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moonchild1 · 1 year ago

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jeon jungkook fic rec list (Ⅹ)

yup i've hit you with another list and once again i had so much fun putting it together... i was away for a bit but that spark came back and i'm back in action... this list holds so many amazing fics i've read it's alot of different types of storylines and some new genres i wanted to try out and i am so excited to go down that road with these new genres i haven't explored yet, but please do enjoy this list there's so many great fics here you will get lost in it i know it did, my next list should be out by next month i want to take time to read as many as i can and get back all that excitement so the next one might take a while... since these fics are so outstanding we can't forget to give all the love and support to the incredible authors who have taken the time to plan and write these fics without them we wouldn't get to read such beautiful and entertaining fics so please so them all the love and support in the world cause they truly deserve it leave them a nice comment, like and reblog the posts so others can discover them too and give them a follow and check out their masterlists i'm telling you, you will most definitely fall in love with their work and find lots of great pieces in there. most of the fics i recommend contain smut so no minors allowed and don't interact you as well as ageless blgs will be blocked and if you would like to share a fic with me you are more than welcome too i love hearing from you i hope you all enjoy this list and till next time ~ kiki ♡

f- fluff s- smut a-angst

series

between takes by @jeonstudios f s a

as a fluffer for a popular porn star, your focus is to keep him hard and performing on set. turns out he's not the only thing that's hard.

i want you to stay by @ahundredtimesover f s a

Working for Jungkook isn’t the same as working for Hoseok. For starters, Jungkook doesn’t smile, he doesn’t appreciate you, and he gives you too much work. It doesn’t help that he’s incredibly handsome and has women at his beck and call. But as the tension grows, it becomes impossible to resist him. You've dedicated yourself to your job for 8 years so when you finally decide to put yourself first, he asks you to reconsider. And while you know that leaving is difficult, you learn that when it comes to Jungkook, staying is always so much harder.

you're losing me by @sparklingchim s a

in the midst of marital challenges, jungkook and you grapple with the complexities of your relationship. yet, the lingering question whispers: how do you truly determine if the journey is worthwhile?

kiss the girl by @guked f s a

after saving a human prince from being drowned by the sea witch, you’re cursed by that infamous witch to live out the rest of your days as a human—unless you can manage to get true love’s kiss from that very same prince. which would be a simple task, had he not hated you the moment you met.

flux by @yoonia s a ft. myg

One of them is your longtime secret crush, while the other is the man with whom you had shared many heated nights filled with lust and forbidden desire, forever kept as your biggest secret of all time. You had sworn that those sinful nights would end, and that your secret crush would remain a secret. poly au

in motion by @/yoonia s

The rule is simple; you can look but you can’t touch. You’ve been attending the event for a few times since you’ve encountered the voyeurism club, but it was only when a certain boy arrives on one occasion did you feel the fire of lust burning inside.

what the fire gave us by @gimmethatagustd f s a

↬ You were born with a Gift that the world wanted to turn into a weapon. All Jungkook wanted to do was show you that you could find love, even in the dark.

friend in me by @ktheist f s a

“don’t confuse your party friends with your real friends.”

knife's edge by @readyplayerhobi f s a ft. pjm

The Jeon Clan is Family, built on blood and loyalty. It’s been an unspoken fact that one day you will marry the heir to the Clan, Jeon Jungkook. You would be a fool to deny that you love him, but what happens when you meet a blue haired man who offers you a chance at normality?

take a chance by @crystaljins a

You should have known the second your business partner asked you to plan his best friend’s wedding as a favour that it was going to be nothing but trouble. Especially when it turns out he’s in love with said best friend. And dying of a deadly disease because of it.

chess of ice by @jimlingss f a

Jeon Jungkook is a rising star, aka. hockey captain of a team heading for the Olympics. The last thing he expects is to begin a whole ‘nother sport, holding a broomstick in his hand, sweeping the ice and throwing dumb stones towards a target. As if that wasn’t bad enough, his love life is about to turn into a game of chess as well....and you’re his opponent.

diamond in the rough by @kimvtae f s a

When a business heir from Busan, Jeon Jungkook, meets you, a poor girl from Daegu, he doesn’t expect to fall as quickly as he does. He’s been told for his entire life to avoid Daegu, a town riddled with gangs and a history of a brutal murder in Busan, but he can’t stay away from you, even when he’s warned that you’re not good enough for him.

try hard by @hobibliophile f s

Yoongi asks you to help him photograph the university rugby team, and you’re reluctant until you see Jeon Jungkook in uniform. Damn.

cruel intentions by @jeonqukie f s a

All is well in your overtly simplistic life. You managed to maintain decent grades in university all the while progressing through your relationship with your long-time boyfriend and accompanying your best friend in her exhausting personal life. But as the saying goes when there are ups, there will surely be downs. While you’ve maintained this upward pattern, you are defeated when one afternoon inevitably brings you to a downward spiral. All good things must come to an end. Who knew you would be sharing the same sentiment with someone you barely know.

sillage by @deerguk s

Soulmate!AU where soulmates are drawn to one another by the infliction of physical touch, whether it be pain or pleasure. But it is only initiated once the two people somewhat interact.

remote learning by @hansolmates s

working remote sucks, and you would love a little relief. after buying a new toy to blow off some steam, you’re baffled when you can’t cum. however, jungkook thinks you’re doing it wrong, and shows you a thing or two.

when it rains by @choiwrites s a

Being an exotic dancer was never easy. Every day was the same for you, until you reached that one breaking point you’ve been avoiding since your miserable life started. On a rainy night, Jungkook and his yellow umbrella were your last call of hope.

hate at first weeb by artaemis, freckleyoon (ao3)

You just want to weeb in peace but your annoying downstairs neighbour just won't let you breathe

wanted by @jincherie s a

You were a deserter, a renegade, a wanted “criminal”. It was never in your plans to crash land on that planet, and it most certainly wasn’t in your plans to fall in love with it’s handsome ruler.

everything in you by @jjungkookislife f s a

You want a baby and Jungkook is willing to help. f2l, roommates au, pregnant!reader

home for the holidays by @/jjungkookislife f s a

Jungkook is in desperate need to find a girlfriend for Christmas. His mom has nagged and nagged about him bringing someone home for the holidays. Determined, Jungkook recruits his friends in hopes of finding the right girl to take home. In need of a place to stay, and no plans for Christmas, you answer his friend’s ad. You have 25 days to convince not only his parents but his grandmother that you’re in a real relationship, solid enough to get through Christmas with the Jeons.

every breath you take by @junqkook s a

everything was going great when you first met jeon jungkook. he was a new light in your life with soft smiles and tinkling laughs; but then you noticed a lurking presence that seemed to follow you wherever you went.

navy by @jjkfire f a

He’s your best friend, practically your other half and the two of you have always promised to be there for each other no matter what. The both of you have dreams of professionally making music together one day and to you it’s almost like reality, a given really, and with each day, the dream starts to feel like it’s within reach. But, one day, with one sentence, Jungkook destroys it all.

wicked by @adonis-koo s a

In a desperate hope to stop war from breaking you are a serviced to wed the most vile man alive, the one who has committed atrocities and war crimes beyond comprehension, he who is responsible for the fall of many nations, the wicked prince who’s heart is made of stone. You are to marry a man who challenges every belief and moral you stand for, all while being faced in a foreign land with nobody but yourself too trust…But are you both truly that different? Or is hate not too far from love?

paper doll by @winetae s a

When the nation’s little sister, IU, gets into a huge scandal, your agency seizes the opportunity to thrust you into that now vacant spotlight. Your self-composed song Paper Doll becomes an overnight sensation, and soon people are itching to find out who was the one who broke your heart. All hell breaks loose once netizens discover that you used to date popular idol, Jeon Jungkook. Little do they know that it wasn’t him who left the relationship unscathed — it was you.

one shot

the devil's change up by @jungblue f s

Majoring in athletic training means you have mandatory observation hours to perform with every single sports team at your school throughout the year, and so far it’s been going pretty great. However, when regrets from your past cause your rotation with the baseball team to become a little rocky, there’s one star pitcher who says that he can make it all better.

this is how we break up by @/ahundredtimesover s a

There are things you prepared for coming back home and that includes seeing your ex-boyfriend, but helping him design his apartment isn’t one of them. From meetings over coffee and lunches with your friends, you both learn more about the time in-between, and what you find out leave you heartbroken, wondering if there’s enough of you left to try to get back what you’d lost. “You know what they say about past lovers remaining friends? It’s either they never loved each other to begin with, or they still do. And we all know how much they loved each other, don’t we?”

a piece of the moonlight by @/jimlingss f a

For your loved ones, the people who are waiting at home, the people who have died - you will fight. And sometimes to fight means to sacrifice: who you really are and the person you really love.

the quest to bedding the lead singer of frontman by @kpopfanfictrash s

Frontman is your favorite band in the world and honestly, the only reason you waited this long in line is to stand at the front for a shot with the lead singer. Enter sexy sound boy, who just won’t leave you alone. (punk!Jungkook)

heartbreak trials by @dreamyjoons s a

it all started with a bet: the one with the highest body count would get the most illustrious prize - Namjoon’s bedroom. For you and Jungkook, the race was on.

perhaps love by @mangowillow f a

for as long as you can remember, you have been in love with your childhood friend turned roommate, but jeon jungkook remains oblivious even when he comes to comfort and help you sleep every night.

what? now by @theharrowing f s

For as long as you and Jungkook have been friends, your feelings for him have been unrequited. Or have they?

lilac wisteria by @blushoseoks f a

the first time jeon jungkook says that he is going to marry you, you are five years old sitting underneath a large wisteria tree.

tell me no lies by @jeongi f s a

You chose to rob your boss, however; you never expected to fall in love with him.

mcd*ckin by @jinned s

"So, if I'm so predictable," you tease, running your finger along his clothed chest, "what am I going to do next?"

things you said while you were driving by @cupofteaguk f

post breakup au

(y)our name by @jjkpls f s a ft ot 6

It’s always been the two of you since you were little. People came and went in your lives and Jungkook didn’t mind until you turn into grown-ups and he starts to mind a bit too much.

(un)welcomed addition by @shuadotcom f a

After a drunken one night stand with your neighbor, you have your reasons for wanting to forget it ever happened and never talk to him again. Unfortunately, Jungkook wins the award for the world’s worst neighbor so his 3 am wakeup calls and mail stealing have you banging at his door on an almost weekly basis. You just want to make it to the end of your lease so you can leave all the traces of the fuckboy next door behind...unless your feelings get in the way of course.

Just Like the Movies by @/shuadotcom f s a

When you need a fake date for your cousin’s wedding and all of your other friends have plans, that only leaves your best friend Jungkook - who you also happen to be completely in love with. It’ll be easy getting through a week of fake dating him, right?

watermelon sugar by @/shuadotcom f s a

When your friends outvote you for your annual summer trip, you end up stuck at a beachside town. To make it worse, there’s an irritating local surfer boy that won’t leave you alone… that is until you see him shirtless and in the water - then you don’t want him to leave you alone and your unexpected summer romance begins.

take my whole life by @/ktheist f s a

chaebol au. arranged marriage au. expecting parents au.

never let you go by @yeojaa f s

You do things without thought, making impulse decisions that’d make Freud proud. Sometimes they pay off, sometimes they don’t. (or: Jeon Jungkook’s just as impulsive as you.)

speaking in bodies by @/yeojaa f s a

The holidays have never meant much to you - less a promise of Christmas morning joy and more a reminder of all the things you’ve lost. Some would call you a grinch; others, just a plain old asshole. Jeon Jungkook would call you both. The more time you spend together, though, the more you thaw, melting beneath the sun that seems to sit right in the centre of his chest.

howling for you by @fortunexkookie f s

The way your Little Red Riding Hood costume lured over a fuckboy in a half-assed werewolf costume was a little cliche, but god damn was he beautiful. He promised he had plenty of big things to show you, and you took him up on the offer, not realizing that you might’ve bitten off more than you could chew

cold nights & blurred lines by @awrkive f s a

jungkook and you have been in a sexual relationship with each other for four months now, and it’s casual for the most part. but as time passes, you can’t help but feel that some of the lines suddenly got blurred in the process. is it a cliché to blur the lines with your fuck buddy? it definitely is. will you do something about it? both of your emotional constipation have a hard time saying yes.

christmas is waiting for you by @/lamourche f s ft myg (ao3)

Being home for the holidays surrounded by your well-meaning family isn’t that bad. All you have to do is (1) survive the Andersons’ annual Christmas Eve party, (2) avoid all questions about your job, and (3) avoid your high school nemesis (not a crush!), Jeon Jungkook.

lost stars by @/subvk f s a (ao3)

Falling in love with Jeon Jungkook was everything you’ve ever dreamed of and more, but maybe it was exactly that: a dream so blissful and comforting that it was too good to be true, something that could all disappear when the night changes to day, and your eyes open again. Or, making a marriage pact with your best friend was supposed to instill a sense of hope for you, so why does this hurt you more than it should?

a beautiful epiphany by @/subvk f s a (ao3)

Derailed by heartbreak and the loss of inspiration, Jeon Jungkook tries to rediscover his love for art again. As his best friend, you’re willing to do anything to help him reignite his lost passion. Little do you know that the struggling artist’s new muse is closer than you think.

the philosophy of goodluck by @kidguk f s

“you told me i looked good and that you needed to get a tattoo of my face” is not the explanation you wanted to hear from the tattoo artist that permanently etched the dumbest drunken request of your life onto your skin.

mountebank by @/kidguk f s ft. pjm

Soulmate AU featuring Jimin, in which you’ve been waking up next to your soul-enemy and running from your soul-mate. Figure that mess out, will you?

holidays of breads and wood by @cutaepatootie f a

Every December now smells like freshly baked bread and wood to you. Its cold wind brings you memories of him every morning as you are kneading your mixture of water, flour and a pinch of nutmeg – the secret ingredient that makes your bread taste so special. It seeps through the open window of your small kitchen and shakes your entire body. It seeps under your flour-stained apron, getting through your clothes and reminding you of his soft touch. It sounds like forest and shines like snow under the sunlight. It fills your nostrils with familiar scents. Every December now feels like distant memories of a man you once knew, who loved to carve his dreams in wood.

a fallen bookmark on a thursday afternoon by @/cutaepatootie f s a

He came to you like the air comes into the train station after the fast arriving of the machine. It comes fast and unexpected, making you hoist your head to look at the long vehicle and the people inside. It is so fast you can’t even distinguish the different wagons. As the train comes to a stop, the wind that it creates plays with your hair, leaving you breathless. That’s how Jeon Jungkook came into your life.

every kind of way by @gukslut s

Three little vignettes, three completely different experiences, same perfectly wonderful boyfriend JK

heavy lifting by @snackhobi f

you work the night shift in a supermarket. and now your crush, aka the cutest boy in the world, aka the guy you’ve been thirsting after for months, aka jeon jungkook, works the night shift too.

blue orchid by @inkedtae f a

hanahaki & soulmate au

up to snow good by @aredheadedmess f a

It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.

cherry bomb by @milfgyuu f s

You’re a cocktail waitress in a high end nightclub and you’ve been mutually crushing on one of the bartenders. Tonight, one of your customers oversteps boundaries and when Jungkook gets involved, you’re ready to toss your ‘no dating co-workers’ policy out the window.

work it out by @/choiwrites s

You never would have thought that you’d be working with the college dropout who was coincidentally your best friend’s ex-boyfriend, Jungkook. Saying his name already burns your tongue, you wonder how long you can hold your professionalism around him.

all in by @iamjungkooked s a

Jeon Jungkook is everything you have ever desired in a partner. He’s kind, passionate, funny, honest, warm and every positive adjective in the dictionary. He totally gets you and you get him. He seems like the perfect guy for you, except he is dating your best friend. What could possibly go wrong? OR The four times you get the wind knocked out of you by Jeon Jeongguk

until my last breath by @/iamjungkooked s a

Sporting an undercut and tattoos Jeon Jungkook waltzes back in your life after 5 years of being away. You think you know him– and just when you think you have gotten close, he reveals a secret (or two). Following this, is a series of trials and tribulations that concludes in a way you never expect. (Alternatively: the one where Jungkook creates a mess out of you)

está dañada by @aquagustd f s a

life through the eyes of someone who watches you fall apart and helps gather the shards of your heart, only for you to make the same mistake time and time again, but he refuses to accept the truth because to him, you’re infallible.

coin toss by @yoondoze a

you and jeongguk go way back, even before you were the menacing duo many knew you to be, even before he brought you into the mafia and left you there to join the city’s detective agency. a call for cooperation comes out of a common enemy, requiring the two of you to reconcile for one last mission.

wonder by @bubmyg f a

romance novels lie about finding some deep epiphany in the ocean because you find your inspiration in some chlorine tainted red locks or where jeongguk isn’t smooth with a pool net.

starboy by @sugaxjpg s

Jeon Jungkook was, above anything else, the type you should not get involved with. He was the guy who slept around; the guy who was gone before you woke up; who left a path of broken hearts and missed calls wherever he went. He was right in just about every wrong way. That being said, maybe the bet you made with your friend could be the best thing that happened to you in a long time, and even enough to break the chain of misfortune that circled your party nights — after all, it was all just a simple, four-part plan to make Jungkook beg for you. What could possibly go wrong?

symmetry by @adriftmoonchild s a

with both of you being from rival houses, the smirk that jungkook seemed to throw in your direction every shared class did nothing for your disdain towards him. as far as you were concerned he was arrogant and childish; you just wished he wasn’t so damn good in bed.

little surfer girl by @ppersonna f s a

every summer you watched jeon jungkook turn into a perfect, professional surfer. every summer, you wanted him more. this summer, you were determined to make him yours.

↬looking for other jjk fics or the other members check out my library

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ldysmfrst · 1 year ago

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American Mate - (4)

First Case of Alpha Space

Paring: Hybrid!BTS Ot7 x Plus-sized Human FemReader

Status: Ongoing series

Chapter number: 4 of unknown

Word count for Chapter: 4,731

Work count for Story: 17,363

Genre: Hybrid Playmate Au inspired by works created by @yoongiofmine

A little about the author: I am a mother of two beautiful children. One of which is special needs, and on 3/28, they lost 75% of their vision. I have had to take time off work to accommodate many MANY doctor appointments. I started a Ko-fi if you feel the heart to donate towards helping with the medical costs of appointments, medication, and modifications to the house, which insurance doesn't cover.

Warnings: (I am not good at this, but I will try. Let me know if I missed anything!!) NOT BETA READ!! This story will have a bit of angst, fluff, smut, f/m, m/m, and m/f/m. This chapter does have Injury, Anxiety, Panic attacks, comfort, Alpha Space, and Cultural differences.

BTS HYBRID ANIMAL TYPES: Seokjin - Roan Ferret, Yoongi - Black Jaguar, Hoseok - Marten, Namjoon - Alaskan Timber Wolf, Jimin - Red Panda, Taehyung - White Southwest African Tiger, Jungkook - Flemish Giant Rabbit

AMERICAN MATE MASTER LIST / LDYSMFRST MASTER LIST

Is it really that big of a deal that you got hurt? My god, you were 35 already. You have never lived a sheltered life. You have had your fair share of broken bones, twisted ankles, scrapes, and bruises.

You are always going on adventures, riding horses, and climbing things you probably should not be climbing. Most of the external scars you bear are associated with stories that are good conversation starters when you feel like showing them.

Things would be difficult for a while because you are undeniably right-handed. You have a few days of sick time saved up that you can use to start with. Hopefully, this will help you gain some compliance from your wayward left hand.

Work, however, is going to be the hard part. Luckily, your work is typically done on electronics, meaning nothing has to be handwritten. Even if you tried to write left-handed, no one could read it. You would bet money doctors had better handwriting skills than your left hand did in its pinky. Dictation software to save the day!

Hearing Derek’s voice broke you out of your thoughts regarding your near future. Watching him act cautiously while interacting with the other hybrid was interesting. There is clearly a difference in how he acts with Yoongi than with Evie.

Giggling to yourself at the mention of being a mate with Derek gains the attention of both. Shaking your head, you explain, “Oh, sorry. The thought of being a mate, much less to Derek, was amusing, I guess.”

You missed the slight frown that briefly graced both men’s faces. Derek thought you were implying he wasn’t mate-material, and Yoongi thought you believed you were not worthy of being a mate.

“Thanks, Y/n. I let you know that I am a catch despite being a Beta. Besides, this isn’t about me right now. We need to get the leadership involved with what to do moving forward. Are you okay if we bring in the others?”

“Yes, please. I need to speak with Director Johnson, fill out an incident report… um or dictate an incident report, and then get to a doctor,” you agree. Attempting to stand up, you are blocked by the golden-yellow eyes that have not stopped watching your every move.

“Mr. Min, I need to get some things done and take care of my wrist,” you say with a hint of confusion because you know he knows that you need medical attention, but he isn’t letting you.

Yoongi’s eyes narrow, and a soft growl pours through the room, causing your eyes to widen. You look over your shoulder at Derek with a ‘what-the-F-did-I-do’ expression, only to be met with a smirk.

“Y/n, I don’t think you understand what is going on. You haven’t dealt with a situation like this before. You may love hybrids, but you still have limited interactions with our culture and this dynamic.” Walking backward toward the door, Derek continues, “With the state of mind that Mr. Min is in, it might be best if a packmate of his explains.”

Derek opens the break room door to face Hoseok, Taehyung, Namjoon, and Jungkook, all staring. “Oh, Hi there.”

Then, as if someone had turned the mute off, they all started talking simultaneously.

“Is Yoongi-hyung dropped yet?”

“그 사람 괜찮아요?”

“Why does she still smell hurt?”

“Wait, wait, wait, please,” Derek puts his hands up, motioning to stop. "I do not know Korean, for one, and for two, Mr. Min has gone into full nonverbal Alpha Space, and I am not sure he will be coming out of it anytime soon. However, one of you should go in to handle the situation, and Y/n needs to talk with Director Johnson.”

At the mention of the director, a low growl came from Taehyung, causing Derek to take a step back and lower his eyes in an automatic response to a displeased Alpha.

The scent of calming leather gently flows over the group at the door as Namjoon steps forward. His mind is still reeling a million miles a second with you being their mate and you being injured. To top it off, Yoongi is on a deep level of Alpha Space.

“Sorry about that. I can come in, but the director is busy at the moment. He is dealing with the Playmates, your corporate office, and Manager Sejin,” apologizes Namjoon as he enters the room.

He follows Derek to where his packmate and Y/n are situated at a table. Taehyung and Jungkook follow quickly, sneaking in before the door closes all the way. They both kneel respectfully behind Yoongi. Their Alphas recognize that Yoongi is currently in charge of you, and it would be unwise to display anything that could be considered a threat by approaching you too quickly.

They both need to be close to you, and their instincts to be with their newly discovered but injured mate drive their actions. Looking you over for injuries, their eyes resting on your wrist with furrowed brows and set jaws. Taehyung’s eyes change to crystal blue as his tail flickers almost in time with Yoongi’s as he slips into Alpha Space.

“Namjoon-hyung, Miss Y/n is hurt. She needs a hospital, I think,” Jungkook says, his ears standing straight up on his head, one-pointedly focused on you and the other twitching between his Prime Alpha and the door.

“It is not that big of an issue, Mr. Jeon, Mr. Min, and Mr. Kim.” Looking up from the trio in front of you and addressing the Prime Alpha, “Sir, I have specific protocols to follow due to company procedure. I must talk with the Director.”

A growl from one of the men in front of you freezes your words, unsure of what you did to cause their reactions. Internally, you groan because it seems all you get from them are growls as if you vex them more than humanly possible.

“Miss Y/n, we have already talked to Director Johnson,” Namjoon says with a look of distaste.

“He has been informed that you are now under the care of Bangtan Pack following hybrid customs,” Namjoon says. "It would be wise to refrain from talking about him at the moment; he did not leave a good impression with the pack.”

Your brows scrunch in confusion, making the hybrids want to coo at your cute face. Clearing his throat (aka his mind), Namjoon continues, “We have more pressing matters to attend to besides paperwork.”

“You are injured, and we have to get you to a doctor. Manager Sejin is currently contacting one of our personal physicians that we normally use while on tour to have you treated.”

“What? Why would I use your doctor? I can just go to the local clinic,” you quick question. Your scent spikes almost like a heavy perfume with anxiety with the flashbacks of your nightmare.

“Please, I have taken up much of your time, and caused enough problems as it is. I can take care of myself. I don’t want to be a bother,” you plead.

At your words, you are surrounded by multiple growls and watched by now golden-yellow, crystal blue, and smokey gray eyes. Scooting back in the chair as if the quarter inch gained would save you, you nervously ask, “Derek, what did I do?”

“Y/n, you really don’t get it do you? For as smart as you are, sometimes you can be oblivious,” Derek scoffs teasingly. Smiling, he shakes his head, stepping back from the group and heading towards the door. “Mr. Kim, as Prime Alpha, you might want to explain what is happening and what she should be expecting. Mind you, she has been fiercely independent for the last 15 years of her life.”

“I wish you the best with her. It won’t be easy, trust me, I know. Good luck,” says Derek as he bows slightly to Namjoon once he reaches the break room door.

Looking at you again, this time with a smile filled with adoration for his best friend and what he thinks your future may hold, Derek says, “Relax and have fun.” Then he turns and leaves the room.

As Derek leaves the room, he smiles at the remaining pack guarding the door. “Mr. Kim, Mr. Jung, and Mr. Park, I think your human does not understand what is happening.”

“Our human? So, you know?” Seokjin questions with wide, cautious eyes.

Derek looks over his shoulder at the closed break room door. His mind conjures up all the ways this could go sideways, but he focuses on all the ways this could be the best thing for you.

“At first, I thought it was just a typical Alpha reaction with him being the cause of Y/n getting injured, but his care and gentleness seemed to come from somewhere deeper. Add on the fact that your other two are fighting Alpha Space. It would be hard to miss,” says the fox hybrid with a softness.

“The other two?” someone asks.

Shaking his head, Derek looks back at the remaining three, saying, “Yes, the younger Mr. Kim and Mr. Jeon’s Alphas surfaced just before I left. Your Prime Alpha is going to try to sort things out, but he may need some back up.”

“Meanwhile, I am going to find our boss and see what needs to be done before you all run away with her,” comments Derek, leaving the pack to mull over the new information.

“Tae has never been one to control his Alpha well when one of us is hurt. I am not surprised if he slipped once near her. Kook always runs on instinct too, so it makes sense he slipped as well,” Seokjin contemplates.

“Should we stay out here? Miss Y/n’s pack member said it would be better to go in and help Namjoon? Three of us in Alpha space with an injured mate is not going to be easy,” Hoseok adds.

Nibbling on his lower lip, Jimin thinks of ways to handle the situation. Even though he is one of the younger packmates, keeping the pack calm is his gift.

He just doesn’t know how to handle you yet, especially since you don’t know what you mean to the pack.

“Good, at least three of you are here, and I assume the rest have made their way into the room with Miss Y/n,” Manager Sejin says while walking up to the group. “I have spoken with Big Hit, the Director at Playmate Service Incorporated, and Dr. Blackwell. Everyone is onboard and the doctor is ready to go.”

“Relax and have fun? What does he mean by that?” You mumble as you glare at the now-closed door that one of your best friends just shut.

He willingly left you with four Alpha male idols.

Three of them are kneeling on the floor with non-human eyes, and the Prime Alpha, looking around the room like the way to explain what's happening is painted on the walls.

Taking a breath, you say, “Mr. Kim, Prime Alpha… Sir. Derek is right. I have no actual experience with Alphas. I can tell that there must be some kind of instinctual drive going on, and there are trigger words or actions.”

“I don’t want to cause any more trouble than I already have. What do I do to make it easier for your pack?” you question.

At your words, the kneeling Alphas gave a multitude of pleasant chirps because you may not consciously know what to do but you are still acting like a baby mate. You looked at the three of them, a little confused. They seemingly smiled and made almost the same sound as when you said that.

Okay, so they can growl and chirp. Your curiosity spikes when you think of what other animal-like sounds they can make as hybrids.

Drawing your attention back to him, Namjoon finds the words to explain what is happening, “Miss Y/n, you have done so much to help the Bangtan Pack feel welcome today.”

With a gentle smile, he continues, “So please relax, you have not caused any trouble, and we highly doubt that you will.”

He thought, ‘At least, not in the way you seem to be thinking.’

“Alpha’s run with a higher level of instinct than your Beta pack member. As an Alpha, Yoongi-hyung instinctually feels responsible for your injury. In order to calm that instinct, a few things will most likely need to happen.” Watching you sit up with interest, he continues, “First things first, he and his Alpha need to get at least your injury treated.”

“He has to be the one to take me to get it treated?” You start to ramble with concern, “I can’t have him go with me to the clinic! There are fans and sasaengs and the media! What about your schedule? You always hear about the tight schedules Idols have and you have already spent all afternoon here over this.”

You start panicking about the hordes of people you hear about following the band around. God, the amount of bad publicity would come from catching you and THE Suga of BTS at a clinic. You can’t imagine what nonsense they would come up with?

Your scent goes into an even heavier version; it takes on an almost alcoholic aspect. The kneeling Alphas instinctually send out calming pheromones while moving closer.

Yoongi’s tail, still wrapped around your ankle, tightens while he gently rubs the back of your injured hand, which he is cradling protectively. He wiggles forward an inch or two to ensure you realize he is still there and isn’t going anywhere.

Taehyung starts to purr softly but loud enough for you to at least hear it. His mates have always found ease in their emotions and pain with his purring, so he hopes the sound will comfort you similarly.

Jungkook, running on instinct alone, scoots up to your left side, nudges his head under your left hand, and rests on your leg. Touch and cuddling are strong hybrid traits that naturally bring peace to most, and being a bunny hybrid, Jungkook loves to share his cuddles more than the others.

The feeling of Jungkook’s head on your leg snaps you out of your thoughts and brings you back into the room. You hold still as you start to recognize similar comforting behaviors the Alphas are doing with those that Evie always does, allowing you to take a deep breath.

“Sorry. I was raised to take care of myself and not impose on others,” you softly say.

“Miss Y/n, you are not imposing. Again, Yoongi-hyung ran into you while rushing out of the room, and it's his responsibility to make amends. Actually, as a bonded pack, it is our responsibility, too,” explains Namjoon.

“The pack? Like all of you? Is this why they are all like this, with their eyes and stuff?” you question with a scrunched face.

Absent-mindedly, you run your fingers through Jungkook’s hair, softly scratching his scalp, soothing not only yourself but also the youngest Alpha.

A soft chuckle escapes Namjoon as he watches your instinctual interactions with the youngest mate. He answers, “Yes, that is the best way to explain the eyes and stuff, as you put it.”

“Jungkook-ah and Taehyung-ah will find it easier to leave their Alpha Space since they are not the ones responsible for the injury but trying to be supportive to both of you,” informs the Prime Alpha as you nod in understanding, which he thinks is you not really understanding but just going along with it.

Hearing a knock on the door, he calls, “Who is it?”

“Namjoon-ssi, it's Manager Sejin. I have some updates and a few questions. Can I enter?” a voice calls as the door opens slightly to reveal it’s him.

At Namjoon's nod, he enters. The door remains open as the scents in the room are constricting in their density. He is followed by the rest of the pack, who take up guarding now from inside. With the mixed emotions in the scent-filled room, the Alphas worry that it will reach other hybrids who will come to investigate.

“Did you contact everyone?” asks Namjoon.

“Big Hit and the Corporate Director are on the same page and will follow the hybrid protocol, but details must be discussed once Miss Y/n has met with the doctor,” Manager Sejin reports to the Prime Alpha.

Moving to look at you, he continues, “I contacted Dr. Blackwell, thinking you may be more comfortable with a female doctor. We have her on retainer to work with some of the female back up dancers on the tour as well as the pack.”

He glances at the boys surrounding you closely, noting the change in their eyes; his scent changes with curiosity. He raises an eyebrow, looking at Namjoon. With a subtle nod, he confirms that something more is happening but does not move to explain.

Looking back at you, he gently smiles, “With the situation at hand, it may be best to limit other males around you until everyone is out of Alpha space. They tend to get territorial. Dr. Blackwell is on standby, ready to assess and treat you once we know where you will be.”

You look at the manager like he is missing something, or maybe you are as you question, “Why wouldn’t she just come here, or I go to her?”

“Miss Y/n, Dr. Blackwell is a traveling physician. She doesn’t have a permanent office to use but she is well respected in both the human and hybrid communities.”

“Oh, I see. Well, umm…” you look at Namjoon and ask, “What option would be best for your pack?”

Namjoon’s chest puffs slightly at your show of respect to him as the Pack Prime Alpha despite the situation and your pain level. “Not to make you uncomfortable, Miss Y/n, but I think meeting Dr. Blackwell at our Airbnb would be best,” he answers.

You take a moment to think, your hand pulsing with pain now that the adrenaline is starting to wear off. They cannot all fit in your flat. Heck, it's barely big enough for you, Evie, and Derek to hang out in; plus, it's a mess after you tore through your closet to find the right clothes for today.

If the growls were any indication, they didn’t seem to like being at PMS. Instinctually, even Derek and Evie prefer being in their dens when one of the three of you is hurt or sick. Making your decision, you look at the manager and then Namjoon. “Okay. If it is best for the pack, I will go with you to the Airbnb to see Dr. Blackwell.”

It’s almost as if a weight is lifted out of the room, allowing the pack to take a breath.

“Alphas Yoon, Kook, and Tae. Can you give Miss Y/n some room? We have to take her to the pack house to see a doctor,” Namjoon says with a firm voice, gaining smiles from the men kneeling on the floor.

Jungkook stands, quickly moving and curling into the Prime Alpha, his eyes returning to their natural color. Namjoon rubs his back, scenting him lightly to show his pride in the youngest Alpha’s actions to help soothe the baby mate.

Taehyung rocks back on his heels but remains close to you as his purring stops. His body is more relaxed, but his eyes are still crystal blue, shifting between Yoongi and you in wait.

After watching the two younger Alphas move around, your attention turns to the black jaguar kneeling with expectant, questioning eyes. He still cradles your hand as if it were his most precious possession, and his tail hasn’t moved from its coil around your ankle.

You tentatively ask, “Mr. Min, if I promise that you can stay with me, will you let me go get my things, and then you can take me to your pack house?”

Yoongi’s face lights up with a gummy smile as he nods. Your breath hitches at the sight. How can the devastatingly rogue-like handsome rapper look so adorable?

He stands up, his tail unwrapping from your leg. He softly takes both of your hands while he assists you in standing. You smile and mumble a small thanks as you step forward to leave but pause, turning to Namjoon.

“Prime Alpha, do you think I can talk with Derek briefly to let him know what is happening? This way, he can talk to the direc… Boss. Talk to the boss and let him know that I am leaving for the day?” you ask, but your voice is firm as if you were telling the Prime Alpha what needs to happen without blatantly taking control of the situation.

“Yes, talking to him will be fine. He has been established as part of your familial pack and won’t be considered a threat to the pack if he comes around you now,” Namjoon answers, moving out of your way and motioning for the rest to let you pass.

Bowing slightly, “Thank you, Prime Alpha.”

Making it to your desk is apparently more complicated than one would think.

Yoongi won’t leave your right side, while Taehyung won’t leave your left. Both act like it's code red, and someone is trying to assassinate you. Then, the rest of BTS trails behind like some kind of posse.

You keep your head down to avoid any strange looks or glares from whomever you pass. To your relief, you find Derek waiting at your desk with his head resting on his palms and a mischievous smile.

“I see you are taking things in stride,” glancing at your plethora of bodyguards. “Did the Prime Alpha explain everything to you?”

Speaking up from the back of the group, Namjoon answers for you: “She is aware that we are responsible for her at this time, and she will be treated by our doctor at our temporary pack house.”

You don’t miss Derek's look of concern as he tilts his head with curiosity at Namjoon. “I see, of course. You are just responsible for getting her treated. Hybrid customs and all.”

“Derek, can you please let the big boss know that I will be leaving with Bangtan Pack to seek medical care and once I have more updates, I will let you both know?”

Glancing at Yoongi and still seeing his lovely golden-yellow eyes, you try to ignore the slight flutter in your stomach, “I don’t think it would be good for me to talk with him myself right now.”

Derek nods in response, “Manager Sejin has already given the boss a rough time frame for the near future. I suppose his managing skills came in handy. Don’t worry about us here, we will get a temp while you heal.”

Standing up, Derek passes you your purse, which Taehyung takes. You try to grab it again, but only to have a black and white tail wrap around your arm and bring it back down to your side.

“No carry. Keep safe.” Taehyung almost grunts out in a deeper-than-deep voice, which short-circuits your brain. You knew he was the deep voice of the group, but that was not his singing voice.

Glancing at Derek out of the side of your eye, you see him briefly nod and smile encouragingly while he whispers, “It’s an Alpha Space thing. Best acknowledge his help.”

“Umm… Th-tha-hank you, Alpha,” you stammer out, willing the heat creeping up your neck to stop as your words pull a boxy grin from the Tiger hybrid.

“I think that is it,” you announce to nobody in particular. You smile awkwardly at Derek as he seemingly takes you in like he has never seen you before.

“Y/n, you have been through so much. Not just today but in your life. You have always been the one to take the blame for others, working harder or longer than anyone else and caring for those who never return the favor,” he says, his eyes glance at the men surrounding you as he sees nods of understanding and looks of concern from them.

As a soft smile blooms on his face, he holds onto your good hand, “Take time for yourself and let this pack of Alphas take care of you. You deserve it more than anyone else I know.”

He pulls you into a hug. You briefly stiffen, waiting for the growling and pulling to start, but to your surprise, it doesn't. Relaxing into his hug, you take his words to heart.

A soft whisper in your ear: “You know you will always have Evie and me as your family pack, but right now, be open to the pack around you. " With one last squeeze, Derek steps back and returns to your desk. "Now, shoo! Off you go. The boss said I’ll get to man the front desk for now.”

With a nod, you wave goodbye and face the hybrids behind you. After not finding Manager Sejin and a few others missing, your eyes settle automatically on Namjoon. With a slight frown, you wait for a clue as to what to do next.

“Manager Sejin went down to get the cars. Seokjin-hyung, Hoseok-hyung, and Jimin-ah also went down because we won’t all fit in the elevator,” reassures Namjoon.

“Oh,” you feel a slight tightening in your chest after realizing you didn’t even notice they had gone.

“Miss Y/n, let's take you to get looked at,” Jungkook says while inching towards the office doors. His Alpha wanting to get you away from the hallway that leads to the offices where he knows the Playmates who hurt you are being kept.

You follow the bunny and wolf hybrid while still sandwiched between the tiger and jaguar hybrids. Walking through the halls, you gain some attention from the people you pass. You’re a mere human surrounded by some of the hottest Idols in the world right now. So why wouldn’t they?

Not willing to look up, you keep your eyes cast down to the feet in front of you as you try to avoid what you are a gazillion percent sure are looks of disgust and hate toward you. Normally, you can walk the halls without drawing attention unless Reina is around. While Reina made sure everyone noticed you in a negative way, you fail to notice the glaring looks of the Alphas surrounding you, which has silenced most of the current gossiping.

Once the elevator doors open, the tiger lets out a low growl. Glancing up, you see two fellow PMS employees quickly scamper out of the elevator and down the hall. Well, that is another embarrassing incident that you will have to deal with when you return to work.

Namjoon and Jungkook take the back corners. Looking at the men by your sides, they motion for you into the elevator next. However, when you go to stand in another corner, you are quickly ushered back into the middle with Yoongi and Taehyung in front of you.

The tense energy calms down as the doors close. The threats in the hallway, the Playmate enemies, and the bumbling director are no longer a concern. The four Alphas relax now that they are the only ones to surround you and are taking care of you.

Even if your trust in them starts with an injury, they know this is their chance to show you what it means to be taken care of, acknowledged as precious, and loved endlessly by the seven of them.

As the elevator doors part, you're immediately greeted by the remaining packmates waiting for you, smiles warm and welcoming. They're surrounded by more men in black, whom you assume are bodyguards. The sheer amount of people outside the elevator is a bit intimidating.

Turning to look at you, Yoongi speaks for the first time since he entered Alpha Space, “Take home. Keep safe.”

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Taglist - CLOSED

@braveangel777 @bethanysnow @smileykiddie08 @kayways @danielle143 @nenefix-on @im-gemmy @fluffy-canada-pancakes @staytinyville @juju-227592 @levislifeline @carolinexkpop @m00njinnie @drenix004 @singukieee @avadakadabra93 @dazzlingjade @sehun096rainbow @sunshinecallie

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bunkoos-mole-enthusiast · 11 months ago

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Weekly Jungkook Fanfic Recs

Some fine JK fics for your reading pleasure. 🔞 Please show your appreciation to all the wonderful authors:)

Paddle With Me: Your camp leader forces you and Jeongguk as partners in a team building activity. With frustrations and anger flaring during your journey down the river, how will all this pent-up emotion get released? https://www.tumblr.com/yoongsgguktae/712593152936116224/paddle-with-me-01-jjk?source=share Seven Days A Week: Every day, Jungkook shows you his devotion, deeper than the ocean. Seven different scenarios, seven days a week. https://archiveofourown.org/works/51555238 Helping Hand: A double blind date was your suggestion. Everything about it should make him happy, but this sinking feeling just won’t go away. All he wanted was to get it over with. https://yoonieper.tumblr.com/post/686408786665144320/helping-hand-jjk Mirrors: You thought you made the right choice to end things before it got too far, yet in the moment in need, he chose to call you, insinuating that he might not have been ready to let things go. https://yoonia.tumblr.com/post/154874158293/mirrors-m-01 Mirrors: What Becomes Of Us: One year has passed, and the unmistakable fuzzy feelings that have nothing to do with lust continue to grow. Yet while he is able to look deep into your heart, he has yet to allow you to see what is hidden inside his. He still puts up a hard front, making you believe that standing by his side may not be as different than standing in front of fragile mirrors. https://yoonia.tumblr.com/post/727807876620500992/mirrors-what-becomes-of-us-jjk-m The Violence Of The Dog Days: In the midst of summertime, after a week of neglect, your boyfriend has a way of making you feel even more heated. https://www.tumblr.com/youarewhatyoulove-blog Some Way, Some How: Maybe you don’t know Jungkook as well as you thought you did. Maybe he doesn’t know you. https://1kook.tumblr.com/post/622572105563865088/some-way-some-how Shut Up And Drive: Anyone could have predicted how bad it is to make a bet with your brother, yet you were hoping the outcome would be different. But alas, you were meant to be taught a lesson tonight; never go behind your brother’s back. https://www.tumblr.com/agustdtown1/749698098182471680/shut-up-and-drive-jjk Temptation: Werewolf au. https://aiimaginesbts.tumblr.com/post/160856448170/temptation-chapter-1-m I Want You To Stay: Working for Jungkook isn’t the same as working for Hoseok. For starters, Jungkook doesn’t smile, he doesn’t appreciate you, and he gives you too much work. It doesn’t help that he’s incredibly handsome and has women at his beck and call. But as the tension grows, it becomes impossible to resist him. https://www.tumblr.com/ahundredtimesover/738328791506665472/i-want-you-to-stay-01-jjk

#bts jeon jungkook fanfic #jungkook fic recs #jungkook imagines #jungkook smut #jungkook fanfic #bts jungkook #jungkook #jungkook x reader #jungkook x oc #jungkook x y/n #jungkook x you #bts fanfic #bts jungkook fanfic #bts fic recs #bts smut #bts imagines #jungkook fic

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mochii0park · 3 months ago

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Next summer; 01 - From Min to Jung

Genre: Strangers to Lovers I Arranged Marriage

Pairing: Kim Taehyung x Min Reader x Jung Hoseok

Synopsis: In the Min family, worth is based on pleasing the elders. To gain freedom, you agree to an arranged marriage with Jung Hoseok. Despite your efforts to reshape your life, complications arise with Hoseok’s idol, Kim Taehyung. Your alliance and freedom are at risk as you break the rule of never engaging with people from your partner’s social circle.

Word count: 11.6K

Next chapter >

Masterlist of series

General masterlist

Songs to listen to while reading: Move (Taemin), Honey (Solar), Dark Clouds (Heize), I like you (Post Malone), Falling slowly (Daesung)

A strained smile here, a respective bow there. Another of your father’s influential friends taps your hand with their old, wrinkled one. Your brother stands in front of the door, ever the better portion of the Min siblings, taming the tension with unnecessary small talk. It seems that your psychology degree was of little help when it came to catering to the higher society. It's not like you cared but it would’ve been nice if you were gifted with the masking of emotions like Yoongi.

Seokjin peeks into the room, the vessels in your head almost popping at the sight of him. You think of his presence as an intrusion like your father was mocking you by showing him as a trophy he won in this war. If only you played your cards better perhaps, he’d be in the other room as the groom but alas you were stubborn.

Kim Seokjin, the heir of the Kim empire and Yoongi’s childhood friend. The same one that used to tease you about your tantrums, the one who scolded you when you got your heart broken and the one who went broke it all over again. Trice the harder than your last boyfriend. Before that occasion, you might’ve listened to your father and proceeded with the marriage, but you woke from the slumber you’ve been in so long. Marrying him would mean the shackles on your hands would be tighter than ever.

Yoongi glances at his watch before coming to your side. Without much communication, guess it went sideways at the sight of you. He takes your hand. “It’s time.”

Three words were the best you’ll get out of him. It doesn’t come as a surprise, that the two of you had opposite views on this whole charade. While you looked at it as an out from the Min family and embracing freedom, he looked at is a betrayal of sacred family vows. You tried for years to tell him that no matter the love and the respect he had for you, you two never started on the same footing. Something you resented him for.

He had everything handed to him on a silver platter, the heir to the throne of the Min empire. Meanwhile, you, a daughter that in your opinion was a mistake, a slip of a night, had to claw for scraps of your parents’ affection. To your father, you were a pawn in his plan to rise higher than he already has, to him you were his entrance to the Kim empire.

Except you shattered that dream by taking the hand of Jung Hoseok, a chaebol who came from nothing. New money, your father spat at the mention of Hoseok's name.

“Alright.” Your indifference irked Yoongi to oblivion.

Much like your father Yoongi wasn’t the happiest about your marriage partner more so as he shared one too many drinks, and you'd assume women, with Hoseok. You’ll get your heart broken, Seokjin is a better choice, he told you.

Oh, the irony

For starters Seokjin has already broken your heart, secondly, Hoseok could stick it into your best friend for all you care. You weren’t marrying him for love. In the society you grew up, love was a foreign noun. You were marrying Hoseok for the freedom his surname held.

And Hoseok?

He’s marrying you for the freedom your presence held in his life.

So, one might think how did it come to this marriage?

Hyun, ever the dotting closeted cousin of yours, let it slip past you that his close friend Jung Hoseok was looking for a wife. Imagine if you were to marry him, God, I’d pay to see that, he blabbered stumbling over his words. Both stupid enough, both with too many drinks under the belt, you made a bet. You, ever the competitive person he knows you to becould never accept defeat, so you head to the Jung mansion. Long story short, your first impression wasn’t a good one.

Dancing on Hoseok’s last nerve, you barely managed to form a fitting sentence without the mention of a lavender marriage. In your defence, Hyun never had one single straight male friend. How could you know Hoseok was straighter than a pole?

It didn’t help that Hyun was far worse than you, laughing his ass off at every word that left your mouth. Let’s rule the world, you still cringe at your choice of words but deep down you truly meant it. You wanted to put Hoseok on the throne and make your father eat his words out.

Much to your surprise, Hoseok was contemplating your offer alas only when you sober up. The confidence wasn’t there the next day he took notice of that but, the fire in your eyes as you lay out the plan was too tempting for him to turn you down.

As much as you wanted to prove yourself to your father, so did he to society and you were his one-way ticket. With a firm handshake and Hyun’s hangover-self throwing up in the corner of Hoseok’s house, you sealed the deal.

That’s how you found yourself standing in front of him at the altar. You had to pat yourself on the back, despite the marriage being a farce Hoseok was a handsome man. A good catch, you remember Lisa's comment as she helped you fit into the damn tight dress. In a world filled with ordinary faces, Jung Hoseok stood with high cheekbones that gave him a sculpted look, framing his face perfectly and adding an air of sophistication.

His eyes are perhaps the most captivating; large and expressive, adorned by long, delicate lashes that would make any woman jealous. The deep brown hue holds a spark of mischief and kindness. When he smiles, they transform into cheerful crescents, radiating joy and in conclusion from the visual aspect, your marriage surely won't lack.

“Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, we gather here today in this beautiful setting to witness the union of Y/N and Hoseok in the sacred bond of marriage. It is a celebration of love,”

You snort, luckily the priest doesn’t budge and continues with his speech full of pretentious bullshit. To your side Hoseok contains his laugh, a contrast to his best man – Jinwoo, was it? - who stares at you in shock.

“Y/N, do you take Hoseok to be your lawfully wedded spouse, to love and cherish, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live? “

“I do. “

“Hoseok, do you take Y/N to be your lawfully wedded spouse, to love and cherish, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live? “

“I do.” You had to give it to him, for a split second you almost believed that the man standing in front of you was deeply in love.

“Now, by the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your vows with a kiss. “

The cheers, coming only from Hoseok's side of the family—now technically yours—cut through the small venue. His hand wraps around your waist, while the other gently pulls away the veil that is doing a poor job of concealing your face.He whispers that you are pretty as he brings his face closer to yours, nose to nose. Panic slowly rises within you, but with better judgment, you close your eyes and allow Hoseok to lead the dance.

The softness of his lips takes you by surprise; they meld perfectly with yours, and your body instinctively follows his rhythm. When he finally pulls away, Hoseok is just as out of breath as you are. The two of you lock eyes, momentarily stunned by the simplicity of the kiss that ignited a fire within you.

He is the first to recover, intertwining your fingers as he pulls you to his side while you walk down the aisle. Both of your mothers are in tears; his out of happiness, yours from the pain. Pushing that aside you follow Hoseok towards the car. Hyun steps out of the driver’s seat and opens the door for you.

He gives you his hand as you curse Lisa for talking you into a dress that had too many layers. “I should’ve just gone with the simple slip dress.”

"That’s for the first night as a married couple," Hoseok says as he sits beside you, while his best man takes the front seat.

"I don’t see the point of that. It’s not like you wear it long enough for your husband to marvel at it. Don’t you guys like, I don’t know lace underwear or something more revealing?"

At your question, Jinwoo chokes on the bottle of water he was innocently trying to drink. Hyun doesn’t give him much time to recover before commenting on how he likes his man naked on the bed. The poor guy blushes fifty shades of red.

Hoseok chuckles at the exchange happening in the car and adds his thoughts on the topic. "I’d say I like whatever my missus likes. Confidence is the sexiest."

You roll your eyes but find his answer somewhat endearing. Unlike Hyun, who calls Hoseok vanilla, which makes Jinwoo groan and you all laugh.

"My misery shouldn’t be your source of entertainment," he retorts, tossing the bottle aside.

Hyun hums, and for a moment, Jinwoo’s eyes flicker with something that you interpret as a soft warning, almost daring him to say what he wants. Hoseok stifles a bubbly laugh, wiggling his brows at you.

"Woo, come on, we all know you’ve had sex. There’s no need to be a prude."

Jinwoo bites his lips in irritation. "I’m far from a prude. I just prefer to keep my sexual preferences to myself. Hoseok."

“Uu full name usage. Right, we just need to buy you whatever new Louis Vuitton bag there is, and you’ll be on all fours." Hoseok jabs Jinwoo’s shoulder with his finger, which Jinwoo playfully slaps away.

“A material king, I like that.” Hyun adds and the three laugh.

This further confirms that you made the right decision. Hoseok is warm to everyone; strangers, friends, or family, it doesn’t matter. In contrast, he is a striking difference from Seokjin, who always looks at everyone as if they were below him. You included.

Hoseok swung open the grand door to his mansion with a playful grin lighting up his face. "Mi casa es su casa!" he declared, beckoning you inside like a host ready for a fiesta.

Just as you were about to step through the threshold, he cheekily blocked your way with one of his legs and nudged you back, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

You stared at him, confusion mixing with amusement, and he quipped, "Come on, we just got married! I can’t let you wander in without proper supervision!"

Before you could retort, he scooped you up in a dramatic bridal lift, declaring, "This is the only way you’re getting in!" With a mock-seriousness, he marched you through the entrance as if you were a prized possession.

When he finally set you down in the grand foyer, you glanced around in awe, taking in the opulent décor. The mansion radiated an air of sophisticated modernity, drawing you in with its clean lines and well-considered design.

A sleek, minimalistic modern sofa, upholstered in soft grey fabric, took up the spacious living room. The centrepiece of the room, a striking chimney made of white stone, reached up towards the ceiling, its contemporary aesthetic balancing the warmth of potential crackling fires.

Above, a magnificent chandelier reminiscent of the one in your father's upscale office hung gracefully. The walls were adorned with a select few paintings that whispered tales of artistry and vision, each frame showcasing pieces from renowned artists.

You could immediately identify the bold strokes of Picasso, the impressionistic flair of Renoir, and the golden allure of Gustav Klimt—all carefully chosen to convey a sense of cultured refinement.

Yet, amidst the sophisticated decor, your gaze was inevitably drawn to a striking display of trophies that dominated one wall. Gleaming under the soft chandelier light, they stood as a testament to extraordinary accomplishment.

Trophies for best artist of the year, best choreography, best song of the year, and best duet, among others. Each award hinted at a world of creativity and triumph—yet their presence also stirred a sense of tension within you. A wave of realization washed over you, reminding you of the many reasons your father held Hoseok in contempt.

It wasn’t just a matter of approval; it was a clash of worlds. Hoseok, the charismatic CEO of an entertainment company, managed talents like Jeon Jungkook and Kim Taehyung, something your father detested. He thought art and any creative branch is for the lower class to create and the upper class to buy as reminder of their everlasting power.

Hoseok was long gone, the sounds of glass clinging directing you to the kitchen which was spacious as his living room. Every single piece in it screamed luxury and although you lived in a similar setting somehow here you felt out of place. As if you were in a visitor in a museum only allowed to watch and not touch for you might break something.

The sound of popping cuts through your daze and you notice Hoseok pouring champagne in two glasses. He strolls towards you with a grin on his face as he offers you a glass. “A toast to our freedom.”

Your glass cling. “A toast.”

Once Hoseok downs the champagne, he loosens the tie and runs a hand through his hair. The messy look gives him a certain allure which he must’ve known because he smirks and with a wink, he walks out nesting himself on the sofa. You follow his lead, finding more comfort in an armchair opposite of him.

He exhales loudly, turning to his side as he plops his head with his palm and looks at you. “We don’t need to go over the rules again, right?”

“There isn’t much to go over, we agreed not to butt into each other’s lives.” You add as you take of the first layer of the wedding dress.

Hoseok nods, eyes staring into space before he fixes them on you again. “True, but I wish to just add some ground rules.”

“Shoot” you say, now fully out of the wedding dress leaving you in a satin slip.

“No hooking up in the mansion”, your face scrunches and Hoseok clicks his tongue signalling you to let him finish, “You can have fun with whomever you want however, co-workers are off the limit.”

You roll your eyes, surely you weren’t dumb to jeopardize your marriage by tainting the image you both are trying so hard to keep pristine. “You know businessmen are not my cup of tea.”

“Well, neither were the daughters of chaebols for me but look at us now.” he teases as you throw a pillow at him full force.

He dodges. “No need to get feisty. Anyway, those are the only rules I have. The reason I agreed to this marriage was to keep my image serious and clean. Do you have anything to add?”

You think for a second. There wasn’t anything specific you wanted to add to the equation, much of it was already agreed upon. You didn’t care about his sex life as long as it didn’t enter the house because you are not sure you’d be able to sit idly as half-naked woman parades around the house. You had some self-respect, fake marriage or not. Additionally, you wanted to keep your face private. The less people knew how you looked, the more freedom you both get.

“No, not really but I am curious what my job at the company will be.”

Hoseok brought the idea on your last meet up. He thought that working at his company would give you the opportunity to put your degree to some use. You didn’t dwell on it, thinking that his opinion might change but it remained the same.

“You’ll be working,” his phone buzzes, eyes skimming through the text, “with idols. Assessing their mental health for debuts and tours, accompanying them for some occasions. I need them to be on top of their game and that means that their health is my top priority.”

You nod, happy to know that your husbands company cared about things that are usually dismissed as a trivial thing. “Sounds good.”

Hoseok grins, excitement laced with anticipation before he gets up. “I am going out. You don’t need to wait up for me.”

Not like you were planning to. Lisa already asked you to come with her to the opening of a new pub in Gangnam. One of her friends decided to try her luck in this area of Seoul, seeing how previous neighbourhood didn’t bring much revenue. You send a text to her asking her about the exact time you need to be there before you go upstairs towards the guest room.

As you pass Hoseok’s room you see him switch out of the elegant suit into a more casual attire that consisted of a flare shirt and comfortable jeans. He was on the phone talking to someone, the smile on his face never flattening for a second. It doesn’t take a genius to know where he’s headed but you couldn’t help but think if the other person on the line was happy with the arrangement.

As you push through the heavy wooden doors of the pub in Gangnam, it feels as if you’ve tumbled into some kind of vibrant alternate universe where laughter doesn’t just echo off the walls, it bounces around the room like a pinball.

The crowd, many consisting of younger people, pulses with energy. Each person a constellation of stories waiting to collide. Conversations swirl around you, a tangled web of half-finished sentences and drunken confessions that make me feel both exhilarated and slightly lost like being caught in a stream of consciousness that threatens to sweep you away.

You navigate through the mass, eyes scanning for Lisa at your reserved table. You catch sight of her in the upper section that, sipping on a vibrant cocktail that matches the spark in her eyes.

She’s wearing the same outfit from the wedding, and you can’t help but ask. “Did you ever go home?”

Her laughter bubbles up, light and carefree. “Home is where the cocktails are, Y/N. I came straight here to help my friend with the grand opening. You know, the universe has plans for us tonight.”

You cringe at her loud voice, the tipsiness in it coming to the surface. “Maybe you should slow down with the alcohol, Lisa. I might need a map just to find you later.”

She tips her glass at you, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Jeongsu will take care of me afterward, I promise!”

At the mention of his name, you groan, the sound escaping me like a balloon losing air. “Jeongsu again?”

Lisa rolls her eyes, a teasing glare in your direction. “Oh, come on. You know it’s better than being all alone with my thoughts. Plus, he’s got that whole priest’s mysterious son vibe going on, which is basically my kryptonite.”

“Right, priest’s mysterious son, because we all know how well that usually ends,” you quip.

Lisa had her fair share of vibey guys she would go through each month. This month’s flavour was the priest’s son she met at the church. You didn’t want to burst her bubble that it was the pastors who get married and, frankly, he fucked her far too many times for God to ship them to heaven anyway. At the end of the day she was just a girl, standing in front of a fuckboy asking him, well… to fuck her.

One of the things you loved about Lisa was that she knew how to read the room. She never questioned why you weren’t with Hoseok on your first night as husband and wife. The main reason probably being that she was built from the same cloth as you and knew most marriages were deals made between the families.

Sensing your irritation she takes your hand and begins swaying you to the beat of the music. You savour the moment, finally freeing yourself from Yoongi’s hard gaze and judgment of his friends, especially Seokjin’s.

“Work it!” Lisa shouts, takes a sip of her drink and waves at someone behind you, “Jeongsu and his friends came.”

Friends? More Jeongsu-s to deal with.

He doesn’t waste time twirling Lisa before he goes in for a very slobbery kiss. It reminded you of the species of birds that often cleaned the crocodile’s teeth. In this instance poor Lisa was the crocodile but judging by her expression she was into it as much as he was. Tearing your gaze in order not to gage, you sip your drink.

The bitterness bites at your throat as you skim through the three friends that were dragged by Jeongsu. The one sitting next to you seemed like the most cultured one, you didn’t catch his name but he nevertheless he caught your eye.

His face, a stunning blend of sharp angles and softness, made it hard to look away. The black hair, slightly tousled, gave him a laid-back yet striking appearance. It enhanced the intensity of his dark eyes. His lips were slightly open, as if he was about to say something important, holding a gentle smile that felt inviting.

You only notices that you’re staring when he turns to you, smirk tugging the corner of his mouth upwards. “Would it be corny if I say take a picture, it lasts longer?”

When he spoke, there was a smoothness to his tone, a musicality, ebbing and flowing like a melody holding you captive.

You didn’t know if the alcohol was working or his stupid joke but suddenly you became aware of the warmth on your cheeks. “Uh,huh, both?”

He laughed, it was deep and resonant, filling the air with a warmth that made you smile. “I am a terrible model, but I’ll do my best to give you a flattering photo.”

“Oho Joonie, be careful she’s a feisty one.” Jeongsu jumps into the conversation albeit uninvited.

You think your eyes will fall out from the rolling they were doing. Joonie, hums at Jeongsu not paying much attention to his words as he leans in whispering in your ear. “If you try any harder, you might actually throw a knife at him.”

“Oh, bite me Joonie.” You spat turning towards him.

The proximity of your faces was far too small for your liking. You could almost count the number of freckles on his nose and the two dimples that appeared as his smile widened. “Where though?”

It hangs between you for a second, the weight of it sinks in at exactly the same moment for both. His eyes widen, his lips part—whether in horror or regret, you can’t quite tell—and suddenly, all that carefully curated confidence crumbles like a sandcastle at high tide. “Oh my God, I didn’t— I mean, I wasn’t— That’s not—” He runs a hand through his hair, looking anywhere but at you. “That was weird, right? That was weird. I’m so sorry.”

And you lose it. Not in a cruel way, but in the way you do when someone is so sincerely mortified that it becomes impossible not to find it endearing. He’s still floundering, still tripping over every syllable in his desperate attempt to undo whatever just happened, and the sheer panic on his face is funnier than it should be. “Relax, Joonie” you say, nudging his arm with yours, “I promise I won’t hold it against you forever. Just, you know, for the rest of the night.”

“It’s Namjoon, by the way. Kim Namjoon”

“Such a James Bond introduction.” Jeongsu again butts in, and this time your hand begins reaching for the empty bottle of soda that someone finished earlier.

Luckily for Jeonsgu, and sadly for you and your nerves Namjoon catches on what you were about to do so he beats you to it pushing the bottle of your reach.

You throw him a glare and he put his hands up in a surrender. “As much as I’d love for the bottle to silence him, we have a project due tomorrow. My ass is on the line too.”

You sigh, finding comfort in the straw of your drink. “Min Y/N”

He groans, dragging a hand down his face. “I’m never speaking again.”

“Shame,” you say, smirking into your drink. “You were just starting to entertain me.”

He sighs dramatically but smiles, shaking his head. “This is why I stick to books. They don’t judge me.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” you say, leaning in. “I think if books could talk, they’d have a lot to say about you.”

He scoffs. “Yeah? And what exactly do you think they’d say?”

“That you dog-ear pages even though you claim to love them.”

His mouth falls open. “I do not!”

You raise an eyebrow. “So, if I were to look through your books right now, I wouldn’t find a single folded corner?”

He hesitates for half a second too long.

“Uh-huh,” you say, victorious.

Namjoon groans again, slumping against the bar. “This is character assassination.”

“Maybe,” you tease, “but it’s accurate character assassination.”

And for a while, you just sit there, the silence between you no longer uncomfortable but easy, something warm and unspoken settling into the space he’d just filled with his clumsy attempt at flirtation. He exhales after a moment, gaze flickering from the condensation on his glass to you. “You ever think about how Plato believed love was just the longing for our other half?”

You raise an eyebrow. “That’s an interesting way to pivot from whatever just happened.”

He huffs out a laugh. “I don’t know, I just...there’s something kind of tragic about it, right? The idea that we were all once whole, only to be split apart and left searching for the piece we lost.” He pauses, as if considering his own words, then shrugs. “Or maybe it’s just another way of explaining why people spend their whole lives looking for something they can’t name.”

You study him for a second, the way he absentmindedly taps his fingers against the side of his glass. You tilt your head, considering. “See, but that’s the problem with Plato’s whole theory. It assumes love is about finding someone to complete you when, really, psychology tells us that a lot of what we seek in others is actually a reflection of what we lack or desire within ourselves. Ever heard of attachment theory?”

Namjoon leans in slightly, eyes sparking with interest. “Anxious, avoidant, secure—the whole ‘tell me how much your parents hugged you as a child and I’ll tell you how you handle relationships’ thing?”

You laugh. “Pretty much. Plato’s idea of love is almost… nostalgic? Like he’s romanticizing the search for another half, but psychology would argue that love isn’t about halves. It’s about two whole people learning to exist alongside each other, dysfunctions and all. We project onto people. We fall in love with the versions of them that exist in our heads. Sometimes, we don’t even love the person. We love what they represent, the way they make us feel, the potential of what could be.”

Namjoon exhales, resting his chin on his hand. “That’s interesting. So, what’s your go,to book about love, then? What story do you think gets it right?”

You think for a second. “I’d say The Great Gatsby, because love is obsessive, delusional, and often tragic. Gatsby loved Daisy, sure, but he loved the idea of Daisy even more. He built her up into something impossible, something that could never match reality. That’s how love works sometimes, it’s all projection and nostalgia and chasing ghosts.”

His brow quirks up. “Dark.”

You grin. “Accurate.”

He shakes his head, laughing. “See, I was going to say The Little Prince.”

You blink. “The children’s book?”

He nods. “Think about it. The prince loves his rose, even though she’s difficult and vain. But he learns that love isn’t about possession, it’s about care, about understanding. ‘You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.’” He pauses. “Love is choosing something, even when it’s imperfect. Maybe especially then.”

You stare at him, and for a moment, the bar fades away, the hum of voices, the clatter of glasses, the low thrum of music all softening into the background. It’s just Namjoon, looking at you with quiet amusement, like he’s waiting for you to poke a hole in his theory. And maybe you could. Maybe you should. But instead, you just shake your head.

“You’re annoyingly insightful, you know that?”

He grins, raising his glass in a small toast. “Likewise.”

You clink your drink against his, the warmth of cocktail settling in your chest. The night draws on and you lose track of time as you stare at Lisa who was on her sixth - or was it seventh? - cocktail. Lisa was a hedonist, using every opportunity to feed her hunger and usually you were next to her cheering her on. However, when that same said hedonism slowly started to look like alcoholism, you thought you should interfere. Because Lisa was gone. Like, absolutely, no-holds-barred, "let's text our exes and cry about capitalism" level of drunk.

Jeongsu wasn’t much better—both of them moving like malfunctioning robots, giggling at nothing, slurring words into syllables that never quite made it into full sentences. And there you were, sober even after two cocktails, trying to shove them into your jeep with Namjoon, who was being an MVP about the whole thing unlike the other two who made themselves scarce.

“I swear to God, Lisa, if you don’t—” you started, as she dramatically draped herself across the backseat, one arm in, one leg still out, like she was auditioning for a role as roadkill.

“Shhh,” she slurred, pressing a finger to my lips. “You’re being... so loud.”

“Because you’re not in the car!” you whisper-shouted.

Namjoon sighed beside you, grabbing Jeongsu by the collar and hoisting him in with an ease that made you question his gym routine. “You take Lisa, I got this one.”

Somehow, you managed to cram them in. Namjoon climbed into the passenger seat, shutting the door with a finality that felt like a victory, and you let out a breath before starting the car. And that’s when your phone connected to Bluetooth. The second Taehyung’s Singularity came through the speakers, Namjoon groaned. “Oh, come on.”

“What?” you said, pulling into the street.

“This? This is your choice?” He gestured toward the speakers like they’d personally offended him.

I blinked at him. “Yes? This song is incredible?”

Namjoon made a face like you’d just told him water wasn’t wet. “It’s fine,” he said, dragging out the word like it physically pained him. “But, like… doesn’t it get exhausting? Listening to that song on repeat? It’s all—catchy choruses and formulas and—”

You gasped dramatically. “I will not sit here and let you slander Taehyung in my car. Have you heard his range? His live vocals? His GRAMMY-NOMINATED COLLABORATIONS?”

Namjoon shook his head. “See, this is why I stick to Jungkook. He gets it. Standing next to you, Still with you? That’s real music. It’s art.”

“Taehyung’s music is art,” you shot back. “He literally writes, produces, and choreographs, and you wanna tell me it’s just some mass, produced—”

Namjoon groaned. “I didn’t say that I just mean—there’s more soul in Jungkook’s music.”

“Taehyung’s music is what moves people,” you interrupted. “It’s what you scream in your car at 2 AM when you’re questioning all your life choices. It’s what stadiums full of people sing in unison. It’s emotion. It’s universal.”

Namjoon let out a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”

“And you have bad taste.”

And that’s how the next twenty minutes went—you defending Taehyung like your life depended on it, Namjoon waxing poetic about the depth of Jungkook’s music, while Lisa and her boyfriend snored in the back, completely unaware that a war was being fought in the front seat.

You were in it. Like, fully invested, hands gesturing, voice climbing in intensity, throwing out arguments like you were in the final round of a debate tournament where the fate of humanity depended on me proving that Taehyung was, in fact, a musical genius.

“And another thing,” I said, gripping the wheel, “Taehyung experiments. He doesn’t just stick to one sound. He does R&B, pop, rock, EDM—”

“Which is exactly my point,” Namjoon cut in. “Jungkook doesn’t need to jump genres because it already contains everything. It’s free, expressive—”

“Are you seriously trying to tell me that Taehyung isn’t expressive? That him pouring his entire soul into a song like Love me again isn’t—”

“TURN!”

“What?”

“TURN, NOW—”

At the last second, you realized you were about to blow right past our turn, and with reflexes you didn’t even know you had, you yanked the wheel. The car jerked into a sharp right, tires screeching slightly as we made it onto the street, and from the backseat came a thump—followed by a pair of miserable groans.

Glancing in the rearview mirror you see Lisa sprawled across Jeongsu, her face buried in his jacket, while Jeongsu blinked dazedly, looking like he’d just been yanked out of another dimension.

“Ughhh,” Lisa whined, slowly sitting up. “I think I died.”

Jeongsu just let out an unintelligible noise, rubbing his face.

You were contemplating whether to apologize—maybe even check if they were concussed—but Namjoon just shrugged, looking entirely unbothered. “Honestly,” he said, leaning back into his seat, “you did me a favor. Now I don’t have to wake Jeongsu up myself.”

You snorted. “Glad to be of service.”

A minute later, the car pulls up in front of an apartment building. Without hesitation, Namjoon popped open the door and hopped out with the ease of someone who wasn’t just involved in a vehicular near disaster. He turned back before shutting the door, resting an arm against the frame.

“It was nice meeting you,” he said, flashing an easy smile. “Hope I see you again.”

You raised a brow. “Oh? So, you can lose another argument? Carefully pick the topic, so far, it’s Y/N 3, Namjoon 0”

He laughed, shaking his head. “No, so I can give you Jungkook’s album.” He took a step back, grin widening. “Y’know. So, you can listen to good music.”

Before you could respond, he shut the door and walked off, hands supporting Jeongsu who mid walk decided he wanted to throw up before they disappeared into the building like that motherfucker hadn’t just dropped the most outrageous claim of the night.

You huffed, shaking my head, Taehyung’s voice still playing softly through the speakers.

“Good music,” you muttered. “Unbelievable.”

By the time you pull up to Lisa’s house, she is deep in her own world. Her head lolls against the window, her fingers tracing invisible shapes on the glass. She hums a song that only exists in her mind, and for a second, you wonder what it would be like to live in that universe—the one where melodies are only for you.

You don’t even bother trying to wake her up. That is a battle you have lost too many times before. Instead, you grab your phone and send a text to her brother.

You: Come get your sister. She’s out of it. Him: Ffs. Be there in a sec.

There is something strangely comforting about his immediate response. The universe is unpredictable, people are unpredictable, but the way Lisa’s brother always responds with exasperation and reluctant responsibility is as constant as gravity.

A minute later, the front door swings open, and there he is, looking every bit like a man who did not ask for the burden of siblinghood. He barely acknowledges your existence before yanking the car door open and extracting Lisa like she is luggage that has overstayed its welcome.

“She’s your problem now,” you say, rolling down the window.

“She’s always my problem. See you around Y/N.” he mutters before dragging her inside.

And then it is just you and the night, the clock blinking 3:00 AM, the streets too empty, too still, like the world has paused for a breath. You are tired, a little drunk, and full of thoughts that don’t quite fit inside your head. You drive home with Taehyung’s voice still pouring through the speakers, and the memory of a debate that should not have mattered still lingering like the aftertaste of something bittersweet.

When you pull into the driveway, you half-expect the house to be dark. Hoseok should be out, or asleep, or lost in one of his weird 3 AM routines. But when you step inside—not as quietly as you intended—there he is.

He sits in the living room, book in hand, legs crossed, looking so unbothered that it is almost offensive. His gaze flicks to you, and the corners of his mouth twitch with amusement.

“You look like a disaster,” he observes.

“Feel like one too,” you admit, kicking off your shoes with more force than necessary. One of them lands near the couch, the other... somewhere. “But I made it home, so I’d call that a win.”

Hoseok closes his book with a soft thump and tilts his head. “Was the night worth it?”

You hum, collapsing onto the couch. “Met an idiot.”

“That’s promising.”

“Some guy who thinks Jungkook’s songs are better than Taehyung’s.”

His lips twitch. “I mean… he’s not wrong.”

You sit up. “Excuse me?”

He bites his lip, clearly fighting back a laugh at your reaction. “I’m just saying—Jungkook’s recent songs? Way more emotional. Seven, Standing Next to You, —”

You gasp. “You’re siding with him? That motherfucker?”

Hoseok finally cracks, laughter spilling out of him like he’s been waiting for this moment all night. “Relax, I’m screwing with you,” he says, shaking his head. “They’re different. Taehyungs got that deep, jazzy, soul, stirring thing going on, but Jungkook’s been hitting emotions hard lately. So, for now… I gotta say, I agree with that motherfucker.”

You groan, flopping back onto the couch. “You’re all traitors.”

He just grins, reopening his book like this conversation was nothing but a minor detour in his night. Like he hasn’t just ruined yours all over again.

Just as your body begins to melt into the couch, Hoseok casually flips a page in his book and says, “Oh, and don’t forget. 8 AM sharp.”

You groan, dragging a hand down your face. “Can I sleep a little longer?”

He shakes his head, no hesitation, no mercy.

You sigh. “Got it, boss.”

Somehow, you make it to your room, kicking off your dress but not bothering with your skincare routine because sometimes survival takes priority over self-care. You collapse onto the bed, the ceiling swimming slightly above you, and just as sleep starts pulling you under, you remember him.

“Stupid Namjoon,” you mumble into the pillow.

And then, because the universe is cruel and irony is its favorite language, you catch yourself softly singing, oh I wish you could, love me again…

And that is the last thing you know before sleep wins.

___________

You sit in your chair, legs crossed, fingers idly tapping against your notepad, listening—or at least trying to listen—as Hoseok talks about the future. The meeting room is expensive in the way that all the entertainment industry rooms are; sleek, modern, designed to make you feel like something important is happening even if it isn’t. The air is still, heavy with focus, six other people seated around the table, nodding at the right moments, making notes like they already know what’s coming.

Hoseok is talking about projects. A world tour. Two full-length albums. Some kind of documentary. The words flow from him in that effortlessly composed way of his, like he has already seen the next six months play out and is simply relaying the highlights to the rest of you. You are half-listening, half-tracing patterns into the margin of your notes when he says world tour, and something in you straightens. There’s a kind of electricity in the phrase, a promise of movement, of change. You lean in slightly, waiting for him to elaborate—

And then, there’s a knock at the door.

Everything stops.

Six heads turn, the meeting collectively holding its breath as the door swings open, and they walk in.

Kim Taehyung moves like the kind of person who has never once questioned his place in a room. He steps in with the ease of someone who has always been watched, always been listened to, and never had reason to doubt it. His expression is unreadable but polite, his posture casual but controlled. His presence is a statement: I am here, and you are looking at me because that is what people do.

Behind him, Jungkook lingers in the doorway, half-hidden, a contrast in every possible way. Where Taehyung is effortless, Jungkook is hesitant. Where Taehyung moves with quiet confidence, Jungkook hesitates, raising a hand in a small, awkward wave at the staff like he’s both acknowledging and apologizing for his entrance. His sweater sleeves are too long, his stance uncertain, and yet, he is Jungkook, and so the room watches him anyway.

They take the seats directly across from you. You are not someone who gets nervous easily, but suddenly, you are hyperaware of yourself in the way that only happens when you are being seen.

Hoseok clears his throat, gestures toward you, and says, “This is our new addition to the team.”

And just like that, Jungkook and Taehyung’s gazes land on you with full force, the weight of them pressing into your skin like an unspoken question.

“Y/N is going to be working closely with the artists as our in, house psychologist,” Hoseok continues, his voice smooth, steady. “Her job is to evaluate your mental health and be available if you ever need someone to talk to. She’ll be present during some of your photoshoot, music video filming etc.”

A pause.

Then, Taehyung speaks first, his voice low and slow, measured like he’s tasting the words before saying them. “Interesting.” His gaze flickers over you, thoughtful, assessing. “I don’t think we’ve had something like this before.”

Jungkook, still fidgeting with the sleeve of his sweater, sneaks a glance at you before looking back down. “Do we—uh—have to do evaluations?”

You meet his gaze, offering what you hope is a reassuring smile. “Not if you don’t want to,” you say. “I’m just here if you ever need someone to talk to. No pressure.”

Jungkook nods slowly, considering this. Taehyung, however, is still watching you, his head tilted slightly like he’s trying to figure something out. “And what about you?” he asks.

You blink. “What about me?”

Taehyung leans forward just a little, just enough to make it feel deliberate. “You’re evaluating us. Who evaluates you?”

The question hangs in the air for half a second too long. Across from you, Jungkook looks mildly alarmed, like he wasn’t expecting that to be the follow-up. Hoseok lets out a quiet huff of laughter but doesn’t step in to rescue you.

Taehyung lets the question linger for a second before breaking into a slow grin, eyes twinkling with mischief. “I mean, if you ever need someone to evaluate you, I’m happy to volunteer. I have a lot of experience in pretending to be a therapist.”

There’s a brief pause before he flashes a boxy smile. “Just kidding.”

The room chuckles, and you exhale, relieved, but also dangerously close to losing your composure because Taehyung just joked with you. And then—like it’s nothing, like he isn’t one of the biggest artists in the world—he leans back, folds his arms, and says, “Welcome aboard.”

You nod, hoping you look professional and not like a fan who has just been personally acknowledged by their favorite artist. You manage a composed, “Thank you,” when all you really want to do is scream internally.

But then, Taehyung’s gaze shifts, and his attention slides toward Hoseok, brows raising. “Why do you look like you’re enjoying this way too much?”

You blink and follow his gaze.

And sure enough, Hoseok is sitting there, looking entirely too entertained, a telltale sparkle in his eyes that immediately sets off warning bells in your head. You know that look. You have seen that look. And then, all at once, it hits you.

Oh no.

Oh no no no no no.

Before you can stop it, warmth creeps up your neck, heat rushing to your face as last night’s conversation floods back into your memory. You resist the urge to slap a hand over your face.

Of course, Hoseok remembers.

Jungkook, having picked up on something, nudges Hoseok. “What?” he asks, eyes flicking between you two. “What discussion?”

Taehyung, perceptive as always, catches the shift in the atmosphere. His gaze sharpens, amusement dancing at the edges of his expression as he turns to you. “Yeah,” he drawls. “What discussion?”

You immediately shake your head, shrugging like this is the most uninteresting thing in the world. “Nothing important,” you say, waving a dismissive hand. “Just work stuff.”

But Taehyung is no fool. He narrows his eyes, leaning in ever so slightly. “Mm, I don’t believe you.”

“I second that,” Jungkook chimes in, nudging Hoseok again. “Just tell us.”

You shoot a desperate look at Hoseok, silently begging him to not say whatever he is clearly dying to say.

But Hoseok has never once been on your side.

He grins, leans forward, and with all the casual ease in the world, says, “Our dear psychologist here is actually a big fan of yours, Taehyung.”

Silence.

You swear the world stops spinning.

And then—then—Taehyung turns back to you, his eyes glinting with delight, and before you can prepare yourself, he smiles. A full, wide, boxy smile. “Oh?”

You are going to die.

“What’s your favorite song of mine?” he asks, resting his chin on his hand, like he’s actually enjoying this.

You contemplate lying. You contemplate running out of the room. You contemplate evaporating into the atmosphere and becoming one with the universe.

But in the end, you sigh and say, “Singularity.”

Taehyung claps.

“That’s it,” he announces, standing up only to plop himself in the empty seat next to you. “You are officially my new best friend. Hoseok is demoted.”

Hoseok lets out an exaggerated gasp, clutching his chest. “Betrayal.”

Jungkook and the others burst into laughter, and you—still red, still mortified—bury your face in your hands. Your job was supposed to be evaluating their mental health. Not losing yours.

Hoseok sighs like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, which, in some ways, he is. He rubs his temples, glances at the clock, and exhales with all the dramatic exhaustion of a man who just wants everyone to get their shit together. “Alright,” he says, clapping his hands once. “That’s it. Meeting adjourned. Everyone out.”

The room stirs, chairs scraping against the floor, people murmuring quick goodbyes, already half in their next task, their next obligation, their next responsibility. You sit still, watching as the world shifts around you, as the people dissolve into the hallway, until it’s just four of you left in the emptying space—Hoseok, Jungkook, Taehyung, and you.

And then, like a switch being flipped, the atmosphere changes.

The easy-going, quick-witted Hoseok you’ve spent the past 24 hours bickering with disappears, replaced by someone much sharper, much heavier. He leans forward, forearms resting on the table, fingers laced together like he’s about to say something that neither of them will like, but both of them need to hear.

Jungkook picks up on it immediately. His shoulders tense, his gaze flickering to Taehyung, whose lips curl into the ghost of a smirk. “You’re making this sound ominous,” Taehyung comments, voice light, like he’s trying to crack the tension before it has the chance to settle.

Hoseok doesn’t bite. “It is ominous,” he replies, voice even. “I need both of you to understand that this, this isn’t just for show.” He nods toward you. “This isn’t just for some PR stunt to make the company look good. It’s serious.”

Jungkook stays quiet. Taehyung, on the other hand, tilts his head. “You’re acting like we’ve never had therapy before.”

Hoseok’s expression darkens slightly, his fingers tightening against each other. “There have been too many tragedies in this industry,” he says, softer now, but heavier. “Too many avoidable tragedies. I’m not taking chances with either of you.”

Silence stretches for a beat too long. Jungkook shifts in his seat, but there’s something else in his eyes now, something grateful. “I get it,” he says finally. “And... thank you. For caring.”

Taehyung, still watching Hoseok, finally leans back. The teasing edge to his voice has softened. “Yeah,” he murmurs, before flicking his gaze to you with something dangerously close to amusement. “And, y’know, in advance—thank you for whatever trouble I end up causing you.”

You snort. “I’ll start emotionally preparing now.”

Hoseok shakes his head but doesn’t stop the small smirk that appears on his face. And then, as if physically unable to linger in sentimentality for too long, he claps his hands together and stands. “Alright, back to work. Jungkook, go check on the lyrics team. I want an update on the album.”

Jungkook nods, already halfway to the door.

“And Taehyung,” Hoseok continues, stretching his arms overhead, “makeup team. There are paparazzi waiting outside, and we need to make sure you look flawless when they inevitably get pictures of you walking into rehearsal.”

Taehyung sighs, stretching dramatically. “Ah, yes. The burden of being internationally beautiful.”

Jungkook scoffs on his way out. Hoseok rolls his eyes. You just stare at the ceiling, wondering how exactly you ended up in this specific moment of your life.

And then—

“Oh,” Hoseok adds, almost as an afterthought. “You’re going with Taehyung to the Gucci show tonight.”

You blink. “Wait, what?”

Taehyung gasps, clutching his chest. “You think I’d cause a scandal?”

Hoseok just gives him a long, unimpressed stare.

Taehyung grins. “Okay, fair.”

And as Jungkook laughs on his way out, and Taehyung winks at you before striding after him, and Hoseok smirks like he’s enjoying your suffering way too much.

After the meeting you went down to the accounting office to settle the additional paperwork, they needed in order for you to officially call yourself their employer. The amount paperwork between you and them was by far larger than you had initially anticipated. Before you know it, thirty minutes passed quickly and you began to make your way down to the makeup team to check on Taehyung, only to find an empty chair and the makeup artist also gone.

You run through the company halls like you’re being chased, which, in some poetic way, you are except instead of a masked murderer or your crippling existential dread, it’s the very real possibility of being fired by Hoseok before you even make it a full week.

You skid around a corner, narrowly avoiding a poor intern carrying a tower of papers. “Sorry!” you yell over your shoulder, but you don’t slow down. You can’t. Because Taehyung, who was supposed to be in hair and makeup thirty minutes ago, is nowhere to be found, and you’re about three seconds away from losing your mind.

In the middle of your search for Taehyung, you bumped into Hoseok who was going on and about with his work. Amidst ragged breaths, you manage to shoot Hoseok a look that, in a perfect world, would set him on fire. “Why,” you wheeze, “why did you think this should be part of my job?”

He, who has the audacity to look entirely unbothered, doesn’t even glance up from his phone.

“Because” he says simply, “as much as Taehyung is sunshine and laughter and poetic Instagram captions, he’s also someone who gets anxious in group settings. He hides it well, but it’s there.” Finally, he does look at you, and the teasing in his voice fades into something softer, more serious. “I want you to keep an eye on him. Make sure he gets used to the spotlight without it swallowing him whole.”

And you-well. What are you supposed to say to that?

So, with renewed determination (or at least the fear of failure fueling you), you spend the next fifteen minutes asking every living, breathing soul in the building if they’ve seen Kim Taehyung. Most of them haven’t. One guy claims he saw him heading toward the parking lot, and, considering your other options are “continue running in circles” or “give up and accept your fate,” you bolt in that direction.

And that’s where you find him.

Taehyung is leaning against the van, cigarette pinched between two fingers, the other hand typing something on his phone. His posture is relaxed, his expression unreadable, and when he looks up and sees you, he doesn’t seem to register your near mental breakdown. Instead, he waves, casual, oblivious to the fact that you’ve searched high and low for him like some tragic protagonist in a Greek myth.

You march toward him, stopping just short of actually shaking him by the shoulders. “I have been looking everywhere for you.”

Taehyung hums, completely unfazed. Then, as if just remembering, he flicks the cigarette away and steps on it. “Oh?”

“Oh? Oh?” You throw your hands up. “You were supposed to be waiting for me after you’re done with makeup. Which was thirty minutes ago.”

Taehyung shrugs. “I forgot plus I was busy.”

“Busy doing what?”

But instead of answering, he reaches out, plucks your phone straight from your pocket with the smoothness of a seasoned thief, and—unlocks it.

You blink. “Did you just—”

“Kudos to you for not having a password,” he says, and before you can respond, he’s already typing. Then, with one final tap, he hands your phone back. “There. Now you have my number. And I have yours.”

You glance at the screen. He’s called himself from your phone, meaning his contact info is now saved in yours. You don’t know whether to be impressed or horrified.

Before you can decide, the driver leans out of the van, expression tight. “We’re on a schedule.”

Right. The Gucci event.

You sigh, opening the van door. “Come on, troublemaker,” you mutter.

Taehyung grins, like he’s already decided that’s his new favorite nickname, and follows you inside. The drive to the venue is brief, the kind of brief that makes you wonder if time has conspired against you, speeding up when you least want it to. You barely have a moment to steel yourself before the van pulls up to the entrance, and suddenly, the outside world is a hurricane of flashing lights and deafening screams.

It’s a sensory overload—like stepping into the eye of a storm only to realize the storm doesn’t have an eye at all, just chaos stretching infinitely in every direction. Taehyung doesn’t flinch. Instead, he flips open his front camera, checking himself with the kind of practiced ease that suggests this is just another Tuesday to him.

He tilts his head, smirks at his reflection, and then, as if sensing your nerves, winks at you. "Don’t worry,” he says, tucking his phone away. “This time, I’ll actually go to makeup.”

And then he’s stepping out, and the moment he does, the flashes ignite like fireworks, the screams surge to new heights, and security moves like a well, rehearsed dance, closing around him before the crowd can swallow him whole. You watch, stunned, as he walks through it like it’s nothing, like he’s built for this, like the weight of thousands of eyes and camera lenses isn’t crushing at all.

The driver clears his throat, breaking you from your daze. "Personnel takes the back entrance," he informs you, already pulling away from the chaos.

You exhale, nodding. Right. The back entrance. The place for people who don’t belong in the spotlight.

Inside, the venue is its own brand of madness—less frenzied, more controlled, but madness all the same. Models flit between stations, stylists tug at garments, makeup artists wield brushes with the precision of master painters. The air buzzes with tension, last, minute adjustments, whispered commands into headsets. Everything is in motion, a world spinning on an axis of beauty and precision.

You clutch the paper Hoseok gave you, scanning for 7—Taehyung’s station. You weave through clusters of people, dodging models draped in expensive fabrics, until you spot him in front of a mirror, a makeup artist dusting powder across his already flawless skin.

You call his name, and he glances up, meeting your gaze in the reflection. There’s something unreadable in his expression—half amusement, half something quieter, something almost grateful. He doesn’t say anything, just offers you a small, knowing smile.

You take a seat with the rest of Hoseok’s crew, watching as the final touches are applied to him. And you think, for all his effortless confidence, for all his ease under the crushing weight of the world’s attention, maybe even Taehyung isn’t immune to needing someone to see him—not as an idol or a model or a public figure, but just as himself.

The show unravels like a dream, or maybe a fever, or maybe both. The kind where you’re half-aware that reality is slipping, but you let it anyway because it’s beautiful, because it’s loud, because the air is thick with the scent of expensive cologne and camera flashes and anticipation.

Your phone buzzes. Hoseok.

Hoseok: Front row. Where are you?

You: Backstage. Trying not to lose my mind.

Hoseok: Try harder.

You don’t have time to roll your eyes before Taehyung materializes in front of you, dressed in a suit that looks like it was forged in the heart of some celestial fire. Gold drapes across his body like it belongs there, like it isn’t real fabric but something molten, something permanent. The jacket is undone, just enough to suggest he knows exactly what he’s doing, exactly how many headlines this will make.

You gesture vaguely at his exposed chest. “A little breezy, don’t you think?”

Taehyung presses a hand to his sternum, mock scandalized. “Are you starting your evaluation already?”

You shake your head. “Just wondering if you ever feel like... you have no control over your own body.”

And it happens so fast you almost miss it—the half-second where his smile falters, where his eyes dim just slightly, where something flickers across his face that is neither playful nor performative. But then it’s gone, like it was never there to begin with, swallowed by the mask he’s worn so well for so long.

“It’s part of the job,” he says, and it should sound reassuring, but it doesn’t.

Then, his name is called, and the moment evaporates. He turns to leave, but you call after him, holding up a thumbs up. He grins, boyish and bright, and returns the gesture before disappearing into the flood of models and designers and people who exist in worlds far shinier than yours.

And then the show moves forward, like a machine, like a well-oiled and impossibly beautiful thing. Music swells. Lights shift. Models emerge and disappear, their bodies telling stories stitched into fabric worth more than most people’s apartments. From backstage, you watch Taehyung walk as if he was created for this moment alone.

Before you know it, it’s over. Applause fills the space like an ocean crashing against rocks, and backstage morphs into a whirlwind of congratulations and quick costume changes and people exhaling for the first time in hours.

Somewhere in the chaos, Hoseok appears. He leans against a table, casual, amused. “Looked like you were enjoying yourself back here.”

You grab Taehyung’s shirt from the rack, rolling your eyes. “Yeah, well. Someone has to make sure your golden boy doesn’t spontaneously combust.”

The two of you work in silence, packing up Taehyung’s things with the efficiency of people who have done this kind of thing a hundred times before, even though you haven’t. Hoseok moves with practiced ease, folding designer clothes like they’re casual t-shirts, slipping shoes into their dust bags, checking for anything left behind.

You mimic him as best as you can, though your version is noticeably sloppier. Hoseok is shoving the last of Taehyung’s things into the trunk with the kind of efficiency that makes you wonder if, in some alternate timeline, he was a personal assistant instead of a CEO.

The van sits idling in the cold night air, and the driver—who has probably seen enough chaos to last him a lifetime—mutters something about needing to get the front desk guy to open the gate before disappearing into the night. Which leaves you and Hoseok alone.

You cross your arms. “Where’s Taehyung?”

Hoseok doesn’t look up as he zips a bag shut. “Left with his friends. Grabbing a drink or two.”

You groan. Because, of course, he did. Because it is entirely within Taehyung’s brand of chaos to disappear right when you think you have him figured out. But before you can say anything, Hoseok straightens, dusts off his hands, and says, too casually, “By the way, there’s an investor dinner this Saturday.”

You blink. “And?”

“And” he continues, “it would be weird if my wife didn’t attend.”

You let out a noise that is somewhere between a sigh and a death rattle. “Hose—”

“Look, I know you hate these things—”

“Hate is an understatement,” you grumble.

“—but it’s important. And, you know, appearances.”

You groan again, but this time, the sound is cut off by a voice behind you, smooth and curious.

“Wife?”

You and Hoseok jump like you’ve been caught committing a federal crime.

Taehyung stands there, watching you both with that unreadable expression of his, hands tucked into the pockets of his ridiculously expensive coat. He tilts his head slightly, and in the dim glow of the parking lot, he looks like a Renaissance painting, all soft shadows and sharp features. “Did I hear that right?” he muses. “You’re married?”

Hoseok exhales, pressing his fingers to his temple like he’s already developing a headache. “Shouldn’t you be out with your friends?”

Taehyung lifts a hand, dangling his phone between two fingers. “Left it in the car.” Then he looks straight at Hoseok. “And you never said you got married.”

You do the only reasonable thing in this situation, which is: say absolutely nothing and let Hoseok deal with it.

Hoseok, to his credit, doesn’t fumble. “I am married,” he admits, voice even. “But it’s for… a lot of reasons.”

There’s a flicker of something in Taehyung’s expression. It’s gone in a second, but you see it, that brief moment where something unspoken, something heavier than curiosity crosses his face. “And” he says, slow and deliberate, “none of them were because of love, right?”

Hoseok shifts. “It’s complicated.”

Taehyung hums, rolling the words around his tongue as if tasting them. He looks at you for the first time since this conversation started, and you feel like he’s seeing something you don’t even understand about yourself yet. The weight of it makes your stomach twist. But then he just nods, something close to acceptance in his gaze. “I suppose it’s none of my business.”

Hoseok exhales, relief creeping into his posture. “I’d prefer if you kept it that way.”

Taehyung gives a small, lopsided smile, one that feels just a little too sad to be real. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul.”

He pockets his phone, murmurs a quiet goodnight, and walks off. And you stand there, watching his silhouette disappear into the night, feeling a shift in the air that you can’t quite explain.

If only you knew—if only you had felt it—this was the moment everything started unraveling.

You and Hoseok stand there in the quiet, the kind of quiet that feels like it has something to say. The van is still idling, its open trunk like an unfinished sentence. Neither of you rush to fill the silence. It just lingers, stretching between you like an unanswered question.

Finally, Hoseok sighs, rubs the back of his neck, and nods toward the van. “I’ll drop you home.” And then, to the driver, “Take Taehyung’s stuff to the company.”

The drive is slow, the kind of slow that makes you notice things you wouldn’t normally—how the streetlights flicker, how the neon signs smear against the rain-slick pavement, how the world feels both impossibly large and suffocatingly small all at once. You stare out the window, trying not to think about the way Taehyung had looked at you back there, like he had figured something out before you had even begun to understand it yourself.

And maybe it’s that thought, or maybe it’s just the exhaustion settling into your bones, but you find yourself asking, “Why did you tell him?”

Hoseok doesn’t look at you, but there’s something thoughtful about the way his fingers tap against the steering wheel. “Lying would’ve made it messier,” he says eventually. “And I trust him.”

You glance at him. “You sure about that?”

He smirks, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Not even a little bit.”

That, somehow, makes you feel slightly better.

When he pulls up in front of your building, he doesn’t kill the engine. Just turns to you with an expression that’s dangerously close to fondness. “I’ve got work to do. Won’t be home tonight.”

You unbuckle your seatbelt and raise an eyebrow. “Should I assume that’s code for ‘I’m sleeping with someone else tonight’?”

Hoseok grins. “Correct.”

You sigh, dramatically. “And here I thought our fake marriage was built on trust.”

“Oh, it is. It’s just also built on me occasionally ditching you for real dates.”

You roll your eyes, pushing the door open, but before you can step out, he adds, “You should date too.”

You pause. “What?”

He shrugs. “You know. Find someone. Maybe that motherfucker you got into a whole music debate with.”

It takes you a second. “From the bar last night?”

“Yeah. Go out with him.”

“I don’t even have his number.”

Hoseok shakes his head in mock disappointment. “Tragic.” Then, just before you shut the door, he adds, “By the way—you did good today.”

You don’t get a chance to respond before he’s driving off, disappearing into the night like a plot twist you didn’t see coming. And for a moment, you just stand there, the city buzzing around you, the weight of the day finally catching up. Then, your phone rings.

A message from Yoongi.

"We need to talk."

The thing about those words is that they’re never the beginning of something good.

You stare at the words on your screen like they have the power to rearrange your life. It’s not that you don’t love your brother—you do, in the way that people love things that have always been there, like gravity or existential dread—but you also know that whatever he has to say is going to make your night significantly worse. Still, obligation wins over self-preservation, so you call.

It rings once. Twice. Then he picks up, and instead of Yoongi’s voice, you’re greeted by the deep bass of a club, the kind that makes your ribcage vibrate even through the phone. There’s a clinking of glasses, some distant shouting, and then finally—

“If you’re at a club,” you say, “was this really that important?”

Yoongi exhales like you are the source of every headache he’s ever had. “I was out when I got the news.”

You sigh, leaning back against the couch. “What news?”

He doesn’t answer right away, which is already a bad sign. Somewhere behind him, the song changes, something fast and electric. Then he says, “One of my friends saw you backstage at the Gucci show. With Hoseok’s staff.”

You blink. “And?”

There’s a pause long enough to be damning. “And?” he repeats, incredulous. “Do you have any idea how that looks?”

You pinch the bridge of your nose. “Like I was working?”

“No,” he snaps. “Like you were doing someone else’s dirty work. That’s a job for the lower class, and you—”

Ah. There it is.

“—are a Min. You don’t do things like that.”

The laugh that bubbles up in your throat is less humour and more disbelief. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“I’m not,” he says, voice sharper now. “Is Hoseok making you do this?”

Your patience is unravelling like a loose thread. “That’s none of your business, but for the record no. I volunteered.”

For once, Yoongi doesn’t argue. “No, it’s not. But it is father’s business.”

And there it is, the real reason for this call. The real weight pressing against your chest.

Yoongi sighs, and when he speaks again, it’s quieter, like he knows you already understand. “You know he barely let you marry Hoseok. You know he’s going to be furious.”

Yeah. You do.

But right now, you don’t have the energy to care.

So, you take a breath, slow and deep, and then you hang up, ignoring the way Yoongi says your name like he’s trying to stop something from slipping through his fingers. You silence your phone, toss it somewhere across the couch, and let yourself sink into the quiet of your house, the weight of the night settling over you like a promise you’re not ready to keep.

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jiminrings · 5 months ago

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MISS MAMA CABINET MEMBER JIMINRINGS can we pls get another sneak peek for the c*ntroversial fics like u did before??? also if yes can u pls pls pls put in matilda i will give u my most prized pc for it

c*ntroversial fics sneak peek (2)

+ sneak peek 1

matilda series — wherein older bf jungkook’s love language is tough love, and he refuses to come through for you even in dire situations just so you could “learn”.

Your friends don’t like Jungkook.

They don’t like him for an extensive number of reasons and given everything they talk your ear off for, you’ve completely lost count about what exactly they hate about your boyfriend.

For starters, Jimin keeps reiterating that Jungkook’s too old for you at every chance he gets. The age gap between you isn’t too big in the first place and Jimin himself told you that he wouldn’t mind it — if, and only if, your boyfriend didn’t make a horrible first impression on him by looking him up and down (with a nasty look no less) and asking you out loud if you were sure about your choices regarding friends.

Hoseok doesn’t like Jungkook either, except this time, it’s for the reason that he’s too sure of himself. He doesn’t mind the age gap, but he does mind (read: loathe) the way that at the one time your boyfriend showed up for a dinner with you and your closest friends, his back remained stuck to the back of the chair with his arms crossed. Jungkook was just there as if he was forced to (he was) and Hoseok hated that smug look on his face more than ever.

Your friends hate the way Jungkook picks up the check, not because he was trying very earnestly to win them over, but because he genuinely thought they were unable to. They despise the way that they’ve had to have a conversation in the car about holding themselves back from cutting your steak or peeling your shrimp, only for Jungkook to not do any of that for you despise them backing off.

Your parents don’t even know about Jungkook’s existence because you’re sure they would disapprove; they’ve always thought that their only daughter would end up with a partner who treats her like precious cargo — not someone who treats you to go look for that precious cargo with your hands dirty and your knees scuffed.

Nonetheless, whether your family and friends don’t and won’t like Jungkook, you still feel the need to protect him.

There’s this overwhelming urge in you to have Jungkook in your arms, even if he’s bigger and tougher and older and more accomplished than you, all because no one’s ever done that for him. You know about Jungkook’s string of exes and he knows about yours, and with it, you know more than ever that you don’t need to change for him.

If anything, you just want to be yourself even more around him — even if Jungkook always tells you to learn how to stand on your own.

Your older boyfriend’s demeanor wouldn’t faze you if it was any other day; his blunt and discreetly concerned tough love for you wouldn’t bother you if only he wasn’t making it painfully obvious right now, out of all the instances, that he won’t bother for you.

Jungkook refuses to come to your aid, even if it’s him that you need the most, under the guise that he’s only making you stronger.

“You have to learn to do that yourself, Y/N,” he groans into the call, the frustration in his voice making it easy for you to visualize the picture of him in his high-rise office, pinching his nose bridge in annoyance as he treats your call for help like its another one of his work dilemmas.

“But I can’t, Jungkook. That’s the thing,” you seethe, running a trembling hand through your hair as you try to ignore the looks that you get from all the people in their fully-functional, intact-with-wheels cars that pass by you.

The whole situation’s nerve-wracking: from the way you keep hearing this awful sound in your chassis, to the way your blinkers are barely even working out of nowhere, and all the way to the sudden feeling that your car keeps veering to the left lane despite driving straightly — you feel like you’ve been blindsided.

You’re both blindsided by the sudden onset of driving anxiety (along with the sheer fact that something’s really wrong with your car), and the long withstanding fact that Jungkook, the man you love most, won’t drive the short distance to help you.

“You’re saying that even if you haven’t tried.”

trophy series — wherein f1 racer jimin thanks his famous ex-girlfriend for always believing in him in his victory speech.

You didn’t like a lot of things before Jimin came into your life.

For instance, you didn’t even like racing (or even stuck your nose into it by doing a grand total of one internet search by your own will) until you got introduced to Jimin by a friend of a friend and had thought that maybe, guys driving around in loops for god knows how many laps isn’t so boring.

Through Jimin, you learned that you could grow past your aversion to a lot of things — him included.

You weren’t the biggest fan of going out not unless you had unavoidable chores to do, and now, you find yourself asking Jimin to go out and do nothing with you every time his schedule opens up.

You didn’t like sharing anything from your personal romantic life to your parents when you were a teenager, but now, your mom asks you to bring your boyfriend more often so he could teach him how to cook, and your dad can’t stop buying matching hats for the both of them.

You hated the spotlight being on you no matter what context it was; whether it was your friend posting a picture of him and you wearing Jimin’s jacket being caught in the background (then posted to Pinterest the next day, which means therefore you’re now posted everywhere) despite not knowing who he was at the time (you were literally just cold and his jacket was on sale at the nearest souvenir store), or actually being with Jimin this time around.

You don’t hate being known as Jimin’s girlfriend — what you do hate is knowing that everyone else knows that someone else came before you and that you have to live with that fact.

You, and not Jimin, have to live with the fact that every time you come down to watch him, you’ll always have Seri, his ex, all around you. She’s on the billboard at the building a few blocks away, she’s on the video edits with whatever vaguely nostalgic-sounding music playing in the background, and she’s even on the white linen polos you’ve been seeing so often lately because it was her trademark outfit to watch Jimin.

Seri, Jimin’s first love and the nation’s sweetheart, came before you and you have to live with that.

“No, seriously. It’s fine. We’re all mature about it,” you reassure Jungkook for the millionth time because he can’t stop squeezing your hand in worry. Your friend’s more worried for you than he is for Jimin, even if he’s just a lap and a half away from clinching a historic win.

You’re mature about Jimin being friends with his greatest love because you can’t rewrite history, and because Jimin and Seri will forever be a part of each other’s lives in one way or another; worse, if they’re just being themselves, because it would mean you’re still you and technically, you’re no one when put next to them.

“Seriously, stop worrying. I’m not bothered.”

You’re mature about it, you convince both Jungkook and yourself, as you try to ignore how the majority of everyone’s eyes only flit into two directions: Jimin’s car on the screen, and Seri by the lower box who’s lost all composure and is cheering for him, for your boyfriend, just like old times.

Unlike Seri, your hands are clenched together, not because you’re praying for Jimin’s win, but because if you were to untangle them, it would immediately register to you that they’re cold upon foreseeing Jimin’s win.

Jimin will win and yet his gaze, like everyone else’s, will go to Seri.

“It makes sense, Jungkook. They’ve been there for each other since the start,” you nod tightly, the feeling of having to explain to your friend amidst all the uproarious cheers and whistles that you’re absolutely not hurt at all being the one to crush your chest.

When Jimin makes it up to the podium, you know not to expect anything. You know by now that you’re not going to get any cheesy remarks from any of the audience, nor will you ever get the cameras pan to your own teary eyes when it comes to Jimin’s win.

When Jimin wins, when he gets the trophy, the world automatically stops for only him and his first love alone.

night, day, noon series — wherein yoongi cheats on you.

Yoongi tore his ACL playing hockey.

It’s his fall from grace as what many of his fans have assumed, seeing to it that his injury could not have come at a worse time; in between the pressure put on his shoulders as the star player to cinch his team’s three-peat win and his own frustrations with himself, Yoongi had reached a breaking point when his injury benched him for the rest of the season.

Your husband’s breaking point is unlike any of his teammates’, even if his injury is nearing the top of the pyramid when it comes to being the worst. Yoongi didn’t turn to any vice nor did he succumb to any of his frustration whenever the realization washes over him that instead of being on the ice, he’s doing everything but.

Yoongi’s breaking point is barely there — it’s a summit the two of you have already conquered but when you do look down, you’re uncertain of where exactly you’re looking at.

Some days, he detests his physical rehabilitation.

Nowadays, Yoongi actually can’t wait to get out of the house just to put himself through a session of what he used to describe as beyond annoying.

There’s not one part of you that doesn’t ache in seeing Yoongi be unlike himself, even if he shows to you that he could be independent without your help.

There’s a cloying and tedious aftertaste to your mouth whenever you can’t help your husband the way he wants you to. He himself can’t tell where he wants you to stand exactly, but even with that knowledge, the lingering fear of inadequacy stays in your gut.

The fear that you won’t ever be enough for Yoongi sinks when he holds your hand to walk, but it floats right back to the surface when you look down on your intertwined fingers to realize that you’re holding onto him tighter than he holds onto you; just as if you’re the one who’s dependent on being needed rather than being the one who yearns.

The ache that you’re not what Yoongi needs is a perpetually grinding iteration in your mind — it preys on you the longer that you delude yourself into thinking that the boost in Yoongi’s step is nothing less than his own motivation to recover, and nothing more than him taking your support however he sees fit.

The realization that you’re what Yoongi has but doesn’t need– doesn’t want, even— comes to you as an image that you can never forget.

You find them in the evening, in the middle of the ice where Yoongi struggles to support himself, yet he finds solace in Dahye that it’s enough for him to relax in his physical therapist’s hold.

His legs barely tremble yet he holds onto Dahye like she’s the world; like her hands are far more deserving than yours to be held because Yoongi’s grip tightens on her without any prompting.

Yoongi, your husband, holds her far too tightly — far too closely and intimately, you’d mistaken her for yourself if not for the blaring absence of a wedding ring on her finger.

His legs barely tremble and his shoulders barely shiver, yet he holds onto Dahye as if she’s what you once were to him — as if she’s this immovable object whom he loves beyond life, enough for him to consider retiring early out of the fear he’ll get an injury he can’t reverse.

You’re not Dahye, and even so, you come to realize as you stand by the nosebleeds that you’re the one at a disadvantage. Not her.

Yoongi holds her far too tightly, and if not for the tears that blur your vision, you’d think then that his only logical follow-up is to kiss her.

You’re immovable now, just not in the same way you once were to Yoongi.

It’s seven in the evening when you watch your husband make out with another woman in the middle of the rink, right before he drags her out to the locker room to fuck her.

breadwinner series — wherein taehyung’s a breadwinner who always thinks you’re pitying him, so he tells you off in the dark.. in the surprise party you threw for him.. for everyone to hear.

Taehyung has never not been hardworking.

You knew from the first day of your freshman year that Taehyung doesn’t have any excuses when it comes to working. He was already on his junior year riding on an athletic scholarship, and even his free ride hadn’t been enough to stop him from working as a librarian in the library (to you, it was a free nap space with charging outlets) that you only loitered at.

You knew it one semester into your freshman year, because as soon as you boldly asked Taehyung out during his shift after having spent months chatting him up and leaving snacks for him, his first question was what time your date would be so he could check if he’ll be able to go to his bartender job after.

You knew Taehyung, your beloved boyfriend, was beyond hardworking when you took him out to meet your parents and he mowed the grass in your childhood home’s lawn out of muscle memory, when you had only left him alone for twenty minutes.

You knew in your heart (more than anyone else in the world could) that he wouldn’t stop at anything in order to put something, if not everything, on the table for his family, because he hasn’t even thought about marriage yet.

“I don’t want to hold it against him, Soomin,” you sigh, smiling sincerely to Taehyung’s little sister who’s persistenly on both his and your heels because she wants you to get married already, claiming that she wants to be a full-time aunt even if she’s only in high school. “You know how it is. I-… I’m not in your situation, but I know where your brother’s coming from,” you nod, pondering over the complex, hardworking case that your boyfriend is.

Taehyung can’t focus on the family he’ll have with you until he decides that he can prioritize his own over the family he came from. You don’t mean to sound selfish nor possessive at all — you’re simply trying to be realistic.

You can’t entertain the thought of tying the knot with Taehyung, all while he’s thinking of putting more than half of his salary into his parents’ accounts instead of your future kids (whom you can’t even picture). You can’t entertain the thought of building a house with him, only for the rooms to be occupied solely by his family members over the thought that he’ll suddenly wake up one day and decide that he’s sick of getting his childhood home fixed.

You love your boyfriend’s family. They aren't perfect, but neither is anyone else’s. You still kiss his mother on the cheek because she’s one of the kindest women in the world to you, even if she had entrusted her debts to her eldest child. You still banter around with his dad because he’s funny and charming, even if he had retired early and gave his family barely anything to live with.

Taehyung loves his parents, and as do you.

Your boyfriend is a breadwinner, and you aren’t.

Love is complicated and hectic for Taehyung, while it only remains complicated and somehow easy for you.

Getting your boyfriend out of the house during his “free time” (read: in between his multiple jobs) had been a herculean task as it is. You had spent the last few months getting everything in order just to give him a surprise early birthday party; for him to finally take a break and live only as himself and not as a provider — you endured the countless minutes of him groaning whilst driving him.

You endured Taehyung turning down countless dates and invites to be with you over the years, if enduring meant you being upset in the morning and sucking it up in the afternoon because you know that he has no choice but to, especially since he’s ingrained within himself.

You endured your boyfriend barely participating in your past birthdays, if not foregoing them altogether, because he was busy.

What you aren’t sure you can endure now is Taehyung turning your surprise for him around, completely disregarding all your hard work even if he doesn’t know the entire situation.

What you aren’t sure you can endure is Taehyung snapping at you in the dark, even if you’re holding him tightly and just a mere few steps away from being welcomed by his closest family and friends.

“What stupid thing is this now, Y/N?” he grumbles, taking off his blindfold yet he still can’t see anything besides a vague outline of you looking at him with surprised eyes.

“It’s not stupid, Tae,” you stutter, trying to regain his hand back into your palm to pull him closer to the hall yet he doesn’t budge at all.

Taehyung stays rooted in where he stands, above you and beneath you all at once.

“It isn’t?” he scoffs, running a hand through his hair as he’s overwhelmed with darkness. “It’s not just another gimmick that you make yourself go through because you don’t have anything better to do?”

big picture — wherein ob-gyne namjoon, your boyfriend, who wants to be a dad but not a husband… ends up meeting your ex who’s willing to be both.

Namjoon and marriage don’t fit into the same sentence.

They don’t fit into the same sentence (not even in the same paragraph), because whenever one of his nosy aunts or just one of his four sisters-in-law bring it up, Namjoon’s suddenly worked up the appetite to eat the meatloaf no one has even touched on the table.

He doesn’t exactly hate people who are married, even if his face for finding a fork in the kitchen is just the same whenever he hears a friend tell him, unprompted, about their marital issues. Namjoon’s committal, and you know it because he’s still with you despite everything: from the age gap between the two of you that made a lot of his friends think (they’re used to Namjoon being the older one in a relationship), to all of your family members asking when you’re going to tie the knot (to which he gives answers that they want to hear), and even to his patients pointing at your picture in his desk, asking if he delivered your non-existent children into the world.

Namjoon doesn’t hate being committed to you. He doesn’t hate waking up and coming home to you everyday, and neither does he hate picturing a family with you.

Hate’s a strong word, especially coming from the likes of Namjoon whom you’ve always known as as a gentleman — you just didn’t expect that hate, or whatever the alternative for it is in Namjoon’s book, coming from him when it comes to the concept of being wedded to you.

You never questioned his affinity for it, or lack thereof, because throughout all the teasing through the years coming from all sides, Namjoon has not once ever turned down marriage. He’s nodded his head about it when your mom jokingly brought it up during their first meeting. He giggled when your co-worker kept telling him what kind of cut you wanted. He even bowed his head and said of course when his grandfather told him to elope with you (albeit in a very old-fashioned, mostly problematic way) in the nearest city hall.

You never questioned that Namjoon detests the possibility of being married to you because he never gave you the reason to think otherwise.

“But Namjoon, I’m older than you,” you exasperate, sitting across him in the same seat that his patients would for consultations.

You didn’t expect to even have this life-altering conversation with him in his office of all the places, the topic suddenly being breached when his assistant teased him by bringing you along and calling you as his missus, to which he audibly winced at.

Namjoon himself is surprised that it would be brought up now; he didn’t even think once that his distaste for marriage would obviously spring up after all his flawless instances of tamping it down, all in the hopes that his opinion would change.

“Not by a lot,” he corrects. “You know that’s never been a problem for me.”

“It’s a problem for me when you’re telling me now that you want a kid with me but you don’t want to give me a ring,” you sigh, looking down on your feet instead of letting your eyes wander around the room because if you do, all the charts on his walls would just provoke you. “What— what do you expect to come out of this, Joon? That I’ll be 40 taking our kid to middle school and I still refer to you as my boyfriend?”

“People call them partners nowadays to sound more mature.”

“Is this funny to you?” you spit, the light smile on his face immediately being wiped once he registers the seriousness in your tone.

“It’s not, I’m sorry, but come on! Why are you losing your mind over something so trivial? If we do get pregnant, we would still be together whether or not we’re married! It’s not much of a difference,” he reasons, running a hand through his hair.

Namjoon, oddly enough, doesn’t feel nervous to have this talk with you. He thought he would be more devastated bringing it up, yet now, he’s more nervous about your reaction towards your present relationship than he is about your future.

“If it’s not much of a difference, then why won’t you marry me?”

The way your boyfriend’s, not your husband’s, face falls is something you won’t ever forget.

You don’t think you’d ever forget the way Namjoon’s lips part, not because you’re internally celebrating what you thought would be a gotcha moment that would change his mind once and for all, but because he looks defeated.

He looks defeated even thinking about the possibility of a lifetime with you — preferably one wherein you share a family, a home, and even a certificate.

“Do you know how many pregnant women I see on a daily basis who are stuck in marriages they didn’t want?” Namjoon sighs, eyes screwing shut as he feels a wave of nausea all of a sudden. “Y/N, I can’t even keep track of all the times their husbands didn’t show up when their wives need them. I had-.. I still have to watch all these women name their babies by their own. I’ve been asked to be a godfather so many times so their kid could have a father figure. I— I’ve delivered more babies than I’ve ever seen husbands in the delivery room.”

“But you’re going to be a great dad,” you argue, hand sliding across the table to hold his hand loosely. “You’re going to be a great husband.”

“We don’t know that,” he chuckles humorlessly, briefly tightening his grip on yours before he detaches his hand.

Namjoon doesn’t feel guilty doing so. Instead, he feels like his chest is heavy with the truth yet not with the pain that comes with coming to realize that the two of you don’t see eye to eye.

You tilt your head in confusion, licking your lips as you try to catch up. “What do you mean we don’t know that? If you want to be one, then-…”

“I don’t mean it like that,” he hollows his cheeks, throwing his head back into his seat as he sounds out the words he’s always thought but never said. “I don’t know if I’m going to be a good husband because I don’t want to be married.”

to the touch — wherein hoseok’s almost The Perfect Boyfriend whose love language is physical touch towards you.. and everyone else.

Amongst your family and friends, even including acquaintances who’ve only met you once, your boyfriend Hoseok has the reputation of being the best partner one could ever ask for.

For instance, your parents commend how he doesn’t let you lift a finger when it comes to helping out, even going so far as to give all your tasks to Hoseok that have always been yours. It was a little different seeing Hoseok make the holiday knit that would go to your grandparents (if not endearing and just a little bit unsettling with how good he instantly is), but you’re awed over his flawless integration to your family.

Your friends can never shut up about Hoseok, whether or not they’re single by the time they see him on your side. He’s too kind to the point he even invites them along for what’s supposed to be your dates, because his heart goes out for your “single” friends (you swear most of them aren’t) who don’t have anyone to keep them warm at night.

You’ve heard time and time again that your boyfriend’s a keeper, and you believe it every time. You’re accustomed to Hoseok being the best partner you’ve had and will ever do in your lifetime. To this day, there’s instances where he can still take you by surprise despite being with you for years.

It’s great being with someone who’s as attentive and loving as him— almost a little too great, that you barely glaze over the fact that you and Hoseok don’t have any hitches in your relationship.

You only ever got to realize it during a massive party that your friend threw, seeing almost every face you’ve ever known growing up. You didn’t question it at first (unlike how people do when they find out you and your boyfriend have never had a conflict), seeing family and friends alike, enjoying their time together as per usual.

You don’t question the liveliness of the event, nor your boyfriend’s constant disappearance from your side.

You don’t question how you’re seemingly alone in a huge party, nor about how you keep hearing of your esteemed boyfriend all throughout the space despite not seeing him for majority of the event.

You don’t question it until Jimin, your friend from college, suddenly popped up.

There’s no customaries he shares with you; there’s no hi or hello, nor is there the default arm touch one gets from someone they haven’t talked to for a while. Jimin just settles to your side with a drink in his hand, eyebrows furrowed and lips pouted, and it’s as if his presence beside you has always been normal.

“Didn’t peg you to be an open relationship type,” he says out of nowhere, taking a relaxed sip of his drink after the bomb he drops on you.

“What?!” you exclaim almost instantly, settling into the immediately warm and almost scalding nature of Jimin; you don’t even realize that he doesn’t have to graze his elbow with yours to learn about his presence.

“You and Hoseok are still together, right?” Jimin laughs boyishly as he licks his lips, snorting at the startled look on your face as he gestures to your missing boyfriend with his head. “Why does he keep rubbing on your friends like he’s expecting a genie to come out then?”

“He’s not rubbing on them,” you immediately defend Hoseok even before your eyes could follow Jimin’s line of sight, the supposed roll of your eyes for his ridiculous words getting cut short when your gaze settles without the cloud of hypocrisy. Suddenly, your eyes narrow. “He’s not-…”

You can’t finish your sentence. You can’t finish defending your boyfriend to a friend who knows more of you than he knows of your relationship, because you’re unsure if you can.

With the way Hoseok is squeezed next to your friends in a gigantic couch, even if it’s only the four of them that occupies the spacious twenty-seater row, you’re not sure if you could uphold his honor.

“See?” Jimin snorts. “I thought he wouldn’t get worse than how he was at college, but clearly, I’m wrong.”

“What do you mean?” you ask with a hesitant chuckle, heart quickening at your chest as you’re barely able to tear your eyes away from your boyfriend whose eyes wander to everywhere and everyone but you.

“Y/N, I think you know what I mean,” Jimin rolls his eyes. “You never noticed it? That’s impossible,” he scoffs. “You don’t know how Hoseok’s so touchy? How he’s just so… comfortable getting his paws on everyone?”

“… I know he’s a touchy person,” you murmur, looking down on your hands as you feel the familiar churn of your stomach.

stationary — wherein single dad jin doesn’t want to marry you, even if his daughter loves you.

It's routine for you to be mistaken as Hwayoung's mom.

It’s clockwork for you to get second and third glances whenever she’s with you, the myriad of compliments she gets (and you, by extension, if you just squint your eyes enough for you to see the resemblance that strangers talk about) making your heart flutter in response.

Hwayoung’s a bright and pretty beacon of light, much like her dad, and you never fail to mention it every time. There’s still some shame left in you whenever you get the comment that she takes up after you, and whenever you segue Jin in somehow, neither you, his daughter, nor the stranger in question flinch.

It’s routine for the toddler to sit on your lap and wait for her grapes to be cut into tiny pieces. It’s embedded in your (almost) everyday life for her to hang out with you, literal baggage and all as she knows by now that mimi (Hwayoung’s designated nickname for you, courtesy of her dad, that’s just a couple syllables away from mama) is a flight attendant, and so is appa.

It’s a given that both yours and Jin’s schedules revolve around Hwayoung perfectly, and nothing less, so that atleast one of you is with her at all times. It’s a convenient, wholesome schedule that parents would take months to craft — it’s a given for Jin and an option for you, to which you didn’t even hesitate in making.

Somewhere along the late nights with Hwayoung wherein the both of you stay up for Jin, and maybe sometime along the rare trips wherein either you or your boyfriend had to drop Hwayoung off to his family because of scheduling mishaps — you had grown too complacent of the routine.

You had grown too complacent of your certainty in their life that you thought had always been promised.

In the nth instance of you being mistaken for Hwayoung’s mother during your grocery trips and the first instance that Jin had the night shift, it had been in bright daylight when the two of you didn’t intersect at all. You were ready to laugh the compliment off; ready to wave the stranger off that Hwayoung takes after her dad, but instead, Jin takes the lead this time with no hesitance — not even a single ounce of fluster as he shuts down the assumption.

“Oh no, no. She's not the mother. She's just my girlfriend," he laughs, pushing the cart just as quickly as it had stalled by the fruit aisle, much to confusion on the elderly woman's face who was left in his dust.

There had been no malice at all on the lady’s tone, and yet, your boyfriend speaks as if a chord has been struck and he’s working overtime to rectify such a godawful mistake.

"You're awfully defensive," you mutter, your tone low not because Hwayoung’s in your arms (she sleeps like a rock), but because if you point it out any louder, you’d be able to hear yourself convincing your mind that Jin was just having a misstep.

"Just correcting her," Jin hums, eyes lazily scrolling through his phone with his shoulders hunched on the cart handle, the quirk of his lips leading to a sigh that he does not want to talk to you at all.

"I don't mind, y'know? Being mistaken to be your wife," you continue, pausing behind him as he scans through his list. “It doesn't even sound like a mistake to me."

"Oh.”

since posting the first sneak peek, i now have 40+ c*ntroversial fics n counting :D i felt rlly happy to be able to post some of them from the series this holiday season for free members!! if u want to get the occasional full fic, you can sign up to be a free member!! but pls do take note that when i do post one, it'll only be up for a limited time :-)

if you wanna know the run-down of all the fics i have for patreon (running count is 200+ atm), u can check here and here :D

if u want to read the entirety of these now n much more + exclusive fics + early access to general fics, you can subscribe to my patreon 🫂🤍

#now the most prized pc... WHERE .#sneak peek

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bts-seon · 1 month ago

Note

what psd are you using?? it's so pretty! also can you share more about seon's son 💖

❝ hi nonnie ! if i’m 100% honest i’m not sure what’s the name of the psd or who created it. so sorry. i downloaded it back in 2023 when i was running my stray kids oc and creating seon but i guess i didn’t save it on my deviantart (i thought i did) cause i can’t find it in any of my collections :( which sucks cause if i accidentally delete the file or something happens to my icloud, i have no way of knowing where i got it from to continue editing for seon. and i can’t go base off the title of the file since i changed it to “for bts oc; seon” when i downloaded it so i wouldn’t mix it up with my former skz oc’s psds back then, which i’m starting to regret.. but i’m sure you can find a similar one — the one i use has a blueish-orangey hue to it ! if i somehow find the psd on deviant art or wherever i got it from, i’ll let you know <3. again, so sorry ! ❞

“for starters, i keep my son’s identity private for his safety,” seon said softly, her fingers fidgeting slightly with the edge of her sleeve. “i don’t bring him into the public eye. not unless i absolutely have to but even then i have him covered up. he’s only four, and. . . he’s hard of hearing. he was diagnosed with moderate-to-severe, sloping hearing loss when he was a few months old, which means he can hear pretty normally — somewhat at least — when it comes to lower frequency sounds, like deep voices or certain background noises. but as the frequency goes up — like higher-pitched noises, alarms, or some consonants — it becomes much harder for him to hear or understand clearly.” she shifted her stance a bit as she spoke, her eyes softening as she spoke of her son, “he gets overwhelmed and frustrated when he can’t understand so i try to keep him away from my world as much as possible. ever since he was diagnosed, we’ve both been learning korean sign language and he practices his speech as well since he wears hearing aids most of the time to be able to communicate in both verbal and ksl. but other than that, he’s a small ball of sunshine and full of energy. he talks nonstop about cars, dinosaurs, and disney movies, or pretty much anything that interests him in the moment. lately, he’s taken up drawing so now my home is filled with different dinosaurs and car drawings. he has a shoe box filled with drawings that he plans to give to my members once they’re all released from the military. . . he’s actually given around ten drawings each to seokjin-oppa and hoseok-oppa when they were released a few months ago.” seon laughed lightly, “i’m sure the other members won’t be left behind once they’re released.”

#⋆ ( 📢 ›› seon ★ answers )#bts 8th member #bts female addition #kpop female addition #kpop female oc #fictional kpop idol #fictional idol community #idol!addition #idol!reader #idol!oc #idol!au #8th member of bts #kpop added member #kpop female member #fictional kpop oc #bts x oc #bts fanfic #bts added member

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theharrowing · 1 year ago

Text

Collateral 🗡️ POV: Seokjin

After a successful day of scheming, Seokjin calls his favorite plaything to join him and Hoseok for a little fun.

❗ THIS IS A CHARACTER POV CHAPTER!!!

if you do not wish to perceive any POV that is not the main character, please feel free to skip this one!

🗡️Seokjin x Hoseok

🗡️ word count: 7.2k

🗡️ mafia au, dishonest characters, established relationship, bdsm, poly, smut, angst, fluff, nsfw, explicit, 21+

🗡️ warnings: top Seokjin with mention of bottom Hoseok; top Hoseok & bottom Seokjin; scheming; mention of the use of heroin; use of the word "whore" not meant derogatorily, but not always kindly; allusion to puppy play; talk of manufacturing and selling drugs with the purpose of getting people addicted; shower play; enema play; light humiliation; ass eating & fingering; Seokjin is...morally grey at best.

🗡️ notes: mc is referred to in 3rd person (she/her) pronouns for this chapter! listen: Seokjin is not the nicest person, so please take the way he speaks with a grain of salt. it is hard to put everyone's full intentions into the POV scenes because i still need there to be surprises later on!!! but i feel like this is going to really help to solidify the way many of you feel about this character hehehe. i hope you enjoy!

🗡️ early draft beta read by @blog-name-idk - with minor unbeta'd edits done since.

🗡️ posted march 2024 - originally jan. 2023 | read on ao3

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"She's not going to go for it," Hoseok teases as he reaches around Seokjin's broad shoulders from behind and straightens out his burgundy satin tie.

Seokjin's tie matches a fitted burgundy Armani suit, which he wears with a cream undershirt. His hair is pushed off his forehead, bringing together the look.

He has a meeting at House of Cards with some investors who are looking to build near the Shin territory just outside Busan, in a smaller port city, and Seokjin wants to make sure those men are on Yoongi's side if push should come to shove.

But first, he plans to make a stop by the mansion to discuss something with Yoongi's little pet.

"She doesn't have to go for it," Seokjin responds, watching Hoseok's reflection with adoration swelling behind his lungs. Recently, Hoseok has been letting his hair grow out, and he looks devastating with dark brown waves falling past his eyes and longer bits tucked behind his ears.

Hoseok raises an eyebrow and cocks his head, done with his task and letting his arms hang over Seokjin's shoulders. Seokjin spins on the balls of his socked feet and wraps his arms around Hoseok's waist, pulling him close.

"I am merely planting a seed. I want the actual idea to be hers when the time comes."

Hoseok grins. "Elaborate."

"Well," Seokjin says, "for starters, the plan is terrible. Shipping her off to Busan for a week—or whatever the span of a vacation may be—is hardly enough time to turn her into an informant. She is smart enough to know that much. But I will pose it to her that way, insisting Yoongi cannot know, which will force her to stew on it. I know she wants revenge for the recent attack on Jimin at Paradise, and if Shin sends any more men to try to shake us up, it will only fuel her fire."

"And you want her to do this, because...?"

Seokjin chuckles. "Because, my love, Ryujin has always responded best to the friendships and authority of women. As sweet and empathetic as Hyunjin is, she has not gotten as close to him as we hoped. Yoongi's wolf cub, on the other hand, is the perfect bait. Not to mention, she comes from the honey bee ring, which Ryujin will sympathize with."

"And if Ryujin recognizes her from Serendipity?"

Seokjin pouts, sticking his lip out and down-turning his eyes. "Seokie, baby, you pretend I haven't thought of absolutely everything, and it wounds me."

With a roll of his pretty eyes and a soft giggle, Hoseok says, "Then humor me, love."

Seokjin rubs the tip of his nose against Hoseok's, then places a soft kiss, making Hoseok smile widely. "All we have to do is spread a rumor that Yoongi has harmed or upset her in some way. Nothing too damaging to his reputation, just a simple whisper. Ryujin may be hesitant, but, given her feelings about Yoongi, I think she will fall for it."

Hoseok leans in and mimics Seokjin's motion, rubbing their noses together, making Seokjin's heart pound just a little bit harder. "And if Ryujin doesn't believe the rumors? We don't think Yoongi was abusive to her at any point?"

"Not abusive..." Seokjin drifts off, squinting slightly while he chooses his words. "But when his parents died, he went off the deep end with drugs. All the voices have to whisper is the word heroin, and her ears will perk up."

Hoseok purses his lips, thinking over what Seokjin says but looking unconvinced.

"And anyway, she's competitive," Seokjin continues, gently kissing the tip of Hoseok's nose, "even if she doesn't buy the rumor," Seokjin kisses the apple of Hoseok's cheek, "Ryujin might still take her in, thinking she can convert her to actually become part of her family."

"Or, she might kill her," Hoseok responds with a pointed gaze.

Seokjin places a kiss on Hoseok's other cheek as he shrugs. "Sometimes, the cat must wet its feet, no matter its dislike of water, in order to eat fish."

A soft, pretty chuckle comes from Hoseok, who presses his lips against Seokjin's and then mutters, "Idioms to describe a human life, Jinnie bear? Tsk tsk."

Seokjin hums, says, "Sacrifices need to be made for the greater good," and licks over Hoseok's lips until his partner parts them, pulling him into an eager but soft kiss.

Time comes to a halt in Hoseok's arms, and Seokjin holds him tight, kissing slow and deep, savoring each taste, touch, and sound. There is nothing in the world quite like being in his lover's arms. Even the joy of watching the light die in his enemy's eyes pales in comparison. Seokjin thinks that he would do absolutely anything for Hoseok.

"Join me?" Seokjin asks. "She may be more comfortable with you around; you seem to have made a better impression on her, anyway."

"Fine," Hoseok mutters. "But I do not condone a plan that may get her killed, just so we're clear." Seokjin playfully rolls his eyes, and Hoseok smacks him on the shoulder as he continues, "I do like the idea of her running off to Busan for a while. For her sake and for Yoongi's."

"Oh?" Seokjin asks with a curious cock of the head, studying the microexpressions that tug gently at Hoseok's lips and eyes. To the untrained pupil, one would hardly notice these quirks, but Seokjin sees everything. Hoseok is nervous.

"Namjoon thinks he's becoming unhinged again," Hoseok finally says. "Slipping from reality. He's worried about another bender...so your plan to tell the voices about heroin use seems more grounded in reality than you realize."

"And you think taking her away from him won't just make him worse?" Seokjin teases, bending at the knees to smack a kiss on Hoseok's chin.

Hoseok nibbles on his bottom lip, considering his words. "I think she needs to spend more time out of the house, and out from under Yoongi's shadow. He is still very controlling, despite her willingness to stay, and whenever she's not directly in his line of sight, he gets paranoid and on edge."

Seokjin mulls it over. "I have noticed he is on edge more when we are away from home for extended periods."

"He needs to break out of that loop. We can't have a mad king on our hands. Especially one who could raze the city to the ground."

"So, we need to somehow get him to grant her more freedom, in a way that does not cause Yoongi to completely lose his shit," Seokjin clarifies.

Hoseok nods. "I'll talk to Namjoon about it."

"Good plan."

And with that, Seokjin presses one more kiss against Hoseok's lips, then releases him, linking their hands together as they make their way out of their bedroom, through the hallway, and down the stairs.

"And what is our excuse for visiting the mansion?" Hoseok asks as Seokjin sits on a charcoal grey chaise lounge beside the front door, reaching for a pair of black wingtip shoes. Seokjin slides his feet into both and begins tying the laces on one after the other.

"I am either going to catch Yoongi before he leaves for the day and discuss what he would like me to say to the investors this afternoon," Seokjin sighs, "or I will message to let him know that I was trying to catch him before he left, yadda, yadda, yadda."

As Seokjin stands and rubs his hands over his slacks to straighten them out, Hoseok pulls his black shirt sleeve back to reveal an elegant black timepiece. "He should be home for another fifteen minutes, assuming Namjoon is making him punctual and not late."

With a pleased hum, Seokjin offers an elbow and says, "The weather is nice. Shall we walk?"

The weather truly is beautiful, and the two of them take their time, walking hand in hand along the gravel path. Seokjin does not like to be nostalgic, but it is hard not to smile as he remembers the years spend in this secluded stretch of trees with Hoseok, before there were mansions on the property, and they would steal away to be alone.

As timing will have it, Yoongi and Namjoon are just about to leave when Seokjin and Hoseok arrive. Seokjin can hear the two of them laughing on the other side of the bulletproof door and opts to use the large brass knocker rather than scan his retinas, and all that.

The door swings open to Namjoon's tired but smiling face, and he walks outside, followed by Yoongi. They are in their standard black outfits, and Yoongi wears a cardigan rather than a blazer. Seokjin wonders what the two of them may be up to; Yoongi only mentioned meeting with some people concerning the mess Jeongguk recently made—which, Seokjin thinks, is a very flippant way to address a killing spree.

"Gentlemen," Yoongi calls with his arms held wide, "to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"Looking sharp, Jin," Namjoon mutters, making Seokjin grin.

"My reason to visit today is twofold," Seokjin begins. "I was hoping the chef was in so I could have a plate of his fabulous eggs benedict.

"Of course," Yoongi responds with a smile.

"And, I wanted to let you know that I will be meeting with the Choi brothers about their desire to open a casino near Busan."

Yoongi hums and then nods. "The chef is in, although, I am surprised you haven't perfected the recipe on your own."

With a shrug, Seokjin lies, "There is something about his hollandaise sauce that I cannot quite nail, but he refuses to give me the recipe."

The truth is that the chef adds horseradish rather than dijon mustard, and just a dash of dried ginger, giving it more of a bite. Seokjin figured it out almost immediately, but he likes that the chef can whip it up on a whim, saving him the trouble of purchasing the ingredients and doing it himself.

"And the men?" Yoongi asks as he reaches into his front pants pocket, pulls out a metal cigarette case, and opens it, revealing a row of perfectly rolled joints.

"Shall we offer to buy them, or shall we threaten them?" Seokjin simply asks.

With a smirk and a shrug, Yoongi pulls a joint to his lips, muttering, "Offer first, threaten second?"

Seokjin nods, watching as Namjoon pulls a lighter from his pocket and ignites Yoongi's joint, feeling glad that the two of them are finally able to be together once more. Yoongi needs a lapdog more than anything, and Namjoon is the perfect fit.

"Excellent," Seokjin says with a small bow, "then I will be on my way to the kitchen. Shall I order an extra serving for the wolf cub?"

Yoongi takes a long drag of the joint, holds it in, and then slowly lets it out, creating a plume of skunky smoke between them. "I doubt she'll be up for another hour or so."

Perfect, Seokjin thinks; he actually was hoping to be fed. "Sounds good."

The front door hadn't been closed completely, so Seokjin enters the mansion easily, stepping aside to remove his shoes while Hoseok does the same. They close the door tight and make their way toward the kitchen.

"You're so hot when you lie," Hoseok mutters, leaning in close enough for Seokjin to smell his cologne.

Seokjin twists and bends to place a kiss on Hoseok's lips, saying, "As are you, my love."

* * *

Despite having to wait more than thirty minutes on the balcony for Yoongi's darling to wake up, Seokjin considers their little meeting a success. He was certainly able to get into her head and could tell she was not ready to completely write off the idea of taking a trip by the time they made their exit, giving him just enough time to get into town on schedule for his meeting.

House of Cards is a raucous place even in the daytime when fewer men are around to throw away their money. The machines ding and play loud soundtracks, and televisions blare with various sport and fighting events.

Seokjin enters through the main doors after leaving his vehicle with valet, and he walks past all the drunks and coke heads with a straight face, making his way to his decoy office on the main floor to meet with some men whom Namjoon claims are going to be good for business if they can manage to keep him on their good side, and bad for business if they do not.

Frankly, Seokjin could hardly give a fuck about what is good for business—Yoongi has inherited one of the oldest families in Korea, and by far the wealthiest. House of Cards brings in money simply by existing, and he hardly has to do any actual work. The boxing nights were Jeongguk's idea because he likes watching men fight to the death, and the wealth gained from those simply fuels the family's more expensive drug habits.

The Shins in the east hardly have a stronghold on their own docks, and the Songs in the south are happy to form an alliance when the price is right, showing loyalty to no one but their own pockets.

Rumor has it the Song family turned down the Choi men because they do not wish to be in the business of entertaining tourists, and a casino might bring in the wrong crowds. Let the tourists flock to Jeju, they say, and Seokjin agrees. The Shins, on the other hand, are desperate for anything they can get their fingers on, and more or less offered them a stretch of land.

All Seokjin has to do is offer the Choi brothers more money and an illusion of influence. Seems like the easiest thing in the world. The only variable he thinks that could possibly make those men want to side with the Shins would be an old family bond or rivalry, and as far as he can tell, these men have neither. So now, all he has to do is meet with them and find out what he can find out.

Seokjin has a way with men. A look, a gesture, and a veiled threat are all he needs to get them talking. He has no doubt he will be able to make these men sing.

* * *

Seokjin barely manages to light a cigar before his phone rings. The Choi brothers left mere minutes ago, and Seokjin had been hoping for a moment of alone time, but it is his informant who has been living with the Shin family, which makes this call potentially very important.

"Hyunjin, darling, what's the news?"

Seokjin sits back in his large, black leather chair, listening to the shocks whine as he leans, bending the springs a bit too far. He is in his real office on the second floor, and has a cigar between his teeth, slurring his words around it while he holds his cell phone to his ear. His informant, who works on Ryujin's drug-running team, sighs.

"She plans to intercept Yoongi's next shipment of pills. Apparently, one of his dock men was bought. A man by the name of Kang Daesung is going to steal the shit."

"Fuckers," Seokjin mutters, spit flying from his lips. He takes a puff from the cigar and holds the smoke in, then lets it out with a bitter huff. It feels lackluster now, and he gently stubs the cigar out on a golden ashtray, then sets it aside to let it extinguish itself the rest of the way.

Shin has really been coming for the drug operations, which has Seokjin feeling concerned for Jeongguk's safety. And his sanity.

"I am also one of the only people who knows this information, so now that I have passed it along, I have put a target on my back."

Seokjin hums and considers his options.

"You want to come home, or hop off the peninsula for a while?"

Another sigh comes through the line, and Seokjin gives him time to consider. Hyunjin has been with the Shin family long enough that leaving the country may be his best bet, but he does have a family of his own, which could complicate things.

When Hyunjin does not respond, Seokjin says, "We can get your little girl into a prestigious American school. Or Australian; there are plenty of Koreans in Australia. And we could assist with getting you and the wife nice jobs."

"Yeah," Hyunjin says. "Yeah, you're right. I'll think it over and talk to Jisu. Maybe Australia would be good."

"Let me know," Seokjin says as he thumbs through his files, opening a folder that reads "Hwang Hyunjin'' and pulling out documents. "Your passport is current, and I have a burner identity on the books with a line of credit. I can have you on a flight within an hour, any time, day or night, alright?"

"Thank you, Seokjin-ssi."

As they end the call, Seokjin pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. He hates giving Yoongi bad news. This will also put another man in Jeongguk's crosshairs, and Seokjin really hopes that hunting him down will not also include killing fourteen of this man's closest friends.

Seokjin dials Yoongi and is surprised he picks up on the first ring. "Jin."

"Yoongichi, bad news."

Yoongi sighs and hums, and Seokjin continues. "Hwang called. Says Kang is planning to switch teams and sabotage the next shipment of pills."

"She bought him, eh?" Yoongi asks.

"Yup."

"Fuckers."

"Yup."

"What about Hwang?"

"I offered him an out, and he said he would think about it. Considering Australia."

"Sounds good. I may call everyone to meet later. Taehyung has an engagement until nine, so it will be a late one if I do."

"Alright. I'm headed home soon. Should have my hands full for a few hours, so after nine is perfect."

"Thanks, Jin."

"No problem."

At least Yoongi's tone was pretty flat; no reaction from Yoongi is the best reaction. Especially if Namjoon is worried about him falling off the rails.

This bump in the road aside, Seokjin considers the day a win, and he lifts his cigar, fits it between his lips, and lights it back up before locking up and heading out.

* * *

Seokjin My winning streak continues. This calls for celebration.

Hoseok In the pink dollhouse room?

Seokjin Of course, baby. Where else?

Hoseok ETA?

Seokjin 1 hour. Going to make a pitstop. I called Puppy, and he will be there in 20.

Hoseok I'll be home to get our guest ready.

Seokjin Thank you, baby.

Hoseok Anything for you, Jinnie bear.

To celebrate, Seokjin calls Hyungwon—his and Hoseok's favorite whore—to join them in one of the dollhouse rooms. Hoseok is home to get him ready while Seokjin stops at one of the boutiques to buy him a white leather muzzle that is shaped to fit a dog, with pointed ears on top and a pretty pink bow in the center.

The pièces de résistance, however, is a bar inside the muzzle for Hyungwon to bite down on, ideally making a mess of himself with drool.

One of Hyungwon's favorite toys is an anal plug with a long white tail, and Seokjin wants to see him with a pretty new accessory to match it. And, although Seokjin has plenty of items like this in his puppy playhouse room, this muzzle is a gift specifically for his most special whore. He is feeling rather generous tonight.

The drive home is short and sweet, and when Seokjin arrives, he is pleased to see a motorcycle parked in the driveway and light shining through the sheer white curtains of the first room on the second floor, confirming that Hyungwon has, in fact, already arrived, and that Hoseok must be getting him ready.

Seokjin always finds it incredible how the man can strip down from all his worn, thick leather and stand in the prettiest pink lingerie, and he laments briefly that he was not home to witness the transformation.

When Jimin first hired Hyungwon at Paradise, Seokjin thought that, perhaps, the heavens had opened up and shined just for him. He has a cold indifference to him that makes Seokjin want to break him apart and make him sob. And he does.

Hyungwon is the only man who allows Seokjin to do every little sadistic thing he desires, then leaves at the end of the session with a soft kiss and a promise to return. Seokjin treasures him dearly.

Many whores blacklist him for less.

Of course, now that Jimin has returned to their bed, Hyungwon may have to take second place, but that is a discussion for another time. Seokjin is eager to make Jimin sob again and again, but he worries about coming on too strongly and scaring him off. Jimin has always been quite sensitive, which Seokjin will never understand, but he does his best to respect it.

Seokjin takes his time exiting the car, grabbing the black paper shopping bag with an expensive monogram on all sides. He knows the men have heard his car pull up, and he wants to draw out the anticipation and make them wait.

Hoseok, in particular, hates to wait. His temper is as explosive as the incendiary devices he so enjoys crafting, and Seokjin takes pleasure in pushing his buttons.

As he punches the hex code of his partner's favorite shade of sunshine yellow into the door and waits for the device to scan his retina, Seokjin takes a deep breath and allows a hint of a smile to creep over his face.

Things within the family have been a bit of a mess lately, but everything seems to be going fairly well, aside from their drug runner turning heel. Men on the lower ranks tend to chase money, after all; they are no stranger to these types of incidents.

If he can ensure the Choi brothers remain loyal and convince Yoongi's darling to leave town for a while, everything might even be perfect for some time. Seokjin hesitates to dwell on the thought.

Once inside, Seokjin closes the front door as quietly as he can and has a seat on his chaise lounge to remove his wingtips one at a time, placing them carefully beside the rows of footwear. Then, he takes the handles of the bag gently in his fingers and creeps up to the second floor, stalking like a tiger in the hope of catching the men off guard.

He can hear their voices coming from the room, though what they are saying is difficult to make out. Hoseok has an excited lilt to his voice, and Hyungwon is speaking too softly to be detected clearly. Hyungwon is often quite soft-spoken—another thing Seokjin enjoys about him.

As Seokjin gets to the top of the stairs, he forgets that the landing step is particularly creaky, putting down his weight as the wood whines beneath his toes. He lets out the breath that he had been holding, dropping his head in a defeated sigh as a tuft of brown hair shoots out from the first door on the right, and Seokjin spots his partner.

"Gotta get that step fixed," Seokjin complains as he straightens his posture and smooths down his burgundy jacket.

Hoseok grins from ear to ear, and he stands in the doorway to the pink dollhouse room with his hair disheveled and the top four buttons of his dress shirt undone. The sight of exposed sun-kissed skin has Seokjin's heart thudding behind his ribs, and he lifts a brow, playfully assessing the sight.

"Did my puppies begin without me?" he teases as he approaches with his shoulders hunched forward to give Hoseok the impression that he is stalking his prey.

Hoseok chuckles, and Seokjin can tell he is feeling shy from the accusation as he bites his lip and shakes his head. "Hyungwon messed up my hair because he wanted you to think we had started without you. But we are being good puppies, I promise."

With a hum, Seokjin stalks further, watching Hoseok become increasingly antsy the closer he gets. "And is he all ready for me?"

"He is," Hoseok beams, taking a step back to allow Seokjin to enter the room.

Seokjin, however, pounces, pressing Hoseok into the far side of the door frame and caging him in with his arms, giving him nowhere to go. With a hand on the dollhouse room wall and the hand holding onto the shopping bag on the hallway wall, Seokjin towers over his partner and gazes down at him hungrily.

"But are you ready for me?"

A silly question, since a stipulation to being Seokjin's lover is to be ready at all times. Hoseok cleans himself every morning, and he inserts a plug every time Seokjin is expected to be home so that there is very little need for prep and Seokjin can take what he wants.

Of course, Seokjin is no monster; if they are unable to engage in play, Hoseok simply removes the plug—or gets himself off and then removes it—ensuring that it does not stay nestled up inside him long enough to cause any kind of complications or health risks.

But Seokjin tries to be very clear about his expectations, and they communicate their schedules in order to make sure Hoseok can be ready for him at the drop of a hat. Seokjin's appetite is insatiable, and it is not unusual for them to fuck five or six nights a week. One of the reasons they invite so many whores to play dress up and join them is to give Hoseok a little extra help. That, and whores tend to come pre-used.

A plus side of fucking Jimin back in the day was when he would come home from the club, already stretched from his clients. Even when he would whine about being sore and sensitive, he would be such a good, pliant boy for Seokjin. Not a day goes by that Seokjin doesn't dream about the sweet sounds Jimin would make, becoming an overstimulated, sobbing mess long before either of them would reach their first orgasm.

Hoseok's smile falters ever so slightly, and Seokjin already knows what he is going to say. He must have assumed that, because they have a guest for the night, Hoseok would not be expected to be stretched. He should know by now that when Seokjin calls with good news, that a victory fuck is in order, whether or not they are tending to a guest for the evening.

And this, Seokjin thinks, is the danger of falling in love. Years ago, Seokjin would plot ways to punish his puppy for being so short-sighted and disobedient. But now? Staring into his deep brown eyes, downturned beneath a knit brow, all Seokjin wants to do is kiss him and tell him everything will be alright. His heart has become soft.

Before Hoseok can excuse his bad behavior, Seokjin plants a soft smooch on the tip of his nose and grins. "I'm kidding," he assures softly.

"You're not," Hoseok groans as relief paints his face.

"I'm not," Seokjin admits, taking a step back and allowing Hoseok to breathe. "But I am in too good of a mood to make you cry."

"Lucky me," Hoseok teases with a wink.

Seokjin leans in and places a kiss on Hoseok's forehead, then enters the room. The walls are all painted cotton candy pink, and there is a large bed on the left with plush pink bedding and a white wrought iron sleigh frame with beautiful spiral designs at the head and foot—perfect for attaching restraints.

Hoseok's favorite addition to the room is a pale pink sex swing that hangs from the center of the space, with vines wrapped around the long arms that stretch to the ceiling. Seokjin is partial to the vanity with a large mirror that is very sturdy and perfect for humiliation play.

The wooden furniture and wainscoting are all painted pink with gold accents, the floor is covered in pink carpeting and large, white cloud-shaped rugs, and every light fixture is a giant, white orb. In the corner of the room furthest from the bed is a chair in the shape of a giant pink high-heel, and when Seokjin enters, that is where he finds their guest.

Hyungwon is breathtaking in sheer pink babydoll lingerie with little ruffled sleeves that hang from his shoulders, and a skirt that falls just above his thighs. He reclines on the shoe chair with one knee bent, bare foot adorned with pretty silver chains and rings, perched delicately atop the chair, and the other leg down, spread slightly to accommodate for the chair's width. His hair is long enough to be styled behind his ears—straight and black as a raven's feather—and he wears a thick silver choker of shimmering zirconias and a glittery lip balm.

"Master Seokjin," Hyungwon states as he moves from his reclined position—which Seokjin assumes he only sat in to be a tease, in the first place—and slowly lifts his leg, leaning forward and getting onto his hands and knees. "You look ravishing tonight, sir."

Seokjin turns to Hoseok with a puzzled expression, then back to Hyungwon, "Baby, did you give our pet permission to speak?"

"I did not, sir," Hoseok responds simply, standing near the wall with his arms flat at his sides. "But you do look ravishing tonight, sir."

How in the world Seokjin wound up with two disobedient puppies, he will never know, but he cannot bring himself to be upset when they are so devastatingly pretty and so good to him. Seokjin reaches to tap the underside of Hoseok's chin with the pad of his finger—a playful gesture that also tells him to keep that gorgeous fucking mouth of his closed unless he is asked to open it.

Hoseok smiles, winks, and does not say another word.

"I got you something," Seokjin beams as he turns back to Hyungwon, closing the gap between them.

He reaches into the bag, pulls out the leather dog muzzle, and holds it up. Hyungwon's eyes widen, and a soft smile plays on his lips. If the man truly is excited, Seokjin has no idea; all he cares about is that he acts the part, as he is paid to do. And Hyungwon, as always, is a brilliant performer.

* * *

The shower down the hall in the guest bathroom runs as Seokjin pushes a hand through his hair, walking from the dollhouse room to his bedroom. His cream shirt is unbuttoned and hung open, burgundy pants are undone, and he is covered in a sheen of sweat.

Hyungwon practically needed to be carried away when Seokjin was finished with him, and Hoseok is currently assisting with washing him and tending to his various marks with creams. Seokjin was not too hard on him, but his nails did break skin a couple of times, and he spanked him until both cheeks were tomato red.

Although it is getting late, Yoongi has called to request everyone to congregate at the mansion at the top of the hour. It gives Seokjin thirty-five minutes to change into a black dress shirt and slacks and see that Hyungwon is able to get home on his own or has a suitable bed to sleep in for the night. Ordinarily, Seokjin is not as kind to his whores, but after what he did to the guy's ass, he takes pity on him for driving out on a motorcycle.

The sound of the shower shutting off is followed by muffled voices, and Seokjin shrugs out of his shirt, dropping it into a hamper near the closet door, and grabs a black shirt from a hanger. He attempts to listen for the men—to get a sense of whether or not Hyungwon will need to stay—but all he can make out is Hoseok's bright, happy laughter.

Seokjin loves it when Hoseok laughs loud and unabashedly. It rings like music to his ears.

"Baby?" Hoseok calls down the hallway.

Seokjin takes a step out of the closet as he buttons his shirt and shouts, "Bedroom," then returns to the racks of clothing and wiggles out of his slacks, picking them up and placing them into the hamper, and then reaching for a black pair to slide into.

"Ah," Hoseok says as he rounds the corner and finds Seokjin dressed in all black. "Yoongi called."

"He did," Seokjin responds.

"For all of us?"

"For all of us."

"Hyungwon should be good to drive, but I'll go check on him."

Seokjin flashes Hoseok a smile. "Thank you, love."

Once he is ready, Seokjin switches off the light and exits his and Hoseok's massive closet, then he leaves the bedroom and makes his way down the hall, to the pink dollhouse room. The dark wood wainscoting and blood-red walls adorned with pretty brass sconces is such an abrupt change of scenery compared to the pink playroom, and from time to time, it makes Seokjin chuckle softly when he leaves one atmosphere for the other.

Hyungwon sits on the edge of the bed dressed in blue jeans, a blue and white flannel shirt, and a black leather jacket, with his hands in his lap. Hoseok stands before him, dabbing a salve to his lip, which Seokjin split from slapping a little too hard once the muzzle came off. To Seokjin's credit, Hyungwon was the one who begged him to hit him harder.

As Seokjin enters, both men turn to him with smiles, and Seokjin leans against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

"How is our puppy feeling?"

"Amazing," Hyungwon responds, always saying so no matter which state he seems to be in.

"Good. And I take it your ass isn't too sore for the bike?"

Hoseok shoots Seokjin an incredulous glare, which he pointedly ignores.

Hyungwon chuckles quietly. "No, sir. Not too sore."

"Good. I will be downstairs, then." He turns his gaze to Hoseok. "Join me soon?"

Hoseok nods and screws the cap on his balm, then leans to place a soft kiss on Hyungwon's forehead as Seokjin takes his leave and goes downstairs, to the kitchen, to have a few shots of whiskey before heading out to Yoongi's place.

It does not take long for the others to join him, and they bid Hyungwon farewell with kisses to his cheeks and forehead, then link hands and take the long way to Yoongi's property, up toward Taehyung's place and cutting through the gardens. It is eerie out here at night with low lighting and tall, dark shadows. They walk all the way around the mansion, to the front door, and find Taehyung and Jeongguk on the stoop, smoking a cigarette.

"Fellas," Seokjin calls, and everyone lifts their hand hello.

"Is it just us?" Hoseok asks, and Taehyung shakes his head, saying, "Jimin is inside."

Seokjin takes a puff from Taehyung's cigarette, then goes inside, happy to find Jimin and Namjoon seated on the couch as he takes his place on the far end. Seokjin assumes Yoongi would be upstairs and is surprised to see him enter through the front door with Taehyung and Jeongguk. Once they are all seated, Yoongi begins.

"We have two orders of business, which are somewhat related. The first is that Jeonggukie has been working with a team to formalize a new type of ecstasy that contains amphetamines, to give the user more of an upper-type high. It will be smoother than the shit the Americans sell, which contain meth, and the users will crave the experience, ideally getting them hooked on it."

This news comes as somewhat of a surprise to Seokjin, but he does not show it, keeping his expression stoic. He is curious when Yoongi decided to pivot into selling drugs for the purpose of creating addicts, and thinks perhaps the man really is losing his mind. He sounds like his late father, which is no compliment.

Yoongi continues. "So far, the trials have been pretty positive, and we should have those on the streets within the next month, or so. Let Jeongguk know if you would like samples."

Yoongi sits up and sighs, "And for our second order of business, it seems our main dock man Kang has been bought, and he plans to fuck with our next shipment of pills. I will be orchestrating a hit some time this weekend."

"I can go," Jeongguk offers, and Seokjin is pleased when Yoongi holds his hand up, turning him down.

"I need you to stay here this weekend. I want us to start going to the range again, and there are some other things I want you around for. I'll put Changkyun on the job."

Jeongguk opens his mouth to complain, and Yoongi cuts him off. "Ggukie, we have men hired to carry out hits. Let me utilize them."

Silence falls, then Namjoon clears his throat. "Is there anything anyone else would like to share?"

Seokjin cannot believe everyone was called over for this, and he crosses his arms over his chest and glances around. When nobody says anything, he shrugs and says, "Guess that's it."

"Alright," Yoongi says as he slaps his palms over his knees and stands with a sigh. "I thought this would be more of a conversation, but it seems pretty cut and dry. Thanks for coming by."

Seokjin studies Yoongi as he stands, curious about what Namjoon sees that makes him so paranoid. There are bags under his eyes, and he seems quite tired, but he does not seem jittery or pale, or any of the other symptoms Seokjin tries to remember from his last bender.

It could be his more recent shift in seeming colder than usual. Prior to the pet moving in upstairs, Yoongi even went so far as to have a nasty little violent streak. Still, violence is not an indicator of drug abuse.

Yoongi has always been good at hiding shit until it is really bad, however, and he has always been quite unreadable, wearing parts of himself on his sleeve while keeping the rest locked away. He hopes that Namjoon's suspicions are false, but nobody would know better than him.

With that, everyone stands to leave, including Yoongi. In fact, the only person who seems to hang back is Namjoon. They say good night, everyone begins to head back to their homes, and Namjoon locks up the mansion as Yoongi slides his hands into his pockets and sets off in the direction of Namjoon's home.

Something is definitely amiss, but Seokjin does not feel like asking. The warmth of Hoseok's hand pulls him from his thoughts as he is tugged in the direction of home.

When they return from the meeting that could have been a conversation via group text, Seokjin sits with a huff on his chaise lounge. He bends his leg to lift it in order to untie his shoe, but Hoseok drops to his knees and places a hand on Seokjin's foot, guiding it to the floor.

"You seem off, baby," Hoseok mutters sweetly. "Let me take care of you."

With an affectionate smile, Seokjin crosses his arms over his chest and lets his posture droop in a sigh. "Always taking care of others."

Hoseok's eyes shine as he mutters, "I live to serve."

Seokjin chuckles and sits up straight as Hoseok removes one shoe, then the other, and places them neatly aside. "We both know that is untrue."

"Yes," Hoseok responds, also laughing.

Seokjin leans forward, takes Hoseok's chin in his hand, and pulls him close. Hoseok strains to get near enough, sitting high on his knees, but Seokjin stays just out of reach as he says, "You can still take care of me, though."

He revels in the way Hoseok's tone drops as he asks, "And how would you like me to do that, baby?"

Seokjin begins to think of all the ways he would like to make Hoseok whine, but Hoseok continues, "It's been a while since you've submitted to me and completely let go of control."

It has been a while. Probably months. Seokjin mulls it over with a squint of his eyes. There is nothing in this world that he likes more than pulling sweet sounds from Hoseok's lips, but he knows that Hoseok also enjoys being in control. However, relinquishing power does not come easily to a man like Seokjin.

"You are correct," Seokjin finally responds. "It has been a while."

Hoseok's eyes glimmer with mirth, and even if Seokjin had not been considering it before, he would certainly cave now. With a nibble of his bottom lip, Seokjin leans close enough to kiss Hoseok.

"I'll let you fuck me tonight. Give me twenty minutes to get ready?"

With a pout, Hoseok shakes his head. "I want to get you ready."

"Oh?"

"Please."

"Enema play, Seok? Really?"

Hoseok shrugs. "I want to watch you tremble and whimper as the water falls out."

Seokjin, admittedly, gets it. "Alright, let's go."

Hoseok is gentle as he takes Seokjin's hand and leads him up the stairs and down the hall to their master suite. He is gentle as he undresses him and leads him to their shower. Gentle when he bends Seokjin over—hands splayed on the white tile bench that runs along one wall—and inserts the nozzle of the enema. Seokjin gasps from the sensation; he hasn't done this in quite a while.

When Hoseok takes Seokjin by the hair and lifts his head, pulling him into a standing position, he is less gentle. Lifting the bag, which is full of tepid water, so that it can enter his body makes Seokjin gasp, sending a shudder through him.

Hoseok holds his chin, firm and not very gently as he says, "Eyes on me," and slowly pulls the nozzle out, releasing the water to the floor of the shower.

Seokjin keeps his eyes on Hoseok as the water rushes from him, a sensation that he thinks should not be in the least bit erotic. Hoseok knows that this is mildly humiliating, which, Seokjin thinks, is the reason he is insisting on it.

Hoseok inserts the nozzle two more times, sending water rushing from Seokjin's rectum, holding him in place while they stare into one another's eyes. Warmth covers Seokjin's face in a mix of embarrassment and arousal, and when Hoseok bends him back over right there in the shower to eat him out, Seokjin practically blacks out.

"Fuck, feels so good," he whimpers as Hoseok teases his hole with his tongue, circling the rim and prodding inside.

"You like it, baby?" Hoseok groans, biting Seokjin's buttcheek and circling a finger over him, gently pushing inside and pulling out, making Seokjin sigh and tremble from pleasure-pain.

"You know I do," Seokjin whines.

Hoseok groans. "Too bad I won't let you cum until you're begging and sobbing."

Evil. Pure fucking evil. Hoseok loves making someone like Seokjin beg. He whimpers before he can stop himself, and Hoseok chuckles and crashes a hand over his ass with a loud, wet smack.

"Come on, big boy," Hoseok sing-songs "Let's tie you to the bed and make you scream."

Seokjin already fears for his life, knowing that Hoseok will edge him for hours. But the earth-shattering orgasm that tears his world asunder, followed by Hoseok's sweet, pretty smile, makes everything worth it. How could he possibly resist?

* * *

THANK YOU FOR READINGGG!!!

i didn't give Hyungwon a relationship tag since he's not a main character in the story, nor does he appear again. for those of you who aren't monbebe, this is the man i was talking about:

i also remember being too exhausted to write a smut scene when i was putting this POV together, which is why we don't get to experiencing these three together hahaha. i think i wrote Hoseok and Seokjin back to back.

REBLOGS AND COMMENTS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS SITE, BUT LIKES ARE ALSO SUPER APPRECIATED!!! THANK YOU FOR READING, I LOVE YOU!!!

tag lists will be on separate reblogs! they’ve gotten too big to contain as one! if you would like to be tagged in this fic, please let me know!!! 💜💜💜

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#seokjin mafia #hoseok mafia #yoongi mafia #bts mafia #seokjin x hoseok #seokjin smut #hoseok smut #bts smut #bts angst #bts poly #fic: collateral

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deepdarkdelights · 7 months ago

Note

Hobi, Jimin, and Taehyung were all turned very close to each other and Jungkook as well. Why did Namjoon wait almost a hundred years between Yoongi and Jin but then turn 4-5 people in such quick succession?

Hello!

For starters, he chose Yoongi, Yoongi was his first creation because of the brotherhood that they shared. Jin, was an unexpected accident - Namjoon hadn't really intended to turn him until Jin revealed that he knew what he was.

After that, Namjoon wasn't actively searching for anyone they kind of just fell into his lap. With Hoseok, Namjoon was a doctor on the front lines and Hoseok was still alive enough that he felt that he could save him.

For Jimin and Tae it was incidental, he found them, got to know them, and decided that he would save them.

With Jungkook, the reason he turned him was because he was trying to do-over what he had done with Yoongi. Namjoon and Jungkook were professor and student, it was extremely similar to the mentor mentee relationship that Namjoon and Yoongi had. While Namjoon rarely admits to doing anything wrong, he saw Jungkook as his opportunity for a do-over, to absolve him of whatever guilt he had.

With Namjoon, it was never timing that matter, but opportunity.

#asks #predator universe

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ahundredtimesover · 1 year ago

Text

I Want You to Stay (01) | JJK

Pairing: Jungkook x (f.) Reader

Genre/Tags: boss!JK x assistant!reader; idiot strangers to lovers; slow slow burn; k-drama feels; angst, drama, fluff, smut

Chapter (Series) Warnings: foul/explicit language; alcohol consumption & passing out, unhealthy coping mechanisms; family drama; minor injuries; power dynamics (JK starts off as a jerk); work-related anxiety, feelings of helplessness, insecurities; childhood traumatic experiences, nightmares; sexual harassment, prior incidence of domestic violence (PLS PLS BE CAREFUL WHEN READING); arts and business/property devt talk that’s probably inaccurate; commitment issues & emotionally constipated characters; cold and detached JK; explicit sexual content (specific warnings stated per chapter) (18+)

Chapter Word count: 12k

Series Masterlist

Status: Ongoing

Series summary: Working for Jungkook isn’t the same as working for Hoseok. For starters, Jungkook doesn’t smile, he doesn’t appreciate you, and he gives you too much work. It doesn’t help that he’s incredibly handsome and has women at his beck and call. But as the tension grows, it becomes impossible to resist him. You’ve dedicated yourself to your job for 8 years so when you finally decide to put yourself first, he asks you to reconsider. And while you know that leaving is difficult, you learn that when it comes to Jungkook, staying is always so much harder.

Playlist 🎶: on the way home

A/N: Happy 2024, everyone! 🎉 Dropping this tonight as a welcome to the new year and the start of the wild journey that is this story. It's a different JK that I'm used to writing. It's also a different arrangement for me as the story is still being written, so just a heads up that updates won't be as regular compared to before, but they'll definitely come (pls don't come at me hehe 😁)! This is also a painfully slow build-up with lots of details and office talk so please be patient! I don’t know how this will turn out and be revived but I hope you enjoy! 💕

Also my biggest thanks to @wonwoonlight as always 🥰

Jung Hoseok’s smile is like a ray of sunshine - warm on cool mornings, radiant on sunny afternoons. It’s light and infectious, but more than anything, it’s genuine. There’s comfort in the way his entire face beams and how the rest of his body follows; there’s this sense of openness that makes it easy to be around him, that makes it easy to work for him.

It was 10 years ago when you first encountered that smile - bright and encouraging as he welcomed you and the rest of the interns to his family’s company. It slowly dissolved the anxiety you were feeling over being 1 of 12 chosen students to work for one of the leading real estate and property development corporations in the country. You’d see it again two years later as an employee, and you recall how he perked up at the sight of you, having remembered those eight weeks you spent preparing the conference room for their meetings and serving the executives their coffee.

You wouldn’t have expected that five years after that, you’d be seeing that smile everyday as his executive assistant, and it was one of the things that made the job bearable. Despite the long hours and the amount of work you had to do and events you had to accompany him to, working for Hoseok always felt worth it. Despite the insane amount of pressure he was put under and the stress he had to endure, Hoseok somehow always managed to smile.

He was serious when he had to be, but there was joy in how he did things. He allowed himself moments of calm, of time to check in on his support team for a few laughs. He’d spare himself a few minutes a day to sway to the soft music he plays in his office, he’d preside over meetings with vigor, and he’d start and end every interaction with anyone with that smile - the same smile that assures you that all your hard work is appreciated and which encourages you to keep learning.

It’s that same smile that he has on right now, as he hands you a custom-made cake with ‘you worked hard’ written on it. He says the words as your eyes turn to him in surprise.

“Thank you for all that you’ve done,” Hoseok says. “I know you were new to the role just like I was but you made everything so easy for me. I’m gonna have to get used to being without your brilliance, Ms. Cho. I hope you never doubt yourself ever again.”

Your astonished face turns into a pout, as it dawns on you that it’s Friday, the first unofficial day of you no longer being Hoseok’s executive assistant, given his appointment as President not long ago. Yet despite the big change he’ll be experiencing starting next week, he’s the one affirming and comforting you, something that’s rare for someone of his stature and something you’ll definitely miss.

“You know I don’t cry, but I just might,” you respond, earning you a chuckle. “But really, I… I can’t thank you enough for taking a chance on me. I know my credentials weren’t like the others but—”

“Ms. Cho,” he interjects. “The only credentials those other applicants had were the universities they went to, but none of them matched your level of skill and dedication to the role. I can assure you that none of them would’ve managed the past three years like you did. I should be thanking you for dealing with all the craziness with me.”

“You’re a good boss, it’s that simple,” you return the compliment now. “You were patient with me and challenged me to be better without putting me down. That does a lot for a person’s confidence, you know?”

“I know that now,” he smiles again. “But really, I don’t think I could’ve asked for a more competent right-hand woman. Jungkook’s lucky he’s taking my position with the most capable assistant to help him out.”

At the mention of the man’s name, your face sours, something that Hoseok picks up, earning you another laugh.

“Not a fan of him, I see,” he eyes you curiously.

“I don’t mean any disrespect, Mr. Jung, but your cousin is not you,” you explain. “I may have only seen him a handful of times but those are enough to let me know that he does not smile.”

“Yes, I do confirm that,” Hoseok chuckles. “Jungkook’s quite the perfectionist and very much a workaholic. But he’s brilliant and creative and you’ll learn a lot from him, too. He’s being primed to co-lead the company with me and he needs a strong support for that and I think that’s you. His father thinks that’s you, and for the CEO to think so means a lot, ___. Uncle has seen how you work and was adamant that you remain in this role, especially with his son assuming the Vice President position.”

You know that Hoseok means to reassure you, but you suppose your insecurities over having this role and even being in this company won’t ever really go away. You didn’t graduate from a prestigious university in Seoul like most employees here did, and in this society, that usually means everything. You’re thankful for the trust that you’ve been given and you agree that you worked hard for it, too, but it will always be overwhelming; even then, it sometimes still feels undeserved.

At your silence, Hoseok speaks again. “___, as your former boss and as your friend, I’m here to back you up. Jungkook’s family but if he, for some reason, acts like a hard-headed jerk, you let me know, okay?”

He turns serious now, as he silently asks for you to promise him that you’ll speak out if you need to. Hoseok knows what you went through under Mrs. Byun, the former manager who abused her power over you until her own slip-up caused her downfall years later, and he doesn’t want you to go through that again.

“Okay. But I didn’t mean to imply that he’s a jerk just because he doesn’t smile,” you clarify. “I guess I meant to say that… I’ll miss working for you. That’s all. We somehow always got a laugh in, no matter how stressful things were. I’ll miss being with A-yeong, too.”

“I know you also meant to say that I’m the best boss you’ve ever had,” Hoseok chuckles, though you don’t miss the sadness in his eyes, too. “But I’ll just be two floors above you. You’ll still see me everywhere. And A-yeong’s gonna miss you, too, that’s why she can’t let you go without having dinner out, that I’m apparently not invited to.”

“We’re just gonna gossip about you, don’t worry,” you tease, appreciative of the fact that his wife has been kind to you all these years, apologizing to you on his behalf during the rare times he’s cranky, and gifting you little things from their trips abroad. “But thank you again, Hoseok,” you continue, dropping the formalities when you mean to speak to him as a friend, because that’s what he is, and it’s a rarity in this industry where those in power tend to take advantage of those below them. “You’ve treated me well, and I’ll never forget that.”

“Thank you, ___,” he smiles once more. “I’ll finish setting up my new office now. I’ll see you there in 30 minutes, okay? I know Jungkook officially starts on Monday but he wanted to get all the administrative stuff out of the way as soon as possible and since my old room is being sanitized, he’ll be staying at mine the whole morning. HR has everything he needs to sign so please get those documents from them before heading to my office.”

“Oh, so he’s coming today?” You ask, unable to hide the mix of surprise and disappointment in your voice. You’re clearly uninformed about this. “Didn’t he just arrive last night?”

“Yes, he did. I thought he’d at least spend today resting but no, he called me an hour ago to say he’ll drop by this morning so he can get straight to business on his first day,” Hoseok explains, shaking his head at the thought of his cousin wanting to get straight to work. “I know it’s short notice so you don’t need to brief him or anything yet. You’ve been buried in organizing all my files this past week after all.”

“Okay, but I’ve got everything organized for him already anyway in case he wants to start,” you say, having prepared all the documents he’d need to ease into his role more smoothly, knowing it’s your job to help him with that.

“Of course you have,” Hoseok chuckles, impressed as always with how on top you are of everything. “I’ll see you in half an hour.”

You sulk in your seat once he’s out of view, whining internally because much as your files are ready for your new boss, you’re the one who isn’t. You’d held off on mentally preparing yourself for meeting the Jeon Jungkook, second son of the current CEO of Jeon Corporation and the new Vice President, thinking you’d have the entire weekend for that, so you’re caught off guard at having to face him today. It’s one thing to move on from no longer having Jung Hoseok as your boss - that itself took you months to process and accept; it’s another to have to get used to assisting someone else, someone you know is completely different in attitude and approach to his work.

Jungkook used to be an executive in the Singapore office, the Southeast Asian headquarters of the company. In your three years as Hoseok’s assistant, you’d only seen Jungkook a few times, such as when he’d fly to Seoul for an official visit or a family gathering but you never interacted, as you didn’t really have a reason to, especially since you were always busy with making sure the event was running smoothly.

But you’d definitely noticed him, partly because the female staff always talked about him when he was around, and partly because next to his parents and his cousins, who are all personable in their own ways, Jungkook sticks out like a sore thumb. You’re not exaggerating when you say that you’ve never seen him smile - not for the pictures and not when he’s talking to the other executives and employees, a contrast to his father’s infectious charm and his mother’s youthful energy.

You’ve gotten used to Hoseok’s passion balanced with his thoughtfulness and joy - you always enjoyed the videos that A-yeong would show you of their weekends doing ballroom dancing because it’s what he loved to do with her. You’re unsure how you’ll manage assisting someone who’s the complete opposite. You’ve heard of Jungkook’s abilities though; his father always spoke of them with pride. Creative and innovative, he’d say of his son, but he always lived in his head, too, and perhaps that’s why even if he can socialize with others, he prefers not to, given that you’d always seen him at the bar after said events, drinking on his own.

You didn’t think those times that you’d one day be having him as your boss. You didn’t expect the appointments to come this soon, nor did you expect to still be in the company by the time they happened. But here you are, about to meet him and hoping to the heavens that whatever preconceived notions you have of him based on what very little you know would be proven wrong.

Wanting to calm yourself down before meeting him, you head to the management support team’s office for a cup of tea in the pantry, but you’re stopped by Do-hyun, one of the project assistants.

She hugs you like she always does, even if you rarely ever return it, and she whines like you expect her to, given her unusually pouty face.

“It’s only been an hour but I already miss Mr. Jung,” she laments. “Why did they appoint him as President so soon? They could’ve waited for another year or so, or at least let him take us with him!”

You find yourself being the reasonable one this time, as you pull her away from you so you could talk to her properly.

“We always knew he was going to be President, Do-hyun. But then the Board decided to make Ji-woo head of the Singapore office after their uncle stepped down, and that meant Hoseok had to take his sister’s place,” you explain, knowing how generational corporations like this work, with family members rotating in the executive positions. “And much as he’d like to take us with him, the position already comes with its own team. He’s just two floors above us, though. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if we popped in every once in a while to say hi.”

“No, I’m bitter,” she pouts again, earning her a laugh from you.

“Well, at least the new Vice President isn’t a stranger,” Manager Lee chimes in.

“I heard the CEO’s son doesn’t smile,” Do-hyun counters. “How do we go from assisting someone who literally gives all of us the energy to work each day, to someone who doesn’t think there’s anything worth being happy about? I also heard he’s a workaholic, so what if he demands that we can’t leave the office until he does? And that he’s kind of a fuck boy, so what if he has a scandal that we have to—”

“Yah! Those are just hearsay, and we don’t listen to those,” you warn her, not wanting the team to start on a bad note because of some rumors about your new boss that may or may not be true.

And if those are, it’s your job to make sure that those are handled properly and that there’s no friction between the management support team and the Vice President. The thought suddenly hits you and you feel nauseous. You’ve never had these worries with Hoseok because he always prioritized the team - he made sure that tasks were properly delegated, that you all took your well-deserved break, that you weren’t burnt out, that you all knew he got your back the way you all got his.

But then again, it’s natural to be anxious about change, especially when what you had was already the best it could’ve been. And much as you were the one worrying about this earlier, you’re now the one who has to reassure the team, especially the younger members, that things are going to be okay.

“You’ll meet him soon, and I’ll make sure he’s properly oriented with everything before he sits down with you all,” you say. “Let’s just be optimistic about this, okay? Manager Lee has been here a while and he can guide all of us when it comes to adapting to changes like this.”

The rest of the team nods, voicing their agreement about being open and welcoming to your new boss.

“Okay, good. Now let me get my tea before I combust,” you chuckle, heading towards the adjacent room.

You’re busy taking breaths in between sips of your hot drink when you see a familiar face in the room through the glass window, prompting you to head back outside.

“Mr. Ri,” you greet, causing the man before you to turn towards you. “What are you doing here? Does Mr. Jeon need anything?”

Knowing you’re referring to the elder Jeon, Mr. Ri shakes his head.

“I’m here as Jungkook’s chauffeur and bodyguard, actually. His father appointed me, wanting people he trusts to help his son,” he clarifies. “I’ve just driven him from his penthouse.”

“Oh,” you say, unable to control the way your face falls a little. “So, he’s here.”

“He is. He said he wanted to get things done today so he doesn’t waste his time when he starts next week. He’s at Hoseok’s office right now. I believe he’s supposed to sign some documents?”

“Oh shit,” you blurt out, immediately setting down your half-finished tea and rushing out the door to speed-walk to your desk, ignoring Mr. Ri’s demand for you to slow down.

With what little you know of your new boss, he seems like the type to not excuse tardiness, so you take your files, head to HR to retrieve some documents, and then proceed to Hoseok’s office. You try to catch your breath as you head towards the door, which opens before you get to knock, revealing Bitna, the President’s assistant, who greets you with a sweet smile.

“Hi, ___. I was just about to call you,” she says. “CEO Jeon is inside as well. Just walk in, they’re waiting for you.”

You cross the small hallway as the door gently closes, and you stop in your tracks the moment you hear Jungkook’s voice.

“I still prefer my old assistant,” he says, obviously displeased. “He was very organized, highly educated, and well-traveled. While this Ms. Cho didn’t even study in a top university in Seoul. And Hoseok says she doesn’t know any other foreign languages when that’s one of my requirements.”

“Son, you’re being too harsh,” CEO Jeon chides. “Ms. Cho is a top performing employee, very hardworking and dedicated. She’s worked here for eight years and she imbibes all our values; she knows the company culture and knows the ins and outs of things with how she’s been exposed to them. Ask your cousin; Hoseok speaks highly of her.”

“___ is great, Kook. She’s incredibly organized and highly analytical and observant. She doesn’t need a Seoul education to be good at what we need her to be good at,” Hoseok argues.

“I still want my old assistant. It’s more convenient that way. Lucas already knows how I work and what I require of him,” Jungkook insists. “I’m just saying that I need things to be efficient and she and I can’t be adjusting to each other when there are multiple projects that I’d much rather give my attention to.”

“And I’m saying that Ms. Cho probably knows more than you do when it comes to these projects,” the elder Jeon counters. “Plus, your old assistant would have to adjust to life in Seoul and that’s harder. It’s just not practical, especially since you’re due to start in a few days. You have other things to worry about. ___ is there to make your life easier. Give her that chance to do her job.”

“But I—”

“Good morning, gentlemen,” you greet, not wanting to hear whatever unfounded things that Jungkook has to say, even if you have your own preconceived notions about him which, you remind yourself, are partly founded. Barely five minutes in and you already can’t stand his judgmental and entitled ass.

You walk towards the middle of the room where they’re congregated on the couches, with the elder Mr. Jeon and Hoseok smiling at you while Jungkook merely glances at you, his jaw clenched, perhaps irritated at the fact that you’d overheard him completely misjudge and undermine your abilities without even knowing who you are.

“Good morning, Ms. Cho,” CEO Jeon says. “I know you’ve seen him a few times but I’d like you to officially meet my son and the new Vice President, Jungkook.”

Jungkook turns to you with a disinterested look but he doesn’t meet your eyes. You bow as a sign of respect, even if it’s the last thing you think he deserves.

“My pleasure, Mr. Jeon,” you respond. “I was told that you’d like to proceed with administrative matters this morning. I have all the documents with me and I can explain each one to you before you sign them. I’ve also consolidated all the things you need to know prior to your meetings next week,” you add, handing him an iPad. “This has the resumes of each member of your management support team, including their professional and development goals. Mine are there as well, so you can read about my credentials and achievements in this company the past eight years, which I think have tremendously helped me in performing my duties satisfactorily. There’s also a folder of team profiles of each of the departments you’re overseeing. You’ll also find closure reports of completed projects from the past five years, progress reports of ongoing projects, and approved and working proposals of upcoming ones. I’ve included summaries and key figures for each of them. You may read them prior to your meetings, and if there’s anything missing that you’d like me to include, I can have them ready by the end of the day.”

“Hmm,” Jungkook hums, as he scrolls through all the folders you’ve prepared for him.

In your periphery, you can see the other two men holding in smiles as you seemingly render the younger man speechless, but while he assesses all that you’ve provided to him, you’re given time to observe the man seated before you. Other than his slightly longer hair, not much has changed from when you saw Jungkook in last year’s gala.

As he drags his tongue across the inside of his cheek with his scrunched eyebrows in judgment, you’re reminded that this is the first time you’ve seen him up close. And even from his angle, you can tell.

He’s unfairly handsome.

He’s got dark expressive eyes, soft-looking pink lips, and a sharp jawline that complement his lean figure. You understand why the staff are enamored by him even from afar and - if the rumors about him are true - why women would shoot their shot with him at clubs, in hopes they’d be the lucky one he’d choose to be with for the night.

The illusion breaks, though, as he turns to you with a hardened gaze.

“I’m sure I’ll find something that’s missing,” he states.

“If they’re relevant and necessary, I can have the files ready by today,” you respond, knowing full well that you’ve included every possible document that would be of use to him.

“I’ll be the judge of what’s relevant and necessary, Ms. Cho,” he counters.

“Of course, Mr. Jeon,” you say, conceding. “Whatever it is, then I’ll make sure to have them ready for you as soon as possible.”

Jungkook hums in response, turning his attention to the HR documents this time, breezing through the text and ignoring your brief explanations of the contents before signing at the bottom of the pages. You inform him of sections he’s missed, and he groans at having been corrected but you don’t mind. He’s the one who chose to do all this now and in here, in front of his father and his cousin.

Once he’s done, he hands you the signed files and holds your gaze. “Is there anything else, Ms. Cho?”

“I suppose that is all, Mr. Jeon. Unless there are other things you want to assess, or people you want to ensure are qualified to assist you with your functions,” you say.

Jungkook huffs in displeasure. You can sense the tension build, as irritation paints his face. It’s at that moment that his father chimes in, suggesting that you introduce him to his team.

“You can maybe also orient him on the current projects and partnerships,” the older man says.

“That can wait. I’ve had enough of engaging for today,” Jungkook responds, his voice cold, detached.

“In that case, let me lead you to your floor, Mr. Jeon.”

You step back and wait for him to walk ahead, before you excuse yourself from the older men. You don’t miss the sorry looks on their faces, and you give them a smile as if to say that it’s fine, that Jungkook’s someone you can handle, and his obvious displeasure towards having you as his assistant doesn’t faze you. It doesn’t change the fact that you wish he wasn’t your boss though, or at least, that he wasn’t such a jerk like what he’s being right now.

Walking behind him as you both head towards the elevator, you see the way he carries himself - hands in the pockets of his sleek black trousers, his eyes focused straight ahead, nothing like Hoseok who was always gesticulating as he spoke to you every time you walked side-by-side from one place to another.

Jungkook stands in front of the doors, seemingly waiting for you to press the buttons and you do it before he could even express his annoyance. You stand in front this time, then make sure you hold the doors open for him to exit, and you resume your spot behind him as you walk down the hallway.

“On the left are two small meeting rooms and one conference room,” you start, thankful that there’s not much to tour him around on this floor, given that everything is exclusive to the Vice President. “On the right is a seating room, and up ahead is an archive room. Down the—”

“I’ve been here before, Ms. Cho,” Jungkook interjects as he looks at you blankly. “This is my family’s building; I’m very much aware of how the floors look like.”

Not rattled by his disruption, you nod and smile, wanting to show him that whatever intimidation or humiliation he’s trying to make you feel isn’t gonna work on you. You know if you show any sign of frustration, that will just give him a reason to have you replaced and despite your clear dislike for the man, you need this job, especially this position that allows you to pay your rent in a safe part of town and send money to your family every month. At this point, that’s the only thing that will keep you going.

Approaching the management support office, you walk faster and make sure to enter the room before he does, signaling the team with your eyes that their new boss is coming, your silently frantic gaze telling them to be on their best behavior because their usual antics won’t work on Jungkook the way they did with Hoseok.

Once Jungkook appears, everyone bows and greets him, and you can sense them holding their breaths as they look up, taking him all in. You see him eye each person, and you can tell he’s already assessing them individually. You take it upon yourself to introduce each one, stating their name, where they studied and what course they took, describing their primary role in the team and their specific strengths. You see him follow your words, nodding and humming as you go, and you think he’s processing the information and making sure he remembers them.

There are no pleasantries; Jungkook just goes straight to the point.

“I’m sure you have concerns about having a new boss and the changes that come along with it. But I’m here to tell you now that you should get over whatever those are, as I’d like the adjustment period to be as short as possible,” he starts. “My cousin is brilliant at his job and so am I, but we work very differently, so whatever you got used to doing with and for him, don’t expect the same with me. I demand excellence and efficiency from each one of you because that’s what I commit myself to and that’s the only way that this team will be able to do its job. Am I clear?”

“Yes, sir,” the team answers in unison.

“We commit to those as well, Mr. Jeon,” Manager Lee says. “As the head of your support team, I will make sure that all our deliverables are of high quality and that things will run smoothly so that we may properly do our job of assisting you.”

“That’s good, and that’s what I expect,” Jungkook says, nodding at everyone before walking out the door to head to his office, with you trailing him from behind.

“Is my room still being sanitized?” He turns to you.

“Yes, sir.”

“Why did it need to be sanitized? And why today?”

“It’s protocol, sir. We also had a sendoff for Mr. Jung yesterday so the room smelled of food. And he instructed for this to be done today so that I don’t need to come here tomorrow, as he doesn’t like any of his staff working during the weekend,” you reply. “This should be finished this afternoon. I’ve also purchased the oil for your diffusers. The room will be ready for you by Monday.”

Jungkook merely hums and looks around, specifically at your designated area with your desk and shelves at the back, then takes a call before turning to you again to say that he’s heading out to meet his friends.

“Is there anything else you need, Mr. Jeon?” You ask, thankful that you don’t have to deal with him for the rest of the day.

“No.”

“Okay then, sir. I’ll meet you at your apartment at 6:30 AM on Monday. Is that time alright?”

“Sure,” he responds, then turns around and starts walking out. “Just keep your phone on. I work during the weekend.”

He’s gone before you can even respond, and you rush to the support office once you’ve heard the elevator ding that indicates that he’s gone. When you get there, you’re greeted with everyone’s frowns, with Do-hyun close to tears.

“I don’t like him, ___. He looks so unapproachable and too serious!” She complains. “I miss Mr. Jung. Is there an opening in his team? Should I just resign?”

“Aish!” You reprimand her. “Don’t speak like that. And don’t let those few minutes determine everything for you.”

“Well, those few minutes are enough to tell me that I don’t like him. No matter how good-looking he is,” Chin-sun says.

“He is, right!” Do-hyun chirps now, a complete 180 from seconds ago. “I’ve seen him around but I didn’t think he’d be even more handsome up close! It just sucks that he’s a grinch and that makes all the difference. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t have a girlfriend! He’s probably too snobby and—”

“Yah! You really need to stop it with those rumors,” you scold her this time. “That’s your boss. His personal life is none of our business. Where do you even hear these things?”

“Every washroom in this building, basically. Staff are always gossiping there, you know?” Do-hyun responds.

“And since when do we listen to gossip,” you scowl at her. “Sure, he’s not our favorite person right now but we don’t have the right to make claims about aspects of his life. And where are people even getting those ideas!”

“People talk, I guess,” she shrugs. “And he’s often spotted in clubs with those Kim brothers so maybe they see things. I’m not saying they’re all accurate… just that rumors often have some truth to them, you know?”

“No, I don’t, and we shouldn’t be sticking our noses in places where they shouldn’t be,” you say.

“Fine, but it’s just a heads up,” Do-hyun says, turning serious now. “You’re his executive assistant, and you have no choice but to stick your nose in places because personal and professional lines are often blurred in your situation, and that’s just how our world’s set up.”

“She’s right,” Chin-sun chimes in. “I mean, you need to know his personal schedule, go to his apartment, do errands if you need to, maybe buy a box of condoms if he runs out… You just got lucky that Mr. Jung’s pretty chill and has a wife who’s even nicer than he is. Your only problem was that he was damn scared of everything that moved and wasn't human.”

You’d laugh at the last statement if you could, but you know they’re both right. Hoseok wasn’t perfect, and neither was his marriage, but it never reached a point where you had to be put in a compromising position because you were his assistant who, by nature of your work, had to be privy to some of his personal matters. The most involved you were was when he and A-yeong had an argument and they used you as their messenger, but even that was more of a miscommunication issue than anything serious. They apologized to you after and promised to never put you in that kind of situation again.

But with Jungkook as a single man, you’re unsure what personal business you’d end up being involved in. You just wish it wasn’t something that would test your principles and cause you to lose your job. Regardless, whatever that would be isn’t something you can even really talk about with others.

“Well, I don’t wanna think about any of that right now,” you sigh, knowing you’ve got enough to worry about, such as how you’re going to start surviving everyday assisting a man who clearly doesn’t want you around.

But if he’s gonna be a hard-head about it, then you’re just going to have to match him. You got to where you are because you’re determined to prove yourself constantly, and you’ll just show him that he needs you, and he doesn’t really have a choice unless he wants to argue with his father.

You try to encourage your team once more and give Do-hyun that rare hug in comfort before going back to your desk, intent on finishing all the presentations for your briefing with Jungkook next week. You begin setting up his room by mid-afternoon, using a photo of his Singapore office as a basis since you were told that he prefers a certain style for his furniture and decor. You’re no stylist but over an hour after you finish, you think you did pretty good. You were so into designing the space that you didn’t notice the time fly by; before you know it, it’s 6PM, because you can hear A-yeong right outside calling for you.

“Hi,” she chirps, hugging you in greeting. “Are you ready?”

“I’ll just pack my things,” you say, walking to your desk.

A-yeong takes a peek at the room and praises your efforts. “This looks so different from how it used to be. And that’s good because those cousins have such different tastes. But I think Jungkook will like this. He’s into the masculine and moody vibe, so good job, ___.”

You know that despite her kindness, she wouldn’t lie, and you could only hope that she’s right. You think it looks nice, but it’s what he thinks that matters; you’ll just have to wait until Monday to find out.

As you’re about to leave, Hoseok appears in the hallway and asks how you are. Your scowl pretty much gives you away.

“I’m sorry about Jungkook, ___. He’s stubborn and a hot-head sometimes but he isn’t always like that, and this isn’t me making excuses for him,” your former boss says.

“Why, what did he do?” A-yeong asks worriedly.

“Basically implied that I’m not qualified for this role, among other things,” you respond. “But it’s okay. Not like I haven’t heard that before.”

“And you know that’s not true,” Hoseok comforts you. “He’s not good with change, that’s all, and you know how these appointments were all pretty short notice and he’s just been frustrated ever since. But whatever it is he said, don’t take them to heart. He’ll get a word from me, and he’ll definitely get one from his father.”

You want to say that it’s not easy to just disregard what Jungkook said; he’s your boss after all, and all that matters is what he thinks about you. But you’re not one to air out these feelings to Hoseok now that you’ve experienced a bit of what it’s like, so you just shake your head and ask the older man to let it go.

“He’s probably just tired,” you make an excuse this time, not wanting to discuss further with Hoseok. “And he had that assistant for over five years. I can understand wanting that familiarity and convenience. I’m just gonna have to adjust; there are a lot of things going on right now and he’ll need to focus on the projects, not his compatibility with his assistant.”

“But that matters though,” Hoseok insists. “I got things done because we worked well together. He’s gonna have to meet you in the middle with this one. And I’ll make sure that he does.”

“I know you said you want to look out for me but I don’t think it’s a good idea if you intervene this time, Mr. Jung,” you say, letting him know you’re serious and you mean business. “I’ll be okay, don’t worry about me.”

You give him a comforting smile, and you hope it’s enough to quell Hoseok’s own worries and it works this time. He returns it before letting you and his wife go, and it’s the Thai dinner and incredible desserts that somehow make up for your not-so-great day.

You think the weekend will give you the peace you need to face your dreaded week - you do your errands and chores on Saturday and go to the market and watch a movie by yourself in the cinema the next day.

All it took was a text from Jungkook that Sunday evening, asking for copies of certain policies and disapproved proposals from the last five years, that just had to ruin it, as you spend the entire evening consolidating the files, making you already wish it was Friday.

Jungkook’s apartment building is one of the Jeon properties that you haven’t been to yet, as it’s one of the newer massive residential structures that they built three years ago. You enter the sleek-looking lobby then submit your documents at the reception in exchange for your own access, and you internally marvel at how luxurious everything looks.

You get to the 42nd floor, and it seems that there are only two units here. You walk towards the one on the right, choosing to be on the safe side by ringing the doorbell. It’s Monday, after all, and it’s your first time here; you don’t want to just enter without him permitting you to do so.

You’re about to press the button again after a minute of no response, when the door opens and you take a moment to process the sight before you.

There, standing just a few feet away, is Jungkook with nothing but a pair of black gym shorts on, his taut chest glistening in sweat, and his entire right arm covered in black and colored ink. His hair is damp and ruffled, and it’s probably due to the boxing he’d just done, as evidenced by the wraps on his knuckles and the way he’s panting heavily.

You get your senses back and look away, not wanting to look affected by his half-naked form, even if you’re the one who has to catch her breath this time because much as you dislike the man, you can’t deny that his body is something that definitely deserves to be praised.

“You’re here,” he speaks first, surprise laced in his voice as he takes in your obviously flustered form.

“I asked if 6:30 AM was a good time to come, Mr. Jeon,” you answer, glancing at him before looking at whatever you could behind him. “Perhaps I misheard your confirmation. I can wait downstairs if you’re not yet done with your exercise. My apologies for coming in early.”

You don’t actually have anything to be sorry for; he did confirm the time, and he’s the one who decided that working out at this hour was a good idea, knowing that his assistant’s scheduled to come. You would’ve appreciated it if he says you don’t need to apologize, but he doesn’t.

“It’s fine, I just finished,” he huffs.

He leaves the door open for you to enter then heads straight to the large room on the right, which looks to be an indoor gym. You allow yourself a few seconds to look at his retreating form, quietly gasping as his broad shoulders and slender waist blind you a little, then scolding yourself for doing so. You stay rooted by the kitchen and look around the spacious penthouse as you wait for him to return. He exits the gym wearing a loose white shirt now, combing his hair with his fingers as he drinks a bottle of water.

“So, Mr. Jeon, uh, I would prepare Mr. Jung’s outfits for the week and then help his house staff make his breakfast. I run down his schedule as he eats. Are you okay with the same arrangement?”

“Sure. I just don’t have any staff with me so you’re on your own. I’m fine with anything though. I’m not usually hungry in the morning,” he says before walking to the other side of the apartment.

You follow him, careful not to enter spaces you’re not given permission to, which is why you stand by his bedroom door before asking to come in.

“How will you prepare my clothes from there?” He huffs. “Of course you can enter. Just be done before I finish taking a shower.”

You nod shyly and then head to the walk-in closet that thankfully has a separate door from the bathroom. He’s already unpacked his clothes, although not everything has been organized. You spot a few suits that are ready to wear, and you fix those first, taking note of asking him if there are things he wants dry cleaned or pressed.

You leave his bedroom in time, hearing him slide open the door as you make it out, and proceed to make his breakfast. There’s really not much you can create with what little he has, so you make do with eggs and toast and whatever spread you find in his cupboard.

Jungkook walks into the kitchen not long after, the dark gray suit looking immaculate on him as you expected. Spotting his crooked necktie, you immediately walk up to him to fix it, unaware of how he holds his breath with how close you are. Noticing his body stiffen, you step back right away, apologizing for not asking permission first.

He looks away and says it’s fine, then sits on the spot at the dining table where you’ve set up his meal. He stares at it for a good few seconds, prompting you to explain yourself.

“That’s… that’s all I could make with what you have, Mr. Jeon,” you say. “I can arrange for online groceries for you, as well as dry clean and pressing for your clothes and—”

“I’m having someone come in to clean my place and do all of that,” he says, as he takes a bite of his food. “So, what’s my week like?”

You start to enumerate the conference and lunch meetings he’ll be having this week, including who they’ll be with and their purpose. They’re mostly with the department leads to discuss updates on processes and current projects, and you’re thankful that Hoseok involved you as much as he did, given that Jungkook’s questions are more specific than you expected.

Sure, he’s a Jeon and obviously works in the same company, but the Southeast Asian projects are different from the ones being implemented in South Korea, and while he used to oversee overall compliance to design standards, he’ll now be in-charge of setting those very standards this time. As Vice President, he’ll be involved in crafting policies; he’s also free to manage his own construction projects, and that’s what the support team is for. Given his much more expansive role this time, there are more departments and projects to oversee, and definitely more executive decisions to make.

You suppose it’s why his questions don’t stop, even after he’s cleaned up and you both find yourselves in the backseat of the car and on the way to the office. He looks through the iPad with all the files you gave him, and you see the notes he’s made on them as you turn to him to answer his queries. Even if you know that he’s also still assessing you - perhaps on your knowledge and attention to detail - you can’t help but admire his thoroughness. You may have also cursed him in frustration for making you work on a Sunday, but he seems to have done way more than you, given that he went through all the documents over the weekend. You suddenly don’t feel too annoyed.

But of course, he has to ruin it again.

“I need these annotated versions of the project and departmental documents ready before my meetings with the respective teams,” Jungkook says, his voice low and stern. “And I expect progress reports to be as detailed as possible, so make sure to check them first before they get to me. The ones you gave need revisions. I believe you’re trained enough to know immediately that these are lacking.”

“Yes, sir,” you respond, noting his instructions on your notebook while internally yelling, given that you’re unsure of the need for them before the meetings.

Surely, he could give you some time to work on them, but with a meeting with one team in the afternoon and seven more the rest of the week, and on top of the other things you need to do for him, you already know you’ll be cramming to get everything done.

You try to manage your breathing. Somehow, your habit of pressing your nails against your palm when you're stressed has miraculously come back today. It was something you developed while working under Mrs. Byun, which you eventually got over after working for Hoseok. You feel the anxiety build up, especially as you look at the half crescent marks on your skin, and it’s times like this that you wish your best friends were based in Seoul instead of Busan, so you’d at least have people to comfort you when things are a little tough.

It’s not to say that work wasn’t overwhelming before. It definitely was, but Hoseok always found a way to make everything bearable and he was always reasonable with what he demanded of you. Now you’re stuck with a man who already makes you feel like your hard work isn’t enough.

You make it to the office with no other words said and a thick tension in the air. It follows you to the elevator and into Jungkook’s room, where he dismisses you so he can prepare for the first meeting of the day. You rush to your desk and get on with your tasks, making sure to work on the annotated project file that he needs by the afternoon.

It’s an hour later when you find yourself in the conference room for the meeting with the management support team. You prepped them just 10 minutes earlier, and while you tried to hide your frustration, your unusual lack of energy told them enough that it wasn’t exactly a good start of the day.

They come in one by one, and you take the time to prepare Jungkook’s coffee, remembering from his former assistant’s notes how he wants it. He’d put it off earlier, given that he prefers to drink his protein shake after his workout, so this is the first time you’re doing it for him.

His eyes flit from the coffee in front of him to you as you place it on the table.

“Two espresso shots and half teaspoon each of milk and sugar,” you state, wanting to confirm that you got it right.

He merely takes a sip, places it down again, and then starts the meeting.

How bold of you to assume that he’d thank you or even acknowledge it, as if he’d shown you even the tiniest amount of gratitude for anything you've done for him since Friday. Which he hasn’t.

You let it go and proceed to sit next to him, your eyes and ears ready for what you already predict is gonna be a long meeting.

It ends over three hours later. As you expected, he had a lot of questions. He made sure that each member had time to explain their current tasks and how they will monitor the projects assigned to them. You didn’t miss the way he’d acknowledged them with “good” and “well done,” and thanked them after they finished. He only nodded at you after your turn, with his eyes barely meeting yours, and for all the confidence you built over the past three years, you can’t process how it’s his non-acknowledgment that’s just going to undo all that. And quite frankly, you’re unsure if that’s on him or if that’s on you.

Half of the meeting was spent discussing the big project that he wants to take on as Vice President. There’s a property they recently acquired - a non-operational arts center that he wants to revive by adding a performance hall, small theaters, a grand library, function rooms, and a permanent exhibition presenting the buildings that his family had developed over the years to showcase their architectural designs.

You saw the excitement in your team members’ faces. Hoseok took over with several unfinished projects so you all had to focus on those. Aside from Manager Lee, this is the first time that you’re all handling something new and different. Even you felt the excitement creep in, a welcome emotion given how your day’s been going, but that shattered once he said that he wants it done by June of next year in time for an International Media Festival happening in August. The 12-month period he’s giving is too short with everything he wants to do, and you saw that the team felt the same.

You go to them after Jungkook leaves for a lunch meeting, and their sighs and pouty faces tell you enough. Mr. Lee does his job of encouraging the team, and you add that you’re all gonna be supporting each other through it all. Sure, you’d have to match Jungkook’s ambition and thoroughness, but you should all take it as a challenge.

You’re clearly not convinced yourself as the words come out of your mouth, but you don’t have time to debrief with them, as you still have that meeting with the design department that you have to prepare for. You take two biscuits and a cup of tea, and you decide that this is enough to last you throughout lunch, given that you’ll be spending the entirety of it working on the files.

You don’t realize that an hour and a half have passed until you hear footsteps and see Jungkook’s form appear in the hallway. You stand to greet him, with him asking if you’re done with the annotated documents.

“I’ll send it in five minutes, sir,” you say, hoping he’ll at least give you that.

“Okay,” he responds. “Come to my office after you’ve sent it.”

“Yes, sir,” you say, quickly finishing the last two pages once he closes the door.

You rush to get everything done and click send, then you head to his office and prepare yourself for more questions. It’s quiet inside as you watch him behind the desk, with his legs crossed and his eyebrows furrowed as he reads the document. You answer one of his questions and it’s at that moment when your very empty stomach decides to make itself known.

You freeze on your spot, as the grumbling sound starts low, getting louder for a few beats before it temporarily stops. Your eyes widen in embarrassment, and you press your belly so hard with your fingers in hopes that that would do anything, even if you’re too far gone at this point. Your only hope is that it was all in your head, but Jungkook’s eyes flitting to you tells you otherwise. The only other sound in his room is the air purifier, but it’s not remotely loud enough to drown out your intense hunger.

It goes again, and all you can do is look away; humiliating yourself was definitely not the plan for your first day as Jeon Jungkook’s assistant.

“Do you need to step away, Ms. Cho?” He asks, not meeting your eyes.

“Oh, it’s not… uh,” a bowel emergency or something, you want to say. “I just had a busy lunch break.”

You settle for that, a hint that you’d spent its entirety doing something in such a short notice. Hoseok would always be apologetic whenever he had you do something during your break; he always made up for it with a nice meal as thanks. You doubt you’d get anything close to that from this man.

Jungkook hums and surprisingly doesn’t ask for anything else. He dismisses you and orders you to go ahead and prepare the conference room for the next meeting, and you do just that, dropping by the pantry for a muffin that you eat in four bites, in hopes that it would be enough to shut your stomach for the next three hours.

Right as you exit, Jungkook picks up his phone to make a call. And then another one.

“Mr. Ri, please pick up the pastries that Ms. Cho ordered at the food hall,” he instructs his chauffeur. “She’s too busy right now.”

“Will do, Mr. Jeon.”

Taking minutes of a meeting when you’re starving is not a good thing. You know this because you’ve done this so many times, like during monthly executive meetings and the quarterly board meetings that have you spread out thin. It’s also not rare to miss out on lunch because there’s a report to finish or a site to visit; during events, you go on a day with having barely eaten anything.

But just because you’re used to it, it doesn’t mean that your body has fully adapted, because here you are, eyeing the croissants in front of you, your mouth watering at the gloss and softness of the pastry. They’re so tempting and also out of reach, given that you need to be entirely focused on the discussion that you’re documenting, and munching on something is out of the question. You don’t even know where this is from and you think maybe the design department called for snacks but it’s really not helping your concentration.

You hope the way you’re nibbling your lips doesn’t give you away, but Yoongi from across the table picks it up, as you get a notification of his message.

[From: Min Yoongi] you didn’t have lunch, did you?

You ignore the prompt on your laptop and respond to him with a look instead. You know your pouty lips will give him his answer, and he merely shakes his head at the confirmation.

You do your best to shut out the sight and scent of the food before you, absorbing instead the discussion so you can note this down properly with just minimal edits needed. You have a lot of documents to work on for the next few days after all, and that’s on top of the file reorganization that Jungkook asked you to do.

It works after you hang on by a thread for two and a half hours, a little earlier than you expected to finish. All you want is to sneak out that croissant and maybe some tarts, too, but your heart breaks when you look up and find the boxes empty.

You let out a sigh, relieved that your boss didn’t hear you because he’s already on the phone and heading out the door. But it’s that same time that a plate of food appears in front of you, and it feels like the gates of heaven have opened. You’re not surprised anymore to find out who it’s from.

“Eat,” Yoongi says from next to you. “I could see your hands shaking from across the table.”

“What about you?” You ask, your lips in a pout once more.

“You know I don’t eat these things,” he shrugs.

He doesn’t, and you know this, too. You also know he called dibs on these earlier, seeing as his staff were quick to get them, and he’d saved these so he could give them to you.

“Ten years later and you’re still trying to make sure I eat, huh?” You say, nudging him with your hips to tease.

“If I don’t, who would?” He responds, walking out of the conference room with you. “You have a bad habit of not doing that.”

“Well, duty calls. What can I do?”

“Take care of yourself even if it’s hard,” he replies.

“Says the man who rarely does it himself,” you chuckle.

“You know, the best advice I give are the ones I don’t actually follow, so disregard the fact that I don’t even do what I say because they apparently work,” he says. “But I mean it, ___. Eat this now.”

“Thanks, Yoongi,” you smile, taking a piece of pastry and eating it in two bites.

Your puffed out cheeks cause him to laugh, and despite still being hungry after this, you suppose it’s enough to not make you faint at this moment.

“And eat a proper dinner, okay?” He follows up.

“I’ll be off late, so I’ll just grab something from the convenience store,” you say. “That’s as proper as I can afford tonight.”

“Aish, fine,” he shakes his head. “But let me get you coffee at least. Those tarts won’t taste as good without one.”

“That would be life-saving,” you dramatically say. “What did I do to deserve a friend like you?”

“Don’t know. I mean, I’m not that great,” he shrugs.

You playfully roll your eyes. “I’ll save the compliments once I have the coffee.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” he feigns annoyance, gesturing for you to get back to your desk then walking the other direction.

You take your seat and clean up the document, deciding that you’ll just review the meeting minutes tomorrow so you can get on with other pressing matters. It’s 20 minutes later when Yoongi returns, a tall cup of coffee on one hand and a banana loaf on the other.

“This is all they have left,” he says. “I hope it can last you until tonight.”

“It will,” you smile. “Thank you again. No one looks out for me here as much as you do. And that means a lot, more than you know. I don’t think I would’ve survived all these years without you.”

“Wow, all because of coffee and snacks,” he laughs, teasing.

“It’s a fair trade. You feed me during my greatest need, I boost your ego,” you tease back.

“Yeah, whatever,” Yoongi huffs in submission, but you know he enjoys it.

You’re thankful that after everything that’s happened, you’re still able to maintain the friendship that you created when you were a mere intern and he was just starting out his career.

“Anyway, I’m quickly meeting Jungkook and I need the portfolio of the contemporary arts institution joint project from 2019. It was VP-led so I assume it’s still here? Unless it’s in the archive room,” he continues.

“It’s within five years so it should be here,” you say, turning to the shelf behind you to confirm.

You spot what you need and make the attempt to pull it out but your fingers barely even touch the rack.

“Need help?” Yoongi asks.

“And what help could you give, huh?” You tease again, earning you a playful groan.

“You brat.”

You laugh and pull out the small stool you keep for times like this.

“Just make sure I don’t fall and embarrass myself further today,” you say, climbing up the steps then pulling out the heavy folder.

You feel Yoongi’s arm move from where it was near your waist to over your head, as he lightens the load. You both try to balance it and laugh at your distorted faces in the process, and it’s moments of relief like this one that you’re glad you’re afforded after a long day like today.

From inside the room, Jungkook sees you through the window, your eyes crinkling as you laugh along with Yoongi, head of the design department and one of his very few friends in the company. It catches him off guard, as he realizes that since meeting you last Friday, he’s never seen you laugh, much less smile or even have an expression that isn’t agitated or serious.

He knows that that’s probably on him. He’d spoken ill of you after all, something he regretted once he saw the frustration on your face when you made it known that you were in the room with them and had definitely heard everything he said. But he’d been tired and HR confirmed that he could bring Lucas over as his assistant; CEO Jeon was the one who vetoed that decision.

Jungkook had already mentally prepared himself for the ease of his transition, knowing that he’d be assisted by someone who knows how he works and the quality of outputs he expects, only to come here and be told by his father that the current staff will stay, and that you - someone he’d only heard of as Hoseok’s assistant - will be the one assisting him from now on. Your resume didn’t even impress him.

Jungkook doesn’t like change and when he has to undergo it, he needs as much of what was familiar and convenient to remain; that’s the only bit of control he can have and he hates not being in control of things. You just happened to unluckily be at the receiving end of his anger.

But unlike what he expected, you stood up to him in the subtle ways you could. He’s been so used to people just following him, partly because his way is always the best but also because he commands that respect, and he knows his capabilities enough to know that he deserves it as well. So when you answered back, he felt rattled and just a little bit uneasy. He was unable to backtrack after, but he didn’t really plan to.

That doesn’t mean that he didn’t plan on being a bit of a jerk today, too. He’d been exhausted working over the weekend after going through all the files you gave him that he snoozed his alarm so many times and ended up doing his workout later than he intended. When you rang the doorbell and stood by his door with your skirt and satin top, he suddenly felt lightheaded.

He mentally smacked himself once the thought that your pastel colored outfit brought out your eyes more than the monochrome ensemble from last week floated in his head. He just hated that not only are you thorough with your work, you have to be beautiful, too. He’d never admit to anyone that both of those things make him nervous, and it’s the only reason why he thinks he needs to establish his authority so that he doesn’t get rattled the next time you counter him.

That’s why he demanded more work, which he didn’t intend to take up so much of your time, like your lunch break. He’d seen how your hands shook while you were taking notes during the meeting, prompting him to end the meeting early so you can have something to eat of what he’d bought but he’d left before he could find out if there was anything left for you.

Maybe there wasn’t enough, as he also witnessed Yoongi hand you what seemed like food with coffee that the man also got for you just minutes ago. The smile you gave him was bright and sincere. Jungkook doesn’t think he’d ever see that directed at him, considering how he’d been to you on his first day, but maybe that’s also good; that could be his defense. Maybe it’d help quell that initial attraction that he doesn’t want and cannot allow at all to grow.

It doesn’t mean it doesn’t agitate him to see you a bit too close with his friend, because with the way you seem so comfortable and with the way that Yoongi sports that rare smile, it almost feels like there’s something there.

Jungkook is the son of the CEO, and having personal relationships within the company isn’t exactly advisable, but he’d gone to university with Yoongi and their introverted personalities instantly clicked. The older man is perhaps the only non-relative company employee that Jungkook kept in touch with when he was in Singapore, not that he even really talked much to his family outside of work anyway.

But in all the years of their friendship, his friend never mentioned any relationship - nor the makings of one - with another staff member. Jungkook hates how his curiosity is slowly getting to him. Maybe a few more moments would tell him more, but something about the scene happening outside his room is making him nervous and uneasy, so he decides to step in.

“Hey, Yoon,” he says as he opens the door. “Can we discuss now? I have to meet my parents for dinner in an hour.”

Your bubble with Yoongi bursts at the sound of Jungkook’s voice, and you immediately return to your seat. Your friend nods at you then enters the room, leaving you the peace and quiet you need to plop down on the floor for a quick snack of your loaf before going back to work, glancing inside every once in a while to see how the two are going, and perhaps confirm the friendship that you didn’t expect the two would have.

“This building is a good starting point,” Yoongi agrees with Jungkook. “If this is the general feel you want for the Arts Center, I can look into other projects and designs and come up with ideas. I’ll just ask ___ for the files I need.”

“You two seem close,” Jungkook says too quickly.

Leaning back against the chair, Yoongi processes the question that he didn’t expect he’d hear. More than that, he tries to read what’s underneath it, knowing that his friend’s tone of voice and feigned stoic expression mean something more.

“You could say that,” Yoongi replies. “She did say that no one’s looked out for her here as much as I have. And that she wouldn’t have survived all these years without me.”

“So you’re actually friends?”

“Yes.”

“Were you more?”

Yoongi chuckles, the question giving him the answer he’s looking for. Jungkook may often be too serious but he can be transparent sometimes, too.

“Does it matter?” The older man asks.

“Just don’t want to be surprised, that’s all,” Jungkook shrugs. “If there’s an employee relationship happening under my nose, I should at least know.”

“It happens here a lot,” Yoongi responds. “I mean, it gives people something to gossip about but it’s how things are - work sucks sometimes and we want someone to hold at the end of a terrible day.”

Feeling like he won’t get an answer to a question that Jungkook doesn’t know why he felt the need to ask in the first place, he just shakes his head to concede.

But it’s what prompts Yoongi to reply.

“We met when she was just an intern,” he says. “We used to take the same bus then found out we both came from Daegu. Then she was employed and we were both on the logistics team before I was reassigned and she got the EA role.”

Jungkook merely hums, taking in the information.

“I also asked her out before,” Yoongi continues, earning him a surprised look from the younger man. “You just can’t help what you feel sometimes, you know? But she turned me down, said she didn’t want to lead me on because she didn’t feel anything more. She also doesn’t like being involved with a co-worker, so yeah.”

“How are you still friends?”

“Asks the guy who’s still friends with his ex,” Yoongi laughs.

“Chaerin and I are civil, there’s a difference. And we haven’t spoken in years.”

“You loved her, though,” Yoongi counters. “I never got to that point.”

“This isn’t about me,” Jungkook huffs.

Knowing it’s a topic that his friend doesn’t like talking about, Yoongi relents. “I moved on. That was years ago,” he says. “And it seemed like she needed someone. I mean, she’s not from here and her friends aren’t here, either. She appreciated the friendship even if she said she didn’t think she deserved it. I guess that made me really get over her, you know? That’s all she wanted and needed from me; it was better than not having her around.”

“How brave,” Jungkook remarks.

“You mean mature?” Yoongi corrects. “Yes, that’s what I am, and it’s the best I could be for her. Especially since she’s got a boss who makes her miss lunch because somehow, there’s just so much to do for your first day on the job.”

“Don’t remind me,” Jungkook groans.

“I will. Only so you could feel bad.”

“I already do. That’s why I…”

“Bought the pastries,” Yoongi finishes. “I mean, I didn’t order them.”

“Was any even left for her?” Jungkook sighs, remembering how he was internally screaming for you to just get from the box and he’d been the jerk to not offer you some even if it was technically for you.

“Sort of. I put some aside for myself so I could give them to her.”

“You sure you don’t like her anymore?” Jungkook cocks an eyebrow, an attempt to hide his uneasiness over something he doesn’t understand. He finds you attractive, that’s it. He doesn’t know why his mind searches for more answers.

“You don’t have to like someone romantically to be nice to them, you know?” Yoongi responds. “And she needed it. Heavens know the support she’d need now that she has to deal with your rude ass.”

Jungkook sighs, but the remark is a welcome one because he did tell Yoongi not to treat him differently just because he’s the Vice President now. He also partly agrees. But he sees the effort; his friend wouldn’t call him out for how he does things, so the most he would do is offer help to you. And Jungkook could maybe take advantage of that, as Yoongi stands up to leave.

“Hey, could you, uh, grab dinner for her at the food hall? And not say it’s from me?”

“The food hall’s closed,” Yoongi says.

“The cafe down the street, then?”

“You can’t be fucking serious,” the older man groans.

But Yoongi knows his friend, knows the distance he creates from the people around him, knows his need to have control over everything, including his feelings, and knows the walls he builds because it’s easier to keep others out rather than do the hard task of letting them into a space that’s become comfortable because he’s been the only one inside for so long.

So Yoongi does as he’s asked. He takes the money then heads to the cafe to order pork cutlets and curry. He returns and sets them on your desk to your surprise, and you ask what it’s for.

“Just thought you deserve more than just convenience store instant noodles and gimbap given the day you’ve had,” he says.

“Hey, those are delicious,” you pout, but wanting to melt at how good the rice bowl smells. “But thank you, again. I owe you a lot, Yoongi. I mean it.”

“Just make sure to eat on time so I don’t have to buy your dinner again,” he teases. “I mean it. You have to stay healthy, okay?”

“Okay,” you smile brightly. “Get home safe tonight.”

Jungkook glances out the window and holds back a smile himself at how innocent and genuinely happy you look. There’s this joy that you seem to enjoy to yourself and he sees that, he understands that. And somehow that’s enough to lessen the guilt for now.

He still doesn’t know if he’ll ever see that smile directed at him or if he’d ever want that because of how disarming it is. But seeing it from afar is enough; it’s trivial and short enough to let him bask in it without having to climb out of his walls. He’ll watch you from behind, he thinks. He just wishes he doesn’t push you away in the process.

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