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Kim Taehyung was a name that was in everyone’s mouth, in every place, every corner, on every small standee with products that some wondered why they needed his face to promote it. Kim Taehyung was someone everyone knew, loved and waited for in front of the television to watch, cheer for and cried in the cases when his character was hurt or dying. Kim Taehyung could be called the nation’s son, prince and the most loved person at this point.
It was a wonderful and admirable as it was tiring and a busy time for Taehyung. He loved his job but sometimes even the strongest needed their sleep and rest. For quite some time Taehyung had none of this and he was sure that his eyes weren’t shining as they did before and his smiles weren’t as bright as he wished them to be.
At some point, Taehyung worried that his fans would notice it, some fans were understanding - only sending him cheerful messages and hyping him up, telling him how proud they were of him. Others, however, weren’t so calm and cheerful. They sent biting words to his company, to his bosses, to his managers, to the directors under whom he worked. And Taehyung could only smile, chuckle and apologize for their sake. On some days he was feeling encouraged and happy, on others - he was drained and embarrassed.
Fortunately, the luck was on his side and just when Taehyung - the most promising actor, as people liked to call him -, felt like curling into a ball and falling asleep for months, his drama was wrapped up, the final episode aired, a few interviews here and there, some magazine photo shoots and done with two or three variety shows. Taehyung finally found himself with too much free time on his hands especially when none of the offers were suiting his tastes.
It was funny as it was admirable when the offers were with different names of the characters he had played already, simply because he suited the image - beautiful face but strong deep voice. People loved this and directors desired it. Men with beautiful faces, deep voices and dark eyes were forgiven no matter what - Taehyung was exactly this.
It was simply that he didn't want to be a Joseon king again, or rich playboy or dumb baby boy who liked older women and wanted to suck their toes. He wanted to improve in his skills, with serious characters, but not a king, not for the time being at least. For now, only the time would show when the perfect character and script would come to him.
Instead Taehyung and his manager Hoseok decided to wait for a little longer, especially Hoseok who was worried that the audience might forget about Taehyung and this was the worst case possible for an actor as Taehyung. On the other hand, though, Hoseok believed that Taehyung needed the rest like anybody else considering how much weight he had lost and how often he was coughing and getting sick. The last few months were hell for both of them.
Luckily Taehyung wasn't the one to say no to Hoseok. He couldn’t do it. Not when his hyung was beautiful while pouting and so gentle while speaking and explaining, finding the most suitable excuses so that Taehyung would say yes to the rest without feeling as if he was betraying his fanbases. And it worked because Taehyung agreed and Hoseok embraced him tightly - thanking him for minutes and kissing his forehead a few times for good measure.
So now when he had quite a lot of time on his hands, Taehyung was lost what to do with it. He knew he had quite a lot of options - sleeping, traveling, exploring, meeting with people, fucking even. He had the time to do it all.
The problem came with the fact that he hadn’t been free for months, years even. He had been striving for the best since he got into the modeling business but the acting was his second and biggest love, in the end, so he worked hard and determinedly so.
No one could deny that the camera loved him - as a model and even more as an actor, the viewers as well but what was most important it was that he was really good. The only bad side he had - if he could call it like this, was that apparently being humble in this business was something not many liked.
It was amazing how his fans praised him for being down to earth and lovely. But the big fishes in the entertainment weren't so fond of it. Taehyung had to learn the hard way how he had to stay humble but also accept he was better than many out there so he had to understand that he would forever get hated for his own talent and hard work.
There were too many people trying to be his friends so that they could have a name for themselves as well. Selfish for their desires and needs but also attracted to him, to something he possessed without his personality, his ideas, his passions, because no one cared for them. No one wanted to last enough to hear about them, to indulge with him into them, to love him for them and with them.
Taehyung tried to help everyone he could because it was simply in his nature. He’d see an old lady with big bags and not enough strength to walk with them and Taehyung - famous or not - would go and help her. He’d smile at her and when she’d praise him, he’d accept it and offer his help again even if they knew they wouldn’t meet again. But sometimes it was hard to do so when he knew he wasn't liked for himself.
In the end, after months and years of trying, of hoping that he was wrong, of wanting to get better to be liked and still deny the fact that whatever relationship he wished to have now, wasn’t the type of relationship the other person wanted. Taehyung had to learn the hard way that sometimes he had put a distance between him and the other. Except for the few people who liked him for who he was and knew him for the longest.
And since now he didn't know with whom to go out and have fun with, except for Hoseok (his beloved manager, hyung and the sunshine of his life), Jimin (his soulmate and friend who was through everything together, from middle school until now) and Jeongguk (the dancer, with whom Taehyung worked on one of his projects, the kid owned his heart pretty fast after that). Taehyung decided that taking out his old camera and his painting tools was the wisest decision of them all.
At this point it was that he didn’t want to go out with them, these three men were the best people and friend he could ask for, to be honest here. It was that his friends were too busy right now. Jimin had finally found a good hospital to work in, Hoseok had to deal with another actor he was signed up with until they find him his own manager and Jeongguk was preparing for a tour he was going with an idol band. Taehyung didn’t want to take more of their time than a few calls, texts here and there. It was also the fact that he didn't have the intention to walk out of his flat anytime soon.
The exhaustion of being always outside, surrounded by people was doing its magic even on Taehyung who had always been a people person and loved to make new friends, to speak with new people and learn new things. He was too tired now for anything of this.
Years ago, when he got into modeling, Taehyung had a dream of being a photographer. He was fascinated by the gorgeous art the photographers could do - only with their camera, lenses or even with other tools. It was amazing how they could play with the colors, the story, the reality and Taehyung wanted to do it as well. So he studied and tried to get better back then. He was so motivated about it too.
However, with the time and his tries, a problem came. At some point he wanted his photos and themes to be really people-wise. Taehyung wanted to put a male model into stockings, dresses and put a lot of makeup. And he wanted his female models to wear suits, slicked back hair, less makeup but still enough to show their stronger features, their eyes.
Back then most of the women were hyper and into the idea. Especially those who liked their masculinity more and wished someone to show it. They were willing to put suits, short hair, show their muscles, show their strength, show that they weren't weak delicate flowers and were proud of it.
His men models weren't so fond of the idea. It was showing weakness to put a dress. Not to mentioned stocking or looking a little less edgy or anything else other than a muscle monster like type of outfit. Some called it gay, others not good enough, awful, disgusting even. So Taehyung decided to take photos only of women, then nature, then his shoes and soon he stopped.
To paint wasn't fun either. Taehyung didn’t have the time to practice and improve his skills. At some point, his hands and movements stopped to cooperate with his imagination and with his ideas. In the end, Taehyung decided that it wasn’t worthy anymore. He was wasting his time. The improvement wasn’t coming his way anyways.
Now though, Taehyung wondered if he could find someone to agree to show his "weaker feminine" side. Sadly, he didn’t know anyone like this. There were risks to it. Too many risks, especially because of the media, it was unapologetic with their articles and words. The people could be just as awful and unacceptable.
If someone asked Taehyung, he wouldn't mind putting a dress. It wasn't like pants existed since forever of time and most from all, showing a vulnerable side, wasn't a weakness. Dresses were beautiful - so many colors, so many types, so gorgeous. Stockings could make the thighs look so beautiful, so strong. Taehyung could wear them all. But he couldn’t take good photos of himself.
And in people’s eyes, men’s eyes, showing vulnerability, it was a way to embarrass them. Taehyung saw it as a way of embracing oneself, in this unusual, still unaccepted side. A way to show that a person had different sides of their character, a way to prove that they could be strong and independent but sometimes even they would want to be taken care of.
Even if not always this was the case, because someone could wear pink soft sweaters and cute shorts and still be one of the strongest, determined and dominating person to exist. Taehyung believed that no matter the type, every coin has two sides.
"I know a guy who's a model," Hoseok told him when he came for dinner at Taehyung's place and saw the camera again. "He's not really picky and every photo shoot he had made has become the trend. He posed naked with a flower on his dick and became the nation's baby."
Taehyung needed a moment to realize what Hoseok was talking about because he had forgotten to hide his camera and some time ago he had come to Hoseok crying and being disappointed that he was called strange, a fucking idiot for wanting something people couldn’t give him. Hoseok knew what Taehyung wanted and maybe Taehyung had forgotten about how many times Hoseok had seen him cry.
"Who's that guy?" Taehyung asked with his mouth full, instead of trying to deny it. Hoseok wouldn’t let him do so and also the food was so tasty, his friend always knew what to get him to eat.
"Kim Namjoon, does this ring a bell?" Hoseok leaned on his chair, a content smile on his face.
"Ah, wasn't he a rapper as well?" Taehyung had heard of the guy, wasn’t really familiar with his all activities but he was some of the few that Taehyung kept his eyes on. Kim Namjoon was there before him and lasted until now.
"Part-time as he likes to say. Pretty chill guy and I heard he takes short hiatus right now," Hoseok shrugged a little and moved back to eat. Hoseok knew people, he knew too many people and Taehyung sometimes wondered how Hoseok did it.
"The dude is resting and you want me to call him and be like 'bro, I wanna put you in a dress and take photos of you. But bro, I'm not a pro so we suck big time'? Is that it?" Taehyung snored for good measure because he didn’t want to sound annoyed at the suggestion. Hoseok laughed loudly and almost clapped with his hands.
"Screw the bro but yeah? I know him. If he thinks it's a cool thing to do, he'd do it without much money," Hoseok said once he calmed down for his laughter fit and Taehyun kept on staring at him, the food was forgotten for a moment.
"Hyung, no one does shit without getting paid. Especially someone with the name of Kim Namjoon," Taehyung didn’t know the guy but everyone knew how much Namjoon was taking - as a model, rapper or producer -, he wasn’t someone to play with even if he wasn’t really as picky as everyone liked to make him be.
Hoseok laughed and shook his head at this. Apparently, he was finding Taehyung more amusing than usual and the younger wasn’t sure how to handle all this information right now. Especially because Kim Namjoon was a name Taehyung bare spoke about but he had his tag bookmarked because the guy was professional. A rival at some point of Taehyung’s career even if he didn’t try to keep agenda for longer than five minutes.
"He's a full-time producer, rapper and especially because he has a connection in the underground scene. He has a lot of money and everyone knows that" Hoseok snored. “Everyone is fighting to give him more and he’s not the one to stop them. He knows his worth.”
"Exactly because of this what does this have anything to do with me?" Taehyung started to play with his food now, he’d eat it later. “I don’t have the money or currently the talent. He is worth a lot more than shitty camera photos in dress and awkward conversations, even if he says yes to me about all this.”
"Well, Tae, I heard he likes your face and wanted to work with you before when you were a full-time model but no one gave him the chance to do so,” Hoseok had his bright gentle smiles that made Taehyung feel better. “Money or not, if the rumors are true, he'd tell you a yes for free work and he'd screw Gucci."
"Not going to believe it but I should give this a try," Taehyung knew there was no point of arguing and trying to make a point over something that Hoseok had decided for him the moment he laid his eyes on the camera.
And in the end, Taehyung did give it a try. Because Hoseok gave him Namjoon's number once they finished with their dinner and Taehyung had to simply prepare himself to do it.
After two days contemplating his life, Taehyung called the man and he had never thought he'd enjoy speaking with someone for so long. Especially not with someone who clearly was in the business for longer than Taehyung and especially not someone who probably didn’t expect the random call out of anywhere.
It was really surprising because Namjoon seemed like he was enjoying the call quite a lot even if he was a little surprised with it. But soon after they introduced themselves even if they knew who they were, both of them started to speak about different topics from the first call and Taehyung was amazed. Happy even, Taehyung didn’t have this type of conversation with anyone outside of his friends for so long and he missed it.
He had never clicked so fast with a person, well he did with his friends before he became a name everyone recognized but Namjoon seemed like he genuinely wanted to get to know Taehyung for who he was and not what he had. The way they spoke, the random facts they shared.
Namjoon didn’t even wait for Taehyung to ask and simply shared, spoke, compared, laughed and groaned. It was amazing. Taehyung’s heart was beating faster, his palms were sweating but he was so excited. Staying in one place wasn’t an option anymore, so he paced around his flat and carefully listened to Namjon. And Namjoon was happy to speak, to explain, to share, to comment. Taehyung was taking everything he could.
"Can I call you hyung not Namjoon-ssi?" Taehyung asked after two hours and too many different topics.
"Of course, Tae!" Namjoon sounded as excited as Taehyung was feeling.
Taehyung felt so giddy and happy by the end of the conversation and Hoseok, who had a chance to listen a part of it, looked so smug and happy with himself. They had made the right decision - for Taehyung to accept and call, and for Hoseok to know about it, consider it a good decision and tell so to Taehyung.
"Told you! He is all yours!" Hoseok whisper-shouted and jumped on Taehyung whose smile was so wide that his cheeks hurt.
"We didn't speak about what I want from the shoot, though," Taehyung realized by the end. It was unnerving and the anxiety was growing again.
"You shouldn't worry. He likes pretty things," Hoseok winked at him and walked out of the flat with a promise of tasty cake when he came back.
And apparently, Hoseok wasn't wrong at all. Namjoon liked pretty things, books, parks, museums, nature, flowers, the art of any type and he liked to buy cold coffee drinks and then take long walks, maybe take a few photos of nature or himself, or both.
Taehyung was becoming even more fond of the man on their first meeting.
They had decided to go out on for breakfast to get to know each other, which Taehyung suggested because he wanted to share his ideas but he thought that speaking about it over the phone wasn’t the real deal. He was so glad and relieved that Namjoon agreed with him.
Namjoon was a wonderful human being and also someone Taehyung could speak to for a long time without feeling out of place or awkward about anything, especially if they went to more intimate topics as sexuality and gender roles. It was something that had to be discussed and Taehyung was glad that Namjoon had agreed.
It was amazing how many things they had in common in terms of ideas, thoughts, and beliefs. Namjoon explained that the gender had anything to do with the person’s worth and Taehyung agreed wholeheartedly. The sexuality wasn’t something that people should judge and think of strange, unusual, awful, illegal. It had existed since the world started, it was just as natural as anything else and Taehyung couldn’t help but nod excitedly.
Namjoon had a wonderful way of explaining things, of speaking, of showing and proving his points and Taehyung was feeling more and more excited to be so close to a person who could speak about so many topics so beautifully.
However, the time to speak about the photoshoot and the reason for the call in the first place came. Taehyung felt a little insecure at first, a little worried that whatever they had now might be broken. In the end, he was happily surprised by the way Namjoon reacted.
When Taehyung explained what type of a photoshoot he wished to make, Namjoon seemed more excited than Taehyung had ever expected to see him. His eyes were shining, his dimples were showing and Taehyung was sure Namjoon had leaned closer to him, serious and full attention on Taehyung. Taehyung’s heart started to beat faster all over again.
"I've always wanted to try it out," Namjoon confessed when Taehyung was done. "Although I have a suggestion, let's make it more domestic like."
"What do you have in mind?" Taehyung put a hand under his chin and tilted his head on the side. This seemed an interesting idea that Taehyung hadn’t considered.
"Let's not have a professional feeling and make it more like a normal everyday thing," Namjoon scratched the side of his neck and chuckled. Taehyung realized that maybe the older was feeling a little nervous right now. "Let's take photos in your or my flat, maybe go on a date. I don't mind wearing a skirt or a dress outside."
And then the shock came. Taehyung needed a moment to comprehend what Namjoon had in mind but he agreed. This was a lot better than Taehyung had in mind - he planned to take two photos of Namjoon and then hide for life.
Taehyung must have stayed quiet for a long time because Namjoon laughed a little nervously and shook Taehyung’s hand a little that was on the table and Taehyung woke up. He agreed, nodded and smiled widely, stood up and bowed deeply in front of Namjoon because he couldn’t find another way to show how grateful and happy he was.
Namjoon had to pull him down on the chair and almost shout over him to calm him down and that he understood, that it was okay, everything was okay and Taehyung could suggest something else if he wished. Taehyung told him that this was perfect, the best that could happen.
Taehyung was so glad the original plan he had, went on a whole different level. Surprisingly or maybe not, Taehyung couldn't help but fall. And he didn’t even notice it at all. Not at first at least, but soon he was very aware of it.
Once they finished with their first date and made a plan of how things would go on from then on, Namjoon suggested to buy some clothes and he was so confident in the way he examined the dresses and the skirts. Taehyung couldn’t keep his eyes off Namjoon. It was so easy to fall for him, Taehyung thought back then when he was still unaware of his feelings.
Namjoon spoke to the shop assistants, laughed with them, chuckled and asked them questions, thought and decided what to take, what not. He listened to their suggestions and Taehyung stayed on the side a little on the side and a little in love. When Namjoon went to buy lingerie and bigger accessories, Taehyung knew his blush was growing because his face was warmer.
Taehyung stayed on the side, through all of this, taking photos here and there, when he couldn’t help but itch to take them. Sometimes he was sharing his opinions when he thought he should or when Namjoon asked him something. Taehyung regretted not taking his good camera, he had used his phone but with a little editing things would work out. Namjoon was too beautiful not to.
Taehyung was giggling when Namjoon showed him a cloth not so pretty and made a face. Laughing louder when Namjoon tried something that made him look ridiculous but Namjoon acted as if he owned the stage and eventually Taehyung realized that he wanted to keep this type of relationship with Namjoon. And maybe something else.
It did feel like a date since the beginning and Taehyung wasn't sure what to do with this because it was something unexpected in the best way possible. It was nostalgic in a way, outside of the plan they had, Taehyung didn’t know what to do. He was taking photos, walking around with some of the bags and Namjoon was always looking at him.
In reality, Taehyung hadn't an actual date for long. Too long, if he thought about it.
"Do you want us to have couple aesthetics? There are bracelets, rings, and necklaces for couples. Do you want any?" Namjoon asked out of nowhere, stepping in front of jewelry stores.
Taehyung nodded without saying a word because he was a goner and Namjoon was surprisingly even more attractive when he made the decisions. It was amazing, how carefully Namjoon was looking at every ring, every bracelet and necklace, and everything. Taehyung was falling slowly but surely with every second passing.
When they went to Taehyung's place, Namjoon put a light dress - long and wide. It wasn't on his body and he put slippers. Through the changing, Taehyung was taking photos of Namjoon's hands while buttoning the dress and his smile when he liked how it sits on him. Now he was using his camera and Taehyung was making sure the focus was on, the brightest would be perfect.
"You're so pretty," Taehyung said quietly and for a second he wondered if Namjoon heard him. Taehyung was still behind the camera, taking photos.
"Thank you, you're pretty as well," Namjoon smiled widely and his dimples showed, even more, so Taehyung took a photo of this moment as well. He wanted to keep the memory for himself: the way Namjoon smiled, how he laughed, how he frowned when something didn't look as good as he wanted it to be.
When it came time for Taehyung to put some clothes on, Namjoon made Taehyung to wear some black pants that were on his legs like a second skin and as much as Taehyung liked how long they made their legs look, he didn't appreciate the tightness. He commented so but Namjoon shushed him and made him put a leather jacket on, a lot of earrings.
"Push your hair back and put these couple earrings, necklace and rings as well. You won't be the only one enjoying this. I need to feed my fans and most of them like you as well."
This was the reply when Taehyung asked what Namjoon had in mind when he made him wear all this. Taehyung wondered how much of their fans actually wanted them to be together. Taehyung didn’t hide his preferences but he wasn’t exactly open about it either, from the look of it Namjoon loved everything and everyone pretty.
It took some time for Taehyung to realize that he surely wasn't the only one taking photos of this date (photo shoot), Namjoon took some with his phone and he was taking photos of Taehyung a lot more than it was expected.
With the time spent together in Taehyung’s flat, before and after that, Namjoon was a curious one. He asked Taehyung about his paintings, his photos, his books, the music he liked to listen, the movies he watched. It seemed as if Namjoon wanted to learn everything about Taehyung in a really short period of time and Taehyung was smitten.
Taehyung couldn't help but answer to all of them, with a wide smile and content heart. The attention on him, coming from someone as beautiful as Namjoon, Taehyung couldn’t help but be as honest as he could. With every answer Taehyung was asking Namjoon back about the food he liked, the drinks he drank, the people he liked, was he taken, was he free, did he want to eat something together when everything was over.
The more they spoke, the more familiar they turned to be with one another and the more comfortable they felt, Taehyung was feeling more and more opened to Namjoon and Namjoon seemed to share the same idea as him. Taehyung was open with his compliments, with his ideas, with his admiration towards his new friend and Namjoon blushed a little more after every compliment coming his way and the sweeter his laugh was. But Namjoon also made Taehyung blush as well.
It was amazing how Namjoon didn't stop complimenting Taehyung, not even once. He shook his head when Taehyung told him he didn’t have to say anything. Namjoon kept going. He spoke about everything and anything that was Taehyung. From how pretty he was when he smiled, how beautiful he was, how deep his voice was when Namjoon had a deep voice as well. To how talented and gorgeous Taehyung was, from how much he could do with the talent he had in photography, acting, modeling, and painting, Namjoon complimented Taehyung’s fashion sense, his ideas, his thoughts, his everything. And poor Taehyung couldn’t stop blushing.
They were still in Taehyung’s flat, a lot of talks and photos later. Both finally comfortable in their clothes - Namjoon almost cut his pretty dress and Taehyung felt as if he had ripped his pants. But they were good, on Taehyung’s couch, checking the photos they had done, when Namjoon moved a little and looked at Taehyung.
"Let me paint your nails. Do you like purple?" Namjoon asked and moved to a smaller bag he brought with the dresses and showed a few shades of purple.
"Yes," Taehyung replied quietly and took the darker violet color that Namjoon showed him first.
And Taehyung took photos of this moment because he couldn’t help it. Namjoon wasn’t the best when it came to art on nails - the first thing he wasn’t good at if Taehyung was asked. But he tried his absolute best for Taehyung’s nails’ sake. And Taehyung could fall even deeper then.
It was fun, more than fun but Taehyung didn’t have the right words to describe it back then. If he could speak about it later, he’d call it - the first steps of falling in love.
Eventually, their photos and concept were more of new lovers, a couple that was still getting to know each other, people who were slowing falling in love but so deep and Taehyung thought and wondered if this could be them for real, without the concept and the camera. Just them and their young new love. But he shook his head.
Now it wasn't the time. And he didn’t know when it could be.
Namjoon changed his clothes before going out. He put stockings, fishnet stocking, in fact, black boots that looked ready to kick ass and leather skirt a little high on his knees, white a half-unbuttoned shirt and the couple accessories too. The same as Taehyung had since earlier.
Taehyung was clicking his camera like mad. Namjoon was so beautiful, attractive, gorgeous and Taehyung was sure that there wasn’t a bad photo. Everything was perfect. Taehyung thought he was an idiot for being so easy to fall in love. Was it love now? He didn’t know.
"Do you like it, Tae?" Namjoon asked happily and turned around a little so that Taehyung could look at him better, see all of him and his clothes.
"I love it, hyung. Please look at me," Taehyung was close to begging and throat tight because he wanted to kiss Namjoon right there and then.
It was pure luck that Taehyung managed to click right on time when Namjoon was laughing loudly - eyes a little scrunched, dimples bigger than ever and light blush on his cheekbones.
"Then let's go out and make people go wild. I haven't brought attention towards me since I popped up naked on the magazine cover."
It was happily said, no sarcasm, no bad intentions but Taehyung’s chest felt tight because he had never considered the option of Namjoon forcing himself to walk out like this, to do it, to risk it all. All because of Taehyung and his ideas, his thoughts, his so-called art that might never see the light.
"Are you sure about this?" Taehyung was a little reluctant. They were close to the door, one step away from stepping into the reality but Taehyung was scared for the first time in hours, days and Namjoon seemed so happy and content.
"I am,” Namjoon’s voice was serious, deep but warm. So warm and lovely and so full of something that made Taehyung breathe easier. “This is fun, I like it. So come on. We need to do the power couple concept, Tae."
And they did. They also grabbed the attention of many people - on the streets, in the stores, everywhere. Especially the ones who recognized them. Some pointed at them, some started to whisper, some sounded disgusted, others amazed. There was a little bit of everything.
This wasn’t important now. All that mattered was Namjoon and his smiles, his hands, his chuckles and his comments, his confidence, and happiness. Taehyung's eyes and attention was only on Namjoon. Namjoon was the whole world right now.
Taehyung was taking photos of everything and the cutest one of all the moments they shared that day was when Namjoon was pulling his hand and moved them to a shop or a window where he wanted to show something to Taehyung. Tell him that he’d buy it for him or that it would suit them, both of them. Because it was usually something for couples.
A few times, Namjoon asked fans to take their photos.
Later Taehyung realized how red in the face he was because Namjoon had wrapped his arms around Taehyung's middle and Taehyung's hand was in Namjoon's hair. They looked like a couple, a couple that was so good for each other. One of the photos, Namjoon was smiling widely and happily. He looked so proud of him, of themselves and Taehyung smiled.
When the light got low, the weather got darker and it was getting late, Taehyung didn't like the way his photos turned out to be. He stopped taking photos soon after a few more desperate tries and instead Taehyung let Namjoon take photos of him and made funny faces.
Both of them were laughing and giggling through their dinner. Namjoon was holding Taehyung's hand. He had taken a few photos of them, the food and the drinks. Namjoon took a lot of photos of Taehyung - when he pushed his hair back when he drank when he ate when he smiled and when he blushed, especially when he blushed.
It was hours after their dinner and their walk that Taehyung realized how much he didn’t want this to be over at all, how much he wanted to do this again and again. So while they were walking and when they stayed quiet for some times, Taehyung thought of how he should say it. He needed the right words. He didn’t want to lose whatever he was building with Namjoon that day.
On their walk back, Taehyung finally got the guts to ask Namjoon if he wanted to do this again. Maybe less about the photos and more about them. Taehyung decided to confess a part of the true and what he was feeling. Taehyung wanted to say that he would miss the older if he didn't see him again. He wanted to get to know him better. And just when he was finally ready to open his mouth and speak up, Namjoon did it first. Less romantic than Taehyung planned but straight to the point.
"Hey, Tae," Namjoon said, quietly, gently, so close to Taehyung’s ear. "Do you want to sing for me?" Namjoon looked at Taehyung, smiling gently, fondly, almost in love, or so Taehyung hoped. “I like your voice.”
"Of course I'd want to, hyung!" Taehyung's voice cracked when he replied. Because this meant something, he was sure it meant something more. It had to be!
"And we can grab something to eat after that?" Namjoon suggested quietly and Taehyung nodded eagerly. He wanted this. He wanted everything.
They stayed like this for a moment, deep dark eyes staring at each other. Taehyung needed to say something more, though.
"We can go on a date, maybe?" Taehyung asked louder than he planned but Namjoon smiled at him.
"Maybe we can, Tae."
They were inside Taehyung’s flat and Namjoon finally took off the skirt and the stockings and everything else. Taehyung only watched. When Namjoon changed back to his normal clothes which were sweats and wide t-shirt, Taehyung only looked and admired but he didn’t take photos. He couldn’t. Maybe some other time. This was only for him.
Taehyung was stepping on one foot to another, biting his lower lip and his hands were behind his back. He was nervous. No words sounded good enough to him so Taehyung stayed quiet, looking, waiting. Before walking down the corridor to go to his car, Namjoon stopped outside, turned around to face Taehyung and leaned a little to kiss Taehyun's cheek.
"I'll call you when I get home. Good night, for now, Tae." Namjoon whispered a little away from his lips.
"Good night, hyung." came the breathless reply from Taehyung.
Taehyung closed the door, a little gone and a little more in love. He moved around his flat. Took off his clothes, put pajamas and turned on his laptop to put all his photos on it and see which ones needed more editing than the other.
The sleep wasn’t coming even if he spent the whole day outside. Instead, he was full of energy and excitement. He had been right earlier, there wasn’t a bad photo of Namjoon. Everything was perfect. He was perfect. They were perfect.
And later that night Namjoon called him. Taehyung’s heart was beating faster than ever, they giggled and teased each other. They spoke as if they didn’t spend the whole together and spoke for a long time. It was early in the morning that they both stopped the call and fell asleep. For the first time in months, Taehyung had slept peacefully.
It was later that Taehyung recorded almost half of Namjoon's next album with him. It was an amazing experience for both of them. The amount of time spent together - as friends, as professionals, as something more than friends. It all happened then. Namjoon was the leader type of guy but gentle, slowly taking the right steps, giving the right advice and Taehyung was grateful for it, for him, for Namjoon in his life.
Through that time, while they were hiding in Namjoon’s studio, giggling and sleeping together while recording, all their photos were all over the Internet and Namjoon was proud of them.
“You should do your own gallery full of your photographs, Tae. You’re too talented to be only an Instagram star,” Namjoon had complimented him and Taehyung had kissed him, a little deeper, a little stronger and when he broke their kiss, Namjoon was smiling at him and put a hand on his lower back and pulled him closer.
Things moved from then on. The kisses, the touches, the way Namjoon was opening to Taehyung like a flower, willing and loving and Taehyung was eager to take and give because Namjoon deserved the best. Hoseok told them they were the power couple. Jimin and Jeongguk fell for Namjoon quite fast and Yoongi came into the picture. One of the oldest friends Namjoon had. A producer as well, he had asked Jimin, Jeongguk, and Taehyung to sing for him. Seokjin came later, another model that was a part of the family.
And Taehyung was happy. His family, the friends that were everything for him, the love of his life. His third biggest love that would last forever, or so he hoped, was Kim Namjoon.
Three months or so later, it was after Namjoon’s album and after their photos were all over the Internet, that Kim Namjoon and Kim Taehyung were finally official in front of their fans as well.
It was amusing as it was not so surprising that only half of the public liked them, the other half hated them. This didn’t bother Taehyung at all because he knew they'd last forever because they were getting to know each other better every day and Taehyung was falling even deeper.
Taehyung was sure Namjoon was feeling the same way. It all showed from the short sweet kisses Namjoon gave him every day and the small praises he was whispering against Taehyung’s lips, and how proud he was of Taehyung - always showing him off, always supporting him, always speaking about Taehyung even if he wasn’t asked -, how happy he was to be with Taehyung. It was so endearing. Taehyung was doing the same.
For now and for the future, the long future ahead, they were happy and this was what mattered the most. Their hearts belonged to each other, their souls were connected, their bodies craved each other and Taehyung knew that they were the best for each other, for now, and forever.