Chapter Text
Sunday night came and Jungkook had to go back to the dorms. Jimin was going be back in the morning, and Taehyung thought that he might scare Jungkook.
There would be screaming followed by accusations that Taehyung hid his life from him. Taehyung was sure he would make this about him, and he worried Jungkook could actually be made to feel guilty by Jimin's craziness. It was better to send him off now.
"We could get coffee tomorrow?" Taehyung asked.
"Well, I get my coffee before class, and then I bring it to class. So I don't think so," Jungkook said.
"Oh," Taehyung said. He tried not to let his face fall.
"Unless you wanted to, you know, actually attend class," Jungkook smirked.
"Jerk," Taehyung smiled.
"You corrupted me. I plan on doing the same to you."
Taehyung leaned in and kissed him. "I will see you for coffee before class tomorrow."
"Good. I'll need it. I'm probably going to be in the studio late tonight."
"Why? Did I cut into your practice time?"
"Not much I just—I want to be better than people expect," Jungkook said.
Taehyung knew what he meant. Jennie and company basically said he wasn't good enough. He wanted to prove them wrong. Taehyung knew that this was probably the best direction he could head in.
"I'll help you," Taehyung offered.
"Really? You would actually have to come to the studio on, like, a schedule?"
Taehyung rolled his eyes. "I want to help you. You're my…Jungkook," Taehyung said. He immediately regretted it. It sounded so stupid. They spent a weekend in bed together; that didn't make them boyfriends.
"How about I be your boyfriend?" Jungkook asked as he squeezed Taehyung's hand.
Taehyung felt a wave of relief. "I thought you were supposed to be the good one. Isn't the bad one supposed to be all smooth and suave?"
"I hate to tell you this, Tae, but you're not all that bad." Jungkook kissed Taehyung again. "I should go."
"I'll see you in class tomorrow."
===========
Jungkook didn't like the idea of another person owning him, and Taehyung didn't act like he owned Jungkook. They work really well together, Jungkook thought. Other people, however, seemed to think differently. Jungkook was surprised to find that he didn't hate it.
The first week with Taehyung wasn't great, but he decided he didn't want to flaunt his relationship around campus. He didn't want people in his business, especially not after everyone he trusted turned out to be planning against him.
Then Jennie approached, asking if they could talk.
"I don't really want to hear it, Jennie," Jungkook said. He saw Taehyung from across the student center. He was sitting with Jimin. As soon as Taehyung saw Jennie, he got up.
"Look, think of it as us doing you a favor. You really aren't ready. It's better that you don't embarrass yourself," Jennie said.
"He won't," Taehyung said. "Because he's good."
Jennie raised her eyebrows. "Seriously? You'll listen to Kim Taehyung? How do you know he isn't trying to screw you over?"
"I don't answer to you anymore, Jennie," Jungkook said.
"C'mon, sit with me and Jimin," Taehyung said as he held Jungkook's hand.
When he and Taehyung started walking around campus together hand in hand, no one looked twice at Jungkook. They didn't approach him. They didn't mock him for believing he had friends in upperclassmen. He liked it. But Jennie still had a way of getting to him.
As Taehyung helped him in the studio, Jungkook was getting better. Taehyung was able to tell him all of his tricks and methods. Dancing was like breathing to Taehyung, but Jungkook had to put more effort in. Taehyung was much more patient than Jungkook.
Jungkook took a particularly hard fall during a session. "Here, walk it off, we'll try again."
"No, don't. Just don't."
"I know you're frustrated, Kook, but you can get this."
"Why are you helping me? Wouldn't it be better for you if I stayed on my ass? Isn't that what everyone wants?" Jungkook yelled.
Taehyung stepped back. "Woah, that came out of nowhere."
"Yeah, well…I don't get it, Tae. I don't get why you like me or why you want to help me. This part can be yours if I never figure this out."
"Jungkook, I don't want the part anymore."
"No?"
Taehyung knelt down on the floor next to Jungkook. "Well, not enough to sabotage you. Look, I care about you a lot. I want you to be happy and successful, and I want you to win."
"Win what?"
"Win against the upperclassmen, the people who think they can just play mind games with people to get them to drop out. I want you to prove them wrong. You can. I know you can," Taehyung placed a hand on Jungkook's cheek. "Okay?"
Jungkook nodded. "Sorry, just…"
"I get it. I do, but I need you to push it all out of your head. Let the story we're telling with the dance be all that's in your head, okay? It'll make the moves come easier. I'm going to grab our water."
Jungkook knew he was right. Taehyung was very textbook about the dancing, and he was direct when talking about it. In fact, Jungkook wasn't sure that he ever heard Taehyung say anything good about dance.
"Do you like dancing, Tae?"
"What? Why?" Taehyung asked as he handed Jungkook a water bottle.
"You just—when you talk about dancing, it's not like a dancer. You really don't want that feeling on stage when you land the move and everyone applauds? When the blood rushes through your veins and you feel like you're on top of the world? I just could never give that up, even just an opportunity. It's addictive, that feeling."
"I've never felt that way while dancing. It's kind of like a puzzle for me. I feel accomplished once I get it right, and then I move on."
"Have you ever felt that way?" Jungkook asked.
Taehyung thought for a moment. "I was playing saxophone in my high school's band. And sometimes I was singing too. We did a lot of shows. Even if I was just playing in the back, it was still a rush."
"You should sing to me sometime."
"You should figure out how to keep your weight on the ball of your foot for this move."
Taehyung really disliked going to class. Jungkook liked it, though, and Taehyung decided it was a sacrifice he could make. He even attended his classes without Jungkook.
Hoseok eventually noticed and called him into his office one afternoon. Taehyung assumed it was about his schedule for next semester.
"If this is about switching out of Anderson's class and into Brown's next semester, I don't want to hear it. I'd rather have a lobotomy than sit through another term with that woman's PowerPoint lectures," Taehyung said as he sat down in front of his desk.
"Good afternoon to you too, Taehyung. It's not about that. This is about your performance," Hoseok said.
"What could you possibly have a problem with now? I go to class, I do my homework, I eat three balanced meals and go to bed at ten," Taehyung huffed. Really, the audacity of Jung Hoseok was astounding.
Hoseok smiled. "That's what I mean. You've been doing really well. Why the change?"
Taehyung thought for a moment. He cared about Jungkook. He still didn't care about dance, but Jungkook wanted him to do this.
"It made someone I care about happy," Taehyung answered.
"Well, you should keep them around. Professor Belcourt is sick today, but he wanted me to offer you the lead in the performance."
"What? What about Jungkook?"
"He hasn't been able to land the finale, and Belcourt doesn't want to risk it. You've really proved yourself these last few weeks, Taehyung. I'm really proud of you," Hoseok said.
Taehyung's heart raced. Jungkook couldn't be replaced. He'd been working so hard.
"I won't do it."
"What? Taehyung, if you don't do it, we'll still replace him."
"No, just—don't do that to him. I'll understudy him. If he really isn't ready opening night, I'll step in."
"You know that by understudying, you're giving up your part in ensemble? If Jungkook performs, you won't be in at all."
"I don't care. Look, I'll work with Jungkook. He'll nail the finale, I promise," Taehyung said. Taehyung realized he didn't care about dance at all. He honestly felt nothing as he turned down one of the best parts of the entire year.
"You know, I've never had this happen before. Even when we know that the two are friends, the replacement is always willing to risk their friendship…you must like Jungkook a hell of a lot."
"I love him," Taehyung said quietly.
Hoseok looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Good luck, Kim."
========
Taehyung got intense when he focused. Jungkook was adjusting to this, but it took some compartmentalizing. He had to separate Taehyung the Dance Tutor from Taehyung the Boyfriend. Taehyung the Dance Tutor was demanding, but he helped. He pinpointed everything Jungkook needed to work on and focused on it.
He did a lot of cross training. Running and gymnastics were part of his daily routine now, but at least Taehyung worked with him on them. He didn't mind running when it meant Taehyung would wear those tiny shorts that he liked.
Jungkook was happy that Taehyung guided him like this. However, Taehyung never told him why.
"You've almost got this down, Jungkook," Professor Belcourt noted.
"Yeah, Taehyung's been helping me a lot."
"Strange. Usually our understudies turn against the person who was first cast. I'm glad Taehyung decided to break that particular mold."
"What?"
"Taehyung. We won't have to call him in as your understudy, at least I don't think so. It appears you'll be just fine by Friday. Ah, it appears we're out of time. Good work, Jungkook. Keep it up."
"Thanks," Jungkook said as he stood in confusion.
Why was Taehyung his understudy? Was he actually trying to set him up? Was Taehyung going to do something opening night? Was he doing some twisted repeat of his own history?
========
He went to Taehyung's apartment, where they had planned to meet for dinner while Jimin had a late class.
"Hey!" Taehyung greeted Jungkook with a hug.
"Hi," Jungkook said.
"I've got pork in the oven since it Jimin's night away. Apparently, pig products are not kosher. More excitingly, I've got happy news."
"Kay," Jungkook said flatly.
"You okay?" Taehyung asked.
"Not really, Taehyung. You see, I was just told that my understudy changed a few weeks back," Jungkook said calmly.
"Jungkook—"
"And apparently my boyfriend is my understudy, which is super weird. Why is it weird?" Jungkook's voice started to get louder. "Well, he's been helping me prepare for the part, which is super nice. But now I don't know if he's actually helping me or sabotaging me."
"Jungkook, I wouldn't—"
"Wouldn't what? You kept this a secret from me, Taehyung. You clearly didn't want me to know."
Taehyung slammed a fist on the countertop. "Because I didn't want you to worry! I didn't want you to think you weren't good enough! You get so frustrated with yourself, and you let it get in the way of your dancing. Telling you would have made it harder for you."
Jungkook felt his face redden as he got angrier. "So what? This was you protecting me?"
"Kind of, maybe? I just wanted you to be in a positive headspace. I believe in you, Jungkook. I know you can do this."
"Yeah? Then why not tell me that? Why not tell me that you're my understudy, and I shouldn't worry?"
"Jungkook, you're making a huge deal out of this."
"Because it is a huge deal, Tae! This is exactly what happened to you last year."
Taehyung's voice dropped lower as his eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare compare me to him. You have no idea what I went through. I would never—"
"Are you sure? Because this part was supposed to be yours, Tae. I hear people talk. I know Belcourt wanted you. But I'm here instead. You wanted to kill me earlier this semester."
"That was before I knew you, Kook."
They're silent for a moment. "I think I need space," Jungkook said.
Jungkook saw the tears form in Taehyung's eyes. "Jungkook, I'm sorry—"
"No, don't. Just, can we take a breather? Until after the performance? We'll see where we are when the semester ends."
Taehyung wiped away the tears that had started to fall down his face. "Y-Yeah, we can do that."
===========
Jungkook performed a week later. It had been a hellacious week, working on the finishing touches without Taehyung and dealing with their 'break.' He'd gotten through it, though; he'd been able to pull it together for the performance. His brother and his parents even came out from Korea to see him. They kept him occupied to look for Taehyung after the performance.
Jungkook hated himself just a little for thinking that Taehyung was trying to sabotage him. He found flowers for him from Taehyung backstage. There was just a simple note that said, "Good luck. –Tae" with a dozen blue roses. Jungkook knew he screwed up. He let the paranoia get to him.
After he sent his family off to their hotel, he headed to the after party. It was in some karaoke bar a few blocks away. He spotted Taehyung as soon as he walked in. He was sitting at a table with Jimin and a guy he doesn't know. But with an arm thrown over Jimin's shoulders, Jungkook guessed it was probably his boyfriend Yoongi. Jungkook decided not to approach them. He knew a better way.
No one was participating in a karaoke, which Jungkook expected. They would need to be much drunker for that. He got up on stage and talked to the band. They knew the song he wanted, thankfully.
"Hey guys," Jungkook said. He received a nice round of hollering and applause. "Thank you guys so much. Tonight was really amazing, and I hope you all have a wonderful time celebrating. None of this would have been possible without the one and only Kim Taehyung. So right now, I'm going to dedicate a song to him."
=======
Well, this wasn't the way Taehyung saw this going. He had been hoping Jungkook would come and talk to him during the party so they could sort things out. He didn't even know Jungkook could sing.
Taehyung gasped as the opening notes to Troye Sivan's Fools played.
"Oh, our lives don’t collide, I’m aware of this
We've got differences and impulses and your obsession with
The little things you like stick, and I like aerosol
I don’t give a fuck, I'm not giving up, I still want it all"
Taehyung remembered the first time Jungkook handed him that album. He couldn't stop listening to it for weeks.
"Only fools fall for you, only fools
Only fools do what I do, only fools fall"
Taehyung smiled as Jungkook serenaded him. It wasn't really necessary. He would have been paranoid about everything too. He enjoyed himself, though. He was glad Jimin was getting this on his phone because he wanted to have this performance to watch over and over.
As Jungkook finished the song, he received some well-deserved applause before heading straight to Taehyung.
"Jimin, Yoongi, give us a few."
Jimin frowned. "You guys never let me hang out with you," before taking Yoongi's hand and leave.
"I'm sorry," Jungkook said.
"It's okay. I mean, I was hurt, but I understood. I get it. Hell, I went through it so I definitely get it. I'm sorry too. I should've been upfront about everything," Taehyung said.
"No, I overreacted."
"Maybe you did, but not without reason. I'm not mad at you, Jungkook. I think a breather was good. It let me focus on me."
"So we're good?" Jungkook asked.
Taehyung reached across the table and kissed him. "We're good," Taehyung said.
"So what did you do with your 'me time' this week?" Jungkook asked.
"I transferred schools," Taehyung said casually.
"What?! Taehyung, no, were you leaving because of me? I won't overreact again. I swear I—"
"Calm down," Taehyung laughed. "I won't be going far. I just transferred from The School of Dance to The School of Music."
"Really? I mean, congratulations! I'm so proud of you, but why switch?"
"You know how you explained to me how dance made you feel once? I realized that I don't feel a damn thing when I dance. I'm supposed to be an artist, but there isn't any feeling behind what I'm doing. I came here for dance because I was offered a full scholarship, and I didn't know if I'd ever get an offer as good from a music school. I didn't want my parents to worry about tuition."
"So what changed? I know you still worry about your parents worrying more than anything else in the world," Jungkook smiled.
"Well, you changed everything. You made me realize that I have to at least give my dreams a chance. I don't want to live my life without ever feeling that exhilarating performance feeling again. So I figured, if worse came to worst, I would double major to keep my scholarship."
"Oh god, you're going to do two Juilliard programs? We're going to need an espresso machine. This is going to require so much caffeine."
Taehyung laughed. "You know, it turns out that they really liked i'm a baritone, and Juilliard was willing to offer a scholarship. It isn't full tuition, but it's enough. I can drop dance and study music."
"Tae!" Jungkook jumped out of his seat and hugged him. "That's so great."
Taehyungt's heartbeat sped up, but he knew it was time to say it. "I love you," Taehyung said in his ear.
"I love you too," Jungkook said without any hesitation.
Taehyung laughed. He shouldn't have been nervous at all. "What's so funny?" Jungkook asked.
"I'm just happy…I haven't been this happy in a really long time."
"I'm glad. I want you to be happy. I want to make you happy."
"You do. Every day."
"You know what would make us both happy?"
"What?"
"Getting panda express and going back to your apartment."
"Food and sex is indeed the way to my heart," Taehyung chuckled. "But you have to talk to your adoring public first."
Jungkook rolled his eyes. "I'm making a quick round and then we're getting food."
Taehyung laughed as he watched his boyfriend get up to talk to people. Jimin quickly returned to take his place. "Details. I want to know everything."
Taehyung could go into details, but the details weren't all that important. "We're happy," he said simply.
"My, my. Jeon Jungkook made Kim Taehyung go soft."
"Oh, trust me, he makes me anything but soft."
"Tae!"
"By the way, can you sleep at Yoongi's place tonight so I can have reunion sex?"
"Kim Taehyung!" Jimin laughed as he lightly smacked his arm. Then his voice softened. "I mean it though. You're different. I like it, but Jeon Jungkook definitely made you different very quickly."
"Jeon Jungkook made me happy," Taehyung said. "And that's a very good feeling."