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Junghyun’s obsession was seriously getting out of hand. Hwarang wasn’t even that good of a show. And while Jungkook’s brother insisted he was watching it to admire the “pretty noonas”, Jungkook was positive he saw tears when Ah Ro jumped in front of that arrow.
“You know they’re probably assholes right?” Jungkook crossed his arms over his chest. Junghyun had stolen the television again and Jungkook was a little more than put off by it. His brother was watching Hwarang again, like always (and seriously, how many times can a person watch a show?).
“You don’t know that,” Junghyun said in defence. He didn’t even turn from the television. It was at the scene where the Hwarang were being initiated. “Kim Taehyung is an angel.”
Jungkook huffed. “Whatever,” he grumbled. “It’s not like you or I will ever meet him.”
Jungkook would later eat his own words.
//
It was early-- too early honestly-- and Jungkook was still trying to wake up. He’d been nursing a coffee for the past twenty minutes, lazily staring at the empty booth in front of him. Or-- previously empty. He’d blinked and it seemed like a man had materialized in front of him.
“Act like you’re talking to me.” The man had taken a hat off his head along with a pair of sunglasses, but he kept a mask high over his mouth and nose. His eyes matched the colour of his hair which matched the colour of Jungkook’s creamer-free coffee.
Jungkook blinked again, eyebrow raised. “Huh?”
The man sighed, his whole body sagging for a moment before he was sitting up again, elbows propped on the table. “Please, help a guy out. Acting isn’t that hard. Come on, you’ve known me for years but we haven’t talked in awhile and we’re just now meeting up for coffee after a long time.”
“But I don’t know you,” Jungkook argued. He was definitely more awake now.
“Exactly,” the man implored, looking out the window. He kept doing that, Jungkook noticed. “But I just set the scene, so we can continue it, yeah?”
Jungkook narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side. He mirrored the man by leaning forward and setting his arms on the table. The man looked familiar, but not in a ‘We went to school together’ way; more of a ‘I’ve seen you so many times at the grocery store that I recognize you’. His eyes were a certain almond shape and his voice was deep and soulful. Jungkook felt like he was experiencing déjà vu in some 4th dimension.
The man looked outside again, the flash of worry visible in his eyes. He must have seen something because he quickly lowered his head, digging his hands into his pockets as if he were searching for something. Jungkook looked out as well, for there must have been something interesting. But all he saw were two people-- a middle-aged man and a younger woman-- walk down the street, past the cafe, and around the corner.
The man sitting opposite him sighed, long and exasperated, in what sounded like relief. Jungkook opened his mouth, questions on the tip of his tongue, but the man was pulling off his face mask and Jungkook’s teeth clicked together as he paled.
Kim Taehyung sat in front of him. The Kim Taehyung.
The look on his face must have been something the actor was used to because he scoffed and gave Jungkook a pointed stare. “I’m not signing your body or anything,” he drawled.
It was Jungkook’s turn to scoff. He was gaining his composure rapidly fast. “I don’t want an autograph from you,” he said lowly. “Although my brother would be tripping over himself right now.”
Kim Taehyung looked taken aback-- almost offended-- by his lackadaisical response. The star sat back. “You know who I am then?”
Jungkook sighed and grumbled, “Everyone in Busan knows who you are. Doesn't mean they have to like you.”
Taehyung sat forward again. “I thought you’d be ecstatic,” he admitted. “You could make a lot of money by at least selling my autograph.”
Jungkook shook his head. “I thought you’d be at least a little less arrogant. Are all idols like this or are you special because you’re not even the main character in anything?”
Taehyung bristled slightly. “You don’t like me?”
“What gave it away?” Jungkook was so far beyond this. All he wanted was to enjoy his coffee in peace and yet now this idol was here and the second the barista behind the counter looked away from her phone long enough to recognize him, the fans would swarm like bees. “Not that I find it in myself to care,” Jungkook continued. “But what are you doing hiding out in a coffee shop?”
Taehyung pursed his lips. “It’s my managers,” he admitted after a moment. “You can’t let this leak to the tabloids, savvy? They never give me a break. I swear they would sleep in my bed with me if they could. I just need a holiday.” He buried his face in his hands. "Just one day. One day of--" He perked up. "I could hang out with you for the day. Inconspicuous guy like you, no one would look twice."
Jungkook's brows furrowed. "Inconspicuous?" He echoed. “The hell does that--”
But Taehyung was talking over him. “You could take me to some of your favorite places. Maybe even introduce me to your brother.”
“You don’t even know my name. And I don’t like you,” Jungkook pointed out. “Why should I?”
“Out of the goodness of your heart?”
Jungkook was unimpressed.
“I’ll pay for your coffee and anything else you may want today.”
Jungkook sighed. If this idol wanted to follow him around like a puppy, then he was welcome to, but he wasn’t going out of his way for him. "My name is Jungkook,” he grumbled. “I have classes until noon. You'll have to find someway to occupy yourself until then."
Taehyung's grin grew. "You're a true savior, even if you don't like me-- that's just one small fault." He began pulling his face mask on and Jungkook slowly finished his coffee, making a point of drawing it out. Taehyung fished his wallet out of his pocket (and Jungkook almost laughed. It was decorated with Eevees) and set a wad of notes on the table.
Jungkook stood and stretched, grabbing his bag from the booth. He slung it over his chest as Taehyung pulled on his hat. They exited the store and while Jungkook refused to look at him, he had to ask, "What exactly are you planning to do for 5 hours anyway?"
Taehyung shrugged. "Probably hang out in the bathroom or something."
Jungkook paused. "You'd rather spend 5 hours in the bathroom than let your managers find you?"
Taehyung snickered. "Well, I get to hang out with you afterwards don't I?" How was he so chipper this early in the morning? They continued walking.
//
Jungkook’s classes went by faster than they’d ever gone before. He didn’t think his professors had ever talked so quick before. Who’d spiked all their drinks with energy shots?
Jungkook didn’t know if he was exhausted or relieved as he was dismissed from his last class. He filed out of the lecture hall behind his peers, head bowed, lost in the thoughts of what he’d need done before the next lecture. He almost didn’t notice the obvious gawking. Or, maybe it wasn’t gawking, maybe more of disgusted glances shot as people stepped out of their way to avoid him. Him being Taehyung, who leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, legs sticking out into the hallway. He’d taken his hat off but kept his mask and sunglasses on.
Jungkook scowled. “What are you, blind?” He stopped just short of the idol. The girl behind him almost walked over him-- Jesus, how small was this corridor? “No one wears sunglasses indoors unless they’re trying to hide,” he hissed, reaching for the frames.
Taehyung swatted his hands away. “Why?” He said affronted. “I look good in them. They’re Guchi, mind you. Top class. You might break them.”
Jungkook stared at him, mouth slack. He adjusted the strap on his bag and walked on. Taehyung waited only a moment before realizing Jungkook wasn’t going to react. “Hey, wait up!” He caught up as Jungkook pushed out of the front doors. He was still as chipper as he was earlier, it seemed. “Where are we going now?”
“My home,” Jungkook replied boredly. “I’m not lugging my school bag around all day,” he went on to explain, even though Taehyung didn’t deserve an explanation.
“Exciting,” Taehyung said with a little wiggle of his shoulders and Jungkook’s lips twisted.
After a few moments of walking, Jungkook found it in himself to ask, “How were your 5 hours in the bathroom?”
Taehyung snickered. “Not too bad. They weren’t as nasty as you’d think they'd be. And only one guy came in to pee.” Jungkook let it drop at that. Gross.
From the looks of it, Jungkook's parents were out, but his brother's bike was still tied up. Jungkook suppressed the urge to groan.
“You stay here,” Jungkook murmured lowly, reaching out to press a hand into Taehyung's shoulder, thinking better of it, and letting his hand drop.
The idol frowned. “Why? You said you were going to show me your daily walk through.”
“I said no such thing,” Jungkook said in agitation. “You’ll stay here.”
Taehyung's grin stayed in place. “I’m just going to follow you inside anyway,” he said smugly.
Jungkook didn’t suppress his groan this time. Great.
While shooting daggers at Taehyung, Jungkook fished his keys from his bag and fit them into the lock. “I’m dropping my bag off and then we’re leaving. Got it?”
The house was silent as Jungkook padded in. Maybe Junghyun was asleep or too absorbed in whatever he was doing to notice his little brother. Jungkook kicked his shoes off and crept his way to his room. Taehyung showed no such respect. He stood for a moment in the foyer, looking around. “You have a small house,” he finally commented.
Jungkook bristled. “I’m sorry it’s not as big as your likings.”
“No-- I didn’t mean that. I just meant-- It’s nice. Cosy.”
Jungkook huffed. True to his predictions, Junghyun was in his room, completely engrossed in a comic book.
Jungkook dropped his bag in his own room and changed out of his school uniform. He paused on his way back out, hand on the doorway of Junghyun's room. "You alright?"
Junghyun nodded, flipping the page of his book lazily. "Do you have a friend or something over? I heard talking."
Jungkook sighed. "I don't know if I'd consider him a friend--"
"Nonsense, we're BFFs for life now." Taehyung had followed him apparently. He now stood with an arm slung around the younger's shoulders. His face mask and sunglasses were taken off.
Junghyun looked like he was about to piss himself. His eyes widened and his mouth opened. If he were a little less mature, Jungkook probably would have heard a squeal from him.
Now, this reaction was one Taehyung was used to. One glance at his face showed the smug, self-righteous smirk of a man who knew he had a person ensnared. "You must be Jungkook's brother. It really is a pleasure to meet you." He bowed low and formally, arm sweeping out for dramatics. Junghyun looked like he'd transcended to another level. His mouth gaped like a fish and he almost tripped as he stood on wobbly legs. The comic book slid to the floor. Jungkook feared his brother was going to kneel over at any moment. He began to lean forward and Jungkook stepped forward, but realized he was only bowing. A full-out, 90 degree bend.
“It is an honor to meet you!”
Jungkook groaned again. This was embarrassing. He pulled himself out of Taehyung’s hold and roughly straightened his brother up. “Get a hold of yourself,” he hissed. “It’s not like he’s royalty.”
Junghyun opened his mouth.
“No, he plays a damn Hwarang, that doesn't make him an actual one,” Jungkook spat.
There was a hand on his shoulder. “It’s alright. He’d just a fan, nothing wrong with that.” Taehyung flashed a blinding smile and Jungkook scowled. Junghyun looked in love.
At his brother’s request, Taehyung signed a dozen odd artifacts and probably would have given Junghyun a sock if Jungkook hadn’t intervened. Taehyung had asked for a tour of the city after all, and Junghyun had classes soon.
So, Jungkook and Taehyung took their leave, Taehyung glowing. Jungkook watched him out of the corner of his eye as they took to the streets. “You really love attention don’t you?”
Taehyung had pulled his hat and mask back on, opting to keep his sunglasses folded over the collar of his shirt. “Everyone likes a little attention don’t they?”
“Don’t get all philosophical with me,” Jungkook warned.
Taehyung snickered. “Of course I love the attention. Having die-hard fans is one of the best bits about being famous. They’re fun to be around and I love to spoil them. And yes there are some creepy ones but,” Taehyung shrugged. “Have you ever read fanfiction? There are artists, I tell you. There was this one--”
Time to change the subject. “What about haters?”
Taehyung paused. “As long as I don’t take their comments too seriously and as long as they aren’t threatening to kill me or something, then I guess I don’t really have a problem.
“Wait you’ve gotten death threats?”
“Of course I have,” Taehyung said in a disturbing nonchalant way. “Believe it or not, some people dislike me more than you.”
This was news to Jungkook. Call him sheltered by Junghyun’s enamourment, but he’d never realized the severity of people’s hate, and he himself didn’t like Taehyung. Now, he saw him a bit different.
But already Taehyung was trying to lift the mood. “It’s lunch time isn’t it?” He nudged Jungkook. “Where to now, oh host?”
“Do you use little nicknames for everyone?” Jungkook inquired as he turned onto a smaller street. “Or am I special for some reason?” He was taking them to a tucked away Mediterranean sub-shop. It’s unpopularity was part of it’s charm, the lack of a crowd equating to better service.
Taehyung trailed behind him down the alley. "I don't exactly know if you're special. But I am trying to get you to like me so maybe I’m acting cute.” Jungkook could hear he wink that followed his words. He surprised himself by not rolling his eyes,
As always, the shop only held a small number of patrons. Taehyung took time to look over the menu but Jungkook already knew what he wanted. A young waitress took their order with a smile. Taehyung tried to flirt with her, but with his face mask still on, the charisma was lost. Jungkook surprised himself again by not laughing at his misfortune.
They had a nice lunch over all, with Taehyung expressing genuine surprise that such a small, unknown place could make such good food. Jungkook then berated him for being so quick to judge.
They went on with their day. Taehyung, as it turned out, loved window shopping. He pointed out each and every pretty article of clothing he liked. They stopped to pet every dog Taehyung saw (and even took a selfie with one of them). Jungkook took him to a music store he liked to frequent, showing him the newest album of a rapper he admired-- out in hardcopy (and of course Taehyung snickered at the name. Oh come on, Agust D? Sounds like a pornstar’s name.). They walked past a dance studio and Jungkook told Taehyung about his friend, Jimin, who practically lived in the studio.
“I love dance,” Taehyung said dreamily. “In Hwarang we had to perform a dance. True to his character, Seo joon hyung is a terrible dancer. But I remember having the most fun filming that part.”
“What’s it like watching yourself on screen?” Jungkook asked as they walked on. “I’ve always wondered. Do you like watching yourself?”
Taehyung thought for a moment. “I like watching the emotional scenes,” he said with a chuckle. "Is that weird? I enjoy seeing how well I express the mood."
"Is it hard making yourself sad?"
"Yeah," Taehyung said softly. "If I know we're filming an angsty scene, it'll take me all morning to work myself into a mood." Bowing his head, Jungkook could see the sad smile in his eyes. "Afterwards. I have to go home for the day because I'm so worked up that I'll cry over insignificant things. But that's alright." His spirit was back and radiant as ever. "It's part of the job, I guess. Lighten up!" He said, noticing Jungkook's frown. "I really do love what I do."
Jungkook nodded, but said nothing.
They passed more stores and more dogs and Taehyung took photos like he was a tourist or something. At some point or another, Taehyung had taken hold of Jungkook's hand and Jungkook didn't try to pull away.
Eventually, they ended up at a docile little park. There were a few kids running around and a younger man was taking photographs of the blooming trees. Jungkook nestled down under the canopy of a few broadleaf trees and Taehyung was pulled down with him. (He still hadn't let go of his hand.)
"I come here to study sometimes," Jungkook explained. "It's serene and peaceful and around this time, the honeysuckles start blooming and it smells nice."
"It's beautiful," Taehyung agreed. He reached up to pull his face mask off.
Jungkook watched the little kids play for a while before his eyes fell to their intertwined fingers. "You haven't let go of my hand," he pointed out.
"Yes I know," Taehyung retaliated. "I like it."
"You like holding my hand?"
"Mmm, yes," Taehyung hummed. "I never get to hold a boy's hand."
Jungkook's brows furrowed.
Taehyung saw his confusion and hummed again. "You know, I don't really get to be in a relationship period as an actor and all. It's terrible. But I specifically don't get to be in a relationship because I'm gay."
The way he said it so casually made Jungkook stare.
Taehyung looked down with a sad, non-humorous laugh. "I know right? It's gross I--"
"No, it's not gross." Jungkook was quick to cut him off, turning so that he could look at the man fully. "I'm gay, too. I mean-- I know how you feel, having to hide. You must have it way worse, but-- There's never any representation in the media. That's-- even if you can't be open about it, that brings some closure." Was closure the right word? Taehyung looked up at him and Jungkook sighed. "I just mean that it's nice to know that there are famous people like me. It's-- nice to know you're human."
Taehyung blinked and broke into a grin. "You didn't think I was human?" He had gotten inexplicably closer to Jungkook.
"I thought you were a washed-out, B rated actor who thought too much of himself."
"And what do you think of me now?"
Jungkook didn't back away. Their close proximity brought a blush to Jungkook's face. "I-- I think you're a lot like me. More so than I'd like to admit."
Taehyung grinned softly, eyelashes fluttering as he blinked. "What else?" He murmured. Jungkook could feel his breath on his own skin.
He shook his head. "You make me so confused. Before today, I hated your guts." Jungkook closed his eyes; he couldn't look into those coffee depths anymore. "Now I don't know how to feel. I think I like you. I--" His words were cut off as Taehyung's lips met his. Jungkook's eyes snapped open. Taehyung's eyes were closed, shadows on his cheeks. His head was tilted to the side; his lips were soft and their pressure was just as soft.
Jungkook's heart was beating too fast. Kim Taehyung was kissing him. The Kim Taehyung. He stared into Taehyung's face, mouth unmoving. But soon enough, his hands were shaking and he brought them up to grib at Taehyung's forearms. His eyes fell closed again and Taehyung grinned. He pulled back all too soon.
Jungkook’s eyes opened but they were glossy. He licked his own lips-- they tasted like lip balm. “You kissed me,” he stated.
“Yes I did.”
Jungkook rubbed his lips together and met Taehyung’s eyes. He looked nervous, like he’d done the wrong thing. At the same, paradoxical way, he was beaming with confidence. Jungkook shook his head, but mirrored Taehyung’s grin despite himself. “You’re infectious, you know that right?”
“So I’ve been told. But I am famous.” He whipped his head to the side and Jungkook laughed.
“I still don’t like you,” Jungkook mumbled.
“No,” Taehyung said, propping his head on his hand. “You love me.”