#tae studied fashion

[oh2z]

he’s back. kim taerae

word count: 2.04k (woops)

summary: soon after realizing taerae had came back from the uk, you call him to get answers. highly suggestive. reader discretion advised.

contents: sub!taerae, dom!reader, phone call, guided masturbation, pet names 

a/n: the beginning is very lengthy sooorry i rambled lol, reader is afab!

you and taerae have been friends since you both could remember. you’d do everything together; play, homework, even sleepover at each others homes. though you two were super close, you were just friends. nothing more, nothing less.

your bond was unbreakable- taerae being the timid, shy boy that he is and you being the bolder, gut-sy, slightly younger friend he had. taerae was a little older than you, but you always saw him as a cute friend that could always count on you. why would you ever question it? you literally nicknamed him “tae”. 

it was until the summer of your last year in high school that you only saw taerae as a friend. before you knew it, taerae changed. he grew taller, voice dropped, and he even started to dress more fashionable. taerae in your eyes had changed. you found him attractive. 

of course you’d never let him find this out, what if it costs your whole relationship? but little did you know, taerae felt the same way about you, he too was scared that it would break the friendship the both of you had for so long. 

as soon as university started, you both grew farther and farther away from each other. when it came to your schedules, workloads, and even jobs- you guys just had no time to hang out anymore. the both of you were practically strangers. 

at times, you’d see a girl talking about taerae, or even taerae talking with other girls, and it would always sting. hiding your emotions, you just went around and dated. and so did he. 

there would be times that you two texted each other, but it was nothing super big, probably just a few “how are you” and “hey” messages. 

junior year came, and you suddenly didn’t see taerae in school anymore. you asked around, and found out that he went on an exchange program, abroad in the uk.  “he told other people..but not me.” you thought to yourself, upset. 

the end of junior year approached quickly as you were solely focused on your studies. taerae still lingered in your mind, but you had enough on your plate already.

it was a summer night that you threw yourself on your bed, opening you phone to check social media. you felt tense, the stress from summer program applications starting to get to you. soon enough, through other peoples snapchats, you found out that taerae returned from the uk. 

angry, you clicked the “tae” you had saved in your phone, and hoped he hadn’t changed his phone number yet. to your luck, he answered.

“hello? y/n-ie?” taerae said, a light english accent on his soft voice.

“oh, so you remember my name?” you reply, a clear angry tone in your words.

you hear a disappointed sigh come from the other line, and you start to worry. “taerae?” you ask, genuinely concerned.

“i’m sorry-” he blurts. “it’s just that once university started we started to hang out less, and i thought you didn’t like me anymore- b- but i had feelings for you, i- i mean i still do but-” taerae sputtered before you cut him off. “no i’m sorry,” you started. before you processed what he said.

“wait what was that last part?” you asked with hope in your voice. “well- i said that i liked and still like you, y/n.” taerae whispers while laying on his bed.

“i am an idiot,” you blinked. “so fucking stupid.” you told yourself underneath your breath.

“what? no- wait what?” he asked, confused. 

“taerae, i felt the same way. 

the two of you begin to catch up for the next 45 minutes over the phone. you both share the fun experiences you have had while getting lost in conversation together. it was nice.

the line fell quiet, but you found yourself not wanting to hang up yet, and it seemed that neither did he.

“what are you doing now?” you asked him.

“hm...just laying in my bed,” he replied, sounding like he was shifting his position. “probably going to sleep soon.”

“do you share a room?” 

“no, not anymore. my brother’s room is a couple doors down the hallway. i don’t think you seen him in a loooong while, right?”

“yeah, it’s been awhile” you chuckle.

“you should come over sometime,” taerae suggested “he’s pretty cool now.” 

“i can’t wait to see him again then,” you teased.

“well...don’t be too excited to meet him,” he said, pouting slightly. 

you laughed. “i can’t help it, i’m excited to see your family again. your kind parents, and i bet your brother is handsome..” you teased.

“yeah yeah, i guess my parents are kind of nice- wait! i’m handsome!” he insisted.

“of course! i know my tae-ie is handsome.”

“thank you y/n,” he said, sounding pleased.

“so- what are we wearing, mr handsome?” you asked, your tone changing a little as you imagined him stretched out on top of his bed. nervous, not knowing why you just said what you said, you waited for his response.

“uh...” he seemed shy. you didn’t press the silence, just waiting to see what he would say. “just...my sweatpants.” 

“awe that sounds comfy,” you replied, adjusting your position in bed. “just your sweatpants then? no shirt?” 

“y-yeah...no shirt,” he gulped. with your mind racing, it’s just your emotions talking right now.

“hmm. i’d like to see that,” you replied lowly, imagining his tanned chest laid bare, corded muscle contracting with each breath he took, his bicep bulging just slightly as he held the phone to his ear, his other hand resting lightly on his stomach.

“wh-what about you, what are you wearing, y/n-ie?” he asked shyly after a breath.

“oh? i’m just wearing an old t-shirt and some panties,” you replied, stretching your limbs around.

“th-that’s it?” he asked, breath hitched.

“mhm.”

he was shifting on the bed quietly, you could hear movement and his soft breaths. he hesitated before speaking again, seeming unsure how far he could take this conversation before you would stop it.

“what color are you panties?” he asked then, his voice breathy and low. 

“hm? black,” you replied after glancing down at them. “they aren’t very comfy though, i need some new ones,” you pouted, smirking as you spoke.

“they aren’t comfy?” he breathed. 

“nope.”

“maybe...you should take them off,” he said, sounding awkward and cute, like he was nervous to say it, but also desperate for you to do it.

“you think so? how about i’ll take my panties off if you take your sweatpants off.”

“okay,” he replied quickly. there was rustling on his end of the phone and true to your word you removed your panties, excitement at the thought of him imagining you rushing through you. “okay i’m done,” he said.

“me too,” you let him think about that for a breath before going on. “what kind of underwear do you have on?” you asked. 

“um just some boxers.” 

“what color?”

“gray.”

“i bet gray looks good with your tan,” you replied. you could hear him breathing and you waited, seeing what he would say next. he seemed like he wanted to speak but was hesitating.

“what- what do you want me to do next?” he asked then. you smirked.

“i want you to...run your hand down your chest,” you said in a low voice, making yourself sound breathy and quiet. “over your stomach and to you waistband.” 

you could hear him breathing and you knew he was brushing his fingers over his skin like you instructed. he whined softly when he reached his pants.

“what’s the matter?” you cooed.

“i got to my waistband. you didn’t say to keep going.” 

“what do you want to do taerae?” you asked him, feigning innocence. he wasn’t going to do anything until you told him to, and it made you feel very powerful.

“i...i want to touch myself,” he breathed, his voice sounding needy and whiny. 

“go ahead bub,” you whispered, pressing the phone close against your ear. “pull it out and touch it.”. there was a brief rustling on his end of the phone before a tiny, relieved moan escaped his lips, and you knew he was curling his fingers around himself, grasping his firm member. “how do you feel in your hand?” you asked him.

“h-hard,” he breathed. 

“mm,” you hummed in response, slipping the hand that didn’t hold your phone down between your legs. “that’s good baby,” you said. there was a little gasp from his end when you called him baby, he just followed it with a tiny whine. “i bet your big, pretty hand looks really nice wrapped around your hard cock, doesn’t it baby?”

he whimpered slightly. “please y/n”

“tell me what you want, tae” 

he breathed for a moment, the breaths blowing over the mouthpiece and into your ear. “i want to come,” he whimpered.

“and you want y/n-ie to help you?” you questioned.

“yes, y/n please.” 

“listen to you baby, asking so nicely,” you cooed. “go ahead and stroke it for me then. but go slow.”

“ah- okay,” he whispered. you know he was doing it, you could hear the movement.

“that’s a good boy,” you told him, circling your clit lightly with the pad of you finger as you listened. “go a little faster now baby.” he did so, little breathy moans escaping him as his pace increased.

“ah-ah,” his volume rose a bit with each moan and you could hear the movement of his arm as he continued to pump himself. you slipped a finger deeper between your legs, brushing softly at yourself, beginning to speed up to match his pace. 

“taerae...you made me wet with your dirty little moans,” you told him. 

“fuck, fuck y/n,” he groaned loudly at that.

“that’s right baby- don’t stop-” you gasped and moaned lightly into the phone, making noises for him as you added a second finger. his moaning began to speed up- switching from longer softer groans to little quick breathy ones and you knew he was getting close. “you’re doing so good baby. how is my tae-ie feeling?” you asked. 

“y/n- ah- so, so good-” 

you cut him off, moaning his name suddenly as your fingers plunged more deeply into yourself. 

he gasped loudly when he heard his name, the rustling of his arm pumping himself quickly and the music of his high pitched, breathy moans turning you on even more, your fingers slicked with your wetness.

“oh my go- oh fuck,” he suddenly moaned “y/n can i come please can i come,” he asked all in one breath.

“yes- yes,” you moaned out as you felt yourself nearly there as well. he gave one last loud moan as he released all over his hand and stomach and the sound of his pleasure sent you over the edge, your knees shaking as you came, whimpering loudly yourself. the two of you panted quietly for a moment as you came down then he cleared his throat, moving around and making the phone rustle.

“shit,” he breathed. “i haven’t had phone sex since before i left here, that was...fucking good.” 

“.. well maybe you shouldn’t have left then.” you said.

“y/n you know how sorry i am- i couldn’t pass up on this opportunity and i know that i fucked up like i should’ve told you before i left and i’m sorry that we fell off and stopped talking-” taerae pleaded as you cut him off. 

“i’m kidding, it’s okay bub, i know” you smiled through the phone. “oh” he said, staring blankly at his ceiling, hearing you giggle over the line.

“well, it was good, wasn’t it?” you said through your giggles. 

“yeah it was,” taerae started. “we should totally do that in person when you come to visit my house-” 

“i’m going to sleep now taerae” you deadpan, stifling your laughter. “you did do a good job for me though, coming so well over the phone,” you told him softly, suddenly making him feel very shy.

“thank you y/n,” he mumbled, his shy little voice placing a wide grin on your face. 

“text me whenever and you know i’ll be at your place in five. welcome back tae!”

“o-okay. sleep well, y/n”

“night bub, see you tomorrow.”

[borathae]

↳ Index [Chapter 12 - Morgenrot]

• Morgenrot (German, dawn)

Warnings: Yoongi :(, Tae :(, the cutest fucking date, Jimin being jealous, Yoongi is so cute, Taehyung is the loveliest

Wordcount: 12.4k

a/n: if i can’t have him, i don’t want it

The morning is quiet. The others haven’t returned yet, but Jungkook texted you to let you know that they were still busy with the chase and that they were all okay. That was an hour ago right after you woke up all bundled up in Taehyung’s bed. The latter wasn’t present with you, but judging by the warm scent of his shower gel he must have taken a shower recently and then left the room. You throw on one of his shirts as you leave his room to look for him. You really need his comfort. Last night won’t leave your mind and being along with your thoughts for too long hurts. 

Jimin’s room is empty as you pass it. The view makes your stomach twist in discomfort, because it meant that he wasn’t back yet. Hopefully he isn’t out there murdering innocent people.

The kitchen is empty. No Taehyung in sight. Huffing out air in frustration, you decide to prepare breakfast. The kitchen doesn’t offer a lot of food, given how you didn’t get any extra groceries with Emma yesterday. You decide to cut up the last apple and warm up the last croissant, preparing a cup of tea with the last teabag. You open your phone to text Yoongi, asking him if he could bring home takeout later because you know for a fact that you will be hungry soon. He answers you while the tea was brewing, doing so in true Yoongi fashion with a simple “what do you want?”. It was nice to hear from him, even if it was only one of his terribly dry text messages. That means that he was okay and that you will see him soon. You told Yoongi to surprise you and then you enjoyed your breakfast in the living room whilst reading a good book. It was one of Seokjin’s books. It was very interesting and you plan on talking about it to him later.

You have just finished your tea when clattering in the kitchen calls your attention.

The others must be back!

With a grin on your lips and equipped with the book and empty dishes, you hurry back to the kitchen.

“Oh?” you stop and stare.

Taehyung, previously bend over the sink, turns around, studying you from head to toe. His hands are wet.

“Good morning, my darling”, he greets you.

“Good morning, sweetest”, you say, sneaking a glance at him, “why are your hands wet?”

“No reason”, he very obviously lies, giving you a cute grin and swaying his shoulders from side to side.

“No reason?”

His smile grows, “close your eyes.”

“Okay?”

You listen to him fumbling around with something. A soft snap of something getting cut, then more fumbling.

“What are you doing?” you ask him.

“Don’t open them yet.”

“I’m not. What are you doing?”

“Something”, Taehyung says and then you can hear his voice right in front of you, “okay, open your eyes.”

“Oh? Tae”, you gasp, switching your gazes between the big bouquet of baby’s breath and his sparkling eyes. He must have cut their stems in the sink before you entered.

“Surprise”, he says, cheeks puffing out from smiling so brightly.

“Did you get me flowers?”

He nods his head, giggling.

“Baby’s breath”, he says, “you told me once that they always remind you of the feeling warm summers give you. I saw them as I walked back from the tailor and thought of you.”

“Tae”, you feel tears gather in your eyes, “I love them so much, thank you so much”, you say, accepting them and cradling them against your chest, “I think I might cry, thank you so much.”

Taehyung chuckles and places his hands on your waist.

“I love you”, you say, lifting your head to gaze at him.

“I love you too”, he answers you and steps closer to press a soft kiss to your forehead.

You accept it with closed eyes and your chest feeling warm.

“I’ll hang them up to dry and then I will always have them with me”, you say.

“That sounds lovely, my sweetest”, he says with his lips tickling your forehead as he speaks, “tell me, did you have breakfast already?” he asks.

“Just an apple and the last croissant, we don’t have much more.”

“Well, that’s a shame. Shall we walk to the bakery together?”

“No, it’s alright. Yoongi is going to bring takeout later.”

“That is good to hear. I have to leave today and look for some food, I can feel myself grow hungry.”

“That sounds like a plan. Do you know where you will go already?”

“I don’t know”, Taehyung says and leans in to brush his lips over your neck, “maybe I won’t even have to leave, mhm?”

You feel yourself giggle, chasing him with a tilt of your head.

Taehyung purrs softly, smiling upon hearing your sweet laugh. He steps closer, allowing his hands to disappear under your shirt.

You gasp, feeling tingles run down your spine. His fingers are cold, which was a telltale sign that he was truly getting hungry. His touch is gentle. Goosebumps cover your skin on the spots he explores.

“Can I have you?” he asks, “I’m truly starving this morning.”

“God Tae, you’re tickling me”, you say, swallowing down a sigh when he sucks in your skin softly. 

“Just one bite. Please?”

“Didn’t you already take some this week?”

“I want more. You taste so delicious. Please”, Taehyung begs, brushing his fangs against your neck, “one little bite, you won’t even feel a thing.”

Memories of what you and Jimin did shoot through your mind instantly upon feeling Taehyung’s fangs on your skin. Utter panic overcomes you.

“No!”

Taehyung flinches back, looking at you with widened eyes. He seems flabbergasted and utterly confused. 

“Sorry!” you turn your head away, “sorry, I just…I don’t want this today. I'm sorry.”

“Don’t apologise. I’m sorry for asking”, Taehyung speaks softly and slowly. Knowing him, that means he is trying to make sense of what just happened. You never snapped at him like this before. Of course he is confused.

You glance at him.

“I’m sorry”, you whisper.

“Stop apologising”, Taehyung says and furrows his brows, stepping closer. He wants to touch your waist but hesitates once worry that he might go too far overcomes him. He hovers his hands next to your waist for two seconds then goes to pull back. You don’t let him. You grab his hands and put them on your waist firmly. 

“Don’t leave”, you whisper.

“I won’t”, he whispers back, studying your features, “darling. My sweetest, what burdens you?”

“I’m just…I’m….Tae I need to…”

“Yes, darling? What’s the matter?”

“Tae, I have to…it’s really uhm hard for me, oh god I’m sorry I-”, you hesitate again, lowering your gaze. 

“You can tell me anything. Does your body hurt somewhere?”

You shake your head, “I’m so dizzy, but that’s not it.”

“So something hurts your heart?”

You nod your head. 

“It does? Oh, is it because of last night?”

“Last night?” you gawk at him. Did he hear you and Jimin? Does he know?

Taehyung nods his head, “you seemed really upset when you came back to our room. I didn’t dare to ask last night, but it won’t leave my mind. I worry, my darling.”

“Did you hear anything last night?”

“Of course not. We had the music playing too loudly and I promised you not to listen in on you. Why?”

“Just…so”, you gulp, lowering your eyes again because it is impossible to meet his gaze.

“What happened, darling? I promise that I won’t get angry at you.”

“Tae, I…”

“Yes?”

“I have something I want to-”

“Hey.”

Your blood freezes in your veins. You are one second away from breaking down. Jimin is back. Once again he interrupted you. 

“Hello”, Taehyung shifts his eyes to him.

You don’t dare to turn around, staring at Taehyung with glassy eyes. Why is this always happening? You just want to be honest. The feelings are eating you up alive.

“Are you guys flirting? Here? Can’t you do it in your room?” Jimin asks with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

“Grow up. We love each other, I will be sweet to her wherever I want to. You interrupted us”, Taehyung throws back with slight iciness in his voice. He is annoyed that Jimin interrupted his moment with you. He really wanted to be alone with you and he can smell how your good mood has been fading ever since Jimin was here. Somehow there is even a hint of fear in your scent. Taehyung pulls you closer because of it, eyeing Jimin with suspicion. Did he quarrel with you last night as he was preparing the bed? It would explain why you smelled upset when you returned.

“Whatever”, Jimin dismisses him.

Taehyung rolls his eyes, “where were you?” he asks him

“Out. I needed to think.”

“About what?”

Jimin sneaks a glance at you, “nothing important”, he dismisses him, looking back at Taehyung, “do you want to grab something to eat? I’m starving.”

“Yes, later. ___ just wanted to tell me something.”

Jimin grinds his teeth, “ah. What?”

You tense up, feeling your breathing quicken. Taehyung studies your features and overtaken by worry, pulls you close to kiss your forehead. He hugs you with one arm around you afterwards, staring at Jimin.

“She doesn’t have to tell you”, he says.

“No, actually”, you lift your head to look at him, “why don’t you go with Jimin? It wasn’t that important either way.”

Truth was that you were too scared to tell the truth now. You can’t do it. You thought that you could, but you can’t. You can’t hurt Taehyung. He doesn’t deserve to have his day ruined because of you.

“Was it truly?” Taehyung asks, creasing his brows.

“Yeah”, you say, forcing a smile to your lips, “please don’t worry. I just…wanted to be a sad little baby again and talk about how stupid I was at the club.”

At that Taehyung furrows his brows, “you weren’t stupid, neither are you a sad baby. Don’t call yourself that.”

“Okay”, you whisper, “fuck, yeah. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologise, my darling”, Taehyung kisses your lips, “should we go somewhere else?”

You know what he wants to insinuate with it. If you wanted to, you and he could leave Jimin behind and talk privately. All you have to do is say the word and he will take you away.

“It’s getting late, Tae. People are going to be out on the streets”, Jimin throws in, painting great annoyance onto Taehyung’s features.

“I know”, Taehyung presses out through gritted teeth.

“So hurry up. I’m hungry.”

Taehyung scoffs and looks at you.

“It’s okay. You should eat too, my darling”, you assure him.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, please go.”

“Fine”, Taehyung gives in with a huff of air, “should I truly not get you something? Bread? Croissants? Something savoury? I can get you anything you want.”

“No, it’s okay. I have my tea and a good book.”

“I see, that sounds lovely. But I really wouldn’t mind.”

“No my darling, it’s really okay. The others should be back very soon and you should eat. You’re already cold.”

“I know, I apologise”, he says with a shy grin.

“It’s okay, don’t worry.”

He smiles fondly and leans in to peck your cheek. He steps back afterwards, “give me ten minutes, I’ll just quickly change my clothes”, he tells Jimin dryly, hurrying upstairs afterwards.

Jimin looks at you, sharing the heavy silence with you if he wanted to or not. You turn to him. His eyes shift to the baby’s breath in your hands and lower jealously.

“Did you tell him?” he asks.

“Tch”, you scoff, looking to the side because you can’t stand looking at his face. Stupid bastard.

“How’s your neck?” he asks next, making you sneak a glance at him because you hadn’t expected that question.

“I don’t know, why don’t you ask your hand which bruised it last night?” you throw back, “you can be lucky that I still have your cursed asshole blood in my system, otherwise Tae would have already asked what happened to my neck.”

“See? Everything turned out fine”, he mumbles dryly.

“What the fuck?”

Jimin sighs and rolls his eyes, pushing himself off the doorframe, “it was an accident, sorry for choking you, I didn’t mean to”, he says and turns to leave.

You stay frozen in the kitchen until you can watch Taehyung hurry past you and seconds later appear in the doorframe.

“I’ll be leaving now. This is your last chance for delicious croissants”, he says, closing the distance between you and him. He lifts your head with a finger under your chin, “are you alright?”

“Yes, why?”

“Because you look upset.”

You lower your eyes, but Taehyung tilts your head up again, eyes racing between yours intently.

“Do you still need a minute?”

Again, you know exactly what he wants to insinuate. It’s just you and him right now. You don’t have to be scared to speak your truth. 

But you were scared. Scared to hurt him and scared of how Jimin would react if he found out that you couldn’t keep a secret. 

Taehyung caresses your chin, “did Jimin say something rude to you right now?” he asks when he knows that he won’t get another answer from you.

“Nothing I didn’t expect.”

Taehyung exhales in disappointment, eyes darkening in annoyance. Not at you but at Jimin. He caresses your chin, eyes softening just to reassure you.

“Did he quarrel with you last night? Is that why you were upset?”

“Yes”, you choke out quietly.

“I knew it. Oh, this jealous idiot”, he presses out angrily, “I will talk to him, I promise”, he tells you in a soothing voice, sealing the promise with a loving kiss, “I love you, darling.”

“I love you too”, you answer him, feeling utterly sad now that he has to leave. You want to be with him. Just the two of you. Just once, you want to have a sweet moment again where it is just the two of you.

“If you change your mind about the croissants, call me. I’m taking my phone with me. Yes?”

“Yes, okay”, you say, nodding your head.

Taehyung kisses your lips just one last time before he breaks away to leave, “I will see you later”, he says.

“Yeah, later”, you say, watching him leave afterwards.

Soon the door falls into its lock and you are truly alone.

“Well that just happened”, you mumble, shaking your head, “I hope Yoongi comes back soon, I want a hug” you mumble to yourself, sagging your shoulders sadly, “a hug sounds so nice.”

You spend the rest of your morning taking a shower, being upset about what Jimin did and craving a hug like crazy. You tried to look for Emma first, but had to realise that she left to get food as well. She left a note on your bed, telling you that she has her phone with her if you needed her. You decided not to bother her and instead curl up in Yoongi’s bed and finish your book there.

The others return at midday.

“___!” Jungkook calls out.

“Living room!” you tell him.

Jungkook and Hoseok enter first. They are dirty from the fight. Seokjin follows. His sleeves are soaked in black blood.

“You guys look terrible. Are you okay?” you gasp, getting to your feet in worry.

“We’re okay. The others? Not so much”, Seokjin tells you, making you chuckle.

“So how’s it looking? Did we capture Namjoon?”

“No we didn’t”, Yoongi says, entering the room. He is the dirtiest out of all of them, wearing a mask of black blood on his grim face. Seeing him lifts your mood by a hundred instantly, even if he currently looks like the villain out of a slasher horror.

“Geez, you look good, don’t you?”

“I’m fine. Just got dirty.”

“I can see that. How did you guys manage to take the metro home?”

“We didn’t. We walked.”

“Well, that makes sense.”

“You should have been there”, Hoseok says, pointing a finger at you, “it was a mess. I need a shower so bad”, he says.

“I can see that. But you guys didn’t get hurt, did you?”

“Someone broke my hand, but it’s healed already”, Seokjin tells you, “I broke his neck as revenge and Yoongi over there, kicked his head off”, he chuckles, “that was something else. For a second I was scared he’d kick off my head too because of how close he was.”

“I saw you, I wouldn’t have kicked it off”, Yoongi says.

“Okay, okay if you say so”, Seokjin snickers, “either way, I’d love to tell you more ___, but I need a shower”, he says and with that, leaves the hallway to take a shower upstairs.

Hoseok studies you, “did you have a nice girls night?”

“We did, yeah. We even painted our nails. Look.”

Hoseok tiptoes closer in order not to the get the floor dirty. He whistles through his teeth.

“So funky”, he says and grins, “you’re looking good, ___. If I knew you could do nails like that I’d have asked you to do mine sooner.”

You snicker, “I can do them for you if you want to.”

“I’d love that”, he says and turns to leave, “you girlies”, he mumbles fondly under his breath, “Seokjin wouldn’t shut up about how excited he was that Emma and you were spending time together.”

“Really?”

“Mhm yeah, he said that he was happy that his two favourite girlies were bonding.”

You feel heat on your cheeks instantly. Even your heart does a little flutter.

“Either way, I gotta go take a shower now. I feel disgusting”, Hoseok says and soon after disappears, catching up with Seokjin to chat about whether to go out for dinner later or stay in.

“So what did you get me?” you ask Yoongi.

Yoongi looks down at his body, sending you a look of “you didn’t just ask me that” afterwards. You snicker.

“What? That’s a legitimate question. I’m starving, you know?” you tease, making him roll his eyes at you.

“I’ll take you somewhere”, he answers you dryly, “I have to shower first.”

He disappears upstairs afterwards, leaving you alone with Jungkook.

“Are you okay?” he asks you.

“Of course, why do you ask?”

“You smell different”, he says, twisting your stomach in fear. Damn his sensitive nose. You can’t hide anything from him.

“I’m really fine, don’t worry.”

“Are you sure? You don’t…” Jungkook hesitates, studying your neck. You gulp, grasping your own thighs in nervousness, “…something’s different.”

“I’m hungry. Uhm, maybe you can smell my low blood sugar?” you lie.

Jungkook licks over his lips, very obviously not believing it.

“Yes, uhm, yeah probably. Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s, uhm, fine.”

Jungkook looks away in nervousness. You do the same.

“God, I feel disgusting”, he laughs, pointing at his dirty body, “I need a long shower.”

“Yeah, I can tell that this is a common need today”, you say.

“Yeah uhm”, he fumbles with his fingers, “I’m upstairs if you need me, you know? I’m a good listener.”

“Yeah, thank you Kook.”

“Yeah, sure, uhm”, he studies your face and inhales one more time, “uh, yeah…”

Jungkook disappears soon after, retreating back to his room to freshen up.

“Fuck”, you press out, feeling dizzy and ice cold in nervousness. This is eating you up. “I can’t stay here”, you say and get up to distract yourself. You would probably go crazy otherwise. You clean up the kitchen in the meantime and tidy up the living room. When thirty minutes have passed and Yoongi still hasn’t come down, you make your way upstairs to his room.

You knock twice, knowing very well that he wants people to do that before entering.

“Who’s there?”

“Me.”

The lock turns and the door opens, revealing a shirtless Yoongi to your eyes. His hair is wet and held out of his face by one of your hair clamps. A towel sits around his hips. He studies you from head to toe.

“Ah”, he lets out and then turns his back to you to walk to his suitcase instead.

“What do you mean ah?” you ask him, following him inside.

“I was looking for that shirt”, he answers you, rummaging around his suitcase for another shirt.

“Really? Gosh sorry, I just threw it on after my morning shower because it smelled like you”, you tell him, stroking your hand over your tummy to smooth out the material.

“It’s fine, just thought that I lost it”, he murmurs, “you slept here.”

“I did. I read a book and took a nap. I wanted to make sure that when you came back, we could cuddle”, you say, not missing the sneaky glance he sends you over his shoulder.

“It took longer than I thought it would”, he answers you, “give me ten, I have to dry my hair”, he says, disappearing in the bathroom afterwards.

Seconds later, you can hear his blow dryer turn on. You decide to put on one of your outfits in the time he takes to style his hair. You go for a thick jumper and pants, hoping that he will like the look. You really like it, looking forward to showing it off on your lunch date with him. Afterwards you decide to continue reading Seokjin’s book. You really have to talk about it with him. It is such a good book.

You register when Yoongi comes back outside, but don’t stop reading. Knowing Yoongi, he will be busy with storing away his stuff before he is even remotely ready to leave the room.

“___”, Yoongi calls your attention however.

“Yes?” you lift your head from your book. 

Yoongi is in a new outfit. Blue bell bottom jeans and a dark blue jumper with green sleeve edges. The outfit is so not at all Yoongi, but fits him so well.

Then he does it.

He strikes a pose for you. One hand on his hips, the other tangling by his side. He sticks his booty out just a little bit. Even his face he controls, giving you a wide-eyed, open-mouthed smile and a little “ohoho.”

“Ah Yoongi”, you squeak, throwing the book to the side, “you are so! Aah Yoongi!”

Yoongi gets out of the pose and begins fumbling with his hair in nervousness. 

“A million out of ten, this was the best pose ever!” you exclaim, climbing out of bed just to hurry to him, “you are so handsome. The outfit looks so good on you”, you say and grab his waist, “Yoongi, I’m so close to fainting, you’re killing me.”

Yoongi flusters, avoiding eye contact at all cost. His cheeks go up in flames when you press a big kiss to them. So you like the outfit. Nice. He dressed up just for you. 

“Ah, I wanna eat you”, you say, feeling up his chest, “wow, so handsome.”

Yoongi scrunches up his nose and leans in to kiss your cheek. 

“Thank you”, he whispers, “you look really pretty in your jumper. I like it a lot.”

Your giggles almost become maniac as you grab his waist again and shake him.

“Please, you are so awesome oh my god, the pose was so good”, you say and cackle deeply.

“Stop, you’re making it weird”, he whines, trying to wiggle out of your hands.

“Why? I’m just saying.”

“Yeah, but you look creepy. Why are you smiling like that?”

You smile creepily, “because you’re the cutest”, you say and cackle again. 

“Stop. I regret doing it. Let go of me”, he whines, wiggling again just to get hugged oh so tightly by you. 

Upon that he stops, wrapping his arms around you instantly. 

“Please never ever stop being so cute. I like you so, so much”, you mumble into his sweater. 

Yoongi smiles softly, “I like you too, princess”, he says.

You hug him tighter, almost making him stumble if he didn’t take a step to the front, getting on his tiptoes for it.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“I’ve been thinking about your hugs all day and all night”, you mumble into his jumper.

“Mhm”, Yoongi hums, placing his hand on the back of your head to caress it softly, “did something happen, my princess?” he asks in his softest, most comforting voice. He only puts it on for you and it manages to heal even the deepest cracks in your heart.

“Jimin was mean”, you mumble.

“This bastard. What did he say? Did he hurt you?” Yoongi grumbles, trying and failing to break the hug.

“Don’t let go yet”, you plead, “I’m alright, just hold me please.”

Yoongi hums and cranes his neck to kiss your head, resting his cheek against it afterwards. He sways your bodies from side to side slowly, drawing swirls and little hearts on your back.

“It’s alright, princess. I’m here now”, he whispers.

“I’m so happy that you are. I missed you like crazy.”

“Mhm, I missed you too”, he says and pecks your head.

You let out a content squeak as you give him one last squeeze for good measures, stepping back afterwards.

“I feel better now, thank you”, you say, making Yoongi reach out wordlessly to trace your cheek with the back of his hand.

“Me too, princess”, he whispers, pinching your chin with his thumb and pointer finger so softly that it borders a soft caress more than a pinch.

“Although I really wanna have food. I’m a little dizzy already.”

“Mhm”, Yoongi furrows his brows in worry. He touches your forehead, “you’re really cold too. Are you sure that you want to go out?”

You nod your head, “I’ll feel better once I get food into my system. Come”, you say, turning to walk, “now you have to tell me all about how tonight went”, you say, intertwining your fingers with him to lead you outside, “I’m already so curious.”

“It went okay”, Yoongi answers you, following you downstairs.

“Yes? Did you find more clues about Namjoon’s whereabouts?”

“He’s not in this city anymore.”

“Well, that’s a bummer. So we have to leave again later?”

“Mhm”, Yoongi hums and nods his head.

You meet Hoseok and Emma downstairs. They are in the middle of putting on their jackets and begin studying you once you are in eyesight.

“Are you guys going out too?” Hoseok asks, closing the zipper on his jacket. It is made out of a white fluffy material with colourful flowers sprawled all over it. He combined white cargo pants with it and pink shoes. The outfit is made for him, he looks so good in it.

“Yoongi’s taking me out for lunch”, you say, “and you guys? Is Seokjin not coming?”

“I’m already here”, Seokjin says, appearing behind you. He is busy putting on his coat, eyes fixed on Emma, “you look so lovely, my tulip”, he tells her.

“Oh thank you kind sir. You look so handsome”, she says with a sweet giggle, welcoming him by touching his tummy gently.

Seokjin pecks her cheek then looks at you, “are you guys joining us too? We’re planning to go for Kebab. Kook’s coming too.”

“No, we already have plans”, Yoongi dismisses them as he helps you into your coat.

“We do?” you ask, not missing the look he sends you. It said thanks for exposing me. “ah yes of course, we do”, you lie, scratching the side of your neck in embarrassment.

“No, we totally get it. Lunch date, am I right?” Seokjin says with a wiggle of his brows.

“Mhm”, Yoongi hums, nodding his head.

“Next time then”, Hoseok says, then looks past your shoulders as Jungkook is coming down the stairs, “we decided that you’ll pay for being the last to arrive, JK”, he tells him.

“Me?” Jungkook squeaks with big eyes, “but I’m broke, you know that. Guys come on, I can’t afford to pay for you.”

Hoseok snickers, “relax JK, I was only joking. Today’s on me”, he says, throwing his arm over Jungkook’s shoulders brotherly.

“Seriously don’t mess with me, I was so ready to cry right now”, Jungkook whines as your little group leaves the house.

“Wait”, Yoongi however stops you with a soft tug.

“Hm?” you stumble back, looking at him with confused eyes.

Yoongi reaches for your collar to fix it, then makes sure that the folds on your shoulders were smoothed out. He finishes by brushing the back of his hand over your cheek once, nodding his head with a little “hm”

“Thank you”, you say.

“Mhm”, he hums, placing his hand on your lower back to lead you outside.

The others are waiting by the end of the stairs.

“So I guess we’ll see each other later?” Jungkook asks.

“Yes, we will”, you say, skipping down the stairs happily.

You like that. You like knowing that you can spend a nice day with Yoongi and then come home to your little family waiting for you. It feels so good to have that.

They go the other way once you wished each other a good meal and fun times. Jungkook’s and Seokjin’s friendly bickering about kebab meat can be heard on the whole street.

You look at Yoongi, reaching for his arm to hold. He offers it to you, stepping down the last step and letting you lead the way.

“Is there a reason why you didn’t want to go with them?” you ask him.

“I just thought, I don’t know”, he touches the side of his neck, “I thought you wanted to be with me. I don’t know. Should we turn around?”

“No, it’s perfect. Lunch date with you sounds like a dream.”

Yoongi doesn’t say anything, but he sneaks a glance at you and smiles secretively.

“Now back to what we talked about before. How was last night?” you ask him after you walked for a little.

“It was alright”, he says.

“Come on, don’t be so secretive. Give me more details.”

“There aren’t many details to give. I don’t know what you want me to say”, Yoongi says, shrugging his shoulders.

“Well, first of all. How the hell did you guys get so dirty?”

“There was a fight. Some of Namjoon’s followers. They called themselves the Superiors”, he scoffs, “it’s fucking ridiculous.”

“Big buttheads would be a more fitting name for them”, you say, making Yoongi scoff, “no but seriously, they are calling themselves Superiors?”

“Yeah, it’s because they think they’re better than the rest of us.”

“Did they say that?”

“No, they were busy dying, but I know Namjoon. He thinks us vampires are the superior race, of course he’ll think his creations are the best. The name fits him so well, fucking bastard.”

“He’s such a snob”, you say, letting your hand dance down Yoongi’s arm until you can intertwine your fingers with him.

Yoongi sneaks a glance at you, looking flustered while you are too busy staring at the scenery around you. You turn your head as if you felt his stare.

“What is it?” you ask him.

“Nothing. What do you want to eat?”

“I don’t know”, you shrug your shoulders, “have you tried the food here?”

“No?” he scoffs, “I don’t eat all of that.”

“Ah yes of course, I forgot that you are a mysterious vampire too good for human food.”

“I’m not too good for food, I just don’t like it.”

“Why not? Tae told me that it tastes amazing because of your heightened senses.”

“Yeah and then you gotta take a shit later, no thanks.”

You chuckle, “now that’s just weird. I think pooping is actually kind of fun.”

Yoongi pulls a grimace of confused disgust.

“Why is something like that fun?” he asks.

“I don’t know”, you shrug your shoulders, “because it’s really satisfying when it’s a really smooth poop and then you take the mandatory check-up look at it and realise that it’s almost as big as your forearm.”

Yoongi blinks rapidly, cracking you up.

“What?” you ask.

“Do you not shit for a week or something? Why are your shits so big?” he asks seriously, making you laugh.

“I was speaking metaphorically. They’re not actually that big. But it’s still really satisfying when you feel how empty you are after a good poop.”

“Tzt”, he cocks his right eyebrow up, “I guess, if you say so”, he murmurs, turning his head away to look at the scenery instead.

“You’re not weirded out now, are you?”

“No, I know you’re weird”, he answers you, earning himself a nudge to the side.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

“You know, I think you’re only really a couple when you can talk about your poops freely.”

“I’m not saying anything, just worried for your ass”, he says, making you chuckle.

“My butthole’s very fine, thank you for asking.”

“Mhm”, he squeezes your hand.

“Why?” you giggle, beaming at him, “did you not like me talking like that, my love?”

Yoongi stops and turns. His face has fallen in shock.

“What?” you ask him.

Yoongi parts his lips, blinking at you rapidly.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

“What did you just call me?”

“Why? Did I say something wrong?”

Yoongi takes your hands and pulls you closer with such vigour that you stumble with a gasp.

“Oh my god, did I say something wrong?”

Yoongi squeezes your hands, eyes racing between yours. 

“Say it again”, he orders. 

“My….love?” 

His eyes soften and light up. He tilts his head to the side just slightly, thumbs drawing little hearts on your skin. 

“Do you like that nickname?” you ask him, heart fluttering in your chest.

He nods his head, doing the unthinkable of scrunching his nose up and guiding your hands to his face just so he can rub his cheek against your knuckles. 

Melting into a puddle of fondness, you lean in to peck the tip of his nose, giggling as you do. 

“Then I’ll call you like this often from now on”, you say, scrunching your nose up, “my love”, you add, basking in the shy face scrunch he does followed by him hiding it in the crook of your neck. 

“My love”, he whispers, kissing you gently, “it’s so good”, he adds, hugging you against his chest for the briefest of seconds before stepping back again, feeling too shy to hold you for long in public. “Can I call you like this too? Please?” he asks, pouting sadly to warm your heart. Which he doesn’t have to do because you have already melted because of him.

“Of course you can. I was hoping that you would”, you say, “oh Yoongi Boongie, you are so sweet. I want to squish you”, you coo, reaching out to squish his cheek. 

Before you can however, he swats your hands away gently, whining in embarrassment.

“We’re in public, don’t do that”, he says, intertwining his fingers with you. 

“Wow okay”, you chuckle, “message received. Goddamn it, you are so funny sometimes. Didn’t you snuggle into me just seconds earlier?”

“Whatever, that was different”, he mumbles, making you snicker.

“Ah I see”, you snicker, “how was that different?” you tease him, walking next to him with a light skip in your steps.

“It just was”, he murmurs with a blush, “look. That place doesn’t look bad. Do you want to eat here?” he asks, stopping in front of a small pasta restaurant, hidden between a clothing boutique and a shoe shop. The tables in front of the restaurant were all filled with chatting customers and a black cat was napping in the sunlight.

Yoongi picks up the menu, which was resting on a little table outside for curious passerbys, and opens it.

“Look, they offer pasta”, he says and tilts it to you, “you like pasta, don’t you?”

“Yes, I love pasta”, you say, studying the menu, “oh no, they have garlic pasta. I don’t know if we can eat here.”

“Why not? You love garlic.”

“Yes, but you’ll go up in flames”, you say, sending him a concerned look.

Yoongi closes the menu, rolling his eyes.

“This is once again a racist stereotype against vampires. We can very much eat garlic.”

“Oh really? So why’s there talk about it everywhere?” you ask, snickering.

“I don’t know”, he shrugs his shoulders, “it’s probably ‘cause some weird dude was allergic to garlic and made up the story. How should I know? I was locked up for half of my life.”

“Gosh, I was only joking”, you giggle, tilting his head with your hands on his cheeks just so you can peck his lips, “you know that I’m only teasing you, right?”

“I know”, he says, chasing you most inconspicuously when you pull back, “I’m joking too. I hope you know”, he touches the side of his neck, “I suck at it, I guess.”

“No, you don’t. I think you’re hilarious actually”, you assure him with a grin, “I think I want to eat here. The menu looks really yummy.”

Yoongi nods his head, “let’s go inside, I forgot my glasses.”

“It’s really sunny all of a sudden, isn’t it?”

“Mhm, yeah. I hate it.”

“Okay but be honest, if you had your glasses it would be such a lovely day today.”

“I guess yeah”, he studies your face, “you’re so pretty.”

“Yoongi”, you say with a pout, “you are so sweet, thank you so much. You’re so pretty too.”

“Mhm”, he nods his head, giving you a little toothless smile.

He stops you before you can enter the restaurant, pulling you back with a soft tug.

“What? Did you see something?” you ask him.

“Look at the cat, princess”, he says, pointing at it, “you like cats, don’t you?”

“I do, they’re so cute. I love watching cat videos, they’re always so silly”, you say, reaching out to let the black cat sniff your hand. It nudges your hand with its nose, giving you the go to give its head a little pat, “wow, the fur is so warm from the sun.”

Yoongi lets the cat sniff him and then pets its head right next to your fingers. The cat begins purring because of it, eyes closed and little chin resting on its little front paws. He smiles softly, smile growing when he sneaks a glance at you and sees how you are beaming at him.

“You sometimes remind me of a cat”, you confess.

“R-really?” he stutters, blinking rapidly.

“Yes. Because you purr too and because you always do this when you want to cuddle”, you say, nudging his chest with your head, “just like this”, you say, doing it so aggressively that Yoongi can’t help but chuckle.

“Stop that, princess. People are staring”, he says with his hand on the top of your head to fight you off.

“I’m just saying”, you lift your head, “you always do that. That’s why I always think of you when I see cats. I also think that your noses kind of look the same.”

“My nose?”

“Mh-hm”, you pull him inside the restaurant, “it has the same cute arch.”

Yoongi touches his own nose as you are busy searching for a table. He is smiling to himself with sparkly eyes.

“Cute arch”, he whispers under his breath.

“Hm?” you look at him.

“Nothing”, Yoongi drops his hand, intertwining his fingers with you, “look, there is a table back there.”

“That looks nice. It’s also in the shadows, so your eyes won’t hurt”, you say, giving his hand a soft tug, “do you want to sit there?”

“Yes”, he says, allowing you to guide him through the restaurant. He scans over the other guests, analysing every single one of them until he was sure that none were of danger to you.

Yoongi pulls the chair out for you, helping you sit down with his hand caressing your back, afterwards he even pushes it inside for you, sitting down on the chair right of you.

“Thank you”, you tell him to which he dismisses you with a nod of his head.

He made sure that you were sitting on the chair overseeing the restaurant while his back was slightly turned to it just in case he needed to be the shield for you. He doesn’t tell you that, because he knows that you would call him an idiot for even thinking that way. Also, he knows that you love people watching and he wants you to be able to do it. He doesn’t need to see other people, he has seen enough and other people’s business never truly interested him.

The waitress arrives by your table with two menus after five minutes, asking for your beverage wishes to which you order a fresh lemonade and Yoongi orders black coffee.

“You’re drinking coffee for lunch?”

“Mhm, I like coffee.”

“I know”, you give him a quick smile, “you deserve it after tonight.”

“Hm”, Yoongi hums, lowering his eyes to the menu, “do you, uhm, already know what you want?” he asks shyly.

“Not yet, I have to look first”, you say, turning your attention to the menu at hand.

Yoongi watches you as you skim through the menu, fumbling with his thumbs the entire time. He really likes spending time with you. He hopes that you love it too and that you are having fun.

“Wow, they have pumpkin gnocchi”, you gasp, “I think I’m gonna get them.”

“It sounds good”, he says, nodding his head.

“Okay then. It’s decided”, you close the menu, “I’m getting the gnocchi.”

The waitress takes your order once she brings your beverages and for the next moments, you spend your time waiting for the food. You watch people for a bit while Yoongi watches you. As seconds turn into a minute, you let out a loud sigh, making him straighten up in worry.

“Are you bored?” he asks.

“Mhm?” your eyes flit to him, meeting his worried gaze, “of course not. Why do you ask?”

“Because you just sighed really loudly.”

“God no, I’m not bored at all. Just really hungry. I only ate an apple and a croissant today because we didn’t have much more. I’m so hungry already that I think my stomach’s digesting itself. I’m really dizzy.”

“You’re still dizzy? Did it get worse than before?”

“I can’t tell”, you cup your own cheeks, “I’m gonna be alright once the food’s here”, you say, resting your hands back on the table to play with the tablecloth mindlessly. It was made of white cotton and had little daisies stitched onto it.

Yoongi places his hand over yours, tracing your knuckles, “the food will come soon, I’m sure.”

You nod your head in agreement then reach out to trace his cheekbone with your fingertips, “you’re so pretty.”

He lowers his eyes and nods his head, letting out a little hum. He doesn’t know what else to say and you don’t expect him to answer you. You really enjoy telling him that you think he is beautiful. It never ever grows boring.

You return to watching the people afterwards and Yoongi studies you cautiously. Although you seem content, there is a hint of worry in your scent. It worries him. Just as your continuous dizziness worries him.

“What did Jimin say to you?” he asks you, knowing that this is what is bugging you.

Your eyes flit to him, “he was being Jimin, nothing big”, you mumble.

“You know that I could take care of it for you, don’t you?”

“Yes, but I really don’t need you to. He was being a rude bastard and I think it’s just bugging me a little because I thought that he’d be different for Tae’s sake at least.”

“Mhm. I don’t think that he’ll ever change, not even for someone like Tae. He’s too proud for that.”

“I guess”, you say and sigh, “it’s just sad to think that not even something as big as death could change him.”

“Mhm yeah, some people are helpless, I guess.”

“Yeah, I guess”, you say and sag your shoulders, “but let’s not think about that anymore, it’s making me mad. Where are we going to next?” you ask him.

“Brussels. We’re leaving tomorrow.”

“That sounds like a plan. Are we meeting with more of your friends there?”

“Yes.”

“Some of your creations or someone different?”

“Both. Her name’s Carla. She’s a Glutton. I found out about her in the 1640s and helped her for a few decades.”

“Mhm I see. Were you dating or just friends?”

“Don’t ask that, I don’t want you to know that”, he whines, making you chuckle.

“Don’t worry, my love. I know that three thousand years are a long time to never date”, you reach out and nudge his arm, “I guess I just gotta rail you into oblivion to remind you who owns your cute bum these days, huh?”

“Damn it, woman. Don’t say that, we’re in public”, he mumbles shyly, blinking rapidly as his eyes flit to the table almost obsessively precise. It makes you cackle.

“I’m just messing with you. Gosh, Yoongi Boongie, you’re so cute”, you say.

Yoongi sends you a look. He looks both flustered and excited.

“Yeah whatever, you’re such a flirt.”

“Maybe yes”, you say, grinning sweetly just for him. You caress his arm once then pull your hand back to drink something, “and who is the other person we’re meeting?”

“One of Tae’s creations. He called ahead and he’ll host us for the time we’re in Brussels.”

“Huh interesting. I never even thought about the fact that all vampires can turn people. It’s so peculiar to think that Tae turned someone.”

“Tae turned quite a lot of people actually”, Yoongi says, “Mina, the woman that turned Hobi? She’s one of Tae’s creations.”

“What? Really?” you gasp.

“Mhm”, he nods his head.

“Does Hoseok know? How the hell do you know his sire? This just blew my mind. Does Hobi know?”

“Yes he knows. He actually wants to meet up with her when we’re in Brussels.”

“Woah okay woah, this is a lot to unpack. So Mina’ in Brussels too and she is the one who turned Hobi while Tae is the one who turned her?”

Yoongi nods his head.

“So in a way, Taehyung is actually Hoseok’s sire?”

“In a way, yeah.”

“Wow this just changed my entire worldview”, you say and laugh, “but how do you know all of that?”

He shrugs his shoulders, “Tae talks a lot when we’re on missions. You’ll find out stuff if you want to or not”, he says and scoffs, looking to the side as someone new just passed by your table on their way to the toilets. Yoongi scans them carefully, coming to the conclusion that they were harmless, “if you’d ask me, he could talk a little less. “

You snort, “come on, don’t be like that. I’m sure that he tells many nice stories.”

“I guess”, he shrugs his shoulders, “it’s disturbing my focus. I can’t concentrate when he talks in my ear about Mina when I’m trying to kill some bastards.”

You laugh, rolling your eyes, “you love it, be honest.”

“I don’t know”, he says, touching the side of his neck.

“I’m a little jealous of you though, I have to be honest”, you say and pout.

“Why?”

“Because you actually get to spend time together. God knows when was the last time I spent time with Tae”, you say and huff out air, “stupid Jimin’s always dragging him away. You know, just today Tae and I wanted to go for breakfast together but then Jimin came back and dragged him away for feeding. I’m so annoyed.”

“Mhm, I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologising?”

“I don’t know. You can’t spend time with him but with me, I guess.”

“Yoongi, don’t”, you say, reaching out to hold his hand, “this is the best outcome of this situation. Having lunch with you is a total dream.”

“Okay, uhm”, he squeezes your hand, “I think so too. It’s nice.”

You give him a smile and lean over to kiss his cheek, “good”, you whisper, moving back as the waitress puts your food on the table, “thank you”, you tell her and begin eating.

Yoongi watches you for a bit then takes a sip of his coffee. He sets the cup down.

“Do you like the food?” he asks.

“Yes, it’s so yummy. I don’t even wanna talk”, you mumble as you are already stuffing your mouth again.

Yoongi smiles fondly, “that’s good to hear. Eat, my princess”, he says and nods contently. He listens to you hum and gush about the good food while he drinks his coffee. He isn’t watching you, because he doesn’t want you to feel uncomfortable whilst eating. He hates when people watch him eat, so he figures you hate it too. He doesn’t people watch, instead he watches a small white cat under one of the barstools. It is playing with what seems like a crumbled up piece of napkin.

“There is another cat here. Look”, he tells you, pointing at it.

“Where?”

“There. Under the barstool.”

“True, I see it now. Aww it’s so cute. Is that a napkin?”

“I think.”

“It’s so cute”, you coo and take a bite of food, “I love cats so much”, you mumble as you chew.

Yoongi nods his head. There is a new stranger coming up to your table. He has to check them out. It’s a woman with a red coat on and black boots. She seems to be busy texting her husband. Yoongi could hear snippets of her thoughts as she passed him. Her husband is bringing home cake tonight and she is excited for it, but currently she can only think of having to pee. Yoongi lets her thoughts leave his mind again and focuses back on the coffee and your presence.

 He takes a sip and sighs loudly.

“What’s wrong?” you ask him, “do you not like the coffee?”

“The coffee is good. I was just thinking about last night again.”

“I see. Do you want to tell me?”

“I’m pissed, that’s all.”

“Because we can’t find him?”

He nods his head, “it’s the worst game of fucking cat and mouse and it’s pissing me off. He’s probably just around the corner, fucking laughing at me because I’m unable to find him.”

“I understand you”, you say, “but don’t give up my love, we’ll find him. I’m sure of it.”

“I hope”, Yoongi mumbles, eyes following your fork as it picks up food and then guides it to your lips.

“And in the meantime let’s pretend that we’re on a little trip around Europe, yeah?”

He scoffs, “yeah I guess.”

“I really like that we are. It’s so nice to spend time with you.”

“Yes, I think so too”, he agrees, feeling a lot better than he did seconds ago. You always know what to say to make him see the brighter side of things.

You spend the rest of your lunch chatting about the book you read. Yoongi asked you about it and so you told him all about it. He listened intently and commented on the parts he found interesting. You really liked telling him, because it was truly such a good book. You leave the restaurant after paying, holding hands. You stop by the black cat to say goodbye to it. It is purring instantly, looking at you and Yoongi through squinted eyes.

“I’m sad that we couldn’t say goodbye to the white kitty”, you say.

“Mhm.”

“We should get cats once we’re home”, you tell him, scratching the cat’s forehead.

“I don’t know. They’ll only die”, he answers you dryly, scratching it behind its ear.

“No why”, you snort, having to chuckle, “that’s so morbid. Why would you see it that way?”

He shrugs his shoulders, “how else should I see it? It’s the truth. Everything dies while I live. It’s not worth it”, he says, pulling his hand away and hiding it in the pocket of his jeans.

“Well, that’s just sad. Of course they’ll die one day, but that doesn’t mean that the time you have with them isn’t worth it”, you say.

“I guess. I don’t know, let’s talk about that again once we’re home”, he says and lifts his head to stare into the sky, “it’s so fucking bright, what the hell?”

“Should we go home already?” you ask him.

“But you wanted dessert.”

“Yes, but your eyes.”

“It’s okay”, he says, looking at you with squinted eyes, “it doesn’t even hurt when I look like that.”

He makes you chuckle, “silly, that’s not worth it. Come, let’s get you some glasses.”

“Okay, where?”

“Right there.”

Yoongi lets you drag him to the boutique next doors. He opens the door for you then lets you guide him through the little store. It smells like vanilla perfume in here. Yoongi thinks that the smell is way too sweet.

“This is so much fun, don’t you think?” you say over your shoulder, “it’s like we’re on a little shopping date.”

“Yes, it’s nice”, he agrees with a fluttering tummy.

You stop in front of the sunglasses display, studying all of them intently. Yoongi scans the shop first before he finally turns his attention to you. Everything is safe, there is nothing to worry here.

“Did you find something?” he asks you, placing his hand on your lower back safely. He likes that you draw closer to him instinctively.

“Yes. What do you think of those?” you say, lifting a pair of glasses. The frame was black and the lenses were slightly silver.

“I don’t know, they don’t look bad”, he says, tilting his head closer to you so you could put them on for him, “and?” he asks.

“Mhm I don’t know, it makes your face look too small”, you say, taking them off again, “let’s try this one.”

The frame was black again, but the lenses themselves were yellow. He flutters his lashes at you to get used to the colour.

“Everything’s yellow now”, he says, looking at himself in the mirror, “I don’t know about them. I look stupid.”

“No, you don’t. You look handsome”, you say, gazing at him, “wow Yoongi Boongie, you’re so handsome.”

“I don’t like how yellow everything is.”

“Fine. Then try those”, you say, handing him another pair. While Yoongi is busy putting them on, you try on a pair yourself, pulling a little pose, “oh, I actually like them on me.”

“Yes, they look really pretty on you”, he says, fixing the same pair on his nose, “do you think they look good on me too?” he asks, tilting his head to the side.

“Yes, they look really good”, you say, stepping closer so you were both posing in the mirror, “look at us.”

“Mhm?”

“We’re matching. Ooh, I didn’t even realise that the green in your jumper is almost the same as my jumper”, you say, looking at his face, “we’re matching even more.”

Yoongi leans in to kiss your lips, pulling back with a fond smile.

“You’re so cute”, he says.

“Hah, wow”, you fluster, swaying from side to side.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I love kisses.”

“Me too. Hey princess, look at me”, he says and so you lift your head just to gasp when he steals another kiss, “mine”, he murmurs, pecking your lips repeatedly without pulling back, “my lovely princess.”

“Yoongi stop”, you whisper, “you’re flustering me.”

“Mhm, sorry”, he says, giving you one last kiss before pulling back. He drapes his arm over your shoulders, making sure to pull you close, “let’s get those glasses and then get your ice cream, yeah?”

“Yes, that sounds nice”, you say, following him to the register. He is so sweet right now. You are melting just like the ice cream you will be getting soon.

Yoongi buys you the same pair even if you protested at first, but he ignored it and bought them nonetheless. So now you are strolling down the narrow streets with matching sunglasses and his arm over your shoulder protectively.

You let it happen with a racing heart, holding his waist. The last time Yoongi was so touchy in public was after he almost lost you in Paris. You wonder if something might have happened last night, but you don’t want to ask him because Yoongi is currently lost in telling you all about how pianos, cembalos and organs are different and that “you need to play them all differently, it’s not as easy as it seems” whilst demonstrating it with excited hands. You don’t want to interrupt him. You love listening to him talk about his interests, they are so exciting to listen to.

You find an ice cream parlour just three streets down. The outside was painted pastel pink and sky blue chairs invite one to sit outside and enjoy the autumn sun. The worker greets you in French and asks you what you wanted.

“What flavour do you want, princess?” Yoongi asks, already having his wallet out again. His eyes are scanning the surroundings inconspicuously, hand on your lower back at all times. You don’t notice it however, busy with picking out which flavours to get.

“What does that say?” you ask him.

“Which one?” he looks at where your finger points, “watermelon”, he translates the French for you.

“Ah okay. Mhm no I don’t want that. What does that mean?”

“Clementine.”

“Oh that’s interesting. I think I want to try it. And that?”

“Green apple.”

“That could be an interesting concept. Could you maybe order for me?”

“Of course”, Yoongi says and orders for you in perfect French. He pays and hands you your cone of ice cream, draping his arm over your shoulder the instant you begin walking again.

“That was so hot”, you tell him.

“You’re so weird”, he murmurs, cheeks burning up in giddiness.

“No I’m not. It’s hot that you know so many languages. How many do you know?”

“I don’t know. Most European languages, Korean, Japanese then-”, he stops himself from listing more, “too many, I guess? I lived for too long, I picked them up naturally.”

“That’s hot. You’re so intelligent, that’s so hot.”

“My pronunciation is so bad in most of them though”, he mumbles, scratching the side of his neck.

“As someone whose French sucks major, I don’t think it is. You sound like a native. At least to me.”

Yoongi chuckles, “thanks.”

“Mhm of course”, you say, finally trying the ice cream, “okay, wow this is amazing. It’s so fruity, wow.”

“Yeah? Do you like it?”

You nod your head vigorously, “do you want to try too?”

Yoongi hesitates.

“No?” you say, moving the ice closer to him.

“Okay, one lick”, he gives in, connecting his tongue with the ice cream. He flicks it just once then moves back, smacking his lips.

“And?”

He licks over his lips and nods his head, “it’s really fruity, you’re right. It tastes like real clementines.”

“It’s so yummy. Do you want to try the green apple one too?”

He leans in and licks it, then moves back.

“And?”

“I like clementines more, but it’s good too.”

“Yes, it’ so good. Should we go back and get you some too?”

“No, I’m already full watching you eat. It’s okay”, he assures you.

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t mind.”

“I’m alright”, he says and pulls you closer, “enjoy it, that’s all I want.”

The next moments of your lovely walk you spend together in silence. You were in the belief that Yoongi would take you back to the apartment right after lunch, but it seems that today he feels like walking.

You aren’t complaining. You really love this. The weather is so nice for an otherwise chilly autumn day, the air smells so fresh and you just had the best food ever. Truly, you don’t want this to end.

There was a park just down two blocks. Surrounded by old and mighty acorn trees and with big iron gates keeping out nightly trespassers. Said gates are currently open, inviting you with a view of a wide open meadow and a little lake just in the middle of the park.

“Do you want to walk through the park?” Yoongi asks you, slowing down as you pass by the gates.

“Yes, I’d love that”, you say. You have almost finished your ice cream by now, munching on the cone. There were sugar sprinkles on its edges, glued together by dark chocolate. They were sweet and melted on your tongue.

And so it happens that you take the short turn to the left, entering the park and leaving the city behind you.

“Wow, it’s so pretty here”, you gush, looking at all the flowers and scrubs planted along the way. Most of them were getting ready for a long winter, while some showed off their last attempt at a pretty blooming.

“Yes, it’s pretty”, Yoongi agrees, “there are a lot of plants here.”

“Yes, it’s so nice”, you say, painting a faint smile onto Yoongi’s face.

He stops, making you look at him in quick confusion.

“Look princess”, he says, pointing at a red-leafed scrub, “do you like this? It’s red because it’s autumn. I guess.”

“Yes, it’s really pretty. I like the colour so much.”

“Yes, me too”, Yoongi agrees, nodding his head, “do you know what it’s called?”

“That’s a spindle tree, why?”

“Just so, I wanted to know”, Yoongi shrugs his shoulders, “you know a lot of plants. I will remember now that this is a spindle tree.”

You look at him, leaning in to kiss his cheek softly.

“You are so sweet”, you whisper, keeping close.

Yoongi turns his head and after stubbing you with his nose, kisses your lips. Hastily and like the gentle brush of a feather.

“You taste like clementines”, he whispers.

“It’s the ice cream.”

“I know”, he says, stealing a second kiss and ending it by sucking on your lower lip with a little hum, “so sweet”, he whispers, turning his head away afterwards to continue walking.

You follow him with a fluttering heart and slightly weak knees. He is attractive when he is like that.

The two of you stop in a secluded area of the park. There was a bench under a tall oak tree and in a little pond, three ducks were currently hunting for a quick snack.

“Do you want to sit down?” he asks you.

“Yes, I’d love that. I’m a little dizzy again. It’s so weird.”

“Are you sure that you’re okay?” Yoongi asks, touching your forehead, “you feel a little cold. Princess, are you okay?”

“I am. Maybe I’m just having a weird day”, you assure him, “I’m sure that I’ll be fine once I sat down for a while.”

“Yes. Sit. I swear to fuck, if you faint on me”, he says, almost lifting you on the bench with how tightly he is holding you.

“I’m seriously fine”, you say in a chuckle, letting him sit you down, “see? I’m already feeling better. I must have slept weird tonight or something.”

“Tell me if you’re starting to feel worse, I’m serious.”

“I will”, you say, looking up at him with a soft smile, “sit your worried butt down, I wanna be close”, you tell him, tugging at his arms softly.

Yoongi turns to you the moment you sat down, resting one of his bend legs against your lap. He props his arm up on the backrest behind you, touching your cheek with the back of his hand.

You sneak a glance at him, realising that he is looking at you. You can’t see his eyes because of the glasses, but you can feel it because your heart is fluttering like crazy ever since you sat down. Maybe you are that dizzy because he is messing with your sanity by being so cute. It would make sense.

“What?” he asks you, running his fingertips up and down the side of your neck.

“You are so touchy today”, you say, feeling shivers run down your spine because of his soft touch.

“Should I not be?” he asks, pulling his hand away.

“No, please don’t stop. I really love that you are. It’s just not like you.”

“I missed you”, he confesses, “last night sucked.”

“Gosh, I figured as much”, you say and huff out air, “you know if you want to, you can rant to me.”

Yoongi shakes his head, “it’s really fine.”

“Okay, but just in case.”

“I know, thank you”, Yoongi says, pulling you closer until he can kiss your forehead, “enjoy your ice cream, princess. I’m okay.”

“It’s almost finished. It was so good. It was the best idea to get it there.”

“I’m glad it is. Did you like the pumpkin gnocchi too?”

“Yes, I really did.”

“Okay.”

“Why do you ask?” you ask him, sneaking a glance at him.

He shrugs his shoulders, “just so.”

“You are planning on making them for me, aren’t you?”

He smiles boyishly, letting you know that you just called him out big times. Then he shakes his head.

“Mhm”, you say, leaning in to peck his cheek, “I’m looking forward to them. I bet yours will be even better than the restaurant’s.”

“I hope. I never made them before”, he says, chasing you for another kiss.

“God seriously, you are so touchy”, you giggle.

“Stop”, he whines, “I’m upset okay? I just wanna have affection. Why are you making it so fucking weird?” he complains, resting his forehead on your shoulder and huffing out air loudly.

“You are?” you gasp, “Yoongi love, talk to me. What happened last night?”

“Too much. I don’t know where to start.”

“Maybe with the thing that upsets you the most?”

Yoongi lifts his head from your shoulder, gnawing on his lower lip in contemplation.

“Or the one that’s easiest to speak out loud?” you suggest.

Yoongi huffs out air, sagging his shoulders.

“Do you think that I’m reliable?” he asks.

“Of course I do. You’re the most reliable person I know. Why? Did someone say that you weren’t?”

“No, but Hoseok told me that he feels safe fighting by my side because he has me to rely on and I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Why? It’s sweet. He trusts you.”

“Yeah but why?”

“What do you mean why? Because you’re strong, reliable and loyal. And you’re a great friend and amazing fighter.”

“So you think that he said it because I’m his friend?”

“Yes of course he did. They all see you as their friend. You know that, don’t you?”

Yoongi hesitates, gnawing on his lower lip again.

“Well, they do”, you assure him, nudging his chest with your shoulder, “and I’m sure Hobi said that to tell you that he loves you. He’s such a sappy softie, I’m sure he wanted to be sappy with you.”

“I don’t know. Are you really sure?”

“Yes”, you say, nodding your head vigorously, “I’m really sure.”

“Okay”, Yoongi says and lowers his head. He touches the side of his neck then his ear, “okay. Uhm, okay”, he mumbles.

“You’re so silly sometimes”, you say in a fond chuckle, “of course they love you and I love you too.”

Yoongi looks at you, tilting his head to the side in awe. He swallows then nods his head.

“Me too”, he says, “a-and I want to, to be their friend”, he confesses, “they are really nice. Hobi is really funny and Jin is really calming and I think Emma is really sweet. But I think I’m gonna fuck it up.”

“Why?”

“Because I fuck up everything?” he laughs awkwardly.

“That’s not true. You won’t fuck us up or your friendship with them. Just as you didn’t fuck up your own progress in becoming immune to your urges. Or all the times you helped your creations. Jungkook, hello?” you nudge his chest, “or all the times you made the world a better place. You don’t fuck up everything. That’s just not true. So don’t say that about yourself, love.”

“Oh. Uhm. Okay”, he gets out and leans down to kiss your shoulder. He stubs you with his nose and rests his cheek on it afterwards. This is his way to thank you.

You smile fondly, resting your cheek against his head.

“I’m happy that you like them so much, my prince. They are the bestest friends I ever had and I’m happy that you like them too and that they like you in return”, you say, intertwining your fingers with him.

“Thanks”, he whispers, rubbing his cheek against you slowly. Nobody can see it because of the glasses, but he has his eyes closed.

“I had a really nice evening, yesterday”, you say.

“You did?”

“Mh-hm”, you nod your head, “it was the first ever girls night I had. We talked so much and did a lot of things like bake and do face masks. We even painted each other’s nails. Look.”

Yoongi inspects your nails, running his thumb over them.

“They’re pretty.”

“Right? I had so much fun last night. I really liked it.”

“That’s good to hear, my love”, he says, smiling for you as he nuzzles his cheek against your shoulder. He is happy that you had a good time. This is all he wants for you.

“It’s seriously so nice to have friends.”

“Mhm, yeah.”

“Sorry, I bet you must think that I’m so weird for saying that.”

“I don’t. I understand loneliness”, he says, “and I guess, I also understand how it feels to…not be lonely anymore. It feels, mhm, I guess it feels nice. Warm. Yeah, good.”

You smile, resting your head against him and closing your eyes.

“You always know what to say, my love”, you whisper, kissing the crown of his head, “maybe that’s why we get along so well. Because we both know how it is to be lonely.”

“Maybe”, he whispers, tilting his head so your noses would touch. He rubs the tip of it against yours, painting a faint smile onto your lips.

“Can you still remember how terrible we all fought in the beginning?” you ask him.

He nods his head, “I’m glad we don’t fight anymore. I don’t like fighting, it makes me upset and that’s really exhausting with my emotions on.”

“Yes, I understand you. I hate it too.”

“Except for Jimin. I want to keep fighting him. He’s so annoying.”

“Yeah, I kind of get that too”, you say and let out a loud sigh, “he’s such a butt, Yoongi. I wanted to be kind to him last night, so I reassured him that he can be nicer because Namjoon won’t reach him anymore and he pushed me against the wall and told me to go fuck myself. He’s so rude.”

“That’s so rude, what the hell? Should I punch him for you?”

“No you-”, you crack up, making Yoongi lift his head in confusion, “stop wanting to fight anything and anyone that upsets me.”

He pouts, “I can’t help it, I crave violence when you’re upset.”

“I know, but you really don’t need to punch him. Besides, Tae’s going to talk to him.”

“Okay good”, he cups your cheek, “but he didn’t hurt you, did he? Is that why you’re dizzy? Did you hit your head?”

You shake your head, “I was more scared than hurt. It’s a little scary when I get reminded that you guys are stronger than me.”

“Mhm”, he furrows his brows.

“But I’m okay now”, you smile softly, “you’re keeping me safe.”

“Yes I am”, he nods his head vigorously, “I’m keeping you safe.”

“Yeah you are”, you say, smooching his lips.

Yoongi gazes at you with his pouty lips slightly puckered from the kiss. He looks so adorable that you lean in for another kiss, having to giggle when Yoongi deepens it by pressing you closer by the back of your head. He even rests his leg on your lap, fingers holding you oh so tightly and tongue chasing your taste desperately.

“Yoongi”, you giggle, breaking the kiss, “that’s...you’re so greedy, my love.”

He whimpers breathily, caressing your cheek with his soft palm as his lips chase yours, “can we go back to the apartment? Please?” he asks in a whisper.

“Why?”

“I want to kiss you.”

“But we are kissing.”

“No”, Yoongi pulls you closer, “no, really kiss you. Please.”

“Too many stares?” you ask him.

“Yeah, too much world. Just wanna be alone”, he whispers.

“That sounds so nice. Let’s go back.”

“Yes? Are you really okay with it?”

“Yes, my love. I’m okay with it”, you assure him, pulling him with you gently, “come on, let’s hurry.”

He follows you happily, beaming at you now that he is unable to hide his excitement. You pass by the spindle tree on your way back. Yoongi squeezes your hand and points at it.

“Spindle tree”, he says, sneaking a glance at you.

“Yes. Gosh, Yoongi Boongie, you are so sweet”, you say, turning to him just so you can smooch his cheek, “please don’t ever change, my Yoongi.”

“I was just saying, I don’t know why that’s such a big deal”, he murmurs, having his eyes closed as you continuously kiss his cheeks.

“Oh be quiet, stop pretending as if you’re just doing it”, you say and giggle, “you’re doing it because you want to be my cutie, admit it.”

“Maybe, you can’t prove it.”

“Mhm, yes I can”, you say, smooching his lips.

Yoongi sighs, pulling your closer by the small of your back. Giggling, you stumble into him.

“I wanna fucking kiss you so bad”, he rasps.

“Me too, god Yoongs, let’s hurry.”

“Yeah, let’s hurry.”

You have just managed to slip out of your shoes in your room, when Yoongi sweeps you off your feet.

“Ah wait”, you squeak, holding onto his shoulders, “what are you doing?” you laugh, smiling at him with all you got.

“I’ve got you now”, he says, twirling you until you feel the need to giggle.

He laughs as well, beaming at you with his eyes barely visible from squinting them so much. This kind of happiness looks so, so good on him.

He lets himself fall on top of the bed, dragging you with him so you rest comfortably on his chest. Without warning he wraps his legs around you, making a little sound of approval before he rolls you and him to the side.

“You’re so cute”, you laugh, getting shaken around in the best way possible.

“No, you are”, he says, nuzzling into you, “my love. So cute.”

“This tickles”, you squeak.

Yoongi lifts his head, “sorry”, he mumbles and cups your cheeks to pull you into a kiss. The kind of kiss, which silences your thoughts and steals your breath. The kind of kiss Yoongi would never show the world and therefore feels even more special to receive.

“Yoongi”, you sigh his name, hooking your arms behind his head to get lost in him.

[soft-bellied-tannies]

Chubtober Day 10!

Today is a mix of @softievante’s last prompt of the ten day list, shortness of breath, and fatguarddog’s day 10 prompt, discovery.

There are mentions of very casual drug use here so just be aware before reading!

—-

Jin didn’t know what to do. He was afraid of judgment from his boyfriends or friends if he brought up the subject. He was afraid of offending Taehyung by directly addressing the situation. No matter what happened, Jin knew it would be embarrassing and awkward.

It all started with Tae freaking out about his ceramics midterm. He chose an elaborate idea, and he had not stopped spiraling during every free moment about how his project was probably going to explode in the kiln, he would fail, and then all his hopes and dreams would dissolve. It truly was a dramatic telling every time he got going.

His boyfriends and friends tried everything to help him stay calm and rational about it until Yoongi finally cracked a joke about him needing to find a way to chill out and offered him an edible.

All of them expected Tae to laugh it off, but he actually accepted immediately, telling Yoongi he’d be willing to try anything to help him relax at this point. His anxiety was becoming a big challenge for him to actually be productive lately, and he needed something to help him escape it for a little while.

Yoongi checked in with him a few more times to make sure he was certain and said he would gladly give Tae one of his if he really wanted to try. Taehyung excitedly agreed, and they planned a whole evening around it.

While it did relieve Taehyung’s stress for the evening and allow him to enjoy a mellow night without his mind berating him, they discovered that Taehyung experienced an impressive urge for munchies. None of them had ever seen his appetite so voracious before.

Taehyung cleared his own portion of takeout, the rest of Jimin’s order, a bag of chips, multiple packs of sour candy, and a pint of ice cream.

It did wonders for his anxiety and Taehyung enjoyed the night with no recollection of his binge. It also made Taehyung realize that he wanted to feel that level of relaxation again. He asked Yoongi for suggestions and started buying his own.

With many more occurrences of munchies that didn’t really lose their intensity, Taehyung was admittedly more relaxed, but there was a more noticeable change as well.

While his boyfriends and friends noticed his softening frame quite quickly, Taehyung needed more experiences to catch on. He started to realize that the quick walk required between his morning classes was taking longer, the four flight trek to their preferred study room in the library left him sweaty and winded, and keeping up with Jimin and Jungkook on their nights out was exhausting.

His fashion sense was struggling slightly when he preferred more comfortable clothes these days…well, maybe it was the fact that the waistbands of most of his favorite pants were getting uncomfortably snug.

Taehyung wasn’t insecure about the gain itself; he thought he looked great no matter what. His concern was what his boyfriends thought of him, more importantly their attraction to him.

However, Taehyung’s worries could not have been more misplaced as Jin was desperate to get his hands on his boyfriend’s softening belly and feed him meals of his favorite foods.

The awkward tension between his boyfriends had Namjoon worried more than ever. Taehyung seemed to shy away from both of them, especially Jin, mainly due to the fact that Jin seemed nervous or even afraid to touch Taehyung longer than a short peck or brief hug these days.

Jin finally cracked, needing to figure out why his mind was all over the place when it came to Taehyung. He went to the perfect person to help him understand - Yoongi.

Without meaning to, Jin completely unloaded his entire emotional struggle to his friend, asking Yoongi if he had any idea what was wrong with him.

“Hyung, nothing is wrong with you. What could possibly be wrong with you for being attracted to your boyfriend?” Yoongi finally asked, cutting off Jin’s rambling.

“Because I shouldn’t like him…you know…getting bigger. It’s weird!”

“It’s a kink!” Yoongi replied loudly causing both their eyes to widen before he continued at a more calm level. “It’s a kink, hyung, and it’s perfectly fine.”

“What if he hates me?” Jin asked, hanging his head in defeat.

Yoongi rolled his eyes since Jin couldn’t see him. “He’s not going to hate you, you drama queen. He loves you and Namjoon loves you. Just talk about it and quit acting like he makes you uncomfortable. They’re worried.”

Jin finally agreed, making his way back to their shared apartment while thinking about what he would say, how he would explain the recent discovery about himself.

As he walked through the door, Jin heard Namjoon talking to Taehyung in his signature comforting tone. He found them cuddled on the couch as Taehyung ate ice cream from the container.

They both looked up at him and Jin immediately felt terrible for the clear signs of crying on Taehyung’s face.

“Hyungie, I don’t know what I did, but whatever it is, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”

Jin then started tearing up, scolding himself for allowing his sweet Taehyung to believe that he did something wrong when it was all Jin’s pride in the way.

He immediately sat beside Taehyung and pulled him into his arms, tighter than he had in a while and unafraid of touching him now.

“Hyung is sorry, baby. It’s all my fault. You did nothing wrong. I was just…I’ve been caught up in my head and instead of talking about it, I got freaked out,” Jin admitted, seeing the surprise on both his boyfriends’ faces.

“Jinnie, talk to us,” Namjoon said, gently but encouragingly as always.

Jin sighed and took Taehyung’s hand in his own. “I will admit, I did talk to Yoongi because I needed some help understanding my thoughts. I know I should have talked to you, but I’m hoping you can understand after I…after I explain myself.”

“Okay…” Taehyung replied hesitantly, expecting this to be the moment where Jin finally confronts him about his weight gain.

“I think you…” Jin started, the words getting lost and muffled as he finished his sentence.

Namjoon was concerned now too, never hearing his older boyfriend so unconfident. “What’s going on, babe? You can tell us anything.”

Jin took a deep breath, looked at both of them to see no judgment whatsoever. “I think I may be enjoying the fact that you are gaining weight. I like feeding you and I think you look and feel amazing. I’ve been distant because I didn’t want to freak you out since it’s…not the, you know, the typical reaction to that.”

“Wait, really!? I thought you didn’t like the way I look anymore,” Taehyung exclaimed.

Jin’s jaw dropped, upset to realize how he must have been making his boyfriend feel. “Baby, no, oh my god. I think you look incredible. I can’t tell you how much I love you.”

“Both of you,” Jin added as he reached over and took Namjoon’s hand, seeing the fond smile on his other boyfriend’s face.

Taehyung threw his arms around Jin’s neck with an excited sound before he said, “I didn’t know how to tell you that I kind of like it now too.”

“Kind of like what?”

“Well,” Tae started, seeming to get shy. “I like eating what I want and I…I like my body even more now. It feels good.”

“Really!?”

It was Jin’s turn to be surprised.

Taehyung nodded, his blush growing on his newly chubby cheeks. “Yeah, I wasn’t expecting it, but that’s how I feel.”

Jin felt the relief yet excitement wash over him. “I’m so glad, Tae. I couldn’t be happier that you feel that way.”

When the younger pulled away, he turned to Namjoon with a sheepish grin. “Joonie?”

Namjoon kissed both their foreheads and responded, “As long as you both are happy and healthy, I’ll support you. You know I think you are both amazing.”

Taehyung turned to hug Namjoon as Jin stood, watching them with loving eyes. All three were in shock of what was actually going on, thinking the worst and ending up with an ideal situation.

Jin then put the lid on Tae’s cheap convenience store ice cream and held out his hands to both of them.

“Come on, my loves, let’s go get Tae some good ice cream like he deserves,” Jin announced.

“Oh, good idea, Jinnie!” Taehyung replied as he stood and adjusted his shirt before heading off to the door.

Namjoon looked at Jin with a raised brow who had the decency to look down with a blush on his cheeks. He took Jin’s hand and whispered, “This is certainly going to be interesting.”

Jin could only happily laugh as he was led to the door. He’d have to remember to thank Yoongi.

[aces-and-kings]

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Mal, ever the spiller of secrets when liquor was involved. Even back in their days among Gridania, when the two had studied triage together, so much as a sip of alcohol and she was ready to confess to anything. Back then the information hadn't been more useful than medicinal shortcuts, but last night was another matter entirely.

She'd told him of the serum and it hadn't taken much stealth to follow her straight to a meeting with Armel thereafter. Between confronting the two in as subtle a manner as possible, Semex had managed to obtain a bit of the alchemical weapon for himself. .

He wasn't a fool, already dosed with the antidote by the time he conducted his first field test, a lone shop keeper in the brume. It'd taken less than a day before she'd succumb to the serum. A few forged documents later and Semex had remodeled the shop into a bookstore with a laboratory hidden in back. Ever so kind of the woman who'd passed to leave her property to her nephew from the shroud.

Now Semex sighed, a rubber-gloved finger tapping along side his jaw as he studied his current subject. Another death, though this time it'd taken nearly three moons. What was the differing denominator? Curiosity had burrowed beneath his skin and now threatened to tunnel to his very core were it not fervently sated.

His piercing gaze narrowed in on the woman's features. Their age? No. Metabo- no, they were of similar builds. Hm. Perhaps…

He reached down and brushed her hair aside, regarding the angle of her jaw structure with a gentle trace of his finger. She was, in at least some fashion, of Ishgardian heritage. That had to be why it'd taken so much longer.

The theory needed to be tested immediately. After incinerating the corpse Semex began to search the firmament for a fresh subject. Meanwhile back in the museum's hangar…

"Lone. C'mon when have I ever thrown accusations round bout anyone? You know me, an' I am tellin' you... Doc's up to somethin'. Somethin' that might not just get us canned but killed." Red's tone was tense, increasing in volume by the minute. "Ye'r fauchelt. Ye'v been thro' a lot lately. Ah'll give ye he's a strange laddie but th' doc's never done us wrong." Thorstyr countered, his words laced with the annoyance at arguing over Semex for the second time this week. He reasoned Red was just working through something and the Doc was the unfortunate target of his troubles. "Ah've th' rest o' th' hangar to build, this shite going on wi' ishgard's biggest racist. Ah don't have time tae worry aboot mah crew. Ah trust ye. All o' ye." Thor gave Red a firm pat on the shoulder as he left the bay, a physical affirmation that he was in fact putting the topic to rest. When the door to the hangar clanked shut, Red strode across the bay and shoved Saiko. "Hell of a help you were", he groaned, turning and pacing the width of the room. "I know he's up to somethin' Sai. Can feel it in my gut. I ain't ever been wrong about my suspicions."

There was a faint crimson glow in the tin man's visor. "Confrontation is often necessary to avoid situations that confrontation can't fix", Saiko replied, encouraging they act before doubt became direct. Swiping the brim of his hat, Red nodded in agreement and motioned to the door. "Fuck it let's go. Last I saw he was down in the brume. Can only be so many places that skeezy fuck could hide."

[international-sunrise]

I LOST MY FEAR OF FALLING

CHAPTER 6/? : i never want to let you down or have you go, it's better off this way…

Fandom: 외모지상주의 | Lookism

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationships: Hong Jae Yeol | Jay & Park Hyung Suk | Daniel, Minor or Background Relationship(s)

Characters: Hong Jae Yeol | Jay, Park Hyung Suk | Daniel, Hong Jae Hye | Joy, Lee Jin Sung | Zack, Lee Eun Tae | Vasco

Additional Tags: Character Study, Relationship Study, Pre-Relationship, Canon-Typical Violence, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Canon Compliant, Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, It Gets Worse, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Additional Warnings In Author's Note, POV Hong Jae Yeol | Jay, Spoilers for Lookism

CHAPTER 6: I NEVER WANT TO LET YOU DOWN OR HAVE YOU GO, IT'S BETTER OFF THIS WAY…

Summary:

Life has been getting hectic as of lately. He wants to think it must be simply because now he gives half a damn about what's going on around him. The other half wants to know if usually people really are out there getting in so many fights, so often.

Is it because he's friends with Hyungseok, who seemingly was born with a target on his back and gets in trouble like it'll go out of fashion next winter?

Or maybe it's because Hyungseok made himself friends with Euntae and Jinsung, who also ran around and made themselves public enemies of central Seoul instead of, dunno, getting a hobby.

[mostrandomgallery]

Character designs for two new OCs featured in my original project As Seen on TV!" Say Hello to Gretchen Siegfried and Fateema Fattoush!

According to the series canon, the Kwon family is one of the most important families in the cast, and also one of the wealthiest in Suburbia...though not as wealthy as other families. The Kwons live in a Tuscan-style villa with a grand foyer, island kitchen, and a large patio with a gazebo. Such a lavish home cannot be maintained by the Kwons alone— that's where their housemaids come in. Enter Gretchen Siegfried and Fateema Fattoush; two top-ranking housemaids from the Housekeeping Authority of Suburbia.

Gretchen and Fateema have a long history, going back to middle school. The two first met at St. Fontina Junior High Girls' Institute, a school that was known for turning girls into proper young maidens with activities such as tea time, flower arranging, music, dance, theater, and general education (side note: Tae-Yeon and Soleil attend this school in their junior high years). Some popular girls picked on Gretchen for wanting to study medicine instead of becoming a fashion model. That's when the courageous and justice-bringing Fateema stepped in, standing up for Gretchen. The two became friends and would study together frequently; they also made each other friendship bracelets that they still wear today. Eventually, they went on to attend Suburbia Academy, where Fateema played on the girls' basketball team, and Gretchen was a cheerleader showing off her school spirit. After high school, the two went back to their home countries temporarily. Gretchen studied medicine in Zürich and became an accomplished harpist, while Fateema did military service in Cairo.

The two returned to America without the other knowing, and applied for the Housekeeping Authority of Suburbia. The two friends were thus reunited when they were hired by a Korean family—the Kwon family—to maintain the upkeep of their home. Myung-Jun Kwon (father) and Chae-Won Song (mother) trusted Gretchen and Fateema not just with their lives, but also those of their two children, Tae-Hyun (son) and Tae-Yeon (daughter). The maids proved to be loving caretakers, and seemed to spoil the children a lot; especially Tae-Yeon. It was these two maids that gave Tae-Yeon her pet Flemish Giant, Hana. The maids also have pets of their own: Gretchen owns a St. Bernard named Edelweiss, and Fateema owns a cat named Bastet (who originally belonged to her mother, Shahira).

Gretchen and Fateema are very opposite to one another, but they get along very well. Gretchen is sweet, nurturing, a little shy, and loves fine chocolates and baking. She is also the one who does the most domestic duties, such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Fateema, on the other hand, has a very "too cool for you" jock-kind of personality, is a fitness nut, loves basketball, and has a strong sense of justice. She is the head of the Kwon home security, and works setting up security systems to protect the household from danger. While Tae-Hyun can drive himself to school in his own car, Tae-Yeon cannot, so Gretchen and Fateema drive the girl in her own personal automobile—a pink limousine nicknamed the "Tokkimobile". On their free time, the maids like to watch a show about Cyber Ninjas, and not just because of the action; the cyber ninja brothers are really handsome, and both the maids are head-over-heels for them.

Originally, Tae-Yeon and her family were going to have one maid: Gretchen. However, I watched the anime Tonikawa: Over the Moon For You, and was drawn to the dynamic of Chitose's housemaids, Charlotte and Aurora. Therefore, Fateema came into the picture, and I wrote her and Gretchen to be the "Aurora" and "Charlotte" to Tae-Yeon's "Chitose" (unlike Chitose, Tae-Yeon would not go to great lengths to rip apart a marriage and act like a spoiled brat).

DO NOT REPOST!!!

Also on deviantART

[memphisfaith]

Hearts of Lust: Chapter 7

Pairing Kim Namjoon X Reader

Genre: Collage!AU, Smut

Word Count: 1.K

Warning: Cursing, mentions of smut, smut, consumption of alcohol, mentions of violence, violence, crack personality disorders, Chaotic energy.

Summary: College is any young adult's prime years, at least that's what Lee (y/n) and Kim Namjoon thought. The two are infamous for two reasons, by two very different crowds. Among the professors they are picture perfect students with perfect scores, attendance, and image. However, among the student body they're the very essence of lust with amazing bodies, sex appeal, and skill. The two, although strikingly similar, butt heads quite a bit with competitions of everything from grades to who can get a person to drop their pants the fastest. With the two of them ready to conquer the school year it's all a matter of Go Big or Go Home.

I glance over the group of guys beside me, the group of them doing different things in their own little sub groups. Hoseok, Jimin, and Jungkook are buzzing around making random spazzy gestures as they run in circles. Jin, Yoongi, and Taehyung sit at a table working on an assignment for their class. While Namjoon and I read the first book assigned by our lit. Professor.

I sigh, placing my book down and rubbing my eyes. The constant yelling and laughter coming from the three wild boys made it hard to focus on my book. I finally gave it a rest and marked my page before closing the book. 

Instead I took out my loose paper notes from my earlier class and copied them down in my notebook in a neater fashion. I pull out my colored fine tip pens and markers, notebook, and the papers.

I then muted the yelling boys out and began to copy down the notes, memorizing them as I wrote. A quarter through my notes, I glanced at the clock. We only had an hour of study hall between the 2nd and 3rd lectures, and from what I can tell I only had a few minutes to pack up before we had to go. I decide to go ahead and start.

I packed my stuff quicker than I thought I would have, so with the few spare minutes I have to spare I sit watching kookie and Tae playfight. However things started to get a little too rough. A collective sigh left Namjoon and I, unconsciously my hand reaches out in a fist, A muscle reflex I gained when things like this happened. A group agreement that if two or more can't agree on something or if we cant decide who is to do something we play rock, paper, scissors. Loser loses the argument or does the task.

With three shakes I pop my hand out revealing paper, I glance over at Namjoon's hand. He holds out scissors. Despite the fact he still has his head stuck in that book reading the pages, I can still see that smug smirk tucked behind the cover and pages.

I groan as I drop my bag and stand from my chair. I walk over to the two and wedge myself between the two. I cross my arms and glare sharply at the two. "Stop it, If you want to fight, wait until you go to your martial arts club." I scold. 

The two bowed their heads with a collective, "Yes Noona.". I nod my head in approval before walking back over to my seat. I sat in my seat but it wasn't long before the hourly bell rang. Namjoon and I walked to our lecture while the rest of them broke off to go to their other lectures. I sat in my seat beside the foul demon as class started.

I wipe my stray hairs out of my face with my wrist holding the paintbrush in my hand. Glancing down at my sketch book where I glued and taped in my different references. The hue of one of the vases is a little darker than what I'd had mixed on my palate. 

I walked back over to the paint station and began to mix that darker color. "(y/n)!" I hear Withrow call, "Yeah!" I call back. "I need you for a minute." she calls again, I put my palate down and grab a hand towel on the way out. 

I wipe paint off as I make my way over to her, but my eyes widen at the crowd with her, "What's all this?" I gap looking over the crowd. "Well the fund raiser for the club went better than expected." She huffs. "The one for studio time?" I ask and she nods, "And the one that includes the art lessons." She adds.

My eyes widen, "It's a joint event?" I ask in a slight panic. She nods her head, I set out an aggravated scoff "I'll have to talk to the admin and secretary about this." I mumble. "It's okay I'm sure you and I can handle this," I assure.

I run back over to my work station and grab my apron, I put it on as I hurriedly rush back to the main classroom. "Hello everyone, welcome to the open studio and class. Mrs. Withrow is passing out a folder full of art styles we can offer to teach you today for those who want to learn. Everyone else  is welcome to do as they please because this is an open studio. All we ask is that you behave maturely, don't disturb those around you, and keep your area as clean as possible." I smile. 

I hear sounds of agreement before letting the large group find their seat. "NOONA!!" I hear a familiar yell, My eyes widen as I see Kookie and Tae waving at me. "What are you two doing here?!? Don't you have dance practice with Hoseok?" I whisper quietly. 

The two grin at me childishly, "Don't tell Hyung we skipped. We heard your fundraising and we both could resist coming to see you." Taehyung spoke up. I sigh and rub my hand over my face "Fine, hurry up and sit down. Don't cause too much trouble you two." I warn as they hurry off to grab a seat beside each other.

I go back to getting everyone settled. Without much thought I wonder the room helping the occasional person, flirting here and there as well. Open studio was half way over when the door was busted open to reveal a pissed off Hoseok.

"THERE YOU TWO ARE!" He screams, My eyes widen as he marches his way over to the two boys. Oh hell no, he doesn't get to come in here like that. I quickly place myself between the three of them and glare at Hoseok. 

"Who the hell do you think you are coming in here like that. Can't you see they're working. you don't get to just come in here like that and snatch them up. So you best walk out that door and try again or so help me Jung Hoseok." I sneer. 

Hoseok stiffens up before bowing his head "Yes ma'am." He whispers before walking back to the door and closing it, only to knock and wait for a response. "That's what I thought." I mutter as I let him in.

<---- Prev // Masterlist // Next ---->

[7ndipity]

So, I forgot to tell you but congrats 🥳 on you 2,000 followers!!!🩵✨🤍 I’m so happy to see you’re getting the recognition you deserved <3 the first blurb I read was the sickness one! When reader is sick so they help her to feel better ❤️‍🩹 but! Here’s my little participation on the shipping game 🤭

Pairing: romantic 💕hahaha

Sun sign: cancer ♋️

Rising: Scorpio ♏️❤️‍🔥

Appearance/Style: I do have kind of balayage pink hair but I’ve had blue and blondie hair hahaha on February it’s my color retouch so I’m thinking on getting ash pink; lavender or milky brown hahahaha. About my style; I’m all about basics and minimal clothes specifically knitting sweaters and white T-shirts ; but I have a weak spot for streetwear style too, so I like mix both of them on my outfits. And the most important think ! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, jewellery: specifically rings and necklaces.🩵

About my personality and hobbies…. Well I studied fashion design 🤭so i like reading seeing what’s trending on social media… but also watching series and movies. I like cooking too ✨ I used to see a lot of book tubers on YouTube: the old good days 💕

Aannnnd like listening to music a lot ! My fave genres are pop , Kpop and I want to know more about rap , I like it a lot! And if I get the change I won’t miss a concert of my top artists 💕❤️‍🔥

I think that’s pretty much it! I like travelling too but I hope that’s something I get to do more in the future✨about my personality …. Well I’m pretty much a kind person? A supportive one with my loved ones 🤍 I do work a lot too so yeah I try to do my best on everything I do. I’m very dedicated. So yeah! I think that’s all? Idk if I wrote too much ahahahah 🤭

Hope this request gets to you! 💕✨may our delulus become truelulusss

Thank you, Honey!😘

Ok, I'm about to make you soo happy, cause I really ship you with Hobi and Taehyung! They're both really fashion centric, so having a partner who shares that interest and has a similar style would be super appealing to them!

Hobi also has a crazy strong work ethic, so I think he'd really admire someone with a similar drive and determination, but he'd also appreciate your kind and supportive energy, especially during tough times.

Tae would also really value that aspect of your personality as well, he seems to really thrive on that kind of supportive, attentive energy.😊 He also really loves traveling, so I think he would love getting to explore new places with you!

Hope this was okay!💜

[emoji-pro-wrestling]

Cadra Palmer

Emojis: ✋ 💳

Name: Cadra Palmer

Pronouns: She/Her

Character Profile: A skilled martial artist, Cadra Palmer is a master of Wing Chun and Snake Style Kung Fu. Cadra’s fighting style combines these two fighting arts into her own unique style: The Palm of Credit. As the name implies, Cadra uses open palm strikes to devastating effect, and is recognised as one of the most powerful strikers in the tournament. Coming from a wealthy background, Cadra was afforded every opportunity a young woman could wish for. However, out of all the options which the world presented, Cadra chose the study of martial arts. However, this newfound direction in life ultimately proved to be nothing more than a spoiled rich girl’s flight of fancy. Although a myriad of tutors were hired for her of a myriad of disciples (Tae Kwon Do, Jiu Jitsu, Krav Magá…) she complained that they were too boring or demanding or too “stuffy”... That was, until she met her future Master, Juka. Juka refused to waste his time by enduring a spoiled brat’s impatience, and instead of indulging her annoying habits for a paycheck as all preceding tutors had, opted rather to trounse Cadra so harshly and so thoroughly that the girl was left badly beaten on the dojo floor. As her parents angrily tried to kick Juka out of their mansion whilst threatening to sue, Cadra staggered back to her feet and demanded a rematch. Thus Cadra began her training in earnest, maturing with age and guidance and learning the true value and responsibility of her words and her power. Although she has proven herself as a responsible woman and warrior, she has yet to have her rematch with her Master.

Finisher: Open Palm Spinning Back Fist (called the Surprise Charge, if used repeatedly, then it is called Surprise Additional Charges), Guillotine Choke (Juka’s finisher used only in dire straits, called Time’s Up)

Design: Cadra Palmer was the most straightforward wrestler to create, at least visually. I found some reference pictures of open palm martial arts poses and set about translating that into a striking (heh) design. I incorporated the credit card into both her name (Card/Cadra), the buckle on her gi (odd fashion choice but who am I to judge), and on the Chinese writing on her top (which I sincerely hope is recognisable as the word Google Translate told me is “credit”, that being “信用”). Her backstory feels reminiscent in vibes to Tekken’s Emilie De Rochefort, which would make Cadra my second OC to pull from the Monégasque martial artist.

[roo-bastmoon]

Hi! What do you think of sudden Jimin’s interest in football? He went to match already twice this summer. —I just..…. in my real circle there’s none gay/queer man who is merely interested in watching any sports let alone football..it’s just such a…straight activity. You know ..that’s what “real” man, local dudes are doing. I’m side eyeing really hard Jimin on this one! And his fashion ..sense of fashion in daily life is gone..just baggy jeans and plaid shirts, big manly shoes…I don’t feel any queer vibes from him anymore. He seems like a straight dude to me now 

Ah my darling, I think this may come down to cultural differences and perceptions. Plenty of queer people do "straight acting" activities. Lots of gay guys love soccer. Please remember that Park Jimin is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, studied kendo for 8 years, and has played a variety of sports--in addition to doing dance and following fashion and wearing makeup. He, like all of BTS, is an artist, and comfortable playing around with various aspects of fantasy, identity, and expression. But off-stage Park Jimin has always worn comfy sweats, been into sports and beer, and flirted with both women and men. We have exactly no way of knowing any members' sexuality unless they directly tell us. In my opinion, I think Jimin is bisexual, and I think he's been telling us this in coded ways for a few years now (the male and female temporary tattoos he gave himself for a concept shoot, painting the bi flag colors on the group art project, wearing the rainbow pants and necklace, flirting with female fans at greets and making eyes at male strangers abroad--the dude is a Libra through and through.) Let's keep in mind that stereotypes here can be super limiting and therefore harmful. Jimin has shown us real, deep affection (and attraction) for Jungkook for years now. (And by the way, Jungkook is the sweetest person on earth, but he also is covered in controversial "masculine" tattoos and piercings, also a blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do and great in boxing, and also loves baggy comfy masculine clothes, but also does plenty of queer coded things, such as GCF Tokyo and biting Jimin's ear). They are both in a country where coming out would be a career ender for them and likely the group. So Jikook are risking a lot just by doing anything exclusive or questionable, either on and off camera, consistently, without the cover of fanservice all the time.

In short: I have it on good authority that queer men also like to watch scantily clad muscular dudes play with balls. :-P

[feverishbangtan]

bad, worse, the worst

This is it. This is the long ass fic I've been working on. Read tags for warnings and information so you don’t get confused bc this is an AU fic.

————

AU

Taehyung just wanted to film the boyfriend tag. Jungkook didn’t have to get so sick to have an excuse not to film it.

Sickie: Jungkook

Caretaker: Taehyung

Word Count: 10672

TW: hospital, emeto

"Jungkookie~..." Taehyung whispers sweetly, pouring all of his charms into the name.

He wraps his arms around Jungkook's shoulders, placing a soft kiss on his cheek and nuzzling his nose into the youngers neck.

"Hm?" Jungkook hums, although it sounds a little congested because of his blocked nose.

Jungkook pulls away from Taehyung's embrace, coughing into the crook of his elbow and rubbing his nose with the back of his hand as it starts itching.

"Can we film the boyfriend tag tomorrow afternoon?" Taehyung asks cutely, quickly continuing, "Pleaseeee~ my fans are getting impatient, they keep asking about it! And you promised you'd do it! Please, Jungkookie!"

Jungkook hasn’t been officially introduced to Taehyung's fans, yet. Partially because Taehyung wasn’t sure if he wanted to introduce him at all. He saw how fans pried into other’s relationships after they showed themselves. It happened to others; it happened to his friends. And he didn’t want that for himself and his relationship. Jungkook is a very private person as it is, and Taehyung didn’t want to push that by having people stick their nose into their relationship and possibly ruin it.

But his fans kept asking; begging for him to do the infamous boyfriend tag. They wanted to get to know the man that made their Taehyung so happy. They were curious and the occasional pictures Taehyung posted of them weren’t enough to satisfy them; nor were Jungkook's unexpected accidental appearances in the background of Taehyung's videos now and then.

Actually, that was how they found out about them. Taehyung and Jungkook had just moved in together when the older did a live stream to show their new home. Jungkook wasn’t aware of it and barged into the kitchen to prepare himself some food; wet haired and still shirtless from just having taken a shower. Needless to say that the viewers freaked out about the half-naked man in the background. Taehyung had told them that’s his lovely boyfriend and at that point, Jungkook had realized what was going on. Taehyung had never seen him run that fast in his life ever again.

"I don’t know Tae... I know I promised but- I don’t know..." Jungkook pouts as he thinks of the right words to say. A little frustrated, he runs his fingers through his long hair, pushing it back.

He sniffles a few times before finally grabbing a tissue from the box on the coffee table to blow his nose. Jungkook caught a cold only a few days prior, but he is already annoyed with how it either made his nose runny or blocked it completely.

"It’s just this one video, baby. Please? You promised you'd do it." Now Taehyung is the one pouting, looking at his boyfriend with sad puppy dog eyes.

Jungkook chuckles at how cute Taehyung is but it turns into a soft cough. 

"I can't show myself to your fans like this. I look like Rudolph! Let's do it another time." The younger tries to negotiate, voice cracking halfway through the first sentence because of how sore his throat is. And as if to emphasize his statement, Jungkook sneezes into the tissue, his nose red from rubbing it raw.

Taehyung sighs in defeat but nods anyway, a gentle smile on his lips as he leans forward to cup his boyfriend's face and place a light kiss on his nose.

They cuddle on the couch for a while longer, watching the drama Taehyung chose. When Jungkook starts to nod off every few seconds, they decide to head to bed.

"Are you sure you want to go to work tomorrow? You're sick and you should rest, Koo." Taehyung questions as he wraps his long limbs around the younger, who insists on going to the gym he works at tomorrow.

"Yeah. I'll be fine. Now, let's sleep."

—

Jungkook started working at a gym close to their apartment while he was studying. So when he graduated six months ago he continued working there, even increasing work hours because he enjoys it so much.

"You look like death, kid. Should've stayed home today." Namjoon, one of the personal trainers at the gym, says as soon as Jungkook enters the staff’s locker room.

"Good morning to you, too, hyung." He croaks, his voice so hoarse it is almost gone.

Namjoon frowns, "Sound like it, too. Seriously, you should've just called in sick. We're over staffed this week anyway so it would’ve been fine."

"I'm okay, hyung. I'll manage a few hours." Jungkook assures as he changes into his gym clothes and ties up his hair.

"Hmm." Namjoon doesn’t sound convinced at all but he knows that arguing is pointless, "Don't get our clients sick, kid."

Namjoon ruffles Jungkook's hair on his way out, frowning at the heat he can feel. He stops to look at his colleague again, ready to ask if he really is fine enough to work.

But Jungkook speaks up before he can say anything, "Seriously, hyung. I'm fine. Now go!"

The older sighs but leaves the locker room, promising himself to check up on his colleague and friend as often as possible. If necessary, he would drag his ass home himself.

-

Jungkook survived the day at the gym. Luckily, it wasn’t a busy one but he is still exhausted and out of breath when he finally returns home.

His head is pounding and his nose is runny so he has to blow it every other minute, even though it seems to be pointless.

With a tired groan, Jungkook lets himself fall on the comfortable couch. His body feels achy from the workout, or maybe it is from the fever he developed during work. Either way, he grants his heavy body a few minutes of rest, closing his eyes as he curls up on the sofa.

-

Taehyung arrives home about an hour after Jungkook does. He spent the day at his best friend's, Jimin, preparing for the videos he wants to film with the other.

"Hellooo~! I'm back!" He announces loudly, letting his keys fall into the bowl in the hall.

There is no response but Taehyung knows his boyfriend is home because he can see his shoes and jacket in the entrance and he knows at what time he gets home after work.

"Jungkookie~? I'm home!" He tries again, slipping out of his shoes and jacket but there is still no answer.

Taehyung walks into the living space, stopping short when he finds his boyfriend asleep on the couch. He's snoring lightly, something he only does when he is sick. And he sure looks like it, face pale except for the red nose and cheeks.

Taehyung smiles softly and goes to crouch down in front of the sleeping man. He gently tucks a loose strand of hair that is falling into Jungkook's face behind his ear so it doesn’t tickle him. Taehyung brushes the back of his hand over the youngers forehead and frowns when it feels a little too warm. He makes a mental note to take Jungkook's temperature later when he is awake.

Grabbing the soft blanket from the backrest of the couch, Taehyung spreads it over his boyfriend and gently tucks him in, adjusting the pillow to make sure he is comfortable.

Jungkook letting out a few weak coughs in his sleep prompts Taehyung to prepare him some tea and maybe he'll manage to make food for them as well. Typically Jungkook is the one to cook because Taehyung isn’t a great chef at all.

A half an hour later he whipped up a decent soup. It is easy enough and something he can’t mess up too badly. Taehyung hopes it will do Jungkook good, warming him up and hopefully soothing his throat that he's been complaining about for the past few days already.

"Jungkookie. Jagiya, wake up." Taehyung is back in front of the couch, alternating between stroking his boyfriend's cheek and running his hand through his hair.

It takes some more coaxing and gentle touches but eventually, the younger wakes up with a groan. He hates waking up on normal days but it is even worse when he doesn’t feel well and just wants to sleep through it all.

Jungkook swallows, but it ends in a coughing fit because of how dry his mouth and throat are. Because of his blocked nose, he is forced to breathe through his mouth but the dryness aggravates his sore throat. The coughs are forceful and wet and Taehyung frowns at how terrible he sounds.

He gets up to bring his boyfriend a glass of water, hoping that will help. The tea he prepared right before waking the younger up is still too hot to drink.

"Here, drink a few sips to moisturize your mouth and throat." Taehyung suggests, handing Jungkook the glass.

He takes a few sips when the coughing calms down, the cool liquid feeling good as it soothes his throat.

"Thank you." Jungkook rasps hoarsely and places the glass back on the table.

Taehyung sits down next to Jungkook and pulls him into a hug. 

He is a very affectionate person and loves to show it. He loves giving hugs and little pecks and holding his boyfriend's hand. Jungkook accepts it but he never initiates it, not in public. The younger is a lot more touchy and loving when they were in private but he is too shy to do it outside of the comfort of their home.

"My poor Jungkookie. You don’t feel very well, huh?" Taehyung places a soft kiss on Jungkook's temple, the warmth reminding him that he needs to take his temperature.

Jungkook doesn't respond but melts into the hug. They sit like that for a while, just holding onto each other and enjoying the other's company.

"Let's eat a little. I made soup." Taehyung murmurs into Jungkook's ear, kissing it before he gets up to get them both a bowl of the food he prepared.

First he brings Jungkook his soup and tea and then goes to get his own. The younger wraps himself up in the blanket, only his head and hands peeking out so he can eat.

"I hope it tastes good. I tried hard!" Taehyung tells him as he turns on the TV to provide some background noise so they won’t sit in complete silence.

"I'm sure it does but I wouldn’t know. I can't taste anything because my nose is blocked." Jungkook tells him with a small pout before he starts eating the soup.

When they are done, Taehyung puts the dishes away and goes to get the thermometer so he can finally take Jungkook's temperature.

"Open up!" He orders cheerily, holding the device up for his boyfriend to see.

Jungkook obeys without complaining except for that it is hard to keep it in his mouth because he can’t breathe well through his nose. The warm soup and tea loosened the congestion, so he is left with a runny nose, sniffling every few seconds.

When the thermometer beeps Taehyung pulls it out, relieved to see that it isn’t too bad. "It's a bit higher than normal but it's not bad. You'll be fine." Taehyung informs him.

"Hmm, okay." Jungkook hums nasally, "Cuddle me, though?"

Of course, Taehyung can't resist and they spend another hour cuddled up on the couch. When Taehyung notices that the younger is slowly dozing off, he shakes him gently.

"Let's go to bed, Koo." He tells him and sits up, startling Jungkook awake again in the process.

The younger is a little dazed, looking around the room confusedly before Taehyung's words seem to register with him. Taehyung stretches his hands out toward him to pull him up.

After washing up in the bathroom they are now comfortably tucked under their thick duvet, Taehyung spooning Jungkook like he always does.

"Goodnight aegi. Get well soon." The older murmurs into Jungkook’s neck, pecking it softly.

"G'night. Love you." He replies, going lax in his boyfriend's arms as he feels comfortable and warm.

—

The rest of the week passes much the same. Jungkook still goes to work every day, even though Taehyung tells him to stay at home and rest. They argued about it and Jungkook ended up promising him to come home earlier at least.

Taehyung spends most of his days at Jimin's, preparing for a Halloween makeup special that they want to film together.

Friday afternoon, Taehyung and Jungkook sit on their dining table together. Taehyung made hotpot for them. He asked his mother for the recipe and followed it accurately so he won't accidentally end up giving himself and his boyfriend food poisoning on top of his cold.

Blowing on the spoon, Taehyung glances up to see his boyfriend aimlessly moving the ingredients around in his bowl but not eating anything. Jungkook's head rests heavily in his hand and he looks exhausted.

"Are you not hungry, Koo?" Taehyung asks softly.

Jungkook lifts his head slowly, trying to stifle a cough but failing.

"Not really, 'm sorry." He apologizes, his voice so rough and hoarse it is barely audible.

Jungkook pushes the bowl away and instead places his head on the table, a pout on his lips as he sniffles a few times.

Taehyung gets up to back-hug his boyfriend, draping himself over him entirely. With his hand, he moves Jungkook's hair out of his face, then puts it on the youngers forehead.

"You feel warm Jungkookie." He notes, kissing Jungkook's neck before he pulls back.

"Go lay down on the couch while I get the thermometer. Are you in pain, do you need me to get you anything else?" Taehyung asks concerned.

Jungkook shakes his head, "No, just you."

Taehyung smiles and ruffles his boyfriend's hair gently before he leaves.

When Taehyung comes back into the living room Jungkook lays on the couch, bundled up in a blanket and he looks about ready to fall asleep.

He suddenly pitches forward with a sneeze, blindly grabbing for the tissue box on the coffee table in front of him.

Taehyung walks over to him and hands the younger a tissue before he sits down on the edge of the couch. He rubs Jungkook's back as he blows his nose, groaning when he flops back down on the sofa.

"Here, let's take your temperature." Taehyung tells him, putting the thermometer into Jungkook's mouth.

While they wait Taehyung thinks about how Jungkook only seemed to deteriorate this past week. He just caught a common cold the week before but instead of getting better his coughs are getting deeper and his fever higher.

The beeping of the thermometer pulls Taehyung out of his thoughts. Jungkook had a low-grade fever on and off all week and they didn't think much of it but the number Taehyung's seeing now takes him by surprise.

"It's pretty high, aein. 38.4°C. I'll get some fever reducers, do you need anything else?"

Taehyung stands up, looking at his boyfriend worriedly. He knows that with a fever like that he can't be feeling well.

"My head and throat really hurt..." Jungkook admits quietly. He can't speak louder than a whisper anyway, voice nearly gone at that point.

Taehyung leans down to press his lips against Jungkook's hot forehead tenderly.

"Do you want to go to bed? It's probably more comfortable than the couch and you look like you're about to fall asleep, Kookie."

Jungkook nods and slowly unwraps himself from the blanket. Taehyung helps him stand up and supports him to their bedroom. Jungkook appreciates the gesture, even though he doesn't think it's necessary.

Taehyung tucks him in so Jungkook's warm and comfortable while he goes to get the medicine.

"I'll be right back." He promises.

Along with the fever reducers , Taehyung also brings him something against the coughing when he hears Jungkook having a fit from the bathroom.

Once Jungkook takes the medicine, Taehyung slips into bed to resume his familiar big spoon position.

"Let's try to sleep, baby. Hopefully, you'll feel better tomorrow."

"Hnn, love you."

Taehyung kisses his shoulder. "Love you more."

—

Jungkook doesn’t sleep well that night.

He wakes up only about an hour after he first fell asleep, feeling incredibly achy. His whole body hurts so bad, it feels like someone is breaking his bones. Taehyung is still awake so he is quick to soothe him with loving words and gentle fingers trying to massage the aches away. 

Jungkook falls asleep again but only to wake up a few hours later, coughing so hard he can barely breathe. The noise rouses Taehyung, and he helps Jungkook sit up, rubbing his back as he attempts to calm him down.

Jungkook doesn’t fall asleep easily after that. He feels too hot but when he removes the blanket, he feels too cold. He's sweating and uncomfortable.

Eventually, he drifts off to sleep again, but he wakes up several more times, either due to another coughing fit or just because his body wants to torment him, waking him up to make him feel all the aches and pains.

When Jungkook wakes up in the morning, Taehyung is already awake. He's on his phone, probably checking his social media and chatting with his fans. He immediately puts it aside when he feels Jungkook stir next to him.

"Good morning, Koo." The older greets him gently.

He turns on his side and reached out a hand to brush the long hair from Jungkook's face. The younger feels warmer than the day before. Taehyung hopes that maybe it's  just the warmth from sleep.

Jungkook nuzzles into the touch, squirming a little to press his body into Taehyung's. Taehyung is warm and comfortable and safe.

The older wraps his boyfriend into a tight hug, "How do you feel?"

Taehyung can feel Jungkook shaking his head but he doesn’t answer verbally. He holds the younger for a little while longer before he decides it's time to get up. Taehyung’s stomach started growling, a clear sign of how hungry he is.

But before he goes to make breakfast, he wants to get a number on Jungkook's temperature. The thermometer is on the nightstand where he put it the night before.

"Kookie," He murmurs, rubbing his boyfriend's back, "you feel really warm. I need to take your temperature."

Jungkook is so pliant and Taehyung doesn't like it. He usually puts up a fight, refusing to have his temperature taken because he claims that he doesn’t have a fever. Nor does the younger like taking medicine. "It'll get better on its own." "My body's taking care of it already." "I don't need medicine." he says but the night before he took it willingly.

The thermometer shows that Jungkook’s fever rose overnight. He only seems to get worse and Taehyung doesn’t know how to help him. Neither of them get sick a lot and if they do, it's just the usual cold or stomach flu. But not like this, never like this.

"I'll go make breakfast, jagiya. You can just stay in bed. Because you're sick, you can eat here." Taehyung kisses the crown of Jungkook's head before he leaves to the kitchen.

He warms up leftovers from the dinner they had the night before, cooking some rice while he fills two glasses with juice and places everything on a tray once it’s done. Taehyung brings it back into their bedroom to find that Jungkook is half asleep again. He feels a little bad to wake him up because Jungkook does need a lot of rest, especially after sleeping so badly during the night.

Taehyung puts the tray on the bedside table before he carefully sits down on the edge of the bed. He cups Jungkook's cheek, rubbing it gently with his thumb to rouse his sleepy boyfriend.

The younger is a little out of it; unfocused eyes trying to understand the situation. He tries to take a deep breath, but it irritates his airways, triggering a coughing fit. Jungkook sits up with Taehyung's help, the older rubbing his back in a comforting gesture.

"Here Kookie, try to drink a bit. Hopefully that helps." Taehyung offers him the glass when the coughing subsides. Instead of taking the juice, though, Jungkook plops back down on the bed, exhausted from the coughing fit.

Taehyung hates seeing his boyfriend like that. Normally, he is so full of energy and laughter. Always ready to do something and joke around. But now he is just tired and miserable, every little thing exhausting him and his whole body aching.

With a little coaxing, Tahyung gets Jungkook to sit up long enough for him to fluff the pillows so he can lean against them while they're eating breakfast. He feeds the younger small bites of rice and warmed up stew. Jungkook doesn’t eat much, but he drinks the whole glass of juice.

While Taehyung puts away the tray, he thinks a cold shower might help his boyfriend and make him feel better. He's sticky and his clothes are damp from sweating and the cold water may help with the high fever.

Jungkook isn’t very excited when Taehyung proposes the idea to him but complied nonetheless. They take the shower together, mainly so Taehyung can stay close to his poorly boyfriend and help him. He washes Jungkook’s hair for him when the younger is too achy and tired to lift his arms and do it himself, and he rubs his back as well.

The shower makes Jungkook feel a little better, even though he didn’t like how cold it was. So being wrapped up in comfortable sweats and one of Taehyung’s pullovers afterward feels a lot better.

The couple is cuddling on the couch. Jungkook rests between Tae's legs with his back against the olders chest; breathing in sync, even though Jungkooks is a little wheezy and interrupted by coughing.

Taehyung feels relaxed as he watches the TV show but tenses up when Jungkook starts to groan and squirm. The younger turns around and hugs Taehyung tightly, face pressing into his chest. Jungkook ends up falling asleep like that soon after, feeling warm and safe in his boyfriend’s arms.

-

Jungkook wakes up with his head pounding and his throat burning. There is a wet patch on Taehyung's T-shirt and he realizes, he must've drooled on him due to sleeping with his mouth open.

"'m sorry." He apologizes hoarsely.

Taehyung glances down at him, eyes wide in confusion. Jungkook gently taps the wet spot with his finger and Taehyung smiles at him.

"It's okay, you can't help it. You were snoring, too. You do that when you're sick and I think it's cute." He teases the younger lovingly, gently ruffling his long hair.

"You feel so warm still." Taehyung frowns, brushing the long strands from Jungkook's forehead now, "Let me get up so I can get the thermometer?"

Jungkook pushes himself into a sitting position so Taehyung can stand up. He lays back down and bundles himself up in the blanket again as soon as his boyfriend is standing.

When Taehyung comes back Jungkook doesn’t move so he settles down in front of the couch while they wait for the thermometer to read Jungkook's temperature.

"39.8°C. That's really high. Why's it still so high?" Taehyung is incredibly worried. The fever only seems to get worse and nothing he does is helping so far. 

He gives Jungkook more fever reducers and puts up a reminder on his phone to check his temperature every hour.

Jungkook’s fever continues to burn, remaining high throughout the day. The younger keeps falling asleep and waking up and Taehyung stays very close to him.

Taehyung hopes things will get better but late into the afternoon, when the sun is already setting, Jungkook takes a turn for the worse.

Taehyung checks his temperature again when the younger wakes up from another restless slumber. Instead of the fever going down, it keeps rising. The thermometer showing a number surpassing the 40°C mark.

Taehyung is about ready to freak out. He knows he needs to stay calm though, panicking won’t benefit either of them.

Jungkook’s quiet voice interrupts Taehyung's frenzy thoughts. "Need to... go home now."

"What?" Taehyung's eyes widen comically. He isn’t sure if he heard him correctly. He hopes he didn’t.

"'s late. Need to leave uni now." Jungkook clarifies, but it doesn’t make things any clearer for Taehyung.

He can only watch as the younger sits up, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Jungkook, what?" Taehyung repeats, voice a few octaves higher than normal. What the younger is saying doesn’t make any sense. He is at home and he graduated from university a half a year ago already. Taehyung doesn’t understand.

"W'rk..." Jungkook mumbles, his words slow and slurred, "When does work start?" He makes a move as if to get up but his body feels heavy, dragging him back down.

It's Saturday evening. Jungkook never worked on a Saturday evening. He's talking nonsense, and it scares Taehyung out of his mind.

Taehyung gets up to stand in front of Jungkook, hands outstretched to touch the younger but he doesn’t. Jungkook is obviously confused and delirious, he doesn’t want to scare him.

What if he doesn’t recognize me? That thought keeps running through Taehyung's mind.

"Ah! Ca'- can you tell me... how to get home?" Jungkook reaches for Taehyung’s wrist, tugging on it to get his attention. He looks up at his boyfriend with his soft doe-eyes but they are glassy and confused.

"You are home, aegi." Taehyung declares softly, hoping Jungkook will understand. That he will break out of his delirium and realize what’s going on. Tears well up in Taehyung's eyes. He's overwhelmed and scared.

"Oh." Jungkook breathes out but says nothing else. Taehyung isn’t sure if he understood.

"Jagiya... what's your name?" He inquires, voice only a shaky whisper as he tries to keep back his tears.

Jungkook seems to contemplate the question before be finally answers, but it nearly breaks Taehyung’s heart. 

"I dunno y'r name...?"

"Jungkookie, what's happening?!" Fear and frustration are packed into the words and Taehyung has to stop himself from screaming and crying.

He takes a deep breath before he speaks again. "Listen," Taehyung says clearly and looks his boyfriend in the eyes to keep his attention, "What day is today?" He tries another easy question. Or at least he thinks it is an easy one but Jungkook couldn't even tell him his own name a minute ago.

Jungkook lets go of Taehyung’s wrist that he was holding all that time. The older uses the freedom of his hand to slowly pull out his phone, attention still on his delirious boyfriend. He needs help. Taehyung can’t handle this on his own.

Jungkook frowns, and the look of confusion on his face is almost cute. Almost. If only the situation was different. His answer is hesitant, "...your...birthday?"

Taehyung quickly looks at his phone so Jungkook won’t notice the tears that almost fall. "No. It’s not my birthday." He murmurs as he searches through his contacts for the person he's hoping to get help from.

Uncertainly, the older looks up once he taps the call button, waiting for the other person to pick up. "Koo-Koo... do you know who I am?"

A look of surprise, almost shock, crosses Jungkook’s face before he starts rambling. "Of course! I love you! I'm happy you’re here but my head hurts and I can’t breathe through my nose and swallowing is painful, too. And my voice sounds really weird."

"This better be important." Taehyung’s call is finally answered.

—

Seokjin can feel the vibrations of his phone in his pocket. At first, he ignores it. He carefully puts the cold sheet mask on his face, feeling instant relief.

But the vibrations don’t stop. The caller is persistent.

Without looking at the name on the display, Seokjin answers. "This better be important," he threatens lowly, "for you to be interrupting my pampering time."

Taehyung starts rambling incoherently on the other line. His voice is shaky but urgent. It's hard to understand anything he is saying. Seokjin can also hear another voice babbling in the background but tries to ignore it.

"Stop!" Seokjin interrupts. Taehyung immediately does. "Good. Now, calm down and repeat it slowly. It was impossible to understand anything."

He can hear Taehyung taking in a deep breath before he speaks up again, voice a little steadier now. "Hyung, Koo is really sick. He's delirious and I don’t know what to do. Please, I need help, Jin hyung."

"I'll be there in a few minutes." Seokjin immediately hangs up the phone and pulls the sheet mask off his face. He thinks it's a little regretful that he has to cut his self-care evening short but, even though he would never admit to it, he is platonically whipped for both Taehyung and Jungkook.

Seokjin met them a few years ago. They frequented the restaurant he used to work at almost every day for a whole week straight. They eventually became friends and have been ever since. Seokjin denies it but he would do anything for the two.

—

When Seokjin arrives at Taehyung and Jungkook's place, the latter is pretty drowsy and out of it. Taehyung is pacing around the living room nervously until Seokjin snaps at him and orders him to sit down.

"His temperature is 40.4°C. We're going to the hospital. Now!" Seokjin urges when he looks at the device in his hands. This is dangerous. He wants to scold Taehyung and tell him he should have called emergency services but the man already is a shaky mess and he doesn’t need a lecture now.

Taehyung puts a jacket on Jungkook and helps him slip into his shoes. The younger is puzzled but accepts the help without fussing.

"Are we going on a date?" Jungkook frowns but his big eyes sparkled and Taehyung could have melted right then and there.

He takes a deep breath and kisses Jungkook’s warm forehead before pulling him into him. Jungkook's face presses into Taehyung’s tummy from where he sits on the couch and he loosely wraps his arms around the back of the olders legs.

"Yeah." Taehyung exhales heavily, "I'll take you out. It's okay."

He feels a little bad for lying but he doesn’t want to scare Jungkook or confuse him even more. Taehyung isn’t sure if he would understand it anyway.

He pulls away from the younger and extends his hand. It's a miracle it isn’t shaking too badly.

Jungkook pouts defiantly. "But I'm tired." He mumbles, looking much younger than he actually is.

"Yeah, I know. It'll be fine." Taehyung assures him. Perhaps, it's more so a reassurance for himself.

Jungkook doesn’t question him further. Nor does he argue when both, Taehyung and Seokjin help him walk out of their home and to Seokjin's car. He doesn’t even pay attention to where they were going.

In the backseat, Jungkook nuzzles into Taehyung’s side. He doesn’t notice his boyfriend’s heart beating too fast or the worried glances Seokjin is giving him through the rear-view mirror.

"I love you. So much." Taehyung suddenly whispers and tightens the hug he's holding Jungkook in.

Jungkook doesn’t understand what's happening but it's okay. He's with Taehyung so he will be fine. He will always be fine with Taehyung.

—

It took almost two hours after they arrive at the hospital for Jungkook to get admitted to a ward. The whole time, Taehyung isn’t able to sit still and he's positive the nurses and doctors are annoyed with him when he keeps asking them questions. Seokjin stays with them but his attempts to calm Taehyung down are futile.

Now, Jungkook is resting in a hospital bed, the curtain around it drawn for privacy. He feels comfortable and warm and isn’t in pain thanks to the medication they gave him. He's almost asleep when a nurse comes in to take his temperature again to see if the treatment is working.

"How did that even happen? I tried to keep him hydrated, and I tried to lower his temperature with a cold shower and I gave him fever reducers." Taehyung worries, gnawing on his bottom lip.

The nurse looks at him, sympathy showing on her face. "A cold shower can be counterproductive because the cold water constricts the blood vessels taking blood to the skin, and it prevents the person from losing heat so it can increase the fever. In the future, you'll want to remember that lukewarm showers and baths are a lot more helpful." She explains, "But please don't worry, he'll get better in no time!"

In no time, is a lie. Jungkook's condition only improves very slowly so his doctor wants to keep him in for a while longer.

He's been in the hospital for three days already. Taehyung never leaves his side and because not all the beds in the room are occupied, the staff doesn’t mind him staying the night, either.

On the fourth morning, Jungkook wakes up because of a coughing fit that leaves him breathless and grabbing at his chest. Taehyung is by his side in an instant, rubbing his back. He notices the sheen of sweat covering Jungkook’s whole body and the heat coming from his skin.

Jungkook’s breaths are wheezy and fast. He's holding the front of his hospital shirt tightly, as if his chest is hurting.

"Jungkookie, baby, are you okay?" Taehyung worries.

The younger makes a pained noise and suddenly he's gagging. The first few heaves are empty ones, then he's throwing up all over himself. Jungkook tries to stop it with his hands but it is in vain. He ends up getting vomit all over them, as well as his chest and lap, that is thankfully covered by the thin hospital sheets.

He continues heaving painfully. Jungkook can barely get a breath in, even after he stops throwing up.

For a moment, Taehyung is frozen from shock. Then his mind catches up with the situation. He presses the nurse call button a million times, simultaneously trying to calm his boyfriend down. They are both scared and don’t understand what's happening.

When the nurse sees the mess, she immediately contacts the doctor. 

The doctor sends Taehyung out of the room. He tries to protest. He doesn’t want to leave Jungkook's side, especially not in that moment. But he also understands that he should trust the hospital staff and not hinder their work. So he listens and steps out of the room.

Taehyung starts pacing the corridor in front of Jungkook’s room, head snapping up when a door opens. A nurse ends up guiding him to a waiting area with the promise to keep him informed.

He waits for a half an hour already when the nurse comes back, but not alone. Jimin, Hoseok, and Yoongi are with her. They all look worried. The nurse excuses herself again and leaves the four men alone.

"Taehyungie, what's going on?" Hoseok wants to know. The three sit down on the unoccupied chairs, Hoseok and Jimin on either side of Taehyung.

"I don’t know." He whimpers, tears gathering in the corner of his eyes, "Jungkookie- He threw up and I think he couldn’t breathe properly. The doctor sent me out. I don't know what’s going on."

The stress and fear of the past few days are finally catching up with him and Taehyung lets the tears fall. Jimin quickly pulls him into a hug.

"Aigoo, Taehyungie. Don't cry. It's going to be okay." Jimin mutters reassurances until the younger calms down.

"I'm sorry. It's just- I'm so worried about Kookie. He just had a cold and now he can barely breathe. I don’t know what’s going on and I can't do anything for him." Taehyung lets out a heavy breath, his shoulder sagging.

The lack of sleep and the weight of the situation become more apparent and it's hard to process. Taehyung hoped his boyfriend would get better, but he just keeps getting worse.

Jimin holds his best friend for a while and even Hoseok and Yoongi join the hug. It cheers Taehyung up a bit. He's grateful to have friends with him so he doesn’t have to be alone.

Finally, the nurse that led Taehyung to the waiting room earlier comes back again. She leads them back to Jungkook's room as she explains the situation.

"The test results show that Jeon Jungkook-ssi has pneumonia. Likely, hospital-acquired pneumonia, which can be serious as the patient is already ill. However, Jeon Jungkook-ssi is young and generally healthy so we're positive he'll recover fast and without further complications."

Before anyone can ask questions they already stop in front of Jungkook’s room. They didn’t move him somewhere else and that calms Taehyung down a bit. It can’t be too bad then.

"You can see him now but he's very tired at the moment so please be gentle. Also, please don’t be scared about the oxygen mask, it is to help him breathe easier because that's a little hard for him at the moment." The nurse informs them before she tells her goodbye and leaves them alone.

"Do you want to go in alone or do you want me to come with you?" Jimin asks when Taehyung hesitates to open the door. He's obviously nervous and perhaps a little scared.

Taehyung inhales deeply. "I'll go in alone."

He turns around, lips stretched into a wide grin and eyes turning into little crescents, like they always do when he's happy. It looked forced, though, and Jimin feels the need to hug him again; so he does.

"It'll probably take a while. You don’t have to stay." Taehyung tells them.

"Nonsense. We came all the way here, we want to at least say hi to Jungkook-ah." Yoongi says decidedly.

Taehyung nods in understanding, "I'll try to not take too long but no promises."

He has a genuine smile on his face when he finally enters the room. They are glad that he looks a little more relaxed and not as scared and worried as before. Jungkook wouldn’t like seeing his boyfriend so tense. It would make him feel guilty and bad and no one wanted that.

In the hospital room, Jungkook is dressed in a fresh light blue hospital shirt. New sheets are covering him up to his chest, which moved up and down gently. Jungkook’s eyes are closed and the mask covering half of his face fogs up every few seconds with each breath he takes. He looks peaceful.

Taehyung quietly sits down in the chair next to the bed. He tries to be quiet in case his boyfriend is asleep. With soft fingers, he tucks Jungkook’s hair behind his ear.

Feeling the movement, Jungkook slowly peels his eyes open and blinks a few times, either to adjust to the light or to focus his vision. He looks so sleepy, Taehyung thinks it's adorable.

He smiles as he waits for the younger to come around properly. Taehyung assumes the medicine and the illness itself is making him so drowsy.

Jungkook's body feels heavy, but he clumsily reaches out his hand toward his boyfriend. Taehyung intertwines their fingers and bends forward to press a kiss to his forehead. It still feels warm.

"Hi, baby." Taehyung whispers, lips brushing against the skin of Jungkook’s face.

Then, he pulls back with a frown on his face. "I was so scared."

Jungkook can see the lingering fear in Taehyung’s eyes and he can hear it in his voice. He opens his mouth to speak, to reassure him and thank him and tell him he loves him but Jungkook doesn’t have the strength to talk. Instead, he closed his eyes and exhales heavily. It prompts a cough that comes from deep within his chest. It hurts and leaves him breathless once he's done.

Taehyung was rubbing his back but moved his hand to the nape of Jungkook’s neck when he stopped coughing, fingers gently tugging on the long strands of hair before they comb through it. "It's okay," He tells him, "you don't need to speak now. Rest and then we can talk when you're feeling better."

Jungkook forces his eyes open when Taehyung is talking but he's so tired. He lets them slip shut and soon he falls asleep.

Taehyung sits with him for a bit longer, just holding Jungkook's hand in his while the other one continues running through his boyfriend’s hair.

Suddenly, the door opens, startling Taehyung.

"You took too long, so we decided to come in." Yoongi deadpans but there's a teasing lilt to it.

Jimin, Hoseok and Yoongi tell their goodbyes and promise to visit again, preferably when Jungkook is awake and feeling better.

—

"You were, like, delirious from fever. Talking weird stuff. It was really scary." Taehyung explains, his own hands fiddling with Jungkook's slightly smaller one.

It's two days later and the younger is finally getting better. They replaced the oxygen mask with a nasal cannula and it is less scary to look at, less worrying.

Jungkook still has coughing fits that leave him breathless and exhausted. The hospital staff showed him breathing techniques so it won’t be as painful anymore.

The doctor wants him to stay for a few more days, and Taehyung still refuses to leave.

"Ahhh, honestly... I'm sorry for scaring you, jagiya. I'm feeling better now, I swear." Jungkook grins and pulls Taehyung's hand towards his mouth to press a tender kiss to his palm.

"Ew, keep your germs to yourself sicky." A sudden voice sounds from the entrance of the room.

Taehyung and Jungkook's heads snap toward the voice, not expecting any visitors. Seokjin and Jimin stand in the doorway with amused smiles on their faces.

Jimin greets them both with gentle hugs, while Jin opts for only a verbal greeting, not taking any risks of possibly getting sick, too.

"How are you doing, Jungkookie?" Jimin addresses the youngest.

Jungkook sniffles, "Getting better, hyung." He smiles softly.

"Good. That's good." Jimin hums.

"And how are you doing, Tae-ah?" Seokjin wants to know. The poor guy has been so stressed and anxious and spent the past week or so helplessly looking after his boyfriend.

"Me?" Taehyung's eyes widen in surprise because he didn't expect the question. He isn’t the one in a hospital bed. "I'm okay." He assures, a big grin taking over his face.

"You look tired, though. You can't possibly be sleeping well here." Seokjin glances at the sofa bed in the corner that Taehyung slept on ever since Jungkook was admitted to the hospital.

"You should go home. At least for a shower and a nap." He suggests. Jimin and Jungkook both agree.

Jungkook squeezes Taehyung's hand that he's still holding. "It's okay. I'll be fine, aein."

After some more persuasion and a little bit of begging from Jungkook and Jimin and a few threats from Seokjin, Taehyung eventually agrees.

-

At home, the first thing Taehyung does is take a shower. The warm water feels incredibly good and it's like it washes away all of the tension that accumulated in his body over the past week or so. Taehyung feels a lot better once he showered and put on fresh clothes.

He wasn’t able to check any of his social media for a while because of how preoccupied he was. As much as Taehyung loves his fans, he didn’t have the energy to deal with them on top of Jungkook's illnesses.

It has been a week since he last posted something or talked to his followers and he didn’t announced a break before that. Taehyung is aware that his fans are probably going crazy. It isn’t surprising to him that he has hundreds of notifications from people asking him where he is and what's going on.

I'm sorry for the unannounced hiatus. Going live in a few to explain what’s going on 🐯🥴 He posts on his twitter, phone immediately blowing up with notifications.

-

"Ahhh... The comments aren’t working." Taehyung adjusts his phone a little bit, checking himself on the screen to make sure the lighting is alright, "Is it even on?"

Suddenly, a lot of comments show up on the screen, before freezing momentarily again. Taehyung smiles at the camera and waves.

"It’s working now! I guess it was just stuck because you guys were commenting so much at once!" He laughs but quickly sobers up again.

"Alright, everyone. I decided to do this quick live stream because I want to apologize for the unannounced hiatus and explain it because there's a reason for that."

Taehyung checks the comment section for a second, then the viewer count.

"There’s already a lot of people watching so I guess we can just go right into it. Okay, so, I apologize for going MIA from all social media all of a sudden. I didn’t plan to; some things just happened in my life recently."

Again, Taehyung looks at the comments his fans are sending in. He smiles at their nice words, telling him that it's fine and he doesn’t have to apologize.

Are you okay? Some ask.

To make it up to us, upload the boyfriend tag already! 😁 Another viewer comments, followed by many more agreeing with that person.

His fans have been begging him to do the boyfriend tag for so long now. He promised them he'd do it soon but alas, with everything that has happened it was simply impossible to film the video.

"I'm seeing you guys. I know you want the boyfriend tag. I'll explain why I've been inactive and then you'll also know why there's no boyfriend tag, yet." He tells them, waiting a bit to see the viewers reactions.

OMG DI DYOU ANDY OUR BOYFRIEND BREAKUP??!

ddid you break up?

is it because you have something even bigger and better planned 👀

are you and jungkookie still dating

you broek ip omg you did dint't you??

Taehyung chuckles at how concerned they are about his relationship, even though they don’t really know anything about it. Sometimes, Jungkook helps him with the camera work since the younger prefers being behind the camera instead of in front of it. Occasionally he still walks into the frame, unaware of what Taehyung is doing and the fans go crazy for those moments. Jungkook would just cover his ears in embarrassment, a cute little quirk of his, and leave quickly. He never properly introduced himself to Taehyung’s fans, though.

"Don’t worry guys, we didn’t break up! Though, it does have to do with Jungkookie." Taehyung announces.

He moves in his seat, getting more comfortable. He makes sure everything still looks good before he continues.

"So, a few weeks ago I finally convinced Jungkookie to film the boyfriend tag with me. When I wanted to film it, he refused, though, because he had a cold. I can't show myself to your fans like this. I look like Rudolph! Let's do it another time." Taehyung parrots what Jungkook told him back then.

"I made him promise that we'll film it once he's better and his nose isn’t as red anymore." He grins at the memory. Taehyung thought Jungkook looked cute with his red nose.

"But, and that's why I've been inactive, Jungkookie got worse and actually had to go to the hospital. He still is there, but he's recovering. He's getting better."

Taehyung knows the comment section will be in shambles and he also knows that his fans will want to know the details. However, Jungkook likes to keep his privacy and Taehyung doesn’t want to share too much.

IM SO UPSET! IS JUNGKOOKIE OKAG NOW??

what?? omg 😟

OH NO poor jungkookie :( i hope he's feeling better!

tell him to get well soon! we love him, too!

WHAT HAPPENED OMG

GET WELL SOON JUNGKOOK 💐

i hope he's feeling better soon 🥺

"Thank you for the get well wishes, I'm sure he appreciates them. And don’t worry guys, he's already doing a lot better now. He's fine!"

The fans still send in get well soon messages and Taehyung gets a little emotional. They don’t really know Jungkook but they like him a lot and that makes him happy. It's very sweet of them to be so worried and wishing him well.

"Okay, everyone. That's it! I just wanted to come here and let you know what's going on. I'm sorry again, but I hope you understand now. I'll probably be a little less active still until everything's back to normal. You can send me messages to my social media accounts and I'll make sure to answer them ASAP! I've got to go now, bye~"

Taehyung waves his hand goodbye, his famous boxy grin on his face as he reaches for his phone to turn the live stream off.

Yoongi will be there soon to pick him up. Seokjin and Jimin stayed in the hospital with Jungkook while Taehyung went home but now he's ready to go back.

—

A week later and Jungkook is doing a lot better. He still has to take it easy and he sleeps more than usual but he's feeling better. Breathing doesn’t hurt anymore, and neither does the coughing that has yet to stop. Fortunately, the fits aren’t as bad anymore and they aren’t as wet and deep as before. At this point it just feels like a common cold.

Jungkook sits on the edge of their bed while Taehyung sets up the camera. He can’t sit still because of how nervous he is. He doesn’t know what to do with his hands or where to look at. Is he supposed to look at Taehyung or the camera? Jungkook has no idea about these kind of things.

When Taehyung notices the nervous fidgeting, he thinks maybe he should've given his boyfriend something to do while he interrogates him, but it's too late now.

"Okay, this looks good." Taehyung says to himself when be checke the screen of the laptop.

He sits down next to Jungkook and gives the younger a soft kiss on the cheek, "Ready?"

As promised, they are finally filming the boyfriend tag. At first, Jungkook tried to find an excuse not to do it, yet (Hyung, my voice still sounds weird. Tae, what if I have a sneezing or coughing fit while filming?), but in the end, he couldn't resist Taehyung's puppy dog eyes.

"Are you sure it's okay for me to just wear sweats? You promise they won't be seen?" Jungkook worries, gnawing on his bottom lip as he frowns down at his lap.

He's afraid of what Taehyung’s fans will think of him. He even asked Taehyung which shirt he should wear. But in the end, he settled for a comfortable thick sweater to keep him warm since he's still recovering.

With his thumb, Taehyung frees Jungkook’s bottom lip and kisses it softly. "It's fine. They won't be seen but I don't think the viewers would mind anyway." he mutters and smiles when he presses another kiss to Jungkook’s lips.

Admittedly, he finds it cute how concerned Jungkook is about his appearance and first impression. He's been nervous all day, asking Taehyung questions about the process and what even is a boyfriend tag? Taehyung told him they will do it the traditional way and he'll just ask him questions about himself and their relationship.

"If you're uncomfortable," Taehyung says seriously then, "we can stop any time. Just let me know."

Jungkook nods but doesn’t say anything. To stop the nervous movements of his hands, he sits on them. He does that a lot but Taehyung never points it out to him.

"It's not a live stream and I'll edit it before posting, so don't worry too much, jagiya." Taehyung continues to assure his boyfriend.

He moves a comforting hand through the youngers long hair, stopping at the nape of his neck to massage it lightly. Taehyung presses another kiss to the corner of Jungkook's mouth.

With his lips still there, Taehyung murmurs, "You'll do great. You always do. I love you."

Jungkook huns and turns his face to reciprocate the kiss but the older pulls away, making him pout.

"Okay! Let's start!" And that is all the warning Jungkook gets before the camera is rolling.

"Hyung! At least give me a proper warning next time!" He complains but Taehyung gives him a peck on the lips, looking smug as he watches the blush spread on Jungkook’s face.

"Hello guys! It's me, Vante!" Taehyung introduces himself with his nickname before continuing to introduce his boyfriend, "And this is my lovely boyfriend Jungkook!"

Jungkook pulls one hand out from under his thigh and lifts it in an awkward wave. Taehyung watches fondly before he continues.

"You guys have been waiting for this and here it finally is - The boyfriend tag! We'll do it the traditional way and I'll just interrogate Jungkookie to see how well he knows me." He resches for the youngers hand that is resting between them now, and is surprised at how clammy it feels. He squeezes it encouragingly, a silent assurance that he's doing well.

Taehyung goes on to explain that he asked his followers to send him questions and that he wrote them down on his phone. Jungkook sits silently, eyes moving from his boyfriend to the camera and back again. He tries to stifle a cough but fails, and has to lift his other arm since he refuses to let go of Taehyung's hand.

The older looks at him a little concerned but continues talking when Jungkook quietly tells him he is fine.

"Ah, the first question isn’t about me or us, but a lot of people want to know if you're okay now?" Taehyung reads.

He thinks it's a little ironic to ask that right after Jungkook had a small coughing fit but he can always cut that out so no one but them will know.

"Uhm- Yes! I'm good! Thank you!" Jungkook's voice is still a little rough and the congestion is audible, but it's alright.

Taehyung has to suppress his laughter at how stiff his boyfriend sounds. He hopes he'll be able to relax a bit with time. He leans over and kisses Jungkook’s cheek softly. The younger blushes but doesn’t push him away.

After a quick glance at his phone, Taehyung says, "Let’s get into it. We'll start with an easy one. How long have we been together?"

Jungkook's answer is quick, "Three and a half years! Next year in April it'll be four years."

Taehyung nods approvingly and continues, "Correct. How did we meet and how old were we?"

"We met in university. You walked into the wrong class but instead of walking back out, you just stayed. You sat next to me and started talking. We bonded and became friends, and six months later we started dating." Jungkook recalls. He takes a moment to remember their ages before he answers, "I was 18 at that time and you were still 19 but you turned 20 two months later."

They both smile fondly at the memory of their first meeting. After that, Taehyung attended a lot of Jungkook’s classes just so he could spend more time with the younger. The professors didn’t care. They didn’t even know most of them but Jungkook forced him to stop doing that, afraid that Taehyung would fail if he missed all of his own classes.

"Yeah. You were cute even back then." Taehyung sighs dreamily, content to see Jungkook blush again. The younger was never good at taking compliments and it's adorable to see him getting flustered.

Jungkook coughs into the crease or his elbow, perhaps more so to hide his red face than to cover the cough.

Taehyung laughs. "Okay, on we go! What was your first impression of me?"

"Hmm..." Jungkook hums a little nasally, his eyebrows crease in concentration, "I thought you were an interesting guy. And that you're really pretty."

"Ah... Honestly, that day, I sat next to you bc you looked so cute. Also, because it was the only unoccupied seat." Taehyung teases, laughing out loud when his boyfriend shoves him.

Instead of fighting back, he throws himself on the younger, engufling him in a tight hug and kisses his temple. Jungkook pushes against slightly and Taehyung lets go. He doesn’t want to push his limits. He grabs his phone to reads the next question.

"Another easy one. What's my favorite food?"

"Dumplings. You love dumplings." Jungkook answers immediately.

"I do! We should get some once we're done here. And what's my least favorite?"

"You don’t like peas." Taehyung nods positively at the correct answer.

His eyes light up when he reads over the notes in his phone again. "Everyone, there’s some interesting questions now! Koo, they want to know who has the pants on in our relationship?"

Jungkook stays silent for a moment, pondering the question. He opens his mouth to answer, but instead his breath hitches and his nose starts twitching at the tickle. A second later he pitches forward with a sneeze that he tries to catch with his hands. Taehyung quickly grabs a wad of tissues that he prepared prior to recording and hands them to his boyfriend.

"Thanks..." He sniffles after blowing his nose. Luckily it wasn’t a wet sneeze so it didn’t cause a mess. "Edit that out later." Jungkook tells him sternly but Taehyung only grins at how cute he is.

"What was the question again?" Jungkook asks, still rubbing his nose with the tissue.

"Who has the pants on?"

After a moment of silence as Jungkook mulls over the question he finally settles with a, "Neither of us."

When Taehyung looks at him questioningly, he elaborates, "I don’t think either of us has the pants on. We're pretty equal. We talk before making decisions, we don’t just decide important things without talking to each other first. And we don’t boss around the other or anything. So neither of us has the pants on."

Taehyung nods along as Jungkook explains, agreeing silently.

"That's right, we are. And communication is one of the most important things in a relationship!" He supports Jungkook’s statement and then asks the next question, "Who said I love you first?"

"I did but you confessed to me first so that evens things out." Jungkook responds while he reaches for the water bottle to soothe his throat as he starts coughing more frequently.

Taehyung nods and proceeds to read the next note, "When and where was our first kiss?"

Jungkook gulps down a few sips of water before a shy smile takes over his face at the memory. "It was my 19th birthday. We went to the beach together and then we had out first kiss."

"That was really romantic. We should go back there some time." Taehyung muses and Jungkook agrees.

"Anyways, on we go! What was our first vacation together?" The older asks enthusiastically.

"Daegu. You showed me your favorite place, Daegu Dalseong Park, and afterward we went to Busan and I showed you where I grew up." Jungkook remembers warmly.

"That also answered the next question about what my favorite place is. Well, then they want to know when and where was our first date?" 

Jungkook coughs into the crook of his elbow and takes another quick sip of water before he answers, "We went to a Café. That's when I found out you don’t like coffee. And that was... like... two months before we officially started dating."

Taehyung nods. "Yeah, you ordered us hot chocolate instead and it was the best one I ever had. Not because it was so good but because I had it with you." He recalls, a cheesy smile on his face. 

"Taehyungie~" Jungkook whines but he's smiling, too.

"Let's continue!" The older exclaims. His face turns smug as he looks at the next question.

"Am I the big spoon or little spoon?"

People would expect Jungkook to be the big spoon because he's much buffer than Taehyung. He works out a lot, while Taehyung is a little lazier and only joins his boyfriend sometimes and even then he gives up quickly. It all came down to stereotypes that the smaller and 'weaker' one has to be the little spoon but really, it isn’t true at all.

"You’re the big spoon. You like cuddling a lot." Jungkook replies and immediately Taehyung elgulfs him in a tight hug.

"That's true! I love cuddling you, my little spoon." He pulls away again after pecks Jungkook’s temple.

Taehyung reads the next question, "One talent that I have."

"There's too many, you're good at everything... Hmm..." Jungkook thinks about it, "You... take great pictures."

Now, Taehyung is the one blushing. "You guys hear that? And that's coming from a photography and film major!"

Admittedly, Taehyung feels proud of himself to hear such a compliment from his boyfriend. He loves taking pictures and does it a lot and Jungkook always makes sure to tell him how much he likes them.

"Next question... Oh, this is a hard one! What nickname do my parents have for me?"

"I know! Your dad used to call you baby bear and your mum used to call you honey bear." Jungkook is satisfied with himself for remembering that.

"That’s right. Wow." It surprises Taehyung a little that Jungkook got it right because his parents don’t really call him that anymore and he only mentioned it once or twice. It makes him feel warm; having someone by his side who even remembers the small things.

"Okay, last question. What do you love about me the most?" Taehyung himself is curious about Jungkook's answer.

Jungkook sniffles and grabs a tissue to blow his nose. "Ahh, this is the hardest one. Maybe... No... Uhm... Ah! I know!" Jungkook exclaims, "I love how caring you are. You have so much love for your family and friends. I like how genuine and unconditional your love is. You have a very big heart."

Taehyung is positively awestruck, leaving him completely speechless. He opens his mouth a few times to start a sentence but after a few attempts he gives up. They often tell each other little things they like about the other but it always is something small and not as meaningful as that.

He throws himself onto Jungkook, hugging him as tight as never before. Taehyung peppers small kisses over the youngers face until he stops, with his lips hovering over Jungkook’s.

"I love you, Koo." He mutters.

"And I love you, Tae." Jungkook responds quietly.

After Taehyung says his goodbye and turns off the camera, he sits back down on the bed. Jungkook immediately engulfs his whole body in a hug, pulling his boyfriend down on the bed with him. He holds him tightly and presses his lips to the base of Taehyung’s neck when the older struggles a little.

"Ahh! Jungkookie, what are you doing?!" Taehyung squirms and tries to free his arms but Jungkook has them in an iron grip.

Jungkook rests his head on his boyfriend’s chest and sighs contentedly. "Let's take a nap. I'm tired and my head hurts a little."

Taehyung stops moving as he listens to the younger. He presses a kiss to the crown of Jungkook's head and says, "Okay, but let go of me so I can cuddle you properly."

They move around a little until Taehyung is spooning Jungkook. His fingers comb through Jungkook's long hair for a while before he tucks it behind his ear so it won’t tickle the younger's face and annoy him. Taehyung wraps his arm securely around Jungkook’s waist to pull him in close.

"Sleep well and get well soon." Taehyung whispers.

"Stop saying that, it only got worse when you said that before." Jungkook laughs teasingly but interlocks his fingers with Taehyung’s and relaxes.

"I'll be all better soon as long as you're with me." He sighs. Jungkook can feel Taehyung's lips kiss the back of his nape softly right before he drifts off into a comfortable afternoon nap.

————

Ah, seriously... I'm so bad with endings lmao Well, I hope whoever read this enjoyed it! Thank you!

[rosyadventure]

Fics by Theme || Like a Boss

Masterlist of Lists | Holy Grail Fics

In celebration of Women's History Month (in the US) and (belated) International Women's Day, these are my favorite fics that star a strong, confident, badass OC.

💪 = read these first (if you haven't already)!

P.S. I was planning on releasing this list earlier in the month but I've been busy studying for my board exams 😅. Hopefully I'll be able to get on a more regular schedule in mid-April after it's over!

After Midnight Series (m) by @gyukult | JJK | doctor reader, bad boy JK, fwb

Watch (read?) as the OC realizes that she does want a family, children, and white picket fence after all, and navigates finding a serious relationship while maintaining boundaries at work.

“Jeon Jungkook only likes seeing you after midnight.”

At the Heart of It All Series (m) 💪 by loseyoutoloveme (AO3) | KTH ft. Jaehyun (NCT) | college au, established relationship au, CS major reader, soccer captain TH, football captain Jaehyun, e2l, Jaehyun really calls Tae every letter in the alphabet except V

For all of the women in STEM out there, a story where the OC learns to own her intelligence and ambition instead of hiding behind a facade to please her parents. Tae isn't painted in the best light in this story (and of course, this is a fictional character) so you might want to skip this one if that upsets you.

How much longer can you keep up your ruse of being the perfect daughter and future, supportive soccer wife before everything comes crashing down?

Break My Mind's Eye Series (m) by @flowerwrites06 | JJK ft. MYG | arranged marriage au, fashion designer reader, drug lord JK, older brother TH, police officer YG, angst, mentions of drug use

A tale as old as time: sacrificing yourself for someone you love. I'm amazed at how the OC manages to flourish as a fashion designer in the face of adversity, and has the clarity of mind to make tough decisions that affect her and those around her.

"Jungkook thinks marriage is the only way to seal a deal."

Chism Series 💪 by @kpopfanfictrash | KTH | fantasy au, magic reader, winter god TH, s2l

This OC is strong in terms of her magic abilities as well as her resolution to stand up for what's right. She has an open mind and a lot of curiosity, which drives her harrowing journey to bring back seasons in a land that is permanently stuck in summer.

“Do not listen to what the prisoner has to say and above else, keep your head. The old gods may be dead, but the humans are living.”

Fight for You Series (m) 💪 by @ahundredtimesover | JJK | rich au, heiress/marketing executive reader, bodyguard JK, s2l, angst

All of us have had hurtful assumptions made about us – in the OC's case, everyone thinks that she's superficial and more interested in socializing than taking over her parents' business. What I love about this OC is how she stays true to herself and allows others continue to think what they want (even though it still hurts).

Jungkook takes the job as your bodyguard with the sole intention of earning enough money to fund his dreams. It takes him a long time to realize that his dreams are a lot closer than he previously thought.

From Home Series (m) 💪 by @gyukult | JJK | fake dating, baker reader, rich JK, e2l

The OC has a culinary degree, two jobs, and several bones to pick with Jungkook (the biggest of which seems to be his lackadaisical attitude toward money, even though he no longer has any). While working hard to achieve her dream of opening a bakery, she also learns how to accept help from others.

When Jungkook is kicked out, cut-off from his parents’ money, and forced to be a member of the working class, he views you as his ticket back home.

Matchmaker Series (m) 💪 by @bonvoyagenoona | JJK ft. MYG | CEO reader, banker JK, CFO YG, e2l

Aside from the fact that this OC founded her own business using evidence-based methods of matching people together (super cool in and of itself), I love how she's so confident in the algorithm that she's willing to take on the worst possible customer.

"How are you supposed to help find Namjoon the perfect match when Jungkook keeps sneering at your state-of-the-art, well-researched system? Then again, there’s nothing that your science can’t fix."

No Blueberries (m) by @gyukult | KTH | college au, reader & TH work at the library, annoyances2l (enemies seems too harsh)

It's refreshing to read about an OC who straightforwardly and unabashedly pursues a relationship with someone she's interested in.

You're a simple woman who knows what you want: Kim Taehyung.

Office Hours Series (m) by @bonvoyagenoona | KNJ ft. KSJ | college au, professor reader/NJ/SJ, e2l

For all of the women out there struggling through their graduate studies in academia, the OC tackles challenges that almost seem too real: balancing teaching and research duties with mental health, the struggle to get tenure, and dealing with divorce when all your work is tied to your married name.

"Just over twenty-four hours ago, both of you were looking into each others’ eyes from across a conference room table, screaming that the other would shut up. Now, you realize that there are so many more questions to ask, and that you desperately want to find out each other’s answers."

Once Upon a Bracelet (m) by @ladyartemesia | JJK ft. KSJ | fantasy, sorceress reader, prince SJ/JK, e2l

I love how fierce this OC is – she's never one to back away from a challenge, and she finds someone who kindles her sparks into wildfires.

“Jeon Jungkook is (probably) a former necromancer and (definitely) the wrong prince… but the bracelets tell a different story.”

Ready or Not Series (m) by @littlemisskookie | KTH | Battle Royale (Hunger Games-esque) au, dystopian au, student reader/TH, ☠️

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. A story in which the OC has been trained her whole life to win the Battle Royale, and she fully intends to win.

"Your class field trip turns out to be a battle to the death."

Reliability Series by @mrsparknamjoon | KTH | CEO au, businesswoman reader, CEO TH, e2l

A series that starts with "fake it 'til you make it" and turns into loving yourself enough to know when you should leave a poor work environment and relationship that isn't working out.

You don't know what you got until it's gone. When you leave Taehyung's company, he realizes that he's lost more than a trusted advisor and former business school rival.

Scumbag Series by @tangerineyoongles | MYG & PJM (feat. KSJ) | ongoing, bookstore owner reader, flower shop owner JM, angst, s2f2l, mentions of death and alcoholism

Strength comes in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes the hardest thing to do in life is to admit that you were wrong, acknowledge that your actions hurt others, and move forward the best you can.

"Life had not dealt you a favorable hand, but instead of trying to make the best of it, you live your life with a bitter kick in your step, taking anyone and everyone you can down with you."

Straight Shooter (m) by @snackhobi | MYG | futuristic/sci fi au, weapons builder reader, assassin YG, e2l

I appreciate how this OC is confident in her abilities as an amazing weapon designer and continues on with her work (albeit with stronger protection) despite a terrifying break in.

Yoongi swears that the only reason he visits you is because you’re the best gunsmith in the city.

The Road to Radiant by @kookskingdom | JJK | gamer au, team captain reader, rival team member JK, e2l

A reminder that even good leaders have moments of self-doubt, and that teams are only as strong as the weakest link.

When one of your team members leaves to join your rival team, you scramble to find a replacement.

[btschooseafic]

House of Hope/Chapter 18/kisses

Pairing: OT7 x Reader, OT7 x OT7

Details: hybrid!bts, a/b/o dynamics, asexual!reader

Summary: You and Jungkook go out. There is much talk about kissing.

Warnings: The recognizable names and personalities do not reflect their real life counterparts. Prejudice, anxiety, self- doubt, drinking [masterlist]

“Are you sure?” You said, nervously examining the black skinny jeans and baggy black t-shirt Taehyung had laid out on your bed.

“Positive.” Taehyung nodded. “I mean, you could wear a paper bag and Jungkookie would still be happy, but this’ll give you a little extra… something.” He studied you closely. “As long as you’re comfortable with it?” You nodded.

“It’s not that far from what I usually wear anyway.”

“Great!” Taehyung beamed. “Now—let’s talk accessories.”

You walked out into the living room with Taehyung’s arm slung around your shoulders. Namjoon and Jin were talking to Jungkook with serious looks on their faces. Yoongi was lounging on the arm chair, watching them with his mouth curled in a smirk.

“Everything okay?” You asked.

“It’s fine,” Namjoon said, still eyeing Jungkook. “We’re just reminding Kookie to look after you properly.”

“I’m not a child,” Jungkook grumbled.

“And neither am I,” you said. “In fact, Joonie, I’m pretty sure I’m a couple months older than you.”

“That’s not…” Namjoon trailed off, his eyebrows shooting up as he looked at you. “Those are very tight pants.”

“Are they weird?” You wondered, tugging on your belt loops self-consciously.

“No,” he said quickly. “Definitely not weird.”

“You are, though,” Taehyung said. “Namjoonie-hyung is a pervert.”

“I’m not!” Namjoon protested.

“You are,” Yoongi said. “I don’t mind.” Namjoon shot him a half-fond, half-exasperated look. Jin dissolved into laughter.  Yoongi stood up, walking around you and Taehyung in a small circle. “You do look hot.”

“Thanks?”

“Tae’s bracelets, Jiminie’s rings, and this…” Yoongi tugged at one of the chains hanging around your neck. “…Is mine.” Yoongi’s tail curled around your ankle as he leaned up, pecking Taehyung on the cheek. “You did good, Tae Tae.”

“Didn’t I?” Taehyung said proudly.

“Has anybody noticed that Jin-hyung and Jungkook-ah are being super quiet?” Namjoon pointed out. “Maybe they’re the perverts, actually.” Jin snorted.

“Thanks, Namjoon-ah.”

“Wait!” Hoseok said, running into the room with Jimin. “Don’t leave yet!” He looked at you and gasped. “Nobody told me we were doing couple’s outfits! I’m a little jealous… should we all dress matching up?”

“No,” Namjoon, Taehyung, and Jungkook said immediately.

“You guys have no sense of style,” Taehyung said. Jimin squinted at him. “…Except Jiminie.” Jimin smiled. “Sometimes…” Jimin frowned again. Hoseok grabbed Taehyung in a headlock.

“I have an excellent sense of fashion,” Hoseok told him. “I’m the most fashionable person in this pack!” Taehyung smirked.

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“I think the point is,” you spoke up. “We all have our own sense of style, so for us all to be matching wouldn’t be respecting our individuality enough.”

“Exactly,” Namjoon said, pointing at you and nodding. “Also, we would look like an idol group.”

*

You and Jungkook had some trouble getting out of the house. Yoongi wanted to take pictures of the two of you. Jimin kept trying to convince you to let him do your makeup, and ended up pouting until Jungkook asked for eyeliner instead. Hoseok unpacked your bag and argued with Jin about what you should bring with you. Then Namjoon broke a figurine he had bought for Taehyung and everyone got distracted trying to put it back together again.

You eventually managed to get out of the house, after Hoseok pointed out you were going to be late to the movie. Luckily you managed to run into the theatre just as the starting credits were ending.

“I wanted to buy candy,” Jungkook muttered.

“I’ve got you,” you said, pulling a small package out of your bag. Jungkook grinned.

“I love these!” He said. Someone from behind you shushed him. You twisted your head back, frowning. “It’s fine.” He lowered his voice, squeezing your hand. “Let’s watch the movie.”

*

Two hours later you walked out of the theatre arguing about the final scene, which Jungkook thought was poignant and beautiful, but you thought was heavy handed.

“The score was beautiful though,” you conceded.

“Oh definitely!” Jungkook agreed. “When they played her theme one last time at the end, I nearly cried.” He cleared his throat. “But, I didn’t…”

“Okay.” You grinned. “Crying at movies is okay though, you know.” Jungkook made an uncertain noise. “Where are we going next? You wouldn’t tell me earlier.”

“Cause it’s a surprise!” Jungkook said. “You’ll see when we get there.” You let out a big sigh. “Noona?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t say anything earlier, about your outfit…”

You blinked. “That’s fine. It was only partially for you, anyway. I never know what to wear, and Tae seemed excited to help out, so…”

“I bet he was.” Jungkook smiled slightly. “But, um… you do look really good. I was… a little overwhelmed, actually.”

“Oh?”

“Like, in a good way.”


“Oh.” You smiled. “I get that. You guys do that to me all the time.”

*

 “I’m so full,” you said as you stepped out of the restaurant later that night.

“Yeah.” Jungkook nodded. “…Want to get ice cream on the way back home?”

“…Yes,” you agreed reluctantly. He laughed.

“We don’t have to!”

“We do,” you said, squeezing his arm. “Of course, it’s such a big sacrifice for me to have to go get ice cream, but I’ll do what I must! Your mouth must still be on fire from that spice challenge—we’ve got to cool you down!” Jungkook shook his head, looping his arm with yours.

“Actually, it’s my stomach that’s dying… but on the plus side, we got all those free noodles!”

“They were really good,” you agreed. Jungkook’s ear twitched.

“There’s an ice cream place over there.” He pointed. “What flavor do you want? If you’re really full, we can share.”

“No.” You shook your head as you pushed open the door. “You’ll eat it all.”

He looked at you wide eyed. “Don’t you trust me, noona?”

“Not when it comes to my ice cream!” You said. He laughed, throwing his arm around your shoulders and nuzzling against your neck. “Mischievous bunny.” You leaned up and kissed his crinkled nose. He blinked at you.

“I think you missed.” He tapped his lips with his finger.

“Nope!” You turned to the cashier. “Hello!” He frowned at you. You blinked. “Ah… warm tonight, isn’t it? Good night for ice cream…”

“Listen—you need to leave,” the cashier said. You stared at him. Jungkook’s arm tightened around your shoulders. “We don’t serve people like you here.”


“Excuse me?” You said. “People like you?”

“Noona,” Jungkook muttered in your ear. “It’s not worth it. Let’s just find another place…”

“Hybrids and hybrid-fuckers like you,” the cashier elaborated. Jungkook growled. The cashier flinched, but continued glaring.

“You’re right, Kookie,” you said, grabbing his hand and pulling him hard. He barely budged. “Let’s find another place.”

“Fine,” Jungkook grunted, allowing you to pull him towards the door. You saw a flash of white, and suddenly Jungkook was smacking something out of the air. It was a cup of soda, you realized, feeling the cold stickiness against your skin, seeping through your shirt. Jungkook was splattered as well. He stared down at the crumbled cup on the ground.

“Freak!” Someone shouted. You frowned at the middle aged woman sitting at nearby table.

“Me or him?” You asked her calmly. She blinked at you.

“B-both of you!”

“Ah.” You nodded. You stretched up, cupped his face in your hands, and kissed him softly on the lips. Then you broke apart, flipped the woman off, and dragged Jungkook out the door. You took off at a small jog, just in case, trying to put a good amount of space between you and them. At some point Jungkook sped up to a run, and you were running all out, your lungs burning. When you stopped, you realized he had brought you to your car (the rental car you and Jin had picked up last week, while the van was still in the repair shop).

“Noona.” Jungkook was frowning at you.

“I’m sorry I did that without asking!” You said quickly. “I should’ve asked!” He nodded stiffly.

“But… you knew I wanted to.”

“Still…”

He sighed, pushing his hair back from his face. “Why did you… did you actually want to kiss me, or were you just trying to piss them off?”

“…Both?” You said uncertainly.

“[F/N],” he said. You stared at him. “I’m being serious. Did you actually want to kiss me? I… I don’t want you to kiss me just to make a point—I want you to kiss me because you want to.”

“Oh.” You nodded. “I wanted to.”

His brow furrowed. “You’re sure? You wouldn’t rather be kissing some human boyfriend you could walk into an ice cream shop with without getting harassed?”

You frowned. “Of course I don’t want to be harassed—and I especially don’t want you being harassed, but if we’re both willing to deal with it, that’s our choice, right?” You thought. He grunted, opening the door and sliding into the driver’s seat. “Are you okay to drive?” He nodded. “Can we just sit here for a minute, catch out breath?” He nodded again. “Jungkook-ah, are you mad at me?” He blinked and turned to you.

“Maybe a little,” he said. “They could’ve started throwing things worse than soda, and you were egging them on.”

“Yeah… that’s why I ran afterwards…”

He snorted. “Yoongi-hyung’s gonna be so turned on when he hears about this.”

“What? Really?”

He nodded, sighing. “I kind of was too, to be honest. But, also, you worry me, noona.”

“…Sorry.”

He shrugged. “That’s part of caring about someone, I guess.”

“…You sound like an old wise man.”

He laughed. “Shut up. Can I drive now?”

*

“I had more planned,” he grumbled as he pulled into the driveway. “We were gonna get ice cream, and walk along the river holding hands, and I was gonna kiss you. But now the guys are gonna be all over you, and I’m not gonna get a minute with you to myself.”

“We have ice cream in the freezer,” you said. “We can shower and change and then regroup—hang out some more, just you and me?”

He smiled. “That sounds good.” The two of you got out of the car and walked to the door. “Ice cream, and maybe some games, and... kissing?”

“Hmmm. I guess.” You frowned slightly. “I don’t think I’m very good at it. But I guess nobody’s perfect on their first try?”

“Video games? I thought you said you’ve tried them before?”

“Not the games, the kissing,” you clarified. “I probably I need more practice. You might have to teach me… what?” Jungkook was suddenly gripping your shoulders, wide eyes staring into yours.

“Noona, was that your first kiss?”

“Ah…” You scratched the side of your face. “Yeah.” Jungkook continued staring at you. “I know, I’m a little old to be so inexperienced.”

“That’s not…” Jungkook’s foot tapped.

“Kookie. Talk to me, what are you feeling right now?”

“I’m torn,” he said. “I’m, like, really excited to be your first, and—oh my God the others are going to be so pissed off, this is great! But also, if I had known I would’ve tried to make it more romantic—but also, you kissed me to piss off a bunch of jerks, which I’m annoyed about, but also, like, appreciative of, so, I’m just, really… torn.”

“Wow.” You blinked at him. “That’s, ah… a lot of feelings.” He nodded. “I hear all of that, and I’m totally willing to listen more if you’d like to talk more, but I really, really want to take a shower first.”

He laughed. “Good idea. It’s sticky.”

You nodded. “Really sticky.”

*

After showering and changing, you did play video games and eat ice cream. There was also some more kissing. Jungkook was both anxious and excited to teach you.

“I’m the maknae, so I’m not exactly the most experienced among us,” he told you. “In terms of kissing, I mean. I’ve only kissed seven different— I mean, other than you, I’ve only kissed one other girl before. And she was… well, let’s just say you’re not the only person who’s kissed someone to piss people off.”

“Oh.” You titled your head. “Who were you trying to piss off?”

“Ah…” Jungkook blushed slightly. “The guys… Seokjin-hyung, mostly. He really had trouble with… well, even now sometimes, he still thinks of me as a kid. It’s gotten a lot better, but back then I went a little… well, it worked. He got really pissed off, and we barely spoke for over a week, and our pack bond was suffering, and the guys felt weird because they didn’t want to act like they were choosing sides…”

“…That sounds rough,” you thought. He nodded. “How did you end up making up, if you don’t mind me asking?” Jungkook winced.

“Hoseokie-hyung and Yoongi-hyung kind of staged an intervention? They sat us down with a bunch of psychology books on relationships and didn’t let us leave until we talked it out… it was really… embarrassing,” he admitted. Your lips twitched. He groaned, hiding his face in your neck. “Don’t laugh, noona.”

“Hello!” Hoseok said, bursting into the room. You and Jungkook jolted, nearly bashing your heads together. Hoseok snickered. You both glared at him. “Hi—I know we’re all adults here, but I’m just checking to make sure we’re all respecting each other’s boundaries—”

“Can’t you respect the boundary of my closed door, hyung?” Jungkook interjected.

“—And I also really wanted to know why you guys smelled like Sprite when you came back earlier,” Hoseok continued. “But, ah, yeah, Kookie, you’ve got a point about the door, I probably should’ve knocked…” He pouted, reaching out and squishing Jungkook’s face. “Will you forgive me?” You sniffed.

“Have you been drinking, Hoseokie?”

“Maybe a little?” Hoseok said. Jungkook raised an eyebrow at him.

“It’s got to be more than a little if even our favorite human can smell it on you.”

Hoseok nodded. “That’s fair. That’s fair. It might’ve been more than a little, because we were all… well, our maknae was out on a date tonight, with someone who wasn’t us, and [N/N]!” He squished your face. “We like you, so, so much! But this is new, right? So it’s still a little weird.”

You nodded, gently peeling his fingers off of you. “That’s understandable.”

Hoseok nodded again. “And Namjoonie is a really good kisser. Which is also new, but…” Hoseok held up a finger. “I had my suspicions.”

“Yeah,” Jungkook agreed. “You need to go to bed, hyung. You’re gonna be so badly hungover tomorrow…”

“I’ll get him some water,” you said, standing up. “Can you make sure he drinks it?”

*

The next morning, you and Hoseok appeared to be the only ones awake.

“Drunk Hoseokie is such a little bitch,” Hoseok muttered, squinting down at his cup of coffee like it had personally offended him. “I knew I should’ve drank that water Jungkookie was trying to force on me—I’m all about hydrating—why doesn’t drunk Hoseokie know this?”

“Headache?” You asked, smoothing back his hair, which was sticking up in all directions.

“Yeah… Aspirin should kick in soon though, thanks for that, [N/N].” He smiled tightly at you. You nodded, leaning over and kissing his temple. He blinked. “Will you look at that—I’m cured.”

“You’re not,” you said knowingly.

“I’m not,” he admitted. “Maybe you should try again?” You snorted.

“You guys are really into kisses, huh?”

“You guys?” He wiggled his eyebrows and then winced, holding his head. “You and Jungkookie…”

“There was some kissing involved.”

“And…?”

“I liked it,” you said. “It was nice.”

Hoseok sighed. “That’s rather… subdued.”

You shrugged. “I’m new to this.”

Hoseok blinked. “Kissing?”

“Yeah.”

“We’re the same age, right?” He gestured between the two of you. You nodded. “Hmm.” He stared at his coffee again. “Was I a slut when I was younger?”

“Probably not?” You thought. “I think I’ve mentioned, I was never exactly the most social person. So, like, I don’t think I’m a good measurement for that, but… you do you, right?”

“Actually, it was me doing lots, and lots of other people,” he corrected you. You laughed. He smiled tensely. “… I think I need to lie down some more.”

“Is that where everyone else is?” You wondered.

“Yep. I checked on them before I came down. Everyone’s hungover except for Jungkookie, who is currently sandwiched between Taehyungie and Jiminie.” He looked at you hopefully. “Want to come cuddle?”

“Hmm. Sure, why not?” You took a sip of his coffee. “We’re bringing this with us, though.”

He laughed. “The first time Yoongi-hyung and I slept together, I wanted to cuddle afterwards, but he demanded I go get him coffee first.”

“Sounds reasonable,” you thought as you walked up the stairs.

“But he wore socks,” he told you, voice full of tragedy. “He refused to take his socks off, but I still slept with him, because I’m a fool in love.” You patted him on the back. “But he made me breakfast after he finished his coffee, so...” He opened his door. You paused in the doorway, suddenly realizing you had never been inside his room before. You had only been to the younger three’s rooms, actually. Jimin and Taehyung’s room was cluttered with beauty products, clothing, and manga. Jungkook’s room looked like it had been hit by a tornado. Hoseok’s room was neatly organized, down to the figurines lined up on the shelf.

“Snoopy,” you noted.

“Snoopy,” Hoseok agreed, a lot more subdued than normal. He flopped down on the bed, groaning.

“You should sleep,” you said, pressing a kiss to his head, his cheek, his mouth. He made a noise, parting his lips and slipping his tongue against yours. You pulled away, making a face.

“Too much?” He asked nervously.

“Not for the reasons you’re thinking,” you told him.

“Hmm. Maybe too much for me,” he said. “I won’t be able to sleep if we keep doing that.”

“I won’t,” you assured him. His brow furrowed. “Your breath is horrible.” He laughed.

“I know.” He sighed. “I brushed my teeth twice already, and it still tastes like something died…” You crawled into bed next to him, leaning against the headboard with your knees hugged to your chest, the coffee mug balancing on them. Hoseok smiled slightly. “You look adorable—but don’t you dare get coffee stains on my sheets.”

“Yes, sir.” You saluted. Hoseok raised an eyebrow at you.

“Let’s not get into all that, please.”

“…Right.”

He closed his eyes, frowned, and then opened them again, looking at you.

“[F/N], I have, sort of a weird request.”

“Yes?” You said warily.

“Could you… rub my stomach until I fall asleep?” He blushed slightly. You smiled.

“Sure thing, Hoseokie.” You placed the coffee cup on his bedside table, lying down on your side and scooting closer to him, resting your hand on his stomach.

*

After the hangovers passed, word of what had happened during your and Jungkook’s date slowly spread. Namjoon was trying to convince you to report that ice cream shop, while Jin chased Jungkook around the living room, threatening him for ‘ruining your innocence by stealing your first kiss.’ Jimin was filming them while Hoseok laughed. You frowned.

“Jin-oppa.” You grabbed his arm, stopping him. Jungkook pounced on Jimin.

“Delete that video!”

“I really don’t appreciate you talking like that, especially since I’m the one who instigated the kiss,” you told Jin.

“Instigated,” Namjoon repeated. “Good vocabulary use.”

"Quiet," you shushed him. "I'm trying to be angry at Seokjin." Namjoon snorted.

Jin’s shoulders slumped. “I just… I want to protect you.”

“From Jungkookie?” You wondered. Jin pursed his lips.

“He’s a lot more menacing than he looks, you know.”

“Yah!” Jungkook protested. “Stop spreading lies, I’m completely innocent.”

“Oh really?” said Jimin, who he was currently straddling against the carpet.

“Hmm. He really isn’t,” Yoongi commented, looking up from the comic he and Taehyung were reading. Taehyung turned the page. “Ah, wait, I want to re-read that last panel…” Taehyung rolled his eyes and flipped the page back. “Thank you~” They shared a kiss.

“Cute,” Namjoon muttered, watching them.

“Maybe not innocent,” Jungkook admitted. “But I don’t like him implying I put noona in danger.”

“I—“ You started.

Jimin caused a slight disruption by wrapping his legs around Jungkook’s waist and flipping them over.

“Ah ha!” He looked down at Jungkook smugly. Hoseok suddenly jumped on top of both of them, making excited noises.

“Can we please finish this conversation?” You said, trying to be heard over the laughter and shouts.

“That’s enough,” Namjoon called out firmly.

The three of them froze, Hoseok slowly easing his teeth off of Jimin’s ear. Jin’s eyebrows went up as he surveyed Namjoon, clearly impressed.

“If anything, [F/N]-yah’s the one who put Jungkookie in danger, with how she reacted to the situation,” Yoongi continued as if nothing happened. Jungkook frowned at him. “I’m just stating the facts, JK. I’m not denying she sounds badass and I totally would’ve been all over her…” He paused, looking at you. “After figuring out what you’re into exactly, because we really should talk about that at some point—but Jungkookie, you’re the maknae, so we’re bound to be a little extra protective over you.”

“I know,” Jungkook said. “I hate it.”

“I probably would too, if I were you,” Yoongi thought. “But, I’m not, so… be more careful next time please, both of you.”

You nodded. “I will.”

“Good,” Yoongi said. “Now, [F/N]-yah, you should probably kiss Seokjin, cause, while I’m sure he genuinely wants to protect you, he’s also jealous Jungkookie got to you first.” You looked at Jin. He blushed. You grinned.

“Jinie, do you want a kiss?”

Jin made a strangled noise and covered his face with his hands.

“You can’t kiss him properly with his face like that,” Taehyung said. “So I’ll take the kiss instead.” He puckered his lips.

“Feel free to ignore him,” Jimin told you. Taehyung’s brow furrowed, his lips still pursed. You shrugged.

“I don’t mind kissing him.” You leaned forward.

“No!” Jin grabbed your arm. You laughed.

“Oppa, I’m not forgetting about you, okay? I can kiss you both.”

Jungkook gasped. “I’ve created a kissing monster.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

Taglist

@rrrrap-monster​ @fangirl125reader​ @asja-the-hoarder​ @mrcleanheichou​ @tinyoonsblog​ @mcusuperfreak​ @h0biversed @forvever-ddaeng​ @a-noona-mous​ @weallneednamjesus​ @singukieee @fangirling-all-the-way-tbh @strawberryybobatae​ @sachaa-ff​ @zae007live​ @colourlyhobbit​ @bunzom​ @inlovewithhonestlyeveryone​ @faceaeter​ @taradevonne​ @cestlabellemort​ @agustdjoon​ @childfmoonn​ @yoursoontobestepmom​

[tiredbutstillloveable]

TAEHYUNG'S IDEAL TYPE OBSERVATIONS

Hello my beautiful people, today's post it's about this gorgeous, spectacular, ridiculously talented boy. I hope you all enjoy and please don't take all these notes too seriously,ok...this supposed to be fun! And, I was coming from a place that Tae is into girls, but we never know,right? Well, now I'll shut up for good lol enjoy <3

she does have her own sense of fashion and style. She doesn't care about patterns and what is socially consider beautiful, she follows her desires, her heart about what she wants to put on, and again she is not lady like. She won't stop doing things because her nails are not done yk.

This is a creative and innovative person. I feel she does speak things in a very unusual way, like...how her minds work it's just different, but not in a bad way. She just thinks things in a way people wouldn't most of the time. It's just like when you want to solve a puzzle or a charade, you got to think out of the box for that, you gotta be creative, and to create different connections between your brain cells, because the crazy thing is to think always the same thing and trying to have a different result, right?

She's an active person, I feel is an energetic. Her curious mind makes her want to explore places and cultures, just to actually exchange knowledge and to talk to different people.

Cheerful and someone who knows how to have fun and its looking to do different things, the type to try one time at least to see if it's good or not lol

Venus is also what bring us joy and pleasure, so sharing the same interests as him is good. someone who has aquariuses interests as a way to live their life.

He needs someone that has a nice smile and a warming aura, so he can feel comfortable around this person, and once that bitch face of his is gone, he can actually be his warm and cute self, bc let's face it...he does feel like a kid at a heart.

Authentic, so she does not change to impress people, she is what she is.

A good taste in music. To know and understand about the type of music she is listening to it...preferably she knows the cool history about the bands, songs and instruments. The time they were made, all that jazz lol

Someone who can sweep him off his feet by her intelligence, so a person who can share different knowledge with him is the right one.

I can see her being the type to read a lot of books, and not the type to be obsessed over one unique subject, everything interests her, so she knows a lot about random things, and interesting and cool stuff lol

No lady like.

I feel this is a unique person, with a lot of style. The style it's what stays... you know what I mean...She is an interesting person to his eyes...she is the mixture of what she reads, listen to, the place she grew up, the movies she watches, the things she studied, the places she visited and met. I mean...just her lifestyle yk? She is an extroverted but an introverted at heart. She knows how to talk and bond to people, and this is what enriches her.

She is open to live life come as it may. She is brave and determined to achieve and accomplishes all of her dreams and visions in life.

And above all she knows herself, and she respects herself. She does live life in her own terms, and she’s more than ok with that.

I feel she’s a person who knows about things and life. She does have experience, that’s what I’m trying to say here lol

She definitely doesn’t take herself seriously.

[international-sunrise]

I LOST MY FEAR OF FALLING

CHAPTER 5/? : would i lie to you? well, here's your answer in spades...

Fandom: 외모지상주의 | Lookism

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationships: Hong Jae Yeol | Jay & Park Hyung Suk | Daniel, Minor or Background Relationship(s)

Characters: Hong Jae Yeol | Jay, Park Hyung Suk | Daniel, Hong Jae Hye | Joy, Lee Jin Sung | Zack, Lee Eun Tae | Vasco

Additional Tags: Character Study, Relationship Study, Pre-Relationship, Canon-Typical Violence, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Canon Compliant, Angst, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, It Gets Worse, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Additional Warnings In Author's Note, POV Hong Jae Yeol | Jay, Spoilers for Lookism

CHAPTER 5: WOULD I LIE TO YOU? WELL, HERE'S YOUR ANSWER IN SPADES...

Summary:

In which love is blind and Jaeyeol likes a fool with no sense of fashion.

[btsmosphere]

Breathe Again | KTH

~summary: everything in your world has changed. everything, that is, except the boy who still believes there are spirits in the forest. ~pairing: taehyung x reader ~word count: 16.6k ~my neighbour totoro au, artist!taehyung, fashion designer!reader, childhood friends to lovers, comfort, fluff, slight angst, slow burn, totoro just wants them to be together ~rating: pg13 ~warnings: mentions of burnout, mentions of a toxic work environment, a skipped meal, a tiny bit of blood, being outside in bad weather, heights?

~a/n: hi everyone, long time no see! welcome to my first fic since my hiatus!! this is for the ghibli collab which is being run by @birbdae​💞 this one is for anyone who likes ghibli films, wants some comforting boyfriend vibes from tae or just vaguely chaotic totoro content💜this one turned kinda long, but I hope I’ve captured the ghibli vibes well! I would love to hear if you read this and what you think! come chat with me💖

Taking you over familiar roads, the bus bumped gently against uneven ground. But you didn’t so much as blink, cheek resting against the glass which rattled slightly in its pane.

You knew this place.

Something about returning down these roads stirred memories within you, though they tugged more at your body than your mind. The haze of smiles and childish laughter these streets made you recall felt alien to you.

But you knew that if you were to set your feet down in the earth here, they would be able to take you home even with your eyes closed. Your hands have memorised the shapes of the leaves in the forest and the wind would push your hair back like an old friend.

You knew this place, and it knew you.

That’s what you were afraid of.

It was as if a tape was being rewound: taking you whizzing back through the exact route you had ridden out of your hometown when you left so many years ago.

Who would remember you? More importantly, who would remember your goals, the way you had rushed away to the city at the first chance to pursue your goals as a fashion designer.

You hoped they wouldn’t ask. After all, you didn’t know the answers yourself.

Of course, there was the possibility that the town you were coming back to would have changed. There were always new buildings going up in the city, roads closed and the crowds still crawling around like ants. Always moving, never slowing.

But the moment you turned away from thanking the bus driver and settled your feet on the soil, you knew there was no question of this place being unrecognisable. Grass still tufted through at the edges of the road; there was the stream that had always run here, still bubbling merrily and bouncing the odd fleck of light through the grasses it nestled between.

Rumbling into life again behind you, the bus trundled on its way.

First stopping to take a deep breath, you turned after it, feet falling in the shallow furrows made by the tyre marks. As predicted, you gave barely a thought for the direction, your legs easily remembering their way down the short road to reach the market square.

As you moved past the first houses, you parted ways with the stream. It wasn’t long after that the road opened into the square and you finally saw another living being.

Though it wasn’t a big town by any stretch, there were always people around during the day. Luckily it wasn’t market day today, which you were thankful for because the whole town would have been out, and you may well have been caught up for hours by all the people wanting to talk to you.

As it was, three ladies cried out at you from a front doorstep where they were chatting. Hurriedly shooting them a smile, you waved, hoping that would deter them. In the end, you were only waylaid by a couple of questions – how long would you be staying? how’s the big city? – that you could brush off with noncommittal answers.

In that time, you had attracted the gazes of an older couple strolling hand in hand nearby. Gripping the strap of your backpack tighter, you bobbed your head in greeting and scurried past.

Grabbing your phone from your pocket, you picked up the pace. Shooting a quick message to let your aunt know you had arrived kept you occupied with an excuse to avoid a few more staring faces. Perhaps they would think you rude, antisocial, to be walking with your head down and staring at your device instead, but it was comforting in a way. A remnant of your city life, where everyone was wrapped up in technology.

Having braved the main square, you lowered your phone again. Forcing a steady exhale from your mouth, you pressed further through the mercifully empty streets leading away.

The squeak of a bicycle wheel was all the warning you received for the next person you would pass on your journey. Preparing a smile in a hurry, you found yourself staring across at a man you recognised coming around the corner.

Kim Taehyung hadn’t changed much, face lighting up in his trademark rectangular grin as he saw you. He had grown into his handsome features in the time you had been away, and you found your smile wasn’t entirely fake as he slowed on the other side of the street.

Simple white t shirt hanging from his frame, he was wheeling a bike beside him, dusty bags slung over the top. He fit right in with this place.

He was just opening his mouth when you gulped back your faltering smile, ducking your head again and continuing on your way.

With your feet carrying you slightly faster now, you garbled greetings and smalltalk to the other villagers you crossed paths with. The path sloped downhill as you approached the edge of the town, where houses fell away to make space for the rice fields and farmland. From your road, you could look across the flat terraces that stretched, glittering, to the horizon.

Approaching your own place at last, you had to admit you were glad to see Mei lean out of her window to greet you. The old woman had lived there as long as you could remember, and always had a kind word to say.

But though you returned her wave with genuine care, you didn’t stay to talk, instead pressing the keys into the disused lock of your front door. Reluctant from its neglect, it resisted, grating around slowly until finally caving, releasing the door with a groan.

The last time you had seen the inside of this house was many years ago now. Your aunt had raised you here, but had now moved in with her new partner; rather than selling, she had kept the place for you, ‘in case you ever want to come back or visit’.

Sliding the door aside with only a few snags, you stood in the doorway, unmoving.

For a brief moment, a familiar yet long-forgotten feeling had fallen over you. With a blink, the notion that a flurry of movement had greeted you from the shadows slipped away easily.

Dust bunnies, Mei always used to say.

Tugging vigorously at dust sheets that covered the windows, you let light stream into the room, at last allowing you to pull the door closed. Despite all that still required attention, you slumped against it.

Sniffing, you swiped a hand across your cheek. Surely it was just the dust irritating you.

While something inside you felt… different, relieved, to be back here, a larger part of you resisted that. This was only a temporary waystation. There was no use getting settled here again. This was no longer where you belonged…

If only you had found that in the city. That was supposed to be where you would thrive, forge your life amongst the unforgiving glare of neon billboards and buzzing traffic.

You resented the feeling of ease that crept over you now you were back. Resented the people that were content here, fitting fluidly with the meandering of village life. Like Kim Taehyung: he had grown up here with you, but unlike you he had remained right at home, never erring.

You had tried so hard, forever persistent that the world would bend to your will. That you were destined for greater things than this unremarkable town.

Yet now you even found yourself envious of those who stayed here.

They seemed happy.

A low buzz shot through your thoughts, drawing your attention to your illuminated phone screen.

With a dispassioned sigh, you pushed yourself to your feet. You ought to shift some dust from this place in time for your aunt to come for dinner.

Luckily, the house was empty, the few furnishings shoved away in cupboards. After fishing a broom from somewhere, you swept, and had just pulled the last cushion from the cupboard when you heard the familiar call of your name.

Hurrying forwards and plastering a smile on your face, you tugged the door open to help her; her arms were bursting with food. Still, you were surprised by the urge you got to hug her. After depositing all the ingredients in the small kitchen, you gladly returned her tight embrace.

“My darling,” she squeezed you tight, “it’s been so long.”

“I missed you, auntie,” you admitted.

Perhaps you had sounded a little too forlorn because she quickly drew you back to study your face.

“How have you been? Feeding yourself well enough?”

You let out a sound halfway between a giggle and a shriek as she grabbed at your cheek, a gesture that seemed far too familiar.

Brushing her off, you didn’t have time to dwell on the sensation her affections had stirred in you, as more voices drifted from the front room.

Of course, she had invited some friends.

By the time you had greeted each woman, dodged questions and laughed at your aunt and her girlfriend bickering from the kitchen, a steaming bowl was pressed into your hands and everyone gathered to eat. This was a scene you were so familiar with, a sight so common in your childhood, but now…

You shifted, eyes trained on your bowl as Mei told a story of your five-year-old self.

Why was everyone still the same? So nice to you, so comfortable with each other just like always? Your life, your career was seemingly spiralling off course and that guilt still sat heavy on your bones.

How could you retreat back here, accept all this? You should still be working. Not giving up. But you couldn’t bring yourself to do that either.

The same feeling lingered even through the clinking of dishes as your guests chipped in to help clear away, and remained in the following silence and dark as you flattened out your futon, curling up in isolation.

You wouldn’t allow this to feel right.

Even as sleep finally ensnared you in its claws just to spit you out the next morning, you continued to tell yourself what you should want. You should be missing your job, you should be missing the city. And though your heart wasn’t in it, you wouldn’t allow yourself to think otherwise.

The sun was high in the sky the next day when you found yourself staring at the blank page of your sketchbook.

I still want to design. Right?

Okay, so, let’s make a design. Design something. Just one thing. Just one idea, so I know I can still do it. I want to know that this is still the right thing.

I can do it.

Your eyes ran down your watercolour palette, each colour stained with others and hollowed in the middle with use. The small pot of water you had prepared sat too, remaining clear as your pen hovered over the paper.

Some time later, it clattered onto the tabletop.

That blank page stared at you for the rest of the day. Your contest continued even as you slurped at the instant noodles you had made. Every time your thoughts strayed outside, they would be tethered right back again.

There was no point running from your struggle. You would go out as soon as you had managed something productive. For now, the packets of food you had brought in your bag from the city would tide you over.

But as certain as you were that you would achieve something, the next day stretched out in exactly the same way.

It was on the third day that a knock at your door broke through your otherwise deserted world inside this room.

Without a second thought to the depressing dinner you were halfway through, you stood up. Only for a moment you hesitated, before conceding that this wasn’t the city, and it was more usual to have visitors here.

Padding across the floor, you pushed the door aside.

“Y/N! Hi!”

You blinked in the beaming face of Kim Taehyung that greeted you.

“Taehyung!” you returned in genuine surprise, “um, come in…”

Stepping back as you remembered your manners, you cast a look around the room. Unfortunately you hadn’t yet disposed of the slowly growing pile of torn ramen packets on the table, but it was too late.

“Thank you, you don’t have to-“

Nonetheless, Taehyung stepped inside to let you close the door on the cloudy day outside. If he noticed the sad state of your abode, he made no comment.

“I-I just thought I’d come by and visit you,” he smiled hopefully, “I haven’t seen you out since you came back…”

Gulping in the face of his innocent curiosity, you glanced at the floor.

“I’m sorry, I just haven’t… had the chance.”

Your excuse was weak and you knew it. Either way, Taehyung was quick to brush aside your worry.

“It’s nothing to apologise for! I thought I had just missed you and- well, I wanted to come to see you anyway. It’s been a while.”

A soft chuckle passed your lips, which curled into a sad smile. With a nod, you looked up at him.

“Yeah. It has.”

Though his face was smiling as always, it had softened as he studied you.

“Do you want to go on a walk?” he offered, “it must have been hard, being away from the countryside.”

The thought of your abandoned ramen cooling on the table behind you dissipated in an instant.

The outside was a refreshing thought, and it was as if Taehyung had opened the door to the possibility. Once there was a time you would have headed out for no reason, just for fun. That was something you had left behind, but with the welcoming boy to encourage you, you were nodding eagerly before you could form a reply.

Although the village was no longer bathed in sun, cool air rushing to meet you instead, the breeze seemed to carry some weight away from your shoulders. The route Taehyung began to tread beside you was well ingrained in your feet, but your mind was still waking up to the familiar sights.

“I always loved the view from here,” you smiled, muttering almost to yourself.

Taehyung heard you, though. There was no noise for your voice to lose itself in, except the wind that took your words on a winding path through the air.

Slowing his steps, you eased beside him as well. You had barely left your road, but being so near to the edge of the village, the swathes of rippling fields were never far from view; now they stretched out like a carpet below the higher ground your village occupied.

“What’s it like, living in the city?” Taehyung recaptured your attention.

Startled, your eyes turned to him as he remained gazing across the lush greenery, hands tucked casually into the pockets of his loose trousers. His shirt, too, billowed slightly in the playful breeze as you strolled together.

It was those words which brought you crashing back to your senses. The city had been far from your mind, chased away the moment you were reminded of nature’s sprawling cloak across the land. It had been so easy to forget…

“Busy,” was all you offered in way of reply at first. A slight sigh was whipped away by the wind before you found the words to continue. “There’s always people doing things, just like here. Only… bigger. More. They don’t have time to stop and speak to you. It’s so much brighter too…

“I like the neon signs,” you admitted, “but with them, you can barely see the stars.”

While you spoke, Taehyung’s eyes drifted back to you, listening intently. After you stopped, he left silence to settle for a moment.

“It sounds different,” he replied.

You simply hummed an affirmative, but a large smile was sliding back onto his face.

“But I bet they love you!” he grinned, face lifting in such eager happiness that it made your heart ache. Wanting so badly to return his joy, you knew you could never fake happiness that genuine.

“Not really…” you scuffed your toes against the ground, suddenly particularly interested in the way the dirt cracked around your shoes.

As such, you missed the deepening furrow of Tae’s brows, but he stayed quiet, sensing your inhale as you prepared to elaborate.

“Maybe it’s because I had always dreamed of moving there, but nothing was as easy as I imagined,” you spoke quietly, “I was so stupid thinking everything would be simple once I got a place as an intern. The company took me on, but I haven’t got any further.”

A short glance back to Tae showed his brows set in a serious line, mulling your words seriously.

“I’m sure if you keep working hard, they’ll see you,” he smiled, “you always wanted to be a designer. I know you can be.”

For a moment, his words stunned all breath in your throat. Swallowing harshly, you tore your eyes from his, roughly shaking your head.

“It’s just not going right,” you lamented, “all I’ve done since I moved there is work, I take the overtime and travel for shows at weekends, shadow where I can… I feel like I can’t do anymore. And still, nothing. Not even a commission, let alone a promotion. I haven’t headed a project team once. It’s like…” panting softly from the speed your frustrated words spilled out, you paused for a moment, shoulders slumping. “It’s like everyone else knows something I don’t.”

“That’s why you came back?”

His low tone was still light and looking back to him brought you face to face with wide, earnest eyes. Of course, he had guessed accurately. You hadn’t quite intended to spill in so much detail what was troubling you, but you couldn’t bring yourself to resent it.

Confirming his assumption with a nod, you watched Taehyung cock his head to the side before returning his gaze back across the forest.

By now you were drawing closer to where the trees huddled together at the borders of the farmland. The track was a little less well-trodden here, your feet falling between scattered grasses that pushed upwards.

“I don’t think it’s you that’s the problem,” he twisted his body around to face you, still walking towards the forest.

All you could do was blink, slightly startled at his assertion. Thankfully, he continued, pulling his hands from his pockets and spreading them to indicate the surrounding trees which you were entering.

“You’re doing everything you can, and that should be more than enough. There’s no secret to learn… well, maybe…”

“Hey!” you elbowed him as he trailed off, “do you know a secret?”

Mirroring your grin, Taehyung sighed, shaking his head at the ground. You kept your eyes trained on him, as if he might really hold some clue that would solve everything for you. Then he raised his head, fluffy strands of hair falling across his smile-brightened eyes.

“Maybe patience,” he shrugged, “I’m sure you’d get somewhere eventually… but also- maybe you should try to value your time more. There isn’t just one path you can take, and you can always change.”

“I-I guess that’s true,” you stammered.

It was something that had crossed your mind, but you had always shoved the idea away the moment you considered it. You knew what you wanted to do, and you shouldn’t give up on it. Hearing another say it, out loud, was… strangely affirming. But your eyes still fled Taehyung’s gaze, skittering about the trees stretching their hands to the sky.

“Either way,” a gentle nudge at your side brought your begrudging gaze back to your friend, “it’s good to have you back for a bit. I’ve missed you. I’m sure your aunt has, too,” he quickly added.

Grateful for his offer of turning away from the previous conversation, you relaxed a little.

“I’ve missed it here too,” you admitted, “thanks for coming over, it’s good to be out.”

For some reason, as you continued ambling through the forest, you felt no guilt creeping in about time you should be spending working. Instead, you barely felt the minutes passing as you laughed with Taehyung about various scenes from your childhoods. If anything, the small amount of guilt tugging at you was guilt for losing touch.

Eventually, you found yourself reclining in the grass at his side.

“Do you remember when you told me there were spirits in this forest?” you laughed softly.

“Hey!” he grinned back, “they are real!”

Though you giggled along with him, you sensed some defiance in the glittering of his eyes, which made you tail off. Your mouth quirked up at the corner.

“You really still believe in them?”

You didn’t miss the way his eyes strayed from your own, glancing to the grass and across the leafy landscape. But still, he responded.

“I saw them,” he murmured, bringing a fond smile to your face.

“Maybe people out in the countryside really are crazy,” you joked, flopping back to lie on the floor.

“Maybe,” came the chuckled reply.

Taehyung’s shoulder brushed against your own as he joined you on the floor.

Warmth blooming in your chest, you continued to stare across the treetops as they were brushed with the glow of the encroaching sunlight. Something within you longed to capture this moment, grab the warm-tinted clouds streaming across the sky and bring them to earth to rest beside you.

And later, you would realise that was why you had turned to design.

You picked up your paintbrush and brought colour to the white sheet at last.

Too caught up in your seeming breakthrough, with a design almost finished on your page, you were easily busy enough to ignore the way Taehyung’s face crept into your mind. Trying to summon images of the breathtaking evening you had spent, the boy was inextricable from the memory.

The relief and liberation that had flooded you the moment you allowed yourself some respite had come from having him beside you.

Though you were a fashion designer, not a portrait artist, the flipside of the page was steadily filling with sketches of Taehyung. You hadn’t been able to capture him the exact way you wanted, his striking features escaping you, but you couldn’t hold back from trying at least.

But though you had made some progress on your creative block, you still clung to the shelter of your empty house. The hush of the village provided you with a peace of mind you hadn’t even noticed was missing while you were away.

Before you could dig yourself any more holes wondering about the fate of your career, however, exactly the person you had been hoping to see came back around.

Taehyung beamed widely from his perch on your doorstep. That wonderful smile never failed to produce a brighter grin on your own face too.

However, this time he didn’t step into your house when you made room for him. Disappointment sunk to your stomach, realising you had expected him to stay.

But his next words killed off any sadness before it could even take root within you.

“Put your shoes on,” he flashed a playful grin, “you’re coming to mine for dinner.”

“I am?” you snorted, though you were already reaching for your boots.

“Yep,” he smirked.

Folding his arms, he leaned against your doorframe while you hurriedly got ready.

“Unless you have plans?” he chuckled, “another extravagant microwave meal for one?”

Gaping, your head shot up to meet his twinkling gaze.

“You may be right,” you scoffed, finally closing the door behind you as you joined him on the street, “but that doesn’t make it nice. What would your grandma think of your manners?”

“And what would your aunt think of the way you’re eating?” he retorted.

Lips rising into a begrudging smile, you sort of fell against him in a playful nudge. The next moment, though, your eyes grew wider as he slung an arm around you, giving it a squeeze as his fingers nipped at your cheek.

“I’m joking,” he cooed, “I just want you to eat well.”

At least the sentiment was there. About an hour later you found yourself sat giggling in front of a bowl of charred remains that once were food.

“I tried,” Tae was pouting, poking around in his own bowl.

“You didn’t have to try something so fancy,” you hid more laughter behind your hand, “there’s more room for error.”

“But grandma told me exactly how to make it,” he frowned down at his dish as if it had wronged him, “I don’t know what I even did to mess it up!”

Unable to help it, a fond smile broke onto your face.

“Thank you, Taehyung.”

Your words seemed to startle him, as he immediately started spluttering about how you could thank him after he destroyed your dinner. It only served to pull more laughter from you.

“I appreciate it,” you assured him, “now how about we make something simple?”

His kitchen was stocked with fresh vegetables from the farmlands, making it easy for you to pick some and get to work. Closer to the rice fields than your house, Taehyung’s place bordered with the forest, every window giving generous views on the surrounding greenery.

“Done!”

Turning away from the trees outside the window, which you had somewhat lost yourself in, you found Taehyung stood proudly behind you. In his hands sat a bowl stacked with the vegetables he had chopped.

A look back at your own board showed you had made much less progress.

“Let me finish those,” he placed his bowl down and came to stand next to you. “I think you would be better off doing the cooking.”

Laughing, you agreed and let him take the knife from your fingers. Next, you began to fry your ingredients with the rice that hadn’t been a victim of Taehyung’s previous attempts.

Once he was done, Taehyung approached you, sliding the remaining vegetables into the pan. But even as they fell, sizzling, into the dish, he didn’t move away from you.

“Smells good,” he complimented.

Muttering a brief thank you, you kept your eyes on the food as you stirred it. You could almost pretend the heat in your cheeks was from the warmth of the stove and not the way he leaned closer as he smelled your cooking, such that his chest pressed up against your back, face hovering above your shoulder.

But before your resolve could wear thin enough for you to look around at him while he was in such painfully close proximity, a rumble interrupted your thoughts.

Taehyung instantly pulled away, apologies spilling from his lips. You, on the other hand, burst into laughter.

“Was that your stomach?” you cried.

“Maybe,” he mumbled, rubbing a hand across his middle.

Chuckling, you shut off the stove.

“Luckily, dinner is ready,” you grinned.

Taehyung eagerly dashed to grab plates, letting you pile them up with food.

Together, you brought your steaming meals to the front room where Tae pushed open the front door, inviting you to sit on the step.

“I guess it is kind of late,” you said after your first bite, “no wonder you were hungry.”

Proving your point, the boy beside you was already wolfing down his meal. Smiling to yourself, you dove back into your own food as you stared across the darkening valley, stars now painted in the mirror-smooth surfaces of the rice fields.

Sweet as always, Taehyung thrust a basket of the vegetables into your arms before you left – though, of course, he was walking back with you. Still, you were embarrassed to note the hint of resentment at his wonderful actions, as it meant you had one less excuse to see him again. In truth, you didn’t want to leave at all.

But you still thanked him profusely, and you meant it. His kindness warmed your heart, and guilt twisted inside you at the thought of taking his actions to mean anything further.

He probably felt sorry for you, lost as you were. Meanwhile he had found a place in the world, and he was happy here. Almost certainly he only wanted to do some good for an old friend.

But for tonight, you couldn’t help but indulge in the flutters Taehyung set off in your heart, a few more sketches joining the others before you fell into bed.

Since you arrived, you hadn’t been very productive. You knew this, but bringing yourself to care was becoming difficult. No, you were too busy enjoying finally getting some peace and time away from the job that had been tiring you out.

But even in your time off, it seemed too much to ask of them to let you rest.

“-so I need your assessment of the project before we can move forwards…”

Your boss’ voice crackled over the line as you held your phone passively at your ear. Gulping as she rambled on about the practicality of your colleague’s design – when she was the one who had given the project to him when you really wanted it – you stared blankly at your notebook. Only one page remained filled. The simple design you had been thrilled with a couple of days ago now crumbled in your estimation.

Tell her you can’t do it. This is your time off. At least ask to be paid for it-

“Of course. I can do that,” you replied automatically.

Instant alarm bells started ringing in your head. You had to stick up for yourself before too much was loaded onto you-

“Wonderful, I’m sending them over now. Thanks a lot,” your boss spoke, line cutting off before you could so much as open your mouth.

Huffing, you flopped back onto your bed, where you had been sleeping peacefully before your ringing phone rudely awoke you. But you didn’t rest there for more than a few seconds before you were rolling yourself off and staggering over to dig out the laptop you hadn’t touched since leaving the city.

Opening up your emails, you saw the most recent one from your boss, but unfortunately your inbox was also rammed with several others you hadn’t bothered to check. You supposed you could never have expected to be completely away from work.

Resolving to check them later, you clicked on the first of the files from your boss. Already, you groaned, seeing that the plans were more extensive than you had believed over the phone.

You couldn’t deny that you accepted this too easily.

But then again, you never wanted to be seen slacking. Maybe if you did this, it would finally be noticed and you would be in line for the next promotion…

That was what you told yourself the last time too. And the time before that, and before that.

At this point, even the thought of actually being promoted didn’t fill you with the excitement it should. It was all you had worked for, and yet all you could think of was how much more work it would mean.

Attempting to shove away your heavy pile of thoughts, you focussed back on the task at hand.

Wrangling your brain into action, however, proved difficult. You realised too late that it should have been lunchtime, hurriedly trying to make yourself something while it was already halfway through the evening, sky darkening beyond your window. But even though it was getting later and you had been working all day, you had got next to nothing done.

Even the pattering of rain on your roof which began early on did little to ease the stress creeping back into its familiar residence in your brain.

Your head was spinning as you sliced up a pepper, not able to focus on the simple movement of your hands. You knew you should be looking at your work, but even as your mind hovered around the matter, you were unable to think straight as everything proved a dead end.

A sharp pinch shook you from your haze.

Hands stilling, you looked down to find a sliver of red already growing of your fingertip. Cursing, you threw down your cooking, turning to the sink.

The blood was swept away with the stream of water from your tap, showing only a miniscule cut, but your finger shook anyway. Staring down at the small line, even though it was clean now, your breath hitched in the back of your throat.

The rain, relentless on your roof, was the only sound muffling the sobs which left you as you hunched over the basin.

Letting your hand drop, you clutched onto the edge of the surface. You felt like a child; your computer was filled with demands, your head occupied with work, but you just didn’t want to.

Why couldn’t they just leave you be?

Some instinct within you had set your feet moving before your mind could catch up. Abandoning your laptop where its screen still passively illuminated a square of your desk, you were slipping shoes on, practically throwing your door aside with your sudden desperation to reach the outdoors.

The rain which immediately hit your skin hardly occurred to you. All you could manage was to breathe deeply in the saturated air.

You had succeeded in rediscovering some of the inspiration that led you to your current path; it had always been the beauty of your hometown, the countryside with its vast fields and open skies, the peace and the fury of the elements.

And maybe you had forgotten it, but now you knew it again you wanted to seize it with both hands. The pull of work only made you resent it more.

You had to escape.

And so your feet were taking you down your road, slipping on the track which had already begun turning to mud under the onslaught from the heavens.

You had barely left the glow of the last house on your street before water was running in streams down your cheeks, mingling with the salty tears that had been falling before. Hiccupping, you wrapped your arms around yourself.

Though you sniffed, you didn’t bother to wipe at your face.

But already the ruthless pelting of raindrops began to batter away the frustration that had been stirred in you. Still breathing heavily, you pressed unflinchingly on, your mind only able to focus on stepping forward through the storm.

Despite your lack of destination, your pace was rapid and soon you were stumbling between trees as you reached the forest. Here, the hammer of rain was lighter, plucking at leaves harmlessly and filling the air with the hollow chorus.

The oppressive feeling from sitting caged by your computer was fading. But now you weren’t sure whether your shaking was from your outburst or from the cold. Only, you couldn’t exactly bring yourself to care.

It wasn’t until now that your pace slowed in the least. Finally you were away from the pressing weight that had begun to crush you, even if it still remained waiting for you at home.

Weaving between trunks, your speed waned at last, allowing your fingers to trace along the wisened and cracked bark of each one. Even when you needed to blink repeatedly to gain clear sight from unshed tears and raindrops collecting on your lashes – even when your frame shook from head to toe, hair plastered against your skin – you finally felt free.

Having nature roar around you cast the demands of work, something that once loomed over you, far out of your sight.

Feet still tripping forwards, all it took was a toe catching on a root before your knees were meeting the earth.

Down here, the raindrops jostled the smaller plants that coated the forest floor. Looking up, you tried to wipe your hands, though it was fruitless against your sodden trousers.

But you paused in your motion as you caught sight of something.

Ahead of you, some tree roots twisted upwards, sculpted into a small arch. Although beyond that, you could see little, you rose slowly and stepped closer to it.

A few leftover tears leaked from your eyes, but they were indetectable as they slipped among the rainwater. Taking no notice, your eyes remained ahead as you reached the strange opening.

Ducking, you padded inside, not hurrying at all. It inspired a stiller pace for some reason.

The first thing you were aware of was the lack of rain falling on your back. Instead, the air was perfectly calm, only the distant pattering of water on leaves a reminder of the storm you had previously been in.

A few more steps and you found yourself in the centre of what appeared to be a large tree. Bark walls encircled the generous space, though it was obscured by the abundant greenery coating them decadently.

Tiredness was rapidly seeping into your bones now, and all you could think of the moss was how soft it looked, so tempting to your drooping eyes.

Exhaustion masked any shock you would otherwise have felt, then, when your eyes fell on a larger shape lying near the far wall. But this was not part of the tree, nor its foliage. Drawing nearer, you found it appeared to be furry. Enormous ears lay flat on the leafy ground where its head lay. Its round belly rose taller than you did from the ground, even though it was horizontal.

Staring through your bleary eyes, you merely chuckled at the unusual sight.

The creature inflated with each deep breath. It was sleeping.

You were sure you must be too, given what a funny dream you were having right now. But you were still so tired.

Without further thought, you let yourself tumble to the ground so you could rest, propped up against the forest creature. Indeed it was as soft as you had imagined looking at it.

Everything was peaceful as sleep embraced you at last.

Taehyung jerked awake, the whole house seemingly clamouring in his ears.

Eyes wide, he threw off his covers, though he wasn’t sure what he expected to do. The wind was hurtling through the air outside, hitting his house like a freight train. Windows shaking in their panes, bullets of rain still spattered against the glass.

Pulling his blanket with him, Taehyung retreated towards the main room. Although he stayed back from the windows, he still looked out, watching the vague shapes of dark trees as they attempted to uproot themselves in the blustering air.

He couldn’t deny being a little unnerved by the sudden ferocity of the weather. With a calming breath, however, he reminded himself of the true form of the wind. The image of the grinning cat brought a smile stretching across his own lips as well. It had been years since he had seen it, or the spirit Totoro and their friends.

But even if he was a child then, he clutched onto those memories, trying to keep them vivid as possible.

He was about to settle down on the sofa to wait out the noise when a different shape made itself known in the window.

Doing a double take hard enough to give him whiplash, Taehyung managed to keep himself from staggering backwards in shock. Blinking determinedly, he kept his eyes fixed on the familiar form as it drew closer into the light from his porch.

Although he knew they were real, he still found himself struggling to comprehend it.

This wasn’t another dream, another memory or image on his canvas. Pushed against all the walls in his study, and his bedroom too when they overflowed the space, images of the forest spirit were strewn about his living quarters. He could never forget it but…

Why would it come back?

A moment elapsed, Totoro’s huge frame blocking out much of the view behind them as they stared blankly down at Taehyung the way they always did. The pandemonium of the wind died away.

And then Tae’s senses kicked back in, and he was sprinting to the door, hurrying into the night because there was something else.

Totoro was carrying something-

No.

Someone.

Breathless, he stood on the step, taking in the figure cradled in Totoro’s arms. It was you.

He remained still, so Totoro moved forwards, towering above him. But Taehyung could never be intimidated, knowing this gentle giant well enough. Instead, his eyes remained on you as Totoro lowered you towards him.

You were clearly asleep, eyes shut and chest rising and falling evenly. But it was how on earth you came to be so, in Totoro’s arms, and now in front Tae’s house, that had his brow furrowing deeply.

Though water no longer sat on your skin, the dampness of your hair and clothes remained. You must be freezing.

However, as Tae hurried forward a couple more steps to reach out for you, a warmth engulfed him. Recognising the forest spirit’s familiar magic, a hint of a smile returned to his face.

Though Totoro now relinquished their grip, the magic remained cocooning you, making Taehyung able to hold you in his arms as you had been rendered weightless.

Straightening to their full colossal height, Totoro backed away. Still feeling that comforting magic wrap around the two of you, Taehyung smiled as he bowed, as deeply as he could with you in his arms. Totoro gave a little bob of their own before turning away.

For a short moment, Taehyung watched the spirit amble away. But you were the priority. Unsure how long the magic would last, he backed into the door to push it open and get you both inside. Looking around in mild panic, he settled on the first place he thought of and moved through to the bedroom.

Setting you down on the futon, he pushed your wet hair away from your forehead with his palm.

Next, he hovered for a moment.

Eventually he stood back, swallowing nervously as he watched you. It was still the middle of the night, and raindrops were splattering the window again, though less harsh than before.

Of course, his concern was still unsatisfied. If Totoro had found you, that could only mean you had been in the forest. But… why? At this time of night, you should be safely tucked away inside.

Well, at least you were now.

Sighing, he turned away to retrieve the blanket he had dragged to the living room. Collecting a few more cushions for good measure, he placed them down on the closer edge of the futon. It was big enough for him to sleep here too, while still leaving some distance between you.

After depositing his bedding, Tae made one more trip to the cupboard, bringing out a duvet. Though thick, it was very light. He liked to think of it as his ‘cloud duvet’.

Seating himself, he leaned across to you to cover you with his favourite duvet, but stopped short.

The hair lying on his pillows was already drying. So too were your pyjamas.

Sighing, he shook his head lightly and continued to throw the covers across your sleeping form.

He would get his answers in the morning. Settling down himself, Taehyung turned onto his side so his back faced you. For now you were okay, Totoro had made sure of that.

But aside from what had happened to you, one thing plagued his mind the most even as he closed his eyes.

Why had Totoro brought you to him?

Beams of light hung lazily in the air, only warded off by the thin fabric of Taehyung’s curtains. Blinking in the hazy morning, the usual hushed whisper of the forest greeted him, no trace of the furore of last night.

Except for the weight on the bed beside him.

Rubbing one hand across his face, he looked down at you. You remained nestled against the pillows, hair fanning out as the light cast it into rich colour. When his arm fell, it was perilously close to you, but he didn’t move it away.

Taehyung knew there was breakfast to be made and explanations to be had once he left the comfort of the bed.

Still, he lay unmoving, content to simply let his gaze roam your resting features. Warm light glowing against your skin showed it invitingly soft. His dark eyes traced your eyelashes where they rested, the gentle slope of your lips…

His breath hitched, a slight gasp lost in the fabric of his pillow.

At the first inclination of your lashes shifting, bringing you closer to wakefulness, he retreated, sliding out from his blanket and away to the kitchen. A puff of air left his lips as he willed his feet to fall noiselessly, leaving you to slumber.

He could easily blame the moment on his hazy awakening from sleep. He could pretend he only stayed next to you for want of staying warm in bed for a while longer.

Except he knew it would never be the truth.

You were truly breathtaking to him, painted perfectly in the dreamy morning light. All he could do was steer his thoughts away and turn them to preparing some breakfast.

And that was what roused you: the vague scent of steaming rice in the air and the odd clang of kitchenware from the other room. Rolling over as your eyelids cracked apart, you registered the indulgently soft duvet you were under, the scent of rain on the pillow.

It was already light, so you eased yourself to sit, stretching out your back with a quiet groan.

Vaguely, you remembered the sound of raindrops in the air, earth biting at your knees and a giant tree. It had certainly been a strange dream, you thought as you opened your eyes.

And paused, blinking.

This wasn’t your room. Hell, it wasn’t even your house.

From among the fluffy mountains of bedding, you slowly took in the place. Somehow, you weren’t exactly panicked by the position you found yourself, oddly comforted by the domestic sounds of cooking. You could guess where you were, and became more certain when your eyes fell on a row of assorted paintings propped against the wall.

When Taehyung poked his head into the bedroom, he found you awake and sat up. You had moved to the side of the bed, and were sitting cross legged as a hand delicately skimmed the surface of the nearest painting.

For a moment, he didn’t announce himself. Breathing deeply, his eyes rested fondly on the back of your head, ignoring the painting. He could see the artwork anytime, and he knew it well.

A vibrant green landscape of the forest, he had put Totoro and the other spirits dotted about the trees. Some were barely there, signifying how they protected the woods even though almost no one believed in them at all.

You must have sensed him, however, for you were snatching your hand back from the image and whirling around to face him.

“You alright there?” he smirked gently at your surprise.

“Yeah…” you murmured.

Noticing you chewing your lip, looking between him and the painting, Taehyung’s small smile faded a little. The confused tone you spoke with placed a light frown in its place.

“Yeah?” his low voice echoed.

Pushing himself away from the doorframe, he drew closer, hands dug into his pockets.

“That… that thing, in your drawing,” you frowned, staring right at it. “I dreamt about it.”

“Ah,” understanding dawned on Taehyung and he sat down beside you. Neither of you complained at the closeness as his leg pressed flush to your own. “That’s the forest spirit I told you about. Well, all of them are. But that’s Totoro.”

His tone had been anything but ridiculing, but still you looked around to find his expression genuine, eyes slightly creased at the corners in a vague smile.

“I-I don’t understand,” you breathed.

“You didn’t dream about them,” he leaned closer for emphasis, shifting to face you better, “it was real. Do you remember coming here?”

For a moment, you frowned, eyes escaping his as they seemed to look far away while you tried to recall. You came up empty.

“No…”

“That’s because Totoro brought you to me,” Taehyung went on, patient as before, “last night, they brought you in from the storm.”

He paused for a moment, wetting his lips as he gauged your reaction before carrying on:

“Do you remember why you were out? Did you fall asleep in the forest?”

Again, that look took over your face. Your gaze fell to your hands as they played with the hem of the duvet, untangling the mass of memories from the night before.

“I think… I must have done…” you frowned, then suddenly started. “Oh crap! I remember why I left! My boss is gonna kill me-“

Panicked, Taehyung placed his hands on your knees as you carried on rambling, starting to push the blankets away in your sudden rush.

“Hey, hey, Y/N slow down, what’s going on?”

“I-I got a call from work,” you hastily explained, “they need me to approve a set of designs and I said it was fine even though-“

“I thought you took the time off work?”

“I did, I did but I said yes anyway but then I just felt so… so- argh! I was so stressed all over again and I just wanted to get out…” the clarity you lacked the night before made you cringe as you pictured yourself walking down the muddy track in just pyjamas, heading into the trees in the middle of the night. You chuckled drily, “maybe not my wisest idea.”

“No,” Taehyung had to agree, inclining his head, “but you’re here right now. Work doesn’t need you this instant.”

Pulling your lower lip between your teeth, you weren’t quite sure if he spoke the truth. Either way, you decided you didn’t much care when the boy broke into a shy grin and offered a hopeful ‘stay for breakfast?’.

He had managed to cook without mishap this time, resulting in a self-satisfied grin which you could easily tell translated into an I-told-you-so.

Happily full after his meal, Taehyung told you that he was going to do some painting, but that you were welcome to stay. From someone else, you might not be sure if they meant it or were just saying it out of politeness, but Taehyung had already offered you a set of clothes and a hot drink.

You certainly didn’t want to go yet, and you dared to hope he wanted you to stay as well.

So you accepted his offer and settled on the sofa with a steaming mug of tea and a book you had plucked at random from the shelves. Meanwhile, Taehyung turned on an old fashioned radio, which crackled softly into life in the corner before filling the atmosphere with calm music.

You knew for a fact Tae had a study in his house, but he brought his materials out into the main room anyway. Neither of you needed to say much as he set to work and you sipped your tea, going about your tasks in the mutual comfort of shared space.

He was facing the window as he worked, allowing you a view of his progress.

In the end, you became far too distracted to make it far through the book at all, too busy watching colour fill up the blank spaces. The work had already been started, with just a wash of colour occupying the canvas.

Now, you got to watch as from the blur of colours and shapes came the form of a forest. But this one was not bathed in the glory of day, the colours dark and muted instead.

Smooth brushstrokes left in their wake a body of water, glittering stars scattered within it. The limited palette of the night-time scene was fascinating to you. At last, Tae’s brush was picking out the form of the spirit again, peering from behind the trees. Your mouth curved up into a smile.

As Taehyung stood back, brush clamped in his mouth as he assessed his work so far, you scrambled to flip over a chunk of pages in your book. Burying your face in it, your cheeks burned as you realised you had been staring this whole time.

“What do you think?”

Making an effort to look as surprised as possible, you turned back to find Tae beaming at you.

“I think it’s wonderful,” you assured him, “the colours, the water… everything.”

His eyes lit up, smile only growing wider.

“Thank you! You really think so?”

At your indulgent nod, he turned back with renewed enthusiasm to complete the side of the forest which had yet to emerge from the melange of colour.

“Shall I get us lunch?” you offered not long after, noticing that you had now been there for a few hours.

Though Tae was engrossed in his painting, nose almost pressed to the canvas as he detailed some leaves in the moonlight, he graced you with an appreciative smile and a nod.

Slipping away to the kitchen, you soon reacquainted yourself with where everything lived and got to work. It wasn’t long before your limited cooking skills had done their job. A brief call to Taehyung had him emerging in the doorway with a smile on his face, taking the bowl gratefully.

Once again you settled happily on the front step, taking in the tranquil forest. It had calmed to a mere breeze since the night before, the leaves rustling, bright green in the midday sun.

“I can see why you like it here,” you commented between mouthfuls, “it must be a great place to work.”

Taehyung hummed around his mouth of food, but soon swallowed and replied, head tilted as his eyes scanned the forest.

“It inspires me.”

“So does Totoro,” you smiled. However, it couldn’t be denied that you were digging for more information after your strange encounter.

An understanding smile curved Tae’s lips and he set his chopsticks down briefly.

“You’re right,” he nodded, “for me, they’re tied together with the forest. I haven’t seen them since I was younger, but this place keeps them alive in my imagination, I suppose.”

“Wow,” you breathed, “no wonder your work is so good, hmm? You really love this place.”

As you dug back into your food, Taehyung turned his smiling eyes to you. Though you didn’t meet his gaze, he held his breath. Chewing his lip, he wondered why he couldn’t shake that feeling that had overcome him that morning.

Eventually, he forced himself back to his food, shuffling an inch or so away from you for good measure.

“I think it’s important to have a good place,” he stated, still staring at his dish when you looked around, “a place that works for you, when you need to be creative. I’m sure you can understand that.”

“Yeah,” you nodded vaguely.

But though you never disagreed, you weren’t sure you did understand. And it struck you that perhaps you should. Previously, you had only cared about what your job title could be. Never had you focussed on where you were, convinced you could continue to force out designs the way you always had…

But right now, you thought you might share Tae’s view, the motion of the leaves and the gentle sun caressing them stirring up your long lost desire to create.

And the presence of a warm figure beside you, full of support, had you wishing perhaps a little too much that you could stay.

You couldn’t delude yourself for much longer, unfortunately. Inside, Taehyung was happy to leave your dishes on the side and his brushes out as he offered to walk you home.

However, when he proposed taking you ‘the scenic way’, you dared entertain the thought that perhaps he might like having you around, too.

Though you hadn’t been here for some time and thus your sense of direction was shaky at best, you could tell that Taehyung was leading you around to the other side of town, albeit through the forest. Neither of you were in any hurry to get there, instead enjoying the dappled shade of the woodland path, reams of laughter drifting through the tree trunks as you joked together.

A subtle ache had begun in your cheeks from the constant smiling. But as Tae broke from the path, insisting on building an ‘installation art piece’, you couldn’t bring yourself to stop.

Instead, you eagerly joined Taehyung as he ran giggling through the trees, scouring the floor for twigs and stones. If anyone else had seen you, it would certainly appear childish. Especially when Taehyung encouraged you to give him a leg up so he could reach a particularly beautiful fallen leaf that was lodged in the crook of a tree branch.

It was when he leapt down again with a subtle huff that you both burst into laughter again. Through the slits your eyes became as you creased with mirth, you caught a glimpse of a broad, boxy smile that robbed you of breath in an instant.

In front of you, Taehyung was chuckling, that beautiful smile still stretching at his lips. And once again, the urge to capture this moment swelled in you. You couldn’t take your eyes from him, simply trying to commit the image to memory with the unattainable hope that it would never fade away.

As he wiped one last tear, you hurriedly turned away, cursing the intense speed your heart had reached.

“What’s your plan, Van Gogh?” you joked, hoping he couldn’t see your sudden nerves.

“Not sure,” he replied happily. Fingers catching your wrist, he tugged you further on. Striding away towards the path ahead of you, he would never see the heat blooming in your face at the contact.

Flustered, you hurried after him, only to run into his back as he stopped without warning.

“Tae? Is-?”

Poking your head from your spot behind his shoulder, you too rapidly quieted.

Though it was not long since you last saw Totoro, the memory was a haze of rain and tears. Now, though, you gulped at the sight. The spirit was waddling along the pathway, each step somehow regal with its commanding size.

With wide eyes you turned to Taehyung. His side profile showed an awed smile, a shallow breath escaping him.

When the creature turned around, you stiffened. But beside you, Taehyung simply stepped forwards, leaving you staring between him and Totoro. Bowing briefly, Tae moved even closer while you hurried to observe the same manners.

Unaffected, Totoro simply turned, continuing their ambling journey through the woods.

Frown taking over your face and unsure what to do, you looked to Tae at your side. However, his expression had split into a joyful grin that obscured his eyes within creases, and before you could even open your mouth, he was dashing to follow the spirit.

Taken by surprise, you could do nothing but follow, tripping through the undergrowth until you spilled back out onto the path.

Laughter was bubbling from your lips before you could control it. Taehyung’s giggled soon mingled with yours in the air.

On reaching the spirit’s side, you slowed somewhat. Totoro accepted your presence with barely a look your way as they kept plodding onwards. What were small steps for the creature, however, took you at a surprising pace that had a sweat breaking from your forehead after a while.

“Tada!”

A flourish of Taehyung’s arms accompanied the first breaking of the companionable silence you had journeyed in.

Following where he gestured, your eyes lit up at the sight of glittering water.

“This was where we were going?”

“Yes! Do you remember it?”

A bounce had already entered Tae’s step, and he spun to talk to you while skipping backwards.

“Of course I do!” you nodded.

Just outside this village, the stream grew broader, creating a wide, flat brook. Countless afternoons of your childhood had been spent here, hopping over the stepping stones that lay above the water’s surface, or splashing in the shallow depths at the edges.

Despite the fuzzy heat of the evening, you found a little extra energy to race after Taehyung to the bank.

Within moments, he was kicking his shoes off and hopping into the glistening water. It only just came up to his ankles, close to the side where blades of grass drooped over, their tips disturbing the surface.

Sitting down for a breather, you also slipped off your shoes and dipped your feet in. Soothingly cool, the water brought relief against the heat you had worked up on the walk.

However, you never got much chance to rest as Taehyung stuck a hand directly under your nose. Scoffing, you took it anyway. In some small retribution, you aimed a kick in his direction once he had dragged you up, sending droplets of water showering over his legs.

Of course, you were instantly shrieking as he sent a playful, but much more powerful, wave of water back your way.

Though you were still aware of the large form of Totoro standing nearby, you were inexplicably more comfortable with their presence now. In fact, they faded to the back of your mind as you let yourself become preoccupied with the impromptu water fight that had your breathless laughs carrying over the rippling stream.

Eventually, you collapsed back onto the grassy bank, head thrown back as you breathed, heavy and exhilarated. For a moment, you simply let a gentle breeze soothe your skin.

When you looked back up, Taehyung snapped his eyes away from you so fast you were hardly sure you had caught them in the first place. Just as he turned away, a shadow fell over you.

Tipping your head back, you saw Totoro looking back down at you.

Before you could speak, let alone turn to face them, a bundle of sticks had fallen at your side, a couple rolling right up to your fingers where they rested. Picking the rough objects up, you looked back to the spirit quizzically. They were the sticks Taehyung had collected earlier, eventually carried here with him and left on the ground.

Then Totoro moved away, downstream a little.

Approaching you, Taehyung bent down to retrieve a few for himself.

“I think they want to play,” he smiled.

Totoro was watching you, almost expectantly. A smile quirked over your lips.

“I know this game!”

Side by side, you and Taehyung padded upstream a few paces, selecting a stick each.

“Three! Two! One!” he counted loudly, although you swore he dropped his stick a little before the last was called.

“Hey!” you shoved him playfully, but he was already taking off jogging towards Totoro.

You had lost sight of the slim shapes moving through the water, so you walked after him, groaning as Totoro held up the gnarled stick Taehyung had chosen.

“That’s not fair!” you tried to sound indignant, even going so far as to fold your arms, but laughter betrayed you.

Several rematches later, the sun was beginning to dip in earnest, and you had to admit it was time to get home. You were still closer to Tae’s house than yours, given the roundabout route you had taken.

As the light painted the sky darker, a few wisps of grey swirling below amber, the laughter died down at the prospect of going back home. Either way, there wasn’t much you could use as an excuse to stay here longer, so you slipped your shoes back on and began making your way over the stepping stones.

Taehyung went first, more steady on his feet while you slipped, taking a moment to get your footing on each one.

Totoro, on the other hand, simply watched you go.

Once, you turned back to give them a shy wave, but they didn’t move. Despite the muteness of the spirit, you thought it looked a little affronted at your leaving.

I’ll come back you promised silently with a smile.

Staring at the wonderful creature, you understood the fond firmness of belief Tae had described feeling about the forest spirits.

But with your eyes averted, your next step was not calculated. Suddenly there was no rock beneath your foot, leg slipping straight down the side as you whipped your attention to the front too late.

“Woah!”

A gasp left you as Taehyung’s exclamation faded from the air, his hands steadfast around your waist. Gulping at the sudden contact, you dared to look up. Dark eyes bore right back into your own and they weren’t breaking away.

“You okay?”

When the words left his lips, you felt them as breath drifting across your own more than you heard them.

You tried to nod, afraid that your noses would touch, close as you were. Somehow, though, you couldn’t look away. The hypnotising softness within his irises had you unsteady all over again as you placed your foot carefully back on stone.

Still, his hands stayed in place. And you didn’t want them to move away.

Tentatively, you breathed in, unable to help your gaze dipping to Taehyung’s temptingly plump lips.

He can’t have missed it. But you realised too late, returning your gaze to the safer, yet still perilous, territory of his eyes. Only to find him slightly further away, adam’s apple bobbing in his throat as his eyebrows raised slightly.

Snapping your mouth closed, you stiffened as horror set in. Was he uncomfortable? Had you revealed yourself?

But still he didn’t back away-

A yelp punctuated the air, startled from your own lungs with the impact of your body against Tae’s chest. In a split second, you were landing against something firm with a large splash in the relative quiet of the evening.

Gasping as cold water covered your back, you jerked only to find a strong arm circling you in its grip. Below you, a low rumble of laughter vibrated through your body.

Eyes widening, you realised you were lying pressed flush against Taehyung.

As the grip around you loosened, taking some warmth with it, you looked into Tae’s eyes which were once again creasing with mirth. He struggled to sit it the shallow stream, eventually ending up with you straddled on his lap as his arm remained looped casually around you. Despite the water, icier now in the deepening evening, heat was flaming in your cheeks.

Eager to twist around, you laid eyes on what had caused your unfortunate impact. Totoro stood in the water, unmoving as ever although they were quite clearly the only culprit in sight.

“What-?” you spluttered.

Still laughing, Taehyung helped ease you off him, keeping your hand clasped in his own as you both clambered to your feet. Water dripped from your hair, your legs and shoes sending miniature downfalls over the stepping stones as you returned to them.

“Have we angered the spirit?” you stage whispered to Taehyung, who laughed loudly.

“Sorry Totoro, we have to go home,” Tae sent a bow towards the creature. They blinked back.

Giggling slightly, you took a tentative step onto the next boulder. No sooner had you moved than the wind suddenly picked up around you, the waves in the brook growing more prominent as chill air ensnared your damp skin.

Taehyung cursed under his breath.

“It’s freezing,” he muttered, gritting his teeth.

Subconsciously, you huddled closer to him as he looked around – first at the path ahead and over the stream, then back towards the forest. Both of you seemed to gravitate to the latter, where leaves rioted in the air above the treetops.

As you stood in the wind, Taehyung’s arm had lifted to absently hold your waist. You felt him tug lightly.

“Maybe we should go back to mine. It’s still too far to your place, we might both freeze.”

“Are you sure?” you breathed, though you wanted to agree there and then, run back to his warm bed and not move for several hours. The way your voice came shakily with the shivers that began only confirmed Tae’s plan, and he was already setting off towards the riverbank.

“Very sure. Let’s get inside.”

Not needing to be told twice, you followed hastily, only connected to Tae by your fingertips that clutched each other as he led the way.

A particularly violent gust had your shoulders hunching. You were nearly at the side of the stream, and so you kept your focus for a moment longer on the rocks in front of you, before at last your feet met the grassy floor.

But on looking up, the sight that greeted you on the bank had your mouth hanging open.

What looked like a bus was standing in front of you. Or what would have looked like a bus, if not for the fact that it was smiling.

But after the day you had had, you made no protest as Tae told you it was okay to get in, merely accepting your fate with an incredulous sigh.

Tae’s hand on the small of your back as you stepped inside didn’t go unnoticed by you, but you let it slide. It was nice to be out of the cold, so you busied yourself with getting cosy on the seats that ran down the sides of the interior.

A jolt announced your departure. Looking around, you found Totoro hadn’t joined you, but watched you leave from the bank instead.

Turning back to the scene in front of you, you were surprised to note that no wind touched your frozen skin any more, despite the fact the windows on this bus seemed to be… well, non-existent. Beside you, Tae was leaning out slightly with a giddy grin lighting up his face, hand splayed in the air.

With a smile creeping onto your own face, you resigned yourself to the unexpected journey. Folding your arms against the side, you too stared out across the sky.

The treetops were far beneath you now, your whole village visible though it looked toy-sized from here. Wisps of clouds flew close overhead while your vantage point showed the glaring sun peeking above the horizon, illuminating your face with the last of the day’s warmth.

A glance to Taehyung showed his face bathed in the glow as well, painting his skin with molten gold that danced in his eyes and streaked through his hair like brushstrokes.

You couldn’t tear your eyes away.

Mindless to the risk of him catching you, you allowed your gaze to trail along his features, cast into striking light and shade. You longed to reach out, touch his hair. It looked indulgently soft, waving in a light breeze as you travelled.

All too soon, shadows were once again flitting over his cheeks as you were brought closer to the ground.

Awed smile remaining on his parted lips, he turned his face to you. Though you swallowed, you didn’t bother to look away, simply returning a smile. If possible, his seemed to soften even more at this.

Landing was softer than leaving the ground, barely a bump letting you know you were back on the earth. Since you sat down, lethargy had crept up on you, revealing how spent you were after the day outside.

Taehyung stood while you were still blinking groggily from your position laying on your arms.

“Come on,” a low chuckled accompanied the sliding of arms around you.

You complied, finding your feet and stepping out of the bus with a yawn. Without a moment to spare, the vehicle? creature? had leapt from the ground, soon whizzing out of sight.

Until you climbed the steps to Taehyung’s house, the cool air waking you sufficiently to slip off your shoes, you hadn’t noticed that your clothes had dried.

“They never stop with the surprises,” Taehyung’s low voice chuckled, making you look up.

You had been standing just inside the doorway, ogling your sleeves as if you might blink and find them soaking wet again in an instant. Meanwhile, Tae stood in the living room, one hand dug into a pocket as his other fingers slipped open the top button of his shirt with practised ease.

Gulping at the sight, you fixed your eyes back on his.

He simply smiled. Under one arm he gathered a blanket that had been strewn on the couch, but it was his free hand he held out to you, fingers outstretched, inviting.

Grateful, you stepped closer, inhaling the comforting scent of his home. You hadn’t noticed it before, but though your clothes were dry they still gave off the odour of river water, making the aroma of paints mingled with herbs and spices more prominent by contrast as you closed the space between you.

Hand closing around the offered blanket, you broke eye contact for the first time.

“This feels like a dream,” you murmured, head shaking lightly.

A beat of silence as Tae released his grip on the soft fabric, transferring it to your fingers.

“It does,” he whispered.

Had you looked up, you would have found his eyes still trained intently on you. So close, he bit his tongue, not trusting his voice further given the way his throat closed up, lending his deep voice more gravel than usual.

Stifling a yawn, you looked around, already pulling the blanket over your shoulders. Despite the quick journey and drying off, the chill of the outside lingered a little.

“Where do you want me?” you yawned.

Tae cleared his throat before he spoke, stepping away though he left his fingers tangled loosely with your own.

“The bedroom is fine, i-if you want to, that is,” he hastened to add, “we’re both tired. Let’s get some sleep.”

While normally your manners would have you protest at least a little, you had to admit how sleepy you were becoming. It was impossible to deny that Tae had just proposed exactly what you wanted, and so you let him lead you to the bedroom, where you sunk onto the futon as he gathered some clothes from his wardrobe.

Folded beside you, you handled them with reverent fingers, slipping out of your clothes once Tae had excused himself for the bathroom.

You reversed your tasks once more before you found yourself bundled in comforting blankets, the weight next to you a steadying influence in the darkness. Though you longed to reach out for him, trace your fingertips over his skin, hold him close-

you really were just too tired.

And maybe it was testament to the security of his presence that you were unable to act on your desires, sleep claiming you strongly instead, taking you quicker than you had managed in months.

Waking up, however, was a different story.

While the exhaustion of yesterday had muffled any thoughts beyond wanting to sleep, today your mind was overflowing even as you first blinked at the pale light.

Beside you, Taehyung still lay sleeping. You were simultaneously aware of his peaceful beauty, and the panic with which you found yourself revelling in it. It seemed you had become a little too attached to him. Maybe this had all been a mistake…

Also in the back of your mind, though rapidly elbowing its way to the forefront, was the fact you hadn’t been home for an entire day. Your phone was still there; who knew how many work calls you might have missed?

Though you couldn’t quite find it in yourself to regret turning away from it, you couldn’t shake the itching responsibility to get back and see what mess awaited.

But at the same time, that terrified you beyond belief.

Most of all, however, your mind was swimming with colours. Shapes, snippets of designs floated in your brain. You weren’t sure when the last time that had happened was. You used to dream up your designs, when you were still beginning your career, desperate to create.

And though there were many scary things waiting for you, this revelation, this newfound desire to design again, lent your limbs new strength as you rolled from the bed.

Reclaiming your clothes from last night was first up; Tae had draped them over kitchen chairs to air out, but the smell lingered a little. It didn’t bother you too much, so you dressed quickly.

It was then that the soft creaking of floorboards caught your attention. You turned just in time to see Tae emerge from the bedroom, eyes barely cracked open while his lips were puffed out in an adorable pout, clearly only half-awake.

Stopping with an arm on the doorframe, hair flopping haphazardly around his face, he squinted across at you.

“Where are you going?” his low voice still rumbled in his throat, dry with disuse this morning.

Silently moving, you quickly padded across the floor towards him. None of the curtains were open yet, the watery morning light permeating the air tentatively.

In this dim space, you had the courage to lift your palms to press against his cheeks. On meeting his big eyes that stared across at you, you swallowed.

“There’s something I have to do,” you breathed, gaze skimming down his face as he watched you. Despite his bewildered state this early in the day, he was beginning to become more alert at your words.

Slowly, his fingers lifted to wrap gently around your wrist.

“Okay,” his voice remained husky, “but… you’ll come back?”

You tore your eyes from where they had focussed, without your consent, on his lips, to return his intent stare.

“Of course I will,” you whispered, mouth turning up at the corners.

For a moment, your breathing hitched. Such close distance between you two was becoming frequent, but you were far from used to it. Your cheeks still heated up, breath shallow as you savoured the softness of his skin under your hand.

Your eyes slid closed. In the relative darkness that encapsulated you, it was easy to think wishfully, imagine leaning closer in this timeless space where no one would see…

But then the moment passed, your hand slipping inconsequentially from his lingering grip.

Bringing your hand back to your side, you squeezed a smile his way and took a step backwards.

Then another.

He remained standing there as your pace sped up, and soon you were out of the door. As it closed behind you, you swore you could have seen a large pair of eyes blinking from between the trees.

Knowing what you did now, you couldn’t write it off, but neither did you pay any more attention, feeling a strange weightlessness as you trod the path to your house.

Going the short way this time, it didn’t take you long as you walked the tracks beside the glistening rice fields and farmland. Workers were already out, having risen with the sun which had fully emerged from the trees by now. As you passed, you exchanged nods and waves, smiling and giving good greetings to all you looked up at you.

Quiet fell again once you reached your road.

A nervous chill ran through you, but there was a thrill to it.

Approaching your house, you found two figures standing outside. With a frown, you drew closer.

“Auntie?” you called, making the women turn to you, “Mei?”

Mei’s warm face formed a friendly smile while your aunt beside her gawked. Recovering from her shook, she hurried to you, grasping your hands as your received her with confusion.

“Mei told me you were at Kim Taehyung’s? Is that true?”

With a glance to the old lady, you confirmed.

“That’s a relief,” your aunt laughed, “I came around yesterday to find you gone! You even left your phone!”

She was holding it out to you. Smiling weakly, you suddenly felt the weight of her watching you. Thankfully, Mei began to walk back towards her house, lessening your audience.

Sure enough, when you powered your phone on, it was instantly lighting up, ping after ping flooding your screen with notifications, calls and messages.

A frown made your aunt’s concern clear, but even you surprised yourself with your confidence as you simply grinned back.

“I have it under control,” you assured her, and walked up your steps to the door.

Inside, you took a breath, but could put it off no more. Beyond the fear of what you were about to do, lay the images of your home, the expansive fields and forests that had always been your source of inspiration. And now, a giant, friendly forest spirit-

And a hand, resting in yours.

The dial tone filled your ears, and you took a seat. Your notebook was still atop your desk, thrown aside to make way for your laptop, sat open with its screen dead. Nor had you disposed of your instant food wrappers-

“Y/N,” a stern voice crackled through the line. Your boss. “Where are those plans I asked you for?”

Though she couldn’t see you, you brought a smile to your face, summoned to lend you confidence.

“I’m sorry,” you quickly apologised, already hearing the reprimand on her lips, “but something came up. And I… I have something to tell you.”

A sigh.

“Go on.”

“Well… I’ve been thinking. I appreciate all the opportunities I’ve had with this company, but I don’t think it’s taking me where I would like to go-“

“Y/N!” you weren’t sure you had ever heard so much emotion in your boss’ voice. Her voice rang with pure shock, “Do you mean to say-?”

“This is me, handing in my notice,��� you spoke clearly, “thank you.”

Silence stretched out for longer than you could comfortably take. But, should you need to, you were ready to repeat yourself. Somewhere on the other line, you heard a muffled voice trying to get your boss’ attention, but it was soon gone again. You knew well the dismissive wave that person will have received.

“Very well,” she spoke at last.

And with that acceptance, you felt like you were floating.

There was a spring in your step even as you cleaned up the mess you had left behind, the whole time itching to get your hands on your pens and brushes.

You had quit. You had quit!

For so long, the notion would never have crossed your mind, the prospect of giving up too terrifying to consider. But you weren’t giving up, not at all. Maybe you were giving up on what you thought you wanted. Or what you had wanted, once upon a time, but now no longer fit you.

Instead of guilt or fear, you were filled with excitement. You knew what you wanted.

And you were halfway there.

This, however, was the easy part. No matter how hard it may be to rebuild your career, starting afresh, none of those obstacles scared you quite as much as the next thought to enter your mind.

Taehyung.

But you had promised him you would come back.

And perhaps one upheaval was enough for one day, you thought as you gathered your sketchbook, your paints. You could afford to hide from your feelings for a little longer, right?

You certainly couldn’t deny them, but you were afraid to admit them. Who knew what could happen then? You dared not hope for them being returned, and concluded to let yourself enjoy time with Tae for now.

After all, you were so excited to create, an almost alien passion that you were thrilled to welcome back.

And you could think of no one better to share this joy with. Taehyung was an artist too; he would understand.

Not far from Tae’s house, back past the open farmland, a familiar shape dominated the path in front of you. The sight of Totoro brought a smile to your face, reminding you of all the magic you had discovered in this place since you returned.

What you hadn’t quite expected was for them to be waiting for you. Unsure what to do, you settled for a quick bow and a quiet ‘hello’ as you continued.

Walking past the spirit, it just watched you for an extended moment before following along behind.

Taehyung was at the kitchen window when you arrived, and saw you coming. A boxy smile lit up his face before it disappeared from the window, emerging only seconds later in the doorway, a pair of paintbrushes clutched in his hand and dripping onto the porch. The day had bloomed into gorgeous full sun, and he held his hand up to shield his eyes from it as he watched you arrive.

A glance behind you confirmed Totoro was still following.

“They were standing around outside all morning,” Tae began talking, coming down the steps to meet you, “thought they wanted me to come into the forest, but when I tried, they walked even further down that way. What do you think’s got into them?”

“Beats me,” you shrugged, “but they seem happy enough now.”

Sure enough, Totoro had retreated a little further towards the treeline, still watching you both. For a moment, you and Tae both twisted around, looking back at the creature.

“Anyway…” you laughed.

Joining in, Tae led the way back inside, wiping his brushes against his trousers.

“Did you do what you needed to?” he asked, back facing you. The art supplies in your arms hadn’t gone unnoticed, and he was pulling out a chair to place next to his own setup.

“Yeah,” you hummed, setting your things down, “I, er- I quit my job.”

Brows lifting, Tae straightened up to face you. But his mouth soon slid into a bright smirk.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” you breathed. You couldn’t keep your own beaming smile away from your face.

His eyes lingered on you for a moment longer.

“So you’re going to be around here for a while, then?”

“Yeah,” you smiled warmly, “I think I am.”

Over the next few hours, the image you had hoped for came to life. Sitting side by side, you and Tae both went about your works in pleasureable silence. Him, hidden behind an easel and periodically popping his head around it to survey they scenery, and you, meagre sketchbook propped on a cluttered desk.

It was perfect.

And finally, your creative energy was allowed to burst forth. For the first time since you were a student, you drew. And drew. And drew.

Pages seemed to fill themselves up, and if some thoughts were still unpolished, at least they were here, proof that you had never lost your spark, the spark which the fruitless toil of your old workplace had stamped out. Maybe you had just lost your way, temporarily.

And for that short afternoon, you were able to push all other thoughts from your mind. Especially those pertaining to a certain fluffy-haired artist with a boxy smile.

But even having half your worries settled was a relief.

That night, you returned home. Though you slept easier than the last time you were in this bed, you were ashamed of how much you longed for Tae’s presence next to you. Even when you had slept silently, barely touching save for the odd brush of an arm or leg when you rolled over, it was a grounding relief to have him there.

Luckily, you hadn’t even had to ask him yesterday if you could drop by again; he had leapt on the chance to invite you himself.

So you didn’t dwell on the way you reached out when you woke up, expecting to find a warm presence under the blankets with you. Instead, you happily climbed out of bed, ready to repeat your routine from yesterday.

This time, you at least brought some snacks along from your kitchen.

Today brought a large dose of d                         ja-vu along with it. Totoro was once again waiting for you, expectant. It took you off guard, but slipped your mind once you were back at Tae’s side, happily working for the remainder of the morning.

But Totoro didn’t give up. Those large eyes blinked through the window when the two of you went to prepare food.

“Do you want attention?” you chuckled, knowing you wouldn’t receive an answer.

“What do you say?” Tae’s low voice grew closer, “fancy a break outside?”

You were prevented from replying when his breath fell across your neck, causing you to stiffen. But he simply leaned over, hooking his chin lazily on your shoulder as he dropped another spoon into the sink where you were washing up.

“Y/N?” he frowned when met with your silence, small pout forming as he drew back to look at you.

You shook yourself.

“What? Oh, yes,” you tripped over your tongue, “that sounds great. Looks like Totoro would appreciate that too.”

With a laugh, Tae wiped his hands on a cloth.

“I’ll go get changed.”

Not long later, you were surrounded by trees, bathed now in deep shade that shielded you from the midday sun. Totoro had seemingly been satisfied by your attention, as they had followed you on your walk without protest.

Not that you were sure how they would protest if they wanted to, but your point stands.

It was strange how accustomed you were to the spirit by now, no longer staring over your shoulder at the creature. Instead, you were preoccupied by Tae as he ran, giggling, towards a tree with the perfect low-hanging branches for climbing.

By the time you had reached him, he was dangling, sloth-style, so that he was level with your head. His grin was just as goofy upside-down, and you swatted at his soft hair as it hung off his reddening face.

“Budge up,” you grinned, trying to hoist yourself up as well.

You had succeeded in getting onto the first branch when Totoro appeared by the base of the tree. Smiling down at them, you waited for Tae to clamber up to the next bough.

The moment you looked back to him, however, you felt a strange tug, shrieking when you found no branch below your feet. Looking about wildly, your feet flailed, scrabbling for any kind of purchase.

From where he hung onto a branch, Taehyung looked down sharply in a panic, but instead found you level with him.

Wide eyes stared at one another until the same feeling clutched at Tae, stomach dropping as he was miraculously lifted from his perch.

A look behind you showed Totoro still right there, also floating. One arm was holding you, Tae’s hand clutching the other. As you blinked in mute shock at the spirit, they opened their mouth, stretching into a wide grin. Laughter floated past your lips at the sight.

Somehow, you dodged the branches crossing your path as you ascended, though they grew sparser as you carried on upwards. Unlike your journey in the bus, you could feel a breeze coursing past you now.

Gaping in disbelief, you found Tae again, reaching out to him. Your expression was mirrored on his, and he eagerly entwined your free hands, smile softening as you were brought closer in the air.

And as you floated high above the ground, you somehow felt little difference than the way you always did when Tae was beside you, hand resting in your own.

You laughed again, a sound of pure joy, forgetting the spirit carrying you as you simply watched his eyes. Among the cool breeze, you felt a slight tickle of warmth from his breath.

As you watched, his smile slowly melted from his lips, captivated instead by your stare, though he looked no less peaceful.

But just as distant hills could be revealed beyond the thinning leaves, you felt a warm hold loosening around you. You hadn’t even noticed it, but now it was retracting, you could feel the spirit’s magic clearly and panicked. In an instant, you had grabbed the nearest branch, which was surprisingly sturdy.

In your rush, your hand had slipped from Tae’s, but a shudder of the branch told you he had also caught hold of it.

The calming magic slipped away completely.

Now clutching the tree for dear life, you looked down, but Totoro was nowhere to be seen. Squeezing your eyes shut, you sucked in a deep breath. Then, with a surge of energy, you swung further onto the branch, ignoring the way it lurched, to give you a steadier sitting place.

“You alright?” you panted.

Only a grunt answered you as Tae copied your action.

As he righted himself, you caught an uneasy wobble in his expression, instinctively holding out a hand.

“Come here.”

Gladly taking it, Taehyung’s shoulders lowered, easing a bit once you were connected. Waiting for him, you shimmied a short distance to rest where the branch met the trunk. On reaching you, Tae pressed closer, shoulder up against your own.

Smiling fondly, you twisted so you could reach your arms around him loosely.

“It’s okay,” you whispered, though you had no idea what had just happened.

“Not a fan of heights,” he murmured, but his deep voice did not seem panicked.

“At least it’s pretty,” you pointed out, nudging him the smallest amount to avoid toppling.

You were right. Between picture frames formed by intertwining branches, the land stretched out in the brilliant light. The same land that had always inspired you. How could you bring yourself to be irritated at Totoro for bringing you here?

“You seem remarkably calm,” a chuckle rumbled through Tae’s chest.

“I’m not sure anything else can surprise me now.”

He smiled, turning towards you. In this position, though, you were intimately close, his nose barely an inch from your own once he had twisted to look into your eyes. Inhaling sharply, you gripped the tree trunk harder.

“Why do you think they brought us here?”

“I don’t know,” you whispered, not trusting your voice, “but they wouldn’t hurt us.”

“I know that,” Taehyung nodded, gaze dropping enough for you to deflate again.

Still holding onto each other like it was the most natural thing, you eyed the landscape for a little while longer, allowing quiet to elapse.

But this proximity wasn’t doing you any favours. Though you were sure Tae was oblivious, your heart was beating erratically, unable to forget his presence. All the thoughts that had occupied you lately were flooding in, except this time there was no escape.

Literally.

You were stuck in this tree next to the man who drove you crazy any time he looked your way. The man you were dying to spend time with the moment you woke up each day. The man who accepted you, supported you, reminded you where your true passion lay.

No, you couldn’t take this.

“Hey,” a low voice brushed your earlobe, just moments before a gentle finger found your chin, bringing it up.

You had barely noticed your gaze falling from the view in front of you while you lost yourself in useless circles of thought. Now, you couldn’t look away as shining dark eyes captivated your own.

“What are you thinking about?” Taehyung asked, lips curving upwards.

Licking your lips, you tore your eyes away. This was too much for your poor heart.

“Y/N?” he ducked to catch your eyes, brow creasing.

You were too weak for this boy. As soon as you saw the slight displeasure on his face, you longed to chase it away.

You sighed.

“You…”

Nearly as quiet as the breeze, you half hoped your admission would be carried away. But as you bit your tongue, daring to look up, you knew Tae had heard. His smile grew, though he tilted his head questioningly.

“What about me?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” you grinned, looking away again. This was too risky. Maybe he would buy the joke and drop it before you made a fool of yourself-

“I was thinking about you too.”

You blinked.

“You were?”

He hummed, not a trace of insincerity in his large eyes as he nodded.

“Well…” you picked subconsciously at your sleeve, “what were you thinking about?”

“Nosy,” he griped, taking a light swipe at your nose with his forefinger.

Succeeding in bringing a smile to your face as you jerked your head away with a laugh, he sighed, shuffling closer indetectably.

“I was wondering… maybe Totoro did this because of you-“ just as you gaped indignantly, he hurried on “-because of us. They put us up here… together.”

“Oh. Yeah,” you nodded, brow furrowing.

“But even if- if that’s not the case…”

Taehyung trailed off, bringing your attention back to him. He wet his lips, sucking his lower one between worrying teeth before meeting your eyes again.

“We’re alone and, well… I was wondering what it would be like to kiss you.”

That knocked all the air out of your lungs. You sucked a shaky breath, then out.

“What it would be like?” you echoed.

He nodded, gulping.

And then something snapped. Unable to stand it anymore, you slid your hand to his jaw, the next moment surging forwards, lips colliding desperately.

His arms tugged you closer instantly, pulling you against him, fingers grasping at your waist hungrily as he titled his head to meet you. And heaven, it felt amazing. His lips were as soft as they looked, leaving you lapping at them with desire as his caressed yours just as dreamily, simultaneously intense with longing pressure and gentle with reverence.

Caving to him completely, you let yourself mould to his embrace. The flowing wind around you, the rustling of the leaves were utterly driven from your mind by the maddening nudge of his tongue, prompting you to deepen the kiss.

But though your fingers still clutched his jaw desperately, you were forced to break the kiss, falling away giddy and breathless.

Tae lifted a hand to your hair as well, stroking it soothingly as he pulled you close again, foreheads touching.

“Well…” you were the first to recover your voice, “I think it would feel something like that.”

A smile burst onto his face, dominating your vision, no doubt a copy of your own ecstatic grin.

Almost immediately, a strong wind ripped through the treetops. Wiping the smile from your face, you gripped tighter to both the tree and to Taehyung.

He looked around.

Following his gaze, sure enough, you were met with two large eyes staring innocently back at you.

A beat consisted of you blinking at one another in silence, before a gasping laugh burst from your mouth. Clapping a hand over it, you met Tae’s eyes, also finding him dissolve into laughter that creased his eyes.

“Looks like you were right,” you chuckled as the warm magic began to lift you once again.

“You were just waiting for us to confess!” Tae cried.

But the wide smile on his face as he pulled you closer mid-flight showed he was far from outraged.

That night saw you tumbling at last into the same bed as Tae again. You didn’t want to leave, and you never had to.

Over time, you moved in, your own things settling among the paintings, brushes and pots that filled Tae’s house. Your house.

Every day you would see the trees, feel the wind through your hair and the sun glowing between the forest branches – the very place where you had finally given into the love binding you.

And you drew. You drew and drew, and designed until you were making a name in your own right. People would ask you about the distinctive round creatures that commonly featured in your designs. Of course, you would always laugh, a familiar sound that you shared with your boyfriend, keeping the unofficial secret between yourselves.

The two of you knew, not only the forest spirits, but the dust bunnies and flurries of wind that snaked through the roof timbers on the coldest nights. And then, you could always be assured of a warm presence beside you, to hold you through the night.

But above all, you got to see that glorious smile every day, never fading from your life.

You could breathe again.

Thank you for reading! If you want more, there is a follow up drabble here. Come chat with me if you enjoyed it!

Taglist: @aianloveseven​ @preciouschimine​ @kb-bangtanenthusiast @un2-verse​ @ddaechwita​ @taegularities​ @secretlycrazyhummingbird​ @ataraxia-98​ @hantaev​ 

my permanent taglist is open! contact me if you would like to be notified whenever I post new stories💜