his watch at the same time. “I think we’re on schedule, so that’s fine.”

“You’re obsessed with time, you know?”

Taehyung looked at him, and Beomgyu looked back.

“Well, someone has to be,” he said. “And we both know that it’s not gonna be you.”

“True enough,” he conceded.

The curtain to the changing booth opened then, and Jin came out wearing only a black slip.

“Alright, let’s do this,” he clapped his hands, and seemed to be pretty excited. Although, as far as Taehyung knew him, that was just Jin’s usual mindset.

Taehyung nodded to the tailor, signaling for him to start, and he took a seat while the man took out a measuring tape and started measuring Jin’s body, with Beomgyu by his side taking note of everything the man said to him.

He was paying attention until his phone started buzzing, so he took it out to find it was a message from Jungkook. Apparently he was bored at his department, with nothing to do. He found himself smiling while he texted back.

“Who are you texting there, Tae?” He raised his head to meet Jin’s eyes, looking at him with a wide smile on his face.

The tailor was still measuring, but Beomgyu had turned back to look at him when he heard Jin speak.

“Oh, no,” he said. “You’re texting him during work hours? Again?”

“I…,” Taehyung started, trying to defend himself.

“ Him ?” Jin’s smile was even wider now, and his eyes were shining with curiosity. “Is it Jungkook-ssi?”

Beomgyu turned back to look at Jin again.

“You know Jungkook, Seokjin-ssi?”

“Yeah, I do. I’m dating his roommate.”

“Oh, so you’re officially dating now,” Taehyung said, more than happy to turn the flow of the conversation away from him. “That’s good to hear. You’re welcome.”

“Yeah, it was nice of you to introduce us, actually. I’ll have to treat you to something one of these days.”

“So,” Beomgyu said, smiling again. “You introduced Seokjin-ssi to Jungkook’s roommate? Isn’t that interesting. Is he cute?”

“What are you talking about?” Taehyung tilted his head a bit, looking at Beomgyu. “You’ve met Hoseok-ssi.”

The look on Beomgyu’s face then shifted, as he turned his head to look again at Jin.

“You’re dating that guy who came to our office to fight Taehyung-ssi?”

“Ah, that.” Jin chuckled a bit, scratching the back of his head, and earning himself a scolding look from the tailor for not being still. “He told me about that. Not his best moment, that’s for sure. But he also told me you worked things out with Jungkook-ssi.”

And just like that, the conversation was now back again around his relationship with Jungkook. He was not going to get away with it, it seemed.

“Yes, we worked things out.” Kind of, at least. They were friends. They talked all the time, and Taehyung was enjoying that a lot. “And we probably wouldn’t have without Hoseok-ssi threatening me.”

“Don’t tell him that.” Jin laughed again, and the tailor coughed loudly as a protest. “Sorry. Anyways, Jungkook was pretty bummed out a few weeks back, so I’m glad he’s better now. Having a crush on you hit him pretty hard, you know?”

“Having a what on who now?”

Jin’s eyes opened wide when he realized what he had just said, and Beomgyu just stepped back. The tailor moved back as well, and mumbled something about coming back when they were ready to be still. Nobody paid him much attention.

“Fuck, you didn’t know?”

“How was I supposed to know?”

“You guys worked things out,” Jin said, throwing his arms up. “I thought that meant you were starting to go out.”

“That’s not what it meant, Seokjin.” Taehyung could feel himself blushing like crazy. “We stayed as friends, that’s it.”

“I knew.”

They both turned to Beomgyu, who was just standing there.

“How the hell did you know?”

“I have eyes. How the hell didn’t you?”

Taehyung opened his mouth to answer, but he realized he didn’t have an answer, so he just took a step back and sat down again. He was definitely panicking now, and breathing seemed a lot harder all of a sudden.

“Great, we broke him,” Beomgyu said.

“I’m not broken,” he managed to say. “I just don’t know what to do with this information.”

“Well, you’re clearly into him.”

“He is?” Jin asked, his eyes shining again.

“Oh, believe me, he is.”

“Beomgyu, I’m still your boss, you know?”

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger.” Beomgyu threw his palms up, defending himself. “Just saying, if he has a crush on you, which apparently he has, and you’re into him as well, which you obviously are, why don’t you just ask him out?”

“Seems like a solid plan to me,” Jin agreed.

“I can’t believe it,” Taehyung said, rubbing his forehead. “I’m taking dating advice from my personal assistant and a guy wearing only underwear.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

“Well, popcorn is in the microwave.”

Hoseok dropped himself on the sofa next to Jin, while Jungkook browsed through his Twitter feed on the couch next to it. They were going to watch a movie all together.

It had been Hoseok’s idea. Jungkook was sure his friend was trying to prove that he was not going to leave him behind now that he had a boyfriend. He had tried telling Hoseok that he didn’t need any kind of reassurance on that, that he knew Hoseok was not going to abandon him, but he had insisted.

They even spent more time at their place than at Jin’s, and Jungkook was not really sure that was good for their relationship. Sure, he liked spending time with his best friend and his new boyfriend, who was both super hot and a really nice person, but couples needed some alone time too, some intimacy and all that.

However, there they were, getting ready to see some awfully bad movie just to make sure Hoseok didn’t feel like he was ignoring Jungkook. Which was sweet, that’s for sure. It just wasn’t necessary.

“So, how’s work treating you lately, Jungkook-ssi?”

Jungkook raised his head from the phone to look at Jin, who was now stroking Hoseok’s hair mindlessly while looking at him and smiling. He was a really nice guy.

“You know, not too bad,” he said, shrugging. “There are not many issues in the building lately, so I’ve got plenty of free time.”

“Plenty of time to message Taehyung-ssi,” Hoseok said, grinning.

Jungkook could feel his face turning red while he took one of the cushions and threw it to Hoseok.

“Shut up.”

“That’s mean.” Hoseok took the cushion and put it on his own sofa. “But seriously, when are you going to ask him out.”

“Let me think… How about the 26th of never?”

Hoseok scoffed, and looked away, burying his face on his boyfriend’s chest. Jungkook knew he meant well, but it was not easy for him.

“But why never?” It was Jin who asked now, so Jungkook looked back at him. “I mean, he told you he wants to be more than friends, didn’t he? So, why not ask him out? You know he’s interested.”

“Well, he said it, but I don’t know if he actually meant it.”

By the look he got from him, Jungkook knew Jin was trying really hard right now to not take the cushion and beat him to death with it.

“Besides, I’m not good at asking people out. I’ve never done it.” He was turning redder and redder, he could feel it. “And what should we do? Go have dinner? Go to the movies? I’d just find a way to screw it all and ruin our friendship.”

“That’s it, I’m going to check on the popcorn.”

Hoseok got up from the sofa and threw a killing look at Jungkook, which he guessed he deserved. He knew he was being stupid, but he couldn’t help being this insecure about his relationship with Taehyung.

He knew he actually liked the guy, he had accepted that a while ago. But he was now building a good relationship with him, and he was afraid that trying to go further would make everything disappear.

“What about a double date?”

And there goes Jungkook’s phone, dropping to the floor again. Thank god for phone cases and protective glasses, because that was what had kept that phone alive for so long. Jungkook picked it up quickly and then turned to face Jin again.

“What do you mean?”

“A date that involves two couples,” he said, plainly, with a straight face.

“I know what a double date is, asshole. I mean like… You two and Taehyung and I?”

“Well, if you prefer any of Hoseok’s other secret boyfriends…”

“Nah, I don’t like them as much as I like you.”

They both laughed out loud, just at the same time as Hoseok came back to the living room with a bowl full of popcorn. He stopped at the door and looked at them.

“Alright, what’s going on?”

“Well,” Jin said, still laughing. “Jungkook was telling me how he likes me better than your other secret boyfriends.”

Hoseok looked at them both and then shrugged before coming closer to the sofa.

“Like if I had other boyfriends I would keep them a secret.”

He put the bowl of popcorn on the table and then sat back next to Jin.

“I actually suggested going on a double date,” Jin said, passing an arm over Hoseok’s shoulder. “It could be good for him, he would be less nervous having us there. And we could always make ourselves scarce if things go well, right Kookie?”

“That’s actually a really good plan,” Hoseok said, turning to Jin. “Fuck, you’re smoking hot and fucking smart. Like I’d need secret boyfriends having you.”

He leaned over Jin and bit his lower lip.

“Fuck, no,” Jungkook said, covering his eyes. “Fine, we’ll go on a double date, but please, don’t get all horny in front of me.”

“That sounds like a victory to me,” Jin said, smiling, while Hoseok backed away from biting his lip.

“Yeah, whatever,” Jungkook said. “Can we please watch the movie now? And no handjobs while it’s on, understood?”

◈

It had been a while since Taehyung had stayed in the office until this late.

He had sent Beomgyu home a while ago, but he was still going over some reviews for a couple of designs his team had sent him. It was basically boring as hell, and he loathed working overtime, but he knew that if he left it until Monday he would end up never having time to get to it.

He was deep in thought when a knock on the door caught his attention, making him take his eyes away from the designs.

“Taehyung-ssi?” The door to his office opened just a bit, enough to allow space for Namjoon’s face to appear behind it.

“Ah, Namjoon-ssi, come in.”

Taehyung got up from his seat while Namjoon opened the door completely and came into the office.

“I didn’t know if you were still here, but I was wondering if you had time to go over those reviews I sent you.”

“I was actually taking a look right now.”

“We can go over them together if you like.”

Taehyung smiled and then looked at his watch.

“That would actually be super helpful,” he said, looking back at Namjoon. “But I actually need to leave soon. I have to stop by Jimin’s house before getting home, so that’ll probably take me a while.”

“It’s fine, I understand,” Namjoon said, raising his palms. “It’s been a long day and a long week, you deserve to go home and rest. We can do it on Monday.”

“You should rest too, Namjoon-ssi.”

“Actually,” Namjoon said, stroking his chin as he spoke, as if deep in thought. “I could take you to Jimin-nim’s and then home if you want. It’d be faster than going on public transport.”

Taehyung looked at Namjoon, a bit taken aback by the unexpected proposition. They had been working closely lately, and Taehyung had realized that his first impression of the guy was not wrong. He was a nice person and was actually someone that Taehyung could say he felt comfortable working around.

However, he didn’t expect this kind of closeness from the Assistant Director.

“Oh, no, I wouldn’t want to impose, Namjoon-ssi.”

“It’s hardly imposing since I’m the one who suggested it,” he said, firmly. “And I would like to insist.”

Taehyung sighed in defeat.

“Fine. Let me grab my things, then.”

◈

“And what is it exactly that we have to take from Jimin’s place?”

Jungkook was riding shotgun in Hoseok’s car while his friend drove. They were going to Park Jimin’s house, a place that Jungkook remembered as the place where he had passed out from drinking in front of all his new coworkers.

Apparently, Jin had asked Hoseok to pass by before going home to pick something up for him, and, since Jungkook was with Hoseok, he was also being dragged there.

“I’m not sure, Kookie. He just asked to go there, and he said that Jimin-ssi will give me whatever it is. That he knows that I’m coming to pick it up.”

Jungkook looked through the window while Hoseok drove, the light of the streetlamps reflecting on the glass and filling the car at regular intervals. It was supposed to be a quiet night.

Jin wouldn’t be coming tonight, so it would be just the two of them. It was kind of a shame, he had grown used to having Jin’s cheerful personality in the flat almost every day, so he would actually miss him. However, it had been quite some time since Hoseok and he had had a night for themselves, so he was actually looking forward to it.

Hoseok stopped the car next to Jimin’s house. Jungkook hadn’t been drunk when he had arrived the last time, so he remembered the outside of the house. It was the leaving that he had no recollection of.

“You coming?” Hoseok said, getting him out of his own thoughts.

Jungkook sighed.

“Do I have to?”

“C’mon, these are your coworkers, you know them more than I do. Come say hello.”

Well, it couldn’t hurt. Besides, Jimin was actually nice, he had been since the first time they met. And he hadn’t seen Yoongi, Jimin’s boyfriend, since the party. He had also been nice to him. He actually liked them both, so there was no reason not to say hello to them.

Jungkook got out of the car, and walked with Hoseok to the door of the house, waiting beside him while he rang the bell.

It was Yoongi who opened the door, with that gentle smile of his that made Jungkook smile back.

“Ah, Hoseok-ssi, right? And Jungkook-ssi. Jin said you’d be dropping by.”

“Yes, we’re supposed to pick something for him?”

Yoongi nodded.

“Come, I’ll call Jimin, he knows what it is. You can wait in the living room.”

He guided them through the hall and into the living room, which was pitch black.

But then Yoongi turned on the light, and a bunch of people jumped from the darkness, and a banner fell from the ceiling saying “Happy Birthday Kookie”, and someone threw some confetti, and someone else blew a party horn.

“SURPRISE!”

Chapter Text

Namjoon’s car was big. It was elegant. It was comfortable. And it seemed to be expensive.

He had been right, of course. Driving to Jimin’s took less than half the time it would have taken Taehyung to get there by public transport, so that would actually save him a lot of time.

Namjoon parked in the driveway and told Taehyung he would wait there while he did whatever he had to do at the house. Taehyung thanked him again for driving him and got out of the car.

“Tete,” Jimin said when he opened the door. “I thought you would still be on the bus.”

“Nah, Namjoon-ssi drove me here.” He pointed to the black car parked in the driveway.

“And he’s sitting in the car? Alone?” Taehyung nodded. “Well, that can’t be. Go get him, invite him to come in.”

“What…?”

“Go, go.”

And with that, he closed the door in his face. Taehyung stood there for a couple of seconds before reacting and turning away from the door and facing the car again.

Why was Jimin acting so strangely? He swore to god, his friend was getting weirder and weirder by the day. And why did he want to invite Namjoon inside? They barely knew each other.

A thought flashed on his mind, that maybe all this was a plan by Jimin to hook up with Namjoon. But it didn’ make sense, Jimin had no way of knowing that Namjoon would drive him here. Well, if it was, he’d have to prevent that from happening.

He tapped on the driver’s window when he got to the car, and Namjoon lowered it, his face appearing behind the glass.

“So,” he said, scratching the back of his head. “Jimin wants to invite you in, apparently.”

“He wants to invite me in?” His face showed as much disbelief as Taehyung was feeling at that point. However, he managed to just shrug. “Well, I won’t be a rude guest then. Let’s go.”

Faster than his eyes could capture, Namjoon was out of the car and fixing his blazer. The guy was kind of hot, that was for sure. Taehyung could get why Jimin would want to fuck him. But no. It was not happening. Not on Taehyung’s watch.

They walked the driveway up to the door and rang the bell. Again, Jimin opened the door, and this time was smiling even wider than before.

“Great, you’re both here now. Come in”

Taehyung was still suspicious, but he would have to speak to Jimin or Yoongi about it later.

“Thank you for inviting me, Jimin-nim,” Namjoon said, bowing a little.

“Oh, don’t even mention it. And Jimin-nim stays at work. Just call me Jimin.”

There he was, Park Jimin, the perfect host. Charming, always smiling, making sure everyone had a good time. He couldn’t help being that way whenever someone was over at his place.

“Sure, why not. But you’ll have to call me Namjoon then.”

“I was already counting on it.”

Well, apparently Namjoon was not having a hard time keeping up with Jimin and his charm.

“Min.” Yoongi appeared then from the living room, which had all its lights turned off, so Taehyung had thought nobody was there. “Ready.”

He then waved to Namjoon and Taehyung, smiling.

“Ready?” Taehyung asked. “Jimin, what’s this? What are you planning?”

“Oh, nothing,” his friend answered, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him towards the living room. “It’s just that we thought we could give you a little… Surprise party!”

As soon as he said it, the lights in the living room turned on, and Taehyung suddenly could see Jin and Beomgyu wearing party hats and holding a huge banner that said “Congratulations on your new collection”.

“What the hell is this,” he asked, taken aback.

“Just a small reunion,” said Beomgyu, smiling as broadly as he had ever seen him. “We wanted to take your mind from work for a while.”

“I don’t think Jimin can do small reunions,” he said, while he let Yoongi put a party hat on him. “But I guess it couldn’t hurt.”

“Namjoon, I hope you’re staying for the party.” Jimin was next to the Assistant Director, with a hand placed on his shoulder.

“I hardly ever reject a party invitation, that’s for sure.”

“Great! Come, let’s get you a party hat.”

Jimin grabbed Namjoon by the arm and dragged him out of the living room and to the kitchen. Jin and Beomgyu were busy hanging the banner from the ceiling, so Taehyung got closer to Yoongi.

“So,” he whispered, close to his ear. “Are you two trying to bang my boss?”

“What?” Yoongi looked at him, puzzled. “Namjoon? No, I don’t think so. I mean, now that I get a proper look at him...”

“God,” Taehyung whined. “Please don’t.”

“Can’t promise anything, but don’t worry, Tae. This party is not to get us someone to bang.”

Taehyung looked at him, with that wide smile, looking like he was the most innocent one in the room. But Tae knew the truth. The kinky truth.

“What’s that even supposed to mean.”

“Nothing.”

“Alright, party hats on.” Jimin and Namjoon came back from the kitchen, both wearing party hats. Namjoon’s hat hit the door frame when he came into the living room, but he put it back on quickly. “Let’s hang the other banner, we don’t want to get caught red-handed… Again…”

Taehyung looked at Namjoon, but he just shrugged and smiled, like he was actually having a good time. Then he looked back at Jin and Beomgyu, who were hauling another banner, mostly the same size as the one that was already hanging from the ceiling, but when they unrolled it Taehyung could see that the words on it were different.

“Happy Birthday Kookie”, it said.

“What the…”

Taehyung turned to look for Yoongi, and, when their eyes met, he was smiling again. He took his index finger to his lips, and shushed Taehyung, signaling for him to remain silent.

“Hoseok just wrote,” he heard Jin say at his back. “Jungkook and he are on their way, so they shouldn’t take too long now.”

“Alright, everybody, positions,” Jimin said. “We’ve got another one to surprise.”

That was it. He was going to murder all his friends.

◈

The party wasn’t so bad.

It had come as a surprise, that was for sure, but, like, that was the main purpose behind a surprise party. Besides, it was not only centered around him, which he actually liked. He could pretend that this party was all about Taehyung, even though that wasn’t the whole truth.

It was also a small party, and he knew almost everyone on it. There was this tall guy in a super elegant suit who Jungkook had only seen a couple of times at work, but, apart from him, he knew everyone.

He had talked to Taehyung at the beginning. Jungkook had congratulated him on his new collection, and Taehyung had wished him a happy belated birthday. They hadn’t talked much apart from that, though. Taehyung seemed to be mulling over something, and Jungkook wasn’t too sure about asking, especially now that they were supposed to be having fun.

“I see you’re looking at him.”

Jungkook jumped slightly at the sound of Hoseok’s voice coming from behind. He almost dropped his drink. He was trying to keep it casual today, he had no intention of ending up like the last time.

He realized Hoseok was right. He was looking at Taehyung, who was currently talking to Jin and Beomgyu, and they seemed to be having quite a lot of fun. He liked that. He liked seeing him happy and smiling.

“So, are you going to ask him soon?”

Jungkook turned towards Hoseok, who was now leaning on the same table as him, by his side, and looking in Taehyung’s direction as well. Maybe in Jin’s direction.

“Ask him what?” Jungkook said.

“The double date.”

Jungkook sighed, turning again to look at the three of them. Of course, he had agreed to Jin’s plan. Which wasn’t a bad plan, it was actually pretty good. But it included him having to ask Taehyung directly for a date, which was something he would like to avoid. However, he couldn’t expect either Jin or Hoseok to just forget about it.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe it’s not the right time.”

“A party where you’re both having fun is not the right time to ask the guy you like for a date?”

Jungkook just hummed, and took a sip from his drink, not saying anything.

“Well, maybe you’re right.” Hoseok placed his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder. “Maybe it never is the right time. Maybe you have to make your own right time.”

Hoseok got up again and waved him goodbye with a smile, leaving him with his thoughts. He went over to join Jimin and Namjoon in their conversation, while Jungkook pondered over his friend’s words.

He was starting to think Hoseok was right. He would have to make his own right time. It was about time he stopped being a coward and faced a simple fact: he was head over heels for Taehyung. Cowering behind their friendship wouldn’t make him stop feeling that way.

It was time for him to take a step forward.

Before having time to change his mind, Jungkook got up and went over where Taehyung was talking to Jin and Beomgyu, and joined them for a little while.

“Hey, guys,” he said upon reaching them. “How’s the night going?”

“Kookie!” Jin immediately grabbed him by the shoulders and hugged him. “We’re having so much fun. What about you?”

“I’m good, I’m good.” He was smiling shyly, trying not to think too much about what he was about to do, hoping Jin and Beomgyu wouldn’t notice. “Thank you guys for all this. It was really nice of you.”

“Ah, don’t even mention it.” Beomgyu was smiling as Jungkook had never seen him before. They had only met at Taehyung’s office before this party, but Taehyung told wonders of his assistant, and Jungkook had realized tonight that he was actually a really nice and fun person. “Jimin did most of the work. The rest of us just did what he told us.”

“I want to thank you all regardless. Just for thinking about me, even though we don’t know each other that much.”

Beomgyu raised his glass with a warm smile on his lips, and Jin hugged him tighter.

“Taehyung, could I talk to you in private for a bit?”

That was it, the big moment. He was going to do it.

“Sure. Let’s go.”

Chapter Text

They went out of the house and into the backyard.

It was the end of September already, but the night was still warm enough that they could stay outside without any problem.

They sat by the pool, close to the place where they had met at Jimin’s last party, and, for a while, they just stayed there, in silence. Jungkook was looking up at the starry sky. Taehyung was looking down at his feet.

“You’ve been quiet tonight,” Jungkook said, eventually, breaking the silence. “Kind of distant.”

Taehyung bit his lip and looked back to Jungkook. He was still looking up.

“I know, it’s just…”

“I’m not asking for an explanation.” Jungkook shook his head and then turned to look at Taehyung in the eye. “It’s alright if you feel like not talking to me. Or to anyone, for that matter. But I’m here for you. You can talk to me whenever you want. About whatever you want. And we can not talk if that’s what you want. Just stay together, in silence. That’s fine too.”

And so they went back to being quiet for a while. Taehyung couldn’t help but keep staring at Jungkook from time to time. Sometimes he even got caught, but then Jungkook would just smile at him, and then look back up.

He was different tonight.

“I have the feeling that tonight was a trap.” He was staring back at his feet when he got the courage to break the silence again. He felt Jungkook lowering his head again, looking at him. “This party. That somehow they did all this to get us together.”

He heard the chuckle and raised his head to look at Jungkook. He was smiling, broadly, his eyes almost shut, his shiny teeth showing.

“You think it’s funny?”

“Well,” he said, still smiling, “ your friends, most of them who I barely know,  threw me a party for my birthday, which was almost a month ago. Can’t say it’s a big shock that they had ulterior motives doing it.”

“So you’re not mad?”

“Why would I be?” Jungkook slid over, getting closer to Taehyung, and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Is that why you were so quiet?”

“Kind of.” He looked back at his feet. They were really being different tonight, both of them, from how they usually were with each other. Jungkook was usually the shy one, the afraid one, and Taehyung was the one that comforted him. It warmed Taehyung’s heart that they could change places if they needed it, and it would still work. “I was worried you would get scared of them. That they would make you go away.”

“I like that they conspired against us.” Taehyung looked back up, to Jungkook’s smile, to his beautiful eyes. “They even got Hoseok to help them. That means your friends like me, doesn’t it? And I like them, so I think that’s kind of important. For us.”

“Us…” Taehyung liked how that sounded.

“I’ve been trying to build up the courage these past days,” Jungkook went on. His hand was still on Taehyung’s shoulder, his bodies still close to each other. His eyes were locked on the calm water in the pool now, but Taehyung could feel that all the attention from Jungkook was being poured on him. “I’ve wanted to ask you out, to go on a date, but I was afraid. Then Jin suggested a double date, and I thought that was a good idea, and…”

“Yes,” Taehyung said, not letting him finish.

Jungkook turned his head and looked at him, confused.

“I would love to go on a date with you, Kookie. Any kind of date.”

And there it was, Jungkook’s blush. That red color that flooded his cheeks, and made him look even more adorable than he usually looked. Taehyung loved how he blushed, just out of the blue, turning bright red in just a second.

“I was worried that you would get the wrong idea from this party,” Taehyung continued. “That you would think that I only wanted to do dirty stuff to you…”

“You don’t want to do dirty stuff with me, Taehyung?”

Fuck.

The blush was still there, Jungkook’s cheeks were even brighter now, but there was something in his voice, some kind of courage. There was boldness in his eyes. This was a different person from the Jungkook Taehyung had first met weeks ago.

And he was making Taehyung feel things.

“I want to do plenty of dirty stuff with you, Kookie.” His voice was raspy, barely a whisper, almost unable to go any louder, all of a sudden. He could feel his skin burning up, his cheeks getting as red as Jungkook’s. “But I also want to hold your hand walking down the beach. I want to cuddle with you when you’ve had a rough day at work. I want to cook for you.”

Their eyes were locked into each other’s, they were getting lost in the depth of each other’s soul. Taehyung looked for Jungkook’s hand and got a hold of it, squeezing lightly, not letting go.

“Good,” Jungkook replied. “Because I sure want all that too.”

They were still lost in each other’s eyes, the world around them nothing more than a blur, a fantasy even. It was just context, a place to be. It wasn’t important right now. They were important.

“I think I’m going to kiss you now,” Taehyung said.

“I think I would love that.”

Taehyung’s hand moved up Jungkook’s body, getting hold of his neck. Taehyung leaned towards him, at the same time as he pulled Jungkook towards him until their lips met midair, their eyes now closed, but still lost into each other.

It was shy at first, cautious, but then it got bigger, better. Deeper.

Taehyung could feel Jungkook’s taste. He tasted a bit like alcohol, yes, but also like freedom. Not physical freedom, but the freedom of knowing you liked someone, and that person liked you back. He tasted like a late September night under the stars, and it was just perfect.

Taehyung knew right there that there wasn’t going back now. He was lost in Jungkook.

And he didn’t want to be found again.

When they got separated, Taehyung felt that Jungkook was taking all the air from his lungs with him, and he gasped, wanting for more. He opened his eyes, and Jungkook’s eyes welcomed him once more.

And then they heard the cheering and the clapping.

They both turned back to the house, surprised, and saw all of their friends standing at the back door, smiling, clapping, cheering, jumping. Even Namjoon was standing there, and he was blowing one of those party horns.

“We’re never going to hear the end of this,” Taehyung whispered.

And then they both laughed, together, still holding hands, looking at their friends. At that moment, Taehyung was thankful for this party, and he was thankful for his friends.

And he was thankful for Jungkook.

◈

After the kiss, they all went back to the party, as if nothing had happened.

But something had happened, and Taehyung had been right. Their friends were enjoying themselves by teasing them both whenever they had the chance.

It was still a bit weird for Jungkook to think about them as their friends, and not Taehyung’s friends, but, after tonight, he wouldn’t be able to not think of them as his friends as well.

He was still thinking about what had happened in the backyard. Not only had he actually asked Taehyung out on a date (well, almost) and he had accepted, but they had also shared their first kiss. The first of many, Jungkook hoped.

Jungkook found himself looking back at Taehyung from time to time, even though they were at different ends in the room, and he realized that Taehyung was doing the same. Sometimes, their eyes would meet, and they would smile at each other, which would make Jungkook’s heart flutter.

“That’s how it’s going to be from now on?” Jin’s voice dragged him out of his own thoughts, taking his eyes from Taehyung and bringing them back to Jin and Beomgyu, who he was, supposedly, talking to. “You two just looking at each other all the time like nothing else matters?”

Jin was smiling, and Jungkook saw Beomgyu trying to hold back his laugh.

“Well,” Jungkook said, smiling back and shrugging, “that’s how Hoseok and you were at the beginning.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“So,” Beomgyu said. “You talked things out, right? Are you dating now?”

Jungkook took a sip from his drink, thinking about it.

“No. Not yet at least. We’ll go on a date, see how things turn out. There’s no rush.”

“That is really good, Kook,” Jin said. “A step in the right direction.”

Jungkook nodded, and his head turned to where Taehyung was. He was talking to Hoseok, and they seemed to be laughing and all that, but Jungkook was a bit restless. The last time they had talked without him present, Hoseok had ended up threatening Taehyung. That didn’t ease Jungkook’s mind, seeing them talking alone now.

Jimin, Yoongi, and Namjoon were nowhere to be found. They had been around for a short while when they had all come back from the backyard, but they had disappeared soon enough, so only the five of them remained in the living room. He’d have to ask Taehyung about them later.

“I guess I’ll be seeing you more often on the sixth floor,” Beomgyu said, gaining his attention back.

“Well, I don’t know. It’s not like we’re going to start being unprofessional.”

Both Jin and Beomgyu laughed at his comment, and he raised a brow, looking at them.

“I’m sorry Jungkook-ssi,” Beomgyu said, still laughing. “But you were already unprofessional even when you were ‘just friends’. At least now you have a good reason.”

Jungkook raised his hand to his chest.

“I won’t stand here and be accused in such a way,” he said, feigning outrage at Beomgyu’s words, which earned him another round of laughter from both of them.

He left them laughing and went over to where Taehyung and Hoseok were. Once there, he pouted at his best friend.

“Your boyfriend is being mean to me,” he said.

“Oh, really?” Hoseok answered, taking a hand to his chest. “And he didn’t ask me to join him? That’s not good.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes at his friend’s idiocy.

“Alright, leave now,” he said, pointing to Jin and Beomgyu. “Go have sex with Jin in the backseat of your car, or whatever it is you two do.”

“Rude.” Hoseok crossed his arms over his chest, raising his chin. “I’ll give you a pass tonight because you’re horny and in love, but I’m still your soulmate.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes again while Hoseok turned to leave, and then he looked at Taehyung, who was smiling at him. He was sure he was holding back his laugh.

“Don’t listen to him,” he said.

“Why not?” Taehyung grabbed him by the waist and pulled him closer, hugging him. “He’s nice when he’s not trying to punch me in the face. Besides, you’re not the only one who’s horny tonight.”

Jungkook could feel his cheeks turning red as he bit his lower lip, eyes locked on Taehyung’s.

“I was thinking…” The older continued, almost whispering. “Maybe we could ditch these losers, and you could come back to my place. I’m sure Tannie misses you.”

“Fuck, Tae.” Jungkook moved his body even closer to Taehyung’s, feeling his warmth, and his touch. “We can’t ditch them, they threw us this party. That’d be rude.”

“First of all, they threw this party so we would fuck, I’m now 200% sure about it. So they have no right to complain if we actually go and do that. And besides, Jimin, Yoongi, and Namjoon already ditched us, and believe me, what I’m planning to do to you is like going to church, compared to whatever those three are doing right now.”

Jungkook thought about it for a second. He didn’t want to rush things with Taehyung, but fuck, he really wanted to lick all of his body and do things to him that would make his parents disown him.

“I can’t think straight when I’m with you,” he said, still blushing.

“I don’t think you’re that straight when I’m not around either.”

Jungkook couldn’t hold back his laugh at Taehyung’s witty comment.

“Is that a yes, then?”

Taehyung was still holding his waist and looking him in the eyes. How was Jungkook supposed to say no to him?

“Yes.”

Chapter Text

The sun woke Taehyung the next morning.

He didn’t even know how long he had slept, but he was sure it hadn’t been nearly enough. Jungkook was curled up by his side, a thin sheet the only thing covering both of them. His calmed breath told him that the younger was still asleep, so he tried his best not to wake him up.

He pulled his arm from under Jungkook’s head with the utmost care and left him resting on the pillow. He went over his closet and fumbled in one of the drawers, looking for something clean to wear. He finally took a pair of boxers and put them on before going over to the window and sliding the curtains close, dimming the light in the bedroom a bit. He then went back to bed, and hugged Jungkook, trying to go back to sleep next to him.

“Stop moving.” Jungkook's voice was low, more like a whisper than a whole sentence, and his eyes were still shut. He hadn’t moved an inch.

“Go back to sleep.” Taehyung kissed him on the head and stroked his hair a bit to make him comfortable. “It’s still early.”

“No.”

Taehyung raised one eyebrow, looking at Jungkook. If he wasn’t talking, Taehyung would have sworn that the boy was still profoundly asleep. But he wasn’t. How did he do it?

“No?”

“I want cuddles.”

And then he moved, getting closer to Taehyung, making their bodies get together, skin touching all along. It made Taehyung shiver.

“You’re dressed,” Jungkook mumbled, a bit of disgust lingering on his voice. “Unfair.”

“I’m not dressed, Kookie.” Taehyung couldn’t help but chuckle at Jungkook’s words. “I just put on some underwear.”

“Unfair,” he mumbled, again.

“I can’t believe that you’re not even fully awake and you’re already this horny.”

“Not horny.” Jungkook’s sentences were short and simple as if he was actually still half asleep, and his brain wasn’t working properly. “I want cuddles.”

“Just cuddles?”

This time, Jungkook didn’t speak. He just nodded a bit, almost nothing, but enough for Taehyung to notice, since his head was basically under the older’s chin, and Taehyung could feel every move Jungkook made.

“Alright, I can give you cuddles.”

And with that, he pulled Jungkook closer, took him in his arms, and surrounded him with his body. Jungkook didn’t speak again, so Taehyung assumed he had fallen back asleep, his face resting on Taehyung’s chest, and the older was in contempt. He smiled as he pressed another kiss on Jungkook’s head, and then went back again to sleep, next to the man he was kind of losing his head over.

◈

Jungkook came out of the bathroom after taking a shower, and went back to Taehyung’s bedroom in search of his clothes, only to find out that Taehyung had left some of his own clean clothes over the bed for him. It was just a pair of sweatpants, a plain t-shirt, and some underwear, but Jungkook was sure that it was all more expensive than most of his own wardrobe.

“Oh, fuck,” he said, grabbing the pair of black boxers Taehyung had left for him, a wave of realization coming down on him.

They were sharing underwear now. This was officially a serious relationship.

Alright, no. Calm down. He needed to calm down. He was thinking too much about it, it wasn’t that important. It was just some pieces of clothing. Clean pieces of clothing. Perhaps even unused. He wouldn’t be surprised if Taehyung was one of those people that just bought a bunch of clothes and then actually wore like ten percent of it.

Still, he would be lying if he said he didn’t feel a bit aroused when he slipped on Taehyung’s underwear.

Could that be considered a kink? Was he kinky now?

He slid the t-shirt on just in time to hear the front door open. Taehyung had used the time that Jungkook had spent in the bathroom to take Yeontan for a quick morning stroll, letting the dog relieve himself and do his doggie stuff. They were back now.

Jungkook came out of the bedroom and went into the living room to welcome them both.

“Good morning,” Taehyung said when he saw him.

“Good morning.”

Jungkook got closer to him and deposited a shy peck on Taehyung’s lips, turning suddenly red. It was not only how casual it all felt, how effortless he became soft around him, but also the sudden realization of all that had happened in less than a day, what made him go full-on boil mode.

“You’re red again, Kookie,” Taehyung said, smiling, as he took off Yeontan’s harness, and let the dog run free.

“I know,” he muttered, as a shy answer. “But I’m fine. I’m happy this morning.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Taehyung got closer to Jungkook after leaving Yeontan’s harness and leash over a table and put his arms around Jungkook’s waist. “I’m happy too.” He leaned over Jungkook’s shoulder, leaving tiny kisses on his collarbone, which surely didn’t help with the blushing at all.

Taehyung was bringing back memories from last night. The kisses. The closeness. Fuck, even his smell was turning his world upside down. He had never had this kind of intimacy before. Sure, he had had sex, but that was so far from what had happened with Taehyung… The closeness, the soft feeling on his stomach, the care between them. It was all new and wonderful, and Jungkook was just a little bit afraid of becoming an addict to that feeling.

Addict to Taehyung.

But then, the soft and fluffy moment was interrupted by Jungkook’s very angry stomach, grumbling and demanding food in such a loud way that even Tannie let out a tiny whimper.

And, of course, Taehyung was chuckling against his shoulder.

“Don’t you dare,” Jungkook said, slapping him on the shoulder, and getting even redder.

“C’mon, let’s make some breakfast.”

Last time, Jungkook had been absent during the breakfast-making process, with all that being passed out and drunk in the guest bedroom. Now, however, he could watch Taehyung in all his glory. He seemed to enjoy cooking a great deal, even if this time he was only making coffee and some toasts.

He tried to help, but, apparently, when Taehyung had said ‘let’s make some breakfast’ what he had really meant was ‘let me feed you’. And well, Jungkook didn’t mind being fed. That made Taehyung even sexier.

“Well.” Taehyung had finished making everything, and now they were both sitting at the table, Taehyung taking a bite of his toast, Jungkook a much-needed sip of his black coffee. “Are we going to talk about it?”

Jungkook looked at him, halfway through his sip. He swallowed and set his cup on the table again.

“It?”

“Us?”

“Ah, us.” Well, it definitely wasn’t going down as one of humankind’s most eloquent and brilliant conversations, that much was granted. “If you’re going to propose, I may need a lot more coffee on me for that.”

Jungkook saw Taehyung almost choke on his toast, and he couldn’t hold back a laugh. His date was almost dying and he was laughing about it. What a boyfriend he would make one day.

“We’re not even properly dating,” Taehyung said, once he managed to recover. “I think it may be a bit early for proposals.”

“That’s why I would need coffee.” Jungkook shrugged as he took another sip from his coffee.

“Well, rest assured, I’m not going to propose.” Jungkook nodded, as he took a toast and started buttering it. “But I want to start by putting all the cards on the table. And I want you to know that I’m kind of crazy about you. And, well, last night sure didn’t help one bit. That thing you did with the tongue when...”

Jungkook’s hand fumbled and the toast almost went out flying.

“Taehyung!” he muttered, almost too flustered to even think. “No need to paint a picture. I was there.”

“You sure were.” A wide smile formed in Taehyung’s lips. “Anyways, I just wanted you to know. I don’t want to rush you or anything like that, but I think it is only fair that you know you’ve got me so whipped.”

Jungkook let his toast back in his plate, with a low sigh, and looked at Taehyung, feeling the rush of blood on his veins, all racing to his cheeks.

“I get it,” he said.

“You do?”

Jungkook bit his lip, avoiding Taehyung’s gaze for a second before speaking again.

“I mean, I don’t know if you noticed, but… I couldn’t stop saying your name last night…”

“I did notice that.” Jungkook could feel Taehyung’s eyes on him, and he was even redder now.

He didn’t mind talking about this, not with him. But still, his body decided it was time to rebel, it was time to get shiny and bright, and flustered. He kind of hated his body right now.

“Well, just so you know, I’m not usually that… Noisy.” He could feel his skin burning up from embarrassment. He must’ve been so bright that Taehyung was starting to get tanned. “But with you… I don’t know, it's like I can’t control myself.”

“So you’re saying that…”

“That I’m also crazy about you, asshole,” he said, his cheeks now burning up. “I can’t believe you made me say it out loud.”

A naughty smile showed up on Taehyung’s face as he let down his toast and raised from his seat, circling the table to get to the other side, close to Jungkook. Really close. He placed his hands on Jungkook’s waist and made his chair turn so they ended up facing each other.

“Don’t worry, Kookie,” he said, nice and soft, close to the younger’s ear. “You can be as noisy as you want when you’re with me. I’m already looking forward to making you moan my name again tonight.”

“Oh, god, are you always horny?”

“Next to you?” Taehyung leaned a bit closer, his lips brushing the skin of Jungkook’s ear as he spoke. “Always.”

“Gross.” But kind of hot too, Jungkook had to admit. Not out loud, not to Taehyung, but well. He was suddenly even more aware of the fact that he was still wearing Taehyung’s undies. “So, you want me to stay tonight as well?”

Taehyung pulled back a little, leaving some space between them, but his hands stayed on Jungkook’s hips.

“You can stay as long as you want,” he said, staring into his eyes. “But yes. I thought maybe we could have a little romantic weekend, just the two of us. You know, celebrate whatever it is that we’re starting.”

Jungkook smiled, suddenly.

“That would be perfect.”

Chapter Text

Eventually, the weekend ran out, and Monday came back, dragging along the routine and the need to go back to, you know, work and stuff.

They had done plenty of awesome stuff that weekend, including, but not limited to, eating, playing with Tannie, and having loud, dirty sex on every available surface on his flat (even outside, on the terrace). Sometimes the first and the last had overlapped a little.

Taehyung had left Jungkook on the fourth floor after coming together to work. He had gone back to his own apartment the previous day to get some clean clothes for the day, even though Taehyung had assured him he could borrow anything he wanted from his closet. However, Jungkook had said something about not being comfortable wearing clothes that could potentially cost more than his own high-end computer, so there was that.

He had never bought a computer himself, so he had no clue how much one could cost, high-end or otherwise. He always used what Corporate gave him, and before that, his parents had bought a laptop during his high-school years that had lasted him until he finished college and started working.

A familiar ding warned him when he reached his own floor, so he went outside the elevator and walked down the different corridors that led to his own office. As usual, Beomgyu was already sitting by his desk, probably counting how many spare minutes he had left Taehyung between meetings and scheduled bathroom breaks.

“Good morning,” he said when he reached him.

Beomgyu raised his head from his computer and smiled broadly.

“Good morning, Tae.”

Taehyung was going to walk past him after saying hi, but after that, he stopped in place, almost frozen, earning a weird look from Beomgyu.

“What.”

Taehyung raised his hand and checked his watch.

“I’m a whole three minutes late,” he said, worry washing all over his face. “Why are you not yelling at me? And what the hell happened to not calling me Tae at work because ‘we are highly valued professionals working in a serious environment and we have to have proper manners with each other’?”

“C’mon, is too much of a beautiful morning for such nonsense.” Beomgyu waved his hand as if taking importance away from it.

“Oh, no. You’ve had sex too, haven’t you?” The light blush on Beomgyu’s cheek was enough for Taehyung. “I don’t like Nice Beomgyu. Please bring back Scary Beomgyu. I really like working with Scary Beomgyu.”

“I don’t think he’ll be available for a couple of days, sorry.” He just shrugged at the fact, and Taehyung let out a loud sigh. “But don’t worry, I promise to start being bossy again once he comes back.”

“It was that good, huh?”

The fact that Beomgyu was being nice and polite meant that he was not going to boss him around and make him actually work, and go to meetings on time, and all that. And that meant that Taehyung would actually have to act like the boss. Which he did not like one bit.

“By the way, you have a lunch meeting today,” Beomgyu said, taking his phone and reading something from it. “Inter-Department Update Meeting.”

“What the hell is that.”

“I have no clue. Jimin messaged me earlier telling me to book two hours’ worth of lunch-time for, and I quote this, ‘some much needed Head of Design to Head of Design deep talk and general gossip’. He told me to write it like that on your schedule in case Namjoon sees it.”

“Great, two hours of Jimin telling me how awesome my boss’ dick is. It’s going to be a great Monday.”

“You know, you’re pretty grumpy for someone that just got himself a hot, nerdy boyfriend, and probably got some good dick this weekend.”

“You’re fired.”

“You wish.”

◈

The morning went down quite peacefully. A few phone calls, no actual meetings, and plenty of design work actually done. Taehyung tried to stay away from texting Jungkook as much as he could. They were trying this weird thing called “being professional” during work hours, and, so far, Taehyung wasn’t a big fan.

However, they had managed to only text each other during coffee breaks (although Jungkook almost always had a coffee on his hand, so Taehyung didn’t know what actually counted as a coffee break) and bathroom breaks. But hey, so far so good. Scary Beomgyu would’ve been so proud.

Eventually, lunch-time came around, and the door to his office opened, revealing Jimin at the other side, having an actual conversation with Nice Beomgyu, before turning his head to Taehyung.

“This one is different,” he said, pointing to Beomgyu. “Did you get him a software update and it went wrong?”

“Yeah, he’s been weird all morning.”

“You two realize I’m still standing here, right?” Beomgyu pointed out, making a pout. “Anyway, since you two are going to be here a while, I’m going to head out to lunch.”

“You don’t want to join us?” Jimin said.

“No, thank you. I don’t need to know that your sexual life is even dirtier than the horror movie I have already pictured in my head, thanks.”

“Oh, you think about my sexual life.” Jimin placed a hand on Beomgyu’s shoulder, lowering his voice to a deeply concerning sensual tone. “That’s hot, kid.”

“Alright, gross. I’m leaving now before I feel the physical need for filing an HR complaint.”

And with that, he closed the door behind him and left, leaving Jimin and Taehyung alone in the office.

“He’s cute,” Jimin said, walking over to the sofa on one of the office’s sides and taking a seat on it. “What’s with him being all happy and fluffy?”

“Same as you, same as me.”

Taehyung got up from his desk chair and joined Jimin on the couch.

“Uh, good for him. You know who? The Kang kid?”

“Beats me.” Taehyung shrugged. “But I hope so. I’m so tired of all that sexual tension.”

“You’re one to talk about sexual tension.”

Taehyung looked at Jimin with a hard glare.

“I’ve known Jungkook for less than two months. They’ve been ignoring each other for a whole year. It’s not the same.”

Jimin just laughed and raised his palms up in a sign of defeat.

“Alright, enough about your assistant's sex life. Let’s talk about mine for a while.” A wild grin appeared on Jimin’s face, and Taehyung felt a shiver down his spine just by thinking how much his friend was enjoying this. “And then about yours for a lot longer.”

“Pump the breaks there.” Jimin’s face shifted as if Taehyung had taken his most precious toy from his hands. “Let’s set some boundaries first.”

“Boundaries are boring,” he pouted.

“Sure they are. That’s why I like them.” Jimin pouted even more but didn’t say anything, so Taehyung kept going. “First of all, no lengthy descriptions of Namjoon’s dick. I don’t want to know the size, color, smell, or anything like that. Clear?”

Jimin nodded a bit.

“Good. I also don’t want to know how good he is in bed. I don’t care if he ate your ass to oblivion, or if he made Yoongi cry with pleasure while doing whatever kinky shit he’s into right now. Namjoon is still my boss, I need to have some respect for him.”

“We may as well not have a conversation at all,” he complained, crossing his arms across his chest.

“That’s fine by me.”

“No, no. Let’s talk. I’ll leave the sex out of it. I’ll be good.”

Taehyung couldn’t help but burst into full laughter at the sudden change in Jimin’s attitude. He knew his friend was dying to tell him how everything had gone, and Taehyung wanted to know. But he also needed to be able to see Namjoon without picturing him with Jimin’s dick in his mouth.

“Alright, tell me then.”

“Well, you know how we’ve had more threesomes than we can count.”

“I can recall something of the sort, yes.” He tried not to think too much about the fact that he had indeed been part of one of those threesomes. He loved both Jimin and Yoongi, but fuck. They were far too sexual for him.

“All of them? Complete bullshit compared to Namjoon.”

Alright, now that sounded like something that Taehyung could have taken as a personal offense, but he didn’t. He knew better than to try and live up to Jimin’s expectations in what was basically his area of expertise.

“You know how Namjoon is big . Like, he’s tall, he has broad shoulders, and he’s got this massive…” Jimin stopped suddenly at the sight of Taehyung’s face changing. “Okay, let’s say… Heart.”

Taehyung raised his brow but didn’t complain too much. At least Jimin had realized, that was definitely a step forward.

“So, being so big, you’d think he’s clumsy, which he can be, believe me. But he’s also so careful, so precise. Really detail-oriented. And he’s so good at leading. I don’t know, Tete. He took so good care of me and Yoonie. And he made us breakfast. And Yoon had breakfast with him.”

“Fuck. That’s big.”

Yoongi was kinky as shit, but he was also really shy at first, and really bad at small talk. So, breakfast after a threesome at Jimin’s usually consisted of Jimin fixing something for the third guy, and Yoongi only coming out of the bedroom after the third guy had already left.

Taehyung was pretty sure he was the only “third guy” Yoongi had had breakfast with. Until now.

“I know, it’s huge. I’m so proud of my baby Yoonie.”

“So, are you guys going to go… You know, serious?”

“Agh, I don’t know, Tete.” Jimin leaned back on the sofa, sprawling his legs and kind of messing up the rug. “I want, and I know Yoon wants too. We’ve talked about it, at least give it a try. But I don’t want my baby getting hurt.”

“You know, Yoongi is way tougher than what you give him credit for.”

“I know,” Jimin said, his voice low.

Taehyung smiled a bit, seeing Jimin being vulnerable for the first time in so long. He knew Jimin was actually concerned, but Yoongi getting hurt was not the main problem. Yoongi was a big boy, he was really tough, and, even though he looked the opposite, he could take pretty much anything you threw at him. Taehyung knew them both too well.

Jimin, however, would break so easily if someone hurt his boyfriend. Especially someone Jimin cared about, even someone he could eventually love. He’d feel he had failed Yoongi, and that would destroy him. That was what scared him. Not Yoongi getting hurt, but him not being able to prevent it.

He got closer to Jimin and surrounded him with his arms, squeezing a bit.

“You know you’ve got me here, right? No matter what.”

◈

Eventually, food came.

It was supposed to be a lunch meeting, so they actually needed to eat something if they wanted to last the whole afternoon working. Jimin had ordered some food to be delivered to Taehyung’s office, and, since Beomgyu was nowhere to be found, they were actually the ones to take the food from the delivery guy.

“What is this?” said Taehyung as he closed the door to his office, smelling the different bags. “Smells nice. And expensive.”

“It’s from a little place I know a few blocks over. Really good food, really good service. No amount of money is too much for this, believe me.” He took one of the bags from Taehyung and placed it on the small coffee table next to the sofa, pulling the contents out. “And don’t worry about paying, this is my treat.”

Taehyung settled next to Jimin and started taking things out of his own bag as well.

“Wow, first you throw me a party and now you invite me to lunch.” He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Who are you and what have you done with Park Jimin.”

“I threw you a party to get you to bone Jungkook. And I’m inviting you to lunch to celebrate the fact that you indeed boned Jungkook.”

Jimin picked one really tiny round container with some kind of sauce inside it and opened it to smell it.

“Yeah, we boned each other pretty well during the whole weekend.” Then Jimin dipped a finger in the sauce and took it to Taehyung’s mouth, who was startled but stopped to feel the flavors in his mouth. “Fuck, that’s good. What is it?”

“No clue,” Jimin said, chuckling. “I always order ‘whatever the cook thinks I would enjoy the most’. I think they hate me a little because of that, but I always leave really good tips because I fucking love the food they make, so they have never actually said no.”

“You’re so weird.”

“Well, eat,” Jimin pointed to some of the containers in front of Taehyung. “And tell me everything about the boning.”

“You’re such a perv.” Taehyung opened one of the containers and found what seemed to be some kind of meat, probably pork, swimming in thick deep brown gravy that smelled a bit like wild berries.

“Oh, I’ve had that one before. That’s so good.”

“About the weekend.” Taehyung got a set of cutlery and started diving into the meat. “We basically spent two whole days defiling every surface in my flat to the point that I think I should hire a professional cleaner to get rid of everything. But we had so much fun. He’s such a nice guy.”

“I better start preparing my best man’s speech soon.”

“I’m asking Yoongi.”

“I’ll fucking murder you both.”

They both burst into laughter, which made Taehyung almost drop the piece of meat that he was taking to his mouth at that moment.

“No, but seriously,” he said, once they managed to calm a bit. “The sex was good, but so was everything else. He’s soft, he lets me cook for him, we watched some movies together and cuddled… We even walked Tannie together holding hands  once, like a proper couple.”

“Well, sorry to break it down to you, honey, but this sounds an awful lot like love to me.”

Taehyung smiled a bit, a subtle blush rushing to his cheeks, before actually answering.

“Could be.”

“So, when are you going to ask him to actually date your sorry ass.”

They were taking bits and pieces of food from every container they had in front of them, and Taehyung could swear that every bite was better than the previous one. The food must’ve been seasoned with some kind of drug.

“There’s nothing sorry about my ass, excuse you very much.” He liked his ass. And he knew for a fact that Jimin did too. “And I don’t know. We’re going to go on an actual date, so maybe then?”

“I’ll give you the address of a love motel I know where you can pound his ass after he says yes.”

Taehyung looked at him for a bit, food still in his mouth.

“I own my own apartment, you know?” He said, after swallowing. “Why would I ever need a love motel.”

“Just for the kink of it,” Jimin chuckled.

“I swear to god, you get weirder and weirder fetishes the more time you spend with Yoongi.”

◈

Chapter Text

“Ah, the prodigal son returns!”

That’s the first thing Jungkook says as he arrives at his own apartment after a full day of work. He doesn’t even get to enter completely before Hoseok is yelling, and Jungkook is sure that some of their neighbors will complain about the noise.

“I was here just yesterday, J,” Jungkook said, defending himself. “It’s not my fault you were at Jin’s house getting dicked down.”

“Hey,” came Jin’s voice from the kitchen, even before his head popped out of the door. “That’s rude, Kook. I thought you liked me.”

Jungkook managed to mumble something close to an apology before Jin went back in the kitchen and out of his line of sight.

“You were here for five minutes,” Hoseok continued. “I checked.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes. Both of them being computer technicians, they were also pretty huge nerds, and this was partially reflected in the domotic system they had installed over the time they had lived there. They could basically manage every electronic in the house from their phones, and the house had a sort of history that detailed when they were and weren’t there. They had even hooked up Jin’s phone to the main server where it all operated from since he spent so much time there.

Jungkook had named him “Too good for Hoseok”, so now the house’s history was full of “Too good for Hoseok arrived home” and “Too good for Hoseok left”.

“I came for clothes. You were not here. What was I supposed to do?”

“You could have messaged me.”

Jin came out of the kitchen again, and got close to Hoseok, surrounding him with his arms.

“Hey, I thought Tae was the one dating Kook, not you. Should I get jealous?”

Hoseok pouted a bit while looking sideways to his boyfriend.

“You were calling him rude a second ago, now you’re taking his side.”

“I’m volatile.”

“You’re both grossly in love,” Jungkook said, heading for his room. “Get married soon, so you can go live together and I don’t have to see this anymore.”

“Yeah, like we would ever leave you alone.”

He smiled at Hoseok as he slowly closed the door to his bedroom. The low sound of their chatter was still audible through the door, and Jungkook smiled a bit. They had such a nice relationship, and, now that he was starting something with Taehyung, he couldn’t help but wonder if their relationships would be alike at all.

He dropped his bag on the desk chair and threw himself on the bed, pulling out the phone to send out a quick message to Taehyung, letting him know that he was already at home and that Jin and Hoseok were there.

He then let the phone drop to the mattress by his side and realized he had barely had any time to actually stop and think about the weekend. So much had happened in so little time, that he suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed by everything. Spending every hour with Taehyung had been magical, and, somehow, he already missed being with him, even though they had seen each other some twelve hours ago.

Apparently Jin and Hoseok were not the only ones who were grossly in love.

He blushed at the thought, suddenly feeling like an infatuated teenager. He jumped out of the bed and started to strip out of his job clothes, trying not to think too much about love and feelings, because he was just bad at that kind of thing. They had spent a weekend together and he was already picturing which color for the sofa would go nice with the walls at their future home.

He put on some sweatpants and a comfy T-shirt before coming out of his bedroom again, only to find Hoseok and Jin curled up on the sofa, watching something on the TV.

“Wow, all your clothes are still on,” he said, as he dropped on the couch next to it. “So proud of you two.”

“That can change quickly if you don’t shut your mouth,” Hoseok said, trying to be threatening.

“Well, I would surely enjoy watching this one get naked.” Jungkook pointed to Jin and winked at him.

“Sorry, Kook,” Jin said. “But I’m still very much monogamous, and my bare ass is only for my lovely boyfriend to enjoy.”

“A shame.”

Hoseok stuck his tongue out, and Jungkook couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Stop being mean.” Jin slapped Hoseok on the shoulder slightly, scolding him. “Anyway, we have a double date to plan.”

“You’re not gonna let that go?” Jungkook whimpered. “I’m no longer scared of dating Tae alone. I mean, we basically spent the whole weekend fucking, so…”

“First of all,” Hoseok said, “gross. Second, you’re not getting away that easily. I want to see you being as fluffy as we are, so the double date is happening. You owe me that much.”

“How. How on earth would I owe you that much?”

Jungkook knew he had made a mistake asking that as soon as he saw the smile on Hoseok’s face.

“Remember who got you your job, Kookie.” Hoseok was actually enjoying this, and, honestly? There was no way Jungkook could blame him. “A job by which you met wonderboy Kim Taehyung. A job that made it possible for you to ride that sweet designer dick all weekend long.”

Jin burst into laughter, and Jungkook felt his cheeks turning red for the millionth time that month.

“Who’s being gross now?” Jungkook let out a tiny sigh, as his shoulders sunk a little. “But alright, we’ll have a double date.”

He knew he would probably regret it, but what the hell. It was not like he could keep Hoseok hidden from Taehyung forever. Better to get embarrassed by his best friend soon in their relationship, so they could move on quickly and painlessly.

“So, what should we do, then?” was Jin’s next question.

And well, it was not like Jungkook had much experience dating, let alone actually going out on dates. Like, proper dates. His last relationship had been back in college, and, well, let’s just say it had not been as meaningful or as romantic as what he was beginning to feel for Taehyung.

So, what did you do when you wanted to have the perfect date but didn't know how?

Well, you asked your best friends, of course.

“I was thinking dinner,” he said, shyly. “But I don’t really know any good restaurants, so I was kind of hoping you guys would help me out with that.”

“Dinner sounds really good, actually,” Hoseok said. “We can eat all together and then if everything’s good, we can get out of each other’s hair. You know, go act like actual couples.”

“Oh, wait,” Jin jumped to his feet, raising from the sofa on one quick and quite impressive leap. “Where’s my phone? I just had the best idea.”

He searched on the table until he found his phone, and then started tapping numbers while going to Hoseok’s room and closing the door behind him.

“What’s he planning?” Jungkook asked a bit worried all of a sudden.

“I have no idea Kookie.”

“Should I be afraid?”

“I don’t know. Maybe?”

Jin didn’t spend a lot of time in the bedroom. About five minutes later, he opened the door again and came out, still speaking.

“Okay, thank you very much,” he said, before pausing for the other person to speak. “Yes, send me everything. And keep the secret for me, will you?” Again, another pause. “You’re the best. See you.”

And with that, he hung up and went back to the sofa to sit next to Hoseok, a smile perched on his lips.

“Well?” Hoseok said, sounding impatient. “Are you going to tell us?”

“Oh, that?” And the fucker was playing innocent. Jungkook was not a violent person, but he could strangle Jin at that moment. “Well, you don’t have to thank me all at once, but that was Beomgyu-ah, and he just agreed to book us a table for four at Taehyung’s favorite restaurant without saying a word to him.”

Chapter Text

Taehyung was not nervous at all.

Perhaps he should be. Tonight was, after all, his first proper date with Jungkook. It was a double date, sure. Hoseok and Jin would be there with them all the time, but it was still a date. A date. With Jeon Jungkook. He should’ve been nervous.

But how could he be, when the vultures were swooping around his flat, not letting him think about the date for two minutes straight.

Taehyung had asked Jimin to lend him his car to take Jungkook to the date. Jimin had, of course, accepted, without thinking too much about it. What Taehyung had not expected was that, when Jimin had come to his apartment that night, he would bring Beomgyu with him. And they were not there for a quick visit. They were there to gossip while he got ready.

The first thing they had done upon arriving had been going straight for Taehyung’s wine cabinet. Jimin had taken a bottle, and Beomgyu had fetched two glasses from one of the cupboards. They were now curled up on the sofa, each of them a glass of wine in their hands, with Tannie on Beomgyu’s lap, enjoying the petting.

“Could you please use the coasters,” he complained, just as he came out of the bathroom. “I bought them for a reason, you know?”

“Because you’re boring,” Beomgyu mumbled, but he took a coster, so Taehyung Ignored it.

“You know,” Jimin said, looking at him with a smirk on his face. “You’re pretty bossy for someone who’s only wearing a towel.”

“And he said he didn’t like to be bossy,” Beomgyu added.

“I will kick you both out without even blinking,” the threat rolled out of his tongue like sweet nectar from the gods. “And I could do it being naked, so stop tempting me, you assholes.”

Taehyung turned around to head over to his bedroom, but he could still hear Jimin whisper to Beomgyu.

“Well, I’ve seen him naked before, and that’s quite the sight, let me tell you.”

He rolled his eyes as both his friends started laughing, and then closed the door to his bedroom behind him. He let the towel drop from his hips and walked over to the closet. He already had his outfit picked for the night. It was a no brainer, actually. He had decided the moment Jungkook had told him they were going on a date.

There was no way Jungkook would not melt when he saw him wearing that .

“Hey, sexy ass.” Jimin’s voice came through the walls a bit muffled, but he was definitely shouting. “Come out, let us see that pretty dick of yours.”

God, wine sure made Jimin horny.

He paid them no attention, starting to put on his clothes. Once he had his pants and his shirt on, he grabbed the rest of the stuff and came out to the living room. Better not leave them unsupervised for too long.

“Oh, he’s dressed already,” Jimin pouted, at his sight. “C’mon, Beomgyu has never seen you naked, Tete. That’s just unfair to the poor kid. Let him know what he’s missing.”

“I swear to god, Tae, I want nothing to do with your dick.”

“Have I ever told you you’re disgusting, Min?” Taehyung asked.

“A few times.” Jimin nodded as he took another sip from his practically empty glass. Was that bottle already half-way? “But you love me the same.”

And well, there was nothing that Taehyung could say against that. It was basically the truth.

“So,” Taehyung said, as he finished buckling his belt, and took the tie from the chair where he had left the rest of his suit. “Are you going to tell me how that date went?”

Namjoon had done as Taehyung had told him, taking Yoongi and Jimin on a date. They had gone out just a few days ago, but Jimin was refusing to speak about it, and Taehyung was starting to get impatient.

“Absolutely not. You lost your right to know about my love life when you went behind my back, Tete.”

Taehyung could see the smile on Beomgyu’s lips, even though he was trying to hide it behind the glass of wine.

“You know about it, don’t you?” Taehyung stared at Beomgyu with a sharp look, and the boy almost choked when he heard the question.

“Yes, I told him on the way here.”

Taehyung kept looking at Beomgyu, basically ignoring Jimin’s words.

“I’m sorry Tae,” Beomgyu mumbled, finally. “But he made me promise to not tell you anything.”

Taehyung just rolled his eyes and threw his arms up in defeat, deciding now to ignore both of them until he finished getting ready. Then he could kick them out a go get Jungkook from his place. He finished doing the knot of his tie, and then he threw on his jacket, completing the look.

“Tae,” Beomgyu said. “Fuck, that suit is something else.”

“You think?” A proud, quick smile made his way through Taehyung’s lips.

“That’s one of yours, right?” Jimin was smiling as he played with the now empty glass in his hands. “You’re going for the overkill tonight, Tete.”

“One of his?” Beomgyu asked.

“Yeah,” Taehyung answered, looking at himself in a mirror. “It’s my own design.”

◈

Jungkook was almost ready to go when the doorbell rang.

Taehyung had insisted on picking him up, to the point where Jungkook had actually run out of excuses. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to go with Taehyung, but he just didn’t see the point. Taehyung could save himself some time by going directly to the restaurant, but, no matter how much Jungkook had insisted, he hadn’t changed his mind.

At least that gave Jungkook an excuse to keep the secret of them going to Taehyung’s favorite restaurant for a bit longer.

His hair was still a bit wet when he opened the door, but it sure as hell it wasn’t the only wet thing on him when he saw Taehyung at the other side, wearing that stunning suit that seemed to be made just for him.

The fabric was this beautiful shade of lilac, not too bright, not too dark, just perfect, that made his skin bright shinier. The suit also had these darker spots all over it, like ink drops that had fallen on a sheet of paper.

“Hi, Kookie,” Taehyung said, smiling.

Jungkook’s only reaction was to move out of the way so Taehyung could come into the apartment, but he was otherwise speechless, which Taehyung didn’t take too long to notice.

“You ok there?”

“Shit,” he managed to mumble, not able to take his eyes from the body of Taehyung. “This is going to sound kinky, but I now have the physical need for you to fuck me senseless while wearing that suit.”

The words rolled off his tongue without him even realizing, but, as soon as he heard Taehyung’s beautiful laughter he was aware of what he had said, making him turn red.

“I’m quite sure I’ll have a great time with kinky Jungkook,” Taehyung said, getting closer to him, and placing a soft kiss on his lips. “And we can satisfy that need later tonight. What do you say?”

“I’d like to say that I’m sure Hoseok and Jin wouldn’t mind if we stood them up because I was riding that juicy cock of yours.” Apparently horny, kinky, date-night Jungkook had no filter whatsoever. “But instead I’ll be a good boy and  I’ll say yes to later tonight.”

“Boy, you sure are intense tonight,” Taehyung said, still chucking. “Do I have to worry about you suddenly jerking me off under the table while we’re having dinner?”

“Well, if I tell you now I’ll be taking the fun out of it, don’t you think?”

Jungkook stole another quick kiss from Taehyung’s lips before stepping back from him.

“I’ll go finish getting ready, sweet thing,” he said, his voice as sensual as he could manage. “Don’t miss me too much.”

Jeon Jungkook had found tonight that he had a thing for suits. That was the only explanation for how his behavior had shifted as soon as he had seen Taehyung. It could have been that he had a thing for Taehyung, which he kind of did, but well, they had been together before, and he had never felt like this.

Perhaps it was a thing for Taehyung wearing suits. Or for Taehyung on that specific suit. Whatever it was, he had a thing now.

Kinky Jungkook was now a reality. And a reality he had no intention of fighting back.

“We still have time,” he heard Taehyung say. “I managed to convince Jimin to lend me his car, so we don’t actually have to take the bus.”

“Are you trying to tell me we have time for a quick blowjob?” he answered, still from the bathroom, trying to get his hair fixed. “You wanna give or receive?”

“I was thinking more about you not rushing with your hair, but I guess tonight everything is about sex.”

“You bet your ass it is.”

Chapter Text

With Taehyung driving them there, it became a bit trickier to keep the restaurant they were going to a secret. However, Jungkook managed.

He took charge of the GPS, and gave Taehyung general directions, so the older one was driving, but not really sure where to. When they were close enough to the restaurant, Jungkook simply told him to find a parking spot. They could do the rest of the way walking, it wasn’t much.

Besides, that gave him an excuse to walk through the city streets holding Taehyung’s hand, which was kind of nice.

“Is this where we’re going?” asked Taehyung, once they arrived at the restaurant. Jungkook couldn’t help but smile at the other’s surprise, squeezing his hand a bit “This place is perfect, Kookie. How did you know?”

“Well, it wasn’t my idea exactly,” Jungkook answered. “Jin was the one who came up with asking Beomgyu.”

“How is Beomgyu always mixed in this stuff?” Taehyung chuckled as he spoke, almost like it was more a joke meant for himself than for anyone else. “Well, regardless, this is great, Kookie. Thank you.”

And just like that, Taehyung was leaning closer to Jungkook, pressing their lips together, making Jungkook close his eyes and just enjoy the ride.

“Hey, lovebirds!”

Their lips parted at the sound of the voice, looking for the source, just to find Jin and Hoseok approaching them.

“You’re late,” Hoseok said, sounding a bit annoyed. “C’mon, we’re hungry.”

“Yeah, you can keep kissing inside,” Jin added.

Jungkook and Taehyung looked at each other and chuckled at their friends' words, but agreed with them, and went inside the restaurant. There, the head waitress received them, and, when Jin asked for their reservation, she guided them through the place.

They followed her through a staircase, which led to the dining room upstairs, which was completely empty, except for a table with four chairs at the center of it.

“Did you book the whole floor?” Taehyung asked.

“Not that I know of,” was Hoseok's answer.

The head waitress left them to sit, and they approached the table. Jungkook sat next to Taehyung at one side of the table, while Hoseok and Jin sat together at the other side. At the center of the table, there was a small white envelope, which had “Kim Taehyung” written on it.

“And what is this?” he asked.

None of the others seemed to know the answer, so Taehyung took the envelope and opened it, taking out a small piece of paper and reading it. Whatever it said, it drew a smile on his lips.

“Well?” Hoseok demanded. “Are you going to fill us in?”

Taehyung cleared his throat before taking the small paper and reading it out loud.

“‘Thanks for your dating advice, Taehyung, it all went really well. Enjoy your double date, and enjoy this dining room I booked for you. My treat. Kim Namjoon.’”

“Who the hell is Kim Namjoon?” Hoseok asked.

“He’s Tae’s boss,” Jin said. “You met him at the party. The tall guy.”

Jungkook suddenly remembered the man they were talking about, the only one he didn’t know before the party.

“And you helped your boss with dating advice?” He looked at Taehyung smiling, wondering what kind of boss-employee relationship they had for that to happen.

“I just told him to take Jimin and Yoongi on a date,” Taehyung said, shrugging. “Apparently it went well since Jimin refuses to tell me about it, and Namjoon is thanking me in this weird way.”

“Oh, a throuple,” Hoseok said, smiling. “I’ve never been friends with a throuple.”

◈

Dinner went surprisingly well.

Jin and Hoseok were not only grossly in love, as Jungkook had told him numerous times before this date, in order to get him ready for what was coming. They were also damn fine conversators. Hoseok was just as funny as Jin, and that was saying something. Besides, he had a unique way of embarrassing Jungkook with childhood stories that made Taehyung crack up all the time.

Conversation aside, Jungkook restrained himself from giving Taehyung surreptitious surprise handjobs under the tablecloth, which Taehyung thanked, although a tiny part of his brain was definitely disappointed.

The food was exceptionally good too, as it always was at that restaurant. Taehyung was a bit sad that he would not get to show it to Jungkook sometime in the future anymore, but it also warmed his heart that they had their first date there.

"So, before dessert gets here," Jin said, suddenly. "We have a little present for you two."

Taehyung and Jungkook looked at them, and they saw Hoseok just literally cracking up as he took a small bag and handed it to them. Taehyung took it and looked inside. It had two small packages in it.

"It's one for each of you," Hoseok said.

"You guys shouldn't have”, Jungkook said. "We didn't get you anything."

"Ah, shut up," Jin said. "We don't want anything except for you to be a happy couple. We need couple friends."

They all laughed while Taehyung took out the presents from the bag and gave one to Jungkook. They both shred the wrapping paper as Hoseok and Jin stared at them.

It was a framed picture of the four of them. By the look of it, it had been taken at the party when Jungkook and Taehyung had first kissed, and they were all laughing and talking. It was not like they were posing for the picture, but rather, someone had captured them mid-talk. It was actually beautiful.

"Guys, this...," Jungkook started.

"Don't even mention it," Hoseok said, interrupting him. "It was nothing, just a small detail. We wanted to thank you for sharing your first date with us. We're really happy that you two started going out, and we're glad to be part of it."

Taehyung smiled, glad to have decided to introduce those two to each other that night a couple of months ago. Now they were couple friends, and fuck, did it feel good.

"Alright, let's toast," he said, taking his glass from the table and raising it. "To us. Let's stay as couples for long, friends longer, and couple friends the longest."

"To us," they all cheered, in unison.

◈

Eventually, dessert came, and they finished eating altogether, so they moved on to drinks.

Taehyung decided to indulge a little bit. It was a special night after all, so it wouldn’t matter too much. They could take a taxi back home, come get Jimin’s car the next day. His friend wouldn’t mind. Especially if he didn’t find out.

“So, you guys will have to sign some paperwork now that you are a couple and work together?”

Hoseok dropped the bomb out of the blue, like it was nothing, just as he played with his glass on his hands, before taking a sip from his drink.

“We’re not a couple, Hoseok,” Jungkook said. “Not officially at least.”

“May I remind you that I spent a whole weekend wondering if you’d ever come home again?” His friend was smiling widely now. “Your lies have no effect on your bestie.”

“Well, maybe my knife has some effect on your eye,” Jungkook said, trying to sound threatening.

“Alright, so you’re not a couple.” Hoseok gave in, raising his palms in defeat. “Still, won’t you have to declare your relationship as co-workers who have very casual, non-commital, NSA sex to your HR department?”

Jungkook was still tempted to shove his knife on Hoseok’s eye, but he had to concede, his friend was making a good point. Jungkook had not even thought about it.

“Well, I’m not really sure,” Taehyung said, stroking his chin. “We don’t really work for the same company, so I don’t think we need to.”

“And it’s not like our HR department is a really strict one,” Jin added, to which Taehyung gave a small nod.

“How so?”

“Let’s just say that Loom & Gloom was a very sexually active work environment a few years back,” Taehyung explained. “You know, before Jimin and Yoongi started dating.”

“Yeah, once Jimin settled down, sex between co-workers plummeted,” Jin added. “But before that, HR even set this unwritten rule that allowed people not to declare any sexual relationships that happened outside of the building. I still think it’s because they were flooded in paperwork.”

“Oh, and remember when they sent this guy from HQ?” Taehyung couldn’t help but laugh at the memory. “He gave us this super long talk about how it was not healthy or professional to sleep with everyone in your workplace.”

“What kind of place do you all work in?” Hoseok asked, completely taken aback by the information.

"I'm the one who should be asking that," Jungkook complained. "You got me a job there!"

"C'mon, don't be harsh," Jin said, smiling. "It's not such a bad place now that Jimin has a boyfriend. And before that, we just had fun."

“I don’t know if I could've worked there back then," Jungkook mumbled.

"Well, it's not like we prayed on people, Kookie. Boundaries have always been important."

"How did we end up talking about this?" Hoseok asked.

"You're the one that brought it up!" Jin said as he hit his boyfriend on the arm while chuckling.

"Well, I apologize then. Please, let's change the subject."

◈

They kept talking for a while, just chatting about a myriad of subjects, ranging from how Jungkook and Hoseok just used to call each other 'Jung' as teens, and that had eventually developed in Jungkook calling Hoseok 'J' up to this day, to how Jin had decided to become a model after seeing a poster with this really handsome guy at a shopping center when he was 10 years old.

But eventually, they had to leave, and that moment came when a very polite waiter came to them and told them they needed to close the floor for cleaning since it was almost their closing time.

So they got up and went outside the building, uttering 'good-byes' at all the staff that they met on their way out.

Once back in the street, they stopped on the sidewalk just outside the restaurant. Hoseok and Jin were holding hands, and so were Taehyung and Jungkook.

"Well, I think this is where we part ways," Jin said. "It's been such a great night, guys. I really think we should do it again."

"I have to agree," Taehyung said, nodding. "I think double dates are something that I could get used to."

"I see enough of you two at home," Jungkook complained. "I don't think I need to go out on dates with you as well."

"Oh, look at you, being a killjoy and that," Hoseok chuckled. "We love you too, Kookie."

"Alright, kids, no fighting," Jin said, waving a hand between Hoseok and Jungkook. "We'll go to my place tonight, in case you're feeling like going to yours, Jungkook."

Jungkook nodded to Jin, although he was not sure if they would end up at his place or at Taehyung's.

"Well, we'll see you soon, then. Have fun tonight."

"You too, guys."

And with that, they went their separate ways, all of them probably planning to put an end to a wonderful double date night with a more intimate tone.

Chapter Text

After they left Hoseok and Jin, Jungkook and Taehyung started walking with no general destination about them. They both had drunk too much for driving, so taking Jimin's car back home was definitely a bad idea. They'd probably get a cab sooner or later, but, for now, they just walked side by side, holding hands.

They did it in silence too, just looking at each other from time to time, and enjoying each other's company.

Eventually, Jungkook was the first one to break the silence between them.

"Hey, just... I'm sorry for what Hoseok said before."

Taehyung looked at him, confused, as he stopped, making Jungkook stop by his side as well. The younger looked at Taehyung too, and their eyes met then.

"What are you talking about?" Taehyung asked.

"You know, the couple stuff. I like that we're dating and that, but I don't want to put pressure on you, or anything, by putting labels on it."

Taehyung remained silent for a second, staring at the younger, who in turn looked away from him, at the ground.

"I'm not going to feel any pressure, Jungkook," Taehyung said, eventually. "If you don't want to rush things, I'm fine with it. But I want us to be a couple. I want to be able to call you my boyfriend."

Jungkook raised his head again and stared into Taehyung's eyes. They both held each other's gaze without saying anything, until Jungkook was, once again, the one to break the silence.

"Are you..." He stopped mid-sentence, as if unsure of what to say next. He bit his lip, trying to gather up the courage necessary to keep talking. When he did, he could feel the blush already coming up to his cheeks. "Taehyung, are you asking me to be your boyfriend?"

Taehyung couldn't help but giggle at how cute and adorable Jungkook looked at that moment, with his cheeks painted a lovely shade of pink and that shy spark on his eyes.

"Are you serious?" He got closer to Jungkook, taking his hands up until they were resting on the younger's hips. "I didn't even think that I would have to ask, honestly. Not after that weekend, and the date, and all."

Taehyung's words didn't take too long to have a visible effect on Jungkook's face, as the younger one pouted a bit, making Taehyung chuckle. He leaned closer to Jungkook and stole a small and quick peck from his lips.

"Yes, Jungkook. I am asking you to be my boyfriend," he said, as he separated their lips. "What do you say?"

"Well, I don't know..." Taehyung raised his eyebrow at Jungkook's words. "You see... There's this guy at work that has been leading me on..."

"Oh, is there, now?"

"Yup. And well, I don't want to break his heart, so..."

"And is this guy handsome?"

"So handsome," he nodded. "Insanely handsome. Like, this-should-be-illegal handsome. And he's really nice to me, too, although he did some weird stuff at the beginning."

"He sounds like quite the catch," Taehyung said, smiling. "You should go get him before someone else does."

"Believe me, I'm not planning on letting him slip away from me."

Jungkook snickered before leaning closer to Taehyung until their lips met once more. This time, however, it was not a tiny peck, nor was it a timid one. No, this time, they allowed themselves to enjoy each other. It was rough, it was wet, and it was desperate. But, most of all, it was passionate. Like they could not get enough of the other one like they needed to breathe each other instead of air now.

At some point, Jungkook started to giggle against Taehyung's lips. It was something subtle at first, but it grew more and more obvious.

"What?" Taehyung asked, parting their lips.

Jungkook didn't answer right away. Instead, he let himself be lost for a short while in Taehyung's eyes, admiring the beauty of the older one, as he bit his lower lip and smiled.

The time for blushing was now gone, and it felt good to be able to look at Taehyung and see that Taehyung was staring back at him, all of it without feeling like his cheeks would burst, or that his body would suddenly burst into flames.

And at that moment he thought that nothing could compare to the feeling of someone gawking at you in the same breathless, thirsty, enamored way as you looked at them.

"I was thinking about how good my boyfriend tastes."

◈

They kept walking around for a while, but at a certain point, they just decided to call a cab and head over Taehyung's flat finally. They spent the whole ride there cuddling on the back seat of the car.

When the cab arrived at Taehyung's building, they didn't spare one second more than necessary before going in the elevator and getting into Taehyung's flat.

Once there, they were welcomed by bouncy Yeontan and his wiggly tail, which made Jungkook immediately drop to the floor to pet the dog.

"Tannie!" he said, rubbing Yeontan's belly now that he was sprawled on his back for Jungkook. "Did you miss me, buddy? I missed you so much."

Taehyung took off his jacket as he watched them both playing, and went over to the couch to leave it over the armrest.

"You know, Kookie," he said, loosening his tie. "One could think that you only accepted to be my boyfriend because of Tannie."

When Jungkook looked up, without ever stopping rubbing Yeontan's belly, he was smiling from ear to ear, those beautiful teeth of him shining as bright as Taehyung's future.

And well, it checked out, since Jungkook was now Taehyung's future.

"Maybe I did," Jungkook said, playful, before turning his eyes back at Tannie. "Maybe I tricked your daddy to get to be with you more, right? And now daddy is all jealous. Isn't that cute, Tannie?"

Taehyung scoffed and rolled his eyes.

He remembered the first time Jungkook had been to his flat, after Jimin's party. He had played with Yeontan a bit, but Taehyung knew that he had been so embarrassed about passing out that he had reined it in a lot. The second time, after the night they had kissed for the first time, he had been so much more playful with Tannie, and Tannie had loved him so much. And now, well, it seemed Yeontan no longer had only one dad. He had two dorks all for himself that loved him like crazy.

"Well," Taehyung said. "While you spend your night petting Yeontan, your actual boyfriend will be in the bedroom. Naked. Your choice, Jeon."

And with that, he turned and started walking towards the bedroom. As he walked, he started unbuttoning his shirt. He knew Jungkook would be able to see him until he entered the room, so, once at the door, and just to add some more drama to his exit, he let the piece of fabric to the floor, before going in and outside of Jungkook's sight.

"Fuck, Tannie," Jungkook whispered to the dog. "Daddy is playing hard tonight. Be a good boy and go to sleep. We are definitely going to make some noise."

With a final pet to Yeontan's belly, Jungkook jumped up and went straight for Taehyung's bedroom.

He was still a bit in shock after getting to actually call Taehyung his boyfriend, he was not going to deny that. A few months back, when they had first met, Taehyung had seen so out of his league, so perfect, so pristine, that Jungkook would have never imagined, not only asking him out but actually talking to him about anything not work-related.

And yet, they had talked. And they had misunderstood each other and messed up a few times, sure, but in the end, they had managed to make this weird relationship work, somehow.

A good part of it had been thanks to their friends pushing them, that was for sure. Without them, it would have probably taken Taehyung and Jungkook months to get where they were now.

But now it was not the time to think about their friends. Not when Jungkook was about to go into Taehyung's bedroom to spend the night destroying the mattress of his bed in every position they could think of.

No. Right now, he just wanted to wreck Taehyung. And he wanted Taehyung to wreck him so bad.

"You're still wearing too much, Jeon."

Taehyung's voice welcomed him as he entered the room, deep, calm, defying. He always said that he didn't like to be the boss, that being in charge of stuff was just too much of a trouble, especially in front of Beomgyu. But in the bedroom, things changed. In the bedroom, Taehyung was in charge.

Jungkook could feel the smell of Taehyung's perfume lingering on the air, so strong that he could probably just jerk off to that, and it would be more than adequate.

But no. He had a bigger prize waiting for him.

The light in the bedroom was off, but Jungkook could see the outline of his boyfriend laying on the bed and, judging by the lump of clothes at Jungkook's feet, he was most likely not wearing anything at all.

Without even giving it a second thought, Jungkook started to fight the buttons on his shirt as he closed the bedroom door with the door.

"I hope your neighbors have earplugs," he said.

In the darkness, Jungkook's shirt flew free, dropping somewhere in the floor, as he immediately went to unbuckle his belt and get rid of his pants.

"Fuck them," Taehyung replied.

"No," Jungkook whispered, as the last of his clothes dropped to the floor and he practically jumped on the bed. "Fuck me."

Chapter Text

Four months later

Jungkook gave a last look over the place he had called home for the past few years, now completely empty, devoid of all their stuff.

“I’ve just talked to the company,” Hoseok said, coming into the living room, sliding his phone in the inner pocket of his jacket. “They’ll take the rest of the stuff while we’re at the event. The concierge will be here, so we don’t have to.”

Jungkook nodded, still looking around him, trying to get his head around everything.

“I can’t believe we won’t be living here tomorrow,” he said.

Hoseok came closer to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I know. But it was bound to happen.” Hoseok shrugged. “You moving into Taehyung’s flat. Me and Jin going to our new place. It’s progress, Kookie. It’s good.”

“I know, I know,” he smiled, turning to Hoseok. “Show it to me again?”

Hoseok chuckled before taking his other hand out of his pocket and waving it in front of Jungkook’s face. It was kind of hard to miss the shiny ring on his finger.

“Fuck, it must have cost Jin a fortune,” Jungkook said, hypnotized by the blinking and the shining. “I’m so happy for you two.”

“Well, you better be. What kind of best man would you be otherwise.”

They both laughed, leaning into each other. Their lives were about to change drastically, with Hoseok being now engaged, both of them moving out of their flat and with their respective partners. Besides, Jungkook had gotten a sweet promotion, which meant he wouldn’t be working at Loom & Gloom anymore. Everything was changing.

“I’m going to miss you so much, Kookie.”

Jungkook looked at his friend, who was now leaning on his shoulder.

“What are you talking about? We’re going to see each other all the time. We’re not going to stop being friends.”

“I know that.” Hoseok was now pouting, and Jungkook thought that he looked so cute. “But I’m going to miss seeing you before your morning coffee, with your hair all messed up. Or when you come out of the shower, shirtless and steamy. Just living with you.”

They stayed in silence for a while, just standing there, in the living room of their now empty flat.

“I’m going to miss it too,” said Jungkook, and he felt Hoseok’s hand squeezing his own.

“Have I told you that you look awesome in that suit?” Hoseok asked.

Jungkook couldn’t help but chuckle a bit.

“Thanks,” he answered. “It’s an original Kim Taehyung, you know? Not from this collection, but his own personal design, just for me. He’s wearing the counterpart.”

“God, that’s so cool.”

Jungkook sighed while taking in one last look at their old flat.

“We should get going,” he said. “I don’t want to be late.”

◈

Taehyung felt like he would barf at any minute.

He felt shivers down his spine at every faint breeze of air that came his way. He knew he had no reason to be this nervous, but he just couldn’t help himself. He was about to run out of this place and into the nearest alley to scream when he felt a big hand fall down on his shoulder.

“Calm down, Tae.” Namjoon’s voice was soothing and low, and the physical contact actually helped to ease Taehyung’s nerves. “Everything’s going to go smoothly, and we’ll be out of here in no time. And stop shredding that flyer to pieces, you’re kind of looking like a psychopath.”

Taehyung looked down at his hands, and he saw the pieces of paper crumpled between his fingers. He sighed, and let the pieces over a table close to him, and then took his hand to his face and rubbed his eyes.

“I’m going nuts,” he said.

Namjoon circled him and got himself in front of him. He grabbed Taehyung by the shoulders and made him raise his head and look at him.

“Listen, I get it, you’re scared. You’re risking a lot today. But you have my support all the way. And you’re going to have your friends with you. And Jungkook. Everyone's supporting you. Don’t forget it.”

Namjoon’s words did actually calm him down a bit. To think he had been sent to babysit him so long ago now, and he was now one of his closest friends. Taehyung was sure that the Board of Directors hadn’t seen that one coming.

“Thanks, Joon,” he whispered.

“Anyways, talking about boyfriends,” he straightened up, taking advantage of his monstrous height to scout the surrounding grounds. “Do you have any idea where my mine are?”

Taehyung shrugged.

“Knowing Min I’d say he’s probably sucking Yoongi dry in one of the fitting rooms.”

“Well, that does sound like them.” Namjoon checked his phone for a second, and then put it away again, with some disappointment on his face. “I’d better go find them. You know, before someone else does. You ok?”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t worry.” Taehyung forced a tiny, shy smile. “You actually helped a lot. Now go, make sure your boyfriends don’t cause a scandal.”

After seeing Namjoon go away in search of his two very problematic boyfriends, Taehyung turned around, to the area where the models were getting ready. He saw Beomgyu, who was supervising the whole process and got closer to him.

“Hey, Beomgyu,” he said, now a little more cheerful. “How’s everything going?”

“Ah, Taehyung-ssi.” Beomgyu actually took his eyes away from his tablet to look at Taehyung. “Everything’s right on schedule. The models are all rocking the outfits. Specially Seokjin-ssi.” He leaned closer to whisper. “I tell you if he wasn’t engaged, and I didn’t have a boyfriend…”

“You know, since you’re dating the Kang kid again you’re a lot hornier. I don’t like it.”

“Stop calling him that, he has a name.” Beomgyu actually pouted at Taehyung. He had become actually very protective of his boyfriend and, after all, they had been through, there was no way Taehyung could blame him. “And if you don’t like it, maybe you can find another assistant.”

Beomgyu knew that Taehyung had a soft spot for him, and also that he was probably the best personal assistant in the whole country. He used those two facts to his advantage and against Taehyung all the time. And, well, Taehyung would be completely disappointed if he didn’t.

“C’mon, you know I’m happy for you. Just let me tease you, I don’t ask for much.”

“Hey, guys.”

Beomgyu and Taehyung turned around at the sound of a new voice. Jin was wearing one of the suits of the collection, and Taehyung almost had to hold back his tears at the sight of him. It fitted so well, and the suit was so beautiful. He couldn’t quite get his head around the fact that he had designed that .

“Fuck, Seokjin-ssi,” Beomgyu said.

“I know, right?” He actually turned around to give them the complete look, and well, Taehyung had to remind himself that all of them had boyfriends whom they loved very much. “You’ve outdone yourself this time, Tae. I’m actually tempted to steal some of the clothes.”

And, well, he had outdone himself. He knew it. He just didn’t know if it would be enough in the eyes of the Board to keep his job. But, somehow, seeing Jin dressed in his clothes calmed him a great deal. He could see that he had done everything he could to succeed.

To him, it already felt like a success.

◈

Jungkook held his hand during the whole event, not letting him go at any moment.

And that helped so much. Jungkook always helped so much. Of course, being surrounded by his best friends was wonderful as well. But feeling Jungkook sitting next to him, how he squeezed his hand every time a new outfit came on the runway, that was what got him through the whole presentation without barfing.

Well, that and the fact that Hoseok jumped in his seat and cheered every time Jin came out to the runway.

Once the runway was over, Taehyung had to get up there to give a little speech. He didn’t make it too long, just a quick bunch of thanks to everyone who had worked with him during the past months, to the Board for allowing him to make this collection, and, of course, to his friends and his beautiful boyfriend for being by his side. And he could see how Jungkook’s cheeks turned red even from up there when he got to that part.

When that part was also done, he felt finally free. The collection was done, and all that awaited them now was the official post-presentation party at Jimin’s, so he went out of the runway to meet with his friends again. All of them were smiling at him, even Jin, who had joined them, wearing his own clothes now. They were showing him their support, and Taehyung felt so happy, so glad to have found this little, weird, very gay family.

“You did great up there, Tete,” Jimin said, smiling.

“We’re so proud of you, Tae.” Jungkook got closer to him and gave him a hug and a kiss, and Taehyung couldn’t help but smile against his boyfriend’s lips.

He was surrounded by his loved ones after successfully presenting a  whole new collection for the brand he worked for. He was content. Scratch that, he was genuinely happy. And nothing could take that from him right now.

“Mr. Kim.”

Oh, right, he was forgetting about that part.

They all turned around to face the person who had just arrived. Bang Sihyuk was followed by a bunch of important-looking, suit-wearing clones, who did not have the same pleasant look on their boring faces as the CEO did.

“Sorry for interrupting this beautiful moment,” he said. “But, could I speak to you for a moment?”

“Yeah, sure.” Taehyung turned away from the CEO to look at Jungkook. “I’ll see you at Jimin’s?”

“You don’t want me to stay?” was his answer.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

He kissed Jungkook one last time before saying goodbye to him and his friends, who then left him alone with Bang Sihyuk and his cohort. All of them except for Namjoon, who stayed by his side. Taehyung smiled at him and mouthed a little thank you towards his friend.

“Ah, Assistant Director Kim,” Sihyuk said, regarding Namjoon. “You’re here too. Good, good.”

“Mr. Bang.” Namjoon bowed his head a bit, greeting the CEO.

“Well, I’ll get straight to the point.” The CEO clapped his hands a bit and then rubbed them together. “You’ll probably want to go celebrate after such an impressive presentation. I just wanted to congratulate you in person. And please, pass down my congratulations to the whole design team as well. It was truly a beautifully made collection.”

For a second, Taehyung thought he had surely heard wrong. It had almost sounded as if Bang Sihyuk, CEO of Gloom International, was actually saying that he had done a good job. But, well, he was smiling. And when Taehyung looked at Namjoon, he saw that he was also smiling. So that was good.

“So, you liked it, sir?” he managed to mumble, to which the CEO just nodded. And Taehyung felt like he could faint at any moment. “So I’m not getting fired?”

“Fired?” Bang Sihyuk seemed actually surprised at the idea. “After what you’ve shown us today? God no, kid. You’re very much not fired.”

Taehyung let out a nervous chuckle, and couldn’t help but grab Namjoon’s arm, just for the sake of feeling something real, making sure he was not dreaming.

“In fact,” the CEO continued. “Gloom International is planning to create a new clothing brand, something much more elite-oriented than Loom & Gloom, and with a worldwide projection. And I’d like to offer you the position of Head of Design.”

“Alright, I’ll go ahead and faint now, if you don’t mind.”

◈

“Wait, you didn’t actually faint, right?”

They were now back at Jimin’s, with the party now fully going. Jimin, Yoongi, and Namjoon were doing their rounds, greeting everyone who had come, acting like the hosts they were. Hoseok and Jin were kissing in the pool. They had said something about it being romantic, now that they were engaged, to go back where they had met. And Beomgyu and Taehyun… Well, he had no clue where those little horny monsters were.

As for Jungkook and him, they had taken one of the deck chairs by the pool and dragged it away a bit, to get some privacy. Taehyung was telling him now about the talk with Bang Sihyuk, and the promotion he was about to get.

“I did not,” he said, answering his boyfriend’s question. “I almost did, but, in the end, I didn’t. I did have to grab Namjoon’s arm tighter, just to, you know, get some stability. It was quite a shock.”

“So…” Jungkook was sitting on his lap and resting his body on his, his head on Taehyung’s shoulder. “That’s it? You’re leaving Loom & Gloom?”

“Well, it’s not settled yet. He told me to think about it and give him an answer in a couple of months. They’ll need a new Head of Design for Loom & Gloom, so I’ll put in a good word for Taehyun.”

“I can’t believe how much our lives have changed in six months.”

“Well, they can throw all the changes they want,” Taehyung said. “As long as you’re by my side, I couldn’t care less.”

“God, you’re so cheesy sometimes.”

They both laughed at the same time, before hearing someone approaching them.

“Hey, lovebirds.”

Hoseok and Jin were standing now in front of them, wearing only really tight speedos, both of them dripping wet, creating little pools of water at their feet.

“Do you know where Yoon, Joon & Co. are?” asked Jin.

“You really need to find a better nickname for them,” Taehyung said, looking at them. “What do you need them for?”

They looked at each other as if wondering if it was ok to share with their friends. Taehyung assumed then that he didn’t actually want to know.

“We are going to ask them for a room in which we can fuck,” Hoseok said, finally.

And well, Taehyung wasn’t wrong. He wouldn’t have minded not knowing.

“Yeah,” he said, anyway. “Second floor, end of the hall. That’s the room you want to use. It's the one Jimin has for his horny friends. But be careful, I haven’t seen the kids in a while, so maybe they’re using it.”

“We’ll kick them out if they are,” said Jin, a mischievous smile on his face.

“Or join them,” added Hoseok. And his smile was even worse than Jin’s.

And there they went, strolling happily, holding hands, towards the house, both ready to defile one of Jimin’s guest bedrooms.

“I can’t believe they have a specific room for when we get horny,” Jungkook said after they had left.

“Really? Have you ever met them? They’re the kinkiest, horniest people I know, and they think everyone else should be like them. What surprises me is the fact that they have a separate room for us, and don’t give us the key to the sex dungeon instead.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

They stayed silent for a while before Jungkook spoke again.

“Is it too cheesy if I say that I’m really happy right now?”

“Like, here you mean?”

“No. Well, yes, but also, in our lives. I’m happy with you. You make me happy.”

Taehyung smiled a bit before pressing a kiss against Jungkook’s head, stroking his hair.

“You make me happy too, Kookie.”

◈ THE END ◈