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“Ohhh close that door properly. Quick! Taehyung is coming!”
Taehyung hears the members say as he heaves his luggage up the stairs. As much as he wanted to bring them up earlier he could not, he still has to play a guessing game of sort to decide where he'll room in during his stay in the island.
“Everyone! Taehyung is coming. Have you closed all the doors?” The producer reminds the members as Taehyung lifts his luggage up the last step.
“Woooowww! Van Gogh! It's Van Gogh!" Taehyung exclaims as he sees little replicas of the paintings of one of his favorite artists, momentarily forgetting about everything else as he breaks into his signature boxy smile while examining the pictures.
"Taehyung, come inside! Choose the room you like." Namjoon calls him, reminding Taehyung of the task at hand.
"Wow! There is Van Gogh and..."
Taehyung starts to excitedly tell his members as he pushes open the door to their accomodation but he is unable to finish his sentence as the members are talking over each other, trying to give him advice on which room to choose.
"This is a bathroom. You can choose from these three."
Amid the chatter, that is actually the only advice that makes sense to Taehyung as the members agreed not to give him any more useful hint than what they have already shared during lunch earlier.
He climbs up the stairs to check on the second floor first while the members wait by the couch, glancing and smiling at each other in silent communication.
"Once you open the door, there’s no turning back." Jimin says as he watches Taehyung, oblivious to all the quiet exchanges around him.
Feeling a bit sly, Taehyung tries to peep through the glass panels on the door hoping to get any clue about the room's occupants.
"That’s not fair. You can’t look inside." Jimin lightly reprimands Taehyung as he sees the other try to take a peek.
“This one isn’t Jimin's,” Taehyung declares and proceeds to go down the stairs.
"You want to share a room with me?" Jimin cheekily points at him as he gets back to the living area, not at all surprised at Taehyung's preference.
"I want to room together with you," Taehyung points back at him, mirroring Jimin's smile and action.
"Do you want to share a room with me?" Laughing, Jimin confirms again and Taehyung nods with no hesitation.
The rest of the members are now used to the duo often getting lost in their own bubble that they all just silently endure the tableau while hoping that the two will soon remember that there's a whole world outside.
"Then, go in there." Jimin vaguely points to the room on the second floor, breaking out into a grin and eyes crinkling into crescent moons.
"There?" Taehyung points at the same spot Jimin indicated, eyes filled with confusion.
"Yeah," Jimin simply confirms.
"Jimin, is it here?" Taehyung once again tries to confirm that the room Jimin has been pointing at is indeed his room. He's been upstairs and has assessed that it's not Jimin's room and now he's telling him that's where he's indeed staying?
"Yeah, it’s mine."
Jimin answers while laughing. Taehyung loves Jimin's laughs. He adores how his eyes crinkle into crescent moons and how his whole face brightens up, putting the sun to shame. Any other day he would bask in it but not today. As much as Taehyung loves Jimin's laughs, he's really about to squish Jimin's face to stop him from laughing because he needs straight answers now, to hell with guessing game.
After the long flight and the day's flurry of activities, he's practically about to fall on his feet and yes, he's serious! He wants to room with Jimin! He has said so multiple times already. It's been three days without him - three long and gloomy days and he needs his fill of Jimin now more than ever.
Taehyung loves... loves Jimin but he's really a hair's breadth away from getting mad and throwing a fit. He exhales a sigh as he reminds himself that he's a level-headed adult and decides to seek out the other members instead.
"Namjoon hyung, where’s your room? As far as I know, Namjoon hyung is sharing the room with Hoseok hyung."
Namjoon and Hoseok stare at each other, perplexed at how Taehyung is able to come up with that conclusion. Namjoon immediately denies it while Hoseok uses Jimin’s tactic of just laughing it off.
"Hurry up! I want to take a shower." Seokjin tells Taehyung as the eldest finally runs out of patience. Summer in Malta is scorching and he can feel his sweat clogging every pore of his skin and he's been itching to wash it off since they got back. He can't believe how this supposedly simple game has taken a serious and long-suffering turn.
"Jin-ssi is boring as usual." Taehyung retorts to their eldest hyung.
The members laugh at that while Seokjin just shakes his head at the younger’s childish remark. Taehyung studies their faces as he draws nearer the door he has chosen, trying to find an affirmation that the room is indeed Jimin's. The members have gotten better at putting on a poker face though but nobody seems to be objecting.
Taehyung trusts that the members will not betray him. They know he wants, needs to room with Jimin. Banking on that, he finally pushes the door open putting an end to the game much to the relief of the other members.
Taehyung stares at the room in bewilderment, eyes quickly scanning over the stuff inside the open luggage by the bed.
These are not Jimin's things, Taehyung tells himself as his eyes flit around the room, feeling lost and betrayed.
"Taehyung-ssi, you failed!" Confirming his thought and rubbing salt to the injury, he hears Seokjin singsong from the living area.
Taehyung has not spoken a word since he entered the room, a stark contrast to the loud and excited guy that he was a couple of minutes ago. He pulls on his luggage and silently deposits it on one side of the room.
The members notice his change in mood and try to console him by saying that at least he avoided picking the worst room. Hoseok drags him to the room he's sharing with Namjoon and shows the floor where Taehyung could be sleeping if he chose their room. He obligingly stares at whatever his members are pointing at, offering them a small smile in response.
He goes upstairs again to check and see for himself that Jimin is really in that room. He walks inside and finds Jimin's luggage on the other side of the bed, completely hidden from the view by the door. He then stares at the large bed, forlornly thinking that it's too big for one person and silently cursing at how Jimin chose to be extra neat here in Malta when he's always leaving stuff on his bed in Korea. He only needed to see one stray belonging to know.
While the rest of the members are talking about dinner, Taehyung sits quietly on the couch. Jimin knows Taehyung is stewing and wisely avoids him choosing instead to help cook their dinner.
Hoseok, ever the happy mood maker, tries to hug Taehyung but he's not having it. He feels betrayed that the members did not help him at all.
Taehyung's sullen mood extends until dinner. He does try to engage in a few conversations but mostly chooses to keep to himself. Once in a while he stares daggers at Jimin. Jimin notices but pretends to act nonchalant.
With the members tired from the long day and Taehyung's sour mood palpable enough for everyone to feel, dinner is a quick affair. Hoseok volunteers himself, Namjoon and Taehyung to wash the dishes while the rest of the members shower and prepare for bed.
Having showered before dinner, Jimin approaches Taehyung as the other is cleaning the table.
"Hey pouty baby," Jimin says as he pinches the pout on Taehyung's lips.
"Don't touch me." Taehyung sulks turning his back on Jimin.
Undeterred, Jimin walks around to face Taehyung.
"Tae..."
"I'm mad at you... I told you I want to share a room with you."
"But I did tell you which room is mine?"
"But you were laughing! How am I supposed to know that you were serious? I'm tired. I just came from a long flight. I've been three days without you and I just want to be with you. You know I need to be with you! Why did you have to laugh while I was asking?!" Taehyung is near tears as exhaustion and sadness start to overwhelm him.
"I'm sorry, Tae. You know we really were not supposed to tell you anything, right? So I tried to play it off by laughing. I'm sorry if that got you confused. But... I promise we'll spend the rest of the stay here together. There are so many things I want to show to you and I hope you'll love them. I'll talk about it to the rest of the members and the producers, if you want."
"But you know we're supposed to be in different teams everyday..." Taehyung looks at Jimin, unsure.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure they'll understand that this is a special circumstance. And I'm offended you thought to doubt Park Jimin's charms. If there's anyone who can convince a mountain to move, that would be me." Hands on his waist, Jimin makes a show of cutely pouting at Taehyung hoping his antics will grace him with an endearing smile.
Taehyung may have said that Jimin's aegyo is not cute but he's only really lying to himself because truth is, he easily tops the list of people who are fools for Jimin's cuteness. The smile readily forms on his lips.
"Now stop sulking and come here." Jimin says pulling Taehyung into a hug. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you, Tae-ah..."
"It's okay... we have a schedule to follow and you had to leave. I'm sorry I got angry..." Taehyung lifts his head off Jimin's shoulder to look into his eyes.
"It's okay, I understand you're tired and have been through a lot... I'm happy you made it here...I've missed you..." Jimin caresses Taehyung's hair as he searches his friend's face, looking past the celebrity V to find the real Kim Taehyung, and he sees weariness and sorrow reflected on the beautiful face.
"I've missed you lots, too...Hmmm...You smell good.. clean..." Taehyung says as he buries his head back in the crook of Jimin's neck, inhaling deeply. He has always loved Jimin's scent - it's clean and just so Jimin - so grounding and comforting. Like a child's blanket.
"And you need a shower... Now go and help wash the dishes or Hoseok hyung will chew your ears off." Jimin giggles as he lets go of Taehyung, gently pushing him to the direction of the sink.
Oh how Taehyung missed hearing Jimin's giggles. Those video calls could never do justice to the sweet music they produce.
He grabs Jimin's hand, rubbing his thumb over the soft skin. They stand there for a while, staring at each other, soft smiles on their faces. A look of understanding, a sense of assurance.
With Seokjin as the chef of the night, Jimin as his sous chef, and Hoseok, Namjoon and Taehyung on dishes duty, Jungkook reclaims his title as the laundry king. Jimin still offers to help hang the clothes though and asks Jungkook to call him when it's time to do the task.
Jimin lounges on his bed as he puts on a face mask to while away the time as he waits for Jungkook to finish doing the laundry. The sun sure is hot in Malta and he feels that his face needs the extra care or he'll be starting their comeback promotions with a sunburnt face. He's scrolling through the pictures he took earlier to prevent himself from falling asleep but it has been a long day and after only a few minutes, he loses the battle as sleep wins over him.
Fresh out of the shower, Taehyung is going through his own night time skin care routine when Jungkook comes back to their room talking about looking for clothespins. He assumes that the younger is done with the laundry and volunteers to get Jimin.
"Oh?" He finds Jimin asleep on the bed with the mask still on his face. He silently coos at the adorable sight and walks over to remove the mask.
Jimin stirs and in a barely audible voice, "Tae?"
"Hmmm..." Taehyung responds as he folds the now dry face mask and throws it in the trash bin.
"Ohhh... Is Kookie done with the laundry? I should help hang the clothes to dry..." Jimin says sleepily while rubbing his belly, eyes barely open.
"It's okay... Don't worry about it. Go back to sleep, baby..." Taehyung leans over and brushes a kiss on Jimin's forehead. He pays no mind to the camera. He's sure it's going to be edited out anyway.
"Good night". He whispers as he goes to flick the light off and Jimin promptly drifts back to sleep.
Jungkook bounds to the room as Taehyung is closing the door and Taehyung stops him as he is about to enter, telling him that Jimin is already asleep.
"But the laundry... "
"I'll help you out." Taehyung answers and ushers the younger away from the door so as not to disturb the sleeping occupants.
Jungkook does not ask any more questions. The members are used to Taehyung and Jimin having each other's back and this extends to them taking on the other's chores that sometimes the members would just assign tasks to Taehyung and Jimin or Taehyung or Jimin.
It's way past midnight now. Jungkook is already softly snoring beside him but Taehyung is still wide awake, tossing and turning every which way. It's a good thing the youngest is a heavy sleeper.
Taehyung's body is tired but sleep eludes him. It's not jet lag, he's dealt with bigger time difference. It's not the bed either, it's a good one - neither too soft nor too hard, just right. It's definitely not Jungkook, it's not the first time he's shared the bed with the youngest. Heck! Too tired from rehearsals, they have even fallen asleep on a tight couch together.
Nothing is uncomfortable at all. Everything is perfectly set for sleeping.
Except that... his whole being has anticipated sharing the room, let's be real, the bed, with Jimin. He really can't do this long distance thing. He has missed him so much and he needs him now more than ever - needs the comfort and warmth that only Jimin can give. All the hand holdings and hugs they shared throughout the day are definitely not enough. He might have laughed a lot today but he's still mourning inside.
Taehyung feels the tendrils of sorrow grip his heart as everything that has happened since the day he heard the news slowly flashes back in his mind. He makes the quick decision to get off the bed as the first tear threatens to fall.
He carefully opens their door and walks as stealthily as a cat up the stairs. He does not bother switching the light on as he knows where he is headed. He does turn on his phone though, set to the lowest brightness, to avoid stepping on anything that might wake Seokjin up.
He goes around the other side of the bed and carefully takes Jimin's stuff off of it to place them on the desk.
He then climbs on the bed and reaches for Jimin, wrapping his arms around him tight and he feels the tendrils slowly ebb away.
"Tae?" The two have always been each other's strength and solace. They have shared countless hugs and snuggles that it isn't strange for Jimin to know right away that it's Taehyung.
Jimin does not wait for an answer and turns around to hug Taehyung back.
In the morning, Seokjin finds two people, arms and legs tangled around each other. He shakes his head at the sight. All the members kind of expected this to happen and really, all the ruckus of Taehyung choosing a room seems to be only for show. They could have just told him that regardless of which room he chooses, he's still free to be with Jimin. They're a family, they understand.
Seokjin thinks he could have had his shower much earlier but well, games have to be played right. (Although sometimes the outcome isn't exactly important.)