Chapter Text
Taehyung has always lived a lavish lifestyle, has always enjoyed being taken care of and doted on. Especially when that doting came in the form of expensive brand name clothing or jewels, or in the form of a fancy, five-star restaurant for dinner dates.
That's why, it's easy for him to walk into the Lotte World Tower building and head up the elevator for the 45th floor, to let himself into the luxury apartment there that overlooks Seoul with the most gorgeous view. He knows his way around this apartment like the back of his hand, even in the dark.
He slips into the bedroom, sliding his Dior coat off of his shoulders to rest over a chair before sliding on top of the silk sheets, making sure he's laying in a sexy and attractive way to show off his ass in the lacy panties, the garter wrapped around his thigh. He glances in the mirror that's hanging up over the bed, taking the sight of himself in with a smile.
Perfect.
Daddy won't know what hit him when he gets home in the next ten minutes or so.
It takes Park Junseo a little bit more than ten minutes to get home from work, despite always being punctual to the second . Maybe that's because he has company with him today, a young man wrapped around him, giggling words into his ear that makes him blush.
As they stumble out the elevator and through the front door to the apartment, Junseo immediately notices the pair of shoes in front of the door.
Taehyung's shoes.
And his heart drops into his chest.
"Wait here for me, okay baby?" he whispers, making his companion giggle. And slowly, he walks through the apartment until he's stepping into his bedroom, where Taehyung's waiting for him looking every bit as beautiful as he always does.
Junseo swallows thickly. "Tae, baby. I didn't know you'd be here today," he says, his smile nervous. "Didn't you, uh, have appointments this afternoon?"
Taehyung grins, cupping his chin in his hands as he stares at Junseo with dark, wanting eyes. It's true that he did have appointments earlier, but they were all finished pretty quickly. And by appointments, he means, he went shopping with Junseo's black card and purchased the beautiful lingerie that he's wearing right now, along with a trip to the hairdresser to touch up his blonde hair.
"I finished earlier than I expected and wanted to surprise you, daddy," he purrs, his legs wrapping around each other at the ankle in the air. "Now are you gonna just stand there or are you gonna come take care of your baby, hm?"
His smile turns more smug as he rolls over in the sheets, turning onto his side so that Junseo can see everything -- including the gorgeous harness that wraps up his torso. Taehyung knows he'll love it, knows that Junseo is all about harnesses and things that he can grip at while he fucks into him.
Which is exactly why he bought it in the first place.
Junseo looks nervous, though he can't hide the way his eyes darken or his cock twitches in interest. Taehyung's gorgeous -- always has been -- but...
But maybe he's been dragging his feet ending this. For a while now.
"Tae," he mumbles, stepping further into the room, stopping at the edge of the bed. It's obvious that he wants to touch, but before he can do anything, his companion steps into the room, giggling.
"Daddy, I can't remember. You like tea, right?" he asks, tilting his head. And then his eyes fall on Taehyung, laid out all pretty on the bed. "Oh, who's this?"
Taehyung stares at the guy that just came into the room, that just called his daddy, "daddy." Dressed in expensive clothes, looking nice and neat and pretty -- and younger, too. Panic immediately sets in as he turns his gaze back to Junseo.
"Daddy?" he asks, sitting up on his knees on the bed. "What's going on?"
Junseo at least has the decency to look nervous and apologetic. Even as his new baby steps up next to him, taking his arm and watching Taehyung with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
"Taehyung, I, uh..." Junseo starts, but he's quickly interrupted.
"Oh, you're Taehyung. I thought you were last year's model? Hi, I'm Jiho," the younger man says, smiling wide (like a snake about to eat its next meal).
"Yes. Um, this is Jiho," Junseo says, reaching up to adjust his glasses. "I'm sorry, I was planning on talking to you this weekend, but... it's over, Tae."
It's over, Tae.
Over? What does over mean? What is over ?
Taehyung's heart is racing as he blinks, eyes turning from Jiho back to Junseo, cheeks flushing red as he feels humiliation and fear set in alongside the panic. Last year's model? What the fuck? What the fuck.
"What… do you mean it's over?" he asks quietly, eyes watering as they start to tear up. As their words bounce around inside of his head. "Daddy, we've been together for -- for years ! What do you mean it's over ?"
Jiho opens his mouth to answer, but Junseo makes quick work of silencing him. "I'm sorry, Tae. I thought you realized? There's just no spark left between us," he says, looking genuinely apologetic. "This isn't how I wanted to end this, but... I'm with Jiho now."
(Behind him, Jiho is beaming like the cat that caught the canary.)
Taehyung can't even care about Jiho, honestly. Now when the fear and panic is swallowing him whole, tears slipping down his cheeks, fingers shaking at his side. How could this happen to him?
"No spark?" he asks, voice a whisper of disbelief. "We had sex two days ago, daddy. And you wanted three rounds, what do you mean no spark ?"
His voice is rising in panic, going up several octaves and he knows that he must look desperate right now. That his pride is really out the window here but he can't care about that when his entire life is crumbling from underneath him.
"I don't understand," Taehyung says, looking back up at Junseo with teary eyes. "I was so good for you. I did everything you wanted all the time. I-I bought this for you! You can't just -- you can't just end it out of nowhere like this!"
Jiho scoffs. " Three rounds?" he mutters, looking up at Junseo with narrowed eyes.
But Junseo ignores him. Instead, he tries to grab Taehyung's hands. "Tae, I'm sorry. I really am. We had a lot of fun, we really did. But Jiho--"
"I'm not as used up? Is what daddy's trying to say," Jiho says.
Junseo turns toward Jiho, his expression stern. "Jiho--"
Taehyung sobs, his heart cracking with that comment. Used up ? He’s… he’s old ? He can feel the panic gripping tightly around his lungs as he shifts to move off of the bed.
“I’m only 26,” he whispers, shaking his head. “I’m not -- not used up .”
At this point, if Taehyung wasn’t so worried about how he’s going to continue to live his luxury lifestyle, he’s pretty sure he would be grabbing Jiho’s hair and attacking with his nails.
But he’s too panicked, staring at Junseo, hoping that he will defend him.
He doesn’t.
Taehyung grabs his coat, his vision blurry as he makes his way to the door, the tears falling nonstop now. He pulls on his shoes, pulls on the coat to tie the waist around and cover himself.
He squares his shoulders as he grabs the door knob and walks out.
And for the first time in his life, he has no idea what he’s going to do next.
As if Taehyung's night wasn't bad enough, the next morning, a harsh knock on his apartment door wakes him up around 6 in the morning. A burly, bored-looking man is standing outside, holding a clipboard and looking less than happy to be there.
And as soon as the door opens, the men behind him immediately flood Taehyung's apartment, stripping it of anything of value.
"Mr. Kim? We're here from the collection agency," the man -- coincidentally also named Jiho -- says, nodding toward the men packing Taehyung's things up. "We'll be out of your hair as fast as possible."
Then he nods toward a letter taped to Taehyung's door. "Also, that was waiting for you."
Bright red letters glare back up at them: EVICTION NOTICE.
Taehyung holds the letter in his hands and stares down at it numbly. When he looks up, he cries out in horror as the people box up all of his precious designer clothes, his jewels, his shoes .
They take everything.
And as the world completely crumbles under his feet, staring at his ransacked apartment that is now -- according to the letter in his hands -- no longer his, he feels completely defeated.
Taehyung’s hands are shaking as he scrolls through his contacts on his phone, bottom lip wobbling. Every name he sees are people he knows in connection with Junseo, so he can’t turn to them.
He has no one.
Except…
It’s been years, so it’s a long shot. But it’s also the only shot he has.
He presses call and slowly brings the phone up to his ear, sucking in a sharp breath when a familiar voice answers. And he can’t help the way his voice wobbles with fresh tears as he says, “Hyung, I need help.”
Yoongi's at home when he gets the call, and his eyes widen when he sees Taehyung's name pop up on his phone. A name he hasn't seen in so long.
And when he answers and hears the tearful voice of one of his oldest friends on the other line? His heart breaks just a little bit.
"Taehyung? What's wrong?" he asks, taking a seat on the couch. "Whatever you need, I'm here."
Taehyung nearly breaks down crying right then and there. The relief that sweeps through him is enough to bring him to his knees, one hand reaching up to press his palm against his eyes to try and stop crying.
“I-I don’t have anywhere to go,” he sobs, sniffling. “I’m being evicted, hyung. I was -- my b-boyfriend dumped me and now I’ve lost e-everything.”
At this point, the only things he has can fit in a box.
One single box is all that Kim Taehyung owns now.
And absolutely none of it is expensive or worth anything .
"Oh fuck," Yoongi whispers, leaning back against his couch. How long has it been since he and Taehyung last spoke? He should be annoyed that the first time he hears from Taehyung after years of silence is because he's in trouble.
But how can he be? When his oldest and most important friend needs help?
"I'll text you my address, okay? You can come stay here with me, until you get back on your feet."
Taehyung sniffles as he wipes at his eyes and nose, looking down at his attire. He’s in his pajamas and robe still, but the debt collectors took all of his clothes, too. Even his coat.
“Thank you, hyung,” he warbles, sniffling again. “Thank you.”
He ends the call to gather what little he still has. Some basic and half used skin care, shampoo and conditioners. A sleeve half eaten of Oreos. Some old Polaroid pictures of himself with friends or on Junseo’s arm.
He makes sure to rip those ones up.
He sets his fuzzy slippers in the box carefully and switches them for his only pair of shoes left, slipping his feet into them. And with his box in his arms, his eyes red rimmed and puffy and his hair a mess, he heads out and leaves behind his old life.
Yoongi's pacing around his apartment as he waits for Taehyung to arrive, chewing on his thumbnail as his mind races a mile a minute. Seokjin watches from the couch, nibbling on chips, his expression soft. "I can't believe how long it's been," he says, his smile widening. "I was wondering when I'd get to meet this Tae of yours."
"Sorry, babe. I wish it were under better circumstances," Yoongi mutters, circling the coffee table multiple times.
"Yoonie, sit down. You're making me dizzy," Seokjin says, trying to trip Yoongi the next time he comes around. But before Yoongi makes another full circle, there's a knock at the door and two of them immediately rush toward it, pulling it open.
Only to find Taehyung on their doorstep, dressed in pajamas and a robe and holding a single box.
"Taehyung..."
Seokjin, however, immediately grins. "Come in, make yourself at home! You must be so cold," he says, ushering Taehyung inside.
Taehyung is freezing, but the second he's inside, he drops his box and wraps his arms around Yoongi and hugs him tightly, sobbing into his shoulder. He thought he'd run out of tears on his way here -- having had to take the bus using the last coins he had in his wallet which was humiliating with so many people watching him as he struggled to find the coins for fare -- but apparently not.
Yoongi immediately hugs Taehyung back, holding him close and running his hand up and down his back as soothingly as he can (he's never been great at comfort, but still). "Hey, Tae. It's okay, you're safe here," he whispers, rocking him gently.
Seokjin immediately scrambles into the kitchen, making a cup of warm cocoa for Taehyung (who looks frozen) and reheating leftovers for him to eat.
Taehyung is inconsolable.
He doesn't stop crying even as Yoongi helps him settle onto the couch with him, or when Seokjin gives him some hot cocoa with the little tiny marshmallows and some warm food to eat. He hasn't eaten anything not prepared by a five star chef in years .
The sight of the food just makes him cry harder, remembering all the meals he's had that have been delicious. He didn't even know his last one was the last time -- he would have enjoyed it more. Would have savored every bite of that delicious steak cooked to perfection.
But he does accept the hot cocoa after some coaxing from Yoongi, mostly because it's warm to hold and his fingers are freezing from the trek here.
"Hyung," Taehyung whispers hoarsely as he turns to look at Yoongi. "What am I going to do? He took… h-he took everything from me…"
Yoongi rubs Taehyung's back as Seokjin drapes a blanket over his shoulders.
"He sounds like an asshole," Seokjin mutters, and Yoongi kicks his foot.
"Hey, you're gonna be okay," Yoongi says, wincing a bit at the triteness of his own platitudes. "You're amazing and smart. You're gonna land on your feet."
"And you have us to help you!" Seokjin says with a smile.
Taehyung feels a little comforted by them, offering them a small, shaky smile as he holds the hot cocoa closer to his chest. He takes a small sip of it, curling up so that he's even smaller.
Yesterday, he was out shopping at Gucci and Saint Laurent and Bulgari.
Today, he has nothing .
"I can't believe he replaced me…" Taehyung murmurs with a pout, thinking of that stupid Jiho and how he's probably only a few years younger than him. "He called me used up . I'm -- I'm not old or used up, hyung! But he replaced me with someone younger, evicted me, took all of my clothes and -- and everything ."
He bows his head again, feeling more tears starting to burn his already swollen and tired eyes.
"And now I have nothing and no money and I don't know what to do or where to start."
"You can start here," Yoongi says, rubbing Taehyung's shoulders with a small smile.
"Yeah. We'll get you something to wear. This couch is pretty comfortable, I've slept on it a few times," Seokjin says, bouncing on it gently. "And then we'll go from there."
"It's gonna be okay, Taehyung. I promise."
It's not going to be okay, Taehyung thinks as he wakes up with a sore back.
A sore back . Like an old and used up person would have. Which he is not .
He spends a few days on Yoongi and Seokjin's couch, sobbing throughout most of the days as he mourns his previous life and how unpleasant his new one is. And while he's happy to reunite with Yoongi after all these years, and Seokjin is lovely, Taehyung hates the circumstances.
He misses his comfortable bed with designer sheets that were as soft as silk. He misses waking up and taking a nice, hot bubble bath in his jacuzzi tub that has a window overlooking Gangnam. He misses having a chef to prepare all of his meals just the way he likes them, having a maid to clean up after him (this is something Seokjin politely scolds him for several times but how should Taehyung know? He's never had to clean up his own dishes before…).
And god, he misses shopping . He misses his old clothes and shoes and bags.
Currently, Taehyung's sitting on the couch with his knees up, chin resting on top of them, dressed in some of Seokjin's clothes. They're all too big on him and the material isn't even good quality. Definitely cheap and offbrand.
The real give away is that the shirt says GUSHY in the Gucci font.
Taehyung cried for about ten minutes when he put that on this morning.
Yoongi's seated on the couch, his laptop on his lap and glasses perched on his eyes as he finishes up an article he's writing for work. And Seokjin's humming in the kitchen, cooking up a delicious lunch for the three of them.
(Delicious, but definitely not five star quality.)
As Yoongi sends off an email, he looks up at Taehyung. "So, uh... have you thought about, you know, getting a job? Maybe?" he asks carefully, worried about setting Taehyung off on another sob-fest again. He gets it, he really does, but his shirts are now stained with tears. So many tears.
Taehyung looks at Yoongi, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "A job?" he asks, perplexed, trying to think about how to even go about getting one of those. Or do them. "Do… do I need one of those?"
Seokjin brings the food over to the coffee table to set out for them to eat, pausing to look at Taehyung like the words that just came out of his mouth are the strangest thing he's ever heard.
"I-I've never had a job…" Taehyung says, eyes turning back to Yoongi. "Why do I need one of those? Aren't they hard to get?"
Yoongi and Seokjin share a Look before they both look back over at Taehyung. "I mean, it depends on the job, really," he says, before Seokjin cuts in.
"There are plenty of easy jobs out there!" he says with a smile, handing Taehyung a plate. "And you need one to, you know, buy stuff. Like clothes and food. And pay rent..."
That all sounds so scary and new. At his old apartment, Junseo just paid for everything for him. He didn't have to worry about anything except being there whenever he wanted, looking pretty on his arm, and going out shopping.
God, he had it so good…
"Rent?" Taehyung whispers, a little shaky at all the new information. "I-I don't know what I can do. What kind of job can I get?"
"There's plenty of jobs you could get!" Seokjin says, taking a bite of lunch. "Maybe I could get you something at our restaurant?"
Behind Taehyung, Yoongi shakes his head aggressively.
"Or, uh... some shops in the neighborhood had help wanted signs!"
Taehyung perks up a little bit at that. If he has one of those job things, then he can have money. And money means shopping, which means he can go buy that new coat he's been eyeing from Prada.
Wetting his lips with a new found excitement, he nods. "Okay, how do I get one of those… jobs?" he asks next, scooting a little closer to the edge of the couch. "Do I just tell them I want a job and they'll give it to me?"
In that case, maybe Taehyung should just go to some kind of designer shop himself and ask about a job there. That would be perfect, then he could really have first dibs on all the newest things coming out this season.
"Can I work for Prada? Or Gucci?" Taehyung asks. "Do you think they would let me have a job?"
Yoongi and Seokjin share another Look. But as Yoongi opens his mouth to bluntly explain why Taehyung can't just get a job at Prada without any experience, Seokjin cuts in. "Well, you need experience to work for companies like those. So sometime down the line, you could!"
Yoongi's pretty sure Taehyung would need a designer clothes ensemble just to get through the door...
"Why don't we look online for job listings around town?" he offers instead. "Something to get you started."
Taehyung pouts again, shoulders sagging with defeat but he nods, nonetheless. They eat lunch together, discussing potential jobs for Taehyung and where they both started when they were first applying to places.
Suddenly, Taehyung regrets not taking studying seriously when he was in high school. Back then, Yoongi was always working hard and Taehyung didn't really understand why. College wasn't in his plans, wasn't something he cared about since he knew his parents would always take care of him.
Until they couldn't anymore, when they both died in a tragic car accident while abroad on vacation.
"So, how will I pay for rent?" Taehyung asks as he pushes some of his food around, not really hungry. "I get a job and then I pay you two?"
Yoongi and Seokjin share a third Look (they share a lot of Looks, with Taehyung around). And as Seokjin looks toward Taehyung, he offers him a small, hopefully comforting smile. "Well, actually..."
Oh god, how are you supposed to turn down your partner's childhood friend? Your partner's spoiled, down-on-his-luck, dirt poor childhood friend?
"Yoongi and I were just about to move in together. And, you know, we sort of want to start building our lives together?"
Yoongi winces and Seokjin sighs.
"But I have somewhere you can stay! My ex-roommate, Jungkook. He's really sweet. Cute, too."
Taehyung tries not to let it show on his face how dejected he feels. He has nowhere to go, has no one and now even Yoongi is going to put him out. He can't blame them, of course. It's not their fault that Taehyung's life is a mess.
And he doesn't want to burden them. He just doesn't know what to do.
His entire life has flipped upside down and he doesn't know the first thing about living on his own.
"Okay…" Taehyung mumbles as he moves the food around his plate.
Both Seokjin and Yoongi look incredibly guilty. And slowly, the two of them move to sit on either side of Taehyung, both wrapping him up in a tight hug.
"I'm sorry, Taehyung. I'm not trying to kick you out and you can stay as long as you need to," Yoongi says as Seokjin rubs Taehyung's back. "And now that we're back in each other's lives, I'm here to help you with whatever you need. Always."
"Me too," Seokjin whispers, offering Taehyung a small smile.
Taehyung sniffles, nodding as he leans into their embraces. He's tired of crying -- because it's definitely giving him under eye bags and those are not cute -- but he feels like a fish out of water. Flopping around uselessly. He doesn't know the first thing about getting a job.
About working or paying rent.
How is he supposed to do all of this?
"Okay," Taehyung says as he leans into Yoongi and hugs them both tightly. "I'll move in with this Jungkook guy… and get a job thingy. To pay rent. I can do that…"
"That's the spirit!" Seokjin says, hugging Taehyung tighter, planting a sloppy kiss on his forehead.
And Yoongi smiles softly as he hugs Taehyung again. "You got this, kid. And I'll help you every step of the way, okay?"
Taehyung smiles, too, feeling lost but better than he had when everything first went to shit.
"Thank you," he says softly. "Both of you."
It's the next morning that Taehyung finds himself out and about with Seokjin while Yoongi goes into work. He lends him another shirt -- this one says 'somebody at CHANEL loves me' which Taehyung doesn't laugh about but Seokjin has to wipe his tears from his eyes from laughing too hard -- and some pants and a hoodie since he still is without a winter coat.
They have to take the wretched bus again. Taehyung is grateful when Seokjin pays for him, so he doesn't have to scrounge in his wallet for the coins while people stare at him again, and they sit down in the back together.
"What's Jungkook like?" he asks curiously, a little nervous.
Taehyung hasn't had to live with anyone since he lived with his parents. He had an apartment all to himself when he was with Junseo the entire time, only having occasional sleepovers. So he doesn't really know what to expect when it comes to having a roommate.
Seokjin hums, leaning against Taehyung's side (and laughing again when he sees Taehyung's shirt poke through one of Yoongi's borrowed jackets). "Jungkookie? He's a good kid. Quiet, keeps to himself, works hard," he says with a smile.
"I really miss living with him. We had so much fun together." But, you know, living with his boyfriend is even better. "Also, he's really hot. Like, legs for days, abs of a Greek god... Definitely easy on the eyes.
He pauses. "Don't tell Yoongi I said that."
Taehyung giggles as he nods, settling comfortably against Seokjin's side. He tries to imagine Jungkook -- he sounds sexy and cute. Taehyung hasn't really dated anyone in years, since he's been with Junseo. And even then, he typically was more interested in older men.
But being roommates with someone that's hot doesn't sound too bad at all.
That is, until they get off the bus and proceed to walk up a massive hill that leaves Taehyung winded, having to stop against a building to catch his breath. And if that's not torture enough, Seokjin waves him forward to walk up the five flights of stairs of a shabby, run down looking apartment building.
All the way to the very top. The rooftop apartment, to be exact.
"Oh," Taehyung says, eyes widening in horror at the apartment before him. "No, I think this is a mistake--"
"Nonsense!" Seokjin says, wrapping his arm around Taehyung's shoulder and knocking on the door. "Kookie, it's me, open up!"
They're met with a long stretch of silence before the door finally opens and Jungkook pokes his head out. He looks tired -- his hair wet and messy from the shower -- and he's dressed only in a pair of sweatpants, his towel slung over his shoulder. He smiles as soon as he sees Seokjin, before his eyes widen and his cheeks flush as soon as he notices Taehyung.
"Hey hyung," he says, suddenly looking a little more shy. "Uh, come in..."
Well, Seokjin certainly was not lying when he talked about Jungkook being easy on the eyes. He's incredibly hot and sexy, and those abs… It almost is enough for him to overlook that this could potentially be his new home.
This… filthy… tiny… shack.
(He longs for his old apartment, with beautiful city views and clean hardwood floors.)
Taehyung stands awkwardly in the center of the small apartment, looking around. The kitchen is old, the fridge isn't even a full size, and the rest of the room holds a bed, a couch, and a small hanging rack set up with clothes. There's nothing on the walls to cover the hideous and tearing wallpaper.
And he's terrified to look in the bathroom.
"Um," Taehyung says softly, tugging at the sleeves of Yoongi's jacket as he looks around before his eyes fall back on Seokjin and Jungkook. "There's no… rooms?"
Jungkook's eyebrows furrow but Seokjin cuts in before he can comment. "Isn't it cozy?" he asks, draping his arm over Taehyung's shoulder. "And look how big the patio is! So much space to stretch out. I bet you could really sunbathe during the summer."
"It's not as nice as our old place, but I like it," Jungkook says, grabbing a shirt from his "closet" and tugging it over his head. "We can, you know, add curtains or something. For privacy."
Taehyung gives Seokjin the tiniest smile, still unsure. He decides to get brave, to push open the bathroom door and he practically screams as he stumbles back. It's an old bathroom, a wet room. The shower is attached to the sink, the window open for ventilation.
"Oh no, no no," he says, turning to clutch onto Seokjin. "Hyung, no. I can't live here. I can't live like this ."
Jungkook's eyes widen, his cheeks flushing a furious red as he looks at Taehyung like he just insulted his mom. "Like what, exactly?" he asks, his voice getting a little huffy. "It's a good space, a great location, and it's cheap. You'd only be paying 250 thousand a month. Do you know how rare that is?"
Seokjin immediately steps in, offering Jungkook an easy smile. "Hey, it's okay Tae. It's only a temporary home. You know, before you two find something better."
Taehyung moves behind Seokjin, clinging to his arm as his eyes practically beg for him not to leave him in this place. In this dirty, tiny shack that this Jungkook guy somehow calls a home . This isn't right.
"No, no," he says, shaking his head. "I'm definitely dreaming. Hyung, this is a dream, right? I'm going to wake up any minute in my bed back in Gangnam, in my apartment, wearing my Gucci pajamas and my chef will be preparing my breakfast and it's all just a funny dream, right?"
There's no way.
Taehyung can't shower in that bathroom. He's pretty sure he would leave that bathroom feeling more dirty than when he went into it.
For a desperate last measure, Taehyung pinches his arm really hard, yelping in pain and rubbing the spot before staring at Seokjin and Jungkook with wide eyes.
"This can't be happening to me…"
Jungkook looks increasingly more horrified the longer Taehyung talks. Gangnam? Gucci? A personal chef ? Where did this guy come from? Narnia ?
Seokjin, on the other hand, wraps his arms around Taehyung comfortingly. "I'm sorry, Tae," he hums, rubbing his back. "This place isn't so bad. It might not be big, but it's cheap and in a great location if you find a job nearby. And Kookie's a really great roommate! He'll make you breakfast every morning."
Jungkook blanches. "Wh-- Hyung, no."
Seokjin looks over at Jungkook, unamused. " Every . Morning."
Taehyung peeks at Jungkook from over Seokjin's shoulder. "B-but what if it's not good like my chef's food was?" he whispers, bottom lip wobbling. "This place is scary… What if there's ghosts? Or bugs ?"
This definitely looks like the kind of place that bugs would live.
Taehyung's feeling a little faint at that thought.
"And the bathroom, hyung," he whispers, horrified. "I can't."
Jungkook looks like he's torn between tossing Taehyung off the roof and kicking him out the front door. Either way, Taehyung's the last person he wants to live with. He'd rather eat bread crusts for lunch than make some spoiled prince food "just like his chef."
(Who the fuck has a personal chef in this day and age?)
"Yeah, I'm good, hyung. I'll just put an ad out for a roommate online," Jungkook says, waving toward the door. "Thanks for dropping by though."
Seokjin's gaze turns sharp, pinning Jungkook down to the floor with the power of his desperation to have sex with his boyfriend. "Jeon Jungkook. Need I remind you about the time I caught you with your--"
"No, we're good!" Within an instant, Jungkook's entire disposition changes. "Nevermind. Taehyung seems like a great roommate. Breakfast every morning. Destroy all ghosts and bugs. Got it."
Taehyung still doesn't seem convinced, but knowing that someone will get rid of the bugs does help. A little.
"Hyung are you sure this is the best next step for me?" Taehyung asks, chewing on his bottom lip anxiously, tugging on the sleeves of Yoongi's sweatshirt even more, covering his cold hands. "It's so cold here, and -- and what if I get a job at Prada like I said and then it's really far away?"
He knows he's losing this battle, knows it but still doesn't want to stay here. In this tiny, filthy shack that can't possibly be called an apartment.
But Seokjin's expression already is softening in that sympathetic way that Taehyung knows he's lost.
He hangs his head in defeat and sighs.
Seokjin's smile softens, his hands running through Taehyung's hair. "If you get that fancy Prada job, you'll be rolling in it and you can move closer to work. It's only temporary, Taehyung, while you get your feet off the ground," he says, squishing his cheeks. "And you couldn't ask for a better roommate than Jungkookie. He's sweet and funny and has no other friends, so he'll give you plenty of attention."
Jungkook scoffs. "I have friends ."
Taehyung's lips quirk up a little bit. He does love attention… it's the only thing he hated about living alone: having no one to talk to. Which is also why he begged Junseo for a private chef (and also because he doesn't know how to cook) so he could have someone to chat with in the mornings and afternoons.
"It's okay, Jungkook," Taehyung says quietly. I don't really have friends, either."
Most of the people Taehyung's spent his time with over the last several years have been related to Junseo in some way or another. Which means that they're all officially out of his life, too, not that he was particularly close with any of them.
Still stings a little bit, though.
Jungkook's flush deepens and his look of annoyance quickly shifts to something more like pity. Pity and... sadness. Taehyung doesn't deserve to be alone (even if he's a little spoiled and kind of out of touch with reality).
"Well, uh... it'll be fun. Living together," he says, offering Taehyung a smile, even if it's a little forced. "I promise, this place doesn't suck. And there aren't that many bugs."
Seokjin gives him a Look.
"I mean, there are no bugs at all. It's bug-free. Completely."
Taehyung wipes at his nose and nods. "Okay," he whispers. "I'll live with you then."
He says it like it's a great honor for Jungkook, sniffling and turning around to look around some more. He doesn't really pay any attention to the silent battle happening between Seokjin and Jungkook, too busy looking at a stain in the wallpaper that he thinks maybe could be old blood.
How on earth did this become his life?
Seokjin cheers, wrapping Taehyung up in a big hug. "That's great! Right, Kookie?" he asks, staring Jungkook down.
And Jungkook grimaces, trying so hard to turn it into a grin. Because he has no idea how he's going to survive living with Taehyung. Oh well, he'll do it for the money. "Yeah. Just great," he says.
(How the hell did this become his life?)