White Lies

by 2019_0201

Summary:

The first rule of being a bodyguard was to never fall for your clients.

Knowing that hadn't stopped Taehyung from falling for his client.

Min Yoongi was beautiful, talented, and sweet, and Taehyung hadn't stood a chance. He'd told himself that he'd never do anything about it, that he'd never cross that line any more than he already had, but when Yoongi suggested going on dates to help him write the romance sections of his next book, Taehyung couldn't help but offer to take him instead. He hadn't meant to lie about why, hadn't meant to use the recently resolved threats on Yoongi's life as an excuse to call dating strangers risky, but he couldn't help that either. All he could do was hope that Yoongi never found out.

Notes:

• In response to a prompt by Anonymous in the Agust D Fest_ The Mixtapes collection.

"With the two of us, the world is nothing scary" - Dear My Friend

Taehyung is Yoongi’s bodyguard. There is normally no threat but Taehyung insists that there is, as an excuse to take Yoongi out on dates. Taehyung constantly asks to hold Yoongi’s hand as an excuse, claiming it is to prevent him from running off. When an actual threat happens, Taehyung becomes a ruthless badass that does his job properly.

(feel free to make it angsty like the song tho lol )

[ moodboard by tes ]

 

The thing about Taehyung’s job was that it was generally very boring. Despite what the movies, books, and honestly, every type of media said, being a bodyguard wasn’t sexy or even all that dangerous. On a normal day, he spent most of his time hanging around his client’s house, occasionally accompanying them to events and on errands. The closest to ‘action’ he’d seen was when he’d had to break up a fight between his client and one of their friends. In fact, to this day, the only injury he’d ever sustained on the job had been a punch from his own drunken client.

 

Like he said, boring.

 

When he’d decided he wanted to be a bodyguard, he’d obviously pictured something more risque, more intriguing, but that hadn’t ended up being the reality. Sure, sometimes there were incidents, but most of the time he was merely a presence in the background, offering the threat of force rather than actually performing any. In fact, the only thing that was at all similar to the movie that had first made him want to become a bodyguard—Whitney Houston’s 1992 film The Bodyguard, a classic in his very humble opinion—was that he’d fallen in love with his client.

 

He maintained that anyone would though, so he didn’t really blame himself. 

 

The thing about his client was that he, unlike all the other people Taehyung had guarded over the past decade, didn’t need him. There were no threats, no late nights out partying in risky areas, no temperamental exes, or intense jobs. There was nothing about his client that required his protection.

 

Nothing aside from his family.

 

Min Yoongi was, at 35 years old, the youngest child of the Min Media conglomerate. Most people didn’t need more information than that. In fact, when he’d been contacted to start the job, Taehyung hadn’t even asked for more himself. The Min family was known. They were wealthy, connected, and had a fondness for using both those things to get their way in every aspect of life. Taehyung had once seen a frankly disturbing statistic about how much their family contributed to the national GDP and hadn’t looked at the family the same since. It seemed logical to him that they would need round-the-clock protection.

 

All that contributed a great deal to the image of Yoongi he’d built up in his head before he’d met him. He’d guarded the children of wealthy people before so he’d expected more of the same. Sure, he’d never protected someone that wealthy, but he honestly hadn’t expected much difference. Taehyung had met the eldest son first since he’d accompanied his parents to the initial interview, and, since his expectation of him was exactly what he saw, Taehyung had been even more confident in his assumptions about Yoongi.

 

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

 

Yoongi was nothing like what he expected. Where his brother was tall and firm, business-minded and logical, Yoongi was small and soft, flighty and fanciful. He spent most of his time, every day really, in the fantasy realms he created and had little to no interest in his family nor his status. The only time, in fact, when Taehyung saw it come up was when his parents requested (see: demanded) his presence at certain events, like the one they were currently at. This happened rarely and only when the other three members of the family were unavailable, further destroying Taehyung’s preconceived notions about Yoongi.

 

If he really thought about it, he wasn’t sure when he’d fallen for Yoongi. He couldn’t pinpoint a moment where his opinion of him changed or when he’d started seeing him differently. He wasn’t even sure what, exactly, had made him fall. All he knew was that, one day, he’d been watching Yoongi open a gift from his publisher, congratulating him on selling 100,000 copies of his book, and it’d hit him with all the force of an unmarked truck in an isekai anime. Yoongi had been sitting on the floor, cross-legged and hugging a large cat stuffed animal designed after one of his characters, smiling up at Taehyung, and he’d realized, in no uncertain terms, that he’d do anything to make sure Yoongi always smiled like that.

 

The realization that he loved Yoongi, to his surprise, was easy to accept. He’d been stunned into silence, so much so that Yoongi had even asked if he was okay, but once he’d processed it, things had continued on as normal. The hard part, as it turned out, was figuring out what to do about it. He was a professional and the first rule was, quite obviously, don’t fuck the clients, but he wasn’t sure if that really counted when love was involved. But, then again, there was also the obvious issue of their power dynamic. While Yoongi was his boss, Taehyung was his protector. The balance was uneven no matter what angle someone looked at it which could cause issues down the road if they decided to date or even just sleep together.

 

So, what had Taehyung done?

 

Nothing, at least, not really. He couldn’t stop himself from getting closer to Yoongi, from crossing the line between professional and friendly, but he hadn’t gone any further than that. Not yet, anyway. He thought about it constantly though—there was no way for him not to, not when he was faced with Yoongi all day every day. On the most basic level, he was always wondering what it’d feel like to kiss him when he pouted, to fuck him when he got snippy during his writing blocks, to cuddle him when he was spending the morning in bed, or comfort him when something wasn’t going his way. Even more than that, though, he wanted to know what it’d feel like to hold his hand as they walked somewhere or what he’d look like illuminated by candlelight while sitting across from him on a date. He just wanted to be with Yoongi, for him to be his, and it was a nearly overwhelming desire. A problem, really, and one he had absolutely no idea how to handle.

 

“Tae, do you mind running to the car? I forgot my pen and people keep asking for autographs,” Yoongi murmured quietly, appearing at Taehyung’s side.

 

Taehyung blinked for a moment, mildly concerned he hadn’t noticed Yoongi move toward him, then looked down. Yoongi was standing close, nearly pressed against him, and looking up at him while he nibbled on his bottom lip. It was endearing, like everything else that Yoongi did. Taehyung had never met someone of Yoongi’s status who felt bad asking for things. 

 

Without a word, Taehyung reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pen. Yoongi’s eyes widened as he took the pen with both hands. “It’s my brand.”

 

“It is,” Taehyung confirmed. Yoongi was incredibly anal about pens. He only wrote with one specific line from one specific brand. Supposedly, it was smoother than all the others. Taehyung didn’t know, or care, about that, but he’d taken to carrying backups for Yoongi just in case. He didn’t even need to buy them—Yoongi kept at least fifty in his home at all times. 

 

“How’d you know?” Yoongi asked, his smile widening as he looked up at him, the pen still clutched in both his hands.

 

Taehyung raised a brow. “How did I notice you using the same pen every time you write? Maybe it was my top-notch observational skills. Or maybe it was the fact you went on a fifteen-minute rant the first week we met about how superior that specific pen is.”

 

“I did not do that,” Yoongi whispered, his cheeks turning red as his shoulders lifted in embarrassment.

 

He most certainly had. It’d been the moment Taehyung realized just how wrong he’d been about Yoongi. He didn’t care about status or money or fame—he cared about pens. “Hmm, must have been a dream then.”

 

Yoongi narrowed his eyes at him and then blew out, puffing up his cheeks. “Thank you for the pen.”

 

Taehyung hummed. “Go catch up with your adoring fans.”

 

Rolling his eyes, Yoongi sighed and leaned even closer. Taehyung held himself still, doing his best not to focus on the feeling of Yoongi’s shoulder pressing into his chest or give into the desire to pull him into his arms and hold him close. “They’re not my fans. They just want to impress my parents and think a signed copy of my book would be a good investment. They do it to Joon all the time with his art.”

 

“Then tell them no.”

 

Yoongi smiled slightly, his eyes more resigned than truly unhappy, and stepped back. “Can’t do that. I think I’ll be done with my list in an hour or so and then we can leave.”

 

“I’ll be here,” Taehyung promised, letting out a small breath as Yoongi moved away from him. 

 

Smiling again, Yoongi turned and left, almost immediately swarmed by two older men holding copies of his book. Taehyung narrowed his eyes as he watched them and realized that Yoongi was right. Unlike all the genuine fans he’d seen Yoongi interact with, these men looked like they were fulfilling a business obligation. It made Taehyung a bit sad to see something that Yoongi was so proud of being treated that way and he could tell by the set of Yoongi’s shoulders that he didn’t like it either.

 

He wished he could take Yoongi somewhere that would erase that posture and make him smile without that look in his eyes. As much as he got stir-crazy sometimes just sitting at home while Yoongi wrote for hours, if not days, on end, he’d much rather do that than watch him forcibly interact with people who cared for nothing but his last name. At least there Yoongi was genuinely happy.

 

Yoongi bowed slightly to the two men and handed the books back, his expression pinched as they bowed in return, nearly the full ninety degrees, before leaving him behind. Yoongi’s hands immediately clasped together, his right thumb rubbing over the top of his left as he stared straight ahead blankly. Taehyung didn’t see that move often since it only came out when Yoongi was truly uncomfortable, and it made him tense. He knew that Yoongi had a list of people he had to see and talk to so that his parents would be satisfied, but he hated seeing Yoongi this upset. He knew, as his bodyguard, it was beyond unprofessional to interfere, but he couldn’t stop himself.

 

Leaving his place near the wall, Taehyung wove his way through the crowd, cutting in front of another CEO who’d been making his way toward Yoongi. He placed a hand on top of Yoongi’s, stopping the nervous rubbing, and leaned down, his lips just against Yoongi’s ear. “Let’s leave, Mr. Min. There’s no reason that you have to stay.”

 

“I can’t,” Yoongi sighed out, not moving out of Taehyung’s near embrace. “There are people waiting to talk to a Min and, tonight, that’s me.”

 

“You’re uncomfortable,” Taehyung observed.

 

Yoongi tilted his head back then, his eyes lifting to Taehyung’s face as his brows furrowed for a moment before his cheeks tinted a soft shade of pink. “Is it that obvious?”

 

“No. I just know you well,” Taehyung said honestly, squeezing his hands, “and I don’t like to see you this way.”

 

“That’s… really sweet, Tae, but I can’t leave. It doesn’t matter if I hate it here,” Yoongi sighed out, his nose scrunching as he straightened and stepped away from Taehyung, still not taking his hand back. “It’s my job.”

 

Taehyung wanted to point out that being a member of a family wasn’t a job, but he knew, when it came to the Mins, that wasn’t true. That name carried with it an obligation and as much as Taehyung—and Yoongi—didn’t like it, that was the reality. So, instead, he pursed his lips and nodded slowly. “Fine. How about, once you’re done with that list, we go somewhere and get a treat? That frozen yogurt place you wanted to try will probably still be open.”

 

Yoongi’s eyes widened and he stepped closer again, a smile stretching across his face as he bounced a bit. “Yea? We can go? It’ll be so late, are you sure?”

 

“Of course,” Taehyung promised, his heart pounding. It echoed in his ears so loudly that Taehyung honestly didn’t know how Yoongi couldn’t hear it.

 

“Thanks, Tae. I’ll be done soon!”

 

Taehyung opened his mouth to reply, but the CEO he’d cut off stepped closer then, calling Yoongi’s name, so he simply squeezed Yoongi’s hand again and stepped back, returning to his position on the outside alongside all the hired help. It still pained him to see Yoongi so uncomfortable, but every so often, Yoongi would look at him and smile, holding up numbers on his fingers that Taehyung figured was an indication of how people were left on his list, and Taehyung was satisfied. As long as he could make Yoongi happy, things were fine the way they were.

 

❆❆❆

 

Smiling up at the servant who poured his tea, Yoongi inclined his head. “Thank you, Sooyoung.”

 

“Of course, Mr. Min,” she replied, placing the teapot down and stepping back, her hands folded in front of her as she waited to be called upon again.

 

“I hear you left quite early, Yoongi.”

 

Yoongi turned his attention to his father, who hadn’t lifted his eyes from the folder he’d been reading since Yoongi arrived. Yoongi assumed something important must be happening if his father’s focus was split so obviously. He could ask but he didn’t really want to get involved, so he didn’t.

 

“Yes, the Chairman of the Yumin Group was quite displeased that, when he tried to find you, you’d already left,” his mother added, her eyes also pointed downward, though hers were focused on the spoon she was delicately setting beside her cup.

 

“That’s interesting, because when I approached him he told me he’d find me when he had time,” Yoongi revealed, crossing his legs. He hated this part of attending family events. Admittedly, he didn’t do them the right way, not really, but he’d been trained since birth just like his brother, he knew what to do. He also knew how to play the game his parents seemingly lived by.

 

His mother’s brow rose sharply, her lips falling into a displeased line. “He said what?”

 

“He was in the middle of my list, as is appropriate for what value he can offer,” Yoongi explained, sighing, “but when I approached him, he waved me off. I moved him to the end of my list accordingly but even then, he was busy. There was this… child, honestly, that seemed to hold quite a lot of his attention.”

 

“Child.”

 

Glancing at his father, Yoongi nodded. “I asked around. She’s the youngest daughter of Lucky Foods. She turned eighteen last month.”

 

“Disgusting,” his mother muttered, her lips falling into a genuine frown.

 

“I wouldn’t worry too much. We talked,” Yoongi revealed, tapping his finger on the arm of the chair. “She’s quite smart and aware of the situation.”

 

“That’s good, I suppose,” his mother said, leaning back as she picked up her tea. 

 

Yoongi watched her for a moment, taking in her still clearly irritated posture. He wouldn’t be surprised if she related to the young heiress. As the eldest child of Jisun Group, Kim Hyesu had long been the center of attention, particularly from men who thought she’d be easy to manipulate. Yoongi had always thought she was very good at manipulating those men right back, which was why she and his father made such a good match. Terrifying in their effectiveness, if he did say so himself.

 

“That does not explain why you left so early,” his father commented, finally closing the folder. “I asked that you represent us at the event and you didn’t even stay for half the time.”

 

“No,” Yoongi confirmed. “I talked to everyone who needed to be talked to and left after that. I saw no need to hang around when the remaining people were pandering to me about my book as if they’d even cracked the spine. Do you know how many autographs I had to sign for people who didn’t even realize I published under a pseudonym when it’s typed on the front?”

 

His father raised a brow, an eerily similar expression to his mother’s. Yoongi wondered if people who spent that much time together started to just imitate each other without noticing. “People brought your books?”

 

“Yes, I wasted a great deal of the night signing books. Next time, perhaps I should tell them to come to an event like everyone else?” Yoongi asked, raising his own brow.

 

“Now, Yoongi,” Hyesu chastised lightly despite the smile tilting her lips upward. 

 

Yoongi sighed. “You know I hate these things. I did what you asked.”

 

“We grant you a great deal of latitude, Yoongi,” his father reminded him, earning a pointed tap on his arm from his wife.

 

“I’m aware.”

 

His father stared at him for a moment longer, perhaps looking for something, but eventually, he just sighed and shook his head. “Send me a report of the night and make sure to include the names of those who got your autograph—I want to know who has your book for show.”

 

“It’s already in your email,” Yoongi said. He’d made sure to type it up after he’d gotten home. Though his father always made him attend meetings after he did something for them, he also always had to cut the meeting short and requested a report instead. After the first half dozen times, he’d learned to just be prepared ahead of time and not take it personally.

 

“Excellent. I have to go. Your brother is holding a meeting with—”

 

“Please don’t tell me information that I’d have to hide,” Yoongi interrupted, raising his hand.

 

Sighing again, this time in more clear disappointment, his father stood and buttoned his jacket. He grabbed the folder he’d been so attentive to and strode out without a further word, his assistant, who Yoongi had honestly not even taken note of, close behind. 

 

“You could at least pretend to be interested, Yoongi,” Hyesu chastised, taking a bite of one of the cookies that’d been placed on her plate.

 

Yoongi shook his head. “Don’t want to give him the wrong idea.”

 

“That, what, you care about this family?” she asked dryly.

 

“Yes.”

 

Hyesu snorted delicately before setting the remaining portion of the cookie down and standing. She smoothed her hands over her skirt as she straightened. “I have to go as well. We’re meeting about that new community center downtown. You don’t have to keep that a secret, so don’t worry. In fact, I might drag you to one of those meetings. They’re adding a library and having an author there for the opening will look good.”

 

Yoongi nodded. “Just let me know so I can run it past my publisher.”

 

“I already have,” Hyesu revealed as he walked toward the door as well. Unlike his father, she stopped and set a hand on his shoulder. She tapped two fingers against his shoulder blade before adding, “I finished your most recent book on the flight home last night.”

 

Unable to stop himself, Yoongi’s head snapped up in shock. “You read it?”

 

“I read all your books.”

 

“Oh,” Yoongi managed. He’d never asked anyone in his family to read his books, nor had he expected them to do so. The fact his mother had made him feel happy but also conflicted. There was… a lot of sex in his books. His cheeks turned red despite himself and he dropped his eyes, which only made her laugh.

 

“It was good, Yoongi. I look forward to the next one,” she said, tapping his shoulder again before she left the room. 

 

“What just happened,” Yoongi muttered to himself, swallowing down his so-far untouched tea.

 

Sooyoung, who’d been quiet as was expected, laughed and smiled at Yoongi when he turned toward her. “Affection has always been hard for her.”

 

“Was she like that as a child?”

 

“Yes,” Sooyoung confirmed, smiling fondly. “You remind me of her, actually.”

 

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Yoongi decided, standing up as well. “Thank you for everything. You worked hard.”

 

“Of course, Mr. Min.”

 

Sighing because he’d been trying to get Sooyoung to call him by his name since he was five years old, Yoongi inclined his head and left the room too. He shoved his hands in his pockets as he wandered the halls, idly taking in the paintings and sculptures that littered the walls and occupied the corners of every turn. The main house had always felt cold and gallery-like to him, even as a child. It was one of the driving forces behind his choice to move out once he’d gotten his first royalty cheque. He’d been offered one of the houses on the grounds, just as his brother had been, but, unlike his brother, he’d declined. Those houses were just as stuffy and polished. He wanted a home, not a house.

 

Another reason he’d left was that he hadn’t wanted to be surrounded by people all the time. His family house was as good as open. There were servants everywhere, security at every entrance, cameras scattered throughout the inside, and a revolving door of politicians and businessmen coming to see one, or both, of his parents. He hated that. His home didn’t have any of that. He invested in a security system and that was all. 

 

Or had been, until Taehyung had been assigned to him. Despite his protests, his parents had been very insistent, even going so far as to show him the threats they’d received that had, in no uncertain terms, included both him and his brother. The sheer volume of information the threats had included about him and his life had been enough for him to stop protesting and soon after Taehyung moved into his home.

 

He’d been so mad at first, rarely talking to Taehyung at all, but now he was happy that he’d agreed. If for nothing else, Taehyung offered him friendship when he’d never really had it before. Sure, he had friends, but most people in his life wanted something from him or his family, so it was hard to know what was genuine and what wasn’t. That was why, when he wanted to see a friend, he went to Namjoon. Being his cousin and a son in the Kim family meant there was very little he needed Yoongi for aside from companionship. It was nice.

 

Yoongi turned toward the front of the house where he’d left Taehyung. Though Taehyung was around him for work, it didn’t feel like that. Aside from the fact that he called him Mr. Min, the rest of their relationship, if he could call it that, was easy and comfortable and made Yoongi happy.

 

The frozen yogurt shop the night before was probably the most fun he’d had in months and they hadn’t even done anything. It was just nice to get out and relax, and when he was with Taehyung, he felt like he could do that. Maybe he was even a bit sillier than he was allowed to be around his family. He smiled at the memory of Taehyung’s face as Yoongi piled a frankly horrifying level of sugary treats onto his frozen yogurt. That smile spread as he remembered Taehyung moving to his side of the table when he’d noticed Yoongi start to droop from the exhaustion of dealing with so many people. Taehyung was just… nice, and he liked him a great deal.

 

Now, if he could get him to stop calling him Mr. Min too, that would be a true victory.

 

Pausing at the end of the hallway, Yoongi tilted his head, watching Taehyung as he spoke to a new bodyguard that Yoongi only vaguely recognized. He remembered his brother saying that the lead bodyguard had been replaced and that he was young but experienced. This must be him. Yoongi scanned him, taking in his tattoos and teasing smile. No one had mentioned how pretty he was, but, then again, no one had warned him about Taehyung either.

 

“Tae,” Yoongi called during a lull in their conversation. Both men turned to him at once. Taehyung smiled and the other man bowed. Yoongi waved his hand. “No need to bow.”

 

“Mr. Min.”

 

“I’m sorry, I don’t know your name,” Yoongi admitted, glancing at Taehyung.

 

“This is Jeon Jungkook. Better known as JK,” Taehyung introduced. “He’s the new head of security.”

 

“I figured as much,” Yoongi agreed, smiling. “It’s nice to meet you.”

 

“You as well,” Jungkook agreed, straightening. He glanced at Taehyung. “I’ll tell Jimin that you’re actually coming to his birthday party this time.”

 

“I came last year,” Taehyung said, rolling his eyes.

 

“Yes, but you missed the last family dinner. You know what sucks more than working late? Going home to a pissed-off partner,” Jungkook said, narrowing his eyes as he pointed at Taehyung. “You better show up.”

 

Yoongi looked between them, quickly scanning Taehyung’s face to make sure he wasn’t uncomfortable. When he saw that he wasn’t, he raised his hand and smiled. “I’ll make sure he has the night off. Just tell me when.”

 

Jungkook raised a brow at him but smiled. “October 13th.”

 

“Consider it done,” Yoongi promised, smiling wider.

 

“Now you have no excuse,” Jungkook said, poking Taehyung, who slapped his hand away.

 

“I didn’t need one. I’ll be there,” Taehyung promised, rolling his eyes. He turned to Yoongi. “Mr. Min, are you done already?”

 

Yoongi hummed. “Yes. This meeting was longer than usual. A whole ten minutes!”

 

Taehyung blinked, confusion flickering across his face. “You’re serious.”

 

Patting Taehyung’s chest, Yoongi shrugged. “You’re new but you’ll learn soon that my meetings with my parents are never more than five.”

 

“But the last two times we were here, you were gone for nearly an hour,” Taehyung said slowly.

 

Yoongi tilted his head, trying to remember. He couldn’t, so he just shrugged. “I must have been wandering around looking at my parents’ new art. I do that sometimes. Are you okay to go? If you want to continue talking, I can find something to occupy my time.”

 

“Of course not, Mr. Min,” Jungkook said quickly, his face shifting to something more professional. “We were only catching up while you were busy.”

 

“I don’t mind,” Yoongi said easily, but he did yawn a little. “I am tired though, so perhaps I can take a nap instead.”

 

“You can take a nap at home,” Taehyung said, immediately placing a hand on the small of Yoongi’s back to guide him out of the house. “See you later, JK.”

 

“Sure. Goodbye, Mr. Min.”

 

“It was nice to meet you,” Yoongi called back, smiling over his shoulder as they left the house and made their way to his car, which was parked at the base of the steps. Yoongi slid into the passenger seat and buckled himself in, automatically reclining his seat so he could stretch. “He seems nice. Have you known him long?”

 

“My entire life,” Taehyung revealed, his eyes darting to the mirror as he pulled out of the driveway. “He always had this massive crush on my best friend, so he often followed us around, trying to insert himself into everything we did.”

 

Yoongi hummed, his eyes closing. “Cute.”

 

“I guess. It seemed to work because they’ve been together for nearly five years.”

 

“Ah, the partner with the birthday in October,” Yoongi murmured. “Jimin.”

 

“Yes. Me and Jimin were neighbours so we grew up together,” Taehyung revealed, his tone warming. “He’s a menace, but he’s good people.”

 

Yoongi’s eyes snapped open. He. Jimin was a man. Yoongi stared at the roof of the car, his lips parting in shock. Yoongi snuck a glance at Taehyung, but he was focused on the road, clearly unphased by what he’d just said. Yoongi had been very careful to not mention his sexuality around Taehyung just in case, but… maybe he didn’t have to? “Oh, Jimin is a man? It’s such a neutral name.”

 

“He is,” Taehyung agreed easily, still not showing any indication that he was revealing important information.

 

“It’s… nice that you support them,” Yoongi murmured, realizing now, as he thought back, that Jungkook had also used male pronouns, he just hadn’t noticed. 

 

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” Taehyung asked, his eyes briefly darting to Yoongi’s in question. They lingered there far longer than was safe before they returned to the road. 

 

Yoongi swallowed, his tongue darting out to wet his bottom lip. He didn’t have to say anything, he could just say nothing, but he found he wanted to. “I’d love to have a friend like that. For… me.”

 

“You do,” Taehyung said without missing a beat as he flicked on the turning signal so they could head down Yoongi’s driveway. “I support you too. I hope you support me.”

 

“I do,” Yoongi promised, his grip on the seat belt tightening as he stared at Taehyung. Neither of them had said anything, not really, but they’d also said so much. Yoongi turned his attention to the window gazing out at his own property as they neared his home, the comfort Taehyung always provided for him deepening. In the reflection, he saw Taehyung look at him again before smiling and couldn’t help but smile too.

 

❆❆❆

 

Entering the house following his randomized daily sweep of the property, Taehyung closed the door soundly and activated the lock. He’d been doing perimeter sweeps since he’d been assigned to Yoongi just in case the people behind the threats against his family attempted to get to Yoongi because of his overall lack of security. Now though, he didn’t really need to be as diligent as he was since the police had a few suspects in custody, one of which they intended to charge, and they’d deemed the threats all but eliminated. Since he had little else to do when Yoongi was writing, he maintained his usual schedule. 

 

Taehyung headed toward the living room, intent on passing his time in some less-than-productive way, but he stopped when he spotted Yoongi sitting on the couch. He was right in the middle with his laptop on the coffee table in front of him. His left leg was pulled up to his chest with his arms wrapped around his calf and his chin was resting on top of his knee. The white glare of the Word document on his laptop was clear even from the entrance of the room. Considering Yoongi had a very nice and very comfortable office where he did most of his writing, Taehyung knew things weren’t going well. He had learned to recognize the signs for when Yoongi was frustrated with something he was working on—not being in his office was a large one.

 

“Things not going the way you want today, Mr. Min?” Taehyung asked as he stepped into the living room.

 

Yoongi’s head lifted, his eyes widening in slight surprise before he sighed and nodded. “Yes. I was tempted to throw my laptop out the window so I decided a change of scenery was needed.”

 

Taehyung snorted. “I’m glad you didn’t do that.”

“I’m not, because this isn’t really helping,” Yoongi admitted with another sigh, resting his face back on his knee. This time, he was looking at Taehyung, so his cheek was squished up, deepening his pout, and Taehyung had to swallow the urge to coo at him.

 

“Why don’t you walk me through the issue? Maybe talking it out will help,” Taehyung advised, taking a seat on the arm of the couch.

 

Yoongi pressed his lips together, then shook his head. “That’s not your job, Tae. I don’t want to bother you.”

 

“I finished my sweeps for the day, so lay it on me,” Taehyung ordered, dropping down onto the actual seat cushion and crossing his legs, which made Yoongi laugh lightly. “Come on, I want to help.”

 

“Fine,” Yoongi relented, sighing a bit. “I’m just struggling with the middle part of this book.”

 

“Only the middle?” Taehyung asked, confused. He’d always just assumed that books were written linearly. 

 

“Yes. I wrote the beginning and the end,” Yoongi explained slowly, “and most of the action and plot points throughout.”

 

Taehyung raised a brow. “So it’s not the middle of the book but a part of the book.”

 

Yoongi pouted but ended up nodding. “Yes.”

 

“And is there a particular reason you don’t want to tell me what part you’re struggling with, Mr. Min?”

 

“It’s just embarrassing,” Yoongi admitted. “I’m struggling with the romance part.”

 

“I was under the impression all your books are romance-based,” Taehyung said slowly.

 

“They are but this is different. This is my first series, so the romance is more spread out, which requires more in-depth depiction. They can’t just fall in love and fuck.”

 

Taehyung laughed at Yoongi’s tone, but he said, “Don’t sell yourself short.”

 

“I’m not. It’s just the reality. In the first book, they realized they liked each other and had sex. Usually, that’s where I would end it. The reader gets to imagine the future. This time, it’s a trilogy, so the middle book has to be them falling in love and breaking apart so that they inevitably come back together in the third, stronger than before,” Yoongi ranted, his leg dropping down as he leaned back into the couch.

 

“It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s your book,” Taehyung pointed out.

 

Yoongi only wiggled in displeasure. “I plotted it that way. It won’t make sense otherwise.”

 

“So you wrote yourself into a corner.”

“Tae!”

 

“Sorry,” Taehyung apologized, laughing at Yoongi’s petulant expression. He was just so cute. “So what part of the romance is bothering you?”

 

“This is the embarrassing part,” Yoongi admitted.

 

“Okay.”

 

Sighing, Yoongi crossed his arms and explained, “It’s been like… five years since I’ve been on a date. I don’t really…remember what it feels like to go out with someone and fall in love? Like, I remember generally but I can’t write about generals. Not when the point of the book is their romantic development.”

 

Taehyung’s brows shot up in surprise. Yoongi was cute, funny, rich, and had he mentioned adorable? How had he not gone on a date in five years? “Five years?”

 

“I know,” Yoongi muttered, waving a hand even as he blushed. “I was just so busy with my first book and then my second and it just… ended up being five years. I didn’t plan it that way. I thought about just doing dating apps or something.”

 

“I would not recommend that,” Taehyung blurted out before he could stop himself. His mind screamed at him, telling him to be quiet and not interfere in Yoongi’s life, in his client’s life, but he kept going regardless. “With the threats, it could be dangerous. There’s no way to confirm people’s identity on there.”

 

Yoongi nodded. “There’s that, but even before the threats, the risk of someone recognizing me or my name was too high. My family has a reputation after all.”

 

“Ah,” Taehyung murmured, nearly wincing at the way his brain was screaming at him for lying about the threats just because he didn’t want to have to see Yoongi date. He was awful. “I guess that can be difficult.”

 

“It’s why I rarely dated even before I got signed to my publisher. It’s impossible to know what people want.”

 

“I see where the struggle is coming from now,” Taehyung admitted. “Could you work that into your book? Have one of the characters be worried about what the other wants?”

 

“I did that already,” Yoongi sighed out. 

 

Taehyung hummed and crossed his arms. He wanted to help Yoongi, but he wasn’t a big reader nor was he especially creative—not in the way Yoongi was or needed anyway. The dating app was actually a fairly good idea, if he was honest, but the idea of Yoongi flirting and maybe falling for a complete stranger right in front of him made him nauseous. He couldn’t lose Yoongi to some random man on the internet. At least if Yoongi met someone in person, he could look into him and make sure he was deserving of Yoongi. He wouldn’t be, no one was, but Taehyung could at least assess him.

 

“Maybe I’ll just watch a drama,” Yoongi suggested after a while. “If I watch enough of them, something will give me an idea.”

 

“If something like that will work,” Taehyung said, unsure what he was saying even as his lips moved, “why don’t we go out? You’d get to experience the dates, but you’d be safe from the threats since I’d be there.”

 

Yoongi blinked rapidly as he sat up, staring at Taehyung in genuine shock. His mouth opened and closed a few times before he cleared his throat and shook his head. “It’s not part of your job to bring me on dates because I can’t find someone for myself, Tae. Thank you for the offer. I appreciate it.”

 

“I’m not offering because it’s my job. I’m offering because I want to take you out. I want to help,” Taehyung said. Using the already resolved threats as an excuse to bring Yoongi out rather than letting him find someone else was an objectively shitty thing to do, but couldn’t help how excited he was by the prospect. This way, he could actually take Yoongi on dates without crossing the line he was always so worried about. 

 

“You want to?” Yoongi asked hesitantly, his fingers fiddling with the seam of his lounge pants.

 

“I do,” Taehyung confirmed honestly. He should probably lie, but he couldn’t bring himself to. Not when Yoongi looked so uncertain.

 

Yoongi licked his lips, his eyes darting between Taehyung and his laptop. After what felt like hours, he nodded. “Okay. That… let’s go out on a date, Tae.”

 

“Okay,” Taehyung said, standing up. “No time like the present. Go get dressed. We’ll go somewhere classic.”

 

“Now? I— okay,” Yoongi agreed, scrambling up, a small, excited smile on his lips. “I’ll be ready soon!”

 

Taehyung smiled after him, closing the laptop Yoongi had left open in his haste, and sighed. This was a mistake realistically and it’d probably (see: definitely) hurt him in the long run, but he’d also have these memories too and he couldn’t bring himself to give up that opportunity, even if it meant telling Yoongi a small white lie about the threats. He’d repent later.

 

❆❆❆

 

Yoongi didn’t really know why he was so excited, but that didn’t change the way he rushed through getting ready, pulling on one of his many suits and quickly styling his hair so he looked put together in a more effortless way. He considered, for a moment, putting on makeup, but that seemed like too much for what was really only an imitation of a date. Or so he told himself as he folded and put on a little bit of lip gloss, just to tie the whole look together.

 

“That was quick!” Taehyung commented, looking up from his phone. Taehyung hadn’t changed out of his work clothes, but since he wore a suit, Yoongi hadn’t expected him to. He had fixed his hair though, so now it was brushed back from his face and clearly styled to stay in place. It was a look that suited Taehyung well, if Yoongi was honest, since it allowed his bangs to swoop over his forehead but left the rest of his face exposed.

 

“I didn’t want to keep you waiting since you’re doing me a favour,” Yoongi said, coming to stand near Taehyung just as he stood and shoved his phone away.

 

“It’s not a favour. I told you that I wanted to,” Taehyung said firmly, his smile small but genuine.

 

Ignoring the way that made him blush, as he often had to do when he was interacting with Taehyung, Yoongi cleared his throat and asked, “So where are we going?”

 

“I looked online and that seafood restaurant that you wanted to try has some open tables for tonight,” Taehyung revealed. “How does that sound?”

 

Yoongi smiled immediately. That restaurant had been on his list of places to try for over four months but since Namjoon didn’t eat seafood, they always ended up going somewhere else. He’d complained about it a few times, so Taehyung must have remembered. Just like he’d remembered the frozen yogurt shop. “That’s perfect. Thank you, Tae.”

 

“No problem, Mr. Min,” Taehyung said, still smiling. “Shall we go?”

 

“Uh, yes, but before that,” Yoongi said hesitantly, grabbing Taehyung’s arm before he could walk away, “could you maybe not call me Mr. Min? Since we’re going on a date and all.” 

 

Taehyung paused, his brow twitching as he looked at Yoongi. He’d been trying to get Taehyung to stop calling him Mr. Min the entire time that he’d been assigned to him, but it’d never worked before. Yoongi held his breath, hoping this would be the perfect excuse for Taehyung to finally call him something else. “That… makes sense. What would you like me to call you?”

 

Yoongi perked up, smiling again. “Hyung would be great!”

 

“Okay, hyung,” Taehyung said, nodding. “Ready to go?”

 

“Yes!” Yoongi agreed, unable to contain his excitement.

 

He knew it was silly to get so excited about this date, he did, but he couldn’t help it. Taehyung was nice and funny, pretty too, and he wanted to take him out, so why couldn’t he enjoy it? Sure, it was only to help him with his book, but even that reasoning made it feel even more important to Yoongi. He didn’t know anyone who’d do something so selfless for him aside from maybe Namjoon but considering they were literally blood-related, this was not an area he could help with. 

 

The entire drive to the restaurant, though short, was quiet, but Yoongi barely noticed. It’s been so long since he’d been on a date and he’d honestly never been this relaxed beforehand—generally, he got really nervous—so that only made him more excited. He tried to contain it, but he wasn’t really successful. He didn’t realize how bad he was at hiding it until Taehyung pulled into a parking spot just outside the restaurant and turned toward him. “Excited, hyung?” 

 

Yoongi felt his cheeks turn pink and scrambled to come up with a reasonable excuse for his excitement. He settled on: “I really really wanted to try this restaurant.”

 

Taehyung hummed. “Then I guess we should cross our fingers that they still have tables available.”

 

“Yes, let’s go!” Yoongi agreed, grabbing for the door handle. The second he touched it, the locks, which had automatically disengaged when they parked, activated again. Yoongi blinked at it in surprise before looking back at Taehyung. “Tae?”

 

“Don’t get out,” Taehyung ordered as he hit the unlock button again before he got out of the car. Yoongi watched him smooth out his suit jacket before doing up the front buttons again. Once he was done, he rounded the front of the car and opened Yoongi’s door. Yoongi blinked at him, unsure what to do or say, so Taehyung held out his hand and smiled, “Now you can get out.”

 

“Oh,” Yoongi whispered, realizing that Taehyung had been opening the door for him as a romantic gesture rather than a bodyguard one. He was fairly certain his face was just going to stay red at this point but he didn’t even mind. He just took Taehyung’s hand and stepped out, smiling up at him as the door slammed shut. “Thank you.”

 

“You’re welcome,” Taehyung said easily, letting go of Yoongi’s hand in favour of placing his hand on the small of Yoongi’s back. He did that a lot, especially when they were out in public, and Yoongi suspected that it was because it put him in a good position to protect Yoongi if needed. Here, it felt different though. More intimate. 

 

Wordlessly, they went into the restaurant. It wasn’t very loud inside, but the telltale sound of people eating and talking was like a hum in the air. Yoongi scanned the tables quickly and bit his lip, not seeing any open. It was dinner time, so maybe more people had walked in after seeing they had availability online just as Taehyung had. Yoongi couldn’t prevent the disappointment that swirled in his belly, but he could ignore it, so he did.

 

“I was wondering if you had room for two?” Taehyung asked, smiling despite the somewhat dismissive expression on the host’s face.

 

The host looked down at the podium, clearly looking at the availability, then she looked at Taehyung again before saying, “If you don’t mind sitting at the back, we can seat you now. It’s a little dark though.”

 

“That’s fine, right, hyung?” Taehyung asked, glancing back at Yoongi, who nodded. “We’ll take it.”

 

Yoongi grabbed onto Taehyung’s jacket, holding tight as they were led through the tables and booths. Now that they were further in, Yoongi noticed some nicer tables that were open. They could be open for reservations but as he thought back to the way the host had looked at Taehyung, Yoongi suspected it was instead his lack of connections. Places like this tended to put more important people within sight of the entrance and windows to increase chatter.

 

Without asking, Yoongi headed toward the seat that faced away from the room. He knew Taehyung had to be sitting with his back to the wall so he could keep an eye on the crowd. As he touched the seat though, Taehyung stepped forward and pulled it out for him, smiling as Yoongi looked up in surprise. 

 

He was good at this.

 

After quick introductions and taking their drink order, the waiter left them alone and Yoongi couldn’t help but point out their location. “You should have told them who I am. They would have been nicer to you.”

 

Taehyung raised a brow as he unrolled the cutlery. “They weren’t rude and sure the table isn’t great, but it’s private. If I’d said your name, they’d have pestered you the entire night, right?”

 

Yoongi nodded. “Of course.”

 

“Why would I want that? The point of a date is to have you all to myself, right?” Taehyung asked, raising a brow for a moment before he frowned. “Did all your previous dates use your name?”

 

“Of course,” Yoongi said, also frowning. “Or their own.”

 

Something about that seemed to irritate Taehyung because his frown deepened. Yoongi was about to apologize, unsure what, exactly, had made Taehyung angry, but he sighed before Yoongi could say anything. “Alright. New rule. When we go on these dates, you don’t get to tell people your name! You’re just Yoongi-hyung here, okay?”

 

Yoongi’s lips parted in surprise. He didn’t think he’d ever gone somewhere and not had his name used like some sort of membership card. It was… nice. “Okay. If you’re sure. I don’t want to make this hard on you.”

 

“The only thing that’s hard for me is that you haven’t let me hold your hand yet. Isn’t this a date?” Taehyung teased, placing his hand on the table, palm up.

 

“Oh, here?” Yoongi asked, looking around. No one was looking at them. Like Taehyung had said, the table was private and out of the way, and, since they hadn’t given his name, it was likely that no one knew who he was. His family might be recognizable but he, as a person, wasn’t really.

 

“If you’re comfortable. If not, that’s okay,” Taehyung assured him.

 

“I want to,” Yoongi agreed, placing his hand atop Taehyung’s. Immediately, Taehyung hooked his thumb around Yoongi’s hand and rubbed in a small circle. He did that when Yoongi was anxious sometimes. He hadn’t really noticed it before but now he couldn’t stop staring at the small gesture.

 

“Okay?” Taehyung asked.

 

“Yea,” Yoongi said, his voice small but warm. In his mind, a new scene for his book unfolded where his main character was, for the first time ever, feeling the rush of excitement following being acknowledged by their lover in public. “Yea, this is okay.”

 

❆❆❆

 

Stretching his hands above his head just as his boss walked in, Taehyung smirked. “Must be nice to have an office.”

 

Jungkook sent him a bland stare. Rather than kicking him out of his seat, he merely crossed his arms and leaned against the door jamb. “How long have you been here?”

 

“About an hour,” Taehyung revealed, still smiling. “Hyung got called to attend a meeting with his mother about… a community center, I think. So here I am.”

 

“Hyung?” Jungkook repeated, raising a brow.

 

Taehyung shrugged. “He requested that I call him that.”

 

“You two seem close,” Jungkook commented dryly. “Also that meeting is wrapping up now so he’ll be done soon.”

 

“That’s good, we have plans,” Taehyung said mindlessly.

 

“We,” Jungkook repeated, this time his tone much sharper. He glanced behind him briefly and then stepped inside, closing his door. It was glass so anyone could see in, but they wouldn’t be able to hear, which was his main concern. “Tell me what’s going on.”

 

Taehyung straightened. “Sir—”

 

“As your friend, hyung, not your boss,” Jungkook interrupted, his lips pursing. “You two are too close. What’s going on?”

 

“Nothing. We haven’t—”

 

“Hyung,” Jungkook cut in, his brows furrowed. “Don’t lie to me. I can see that there’s something. You talk too casually with each other. He calls you Tae and now you’re calling him hyung? That’s not how you talk to clients. Not even in the professional sense. That’s not how you talk to clients.”

 

Taehyung grimaced. He hadn’t realized how obvious he was. Then again, he spent so much of his time alone with Yoongi that it was easy to forget that their behaviour wasn’t the norm. He considered lying, explaining it away by saying they spent so much time together alone that they’d dropped formality, but he didn’t want to lie any more than he already was. “We really haven’t done anything. It’s just…”

 

“Just what, hyung?” Jungkook asked, his voice quieter and more gentle now.

 

“I love him?” Taehyung admitted, the confession lilting up into a question in his hesitancy. “I don’t even know how it happened, but I do.”

 

Jungkook blinked a few times and then dropped into the seat on the opposite side of his desk usually reserved for his staff. “Shit. That’s not great.”

 

“No,” Taehyung agreed. “Not professionally anyway.”

 

“I’m saying this as your friend and not your boss,” Jungkook said slowly, “but you need to be careful. That’s a difficult spot to be in and if it goes south, you’re the one who gets punished.”

 

“I know,” Taehyung said, sighing. “I figure he’s worth it.”

 

“Is he?” Jungkook asked, not unkindly. “You’d never be able to work again.”

 

Taehyung nodded despite how true Jungkook’s statement was. “He’s worth it.”

 

Jungkook pressed his lips together. “Okay then.”

 

A soft knock interrupted whatever they were going to say. Like before, it was clear to them both that Yoongi had been waiting for a pause so he wouldn’t interrupt and it made Taehyung’s heart warm. Jungkook shot Taehyung a quick look but it was softer than it usually was, telling Taehyung that Jungkook liked Yoongi too, even if he’d only just met him. 

 

After a moment, Yoongi opened the door and stuck his head in. “Sorry if I’m interrupting. I just wanted to let Tae know that I’m ready to leave whenever he wants.”

 

“You didn’t interrupt,” Jungkook assured him.

 

Yoongi smiled, his eyes lifting from Jungkook to Taehyung. An eyebrow rose then and his smile widened. “Aiming for a promotion that I don’t know about?”

 

“I think it suits me, no?” Taehyung joked, widening his hands as he smiled at Yoongi.

 

“It does. You have my support,” Yoongi promised.

 

Jungkook made a small, affronted noise. “I’m right here.”

 

“And you’re doing a fabulous job,” Yoongi praised.

 

“Wow,” Jungkook murmured, genuinely unsure of how to respond to that. If it was Taehyung, he’d make a snarky comment, but since it was technically his boss, he ended up frozen, which only made Taehyung laugh.

 

“Look, you broke him,” Taehyung pointed out, pushing himself up out of the chair.

 

Yoongi’s eyes widened and turned apologetic. “Oh, I’m sorry, Jungkook. I didn’t mean to offend. I know it can be odd since my family—”

 

“It’s okay, Mr. Min,” Jungkook rushed out. “I’m just not used to it. Your mother doesn’t exactly crack jokes.”

 

“Not to staff, no,” Yoongi agreed with a snort before he turned to Taehyung again, his entire face brightening. “Are we going now?”

 

“We are,” Taehyung agreed. “See you later, JK.”

 

“See you,” Jungkook agreed, moving to his regular chair as they left.

 

Yoongi glanced up at Taehyung. “You’re sure he’s okay? I sometimes forget that since I moved out the rest of the staff isn’t used to me.”

 

“He’s fine. Do you usually talk that informally to staff?” Taehyung asked. It’d been one of the more surprising parts of first meeting Yoongi, he must admit. He’d just assumed that, because they were living together, Yoongi had dropped formalities.

 

“Usually. They’re responsible for keeping this house running, so why wouldn’t I treat them well? Plus, a few of them basically raised me,” Yoongi admitted, pausing momentarily as Taehyung opened his car door for him and held his hand as he slipped inside. He waited for Taehyung to get into the driver’s side before he pouted. “None of them will call me Yoongi though.”

 

“No?” Taehyung asked with a laugh, resisting the urge to pinch Yoongi’s cheek.

 

“No,” Yoongi confirmed, huffing a little.

 

“Cute,” Taehyung murmured. He caught Yoongi sending him a surprised look before he blushed and Taehyung had to fight back his smile. Yoongi was easy, in a way. He liked praise, attentiveness, and genuine care. Taehyung wanted to give him all those things and more, so he had absolutely no problem giving them to him now, even if it was under the pretense of helping him with his book. “So, for our next date, I’m taking you shopping.”

 

Yoongi leaned forward in his seat, his fingers moving to play with his seatbelt. “Shopping?”

 

“Well, window shopping to be exact. It’s another classic date,” Taehyung revealed. “For normal people anyway.”

 

“Well, we do something similar but I’m assuming you aren’t going to do that,” Yoongi said slowly.

 

“Why not? What does it entail?” Taehyung asked. If he could, he would do it.

 

Yoongi pressed his lips together. “This isn’t meant to be an insult, Tae, but I know how much you make and you can’t afford to close down an entire store.”

 

Taehyung blinked. “I’m not insulted. Who does that?”

 

“Uh, people I know?” Yoongi admitted.

 

“Insanity. No, we’re going window shopping and then I’m going to buy you some disgusting street food,” Taehyung said firmly, pulling off the road. He’d chosen to go to a popular shopping district rather than a mall so they could walk around outside. “Sound good?”

 

Yoongi hesitated a moment, his eyes flicking up and down the street. “It’ll be okay? With the threats and all?”

 

Taehyung knew he should tell him that they weren’t a big deal, that the person behind them had been caught, but instead, he said, “Of course. I’ll be there, so you’ll be safe. Okay?”

 

“Okay,” Yoongi agreed, smiling at him. 

 

“So, other than that, does the plan sound okay?”

 

“It sounds great.”

 

“Then let’s go,” Taehyung said, opening the car door. This time, Yoongi didn’t open his door himself and Taehyung couldn’t help but smile, satisfied. It was a little thing, but he wanted to show Yoongi some proper treatment, that way he wouldn’t accept anything less from the next person he dated. 

 

The idea of Yoongi dating someone that wasn’t him dimmed his mood a bit, but as Yoongi got out of the car and smiled at him, that feeling evaporated. “Thank you, Tae.”

 

“You’re welcome, hyung.”

 

Yoongi lowered his eyes and began to look around. He looked genuinely curious and Taehyung figured that was because Yoongi had never been here before. It was very middle to low-end and popular with teenagers and college students, so Taehyung wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t. A moment later, Yoongi confirmed this suspicion. “I’ve never been here before. It’s cute.”

 

“No? Well let me show you around,” Taehyung said, sliding his hand into Yoongi’s. He raised a brow. “Okay?”

 

“Yes, uh, okay,” Yoongi agreed, nodding as he turned his hand so their fingers slotted together. “I like holding hands.”

 

“Then I won’t let go,” Taehyung promised, using their joined hands to tug him across the street toward one of the shops. 

 

Since it was the middle of the day, it wasn’t too crowded. Most people seemed to be moving with the sense of purpose associated with completing an errand. In contrast, they wandered freely, pausing at windows to look inside whenever something caught their eye, either good or bad. 

 

The bad, in particular, allowed Taehyung to see Yoongi in an entirely different light. Because Yoongi had gone to an elite private school, a lot of what he told Taehyung about his childhood and teenage years was as good as foreign to him, but terrible fashion choices were universal.

 

“Oh no, it wasn’t good! I looked like a raccoon,” Yoongi revealed, giggling as he covered his mouth. “I thought I looked so cool though. Namjoonie had this awful haircut too. I don’t know how our parents didn’t disown us then and there.”

 

Taehyung laughed. “Teenage years are the time for mistakes.”

 

“I made a lot of them,” Yoongi sighed out, shaking his head. 

 

“Oh? Were you a little rebel?” Taehyung asked, poking him in the side so he’d giggle again and move away.

 

“Maybe?” Yoongi admitted sheepishly. “There were always so many people around so sometimes I’d just… run away. I never went far, but I made some friends and I’d go hang out with them. It was fun for a while.”

 

“What happened to them?” Taehyung asked, genuinely curious. Yoongi didn’t speak of friends often, if ever.

 

Yoongi’s smile dimmed a bit and he scrunched his face. “Ah, they wanted me to buy them stuff and get them out of trouble? Turns out they did know my family, even if they said they didn’t.”

 

“I’m sorry, hyung.”

 

“It’s okay. It happens. My mom didn’t even say I told you so,” Yoongi joked, though it fell flat. “Anyway, enough of— oh, that’s so cute!”

 

Taehyung, still feeling guilty about asking Yoongi follow-up questions that had made him sad, followed the line of Yoongi’s sight. It was a cutesy store that Taehyung didn’t know the name of—it was in a foreign language he hadn’t cared enough to look up—that tended to carry low-end items. “Want to go inside?”

 

“Can we?” Yoongi asked, looking back at him with barely concealed excitement.

 

“Of course. Let’s go,” Taehyung said, all but dragging Yoongi into the store.

 

Though it would have been more conducive to Yoongi’s style of rapid browsing, Taehyung didn’t let go of Yoongi’s hand. Instead, he just let the smaller man drag him around the store until he got to the display that had, apparently, initially caught his eye. The second Taehyung realized that it was stuffed animals, he nodded in understanding. Yoongi’s office had quite a few stuffed animals, most notably the one’s based on his characters, so Taehyung wasn’t surprised.

 

He hadn’t intended to say anything, but, seeing a large raccoon stuffed animal, he couldn’t stop himself from grabbing it and wiggling it at Yoongi. “Look, it’s baby you!”

 

Yoongi gasped and smacked Taehyung’s arm. “That’s mean.”

 

“What? It’s cute and soft, just like you,” Taehyung said, laughing as Yoongi snatched it from his hand and held it to his chest, just as he had the day Taehyung realized he was in love with him.

 

“It is cute,” Yoongi agreed, smiling down at it.

 

“I want to buy it for you,” Taehyung said abruptly. He’d told himself that he wasn’t going to buy anything for Yoongi today, that that wasn’t the point, but seeing Yoongi holding the stuffed animal so tight made him change his mind. Plus, it wasn’t like it was expensive.

 

“Oh, I can buy it my—”

 

“I want to buy it for you,” Taehyung repeated.

 

Yoongi blinked at him a few times before he nodded. “Okay.”

 

Smiling, Taehyung took the stuffed animal back and led Yoongi to the counter to pay. The cashier was quick and professional, and her smile was genuine as she looked at Yoongi, who’d take the stuffed animal back the second he could, and asked, “Did you want a bag?”

 

“No, I think he’s got it,” Taehyung said, winking at her.

 

“Of course. Have a nice day.”

 

“She was nice,” Yoongi said, humming a bit as he looked down at the stuffed animal, his expression warm and happy.

 

“She was,” Taehyung agreed. “How are you feeling food-wise? There’s a corn dog place just down here that’s really good.”

 

Yoongi tilted his head. “I could eat. Those charity meetings only ever have finger food and my mom glares at me when I eat too many of them.”

 

“She doesn’t like you eating a lot?” Taehyung asked, momentarily concerned.

 

“Oh, not, that’s not why,” Yoongi assured with a laugh as he shook his head. “She just thinks it’s rude if all I pay attention to is the food. I’m really not cut out for all those things. I know how to be, of course, and I can fake it with the best, I often do, but I’d really rather not.”

 

“Then why are you doing the community center thing?” Taehyung asked as he directed them toward the corn dog stall he was thinking of.

 

“I was voluntold. But also, I’m going to read an excerpt from my manuscript as promo for it when the library section opens so it’ll be good publicity,” Yoongi explained, his attention shifting to all the options at the corn dog stall. “So many options. I guess I can’t get everything like at the frozen yogurt shop.”

 

Taehyung laughed. “You can try, but I wouldn’t.”

 

“Order for me? You’ve been here before, right?” Yoongi asked.

 

“I have,” Taehyung agreed, turning toward the man working. He ordered two of his usual, paying quickly before Yoongi could figure out how to pull out his phone with two hands occupied. “I got this, hyung.”

 

“You have to let me pay for something,” Yoongi whined.

 

“I don’t actually.”

 

Yoongi pouted. “Stubborn.”

 

“Yes,” Taehyung agreed. “I think the library thing is a good way to promote your book though so I guess some good can come out of being dragged into it.”

 

“It is, plus that area really did need a new library,” Yoongi admitted. “It grew rapidly and the one they have in the area now isn’t large enough.”

 

Taehyung raised a brow. “It sounds like you did your research.”

 

“After my mom roped me in, I did,” Yoongi agreed, smiling at the man as he held out two hotdogs. “Thank you!”

 

Seeing that Yoongi’s hands were occupied, the man handed them to Taehyung with a smile. Taehyung took them gratefully, slotting the sticks in between his fingers so that he wouldn’t have to let go of Yoongi’s hand, then nudged Yoongi along so he’d move back to the sidewalk where there were tables. 

 

Once they were seated and Yoongi had set down the stuffed animal, Taehyung handed over his corn dog. “Here. Let me know what you think.”

 

Yoongi took it gently by the stick. “Thank you.”

 

Taehyung hummed as he took a bite of his own, pleased by the mix of flavours. Yoongi furrowed his brows and tilted it, inspecting it from all angles as he pouted slightly. Eventually, he took a bite and chewed slowly. Taehyung had never seen someone pay such close attention to street food and he ended up just smiling at him. “Well?”

 

“It’s good. More salty than I was expecting, but good,” Yoongi said, taking another bite.

 

“I’m glad you like it.”

 

Smiling at him, Yoongi continued to eat, his eyes roaming the street and the people that walked by. After a few bites, some of the sauce ended up on his lip. Taehyung let go of Yoongi’s hand, which caused Yoongi to look at him in shock, but that shock only morphed into embarrassment as Taehyung reached out and wiped the sauce off his lip. “You had something there.”

 

“O-oh,” Yoongi managed, his eyes wide and Taehyung wiped off his finger before returning to holding his hand. Yoongi blinked down at their joined hands, his face turning an even brighter shade of red, and then he looked away, refocusing on the people around them. Taehyung could see his eyes dart to him every so often though and that made him smile. Yoongi was so cute and he was honestly starting to worry that he’d never be able to let him go.

 

❆❆❆

 

“You look happy.”

 

Yoongi glanced at his mother, his eyebrow raising. He couldn’t help but pointedly look at the front of the room where the woman in charge of the community center fundraiser was standing, in the middle of giving a speech to update everyone on the project and, eventually, introduce Yoongi. “Do I really? In the middle of one of the things I like least about our family?”

 

Hyesu smiled, her eyes never leaving the front of the room. She’d long ago mastered the art of listening while not listening, so she didn’t worry about being caught talking. Her youngest son had clearly not inherited or developed that skill as he kept looking at her when she talked. It made her sigh a bit, but she didn’t want to chastise him about that when she was genuinely curious about something else. “That’s why I was surprised.”

 

“Interesting,” Yoongi hummed in response, turning back to the front of the room. “I wouldn’t know why.”

 

“No? Not even going to come up with an excuse to placate your curious mother?” She teased.

 

“I could but that would just make you more suspicious,” Yoongi pointed out. “I’ve had some good writing days the past few weeks and I’ve been out of the house a bunch too, so maybe it’s just satisfaction.”

 

Humming in much the same way her son just had, Hyseu tilted her head, the elegant earrings she wore grazing her shoulder. “That sounds to me like you’ve met someone.”

 

“Please, not everything is about romance,” Yoongi scoffed even as he cursed his traitorous skin for tinting red in embarrassment.

 

“Sure,” Hyseu agreed, her tone dripping with disbelief.

 

“I’m not having this conversation with you,” Yoongi muttered, crossing his arms. He expected his mother to push but she just shrugged slightly and fell silent. Yoongi didn’t think his mother had given up on a single thing in her life, so he wasn’t naive enough to think she’d drop the topic forever, but at least he was free for now.

 

Maybe if he knew what exactly was happening, he’d tell his mother. He wasn’t hiding anything from her on purpose. He didn’t tend to hide things from her period. Mostly because he’d always known that she’d figure it out somehow and no matter what it was, it was always better to hear things from him first. Even when he’d realized he liked boys and had been terrified of what could happen, he’d told her right away. That honest relationship was easily the main reason why his sexuality was an open secret and why, despite the Min family tradition of all sons taking part in the business, he was a writer instead. Even if they rarely spent longer than fifteen minutes in each other’s company, she’d always gone to bat for him and he’d paid her back with continued honesty and openness.

 

So, no, he wasn’t keeping the truth from her on purpose. Or, well, he was, but not because he was afraid of what she’d say or do—though, to be honest, he had no idea how she’d react to him dating a staff member, but he would bet on it not being great—but because he didn’t know what to say.

 

Technically, Taehyung was only helping him with his book. Basically, he was joining Yoongi on research outings. It wasn’t romantic or meant to mean anything, so what was there to tell his mother? That technicality didn’t feel true though. At least, not to Yoongi. He was the first to admit that his dating game was rusty, which was why they were even going on dates in the first place, and, honestly, that was half the reason why he wasn’t sure if what he was seeing and feeling were right.

 

Taehyung just… seemed to be taking their research really seriously. In fact, Yoongi would go so far as to say that it felt like Taehyung actually liked him and was using the suggestion of helping him with his books as an excuse.

 

When Yoongi had mentioned dating someone else, Taehyung had gotten so defensive. Yoongi had assumed that was due to the threats and hadn’t taken it to heart. Even when he’d been excited about the date, he hadn’t thought that Taehyung had asked out of any real romantic interest.

 

Now Yoongi wasn’t so sure.

 

He’d offered to take Yoongi out so quickly and even said that he wanted to. He’d held Yoongi’s hand and gotten mad about him having to use his family name to get things. He’d bought him the fluffy raccoon plushie that he would deny sleeping with but definitely did, and he’d wiped his face when they ate together, all the while refusing to let go of his hand even though they were in public. That all felt romantic, right?

 

Their day-to-day interactions hadn’t changed all that much, but Taehyung had always been sweet and attentive to him. Now that he called him hyung, it made everything feel more casual, more close. Like it was real and meant something.

 

Yoongi bit his lip, his ear tuned to the speaker for his name so he didn’t miss his own introduction. The idea that Taehyung was genuinely interested in him brought about conflicting emotions. Guilt and excitement warred in his belly, neither willing to give up nor back down. He shouldn’t think of his employee that way, shouldn’t put pressure on an already uneven power dynamic. But, at the same time, he wanted Taehyung to actually feel the warmth and happiness that shined in his eyes when he brought Yoongi on dates.

 

The thing was, he’d never really thought about Taehyung in that light because, as an employee, he was entirely off-limits. That didn’t mean he couldn’t see how pretty Taehyung was, or how fit, or how he was just Yoongi’s type. He had eyes. It just meant that the thoughts hadn’t gone further than acknowledging that.

 

Though, even then, he couldn’t say he’d been good about not reacting to Taehyung when he treated him well or teased him. It was just that he was so pretty! How was any sane man supposed to not react to that? 

 

Shaking his head at himself, Yoongi sighed and crossed his legs, hooking his hands around his knee. His mother shot him a curious look but he missed it, his eyes pointed straight ahead and unseeing. He supposed the real question was did he want Taehyung’s attention to him to be real? Did he want Taehyung to actually like him romantically as he suspected he did? Was that something that Yoongi was ready to deal with? He genuinely didn’t know but he couldn’t deny the way he felt when he was with Taehyung. If this was one of his books, he’d be describing the way Taehyung made his heart pound and his palms sweat, how easy it was to get swept up in the rush of mutual feelings and affection. If this was his book, he’d be writing the initial hundred pages before his characters shared their first kiss.

 

“—currently working on the second of his new trilogy. Join me in welcoming August.”

 

Yoongi straightened, pulling on his professional author mask, and stood, lifting his hand in a small wave. Several people looked at him with furrowed brows, clearly confused, but Yoongi ignored them as he went to the front of the room. The organizer bowed and handed him a microphone. “Thank you for the lovely introduction. My name is August, or, as most of you better know me, Min Yoongi.”

 

There was a scattering of laughter, some people whispering as they realized he used a pseudonym. Yoongi smiled. “As I’m sure you can guess, I write under a pen name. Usually, I only do a handful of signing events and the like, but when my mother, Kim Hyseu, told me about the library opening, I knew I wanted to be involved.”

 

His mother raised a brow at him, but she smirked. He wasn’t lying, at least not really. It was just a small white lie. Harmless.

 

“I got special permission from my publisher to read a never before heard excerpt from my upcoming manuscript for the opening,” Yoongi revealed, squinting a bit when someone snapped a picture of him.

 

“We’d be honoured, Mr. Min,” the organizer said, stepping back to the front of the room. She took the microphone back and turned toward the group. “If you have any questions, now would be the best time to ask so that we can begin organizing the event with this plan in mind.”

 

Several hands shot up, so she handed the microphone back to Yoongi. He made a mental note to tell his mother there should be more than one at the actual event before scanning the crowd to pick a hand at random. Just as he was about to point to someone, Taehyung caught his eye and he paused. Taehyung raised a brow at him, momentarily confusing Yoongi, and then he made a silly face. Yoongi pressed his lips together, trying to prevent the smile from stretching across his face, and refocused on answering questions. He missed his mother turning toward the back of the room entirely. 

 

❆❆❆

 

Somewhere between watching Yoongi effortlessly command the room and hearing him awkwardly accept compliments from the committee members who had previously not known Yoongi was the author August, Taehyung realized he was in too deep. He’d already known that he loved Yoongi, that was a given, but he hadn’t stopped to consider how attached he would grow while they played around with the idea of dating. When he was weighing the pros and cons—as briefly as he had—he should have considered more than just the future pain their inevitable end point would cause. 

 

It’d just never occurred to him that he’d want more.

 

Taehyung knew that it was selfish, that he was already getting more than he’d dreamed of so he shouldn’t want more, but he did. He’d finally gotten to experience holding Yoongi’s hand and eating dinner with him while surrounded by candlelight. He’d gotten some of what he wanted so now he wanted to take it step further. He wanted to kiss him and finally know what Yoongi’s lips would feel like pressed against his. He wanted to fuck him and find out what sounds Yoongi would make. Like he said, he knew it was selfish, but he wanted all the same.

 

“I’m sorry, Tae,” Yoongi said, leaning into his side as they stepped outside of the building where the meeting room was situated. “I kinda just assumed they knew who I was. It’s not exactly a secret anymore.”

 

“It’s okay. I’m not surprised they don’t know you. Your picture isn’t in your books and most people don’t take the time to look up authors, even the ones they like.”

 

Yoongi hummed. “I guess that’s true.”

 

“Plus, it’s fun watching you blush when people compliment you,” Taehyung teased, nudging Yoongi’s shoulder. 

 

“You’ve grown awfully confident,” Yoongi muttered, frowning a bit. It would be more effective if it didn’t look like he was pouting.

 

Taehyung snorted. “I was born confident. Should I get the car?”

 

Yoongi sighed and straightened. He linked his fingers together and stretched them over his head, his back arching. Taehyung had to banish an image of Yoongi bending that way on a bed while Taehyung fucked him. It was a losing battle. He’d been much better at controlling his thoughts before he’d been allowed to get a taste of what dating Yoongi would be like. “Those chairs were super uncomfortable. Do you mind if we walk for a bit?”

 

“Of course not. Just take my hand so you stay close,” Taehyung advised, holding out his right hand.

 

“Okay,” Yoongi agreed, sliding their hands together and interlocking their fingers like he’d been doing it for years. “Does this really help protect me?”

 

“Of course,” Taehyung lied. “Anything that keeps you within arms reach makes it easier for me to respond quickly to a threat.”

 

Yoongi nodded, his face turning away from Taehyung as he scanned the area. Taehyung didn’t comment, content to let Yoongi decide where to go. Turning around entirely, despite the way it made his arm stretch across his body, Yoongi gestured down the road with his free hand. “My mother said there was a lantern exhibit or festival or something happening at the park just north of here. I think that’s the way?”

 

“That is north,” Taehyung confirmed. “Did you want to see it?”

 

“If you don’t mind. My mom said it was pretty,” Yoongi admitted, biting his lip.

 

“Then let’s go,” Taehyung said, lifting his arm and spinning it around Yoongi so he wasn’t facing the opposite way anymore. Yoongi giggled, his eyes lighting up, but Taehyung merely smiled and stepped around him so Yoongi wasn’t on the road edge before heading in the general direction that he had indicated.

 

After they’d been walking for nearly ten minutes, Taehyung started to suspect that Yoongi’s mother had been wrong, or that Yoongi had misheard her. He was in the middle of trying to figure out how to ask without sounding mean when Yoongi gasped and yanked on his hand. “There! They released some!”

 

Taehyung looked down at Yoongi like the tug on his hand had been a string directing his attention. Yoongi wasn’t looking at him though. He was staring up at the sky, his eyes squinted and lips smiling. Taehyung traced his features with his eyes, unable to look away or reply. Eventually, Yoongi noticed his silence and turned toward him, his lips parting as if to ask him something. Only, when he saw Taehyung watching him, they closed and his eyes widened. Taehyung wasn’t sure what Yoongi was thinking, nor what he was seeing on Taehyung’s face, but his face turned red and he looked away, his bottom lip disappearing between his teeth.

 

There were so many things that Taehyung wanted to say, wanted to ask, and, if he was looking at anyone else other than Yoongi, he would have, but since it was Yoongi, he smiled and asked, “Should we go closer?”

 

“Yea,” Yoongi agreed quietly, his smile small and soft, tentative almost. Taehyung wasn’t sure what that change meant, but he swallowed that question too and tugged Yoongi along in the general direction of where it seemed the lanterns had been launched from. 

 

Once they crossed the street, Taehyung spotted a path that led through a wooded area. He tensed a bit, eyes darting to the darkened sky. He didn’t like the idea of Yoongi going through a path like that, but he’d looked so excited about the lanterns and at least Taehyung was there just in case.

 

Slightly uneasy, Taehyung pulled Yoongi closer to his body. Yoongi shot him a look, smiling a bit, but he didn’t comment. They just continued down the path, following the sounds of voices and, eventually, lights, which led them to an open area on the other side of a park. Taehyung squinted at the road, realizing they’d just approached from the exit rather than the entrance, which was why they’d ended up walking for so long without seeing signs or people.

 

Not that there was an abundance of people. It was a small group, easily under a hundred people, and they were all milling around, looking at the small booths that were set up around the edge of the open area and talking to those manning them. Taehyung understood now why Yoongi’s mother hadn’t known what to call the event—he didn’t either. 

 

“I love things like this,” Yoongi said, interrupting Taehyung’s thoughts as he all but dragged him toward one of the booths. “The big events are so showy and there’s so many people that you really don’t get a chance to talk to the artisans.”

 

“I guess that’s true,” Taehyung replied slowly. He’d never really thought about it before, if he was honest, but he wasn’t surprised that Yoongi had. “Did you want to talk to them now?”

 

“Yes,” Yoongi confirmed, not looking at him. “This would be great for my book. I wonder if one of them has a unique process I can use for inspiration.”

 

Taehyung smiled gently, endeared by Yoongi’s passion. Almost everything linked back to his books or his characters and while many people probably found that annoying, Taehyung loved it. He wished he was that passionate about something. “Then let’s ask.”

 

Yoongi smiled at him, bouncing slightly, then he was gone. If Taehyung hadn’t been holding on, he’d have lost him even in such a small crowd. As it was, he ended up being pulled behind as Yoongi moved from booth to booth, asking questions and listening to stories. He wasn’t taking notes, but Taehyung could tell he was listening attentively, cataloguing it all to memory. The only name he took down was the one belonging to a man who shared that he had a special process of treating the wood in his lanterns so they lasted longer. Taehyung suspected that meant he was going to use it in his book and wanted to credit him properly. 

 

Taehyung lost track of time. He didn’t even know how many times they’d done a complete circuit of the booths, but he did know he’d seen some people more than once and, when he noticed a repeat person, he realized that Yoongi had different questions, like he was adapting based on what he’d learned from other creators. 

 

He could have spent all night watching Yoongi talk to them about lanterns, but an announcement that the last lantern release was about to start meant the night had to end. “Ready to go?”

 

“Not yet. Come here,” Yoongi ordered, all but dragging Taehyung once again, this time up a slight hill just behind the booths. “One of the artisans said this is the best view because you can see above the trees.” 

 

“Why didn’t you say so?” Taehyung teased, taking a seat. Or, rather, being pulled to the ground by Yoongi, who’d sat down. 

 

“I did,” Yoongi said, not rising to the bait of Taehyung’s teasing due to his fixation on the sky. Taehyung could see Yoongi’s eyes moving back and forth like he was reading a book and knew he was writing in his mind, clearly building a scene based on their impromptu date. Teahyung couldn’t help but wonder how much of himself he’d see in Yoongi’s next book and, for some reason, that made him happy. Like his affection for Yoongi would be immortalized, even if the man himself wasn’t aware of it.

 

Nearly ten minutes later, the first lantern appeared over the tree line. It was followed by a few more, then a dozen, and then a cloud of lanterns appeared, lighting up the night sky. Taehyung had always been more fond of the excitement of fireworks, but he could understand the beauty of the lanterns. Maybe that had more to do with the awe radiating off Yoongi than the lanterns themselves, but Taehyung wasn’t going to think too hard about it.

 

Nor was he really going to watch the lanterns. He kept sneaking glances at Yoongi, watching the way his lips would move with words only he could hear, the way his eyes tracked every little movement, and, most importantly, the way his entire face would brighten with a smile every so often, like his brain was realizing over and over that he was seeing the lanterns in real life and they weren’t just a fictional setting in his mind.

 

He’d intended to be discreet, but somewhere along the way, he’d stopped stealing glances and ended up just staring at Yoongi blatantly. He hadn’t noticed that he’d done it until Yoongi turned to him, his eyes widening in surprise before his brows furrowed. “Everything okay, Tae?”

 

Taehyung blinked slowly, processing the fact he’d just stared at Yoongi for at least five minutes without a word, then he nodded. “I’m great. Are you having a good time?”

 

Yoongi nodded, his movements just as slow. “I am. I always have a good time when we go out.”

 

“Successful dates then?” Taehyung asked, his eyes never leaving Yoongi’s. He knew he should look away, that the atmosphere was shifting to something much more charged, but he couldn’t.

 

“Yes. Almost perfect,” Yoongi murmured.

 

Taehyung raised a brow. “Almost?”

 

For a moment, Yoongi simply stared at him, his eyes roaming over his face like he was looking for something. Taehyung wasn’t sure if he saw what he wanted, but he did say, “A perfect third date ends with a kiss.”

 

There was no question that Taehyung should back up and change the subject somehow. That line he’d been pretending to care about was right there, practically glowing in its insistence to not be crossed or trifled with. Every rule he had as a bodyguard, every rule he had for himself, told him to stop. The fact that he’d gotten to this point by lying to Yoongi in the first place made it even more important that he stop. 

 

And yet, Taehyung lifted the hand not currently wrapped around Yoongi’s and smoothed his fingers over Yoongi’s jaw. He felt rather than heard Yoongi’s breath catch, his throat working under his light touch. There was a moment of hesitation, a moment where he lifted his eyes to Yoongi’s, hoping to see something there that would give him a reason he so desperately needed to stop, but Yoongi was watching him with soft eyes, openly waiting for what Taehyung was going to do, and suddenly there was no resistance left in him—not that there’d been a great deal to begin with.

 

Kissing Yoongi was both like everything he’d expected and nothing. His lips were soft and slightly chapped from constantly biting on them, which he’d expected, but the way he moved them was confident and sure, eager, which Taehyung hadn’t. It wasn’t that he’d thought Yoongi had no experience—he’d read enough of Yoongi’s sex scenes in his books to know that certainly wasn’t the case—but he hadn’t anticipated him being forceful. Everything about him was soft. Everything but this.

 

Yoongi placed his hand overtop of Taehyung’s, his fingers tracing over the tendons of his hands, and then they slid up his arm to his neck, diving into his hair. Taehyung couldn’t stop the gasp he let out against Yoongi’s lips as he tugged him closer, pulling on those strands somewhat harshly. That gasp only gave Yoongi more access to his mouth, allowing him to slip his tongue inside and deepen the kiss. It was heady and overwhelming and Taehyung wanted nothing more than to shove Yoongi down on the grass and take him apart then and there.

 

Harnessing some self-control he honestly hadn’t realized he still had, Taehyung shifted his focus to matching Yoongi’s pace. His grip on his chin tightened, his thumb moving to Yoongi’s mouth to pull it open wider. He had such a small mouth and Taehyung suddenly had a very visceral image of Yoongi trying and failing to fit his cock in his mouth. That was his sign to stop. At least for now. He needed to breathe.

 

“Hyung,” Taehyung said, his voice hoarse.

 

Yoongi opened his eyes slowly, blinking at Taehyung as if he needed a moment to focus. “Tae.”

 

“I—” Taehyung started, unsure what he was even going to say. “How was that?”

 

“Perfect,” Yoongi breathed out. “Kiss me again.”

 

Taehyung wasn’t sure if he moved first or Yoongi did, but seconds later, his lips were against Yoongi’s again, moving almost desperately as Yoongi’s hands tightened in his hair and around his hand. They were shaking slightly, like Yoongi was overwhelmed, and Taehyung couldn’t help but groan. Even if this was wrong and would likely get him fired, his previous words to Jungkook had never been more true than they were at that moment: Yoongi was worth it. 

 

❆❆❆

 

Tilting his head back, Yoongi smiled up at Taehyung before refocusing back on his computer, wanting to finish the scene he was picturing in his head. When he wrote, he often had a running monologue in his head, detailing the image he wanted to create. He didn’t have the type of mind that allowed him to picture things visually, but he could write an entire scene in his head like it was a screenplay, and that had served him well over the years. That generally meant that he had a hard time stopping in the middle, so, once he’d looked away from Taehyung, he forgot about him and lost himself in the fantasy world he’d created.

 

The romance scenes had been coming much easier since he and Taehyung had started going on dates. The little moments that often went overlooked when out together, like a small touch to get someone’s attention, or a fleeting smile over a lit candle, were all so clear in his mind now. He easily adapted them to his fantasy setting, placing his characters in a crowded and boisterous tavern because that’s where the best ale was made, and in the middle of a forest after a skirmish with the enemy, while weaving in those small moments that Taehyung had shown him until it was clear that his characters were in love. 

 

His female lead was very internal with her thoughts and feelings, much like Yoongi was, so he had fun describing the concern and chaos of her mind as she slowly fell in love and then the rush of happiness and excitement as she accepted those feelings and kissed her man. It made Yoongi smile, proud of her for being confident in her feelings. It was silly given the fact that he’d written her that way, but he still felt proud regardless. His characters were as good as his babies and he liked to see them end up in a happy, comfortable place—even if he put them through hell first. 

 

Sitting back, Yoongi stretched, wincing slightly at the sound of his back cracking. He glanced at the clock, his wince turning into a grimace as he realized that the reason he was in pain was because he’d been writing for nearly seven hours straight. Usually, he didn’t stay in one place for that long but he’d been on a roll today and he was so close to finishing his book that he’d been unable to stop. All he needed to do now was right the betrayal and breakup scene and he’d be done. He’d already written the end, so, aside from some editing to make the new sections fit, he’d be finished. 

 

Closing his laptop, Yoongi started to tidy his desk, momentarily confused when he saw three mugs and a small plate carelessly placed near the right edge. He hadn’t gotten drinks for himself and he didn’t really remember drinking or eating anything, but considering he wasn’t hungry or thirsty, he must have. But how—

 

Movement outside the window just behind his desk caught Yoongi’s eyes and he turned just in time to see Taehyung walk past, clearly in the middle of his daily perimeter sweep. He was so diligent, always making sure the property was free from threats and that Yoongi was safe. He took care of him so well that— Yoongi’s lips parted, realizing that Taehyung must have brought him drinks and a snack while he was writing. 

 

Yoongi placed a hand on his chest and rubbed, his lips tugging up into a small smile as he looked down, unsure how to deal with the sudden rush of emotions flooding his body. He bit his lip, still smiling, and looked out the window again, his eyes following Taehyung as he continued around the edge of the yard before turning and disappearing from his sight.

 

A few weeks ago, he hadn’t been sure if he’d wanted Taehyung’s feelings for him to be real or if he’d rather they just be part of their little dating game. Now, he knew that he did. In fact, he wanted more. No matter what Taehyung did, he wanted more. If he touched his back, he wanted Taehyung to hold his hand. If he held his hand, he wanted him to hug him close. If he hugged him, he wanted him to kiss him. If he kissed him, he wanted him to fuck him. It was like an ever-increasing need that he could never satisfy. He just wanted more of Taehyung.

 

It was a little scary, if he was honest. He didn’t think he’d ever felt this intensely about anyone and he certainly had never felt this way about someone whose feelings he wasn’t even sure of, but that didn’t make those feelings any less real. Plus, he was… pretty sure Taehyung felt the same way. At least, he seemed to like Yoongi quite a bit, if the way he treated him was any indication, and that was a good foundation. Yoongi didn’t mind falling first as long as Taehyung fell too. It wasn’t a race or competition, he just wanted them to both cross that finish line.

 

Yoongi stood up, stretching again before he gathered the dishes and headed to the kitchen to put them in the dishwasher. It was, admittedly, hard to tell where Taehyung’s professionalism ended and his feelings for Yoongi began. It’d be easier if they didn’t live together and spend almost every waking minute together too. Maybe what they needed was to date like a normal couple and see where that led them. Then Yoongi could see Taehyung and his feelings removed from his job and place in Yoongi’s life as his bodyguard.

 

Unconsciously chewing on the inside of his cheek, Yoongi slowly closed the dishwasher, his eyes unseeing as he considered that. The idea of Taehyung showing up at his home with flowers or even just himself to bring Yoongi on a date made him giddy. He was sure Taehyung would look even more handsome when he didn’t get to see him all the time. Maybe Yoongi could even take him out on a date too. 

 

Nodding to himself, Yoongi smiled. He liked that idea. All he needed to do was finish his book so that he had fewer time constraints and talk to his parents about the threats and see if they’d consider the possibility of Yoongi not having a live-in bodyguard anymore. He found himself reaching for his phone, ready to call his mother and blurt out everything and beg her to help him change the bodyguard situation, but he stopped himself. He needed to finish his book first, that way, he would be free whenever Taehyung wanted to go out, and he needed to talk to Taehyung and make sure he was okay with such a drastic change. Until then, he’d settle for the way things were.

 

“Hyung? Done for the day?” Taehyung asked, stepping into the kitchen. He moved to Yoongi’s side, but didn’t touch him. Yoongi frowned, but that expression cleared when Taehyung quickly started to wash his hands. When he was done, he turned to Yoongi with a teasing smile. “Were you pouting?”

 

“No,” Yoongi lied, unable to stop his bottom lip from jutting out.

 

Taehyung hummed and cupped Yoongi’s face, his hands smelling like the light lemon scent of his soap. “It looks like you’re pouting.”

 

“I’m not,” Yoongi lied again, his eyes darting to Taehyung and away. He was being silly, but his heart was pounding so hard and he felt his skin turning pink. He wasn’t embarrassed this time, he was excited. He loved when Taehyung touched him. He wanted him to touch him more.

 

“Oh? I guess you don’t need a kiss then.”

 

“Tae.”

 

Taehyung snorted. “I love that little whine of yours.”

 

Yoongi’s eyes widened but Taehyung had already closed his and leaned closer, slotting their lips together so effortlessly that Yoongi was convinced they’d been doing this in every past life he had—despite not even really believing in that. The causal use of love made Yoongi’s head spin,  but, for the moment, he contented himself with kissing Taehyung in his kitchen and biding his time until things could take a turn for the better. Usually, he’d be impatient for that, but, this time, he could wait. As long as Taehyung kept kissing him anyway.

 

❆❆❆

 

Taehyung had only just pulled on his shirt, changing from his usual suit to something more casual since his duties were finished and Yoongi had been holed up writing most of the day, when his door whipped open and a frantic Yoongi appeared in front of him. He was practically shaking, his eyes wide and excited. Taehyung blinked at him, about to ask what was going on, but the words were cut off by a small oof as Yoongi launched himself at him and hugged him tightly. 

 

“Uh, hyung?” Taehyung managed, confused even if he was a fan of holding Yoongi this close.

 

“It’s done! I submitted my manuscript! It’s done,” Yoongi revealed, jumping as he spoke.

 

“Oh, that’s great, hyung! I’m proud of you. You worked so hard,” Taehyung praised, his hand smoothing down Yoongi’s spine and settling at the small of his back.

 

Yoongi nodded and tilted his head slightly so he could see Taehyung’s face more clearly. “Technically, there will be edits and a ton of changes and meetings that’ll need to happen before the actual publication, but, for now, it’s done.”

 

“I’m sure they’ll take it exactly as it is,” Taehyung said.

 

“Oh, they definitely won’t,” Yoongi said, laughing at the thought. “That never happens but my editor is really good. Her suggestions are always great. Sometimes you need an outside perspective and she’s great at that. Anyway, I’m free!”

 

Taehyung hummed, his stance shifting so he could hold Yoongi more naturally. “How about we go out and celebrate? You deserve a nice drink and some time to relax.”

 

Yoongi smiled at him, but he didn’t agree right away like Taehyung had expected. Instead, he slid his hands to Taehyung’s chest, his palms settling just over his heart, and frowned slightly. Taehyung was a little frustrated by his lack of ability to read what Yoongi was thinking at a moment like this, but, as he’d come to expect, Yoongi explained a moment later. “Could we stay in? I just… don’t want to have to be on tonight.”

 

“Of course. You can relax here. I can go—”

 

“No! No, I… still want to drink with you. I have that bar cart that I never really use so we can just do that?” Yoongi suggested, the corner of his mouth pulling inward like he was biting on his cheek.

 

Something in Taehyung’s belly twisted and heated. He wasn’t sure why exactly, it wasn’t like they’d only played at dating while they were outside the home, but this felt… different. Yoongi was suggesting that they have a date night rather than the scattered moments of intimacy they’d fallen into. Which, admittedly, had only started after their first kiss. That had been a turning point, just as Taehyung had expected. “That sounds great, hyung. It’ll be safer, plus it lets me keep you all to myself.”

 

“You usually have me that way,” Yoongi pointed out, but he was smiling.

 

Taehyung shrugged. “Sure, but this is different.” 

 

And it was. He wasn’t sticking close to Yoongi now to protect him or because it was his job. Tonight, Yoongi was asking him to celebrate a special moment with him. Though the basics of them being alone together were the same, nothing else was.

 

Yoongi seemed to agree, because his smile stretched and he nodded. “It is. I’ll meet you downstairs? I want to shower and change—wash off the cooped-up author grime.”

 

“Sure,” Taehyung agreed, laughing. “How about I make us our first drink and order some snacks?”

 

“I’d like that. Thank you, Tae.”

 

“No problem,” Taehyung murmured, his fingers lingering on Yoongi even as he stepped away and left the room. He sent him a sheepish smile as he closed the door he’d all but kicked open, which just made Taehyung laugh as Yoongi darted away.

 

Shaking his head, Taehyung finished changing and slid his feet into a pair of his comfier slippers. He had half a mind to switch to something nicer now that he was spending the night with Yoongi but he didn’t. Mostly because he knew that Yoongi would come down in something soft and fluffy, so he wanted to match him.

 

After quickly ordering some snacks through a food app, Taehyung went to the kitchen to gather some liquor and mix options. Yoongi had mentioned his bar cart and honestly, Taehyung had completely forgotten about it. Yoongi rarely used it—Taehyung had only seen him use it once when Namjoon had come over—so it usually just sat in the corner looking pretty but redundant. It was definitely a holdover aesthetic-wise from his parent’s house but, at the moment, Taehyung wasn’t complaining since it meant he could put everything on top and drag it to the couch.

 

He wasn’t exactly the most talented bartender so he settled on pouring some rum into two tall glasses and mixing it with Yoongi’s favourite tangerine juice. A spark of inspiration made him add grenadine so it was like an altered version of a tequila sunrise. He was contemplating hunting down a cherry just to tie it together when Yoongi entered the room, his eyes turning round and soft when he spotted the drinks. “Oh, that’s so fancy.”

 

“Not really. Grenadine makes it look cooler than it is,” Taehyung admitted, picking up one of the glasses to hand to Yoongi. “It’s tangerine juice and rum.”

 

“I do love tangerine,” Yoongi murmured as he took a seat. “Thank you, Tae.”

 

“I know,” Taehyung said with a snort, sitting down beside him. “I’ve seen you eat an entire box of tangerines, remember?”

 

Yoongi’s eyes widened as he blushed. “I didn’t mean to! I was distracted.”

 

“Uh-huh,” Taehyung teased, pinching Yoongi’s cheek. “You looked like a little chipmunk.”

 

“You’re supposed to be celebrating me, not bullying me,” Yoongi whined, taking a long sip of the drink.

 

Taehyung couldn’t help but snort again. He loved when Yoongi got like this. At first, he’d thought that was just the way Yoongi was, but he’d soon realized that Yoongi only whined and teased and acted silly when he was comfortable. He did it around Namjoon, and more importantly, he did it around Taehyung. “My apologies, Mr. Min.”

 

Yoongi’s eyes darted to him, his whole face falling into what could only be described as disappointment, then he seemed to realize that Taehyung was still teasing him and that disappointment turned to petulance. “I don’t want to hang out with you anymore.”

 

“No? Should I just go?” Taehyung asked, sitting up and placing his drink back on the cart. He was only joking but Yoongi’s hand darted out and grabbed his shirt. “Oh? You want me to stay?”

 

“You’re being mean,” Yoongi huffed out, the corner of his mouth lifting and falling like he was fighting a smile. Taehyung wanted to eat him.

 

“A little,” Taehyung agreed, settling back into the couch. He was closer now, angled toward Yoongi since he’d used his hold on Taehyung’s shirt to pull him toward himself. “I’m sorry.”

 

Yoongi sent him a sidelong look before finishing off his drink and setting it down beside Taehyung’s half-full glass. He turned toward Taehyung then, shifting so his feet were tucked underneath his butt. Taehyung raised a brow again, wondering why Yoongi was looking at him so intensely, but he remained silent until Yoongi said, “I want to ask you something.”

 

“Okay. Go ahead,” Taehyung said, recognizing a shift in Yoongi’s demeanour was because he had something to say. He looked a little hesitant now, as if he wasn’t sure he’d like what Taehyung had to say in response, and that made him sit up as well and give Yoongi his undivided attention. “I’m listening, hyung.”

 

“I just wanted—” Yoongi broke off, biting his lip. He tilted his head from one side to another but didn’t start again. The silence stretched and Taehyung couldn’t help but hold his breath, as something like uncertainty and excitement swirled in his belly. After nearly a full minute, Yoongi sighed and looked at Taehyung from under his lashes. “Would you kiss me?”

 

“Of course, hyung. I’d love to,” Taehyung said honestly, a little confused by Yoongi’s hesitance to ask in the first place. Maybe because it was their first date at home and he wasn’t sure of the boundaries? “You don’t need to ask.”

 

“Then please do,” Yoongi said, not moving from his spot.

 

Taehyung scanned his face, hesitating a moment for a reason he couldn’t quite identify, and then he leaned in and kissed Yoongi. Something about the way Yoongi was acting made him keep it slow and chaste, letting his lips move over Yoongi’s in a steady rhythm. Taehyung didn’t know why he’d thought that Yoongi would accept that. He didn’t think they’d kissed a single time where Yoongi hadn’t silently demanded more. It was a frankly overwhelming feeling and one he welcomed wholeheartedly.

 

There was just something enticing about how Yoongi, who was always soft and accommodating, polite and never forceful, would become demanding and eager when they kissed. Taehyung should have known based on the sex scenes in his books, there were anything but soft and gentle, but Taehyung still couldn’t wrap his mind around the dichotomy. 

 

He had absolutely no complaints though. How could he when Yoongi’s fingers would dig into his arm, rubbing almost unconsciously against the lines of his muscles, or when he sucked on Taehyung’s lip and moaned quietly in the back of his throat when Taehyung did the same? Kissing had never been something Taehyung particularly looked forward to, but with Yoongi, he was sure he could survive off that alone. Well, he could if he wasn’t so greedy and constantly desperate for more, but that was an entirely different issue.

 

The only real issue at this point was the angle. Yoongi kept moving closer until his knees were pressed against Taehyung’s thigh, but with his head turned the way it was, Taehyung couldn’t grab onto Yoongi like he usually did. Yoongi must have sensed his frustration, or perhaps he felt it himself because he lifted himself up, never breaking the kiss as he swung a leg over Taehyung’s lap and sat down.

 

“Okay?” Yoongi asked against his lips, his hands settling on Taehyung’s chest but remaining still.

 

“No,” Taehyung said, grabbing Yoongi’s hips and pulling him closer until he was all but glued to his chest. Yoongi let out a surprised gasp, his hips angling down in what seemed to be an unconscious move to grind against Taehyung’s dick. It was exactly what Taehyung had been aiming for. “Now I’m okay.”

 

Yoongi lifted his eyes to Taehyung, not moving for a few seconds as they just stared at each other. Like their first kiss, they both knew this was a tipping point, a step forward they couldn’t take back. Yoongi had moved them closer, but Taehyung had made it sexual. The ball was in Yoongi’s court and, until he decided what he wanted next, Taehyung wasn’t going to move.

 

He didn’t have to wait long. Yoongi’s eyes flicked over his face for a few more seconds and then his arms, which had been squished between them, moved up and wrapped around his neck. “Okay.”

 

There was no time to reply before Yoongi was kissing him again, his tongue diving back into Taehyung’s mouth and forcing Taehyung’s to move faster and faster. Taehyung could hear the sound of their mouths moving together like it was in surround sound and as much as he was sure it should be off-putting, it just made him start to harden. That only got worse when Yoongi tightened his hold on Taehyung’s head and started to lift his body so his chest rubbed against Taehyung’s. 

 

Though their kiss felt filthy, felt like a step leading to something more, Taehyung wasn’t sure if that was Yoongi’s intent. It was possible that Yoongi didn’t mean to start grinding against his dick and had just gotten lost in the moment. Knowing that didn’t stop Taehyung from moaning into his mouth or tightening his grasp on Yoongi’s hips to pull him back down.

 

 It took a second for Yoongi to realize what he was doing, but when he did, his breathing stuttered, his fingers digging even further into Taehyung’s body. Taehyung didn’t move him again, waiting for Yoongi to make a decision, but he didn’t have to wait long. A few ragged breaths later, Yoongi lifted himself back up, his hips rotating as he slid back down and then up again, setting a slow, bouncing rhythm. He knew this was how Yoongi would ride him and that image only made it more difficult for him to think clearly.

 

Taehyung couldn’t help but slip his hands under Yoongi’s shirt and trail them up his back. He shuddered, groaning at his first touch of Yoongi’s bare skin even as Yoongi broke the kiss, his eyes meeting Taehyung’s and holding as his lips lingered, ghosting over Taehyung’s as he bit off another moan. Taehyung could feel him hardening against his stomach, his lounge pants doing little to hide how much this was affecting him. Not that Taehyung was doing any better. Every movement of Yoongi’s hips pushed him harder and harder against his crotch. 

 

Near desperately, Taehyung fisted the back of Yoongi’s shirt from the inside and pulled, lifting it up further. Yoongi made a small noise in surprise before he raised his arms, silently telling Taehyung to take it off for him. Taehyung didn’t need more than that. He tugged it off, unconcerned with the slight sound of tearing, and threw it away. He’d told himself he would bask in this moment, memorize every feature or mark, but he didn’t. Taehyung just lunged forward, sealing his lips around Yoongi’s nipple as his hands slid around his waist, holding tightly even as he helped Yoongi continue to move on top of him.

 

Yoongi’s head fell back as his hands moved to Taehyung’s knees, using them as leverage to keep grinding against Taehyung’s thigh. It felt like Yoongi’s attention had become more insular, more focused on his own pleasure, but Taehyung didn’t even care. In fact, he lived for it. He only paused for as long as it took to switch nipples, wanting to drag more gentle moans from Yoongi and see if he could make him fall apart then and there.

 

“Tae,” Yoongi breathed suddenly, straightening up as he finally stopped moving, his ass settling right on top of Taehyung’s dick. “Tae.”

 

Taehyung blinked rapidly, lifting his head as he tried to clear his thoughts. He found Yoongi staring at him, cheeks flush and eyes hazy. “Yes, what do you need, baby?”

 

Yoongi whined at that, his fingers digging into Taehyung’s knees before he shook himself and sat up again. “Is this what you want?”

 

That was a loaded question if there ever was one. Taehyung wanted so much more. “I want there to be less clothes.”

 

Snorting lightly, Yoongi ran his fingers up Taehyung’s chest to his neck, then looped around to his hair so he could tug, forcing Taehyung to look up at him more directly. Yoongi’s eyes flitted over Taehyung’s face before he asked, “Do you want to fuck me, Tae?”

 

“Jesus,” Taehyung gasped out, his dick twitching under Yoongi at the question. He knew that Yoongi could feel it but he replied anyway. “Of course I do, hyung. I’ve always wanted to. You’re beautiful.”

 

Yoongi smiled, his head tilting as one of his hands left Taehyung’s hair in favour of trailing back down his chest to the waistband of his pants. “What if I wanted that too?”

 

“I’d take you to bed,” Taehyung said instantly. It wasn’t even a question. That supposedly concerning line was little more than a dot in the distance. It had no bearing on anything he did anymore. There was only Yoongi and the numerous tenuous opportunities to be close to him and have him for himself for as long as possible. 

 

“Then take me to bed,” Yoongi ordered. 

 

Taehyung lunged forward, slamming their lips together with enough force to send Yoongi tumbling back. He kept him in place with his grip on his waist, nipping at his bottom lip before he pulled back. “Lead the way.”

 

Yoongi’s smile was quick and triumphant and then it was gone and he was standing up, hand held out for Taehyung to take. Taehyung looked at it, remembering offering his own hand to Yoongi during their dates, then took it and stood up, letting Yoongi guide him up the stairs and down the hallway leading to his bedroom. 

 

They didn’t say anything as they walked or even when they entered. Taehyung wasn’t sure what, exactly, Yoongi was thinking, but he remained quiet so Yoongi could set the pace. He seemed to tend toward quick and dirty, if his kissing style and his books were anything to go by, but Taehyung didn’t want to assume that.

 

Once they neared the bed, which Taehyung honestly had to blink at in surprise because it was massive, Yoongi turned toward him and pointed to the bed. “Sit.”

 

Taehyung raised a brow and did as he was told, dropping down on the edge heavily. He leaned back on his hands and smirked. “Do you like to boss people around, hyung?”

 

“No,” Yoongi admitted, moving to stand between Taehyung’s legs. “I just want to suck your dick and this seemed like the easiest way.”

 

“Jesus,” Taehyung groaned out. “You’re going to kill me.”

 

Yoongi raised a brow as he sank to his knees, his hands already moving to Taehyung’s pants so he could tug them down. Since his legs were spread, they only made it to his thighs, but that was enough to free his cock. Yoongi wrapped a hand around him, his thumb pressing down on the tip as he glanced up at Taehyung. “You said that already. Are you religious?”

 

“No, but I can be if it means you’ll put that mouth on my dick,” Taehyung breathed out, his words rushed and edging toward desperate.

 

“No need for something like that,” Yoongi murmured, his words dripping with a teasing tone as he leaned forward and wrapped his lips around the head and his own finger. Taehyung’s lips parted, his eyes glued to Yoongi’s face as he slowly pulled off again. It took all his self-control not to buck up and force his dick back into Yoongi’s mouth. The look Yoongi sent him told him that he was aware of that and Taehyung could only grunt, unsure if he was in the right mind to say anything at the moment.

 

His patience, as thin as it was, was rewarded a moment later when Yoongi slid his hand down to the base and sucked him back in, slowly following the path his hand had just taken. Taehyung’s head fell back, his eyes squeezing shut as Yoongi’s tongue wrapped around his cock and trailed along the underside, guiding him even deeper into his mouth.

 

Taehyung felt the head of his cock hit Yoongi’s tonsils and groaned, his hand shooting out to grab the back of Yoongi’s head and hold him in place. Yoongi made a sound around him, loud enough that Taehyung forced his head back up so he could look down at him. Yoongi met his eyes, his lashes damp already, and then swallowed. Taehyung’s hand tightened in Yoongi’s hair, his mouth falling open on a guttural moan.

 

“Holy shit. Fuck— hyung,” Taehyung managed, his voice shaking as Yoongi’s throat worked around him. 

 

It only lasted for a few seconds before Yoongi pulled off, a trail of spit connecting his lips and the head of Taehyung’s cock. “Been a while.”

 

“You’re going to kill me,” Taehyung repeated.

 

“Good,” Yoongi replied a second before he dove back in, immediately taking him back into his throat. 

 

Taehyung bent forward, his hands wrapping around Yoongi’s head as he started to bob. The sound of Taehyung’s cock sliding in and out of his throat was so loud that Taehyung was sure the neighbours could hear it and it made his hands shake. He was going to cum just like this and miss out on his chance to finally have Yoongi under him. He couldn’t have that.

 

“Hyung, if you keep going, I’m going to cum,” Taehyung bit out, unsure how clear or coherent those words were. Yoongi merely hummed around him, sounding pleased, and Taehyung had to pull at his hair. He didn’t mean to hurt him but he tugged until Yoongi’s mouth left his cock and his head fell back. “I can’t fuck you if I cum, hyung.”

 

Yoongi’s lips, already swollen and spit-stained, stretched into a lazy smile. “Then I better stop.”

 

“God, hyung,” Taehyung muttered. His voice sounded wrecked, rough and used from swallowing his cock, and Taehyung had to take a moment to commit that sound to his memory forever. “Come up here.”

 

Placing his hands on Taehyung’s knees, Yoongi stood, remaining between Taehyung’s legs. Taehyung’s hands, which had let go of Yoongi’s head as he rose, settled on his hips. Slowly, he slipped his hands under the waistband of Yoongi’s pants and boxers and pushed them down. Yoongi stepped out of them without a word. Taehyung used the now available space to stand up and kick off his pants, pulling off his shirt at the same time.

 

Now naked, Taehyung held out his hand, smiling when Yoongi took it, and spun them around. He ducked down so he could heft Yoongi up, and, when his legs instinctively wrapped around Taehyung’s waist, he placed his knee on the bed so he could lay Yoongi down underneath him. Yoongi looked up at him, still silent, and Taehyung felt something twist in his belly. If he didn’t already know that he loved Yoongi, he was sure, at this moment, he would have realized it. The open happiness in Yoongi’s eyes as he watched him was like a drug and Taehyung never wanted Yoongi to look at him differently.

 

“Hyung,” Taehyung whispered quietly, unsure how, exactly, to convey all the thoughts and feelings swirling in his mind.

 

Yoongi smiled again, this time smaller, and asked, “Can you call me baby again?”

 

“I can do anything you want,” Taehyung said, “Anything at all, baby.”

 

“Then can you please fuck me?” Yoongi asked. 

 

Taehyung shook his head in endearment and kissed the corner of Yoongi’s mouth. He wanted to kiss him fully but he knew they’d get distracted again, so he refrained. “Just let me get you ready, okay?”

 

“I am ready,” Yoongi admitted, his words quiet and tinged with light embarrassment. He cleared his throat and, with his eyes directed at the ceiling, explained, “I, uh, prepped in the shower.”

 

“Without me?” Taehyung whispered, dragging his lips down Yoongi’s neck. “I was making us drinks and you were fucking yourself on your fingers? For me?”

 

“Yes,” Yoongi breathed out, tilting his head back as Taehyung sealed his lips around his pulse and sucked harshly. “Please, Tae.”

 

“Okay, baby. Okay,” Taehyung agreed. “Where’s your lube and condoms?”

 

“Drawer.”

 

Taehyung nodded. He’d assumed that’s where they were, but he wasn’t about to start digging through Yoongi’s drawers without permission. Now that he had it, at least, he assumed he did, Taehyung pulled the drawer open and dug for what he needed. He spotted a few toys and nearly groaned. The idea of Yoongi fucking himself while Taehyung slept a few doors away was both maddening and sexy and Taehyung had to take a breath to steady himself.

 

Closing the drawer, Taehyung placed the condom beside Yoongi’s head and snapped open the lube, coating his fingers. He rubbed them together to warm them up before leaning forward on his elbow so his nose bumped against Yoongi’s. Like he was drawn to it, Yoongi’s head tipped back so their lips slotted together. Taehyung kissed him back hard, running his tongue along Yoongi’s bottom lip as he slid his fingers between Yoongi’s cheeks and rubbed over his hole.

 

Just as Yoongi said, there was immediate give so, as Yoongi opened his mouth so Taehyung could slip his tongue inside, Taehyung pressed against his rim with two fingers. Yoongi whined against his lips, his legs lifting and pulling inward before falling back onto the bed. Even though he’d said he was stretched and Taehyung could feel that he was, he kept his rhythm slow and easy, widening his fingers so he could add a third just to make sure.

 

Yoongi tore his mouth away from Taehyung’s and tilted his head back into the pillow, his mouth falling open on a ragged moan. “Please, Tae. Just— I promise I’m ready.”

 

Part of Taehyung wanted to keep going just to see how far he could push Yoongi but the other part, which was far louder and more insistent, told him that he could do that another time and right now he needed to do what Yoongi said. “Alright, baby.”

 

“Fuck— I love when you call me that,” Yoongi admitted, a small whine escaping when Taehyung removed his fingers. Taehyung smirked at him with a teasing smile as he opened the condom and slid it on, adding more lube as he did so. Yoongi lifted his own leg, hooking it around Taehyung’s bicep as he leaned close, holding his cock against Yoongi’s hole. Yoongi shifted his hips, wiggling a bit, then nodded. “Okay.”

 

At his word, Taehyung pushed inside, slowly bottoming out while keeping his eyes on Yoongi’s face. He caught his wince just as his hips met the underside of Yoongi’s ass, so Taehyung held himself still. 

 

Yoongi let out a long breath. “Shit, I— give me a second.”

 

“Been a while?” Taehyung said, remembering what Yoongi had said previously.

 

“Yea,” Yoongi agreed, his eyes closed. 

 

“That’s kinda hot,” Taehyung admitted.

 

“Weird time for a purity kink,” Yoongi observed, his expression relaxing as he loosened up around Taehyung’s cock.

 

“It’s not so much a purity thing as it’s an ‘I want to be the only one fucking you’ thing,” Taehyung explained.

 

Yoongi opened his eyes. “You are.”

 

“Damn right,” Taehyung agreed, bending down so the leg Yoongi had hooked around his arm pressed against his own chest. Yoongi arched his back, groaning as the change in angle forced Taehyung deeper. “Just say the word.”

 

“Fucking now, Tae.”

 

“You said you weren’t bossy,” Taehyung teased. He didn’t let Yoongi respond. He paired his words with a hard thrust, pulling out and sinking back into Yoongi rapidly. Yoongi’s eyes rolled back as he reached above himself, his hands wrapping around the bars of his headboard so he could push back against Taehyung as he set a merciless pace. All the thoughts of going slow, of making sure hard and fast was what Yoongi wanted, vanished. Taehyung didn’t think that, even if his self-control doubled, he’d be able to fuck Yoongi slowly when he was whining and moaning beneath him. There was just no way. “You’re so pretty, baby.”

 

“Harder. Please— harder,” Yoongi pleaded, the muscles in his arms flexing as he tried to move himself faster.

 

Taehyung nodded even though Yoongi wasn’t looking at him and straightened up. Yoongi whined in protest but Taehyung ignored him and wrapped his hands around his waist, lifting him up so he could thrust into him harder, like he’d wanted. Yoongi’s legs failed a bit before his feet settled on the bed, automatically helping Taehyung maintain the angle he’d chosen.

 

Tightening his grip, Taehyung started to pull Yoongi back into him with more force, matching his own movements with a thrust. It was slower, which he honestly wasn’t sure how long he could maintain, but he made sure to target Yoongi’s prostate with every thrust, the slap of his thighs hitting Yoongi’s ass so loud that Taehyung knew he’d bruise. The thought made his fingers dig into Yoongi’s skin even harder. This might be temporary for Yoongi, but the marks would linger, and Taehyung needed to know that at this moment. 

 

“I— fuck,” Yoongi gasped out, one hand leaving the headboard to grab his cock. He started to jerk himself off much faster than Taehyung’s thrusts but he didn’t mind that. He wanted to feel Yoongi cum around him no matter how it happened.

 

“Cum for me, baby. Let me feel it.”

 

Yoongi’s eyes opened, wide and glassy. Taehyung wasn’t sure that he was seeing anything, but he looked right at Taehyung as he shattered, a pitched scream tearing out of his throat as his hole clenched down on Taehyung’s cock and his cum coated his stomach. 

 

Taehyung stared down at Yoongi, his eyes bouncing around his body and face so he could catalogue every colour, every movement, every sound as he started to fuck into him with hasty, uncoordinated thrusts. He could barely hear anything over the sound of his own breathing and the white noise in his head, but he could feel Yoongi’s hand wrapping around the back of his neck and then his lips pressed against his own.

 

Taehyung came a moment later, crying out Yoongi’s name against his lips. He’d fantasized about the opposite, about Yoongi screaming his name, but as he continued to kiss Yoongi, his hips moving in small, teasing circles as he drew out his own orgasm, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

❆❆❆

 

It’d been years since Yoongi had woken up next to someone without an almost instinctive flash of panic. He generally didn’t spend the night when he slept with someone and he never took them home, so waking up with a body pressed against his back was enough to make him freeze. It only took him a few seconds to remember whose body it was and how they’d gotten there though, and then that panic melted away to happiness. Yoongi couldn’t help but burrow deeper into the blankets and the pillow, his lips stretching into a sleepy smile.

 

“You’re awake.”

 

Yoongi shifted, ready to turn toward Taehyung, but lips pressed just behind his ear stopped him. Instead, he sighed and let his body lean back into Taehyung. “I am.”

 

“I forgot how late you sleep after you finish something,” Taehyung murmured, his lips trailing down Yoongi’s neck to his shoulder. He paused at the edge of the blanket only for a moment, and then it was being tugged down and his lips were moving down his arm. “You talk in your sleep.”

 

“I do not,” Yoongi protested, turning over in Taehyung’s arms so he could look up at him. Taehyung leaned back, his left arm trapped under Yoongi’s body, and raised a brow, which made Yoongi huff. “I don’t! I just… mumble.”

 

“I swear I heard an entire scene from one of your books,” Taehyung teased.

 

“You’re exaggerating. I don’t talk in my sleep,” Yoongi insisted, letting his lips fall into a deep, whiney pout because he’d noticed that Taehyung tended to give him what he wanted when he did that.

 

This time, however, Taehyung merely hummed and turned from Yoongi, looking behind his back. “Just like you don’t sleep with stuffed animals?”

 

“I don’t—”

 

“Then what’s this?” Taehyung interrupted, lifting the raccoon he’d bought him on their second date. Yoongi’s eyes widened in embarrassment—he’d forgotten about that. “Ah ha.”

 

“I don’t usually but it was a gift from you, so…” Yoongi admitted, wiggling down until he was laying flat on the bed and was hidden more underneath the blankets. Taehyung nodded slowly and then shoved it in his face, making loud kissy noises as he did so. Yoongi tried to push it away but Taehyung simply moved it to another part of his face or body, the kissy noises only getting louder and more dramatic. Yoongi continued to fight him, but it was a weak effort. He felt like he could barely breathe from how hard he was laughing and, whenever he opened his eyes, Taehyung was smiling, laughing right along with him, and Yoongi loved that. 

 

He loved that.

 

Yoongi blinked, his lashes fluttering as he realized just where his mind had gone. That felt… too soon. Sure, he’d known Taehyung for months, nearly a year at this point, but they’d only been pseudo-dating for a little over a month. Yoongi couldn’t fall that fast, could he? Yoongi bit his lip, his eyes lifting to Taehyung’s as he stopped assaulting him with the plushie in favour of just smiling down at him. Yoongi felt his heart begin to pound in response, an almost giddy feeling filling his chest, and realized, much to his horror, that whether or not it was too soon didn’t matter.

 

He loved Taehyung.

 

What the fuck was he supposed to do about that?

 

“Morning, hyung,” Taehyung greeted gently, his eyes roaming over Yoongi’s face.

 

Yoongi swallowed and tried to smile, unsure if it was convincing or not. “Morning, Tae.”

 

Taehyung hummed, this time the sound deeper and more contemplative as he leaned down and kissed him gently, sucking at his bottom lip. Yoongi couldn’t help the heavy breath he let out, like he’d been holding it in waiting for Taehyung to kiss him. He was a mess. “I could get used to that.”

 

“Oh yea? Does that have anything to do with last night?” Yoongi teased, feeling a little vulnerable about the sincerity in Taehyung’s voice and his own out-of-control feelings.

 

“Of course it does. We have to spend the night together for me to wake up with you,” Taehyung pointed out.

 

Yoongi snorted, happy they were falling back into a more familiar rhythm. “The sex had nothing to do with that, I’m sure.”

 

“Not even a little,” Taehyung lied, his eyes warm and teasing as they flicked over Yoongi’s face a few more times before he sighed and sat up. “Unfortunately, we can’t stay here though.”

 

“Why not?” Yoongi immediately whined, grabbing the blankets and tugging them up toward his face. His newly found love of Taehyung was nothing in comparison to his desire to stay in bed and relax after finishing a book. “I finished my book! My editor will take a few days to get back to me at least. I’m free.”

 

“You’re free from your editor, but not your mother. She called three times while you slept.”

 

Yoongi tensed, his expression shifting to something almost guilty as he lowered the blanket again and peeked at Taehyung over the edge. “I was supposed to meet with her today.”

 

“That you were,” Taehyung confirmed.

 

“You think she’ll accept ‘whoops, I forgot,’ as an excuse?” Yoongi asked.

 

“You know her better than me. Has that worked in the past?”

 

Sighing, Yoongi threw the blankets off him and sat up. Immediately, he ran his hands through his hair and shook his head. “Not even once. She’s going to skin me.”

 

“I told her you were finishing up your manuscript and you’d come when you’d sent it to your editor,” Taehyung said. “I’d rather not lie again so we should hurry.”

 

“Yea, shit. Thanks, Tae. You didn’t have to do that,” Yoongi said as he stood up.

 

 Taehyung swung his legs off the bed. Before he could jump away, Taehyung smacked his butt and winked at him. “I bear some of the responsibility for tiring you out so thoroughly.”

 

“Wow,” Yoongi said, his tone bland and level. “We are never fucking again.”

 

“I don’t think that’s true at all.”

 

Ignoring that comment, Yoongi headed for the shower. “Meet downstairs in 15?”

 

“Sure,” Taehyung agreed, moving past Yoongi on the way to his bedroom. He paused for only as long as it took to kiss the back of Yoongi’s head and then he was gone. 

 

Left alone, Yoongi went to the shower and jumped in the still-cold water, rushing through his morning routine. Thankfully, they’d cleaned up the night before so he wasn’t disgusting, but he still wanted to make sure he was presentable for his mother.

 

He did a really good job of keeping his mind empty until he was standing in front of his mirror to blow dry his hair and noticed the bruise on his neck. With the dryer still running, Yoongi lowered his arm and touched the bruise, making a small frustrated sound. He didn’t mind markings but he hadn’t noticed Taehyung leaving one in such an obvious place.

 

Well, that wasn’t exactly true, Yoongi admitted to himself as he refocused on drying his hair so he wouldn’t keep his mother waiting much longer. He’d liked the feeling of it when Taehyung had done it and a very small, but very loud part of him had liked the idea of Taehyung wanting people to see it.

 

Maybe he had a possession kink. Or his unconscious was much better at recognizing he was in love than his conscious was.

 

He knew that he could cover it but he also knew that his foundation wasn’t opaque enough without some serious concealer and colour correction, so, after a defeated sigh, he headed downstairs, the hickey uncovered. His mother was going to roast him for this. There was no way she was going to let it go, not after she’d already asked about him seeing someone during the last meeting. Yoongi still wasn’t sure what to say, but he supposed he could use this meeting as an excuse to see how she felt about him having less security.

 

“Ready?”

Yoongi lifted his eyes, seeing Taehyung standing by the door, his regular suit impeccable and hair styled professionally and neatly. He was back in his bodyguard guise, but considering they were going to his parents' house, he’d expected that. “Yes. I’ll text her to let her know I’m coming in the car.”

 

“I’m sure that she’ll appreciate that you were busy,” Taehyung said, guiding Yoongi to the car, which he’d already pulled up to the front door. Yoongi found himself wondering, as he often did, how Taehyung managed to get things done so quickly. 

 

“She’ll know that you lied the second she sees me,” Yoongi revealed, looking into the car so he could get in. Seeing a brown paper bag on the seat, he frowned. “What’s this?”

Taehyung leaned over the door and snorted. “That’s the food I ordered last night. We forgot about it.”

 

Yoongi’s face turned bright red. “Oh, no, the delivery person must have been knocking while we—”

 

“Yup. Don’t eat it,” Taehyung said. “It’s been sitting out all night so it’s probably bad. I’ll throw it out once we get to your parents.”

 

“A waste,” Yoongi sighed out as he took his seat.

 

With a grunt in agreement, Taehyung closed the door and went to the driver’s side. Yoongi took out his phone to text his mother that he was on his way. Her only response was to hurry and he passed that along to Taehyung, who sped up a little, clearly feeling guilty.

 

Considering how often his parents made him wait, Yoongi didn’t feel bad. He felt guilty for forgetting, but not that his mother had waited for him. He was sure that she just worked on other things during that time. If she’d had limited time available, she’d have ordered Taehyung to drag him from his computer by force, so the fact she hadn’t told Taehyung to interrupt him once let him know she wasn’t busy today.

 

Perhaps he was telling himself all this to convince himself that it was okay he’d missed an appointment with his mother because he’d been too tired after getting fucked to hear his phone ringing. If that was the case, he’d never admit it, even to himself.

 

His door opening startled him enough that he flinched from the sound, only to sigh when he saw Taehyung standing there. “Sorry, I thought you heard me say that we arrived.”

 

“It’s okay. My fault. I was too much in my own head,” Yoongi said, waving away Taehyung’s apology as he stepped out of the car. “I’ll come find you when I’m done?”

 

Taehyung nodded as he closed the door. They were standing too close, not touching but too in each other’s space to be considered platonic, but neither moved. Yoongi didn’t want to. He simply looked up at Taehyung and waited for him to say something. Taehyung’s eyes roamed over his face, and then he nodded again, stepping back. “I’ll be bugging JK.”

 

“Of course,” Yoongi murmured, smiling fondly. He liked their friendship and part of him wondered if he’d be able to have something like that for himself if he and Taehyung became serious. “See you later.”

 

“See you, hyung.”

 

Smiling one last time, Yoongi left Taehyung behind and went into his parents’ house. Immediately a few people bowed, but no one looked surprised to see him, so his mother had told them that he was on his way. A new servant that Yoongi didn’t know with a pretty heart-shaped smile greeted him and led him to his mother’s study. “Thank you…”

 

“Hoseok, sir.”

 

“It’s nice to meet you, Hoseok,” Yoongi said, smiling before he went into his mother’s study after a quick knock.

 

The room was large and comfortable, but, unlike the rest of the house, it didn’t feel like a museum set up to impress. Not that it was anything less than extravagant, it just had a different feel. The walls didn’t have art on them; they had pictures of the family. The furniture wasn’t tastefully matched; it was a well-curated assortment that ‘somehow’ went together. Yoongi didn’t particularly like this room, but he preferred it over the dining room he usually met with his parents in. Or any other room in the house, honestly.

 

“Sorry, mom. I was busy,” Yoongi said, keeping his lie as vague as possible. He knew she’d figure it out soon enough so the less he embellished, the less she’d be upset about later. 

 

Not looking up from her laptop, Hyesu frowned and nodded. “Your bodyguard said as much. Just let me finish this report up. I swear coordinating charity events is more work than your father’s company.”

 

Yoongi took a seat, snorting lightly. “Somehow I believe you. What’s this one for?”

 

“Charity ball for underprivileged children. An oxymoron, if you ask me, but no one did. Don’t worry, you don’t have to come to this one,” Hyesu teased as she closed her laptop and finally lifted her eyes. Immediately, they zeroed in on the bruise that Yoongi’s hair had done little to hide. Her brow twitched but she didn’t comment, much to Yoongi’s surprise. “You finished your manuscript?”

 

“Yes,” Yoongi said honestly, still confused about why she hadn’t said anything. She never just didn’t say something. “My editor will pick a part she thinks is a good snippet for the library opening. It usually takes her a few days to get through a manuscript, so I should know by next week at the latest.”

 

Hyesu nodded. “That’s fine. As long as it’s chosen before you go up on stage. And please, nothing sexual.”

 

“Of course not,” Yoongi huffed out, rolling his eyes. “There are other parts of my books, you know.”

 

“Of course I do,” Hyesu responded. “Though that does remind me. Your father had a great deal of fun embarrassing a certain CEO who had your book on display.”

 

Yoongi’s eyebrows rose as he leaned forward. “He actually said something? Father isn’t usually so… forward.”

 

“Well, he wanted leverage on a deal,” Hyesu explained, waving her hand. “Regardless, he asked a few very pointed questions about which scenes he preferred and then accused him of only reading the saucy bits. I had quite the laugh about it after.”

 

“I wasn’t aware that father read my books?” Yoongi murmured, almost horrified at the idea. 

 

Hyesu shook her head. “He doesn’t. You know he’s a strictly non-fiction reader. Your brother gave him a report.”

 

“On all of them?” Yoongi asked.

 

“Of course. Have to be thorough.”

 

Yoongi made a weak sound. He already didn’t like the idea that his mother had read all those sex scenes. He did not need to think about his brother reading them too. Or, god, his wife. This was why he’d chosen to write under a pseudonym! “Why couldn’t you just tell him?”

 

“Because there is no way a majority of our family not reading your books is acceptable,” Hyesu said matter-of-factly as she crossed her legs and reached for a file to place it on top of her laptop. “Anyway, the real reason I wanted to meet with you was about your bodyguard.”

 

Doing his best not to give himself away, Yoongi shifted in his seat and matched his mother’s posture. “Oh? Is there an issue with Taehyung?”

 

“No, of course not,” Hyesu said quickly. “He’s lovely and seems to be great at his job. He got you to stop complaining about someone else living in your house, so I’d say that is impressive in and of itself.”

 

“Well, it’s not like I had much of a choice,” Yoongi reminded her, relaxing a bit. 

 

“That’s why I wanted to meet with you. He can move out, if you wish,” Hyesu said.

 

His brows furrowing, Yoongi asked, “But what about the threats? Do they no longer think that they’re legitimate?”

 

Hyesu frowned briefly. “No? They caught the man responsible nearly two months ago now.”

 

“Two months,” Yoongi repeated, his chest tightening. He must have misheard. Taehyung would have told him if they’d caught the people responsible for the threats two months ago. He would have.

 

“Yes. His court date was yesterday and he’s been sentenced to five years, which is why I think, if you want, you can return to your previous arrangement. There hasn’t been a new threat in months. At least, not one that concerns you. Your father gets many, as you’d imagine.”

 

Yoongi could hear that his mother was speaking and, on some level, he did register it, but he wasn’t processing it. Two months. The person responsible for the threats had been in custody for two months. Yoongi racked his brain, trying to remember if Taehyung had told him and he’d just forgotten, that would make all this better, but he was sure he hadn’t.

 

In fact, Yoongi knew for certain that he hadn’t because he’d said he couldn’t use dating apps due to the threats. He’d said that he could take him out on dates because the threats made it risky. Yoongi had thought he was lying, but he’d assumed it was because of his feelings, not because he was… manipulating him.

 

“Yoongi?” Blinking, Yoongi lifted his eyes to his mother, seeing that she looked confused and a little concerned. “Are you okay? You look pale.”

 

“Yes, sorry. Suddenly felt a bit nauseous. I don’t think I ate today,” Yoongi murmured, sitting up straighter. “You know how I am.”

 

“Yes,” Hyesu agreed with a sigh. “I swear one day I’m just going to find your mummified body hunched over a laptop. Perhaps Taehyung should stay if for nothing else than to keep you alive.”

 

“No!” Yoongi nearly yelled, clearing his throat. “No. I want my privacy back, mom.”

 

Hyesu nodded. “I assumed as much. I knew you’d jump on the offer, which is why I waited until I knew for sure that man would see jail time.”

 

Yoongi nodded, doing his best to smile and knowing it came off shaky. “Always so diligent.”

 

“I feel like that was an insult but I’ll take it as a compliment regardless,” Hyesu muttered, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, would you like me to inform Taehyung of his reassignment?”

 

“No, I’d like to do it. We’ve grown close,” Yoongi said. “I wouldn’t want him to think it was something he’d done.”

 

“You always were too nice to the staff. It’s their job to be nice to you, Yoongi. I really wish you’d remember that,” Hyesu said, her tone soft but chastising, which somehow made it worse. 

 

He couldn’t help but wonder if she knew. If she’d seen the hickey and knew that it was from Taehyung and concocted this whole scenario to prevent him from dating staff. She’d never done that before, but Yoongi desperately clung to the possibility now. He’d rather his mother be upset that he was dating one of her employees than find out that Taehyung had been lying to him this entire time. “Do we have the report on the man? I’d like to see it.”

 

Hyesu’s brows furrowed for a moment, making hope swell in his chest that he’d been right and she’d been lying to separate them, but a second later she turned toward her filing cabinet and pulled open one of the drawers. It was stuffed full, which made Yoongi realize how many threats they dealt with that hadn’t affected him, but she pulled out a folder after only a few seconds of searching and held it out. “If you must. It’s not pretty, but, then again, none of them are.”

 

“Thank you,” Yoongi said, taking the folder. He was proud of his little his hands shook as he did so. “I’ll text you when I’ve told Taehyung about his new assignment so you can inform Jungkook. Can I return this to you later?”

 

“Of course. Just send it back with Taehyung when he comes here,” Hyesu said. “Why don’t you stay for lunch? You really don’t look well, Yoongi.”

 

“I think I’ll feel better after I sleep. Taehyung can take me home.”

 

Hyesu frowned lightly, her eyes sweeping over Yoongi once more, then she nodded. “Okay. If you’re not feeling well by the opening, just let me know and we can make our apologies.”

 

“I’ll be fine, mom. Don’t worry,” Yoongi assured her, standing up to leave.

 

“Please, that’s half my job,” she muttered before she waved him off. “Go. Go home and sleep before you fall over.”

 

Yoongi snorted, amused by his mother’s brisk tone, but he did as she asked and left the room. Once he was alone, or as alone as he could be with cameras constantly on him and staff everywhere, Yoongi took a shuddering breath. He felt like he was ready to burst, so many emotions were fighting for dominance in his mind and heart, but he forced it down and headed for the security office where Taehyung was waiting. He’d make a choice after he read the file. Maybe… maybe his mother had the dates wrong and Taehyung hadn’t lied. 

 

Maybe it was all just a huge misunderstanding.

 

❆❆❆

 

Taehyung was the first to admit that he wasn’t fantastic about reading Yoongi and even worse about understanding his emotions or reactions, but he liked to think that he’d improved as they’d gotten closer and even more so once they’d started going on dates. Sure, there were times when Yoongi would watch him and he was left frustrated by his lack of understanding, but most of the time, he could figure it out.

 

He couldn’t figure out Yoongi’s current emotional state at all.

 

After his meeting with his mother, Yoongi had been… droopy. He hadn’t said much as Taehyung drove him home and he’d spent most of the day sleeping or curled up around his laptop, watching movies. Taehyung hadn’t seen Yoongi behave this way before, but he’d had an artist friend in school that would get sad when he finished a project, so he figured that might be the reason. He did his best to give Yoongi space while letting him know that he was there to talk. Yoongi hadn’t taken him up on that offer.

 

The next day, he’d gotten a call from his editor. That had surprised Taehyung since Yoongi had said it generally took several days, but, when he asked, Yoongi had just said it was about the excerpt he was reading for the library opening the following week. Taehyung didn’t think he was lying per se, but there was something clearly bothering him and he didn’t know how to talk to him about it.

 

Sometimes, when they were together, Yoongi would just stare off into space, his expression blank. His eyes always looked sad though. It was like he was trying to conceal how he was feeling but had never learned how to control his eyes, which was honestly possible because Yoongi had always been incredibly expressive and a skill like that took years of practice to master. 

 

Taehyung had been careful not to initiate anything or push any boundaries since Yoongi’s mood had taken a downward spin, but as he entered the house after his daily sweep only to find Yoongi standing in the kitchen, water running to do dishes but no actual cleaning being done, Taehyung realized that he couldn’t just stand by silently anymore. He loved Yoongi and seeing him like this was physically painful. He just wanted to help.

 

“Hyung,” Taehyung said, reaching around Yoongi to turn off the water. He flinched away from him and Taehyung had to swallow the hurt that made flare in his chest. “Can you please talk to me? I can’t help if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”

 

“Why do you care?” Yoongi asked, his tone flat and tired.

 

“What do you mean? I care about you, hyung. Of course I would want to know if you’re upset or hurting,” Taehyung said, grabbing Yoongi’s wrist so he couldn’t walk away.

 

Yoongi tensed and yanked his arm free, still not looking at Taehyung. “Leave me alone, Taehyung.”

 

Taehyung flinched back. He hadn’t heard Yoongi use his full name in months—long before they’d started going out on dates. It was only then that he realized that Yoongi must be upset at him for some reason. He scoured his memory, trying to remember if he’d done or said something that would upset Yoongi, but he couldn’t think of anything. If he hadn’t done anything, what could it be? They’d slept together and then he’d gone to see his mother— Taehyung’s head snapped up. “Did your mother say something? Is she upset that we’re seeing each other?”

 

Without a word, Yoongi walked away, leaving Taehyung alone and confused in the kitchen. He wanted to chase after Yoongi, demand an explanation, but he didn’t know how to approach it. What was he supposed to do or say if Yoongi’s parents were opposed to them dating? He had no power or influence and it wasn’t like Yoongi was going to abandon his entire life for someone he’d only started seeing as research for his book. 

 

The slap of paper hitting the counter made Taehyung jump, mildly concerned that he hadn’t noticed Yoongi return while he’d been lost in his thoughts. He looked between Yoongi and the folder he’d thrown on the counter in confusion. “What is that?”

 

“Why don’t you read it?” Yoongi suggested, taking a step back and folding his hands together, his thumb automatically rubbing over his other.

 

Taehyung’s brows pulled together, worried by Yoongi’s clear sign of discomfort, but he nodded, picking up the file as ordered. The second he flipped it open, he understood. He felt his stomach bottom out, leaving him hollow and panicked as he saw copies of the arrest report for the man sending the threats with the date printed clearly on top and the sentencing documents which he hadn’t actually seen yet from a few days prior. The sentencing didn’t matter though. The date on the arrest reports showed Yoongi as clearly as could be that Taehyung had been lying to him. The only other explanation was that he was bad at his job and hadn’t followed up on the threats, which he knew Yoongi would never believe. “Hyung—”

 

“Don’t! Don’t call me that,” Yoongi interrupted, his breathing ragged. “Don’t act like we’re friends.”

 

“We are friends,” Taehyung protested, his voice quiet.

 

Yoongi laughed, the sound echoing like it was empty. It was painful to listen to and Taehyung winced accordingly. Yoongi didn’t seem to notice or care though because he just let the laughter peter out before levelling Taehyung with a look as hollow as his laugh. “Yea? We’re friends? Is that why you lied to me?”

 

“I— I didn’t—” Taehyung stuttered, unsure how to explain. He had lied. That was the truth. He’d lied and Yoongi had found out and now there was no way for him to deny it. “I’m sorry.”

 

“Sorry,” Yoongi repeated quietly. “You’re sorry.”

 

“I am, hy— Mr. Min. I really am. I never meant for it to go this far. I was just going to take you out a few times, I swear,” Taehyung rushed to explain. “It just… got out of hand.”

 

Yoongi turned away from Taehyung, his hands tightening until his knuckles and the skin around his fingers went white. His lips moved like he was about to speak, but nothing came out, not at first. Eventually, he repeated, “It got out of hand. So it was an accident.”

 

“Yes, I mean, no,” Taehyung corrected, grimacing. “I just never meant to take it so far without telling you the truth.”

 

“I thought you were the first person who didn’t want something from me,” Yoongi confessed, laughing again. This time it wasn’t hollow, it was wet and Taehyung instinctively reached out to offer comfort but Yoongi stepped away from him, shaking his head. “I thought you just liked me.”

 

“I do. I do like you,” Taehyung confessed hastily. Yoongi’s lips pressed together, making his cheeks bunch up in a way that Taehyung had always thought was cute but now knew was his way of forcing down tears. Taehyung felt his heart break. He’d never wanted to make Yoongi cry. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. He’d just wanted to be alone with Yoongi. “I just wanted to get you alone, Mr. Min. Not as your bodyguard, but as a man. I just— I wanted to be with you.”

 

“I’m always alone, Taehyung. People are constantly trying to get something from me, whether as a Min or an author. I thought you understood that. I thought you were angry on my behalf for that. I thought you were different.”

 

“I am different.”

 

“You’re not!” Yoongi yelled, his expression flickering in surprise before it crumbled. “You’re not. You’re just like everyone else. The only difference is you wanted sex.”

 

“I—”

 

“You could have just asked,” Yoongi murmured. “You didn’t have to pretend to like me and take me out on dates.”

 

“I wanted to,” Taehyung admitted. He’d liked those dates. He’d liked getting to show Yoongi off a little and see him experience new things. If anything, he wanted to take him out on more.

 

Yoongi’s eyes lifted to Taehyung. They were shiny with unshed tears and Taehyung knew that Yoongi was doing his best to not break down while Taehyung was watching. If his heart already hadn’t broken, it would have then. He’d never wanted to put Yoongi through this. It hadn’t been his intention. 

 

“What you wanted, Taehyung, was someone isolated and easy to manipulate and you found him. Congratulations, I guess. I hope it was good for you.”

 

“That is not—”

 

“You’re fired, Taehyung,” Yoongi interrupted, his voice level and emotionless. “Pack your things and get out. You have an hour. If you’re still here after that, I will call someone from my parents’ house to have you removed.”

 

Taehyung’s mouth dropped open, his mind going blank. He couldn’t be fired. Not like this. He’d told Jungkook that having Yoongi was worth losing his job, but he didn’t have Yoongi. He couldn’t let it end here. Yes, he’d lied to Yoongi about the threats so that he’d go on dates with him, but he’d barely even mentioned it! Yoongi had been more than willing and he certainly hadn’t used it as a means to get him into bed, that had been Yoongi’s idea. 

 

The second those thoughts ran through his mind, Taehyung felt nauseous. It wasn’t Yoongi’s fault that he hadn’t asked about the threats. It was Taehyung’s job to handle them and Yoongi had trusted him to keep him updated, to be honest. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t brought it up again because everything had built on that first initial lie. It was, as Jimin would say, fruit of the poisoned tree. 

 

“I’ll go,” Taehyung said eventually. Yoongi nodded and turned to leave the room but he paused when Taehyung started talking again. “I just need you to know that it wasn’t about manipulating you or thinking you were easy. I lied because I didn’t want to have to watch you be with someone else when I wanted you to be with me. I just— I wanted a chance.”

 

Yoongi turned back, only the top part of his face visible over his shoulder. “That’s toxic, Taehyung. Get out of my house.”

 

Letting him leave this time, Taehyung crouched down and covered his face with his hands. It was toxic. It was manipulative and awful and he never should have done it. Why hadn’t he thought it through? Why hadn’t he just asked Yoongi out like a normal person? Why had he dug himself this hole?

 

He supposed, now that he was unemployed and couldn’t see Yoongi anymore, he’d have plenty of time to think about that.

 

❆❆❆

 

When he’d written about heartbreak in his book, Yoongi hadn’t truly understood what it meant. When his editor had read the previous drafts and told him that the breakup section needed more depth, he’d thought she was just so happy with the romance sections that she’d needed something more convincing for the breakup part. He’d understood how she’d felt that way, his characters had been so happy, so the betrayal had to be accordingly severe and painful. He’d thought he’d done a good job of conveying that but now he knew that he was wrong. His editor had been right. 

 

Now it was easy to write his main character watching her lover sell her out to the enemies and describe how each beat of her heart felt like it was pumping poison through her veins. How, when she returned to the camp, intent on acting like everything was normal to buy time, every single one of her lover’s touches had felt like being stabbed. Or how, when she lay there beside him, listening to him breathe, her own breathing grew so heavy and painful she felt like maybe it would be easier to just not. 

 

Yoongi wasn’t nearly that sad. He hadn’t loved Taehyung the way his main character loved her man, but that didn’t mean his betrayal and the pain it caused hadn’t made it easy to extrapolate and detail how she was feeling at every moment. His editor had been thrilled by the changes, so he supposed he should be happy. Maybe Taehyung deserved a thank-you note. Or a dedication at the beginning of the book.

 

To Taehyung,

Thank you for giving me the love needed to write these scenes, 

and also the betrayal to make it utterly devastating. 

 

Snorting at himself, Yoongi scanned the room, looking for the drink table. He’d only been at the library opening for ten minutes but he was already exhausted. At least this time, all the people approaching him seemed to have actually read his book, if the cracked spines were anything to go by. He did genuinely like talking to fans, so he was a little upset that he was still so sad about Taehyung that he couldn’t enjoy the experience. Just another thing to throw at his feet.

 

“You look exhausted, Yoongi.”

 

“I told you that I’m okay, mom,” Yoongi reiterated for what felt like the fiftieth time in the past five minutes. They’d arrived separately and she’d zeroed in on him immediately. It was like she had a radar or something. Maybe it was a mom thing.

 

“Must be serious if you’ve taken up lying to me,” Hyesu commented, her arm hooking around Yoongi’s as she led them to the drink table that Yoongi had been eyeing.

 

Yoongi swallowed down the guilt that comment made him feel. “I really don’t want to talk about it, mom. Please, just… don’t.”

 

Hyesu pressed her lips together but nodded, letting go of Yoongi so she could grab a glass of champagne. She handed it to him, but her fingers lingered on the stem, hovering overtop of Yoongi’s. “I won’t push. Or look into it like I usually would. Can you just tell me if you’re really okay? A mother worries.”

 

Lifting his other hand to cover his mother’s, Yoongi nodded. “I’m okay. Just… sad.”

 

“Sad,” Hyesu repeated, his eyes narrowing. After a moment, she lifted her hand to Yoongi’s neck, her fingers ghosting over the area where Taehyung had left a hickey, though it was gone now. “I’m sorry, Yoongi.”

 

“So am I. I guess that’s part of being a Min, right?” Yoongi joked, though it fell flat.

 

“Unfortunately so,” Hyesu agreed. She sighed and stepped back. “That’s something not even your father’s power and influence can change.”

 

“I think he’d probably just make it worse. Remember what happened when he tried to help hyung?” Yoongi reminded her, smiling a bit.

 

Hyesu’s eyes widened before she laughed, an expression Yoongi recognized from his own mirror. “That was nearly a disaster. Your brother was so mad.”

 

“I thought he was going to hit father,” Yoongi admitted, his smile widening.

 

“Gosh, no. He was going to cry. He always tightens his hands into fists when he’s going to cry. He has since he was a baby,” Hyesu revealed. “Don’t tell him I told you that.”

 

“His secret is safe with me. Until he bothers me in some way,” Yoongi joked, earning an eye roll. He was, after all, a younger brother. He had to do something to earn his title. “It’s been nice spending time with you, mom.”

 

Hyesu turned toward her son abruptly, her lips falling into a frown. “You’re sure you’re not sick?”

 

“Yes,” Yoongi sighed out.

 

“Replaced by aliens, perhaps?”

 

“I thought I was the one who wrote fantasy,” Yoongi muttered dryly.

 

Hyesu shrugged. “You had to get that creativity from somewhere.”

 

“I was just trying to be nice,” Yoongi muttered, falling into a more petulant tone that he hadn’t used with his mother in over two decades. “You and father are always so busy. You know this is the most time we’ve spent together in nearly a decade?”

 

“That’s not true. We planned your brother’s wedding—”

 

“Twelve years ago,” Yoongi interrupted pointedly.

 

“Oh,” Hyesu managed, her lashes fluttering. “That’s… awful.”

 

Yoongi hummed. “A bit.”

 

“We’re scheduling weekly visits,” Hyesu decided. “Lunch. I know you like to try restaurants so we’ll do that. Wasn’t there that seafood one that you wanted to try? Namjoon was saying that you wanted to go when we were talking about his upcoming show. Let’s go there.”

 

“I went,” Yoongi managed, doing his best to keep his voice level. He knew by the sharp look his mother sent him that he hadn’t succeeded but he kept his eyes pointed away. “It was good. You’d like it. Maybe… somewhere else.”

 

“Of course. There are a lot of places in the city,” Hyesu said quickly. Though she was generally very good about controlling how her emotions showed on her face, Yoongi could see the sadness and worry as clear as day. That made it much worse. If his mother was showing that much emotion, he must look and sound terrible. Her next words confirmed it. “Where is Taehyung? You should go get some air. He can escort you.”

 

Though Yoongi had long since given up on the idea that his mother had concocted a plan to keep him from Taehyung, her suggestion that Taehyung help him shattered what lingering hope he had. She wouldn’t suggest they go somewhere together if she’d known. “Since the threats are handled, I gave him some time off before his reassignment to the house.”

 

“That’s nice of you, Yoongi, but I wish you’d have told me. I don’t like the idea of you coming to a crowded public event even if there are no active threats. He doesn’t need to live in your house, but you still need security at events.”

 

“I figured since you were here, it’d be okay. You have two, right?’ Yoongi asked, glancing toward the wall where he knew his mother’s normal two bodyguards would be.

 

“I’m going to have one of them follow you,” Hyesu said firmly, still frowning. “When Taehyung returns from his vacation, we can discuss another procedure.”

 

“I think just picking someone as available works best. It’s not like I go out a great deal,” Yoongi reminded her.

 

Hyesu nodded, her eyes darting to her bodyguards. “I’ll let them know of the change of plans. I think you should be heading backstage now.”

 

“I should be,” Yoongi agreed. He touched his mother’s arm and smiled. “I was serious before. This is nice.”

 

“If you keep being this sincere, I’m going to think you’re terminally ill.”

 

“I love you too,” Yoongi said with a snort, feeling a bit lighter than he’d felt in days. Especially when she simply rolled her eyes and muttered a quiet I love you in return before heading toward her bodyguards as she’d said she would.

 

When Yoongi turned back toward the table to set down the glass of champagne his mother had given him but he suddenly didn’t want, he caught the eye of the head organizer, who was waving him over. He inclined his head in acknowledgment before going over, not wanting to keep her waiting. 

 

The second he was within earshot, she said, “Your editor is here with the approved copy of the excerpt. There were some changes?”

 

Yoongi hummed. “Not so much changes as they don’t like me to just walk around with an unpublished manuscript. It’s worth quite a bit to them, as you’d expect.”

 

“Right, of course. That makes sense. We have a makeup artist in the backroom if you want, those lights are quite harsh. You’ll be on in about fifteen minutes. The owner of the community center will do a speech, they’ll cut the ribbon, and then the head librarian will introduce you.”

 

“Will someone get me or should I wait for a cue?”

 

“We’ll come to get you. Sometimes these speeches run long,” she said, her smile tinged with exhaustion. 

 

Yoongi snorted. “Don’t I know it. Okay, I’ll be in the back room. Thank you for your hard work.”

 

“Thank you,” she said, before darting around a corner, likely to round up the other two speakers.

 

Sighing a little, Yoongi scanned the wall for the signs that pointed to the back room she’d indicated and, finding a brightly coloured hand pointing to the right, followed it until he saw his editor. She was leaning against the wall, his manuscript tucked under her arm, and typing furiously on her phone. Since she had other authors who were not nearly as prone to being on time as he was, he figured she was bullying someone into finishing their promised chapters.

 

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Yoongi waited until she put her phone in her pocket. Only then did he greet her. “Ms. Choi, looking as stressed as ever.”

 

“Don’t get cute with me, Yoongi,” she chastised immediately, quickly closing the distance between them and handing over the manuscript. “I made a few grammar edits to the section they want you to read. They’re not permanent, so you can reject them later when we go through the entire thing, but for now, it should read cleanly.”

 

“Thanks. Seriously,” Yoongi said, hoping his tone was sincere. 

 

“Thank you for not giving me grey hairs,” she sighed out. “I’ll be at the back of the main room. Once you’re done reading, you can hand the manuscript off to me and enjoy the rest of your night. Sound good?”

 

“Sure. I’m just going to go sit down and read through it a few times. Maybe go get a drink,” Yoongi joked.

 

“I need seven.”

 

“Maybe stick to five.”

 

“You aren’t the boss of me.”

 

Yoongi snorted and shook his head before pushing open the door to the back room as she walked away, heading toward the main room. Inside, Yoongi found the makeup artist, who was sitting at what appeared to be a pop-up makeup studio with his feet resting on a table. When he saw Yoongi, he jumped up, his expression shifting from surprise to professional in zero seconds flat. “Sorry, sir. Were you here to get your makeup done?”

 

“No,” Yoongi said honestly, gesturing toward one of the couches. “I just wanted to sit and go over what I have to say.”

 

The makeup artist nodded, but his lips frowned. “You sure? You look like you’ve been crying for a month.”

 

“Only a week,” Yoongi quipped, his smile faltering.

 

“Wow, you’ve done some severe damage to your eyes then. Sit down,” he ordered, moving out from in front of the seat and pointing to it. Yoongi wasn’t sure that he was allowed to say no so he did as he was told and took a seat, his manuscript resting on his lap. “Kim Seokjin. You are?”

 

“Min Yoongi.”

 

Seokjin whistled. “That’s a heavy name.”

 

“You don’t say.”

 

“You here because you donated a fuck ton of money?” Seokjin asked as he sorted through his foundations, his eyes darting to Yoongi and back to his palettes as he looked for a colour match.

 

Yoongi shook his head, the movement stopping as Seokjin grabbed his face and started to apply concealer to just under his eyes. “No. I’m an author.”

 

“Anyone I’d know?”

 

“August.”

 

Seokjin whistled again. “Another heavy name. What’s someone like that have to cry about?”

 

“You’re kinda rude, you know?” Yoongi muttered as Seokjin stepped back and reached for the foundation.

 

“I don’t have time to placate when I’m working,” Seokjin said honestly. “If you want me to kiss your ass, you’ll need to find me when I’m off, sweetie.”

 

Yoongi felt his face turn red as he ducked his head, looking down at his manuscript again. He heard Seokjin make an almost cooing sound and ignored him, focusing instead on flipping to the tab marking his excerpt so he could review it.

 

Only it wasn’t where it was supposed to be.

 

Frowning, Yoongi missed Seokjin chastising him as he quickly read the section they’d chosen. They’d changed it. Yoongi’s hands started to shake as he read and reread the area they’d marked off. 

 

They’d highlighted the scene where his main character realized she was in love.

 

“Min Yoongi? Yah, Yoongi!”

 

Yoongi jumped, his eyes widening as he looked up at Seokjin. “What?”

 

“You look like you’re going to pass out. Are you okay?” Seokjin said, his eyes darting from Yoongi’s face to the words on the page. His eyebrow rose as he quickly read what he could manage to decipher upside down. “Do you need a moment?”

 

“No,” Yoongi breathed out, his hand smoothing over the page. His fingers tried to curl but he kept them flat. “Just… no.”

 

Seokjin nodded slowly. “You sure about that?”

 

“No,” Yoongi said honestly, “but I don’t have much of a choice.”

 

“I guess you have a few things to cry about then,” Seokjin observed, his hands slowly moving back to finish off Yoongi’s makeup, which mostly just amounted to covering up the redness and dark circles under his eyes.

 

Yoongi smiled, but it was weak. “A few.”

 

“My lips are sealed.”

 

“I appreciate that,” Yoongi murmured, his attention turning back to his manuscript.

 

Reading his description of his main character falling in love now felt naive. She knew so little about her love interest, just as he’d known so little about Taehyung, so it was easy to predict that he’d betray her. How hadn’t they both seen it coming? Why had they both fallen even knowing that?

 

Yoongi laughed a little, his brows furrowing even as Seokjin watched him carefully from a few steps away. It just figured that he’d fall for the exact type of person he’d been avoiding all these years, didn’t it? He thought that he’d finally found someone who wanted nothing from him, someone that he could fall for and did, and it turned out to be just another lie. 

 

What was worse, if there even was worse in a situation like this, was that Yoongi missed him. He’d grown used to there being another person in his home, to being able to ramble about his upcoming plots or one of the restaurants he’d found and wanted to try. He’d grown used to Taehyung. Even if he’d lied to him about everything, even if every moment, every touch had been a lie, Yoongi still missed him and he honestly didn’t know what to do about that.

 

❆❆❆

 

Taehyung was not a person who thrived doing nothing. He could relax, of course, but he couldn’t just sit around for longer than a day. And yet, for the past week, he’d done little else other than lay in bed and stare at his ceiling. The antsiness that usually plagued him when he spent too long immobile was nowhere to be found. He just existed in a perpetual state of guilt-induced fog, the comfort that should have come from being back in his own apartment entirely absent.

 

The apartment building, unlike Yoongi’s house, was loud, filled with the sounds of life and it kept him awake at night. When he’d first moved to the city, he’d fallen in love with the downtown location and large windows, but now all he could hear was the city moving around him. Yoongi’s house was set outside the city and surrounded by nature, it was quiet and lovely. Everything his apartment was not.

 

There weren’t even any real furnishings in the apartment since he’d only had time to purchase the basics before he’d been hired by the Min family and asked to move into Yoongi’s house. It was empty as it was loud, and Taehyung hated it.

 

He also, to some extent, thought that he deserved it. He didn’t know how he’d let things spin so wildly out of control. He’d never meant to make it seem like he was manipulating Yoongi. It’d honestly never occurred to him that Yoongi would see it that way. Not that he thought Yoongi was wrong, he wasn’t, it was just that Taehyung hadn’t thought of it that way. Which didn’t make it better by any stretch of the imagination, that was just the way it was.

 

Even looking back, he wasn’t sure why he’d lied to Yoongi. There had been no real indication that Yoongi was serious about finding someone to date and he’d shown no opposition to Taehyung holding his hand. At no point was the lie needed. The only thing that had made him lie was Taehyung’s own fear that, given the opportunity, Yoongi would leave and find someone else. A fear based entirely in his own mind.

 

His phone vibrating on the bedside table made Taehyung roll over, his arm slapping out blindly. He felt the edge of the phone on his thumb and moved his hand with a grunt to grab it before returning to his position spread out on his back. “Hello?”

 

“I don’t hear nearly enough traffic around you.”

 

Taehyung frowned at the sound of Jungkook’s voice. “What?”

 

“You forgot,” Jungkook muttered, disappointment heavy in his voice.

 

“Forgot wh— shit,” Taehyung muttered, covering his face with his hand. “Jimin’s birthday.”

 

“Yea.”

 

“I’m sorry, JK. I just— it slipped my mind,” Taehyung apologized, unsure what else to say.

 

Jungkook was silent for a moment and then he sighed. “It’s fine. I’ll… make up some excuse.”

 

Taehyung grimaced, upset at the idea of Jungkook lying to his boyfriend, and Taehyung’s best friend, because he’d been too busy wallowing in self-pity to remember his birthday. “No, I’ll be there. Just let me get dressed.”

 

“Look, hyung, if—”

 

“I’ll be there, JK. I promise,” Taehyung interrupted, already scrambling out of bed so he could shower quickly and get dressed. He didn’t hear Jungkook hang up but he hoped he’d agreed or at the very least sounded less disappointed than he had a moment earlier. He hadn’t meant to forget Jimin’s birthday.

 

Taehyung hastily scrubbed himself down and washed his hair, unable to stop his mind from pointing out that he hadn’t meant for a lot of things to happen recently but they had regardless and it was still his fault. He was sure, if he’d said something like that to Jimin, he’d have lectured him about outcome versus intent. Sometimes his lawyer brain just didn’t turn off. 

 

Remembering at the last minute to take the present he’d gotten Jimin with him, Taehyung drove to Jungkook and Jimin’s shared apartment, practically breaking every speed limit on the way there. Even then, by the time he arrived, it was only Jimin and Jungkook. Taehyung deflated, guilt rolling over and over in his stomach. “I’m sorry, Jimin.”

 

“It’s okay,” Jimin said, taking the offered present from Taehyung. He set it on the table without opening it, which, for some reason, made Taehyung feel even worse. “I was hoping that you’d at least look more refreshed after some vacation but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

 

“Vacation?” Taehyung repeated, his brows furrowing. He shot Jungkook a look, wondering why Jungkook looked confused by his reaction. “I was fired?”

 

Jimin’s eyes widened and he immediately turned on Jungkook. “You did not fire my best friend without telling me!”

 

“I didn’t,” Jungkook denied, lifting his hands in a placating gesture. “He’s on vacation. For a week. He’s back tomorrow.”

 

Taehyung blinked very slowly, wondering if, perhaps, he’d fallen asleep and was dreaming. “No, Mr. Min fired me.”

 

“Yoongi or his dad?” Jungkook asked, frowning.

 

“Yoongi.”

 

“Okay, well, he told me that you were on vacation until the 14th. He specifically said you could have until Jimin’s birthday off since he’s already promised you’d be off today,” Jungkook explained. “He fired you? When? Why?”

 

“Last week,” Taehyung whispered. “When did he tell you this?”

 

“Last week. Why did he fire you?” Jungkook repeated, narrowing his eyes. “What did you do?”

 

“Don’t answer that,” Jimin interrupted, his voice taking on a professional tone. “Don’t say anything that could be put into your file. Jungkook is your boss.”

 

“Hyung, I’m not going to use it against him,” Jungkook whined, his shoulders sagging. “I just want to know why he’d think he was fired when Mr. Min told me personally that he was on vacation.”

 

“You saw him? How’d he look?” Taehyung asked.

 

Both men looked at him, Jungkook’s expression disappointed and Jimin’s surprised. Then Jimin’s lips pursed and he sighed. “Oh, Tae. What did you do?”

 

Taehyung walked past them, moving further into the apartment. He saw the scatterings of dinner and snacks, showing him just how much he’d missed while wallowing in his bed. He dropped down onto the couch heavily, watching as Jimin and Jungkook followed him in and sat on the chairs across from him. When they simply stared at him, waiting for him to talk, Taehyung sighed and admitted, “We’ve been dating. If you’d call it that.”

 

“Dating.”

 

“I fucking warned you, hyung!” Jungkook snapped, waving his hand. “I told you it was dangerous.”

 

“I know.”

 

“So he fired you over your personal relationship?” Jimin asked, a glint in his eye telling Taehyung that he was already thinking about this from the perspective of a lawyer.

 

“Yes and no. It was my fault.”

 

“There is no fault for—”

 

“I lied to him about the threats,” Taehyung interrupted, his voice raised so Jimin would stop trying to defend him, even tangentially.

 

Jungkook’s mouth opened and closed a few times. “The death threats? From the beginning of the year?”

 

“Yes,” Taehyung admitted, his eyes falling closed so he wouldn’t have to see the disgust on his friends’ faces. “I didn’t tell him that they were sorted and when he said that he wanted to try dating for help on his book, I just— told him it was too dangerous but I’d take him instead.”

 

“Hyung.”

 

“I know.”

 

“That’s… fucked up, Tae,” Jimin said slowly, his voice quiet and heavy with judgment. 

 

Taehyung rubbed his face, his fingers pressing into his eyes. “I know. I just— I love him and I thought what’s harm is a few dates, you know? But it wasn’t just a few. And then we kissed and suddenly it was so much more and I just— I fucked up.”

 

“Did you sleep together?” 

 

“Yes,” Taehyung confessed, wincing at the sound of disgust Jimin let out before he pushed himself up and walked out of the room. Taehyung didn’t bother saying anything to him because he honestly wasn’t sure what he could say. He knew what he did was awful. Jimin should be upset with him.

 

“He fired you when you told him?” Jungkook asked, his voice level.

 

Taehyung shook his head. “No. He had a meeting with his mother and she gave him the file. I didn’t get to ask why.”

 

“God, hyung,” Jungkook sighed out, crossing his arms. “I don’t even know what to say, but nothing that comes to mind is good.”

 

“Can’t be any worse than what I’ve been telling myself,” Taehyung said, letting his head fall back so he was staring at the ceiling. Different apartment, different ceiling, same overwhelming feeling of guilt.

 

“I don’t understand why he’d fire you but tell me you were on vacation,” Jungkook murmured.

 

“Me neither. It’s not like I was going to go back to his place.”

 

“No, no, you’ve been reassigned so that wouldn’t— ah,” Jungkook broke off. “He had you placed in the main house instead of fired. He didn’t even tell me that you two had issues. He just said that he felt bad for you being cooped up with him so now that there were no active threats, you were being returned to the main house.”

 

Taehyung sat up, staring at Jungkook now instead of the ceiling. “He protected me.”

 

“It seems so, yea,” Jungkook agreed.

 

“You don’t deserve it!” Jimin yelled, making them both turn toward the general direction of his voice.

 

“I know,” Taehyung agreed just as loudly as Jimin would hear him. It made him happy in an odd sort of way that his friends weren’t telling him that it was okay, or that he’d just made a mistake. He didn’t want to hear that and he was glad that he wasn’t. 

 

“So what are you going to do?” Jungkook asked, lifting himself up in the chair so he could cross his legs and sit on them.

 

Taehyung shrugged. “I don’t know. I feel like I shouldn’t go back but if I quit, I’ll have to tell them why.”

 

Jungkook nodded. “You could lie.”

 

“Yea.”

 

“You’d never work in the industry again if you didn’t.”

 

“Yea,” Taehyung said again.

 

Falling silent, Taehyung leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. He’d come here to celebrate Jimin’s birthday and instead, he’d ruined the whole night with his bullshit. He wasn’t sure an apology was good enough but he’d start there. “I’m sorry for all this. I didn’t mean to fuck up Jimin’s birthday.”

 

Jungkook opened his mouth to respond but Jimin stormed back into the room there, his eyes flashing as he pointed at Taehyung. “Why did you want to date him?”

 

“What?”

 

“When you said that you loved him, did you mean that?” Jimin asked, still staring at him.

 

Taehyung’s eyes widened, mostly in apprehension, but he nodded. “Yes. I’ve loved him for months. Long before all this happened.”

 

“Have you seen the video from his most recent reading?” Jimin asked, tossing a phone at him without waiting for a response. 

 

A little confused, Taehyung took the phone, and, seeing that it was open on a paused video, hit play. It was a little shaky, obviously a fan video, but Yoongi was clear enough. He was sitting on a stage, a microphone set up by his face as he read from what seemed to be a handbound book. 

 

His manuscript.

 

This must be the library opening. 

 

Turning up the volume, Taehyung listened to Yoongi read a part from his book. Taehyung couldn’t pay attention to what he was saying because all he could hear was how. Yoongi’s voice was shaking. His face was set into a blank mask, but Taehyung didn’t need to see Yoongi’s eyes to know that he was upset. He sounded like he was about to cry.

 

Restarting the video, Taehyung leaned closer and focused on Yoongi’s words. It took him a few sentences before he realized that Yoongi was reading a section of the romance. His main character was falling in love and Yoongi was reading it for an audience. Taehyung wanted to throw up.

 

“That man is devastated,” Jimin said, snatching the phone away. “All the comments are wondering if someone broke his heart.”

 

Taehyung clasped his hands together, unsure what to do or say. Yoongi had been upset with Taehyung, crushed even, but he didn’t think that was because Yoongi loved him. He was sure it was because Taehyung had accidentally trampled on one of Yoongi’s weak spots. “A lot of people have used him to further themselves. He thinks I was just using him for sex.”

 

“Were you?”

 

“No! No,” Taehyung rushed out, shaking his head. “I told you. I love him.”

 

“Did you tell him that?” Jimin asked, crossing his arms.

 

Taehyung shook his head again. “No. I couldn’t tell him then. He’d just see it as more manipulation and it would be.”  

 

“Then how are you going to fix it?”

 

“Fix it?” Taehyung repeated, looking at Jungkook who shrugged. “What do you mean ‘fix it’?”

 

Jimin raised a brow. “You claim to love him but you’re just going to let him go on thinking you were just using him? That it meant nothing to you?”

 

“I tried to tell him. He kicked me out. And fired me.”

 

“He was mad and hurt at the time, I’m sure. He did take back the firing.”

 

Jungkook nodded slowly. “He was pretty calm when we talked. He seemed sad, but not upset, if that makes sense.”

 

“What are you even saying! You want me to go and confess to him?” Taehyung asked, his voice rising in confusion.

 

“No, I want you to go and be fucking honest with him for apparently the first time ever and pray he forgives you and doesn’t instead have his father drop your body in a very deep pond in a country you’ve never heard of,” Jimin said, huffing a little.

 

Taehyung pursed his lips. “He told me to go. It feels… bad to just ignore that to talk to him again. I think it’s better this way.”

 

The silence that stretched then was so thick that Taehyung was sure he could cut it. He didn’t think Jimin had ever been so angry at or disappointed in him. They’d known each other since they were babies and this was definitely the lowest he’d sunk. He almost wanted to ask for Jimin’s forgiveness too. 

 

“Whatever, Tae,” Jimin sighed out eventually. “Let’s have some cake. I saved that for you.”

 

Taehyung ducked his head but nodded. “I’m sorry, Jimin.”

 

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to,” Jimin murmured, leaving the room.

 

After a moment, Jungkook slid his legs out from under himself and stood. Taehyung opened his mouth but Jungkook just shook his head. “Not me either. Come to work tomorrow. We’ll sort shit out then.”

 

“Okay,” Taehyung agreed, unsure what else to say.

 

Feeling tears burn behind his eyes, Taehyung pressed against them hard, refusing to cry over something that had been entirely his fault. He’d lost Yoongi, alienated his best friends, and potentially ruined his career with one stupid lie. Jimin had told him to fix it, but Taehyung didn’t know if that was possible. Asking Yoongi to forgive him was one thing, but asking for his trust was another. Taehyung didn’t see that happening and even as crushing as that was, he accepted his fate. He deserved it.

 

❆❆❆

 

When Yoongi heard the knock at his door, he didn’t move from the couch. He didn’t even look in that direction. He just continued watching the drama he’d heard someone talking about at the library opening, waiting for whoever was there to find him. It wasn’t until the second knock that he realized there was no one to open the door other than him now. Taehyung was gone and he was back to being alone.

 

Yoongi sat up slowly, finally turning toward the door. He blinked in the direction a few times, unsure if he even wanted to talk to someone at the moment. When the person knocked again, Yoongi pushed himself up, knowing that very few people would be that insistent and every single one of them would kick the door down before leaving if he didn’t answer.

 

“Took you long enough,” Namjoon said instead of greeting him.

 

“I was watching something,” Yoongi said, stepping back so Namjoon could come in. “Hello to you too.”

 

Namjoon rolled his eyes as he entered, but his somewhat teasing expression dropped the second the door closed. He turned to Yoongi, bending over so he was closer to his face. Yoongi huffed, irritated that he was making such a show of it when they really weren’t all that far apart heightwise. He didn’t say anything though. He just kept his eyes directed away until Namjoon nodded and straightened. “So she was right.”

 

“She?”

 

“Aunt Hyesu,” Namjoon said, tilting his head. “We met up about my show and she was talking about you and the library opening.”

 

“I’m fi—”

 

“I saw the video, hyung,” Namjoon interrupted, his voice gentle and quiet.

 

Yoongi pressed his lips together and spun away. That video was like the gift that kept on giving. He’d thought he’d done a good job of hiding how he was feeling, and his face had been impeccable thanks to Seokjin’s makeup and his own skills, but his voice. Yoongi had only watched the video once but even he could tell he was about to cry. His mother hadn’t pestered him about it like she’d promised, but she had apparently gone to get Namjoon to do it. He should’ve known she’d come up with a way to get the information she wanted. “I don’t want to talk about it, Joon.”

 

Namjoon followed him into the kitchen, watching as Yoongi opened cupboards and the fridge but didn’t actually take anything out. A quick look told him that Yoongi didn’t have anything to offer. “Then we don’t have to talk about it. Come out to lunch with me. Get out of the house.”

 

“Joon…” Yoongi sighed, turning toward him. “I’d really rather not.”

 

“You have to give me something, hyung. I’m not the only one worried.”

 

“Fine,” Yoongi agreed, already tired. He liked going out with Namjoon, he really did, but he hated when he was forced to talk about things that he wasn’t ready to discuss and he knew that’s what would end up happening. “Let’s just go. Pick somewhere casual because I’m not changing.”

 

“There’s a cute cafe that I wanted to try,” Namjoon said easily.

 

“Fine,” Yoongi repeated, trailing after Namjoon as led him back to the door. At the base of his steps, Namjoon’s car was waiting, the driver still inside and the engine running. “Confident I’d cave, huh?”

 

“I’d have dragged you out.”

 

“I’m so glad that this family respects boundaries,” Yoongi muttered as he slid into the backseat and crossed his arms petulantly.

 

Ignoring him entirely, Namjoon gave the address to the driver and let Yoongi sit in silence. He’d known Yoongi since the day of his birth, so he was more than familiar with how Yoongi processed things. He needed time alone, comfort, support, and then a shoulder to cry on. Always in that order. After Yoongi’s mother had all but cornered him, he’d waited a few days, knowing that Yoongi would want to be alone. Now it was time for steps two through four. Hopefully. That’d depend on Yoongi.

 

Since it was the middle of the week during the day, the cafe was mostly empty, a few people with laptops scattered throughout. Namjoon smiled at the host who sat them down, indicating the QR code for the menu and, if they wanted, ordering.

 

“Ah, a place with limited social interaction. I like it,” Yoongi said, pulling up the menu on his phone. He started scrolling through it, looking at just snacks first and then soon realizing that he was actually pretty hungry and switching to meals.

 

“I thought you might. They’ve really dedicated their time to making each table feel like an isolated spot for work or conversation,” Namjoon observed, looking around at the various tables, all of which had different aesthetics and available seating. “Most cafes just throw as many seats in as possible, so this is a nice change of pace.”

 

Yoongi hummed, quickly paying for his order and setting down his phone. “The QR codes are unique to the table too, so they know where to bring the food. If the food is half decent, they’ll have a success on their hands.”

 

“I agree,” Namjoon said, nodding as he placed his own order. “Dad was talking about opening up a chain like this, actually. He’ll be upset to know someone beat him to it.”

 

“I’m sure he’ll get over it. Didn’t he just launch a frozen food line?” Yoongi asked, narrowing his eyes as he tried to remember.

 

“My brother did, yea. Dad doesn’t like the feel of it, or so he says, so he’s looking for something more human,” Namjoon explained, putting air quotes around the word human.

 

Yoongi cooed. “Oh, it sounds like he’s trying to bond with you.”

 

“It’s weird and I’m going to need him to stop,” Namjoon replied honestly. “He offered to sponsor my show too. I don’t think he understands how bad that makes me look.”

 

“Oh, he definitely doesn’t,” Yoongi said with a snort. “He sponsors shows all the time, so he wouldn’t get that it’d be bad for him to do one for you too. I bet he’s thinking that if he doesn’t, people will think he doesn’t support you.”

 

Namjoon rolled his eyes. “Literally all the art in his house is mine. To a frankly unsettling degree.”

 

“Cute.”

 

“I hate it.”

 

Yoongi laughed, sighing a bit in relief. He felt his body relaxing, the tension and worry of meeting with Namjoon and being forced to talk washing away under the reality of actually being with Namjoon. Family or not, Namjoon was his friend. He wouldn’t force him to talk until he was ready. 

 

Which was probably why, when the waitress appeared to give them their orders before disappearing just as quickly, Yoongi found himself asking, “What did my mom say?”

 

Namjoon hesitated for a moment, his chopsticks hovering. “She said you were sad and that it was probably related to a boyfriend that you didn’t want her to know about.”

 

“Not… inaccurate,” Yoongi admitted, shoving some rice into his mouth. It was flavoured, which surprised him, but the spices were a nice touch so he wasn’t complaining. He chewed slowly, debating how much, if anything, he wanted to tell Namjoon.

 

“You don’t have to tell me, but I get the impression you haven’t told anyone and that can’t be good for you, hyung,” Namjoon said.

 

“I just feel stupid,” Yoongi revealed. “It happens to us all, you know? I don’t know why I thought it would be different this time.”

 

Namjoon’s lips pressed together in a thin line as he set down his chopsticks. “Another social climber? Or someone trying to get to your dad?”

 

“No, nothing like that. He just wanted sex,” Yoongi explained, leaning back in his chair as he looked away. His fingers started to tap on the tabletop and he knew it was a nervous habit but he couldn’t stop it. “I thought he actually liked me and he just… didn’t.”

 

“I’m sorry, hyung.”

 

Yoongi nodded, but didn’t look at Namjoon yet. “He took me on all these ‘normal person’ dates, you know? He wouldn’t let me tell anyone my name or pay for anything. It felt… real. Special. I think… I don’t know how I feel anymore. Saying I love him after everything he did just doesn’t make sense.”

 

“Love rarely does,” Namjoon said quietly. He tilted his head as he thought over what Yoongi had said, doing his best not to fixate on Yoongi basically saying that he’d fallen for someone. “That does sound real to me, hyung. How do you know it wasn’t?”

 

“He lied to get me to go out with him in the first place. Even if all that wasn’t a lie, its foundation was,” Yoongi said, folding his hands together. His thumb started rubbing over the top of his other one, unconsciously trying to bring himself some comfort.

 

“What did Taehyung say about him? He seems like he’d be a good judge of shit like this,” Namjoon asked. He’d only just finished talking when he saw Yoongi’s whole face crumble, his brows pulling together as his lips trembled and his nose scrunched. It didn’t take a mental leap to connect the dots. There was only one reason that Yoongi would react that viscerally to Taehyung’s name. Namjoon reached across the table, covering Yoongi’s hands with his own. “It was Taehyung?”

 

“Yea,” Yoongi confessed, nodding. 

 

“That’s why you didn’t tell your mom,” Namjoon realized, sighing when Yoongi nodded again. “Did you fire him at least?”

 

“Yes,” Yoongi said, then he sighed. “Well, no. I did at the time but I told my mom to reassign him to the house. I don’t want to ruin his whole life.”

 

“Hyung, he lied to you and broke your heart. I think that’s a fireable offence,” Namjoon snapped, immediately clearing his throat and ducking down when he realized how loud he was.

 

“I never should have gone out with him in the first place. He’s my employee. Or was. If this had happened with a normal person, he wouldn’t lose his job over it. He doesn’t deserve to lose it now.”

 

“Hyung.”

 

“I’m not changing my mind, Joon, and if my mom fires him, I’ll know that you told her. I won’t forgive you,” Yoongi threatened, his eyes finally moving to Namjoon to show that he was serious.

 

Namjoon sighed and pulled his hand away. “Alright, hyung.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“What did he lie to you about? Wouldn’t you know everything about him anyway?” Namjoon asked, genuinely curious.

 

Yoongi shifted, grabbing his chopsticks to start eating again, mostly for something to do with his hands. “He told me that I couldn’t go on dates because of all the threats, so he took me out instead.”

 

Namjoon raised a brow. “That… seems like his job description, hyung. Aside from the obvious romantic aspects.”

 

“The threats were resolved months ago. He neglected to mention that,” Yoongi revealed, taking a larger bite of his rice so he had an excuse to keep his eyes down and away from Namjoon again.

 

“Fuck, I’m sorry, hyung.”

 

“You said that already.”

 

“I felt it twice.”

 

Yoongi laughed a little, setting down his chopsticks again. He was never going to be able to eat until he got this conversation over with. So he resolved to just blurt out everything and be done with it. “Yea, well, it sucked, I’m fucking sad all the goddamn time and I spend like 90% of my time crying because I fucking miss him even if he lied to me and I’m feeling really pathetic about it so I’ve been watching a lot of romance dramas where everything miraculously works out at the end. When I go home tonight, I’m probably going to cry for two full hours about how, if Taheyung was still here, he’d be sitting just behind you making silly faces so I’d smile and then he’d hold my hand on the way home and I’m fucking sad. Do you have any more questions?”

 

“Uh,” Namjoon managed, his brain working overtime to process the word vomit Yoongi had just spewed all over him. What he gathered: Yoongi was sad, wanted Taehyung to come back and fix things like a drama, and spent a lot of time crying. He looked more frustrated now, which was a welcome change to the sadness that had radiated off him the entire time they’d been together, so Namjoon just nodded. “Are you coming to my show?”

 

“Yes, I’m coming to your fucking show,” Yoongi muttered, grabbing the chopsticks again. His hand tightened around them so hard they shook and he stared down at his bowl as he asked, “Will you come over after this and watch dramas with me?”

 

Based on Namjoon’s decades of experience with Yoongi, he translated that as: will you sit with me as I cry?

 

“Of course, hyung. I could use a relaxing night in.”

 

❆❆❆

 

Tentative had never been a word that was used to describe Taehyung, and yet, as he reported for duty at the Min house, that’s exactly how he was as he entered. He felt like someone was going to jump out, call him an awful person, and then drag him away. He just didn’t understand why Yoongi would take back the firing. If this was one of his books, it’d probably be because of some revenge plot, but Yoongi didn’t have a single malicious bone in his body and Taehyung knew he’d never do that.

 

Maybe that was why Yoongi had taken it back. He could imagine Yoongi calming down once he was alone and feeling bad for firing him even though Taehyung had been the one in the wrong. It made sense and that, if anything, made Taehyung even sadder.

 

“Hey, you’re here.”

 

Taehyung nodded as he stepped into Jungkook’s office, shutting the door since he honestly didn’t know how this conversation was going to go. “Yea.”

 

“I’m glad you came. Ms. Kim was already here asking about you,” Jungkook said, leaning back in his chair. “I guess Mr. Min went to an event unaccompanied and she just about lost her mind.”

 

“He what?” Taehyung asked, his head snapping up as he straightened. “With no guard?”

 

“Apparently so,” Jungkook confirmed. “She wanted to make sure you were back so that Mr. Min would have coverage when he went to events in the future. She had to assign one of her usual bodyguards to him.”

 

Taehyung rubbed his face. “I know the most recent threat is over with but what made him just go alone?”

 

“You probably,” Jungkook said bluntly.

 

“Oh,” Taehyung muttered. He’d forgotten for a moment. Of course Yoongi would go alone. He was probably making a point, even if only he knew about it. “Right.”

 

“I told her that I couldn’t promise that you’d always be available for events since I’d need to assign you to something personally here. I promised he’d always have someone though. He’ll be safe,” Jungkook said, his tone gentle even while his eyes were fixed on Taehyung’s face. 

 

“Thanks,” Taehyung replied, doing his best to smile but missing the mark. His lips did little more than lift shakily before falling back into their natural position. “I appreciate it, JK. Seriously.”

 

“I know,” Jungkook sighed out, rubbing his forehead. “Anyway, I don’t have all that much for you today since you don’t know the land. One of the… honestly, I don’t know what his job is, he’s just always around now, but he offered to give you a tour of everything.”

 

Taehyung nodded. “That’d be good. There’s way more land here.”

 

“Tell me about it. Don’t complain if I have to drop you on the borders. The property is honestly disgustingly large.”

 

“Wherever I’m needed,” Taehyung said, turning back toward the door as Jungkook waved someone in. 

 

“This is Jung Hoseok,” Jungkook introduced. “He’s… a jack of all trades?”

 

Hoseok blinked at Jungkook, his lips kicking up momentarily. “I can’t say that’s the job I applied for, but I’ll take it. Consider me the head of household matters.”

 

“That’s what I said.”

 

“My hearing must be bad,” Hoseok said blandly before turning his attention to Taehyung. “It’s nice to meet you.”

 

“You as well. I’m Kim Taehyung.”

 

“I know. I’ve heard a great deal about you. Shall we?” Hoseok asked, gesturing toward the house. Taehyung glanced back at Jungkook, who nodded, before following Hoseok out. He walked past the entryway and stopped just outside as they entered the main hall. “I’m not going to bother explaining that this is the main entrance. I figured you know that much.”

 

Taehyung smiled a bit and nodded. “Yea. I know the main hall, dining room, and Mr. Min’s office. Other than that…”

 

“Right. We’ll start in the middle and work our way out. There’s not really a good way to do this. Might be easier to get a floorplan from JK, honestly.”

 

“That’s kind of what I assumed would happen but it’s good to see everything in person too.”

 

Hoseok nodded. “Then follow me.”

 

“Lead the way,” Taehyung said, sweeping out his arm, which made Hoseok raise his eyebrow before he started walking.

 

“You’ve probably walked past this room a bunch. It’s a sitting room of sorts,” Hoseok said, opening a door and showing Taehyung a very fancy sitting room. Everything looked expensive and untouched, and the fabric of the furniture, even the colour of the wood, was accented by art on the walls. “It’s mostly for people too important to wait in the entryway.”

“Nice,” Taehyung said quietly, unsure if he was supposed to respond to what Hoseok was saying. It’s not like he had anything valuable to add. The look Hoseok sent him, vaguely confused, told him that he should just stay quiet, which he did for the rest of the tour.

 

By about halfway through, he realized every room was like that first sitting room. They had different aesthetics, but each room had this showroom quality that made Taehyung uncomfortable. If he’d been left in any of those rooms, he wouldn’t have sat down. He’d have been too afraid to leave a mark on something. 

 

He couldn’t imagine a child living here, let alone two. There were no kid-friendly spaces, no areas where they could play or run freely. One wrong turn in any of these rooms and something impossibly valuable would be destroyed. Taehyung had noticed this about the art in the hallways, but, for some reason, he hadn’t thought about it extending to the rooms too.

 

The only room that didn’t give off the same aura of untouchable wealth was one of the bedrooms. Hoseok didn’t have to tell him for Taehyung to know that it was Yoongi’s. It felt lived in. Though Yoongi hadn’t lived at his parents’ house for years, this room felt untouched. Taehyung suspected that was his mother’s doing. They didn’t linger there, but Taehyung memorized the room anyway, taking in the tall jam-packed bookshelves, the much-loved desk, and the stuffed animals artfully displayed on what seemed to be a fake staircase. It was cute, very Yoongi, and made Taehyung miss him terribly. 

 

For the final leg of the tour, which was outside and focused on the areas that the family used like the tennis and basketball courts, and the pool, Taehyung couldn’t focus. While he’d been doing a good job of keeping his mind on the job and off Yoongi before, he couldn’t now. Yoongi’s bedroom had opened the door and now Taehyung couldn’t stop thinking of him.

 

What had it been like living in a house this cold? Was that why Yoongi’s imagination was so incredible? Had he hidden away in fantasy realms where he couldn’t break something to pass the time? He’d seen pictures of Yoongi in a basketball uniform and, though Yoongi had never mentioned it, Taehyung found himself staring at the basketball court and wondering how many hours young Yoongi had spent there too. 

 

On top of that, as they walked around, Taehyung counted no less than two-dozen staff and bodyguards. No matter where they were, there were several people milling around. There was no privacy here, no wonder Yoongi wanted to escape, wanted to be alone. It didn’t look like he ever had been. 

 

The thought that Yoongi was finally alone now, getting the privacy he deserved, didn’t even make him feel better because he knew, without a doubt, that Yoongi hadn’t wanted to get it that way. He was sure that Yoongi would have taken the restricted privacy of living with Taehyung if it meant Taehyung had never lied to him. 

 

Taehyung wished that was the way it had been. He wished that he was only on a small break before returning to Yoongi’s home. The whole atmosphere felt warmer, more inviting. It felt like a home and not just a house that people lived in, and that was all thanks to Yoongi. 

 

“So that’s pretty much it. I don’t know the edges of the land or anything like that. I think JK is handling showing you that,” Hoseok said, pulling Taehyung out of his thoughts. He’d been staring at the surface of one of the ponds on the property, his eyes mindlessly following a fish as it went about its life. Not very professional of him. “Did you have any questions?”

 

“No,” Taehyung said honestly. “It’s both exactly what I expected and nothing like that at all.”

 

Hoseok tilted his head. “Why?”

 

“It’s… cold. Not a home,” Taehyung explained hesitantly, not sure how to convey his thoughts without tying it all to Yoongi.

 

“Ah,” Hoseok murmured, nodding as he crossed his arms and looked over the pond as well. “Honestly, I get that, but I also don’t. I’ve worked in a lot of houses like this over the years and this is by far the warmest one.”

 

Taehyung’s eyebrow shot up. “You’ve worked in many homes that dictate entire two-digit percentages of the country’s GDP single-handedly?”

 

Hoseok snorted. “Okay, no, but houses like this. The ones that have a whole separate level of wealth. The people who attend the events you accompany the Mins to.”

 

“Right. So all their homes are cold showrooms. Noted.”

 

“Mostly. Some have spaces that are more lived in, but there’s always an aspect of performance involved. This house is just more performance than not.”

 

“Thought you said it was warm,” Taehyung pointed out.

 

Sighing a bit, Hoseok pursed his lips as he explained, “It is. The people here are allowed to have personalities. There’s still that separation, of course, but they don’t expect faceless, personalityless staff. Though, I suspect Min Yoongi doesn’t even follow that.”

 

Taehyung tensed, his eyes pointedly aimed away from Hoseok. “What do you mean?”

 

“He asked my name the first time he met me. He was… genuinely warm and interested,” Hoseok remembered. “I talked to a few of the other staff and they said he’s always been like that.”

 

“He told me once that the staff are the only reason the house runs and that most of them raised him, so he doesn’t like the separation,” Taehyung explained, remembering asking Yoongi that very question weeks ago.

 

Hoseok hummed. “Most people like him don’t feel that way. His brother, for example, doesn’t. He’s nice but separate, just like his mother and father. I suppose you had to deal with a lot of people trying to take advantage of that kindness.”

 

“No,” Taehyung denied, shaking his head as he crossed his arms, unconsciously defensive. “He doesn’t really interact with a lot of people. Burned too many times growing up, I guess.”

 

“That’s too bad. It can get lonely like that,” Hoseok murmured, then smiled a bit. “Shall we get back? I have some things for Ms. Kim to sort out.”

 

Taehyung nodded. “Of course. Thanks for your time.”

 

“I would say any time, but I am quite busy,” Hoseok said, smiling over his shoulder as they walked back toward the house.

 

“How’d JK get you to agree then?”

 

“He’s persistent,” Hoseok explained, rolling his eyes. “No is not an answer he likes to hear.”

 

Taehyung snorted. “Yea, he’s been like that since he knew what words were.”

 

Hoseok paused, glancing back again. “You’ve known him that long?”

 

“Yup.”

 

“Interesting. Maybe I’ll make some time to talk to you after all.”

 

“Uh,” Taehyung hesitated, clearing his throat. “I’ve also known his boyfriend that long.”

 

“Yes, Jimin, right?” Hoseok said, unphased by this information. 

“Yes.”

 

“He seems sweet,” Hoseok said easily. “JK talks about him a lot. Anyway, I’m off. I trust you can find your way back from here?”

 

“Yes, thank you,” Taehyung murmured, bowing as Hoseok disappeared into the house.

 

For a few minutes, Taehyung remained where he was, standing in the driveway just below the stairs. He’d been here a dozen times over the past year or so with Yoongi, but it felt different now, as most things did. He wondered if, one day, he’d be able to come to work and not think about Yoongi. He wondered if, one day, he’d be able to go a day, period, without thinking about him, without missing him. Part of Taehyung didn’t think that would ever happen, but the other part hoped it did, because, honestly, he didn’t know how he was going to move on with his life if he couldn’t get past Yoongi.

 

But then again, maybe he wasn’t supposed to. Maybe that was his punishment. 

 

❆❆❆

 

“They really liked the changes, Yoongi. I think I cried for the whole rest of the book. Well done.”

 

Yoongi sighed as he closed his cupboard, the phone tucked between his ear and his shoulder. He set the boxed noodles he’d taken out on the counter and grabbed the phone with his hand. “That’s good.”

 

“I have to ask… does that have anything to do with the library opening?”

 

“Yes,” Yoongi said simply, not really wanting to lie but not willing to say anything more than that. 

 

There was a sigh. “Take care of yourself, Yoongi.”

 

“I am.”

 

“You wouldn’t lie to me, right?”

 

Yoongi snorted at his editor’s tone. It was dry and incredulous. “Only about having my chapters done.”

 

“You and everyone else. Fine, whatever. I’ll contact you when we have cover art and all that jazz. You know the drill. Why don’t you do me a favour and start work on the finale of this trilogy, huh? Make my life easier.”

 

“I’ll get right on that,” Yoongi lied, his smile flattering at the mere thought of writing the next book.

 

“I’m choosing not to question that. Talk to you later, Yoongi.”

 

“Bye,” Yoongi returned, setting his phone on the counter once the call disconnected. He stared at it for a moment, watching his editor’s name flash once before the screen went dark. He’d forgotten that he’d need to write another book after this one. Obviously he’d known, he’d even plotted it quite extensively, but he’d forgotten.

 

Or maybe he’d purposefully shoved it from his mind.

 

The finale for the trilogy was going to wrap up the plot, reveal the true villain so the heroes could overcome their overarching battle, and resolve their issues just in time for a nice, neat, happy ending. He was going to have to write his main character forgiving the betrayal. 

 

Yoongi’s hands tightened on the edge of the counter, which made him blink in surprise. He hadn’t even realized he’d grabbed on but now there was a line in his fingers from where the edge had dug in. 

 

Slowly, he stepped back, grabbing the box of noodles and moving to his stovetop. He kept his mind blank as he got a pot and filled it with water and salt, then placed it on the flame. With nothing else to do but watch the pot until it boiled, Yoongi let himself return to his previous line of thought. He’d have to think about it eventually, so now was as good a time as ever.

 

Honestly, Yoongi couldn’t begin to imagine how he’d write his main character forgiving her lover’s betrayal. He’d left her story just after she’d escaped a kidnapping attempt orchestrated based on the information he’d given her enemies. He supposed he could make it a misunderstanding, or give him an ulterior motive that would make him risk her getting injured or killed. He had a sister, Yoongi could easily put her in danger. Something about that felt hollow to Yoongi though. He wanted the betrayal to be real, and for her forgiveness, if she gave it, to come even knowing that. But how did he make that happen?

 

The water sputtered, making Yoongi blink a few times to refocus his eyes. Seeing the rolling boil, Yoongi opened the box of noodles and poured them in, careful not to splash himself. He set the mix aside and threw out the box, his mind still fixated on that one simple question: how did his main character forgive betrayal?

 

Yoongi’s mind drifted to Taehyung, as it often did, and this time Yoongi didn’t fight it. For once, it was actually helpful. What would it take for him to forgive Taehyung? Embarrassingly little, he was sure. He wasn’t even mad anymore. Truthfully, he’d been mad for a very brief period of time, if he’d been mad at all. He remembered raising his voice, but he wasn’t even sure where that had come from. He wasn’t angry, he was sad. His main character was angry. She had more fire in her than Yoongi did.

 

Sighing, Yoongi stirred the noodles, scraping some off the bottom that had gotten stuck. He supposed, like his main character, he’d consider forgiveness if he understood why. Money, connections, material things, weren’t worth forgiving over, but there were some reasons that could justify lying. 

 

Not that he could come up with any for Taehyung.

 

His mind drifted back to their argument, if it could even be called that, and Yoongi sighed. Nothing Taehyung said made sense. He wanted to be with him? Why? He wanted him alone? Why? Even before the suggestion for dates, they’d gone out to dinner and on similar outings before. He could still remember how happy he’d been at the frozen yogurt shop that Taehyung had taken him to. 

 

I just wanted a chance.

 

A chance for what? To kiss him? Fuck him? What? Did he want a raise? A promotion? He’d never asked for anything, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t been working up to it. They’d only just slept together when everything blew up in his face after all. 

 

Taking the noodles off the flame, Yoongi poured them through a strainer and set the pot back down. He shook them off, his brows still furrowed as he tried to come up with a reason for Taehyung to act the way he had. Even as he returned them to the pot and stirred in the mix, he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to come up with an answer that made sense. Everyone who’d done this to him before had been upfront and clear: money, a job, an introduction, support, brand recognition. They were all tangible things. Taehyung apparently wanted… him? That didn’t make sense. 

 

Maybe Namjoon was right and Taehyung had just been doing his job. Taehyung had said it was easier to protect him while they were holding hands. Yoongi had assumed that was a bullshit excuse but maybe it wasn’t. Maybe when Taehyung said he wanted him alone, he wanted simply that: Yoongi alone. There was no risk of someone getting to him or something happening if he didn’t invite people into his life. It’d certainly make Taehyung’s job easier. But that only made sense if there were threats, which there weren’t, which was how they’d gotten into this mess in the first place.

 

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Yoongi snatched the pot off the counter and, grabbing a fork, took the whole thing to the living room with him. He turned on the TV, pressing play on yet another drama from his list, and started to eat straight from the pot. If his mother could see him now, she’d go grey, he was sure. 

 

The thought of his mother made Yoongi shift gears. He relaxed back into the couch cushions, his eyes losing focus as he thought about the library opening. Aside from the obvious public embarrassment of being heartbroken on stage, he really had enjoyed working with her. He tended to hate charity work like that since it seemed more performative than anything, but helping a good cause was nice.

 

With little thought, Yoongi pulled out his phone and hit his mother’s name, putting it on speakerphone as he continued to eat while waiting for her to pick up. It took a couple of rings, but eventually, she answered, surprise clear in her voice. “Yoongi? Did we have plans? I thought our lunch was tomorrow.”

 

“What? A son can’t just call him mom?”

“A son can. You can’t.”

 

“I’m hurt,” Yoongi teased, stabbing some noodles and shoving them into his mouth. “Devastated.”

 

“Min Yoongi, are you eating right now?”

 

“No.”

 

“I swear, you’d think with all the money we spent on those schools, they’d have taught you basic etiquette.”

 

“I’m also not eating out of a pot.” His mother made a sound that Yoongi had never heard her make before. It sounded almost like a whine and he couldn’t help but laugh. That must be where he got that from, he supposed. “Anyway, I did call for a reason.”

 

“Please get to it before your father thinks there’s been an attempt on my life.”

 

Yoongi laughed again, shaking his head at her dramatics. “I wanted to know if there were any charity things coming up. I have time before the first chapters of my next book are due since I already submitted my proposal.”

 

There was a long pause. “You… want to help with my charity work.”

 

“Not all of it. I figure there are a few that would suit me, if you were willing to share,” Yoongi explained, looking down into the pot as he shoved some of the remaining noodles around anxiously. 

 

“Nothing better to fill your time?” 

 

“Not really, no. I’m on my third drama this month.”

 

“If you help, you know you’ll have to keep a great deal of it secret until the public reveals. Some of the information is sensitive.”

 

“That’s fine.”

 

“You’re fine knowing information you’ll have to keep secret.”

 

“Yes, mom. Will you send me some info or not?”

 

Hyesu didn’t answer right away, but eventually, she sighed. “There are a few. I can send over the files with a courier or you can come here if you want to look through them and choose which is best.”

 

Yoongi grimaced at the idea of going to his parents’ house and seeing Taehyung, so he shook his head even if she couldn’t see it. “Courier is fine.”

 

“Fine. I’ll send them after Namjoon’s show?”

 

“That works for me,” Yoongi agreed, setting the now empty pot on the coffee table. “Thanks, mom.”

 

Hyesu hummed. “It’s no problem. It’s… nice to see you get involved. I have to go, your father is staring at me quite pointedly—yes, I know we have an appointment, dear—but I’ll see you tomorrow?”

 

“Sure, see you then,” Yoongi said. “Bye, mom.”

 

“Bye,” Hyesu returned before hanging up.

 

Once the call disconnected, Yoongi shoved his phone back into his pocket. He’d missed most of the episode he was supposed to be watching so he restarted it, intent on watching it this time, only for his brain to divert yet again.

 

Namjoon’s show would be the first event with a new bodyguard. He didn’t know who his mom was assigning to him and he really didn’t care. Mostly because none of them would be Taehyung. None of them would carry his favourite pens, or play along when he counted down until he was allowed to leave. None of them would take him out for a treat after and sit with him like a real friend. They’d be professional and polite and, he was sure, lovely, but they weren’t Taehyung.

 

God, he missed him so much. Every day, he saw something or heard something and turned instinctively to see Taehyung’s reaction only to find him not there. This was why he knew that, if Taehyung apologized, he’d probably forgive him immediately. Half the time he didn’t even care that Taehyung had lied because he’d been so happy while he was here. 

 

It was pathetic, Yoongi knew that it was, but it was true. He’d told Namjoon that he wasn’t sure if he could even call it love because he was so hurt, but thinking about it now, he was sure he could only call it love because he was so hurt. If he hadn’t fallen for Taehyung, he would have been upset, but he’d have moved on, just like he had any of the other times that it happened. Because it was different, because Taehyung mattered more, he couldn’t just move on and forget. 

 

Maybe that’s how he’d write his main character coming to terms with the betrayal. Maybe she’d look at what happened, look at the outcome, and decide that her feelings for him trumped that. Yoongi wasn’t sure if it was satisfying, but it was realistic, and, at the moment, that was the best he could do.

 

❆❆❆

 

During his employment, Taehyung had spent a grand total of fifteen minutes in the presence of Kim Hyesu. He’d catalogued her as smart, efficient, and vaguely terrifying. Since Yoongi had fired and rehired him, Taehyung had been moving around the Min household like he was walking on eggshells, doing his best to avoid Yoongi’s parents, especially his mother. He knew they were close despite spending an absurdly small time together and he did not want to end up, as Jimin had so eloquently put it, at the bottom of a pond. Sure, he’d said Yoongi’s dad would do it, but, if Taehyung was a betting man, he’d put all his money on Hyesu.

 

That theory was proven, if Taehyung did say so himself, when Hyesu had walked into the security office, pointed at Jungkook and Taehyung, and demanded they accompany her for the night. Considering she had two normal bodyguards, neither had been prepared, but she hadn’t really given them much of a choice. They hadn’t even been allowed to change since she’d already been dressed and ready to go. Taehyung had thought the whole thing was odd, especially since Jungkook had said that no one had called out sick, but he hadn’t questioned it.

 

He should have.

 

“You’ll be assigned to Yoongi since you already know his habits,” Hyesu said, smoothing her hand over the fur scarf she wore.

 

“Ma’am—” Taehyung began, but he stopped when she raised a brow and lifted her eyes to Taehyung, staring at him unblinkingly. Taehyung had been on the receiving end of Yoongi’s stare and it was just as terrifying on his mother. Genetics were wild. “Of course. Is he aware I’ve been assigned to him?”

 

“No. I said that one of my bodyguards would look after him tonight. I’m sure he won’t mind, Taehyung. You lived together for nearly a year,” Hyesu pointed out, her eyes still fixed on Taehyung’s with such intensity that he couldn’t look away. All he could do was nod. When he did, she smiled and turned away. “Excellent. Jungkook, if you’d follow me then?”

 

“Of course, ma’am,” Jungkook agreed, shooting a quick glance at Taehyung, who merely grimaced.

 

As he usually did, Taehyung stayed around the edges, hovering with the other staff. He watched as Hyesu went to Yoongi’s side and looped her arm around his elbow, smiling up at him. Yoongi smiled back, but Taehyung could tell that he was tired. His mother could as well, because she touched his cheek. A moment later, Yoongi’s eyes widened and snapped up, finding him instantly. Taehyung held his breath, doing his best to keep his face blank as a million emotions ran across Yoongi’s. Hyesu looked between them briefly, but Taehyung couldn’t hear what she was saying, so he didn’t know if she’d commented on their shared look. He didn’t even know if she knew everything that had happened. He suspected she didn’t because he still had a job, but he didn’t know and he hated that.

 

Yoongi didn’t look at him again. Unlike the previous events that they’d attended together, Yoongi moved around with much more ease and apparent pleasure. It wasn’t until Taehyung managed to snag one of the brochures that he understood. He’d spotted Namjoon around, but he hadn’t realized it was his show. Taehyung flipped through the brochure, smiling slightly. It made sense that Yoongi was happier and more comfortable here. He loved Namjoon and he wanted him to thrive. This was probably the only type of family event that Yoongi went to willingly.

 

Folding the brochure, Taehyung tucked it into his pocket and refocused on Yoongi. Nothing about his job had changed, and, aside from there being more enjoyment underneath it all, nothing had changed about Yoongi’s actions either. And yet, Taehyung couldn’t believe that he’d once thought this was boring. It didn’t make sense to him now. How had he watched Yoongi laugh, his eyes crinkling and shoulders shaking, and not enjoyed every moment?

 

He supposed that was the bitter taste of regret. He missed it because he’d lost it. When he’d been watching Yoongi, even before things had changed, he’d taken that closeness for granted. What he wouldn’t give for Yoongi to rush to his side and ask for a pen now. He had them, he always did, but Yoongi wouldn’t ask, not anymore. 

 

Hell, at this point, he’d settle for Yoongi smiling at him. Not in the way he smiled at the people at these events, but genuinely, with warmth and happiness underlying it all. He’d sell his soul for Yoongi to turn back toward the back of the room, see Taehyung watching him as he always did, and smile. 

 

Taheyung was, quite honestly, not sure what he’d do or give up if it meant that Yoongi would forgive him. They didn’t even have to date or be together, he just wanted to know that Yoongi didn’t hate him. It was selfish, he knew it was, but he wanted it so badly. He dreamed about it sometimes and when he inevitably woke up, he was always sadder than he’d been the day before. 

 

Most people got better as time went on following a breakup, if what they had could even be called that, but, for him, it only got worse. It was like his guilt was eating him alive from the inside. He hoped Yoongi was handling it better. He hoped he was healing and getting over it and able to continue on without thinking about Taehyung. The dark circles, carefully covered by makeup, told Taehyung that hadn’t happened, but he wished all the same.

 

Closing his eyes for a moment, Taehyung leaned back against the wall. He couldn’t stop his mind from drifting to the last event he’d taken Yoongi to. He’d looked so bored during the library opening planning, his eyes glazed over when he wasn’t talking to his mother or fans. Taehyung had known it was unprofessional, but the way Yoongi smiled when he made faces at him when no one was looking had been worth potentially getting caught. He just lit up when he smiled and Taehyung missed that.

 

Even before that, when Yoongi had been counting down the people he had to talk to behind their backs with sneaky hand signals that everyone could see, he’d giggled and smiled as he did it. Taehyung hadn’t even been sure what Yoongi was doing at first, but it hadn’t mattered because Yoongi had clearly been enjoying doing it.

 

If Yoongi enjoyed it, if he’d laugh and smile while it happened, Taehyung would walk across coals. He swore he would.

 

Shaking his head because, as happy as they made him, thoughts like this had a way of rebounding and only making him sadder, Taehyung opened his eyes and straightened, automatically scanning the room to locate Yoongi. He didn’t see him at first, so Taehyung moved away from the wall, rounding one of the displays that he knew Yoongi hadn’t seen yet. He figured it’d make sense if Yoongi had finally made his way to the other side of the show.

 

Except he wasn’t there either.

 

Taehyung’s whole body suddenly froze, fear flooding him. There were no active threats, but Yoongi wasn’t supposed to be alone. Just because they hadn’t received a threat physically didn’t mean that there wasn’t one. What if something happened to Yoongi while he was daydreaming about him?

 

Swallowing down bile and even more guilt, Taehyung spun around, looking for a place where Yoongi could hide. He spotted a hallway that led to a bathroom and ran there, praying that Yoongi had just slipped away to go pee or take a breather.

 

Except the bathroom was empty.

 

Well and truly panicking now despite all his training and experience telling him that he should be calm and collected and professional, Taehyung ran out of the bathroom. He needed to find Yoongi. There was a procedure for things like this, of course, but part of Taehyung worried that Yoongi had purposefully moved out of Taehyung’s sight because he didn’t want to see him, in which case, he’d sound an alarm that couldn’t be turned off.

 

But what if Yoongi was in danger and his hesitation meant that he was hurt or worse?

 

Taehyung returned to the main area, his eyes sweeping over the room until he spotted who he was looking for. Without thought to how unprofessional it probably was, Taehyung darted through the crowd, careful not to knock anyone over but not nearly as unobtrusive as he’d usually be. Namjoon saw him coming and frowned, immediately stepping away from the people he’d been talking to meet Taehyung in the middle.

 

“Where’s Mr. Min?” Taehyung asked bluntly, his eyes lifting to Namjoon’s for a moment before they started moving around the room again, hoping that Yoongi would just appear in a corner from behind someone.

 

“I can’t stress how much I’m not giving you any information about him,” Namjoon said, his tone professional but with undeniable venom underneath.

 

Taehyung sighed. “I’m not just looking for him. His mom assigned me to watch him tonight and I can’t find him.”

 

Namjoon’s expression shifted and he looked around too. He frowned a little, his brows furrowing as he thought. “I saw him near the front earlier. Maybe five minutes ago? He might have stepped outside. You know how he hates these things.”

 

“Outside? Do you have security outside?” Taehyung asked, his heart pounding. This was not a nice area. Taehyung had been surprised when he’d read the address on the GPS. He should have known then that the event was one of Namjoon’s shows, he was notorious for having them in lower-end places to raise money and awareness. Taehyung supported that, he did, but that didn’t mean he wanted Yoongi, a man with so much money he couldn’t even pretend to not have any, walking around outside, alone, at night.

 

“I don’t. The gallery might?” Namjoon said, his eyes suddenly widening as he realized the potential danger. “Shit, you think—”

 

Taehyung didn’t wait for him to finish the thought. He just spun away and made his way back through the crowd, this time in the direction of the front entrance. He was sure some of the other bodyguards noticed him, they’d have to be terrible at their jobs not to, but he didn’t care about making them worry right now. Realistically, he knew he should be notifying Jungkook too, but he didn’t care about that either. He just shoved open the front doors and spun around, scanning the empty street.

 

The road was somewhat damp, telling Taehyung that it had rained since he’d come inside, and the light from the street lights reflected around him in the scattered pools of water. The fact that he couldn’t see Yoongi there didn’t make him feel better. Sure, there was a chance that he’d gone back inside but Taehyung didn’t think that had happened. His personal attachment to Yoongi aside, he had a bad feeling about this. He couldn’t ignore the way his gut was screaming at him. 

 

A small whimper made Taehyung’s heart stop. It didn’t sound like Yoongi, not really, but Taehyung somehow knew that it was. Hearing it again, Taehyung ran toward it, his head whipping around as he tried to locate exactly where it was coming from. 

 

He didn’t find them until the end of the block. Taehyung didn’t know why Yoongi had walked that far, or if maybe he’d been dragged, but just before the next street, there was a small alley that seemed to be used for garbage storage. Just inside, Yoongi was pinned to the wall and a masked man was digging through his pockets.

 

A mugging.

 

In his professional life, Taehyung had taken a lot of training and knew how much force he’d need to incapacitate pretty much anyone. He knew, based on the masked man’s build, he wouldn’t need a lot of force. That knowledge didn’t stop him from punching him in the face as hard as he could and kicking him in the stomach the second he fell to the ground. He, quite honestly, would have kept kicking him just for having the sheer audacity to even think about hurting Yoongi in any way, but Yoongi’s safety and well-being took priority. 

 

Turning back toward him, he found Yoongi staring at him, eyes wide and terrified, the clear trail of tears cut into his makeup. Without thinking, Taehyung dove forward and gathered Yoongi to his chest, his palm covering the back of his head as he cradled him close. Yoongi made a small, weak sound and clutched onto his jacket, his shoulders shaking as he started to cry.

 

“It’s okay. You’re okay. I got you,” Taehyung soothed, rubbing Yoongi’s back even as he kept a close watch on the mugger. He wasn’t moving, which worried Taehyung a bit—he didn’t think he’d hit him that hard—but he didn’t check on him. That would mean letting go of Yoongi and that wasn’t going to happen.

 

Thankfully, before it could really become an issue, Namjoon appeared with two security guards bearing the logo of the gallery behind him. He looked terrified and that expression only heightened when he saw Yoongi crying into Taehyung’s chest. Taehyung nodded toward the man on the ground. “Mugging.”

 

Namjoon pressed his lips even as the guards entered the alley and all but dragged the masked man away. Taehyung heard him groan, which was a little bit of a relief, but he refocused his attention on Yoongi immediately, who’d stopped crying but was still shaking. Taehyung could only assume nothing like this had ever happened to Yoongi before and he honestly didn’t know what to do. 

 

Stepping closer, Namjoon was careful not to touch Yoongi as he leaned in and whispered, “The police will be here soon. If security hasn’t called them already, I will.”

 

“Okay,” Taehyung replied, just as quietly. “Thanks.”

 

Namjoon didn’t respond. He only looked down at Yoongi, sadness clearly etched on his face, then walked away, leaving them alone in the alley. There was no way that Yoongi hadn’t heard everything that was going on, he was too close to Taehyung not to, but he hadn’t spoken and that was really starting to worry him. So, even though he didn’t want to, Taehyung gently pulled Yoongi back, cupping his face so that he would look up at him. His eyes were still glassy and scared as they met Taehyung’s, but he’d stopped shaking now too, which was good, so Taehyung asked, “Are you okay? What do you need?”

 

Yoongi didn’t blink as he stared at him. At first, he didn’t even respond, heightening Taehyung’s worry, but then he shook off Taehyung’s hands and wrapped himself around him, burying his face back in Taehyung’s chest. “Please don’t let go. Don’t— don’t let go.”

 

Taehyung squeezed his eyes shut, his heart thumping painfully, but he nodded and wrapped his arms around Yoongi’s back. “I won’t.”

 

❆❆❆

 

Of all the events that Yoongi had to go to as a Min, there were very few that he enjoyed or looked forward to. Even the library opening, which he’d been proud of his contribution to, had been more about enjoying the increased time with his mother than anything else. Namjoon’s shows, however, he always looked forward to. 

 

It was all the same people, all the same schmoozing and flattering words, but the reason was different. Yoongi got to be in a room surrounded by the beautiful things that Namjoon had created and he got to see him utterly glow in satisfaction. Even his parents, who were usually more demure in their emotions and positive feedback, couldn’t hide their pride in their son and Yoongi liked to watch it. 

 

After coordinating with his mother very briefly, Yoongi decided to arrive early so he could chat with Namjoon before all the other guests arrived. It meant that he ended up hanging around almost uselessly as Namjoon smoothed out last-minute issues, but Yoongi liked this part of Namjoon’s shows too. Maybe he was just proud of his baby cousin.

 

That feeling of pride was quickly overcome with sadness and apprehension though when his mother had arrived and pointed out his bodyguard for the night. He wasn’t sure why, but it had never occurred to him that it’d be Taehyung. His mother had said it was because he knew him best so it’d made sense, but Yoongi barely heard her explanation as he stared at Taehyung, who watched him in return, zero emotion on his face.

 

Yoongi hadn’t even tried to imagine how he’d feel seeing Taehyung again, but he realized now that he wouldn’t have been able to describe it. Like his previous descriptions of heartbreak, it would have felt shallow.

 

Even then, Yoongi hadn’t expected the yearning. He should have, he knew how much he missed Taehyung, but the force with which it hit him nearly left him gasping. The longer he spent in the room, talking to people about Namjoon’s art and, as briefly as possible, his own, the harder it was to ignore that feeling. When he was at events like this with Taehyung, he’d gotten to escape and chat with him, joke with him, just relax with him. When he’d turned back, Taehyung would smile at him or make a face. He’d missed that at the library opening when his nameless bodyguard had stepped in, but that feeling was amplified by the fact that Taehyung was here, Taehyung was watching him, but he wasn’t joking, he wasn’t smiling, he wasn’t the way he was before.

 

He barely lasted an hour before he realized that if he didn’t get some air he was going to break down in the middle of Namjoon’s show. He’d never forgive himself for ruining his night over something so stupid. Glancing briefly at Taehyung, who had his head tilted back and his eyes closed, Yoongi made his way to the front door. He smiled at a few people who tried to stop him, but made excuses about needing to step outside so they wouldn’t pester him.

 

Outside was cold, winter creeping in already, and it was misting, barely enough to be considered rain but enough to dampen his hair. He tilted his face back, blinking up at the starless night, and sighed. He felt better out here, like he could breathe, and decided that he wasn’t quite ready to go back in yet. 

 

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Yoongi started walking. He figured he’d do a lap of the street and then go back inside. He kept his head down, only looking up to check the upcoming crossing lights, and he realized too late that was his mistake. He didn’t notice the man following after him until there were hands around his biceps and he was being dragged into an alley.

 

“I—”

 

“Shut up.”

 

Yoongi slammed his mouth shut, his breathing halting as he froze in fear. He had no idea what was going to happen but he knew he couldn’t fight back. The man was so much bigger than him and clearly strong if he’d been able to drag a struggling Yoongi into the alley. “Please, I—”

 

“Shut up.”

 

The man didn’t look up at him as he started to dig through his pockets. Yoongi didn’t have a wallet on him, he rarely carried one, but he had his phone and his accessories would be worth a great deal if they were pawned. He wanted to say something but he was afraid his attacker’s temper would snap, especially as the hand holding him to the wall tightened painfully as he realized Yoongi didn’t actually have any cash on him.

 

He couldn’t stop the sound of pain that escaped when his fingers started to dig into him, which only served to make the attacker angrier because he held Yoongi tighter. Yoongi felt like he couldn’t breathe. The world was narrowing in and dimming, making his brain feel fuzzy and his chest hurt. He didn’t know what the attacker was going to do if he didn’t find any money. He didn’t know why he’d been so stupid as to leave the show without protection. He knew this was a bad area, Namjoon had warned him as much, so why hadn’t he just stuck close to the entrance? Why did he leave? No one knew he was here. He was—

 

Suddenly the arm keeping him in place was gone. Yoongi’s vision swam and he vaguely saw Taehyung standing there instead of the attacker, but he couldn’t quite process what was happening.

 

He couldn’t really remember how he’d gotten into Taehyung’s arms but the second he was, he felt his body relax. That relaxation brought a sense of relief so intense he started crying. He didn’t think he’d ever been so scared in his life and he hadn’t known what was going to happen. He didn’t really know what to do or say, all he knew was that, right now, he needed Taehyung close. He felt safe with him close.

 

Things couldn’t stay like that though. Soon enough, sirens approached, too loud and bright to be ignored by those in the showing, and Namjoon was cursing up a storm with so many foul words that Yoongi was sure some of the guests blushed. None of that really mattered though. He just kept his head down and his hand wrapped tightly around Taehyung’s as he was brought to an ambulance to be checked over and then a police officer arrived to ask questions. 

 

They were so mundane and borderline offensive. What were you doing? Do you frequent this area? Did you have cash on you? Why were you alone?

 

Somewhere around the fifth question, Taehyung started yelling and then his mother was there and Yoongi honestly wished someone would give him a sedative because this was all too much. He was still terrified, still afraid that if he let go of Taehyung something would happen and his mother was throwing around threats and the officer was accusing him of being reckless and he just wanted to go home.

 

“I want to go home,” Yoongi whispered, his voice shaky and rough. “Please can I just go home?”

 

The officer pursed his lips but nodded. “You may have to come and make a statement for the formal charges, but we’re done here.”

 

“You could have said that to begin with,” Taehyung hissed, a small asshole muttered under his breath.

 

Hyseu narrowed her eyes, her chin tilting up with all the authority of billions of won and high-powered political friends backing up her every word. “I’m sure the officer was just being diligent, correct?”

 

“Yes, ma’am,” the officer said, his tone tight and bitter. “We’ll be in touch, Mr. Min.”

 

“You have my number,” Yoongi said, unable to hide the sheer exhaustion in his voice. He felt like his entire body was shutting down after running full tilt for days. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew it was emotional exhaustion, that the adrenaline that’d pumped through his veins during the attack was gone now, but he didn’t really care about why. “Where’s Namjoon?”

 

“Here, hyung!” Namjoon called, appearing from the side of the ambulance. He looked stressed, small lines stretching out from the corners of his eyes.

 

“I’m sorry about your showing,” Yoongi whispered, his lips trembling. He tried to push them together because it felt ridiculous to cry over that right now but his body had stopped listening to him entirely.

 

“No, I’m sorry, hyung. I should have had security outside. I knew— it’s my fault.”

 

“Not your fault. I should have taken Taehyung,” Yoongi countered, sniffling in a further attempt to not cry. He really didn’t want to cry in front of so many people that his entire family knew.

 

“I—”

 

“How about we play the blame game after hyung has had some time to rest, okay?” Taehyung interrupted, looking at Namjoon with raised brows.

 

Yoongi wasn’t sure why, after what felt like hours of clutching onto Taehyung and crying into his chest, the word hyung caused him such visceral offense, but it did. His whole body went rigid and his eyes widened as he straightened. Taehyung and Namjoon both looked at him in confusion, but Yoongi ignored that and jerked his hand out of Taehyung’s, holding it to his chest. 

 

He saw the second Taehyung realized what was happening because his face fell and his shoulders curved inward, like he was genuinely sad. Yoongi didn’t know why Taehyung was looking at him like that, like he actually cared, but it made his chest contract and he didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to deal with that tonight. 

 

“Hyung? Are you okay?” Namjoon asked, stepping closer and angling his body so he partially blocked Taehyung even though he and Yoongi were sitting beside each other. 

 

“Yes, I—” Yoongi broke off, his eyes darting to his mother, who was frowning down at her phone and not paying attention to them. “I want to go home.”

 

“Why don’t you take my driver? I have some things to do here yet, so he can drop you off and come back. You didn’t drive yourself, did you?”

 

“No,” Yoongi confirmed. He didn’t keep a driver on call, so he’d have to summon someone from his parents’ house and that’d mean he’d have to be here for another half hour at least. He supposed he could wait for his mother, but, based on her expression, she was going to start yelling at a certain police chief soon and Yoongi really didn’t want to be around for that. “I’d really appreciate it, Joon.”

 

“I can drive you, hy— Mr. Min,” Taehyung cut in.

 

“No,” Yoongi said again, siding off the back of the ambulance. He felt a little shaky on his feet, but he waved off Namjoon’s offer to help him stand. “Thank you for everything you did tonight, Taehyung. Your hard work is appreciated. You’re free to return home now; Namjoon’s driver will take me home.”

 

Taehyung’s mouth opened and closed a few times before he simply nodded, the movement jerky. Yoongi nodded in return before turning to Namjoon, who guided him toward the other side of the ambulance where his driver was parked and waiting. “Knew I’d cave, huh?”

 

Namjoon smiled. “I’d have dragged you out.”

 

“Thanks, Joon. I really am sorry.”

 

“Don’t apologize. Just go home, rest, and call me if you need anything.”

 

“I will. Thanks.”

 

“Yoongi!”

 

Freezing, Yoongi glanced up just in time to see his mother walk over, her lips turned down in a frown. Yoongi winced. He hadn’t said goodbye. “Ah, mom. I’m sorry. I just really, really want to get out of here.”

 

Hyesu nodded, not stopping until she was close enough to cup his cheeks, her thumbs rubbing under his eyes. He remembered her doing that to him when he was a child and he’d come to her crying about some small injury. “It’s okay. I just wanted to see you off. Call me tomorrow, okay?”

 

“Okay,” Yoongi agreed, turning his face slightly as she kissed his cheek before stepping back. “Night, mom. Joon.”

 

He didn’t hear their responses as the driver closed the door behind him, but Yoongi watched them wave as the car pulled away. He also saw Taehyung watching, his eyes round and brows furrowed, but Yoongi ignored that. He’d had enough for one night.

 

❆❆❆

 

For the entire next day, Taehyung was back in his perpetual fog. He couldn’t stop thinking about the look on Yoongi’s face when Taehyung had taken down his mugger. Yoongi should have never felt the fear he had yesterday and it was all because Taehyung couldn’t do his job properly.

 

If he’d been paying attention to Yoongi instead of the image of him in his mind, Yoongi wouldn’t have had time to sneak off alone.

 

If Taehyung hadn’t lied to him about the threats, Yoongi wouldn’t be so uncomfortable with Taehyung watching over him.

 

If he hadn’t fallen in love in the first place, Taehyung would have remained professional and Yoongi wouldn’t have been alone.

 

Though Yoongi had told him that he could go home, Taehyung had remained behind with Jungkook until Hyesu had returned home. She hadn’t stayed much longer, but in that time, Taehyung had learned a few things. The first, she was just as terrifying as he’d thought she was, if her tone when she’d talked to someone about how the officer had treated Yoongi was anything to go by. The second, she was angry at him. When Yoongi had left, her eyes, which had been warm and concerned prior, hardened and lingered on him whenever he was close, which was always since that was literally his job. 

 

There was no doubt in his mind that he was going to get fired. Even if Hyesu hadn’t caught on to their pseudo-relationship, which would definitely get him fired, he’d let Yoongi get mugged. His job was to be there so that Yoongi was protected, so that he was safe, and he’d been too distracted by his own bullshit to do that. If he didn’t get fired, he had half a mind to quit. Clearly, he couldn’t be trusted to be professional and competent when Yoongi was involved.

 

When the call actually came, Taehyung wasn’t at all surprised by it. Jungkook had told him, very quietly, that he’d been summoned by Hyesu and Taehyung had just nodded and gone to her office like he’d been told. He couldn’t even work up the energy to be upset about losing his job. It felt like a very appropriate culmination of events. 

 

“Kim Taehyung,” Hyesu said, flipping open a folder and scanning it. “Your resume is quite impressive. I always wondered why you applied to work here.”

 

Taehyung’s brow twitched, but he replied anyway. “Jeon Jungkook is a lifelong friend. He said the working conditions and salary were good, and I trust his judgement.”

 

“Do you agree now?” Hyesu asked, still looking at the folder.

 

“Yes.”

 

Hyesu hummed, her fingers tapping in a steady rhythm before she flattened her hand down on the desk. Taehyung watched her hand closely, unsure where else to look, but she didn’t do anything other than close the folder and lean back in her chair. “What happened last night?”

 

Taehyung let out a breath. Here it was, the moment of truth. “I was distracted and missed Mr. Min leaving the building. I thought he’d simply gone to the other side of the display, but he hadn’t, so I also checked the bathroom. By the time Mr. Kim had told me he saw Mr. Min leave, he’d already been attacked.”

 

“How do you know?”

 

“I heard him cry out in pain,” Taehyung whispered, his voice wavering despite his best effort to stop it.

 

“Do you love my son, Taehyung?”

 

Blindsided, Taehyung blinked a few times like that would help him hear the question differently. When that didn’t help, he met Hyesu’s intense gaze. He meant to respond properly but all he could manage was a strained: “Yes.”

 

“I thought as much,” Hyesu said, mostly to herself. “You’ve been… dating?”

 

“No,” Taehyung said, shaking his head. “I… wouldn’t call it that.”

 

“So you were simply fucking my son.”

 

Taehyung’s eyes widened. “No! No, I just— we— it wasn’t like that.”

 

Hyesu raised a brow. “Then why don’t you explain.”

 

“Uh, Mr. Min wanted some help writing the romance for his book so I took him out on a few dates. It, uh, was more serious than it should have been.”

 

“Are you the reason he’s so sad?” Hyesu asked bluntly.

 

“Yes,” Taehyung said, seeing no reason to defend himself at this moment.

 

Hyesu raised her brow at that, perhaps expecting Taehyung to lie, but then she simply nodded and opened the folder again. This time, she flipped to the back and pulled out an envelope. Taehyung’s brows furrowed a bit, unsure of what she was doing, and then she set the envelope in front of him on the desk. “This is the equivalent of your yearly salary, plus the remaining portion of the salary you would have been paid for this year.”

 

“Would have?” Taehyung asked, his eyes on Hyesu rather than the envelope.

 

“Yes, would have. I will also provide a reference to BulletProof. I know the owner quite well,” Hyesu added.

 

Taehyung blinked a few times. BulletProof was easily the most well-known security company in the country. They provided protection for everyone from celebrities to politicians. Taehyung’s application there had been resoundingly rejected since he didn’t have real combat experience. Yoongi’s mother was offering him millions of won and a cushy new job. 

 

His initial reaction was abject horror. He didn’t know if it showed on his face, but he had to swallow down the bile that was rising up his throat. The idea that she’d done this to other people in the past, anyone who showed interest in Yoongi, made him sick. “Why? Why would you do this?”

 

“Please. I can’t have my son dating staff. That looks awful,” Hyesu said blandly, rolling her eyes. 

 

“You’ve done this before,” Taehyung whispered.

 

“No, actually. Yoongi has never needed me to interfere like this before,” Hyesu admitted, his lips falling into a little pout that reminded him a great deal of Yoongi. “He’s quite independent, you know.”

 

“But you think he needs it now.”

 

Hyesu’s eyes cut to him sharply. “Don’t you?”

 

Taehyung pressed his lips together, his head falling a bit. No part of him wanted to take the money or the job. He’d thought about quitting just so Yoongi would be safer, had thought he’d be fired, but it hadn’t occurred to him that he’d be forced out. If he took this money, Yoongi would always believe that he’d been looking for a payday, just like everyone else. He’d never be able to convince Yoongi that he loved him.

 

But did he want to do that?

 

The events of the previous night rolled through his mind. The way Yoongi’s face had crumbled when he realized Taehyung was the one guarding him. The tension in Yoongi’s shoulders that Taehyung knew was from him being there. The terror in his eyes because Taehyung hadn’t protected him. The way he’d recoiled from him when Taehyung had called him hyung. The way he’d dismissed him and left with Namjoon. By being here, by continuing to work for the Mins, Taehyung was making Yoongi’s life harder. It didn’t matter that Taehyung loved him or that he wished he could fix things.

 

He had to ask though: “Do you think that me leaving will make him happier?”

 

Hyesu didn’t answer right away, but Taehyung didn’t look up to see her expression. He just waited until she said, “I do.”

 

Taehyung nodded slowly, his throat working as he suddenly fought off the urge to cry. He’d known that, of course he had, but hearing it was something else entirely. He cleared his throat a few times before he managed, “Yea, I think so too.”

 

“So?”

 

“I’ll leave,” Taehyung said, “but I don’t want this stuff. I only want one thing.”

 

Hiking a brow, Hyesu waved her hand. “Fine, as long as it’s within reason, I can get you whatever you want, but I’m sure you know that.”

 

“I do.”

 

“So?” Hyesu repeated, her tone bordering on frustrated.

 

“I want you to promise me that, when Mr. Min asks, you tell him I quit by myself. If he finds out you did all this,” Taehyung murmured, waving toward the envelope and folder she’d yet to close, “he’ll never forgive you, even if he doesn’t want me.”

 

Hyesu laughed. “Fine, it’s a deal. You’re fired.”

 

“Okay,” Taehyung agreed, pushing himself up.

 

“Before you go,” Hyesu said, reaching forward to grab the envelope. She tore it open and pulled out a cheque, which she held out to Taehyung. “This is only for the remainder of your contact. Regardless of whether I fire you or you quit, you’re entitled to this.”

 

Taehyung hesitated a moment, but eventually relented and took the cheque from her. He’d need money to cover his expenses while he looked for a new job anyway. “Thank you.”

 

He’d only just made it to the door when Hyesu called out again. “Oh and Taehyung?” 

 

He bowed his head forward with a small sigh, a little frustrated, and turned back toward her. “Yes, Ms. Kim?”

 

“You’re no longer staff.”

 

“I am aware,” Taehyung said, that frustration leaking into his tone.

 

Hyesu hummed as she closed his folder. She turned toward a filing cabinet, pulled it open, and slotted his folder in. When she closed it again, she glanced at him with a raised brow. “I’ve always found apologies are best in person, haven’t you?”

 

For a moment, her words didn’t register. He just kept staring at her, confused, and then it hit him. Was Yoongi’s mother telling him to… go to Yoongi? But hadn’t she just tried to buy him off? “What? I— didn’t you say that he couldn’t date staff?”

 

“Yes, that’s a liability. Just imagine the potential lawsuits,” Hyesu sighed, shaking her head. “But you’re not staff anymore, are you?”

 

You’re no longer staff.

 

“I— I suppose I’m not.”

 

“No. And, as I said, apologies are better in person.”

 

“Right.”

 

Hyesu huffed. “For the love of god, Taehyung. Go apologize to my son and win him back. If I have to sit by and watch him cry over your dumb ass for one more day, I’m going to have you covered in honey and tied to a tree on the highest mountain I can find.”

 

“I— why?”

 

“Bears.”

 

Taehyung could only stare. “Are… are bears actually attracted to honey?”

 

Hyesu shrugged. “Well, wouldn’t that be a perfect way to find out? Get out of my office.”

 

“Y-yes, ma’am,” Taehyung mumbled hastily, grabbing the door handle and all but fleeing the room. A few staff members stared at him in blatant curiosity but he ignored them and ran to Jungkook’s office. Jungkook looked up in surprise when he burst through the door, but Taehyung just said, “I was fired. She told me to go apologize to him. She also threatened to have me eaten by bears. I— that’s not important. I’m leaving.”

 

Jungkook stared at him wide-eyed. “Good luck?”

 

“Thanks!” Taehyung shouted, already running out of Jungkook’s office and toward the front door.

 

To be honest, Taehyung still wasn’t sure what he wanted from a conversation with Yoongi. On the simplest level, he wanted Yoongi to forgive him and be willing to give him another chance. On a more realistic level, he just wanted Yoongi to understand that it had never been about lying or trying to get something from him. He just wanted Yoongi to know that Taehyung loved him, simple as that. He figured, if they ended things for good there, Taehyung would be happy. 

 

❆❆❆

 

When Yoongi woke up the next day, his whole body hurt in a way he wasn’t really familiar with. It felt like one of the very few times he’d tried planking or wall sits. Like when he forced his body to remain still and his muscles ached in response. He figured it was from the tension following the attack, something related to fight, flight, or freeze, but honestly, he didn’t know. He’d definitely researched it for one of his books at some point, but his brain was moving so slowly he couldn’t draw a connection and eventually, he gave up. It’s not like it mattered anyway.

 

Yoongi sat up and rubbed his face as he stared at the clock, realizing that he’d slept for nearly fourteen hours. He didn’t really remember going to bed, but a quick glance down told him that he had changed, which was good. His hands though, now covered in makeup from rubbing his eyes, told him he had not washed his face.

 

With a sigh, Yoongi dragged himself out of bed and went to the shower. He cranked the heat to the highest level and, in a rare moment of self-care, turned on the second shower head. He didn’t think he’d used it once since he moved in, but today he stepped between them and let the water wash away all the feelings of grime that came with the night before.

 

It felt like a dream almost. The level of terror he’d felt was something so extreme that he didn’t know how to conceptualize it in conjunction with all his other, more normal feelings. He knew that probably meant he was dissociating in some way, but as he scrubbed his body down and washed his hair, he couldn’t bring himself to worry about it. He’d call his therapist later, put something on the calendar to talk about… well, everything, and go from there.

 

Once he was dressed in something warm and familiar, Yoongi moved through his house aimlessly. He wasn’t really all that hungry and he didn’t feel like mindlessly watching a drama like he’d been doing, so he ended up kinda hovering like a video game character without instructions. 

 

It wasn’t until he spotted his laptop on the coffee table that he realized what he really wanted to do was write. He hadn’t felt the drive to write since finishing his last manuscript, but he felt it now. So, spinning on his heel, Yoongi went to his office and settled at his desk, turning on his computer.

 

Usually, he wrote more linearly, his last manuscript being an exception, but this time he skipped forward to the part where his main character was once again forced into direct contact with her former lover. Like most of this book, he hadn’t been sure how to describe what she would be feeling, but now he had no problem. All he had to do was detail how he’d felt seeing Taehyung watching over him again.

 

Yoongi’s fingers flew over the keys, rapidly typing out the conflicting emotions, both positive and negative, of seeing someone he loved again after everything. He saw Taehyung in his mind, watching him with that professional mask pulled tightly over his face, and felt his fingers shake, remembering just how much that had hurt. His main character would feel that when her lover acted like they were strangers. She’d miss him too, remembering all the close moments and heated touches, just like Yoongi missed Taehyung.

 

Sighing, Yoongi leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. His characters weren’t there yet, not in the section that Yoongi was working on, so there was no way to fit in the moment Yoongi’s brain had turned back on and he’d pulled away from Taehyung. That didn’t stop him from thinking about it.

 

He’d been so thankful that Taehyung was there, and he still was. He genuinely didn’t know how he’d have reacted if another bodyguard had saved him. Maybe he’d have pushed all his feelings down and pretended to be okay. He’d done that before. With Taehyung though, he’d felt safe enough to break down, to cling to him. He’d known that, after he’d asked him to stay, Taehyung wouldn’t go anywhere. He’d trusted him.

 

Trust.

 

Yoongi licked his lips, repeating the word over in his mind. Did he trust Taehyung? He trusted him to stay, but he didn’t trust the motivations behind that certainty. What did Taehyung want for staying? What had he gained by sitting with Yoongi the entire night, holding his hand? What was the purpose of looking so upset when Yoongi had left and, supposedly, couldn’t even see him?

 

On the flip side, what did Yoongi gain by continuing to think about it? If he really wanted to move on, to forget Taehyung, he wouldn’t spend so much time analyzing his every feeling, thinking over their every interaction, missing him. But then, if he didn’t want to move on, what did he want? Yoongi laughed a little, the sound watery and bitter as he pressed the heels of his palm to his eyes, ignoring the wet feeling against his skin.

 

He wanted to forgive him.

 

He wanted there to be some important reason that had made Taehyung lie, just like all the dramas he’d been watching, that would make everything make sense and allow Yoongi to forgive him. 

 

He wanted Taehyung.

 

Dropping his hands, Yoongi sighed, blinking a few times to clear his vision. He’d never really considered himself the pathetic type, but he felt that way now. How else would he describe someone who still wanted the person who’d lied to them? 

 

His doorbell ringing made Yoongi tilt his head in surprise. No one used it but delivery drivers and he wasn’t expecting— Yoongi paused, realizing that his mother must have kept her word about sending the information for the charities by courier. He hadn’t expected her to send them today given everything that had happened the night before, but he figured she’d thought he’d need a distraction, which, honestly, he kind of did.

 

Once he’d saved his work, Yoongi made his way downstairs slowly, assuming the courier would just leave the package at his door as they usually did. Which was why he opened the door without bothering to check who it was, nearly jumping back in surprise when he saw Taehyung standing there, his hands clutched together in front of him.

 

Yoongi’s eyes widened, his mouth opening and closing. He didn’t even know what to say. He felt like Taehyung had somehow been summoned by his own thoughts and he wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. “Taehyung.”

 

“I’m sorry for just showing up here. I know you told me to go away and I swear you’ll never see me again, but I needed to tell you something first,” Taehyung said, his words slurring together like he was trying to get it all out before Yoongi closed the door in his face. Yoongi hadn’t even considered doing that, but he supposed it made sense that Taehyung would think that. “Is it okay if I say it?”

 

“You’re leaving?” Yoongi asked, his brain fixating on one small part of what Taehyung had actually said.

 

Taehyung nodded slowly. “Uh, yes. I quit today. About a half hour ago in fact.”

 

“What?” Yoongi managed. “Because of last night? It wasn’t your fault—”

 

“It was,” Taehyung interrupted. “It was my fault. You left because you didn’t want to see me and I missed it because I couldn’t look at you. It is, or was, my job to protect you, and I failed to do that.”

 

Yoongi licked his lips, his eyes darting around in uncertainty. “Why couldn’t you look at me?”

 

“That’s what I wanted to talk about. Is it okay if I explain? I don’t— I don’t want to force you to listen,” Taehyung said quietly, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his hands while waiting for Yoongi’s answer.

 

There was no hesitation in Yoongi’s decision. He wanted, needed, to know. “Okay. Tell me.”

 

Taehyung nodded. “When— when you found out that I was lying about the threats, I told you that I just wanted a chance with you. That wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t really the truth either.”

 

Yoongi felt his heart clench, his mind immediately berating him for even thinking about trusting Taehyung again. “I-I see.”

 

“But the reason isn’t what you think,” Taehyung said with a sigh. His eyes flicked up to Yoongi’s face and he straightened, unclenching his hands so they were hanging by his side as he confessed, “I love you.”

 

“I— what?”

 

“I love you,” Taehyung repeated. “I have for… pretty much the entire time I’ve been assigned to you. I did want something from you, you were right, but what I wanted was your love. I just— when you were talking about trying to date someone that I wouldn’t even be able to see, I just— I panicked and lied about it being risky. It was awful and I knew that it was the second I said it but I— there’s no excuse really. I just couldn’t bear it and I justified it to myself by saying that it wasn’t that bad because you were only doing it for your book anyway, and it wasn’t real so what did it matter.”

 

“But it was real,” Yoongi whispered, his throat tightening. “It was real to me.”

 

“It was real to me too,” Taehyung admitted, clearing his throat like he felt the exact way Yoongi did at that moment. “It wasn’t supposed to be though. I was just supposed to get a few dates with you that I could think about when I missed you and it was supposed to stop there. I never— I never planned on kissing you or— or going further. I didn’t think you’d want that but then you did and… I didn’t care how we got there anymore because I was so happy and you seemed happy too.”

 

“I don’t know what to say, Taehyung,” Yoongi admitted, crossing his arms over his chest. He saw Taehyung’s eyes dip to his arms and brighten a little, which made Yoongi frown. “Why do you look happy?”

 

Taehyung met Yoongi’s eyes, hesitating a moment, then he nodded toward Yoongi’s arms. “You rub your hands when you’re uncomfortable. You’re not doing that. I guess it just… made me happy.”

 

Yoongi sighed and shook his head, his lips pursing as he looked to the side, his eyes trailing over the art he had hanging by the front door. It was one of Namjoon’s, as was most of his art, but he found the calm strokes and atmosphere didn’t suit him at the moment. “Why didn’t you say any of this before?”

 

“I thought you’d think that I was just saying it to make you forgive me.”

 

“Why wouldn’t I think that now?” Yoongi asked pointedly, turning back toward him.

 

“No reason,” Taehyung said. “I just couldn’t leave without telling you that I was sorry again and letting you know the truth. The entire truth. I just— I don’t want you to go on thinking that you were stupid or easily manipulated. It felt real because it was. I just… wanted you to know that I guess. And maybe understand why I did what I did.”

 

“I don’t understand,” Yoongi said honestly. “You never had to lie. We already spent all our time together, we went out to eat and hung out. We were friends.”

 

Taehyung pressed his lips together, his face pulling inward for a moment before he shook his head. “That was my job, Mr. Min.”

 

Yoongi flinched at the use of his family name, but, at the same time, he appreciated that Taehyung was respecting the boundary he’d clearly set the night before. “O-oh.”

 

“I know things were different than they should have been, and that was mostly my fault. I just… wanted to be as close to you as possible and that made me less professional than I ever was before. But, at the end of the day, you were only with me because that was my job and that was it. I wanted a chance for you to see me after that. For you to talk to me and hold my hand and play around with me without the fact I was only there for my job clouding everything.”

 

“But you were there for your job,” Yoongi pointed out, suddenly feeling exhausted. “No matter what we said or did, you were still being paid.”

 

Taehyung smiled a bit, but it was fleeting and bitter. “Yea, I never said it was a good plan or even that it made sense.”

 

Yoongi sighed. “What do you want, Taehyung? Why are you here? Do you want me to say that I forgive you, is that it?”

 

“No,” Taehyung said after a moment, shaking his head. “I just wanted you to know the truth. What you do with that information is up to you.”

 

Somewhat shocked, Yoongi opened his mouth, unsure of what he was even going to say, but then Taehyung started speaking again, his words once again hasty. “Uh, also your mom knows about us? Like… not everything but she does. She might mention it and I don’t want you to be blindsided.”

 

“I figured she would,” Yoongi managed, then his eyebrows shot up. “How do you know that she knows?”

 

Taehyung blinked a few times. “Uh.”

 

“What did she do? Did she— what did she do, Taehyung?” Yoongi asked, stepping out of the house and into Taehyung’s personal space. “Did she threaten you? What did she do?”

 

“No, no. I mean, she offered me a new job? I didn’t take it though,” Taehyung explained hesitantly. “I kinda just told her not to tell you. I didn’t… think that I would.”

 

The last part was so quiet that Yoongi had to lean in to hear it, but when he did, his brows furrowed. “Why wouldn’t you tell me?”

 

“Because then you’d think I was in it for the money and connections,” Taehyung explained, smiling a little as he shrugged. 

 

“Why do you care if you’re leaving?” Yoongi asked pointedly. He felt like his brain was going to leak out of his ears at any given moment. Taehyung had offloaded so much information onto him that he was having trouble processing it all. 

 

Taehyung’s brows pulled together, making his eyes turn round. “Because then you’d always think that.”

 

“I don’t know what to say,” Yoongi admitted.

 

“That’s okay. I didn’t really expect you to say anything. I just wanted to tell you. I know I said it before, but I wanted to say it again. I really am sorry, hy— Mr. Min. I never meant to hurt you, but I did, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express how sorry I am for that,” Taehyung murmured, his eyes flicking to Yoongi’s and away. He shifted a little, looking suddenly uncomfortable, and then he cleared his throat and rambled, “I think— I think I’ll go now. Thank you for listening.”

 

Yoongi’s lips parted, his lashes fluttering as Taehyung bowed and turned away, jogging down the stairs with the ease of someone who’d done it a million times. He didn’t look back as he slipped into his car, nor as he turned around and pulled away.

 

Taehyung was leaving. He hadn’t asked for anything. He was just leaving. Clutching at his shirt right about his heart, Yoongi stared after Taehyung’s car, eyes fixed on the taillights until he couldn’t see them anymore. He was leaving.

 

Spinning on his heel, Yoongi ran up the stairs, tripping a bit so he ended up using his hands to hasten the process. He burst into his office, searching for his phone. Once he found it, he hit his most recently called number. He didn’t wait for a greeting. He simply demanded, “What did you do?”

 

His mother sighed. “And he made such a big deal about not telling you.”

 

“Mom!”

 

“You know now he technically didn’t get anything? He turned down everything I offered and that was all he bothered to ask for. A terrible negotiator, if you ask me.”

 

Yoongi took a stuttering breath, his voice ragged and full of tears as he pleaded, “Mom, just explain!”

 

Hyesu sighed again but this time there was an undercurrent that he didn’t recognize. “Yoongi, at what point did you ever think you’d be able to hide how you felt about Taehyung from me?”

 

“I— well…”

 

“It’s been obvious for months but it only seemed to get serious the last few. I thought it was a simple little crush at first when I noticed him staring after you, nothing to worry about, but then you started to look right back. I figured it was only a matter of time. When I noticed something was finally happening, I offered to have him moved from your house. You know dating staff like that is just a lawsuit waiting to happen. I didn’t expect you to break up right after,” Hyesu explained, her tone frustrated.

 

“He… lied about the threats.”

 

“I see,” Hyesu murmured. “That explains all the guilt then. You know, he only agreed to leave when I told him that you’d be happier if he was gone.”

 

“Mom…”

 

“Do you love him, Yoongi?”

 

Yoongi swallowed a few times, his other hand reaching up to hold onto the phone too. “Yea.”

 

“Do you think he’ll lie to you again?”

 

“I… don’t know,” Yoongi admitted.

 

Hyesu hummed again, this time the sound warmer and more comforting. “Then I think you need to figure out if he’s worth trusting again or not. I won’t interfere more than I already have, not that it did any good anyway. I just— It’s so rare to see you happy, Yoongi. He made you happy.”

 

Yoongi nodded again. “I want to trust him. I— I love him so much, mom. It hurts.”

 

“I know, baby. I know,” Hyesu soothed, her voice shifting to something that Yoongi hadn’t heard since he was a toddler. He felt like, through Taehyung, he’d rediscovered his relationship with his mother and he didn’t know if he’d ever be thankful enough for that. “They often say trust is earned. There’s nothing wrong with making him earn it, if he can.”

 

Unsure what to say to that, Yoongi simply nodded again. “Thanks, mom.”

 

“Of course. See you next week at lunch, okay?”

 

“Yea. See ya,” Yoongi murmured, hanging up. 

 

For a few minutes, Yoongi stayed where he was, kneeling on the ground. He hadn’t even realized he’d crouched down but he didn’t question it. He was too busy thinking anyway. His mind was a chaotic mess entirely centered around the issue of Taehyung.

 

He already knew that he wanted to forgive him. He’d known that even before Taehyung had shown up at his door. The excuse he’d given though wasn’t anything amazing or justifiable. It was just Taehyung’s insecurity about his feelings being pushed onto Yoongi. To some extent, Yoongi understood. It wasn’t like he’d ever dated a staff member before, nor had he even considered it, but at the end of the day, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. There was no way for Taehyung to know that, of course, but he could have just asked.

 

Even as he thought that, Yoongi knew that things weren’t that simple. If Yoongi hadn’t returned his feelings, he never would have agreed and it was possible that Taehyung would have been reassigned in response. And, honestly, as he thought back to the moment Taehyung had agreed to take him on dates, Yoongi wasn’t even sure if he’d have agreed then. He hadn’t felt anything for Taehyung romantically, at least, not that he’d been aware of at the time.

 

None of that made lying to him okay, but it did explain why, which he supposed was the purpose of Taehyung coming here today. 

 

So, if Yoongi was willing to accept his reasoning, that meant that he could forgive him, but could he trust him?

 

That answer was harder. He’d always heard that trust couldn’t be rebuilt once broken, but he wasn’t sure that was true. His mother clearly didn’t think so and Yoongi didn’t want to believe that people changing was impossible. But did that mean he could learn to trust Taehyung again?

 

Maybe if he set up rules? No lying, of course, but also no secrets. They’d have to establish rules around communication and make sure to be open about insecurities in the future. Taehyung clearly had some regarding Yoongi’s status, but Yoongi had his own regarding Taehyung’s motives. He was literally writing a book about forgiveness and rebuilding trust. If his characters could work through their issues and come out stronger, why couldn’t real people? They’d—

 

Yoongi realized, somewhat belatedly, that he was looking at this from the perspective of a decision already made. He was planning like he was going to take Taehyung back.

 

Dropping his eyes to his phone, Yoongi hesitated a moment, then he opened his contacts and scrolled until he found Taehyung’s name. Tentatively, Yoongi clicked his contact and, when he answered, said simply, “We need to talk.”

 

❆❆❆

 

Taehyung had intended to drive right home following his talk with Yoongi but he didn’t make it that far. He barely made it to the end of Yoongi’s driveway before he had to pull over, his vision entirely obstructed by tears. He ended up clutching the steering wheel, his head pressed to the tops of his hands, and finally letting himself cry.

 

Since the moment Yoongi had found out about the lie, he’d felt like he didn’t have the right to cry over something he’d caused, and he still felt like that, but after seeing Yoongi, finally saying everything he needed to say, it was like the floodgates opened and he was left with nothing to do but cry it out.

 

He barely heard his phone ringing over the sound of his own sobs, but after a few rings, it became persistent enough that he picked it up. He didn’t look at the name, he just sniffled and cleared his throat, doing his best to sound normal and said, “Hello?”

 

“We need to talk.”

 

Taehyung shot up, his eyes widened in surprise. He pulled his phone away from his face and stared at the name. Sure enough, it was Yoongi. Slowly, he returned the phone to his ear. “Uh, okay. I— okay.”

 

“Are you too far away to come back?”

 

Looking around and seeing the perimeter of Yoongi’s property, Taehyung winced. “No… I didn’t get far.”

 

“I see. Could you come back then?”

 

“Yes. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Taehyung murmured.

 

“Okay,” Yoongi agreed, hanging up without saying anything further.

 

Taehyung stared blankly out of the windshield for several minutes, unsure why Yoongi would want him to come back. He wasn’t sure what else he could say, which he was sure Yoongi had to know. Maybe Yoongi was calling him back to say his piece? That would make sense, Taehyung had very much dominated the conversion. 

 

Sighing, Taehyung turned around and drove back to Yoongi’s front door. He was sitting on the stairs when Taehyung pulled up, his hand folded in front of him, one thumb rubbing over the other. Uncomfortable. Yoongi was uncomfortable.

 

Taking a deep breath, Taehyung turned off the car and got out, rounding the front but lingering near the passenger door so he didn’t end up in Yoongi’s space. His eyes dipped to Yoongi’s hands automatically, and Yoongi followed Taehyung’s gaze. Yoongi’s hands opened and pulled apart, a small laugh escaping as he looked back up at Taehyung. “I guess I do do that.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You’ve been crying. I could hear it on the phone but now I can see it too,” Yoongi observed, his voice so purposefully level that it made Taehyung grimace. “I’m sorry.”

 

“It’s not your fault,” Taehyung said immediately, sniffing a little as he looked away. “Made my bed and all that.”

 

“I suppose so,” Yoongi agreed. “I talked to my mother.”

 

Taehyung’s eyes snapped back to Yoongi. “What?”

 

“I wanted her side. She said you turned down everything she offered,” Yoongi revealed. “I know you said that, but…”

 

“You didn’t trust me. I understand,” Taehyung whispered. It hurt, but he understood where Yoongi was coming from. 

 

“Funny you should say that,” Yoongi murmured.

 

Taehyung hesitated. “Say what?”

 

“Trust.”

 

“I… don’t think I understand,” Taehyung admitted slowly.

 

Yoongi nodded, his face still turned away from Taehyung. The silence stretched, but, eventually, Yoongi let out a deep breath and looked back at him. “I love you, Taehyung.”

 

“What?” Taehyung squeaked out, utterly shocked. He must have misheard that.

 

“I love you,” Yoongi repeated. Before Taehyung could even think about celebrating, Yoongi continued, “But I’m not sure if that’s enough to repair the trust I had in you. I want to believe it was just a mistake and that you really do love me like you say, I really, really do, you don’t know how much,” Yoongi whispered, his voice shaking, “but I don’t know if I can.”

 

Taehyung felt something vicious claw at his throat, making his eyes water insistently, and had to swallow several times to clear it. “If there was something I could do or say to make you believe me, I would, but I know it’s not that easy.”

 

“It’s not,” Yoongi agreed, his hand lifting abruptly to wipe at his eyes. Taehyung felt his heart pulse painfully as he realized that Yoongi was trying not to cry too. “I wish it was but it’s not.”

 

“I know. I understand,” Taehyung murmured. “You don’t have to explain. I didn’t think— I didn’t tell you so that we could get back together.”

 

“That’s the thing. We were never together, Taehyung. It was all this stupid game that neither of us was prepared to play.”

 

Taehyung pressed his lips together, fighting off the hurt. “Right.”

 

“But that’s the thing. I want— I want us to be together,” Yoongi admitted, his brows furrowing as his lips pressed together. “I miss you so much, Tae.”

 

Tae.

 

Tae.

 

Taehyung lunged forward, ending up on his knees right in front of where Yoongi was sitting. He didn’t touch him, but his hands hovered, his eyes wide and desperate. “Mr. Min— hyung— I—”

 

Yoongi closed the distance, wrapping his arms around Taehyung’s neck and holding tight. Taehyung clutched the back of his shirt, pulling him closer until Yoongi fell off the steps and landed on his lap. Taehyung didn’t care, he just buried his face in Yoongi’s neck and did his best not to cry. It didn’t really work, but he did try.

 

He was still crying when he lifted his face, his right hand automatically going to Yoongi’s face to cradle his cheek. Yoongi looked up at him, his own eyes shiny and conflicted, then he leaned forward and kissed him. Taehyung couldn’t stop the sobbing breath he let out as he kissed Yoongi back, his hand shaking on his face. He wasn’t entirely sure he hadn’t passed out at work following some mishap and this was all a delusion, but, if it was, he didn’t want to wake up. Not when Yoongi’s lips were moving over his almost desperately, like he was afraid Taehyung would disappear too. 

 

“Hyung,” Taehyung whispered, resting his forehead against Yoongi’s when they finally stopped to breathe.

 

Yoongi let out a breath through his nose and slowly pulled away. He wiped his eyes, but he didn’t move from Taehyung’s lap. “What do you want from me, Taehyung? Honestly.”

 

“If I could have anything?” Taehyung asked. When Yoongi nodded, he admitted, “I’d want you. As a boyfriend, lover, fiance, husband. Just… you.”

 

“That’s all?” Yoongi asked.

 

“What else is there?” Taehyung asked in return, his brows furrowing a bit. Sure, he could ask for money and power and all that other nonsense, but he’d never wanted those things. If he had, he wouldn’t have chosen to be a bodyguard of all things. For him, there was only Yoongi. That was it.

 

Yoongi pressed his lips together again, his eyes flicking over Taehyung’s face. After a few minutes, he nodded. “I want to try.”

 

“I—”

 

“But there would have to be rules,” Yoongi interrupted, clearing his throat. “I honestly don’t know if I trust you, Tae. I want to, but in the back of my mind I just… don’t. I’m going to need time.”

 

“I’ll do whatever you want,” Taehyung promised hastily.

 

Yoongi smiled a bit, his brows tilting upward. “For now, all I want is for you to date me properly. No lies, no job making it more complicated. Just us getting to know each other and building a relationship together. The right way.”

 

Taehyung didn’t even have to think about it. “That’s all I ever wanted, hyung. I won’t mess up this time. I promise.”

 

“I… want to believe that,” Yoongi said, the words dragging as he stared at Taehyung. “Maybe one day I will. I don’t know. Is that okay with you?”

 

“Hyung, I left here today fully expecting to only ever see you on TV from now on. A chance is more than I dreamed of, more than I deserve honestly, but I’ll take it if you’re offering.”

 

“I am,” Yoongi said. He shifted a bit, looking down and seemingly only then realized that he was sprawled out over Taehyung’s lap. “Sorry.”

 

“My fault,” Taehyung said hastily, helping Yoongi stand. 

 

He didn’t stand himself though, instead just staring up at Yoongi, who tilted his head as he watched him in return. He glanced at his door briefly before turning back to Taehyung and offering, “Did you want to come inside?”

 

Taehyung scrambled to his feet with all the eagerness of an overgrown puppy and he honestly didn’t even care if that seemed pathetic. Yoongi had given him a chance to fix this, to make up for what he’d done, and he was going to seize it with both hands. He’d spend the rest of his life making sure Yoongi never doubted him for a second and was nothing but happy, and, as Yoongi smiled at him hesitantly, Taehyung knew he’d be successful. “I’d love to.”

Notes:

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