Chapter Text
It was loud around him, so very loud. People were running or at least speedwalking in all directions, shouting commands or frantic questions into their intercoms. It wasn't a sign of any catastrophe happening at the very moment, but Taehyung's concert was starting in 10 minutes in one of the bigger clubs in Seoul and so it was the staff's job to ensure all of the equipment was in place and working properly so that the event wouldn't turn out disastrous (or awkward at the very least).
Taehyung on the other hand didn't have much to do. His lines were engraved into his very brain, his choreo rehearsed till late in the nights - no place for a mistake there. He was properly nourished and hydrated for the concert, so you could say he had a bit of time for himself.
But Taehyung wasn't in a good mood. It wasn't anxiety before the performance - one of the main reasons he was so loved by the crowd was the complete ease and hypnotizing confidence with which he delivered his lines, so he was not afraid of the stage. No, the reason for the bile slowly rising in his throat was the worn photo held by him in the dim lights backstage.
It was a photo of him and Hoseok, taken the night before the older left for his world tour 6 months ago. He remembers that day so well - earlier in the afternoon they hung out at Hoseok's studio where Taehyung helped him collect all the necessary stuff he'd have to take on tour. They talked and laughed a lot, stealing kisses whenever they could. From time to time Hoseok's eyes would get unfocused, though, and then he would ask Taehyung if he shouldn't just cancel the whole thing.
"I mean... Are you sure, Tae? Because you know hyung loves you very, very much," he whispered while hugging Taehyung from behind and softly kissing his neck, "and he really doesn't want to make you wait, especially this long ."
Taehyung flushed under the attention. Something about the way Hoseok treated him like the most delicate and precious thing in the world, despite the younger being stronger and a bit taller made him feel so... cared for. And loved. And in love, which he didn't hesitate to announce, turning to Hoseok and placing a hand on his cheek.
"Hyung, you know I love you, too. Stop saying dumb shit like this." The elder let out an indignant snort in response.
"This world tour is the most amazing opportunity for you in your entire career. It's a chance for you to fulfill your dreams which you worked so hard for!"
Hoseok bit his lip and lowered his eyes, to which the younger tilted his chin and looked insistently into his eyes. "Listen to me. You are a great rapper, one of the best in fact, an amazing person, and honestly, I don't know anyone who would deserve this chance more than you do. I know you want to take care of me but it's your happiness we're talking about now. We're both adults, aren't we?"
Seeing the other's sarcastic remark coming he pinched his side. "Ow," complained Hoseok. "See? You're still just a big baby." Taehyung pinched him again.
"Hush. The long distance between us won't change how I feel about you, hyung. And," Taehyung paused for a second and licked his lips nervously, looking to the side. "And that means that I love you," he whispered.
At the sudden change in the mood a single tear escaped Hoseok's eye, and before the younger could react he was being wrapped in a hug and squeezed tightly.
"Thank-thank you, Taehyungie. Just know that I'm going to miss you so much. I'm not sure if I can take it," his laugh sounded a bit wet. Taehyung must have looked ready to keep convincing Hoseok but the older spoke again with a small smile adorning his beautiful face (what, his boyfriend was pretty). "Fine, okay, I'll go. But still, I'm going to visit you as much as they let me, okay TaeTae?"
"I wouldn't let you go otherwise," Taehyung snorted, holding back his own tears for his boyfriend's sake. He got a laugh from Hoseok for his lame joke, though. He still counted that as a win.
They parted ways later in the afternoon so that Hoseok would have time to pack all of his things before leaving the country. Taehyung walked Hoseok to his car parked in front of the studio, trying to keep himself together. Their kiss goodbye was passionate and desperate, both of them trying to pour all of their emotions into this one single kiss. Hoseok's tongue slipped into the younger's mouth as if trying to map every part of it and Taehyung went pliant in his hold, desperate for his hyung's attention. Who knew when he would get to feel this again.
If Taehyung had to search his apartment for tissues when he came back, then what, he heard crying when you needed to was actually healthy.
But this wasn't how the day ended.
Taehyung was moping around his house. They were texting earlier about how Hoseok was doing with his packing but the last message from the boy came about an hour ago. Thaehyung had texted him back and was now waiting for a reply that suspiciously wasn't coming.
Maybe Hoseok fell asleep while packing.
A loud knock at the door brought him back to reality and he checked his phone. Who the hell came to somebody's house 15 minutes after midnight??
He stood up and marched towards the door, intending to diplomatically tell the person on the other side to fuck off. His boyfriend was leaving him for God knows how long so he wasn't exactly in a chatty mood, alright?
After the knocks resounded for the second time he swung the door open and froze.
"Hobi-"
"Hi, sunshine," Hoseok smiled sheepishly, "I wanted to do one more thing before I have to go tomorrow. Wanna go with me?"
Hoseok outstretched his hand hopefully and Taehyung took it, shaking his head in disbelief while already stepping out the door. Hoseok pulled him into a quick kiss and he sighed into it, his heartbeat slowing down and quickening at the same time. Only Hoseok could make him feel this way.
Then Hoseok giggled. "Wouldn't you like to put your shoes on before we go, though? Might be more comfortable."
Taehyung looked down at his feet, seeing he was in his two mismatched socks only. He facepalmed internally.
"Not my fault you make me this desperate, hyung," he said with a wink and Hoseok spluttered in response. Overdramatic as always.
"Just take them and go," he smacked Taehyung's arm playfully. "I want to take you somewhere."
After going back to his apartment for the shoes and a jacket (it was a bit cold in the evenings now) they left the building holding hands the entire time. Hoseok led them resolutely to the bus stop but refused to reveal their destination for the night, despite Taehyung's insistent questioning.
He was curious what was so important for his boyfriend in the middle of the night, dammit.
"It's a surprise, baby," he murmured to the younger and brought their entwined hands to his mouth. He lovingly kissed each of Taehyung's knuckles, every touch of lips on his skin making butterflies flutter in the younger's stomach and causing Taehyung to avert his gaze, blushing faintly.
"Fine. I... I guess I'll trust you this one time."
Hoseok laughed and bowed dramatically.
"Thank you, my prince. I wish the surprise will be to your liking," he said and immediately booped Taehyung's nose, which scrunched up cutely at the action.
"Cute," commented as much Hoseok while smiling. And before Taehyung could react or in any way defend his pride (he had a reputation, c'mon) the older turned around to wave at the oncoming bus.
Taehyung must have dozed off sometime during the ride because before he knew it Hoseok was gently shaking his arm, telling him it was their stop. Taehyung was slow to stand up, though. They barely managed to hop out of the bus at the last second, laughing madly throughout the whole action. Once they were safely at the bus stop Taehyung leaned all of his weight on his boyfriend to catch his breath. His visit to the gym was long overdue.
Hoseok patted him on the back reassuringly, endeared by the boy's behavior. "My athlete," he murmured as Taehyung coughed.
Once they both calmed down Taehyung took a look at his surroundings and his mouth fell open in shock.
They were at the amusement park he was talking Hoseok's ear off about for the last month, basically begging the older boy and making him swear that they would visit there as soon as they were able to. Unfortunately, preparations for the upcoming world tour in the last month turned out to be too demanding for Hoseok to be able to accompany the younger.
Taehyung already resigned himself to going there once Hoseok finished his world tour, or at least came back to Korea to visit him in between concerts. Because the truth was he wanted to go there, but only if it was with Hoseok. Otherwise, he was sure the experience would be mediocre at best.
"Hyuuuung, you didn't!" exclaimed Taehyung whipping his head towards his grinning boyfriend. "I. You. I didn't expe-" he started stuttering slightly as he was in too much shock to fully comprehend, poor baby.
"I'm afraid I did," Hoseok laughed prettily. His laugh was so pretty. He pulled Taehyung closer by the belt loops so that their bodies were flush together and their faces only a few centimeters apart. Taehyung could feel the elder's breathing softly against his face and his own almost stopped in his chest with the overwhelming emotion.
They stayed like this, staring into each other's eyes for a few blissful moments, enjoying the silence that enveloped them comfortably in their private cocoon of sorts. It was Hoseok's whisper that broke the silence. "Wouldn't you like to start exploring, hm?" he asked smiling fondly at Taehyung and Dear God™, he was too whipped for the younger for it to be healthy.
"Yeah," Taehyung licked his lips, staring at Hoseok's while blushing. "Yeah, let's go."
He hesitated and then pecked Hoseok's cheek in silent gratitude, turned around, and pulled the older boy enthusiastically towards the spinning teacups. This would be so much fun.
That was most definitely, absolutely not fun at all.
Taehyung grumbled where he was sat on a bench, trying to get his head to stop spinning... And holding his poor stomach in hopes of convincing it not to throw up right now.
Don't get him wrong, it was so much fun! But as you can see, too many spins can break even the strongest of men. Although, Taehyung supposed, getting Hoseok this worried about him was not bad at all, as his fearfully widened eyes had made Hoseok hold him tightly during the rest of the ride. Everyone knew that his boyfriend's hugs were the best ones a man could get. So profit, bitches.
Honestly, after the experience, Taehyung wasn't sure whether he wanted to try any of the remaining attractions. Most of them seemed pretty extreme and honestly, barfing on a special date the older boy arranged for them didn't seem like the most appropriate way to say 'thank you'.
Hoseok had said he was just going to get some water, but he was taking quite some time. Taehyung raised his head in time to see the man marching towards him with a bottle and two tickets in his hands. His eyes must have betrayed his nervousness because Hoseok was quick to reassure him, though.
"Hey, hey, don't worry. I know you're probably not feeling all that great after this hell of a ride. In fact, you still look a bit green." Taehyung shot him an offended look but fine, he had been seconds from barfing a few minutes ago. "So I thought we could try something else."
Hoseok smiled gently and pointed to a big Ferris wheel hidden partially behind a couple of big trees. Shit, his boyfriend was a keeper. And he brought water!
By the time they entered a small cart, his stomach managed to settle and he wasn't in immediate danger of embarrassing himself any further, hopefully. The view of Seoul at night illuminated by countless lights took Taehyung's breath away. They admired the gleaming piece of art in front of them in companionable silence, enjoying the intimate glow of the surroundings. Only when their cart was close to the top did Hoseok speak.
"I love you, Taehyung-ah. I know it wasn't much, but I hope you had fun." Taehyung took his hand and squeezed it, smiling reassuringly. "And I hope you'll remember tonight, when I'm gone on tour."
He interlocked his fingers with Taehyung's and reached into his bag. What he pulled out was a polaroid camera, one that the younger has given him for his birthday two years ago. Taehyung's eyes widened.
"Hyung-" he choked out, a bit overwhelmed with emotion. No one has ever done anything like this for him. Especially remembering the fact Hoseok had a stressful flight the next day and should be packing right now. Despite it, he still went out of his way to make sure Taehyung had a happy memory.
Hoseok smiled warmly at him. "I know." He raised his arm with the camera, "now smile for me, baby." Just before the click of the camera Taehyung raised their intertwined hands and kissed Hoseok's palm, making the older smile even wider.
The small photo slid out of the camera and Hoseok shook it in the air for a minute. Once it became visible Taehyung snatched it impatiently and held it for both of them to see. They both looked so happy.
Hoseok leaned over and kissed his cheek, making the younger blush and hope it wasn't visible in the dim cart. "You keep it close, Taehyung-ah. This way I'll always be with you."
But Hoseok wasn't with him now, was he, thought Taehyung bitterly.
Okay, don't get him wrong. For most of the tour Hoseok flew back to him every week, or two in case of emergency, and each time they had a lovely two-day break dedicated solely to each other. 48 hours wasn't a lot but every time they tried to make the best of it.
One time they went to see the newest Marvel movie.
Another time they went on a tour across all of their favorite food places.
They also stayed at home and baked cookies from that cool recipe on Pinterest. Okay, they tried. Half of them turned out somewhat edible.
One week they went to a club with their friends.
To balance things out, next time they stayed the whole weekend at home binging Netflix.
The memory brought a small smile to Taehyung's face. Hoseok had been so terrified watching 'IT'.
Now, on the other hand...
Taehyung rubbed his right eye, angrily wiping away a single tear. For the past month, Hoseok hasn't visited him even once.
One time a dancer from his team got injured and they had to adjust the whole choreography at the last moment.
Another time it was because of a concert date.
Next week his flight was canceled due to a storm.
And this week some technical issue required his immediate assistance or some shit like that.
Moreover, for the past week, Hoseok had less time than ever. Said he was busy, didn't have time for many of their evening Skype calls, and despite him knowing Taehyung's whole schedule, Taehyung didn’t know much about Hoseok’s.
Normally Taehyung tried to be understanding, but this was getting a bit much.
Taehyung looked at the picture in his hand, which just made an unpleasant emotion twist in his gut. He refused to call it sadness.
He wanted to play like that? Fine. Taehyung didn't care either.
Angry, frustrated, and maybe a little bit hurt he tore the photo in half, then let it go. The pieces fell to the floor in slow motion as he just stood there, panting. He kind of felt better.
Suddenly Taehyung felt eyes on his skin, so he looked up. He noticed his friend (and manager) Jimin standing at the entrance and looking questioningly - at him, at the torn photo on the floor, then at him again.
"What's up?" he asked, trying to appear calm.
"Time to give the people what they want," answered Jimin with a wink. "You're up."
"This might be my best concert yet," Taehyung told Jimin with a bit too wide a smile.
Bass was booming so loud the sound probably carried all the way to the next street. It was the most satisfying type of noise, the one that makes the ground underneath your feet tremble just a little. Makes you feel alive that tiny bit more. It's moments like this that make you think that you're a part of something bigger, that you're making an impact on this world.
Taehyung stood there, just behind the curtain separating him from the stage. He closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and took one last deep breath before stepping through the curtain onto the stage.
White noise filled his ears. The scream from the crowd somehow managed to break through the music, becoming almost deafening. Adrenaline filled Taehyung's veins and made him feel invincible. The power that came with controlling the crowd was back, like an old friend, or maybe more like a drug.
That was exactly what he needed. It was time to get this show on the fucking road.
Lights lit up the club in flashing patterns, bass boomed and people cheered at the top of their lungs. All of the lines were spat out by Taehyung at an unbelievable speed and he did not make a single mistake. And it's not like he expected anything like that to happen - when he's prepared it means he's prepared.
His greatest hits were as always - a hit, with a few new songs and covers being met with just as much enthusiasm. Taehyung loved his fans, and their growing numbers still managed to amaze him. He was thankful for each and every one of them. The show was perfect, people happily drunk, and after the last song ended Taehyung was feeling just short of euphoric.
After the concert there was a special afterparty planned in the VIP area - some friends, other artists, producers, dancers, as well as some people randomly selected from the concert received an invitation. A lot of them Taehyung already knew, a lot of them on the other hand were still strangers he was thrilled to befriend.
He had always been told he was as friendly as a small puppy after all.
Everyone in the room was either already smashed or getting there pretty quickly, and Taehyung wasn't planning on staying behind for too long. To start the night on a good note he downed two shots at the bar, then went socializing. Oh, this night would be fun.
An hour or so later he was feeling pleasantly drunk, the shots with Jimin's friends finally helping him relax a little and let go. In the meantime, he also managed to make some new friends, acquire at least two invites for photoshoots, and promised Kim Namjoon (the Kim Namjoon) a collab in the near future.
Whatever he'd done to impress the guy he had no idea, but the important thing was that it worked and that he was going to work with one of his favorite artists in the industry. Fuck yes. On a sidenote, he had also learned that Kim Namjoon, aka RM, while intimidating on stage, was actually a very lovely and thoughtful person. It was a pleasant surprise, to say the least.
He'd been lounging on the couch and laughing with Jimin for some time now, but his friend had wandered off a minute ago to get himself a drink and now he was nowhere to be seen.
Actually Taehyung could see him very clearly making out with the bartender, but truth be told, he preferred to avoid the scarring image.
Taehyung closed his eyes and sighed deeply. Being left alone and having time to think unfortunately brought along some memories he'd rather ignore. Like one of his first concerts.
He was just a rising artist back then. Poor, without a name on the rap stage, but also very determined to get there. His performance was one of the first of the night, in case the public didn't take to him. The knowledge might have been a bit disheartening, but he'd dealt with worse. At least they let him perform.
And perform he did. He poured his whole heart into the songs, delivered the lines with as much passion as he could muster. And the people loved it. The cheers were loud, and seeing people enjoy what he offered made him try even harder. Afterward, as he hopped off the stage some people even stopped him to shake his hand and congratulate him.
"That was amazing."
"How is it possible I've never heard of you before?"
"Oh. My God."
"You gonna be here next week? If so, I'll definitely drop by then."
Taehyung laughed and thanked everyone who was stopped him to say a few kind words. For a rising artist like him, it meant the world.
Just as he was walking towards the bar to maybe grab something to drink, another hand caught him by the arm gently. He turned with a smile... And then froze completely. Jung Hoseok.
Jung freaking Hoseok, also known as j-hope, was standing in front of him with tinted sunglasses rested on top of his head and an outstretched hand. His smile was positively blinding.
Eyes wide as saucers, Taehyung slowly made himself shake the rapper’s hand. One of the most popular rappers in Korea was at his concert, saw him rap, and now wanted to talk. To him.
"Taehyung-ssi, is that right? Jung Hoseok. I must say, you were so amazing up there," he exclaimed cheerfully, covering Taehyung's palm with his left hand as well. "I liked your last performance so much I had to come again!"
Hoseok seemed to have realized what he'd just said and quickly dropped Taehyung's hand, rubbing his neck in embarrassment. "I-I didn't- It doesn't mean I'm a creep or something! I just, you could say I'm a fan, you know," he muttered the last part quietly.
Taehyung still had trouble wrapping his head around what was happening, but seeing the other's distress he rushed to reassure him." No! No, of course it's not a problem, Hoseok-ssi. I'm honored that you like my music so much." He smiled at the other, hoping to ease his nerves. "I'm a big fan of yours, too."
Hoseok answered with an equally warm smile that made his eyes scrunch up. "Fine," he amended. "Call me hyung, then. And let hyung buy you a drink."
Since the very beginning they hit it off really well. After breaking through the initial awkwardness suddenly every topic was exciting and even the lamest jokes were met with joyous laughter.
"What do you mean you got on stage without a mic? You're lying," accused Taehyung, laughing with tears in his eyes. He had been having such a good time, taking a sip of his margarita. Then suddenly Hoseok revealed the little detail about his first concert, and now Taehyung was choking on his drink in surprise. Typical.
Hoseok burst out into giggle seeing the state the younger was in. He started patting Taehyung's back.
"I swear that happened. I was so stressed out I forgot about it," he admitted, groaning in embarrassment. He rested his forehead on Taehyung's shoulder to hide, but it was futile. Taehyung already noticed him blushing. "When I finally remembered I was already in the middle of a stage. I had to wave at those people," he whined.
Taehyung snorted in amusement, still hardly able to imagine the scenario. Hoseok still wasn't lifting his head and Taehyung could feel the older boy pouting against his shoulder. Yeah, Hoseok was definitely tipsy. Who was he kidding - he was, too.
"It must have been so stressful," he murmured sympathetically. He couldn't stop himself. His free arm reached out and started petting the other's back. And he was glad he did that - Hoseok hummed in contentment against his neck, having shifted his position sometime during their talk. The feeling made a shiver run down Taehyung's spine.
"Actually, they loved it." He huffed a silent laugh, his breath caressing Taehyung's skin. The younger gulped. "And I loved your today's performance. You were amazing, Taehyungie."
Taehyung could feel his cheeks warming up slightly, this time not due to the alcohol. He then felt the elder's mouth against his neck, a gentle press of lips - an offer. He whined quietly, hoping the sound would get lost in the club's deafening noise.
But it didn't - he felt Hoseok's lips stretching against his skin in a smile. The older boy finally lifted his head and their eyes met. The lust in Hoseok's hooded eyes was unmistakable, but not demanding. He acknowledged the fact that Taehyung was younger, and was leaving the choice to him.
And choose he did. Not being able to stand the tension any longer Taehyung leaned forward, connecting their lips in a kiss. Hoseok made a surprised noise, not expecting Taehyung's eagerness, but he didn't intend to complain. Immediately he pulled Taehyung's face closer, sucking on his bottom lip and tangling his fingers in the boy's hair.
Taehyung was in a trance. He felt he could happily kiss Hoseok for the rest of the night, for the rest of the week even, and it would feel like a blessing. Their lips intertwined together perfectly, desperately, not wanting the other to go. Hoseok was leading, setting the rhythm of their kiss and Taehyung was happy to let him, allowing him to take care of everything, of him. It was as if the time has stopped, the whole club fading away, the only sound Taehyung could hear being the blood pumping in his ears.
He felt he could gladly stay in this moment forever.
Suddenly Hoseok made a displeased noise and Taehyung's heart stopped for a split second. Did he do something wrong? Hoseok just climbed over into his lap though, not detaching his lips from Taehyung's for even a moment. Taehyung breathed a silent sigh of relief and grabbed the older by the hips to stabilize him.
They continued to kiss, but this time with a special addition. Over time Hoseok began slowly circling his hips to the beat, basically grinding on Taehyung's lap. It didn't take long for Taehyung to start whining quietly. He wasn't used to being teased so much and he could feel himself getting hard already. He was embarrassed that was all it took to make him desperate.
Feeling the predicament the younger boy was in Hoseok moved his hips in a particularly harsh thrust, eliciting a yelp from Taehyung.
Hoseok detached their lips and smirked slyly, brushing his nose against Taehyung. "Wanna go to mine?"
Taehyung took a pained breath reminiscing the old memory. They were so amazing together, that first night at Hoseok's forever in his memory. After great sex they had been cuddling in the elder's bed, Hoseok holding him close to his chest and tracing mindless patterns on his back. It was then that Hoseok a bit shyly had asked him on a "proper date", as he'd called it, and Taehyung excitedly agreed.
And when Hoseok had taken him to a puppy-petting cafe, he'd been sold immediately. He had fallen in love fast and hard, more so than ever before.
He owed a bit of his success to Hoseok, too. Not to misunderstand, Taehyung was a really talented artist, but chances of becoming popular usually aren't that big.
Hoseok saw his talent, and passion, and the struggle of a young artist and decided to give him a helping hand. Got him in contact with important people in the industry, this way allowing Taehyung to get himself out there and present his tracks to the producers. It really helped him to land some contracts.
Hoseok never held this fact over Taehyung, though. He saw this merely as a way for the both of them to enjoy their shared passion - music. Taehyung had thought they were forever.
But Hoseok wasn't here now. The thought made Taehyung's heart squeeze painfully, so he downed his entire drink in one go and squeezed his eyes shut. The alcohol burned as it slid down his throat but it was a welcome sensation. One pain to drown out the other - this way the balance was maintained. Despite knowing his alcohol tolerance wasn't the best, he just wanted to have one good night.
Was it too much to ask?
A night when he didn't worry about Hoseok getting bored. About him leaving.
But that was what it looked like, wasn't it? The older boy had probably found some, some chick, probably from his dance crew. Yeah. Maybe they were fucking right now, when he was here, alone.
Taehyung snorted, heaving himself up and off the couch, stumbling only slightly on his way to a group of people. Some of them looked vaguely familiar. For this party - good enough.
He approached them, moving his body to the deafening beat of the music. "Hey!" he shouted over the noise when he got close enough. Surprised, they turned around and immediately smiled.
Taehyung spread his arms in mock greeting. "Hi, do you know Kim Taehyung?"
All of them drunk, they cheered loudly, attracting the attention of people around them.
"Never heard of that bitch," answered the girl closest to him.
He whipped his head around, stumbling slightly in the process. "Wheein!" he exclaimed and threw himself at her. His plan was to go for a hug, which quickly turned into throwing all of his weight at his friend and expecting her to catch him.
"Jesus," she wheezed, laughing. "You sure had a bit to drink."
Taehyung pouted into her shoulder. "Shuddup," he mumbled, "just a shot or two."
The hum she gave in response didn't sound like she was convinced, but Taehyung decided he wasn't going to defend his lies this time.
"Your concert was amazing, though, really!" Wheein hugged him a bit tighter, then let him go. She put her hands on Taehyung's cheeks and squeezed. "How are you so damn good at this? How?"
Freeing himself from her grip Taehyung laughed. "I'm starting to see I wasn't the only one drinking."
Someone slapped his back. "Of course not, dude. After your concert, everyone is now in for one hell of a party!" When Taehyung turned he discovered it was a young producer from one of the more famous studios in Seoul. If Taehyung remembered correctly, his name was Mark. Taehyung enjoyed working with him in the past.
"So good to see you, guys!" exclaimed Taehyung. He went and hugged Mark, and then the man holding him by the waist.
"And you're Johnny, Mark's boyfriend, am I correct?" Taehyung smiled warmly.
"Ah that's right, I'm surprised you remembered, Taehyung-ssi," Johnny clapped Taehyung lightly on the shoulder, his other arm pulling Mark even closer to himself. The action made the younger man blush lightly. "Actually, yesterday was our anniversary. Mark took us here today to celebrate the occasion once again and I'm glad that he did. We're having such a good time."
"Speaking of a good time," started Mark, "anybody wants to hit the dance floor and make good use of the alcohol inside of us? Everyone? That's great, let's go." And off he went, tugging his boyfriend behind him.
Taehyung watched them go, then turned to Wheein. Bowing in an exaggerated manner he extended his hand. "Will you give me the honor?"
She slapped her hand in his with considerable force. "I swear to God, you're the gayest guy I know," she muttered exasperatedly. She then tugged him towards the center of the dance floor, both of them swaying and calling it vibing.
Once they've reached their destination they started moving with the music. They kept their dancing platonic, though, both of them just comfortable with each other. After a few wilder tracks something slower came on and gave them the chance to catch their breath.
Halfway through the song Taehyung noticed a guy glancing from time to time at Wheein. And from what it looked like, the interest was mutual. His friend just didn't want to leave him alone.
Deciding to be a good person, he took a step back.
"Whoa, I need to catch a breath. And grab another drink."
He then leaned closer to whisper into her ear. "Go get him, tiger."
Wheein blushed and waved him away, though a small grateful smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Taehyung started his slow journey towards the bar, the challenge of slipping between the mass of dancing bodies proving a bit difficult in his inebriated state. The second he reached his destination he rested his forehead on the countertop to cool down. Hm, slightly sticky.
A quiet sigh fell from his lips. If he was being honest, he was feeling kind of lonely. Seeing all these couples - Mark and Johnny, Wheein and her boy of the night... Taehyung turned his head to the side, looking at the couple in front of him. Jimin and the bartender (Seokjin, wasn't it?). Why couldn't Hoseok just be here? He missed him. He was drunk and he fucking missed him.
He shook himself out of his thoughts. Better to keep the mind blissfully empty.
Straightening back up, Taehyung noticed that the luck was on his side. Jimin and Seokjin weren't currently having a makeout session, just talking and seemingly having a good time.
As much as they looked cute together, Taehyung had come here for a reason. "Hey, lovebirds," he called, attracting their attention. Jimin smiled at him lazily. Seokjin took one look at Taehyung and turned towards the wall of liquors. "Anything in particular that you want?"
"Nah, hyung. Three shots, something strong."
Jimin and Seokjin exchanged a quick glance and the younger looked worriedly at Taehyung.
"Taehyungie, are you sure-"
"Yes, Jimin, I'm sure I deserve it after today." Realizing that'd sounded a bit harsh, he added. "Don't worry, you won't have to drag me out of some ditch." Jimin snorted. "I promise."
Just then Seokjin slammed the shots in front of Taehyung, effectively catching his attention.
The drinks were a mesmerizing deep shade of red, and even though Taehyung wasn’t sure what they were, it didn't really matter. They could have been Kool-Aid with vodka for all he cared.
Taehyung raised one of the shots towards his friends in a half-assed toast and downed it in one gulp. Then the second one. His head actually started to become a bit fuzzy, so Taehyung decided to just sit there for a while and listen to Jimin and Seokjin's conversation.
Okay, so maybe "listening to the conversation" was a bit of a stretch. The buzzing in his ears only got stronger with time, the one thing he was able to focus on being the music blasting inside of the club.
It washed over Taehyung, surrounding him from all sides, almost drowning. It was a good thing though. His mind became blissfully empty, letting him be and allowing him a moment of undisturbed peace.
Swaying from one side to the other Taehyung reached out for the last shot. Just as the last sip was going down his throat, he felt fingers tracing slowly down his spine.
Confused, he turned around. In front of Taehyung, there was a boy. He was tall, broad, with a bit of a boyish charm. He smiled at Taehyung and leaned slightly towards him. All of this without removing his hand from Taehyung's lower back.
"H-hello?" tried Taehyung, confused.
"Hello indeed, hyung." The guy's smile turned a bit playful, and he squeezed Taehyung's waist.
Taehyung yelped but didn't back away. He felt as if he should, but he couldn't remember why.
"Uhm." Jesus, Taehyung thought. He shouldn't have drunk so much, his brain was barely functioning.
The guy's body was rocking slightly with the beat, all the while gently leading Taehyung further into the dance floor. Taehyung's brain decided to just go with it, so he leaned closer to the stranger's chest.
The lights in the club were mesmerizing. Constantly changing, from blue and green, to purple, to red, and the spinning colors were a good representation of Taehyung's spinning mind. All coherent thoughts left him. He was only able to focus on the music, the lights, the atmosphere... How close he was to the boy on the dance floor. Oh, and how everything was spinning.
Taehyung started dancing, too, both of them grinding on each other now. A single warning bell was going off inside his head, but he couldn't be bothered to figure out what that was about.
"Jungkook," the stranger whispered into Taehyung's ear. "Big fan of yours."
Taehyung hummed in acknowledgment, leaning closer. His head was a mess, he was a mess, he wasn't sure what the fuck he was doing. Why it felt good but also so weird. He felt a sense of deja vu, as if he's heard these words before.
"Well, Jungkook-ah, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself tonight."
"I'm enjoying myself right now." Jungkook smiled at Taehyung, a quick flash of hesitation in his eyes before he leaned forward and connected their lips.
Fuck, was Taehyung's last thought as he started responding to the kiss, and his memory started getting blurry.