Chapter Text
Two years later
“I think Yoongi and Namjoon are already upstairs. Jimin too, probably.” Taehyung turns his phone's screen off and looks up. “They're way too excited.”
“They care so much about you.”
It's true, they look after him and cover him with affection. Even when it's not exactly needed.
They've all decided to accompany him to what is maybe the second most important interview of his career. Even if they all have jobs, important ones, to be at. Taehyung tried to argue that it really wasn't necessary, that Jeongguk and his manager would be there, but apparently that was all the more reason to join. They said that this way, Taehyung could have his ‘full team’.
“Ready?”
Jeongguk shifts in his seat and turns to look at him. “Are you sure, absolutely sure, you want me to come up? I can wait here, or at a coffee sh–”
Taehyung reaches forward to touch him. Hand to cheek. He wants to ease Jeongguk’s worries, get rid of the concern in his eyes.
“Baby,” he breathes between them. “Yes. You're the one person I actually asked to come.” He smiles.
Jeongguk shifts again, so he can press their foreheads together. He closes his eyes to whisper a secret they both know. “I'm scared for you, Tae.”
“I know, and why, and I understand. But you shouldn't be, baby.” Taehyung presses both of his palms to Jeongguk’s face, keeping him close. "I want to show you off. You're the reason I'm here. I want to have you with me physically. I know we can do this.”
Jeongguk breathes deeply in the space between their mouths. “I'm not the reason you're her–”
“You are. Literally! I'm famous because I had someone insp–”
“Taehyung,” Jeongguk cuts him off, tone whiny but serious. “You're here because you're talented and you created art from pain. Not because of me– And no, don't try interrupting me. I know what you're going to say,” Jeongguk huffs, cheeks bulging, “You're here because of you. I'm scared I'm going to ruin that for you. People are not used to me yet, and you better talk about music with him. Properly. I don't want to be there to spoil that conversation for you. What if he brings me up? All that gossip.”
Taehyung brushes their lips together. “I'm not me without you, Jeongguk. In the good and the bad. I don't care what ‘people’ think or say about that. Even him. I've made my favourite album, because you're back in my life. If he wants to talk about the gossip, then he's not worth of my time.”
Jeongguk snorts. “It's Rolling Stone, Taehyung,” he states.
Taehyung leans back, creating space between them but keeping his hands firm on Jeongguk. Their eyes meet and lock. “Do you wanna be here?”
The reply is immediate. “Nowhere else.”
“I know it's a lot to ask of you, always.”
“You know I don't care about any of it. You know it's not about that.”
“That's all I need to know. And are you going to be okay?” Taehyung asks.
“You should be asking yourself that, not me. I'll be fine.”
“If you're there, I'll be great.”
Jeongguk rolls his eyes. He covers Taehyung’s hands with his and keeps them there, on his face. “You're so silly.” He leans forward until their lips are connected. He kisses Taehyung, soft and gentle. When they part, he smiles. “Let's go, superstar.”
⦿
“It's so nice to see you again,” Baek Beomgyu says, bowing his head and offering his hand. “Thank you for taking the time to speak with me again.”
The cameras are rolling already, and they're surrounded by people monitoring their conversation.
Taehyung smiles and shakes his hand. “Thank you, for wanting to.”
They sit down on the set up chairs.
“I had a lot of fun the last time we chatted.” Beomgyu grins. “It was a really special interview, and I'm looking forward to getting more insights of your new work.”
As the first time they met, Beomgyu has a cool, calm aura around him. He makes Taehyung feel comfortable, soothing the unease.
The first time he interviewed him, Taehyung was anxious because he admired the man and was uncertain what a conversation with him would be like. He ended up enjoying the interview, and for the first time, unexpectedly, talking about Jeongguk. Because of it, he ended up getting Jeongguk back.
Since then, news about Taehyung and Jeongguk has been everywhere (still is) and Taehyung is asked about him (always). Most often, not kindly. Though Jeongguk’s steady presence next to him is starting to be accepted, at least by Taehyung’s fans, writing opinion pieces, badmouthing and making up information about him, and their relationship, seems to be the media's favourite pastime.
Since then, Beomgyu and him have crossed paths at a bunch of industry events, but they never got the chance to talk properly. Beomgyu was always nice and polite, never mentioning Jeongguk. Nevertheless, Taehyung can't help but wonder if Beomgyu will want to talk about him now.
Once again, he's sitting in front of the writer, anxious despite his gentle manners, ready to put up the walls if Jeongguk is brought up.
“It was nice indeed,” Taehyung acknowledges.
“So.” Beomgyu shifts back in his chair. “Your new album just came out. Acclaimed by both the critique and the fans... It has been a long wait since the last one... I think three years?”
“Yeah, just over three years.”
“I understand the fans had a lot to say about that…”
Taehyung chuckles. “Yeah, they did. They're always eager, and I'm grateful for their patience. It took me a while after my first album to feel ready for the second one. Actually, when we met last time, I'd been working on a lot of new songs, and I thought the album would be out sooner, but it didn't go that way.”
“I was eager, too…” Beomgyu smiles. “I hope you remember that I’m a big fan.”
Taehyung bows his head, smiling. He feels shy at the praise and relieved that Beomgyu is treating him the same as last time.
“And an even bigger fan of this album... I hear a big difference from your previous work, which I wasn't expecting, but it suits you…”
It's music talk, real music talk. Taehyung can handle this. “Thanks.”
It’s Jeongguk that changed everything.
Before that interview, before Jeongguk's return, Taehyung had several songs under works or practically finished. With Jeongguk by his side, they lost all meaning. Taehyung couldn't see himself in them any longer. He archived them and started again. Jeongguk reawakened profound feelings and brought on new, overwhelming emotions. Taehyung needed, wanted, had to find words, images, melodies to express them.
Within six months of them being back together, he had twenty songs done. Not all of them ended up in the album. More were written, more were archived. It took time to decide which ones to include, how to tell their story. He went slow, building the album as Jeongguk and him rebuilt their relationship.
Two years later, the album was his proudest work and Jeongguk his everything. Partner through and through, his greatest inspiration.
“The melancholy you carried with so much grace through the lyrics and the music, that I thought of as your essence, is still there but it's overpowered by a new feeling... The beat is faster and more pronounced. There's more production. It sounds happier… Or maybe the melancholy is just as present, but it's interpreted differently... It's more romantic... I haven't quite decided yet... I would like to understand how you feel about this, how you see this body of work.”
Taehyung nods. “I think it's a bit of both, really... It's certainly happier music, much happier, and it certainly comes from romance, or maybe a better word for it is love…”
Beomgyu has very detailed questions, just like the first time. He presents his analyses to Taehyung, wanting to discuss them. He interrogates Taehyung on the song order and the lyrics, the melodies and the music videos and the features. He listens carefully as Taehyung explains his process, the images he wanted to depict, the feelings he wanted to express.
Taehyung is careful when he mentions his inspiration, naming the emotions but never personifying them. It's the only instance where he remains guarded. For most of the conversation, he talks freely, content to discuss his and his team's work, to share and praise their efforts.
It's a long interview, but it flows comfortably and goes by quickly. Taehyung doesn't realise the hour is nearly over until Beomgyu points it out.
“As I see the PD waving over there, I think our time is nearly up. Before I let you go, I feel I need to ask you…” Beomgyu smiles, mouth twisting. “And please tell me if it's not something you want to discuss… But I've been wondering, the way the melancholy has morphed... Is the inspiration still that same person?”
Taehyung hesitates. This is the question he feared.
He glances behind Beomgyu, to the edges of the room, where Jeongguk and the others are standing.
Jeongguk's lips are parted, as if they got interrupted on an exhale, as if they got stuck while forming an O. His eyes widen when he meets Taehyung’s gaze, and he stills.
Taehyung can't stop the smile pulling at the edges of his lips. He can't stop the love that expands in him.
His brave, beautiful Jeongguk, who came to find him, to say sorry, who fought his fears and his insecurities to stand by him, who strives to be kind and to be better, who ignores everybody's awful opinions, who gives him all his trust and love. Still so afraid of being called Taehyung's inspiration. Still so shy about Taehyung’s devotion.
Sometimes Taehyung wishes he could do more to express his love, show his adoration, than writing songs about him. Songs are not enough to contain and reflect all that Jeongguk means to him, not in the least. But he hasn't found a better way yet.
“Yes,” Taehyung confirms, gaze focusing on Beomgyu again. “Yes,” he repeats with a smile.
Beomgyu's answering beam is huge and genuine. It says he already knew the answer. It says he understands. It says he's happy about it. His reply confirms it. He recalls Taehyung's past words. “The memory you don't mess with.”
Taheyung looks back to Jeongguk. He looks straight into those big, wonderful eyes.
“The love of my life.”