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Jeongguk had often been told he had an addictive personality, finding something new to invest in and spending all his money and time on it. He always scoffed, shaking off the accusations whenever his hyungs tried to point it out to him, but with this latest obsession, it seemed like maybe- just maybe- the hyungs had a point.
“You’ve seen that movie fifteen times in the last week, kid,” Yoongi groaned, slumping over Jeongguk’s shoulders and peering at Jeongguk’s laptop screen. “Why are you so obsessed with it?”
Jeongguk shrugged his hyung off, eyes focused on the film in front of him. “Because Kim Taehyung is a genius,” he breathed reverently.
Yoongi squinted at the screen and the admittedly handsome man on it, before shrugging. “He’s cute, but I don’t know if I’d call him a genius, kid. Min Suga, that’s the real genius.”
Jeongguk snorted, eyes flitting to his hyung before back to his laptop screen. “You’re a musical genius,” he said. “Taehyung is handsome, but he’s an artistic god. He directed this whole movie, and the way everything is filmed, the filters, the mis-en-scene, the camera angles and shots… it’s pure art, hyung.”
Yoongi shook his head. “Whatever, kid,” he said, ruffling Jeongguk’s hair affectionately. “Drool over your ‘artistic god’ later, and get ready to go out. Hyung wants lamb skewers, and you haven’t been outside in days. You need a shower.”
Jeongguk paused his movie and grinned up at Yoongi cheekily. “Lamb skewers? Does hyung want to treat his favourite dongsaeng?”
Yoongi groaned and closed his eyes, but sighed in resignation. “Fine. Just don’t eat too much, okay? I still have to buy this week’s groceries.”
Jeongguk shut his laptop and jumped over the back of the couch, scrambling to his room to get ready. “It’s all going in my stomach anyway!”
Yoongi smiled fondly, laughing at the thudding sounds of Jeongguk falling over his messy clothes in his excitement. “Brat.”
----
“Hobi, for the last time,” Namjoon groaned, glaring at the laughing Jeongguk and Yoongi over the table. “Aliens exist, there’s literally no logical way they don’t. Do you seriously think the only life in the whole universe is here on Earth?”
Hoseok waved his hand at Namjoon. “I’m just saying, we’ve never seen them. I don’t believe in things I can’t see.”
“And yet you believe in ghosts,” Namjoon said drily.
“Hey, ghosts are real! I saw Paranormal Activity,” Hoseok huffed, turning to Jeongguk and Yoongi, who were slowly turning purple after witnessing the last fifteen minutes of Namjoon and Hoseok’s debate. “What do you two think?”
Yoongi shook his head. “I’m not getting involved,” he said, wiping his face and tears with a napkin. “What are we doing for the night? Jeongguk’s eaten about all the lamb skewers I can afford, and I’m not taking him home yet. He needs more fresh air.”
“I’m not a dog, hyung,” Jeongguk huffed, but Namjoon and Hoseok grimaced sympathetically. “New obsession?” Hoseok asked, Yoongi nodding tiredly. “It’s not an obsession!” Jeongguk interjected, wilting under the steely gazes of his hyungs, mind flashing to the two all nighters he’d pulled this week just to watch the movie over and over again, even though he’d had class early the next morning. “Okay, maybe it’s a small obsession.”
“I found a really good club last weekend,” Namjoon offered. “Good music, cheap drinks, and the neighbourhood is pretty chill, too. Our drunk asses won’t get mugged again.”
Hoseok and Yoongi nodded, knowing Jeongguk would just follow them, not wanting to risk living with an angry Yoongi. “Sounds good,” Yoongi said. “Let’s go.”
----
The music in the club was loud and pounding, shaking the floor beneath their feet, and Kim Taehyung was supporting a very drunk Park Jimin whilst being too sober to deal with this shit, thank you very much.
“Taetae!” Jimin slurred, clutching Taehyung’s shoulders. “I love you so much, you know that?”
Taehyung huffed a laugh, wrapping his arm firmly around Jimin’s waist and pulling him towards the bar, planning on getting some water into his best friend. “I love you too, Jimin.”
Jimin giggled as he slumped over the bar, the bartender taking one look at him and looking sympathetically at Taehyung before pushing a big glass of water at Jimin. The drunk dancer sipped on the water slowly, his eyes clearing ever so slightly as he looked at his best friend. “You okay, Taetae?”
Taehyung nodded, slinging his arm around Jimin’s shoulder and making sure the boy drank the water. “I’m good,” he said. “Just tired. It’s been a long couple weeks since the film came out, you know that.”
Jimin nodded quickly, his head reminding Tae of a bobble-head doll, making him choke on a laugh. “That’s why I brought you here!” Jimin said. “To celebrate your film with your best friend, and maybe also find you a date. You know you’ve been lonely lately. Yeontan only does so much.”
“And I’m gonna find a date babysitting my drunk best friend in a loud and noisy club?” Taehyung laughed, laying his head on Jimin’s shoulder. “Not your most solid plan, Jiminie.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Jimin pouted. “Maybe I’ll find my own date.”
Taehyung signalled to the bartender to bring him his own drink, deciding to loosen up a little and enjoy this night out- he hadn’t seen Jimin in a long time, so it was good to spend time with him. “Sure you will,” he said, clinking his glass against Jimin’s water before throwing it back, wincing at the burn. “But first, let’s dance.”
----
The club had been fun at first- the hyungs had bought Jeongguk’s drinks, and their loud and noisy antics at the bar had been drowned out by the music thudding through the air. Then Hoseok had dragged Namjoon to the dancefloor, where Namjoon had quickly been snatched by a short guy who had seemed very interested in his dimples, of all things- “they’re so cute, oh my god smile again please they’re adorable!”- before dragging him away with a devilish gleam in his eyes, leaving Hoseok to whine at Yoongi about being alone on the dance floor and Yoongi begrudgingly joining him, ending up Jeongguk all alone in the warm, stuffy air of the club.
Deciding to kill a little of his buzz with some fresh air, he walked out of the club, sending Yoongi a quick text so he wouldn’t get worried. Gulping down the cold air of the night, Jeongguk spotted a little calico cat a little further down the street, rubbing itself against the legs of a bench under a streetlight.
The visual was beautiful, so Jeongguk pulled his camera out of his bag (he was a photography student, he never went anywhere without it, sue him) and took a few pictures, loving the way the light bounced off the cat’s fur and the soft glow of the scene before him. Once he was satisfied with the images he’d captured, he stuffed his camera away and moved towards the cat slowly, crouching down and holding out his hand, smiling as the cat sniffed his hand before rubbing its head against it. “Aren’t you sweet?” Jeongguk chuckled, petting the cat.
Light footsteps echoed behind him, and someone crouched beside Jeongguk, holding out their own hand to the cat, who seemed happy to be getting more attention. Jeongguk looked up to the stranger beside him and stiffened, watching as Kim freaking Taehyung smiled at the cat he was just petting, and holy hell he smelled nice wait Jeongguk don’t be weird what is Kim fucking Taehyung doing there next to him, Jeon Jeongguk what was this oh dear god-
“You alright there?” Taehyung asked, smiling at Jeongguk as the cat moved back to the frozen boy. “I didn’t think I was so horrible to look at.”
Jeongguk unfroze and blinked as the cat rubbed against his leg, shaking his head frantically. “Y-you’re not,” he stammered, attention returning to the cat in an attempt to relax and calm down. “I j-just wasn’t expecting anyone else out here, that’s all.”
Taehyung hummed, smiling softly at the blushing boy. “I’m Taehyung,” he said, offering his hand.
“I know,” Jeongguk blurted, eyes widening and face turning even redder as he realised what he said. “I mean, um- oh god, that sounded really bad, didn’t it- I just meant, I’m a fan- wait, no that sounds bad too-”
Taehyung laughed out loud, cutting off Jeongguk’s nervous rambling. “I’m honoured to have such a cute fan,” Taehyung said, smiling.
“I’m not cute!” Jeongguk spluttered. “I’m Jeongguk.”
“Nice to meet you, Jeongguk,” Taehyung said, pulling his hand back. “So how did you end up on this street at one am on a Friday night, petting this lovely kitty? Sounds like it might be a fun story.”
Jeongguk’s heart started to return to normal, and he shrugged, looking at the cat to try and control his blush. “My hyungs dragged me out for dinner, saying I needed fresh air because I’ve been- haven’t really been outside for the last couple weeks. Then we came here and they ditched me. So now I’m petting this cat.”
Taehyung nodded. “Been too busy for the outside world?” He asked. “I can relate.”
Jeongguk blushed again, not really willing to tell Taehyung he hadn’t been outside because he’d been in his cave watching him for the last two weeks.
“I guess,” Jeongguk mumbled, watching as the cat padded back over to Taehyung. “What about you?” He asked. “What led you to this point tonight?”
“Well, I released a film a couple weeks ago,” Taehyung said, eyes flicking to Jeongguk before looking back at the cat. “My best friend dragged me out, but he ran off with a guy before- left me by myself. So now I’m here with you.”
The cat meowed, and jumped away from them both onto the bench, curling up to sleep, and Jeongguk’s heart got soft watching. He pulled his camera out again, taking some more photos of the now sleeping kitty under the streetlamp’s glow.
“Are you a professional photographer?” Taehyung asked softly. “You really have an eye for it.”
Jeonggukk nodded shyly, holding his camera towards Taehyung (which made him quite happy his hyungs weren’t there- Jeongguk never let anyone touch his camera). “Wanna see?”
Taehyung stood up, knees popping, and held his hand out to Jeongguk, smiling. “Wanna show me over some food?” He offered. “I know a nice diner not too far from here.”
Jeongguk smiled and tucked his camera away, taking Taehyung’s hand. “I’d like that.”
----
“Mrow!”
Taehyung huffed into Jeongguk’s neck, arms tightening around his boyfriend’s waist. “Why’d you close the door?” He mumbled. “Bandit just wants to come in.”
Jeongguk groaned, moving to open the door before collapsing on top of Taehyung, their calico jumping onto his back.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, before Taehyung started prodding Jeongguk’s sides in complaint. “You’re heavy,” he grumbled. Jeongguk rolled to the side, mindful of the cat. “It’s all the food you fed me at the diner.”
Taehyung snorted. “That was a year ago, bun,” he said. “We’ve been dating for a year now. It’s all the food you’ve eaten since.”
“I know,” Jeongguk smiled. “I just like teasing you. You’re cute when you’re exasperated.”
“Cheeseball,” Taehyung muttered.
They laid together for a few moments, until Jeongguk shuffled his feet to the floor and pulled himself up. “I’ll get started on breakfast,” he said, his boyfriend sighing sleepily in response.
Jeongguk stopped at the door and looked back, Taehyung tangled in messy sheets with his face mashed into his pillow, the calico from the street that night (who they’d named Bandit- because he was there when you stole my heart, Jeonggukkie; hyung, really) curled up on the pillow next to him. His heart warmed, and he leaned his head on the doorframe, smiling. His obsession with Tae’s film had ended in the best possible way- he’d met someone who understood him, who loved the things he loved, who fit right in with his friends and brought friends of his own, someone he could spend the rest of his life with.
Jeongguk couldn’t be happier.