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there was something intriguing about airports that had always captivated taehyung. multitudes of emotions filtered through the air that had spent so many years being circulated through so many vents, that it was impossible for it to be fresh. taehyung watched reunited families greet each other at twenty different terminals and a sports star get crowded at baggage claim.  he watched a tearful couple kiss goodbye in the corner as two children ran across the polished tile, with carefree laughter and stuffed animals in their tiny grasps, dodging amongst businessmen on their phones and tired parents calling out for them. taehyung both loved and loathed airports.

“when did he say his plane would land?” taehyung heard jimin ask namjoon, who checked his phone while jimin hung off his boyfriend’s arm restlessly. 

“soon; the landing got delayed.”

taehyung tried to muffle his groan. he didn’t particularly want to be here; he had a paper to work on and had finished work late last night. he never wanted to get up at the ass crack of dawn to pick up jimin and namjoon, and drive them to the airport so they could all pick up hoseok, who was flying in from japan after two years living there. what was worse was that he couldn’t even go straight home after; they all had to meet at their diner for a catch up right after leaving incheon. 

he didn’t particularly want to see hoseok either, even after not seeing his ‘friend’ for two years. the thing was, the seven of them had grown up together, their families were all friends; they all went to the same schools, the same university, so taehyung knew he couldn’t avoid hoseok forever, as much as he longed to. 

hoseok was...hoseok. there was a reason his mother sent him to live in japan with his workaholic father. he was wild, out of control, and she couldn’t handle him any longer. so, he and taehyung had never really gotten along since adolescence, back when they all had witnessed hoseok turn into the chaos he was now. maybe he had changed, but taehyung doubted it. 

with a sigh, taehyung dropped himself onto one of the several uncomfortable chairs that surrounded the gate that hoseok was supposed to emerge from. damn his fresh drivers license and the brand new car his parents had immediately bought him as a reward. damn namjoon’s inability to drive and jimin not having a car, because if it weren’t for any of those factors, taehyung would be sleeping in right now, like the rest of his friend-group. 

fifteen minutes later, jimin yelled loudly and let go of namjoon, launching himself towards an exhausted looking hoseok as he stepped out of the gate, only carrying a backpack. hoseok barely reacted to jimin running full speed towards him, but caught him anyway, hugging him just as tightly as jimin hugged him. everyone in their little group always said hoseok gave the best hugs, but taehyung wouldn’t know. they had never been the affectionate type. they didn’t hate each other, but they weren’t best friends either, everyone knew this. taehyung was the only one that had always called hoseok out on his bullshit, on his irresponsibility and had never let him get away with anything. while everyone was okay to just ignore it, dismiss it as hoseok being who he was, and shrug it off like it would fade eventually, taehyung couldn’t do that. even though it had been years, hoseok was only acting worse and taehyung wouldn’t let him destroy himself. even if they weren’t quite friends, taehyung still cared. 

taehyung stood up the moment his gaze spotted hoseok. he was hovering awkwardly behind namjoon as hoseok, still dragging a clingy jimin, approached them. 

“hey man,” namjoon grinned, pulling him into a hug, “how was the flight?” 

“long,” hoseok embraced his friend in return, pointing to the baggage claim and shaking jimin off him. jimin looked mildly put out, but was easily soothed by namjoon offering his hand to him, taking it gleefully. 

“how was japan?” jimin pushed as they headed towards the baggage claim, and taehyung merely followed, having said nothing yet. hadn’t even gotten a greeting from hoseok. 

“japan was pretty amazing,” hoseok was mostly following the people he recognised from his flight, glancing backward to spot a silent taehyung, raising his brows in surprise, “oh, hey? didn’t think you would be here.” 

taehyung huffed quietly, and hoseok prevented a smile, watching as the other shrugged his shoulders. “only one with a car willing to wake up early.” 

“willing!” jimin scoffed, “i had to bribe him.” 

“ah,” hoseok nodded, saying nothing more until they reached the baggage carousel. the conveyor belt wasn’t on yet and no suitcases were in sight, but they assumed they would come soon. hoseok shifted restlessly, muttering to himself, “come on, i need a smoke.” 

taehyung happened to be the one standing closest to him, the words making him roll his eyes, “you think you need a smoke.” 

“don’t patronise me, taehyung,” hoseok groaned, easily shutting down any retort that taehyung was going to snap. taehyung just rolled his eyes again and turned away, crossing his arms over his chest grumpily, expression falling into an annoyed pout. 

cute. hoseok ignored the thought and scrolled through his phone while he waited until finally suitcases started appearing as the carousel started moving. 

“you guys mind waiting an extra ten minutes so i can have a cigarette?” hoseok questioned namjoon and jimin as they finally walked out of the stuffy airport, wheeling his suitcase in one hand while the other rummaged through his pockets for the packet. 

“i mind,” taehyung piped in, lagging in the back and still sulking. 

“i wasn’t asking you,” hoseok shrugged. 

taehyung made a sound of annoyance and held up his car keys, waving them in the air to make a point, “i’m the one driving!” 

hoseok stopped and spun around, moving fast enough that taehyung didn’t register it until it was too late and hoseok had snatched the keys from his fingers, pocketing them into his hoodie, “not anymore.” 

“what the fuck?” taehyung snapped, his sulky pout turning to anger, “give them back!” 

“you guys haven’t seen each other in two years, and you’re already arguing,” jimin sighed, shaking his head in defeat and rubbing his temples. 

the bickering duo ignored him, too focused on each other. taehyung was tugging at hoseok’s sleeve, chanting that he give his keys back. hoseok seemed uncaring, now in the smoking designated area and leaning against the wall, lighting up a cigarette. taehyung was tempted to swipe it from his hands and snap it in half, but he would never dare. 

“just let me have the fucking smoke taehyung, or i can light up in your car if you prefer.” 

taehyung glared with offence at the audacity, “i would kick your ass to the curb.” 

“you’d miss my ass too much,” hoseok retorted, seemingly unaffected by taehyung’s anger. he was so used to it at this point, even two years without it didn’t make a difference.  he was so good at riling taehyung up and so good at staying calm while doing it, which just frustrated taehyung even more. his uncaring attitude always managed to drive taehyung up the wall. 

taehyung waved away the cloud of smoke hoseok blew at him, his tone scathing. “get fucked.” 

“you offering?” hoseok turned to him with a smirk then, levelling an arrogant stare at taehyung before inhaling from the cigarette between his two long slender fingers. 

taehyung wasn’t blushing. he wasn’t. he refused. jimin and namjoon muffled their laughter behind him, avoiding his glare and covering their mouths with their hands. hoseok figured that was enough teasing, eyeing the bright pink taehyung who was now glaring at his feet, holding out the boy’s car keys and didn’t have to wait long for taehyung to take them from him aggressively and stomped off towards the car park. 

hoseok watched him go, his features neutral while his mind remained anything but. taehyung had changed in two years; he was less scrawny and awkward, his eyes more striking, delicate features more pronounced, makeup applied more skillfully. he had more piercings in his ears—his only form of rebellion against his family—, freshly dyed dark waves hidden beneath a yellow beret. his body was more filled out, thicker but just as soft as hoseok always remembered. cute. taehyung was cute. 

“bet you missed him, hey hoseokie hyung?” jimin’s smile was cheeky, his tone was teasing and hoseok felt as if his thoughts had been said aloud, but they weren’t. jimin was just implying something that he'd thought hoseok had been missing. 

“huh?”

“the arguing. same old bratty taetae.” 

“oh yeah,” hoseok drawled when he caught on, laying the sarcasm on thick, “missed it heaps.” 

jimin snatched hoseok’s cigarette and took a puff, giving hoseok a steady look, “don’t tell him, he’ll have my balls.” 

“listening to his angry rants about my nicotine addiction wasn’t enough to scare you away?” hoseok chuckled, flicking the butt away and, grabbing his suitcase, followed the direction that taehyung stalked off. 

“i only smoke socially, just scared me enough to know that he can never know about it.” 

“taehyung isn’t that oblivious,” namjoon hummed, kicking a rock as they walked towards the underground short term parking carpark. “he’s bound to pick up on it.” 

“i dread that day,” jimin grinned, wrapping his arms around one of namjoon’s, walking close together. 

“you could quit,” hoseok offered, knowing the hypocrisy of his statement. 

“you could quit,” jimin teased good naturedly. 

“i enjoy pissing him off, you’re scared of him. i’m not the one that cares if he knows.” hoseok’s hands were in the front pocket of his hoodie, fingers messing with the lighter. 

“if there’s one thing i’ve learned from witnessing yours and taehyung’s fights, it’s that i have every right to be scared of him when he’s angry.” 

hoseok didn’t think taehyung was remotely threatening, or scary for that matter, but taehyung could go into brat mode quite well. his sulking was well known amongst their group. he’d grown up spoiled as a child, and hadn’t stopped being spoiled in adulthood; even their own friends were guilty of frequently letting him have his way. hoseok didn’t think that made taehyung a bad person: he’d never seen anyone more caring than taehyung, or creative, smart and passionate. he was just used to being treated like a baby, even if he was only the second youngest. hoseok knew that the scolding about his bad habits was coming from a place deep down in taehyung that cared about him. 

taehyung was speaking to the valet when the three reached him, taking his credit card back as a younger boy rushed out of the booth to go find the car. 

“finished your cancer stick?” taehyung questioned with an air of indifference as if he didn’t really care anyway. 

“yes, can really feel my lungs withering, thank you.”

taehyung didn’t grace him with an answer, rolling his eyes and turning away. two minutes later, a car was pulling up in front of them. hoseok whistled at the sight of the brand new glistening white coloured hyundai elantra. 

“nice,” hoseok commented, watching as taehyung slightly straightened in pride, chest puffed out as he took the keys from the valet and opened the back of the car. taehyung didn’t say a word as he took hoseok’s suitcase and loaded it into the back. 

hoseok was slightly shocked at taehyung doing that for him, but said nothing about it, instead bounding to the front passenger seat. “shotgun!”

“fucking eat one hyung,” jimin grumbled bitterly as he climbed into the backseat with his boyfriend. hoseok just grinned triumphantly. 

the car ride to their usual diner involved taehyung and hoseok bickering over the music, taehyung whining that he didn’t like hoseok’s rock stuff, and hoseok couldn’t stand the pop that taehyung listened to. it was settled by namjoon reaching from the backseat and snatching the phone, putting on his playlist of choice, and they sat the rest of the drive in silence. taehyung drove with a prominent, sulky expression, and hoseok stared out the window at the nostalgic view of seoul. 

hoseok didn’t realise how much he had missed darling’s diner until taehyung was pulling into the parking lot . the fond memories hit him like a truck, and it took him a moment to register that everyone was out of the car. darling’s was an unknown, underappreciated american style diner located in the quieter parts of seoul where the streets seemed dirtier, the apartments less loved, and nothing was modern or flashy. no one could pinpoint why their little group loved it so much, but they had been regulars since their late high school years. hoseok could remember rowdy bus rides to this restaurant, listening to jimin rant about teachers, or seokjin telling him about this new song, namjoon going over jeongguk’s school work in the back, taehyung sitting beside hoseok and reading a book in silence. he remembered the milkshakes as they all crammed into a booth and studied together, the fries and burgers on late nights out after a movie, all reluctant to go home, for the night to end. 

a tap on the window startled hoseok out of his nostalgia, glancing at an irritated taehyung before he quickly climbed out of the car and shut the door behind him. seconds later, he heard the telltale sounds of the car being locked, and footsteps crunching behind him as taehyung followed him inside. 

a chorus of greetings yelled out at him, and hoseok was swamped in hugs within seconds, hands clapping his back and questions being thrown at him left and right. he was happy to see his friends, he had missed them as much as they did, but this was a bit much to handle. 

taehyung glanced up from where he’d sat in the booth, rolling his eyes at hoseok’s expression but took pity on him nonetheless, “c’mon guys, i want to order!” 

everyone dispersed then, seokjin clapping hoseok on the back before he slid into the booth behind taehyung. taehyung ended up sharing a booth with jimin and namjoon since the couple were pretty inseparable. the booth behind taehyung, pressed right against the back of his seat was hoseok and jeongguk, and across from them was seokjin and yoongi. conversation came easily between the group, hoseok filling them in on japan and jeongguk talking about university. 

“well, look who it is,” a voice broke them up and all heads turned towards the older woman standing in front of one of the group's booths. “jung hoseok, you’ve grown up so much. it’s been years.”

hoseok’s face turned pink under the attention, but he still smiled slightly at the woman before them, “only two years, ajumma.” 

“you grew a lot in two years, kid.” 

hoseok’s friends laughed quietly, putting in their agreements. everyone was familiar with kim soohyun, and she was familiar with them. she had spent many years serving the boys their food and even helped them with their homework. she treated all seven of them like they were her own family. she had even given taehyung a job when he was fresh out of high school and wanted his own money so he didn’t have to completely rely on his parents. this was part of the reason they loved darling’s so much: all the staff knew them, but soohyun was special. 

“anyway, you boys ready to order?” 

everyone immediately talked over each other to get their orders in, but soohyun was used to that, dutifully writing down each order she caught. only taehyung sat quietly, patiently waiting his turn like he always had. 

“your usual sweetheart?” soohyun turned gentle eyes onto taehyung once everyone was done, and taehyung blushed but nodded diligently. 

taehyung’s usual consisted of a strawberry milkshake and a pancake stack that he could never finish, topped with strawberries and ice cream. it had never changed and that was fine with taehyung. 

soohyun jotted it down and walked into the kitchen, her shouts heard across the diner. “you’ll never guess who’s back, byungchul!” 

conversation resumed. taehyung glanced around the diner, at the pastel pink and mint green interior, the old fashioned light hanging above them that resembled an atom, at the marylin monroe art on the wall. the bar was mint, the bar stools were a faded pink that it looked more like a pinkish tinged white. the outdated tiles, the yellow walls and pink ceiling were such an eyesore but seemed to fit the place so well and  taehyung felt so at home here, free to be himself and be with his friends, with no pressures weighing him down like they often did. 

“taehyung-ah!” jimin’s voice pulled taehyung’s attention to him. “what’re you thinking about?”

taehyung couldn’t help but be bratty. “the project i should be working on.”

a scoff came from behind him, and taehyung could guess immediately who it came from. 

“university is such a waste of energy,” hoseok muttered, and taehyung turned a sharp stare his way. 

“to you, probably. i actually want a future, unlike you.”

“what would you know about what i want, taehyung?” hoseok couldn’t help but taunt, sitting straighter and facing the other with his full attention. everyone else paid attention but no one stepped in. they knew it was best to just let the two battle it out. 

“well, you certainly don’t act like you’re working towards something,” taehyung rolled his eyes, and hoseok was seriously starting to be over it. “ what do you want then, hyung?” 

to escape . hoseok couldn’t say his first thought, least of all to kim taehyung. his posture deflated slightly, but he held himself together as if he didn’t give a fuck. “right now? for you to shut the fuck up.” 

taehyung seemed to jerk back then, flushing when he couldn't come up with a response quick enough. it made hoseok smirk at him in victorious satisfaction while the elder twisted  around and sat back in his seat normally. taehyung’s stomach curled in anger, and he was ready to pounce, but by then their food had arrived. taehyung was the first to murmur a soft thank you to soohyun, but his fists remained clenched on the table, and his body trembled with hot anger. that asshole really told him to shut up. even if the words weren’t vicious and there was no real intent in them, taehyung still felt it like a punch to the stomach; embarrassment and anger whirled in him, leaving him feeling hot with emotion. he tried to relax but hoseok’s voice behind him just set him off each time. taehyung couldn’t handle it, and he shoved his way out of the booth and stalked into the bathroom, locking himself in there. 

hoseok watched taehyung go, a habit he was starting to pick up, seeing the boy’s fists clenched and shoulders hunched up until he disappeared into the bathroom. no one else said anything but hoseok watched taehyung’s ice cream melt over his pancakes. without a thought, hoseok climbed over jeongguk and went to the counter, grinning at soohyun.

“hi, soohyun, can i get another side of ice cream, please? taehyung’s gone to the bathroom and his is melting.” hoseok pulled out his wallet, thumbing through his notes and pushing a few into the tip jar. soohyun just smiled, a smile that hoseok couldn’t pinpoint what it meant but knew that it meant something, as she reached over the counter and pinched hoseok’s cheek. he tried not to recoil, waiting it out patiently until she pulled back. 

“of course, honey, i’ll bring it out in a moment.” 

with a nod, hoseok thanked her and had turned to return back to his table, when the waitress spoke up again, “you’ve always looked out for that boy…even just the little things.”

hoseok didn’t know how to respond or if he was even supposed to, so he just thanked her again and went back to his seat, digging into his meal. soohyun had just dropped the ice cream off when taehyung emerged from the bathroom and sat down without a word. 

taehyung blinked in confusion at the side of ice cream beside his plate of pancakes, confused as to how it got there and looked to jimin for assistance. jimin just smiled coyly and motioned to hoseok before looking down at his meal. oh. 

taehyung ate his pancakes with his unmelted ice cream, only contributing to the conversation when mentioned, and the morning passed like that, just like it always had once upon a few years ago. 

jimin, as promised, paid for taehyung’s meal, and grumbled about it for two minutes while taehyung happily sipped his pink milkshake from the pink paper straw, giving his best friend a cheeky wink. the rest of their group left the cash covering their meals on the table and followed the pair out of the diner. 

“good doing business with you, jiminie.” 

he got an eye roll in return for the smartass comment.

“you guys want to go for drinks tonight?” hoseok spoke up as they slowly dispersed to their cars. taehyung was driving hoseok home, since his bags were in his car and same for jimin and namjoon; it was the same arrangement as earlier in the morning.

taehyung lifted his stare to jimin and discreetly shook his head at hoseok’s proposal, giving jimin a small frown to say he didn’t want to go. he couldn’t, even if he really wanted to anyway. 

everyone else immediately gave enthusiastic answers and taehyung just sighed, “i’ve got a shift tonight. call me if you guys need me to drive your drunk asses home, then.” 

“you work?” hoseok probably shouldn’t have sounded as surprised as he did, and taehyung pretended he didn’t feel insulted. “who would hire you?” 

taehyung kicked at a rock in the carpark and pointed at the same building they'd just exited. “i work here, asshole.” 

hoseok’s eyes widen almost comically in surprise, but taehyung didn’t stick around to enjoy it. he just called out a goodbye and climbed into the driver's side of his car, turning on the engine. jimin and namjoon quickly shouted a goodbye before scrambling into the backseat, unsure if taehyung would really leave without them while he was in a bad mood. they heard the annoyed huff taehyung let out when hoseok dropped into the front seat only seconds later. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

it was two a.m. when taehyung finished his shift at darling’s diner, and he stood in the staff bathroom changing out of his required uniform: a white button up and pink tennis skirt that reached mid thigh. this uniform, in tae’s personal opinion, was much cuter than what the males were originally supposed to wear. he changed out of the white, ribbed, long sleeved shirt that clung to his narrow waist and into his most comfortable pair of sweatpants, pink cotton fabric soothing against his skin and sitting low on his hips. he bundled up his dirty uniform and shoved it into his bag before leaving the restroom and waved goodbye to soohyun, heading out of the building. he was searching for his car keys when his phone started ringing. he knew what it was for. 

taehyung had spent the rest of his day studying once dropping hoseok, jimin, and namjoon home, then at five o’clock he had to go to work.  after a nine hour shift, the last thing he really wanted to do was drive his drunk friends home. he shouldn’t have offered, but it was better than them doing something stupid. 

“jimin-ah,” taehyung murmured into the phone once he picked up, still searching for his keys as the background sounds of nightlife filtered into the phone from the other end of the line.

“taetae!” jimin cheered, a slur in his voice and busan accent coming in thicker than usual. “can—can you pick meee up, pretty please, with cherries on top?” 

taehyung couldn’t help his small smile, finally locating his keys and unlocking his car, climbing in behind the steering wheel. “of course, jiminie. i’m on my way now, give me fifteen.” 

he could hear jimin talking to someone else, repeating what taehyung had just said to whoever it was, most likely namjoon. taehyung hung up and dropped his phone into the seat beside him, turning on the ignition and heading downtown to the familiar streets of hongdae, not needing to ask where his friends were, because it was all a habit of familiarity and regularity with his group. they knew the best places where they were happiest and they stuck to it. 

true to his word, fifteen minutes later taehyung parked his car along a side street next to the bar they regularly frequented and climbed out, heading to the entrance. taehyung knew he stood out, he wasn’t dressed for the district he was in, but taehyung had stopped caring about what people thought of him a long time ago. 

“taehyung?” a surprised voice pulled taehyung to the door, and he grinned up widely at the bouncer, batting his lashes as the male laughed in surprise. 

“hi, hyung.” 

taehyung let himself be pulled into an intimate hug, giggling as he pressed a kiss to seojoon’s cheek before slowly pulling away. “just here to pick up jimin, and whoever is left.” 

seojoon nodded in understanding, eyes flicking to a spot behind taehyung before focusing on the younger again. “he’s in the bathroom. namjoon started throwing up, and jimin demanded that they were long time patrons of this place and shouldn’t be made to throw up on the street.” 

“ah,” taehyung shuffled his feet against the ground, exasperated with his friendship group. “i’m so sorry about them, hyung, i hope they weren’t too much trouble?” 

seojoon’s easy going grin turned into a cheeky smirk, teasingly pulling taehyung closer. “not too much. you can always make it up to me, if you really do feel guilty.” 

taehyung let out a laugh at that, didn’t pull away as he lapped up the attention. seojoon was a good guy, amazing really, and had always done right by taehyung and always would. taehyung treasured him as a friend. even if they had been more than friends once and later realised it wasn’t meant to be, they still stayed close. taehyung adored that about seojoon. 

“unfortunately for you, hyung,” taehyung teased softly, his voice airy as he pressed his lips to the corner of seojoon’s mouth, “i have to take my friends home.” 

seojoon just groaned melodramatically before motioning for taehyung to go inside; taehyung gave him another kiss on the cheek before going inside and heading straight to the bathroom to look for his friends. 

“jiminie? hyung?” taehyung called out. 

meanwhile, hoseok threw his cigarette on the ground and stamped it out with unnecessary force, blank stare focused on the bouncer before he went back into the bar. hoseok knew seojoon. his friends had been familiar with the bouncer ever since they’d been at the legal age to drink, but he didn’t think they were as familiar as taehyung appeared to be with him. hoseok had watched the way the security guard had his hands all over taehyung, words tinted with innuendo and desire, and he was surprised when taehyung reciprocated. what had changed in two years? 

he went into the bathroom and found taehyung rubbing namjoon’s back as the elder threw up again. jimin was leaning against the wall, pouting, “i don’t want to stop drinking yet.” 

“we need to go home, jimin. your boyfriend is sick,” taehyung chided softly, running his fingers through namjoon’s hair as the queasy male gagged into the toilet bowl. taehyung was on his knees in a dirty bathroom, but didn’t care because he was too focused on making sure his friend was okay. 

“i shouldn’t have done those shots,” namjoon muttered, sitting up straight and seemingly less nauseated. “think i’m good to go.” 

“you clean yourself up a bit then, hyung. jimin will help you,” taehyung instructed, cutting a serious look to jimin who moved to protest. “i’ll go get you some water.” 

namjoon lifted himself off the ground and moved to the sink, and taehyung wriggled past hoseok then, the tight space making tae look up at him in surprise. “oh, you’re still here, hyung. guess you need a ride too, then?” 

“i’m just gonna crash at theirs,” hoseok said as he followed taehyung to the bar. 

“oh okay, cool then,” taehyung murmured, having nothing else to say and unused to being civil with hoseok. he didn’t question why hoseok didn’t want to go home to sleep at his own house his first night back, why he didn’t want to spend time with his mother. 

hoseok was about to say something, but a squeal caused him to shut his mouth and widen his eyes with shock. taehyung had disappeared from his side and raced to the bar. the bartender was there to meet him, arms opened, and he immediately scooped taehyung up and embraced him tightly, just as seojoon had. just as intimate. 

“what the fuck,” hoseok muttered, taking a seat at the bar nonetheless. 

hyungsik was bolder than seojoon, hands moving straight down to grip taehyung’s ass as he pressed a kiss to his mouth that taehyung responded to happily. it was only short and taehyung pulled away to hug him again, talking to him animatedly before asking for a couple of glasses of water, prying himself off hyungsik so he could sit next to hoseok. 

“oh hey, man,” hyungsik greeted hoseok, finally noticing him, “glad to be back from japan?” 

“partially,” hoseok responded with a curl of his lips. hyungsik dismissed his rudeness, turning back to taehyung. 

“want anything to drink, tae? on the house,” hyungsik sent him a flirty smile and hoseok resisted the urge to roll his eyes. 

“sorry, babe, designated driver tonight. some other time,” taehyung hummed and sipped his glass of water, holding a second for namjoon. as if on cue, namjoon appeared a few minutes later, jimin’s arm around his waist, and gratefully took the water from taehyung. 

“ah, hi hyungsik,” jimin greeted, cheeky grin on his face as he looked between taehyung and the bartender. taehyung just rolled his eyes and slid off the stool, circling the bar to kiss hyungsik’s cheek in goodbye. 

“let’s go, jimin.” 

“aw,” jimin taunted, “but you haven’t said hi to bogum yet.” 

“shut up,” taehyung groaned, supporting namjoon’s weight as hoseok walked silently behind them. they stepped out of the too hot building, and jimin waved goodbye to seojoon.

“oh look, the one that got to take baby tae’s virginity.” 

taehyung just ignored him, directing them to his car and unlocking the doors, helping namjoon get inside. “please don’t throw up in my car, hyung.” 

namjoon didn’t reply and just rested his forehead against the cool glass. taehyung climbed into the drivers seat and closed the door. hoseok took that as an opportunity to catch up, asking jimin, “so has taehyung slept with all the bar employees?” 

jimin hummed for a second, counting on his fingers. “seojoon got in first. they dated for a couple of months but broke up and stayed as friends, then he slept with bogum—”

“i always thought he was really creepy, thought he was super religious or something,” hoseok interrupted, shrugging his shoulders in his hoodie that smelt like alcohol and cigarette smoke.

“taehyung said he was nice. they didn’t do much talking of religion, if you get what i mean,” jimin wiggled his brows and hoseok couldn’t help but scoff in amusement before jimin went on, “then hyungsik was most recent, some kind of casual fling until taehyung ended it to focus on his uni workload, but stayed really close friends obviously. taehyung is good at that, everyone adores him.” 

it was easy to see that jimin cared for his best friend a lot, and hoseok had been around taehyung since they were kids, so he knew exactly what jimin was talking about. taehyung gave off the vibe that you wanted to be friends with him. he really looked after his friends and cared so deeply for them. you couldn’t help but fall into that lure, and taehyung had a hard time letting people go, even his ex lovers it seemed. 

“so he’s really fucked all the employees at the bar?” hoseok was processing the fact that taehyung had cycled through an entire establishment with no consequence except some solid and loving friendships. the taehyung that hoseok remembered was completely different to the taehyung he knew now, two years later.

“mhm,” jimin hummed, wiggling his brows, “you should ask for a job there, hyung.” 

hoseok spluttered in shock, staring at jimin in surprise before watching him burst into a fit of giggles, leaning against the car for support. the comment was harmless, and hoseok just rolled his eyes. “get in the car.” 

taehyung was mostly quiet as he drove them home, only occasionally checking to see if namjoon was okay. they made it back to the couple’s apartment without incident. taehyung was starting to show signs of exhaustion that he’d been fighting off since his shift finished, yawning and rubbing his eyes with his fists as jimin helped namjoon out of the car. 

“you’ll meet us at the diner for dinner tomorrow?” hoseok asked taehyung, lingering in the car and looking over at the sleepy boy. 

“mhm, after my last class,” taehyung mumbled before being interrupted by a yawn. “goodnight hyung,” he said after a moment, too tired to be petty tonight. 

“goodnight tae,” hoseok spoke gently and climbed out of the car, watching the elantra reverse out of the driveway and disappear down the street. 

“hyung!” jimin snapped, “come help me with joon hyung.” 

good to be back. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

taehyung’s lectures were as dull as they typically were. he functioned through the first half of his day on autopilot, taking notes and listening to the discussion, running from one lecture hall to the other to make it on time. having a double major exhausted taehyung, but it kept his parents happy and him happy. business was soul suckingly dull, art history was fascinating; the non existent balance always left taehyung feeling tired to the bone. none of his friends understood how he managed it, and truthfully neither did taehyung. 

by the time he showed up at the diner, he looked like he was falling asleep on his feet, his heavy bag being lugged with him. jimin took it from him with a grunt, letting taehyung collapse into the soft seat.

“jesus tae, is the whole library in this?”

“yeah,” taehyung murmured, curling up on the seat and closing his eyes. he knew his head was on someone’s leg, hadn’t bothered to check who though, just glad that they didn’t seem to mind. taehyung didn’t react when soohyun came over, fussing over an exhausted taehyung. jimin did a good job of sending her away politely, “he’ll just have a strawberry milkshake, ajumma, thank you.” 

taehyung murmured his thanks and snuggled into the thigh more, surprisingly comfortable and content to lie there while his friends gossiped about their day. 

“dance used to be so easy, but now hoseokie hyung is back, and it's brutal again,” jeongguk sighed dramatically, flicking a fry. 

taehyung felt the rumble underneath him that signaled the thigh he was dozing on belonged to hoseok who snapped a reply at the youngest and threw the fry back. with a tense stomach, taehyung didn’t move, unsure how to do so without being obvious. should he even move? he and hoseok had never had much physical contact, hoseok probably felt uncomfortable that he was there, taehyung sure did. thankfully, soohyun returning with his milkshake gave him the perfect excuse, and he quickly sat up, thanking their friend and taking an eager sip of the drink. soohyun just glanced between him and hoseok before smiling and walking away. strange woman. 

the sweet flavoured drink slid down his throat and taehyung sighed in happy bliss, the stress of the day leaving him like an easily pleased child given a toy that would entertain for five minutes after a tantrum. 

“hey tae, joon hyung and i are going thrifting tomorrow, want to come?” jimin questioned after his conversation with hoseok ended. the question made taehyung perk up a little and he nodded eagerly. 

“that would be fun, i brought some new patches that i want to use.” taehyung sent a grin jimin’s way, taking another sip of his milkshake. 

hoseok played with his fries, unconsciously watching taehyung from the corner of his eye. he watched the way the younger twirled the straw around the circumference of the glass with his well manicured fingers, the unreserved manner of his smile and the twinkle in his eyes as he spoke to jimin. 

like this, hoseok found himself seeing the same taehyung from two years ago, along with a brand new one sitting in front of him. new exhaustion, new pressures, but all of it just draped over the same laughter and deep voice, the same cat-like eyes that had always betrayed his emotions too easily. 

hoseok had seen taehyung’s every mood: happy, angry, annoyed, sad, stressed. he remembered the unabashed elation taehyung had shown whenever he was with his friends or when he'd achieved a long-time goal or a high grade. he remembered the tears he'd shed for only hoseok to see when he’d called him late one night for a ride home after a failed date because he'd known hoseok wouldn’t ask questions or breathe a word to anyone. they'd never spoken about how taehyung’s date had finished off with a black eye; they never spoke of any of it at all, not then nor ever since. 

hoseok still remembered though; he knew the old tae and the new tae. he knew everything, even if everyone would have taken him to be the last person to know about the little nuances. he knew, just like he knew that seojoon may have been taehyung's first time, but hoseok had been his first kiss. he could remember that night under the dim blue light of taehyung's night light, lips pressed together and fingers intertwined nervously. he remembered the blushes that had followed, the sworn secrecy that no one else would or should ever find out. 

jimin had immediately found out regardless, and hoseok remembered that too, remembered the fight between taehyung and himself that had ensued because taehyung could never keep anything a secret from jimin. hoseok remembered that to be the only time he and taehyung had ever shown each other affection, thought about how now, after all this time, they still failed to show each other affection ever again. maybe taehyung had changed in the last two years, but his and hoseok’s relationship never did; they were still the way they'd always been, and sometimes hoseok thought that maybe that single memory was a flaw. maybe it never happened, or maybe it wasn't meant to happen.

jeongguk’s voice escalating in noise level was what drew hoseok back into the conversation. with expressive hand gestures and his excited tone, jeongguk was animatedly telling a story from the bar last night, facial expressions and all. 

“i was so drunk,” jeongguk drawled, pointing to seokjin, “hyung had to carry me out of the bar. all i remember was that i told everyone i was a lesbian.” 

the rest of the table just blinked at him for a moment. 

“and i’m a dude!” jeongguk cried with finality, dropping back against the booth with a dramatic huff of shame. 

hoseok’s mouth twitched, but jimin was the first to burst into giggles, putting his weight on namjoon as his laughter took away his ability to support his own body weight. soft giggles sounded from beside hoseok, and he turned to see taehyung muffling laughter and concealing a wide smile behind his hands. 

“what’re we doing after this?” namjoon questioned once the laughter calmed down. 

hoseok hummed, thinking for a moment before piping up, “i wanna show you guys this cool place i found.” 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

they had all piled into two cars, following hoseok’s directions to outside of the city. monochromatic suburbia suddenly became more sparse, filled with more green earth and the clear sight of the sky turning shades of orange and pink and purple as the sun dipped below the horizon languidly. taehyung had paused to take pictures once their group had arrived. the world around them seemed quieter if it weren’t for the insects and their harmonies, despite being close to the city still. they felt cut off from civilization, their own patch of isolation. 

“he’s finally lured us out here to kill us. after all these years, his plan has finally been put into action,” yoongi quipped as he kicked a rock from under his shoe. 

hoseok had already started walking away from the group, towards the abandoned building with walls covered in vandalism. taehyung glanced over the graffiti, some of it eye-catching, some of it just complete vulgarity. 

“wouldn’t surprise me,” taehyung muttered to yoongi, dragging his feet as the rest of their friends followed after hoseok. “like cows to slaughter, we follow.” 

“you could fight him, hyung,” jeongguk grinned cheekily, nudging yoongi’s side who just grunted. 

“i’m about as intimidating as a butterfly.” 

the metallic creaking protest of a door being forced open ended the conversation, cutting through the evening silence with a bang. impatiently, hoseok ushered his friends through the door. footsteps echoed, and their only light was the fading sun; soon there would be none. taehyung glanced around, taking in the space with a sort of muted fascination. it was filthy, falling apart, silent and eerie, and taehyung’s fingers itched to explore. they stood in an abandoned underground pool, untouched and unloved, surrounded by concrete walls littered with garbage and more graffiti and hints of nature taking her world back. moss crept up the walls and along the floor, miscellaneous objects and trash covered the bottom of the empty fifty metre pool. lane markings and depth measurements stood out on the dirt covered tile, heavy doors on each wall swung off loose hinges. the silence and low lighting made every other step and whisper seem amplified. 

“oh, this is cool,” jeongguk whispered, boot crunching on shattered glass. “thanks for showing us this, hyung.” 

already he’d dragged yoongi deeper into the space to go explore, namjoon and jimin had wandered to the far corner to admire graffiti art, and seokjin investigated to see where the doors would lead to. that left taehyung and hoseok as they crept to the edge of the pool and jumped into it, their feet landing on the hard ground with an echoing thump. something skittered from under taehyung’s feet causing him to let out a small squeak of fear and stumble backwards, tripping over his own feet until his back knocked into the wall. he could feel the rapid pulse of his heart, lodged in his throat as he looked around for whatever just ran out from under him, eyes bigger than usual with terror. 

hoseok stopped kicking at the debris on the ground to watch the scene, his eyebrows raised slightly and lips twitching in amusement, trying not to laugh. “you good, mouse? scared of the dark?” 

“oh, bite me,” taehyung grumbled, straightening himself up, still nervously glancing around. he purposefully ignored the old nickname that hoseok used, even if he was surprised to hear it after a few years. taehyung had grown up hearing hoseok call him mouse since early high school after a forced school camping trip where taehyung woke the whole cabin up from his screaming after a mouse ran over his hand. despite the condescending nickname that came from it, hoseok had been the one to calm down taehyung’s hyperventilating. 

“you would love that,” hoseok responded with a smirk, stepping over broken wood to join taehyung’s side. taehyung didn’t deny it. instead he stepped forward, determined to look around more and immediately ended up nearly tripping over the broken wooden planks lying on the pool ground, his hands automatically flying out and grabbing hoseok for support, swallowing the gasp he wanted to let out. on reflex, hoseok wrapped his arms around taehyung’s waist but said nothing, instead looking at taehyung with a raised brow. thankfully the dim light of the sinking sun hid taehyung’s blush, glaring down at his feet. 

they wandered around the pool floor silently for a few minutes, taehyung’s hand gripping tightly onto hoseok’s after sounds of more scampering reached his earshot. 

“shut up,” taehyung snapped at hoseok’s palpable amusement, glaring at him as they weaved through the mess, still clutching the older man’s hand like a lifeline. 

“i didn’t say anything, mouse,” hoseok grinned, guiding taehyung around a sheet of plaster. 

“stop calling me that,” taehyung grit, “i’m not a mouse, and i’m not even afraid of mice. i was a kid! let it go i— what the fuck is that!” his annoyance turned to fear, and as if his words had conjured it themselves, a mouse ran out from under a sheet of plastic causing taehyung to jump back in fright, yelping from shock. the scare nearly sent him to the ground, could have dragged his hyung down with him but hoseok was quick, easily pulling taehyung against his body for stability and holding him there once hearing the increased rate of his breathing. his mind flashed to the same scenario years ago, hugging a panicking taehyung and promising him the mouse was gone and not going to eat his fingers in his sleep. nevertheless, taehyung had crawled into the same bed as hoseok and slept easier, back to his usual self by morning. 

taehyung unconsciously curled into hoseok’s hold, hiding his face in the other’s neck as he tried to calm his heart rate down, hands curled into fists, holding onto the older’s hoodie. he fixed his gaze on the tiled pool side walls, the tiles stained with moss and mould and graffiti tags. he eyed one of the sprays curiously before pointing to it with still slightly shaky fingers. “did you do that one?” 

hoseok followed his finger and nodded, “mhm.” 

after a beat of silence, “it sucks.” 

hoseok couldn’t help but laugh then, looking down at taehyung before rolling his eyes. “thanks mouse, you were my inspiration.” 

“fuck you.” 

“say please,” with the taunt, hoseok couldn’t help the wide grin plastered on his features and it annoyed taehyung enough for him to forget his previous fear and pull away, completely letting go of the other and stepping away, moving to the edge of the pool to climb out. taehyung always blushed so prettily from hobi’s teasing, so really he couldn’t help himself if it meant getting a reaction from tae. it was just so easy. 

“i wanna go home, ‘m cold and this place is creepy,” taehyung mumbled once he wriggled out of the rotting pool, completely sulking now as his feet scuffed at the flooring. 

hoseok lifted himself out of the pool easily, pulling out his phone and texting the chat for everyone to meet at the car and nodded at taehyung to lead the way, knowing when to pick his battles and when to back off. taehyung was not a confrontational person, and was never rude to anyone unless it was hoseok, and that meant he was easy to stir up. he came with a short fuse; hoseok had learned the hard way when he had pushed taehyung too far. after the younger’s long day, exploring this creepy place and the scares that came with it, along with hoseok’s relentless teasing, it meant taehyung was exhausted and unwilling to ignore much more if hoseok didn’t stop while he was ahead. 

they walked to the cars in silence, footsteps crunching on gravel once they exited the building. taehyung fiddled with his fingers impatiently, glancing around before looking over at hoseok and down to the ground. his voice was meek when he spoke up, “this place was cool, thank you for showing us.” 

he didn’t give hoseok a chance to respond, moving to the drivers side of his car quickly and dropping into the front seat, closing the door forcefully. hobi was left staring after him curiously. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

taehyung flicked through the racks of clothing, humming along to the music filtering through the store. behind him, jimin and namjoon flirted and giggled as they too went through clothing. 

thrift shopping was taehyung’s favourite form of cheap therapy. the thoughts in his mind turned from studying to what he could do with this large shirt to make it look good on him. already his arms were loaded with all different types of clothing for him to try on, already planning on cutting some, ironing on patches, how he would style them. by the time he could barely manage to carry any more, he finally locked himself in the tiny fitting room and tried everything on, casting aside what was purely terrible or too small and setting aside what he planned on buying. next, he pulled up a well worn, slightly distressed and oversized AC/DC band t-shirt, biting down on his bottom lip in thought before tossing it onto the buy pile. that one wasn’t for him, and neither was the burgundy silk button up that he’d spotted on his way into the fitting room. 

“taetae, you done?” jimin’s voice came from the other side of the curtain. “hyung and i are ready to go get some food now.” 

“yeah, i’m done.” taehyung startled and grabbed his pile of clothes. he pushed out of the fitting room and made his way over to the counter to pay, giving the employee his canvas tote to put his purchases inside. 

after they’d eaten lunch, the trio all went back to jimin and namjoon’s apartment, excited and prepared to diy their finds and make them cute. taehyung rummaged through the stack of iron on patches he’d stashed in his bag before leaving earlier that morning, thinking over which ones he wanted to use and for what. a bee in the centre of the giant butterscotch coloured t-shirt he’d picked out, large enough on him that he planned on wearing it like a dress. peach emoji patches onto the back pockets of his denim high waisted. for the rest, he planned on cropping oversized sweaters and turning another pair of ill fitting jeans into shorts. 

they situated themselves in the living room, jimin setting up the iron for taehyung and spreading out their clothes before getting to work, giggling and talking easily. taehyung didn’t feel exhausted for the first time in awhile. he was having fun with no dread looming over his head. jimin’s phone ringing signalled a small break as he answered.

“hi, hobi hyung?” jimin hummed along to whatever hoseok was saying, before standing up and pacing the room. “yeah, you can come stay the night, it’s fine. joonie hyung, taehyungie, and i are just chilling, probably going to watch a movie later...mhm...yeah sure, door’s unlocked.” 

fifteen minutes later, hoseok was sitting on the couch watching taehyung measure the length of a long sleeved outdated pink floral printed shirt before marking it to the length of his midriff and slipping it off. taehyung picked up the scissors and started cutting where he had marked. the pair hadn’t spoken, taehyung too lost in his own world, and namjoon was happy to fill that gap by talking about their day. hoseok listened, chiming in where necessary but kept his eyes on taehyung’s creative process. 

“that’s so cute, taehyungie,” jimin cooed, moving over to taehyung as he finished another shirt. “gonna look so good, you gotta try everything on later.” 

taehyung blushed at the praise and pouted gently. “you’ll see me in it eventually, jimin-ah.” once he’d finally customised all his clothes, taehyung stood with a stretch and padded into the kitchen, pouring himself a drink only for hoseok to join him a few seconds later and hunt down a bottle of soju in the fridge. taehyung gaped at him before reacting, stepping forward and snatching the bottle from hoseok’s hands before the male even got a chance to open it, putting it back in the fridge and closing the door of it roughly, hearing glass rattle harmlessly. 

“you do not need to be drunk right now,” taehyung hissed so he wouldn’t alert the attention of jimin or namjoon.

“don’t tell me what to do, mouse,” hoseok folded his arms over his chest, standing straight in an attempt to intimidate taehyung to back down. of course, it was never that easy. taehyung never gave up against hoseok. 

“why can’t you just enjoy hanging out with your friends, without the fucking influence of alcohol,” taehyung snapped quietly, giving hoseok a once over. 

“i’m allowed to have a fucking drink once in awhile.” hoseok wasn’t bothering to lower his tone, and it was proving to aggravate tae more, his own voice growing louder in frustration. 

“it’s not just once in a while! it’s all the damn time! alcohol is not a fucking personality trait hyung, it’s a crutch, so get ahold of yourself.” 

“it’s just a fucking drink, tae!” 

taehyung threw his hands up, and by now they had gotten the attention of the couple in the living room. “then have a glass of water!” 

“stop being such a little bitch and lighten up!” hoseok snapped, finally losing his grasp on the small bit of composure he was holding onto. taehyung stepped back, affronted, and narrowed his eyes into a venomous stare.

“how fucking dare you! don’t you dare, ever, call me a bitch again.” taehyung drove his point home by jabbing his finger against hoseok’s chest with each word. to his benefit, hoseok did look slightly guilty when the words slipped out, felt worse when taehyung looked so hurt by them, but his anger ruled, and he wasn’t going to apologise yet. 

“fuck this,” he snapped, turning on his heel and storming out of the kitchen. “i need a cigarette.” 

with that, he stepped onto the balcony, closing the glass sliding doors behind him roughly. jimin and namjoon stood in awkward silence as taehyung immediately followed after him, door closing behind him also so they could go at it outside. namjoon and jimin merely spectated from inside, watching taehyung yell and throw his arms around in his anger, his hands clenched as hoseok merely leaned against the wall, taking lazy drags of a cigarette, his eyes on taehyung. hoseok appeared nonchalant, like he had tuned out of taehyung’s ranting, but jimin knew better. he knew that hoseok always listened to taehyung. 

“you are unbelievable,” taehyung was practically yelling, his body shaking with strong emotion, wanting a fucking reaction. 

“am i?” hoseok quipped idly, flicking ash over the edge and scanning the skyline before fixating back on taehyung, raising his brows. 

taehyung’s chest heaved with his rapid breathing, staring hoseok down in frustration before his gaze flicked to the smoke between his fingers and he stepped forward, quickly snatching it from him and throwing it over the edge of the balcony. that got an immediate reaction. 

hoseok seized forward, grabbing taehyung and pushing him against the wall, not enough to be painful but enough to shock him. “what the actual fuck taehyung? what the hell do you think you’re doing?” 

“get off me.” taehyung tried to hold onto his anger but he slumped against the wall, holding hoseok’s glare, pushing against his chest lightly. 

“you just threw my smoke off the goddamn building, what gives you the right?” hoseok practically growled, crowding into taehyung’s space and holding him in place. strangely, he noticed that taehyung didn’t really struggle to get free, hands lightly fisting his shirt. other than that, he was practically pliant when caged against hoseok and the wall. 

“what gives you the right to be an asshole?” taehyung spat right back, rolling his eyes before turning his stare away from hoseok sullenly. the sound of the door sliding open alerted hoseok, and he turned to see jimin watching them nervously. 

“uh, guys…”

hoseok let go of taehyung, stepped back, and went back inside without another word, accidentally bumping past jimin on his way and not seeing the wounded look he got from it. taehyung made a sound of outrage and chased after the older, grabbing his sleeve and yanking him to a halt. “say sorry you prick, you just body slammed jimin for no fucking reason except to be a dick.” 

“you’re so dramatic,” hoseok rolled his eyes, shaking taehyung off him and moving over to jimin, draping himself over the other and mumbling a sincere apology. jimin immediately grinned widely and hugged hoseok tightly, noting that once again hoseok only listened to taehyung.

“it’s all good, hyung.” 

with that, the argument seemed to dissipate and everyone calmed down. taehyung was still worked up, escaping into the bathroom and rubbing away the tears of frustration and sniffling, mumbling under his breath about his hyung until the burn in his eyes stopped. when he looked up, hoseok was standing in the doorway, appearing apologetic. “i’m sorry for being an ass.” 

taehyung sniffled again and stood up from where he had crouched over the sink. “i’m sorry for blowing up at you…” 

“and for throwing my smoke off the building?”

hoseok got an eye roll for that. “no.” 

“fair enough,” hoseok chuckled, stepping aside so taehyung could exit the bathroom, following the younger into the living room and dropping himself onto the couch. 

taehyung sat down on the floor and grabbed his canvas bag, grabbing the silk button up and band t-shirt before idly tossing them at hoseok, giggling quietly when they landed on his face. “they’re for you.” 

everyone looked rightfully surprised. hoseok didn’t know what to say. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

sometimes, taehyung’s mind liked to wander. his parents called him a dreamer, and they were correct because taehyung always fantasized that he was somewhere else, anywhere but where he was currently: stuck in his business lecture as the professor droned on about a topic that taehyung’s brain refused to absorb. he’d just have to watch the lecture again later and take thorough notes. for now, he was content to stare out the window, envious of the students basking in the sunshine. despite the crisp air, the sun was warm, and taehyung ached to perch himself under a tree and do anything else that wasn’t this. 

he felt like his eyes were hanging out of his head. after a late night shift at work, morning classes and the studying that was awaiting him, taehyung was exhausted and the prospect of more work just fatigued him even more. he hadn’t seen much of his friends this week either, and he missed them, but his mattress was calling his name. 

his head had started to drop when finally, the professor dismissed the class. taehyung swooped up his things and was heading to the door within seconds. his mind was still elsewhere, gaze locked to the floor, so he didn’t see the person he collided with, but he smelled the unmissable scent of booze the moment it hit his nose. he couldn’t help but scrunch his face in repulsion. taehyung wasn’t surprised to come face to face with a drunk hoseok. 

“oh damn, i missed it,” hoseok muttered without an ounce of remorse in his tone, looking into the emptying lecture hall with an unfocused stare. 

“are you fucking kidding me right now?” taehyung hissed, grabbing his hyung by the shirt and dragging him out of the doorway and over to the wall. “it’s barely fucking midday hyung and you’re drunk ?” 

“yeah and?” hoseok leaned against the wall for support, his expression as uncaring as his voice. 

“you missed lecture to go get wasted in the morning, who the fuck even served you alcohol at this hour?” taehyung was immediately angry at the lack of anything from hoseok who just stared down at him blankly.

“what’s your point, baby mouse?” hoseok slurred and taehyung scoffed, rolling his eyes. 

“my point is that you don’t give a fuck, and you really fucking should because it’s your own future that you’re screwing up here.” 

“oh please, i am not in the mood for a lecture from you right now. more drinks would have to be involved.” hoseok almost swayed forward to the point he would have lost his balance, but taehyung shoved him back against the wall more. 

“you’ve definitely had enough. i honestly cannot believe you.” taehyung adjusted the books in his grasp, glancing around for a solution before sighing in defeat and grabbing the male by his shirt to tug him towards the carpark. “you stink.” 

“you stink,” was the witty reply he got in response, and taehyung acted apologetic when he ‘accidentally’ yanked the older forward. 

“i’m taking you home. sleep it off, shower and seriously contemplate your life choices jung hoseok,” taehyung sighed as he rummaged for his keys, and that was when hoseok refused to keep moving, nearly causing taehyung to fall over his own feet. could have managed that on his own, he didn’t need hoseok’s help for that. 

“i’m not going home,” hoseok spat, his expression immediately turning to anger. 

taehyung hesitated, eyeing the other with confusion before shrugging. “whatever, i’ll take you to mine then. i have to go to work, so try not to drown in your own vomit.” 

with that, hoseok finally allowed taehyung to keep dragging him across the carpark, ignoring the looks they received from other students. taehyung, meanwhile, flushed in embarrassment, couldn’t believe that he was the one having to drag his drunk friend home. he should have called one of their other friends, passed the responsibility onto someone else because hoseok should never have been taehyung’s problem to deal with, but even taehyung knew that he couldn’t do that. no matter how much he disliked the other, he wasn’t just going to leave him here like this. 

“whatever you say, little mouse.” 

“i loathe you,” taehyung muttered under his breath, unlocking his car door and clumsily pushing hoseok into the passenger seat, buckling the seatbelt for him before going around to the driver's side. 

once back at taehyung’s and jeongguk’s shared apartment, taehyung forced hoseok to eat something and drink water, ignoring the drunken complaints that he got each time he tried to help. hoseok didn’t make it easy, slurring curses at taehyung as the younger maneuvered him into bed, letting him drop onto the mattress with a bounce. 

“just leave me alone,” hoseok sighed into the pillow as taehyung tugged his shoes off. 

“as much as i would love to,” taehyung growled, his annoyance at its peak, “i’m not going to be responsible for you needing your stomach pumped.” 

“why would you even care?” 

with an eye roll, taehyung threw the sheets over hoseok. “because unlike you, i actually give a fuck about your wellbeing and don’t like seeing you ruin yourself.” 

now taehyung started readying himself for work, shoving his uniform in his bag and leaving his books on his desk. hoseok never replied to taehyung’s words so he figured maybe he’d finally passed out, but was surprised to see the older watching him as he moved around the room. 

“you wear a skirt?” hoseok asked. his voice was curious, no hidden malice, lifting himself up on his elbows to look at the other boy. 

“go the fuck to sleep,” taehyung yawned, walking out of the bedroom and slamming the door behind him. standing by the door, taehyung tugged on his shoes and pulled out his phone, reaching jeongguk’s voicemail and leaving a message. “hey gukkie, hoseok is drunk at ours right now, so can you please check on him when you get home so i know he’s not dead? thank you, love you, text you later.” with that, taehyung pocketed his phone and walked out of his apartment, locking the door behind him. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

hoseok had a lot of emotions, and they often controlled him and his actions. he held so much anger in him that he often didn’t know how to handle it. it fueled his bad habits, jaded his view of the world. he started fights with strangers, drank more than he should, avoided classes and his friends when he was like this, but often he relied on them to keep him out of the house. hoseok hated being home the most. his mother didn’t want him around, would let him know it any chance she got with her cruel smile and dainty hands cradling a wine glass filled with red. when he started yelling back, telling her to stop treating him like shit, she shipped him off to his father. her sweet voice claimed she couldn’t handle his wild habits. if only she knew it was because of her that he held so much anger, why he often came home drunk and with bloody knuckles. 

what could he do? she was his mother. no one knew the hell that was his home life, and he planned on keeping it that way. he hated playing happy family, never really quite mastered his acting skills when it came to her. hoseok just wanted to be away from her, far away with his own decisions. she controlled him with money, by driving in his insecurities that no one would ever love him, or want him anyway—that he was to blame for it all. when hoseok’s father left, his mother changed, looked at her son with contempt, spoke to him with poisonous words. 

when he woke up in taehyung’s bed, head pounding, he wished he could stay in those sheets a little longer, but jeongguk was home and checking on him, looking at him, mentioned that taehyung was concerned for him—well, as concerned as taehyung could be in his annoyance. so hoseok went home, with no other place in mind that he could go without feeling like a burden. 

the moment he stepped through the door, his mother was there, saying something cruel that he ignored. he stomped up to his room, letting the walls shake with the force of his door slamming. 

he was forced to sit through dinner with the kim family, taehyung included, engaging in idle chit chat and acting like the perfect son as much as it burned acidic in his stomach. he never wanted to disappoint his mother, but she hated and blamed him for everything since his father fled. hoseok had dressed in black skin tight jeans and the burgundy silk button up that taehyung had given him, remembering how surprised he’d been when taehyung tossed it at him without explanation. it was a really nice shirt, and hoseok wanted to know what made taehyung think of him, why he brought it for him, but he would never ask. he was pleased upon seeing taehyung’s reaction when he noticed the shirt: the tint of his cheeks, his bitten lip, and surprised eyes before he ducked and scuttled passed him to greet his mother. 

taehyung didn’t speak much through the dinner, fiddling with the dainty, thin silver rings on his fingers, keeping his eyes down and only speaking when spoken to. hoseok felt his discomfort. it mirrored his own, but the adults were none-the-wiser, laughing and sipping their expensive wine. hoseok thought taehyung looked cute in the outfit he’d picked up thrift shopping and customised as his own. high waisted jeans with peaches on his ass pockets and a retro looking, multicoloured striped sweater that he had cut into a mid rise crop. he wore silver drop earrings and his makeup was soft, enough to make his eyes seem bigger yet just as piercing as always, even more so, and his lips dabbed with a pink tint. 

“so, taehyung.” hoseok’s mother caused both boys to look up. “seeing any pretty girls?” 

the atmosphere got significantly awkward very quickly, and taehyung shifted uncomfortably. everyone knew that taehyung was out and unashamed of it. his parents had been accepting which had put more pressure on tae to not disappoint them with his future, seeing as he could never give them children now. everyone around had been open and accepting of taehyung. nothing changed except that taehyung finally became more comfortable in his skin, acting how he pleased, dressing and speaking as he pleased. he never hid his homosexuality. unfortunately, when hoseok’s mother had heard of it, she wasn’t as open minded, calling him disgusting slurs that had hoseok trembling with rage before acting ignorant, refusing to accept and pretending she didn’t even know. just for something like this to happen. 

taehyung cast a look towards hoseok, looking pale and ready to cry, before facing his mother. even taehyung’s parents looked visibly uncomfortable, but no one spoke up for quite some time. 

“actually uh—” taehyung began, shaking hands reaching for his glass of coke. once picking it up, the drink immediately slipped from his grasp, spilling over the table and onto his sweater. causing taehyung to yelp and immediately stood from his seat, eyes wide. 

“oh dear,” taehyung’s mother immediately grabbed a napkin in an attempt to clean her son up, cooing softly in sympathy. hoseok wished he had that. 

“oh no, you’re going to want to wash that immediately, otherwise it’s ruined,” hoseok’s mother spoke up, fake sorrow on her face. “hoseok can show you where the laundry is.” 

“uh yeah,” hoseok muttered, standing up and motioning out of the room with his head. “c’mon, tae.”

taehyung immediately nodded and followed hoseok out of the large dining room, sighing in relief the moment the doors swung closed. “not going to lie, i’m really glad i didn’t have to answer that question.” 

“i’m really sorry she asked that, she knows you’re gay, she’s just…” hoseok didn’t know how to finish that sentence, shrugging sheepishly as he led taehyung through to the other side of the house, pushing the door open to the laundry. 

“it’s okay, i know that not everyone will be okay with gay.” 

“and i’m sorry about your sweater,” hoseok murmured, hovering by the door as taehyung approached the washing machine. “i’ll get you a clean shirt, be right back.” 

hoseok went up to his room quickly, grabbing the band shirt that was at the end of his bed before going back to the laundry. when he stepped through the door, he was surprised to see taehyung already with his sweater off, fiddling with the buttons on the machine before it started rumbling and shaking, starting its cycle. 

after taking a moment to appreciate the curves and dips of taehyung’s back, hoseok spoke up. “uh, got you a shirt.” 

taehyung spun around, and hoseok was assaulted by the front view. taehyung was soft in all senses of the word: his stomach was flat, hip bones protruding slightly accentuating his narrow waist. hoseok closed the space and held out his band shirt, watching taehyung glance at it before scrunching his nose and looking up at hoseok. 

“i mean, thanks, but you think that’s my style?” taehyung replied, his tone bratty but his lips curled in a teasing smile. 

hoseok played along, rolling his eyes and repressing a laugh. “then what?” 

taehyung teasingly pointed to the silk hoseok was wearing, biting his lip and swaying on his feet. hoseok quirked a brow before shrugging, holding taehyung’s stare as he started unbuttoning the shirt slowly, watching as surprise took over taehyung’s doll like features. tae let out a noise of disbelief, shifting back slightly but didn’t take his eyes off the view, following each finger as more skin became visible with his dark eyes. he was flustered, always easy to tease, cheeks heating up and bottom lip trapped between his teeth as hoseok slipped off the fabric and held it out for taehyung. with shaky hands and a warm face, taehyung took the shirt shyly, hearing hoseok’s quiet chuckle as he pulled it over his shoulders. he fumbled with the buttons, taking his time because his trembling hands weren’t making it easy on him, feeling the heat of hoseok’s heavy gaze watching his every movement, his breathing slightly shaky. 

hoseok kept his eyes locked on taehyung, eyeing his honey toned skin, so beautifully complemented by the burgundy rippling around his form, unaware of how he had closed the distance, now close enough to touch, and touch hoseok did. he couldn’t help himself, hadn’t quite registered in his mind that his fingers were moving until they met flesh. taehyung was so sweetly flustered under hoseok’s scrutiny that he just couldn’t help himself, fingers grazing over his hip, massaging gentle circles before moving on and circling around his belly button. 

taehyung didn’t remember how to breathe. his ears were as pink as his cheeks, shivering from hoseok’s touch while his own eyes wandered over hoseok’s exposed upper body. the thing was, taehyung knew that hoseok was a dancer, was very aware of the fact, but it felt like a slap in the face after seeing the evidence of his dancing right in front of him, no clothing to prevent taehyung’s mind from wandering. hoseok was all sharp definition and visible muscles, and taehyung knew that hoseok was strong. his easy ability to push taehyung against a wall or hold him up from falling down was confirmation of the fact, but now he could see his muscles, and it was confronting. 

“silk looks good on you,” hobi murmured, his tone gentle, but taehyung detected something else. desire. hoseok’s hands slipped to the waistband of taehyung’s jeans, slender fingers looped into the unoccupied belt loops, tugging them down slightly and pulling taehyung forward lightly until their hips met. the jeans didn’t completely fit taehyung after buying them second hand, so they easily slipped down slightly after hoseok applied the pressure, and taehyung could feel his heart racing, swallowing down a whimper. there was no gap between them now. the dull hum of the washing machine filled the room, and taehyung vaguely remembered where they were, that their parents were still in the dining room, awaiting their return. he couldn’t believe that hoseok was doing this, right here and right now, couldn’t comprehend even when hoseok tugged his jeans down some more, exposing the waistline of his underwear. hoseok’s breath caught as he backed taehyung up some more until his backside hit the vibrating machine. 

hoseok didn’t quite know where his confidence came from or why he was doing this, but he couldn’t stop himself anymore, unless taehyung asked him to. hands rested on his biceps, and hoseok’s gaze dropped to the slither of cotton pink underwear, white frill stitched into the hemline of the waist. fuck. 

taehyung was nervous; his tummy was fluttering and he didn't know why, unable to pinpoint the source of the thrill zapping up and down his spine. he found his eyes flicking to hoseok’s lips, and he was curious, so unbearably curious. curious if hoseok still kissed how he did years ago, if his lips were still as soft as they once were, if hoseok’s hands would hold him gently like they once did--

--or if they would be firmer, rougher, if taehyung would end up with finger shaped bruises on his skin. taehyung didn’t think he would mind it. in fact, deep down he craved it. 

still, he was slower to react, unable to believe that hoseok was doing this right now while their family was under the same roof only rooms away, afraid someone might come looking for them. his face felt too hot, but he couldn't complain because hoseok’s lips were trailing slow and gentle kisses up his neck, his hands were sliding up his front. hoseok pressed against him now, pushing taehyung against the machine until the vibrations shook through his whole body, as if he wasn’t already trembling. he blames his pounding heart on the machine. 

“hyu-hyung…” taehyung was visibly panting, arching into hoseok’s gentle touches and arching his neck for him. hoseok lifted his head from the fresh purple hickey that he had left on taehyung’s collarbone, their eyes locking and holding, like time was suspended and nothing could touch them. hoseok was still shirtless, and taehyung’s unbuttoned silk shirt had slipped off one shoulder, leaving more skin for hoseok to explore. 

“kiss me,” hoseok whispered, nipping at tae’s jaw, giving him the chance to stop this now, before it got further, leaving the decision in taehyung’s hands because hoseok had made his mind up long ago about what he wanted. 

taehyung seized forward without hesitation, pressing his lips to hoseok’s fiercely. there was nothing gentle about the kiss. despite the tension thrumming through taehyung, he didn’t kiss like he was nervous, no second guesses or confusion. their lips moved in desperate tandem, open mouthed with heavy breaths and slick with spit as their tongues roamed. with deft fingers, upon the guidance of taehyung, hoseok unbuttoned the younger’s jeans, tugged the zipper down and pushed his jeans down until they dropped completely. taehyung simply stepped out of them, standing bare in hoseok’s open shirt and frilly underwear. 

“please,” taehyung gasped once they broke for air, pressing his hips forward as hobi’s fingers traced along the waistband of his panties, squirming in impatience. 

upon the permission, hoseok pushed two fingers into taehyung’s mouth, getting him to suck thoroughly until they were wet with the other’s spit, dark gazes locked on one another as taehyung made obscene noises with hoseok’s fingers in his mouth. when taehyung started drooling around the fingers in his mouth, hoseok slipped them out with a smirk. cheekily, he dragged his wet fingers over tae’s cheek, wiping tae’s own spit on him and just hummed when taehyung squirmed in reaction. hoseok hitched up taehyung’s shirt, circling wet fingers around taehyung’s nipples until he whined at the sensation, before sliding his hands back to tae’s hips, fingers hooking into the waistband of his underwear. he teases the soft skin there for a moment, before finally tugging the underwear down tae’s legs and lets them drop around his ankles. 

still leaning against the washing machine, bare ass against the cool vibrating machine, arms wrapped around hoseok’s neck, tae watches hoseok with a heavy gaze, waiting for what he would do next. taehyung’s legs felt like jelly when hoseok finally pushed the first finger into him, easing inside and working him open until he could fit a second digit. everything was slightly rushed, knowing they could possibly be busted at any moment, but hoseok was still careful to make sure taehyung felt no pain, stretching him out until taehyung was whimpering and gasping for more.  

the position was slightly awkward, underwear now around one of tae’s ankles as he hitches a leg around hoseok’s waist, pressed back against the machine and the vibrations just driving the sensations through him harder. when taehyung started begging for more, hoseok reluctantly pulled away, thinking about how he was going to fuck taehyung without any form of lubricant. a mewl from tae made him rummage through the pile of freshly folded clothes that had yet to be put away, finding some jeans he’d worn a few nights previously and he searched the pockets before finding the small bottle of lube he had stashed in there, glad it hadn’t fallen out in the wash. bless his forgetfulness, this was the only time it became a convenience. 

taehyung merely raised his brows at hoseok’s find before pulling the man closer and connecting their lips in a desperate kiss, his fingers tugging at hoseok’s long dark hair impatiently. “hyung, we only have so much time until someone comes looking for us, cock in me now .” 

“i don’t have a condom,” hoseok paused, frowning slightly before adding, “i’m clean though.”

“i’m clean too, just fuck me.” 

hoseok rolled his eyes at taehyung’s impatience, even if he liked the sight of a riled up taehyung, needy for hobi’s cock to be inside him. so really, as he always did, he listened to taehyung and wasted no time tugging down his jeans enough to finally free his aching cock, slicking himself with the lube. taehyung braced a hand against the washing machine, before hoseok let out a grunt, deciding the angle was too awkward and he gripped taehyung by the waist, easily hoisting him until he was completely sat on the machine and the dancer stood between his thighs. with a visible swallow, taehyung situated his hips to make it easier on hoseok, resting back on his elbows until he could feel the machine vibrating along his spine, twitching and gasping as hoseok nudged the head of his cock against his rim. 

neither of them had really thought about why they were doing this, how they ended up like this, and what would it mean afterwards, and those thoughts never entered their mind at all, even as hoseok slowly eased into taehyung, both letting out soft moans until hoseok bottomed out, his hips flushed against taehyung’s ass and thighs. 

“mo-move,” taehyung pleaded before long, squirming and whining as hoseok gave a small roll of his hips. with fluid strokes, hoseok started thrusting into taehyung, snapping his hips against him sharply and causing the male to let out a broken whine. taehyung’s eyes clouded over, mouth parted with his sounds as he dropped his head back, lost in the pleasure. hoseok fucked into him hard and fast, his entire body rocking and shivering from the force of it. ironic how the vibrating washing machine underneath him cleaned the stain from his sweater while taehyung made a mess of his own. his cock pressed against his lower abdomen, red and leaking with arousal as moans and whimpers fell from his kiss swollen lips. 

hoseok simply enjoyed the sight of taehyung before him, wrecked and needy from his cock, trembling from the machine and gasping with each slam of his hips. taehyung arched and writhed, heaved for air as his walls squeezed around hoseok, causing him to groan and grunt with pleasure. taehyung couldn’t filter his pleasure anymore, loud whines leaving him and babbled jumbled words trying to portray his pleasure, let hoseok know that he was doing a good job, fucking him so well. 

“hgh— so good—fuh-full,” taehyung thrashed, letting out a gentle cry as hobi plunged into him, “fucking me so good, doing so well hyung.”

the praise definitely encouraged hoseok, fucking into him harder and faster until taehyung could no longer support his weight by his elbows, sinking down onto the washing machine and half against the wall behind him. hoseok leaned down, kissing over any skin he could reach, burying himself into taehyung until the boy released a loud cry causing hoseok to give him a stern glare, halting in his actions to listen if anyone was coming for them. taehyung’s hole clenched and unclenched around an unmoving hoseok continuously until hoseok figures they were in the clear, giving a firm surge of his hips and sending taehyung into a whimpering mess. with an arrogant smirk, hoseok resumed his pace, digging his fingers bruisingly tight into taehyung’s thighs that were wrapped around him as an anchor. 

“fuck you’re so damn tight, taking me so well,” hoseok muttered, running his eyes greedily over taehyung’s body while the younger succumbed to the sensations, bathed in it as it washed over him and skyrocketed his mind into a pleasure filled daze. 

“gonna—ah fuck—gonna cum,” taehyung sighed, almost muted by the sounds of the washing machine but hoseok heard it, could even see the signs of taehyung’s impending orgasm. the way his lashes fluttered over his cheekbones, his swollen lips parted for air, chest rose and fell rapidly, whimpers and whines tumbled from him unfiltered and filthy. tae’s fingers gripped onto the edge of the machine, babbling incoherently as hoseok picked up his pace. 

“hm, gonna cum like this, baby? haven’t even touched your cock,” hoseok’s voice was deep, hoarse from exertion, and his own release building, but he couldn’t help but taunt and watched how taehyung reacted to it, flushing and moaning shamelessly before nodding his head eagerly. 

“go—gonna cum untouched, just from—from your cock—hhh, please, hobi!” 

hoseok cursed quietly, awed by the sight of taehyung, couldn’t get enough of it, electrified and enchanted as he growled, thrusting into taehyung harshly, building taehyung up and up until he broke and fell down. taehyung’s orgasm rolled through him forcefully, causing him to let out a sob as his body convulsed, twitched and shuddered, painting his stomach in a sticky white mess. taehyung couldn’t feel that he was crying, squirming with oversensitivity as hoseok fucked into him a few more times before he also hit his high, spilling into taehyung with a low moan. 

taehyung’s eyes fluttered open after a moment, catching his breath and lifting himself onto his elbows again with a dazed look, glancing at the mess on his stomach and his cheeks immediately stained red. hoseok had pulled out of him, grabbed a towel and started cleaning both of them up before assisting taehyung to stand, who needed to lean against him for a moment, causing the older to radiate pride and smug satisfaction. once he had gathered his wits and ability to stand, taehyung picked up his underwear and pulled them on, swiftly buttoning up the buttons of the silk shirt he was wearing under hoseok’s cocky gaze. neither of them spoke. he was wriggling into his jeans when hoseok too, fixed his appearance and pulled on the band t-shirt that taehyung had rejected earlier. 

once they had made themselves appear more put together, taehyung finally spoke up, but his eyes were on the ground, shuffling shyly as he twisted the rings on his fingers, “come over later...if you want—uh...when gukkie is asleep, i’ll text you.”

hoseok resisted the urge to coo over taehyung fumbling with his words, his palpable shyness. despite the fact that taehyung had been moaning and speaking pure filth only moments before, yet he still got shy around hoseok, was sweet, even if he acted like a brat most of the time. he did adjust the collar of taehyung’s shirt so you could no longer see the hickey that hoseok had left, “i’ll be there.” 

“bring my sweater,” taehyung demanded, a touch of his usual attitude towards hoseok returning. 

footsteps sounded from outside the door and taehyung’s mother’s voice called out for them, “you boys okay? come return to dinner, we’re about to have dessert.”

“coming!” taehyung called back, glancing up at hobi and biting his lip, before giving in and dragging him to him, their lips colliding in a heated kiss. taehyung didn’t know what it meant, what it would change between them, and right now he didn’t care. he kissed hoseok eagerly, pleased when the other responded just as hard, taehyung letting out a small moan as hoseok pulled him against him securely, letting his body go lax and pliant in his hold. hoseok liked how taehyung responded to him, so receptive to touch and gave the most pretty sounds when hoseok nipped at his lower lip. eventually, they pulled back to not gain suspicion and left the laundry room to rejoin the party. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

taehyung was still in a daze by the time he got home, greeting jeongguk and glad the youngest didn’t notice that the shirt he was wearing was not the one he left the house in, and disappearing right into the bathroom, still sticky from earlier. he stood under the water for twenty minutes, easing the aches in his body and washing the residue of cum off his skin, trying not to overthink the fact he slept with hoseok and is going to do it again. instead, he had to act like everything was normal, that he didn’t get his back blown out in the laundry room of hoseok’s family home while their parents enjoyed dinner. 

standing in his room for what was probably way too long, taehyung stared at the metallic rack that held his clothes. he didn't have an actual closet, and the rack seemed to fit all of his clothes onto it (at least the ones he'd brought here). he stared, lost in thought, and contemplated on what to wear before he shrugged outwardly and decided on a babydoll slip. 

the slip he'd chosen was tinted a soft champagne color, satin slipping between his fingers like butter. its matching underwear had been hung with it on the same hanger, and he lifted it up, looking it over in vague appreciation. 

when he'd finally made his way out to the living room, he was already wearing the slip, disguised by an oversized hoodie that fell over his lithe body easily. jeongguk was used to living with taehyung, familiar with his habits such as never wearing pants or how he always made hot chocolate when he was overthinking. 

“was dinner that bad, hyung?” jeongguk questioned, sitting himself on the counter as taehyung moved around the kitchen to make his drink. 

taehyung startled at the question, his cheeks immediately heating up as he thought back on it, “uh, yeah...kind of uncomfortable.”

he ended up explaining most of the night to jeongguk, refraining from mentioning the escapades on top of a washing machine while he finished making his drink. he told guk about his discomfort when hoseok’s mother asked if he had a girlfriend. 

“oh, that sounds like shit, i’m sorry, hyung. did hobi hyung feel bad, too? i bet he would have.” 

taehyung paused for a second, before slightly nodding his head, “he felt awful, said sorry.” 

they moved over to the couch, turning on the anime they were watching and taehyung tried not to shift through two episodes in anxious impatience. hoseok couldn’t come over until jeongguk had gone to bed, and taehyung felt antsy, nervous that he was being obvious and would get caught out. by the third episode, jeongguk started yawning, and by the fourth he finally announced he was going to bed, disappearing into his bedroom and the door clicking shut behind him. taehyung immediately dove for his phone. 

// little mouse 

>> gukkie’s gone to bed 

// hobi 🙄

>> be there in 15

taehyung put his phone down, turned off the tv, and paced the length of the apartment before telling himself he was being ridiculous. time seemed to tick by slower. taehyung caught himself glancing at his phone every minute until he forced himself to tidy up the living room, made sure everything was neat and put together before doing the dishes, washing his mug and the pots that jeongguk had used to make himself instant ramyeon for dinner. taehyung had started moving around the living space and watering the plants they had scattered around when his phone beeped, startling him in silence but he didn’t hesitate to pick it up and read the text. it was hoseok, announcing his arrival and taehyung was relieved that he was smart enough not to knock. 

the door swung open slowly, and hoseok stood there, looking relaxed with taehyung’s now clean sweater in his hand. taehyung was careful to be quiet when he opened the door and he blinked up at hoseok owlishly before stepping forward and cupping the older’s cheeks in his palms, closing the distance and pressing their lips together eagerly. hoseok was only partially surprised by taehyung’s actions, still holding onto the freshly washed sweater as his arms circled tae’s narrow waist, pulling him against him firmly as they kissed languidly in the doorway. 

eventually, hoseok reluctantly pulled away. neither of them said anything, and he raised his brows in question before taehyung got the point, grabbing his hyung’s hand and dragging him towards taehyung’s bedroom after the older had kicked off his boots.

hoseok liked taehyung and jeongguk’s apartment. it was modern with its sleek architecture and new kitchen, floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the city of seoul, but it was cozy with touches of the roommates’ personalities everywhere. there was greenery everywhere. taehyung had covered the apartment in plants, light timber coloured side tables and a coffee table. every surface had a small potted succulent or a giant lush fern atop it or even beside it. jeongguk had moved in a navy couch with terracotta decorative pillows that taehyung had picked out, and the giant 60 something inch television with a complete gaming setup gleamed in front of it.

the apartment was only a one bedroom, so taehyung had given jeongguk the bedroom and had converted the closed in balcony space as his room. it made his space small, his mattress filled half the space entirely from wall to wall and the back wall was where his rack of clothing sat, leaving him a small amount of space to move around in. he’d filled the window sill with plants and books, pinned pictures to the wall and turned his bed into a makeshift nest with four mismatched pillows. each pillow was a muted green, white, beige or tangerine. he had two quilts, plain white and another white with navy pinstripes. only a glass sliding door closed off his space from the rest of the apartment, and he’d covered it with a curtain for privacy and the other side was half length windows overlooking the city.  

taehyung immediately crawled onto his bed after gently sliding the door closed and pulling the curtain across it, kneeling at the end to face hoseok with his bottom lip trapped between his teeth. in hoseok’s eyes, taehyung looked unbearably soft in his giant hoodie and fluffy hair, big eyes looking up at him gently, almost appearing innocent despite his personality and what they were about to do. hoseok didn’t waste time, leaning down and gripping taehyung’s jaw in his fingers, coaxing his head up until their lips met, kissing the boy deep and slow. 

hoseok took his time, knowing his pace was already affecting taehyung, already drawing gasps and quiet moans from deep in his throat. he enjoyed taking taehyung apart, waited until fingers dug into his arms that he pried taehyung’s mouth open with his tongue, delving into warmth and getting taehyung more worked up. they kissed like that until hoseok’s back ached from leaning down, breaking the kiss only so he could join taehyung on the bed, dragging him against him again and kissing him harder this time. the night was quiet, the apartment virtually silent despite the small clicks and creaks that came with buildings, and the small sounds escaping taehyung, wet mouths moving together and low whines filling the space. 

fingers pulled at hoseok’s shirt, urging him to take it off and he complied easily, dropping it to the floor before leaning down to brush his lips over taehyung’s neck. he smiled in satisfaction when taehyung trembled in his hold, immediately tilted his head to the side for him. his mouth latched onto his neck, sucking and biting until it left a mark, soothing the sting with his tongue as taehyung whimpered into the darkness, starting to squirm and rocking his hips forward against nothing. 

“hard already?” hoseok teased lowly, slipping a hand down between taehyung’s thighs, feeling the rough texture of lace and sure enough, taehyung’s hard leaking cock pressed against the fabric. 

“ahh—shut up,” taehyung gasped, grinding down into hoseok’s hand, “it’s— it’s hot, please.” 

hoseok took mercy on him, grabbing onto the hoodie taehyung was wearing and lifting it up and off his body, eyes going slightly wider at the sight of the slip nightdress that taehyung was hiding underneath, the champagne satin fabric moved over his body like liquid, white lace accentuated the hemline along the top and bottom. hoseok was a little awed, before he managed a smirk, “all dressed up for me, little mouse?” 

taehyung huffed, rolling his eyes, “i dressed up for myself, thank you very much,” he happily allowed the older to press more gentle kisses along his shoulder, his lips feeling like a caress as he made his way up, his tongue licking over the fresh hickey he’d left on his throat, and taehyung knew that was going to be a struggle to cover up in the morning. 

“well, regardless,” hoseok nipped at taehyung’s jaw, before lowering him onto his back, “i like it, you look very pretty, mouse.” 

taehyung turned and hid his face in the pillow to conceal his blush, the light filtering from the moon dim but enough to reveal his flustered reaction. he heard a chuckle as hoseok moved his way down taehyung’s body, spreading his thighs and positioning himself between them. taehyung forgot how to breathe as hoseok’s fingers hooked into the lace he was wearing, easing them down and off his legs before they joined the pile of clothing on the floor. taehyung’s hips lifted up in impatience, as his eyes watched hoseok in curiosity and arousal, letting out a soft whine. 

wasting no time, hoseok buried his tongue into taehyung’s hole, feeling the other tense up in shock before his back arched off the bed, releasing an unfiltered moan. he circled his tongue around the rim, watching as taehyung’s thighs quivered and how the other had to cover his mouth with his hand, feeling smug satisfaction at messing taehyung up like this. hoseok laved and flicked his tongue around taehyung’s walls, listening to the quiet cries and moans he was getting in return, how taehyung’s free hand had gripped tightly onto the sheets beneath him. 

“lube,” hoseok grunted after a moment, stopping his actions onto to trail kisses along taehyung’s inner thigh, feeling taehyung shift around and pull out a bottle of lube from under his pillow, giving him a questioning look. 

“can’t say i’m not prepared,” taehyung panted out, handing the bottle to hobi and watching as the male covered his fingers in the substance. he dropped his head onto the pillow when hoseok worked the first finger into him, not feeling much stretch or pain since he was still kind of open from the sex earlier, so it didn’t take long for hoseok to press a second finger in, getting a small moan from tae in response. by the third finger, taehyung was rutting against hoseok’s hand, feeling the heavy stare of hobi on him, dark with desire as he watched his every move. taehyung would have felt insecure under the scrutiny if it wasn’t for the prominent bulge in hoseok’s grey sweatpants, delighting in the fact that he was going to have that huge cock in him soon enough. 

“need—need you inside me,” taehyung whispered, bucking his hips, “now,” then he choked on a whimper when hoseok removed his fingers and gave tae’s leaking cock a light slap causing taehyung’s hips to jump as he moaned in surprise. oh. his eyes blinked in shock, unaware that he was into that, while hoseok just smirked at him, removing his sweatpants. taehyung eyed his cock as it curved up against hoseok’s lower abdomen, thick and hard with precum oozing down its length. 

slicked with lube, hoseok positioned himself between tae’s thighs again, easing into his warmth with a quiet groan. taehyung was less discreet, moaning shamelessly, like his roommate wasn’t asleep in the other room. hoseok hoped jeongguk was a heavy sleeper, letting thoughts of being caught leave his mind as he rolled his hips forward once taehyung had adjusted. taehyung whimpered once hoseok picked a pace, fucking him steadily but hitting deep enough that taehyung felt every thrust, choking on his cries until hoseok got fed up, pressing two fingers into taehyung’s mouth to muffle him. taehyung didn’t protest, instead immediately started sucking on them happily, swirling his tongue and looking at hoseok through thick lashes. 

“fuck,” hoseok cursed, snapping his hips forward harshly, feeling taehyung jolt from the force of it, “such a good boy, taking hyung’s cock so well.” 

he got a mewl in reply, high pitched and needy and enough to encourage hoseok to pick up his pace, slamming into taehyung hard and fast. taehyung felt euphoric from the sensations hitting him just as hard as hobi’s hips, his lashes fluttering as he whined carelessly, fingers tugging at his blankets. 

“fuck! hyung,” taehyung chanted the moment hoseok removed his fingers, moaning loud and arching up, “s—so good.” 

taehyung was getting loud, sounds desperate and wrecked, writhing on top of the blankets as hoseok fucked him roughly, chanting nonsense he had to bury his face into the pillow to quieten himself. 

it was a knock on taehyung’s sliding doors that caused the pair to completely freeze. hoseok went still like a statue and taehyung’s eyes went big in fear. they couldn’t be caught like this. 

“hyung,” jeongguk’s sleepy voice came through the door, “are you okay? i heard noises.” 

“guk!” taehyung gasped, wide eyes immediately locking with hoseok’s, who looked almost in pain as taehyung’s walls tightened around him, “i’m o-okay, just a ni-nightmare…”

jeongguk hummed, “do you wanna talk about it? we can cuddle if you need to. you sound super shaky.” 

taehyung blushed immediately as hoseok had to muffle his snort of amusement. taehyung was endeared by jeongguk’s concern though, sounded genuinely worried about him and it made taehyung feel bad for lying, but he couldn’t quite come out and say that jeongguk had interrupted him and hoseok having sex. he could imagine how that would go down. a look crossed hoseok’s face, something mischievous as he held taehyung’s gaze and slowly started rocking his hips again, taehyung immediately squirming from shock, his eyes going impossibly wider as his cock twitched. hoseok didn’t miss taehyung’s reaction, his smirk growing in size as he kept grinding into taehyung who choked on a moan he had to stifle with his hand. 

“i’m good, gukkie!” taehyung spoke quickly, panic creeping at his features, “i’m sorry for waking you! please go back to bed.” 

“okay…”jeongguk replied uncertainly, “well, you know where i am if you need me.” 

“thank you, guk,” taehyung gasped the words out, arching up as hoseok gave a well aimed thrust that grazed his prostate. overwhelmed tears brimmed in his eyes, and he didn’t relax again until he heard the telltale sounds of jeongguk’s door closing, signaling he was gone. hoseok heard it too, because he stopped being gentle, immediately plunging deep and hard into taehyung and covering his mouth quickly, thankfully so because taehyung immediately cried out, his body trembling with pleasure as sobs wracked his body. 

“you okay, mouse?” hoseok double checked he wasn’t hurting tae, leaning his body down to kiss his rosy cheeks that were stained with tears now, not straightening up until taehyung hiccuped and gave him a nod in response.

“i’m good, don’t—don’t stop.” 

taehyung rolled his eyes at the cocky smirk that hoseok got after that, muttering “asshole,” before hoseok was covering his mouth again and slamming into him roughly. he succumbed to the pleasure, his body going pliant on the sheets while his lashes fluttered from the sensations coursing through him, letting hoseok push his fingers into his mouth again and eagerly licking and sucking at them. he was still wearing the satin dress, now wrinkled and pushed up around his body, exposing his stomach and the hickeys that hoseok had left on his hip bones. 

both lost concept of time, wrapped up in each other and the pleasure that each could give, hoseok’s firm thrusts and taehyung’s soft whimpers and whines, fingers clawing down hoseok’s back when the older leaned down to press kisses along his collarbones. when taehyung chanted that he was getting close, hoseok wrapped his hand around the younger’s cock, thumbing the slit and stroking him quickly until taehyung became a jumbled mess of moans and sobs, grinding up into hoseok’s grip until seconds later he was spilling onto his stomach with a shuddery gasp. hoseok groaned lowly at the sight of taehyung coming all over himself, releasing his hold on tae’s cock to focus on pumping his own cock deep into taehyung’s ass. minutes later, he too was coming with a grunt, fucking through it until he was too spent to move anymore. 

hoseok rolled onto his back after cleaning both taehyung and himself up, breathing hard into the silence and staring at the ceiling, unable to see. taehyung rubbed his eyes sleepily, hands curled into fits before he curled up and snuggled into hoseok’s side, resting his head on the man’s chest. nothing had to be said in the silence. it wasn’t awkward, and they didn’t feel the urge to fill it with idle chit chat and pillow talk. despite their constant fighting, and sworn dislike, they knew each other well enough to know that silence was okay. taehyung fell asleep on hoseok’s chest, feeling satiated with a delicious ache in his muscles and no stress in his mind. meanwhile, hoseok wondered how their dynamic had shifted, if this really meant anything or it was just simply fun. heaviness tugged at his eyelids, dragging him to the depths of sleep, and with it he decided to not question anything for the moment. 

when morning came, hoseok woke up to taehyung sitting at the end of his mattress, in the band shirt that hoseok had worn over, dabbing foundation over the hickey that hoseok had left on his neck, trying to cover it with the sponge. 

“thought that shirt wasn’t your style,” hoseok was unable to resist teasing as he sat up, stretching his arms over his head and admiring taehyung in the morning sunlight. 

taehyung merely threw a makeup brush at him, applying another layer of makeup to his neck, “you really gotta be more careful where you mark me next time.” 

“next time?” hoseok parroted in mild surprise, “there’s going to be a next time?”

a flush appeared on tae’s cheeks and he curled in on himself slightly, “mhm...well i wouldn’t mind for it to happen again...for it to keep happening.” taehyung meant what he said, even if he hadn’t actually thought it through, and taehyung always thought things through. this felt right though. it didn’t scare him like it maybe should. sleeping with the guy you didn’t get along with was surely something one should think about, but taehyung wanted it, and he was content not to think too much on it and just go with the flow; something he was unused to. 

“uh,” hoseok’s brows furrowed in thought, “what does this mean, taehyung?” 

the other jerked in surprise at the question, turning to face hoseok and biting his lip, “it doesn’t have to mean anything. it’s just fun,” taehyung shrugged then, “i’m just going with it at the moment. i don’t think we really need to question anything right now. unless something changes.” 

after a moment of contemplation, hoseok agreed, his tone serious, “as long as nothing changes.” 

“and as long as no one finds out,” taehyung hummed, going back to hiding the bruise on his throat, powdering it off with a defeated sound. “which means no more damn hickeys on my neck, okay?” 

hoseok grinned at that, moving forwards and lunging until he had taehyung pinned on his back, hiking up the shirt he was wearing to nibble at the hickeys already on his hips, hearing the gasp taehyung let out and the soft sigh of bliss that shortly followed. “whatever you say, little mouse, got plenty of other places i can mark anyway.” 

taehyung didn’t protest, or even move, just melted into the sheets contently and ran his fingers through hoseok’s hair, giving a small tug when hobi dipped his tongue into tae’s belly button cheekily. hoseok basked in the small sounds of blissful pleasure he drew out of taehyung as he pressed kisses over his hips and thighs, even his stomach, the boy completely docile under him, and hoseok loved it. he was so used to seeing taehyung as untouchable, unattainable, with a wall up not letting anyone close enough, but hoseok had gotten closer and had turned tae pliant, relaxed and obedient which was different to the usual indifferent and annoyed taehyung that hoseok normally dealt with. hoseok had to admit he was kind of addicted to taehyung being in this state, so soft and happy under hoseok’s attention. he loved it. 

eventually, taehyung moved again, whining quietly as he urged hoseok onto his back instead, who just watched in rapt curiosity, how taehyung moved between his legs easily. hoseok didn’t make a sound until taehyung swallowed his cock into his mouth, the sudden action enough for hoseok to choke out a moan before tossing his head back onto the pillows. taehyung sucked cock obscenely, hoseok learned. he was eager and messy, his mouth was loud as he bobbed his head and sucked. he was a tease, holding hoseok’s eyes as his tongue flicked over his tip before taking him into his mouth slowly, pumping in his hand what he couldn’t fit. taehyung enjoyed sucking cock; it was obvious in his expression, droopy eyes filled with arousal, and the way he moaned around hobi’s cock, mouth red and slick with his own spit and hoseok’s precum. it didn’t take long for hoseok to feel like he was on the edge, pulling taehyung off with his grip in his hair. 

“ride me.” 

there was no hesitation when taehyung lowers himself onto hoseok’s cock, moaning quietly and looking almost angelic in the morning light despite what he was doing. hoseok couldn’t resist the urge to touch, running his fingers over taehyung’s body, playing with his nipples and delighting in the reaction he gains from it, taehyung arching and gasping. hoseok’s hands squeeze at tae’s waist as the younger bounces on his cock, gripping onto him tightly as he sits up so he can scatter kisses over taehyung’s chest. 

hoseok cums first, already close to the edge after having taehyung’s mouth on him, but he lets taehyung keep moving his hips despite the sensitivity. he enjoys the sight of taehyung working himself on his cock, letting out whines from the feeling and begging hobi to touch him. it’s hoseok’s fingers flicking his nipples that sends taehyung over the edge, releasing over himself with a gasp and dropping his head onto hoseok’s shoulder as he catches his breath. 

they don’t move, and taehyung stays seated on hoseok’s cock, enjoying the feeling of cockwarming him while hoseok grabs a tissue and cleans up the mess. 

“you good?” hoseok questions, raising his brows when it’s apparent that taehyung doesn’t appear to be getting off him anytime soon. 

“mhm,” taehyung murmurs, smiling cheekily and nuzzling into hoseok’s neck, grazing his nose along the column. hoseok was fine too, couldn’t lie that he was enjoying this and didn’t want tae to get off him either. it was tae’s phone beeping with a message that broke the silence, and taehyung picked it up, staying where he was as he read it. 

taehyung’s eyes went wide when he read the message from jimin. 

// baby bear  🐻

>> i miss youuuuu

>> i’m coming over!!

// tiny tae ⭐️

>> miss you too jiminie

>> wait what??

>> when??

// baby bear 🐻

>> will be there in like twenty minutes

>> you, me & gukkie are gonna have a movie day

>> and i’m sleeping over , suck it 

“jimin’s coming over, he’s gonna be here soon,” taehyung squeaked, vague panic washing over him from where he currently sat on hoseok’s cock. he could hear the sounds of jeongguk in the kitchen, waking up and now taehyung was faced with the dilemma of how to get hoseok out unseen. hoseok read the texts on tae’s phone and snorted softly, unable to resist commenting.

“already sucked something.” 

taehyung smacked him and eased himself off hoseok, gasping and whimpering softly at the loss. even hoseok let out a grunt, “get dressed,” taehyung muttered, grabbing his underwear and pulling it on, “i’m gonna deal with guk so you can get out.” 

hoseok climbed off the bed and started pulling on his clothes before stopping and looking at taehyung expectantly, who just blinked in confusion until hoseok spoke up, “expecting me to walk out of here without a shirt?” 

“oh!” taehyung blushed and quickly removed the band shirt he was wearing, throwing it at hoseok before grabbing the hoodie he was wearing last night and tugged that one on to cover up. he searched his room before finding the burgundy silk button up that taehyung had borrowed and gave that back to hoseok also. “i’m gonna—”

hoseok cut off taehyung’s words by pulling him against him, pressing their lips together in an eager kiss, and taehyung really should have been embarrassed at how easily he melted into it. time was ticking and there was a small window between now and jimin arriving for hoseok to get out of the apartment without getting caught. it was that thought that had taehyung pulling away reluctantly and backing away to the door, “be quiet, i’ll get you when gukkie is gone.” 

with that, he disappeared out of the bedroom and met jeongguk in the kitchen, making a show of yawning and stretching, scratching his tummy as if he’d just woken up, “morning, gukkie.” 

“morning hyung, did you have any more nightmares?” 

“what?” taehyung was confused for only a second before remembering, “oh, no. i slept great. jiminie texted me, he’s on his way over for a sleepover.” 

“oh, awesome.” 

taehyung shuffled over and wrinkled his nose theatrically, “you stink, go have a shower before he gets here,” he was already pushing him in the direction of the bathroom.

“but breakfast,” jeongguk tried to protest, but taehyung waved him off, “i’ll finish it, go stinky!” 

jeongguk gave a squawk of mock outrage before the bathroom door closed. taehyung waited long enough to hear the water turn on before he sprinted to the bedroom and yanked the door open, “he’s in the shower, let’s go.” 

hoseok didn’t waste time, quickly pulling his boots on by the door as taehyung hovered close by, checking his phone for any word from jimin. the coast was clear, and hoseok risked a quick kiss goodbye before smirking and giving taehyung a mocking salute, and closed the door behind him. taehyung merely blinked, before huffing and going to the kitchen to finish the food that jeongguk was preparing, his body sagging against the counter. 

after finishing preparing jeongguk’s breakfast, taehyung retreated back into his room to start getting ready for his- most likely to be chaotic- day. taehyung tucked in the front of his sweater, folding the knitted material underneath the waistband of his jeans. the sweater hung loose, a little oversized like most of his clothes, red and black horizontal stripes knitted into a canvas of dull grey. the sleeves fell over his hands, too long, a little clumsy, and taehyung had to roll them up to his elbows so that he could quickly grab at the makeup on his dressing table. 

jimin was on his way— taehyung blinked and looked over his shoulder as the front door slammed shut. correction: jimin was already there. 

panicked, taehyung uncapped his concealer, trying a second attempt at hiding the purple hickeys blooming on his throat, and hurriedly wiped it onto a sponge before he dabbed at the bruising skin along his neck. the careless haste left traces of tanned concealer and powder foundation along the neckline of his sweater and taehyung groaned, clumsy and quick hands rubbing at the fabric. it only made the powder settle in further amidst maroon and black, sinking into the woven threads. 

taehyung kept applying his makeup, smoking out shadow around his eyes and rubbing in some lip tint, until jimin started yelling for him. with the sound of his name taehyung dropped his brushes and stood up, running out of his room to ambush jimin, jumping on him instantly and hugging him like a koala, holding on tight and not letting go. 

“jiminie!” 

jimin stumbled from the surprise and sudden weight hanging off him, unused to taehyung being so affectionate and clingy. nonetheless he returned the hug, a huge smile taking over his entire face as he laughed and hung onto taehyung just as firmly, “taehyungie!” 

“donkey!” came another voice and the two best friends turned to see jeongguk, freshly out of the shower and in some comfortable clothing, watching the pair in amusement. the three laughed before collapsing onto the couch and taehyung immediately snuggled himself into jimin, wrapping arms around his waist and resting on his chest. with only a moment of surprise, jimin started running his fingers through tae’s hair, his confusion only deepening when instead of getting uncomfortable and pulling away, taehyung just cuddles in closer and relaxes further. 

“i missed you guys, we haven’t hung out in forever,” jimin hummed, taking the remote from jeongguk to pick the drama they were going to watch. 

“it’s been like, three days…” taehyung teased before whining at jimin’s choice, “no, i wanna watch doctor stranger.” 

“ugh, fine,” jimin gave in easily, as he normally did when it came to taehyung and pressed play, “anyway, i have a plan!” 

“oh god,” jeongguk muttered, “that’s never a good thing.” 

“okay firstly, fuck you, secondly, it’s a good idea you ungrateful brat,” jimin huffed, smacking jeongguk with the closest pillow he could reach with his limited mobility due to taehyung being practically on top of him. 

“what is it then, jimin-ah?” taehyung mumbled softly, breaking up the bickering. 

“we’ll spend the day with just us three, then when the hyung’s are all free, they’re going to come over and we’re going to get drunk.” 

“all of the hyungs?” taehyung squeaked, keeping his eyes down. hoseok leapt to the front of his mind immediately, as much as he tried not to think about it.

“mhm, so you’ll behave and don’t start any fights with hobi hyung,” jimin warned sternly, clearly thinking of the last time he’d been stuck with taehyung and hoseok and the argument that had ensued. 

taehyung wanted to scoff, for all the wrong reasons but he pouted at jimin, “if he doesn’t act like an asshole i won’t have a reason to argue with him.” 

jimin flicked him on the forehead, “just be good. i’m not breaking up a fight, i’m going to get wasted.” 

“we’re drinking?” jeongguk questioned, sitting up excitedly before looking at taehyung who was still pouting and rubbing his forehead, “we might have to go buy some alcohol then.” 

“let’s all go now then, and we can buy some food for tonight and snacks for today,” taehyung suggested, finally sitting up as the other two agree and he grabs his phone and bank card, tucking the apartment keys into his jeans pocket while putting on some shoes. 

they piled out of the apartment and spent the next couple of hours stocking up on food and drinks, alcoholic and non alcoholic. they talked loudly, laughed and shoved each other around while they made their way through the aisles, cracking stupid jokes that always had at least one of them halfway to dropping onto the ground. other shoppers gave them death glares, others were envious of them. neither of them cared enough to muffle their happiness. after loading all the bags into taehyung’s car and going back to the apartment, they spent the rest of the day watching dramas and eating food, playing games on jeongguk’s gaming console and getting loud with enjoyment. taehyung hadn’t been this carefree and laid back in a long time, and he could account it to his wonderful friends and the amazing sex. 

with a squeal, taehyung fell onto his back, denim clad legs kicking in the air as jimin tackled him and tickled him relentlessly. it was dusk now, and everyone was due to arrive at any moment. taehyung was gasping between fits of laughter as jimin jabbed fingers into his side when there was a knock on the door, and it was up to jeongguk to open it since the other two were clearly busy. namjoon and hoseok stood in the doorway, taking in the scene with vaguely neutral expressions, used to this by now. 

“h-hi! you can put your drinks in the fridge,” taehyung called out before squealing when jimin’s fingers tickled under his arms making him writhe and kick his legs out, “get off me!” 

jimin just giggled, holding taehyung down easily without much exertion since the other barely had any strength to get jimin off him. “gukkie, help me,” taehyung whined, giving the youngest his cutest pout and puppy dog eyes. jeongguk was weak against it and walked over, lifting jimin up with one arm and dropping him to the other end of the couch, shrugging at the indignant sound he got in return. taehyung tried to catch his breath, panting visibly as he sat up and stuck his tongue out at jimin, “suck it.” 

“oh, please,” jimin waved a hand, smirking, “we all know who sucks things around here.” 

taehyung’s heart stuttered and his eyes went big, from the corner of his vision he even saw hoseok pause. 

“joonie hyung,” jimin sang cheekily and namjoon glared at him, his cheeks flushed pink. taehyung immediately sank into the couch, relieved. jimin was never quiet about his sex life. 

hoseok was already pouring himself and namjoon a drink, adding a glass when jimin declares he wanted one also. it left taehyung having to stand up, and he wandered into the kitchen, reaching up for a wine glass and the bottle of merlot he had purchased earlier for tonight. after pouring himself half a glass he joined everyone on the couch, immediately cuddling back up to jimin. jimin was just as shocked as earlier when taehyung was still being affectionate, even namjoon and hoseok seemed surprised. 

taehyung had finished his first glass when yoongi and seokjin had arrived, finally getting the party started. jeongguk turned on some music, and taehyung retreated to the kitchen to prepare a cheese plate and a variety of other snack foods to accompany alcohol. loud conversation filled the apartment, and taehyung downed another glass of red while he prepared the food, finishing it just as he carried the dishes out to the coffee table. 

“so tae, hobi,” namjoon began, sipping his drink, “how was the family dinner last night?” 

both taehyung and hoseok shared a grimace, before hobi spoke up, “awkward. i’m still sorry that my mother said that comment.” 

taehyung shifted, blushing under everyone’s curiosity, “it’s okay hyung.”

“it’s really not,” hoseok said, anger coating his tone. 

“wait, what happened?” yoongi questioned, swirling his red on his glass mindlessly. 

“she asked if i had a girlfriend,” taehyung forced the words out reluctantly, looking down at his lap. 

“what? but everyone knows—”

“yeah,” taehyung interrupted, picking at his sweater sleeves, clearly not wanting to talk about it anymore, “they do know.” 

hoseok shifted uncomfortably, sending taehyung sympathetic looks despite the fact that taehyung wasn’t looking at him, or anyone for that matter.  

// hobi 🙄

>> i’m rly sorry tae

>> u good? 

taehyung heard his phone go off when he got up to pour himself another glass of wine. he had downed the last of the first bottle quickly, hiccuping as he read the text, his expression softening as he opened another bottle and poured a glass. 

// little mouse 

>> i’m good ( ⌒ ‿⌒ ) 

>> don’t worry about meeee

>> dis wine starting to hit 

// hobi 🙄

>> cute. 

taehyung blamed the alcohol on his blush, biting his lip as he grabbed his glass and rejoined everyone in the living room. he picked at the food just like everyone else, giggling at conversation and cuddling back into jimin, tucking his feet into his body. 

“i’ve only done anal twice okay!” seokjin declared loudly, tired of being harassed for his sex life, his face a bright red as he took a greedy gulp of his drink. after a second, everyone collapsed into laughter. 

“that’s bullshit and you know it, i’ve lost count of how many times you’ve called me to talk about the sex you’ve just had,” hoseok rolled his eyes, and yoongi snorted beside him. 

“you don’t have to live with the guy.” 

“jiminie is just as bad, a little horndog,” taehyung chimed in, nudging his best friend. after five glasses of wine, taehyung was finally feeling it’s affects, hiccuping and his words developing a slur. 

“i don’t remember you complaining when i fucked you into your own mattress, taetae,” jimin divulged with a wink, taking a drink as well. everyone went quiet in shock, except namjoon who was casual, as if none of this was news to him. it wasn’t. taehyung had immediately flushed, whining at jimin and hiding his face.

“jimin-ah!” 

everyone just blinked in shocked confusion. hoseok was the first to break it, “the fuck?” 

with a sigh, namjoon rolled his eyes, “they had sex just before jimin and i started dating. i’ve known the whole time, obviously, so it’s not a big deal.” 

“taehyungie is cute,” jimin teased, “it’s understandable, right?” 

the group nodded after a moment, still looking confused and shocked but agreed nonetheless. jimin leaned over and kissed namjoon quickly before dropping another bombshell. 

“he’s so cute even namjoon wanted to fuck him.” 

taehyung screeched then, smacking jimin in the arm as namjoon just went deep red in embarrassment, “stop telling everyone everything!” 

“uh no, now you have to explain yourselves,” yoongi demanded. 

taehyung hid behind a pillow as jimin was all too gleeful to explain, “we had a threesome, hottest thing i’ve ever done really” the group tittered for details, and taehyung swallowed the rest of his drink, wanting to be drunk faster. 

“i watched namjoon hyung fuck taetae which was quite the sight. we should have recorded it,” jimin went on before taehyung chimed in. 

“no, we shouldn’t have.” 

“and then,” jimin huffed like taehyung had said nothing, “i fucked both my bottom boys until taehyung cried and namjoon couldn’t feel his legs.” 

jeongguk giggled then, “tae hyung cried?” 

jimin grinned, “yeah, he’s a crier in bed. made him cry both times.” 

hoseok looked down at his lap, aware of this fact himself. he didn’t know how he should feel with more of taehyung’s sex life coming to light. he understood better now though, why no one could find out about them. 

even though taehyung looked like he wanted the couch to swallow him whole, he couldn’t help but defend himself, “you aren’t the only one to make me cry in bed,” he thought of hoseok first and flushed, glancing at the other male discreetly. except hoseok was already looking at him and smirked cheekily. 

“jesus christ,” hoseok muttered after a second, “who here hasn’t fucked taehyung?”

yoongi and jeongguk raised their hands while seokjin tried to become one with the couch. taehyung glanced at seokjin wide eyed and slowly five other pairs of eyes turned to him also. 

“oh no,” seokjin whispered. 

“hyung, you couldn’t just lie?” taehyung despaired, getting up for more wine and grumbling as more questions started firing at seokjin. 

“what the hell?” jimin yelled in offense, staring at taehyung in betrayal, “why didn’t i know this?” 

“because unlike you , jiminie, i like to keep my sex life private,” taehyung remarked, snark in his tone as he poured another glass of wine. 

“that’s bullshit because i knew all about bogum, seojoon and hyungsik,” jimin argued as taehyung walked back over to the couch and dropped himself onto jimin’s lap. 

“well, i think we should start practicing some boundaries,” taehyung said sweetly, batting his lashes. 

“you’re literally sitting on my lap,” came the deadpanned response. 

everyone in the room knew that taehyung and jimin had no boundaries. taehyung huffed indignantly. 

“and?”

“do you want me to bring up the time that i walked in on you sandwiched between seojoon and hyungsik?”

“you’re so mean! it’s not my fault that you used to come over unannounced!” taehyung cried out, giving jimin his best wounded look, a hiccup following shortly after. 

“at least he knows better now,” namjoon quipped. 

“damn hyung, how many three ways have you had?” jeongguk’s eyes were big as he stared at taehyung like he was seeing him in a whole new light. too many, taehyung thought to himself but kept quiet. 

“can someone please just explain how the fuck taehyung and seokjin ended up sleeping together?” yoongi finally commanded loudly, drawing attention back to the current topic. 

with a swig of wine, taehyung sighed before looking at seokjin for permission. he got a defeated shrug in response. “uh, after seojoon hyung and i broke up, my old car broke down, you know my parent’s old one? yeah...i called seokjin hyung to come get me since he was the only one with a car back then.” 

it was clear that everyone was listening with full attention when taehyung took a pause to sip more wine. 

“i can’t remember how it happened, i think i was making cheeky comments about hyung being my hero and i was just a mere damsel in distress.” 

seokjin hummed, “you leaned against the car and pretended to swoon, asking how will you ever repay me for saving your life.” 

“oh god,” namjoon muttered. 

“mhm, hyung made a joke about sex being the only justifiable reward since he hadn’t gotten laid in so long,” taehyung couldn’t help but tease and seokjin threw a piece of cheese at him, despite the flaming red colour of his face. 

“then it kind of became a game of chicken to see who would back out first, but then we got into it, and hyung fucked me in the back of my parent’s car.” 

seokjin puffed out his chest then, sending jimin a smug look, “i made him cry too.”

“jesus christ,” hoseok broke the quiet first, processing the fact that the shy and innocent taehyung that he’d left in korea two years ago, had now slept with most of their shared friendship group and the majority of the staff at their regular bar spot. 

“not going to lie, i’m kind of feeling left out now,” yoongi pretended to sulk, looking at taehyung in fake hurt. 

“actually yeah, what the hell hyung? we not good enough to fuck you?” jeongguk turned big eyes to taehyung then, giving him a glare and folding his arms over his chest. 

taehyung flushed and didn’t know what to say, his voice meek, “it just never came up…” 

“can’t believe tae scored all this dick in two years but didn’t wanna fuck me or yoongi hyung,” jeongguk huffed, still sulking from his spot on the couch. taehyung playfully rolled his eyes as he got up off jimin and went over to jeongguk, seating himself on his lap and bracing his hands on his shoulders. jeongguk’s eyes immediately grew to the size of saucers, staring at taehyung nervously. 

without a word or an uttered warning, taehyung leaned down and pressed his lips to jeongguk’s, kissing him firmly. he expected it to be brief, but he heard the tiny moan that got caught in the back of jeongguk’s throat when the younger started to respond. his hands went to taehyung’s waist, giving him a surprising squeeze as he slipped his tongue into taehyung’s mouth. then, taehyung seemed to remember that all their friends were watching.

no one had said anything, and he smirked inwardly, nipping at jeongguk’s bottom lip. he was pleased at the sound he got out of jeongguk, putting on a show for their small audience as he kissed jeongguk deep and sensually. jeongguk surprised him, taking control of the kiss, even his hands gave taehyung’s ass a playful squeeze before retreating to safer territory. taehyung could hear people shifting in their seats and with that, the two slowly pulled away, panting softly as they looked at each other. 

jeongguk immediately turned bright red, turning away from taehyung out of shyness, stuttering quietly as a self satisfied taehyung swung himself off jeongguk’s lap. he caught hoseok’s eye first, who just looked at him with a heavy stare, and taehyung swallowed nervously, ducking his head. hoseok did his best to remain neutral, but inside, he was aroused by the sight that had just occurred in front of him, surprised that he would get so turned on by watching taehyung makeout without someone else. 

some time passed before low whistles filled the room, lighthearted teasing comments were aimed at a still blushing and shy jeongguk. taehyung smirked then and turned to yoongi with a playful raise of his brows, silently asking a question. everyone else snorted as yoongi held his hands up. 

“don’t look at me, i’m ace, that’ll be a hard pass,” yoongi ended the conversation like that, declaring he was hungry. taehyung let out a giggle then. hoseok stared. 

after that, everyone settled down, and taehyung ordered takeout for everyone while they argued over a movie to watch. taehyung was standing in the kitchen making popcorn when hoseok managed to slip from the group and join tae in the kitchen, crowding him into the corner out of sight of everyone else. without making a sound, taehyung just looked up at him curiously, his fingers loosely grabbing hold of his shirt and pulling him closer. hoseok closed the gap between them, sliding his hands into the back pockets of taehyung’s jeans and squeezing his ass firmly, which in turn caused tae to let out a gasp, lashes fluttering as he tilted his head down for a kiss. their height difference became apparent when taehyung had to slightly lean down to meet hoseok’s lips. 

“miss me that much, huh?” hoseok taunts lightly, diminishing the distance to steal another kiss, their lips moving together slowly yet full of want. 

“i’m horny,” taehyung whined when they broke apart, giving hoseok a pout, “want hyung’s cock.” 

hoseok groaned at that, pulling taehyung in for another kiss, this one deeper and more heated, until the sounds of their friends laughing reminded them where they were. when hoseok reluctantly stepped away from a pouting taehyung, he grabbed another beer out of the fridge and rejoined everyone in the living room. 

taehyung came back in five minutes later with a giant bowl of popcorn, finally allowing jeongguk to hit play on the movie and he settled himself down next to jimin, this time with his own personal space. when everyone else was immersed in the movie, a drunk taehyung pulled out his phone.

// little mouse

>> wanna suck ur cock hyung :( 

>> u taste so good 

hoseok felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket, pulling it out and scanning the texts before glancing at taehyung discreetly. he only got a small glance before tae turned his attention back to the movie. 

// hobi 🙄

>> aw, is baby mouse needy for hyung’s cock? 

>> gotta be a good boy for me tho,

>> if u want it that badly

// little mouse

>> am good boy, can be good for daddy 

taehyung’s eyes went wide at his slip up, tapping his phone quickly to fix his mistake. 

// little mouse

>> hyung* 

>> hhh 😣

hoseok read the texts a few times, unable to stop the smirk creeping over his features, trying to ignore how his cock enjoyed it just as much as he did. 

// (hobi 🙄)

>> oh? can u be a good boy for daddy?

>> you’ll have to prove it 

he could see taehyung squirming on the couch as his eyes stayed on his phone, his cheeks a delicate shade of pink. 

// little mouse

>> yes daddy i can 

>> wanna be good for daddy 

// (hobi 🙄)

>> ofc u can baby mouse

>> daddy’s good baby

that drew a quiet giggle from taehyung, the praise lighting him up from the inside out and hoseok fought the urge to coo, to go over there and kiss him. 

// (hobi 🙄)

>> tell daddy what u want him to do to you  

taehyung flushed a dark shade of red when reading the text, glancing around and up at the movie playing on screen. it took a minute or two before his fingers started tapping out a reply, his lip trapped between his teeth. hoseok’s body thrummed in anticipation. 

// little mouse 

>> daddy has such a big cock

>> want it in my mouth so bad

>> wanna suck u off n make you cum

// (hobi 🙄)

>> u take my cock so well little mouse

>> anything else? 

hoseok glanced up then, catching sight of taehyung who looked dazed. he’d curled up smaller into the side of the couch, staring down at his phone until he felt hoseok’s stare at him, only blushing when he glanced up. 

// little mouse

>> want daddy 

>> want daddy so bad

>> want u to fuck me until i cry

>> don’t wanna b able to walk after 

// (hobi 🙄)

>> just be patient little mouse

>> i’ll fuck u soon okay? 

// little mouse

>> yes daddy :( 

// (hobi 🙄)

>> don’t pout sweetheart 

hoseok could see taehyung pouting from across the room, tapping away on his phone. 

// little mouse

>> hmph

“i’m going for a smoke,” hoseok declared, half an hour later, after the movie ended, and everyone started talking about what to watch next. he stood up and pocketed his phone, finishing the last of his drink before heading towards the door. it was a pain to have to take the elevator all the way to the lobby and then go outside just to light up a cigarette, but he needed the air and taehyung’s apartment didn’t have a balcony. 

his proclamation seemed to snap taehyung out of the headspace he’d sunk into, blinking slowly before glaring after hoseok’s exit. he grumbled under his breath and immediately stood to follow. 

“tae, leave it,” jimin attempted to stop the brewing argument, but he knew it was no use. they were both as stubborn as each other. 

five minutes later, taehyung stepped out of his apartment building into the crisp night air and looked around. it didn’t take long for him to spot the orange glow of a cigarette and hoseok leaning against the wall taking a puff. taehyung stomped over, standing in front of hoseok with his arms folded over his chest and a frown on his pretty doll-like features. 

“yes, little mouse?” hoseok sighed, already guessing what was happening. 

“put it out.” 

“no, i think i’m good.” 

“it’s disgusting, hyung!” 

”you’re not the one smoking, taehyung,” hoseok rolled his eyes, watching as taehyung grew more and more frustrated with him. 

“i’m the only one caring about your damn health though it seems!” taehyung threw his hands up, swaying on his feet as a reminder of how much he’d had to drink. 

“i’m fine.” 

“no, you’re not,” taehyung huffs, “day drinking, isolating yourself so you can smoke, missing class or coming to classes already drunk. you’re just going to ruin your own life.” 

hoseok didn’t say anything, taking another drag of his smoke before taehyung lunged forward and took it from him, snapping it in half and stepping on it. taehyung didn’t flinch at the harsh glare that hoseok sent him, “glare at me, swear at me, do all you want, but i’m always going to take those fucking things away from you.” 

chest heaving with anger, hoseok backed taehyung up until he was the one pressed into the wall, holding his stare, “thought you said you were going to be good for me, mouse?” 

taehyung shivered but shook his head and pushed hoseok away, standing up straight, “you think i’d wanna kiss you when you taste like nicotine? hard pass.” 

with a shrug, hoseok merely stepped backwards so taehyung had his space again, pulling out his packet of smokes from his pocket and barely got a chance to pull one out and light one before taehyung was snatching the entire packet from his grip and storming inside. 

“taehyung!” hoseok lost his cool, yelling after him, “don’t you dare!”

“can’t hear you,” taehyung screamed back, just as angry, “going to throw these out now, bye hyung!” 

hoseok didn’t hesitate to follow him, just missing the elevator as taehyung rapidly pushed the close button. 

“you fucking brat,” hoseok growled, pushing the button and pacing back and forth in irritation. as cute as taehyung could be, he always managed to push all of hoseok’s buttons until he was nothing but angry. they would always clash, always drive each other crazy; everyone said it was because taehyung cared, but if he cared he would back off. the elevator arrived minutes later and he stepped into it, unable to calm down even as he stepped out and back into taehyung’s apartment. 

“i swear to fucking god taehyung, if you did,” hoseok threatened as he stepped into the living room, taehyung hovering by the kitchen since he knew not to sit down. 

“too late hyung,” taehyung spat, “i threw them down the chute.” 

“what the hell,” hoseok shouted then, all eyes were already on them and taehyung flinched backward. it wasn’t the first time hoseok had raised his voice, but it wasn’t often and taehyung wasn’t used to it, always flinching at sudden loud noises to begin with. 

“back off! i’m sorry that i can’t just be like everyone else and watch you wreck yourself!” taehyung snapped, levelling his stare with hoseok’s. he was exhausted and drunk and emotional, and he didn’t want to argue anymore. 

“it’s my life! it’s not your decision! it’s mine!” 

“well i’m not just going to stand by and let you make the wrong ones,” taehyung raised his voice to match the pitch of hoseok’s, his shoulders slumping as the fight seeped out of him, “god hyung. i’m sorry. i’m so sorry for giving a fuck about you. is that what you want to hear?” 

hoseok didn’t say anything and taehyung took it as the chance to go on, “god forbid someone cares about you and doesn’t want to see you fuck up your life. you can fight me all you want, but i will never stop interfering in your bad decisions.” 

with his argument out in the open, all energy left taehyung, and he turned around and walked away, disappearing into his bedroom and pushing the door closed behind him. he didn’t come out for the rest of the night, not even to say goodbye to the rest of his friends. when jimin went to check on him, he found him curled up in bed, passed out with tear stains drying on his cheeks. the tears made jimin pull hoseok aside as everyone gathered their things to head home. 

“i know you two fight like animals, but god hyung, it's because he cares. why can’t you care about yourself too?” jimin left it at that, hugging him goodbye before following after namjoon into the elevator, deciding against his original plan of sleeping over for the night. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

taehyung knew his friendship group was loud, never a discreet bunch. they were always talking or laughing loudly like no one else was around or simply didn’t care who they bothered. taehyung was quieter but he was used to it. even when they walked into the diner at midnight, jimin’s loud laughter filtering into the kitchen where taehyung was on shift and chatting to byungchul. he knew who it was before he even needed to go out there. 

soohyun just grinned at him when she caught him rolling his eyes, “you wanna take them tonight, honey?”

with a dramatic sigh, taehyung nodded as he pushed off the counter he was leaning on and stepped out into the diner, notebook in hand as he approached the booth his six friends had crammed themselves into. 

“taetae!” jeongguk spotted him first, waving his hands wildly and unnecessarily. 

“hi, guk,” taehyung smiled softly, flipping his notepad over to a fresh page, pen poised. a chorus of greetings sounded after as everyone turned their eyes to taehyung, “what’re you guys doing here?” 

“oh, it was so cool!” jimin announced, “we had to pick hobi hyung up because he was nearly caught by the cops for vandalising!” 

taehyung switched his stare to hoseo,, raising his brows as he noticed the spray paint on his hands and jeans, “cool?” he mimicked, “nearly getting arrested for petty crime is cool now, huh?” 

“oh, don’t start,” hoseok rolled his eyes, leaning back into the booth with a sigh, “at least not until after i’ve had my food.” 

“somewhere there is a tree, tirelessly producing oxygen so you can breathe and i think you owe it an apology,” taehyung kept his expression neutral as he said it, remembering he was on shift and being paid to be friendly, even if he wanted to lean over and strangle hoseok, “what do you guys want then?” 

“burger and fries, and a coke,” hoseok shrugged and taehyung gave him a glare as he wrote it down. 

“i’m gonna spit on it.” 

“didn’t know you were into spitting, little mouse,” hoseok taunted, a smirk twitching at his mouth as taehyung instantly flushed but his glare deepened. 

“i’m not.” 

“good to know,” hoseok winked and taehyung squirmed from where he stood, needing to take a deep breath so he didn’t engage in another fight with hoseok while he was at work. their friends snickered quietly amongst themselves before taehyung shut them up with a glare. 

“and for you assholes?” 

“is that anyway to treat customers, taetae?” jimin giggled, resting his chin on namjoon’s shoulder. they were such a sickeningly sweet couple. 

“only you guys, because you’re special,” taehyung grinned back, before writing down everyone’s orders as they threw them at him. he closed his notepad and walked back into the kitchen, looking over at byungchul and rolling his eyes, “my friends are so annoying.” 

the older man just chuckled as he took the order from taehyung and started cooking, dropping a batch of fries into hot oil and a burger pattie onto the grill. 

taehyung had disappeared into the bathroom, taking a small break to reapply his lip tint when someone else joined him. it startled him at first, quickly turning to see who it was, only to relax upon seeing it was hoseok and looked at him in confusion while the older male just stepped closer to him, crowding him against the counter. 

“you look really good in this skirt,” hoseok grinned cheekily. 

taehyung glanced at the spray paint that had dried on his hands and rolled his eyes, “and red isn’t your colour.” 

“that’s a lie and you know it,” hoseok stepped closer, teasing taehyung with his proximity. 

“what’re you doing? someone else could walk in here at any moment,” taehyung’s voice had gone shaky, his body already reacting as hoseok grazed his lips over his throat. hoseok merely grabbed taehyung and led him into one of the cubicles, latching the lock behind them. 

“they—they’ll notice something,” taehyung whimpered as hoseok’s hands took the opportunity to wander, and taehyung was doomed, already knowing he was going to give in. his body craved this more than it should, reacting purely on instinct as taehyung let hoseok press him against the stall door. 

“little mouse,” hoseok murmured, nipping at the younger’s neck teasingly, smiling at the way taehyung trembled. 

“hng—yeah?” taehyung’s voice was airy, already showing signs of the state he was in. 

“you want me to fuck you or not?” 

there was a pause before taehyung nodded, and hoseok leaned over. he closed the gap between them until their lips were slotted together, pressed firmly in a kiss that soon became loud and messy. hoseok wasted no time in wrapping his hands around taehyung, fingers deftly reaching underneath the skirt and tugging down the underwear until it slid over his thighs and fell to the ground.

he took his time to explore, veiny hands traversing the length of taehyung's soft thighs, fingers pressing down over a bruise that had been left by hoseok's own mouth a few days ago. it made taehyung wince and whine, made his head fall back against the cubicle door as hoseok's hands pushed up the skirt and hiked it up so that the fabric bunched around taehyung's hips. he was already half hard, and taehyung could feel his cock twitch a little underneath hoseok's heavy stare, heart skipping a beat inside his chest as he reached over and cupped hoseok's face between his hands, muttering a quiet, "kiss me."

when they kissed again, hoseok made it a point to press in close, closer, until his clothed groin was grinding down over taehyung's arousal; the denim was uncomfortable, but taehyung still felt an almost masochistic sort of enjoyment through the heated friction. he reached down, breaking away from the kiss for air, and just as hoseok began kissing his way down taehyung's neck, the younger swiftly unzipped and unbuttoned hoseok's pants and tugged the trousers down just enough that the underwear could follow, cock freed.

taehyung's fingers lightly teased and dragged over the circumference of hoseok's cock, teasing until the tip was sticky and damp and hot, before he nudged his own hips forward, took the brief moment to wrap his hand around both of their cocks and stroke upwards together.

the action made hoseok shudder visibly, muffling a groan into the crevice between taehyung's shoulder and neck.

"fuck me," taehyung breathed, turning his head a little to the side so that his lips were grazing the sensitive skin along hoseok's neck and just behind his ear.

and hoseok would be damned if he didn't do just that. it had become somewhat of a habit now, for hoseok to carry around a pocket-sized bottle of lube (just in case), and when he reached back and pulled it out, taehyung almost laughed at his readiness and preparation. he's silenced almost immediately though, hoseok's lips pressed over his again. taehyung felt his stomach coil and grow hot at the sound of the bottle cap snapping open, anticipation burning beneath his skin as hoseok smeared the lube over his own fingers and warmed it up.

"turn around," hoseok murmured, but taehyung didn't even have to be asked because he was already pushing away from the kiss and turning around, chest pressed to the green tinted linoleum of the cubicle door. he pushed his ass back, presenting himself to hoseok, and bravely, he did a little wiggle that earned a groan from the older male.

the skirt felt foreign in this situation, made taehyung feel vulnerable and exposed in a different way. it brought a flush high over his cheeks that spread down his neck and disappeared beneath the cotton of his shirt, painting his chest pink with embarrassment as hoseok's lubed fingers circled the rim of taehyung' entrance before a single digit pushed in slowly. it made taehyung bite back a whimper, and he closed his eyes, wiggling his ass further back against the intrusion as he rested the top of his head against the door, palms pressed flat over its surface.

it was a testament to the fact that they'd grown so attuned to one another's bodies, that hoseok was able to unravel taehyung as quickly as he did. they didn't waste any more time, and taehyung was the one to urge him on more quickly, to hurry up and get inside of him.

when hoseok finally pushed in, burying himself inside taehyung, they groaned in tandem, hoseok's head falling to rest against the nape of taehyung's neck. they moved together, hoseok's hand coming up every now and then to silence taehyung's quiet sounds, slipping his fingers into taehyung's mouth to give him something else to focus on as hoseok picked up his pace, fucked up into taehyung with something close to desperation.

when he came, it was over the backs of taehyung's thighs, pearlescent white sticking to tanned soft legs, the visual of it filthy under the dingy fluorescent lighting and creased skirt.

later, when they stepped back outside (separately, of course; although it very well may not have mattered), it was to an unsuspecting group of friends and a skeptical jimin who raised a brow at hoseok's smug features and taehyung's pink cheeks. he watched on curiously as the latter slipped back into the kitchen and hoseok took his seat once more.

when taehyung later returned with the food, jimin stared closely at the way the younger's eyes briefly met hoseok's, the way the pink over his cheeks deepened and hoseok's subtle smirk. no one noticed, but jimin saw the brief moment hoseok's hand slipped to the side and squeezed at taehyung's thigh as the others busied themselves with picking up their plates and dividing the drinks amongst themselves.

and if taehyung had later let his eyes wander and meet jimin's, neither of them said anything. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

taehyung had the apartment to himself this weekend. jeongguk had gone to busan for a few days to visit his family, and taehyung took advantage of the opportunity. as soon as he’d received the text that jeongguk was on his way to busan, taehyung had sent his own text to hoseok, inviting him to stay. 

the man didn’t show up until later in the evening after taehyung had gotten home from class and managed to study a little, shower, clean the apartment and make himself dinner. he pretended it was no big thing when he packed the leftovers away in case hoseok hadn’t eaten yet. when the older male let himself into the apartment, they fucked multiple times on the couch and again in taehyung’s bed, and another in the kitchen after taehyung lectured hoseok to eat a meal. 

hoseok was forced to watch one of taehyung’s dramas with him until the other got up and dragged him into the bathroom to do skincare. after answering uncertainly about his skin type, taehyung laid out various products in order for him to use them, telling hoseok how to do it while going through his own routine. the whole process took over forty minutes and by the end hoseok was petting his own face in curious wonder while taehyung giggled over his awe. 

“that’s how you look after your skin seokie hyung,” tae rolled his eyes while putting everything away and padding back into the bedroom, flopping down onto his bed with a groan. 

“you’ll have to send me a list of products to buy so i can keep it up,” hoseok quipped once he laid down beside him, letting the younger snuggle into his sides, mindlessly playing with his fingers. “cute nails,” the older murmured, admiring the pastel yellow polish that taehyung had done a few days earlier. 

taehyung preened at the praise and lifted their intertwined fingers up, looking over hoseok’s long slender fingers before shyly lifting his gaze to the other male and pouting softly, “can i paint your nails?” 

hoseok smiled softly. despite their consistent arguing, hoseok found it hard to say no to taehyung. even when he did, it was a challenge to push the words out, “sure, little mouse.” 

taehyung squeaked happily as he sat up, rummaging through his nail polish box and picking three colours for hoseok to choose from. hoseok picks up a bottle with a deep blue polish and specks of holographic glitter inside the glass bottle and hands it to taehyung. 

“oh, i like this one,” taehyung hums in agreement, rummaging for his file, “it looks like a night sky, it’s really pretty.”

you’re really pretty. hoseok thinks the words as he watches taehyung set up a towel, happiness shining in his features. when taehyung flicks his fingers in a come here motion, hoseok shuffled to the little station that taehyung had set up, crossing his legs and getting comfortable in front of the towel, placing his hands on the fluffy cotton. 

taehyung starts by massaging a homemade concoction of aloe vera, honey and lotion into his hands, the soothing motion was enough to relax the rest of hoseok’s body as he watched taehyung. twenty minutes later, taehyung told him to go wash his hands, explaining it was best to keep his hands hydrated and healthy from sun damage while rubbing some lotion into his fingers. 

“can i lie down while you do this? this is quite relaxing,” hoseok said, only half playfully. 

taehyung smiled but rolled his eyes fondly, “that would make my life incredibly difficult, just saying.” 

hoseok stayed sitting, and taehyung started by filing hoseok’s nails into a neater shape, rounding the corners before moving onto to applying cuticle oil around his cuticles and skin, massaging it until it dissolved completely. after lightly buffing his nails, taehyung finally started painting his nails. hoseok watched the way taehyung applied the polish with smooth steady strokes, keeping a straight line at the nail bed and an even coat all over. it took some time, since taehyung was being meticulous, but hoseok didn’t mind, he was quite content under the attention, enjoying the view of taehyung delicately painting his nails. after the second coat, the polish really did resemble the night sky and it looked like hoseok had gone to a professional. 

they didn’t speak much, but while taehyung painted on the clear top coat, hoseok murmured, “you’re really good at this.”

“thank you,” taehyung blushed lightly, “lots of practice. i paint my nails a lot if i have the time to just take forever with it. otherwise i’ll just go to a salon and get a standard manicure.” 

“you have nice hands,” hoseok pointed out, his own cheeks dusting a light pink at the accidental compliment, but the sight of taehyung practically purring like a kitten from the praise was enough to make him not care about the embarrassment. 

“all done,” taehyung finally said, rubbing some more cuticle oil into his fingers and then cleaning everything away that he had used. “just be careful while they completely dry.” 

“thank you, little mouse,” hoseok’s voice was gentle and he leaned over the space between them, managing to steal a light kiss from taehyung’s parted lips. 

“we can do sheet masks tomorrow,” taehyung beamed excitedly, crawling his way onto hoseok’s lap. 

“tomorrow?” 

“you’re staying for the weekend right?” taehyung suddenly got nervous, fiddling in insecurity and tilting his head slightly. 

hoseok ignored how his heart clenched, nodding before his fingers tilted taehyung’s face up by his chin, drawing their lips together. the kiss was slow, gentle and caring and it made both boys zap with nerves at the fact that it was just a kiss, it wasn’t a preview of something that was about to come, it wasn’t the trailer to the movie, it was the climax, the final scene. and honestly, that terrified them both. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

taehyung wakes up to hoseok having made himself comfortable in the kitchen, cooking a filling breakfast for them both and when a sleepy taehyung walks barefoot into the kitchen to ask what he’s making, hoseok pulls him in for a slow good morning kiss. it’s heart aching domestic and taehyung feels that ache to his core, finding himself wanting something he shouldn’t. something that transcends the boundaries they had set all those weeks ago. 

after discovering hoseok’s lack of anime knowledge over breakfast, they spend the day on the couch binge watching some of taehyung’s favourites curled under a blanket together. their bodies had pressed so close it was hard to distinguish where one ended and the other began. taehyung lived the fantasy for a weekend, let himself indulge in it. 

“i need a smoke,” hoseok commented offhandedly when an episode finished and taehyung shifted a glare his way, before trying a different tactic and fixing the older with a pout. 

“it’ll discolour your nail polish…” taehyung said almost like a kicked puppy and it worked, hoseok sunk back into the couch to admire his manicure. hoseok didn’t think of his nicotine craving for the entire weekend. 

everything felt disconnected. they felt apart from society, from the world outside of taehyung’s apartment. self imposed isolation wasn’t all bad sometimes. here, they were just tae and hobi, and they could ignore everything, even the way their hearts beat in confusion. 

standing in the kitchen, scrubbing the dishes from breakfast, taehyung was surprised to find hoseok hovering behind him, a glint in his eye. it wasn’t long before taehyung found himself backed into a corner with hoseok’s mouth at his neck, working kisses down his skin. 

“no—no marks,” taehyung whimpered, enough presence of mind to remember this is supposed to be a secret. 

“mhm, baby,” hoseok mumbled, and taehyung dropped his head back, fingers gripping onto hoseok’s shirt. 

taehyung sobbed into his arm, bent over the counter, his ass exposed to the air as hoseok played with him with his tongue, getting taehyung to the edge before pulling him right back. fingers teased his rim, making the younger shake and whine for more, until finally painting the kitchen island in white, gasping from his orgasm. 

hoseok writhed in the sheets, fingers gripping onto taehyung’s hair as he fucked into his mouth, hips rolling fluidly until his muscles went taut. he released a long groan and taehyung pulled off with swollen lips and flushed cheeks, licking the remnants of cum from the corner of his mouth. 

wriggling on the couch until he was comfortable, taehyung pulled hoseok on top of him, mouth searching for his. nips and licks, they kissed lazily while a movie played in the background, unwilling to move for hours and just share kisses until their stomachs rumbled in protest. instant ramyeon for dinner and more kisses for dessert. 

they spent their day like that and their nights cuddled together under taehyung's blankets, tae’s head on hoseok’s chest and fingers holding onto his unconsciously. hoseok didn’t hate it, and that was what scared him the most. 

“it’s nice to not argue all the time,” he murmured into the quiet. 

“well, you’ve been making smarter decisions,” taehyung hummed, playing with hoseok’s fingers. something inside him made him feel anxious, but he pushed it to the back of his mind. a thought to unpack another time. 

“you still hate the smoking.”

“i do. you could always try to quit,” taehyung figured it was a long shot, knew he couldn’t dictate what hoseok did with his body and health, but he tried, speaking the words quietly. 

with a small sigh, hoseok carded his fingers through taehyung’s hair, “i’ll try.” 

with that, taehyung felt something hit him hard, true happiness enough for him to lift his head and press a kiss to the older’s lips. hoseok didn’t let taehyung pull away when he went to do so, instead pulling him in closer, licking into his mouth heatedly. taehyung mewled, kissing back just as eagerly, not separating until their lungs burned and the hour showed it was beyond time to sleep. taehyung slept happily in hoseok’s arms, and hoseok didn’t feel as angry as he normally did. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

monday morning, taehyung walked hoseok to class, both holding coffees and hands brushing close together. their weekend bliss had come to an end and all returned to normal, but hoseok did sneak a swift kiss in goodbye before disappearing into the lecture hall. taehyung’s cheeks remained pink for his first class. 

jeongguk returned home that night, and the week progressed as it always had. taehyung studied himself to exhaustion and worked himself to the bone, and spent time with his friends in between. with his friends, taehyung learned that hoseok really had given up smoking and was snappier than usual, which caused another fight between them. 

“you don’t need to be a dick just because you’re going through withdrawal. no need to take it out on us,” taehyung rolled his eyes, sipping his milkshake. jimin’s eyes flicked to taehyung’s yellow painted nails and then to hoseok’s painted blue sparkly ones. 

“holy shit,” jimin whispered quietly to himself. 

hoseok just sent taehyung a scathing glare, “just be quiet, taehyung.”

but the younger continued, “i’m really proud that you quit seokie hyung, i really am and i get that withdrawals suck, but...don’t be mean to us, we’re your friends and we’re trying to help.” his voice became gentler, less confrontational and it brought hoseok down to, scrunching his nose in agreement. 

“i’m sorry guys, i’m really trying,” hoseok mumbled, fingers fidgeting on the table, he’d never been good at saying sorry, despite having so much to apologise for. if their friends were shocked that the argument had dissipated quickly and calmly, they hid it, all voicing their forgiveness and support instead. taehyung sent hoseok a smile when their eyes locked again, nudging his foot against hobi’s under the table. 

the thing was, taehyung knew that hoseok was doing better, starting to show that he maybe cared about himself, even if just a little. he’d attended all his classes and studied, hadn’t been out drinking or breaking laws all week. taehyung remembered when the older had texted him asking for help on his upcoming exam and how excitedly the younger had assisted him. hoseok hated his business major, but loved his dancing one, brought up to taehyung that maybe he wanted to drop his business course and pursue dancing completely. 

// little mouse

>>whatever makes you happiest seokie

>>i support you 

now that hoseok has a vague idea of what he wanted to do, gave himself something to strive for, he had a taste of what happiness felt like. he’d heard the words so many times from taehyung, to find something that he loved and fight for it. making your own happiness and taking care of yourself is the best way to live, and hoseok finally saw the truth in taehyung’s words. he hated to admit that taehyung was right, that this feeling and having goals was nice. having something to live for was an addictive feeling that hoseok didn’t want to get rid of. 

when the semester ended, hoseok already had a meeting set up to talk about his degree. he swore he saw taehyung’s eyes glitter with tears when hoseok told him that he’d finally worked out what he wanted to do, and he didn’t miss how taehyung rubbed at his eyes while the rest of their friends tackled hoseok in suffocating hugs. 

everything seemed better. then hoseok went home. 

“you useless good for nothing piece of shit!” his mother screamed as hoseok just stood there blankly, and took the hurled abuse. “do you want to be a worthless blimp in society! are you purposefully trying to humiliate me!” 

anger simmered in hoseok’s heart, burning like hot oil but he said nothing, waited for her to stop and stomped into his room. hoseok was frustrated to the point he felt angry tears spring in his eyes, clutching a pillow tightly. he just wanted a loving and supportive mother, was that too much to ask for? he couldn’t stay in this house. he pulled out his phone. 

// hobi🙄

>> what u doin little mouse?  

the reply came a few minutes later. 

// little mouse

>> i’m at work, why? 

// hobi🙄

>> need out of the house 

taehyung texted back faster this time, and for that, hoseok was relieved. 

// little mouse

>> are you okay? 

// hobi 🙄

>> all good

but that didn’t feel like enough. 

// hobi🙄

>> just a fight with my mother 

// little mouse

>> i finish in an hour

>> come pick me up? 

hoseok smiled at his phone. taehyung was offering him an out without pushing for details and that sweet consideration warmed hoseok from the inside out. he stood up and grabbed the keys to his bike, pulling on a jacket. 

// hobi🙄

>> on my way baby 

hoseok arrived at the diner within half an hour, and slides into a booth to wait for taehyung, who waves at him when hoseok gets spotted. soohyun was who came up to see if he wanted to order anything, asking if he’d had dinner. 

“i’ll just have a chocolate shake ajumma, just waiting for taehyung.”

her smile was knowing, but she didn’t say anything to hoseok’s relief and disappeared to make the milkshake. he sipped the drink slowly and watched taehyung work, eyeing his legs in the skirt and how it crept up each time he had to bend over slightly. pretty boy. 

taehyung approached him as the hour neared eleven pm, untying his apron, “i’m done, you okay to wait until i change?” 

“yeah,” god hoseok wanted to kiss him, “i wanna show you something, is that okay?” 

with a smile, taehyung nods and disappears to go get changed. hoseok pays for his shake and also gets a strawberry milkshake to go. soohyun is handing the drink to him just as taehyung re-emerges. he hands it to the younger. 

“you’re smiling more,” taehyung speaks up once they’re in the car, glancing over at hoseok who’s driving. hoseok spares him a quick glance, a small smile and taehyung ignores how his stomach swoops from it. it felt like a smile just for him. “it looks good on you.” 

“you look good on me,” hoseok smirks cheekily and taehyung laughs, lightly smacking hoseok on the arm as he rolls his eyes. 

“i’m being serious. i’m glad that you’re happier and looking after yourself more. i—we all care about you, hyung,” taehyung murmurs softly. 

hoseok doesn’t know how to reply, overwhelmed with emotion, so instead he reaches over and threads his fingers with taehyung’s, “we’re changing.” 

“i don’t think that's a bad thing,” taehyung squeezes hoseok’s hand with his own. 

twenty minutes later, hoseok comes to a stop in front of a dark building. at the edge of the city, surrounded by haunting looking trees, sat a small stone church, forgotten about and left to fall apart. an old rusted bell hangs in its tallest tower, overrun with moss. taehyung steps out of the car and approaches it with hoseok by his side. 

“you have a thing for lonely abandoned places,” taehyung glances up at hoseok when he speaks, “it's creepy.” 

“it's interesting,” hoseok states, “i find these places and think about their story, what happened, how it got left behind…” 

“gentrification, modernism...society builds and moves on, improves,” taehyung laughs, and hobi rolls his eyes at him. 

“that’s less interesting.” 

“that’s life.” 

“you’re such a realist,” hoseok laughs, pulling taehyung forward as he pushes open the old wooden door. 

“please don’t let me die in here,” taehyung whispers nervously as he follows hoseok inside. it’s dark, barely illuminated by the moonlight but tae could see the silhouettes of old pews and an altar, rotted and falling apart. 

“i won’t let you get hurt mouse,” hoseok finds taehyung’s hand in the darkness, holding him tightly as they creep through the old building. 

after screaming at the sight of a mouse and taehyung clutching tightly to hoseok, fighting back tears, he buries his face into hobi’s neck, “what attracts you to these places?” 

“they’re forgotten about,” hoseok rubs his hands up and down taehyung’s back soothingly. 

“hobi,” taehyung glances at the other with a small pout, barely discernible in the darkness, “no one will ever forget about you, i promise, we’ll always be here with you.” 

“i know, i just...you guys are smart and doing well in college, will end up with good jobs doing what you love, families that love and support you. i’ll get left behind,” hoseok confesses the thought, surprised that he’s even voicing it. 

taehyung wraps his arms around hoseok tightly, comforting the older as much as hoseok is comforting him, “we aren’t going anywhere, not without you. no matter what, we’ll always be friends, we’ll always be here.”

“i just,” hoseok found tears stinging his eyes and dropped his head to rest it on taehyung’s shoulder. 

“i dunno what's going on in your life seokie, but i promise you’ll always have me…even when we argue, i’ll be here, and you can always come to me if you need it.” 

hoseok nodded, not saying anything, knowing he didn’t need to, pressing a kiss to tae’s shoulder, “you’re so wonderful, little mouse.” 

“you are too, and i like seeing you happy. you glow, and it's beautiful to see, i just want you to be happy, hoseok-ah.” 

“despite the arguments,” hoseok hummed lightly, “you make me happy.” 

“aw,” taehyung giggles, tilting hoseok’s head up to press their lips together. after a gentle kiss, taehyung pulls back and whispers, “can we get out of the creepy church now?” 

a loud laugh leaves hoseok, and he mumbled an agreement, leading taehyung back outside to the car, pressing him against the door to kiss him again. taehyung moans into it softly, melting against hoseok and surrendering himself to the moment, kissing him slow and deep, fingers pressed against hoseok’s cheeks. 

amongst a gasp for air, hoseok whispers into the darkness, “you scare me. i look at you, and it terrifies me what i would do for you.” 

taehyung doesn’t say anything, his heart racing in its cage, and he knows he doesn’t have to, just presses his forehead against hoseok’s and smiles at him. he doesn’t know this feeling; its big and it's scary, but he lets it wash over him, like rain after a drought. 

hoseok stays the night with taehyung, intertwined together under the sheets. when taehyung wakes up, hoseok is gone, only a note in his place that he had to go to class and for taehyung to have a good day. so, he goes about his day like he doesn’t miss him terribly. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

his apartment was chaotic, a mess, and taehyung feels his grip on sanity getting looser. jeongguk had come home from classes that afternoon with his arms full of alcohol, jimin in tow who was also carrying his body weight in drinks, demanding they have a night of fun now that the week is over. for no special occasion except to get wild. taehyung knew his friends would take any chance to have fun and get drunk, and he didn’t mind it sometimes himself, but he was exhausted after a day of classes and then a shift at work. 

“you aren’t getting out of this, taetae!” jimin called from the kitchen, loading the counters with drinks, “so stop pouting and go get ready.” taehyung stomps off dramatically and locks himself in the bathroom. 

after a long shower, taehyung pulls on a skin tight white turtleneck long sleeve shirt and buttons up a yellow and blue plaid cardigan over top, with maroon edging, brown button detailing and white interwoven with the blue plaid patterns. taehyung felt cute. the cardigan was long enough, in tae’s opinion, that he wore nothing else underneath besides some cute underwear. maybe hoseok would get to see it, maybe he wouldn’t, but most importantly taehyung looked and felt good.  

then he sat down and did his makeup. he experimented with blush, dusting it high on his cheeks and over his nose, adding faux freckles then highlighter on the high points of his facial features. he kept the eyeshadow a neutral brown but added a dramatic wing and false lashes. taehyung admired the finish product in the mirror, checking his angles before nodding in satisfaction and packing away the small mess he’d made in the process of getting ready. once ready, taehyung locked eyes with his reflection and gave himself a small pep talk.

“you’re going to have fun, you’re going to get wasted, and it's going to be fine. the world will not fall down around you if you let go for one night.” 

securing the top layers of his hair into small space buns taehyung finally dragged himself out of his sanctuary and joined his friends in the kitchen where they had all circled around the counter to down as many shots as they could. jimin immediately slid taehyung his own shot with a challenging grin. taehyung stuck his tongue out at his childish best friend before picking up the glass and tipping the liquid down his throat, trying not to cringe at how it burned on its way down. everyone gave a cheer before hitting play on jeongguk’s carefully curated playlist and continued drinking. 

the conversation was loud and energy high. taehyung let himself get consumed by it, downing shot after shot until his head felt fuzzy and his limbs felt loose. he had tried to outdrink jimin, who was barely even tipsy, before he’d started swaying in place. 

“okay taehyungie, time to slow down,” jimin laughed at him, taking the shot glass out of his fingers and slinging it back himself. pouting, taehyung stumbled over to the couch, dropping down next to hoseok and grumbling about jimin under his breath. 

hoseok turned to him with an amused glint, “drunk already?”

taehyung shrugged, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em...right?” 

after a few minutes, taehyung stumbled back into the kitchen to pour himself another drink. the world kind of swayed and tilted around him, leaving him feeling dizzy and disoriented. his thoughts were jumbled and all over the place but excitedly encouraged jeongguk to take some shots with him, giggling as he downs them before the taste hits and he’s scrunching his face up, stomach churning unhappily. taehyung quickly shuffles to the bathroom and locks the door behind him, kneeling by the toilet and waiting to be sick. nothing comes but he feels awful, forcing himself to stand. 

it takes taehyung awhile to gather the courage to walk, too afraid of falling over, so he spends some time splashing his face with water from the sink before finally stepping back into the living room. all his friends had made themselves comfortable on the available seating, some of them with an alcoholic beverage of some sort in their hand and six sets of eyes looked over at him when taehyung exited the bathroom. 

“oh taetae, were you sick?” jimin frowned in concern, petting the empty spot next to him. 

taehyung shook his head, fingers pulling at the sleeves of his cardigan, “no ‘m okay,” before padding further into the room. 

except he doesn’t go to the spot that jimin saves for him, like sober taehyung would because that's what everyone expects him to do; seek comfort from his best friend. no, taehyung is drunk and needy and wanting cuddles from the boy he likes. instead, taehyung moves over to hoseok instead and climbs into his lap, burying his face into the others neck. an audible hush goes over the room as everyone takes in what just happened. no one had ever seen taehyung or hoseok hug each other before. even hoseok looks mildly surprised by the display as he wraps his arms around taehyung securely. 

taehyung snuggles closer happily and closes his eyes once he feels hoseok starts trailing his fingers up and down tae’s spine. it came naturally to them both. they’d done it plenty of times before, just never in front of their friends. they cuddled in the privacy of taehyung’s room when the apartment was empty and his door was shut. 

their friends were still quiet, sharing glances amongst each other as taehyung slowly fell asleep in hoseok’s arms. jimin’s expression is soft, but concerned, full of knowing and he leans against namjoon as he quietly frets over his two friends. because it was obvious that something was going on, but somehow he’d been the only one to notice. 

“yeah so anyway,” hoseok breaks the silence first, turning his attention back to jeongguk, “this new routine is pretty brutal.” 

jeongguk nods his head slowly, still looking at taehyung in confusion before looking to hobi, “you’re getting it faster than the rest of us though.” 

conversation resumes and jimin turns to namjoon, kissing him softly and cuddling up to him as the older man presses his thumb to the small crease between his boyfriend’s brows. 

“what is it?” 

“hm, nothing hyung,” jimin whispers, picking up his drink to take a sip. he can’t help but watch how carefully hoseok holds taehyung, how his fingers never stop moving along his spine in comfort. sometimes, he catches hoseok staring down at tae, expression full of tenderness, and it slightly scares jimin, knew that there's a big chance of his two close friends deeply hurting each other. the pair of them can’t see what’s happening, but jimin can, and he hopes their hearts, that are so clearly invested in each other, are strong enough to handle it. 

when namjoon shrugs out of his jacket, jimin groans dramatically, squeezing his boyfriend’s biceps as his attention is stolen away from tae and hoseok, “i’m gonna eat you.” 

namjoon laughs loudly, wide smile making deep dimples appear in his cheeks, “this is the fourth time this week you’ve mentioned cannibalising me, should i be worried?” 

everyone around them laughs softly as jimin grins innocently and cheekily bites namjoon’s arm, “not at all, hyung.” 

“hey, we should go on my dad’s yacht in a couple weeks,” jeongguk offers excitedly, “the weather is supposed to be warm soon, we should do it! my parents mentioned everyone getting together for the day while they’re still in the country.” 

“that would be fun, let's do it,” seokjin nods, while the rest of them agree. 

jimin turns to taehyung to see if he’s still awake and coos gently, “what about you taetae, do you and your parents wanna spend the day on gukkie’s yacht?” 

taehyung turns his head to the side, sleepily staring at jimin and rubbing his eyes, “hm, what?” 

“the yacht, do you wanna go on the yacht?” jimin repeats, smiling excitedly. 

“yeah, okay, will tell my parents,” taehyung says between a yawn and resumes nuzzling into hoseok’s neck. 

“mouse, go to bed,” hoseok whispers to him quietly so only taehyung could hear, running his fingers through taehyung’s hair now. once seeing how much tae enjoys his ministrations, he scratches tae’s scalp lightly. 

“no, don’t wanna,” taehyung whines lowly, curling closer to hobi, still drunk and very sleepy. his words were completely unfiltered. “wanna stay here with hyung, don’t wanna leave.” 

taehyung’s whiny tone makes hoseok chuckle quietly, trailing his fingers up and down taehyung’s spine. after a moment of silence, he catches taehyung’s quiet whisper, “i want to kiss you.”

“later mouse, promise,” hoseok murmurs just as quietly. he discreetly turns his head down towards tae, pressing a kiss to the top of his head in an attempt to comfort. no one was watching them, hoseok allows a fond smile to slip onto his features. except jimin catches it, frowning to himself. 

eventually, hoseok manages to get taehyung into his bedroom, assisting him in removing his makeup and changing into something comfortable to sleep in. within the privacy of taehyung’s small but cozy bedroom, door firmly closed, hoseok lets taehyung steal a few languid sleepy kisses from him before wishing him a goodnight and slipping back amongst their friends. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

over the next week, taehyung doesn’t think much back on the night he got drunk with all his friends. his memory of it was relatively spotty anyway, only getting vague flashes of downing shots with jimin and somehow sharing kisses with hoseok in his room. not quite sure how that happened. taehyung focused on his studies, and the few scattered work shifts he had, always in the late hours of the night. 

he doesn't hear or talk to hoseok again until the following friday night. taehyung had just gotten home from work, and sunk into his bed ready to pass the hell out when his phone starting vibrating beside him. ‘hobi 🙄’ sat at the top of his screen. 

in his gut, taehyung already had a feeling why hoseok was calling, and taehyung wasn’t going to be happy about it. 

“hyung?” taehyung murmured into his phone quietly, aware of jungkook sleeping in his own room. 

“hi, taehyungie,” the voice was not hoseok’s, but taehyung recognised it anyway, making his brows furrowed in confusion.

“seojoon hyung what-... what happened, is seokie okay?” taehyung sat up in bed. 

“seokie, ” seojoon murmured to himself, coming to a few of his own conclusions just from that word alone, “hoseok got into a fight. you were the last person he called, so i figured you would be the best chance on coming to get him.” 

with an irritated sigh, taehyung dragged himself out of bed and pulled on the first oversized hoodie he saw. taehyung was pretty sure he stole it from jungkook, since it was massive and jungkook had a tendency to buy clothes that made him appear to be drowning in them. their height difference was barely existent, and taehyung was a slighter build compared to his roommate, so the hoodie completely dwarfed him. it’s enough to convince him to forgo pants because fuck it, he’s only going to the bar to pick up his drunk and stupid friend. 

“thank you, hyung,” taehyung responded, “i’ll be there soon,” the two of them hang up once taehyung climbed into his car. 

when he got to the bar, taehyung could see hoseok leaning against the wall, smoke between his fingers which just made taehyung huff as he pulled up the handbrake. taehyung climbed out of the car and was quickly spotted by hoseok, who looked guilty at being caught and hurriedly dropped his smoke to stomp it out under his boot.

“i’ll deal with you in a second,” taehyung snapped before walking over to seojoon, letting the bouncer pull him into a hug, “thank you for calling me, hyung. what happened?”

“no one is quite sure. hoseok won’t say anything except the fact that the guy was acting like an asshole and deserved to get decked,” seojoon hummed, shrugging his broad shoulders, “what’s going on with you two anyway?”

taehyung went slightly tense, “i dunno what you mean.”

“he kept asking for you. the fact that you were the one i had to call to come get him...i’m not blind.”

“that sounds like a bit of a stretch, hyung,” taehyung tried to laugh it off, his cheeks tinting pink. 

“right, sure. well i’ll let you go then,” seojoon grinned then, leaning down for a kiss. taehyung doesn’t mean to reflexively turn his head away, causing seojoon to awkwardly kiss his cheek. he flinched at the fact that he did it, had never turned down a kiss from seojoon before, and was always happy, even eager, to return the affection. he didn't want to think about how the fact it suddenly felt wrong, and that there was a name circling around in his mind that wasn’t seojoon’s. it was the drunk fuck buddy of his that was patiently waiting to go home.

“knew it,” seojoon smirked cheekily, ruffling tae’s hair, “go take your boyfriend home, tae.”

“he’s not my-” taehyung doesn’t even bother finishing the sentence, wishing seojoon a goodnight and finally approaching hoseok. 

hoseok fixed the jealous scowl on his expression before tae noticed it, focusing his stare on the ground and kicking at loose gravel. taehyung looked adorably soft in the oversized hoodie, hair slightly sleep rumpled and visible exhaustion marring his features. even like that, hoseok found him pretty, even when those expressive doll-like eyes were locked on him in irritation.

“gonna explain yourself, hyung?” taehyung folded his arms across his chest, waiting for the story.

“no,” hoseok muttered, almost resembling a kicked puppy. truthfully, hoseok wasn’t in the mood to argue. he’s barely drunk, the type of intoxication that made you tired and slightly unfiltered. he punched that guy because of the bullshit he was spouting, and hoseok didn’t regret it, but that doesn’t mean he’s particularly enjoying the expression of disappointed annoyance he’s getting from taehyung. 

“really? you’re not going to tell me, the one that got called at ass o’clock to come get you after being thrown out of a bar because you caused a fight.” 

“he was being homophobic as fuck, tae,” hoseok whined, kicking at the ground again, “it reminded me of the shit my mother says, and i couldn’t help it.”

taehyung’s expression softened, “okay, but you could have gotten hurt, hyung. it was stupid.”

hoseok didn’t respond to that, too captivated by how pretty taehyung looked, illuminated by the red neon sign of the bar. it had been a week since they’d last kissed, or even talked for that matter, and longer since they had lasted slept together. 

taehyung was still lecturing him, and it's going in one ear and out the other. hoseok keeps focusing on taehyung’s lips and how pretty, pink and soft they looked even as they curled around words that were supposed to make him feel remorseful. he kind of just felt drowsy and that he missed taehyung.

“the smoking, hyung,” taehyung sighed, “you told me you would quit.” 

hoseok barely listened, hands mindlessly reaching up to cradle tae’s cheeks, thumbs swiping over his cheekbones. he noticed how taehyung’s rambling stumbles to a halt for a moment, how his cheeks stained pink. taehyung registered how gentle and how careful hoseok was holding his face, how endeared his expression was. he pretended to ignore it, slightly stuttering but resuming his rant nonetheless. he could feel how his heart was thumping in his chest from the way that hoseok was staring at him. it’s when taehyung visibly swallowed that hoseok swiped the pad of his thumb along the lower curve of tae’s bottom lip.

with a low murmur, hoseok silenced taehyung, “can you be quiet? i missed you a little.” 

taehyung was stunned to silence for the moment, and hoseok took the chance to lean in and press his lips to taehyung’s. feeling a little indignant at being cut off, and realising that hoseok wasn’t even listening to him, it just made him feel a little silly at being so annoyed. he tried to lightly push hoseok back a step, even if his heart wasn’t really in it, but hoseok just moved his mouth to taehyung’s jaw, kisses a soft pressure as he made his way down tae’s neck. 

“i—... wasn’t done talking,” taehyung tried to grumble unhappily, voice his displeasure, but it came out breathless, and he’s already pulling hoseok, “s-seokie, you’re drunk,” taehyung attempted to interrupt when hoseok’s hands travel down taehyung’s back.

“not drunk, just missed this. miss you,” it was true, hoseok wasn’t remotely drunk, had only drunk enough to feel the beginnings of tipsiness take effect. because he had started a fight people believed he was drunker than what hoseok was and normally he didn’t care, but he didn’t want taehyung to think that. hoseok wanted taehyung to kiss him back and touch him how he always did when they were alone, to know that hoseok was giving him one hundred percent consent to do so without being influenced by the cheap beer he had been consuming. 

their lips met again, in a slow tender kiss that sent two hearts racing and snatched the air from their lungs. taehyung’s fingers curled into hoseok’s soft cotton jacket like he would fall if he let go even slightly. he clung onto the older as their lips moved in tandem, highly aware of the fact that he had already fallen, and he wasn’t as terrified as maybe taehyung should have been. 

aware that they’re kissing in a public place five feet away from seojoon after vehemently denying something was going on between the two, taehyung managed to stumble to his car. pulling hoseok along by his hand, he noticed how unhappy hoseok looked to be stopped mid way through creating a hickey that he wasn’t supposed to leave in the first place. hoseok climbed into the passenger seat and dragged taehyung onto his lap before the younger even had a chance of getting comfortable on the driver’s side. it was cramped and slightly uncomfortable, but hoseok was doing something with his tongue in taehyung’s mouth. his hands were wandering under his hoodie, so taehyung allowed himself to melt into it, let himself steal the moment. 

hoseok heard the soft sounds taehyung made, felt them vibrating through his chest. the outward display of pleasure indicated to hoseok that he was making taehyung feel good was rattling his heart within his ribcage. the quiet whines, small gasps, how taehyung shifted in an attempt to get more comfortable. it filled hoseok’s mind like a fog, made him feel like he really was truly drunk. drunk off taehyung. after another minute or two, hoseok dragged his mouth away from taehyung’s, nuzzling his nose to the others cheek. 

“okay,” he breathed out softly, “okay, we should go.” 

taehyung blinked away the slight daze he had fallen under, let hoseok assist him back into his seat and turned on the ignition, “to jimin’s?”

“yes, please.” 

the drive was silent, but hoseok’s hand rested on taehyung’s bare thigh, rubbing his thumb along soft skin. it's comforting in more ways than taehyung would like to admit, feeling like jelly behind the steering wheel. 

jimin and namjoon were asleep, so hoseok and taehyung were careful and quiet when they got inside, immediately heading for the bathroom to clean up hoseok’s knuckles. 

when taehyung swiped an alcohol wipe over hoseok’s split knuckles, he couldn’t help but hiss at the sting, wanting to flinch away, but taehyung cradled his hand so lightly as if hoseok was made of glass, and pressed a soothing kiss to hoseok’s palm. 

“sorry.” 

“it’s okay,” hoseok muttered, gaze shifting to taehyung’s face, how his lips pursed in concentration. he looked lovely, even in the gentle, warm bathroom lighting. once taehyung had hoseok’s knuckles cleaned and wrapped in a bandage, hoseok couldn't resist but to draw him into another kiss. taehyung wrapped his arms around hoseok’s neck loosely, purring into the kiss and lightly nipping at his lower lip. it caused hoseok to release a low groan rumble in his chest, drawing back enough to murmur.

“i sleep in the room next to jimin and namjoon’s, stay a little?” the way hoseok’s eyes were dark and kept flickering to tae’s mouth. taehyung could guess why hoseok wanted him to stay.

taehyung already knew he wasn’t going to say no. he couldn’t deny hoseok or his heart, and he wouldn’t allow himself to be afraid. with a slight nod, taehyung dragged hoseok in for another kiss, mewling softly while walking backwards out of the bathroom and pulling hoseok along with him, pressing constant eager kisses to his lips. it made hoseok smile, catching tae when he stumbled and holding the younger by his waist to steer him towards the empty guest room that jimin and namjoon kept available to hoseok. taehyung didn’t let hoseok catch his breath, pulling him in for kiss after kiss until the pair finally stumbled into the bedroom and closed the door with a quiet click that still felt too loud in the silent apartment. hoseok almost expected for the sound to wake the couple in the next room, but he didn’t get a chance to dwell on it for long because taehyung was pressing his back up against the door, trapping hoseok there and kissing him passionately.

the fierceness of the kiss made hoseok moan lowly, aware that he and tae needed to be very very quiet. they don’t know how much time passes like that, sharing short and long kisses against the wooden door before hoseok hummed.

“you sure, mouse?”

the question made taehyung let out a breathy chuckle and instead of a verbal reply, he tilted his head and connected their lips once again. hoseok took that as his answer, pushing taehyung back enough so he could get away from the door without breaking the kiss and began backing the younger up towards the bed. taehyung landed on the mattress first and was quick to drag hoseok on top of him, biting his slightly swollen lower lip.

he took the chance to catch his breath, hands reaching up to cradle hoseok’s cheeks resulting in their eyes to lock. taehyung felt his body grow weaker, heart pick up speed, and breath catch in his throat. it was the first time that taehyung could think of where he’d ever found himself really truly looking into those eyes for an extended amount of time. it made him quiver. hoseok’s eyes swirled with emotions, with thoughts and feelings that taehyung couldn’t even begin to decipher, but, if hoseok allowed him, taehyung truly wanted to try. 

hoseok’s cheeks flushed faintly, barely detectable in the dark, and he ducked down to press another languid more sincere kiss to taehyung’s mouth, hands moving down the others body to the end of taehyung’s borrowed hoodie and slowly starts hitching it up. taehyung’s smooth thighs came into view first and hoseok had to pause the kiss to admire them, lightly squeezed together from how hoseok hovered over him. he moved the fabric higher, biting his lip to muffle the groan he made when catching sight of tae’s white underwear with cute little strawberries printed on it. 

“cute,” hoseok smirked cheekily, dragging a finger over the outline of tae’s semi hard cock.

taehyung flushed deeply, whining and reaching down to cover his front, “shut up, i didn’t expect to be having sex tonight okay. just take them off.” 

hoseok was happy to oblige, slipping them off tae’s legs and tossing them to the floor before switching his focus back onto the hoodie, moving it up taehyung’s tummy and unable to resist the urge to press a few kisses to the soft flesh there. it makes taehyung giggle, covering his face with his hands now and squirming.

“seokie.” 

hoseok looked up at taehyung and gave him a fond smile, before finally removing the hoodie and letting gravity send it to the floor. he stripped off his own shirt before moving up taehyung’s body and pinning him down with a searing kiss. it made taehyung gasp and shudder, wrapping his legs around hoseok’s waist and threading his fingers into the olders hair to hold him close and keep his mouth on him. 

when hoseok moved his mouth to taehyung’s neck, taehyung didn't even hesitate to tilt his head to the side and bare his throat to him. he already had a hickey or two from earlier anyway, why even care now. hoseok had marked him up, and taehyung allowed it to happen without complaint. he couldn’t ignore how the thrill of being marked by hoseok raced up his spine and made his cock twitch.

the truth was once upon a time taehyung didn’t want hoseok to leave any hickeys on him, any evidence of what they were doing, but now...now taehyung wanted to show it off, even if he couldn’t exactly say they were from hoseok. at least he and hoseok knew. now taehyung wanted the bruises, not even caring about the hassle of trying to cover them if he needed to, because they felt good and they were from hoseok. maybe taehyung was letting his heart decide amd control his actions, but he didn’t exactly care enough to be afraid.

“want--want you to touch me,” taehyung gasped out softly as hoseok circled his fingers softly around tae’s belly button, “want you to fuck me now, hobi, please.” 

hoseok hummed against tae’s nipple, swirling his tongue around the small nub and flicked his eyes up to tae’s face, “maybe i want to take my time, baby boy.” 

taehyung bucked his hips impatiently, cock brushing against hoseok’s jean clad thigh and he let out a low whine, pouting at the older, “n-now.”

with a gentle but warning bite, hoseok silenced taehyung easily, giving him a smirk, “you’re gonna have to be quiet taehyungie, or jimin and joon hyung will hear you. do you want that?”

with a flush, taehyung took a few too many seconds to reply, hesitating on the answer and it made hoseok’s brows shoot up, a cocky smirk gracing his features, “oh? you do...you want your friends to catch you whining for my cock, hm?” 

tae’s embarrassment only increased, squirming as he whined and tried to bat hoseok’s hands away, “no...no i don’t! want--want…” taehyung dropped his head and covered his cheeks to hide his shame, “want daddy to make me feel good.” 

hoseok’s eyes darkened as he lightly tugged on taehyung’s nipple with his teeth, groaning lowly as his cock twitched in the confines of his jeans. taehyung released a blissful sigh when hoseok moved a hand down to where he needed it, giving taehyung’s aching cock a few strokes. after a minute, hoseok reached over to the nightstand, rummaging in one of the drawers until he found the lube, then proceeded to pull a condom from his wallet. ever since he started sleeping with taehyung, often in public places, he always made sure he had one on him.

coating his fingers, he distracted taehyung with a heart stopping kiss, warming the liquid on his fingers before circling one around tae’s rim. truth be told he was feeling just as impatient as taehyung, and he knew the more he got taehyung overwhelmed and worked up, the louder he would get and less likely he could control how vocal he was. so, he settled for fingering taehyung open at almost a selfishly slow pace, watched how taehyung panted and lashes fluttered. two fingers in and taehyung was starting to gyrate his hips, trying to press down on hoseok’s fingers before one hit a sensitive spot resulting in taehyung covering his mouth with his hand to muffle the gasp he released. 

“so pretty,” hoseok murmured subconsciously, leaning down to bring his and taehyung’s mouths together in another kiss, this one tender and gentle that taehyung had to hold onto hoseok’s arms to not start shaking. everything in him called out to hoseok, ached to feel him inside and pressed against him. he moaned into the kiss when hoseok entered a third finger into taehyung, moving them torturously slow until taehyung rocked his hips with the set rhythm. taehyung’s heart lurched at how careful hoseok was being, how deliberately gentle every caress was. 

hoseok pressed slow, open mouthed kisses along taehyung’s neck, trailing his tongue over the blooming hickeys and pushed his fingers into the bundle of nerves inside taehyung, rewarded with how taehyung arches up and chokes on his moan, quickly dragging hoseok back up for another kiss to muffle the string of whines and whimpers that spill from tae’s swollen lips. 

taehyung’s thighs quivered on either side of hoseok’s body, and he gave a small tug at hobi’s hair, arching up again, “please...please, need you inside me.” 

after a few more thrusts with his fingers, hoseok finally obliged taehyung, easing them out and finally removing his jeans, sighing at the relief once his own underwear fell to the floor. he wastes no time in rolling the condom onto his hard length and coating it in lube, positioning himself between taehyung’s open thighs. taehyung can’t help but stare up at hoseok’s face, his own expression soft and tender until his eyes were rolling back when hoseok pressed the tip of his cock inside him. he covers his mouth again to stop the moans from escaping as hoseok slowly, oh so fucking slowly, filled him up, giving a few shallow thrusts which had taehyung’s hands curling into the sheets. 

“hgh, hobi please,” taehyung whispered, voice thin like air. 

hoseok finally bottomed out, hips firm against taehyung’s thighs, giving the younger a moment to adjust before getting the consent to move. with a deep thrust, hoseok shoved taehyung up the bed a little more, until taehyung’s fingers were scratching at hoseok’s back for grip, gasping and muffling whines in his shoulder. hoseok kept a steady pace, leaning down to capture taehyung’s mouth in a bruising kiss, feeling how tae trembled beneath him. 

“you’re so beautiful, baby,” hoseok murmured lowly, moving his mouth down tae’s neck, “love that i get to see you like this, so pretty and wrecked for my cock.” 

taehyung hid his face in hoseok’s shoulder, clutching onto the older’s biceps tightly as hoseok moved in and out of him slowly, almost too slow, but the drag was worth the delicious torture of his slowly mounting orgasm, “you’re lovely,” taehyung gasped out as hoseok hit deep inside him, muffling his moan quickly and reached up to tilt hoseok’s face towards him again, stealing another long kiss. 

they couldn’t get enough of kissing each other, especially while time felt suspended like this. like everything had come to a halt for them to enjoy this moment together. hoseok couldn’t feel the stinging sensations on his knuckles all because he had taehyung under him. taehyung wasn’t worried about the fact he was having sex in his best friend’s apartment with said best friend in the next room, because being with hoseok like this, everything soft and tender, was too good to pass up. it made his heart blossom like the beginnings of spring, his blood thrum through his veins like an electric current. hoseok’s mouth was addictive and it just felt good to have against his own, stealing the air from his lungs.

hoseok picked up the pace of his thrusts when taehyung got too whimpery, making clear signs that he couldn’t handle much more teasing, even if both really wanted this to last forever. he could feel his own orgasm anyway, waiting for that right burst of pleasure to send him over the edge. he bent taehyung’s body in half, holding his thighs against his torso and pushed his cock in deeper, feeling how taehyung quivered from the pleasure, hid a moan in hoseok’s shoulder.

“you feel so-so good,” taehyung groaned softly, raking his fingers down hobi’s back and holding him close against him, “make-ngh-please make me cum, seokie.” 

hoseok was a bit too lost in the haze clouding his mind to reply, but he heard tae’s plea and slammed into him deep and hard. taehyung’s body surged against his, constant small gasps leaving him as hoseok fucked into him passionately. within moments taehyung was unraveling with a drawn out moan, releasing over his tummy and painting hoseok’s chest with it.

“hgh, oh god,” taehyung panted as hoseok kept moving inside him, chasing his own release. 

hoseok didn’t give up his hard movements, burying himself deep inside taehyung as he came down from his orgasm, soft and docile and sensitive, hiding away in hoseok’s neck and lightly nibbling at his skin, “come for me seokie, fill me up, c’mon baby.”

with a stuttered whine, a wave of pleasure rolled through hoseok as he finally reached his orgasm, whispering taehyung’s name as he came. taehyung moaned lowly, running his fingers through hoseok’s hair and coaxing him through the pleasure as hoseok thrusted brokenly through it before collapsing on top of taehyung.

both lie in silence as they catch their breaths, taehyung closing his eyes in relaxation, limbs still wrapped around hoseok comfortably. he could fall asleep like this truthfully, but as reality slowly started to sink in again, he knew that it's probably not the best idea. still, he took the moment of that in between — the fantasy and the reality— to bury his face into hoseok’s chest. hoseok smiled softly at his actions and allowed himself this stolen time as well, closing his eyes.  

they didn’t mean to fall asleep, but they did, and taehyung woke up with a panicked gasp, confused about where he was and pushed hoseok off of him in reactive panic. hoseok groaned at the rude awakening, looking up at taehyung, who was now sitting up and searching for his phone with a frown. when taehyung finally found it, he’s momentarily blinded by the light of it, reading the time as five a.m. and slumping with a sigh. 

“it’s dawn, i need to go.” 

hoseok reached out and dragged taehyung on top of him, pulling him in for a slow kiss and feeling taehyung go weak against him. hoseok smiled cheekily before letting him go, “bye, tae.” 

taehyung looked a little dazed, cheeks flushed as he climbed out of the bed and pulled on his underwear and hoodie, “bye, hyung,” he whispered before creeping out of the apartment. just like that he was gone, like a ghost, and suddenly hoseok’s bed felt extremely cold. 

in the elevator of his own apartment, taehyung caught sight of his own reflection, took in his messy hair, the purple love bites over his neck, and his eyes grew wide. oh, fuck. he desperately tried to sneak into his own apartment, feeling distinctly like a criminal. he didn’t make it very far when jeongguk stepped out of the bathroom, a towel slung over his shoulder and sweatpants sitting low on his hips, toothbrush hanging out of his mouth which he removed to address his roommate. 

“taehyung?”

taehyung froze on his mission to his bedroom, cringing visibly. 

“where were you?” 

reluctantly, so slowly, taehyung turned and faced jeongguk, expression extremely guilty. jeongguk took one look at the state taehyung was in and his brows went up, “jesus christ taehyung, you look like you were used as a chew toy.” 

taehyung winced in embarrassment, trying to tug his hoodie up to hide the hickeys and shrunk down a little, “okay, that's a little dramatic, gukkie.” 

“hardly,” jeongguk scoffed, walking over to taehyung and looking closer at the marks, whistling lowly, “somebody really likes you and wants everyone to know it.” 

“it's not like that,” came tae’s weak protest, waving jeongguk’s hands away as the youngest tried to prod at a large purple hickey, “it’s just...sex,” he ignored how wrongly that sat in his heart. 

“hyung,” jeongguk began, rolling his eyes, “even when we knew you were sleeping with seojoon or hyungsik or even bogum, you didn’t let them mark you. you would get so mad if they did. who is he? the guy you’re sleeping with.” 

taehyung rubbed his hands over his face with a groan, wanting to just crawl up in bed, “no one gukkie, i’d tell you otherwise.” 

jeongguk pouted, and gosh taehyung was so soft for those big expressive doe eyes, “clearly there's something happening.” 

“i dunno what it is,” taehyung shrugged without completely thinking through his response and sighs in defeat, “i’m going to sleep, why are you even awake?” 

“gonna go to the gym with seokjin hyung.” 

“oh, okay, have fun,” taehyung was already heading for his room, bidding his roommate goodbye before pulling the door closed and dropping onto his mattress face first. he was in too deep. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

taehyung stood on the jetty, anxious as every wave made the floating walkway sway and shift with the current, clutching onto his bag tightly and praying he wouldn’t fall in. it wasn’t that taehyung was afraid of water, he just wasn’t a fan of deep open water when he couldn’t see what was below him. he turned his attention to behind him, spotting hoseok and his mother and how carefully blank hoseok’s expression was. 

“you’re so fucking ungrateful,” she snarled at him, “after everything i have done for you.” 

taehyung rolled his eyes and turned away, padding towards jungkook’s dad’s yacht where it was moored onto its designated docking spot. his parents, most of his friends and their parents were already on board. he was just subtly trying to wait for hoseok and avoid getting on the boat for as long as possible. he could still hear hobi’s mother bitching at him, thinking she couldn’t be heard, but tae was catching every word. 

“hey, little mouse,” hoseok greeted him when he caught up, sounding unusually subdued. taehyung could guess why. 

“hey, seokie,” tae smiled and stayed by hoseok’s side as they walked towards the yacht, sticking close so that hoseok’s mother would shut the fuck up. she was silent now that she noticed taehyung was within earshot, following behind her son without comment. taehyung reached for hoseok’s hand and gave it a small squeeze in reassurance as they reached the yacht. “help me up would you?” 

hoseok chuckled softly but seized taehyung’s waist and lifted him enough that taehyung could hoist himself onto the yacht before turning and assisting hoseok. he yanked hobi up, causing the older to fall on top of him and they burst into laughter before standing up, taehyung’s cheeks feeling hot. 

“hoseok!” taehyung heard his mother call out, “jung hoseok, come here and help me this instant!”

taehyung rolled his eyes again but turned to her with a big, fake smile, “just grab onto this wire here and pull yourself up ms. jung, better hurry, i think captain is gonna raise the anchor soon,” then he grabbed hoseok and dragged him to the front of the boat where all their friends were lounging. hoseok let out a small, gleeful laugh, looking suddenly happy and bright, and it made taehyung glow with pride. 

“you’re cheeky, you know that?” 

“revenge for that dinner.” taehyung glanced to make sure no one could see them and pulled hoseok into the inside of the yacht where the bar was located. glad that no one was around, he cupped hoseok’s cheeks and dragged him in for a kiss, humming against hobi’s mouth.

“what was that for?” hoseok tilted his head when taehyung pulled away, soft smile on his face. 

“missed you,” tae murmured, fear of the sea forgotten as he skipped back outside to the front of the yacht and threw himself onto jimin’s lap. 

twenty minutes later, the yacht was heading out to the open ocean until land was only a small blip on the horizon, and taehyung just did his best not to look down at the water. taehyung and his friends had taken over the front of the yacht, sipping on sparkling wine from champagne flutes, while the parents had taken the back, chatting and laughing loudly as they all played catch up. 

taehyung sat as far from the edge of the boat as he could, which was hard since the lounge ran all the way around the edge, against the railing. so he stayed curled up with jimin, sipping his drink and casting glances at hoseok who was deep in conversation with yoongi and jungkook about music and dance. jimin poked taehyung’s side with his brows raised, demanding taehyung’s full attention. 

“how you been, taetae?” jimin asked, taking a sip of his sparkling wine and turning his body to give taehyung his attention. 

“hm, good,” taehyung shrugged, fingers circling the rim of his glass, “you, jiminie?”

“good,” jimin’s gaze was coy, suspiciously casual, and taehyung frowned at him. 

“jiminie, just say what you wanna say.” 

“okay,” jimin took a sip just to draw out the suspense, “if you were drunk in a room full of your friends, who would you go to?” 

taehyung tilted his head like this was a trick question, “you of course.” 

jimin let out a small chuckle and looked over at hobi briefly before back to his best friend, “false. you went to hobi hyung.” 

taehyung immediately dropped his eyes to his lap, unable to reply. he knew jimin was referencing a few weeks ago during the last time they all drank together and taehyung got intoxicated enough that most of his memories of that night were spotty. he settled for not saying anything, finishing off his glass. jimin shifted closer so no one else could overhear, hand squeezing taehyung’s thigh in comfort and understanding. 

“you’re in love with him, aren’t you, taetae?” 

with a visible flinch, taehyung did his best to deny it, “wha—what? why would you...think that?” 

“oh, darling,” jimin whispered softly, almost concerned, “it's so obvious how you look at him.” 

the two of them sat in silence for a moment, taehyung’s mind working overtime. how did jimin find out? he wanted so desperately to ask, but that really would give it all away. he wondered if hoseok would be angry at taehyung for being caught, if people knew it would cause this to end. after a few minutes, taehyung stood up, trying to hide how his hands shook. 

“i’m gonna get another glass,” taehyung said quickly, not giving jimin a chance to respond before rushing inside to the bar. he was pouring himself another glass of sparkling when a voice caused him to pause. it was low, and taehyung could barely discern what was being said, so as silently as he could manage, he crept to the corner and peeked around. there was hoseok, looking angry yet incredibly small, as his mother snarled profanities and vicious words at him. taehyung felt his heart drop to his stomach, feeling sick at how a mother could treat her own child like this. that hoseok had to suffer through it made taehyung’s heart ache. he felt rage simmering inside him. how dare she? hoseok was amazing. 

he stomped to the bar and grabbed his drink, swallowing it down quickly and scrunching up his nose at the taste. so much made sense suddenly—why hoseok went to japan for two years, his tendencies to rebel and act out, be dangerous and foolish with little regard for himself. it explained his anger at the world. taehyung would be angry and hurt too if his parents treated him so cruelly. hoseok didn’t feel loved or wanted by his own mother and that made taehyung unfathomably angry. 

taehyung saw hoseok duck back out to the front of the boat, shake off the encounter and act like nothing had happened, that he was perfectly fine. he busied himself with pouring another glass when he saw hoseok’s mother approach the bar and start making her own drink. he glowered behind her back. 

“hi taehyung, how’s school?” she asks, her voice sickeningly sweet. it just made the hatred for her grow within taehyung. 

“how dare you,” he growled at her, stepping closer, his expression turning to a vicious glare, “you terrible, vile, loathsome excuse of a mother.” 

her expression was palpably shocked, “excuse me?” 

“you heard me. you’re fucking awful, no wonder your husband left you. you’re scum,” he hissed at her, “hoseok is an amazing fucking person, he’s talented and smart and so passionate and kind.” 

ms. jung said nothing, just gaped at him in shock. 

“you’re a terrible human being for treating him so badly, you don’t deserve a son as beautifully genuine and loving as hobi. you know what,” he kept ranting, fixing the woman in place with his anger, “hoseok is going to go so far in life, excel and do so well in whatever he chooses to do because that's how talented he is, and it won’t be because of you. you don’t fucking deserve him.”

her mouth opened and closed as she grappled for a retort. 

“stop taking your shitty self esteem issues and anger out on him. don’t blame him for all the bad stuff in your life because it is fully your fault and you deserve every terrible thing that happens to you,” taehyung was so angry he was shaking, and could feel his eyes sting with tears of frustration. “hoseok is wonderful, and you’re blinded by your own self hate to see it. get some fucking help, bitch.” 

with that he stormed away, leaving her there frozen in shock. taehyung couldn’t face his friends, too riled up with anger that he couldn’t calm down yet, desperately searching for a place to go. he found a set of stairs that led him up to the top level, and quickly hopped up them. taehyung was still trembling with so much anger that his fear of the ocean was momentarily forgotten as he leaned against the railing and stared out at the horizon, trying to take calming breaths. he just hoped he didn’t make it worse for hoseok. the yacht had come to a stop in the middle of open water, and the sun was beginning to set already, painting the ocean in fiery oranges and gold. 

“tae,” a soft voice startled taehyung, turning to see hoseok walking over to him, eyes shining with tears. 

taehyung didn’t waste a second and closed the distance, throwing his arms around hoseok and holding him tightly, letting the older man hide his face in tae’s neck. 

“i heard you,” hoseok whispered, fingers curling into tae’s shirt, “defending me against my mother.” 

“you don’t deserve that, seokie,” taehyung murmured lowly, trying not to show that his throat was thick with unshed tears, “i’m so sorry.” 

“not once have you ever called me crazy, or that i need help. never said i was a bad person, just that i needed to take care of myself and be better,” hoseok mumbled, sniffing quietly, “no one has ever shown that kind of care for me before.” 

“hobi,” taehyung breathed out shakily, holding him tighter, “don’t listen to her. we all love you okay, i meant what i said. you’re amazing. your friends love and care about you.” 

“i know,” came the hum, “it's just...with everything she says, it's hard to believe that sometimes.” 

“she’s deeply fucked you up, huh,” taehyung tried to say lightly, flinching and tightening his embrace again. 

hoseok let out a choked laugh, nodding his head, “yeah, she has.” 

after a moment's hesitation, tae spoke up again, “if you ever need it, you can come stay with me.” 

hoseok murmured a quiet thank you, lifting his head up to press a delicate kiss to taehyung’s lips. they stayed like that for as long as they could, sharing small kisses and just holding each other. 

“we changed,” hoseok mumbled after a moment, almost scared to address it. 

taehyung tried to ignore his fear, peering at hoseok, “i think we could be good.” 

after a moment, hoseok stepped back and shook his head, walking away and disappearing back downstairs. taehyung breathed in shakily, wrapping his arms around himself. they’re okay. they’d be okay. change wasn’t terrible all the time. hoseok was just afraid. taehyung could and would give him time. he didn’t need to say the words yet. 

pulling himself together, taehyung went back to their friends, just in time to see jeongguk leaning over the front of the railing at the tip of the yacht, arms outstretched. 

“jack!” jeongguk dramatically re-enacted titanic, everyone laughing behind him, “i’m flying, jack!” 

taehyung giggled, spotting seokjin creeping up behind jeongguk and quickly lifted the youngest up in his hold, before tossing him overboard. jeongguk screeched the whole way down until disappearing with a splash. everyone peered over the edge, waiting for jeongguk to resurface, and when he did he flipped seokjin off, before laughing. 

“you asshole!” he swam towards the step ladder, holding onto it and climbing aboard. 

taehyung was laughing the loudest, holding onto the railing to stay upright. jimin was folded in on himself in fits of laughter. seokjin was grinning smugly, switching his gaze to taehyung who was closest. 

“taetae’s turn!” he yelled. 

no one knew of tae’s fear of the open ocean except jimin, and taehyung was already frozen in fear. he didn’t get a chance to protest when seokjin lifted him up and that was when taehyung started thrashing and yelling. 

“no! hyung! put me down!” he cried out, wriggling desperately as his heart raced with fear, “this isn’t funny, put me down! please put me down!” 

tears streamed down his cheeks as seokjin didn’t understand that his fear was real and crippling him. 

jimin caught on to what was happening, laughter subsiding fast as he stood up in a rush, “hyung! no! he’s scared of the water!” 

taehyung had dissolved into full fledged sobs, kicking his legs out and hitting seokjin’s back as the older male finally took note of jimin and taehyung’s fear. he immediately stopped and put taehyung down, his eyes wide in alarm. taehyung, who was shaking, crumpled down into a huddle, arms wrapped around his knees and hiding his face to muffle his sobs. 

“taehyungie,” seokjin choked out, feeling and looking terribly guilty, “taehyungie, i’m so sorry, i didn’t know.” 

taehyung didn’t acknowledge him, still crying and heaving for air. 

“i’m so sorry,” seokjin chanted over and over, knowing not to touch tae and leave him alone for now. jimin was doing damage control as everyone else was just standing there shocked, staring at taehyung. 

“it’s okay hyung, only i knew,” jimin spoke, approaching jin and rubbing his hand up and down his back in comfort, “taehyungie is scared of open water when he can’t see the bottom. he doesn’t like to talk about it, so he’s only ever told me. it's not your fault, okay?” 

“i’m so sorry,” seokjin croaked out again, wanting to cry himself. he felt absolutely fucking awful for scaring taehyung like that. 

“it's not your fault, hyung,” jimin keeps comforting, knowing that he can’t go near taehyung right now. no one can. 

except hoseok was the one closest to tae now, and he couldn’t stand seeing him so distressed. so he went over to tae, crouching down in front of him and grabbing hold of taehyung’s hands. 

“mouse,” he chanted, “mouse, look at me. calm down, okay?” 

taehyung just sobbed again. 

“mouse, you’re safe, you’re here,” hoseok kept trying, wrapping his arms around taehyung instead, “you’re not going into the water, okay? you’re here on the boat, just breathe. i’ve got you.” 

it seemed to register in taehyung, and he focused on his breathing, his sobs turning into sniffles and hiccups. after a moment, he peeked up at hoseok, expression looking broken. 

“good boy,” hoseok whispers, giving him a small comforting smile, “you’re safe, taehyungie, i’m right here.” 

taehyung sniffled, wiping his eyes and pressing his face into hoseok’s chest, uncurling just enough that he could huddle closer to hoseok. hoseok kept murmuring comforting words and praises, rubbing taehyung’s back until the younger had stopped trembling and didn't let go until taehyung had completely calmed down. 

everyone else was completely silent once taehyung finally withdrew from hoseok and glanced around. his voice was weak and hoarse when he spoke, “i’m sorry.” 

“don’t apologise, taehyung,” seokjin squeaked stressfully, “it's my fault. i’m so so sorry.” 

taehyung slowly stood up, shaking his head, “hyung, please don’t feel bad,” he pouted and wrapped his arms around seokjin tightly, burying into the older man’s chest and hugging him as tight as he could. seokjin gratefully returned it, dropping his head on tae’s hair and hugged him back just as fiercely. once the drama settled down and conversation resumed as normal, the friends all sat on the lounges, taehyung still cuddled with seokjin as if he refused to leave his hyung alone for a moment to wallow in his guilt. jeongguk sat with jimin, wrapped in a towel and drying off from his unplanned dip in the ocean. 

hoseok held a conversation with namjoon, casting the occasional concerned look to taehyung. he thought about what taehyung said before. ‘we could be good.’ it kept playing over in his mind, how sincere and confident taehyung sounded in his words. hoseok didn’t allow himself to believe that he could be anything but terrible for taehyung. hoseok had problems, and taehyung was too good to drag down with them. he didn’t want to hurt taehyung. it would ruin so much, and tae deserved way better than hoseok. 

taehyung didn’t have the energy to talk to anyone, his attention completely fixated on the ocean as it travelled over the waves smoothly, watching the land grow closer and closer. soon he’d be back on steady ground and taehyung would be okay. everything was going to be okay, he would convince himself of this. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

the rain fell down heavily outside, thunder rumbling through the upset sky as taehyung cradled a warm mug of hot chocolate, his favourite beverage when the weather was awful like this. jeongguk was out late, staying back with jimin for something dance related, so taehyung had the apartment to himself. he’d taken the opportunity to light every candle in the apartment, change into some warm, knitted, creamy coloured loungewear and curl up on the couch with his hot chocolate and listen to the sounds of the storm while trying to read a book. 

his attention wasn’t quite there, he found himself staring out at the rain more often than words on paper and wondering about hoseok. he hadn’t seen him since last week on the yacht, and there had been radio silence between them since. taehyung was almost afraid to reach out, wondered if hoseok’s slight rejection on the boat was the end of it all or the end of a conversation that needed to happen regardless. taehyung mostly hoped that he was okay, and that he was taking care of himself. 

taehyung’s stare chased a single raindrop down the glass before a knock on his door startled him enough to nearly spill his drink. he muttered a soft profanity and sat the drink on the coffee table before moving towards the door and pulling it open. his words got stuck in his throat and all taehyung could do was gasp. hoseok stood in front of taehyung, dripping wet, looking carefully detached with a bruise discolouring his cheek. 

hoseok had been in his fair share of fights. taehyung was used to that by now, but judging by the way hoseok was devoid of any type of emotion, a certain weight sitting on his shoulders, taehyung guessed this wasn’t the usual bar fight. 

“i didn’t know where else to go,” hoseok finally said. 

taehyung immediately pulled hobi inside and shut the door, noticing how his hyung was drenched to the bone and shivering before pulling him to the bathroom. he didn’t let hoseok even try to do anything for himself, didn’t care if hobi might find that irritating because taehyung was reacting on instinct, turning the shower onto warm and tugging off hoseok’s clothes as he just stood there mutely. once hoseok was completely bare, taehyung coaxed him gently into the shower, being discreet in how he checked for any more injuries before leaving the bathroom. 

first, taehyung left a towel for hoseok and ventured into jeongguk’s room to find a fresh set of clothes, grabbing underwear, sweatpants and a baggie hoodie before also dropping them off in the bathroom for when hoseok was done. then he went and waited anxiously in his bed, cocooned in blankets. he’s almost terrified to hear how hoseok got hurt. he’s staring blankly at the storm still raging outside when taehyung finally heard his door slide open and hoseok crawled onto the mattress, silently lying down beside tae. he’s distinctly warmer, flushed from the heat of the shower and dressed in guk’s clothes, and taehyung switched focus to him, lying on his side to face his hyung. 

silence permeated the air, before taehyung reached up and oh so lightly, prodded the bruise on hoseok’s cheekbone. it made hoseok wince slightly, but he didn't say anything, “did she…” taehyung was terrified when he got the words out, fears coming true when all hoseok did was nod. 

“oh,” taehyung whispered brokenly, “don’t go back. please don’t go back.” 

he wanted to cry for hoseok, wanted to shed the tears that hoseok himself wouldn’t let fall, but he stayed strong just like hoseok remained blank and mute. 

after a minute, hoseok shuffled closer and buried his face into taehyung’s chest, wrapping himself around the younger. taehyung almost expected to hear hoseok cry, but it's silent, and tae knew he didn't have to say or do anything else except hold the other man back. so he did, resting his chin on the crown of hoseok’s head and rubbing his hand up and down hoseok’s back, letting him seek his comfort and requiring nothing else in return. 

unsure how much time had passed, taehyung let go when hoseok finally pulled away. they both stare at each other quietly for a moment. 

“do you wanna watch a movie? i was gonna put on the handmaiden… ” 

hoseok shaked his head, leaning in again but this time his lips met tae’s. hoseok allowed himself to be selfish just for tonight, let himself be comforted and protected by taehyung, let himself pretend that everything would be okay between them if he let his heart decide. he could pretend at least until the sun came up. 

taehyung’s hands came up to cup hoseok’s cheeks, careful of the bruise and kissed the man back desperately, so badly wishing that just a kiss would convince hoseok that everything would be okay and that he was safe with taehyung. he wouldn’t break hoseok’s heart, but taehyung would let hoseok break his. 

the kiss grew heavier, needier, and taehyung was releasing small moans into it as hoseok moved on top of him, then lightly nipping his bottom lip. taehyung gave control to hoseok, sensing how he needed it now more than ever and just held on for dear life as hoseok kissed the air from his lungs. hoseok moved his mouth against taehyung’s greedily, tongue wandering around the warmth of tae’s mouth until the need for air became too strong. 

they only broke apart briefly, catching their breath enough before mouths collided together again. taehyung’s fingers hitched up hoseok’s borrowed shirt while simultaneously pulling hoseok closer against him, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. hoseok let out a low groan as taehyung rolled them over so he was straddling hoseok now. moving his own hands to squeeze taehyung’s ass firmly, hoseok gave it a light smack through the soft fabric of his pants, enough to have tae gasping in surprise. this was familiar—this was what it used to be like before emotions grew and lines became blurry. it was heated and primal, driven only by arousal and attraction; this wasn’t scary, this was safe. 

positions getting flipped over again, hoseok got taehyung’s pants off and soon after his underwear before he came down on taehyung again, kissing him rough that it caused taehyung to moan at the treatment. when hoseok moved down taehyung’s throat, leaving a trail of purple bruises in his wake, taehyung tugs at hobi’s hair weakly. 

“hhg, fuck me,” taehyung whimpered brokenly, “before guk gets home.”

knowing that meant their time was limited, hoseok tugged off the sweatpants he was wearing and the underwear, while taehyung fumbled to find his stash of lubricant and a condom, handing it over to hoseok. taehyung squirmed in the pillows when hoseok pressed the first finger in, breathing hard as he adjusted to the intrusion and let hoseok slowly start fingering him open. 

it started to feel good when hoseok worked in the second finger, stretching taehyung out until he wasn’t in discomfort anymore and adding the third digit to be sure. 

“hyung,” taehyung gasped, minutes later, “fuh—fuck me now.” 

when hoseok pushed into taehyung slowly, after having rolled on a condom and covered his cock in lube, taehyung couldn’t help but sigh in bliss, melting into the sheets. hoseok started with slow and careful movements, using his dancer’s agility to roll into taehyung until the younger was gasping and moaning for more. 

“harder,” tae whined, “fuck me harder.” 

hoseok didn’t need to be told twice, shoving his cock deep into taehyung hard, causing tae to cry out before setting himself a fast and brutal pace. taehyung’s fingers gripped onto the sheets, twisting and tugging on them with each rough thrust, eyes rolling back. hoseok was feeling a little ruined too, biceps straining as he held himself over a writhing taehyung, breathing heavily with each movement. 

“tae,” he gasped out, moaning long and low, finally saying the first word since he showed up at taehyung’s door. hoseok hit deep inside taehyung, feeling warm and greedy, stealing glances at taehyung’s wrecked expression, how lovely he looked spread out on the sheets while hoseok fucked the sense and coherency out of him. 

“hyung,” taehyung said on a moan, hand reaching to his own neglected cock and smearing his precum along it before wrapping long, slender fingers around his length and jerking himself off in time with hoseok’s hips. 

“so tight, baby,” hoseok leaned down to whisper in tae’s ear, “feel so good around me.” 

taehyung couldn’t stop how his hips buckled up and walls clenched around hoseok in reaction, his stomach tightening already, and he flicked his wrist faster, chasing that high, “i’m so close hobi, please.” 

“so polite,” hoseok taunts, nipping at taehyung’s neck, “come for me, baby boy.” 

that was all it took to send taehyung over the edge in their stolen moment of lust, coming with a loud sudden cry, taehyung quivered through his orgasm. the way his walls clenched around hoseok triggered his own release, moaning out tae’s name as he filled the condom. 

one minute, two minutes, then three, that was all they allowed themselves before hoseok climbed off taehyung and cleaned each of them up. they didn’t kiss each other after or curl up in each other's arms under tae’s sheets and whisper promises between kisses. maybe taehyung was hurting, but maybe it was for the best. he got dressed beside hoseok, spotting the bruise on his cheek and it felt like a slap to the face remembering why hoseok had even turned up at taehyung’s door in the first place. 

“movie now?” taehyung asked quietly. 

“yeah,” hoseok was already heading towards the living room and dropped onto the couch. taehyung set up the movie before settling down beside hoseok, and in a moment of boldness, cuddled into his side. he liked how they were changing, he didn’t want it to go back to how it was. taehyung knew that would hurt way more than any form of rejection hoseok would give him. 

half way into the movie, the front door finally swung open and jeongguk stepped inside, kicking his shoes off, “hi hyung! and…” he looked surprised to see hoseok on the couch, “and other hyung. i brought jimin hyung.” 

jimin appeared in the doorway and immediately saw how taehyung was curled into hoseok’s side, eyed the bruise on hobi’s cheek and the levelled stare he got when finding hoseok’s eyes. jimin said nothing.

“hi,” taehyung said around a yawn, “we were just watching a movie if you wanna join us.” 

“okay,” jimin said before jeongguk could reply, quick to kick off his shoes and collapsing onto the couch beside taehyung. jeongguk grumbled about having to sit alone and got comfortable in the loveseat. 

before the movie could even end, taehyung fell asleep against hoseok’s shoulder, breathing calmly and hands loosely curled into hobi’s hoodie as if to make sure he wasn’t going anywhere. when the credits finally rolled, hoseok carefully got himself free and hoisted taehyung up. 

“just gonna take him to bed,” he told jeongguk.

jimin rubbed his eyes and stretched, glancing at his sleeping best friend before standing also, “yeah, i’m gonna head home. see you guys later, tell taetae to text me.” 

jeongguk said goodbye from the doorway, waving until the elevator doors slid closed and jimin disappeared from sight. 

hoseok carefully lowered taehyung onto his bed, pulling the blankets over him. he was beginning to turn away, head for the couch and sleep there, when fingers coiled around his wrist and gave a tug, making him glance down at taehyung. taehyung barely opened his eyes, but his lashes fluttered over his cheeks and he pulled on hobi’s wrist again.

“cold,” he mumbled, voice thick with sleep, “don’t sleep on the couch.” 

with a fond smile and heart full of fear, hoseok crawled in beside him. for the longest time, hoseok stared out the window, watched the water run down the glass, listened to the thunder echo across the city, and the soothing lullaby of taehyung sleeping beside him. hoseok could get used to it, and that scared him the most. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

taehyung buried his face into the pillow to muffle his whine, upper half of his body planted flat on the mattress while he balanced on his knees, ass up in the air as hoseok slammed into him. “fuck, fuck, hyung!” 

hoseok was on taehyung the moment they had opened their eyes, kissing him hot and eager until flipping taehyung onto his front and lifting his ass up to press into him deeply. now taehyung was crying, wobbling on the very brink of what was going to be a very intense orgasm. 

“close, close,” the younger babbled, gasping while hoseok grinded into him, hands curled into fists. his cock drooled precum, dripping onto the sheets and all he could do was cry out when his orgasm hit him like a tidal wave. it left him sobbing and shuddering through the release, feeling hoseok fuck him through it before pulling out and moving a twitching taehyung onto his back.

obediently, taehyung rolled onto his back and let hoseok straddle his chest, making him pliantly open his mouth and hoseok to press the head of his cock. the familiar weight on tae’s tongue made his lashes flutter, hollowing his cheeks around hobi’s length and letting the other start fucking his mouth. hoseok grunted each time taehyung’s tongue flicked over his tip, rocking his hips forward, careful not to hurt taehyung. his own orgasm was quickly approaching, tightening in his lower abdomen and it made him moan. taehyung looked up at hoseok, eyes big and puppy like, lashes dark with his tears, mouth wrapped around hobi’s cock, it was a sinful sight to behold, and it was what made hoseok come with a broken moan. his hips gave a few erratic jerks as his cock twitched in tae’s mouth, before he slowly eased himself out and dropped down beside taehyung.

“wow,” hoseok panted quietly, opening his arm and letting taehyung curl into his slightly sweaty body. 

“mhm,” taehyung murmured, a different set of words resting on the tip of his tongue. in that post orgasm haze, taehyung’s filter was nonexistent. “god.”

“hm, mouse?”

taehyung shifted closer, ducking his head down so hoseok couldn’t see his face, “loving you is so illogical you know? you challenge me, tease me, piss me off, yet here i am, loving you anyway. and i don’t regret it, i don’t fear it. i want it. i want you...so badly,” the words tumbled out of him without him quite meaning them to, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

hoseok’s voice was slow, “what...what does that mean exactly, taehyung…”

taehyung knew that hoseok knew exactly what that meant, but if he needed to hear the words directly, then, “it means i’m in love with you, hyung.” 

dead silence. it feels like an eternity of silence for taehyung, who could almost feel his heart slowly starting to splinter and crack. hoseok finally moved, getting out from taehyung’s embrace and climbing off the bed. he started pulling his clothes on without a word, expression completely blank just like it was last night when he stood at tae’s door, wet and bruised because his mother had hit him. is that taehyung’s confession was the equivalent of? being slapped?

his eyes turned glassy as taehyung rushed to pull on underwear and a shirt, before following after hoseok as he headed for the door. his bottom lip trembled, “h-hyung?”

“we agreed nothing would change, taehyung,” hoseok said coldly. it felt like ice being stabbed into tae’s skin over and over. hoseok’s eyes betrayed nothing, there was no warmth there, only staring into a void of emptiness. taehyung couldn’t open his mouth, frozen as he tried to process.

the door slammed shut. hoseok was gone. 

in the resounding echo, taehyung could almost hear how his heart completely broke and crumbled inside his chest. it feels like glass shards piercing his insides. it's all he could feel, all he could hear. a shaky hand covered his mouth as the first sob escaped from him. a pitiful moan of pain left him, and it took most of taehyung’s strength to stay standing, to not give in and just fall to the floor. maybe his heart was his anchor, that was what was keeping him upright, but now his heart was crushed and falling to pieces and maybe now gravity wanted to send him to the ground. 

taehyung suddenly became aware of the tears falling nonstop down his face, a constant unstoppable display of his heartache. his whole body was trembling, still staring at the door like some piece of him hoped hoseok would come back and say he didn’t mean it, that he loved taehyung too. the damage was too much to repair now. taehyung had fallen apart. he stumbled to his room and picked up his phone, shaking fingers fumbling to jimin’s number. his whole body was heaving with sobs now, and he just crawled into his blankets, pulling them over himself like they would act as a barrier, the shield that would protect taehyung from the pain that was happening inside him. 

// tiny tae ⭐️

>> ji min

>> r u busy

>> i csnt bre

>> cme ov er

>> pl s

>> it hurts

taehyung curled into the smallest ball that he could manage, trying to hold himself together as his sobs fought to rattle him to the bone with the force of them. he choked and gasped for air, hearing the sound of jimin finally replying to his texts, reading them through tears was a struggle but jimin was on his way and that was all that mattered. his best friend would hold him together. 

when jimin reads taehyung’s texts, something like dread settled deep in his gut. somehow, jimin knew exactly what had happened, and he’s running out of the apartment in seconds, barely replying to namjoon who, shocked, asked him where he’s running off to. his best friend didn’t live that far from jimin, and thank the universe for that, because jimin didn’t have the patience to catch a taxi or a train. he sprinted all the way to taehyung’s building, thanking his dancer’s fitness that it didn’t absolutely kill him when he threw himself into the elevator. he rapidly slammed their floor level and pulled out his phone to call jeongguk.

“guk, get the fuck up and open the door for me,” jimin said the words in a rush, hanging up before jeongguk could even reply and when the elevator doors slid open, he could see the youngest standing with the door open and complete confusion written on his face. 

“sorry!” jimin shoved passed guk, kicking his shoes off and running to tae’s room, pulling the door open. maybe the drama was a bit much, maybe jimin’s panic was uncalled for, but if taehyung was having a panic attack and seeking jimin’s help, then jimin would move heaven and hell to be there for him as soon as possible. 

when jimin caught sight of his best friend curled up under his blankets and crying, jimin’s heart ached right alongside his. “oh taetae,” jimin breathes out sadly, climbing into the bed and sliding in beside taehyung. he wrapped his arms around his shaking best friend and held him close, letting taehyung sob into his chest. 

“it hurts,” taehyung gasped between tears, hidden away in jimin’s embrace, a wet patch forming on jimin’s shirt. 

“i know, baby,” jimin cooed softly, fingers petting over taehyung’s hair, “i know. i promise it won’t hurt forever.” 

another heart wrenching sob broke free from taehyung and jimin visibly flinched from the force of it, “he doesn’t love me back.” 

jimin didn’t know how to respond, because he didn’t believe that to be true. he saw how hoseok looked at taehyung, how every stolen touch and embrace was filled with so much tender delicacy that it had to be impossible for hoseok not to be in love with taehyung. but jimin knew that wasn’t what taehyung could handle hearing right now. it might break him more, finding out the one you loved loved you back but still walked away.

instead, jimin just held onto taehyung securely, letting him cry until he had no tears left and shake in silence until finally the tremors subsided and made way for a fitful sleep. jimin didn’t move once taehyung fell asleep, texting namjoon over tae’s shoulder that he’d probably be coming home in the morning and to leave hoseok alone if he showed up at their apartment. 

it was sun set when taehyung finally woke up again, looking and feeling awfully raw and like there was a gaping hole in his chest. he’s mildly disorientated when his eyes opened, seeing the dim lighting of the sun dipping below the horizon and not yet registering everything in his mind. he felt a warm body beside his, and he gasped softly, immediately looking up only for his hope to shatter to little pieces when he saw it was jimin beside him and not hoseok. so it wasn’t a terrible dream. taehyung sniffles. 

“you’re awake, taehyungie. how do you feel?” jimin said gently, putting his phone aside. 

“fucked,” taehyung grumbled, rubbing his eyes and staring at the ceiling blankly.

“what can i do for you, tae?” jimin ran his fingers through tae’s permed curls, feeling slightly hopeless on how to make his friend feel better. 

taehyung shook his head, because there was no cure for heartbreak except time. taehyung didn’t want time, that was a long drawn out path of pain. he just wanted hoseok, “how did you know?” he asks instead.

jimin hummed and shifted his position a little, “that night we were all drinking at your apartment, after you, me and koo spent the day together. i walked into the kitchen to ask you something and accidentally saw you and hoseok hyung kissing.” 

“oh,” came tae’s murmur, eyes falling down to his lap. 

“was kinda hot not gonna lie, and cute. he held you like you were gonna break,” jimin said it lightly, a tiny smile on his features as he recalled the first time he caught tae and hoseok. how taehyung had completely melted against hoseok, cheeks pink, while hoseok held onto his waist as if making sure that he wouldn’t let taehyung fall. 

a shuddered breath came from beside jimin, and he heard the small sob that followed, and hearing taehyung’s heartbreak made jimin’s eyes sting. 

“he did break me.” 

“oh taetae...” jimin whispered, words catching on his own tears, and he pulled taehyung into his chest. 

taehyung didn’t fight jimin’s comfort, sunk into it, but he didn’t let the tears overcome him again, “why didn’t you say anything back then?”

“because i knew there was a reason you didn’t tell me yourself. i knew this was something you guys had to work out yourselves,” jimin sighed softly, and he almost wished he could go back to that night and call them out, talk to them about it, if maybe he could have prevented the heartbreak that was to come. 

taehyung sighed quietly, going limp in jimin’s hold and turning into his chest to hide the tears starting to fall. energy completely drained, taehyung felt hollow. he wondered if this feeling would stay forever now that his heart was broken. he didn’t care, he just wanted to sleep so he didn’t have to think about it anymore.

“thank you for being here, jimin-ah,” was the last thing he murmured before falling asleep again. 

jimin wanted to wake taehyung up, make him shower and eat something, but then he saw how lax tae’s expression became when he drifted to sleep and he couldn’t bear waking him and reminding him of his pain. so he let his best friend sleep, eventually falling asleep too.  

♡ ♡ ♡ 

eventually, jimin had to go home, his own life getting in the way of staying with taehyung, but tae understood and promised he’d be okay. knowing his best friend was lying, jimin gave a very confused jeongguk a set of instructions to make sure taehyung ate regularly, showered and came out of his room as much as possible. jimin came over and checked on him every day between classes and at dinner time, at least to see for himself that taehyung was eating. he knew heartbreak could shut someone down, took away all their energy to even manage basic selfcare, but he wasn’t going to let taehyung fade away. 

taehyung loved jimin, he did. the palpable care that jimin gave him to make sure he was okay was appreciated because taehyung knew if it wasn’t for jimin and jeongguk, taehyung wouldn’t have left his bed that weekend. but taehyung was so mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted that every time he was dragged from bed it just drained him more. 

when monday morning rolled around, taehyung almost screamed from frustration when jimin burst into his room and demanded taehyung to get up. 

“c’mon tae, get dressed, we’re going to the diner,” jimin said, pulling clothes off taehyung’s clothing rack and tossing them at his friend who had curled up under his blankets. 

“i don’t want to go.” 

“too bad, you need to get out of this apartment. when was the last time you had actual fresh air?” jimin asked rhetorically. he knew the answer, just kept throwing outfits at taehyung until taehyung finally shoved the blankets off him and got out of bed.

“stop it. i’m not in the mood to put in effort,” taehyung sighed, rubbing his swollen eyes. they felt dry and raw after another night of crying himself to sleep.

“you gotta look nice, taetae,” jimin sighed, holding up a pair of nice jeans. 

“why should i make myself presentable for everybody else’s comfort?” taehyung grumbled, putting the jeans away.

“tae…” jimin sighed again, shoulders slumping. 

“it’s not their business. i’ll wear whatever the fuck i want.” 

jimin held his hands up in surrender, leaving the room so taehyung could get dressed, sitting beside jeongguk. the younger looked at him in worry, “is he gonna be okay, hyung?”

“i hope so, gukkie,” jimin murmured.

“what even happened? i knew he was sleeping with someone, but he never told me who. i didn’t know tae was in love with them…” 

“i’m sure tae will tell you when he’s ready, guk-ah, just keep helping him take care of himself and he’ll be okay.”

when taehyung finally emerged, he was dressed in black leggings, a basic white circle neck shirt with a tanned button up cardigan over top, it was comfortable and simple, but cute enough that taehyung didn’t completely look like he was falling apart. it was enough, and jimin didn’t say anything, standing up quickly and holding onto tae’s hand before his friend could give up and crawl back into bed, “okay, lets go.” 

taehyung drove to the diner, listening to music on low while jimin and jeongguk sat in silence, almost too afraid to say anything and accidentally set him off. jimin was sad because for the last few months he had seen a whole side of taehyung that he never gave anyone. he was happier, more open. he let himself show his emotions, his thoughts, and he was more present and carefree. now he could see his best friend shutting himself down again, withdrawing from everyone so as not to be left vulnerable, and this time, jimin didn’t think anyone would ever break down the ice that was enclosing taehyung’s heart. he was rebuilding and restructuring his walls, and there was no one that would be able to breach them. jimin was going to lose taehyung. all their friends were going to lose the real taehyung, and that may be the saddest consequence of them all. 

when they arrived at the diner, taehyung’s oxygen got caught in his throat. through the large glass windows, he could see everyone at their usual booths. hoseok looked small in his oversized clothing, and his bruise had turned yellow. he looked tired, but he was participating in conversation. taehyung stumbled over his own feet, reaching out for jimin and pulling him to a stop, eyes already looking glassy.

“jimin, i can’t,” he whispered hoarsely.

“you can, taetae.”

“please don’t make me,” taehyung begged but jimin just squeezed his hand and led him inside, letting his best friend crawl into the booth first. conversation paused to say hi, but quickly resumed. no one else knew what was happening besides taehyung, hoseok and jimin. jeongguk and namjoon had a vague idea that something had gone down. no one picked up on how silent hoseok had quickly fallen when catching sight of tae.

“so taehyungie, are our families all coming to your weekend cabin next weekend?”

taehyung nodded quietly, not looking up from his hands, not caring who even asked the question. the last time taehyung had spoken to his parents they had mentioned how everyone was going to spend a weekend at their cabin in the coming weeks. truthfully, the ‘cabin’ was more like a mansion made of brick and timber, nestled high and privately in the mountains. usually taehyung adored these trips, far away from the city and being outside or lounging by a fire inside, but he didn’t see himself loving this trip for once.   

hoseok was wrong in thinking he could handle seeing taehyung. he was wrong. taehyung looked...broken, exhausted. his eyes were dull and sad, standing out amongst the dark circles under them. his cheeks were colourless, and his hands shook on the table. he couldn’t lift his gaze to hoseok. hoseok hadn’t wanted to hurt taehyung but in his process of trying to protect him, hoseok had done just that. 

he shoved himself out of the booth without a word, and left the diner quickly. 

everyone fell silent in surprise. the silence was only broken when taehyung let out a terrible sob. he immediately was overwhelmed with tears, curling into jimin and hiding in his chest as his body shook with violent sobs. taehyung loved hoseok, so much, he loved him with a love no one could understand. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

jimin was with taehyung, curled up in bed and scrolling on his phone while his best friend stared idly out the window. it was midweek, jimin’s classes had ended for the day, and he’d immediately gone to taehyung who had taken two steps back since the morning in the diner. taehyung had regressed into himself, shut jeongguk and jimin out. he refused to leave his bed, just let himself wallow in his patheticness. however, jimin wouldn’t give up on him, kept checking on him and staying by his side in case taehyung needed anything.

when he received a text from namjoon saying hoseok had shown up and was staying at theirs for the night, jimin knew he needed to go and have a very in depth and confronting conversation with his hyung, the man his best friend was in love with. so he pried himself away from taehyung reluctantly, planting a kiss on tae’s forehead. 

“i’m gonna go home, taetae,” jimin murmured, “get some sleep, but call me if you need anything, okay?” 

taehyung grunted in reply and tugged the blankets over himself. 

with one last sad look at his best friend, jimin left the room and bid jeongguk goodbye. he walked home, finding namjoon on the couch when he stepped inside and leaned down to press a kiss to his mouth. 

“i love you, joonie,” jimin spoke softly, hugging his boyfriend tightly. namjoon made a sound of confusion but hugged jimin back just as tightly. 

“i love you, too.”

“where’s hoseok?” 

“his room,” namjoon paused his show, wrapping his arms around jimin to pull him onto his lap, “is everything okay?” 

“no. they need to sort this out. i can’t see tae like this anymore.” 

“sort what out?” 

jimin nuzzled into namjoon’s neck, sighing softly, “they’re in love with each other, hyung. hoseok hurt tae, and i’m going to find out why.” 

“oh,” namjoon mumbled in surprise, “wow.” 

“yeah,” jimin hummed in agreement, reluctantly climbing off his boyfriend after pecking him on the lips again and heading for the second bedroom where he could hear music softly playing. 

hoseok was on his bed, books and papers spread around attempting to study. mostly, he’d been blankly staring into space, thinking about taehyung. he knew the other was in pain, hoseok was too. everything in him wanted to be with taehyung, but he couldn’t bear the thought of dragging taehyung into his messy life.

it’d only just started getting better for him, working towards making a career for dancing, and he was barely at his home, already searching for apartments. after talking on the phone with his father about how his mother had been treating him, his dad had told hoseok he would help him get out of there, pay for an apartment and anything else he needed. it had been hard for hoseok to accept the help, but he pushed through the self doubt. the thought of finally being able to escape his mother was doing wonders for his happiness and self worth.

even if life seemed a bit better, hoseok couldn’t allow himself to drag taehyung into it. taehyung was beautiful and good, too good for hoseok. he deserved better than whatever shit that hoseok could give him. 

jimin stepped further into the room, noticing how worn down hoseok was looking, the weight of the world on his shoulders. “hyung,” he speaks up, startling hoseok from the paper he was staring at blankly.

“jimin,” hoseok mumbled, knowing why he was here and shuffled papers aside to make room for jimin on the bed.

“how are you?” jimin’s tone was gentle and concerned. both of his friends were in pain, and jimin couldn’t stand it. 

hoseok knew that jimin wouldn’t tolerate a bullshit answer, so he didn’t give him one. “i miss him.” 

“why aren’t you with him then? he loves you, hyung, a lot. you saw him.” 

“i’m not good enough for him,” hoseok confesses weakly, looking down at his hands, at the scars of old stupid bar fights, “he deserves so much better than me.” 

“oh, hobi,” jimin pouted, scooting closer and crossing his legs, reaching up to hold hoseok’s cheeks, coaxing the man to look at him and not look away. “you are wonderful hyung, you are an amazing person no matter what anyone says. we all have baggage and issues and flaws, that's just life. taehyung loves you no matter what flaws you have. he has flaws too, i have flaws, everyone has flaws.”

jimin could tell hoseok was listening, noticed how the other’s eyes glistened with tears, “taehyung loves you for you. the beautiful, caring, genuine, smart, strong willed person that you are, jung hoseok. underneath those reckless decisions is an extremely bright soul that never fails to bring light, happiness and laughter to everyone you meet.” 

hoseok was blushing, tears slipping down warm pink cheeks, and he let out a small, choked sob, leaning forward and burying his face into jimin’s chest. “you really think so?” hoseok’s voice wobbled, peering up at jimin desperately, as if his friend would take the words back.

“yes, we all do, but you know what...i’m just repeating what tae said, because nothing else has been more true except his love for you.” 

“tae said that?” hoseok hiccuped, sniffling and shyly wiping his eyes. 

“mhm,” jimin nodded, smiling fondly, “ a few days ago, he was slightly drunk and crying to me on the phone about you, about how he thinks you have the most beautiful smile in the world, that you make him feel like he’s flying when you’re around. he said everything i just said and more. he really fucking loves you, hoseok.”

“i love him, too,” hoseok whispered, looking down before glancing out the window. 

“you should be telling him that,” jimin responds softly, wiping away a stray tear from his own cheek. 

“what if..what if i drag him down?” hoseok murmurs dejectedly, shoulders slumping.

“you won’t hyung, because you are not a burden, not even close. relationships are about supporting each other through the good and bad. no matter what you go through, taehyung will stay by your side and help you through it, just as i know you would for him,” jimin’s tone was firm, but his eyes were gentle, reaching over to give hoseok’s hand a squeeze. 

hoseok knew jimin was telling the truth. it was just hard to comprehend that despite everything, taehyung still wanted to be with him. someone loved hoseok for who he was, showed genuine care and love. despite their constant arguments, taehyung never gave up on hoseok, never walked away no matter how hard hoseok pushed. 

“i love him so much,” hoseok sighed quietly. 

jimin smiled happily, leaning over to hug hoseok as tight as he could manage, “i know you do.” 

they talked for awhile longer, until hoseok couldn’t manage conversation anymore, his head swirling with thoughts. 

“goodnight, hyung,” jimin eventually wished hoseok a goodnight and left the room, climbing into bed with his boyfriend. hopefully, hoseok and taehyung would be alright, it was up to them now. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

it took the majority of taehyung’s energy to get out of bed early saturday morning. he’d packed for the trip last night, spoke on the phone with jimin who divulged everything that he and hoseok spoke about a few days prior, and had ended up crying himself to sleep. taehyung felt awful from it, wanting nothing more than to sleep for the entire weekend instead of faking okay in front of everyone and their families. instead, he dragged himself into the shower after jeongguk, wasting too much water just from staring at droplets sliding down the wall before eventually cleaning himself and getting out.

jeongguk shot him concerned glances when taehyung shuffled into the kitchen, only in underwear and a shirt of hoseok’s that he had been living in for the past week. taehyung couldn’t help it; as much as the scent of hoseok made his heart ache, he couldn’t help but wear it.

“you’re still not dressed yet?” jeongguk questioned worriedly, “aren’t you supposed to go to your parents soon?”

taehyung’s parents were going to drive him up to the mountain, which was probably a good thing because taehyung knew he was too out of it to drive.

“they’re picking me up from here,” taehyung mumbled, rubbing his eyes and considering a coffee. 

“okay,” jeongguk rounded the kitchen counter to drape himself over taehyung’s back in an attempt to comfort him, “i have to go now to meet my parents, but i’ll see you at the cabin.”

“yeah, gukkie,” taehyung replied quietly, “i’ll see you up there.”

with that jeongguk bid taehyung a temporary goodbye, grabbed his overnight bag and left the apartment. their home suddenly felt really empty and silent, causing taehyung to shiver and quickly retreat into his room, crawling into bed and pulling the blankets over himself. he gave himself a few minutes to sulk, to force back the stinging tears before throwing the blankets off and shucking hoseok’s shirt. 

when taehyung finally got dressed, his waist looked extra small in the double layered, buckled belt that holds up a pair of plaid, red and white trousers. a cropped, white tee hangs loosely over his frame, ‘ this is fine’ printed in bold, red letters across the front of his chest. by the time he’d pulled on some white socks and chunky black boots, his parents were waiting for him downstairs, so taehyung grabbed his packed bag and locked up the apartment. 

mrs kim looked concerned when she saw taehyung, fussing over him when she pulled her son into a hug, “have you been eating properly, darling? do you need food? i can prepare some for you when you get back.” 

taehyung melted into his mother's arms, slightly slouching to accommodate the fact that he was much taller than she was, holding onto her tightly, “i’m okay, just didn’t sleep the best.” 

“you can sleep on the drive,” she reassured with a smile, cupping her son’s cheeks while taehyung’s dad took his bag and put it in the boot of their luxury car. 

the drive out of seoul and up to the mountain took a few hours, and taehyung spent most of it with music blasting in his ears and staring listlessly out his window. at some point after the brief stop for a bathroom break, taehyung had fallen asleep and was gently awoken by his mother lightly shaking his shoulder. taehyung’s eyes opened to the familiar sight of their vacation home, a large mansion hidden by a forest. stepping out of the car, he remembered why he loved it out there. the air was crisp, and he could hear the birds calling from treetops. the serenity that was nature engulfed him. what taehyung loved the most about this house was that the trees behind them were a pine tree plantation. it was a massive forest spanning a huge chunk of land, and every time taehyung and his family had visited here as a kid, he had loved to play and run and explore amongst the trees. kid taehyung had let his imagination run wild during those times, darting between trees and letting his laughter carry through the air. sometimes the plantation looked creepy, if you stared deep enough into it for a long time, but taehyung wasn’t scared of it. he thrived and explored, filled with curiosity that only a child could have. 

taehyung was finally at a sense of calm after weeks of emotional turmoil, but deep down inside him he knew he was going to see hoseok when he stepped inside and that almost made him wish he could climb back into the car and go straight home to his empty and silent apartment. taehyung knew he should try to talk to hoseok again, if he let him, and he settled that he’s going to try, even if it may open him up to heartbreak all over again. 

his boots crunched on dead leaves as he followed his parents inside, managing to fake a smile when saying hi to the parks, jeon’s, kims times two, and the mins. he didn’t spare a smile for hoseok’s mother, bypassing her to where he could hear his friends talking. taehyung could feel his hands shaking when he passed the doorway, and against his will, his eyes found hoseok first. hoseok looked so beautiful, as always, even dressed simply in black jeans and a black shirt and radiating the same sadness that taehyung was carrying with him. even then, taehyung found his heart stuttering in his chest and ached to reach out to the other. instead, taehyung glued himself to jimin’s side, nuzzling into him. 

“sleepy,” he murmured quietly, closing his eyes and curling up on the couch. 

“we should work out rooms, who’s sharing with who?” yoongi spoke up and everyone paired off. 

jimin and namjoon are clearly sharing a room, hoseok and jungkook agree to share, seokjin says he’ll stay with taehyung and yoongi gets the luck of his own room to himself. taehyung can’t even be bothered complaining about having to share with someone in his own house, just nods in agreement and grabs his bag to carry it to his temporary bedroom for the weekend. 

each room had a large queen sized bed in it, a large closet, nightstands, art on the walls that taehyung had picked out himself when they had gotten the interior redone, and each room had a huge window to overlook the jaw dropping view of the mountain. taehyung was used to that view, so he left his bag in the closet and collapsed onto the bed with a sigh. he just felt so terrible. how could he even enjoy himself this weekend, in a place that he usually loved, surrounded by all the people he loved. 

hoseok was settling into his room with jungkook when jimin appeared in the doorway. 

“we’re gonna go explore the plantation, wanna come?” 

jeongguk immediately shot up for the bed, bouncing excitedly, “fuck yeah,” and then he ran from the room. 

“yeah, i’ll check it out,” hoseok hummed, standing up also, never one to pass up a chance to explore something new, even if he was feeling pretty fucking miserable. 

jimin grabbed his arm lightly when hoseok stepped passed, “talk to tae, please.” 

hoseok looked at jimin, seeing how tense and worried he was for both of them, and he knew jimin was right. he couldn’t keep hurting taehyung like this, he couldn’t run away anymore. no matter what happened to the two of them, hoseok had to say something before it completely fucked everything. every time he saw taehyung, how palpable his pain was, hoseok’s chest ached right along with him. taehyung deserved to know what was happening in hoseok’s mind. 

“i will...thank you, jimin,” hoseok hummed and headed downstairs. 

taehyung was still lying in bed, watching seokjin act like a fool with a small smile on his face, when jimin poked his head in. 

“let’s go explore the plantation,” jimin announced, “taehyungie doesn’t have a say in the matter, let's go.” 

taehyung whined dramatically, but he knew his best friend and knew there was no room for argument and obediently crawled out of the bed. following jimin and seokjin downstairs, taehyung spotted the rest of their friends waiting, and seeing how happy everyone looked, already appearing refreshed because of the mini break, made him feel a little better, a little lighter, brought a small smile to his lips. 

they all ventured out behind the house and into the tree line. jeongguk got brave first, giving a loud whoop that echoed through the trees, before running off between the trunks to find one that was even remotely climbable. seokjin chased after him, namjoon and jimin weren’t far behind, even yoongi yelled loudly and sprinted off in a different direction to see if he could spot any animals. taehyung realised it was just him and hoseok, glancing at the older with a nervous look before deciding to run after yoongi without a word. he wanted to talk to hoseok, but god, he couldn’t yet. 

time didn’t exist in the trees, even as the hours passed and the sun slowly began to sink. in the slowly growing darkness, the friends played games like hide and seek, feeling like children again, free of the burdens of adulthood. laughs and screams carried easily, even the occasional bird call. yoongi had quickly gone back to the house to retrieve a flashlight so their game of hide and seek could continue. he settled for being the seeker and faced a tree to start counting loudly.

for the first time in awhile, taehyung allowed himself to be happy. he forgot his pain for this one moment, giggling as he ran through the trees trying to dodge stray branches and avoid tripping over sticks. it was getting harder to navigate in the darkness, but that was part of the fun, and taehyung slinked into the shadows, breathing hard with adrenaline. distantly he could see the flickers of yoongi’s flashlight and the familiar screech of jeongguk, making taehyung press his back against the tree trunk and cover his mouth with his hand to muffle a laugh. 

after a few minutes, taehyung got too antsy to hold still, seeing how yoongi was coming closer, so taehyung abandoned his spot and ran off into the trees more. it felt like with every passing second it got darker and darker, and taehyung was finding it hard to see now. it was proven when his foot got caught on a fallen branch and sent him stumbling forwards, losing his balance and hitting the ground roughly. 

“fuck,” taehyung hissed in pain, feeling lots of little sticks digging into his hands as he braced his fall. he could feel the throbbing pain on his ankle indicating he had twisted it, so taehyung sat down with a wince, trying to move his ankle and flinching in pain. he was fine, just needed a minute or two for the pain to subside. 

a branch being stepped on and snapped from the pressure startled taehyung and he gasped, “who’s there?” he asked, wondering which of his friends it could be. he wasn’t aware any of his friends were hiding near him. taehyung thought he would have heard someone. 

“it’s me,” came a familiar voice and taehyung relaxed. only slightly. hoseok. 

“oh,” taehyung murmurs, “i fell.”

“i saw, i came to check if you were okay,” hoseok crouches down beside taehyung, using the faint glow of his phone to assist him as he brushed the twigs, dirt and tiny rocks from tae’s hands. 

“hurt my ankle a little bit,” taehyung wipes his hands together once hoseok was done, trying to move his ankle again and wincing.

“fuck, how bad?” hoseok was instantly concerned, “can you stand up?”

“i think so. can you help me?” taehyung reached out, his hands finding the others and their fingers laced together. they hadn’t been this close since hoseok walked out of taehyung’s apartment that morning, and it made taehyung’s heart settle into his throat. 

hoseok helped taehyung stand up, wrapping his arms around taehyung’s waist and helping him limp over to a tree trunk and lean against it. he stayed close to taehyung, as if afraid taehyung would fall over if hoseok let go of him, but also a part of him just really needed to be close to the younger. hoseok allowed himself to be selfish and hover close. 

“it’s not bad,” taehyung whispered in a weak attempt to fill the silence, “probably shouldn’t walk on it tonight, and i’ll be all good in the morning.”

“i’ll help you walk back to the house,” hoseok leans closer, their voices a whisper, maybe to not break the tense atmosphere or to not be discovered by yoongi. neither of them knew.

“not until yoongi finds us,” taehyung smiled slightly, a familiar streak of stubbornness appearing.

hoseok can’t help but chuckle, “of course. maybe i should go hide again then.”

taehyung’s hand immediately shot out and latched onto hoseok’s shirt despite the fact hoseok had made no attempt to leave. “stay with me,” taehyung whispers, bordering on desperation, finding hoseok’s eyes in the darkness. hoseok tilted his head towards taehyung now, pulled by an invisible force. the air between them was electric but soft and careful all at once, making them both hazy. their lips met in an eager kiss. hoseok pressed taehyung back against the tree firmly, holding him up by resting his hands on tae’s hips, and kissing him passionately, trying to convey every emotion in his heart with his mouth. taehyung was glad that hoseok was holding him steady, because otherwise he would have fallen again, his body immediately going weak against hoseok’s, his own lips working desperately against hobi’s. 

their lips moved together languid but firm, heads tilted to deepen the kiss and taehyung wrapped his arms loosely around hoseok’s neck, whimpering softly. it felt so good, so perfect and nice yet crushed him all at once because what did this mean? taehyung was too afraid of pulling away to ask. he didn’t want to ruin the moment, wanted to be in the here and now and let hoseok kiss him against this tree as if nothing was wrong between them. taehyung lost his senses to hoseok’s mouth, desperately holding onto the older male, mouth opened and letting hoseok’s tongue wander. 

hoseok trembled against taehyung, not letting his mind focus on anything else but the kiss, how taehyung felt in his arms. this was right, he couldn’t deny himself that anymore. hoseok deserved good things, deserved love—hoseok deserved taehyung. he couldn’t fight it and he didn’t even want to anymore. the kiss was wet and needy, taehyung was making the sweetest little sounds, tiny gasps and whines, and he swallowed hoseok’s throaty moans and held onto him tighter. 

for a moment, the smallest pause, they broke for air, gasping it in greedy lungfuls before eagerly colliding together again. moaning and mewling, taehyung devoured hoseok, enthusiastically licking into hoseok’s mouth, letting his hands roam over hoseok’s torso, pulling him closer against him until they were pressed tightly together. their forms couldn’t be deciphered in the dark, unable to tell where hoseok ended and taehyung began. 

they kiss until their lips sting, until taehyung is sure his mouth is red and slick with spit and swollen, an easy tell of how hoseok had kissed him. they’re panting when they finally break away, foreheads pressed together. taehyung doesn’t register the tears on his cheeks until hoseok gently wipes them away with the pad of his thumb.

“we need to talk,” taehyung whispered, his voice sounding wrecked and airy. 

hoseok opened his mouth to respond, then a flashlight bathed them in light. the sudden brightness was jarring, and hoseok stepped away from taehyung to squint at the source of it.

“finally found you,” yoongi called triumphantly, unaware for the moment of what he had interrupted. 

“hyung,” taehyung answered back weakly. 

yoongi walked over to them, “i already found everyone else, they’re waiting at the treeline. let's go back, dinner is ready.”

“okay, you go ahead,” hoseok spoke up, his voice sounding rough, “taehyung hurt his ankle so i’ll help him back,” he was already moving, wrapping tae’s arms around his neck, while his own arms wound around taehyung’s waist. 

yoongi nodded and walked ahead of them, jogging out of the trees to announce he found the missing pair. hoseok supported taehyung’s limping form back towards the mouth of the trees, both of them not saying a word knowing the moment was gone. taehyung wondered if and when they would get a chance to speak again. 

“taehyungie!” jimin called out the moment taehyung and hoseok stepped out of the trees, and he ran over to them immediately, “yoongi hyung said you hurt your ankle?”

“uh yeah,” taehyung murmured, not letting go of hoseok even when jimin offered to swap, “i tripped over a branch.” 

hoseok carried taehyung all the way to the house and inside to the kitchen. mrs kim immediately spots taehyung and frets over him, getting him an ice pack.

“hoseok, take him to the couch and get him to elevate his foot,” mrs kim said politely, handing the ice pack to taehyung. 

once on the couch, taehyung lifted his injured foot up and put the ice pack on it, watching as hoseok shuffled and fluffed all the pillows that taehyung was leaning on, making sure he was comfortable. taehyung so badly wanted to say the words again, but all their friends filtered into the living room, sitting on the couches and eagerly talking about the game of hide and seek like a bunch of excited kids recounting their day.

an hour later and dinner was served. this time it was jeongguk to carry taehyung to the dining table, perching him on the chair. after running around a plantation for hours, the seven friends had worked up an appetite, eagerly devouring the food between conversation with the parents. even taehyung ate a lot, after not having the energy to eat a proper meal in weeks, painfully aware of how his ankle throbbed under the table. 

after dinner, taehyung determinedly limped into the kitchen to help his mother clean up, ignoring her scolding that he shouldn’t be walking around.

“what kind of son would i be if i didn’t help my eomma?” he gave her his sweetest puppy eyes, seeing how she melted for him and he grinned triumphantly, helping her scrub the bowls and utensils. he had to viciously scrub at the rice, and it was almost cathartic. 

by the time taehyung and his mother finished cleaning the kitchen, his hands had turned soft from the water and everyone had moved to the entertainment room, spreading around in groups to talk, each with a glass of wine in hand. taehyung limped to jimin since he was the closest, listening to what he was talking about with namjoon, but he couldn’t help casting the occasional glance over to hoseok who was on the far side of the room. unable to walk over to him and try to get hoseok alone, since taehyung’s ankle was seriously hurting now, he was at a loss of what to do.

he couldn’t stand this inbetween anymore. taehyung’s heart was aching for hoseok, and he couldn’t leave them how it was left. he had shed so many tears for this man, had to at least fight for him and let hoseok know how taehyung truly felt for him, what he thought about him. chewing on his bottom lip anxiously, taehyung really contemplated on saying fuck it and walking across the room, demanding hoseok listen to him. instead he pulls out his phone. 

// little mouse

>> seokie 

>> theres nothing wrong with you, u know that right?

>> you’re doing so well n you’re amazing the way you are

>> i know you’re scared of dragging me into your mess (jimin told me pls dont be mad at him) 

>> but you’re not a mess, you’re just hoseok. we all have our issues and flaws, and that's okay.

>> i fell in love with you, everything that makes you who you are is why i love you 

>> and i’ll never regret it

hoseok was listening to seokjin and yoongi get into a debate about the best spots to go fishing, mentally rolling his eyes. he glanced over at tae who was intently focused on typing on his phone. then hoseok felt his own phone vibrating. he turned away from seokjin and yoongi to read it, eyes filled with tears. 

taehyung had never wanted hoseok to be someone he was not, just wanted hoseok to care about himself. he had never seen hoseok as a burden or worthless. taehyung loved hoseok as he was, and hoseok never thought he would get or deserve that type of love. he never got it from his parents, or himself, but here was taehyung, loving him irrevocably and unconditionally. hoseok saw himself through taehyung’s eyes, and even if he struggled to believe it, he saw someone worth loving, because everyone deserves love. taehyung had seen through hoseok’s bullshit, climbed over the walls he had built, and somewhere along the way, hoseok had let taehyung into his heart, even when he tried to deny himself. 

once taehyung had said that they could be good, and now, finally hoseok fully believed it. 

he lifts his gaze from where he was just staring at the words taehyung had sent them, finally looking over at taehyung. his gaze was piercing, and taehyung felt it on him, turning from jimin to look over at hoseok. the man’s stare was strong and heavy, full of emotions and it made taehyung’s cheeks flush a faint shade of pink, it set his skin ablaze, burning with the strength of a forest fire in a long term drought. butterflies whirled in his tummy, and the tips of his fingers tingled. taehyung looked away shyly, asking jimin to repeat what he just said, determined not to look at hoseok. he didn’t know what would happen next, maybe hoseok would text a reply or they would be able to talk later in private. 

oh how wrong he was. taehyung didn’t notice that hoseok had made his mind up, that he had pushed off the wall and was crossing the room, his stride purposeful and determined. jimin noticed first, his words filtering off as his eyes widened. jimin took a step back when hoseok got closer, taehyung blinking at jimin in confusion. he went to question what was wrong, but a hand wrapped around his wrist, and taehyung was being tugged. he snapped his head around, looking at hoseok with wide eyes. 

he didn’t get a chance to speak, because hoseok’s mouth came down on his in a crushing kiss. much like earlier in the plantation, hoseok kissed taehyung greedily and taehyung gave himself to hoseok completely, uncaring of who was watching. all conversations had halted to a sudden stop, friends and parents alike witnessing the scene with a mixture of shock and confusion. taehyung nor hoseok noticed the sudden silence, so absorbed in each other, clinging on desperately as their mouths moved together in tandem. this moment was their own. 

hoseok pulled back briefly, hearing tae’s soft whine of protest, “shh,” he hummed when tae calmed down, pecking him on the lips before murmuring, “i love you.” 

if humans could glow, taehyung would be a beacon of happiness. hoseok had already seized him in another kiss before taehyung could even formulate a reply, and he responded to the kiss purely on instinct as his mind processed the three words that hoseok had just told him. taehyung never thought he would hear them from him. before he knew it, taehyung was crying, fat tears of love and joy rolling down his cheeks. hoseok felt them on his cheeks, the salty taste of them on his tongue as they fell down tae’s cheeks and into the kiss, it makes him smile softly, drawing back to cup tae’s cheeks, wiping the tears away. 

“mouse...why are you crying?” 

“i never—i never thought you wo—would—that you would love—love me back,” taehyung hiccupped, stuttering and wobbling through his words as he let out quiet sobs. he vaguely hears a small sound come from jimin, but he barely registers it. 

“oh, baby,” hoseok laughs softly, pressing a kiss to the tip of tae’s nose, “i love you, yeah? i love you so fucking much.” 

taehyung hiccupped again, unable to stop a smile, “no—no need to be so vulgar about it.” 

hoseok rolled his eyes, but couldn’t even stop the fond smile on his features, and leaned in to kiss taehyung again. though they had kissed plenty of times before, this one felt different. like the start and end of something, taehyung didn’t know what it was, but he kissed hoseok back fiercely. he didn’t care that everyone around them was watching in shock. no more secrets, no more second guessing. him and hoseok. against the world? perhaps. 

♡ ♡ ♡ 

after the new couple finally came back to the present, they had to deal with all the shocked reactions of their friends and parents. taehyung had to deal with jimin who was crying nearly as hard as taehyung had. the best friends laughed and hugged each other as jimin blubbered about finally seeing his best friends happy, that he had gone through so much seeing his friends in pain as well, and he was so happy for them. eventually taehyung kissed jimin’s forehead and passed him over to namjoon, reaching out for hoseok. 

hoseok wrapped his arms around taehyung, maintaining polite and slightly nervous conversation with taehyung’s parents. he had watched his mother storm out of the house in a huff, clearly unhappy with hoseok’s coming out and announcing his new boyfriend. it twinged at his heart a little, being dismissed by his mother, but taehyung was there by his side so quickly, kissing his pain away and holding him tightly, murmuring ‘i love you’ over and over until mr kim cleared his throat and hoseok had to face taehyung’s father. thankfully, they were extremely nice and accepting, welcoming hoseok to their family and casting fond glances to their son who had happiness radiating out of him like he was the sun. 

now, they were finally free to be alone, and they weren’t wasting the opportunity. hoseok and tae stumble into taehyung’s temporary room upstairs, kissing eagerly while hands wandered under clothing impatiently. 

“i love you,” hoseok murmured, pressing tae’s back against the door and getting his boyfriend’s belt and pants undone. 

taehyung’s hands pushed up hoseok’s shirt, bunching it up around his torso in eager excitement. that is, until a choked noise of surprise and discomfort shattered the moment. taehyung jerked back from hoseok with his eyes going big. seokjin was lying on the bed, phone in his hands and eyes just as wide as taehyung’s, cheeks flushed in embarrassment. 

“well...guess no one chose to inform me that hoseok and i were switching rooms,” seokjin muttered awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.

taehyung took a moment to get over the natural instinct of wanting to hide. he didn’t have to hide hoseok anymore, and while it was an adjustment, it was wonderful and he couldn’t be happier about being open with hoseok now. 

“hyung,” taehyung squeaked nervously, wriggling as hoseok was still peppering kisses along his neck. “um...hgh-hobi—st-stop for a second,” his voice was airy as he stuttered, aware that hoseok was not making the awkward situation any less awkward. 

“no,” hoseok grumbled against tae’s collarbones, swiping his tongue over a forming hickey. 

when tae looked to seokjin again, his lashes fluttering from pleasure, his smile was cheeky, “you can always watch.” 

taehyung giggled when that made hoseok pause, before it turned to a gasp and soft whine as hoseok gripped his ass tightly and bit at his skin in warning. 

“no, you cannot,” hoseok muttered, casting a quick glance at seokjin. 

seokjin got the hint and quickly scrambled from the bed, waiting for hoseok and taehyung to move away from the door before fleeing the bedroom and heading to jeongguk’s room. the room that hoseok was supposed to be sleeping in tonight, but judging from the moan that seokjin heard the moment he closed the door, he doubted that's going to happen. seokjin lets himself into the room, finding jeongguk and jimin on the bed watching dance videos on youtube. 

“so uh, i’m sleeping here now.” 

“oh?” jimin hit pause on the video, raising his brows in confusion. 

seokjin cringed, “tae and hobi are…”

“oh…” jimin’s eyes went wide before he clapped his hands and laughed loudly, throwing himself onto the pillows in the process. “were they hot?” he asked. 

seokjin paused for a moment, debating on answering or not, before nodding in grim defeat, “yeah.” 

— END.