Archive of Our Own

The first time he meets Jeon Jeongguk, Taehyung is crouching on the floor in the middle of a Jackson Wang house party.

It all starts with Taehyung's outfit choice, really, and in retrospect, maybe Taehyung should have known that wearing his aunt's antique jewelry to a college party, of all places, isn't exactly the best idea, but the necklace matched his shirt so well and he swore that he'd be careful, that he won’t lose it. But of course, that's exactly what happens. All the good stories are rooted in bad decisions, right? Even more so, if you put one of Jackson's infamous house parties into the mix.

Taehyung likes parties as much as the next college student, loves to stay up all night drinking and socialising, loves to be in the centre of attention, always the first to agree to a stupid idea. And Jackson's parties are, as a matter of fact, the best parties on campus—widely known for escalating and crazy shit going down. This party in particular would be the party of the year, everyone knows this; it's the first party of the semester and it's still summer, still warm enough to use the garden for extra space and to have drunk deep talks on uncomfortable chairs under the moon. 

And Taehyung's no stranger to party mishaps, knows how to navigate through them, knows better than to leave a party with a complete stranger, knows who to call when completely shit-faced—all these little things that prove to be crucial sooner or later. He likes to think he's at least somewhat responsible when it comes to this stuff.

One thing he never had a problem with is keeping track of his personal belongings, never one to let his purse and phone out of reach, never one to bring more than necessary. But somehow, he ends up missing his necklace at this particular party of the year. It's typical, really.

Taehyung's already a few hours into the party when he notices it, busy playing beer pong with Yoongi and some strangers they just met. It's already a bit colder outside and they are laughing about some nonsense he can't even remember, some joke that's only funny in the moment, and it's then that Taehyung unconsciously reaches for the necklace—except, there's no necklace to reach for anymore. He panics, of course, natural reflexes kicking in; his eyes widen and his breath hitches and he checks again, instinctively, just in case, but where the necklace used to adorn his neck there's nothing anymore and God , this must be a fucking nightmare.

“Fuck,” he says, can't stop himself from cursing out loud, though he really doesn't want to start a scene over this, and his eyes are already scanning his surroundings, desperate to find it again, because he also really doesn't know how he's supposed to tell his family he lost it, just like that. He can't do that ; This is not something anyone just loses, not something that can be replaced—it's been handed down in his family for generations.

Yoongi is immediately by his side, as always. He frowns, worry written on his face. “Tae, man, is everything alright?”

“I lost my necklace,” Taehyung says and he immediately cringes when he hears his voice come out like that—layered with panic and frustration all at once—and he's not even looking at him properly, busy checking all his pockets in case he put it there and forgot about it. The chances are slim, but still, he has to try .

“Wait, your aunt's necklace?,” Yoongi wants to know with wide eyes. Taehyung nods distractedly and the other groans in annoyance, clicks his tongue scoldingly. “I told you not to wear it!”

“I know you did,” Taehyung sharply responds, but Yoongi pointedly ignores the retort, knows that the other doesn't mean it, that it only comes from a place of frustration. 

Instead, he grabs Taehyung’s shoulders in attempt to calm him down. “We'll find it, okay? We'll find it.”

It takes a moment, but then Taehyung nods slowly, though not very convinced. Jackson's parties are always huge and it's hard to keep track of everyone who comes and goes, so it's not uncommon for things to get lost for good, to get stolen, even. That's what actually makes him fidgety—not the fact that it's lost, more so the fact that someone—anyone—could find it, keep it.

“Where did you last have it for sure?,” Yoongi asks, signaling the other two guys that they won't continue their game of beer pong any longer in passing.

“…I have no idea,” Taehyung breathes out after a second of tracing back the past hours, the realisation actually hitting him then. He hasn't exactly checked on it ever since he arrived and frankly, it could be anywhere in this damn house, in this garden, even. Taehyung's a social butterfly and it's only natural for him to go from room to room, checking out what all of his friends are up to, chatting up strangers who seem a bit isolated in one moment and reconnecting with highschool friends the next. And of course, that doesn't really help his case, makes it all the more difficult because he has no idea where to start .

After the initial shock, Taehyung calms down a bit and decides to approach this logically, to systematically go through every room he remembers being in. Yoongi insists on helping him, even though Taehyung assures him he'd be fine on his own, but still, he's more than grateful for the help. They decide to split up; Yoongi starts with the basement and Taehyung takes the living room.

And that's how Taehyung's finds himself crouching on the floor of Jackson's living room in an attempt to scan the space under the couch (which is currently occupied by two people making out), when he hears an amused chuckle behind him. “What the hell are you doing on the floor, dude?”

Taehyung instantly turns on his heels when he realizes he's being addressed—a quite hard task in the position he’s in, but he manages somehow and the sight he's met with then is a guy in the most ridiculous shirt he's ever seen. I might look like I’m listening to you but in my head I’m playing my drums, it says. In fucking Comic Sans, of all fonts. It looks horribly self-printed. What's even more ridiculous, though, is the fact that he somehow still manages to look good in this, pulling it off like a designer shirt.

Taehyung snorts and rips his eyes from the shirt with a poorly suppressed smile to meet the other's expectant gaze. The guy grins down at him with raised eyebrows and Taehyung can't even find it in him to feel irritated about the nosiness of the question because his smile is cute, his nose crunching and bunny teeth slightly sticking out. “It's not quite time to pass out yet, you know?,” he adds with a teasing undertone.

“I'm not drunk!,” Taehyung quickly defends, faux-offended, “Well, a little tipsy, maybe, but that's it.”

The other raises his eyebrows, not very convinced. “You mind to enlighten me why you're on the floor looking like this is the worst evening you've had in three years, then?”

“Because it is!,” Taehyung says, exaggerates, feeling a pout form on his lips. Yeah, he might be a bit dramatic, but who can blame him? He’s in the middle of an emergency.

The other guy laughs in response and it's lighthearted, doesn't seem mocking at all—the kind of laugh you share with people you know well. Taehyung can't help but smile faintly as well. “Guess I should tell Jackson to step up his game then. Can't have pretty boys sulking in the middle of his parties, can we?”

Taehyung almost chokes.

“…You're friends with him?,” he asks and it's not that part that caught his attention, of course not, but it's the part he chooses to focus on. He's way too flustered to ponder on the implicit compliment that makes his cheeks heat up in embarrassment. It's better to drive the conversation into another direction, he supposes.

The guy raises his eyebrows knowingly. “You're not?”

“That's a stupid question, we both know that majority of the people here only know him fleetingly.”

“Guess you're right,” the other shrugs, and after a second: “You mind telling me what you're up to, now?”

Taehyung sighs, reckons it can’t hurt to fill the other in on his struggle. “I just…I lost my necklace and it's—it's very important to me,” he explains, “It's been in my family since, like, forever. ”

“Oh, shit,” the guy says, curses, tone dripping with empathy and he's immediately crouching down as well, now eye to eye with Taehyung, “I'm sorry, I hope I didn't come off as rude or something.”

It must look kind of weird—two strangers crouching opposite of each other in the middle of a party. For a moment Taehyung thinks it must have caught someone’s attention, just because it feels like something that should have caught someone’s attention, because it feels like such a peculiar situation to him. But of course nobody’s watching—people have seen worse and weirder things and nobody pays attention to them, anyways. Taehyung always liked this about parties; that, as long as you are not completely embarrassing yourself, nobody cares. Nobody cares, as long as there is something else, something bigger going on, as long as there are other things to gossip about next Monday on campus.

“You didn't.” Taehyung waves dismissively, mind tracing back to their conversation. He's way too done to care.

A moment of silence passes, with the boy blinking at Taehyung owlishly and Taehyung almost thinks he won't answer, but then he adds “I can help if you want!” in this eager tone and he’s smiling brightly, as if the idea just struck him, “Keep an eye open for antique looking jewelry, you know.”

Taehyung lets out an endeared chuckle when he hears that, a bit of the pressure falling from his shoulders. He can't find it in him to decline. “That'd be nice actually.”

“Okay, then you only have to tell me how it looks like,” He tilts his head, looks Taehyung right in the eye, “And your name, preferably.”

Taehyung is taken aback by the straightforwardness for a moment, but he quickly catches himself, shooting back a teasing grin.

“My name?,” he asks, “What would you need my name for?”

“Well, if I find it, I need to find you, am I right?,” he replies cheekily and Taehyung can't really argue with that logic, finds himself grinning back despite the unfortunate situation he is in and he feels himself cracking.

“It's Taehyung.”

“Mine's Jeongguk. Nice to meet you.” And he has the fucking nerve to shake his hand then, as if they're 40-year-old business partners instead of 20-something-year-old college students meeting at a party. And that's the point where Taehyung can't control the smile on his face anymore. He's cute. “We'll talk when I find it.”

With that, he stands up again and Taehyung's eyes follow him curiously. “When?,” he laughs, amusement clear in his voice, “You mean If.”

“Oh, but I will find it,” Jeongguk raises his eyebrows and slightly cocks his head, “I'm very competitive, you know?”

“Okay then, Detective Jeongguk,” Taehyung responds teasingly, says it with a laugh he can't help escaping from his lips, "Until then."

“Until then.” And the other actually fucking salutes when he bids his goodbye and it leaves Taehyung shaking his head with an amused chuckle. That guy really is something.

It's only after Jeongguk gets lost in the crowd that he realizes he never got to the part where he'd describe how the necklace actually looks like.

The next time they stumble into each other, it's not even half an hour later and again, it all comes down to yet another unfortunate event.

To be specific, Taehyung accidentally runs into a girl on his way inside and of fucking course she happens to spill her drink on him, so now he's soaked in sticky liquor and if he didn't regret coming to this party before, he sure as fuck does now. Naturally, his first instinct is to rush to the bathroom to try and get the stain out of it with some water, maybe try and blow dry it after that. 

He doesn't bother to lock the door, ready to leave the room if someone needs to pee, but still, it somehow comes as a surprise when someone barges into the room while he's busy blow drying the shirt, only more so when he realizes it's Jeongguk. He almost drops the hairdryer. The other seems to be just as surprised, if not more—his eyes comically widen the moment they meet Taehyung's in the mirror and then he's realizing Taehyung's practically half naked and he's blushing furiously. “Oh my God!,” he splutters, “I'm so sorry, I'll just, you know—go.”

“No, wait!,” Taehyung turns around and catches the other's wrist in a moment of boldness, “I mean…I'm almost finished anyway.”

The stay doesn't have to be said for it to linger in the air between them and it's an awkward request, he realizes quickly, instantly, to ask an almost-stranger to wait for him in a situation like that, to keep him company until he's finished, but Jeongguk only shrugs and then he's sitting on the bathtub, watching Taehyung with curious eyes.

“How come I always find you doing something vaguely questionable whenever I see you?,” he asks after a second, a teasing grin tugging on his lips. He doesn’t allow awkward silence to spread between them and Taehyung’s grateful for that.

Taehyung turns to him for a moment and raises his eyebrows teasingly. “I know right? It's almost like you're waiting for me to do something dumb. Like these rom-com side characters that only ever appear for their witty one-liners”

“Damn, you're right,” Jeongguk gasps, as if this is the greatest revelation he's ever had, “The only thing I'm missing is the forced background laughter, to be honest. That really sets the mood.”

“Worry not, I mastered the ability of fake laughter through my extensive training of talking to finance students.” He laughs.

“You wound me, Taehyung,” Jeongguk gasps, theatrically wiping a non existent tear out of the corner of his eye and Taehyung can't believe his level of drama but he loves it and for a moment, he forgets he's supposed to be searching for his necklace, indulging Jeongguk in his dramatics. “Here I was, thinking I could make you laugh for real.”

And then his brain catches up with the meaning behind Jeongguk's words.

“Wait, you study finance? You?,” he exclaims, staring the other down with a look of surprise. “Not to feed into stereotypes, but judging from your appearance, finance was the last thing I thought you'd major in.”

“What do you mean?”

“Dude,” Taehyung raises his eyebrows, as if he can't believe he'd ask such a question, “Your shirt.”

Jeongguk laughs and it's a nice sound, contagious in the way that Taehyung can't stop his own lips from turning into a smile. “Well, to be fair, I'd much rather major in Music or—just don't go to uni at all, make music my full time job. But you know—expectations.” He shrugs, gives Taehyung a half smile and it's clear he doesn't want to take this topic any further.

“Yeah, expectations,” Taehyung sighs and with that, silence stretches between the two, the blowdryer being the only noise in the bathroom, both occupied with their thoughts and it's nice, it's comfortable. It's everything Taehyung wouldn't expect from a conversation with an almost-stranger. Sensing the other's discomfort with the topic, he turns to him with a teasing grin after a moment, ready to drop what they just talked about. “What's the deal with your shirt, anyway?”

Jeongguk scoffs, but it's playful and Taehyung can read the gratitude in his eyes, a silent Thank You for changing the direction of their conversation. “What's the deal with my shirt? You don't even wear a shirt, dude,” he says, raising one eyebrow expectantly, “You have no rights to badmouth mine.” It's said in a teasing tone and then Jeongguk pats his shirt like it's his greatest possession and seriously, Taehyung can't stop smiling. Yoongi would call it sickening if he ever saw him like that.

“Someone spilled their drink on me, that's why,” he explains, rolling his eyes fondly, “So you play?”

“Play what?”

“The drums, obviously.”

“Oh. Yeah. I'm in a band actually.” And Jeongguk's whole face seems to light up at the mention of it and Taehyung actually has to let go of the hairdryer for a moment, places it on the cupboard, just to see his eyes sparkle, to hear him ramble—You didn't hear that from him, though. “I mean, so far we've only ever had, like, seven band practices and we haven't decided on a name yet, but it's in the making!”

Taehyung's smiles brightly, matching Jeongguk's expression. “Oh my God, that's so cool!,” he says, eyes sparkling, “Do you write your own songs as well?”

See, Taehyung has always had a particular interest in music and the people making music. He's always been interested in artistic minds and the way they work. Jeongguk is no exception to that rule.

“For now, it's only covers, but I've been experimenting with some things the last few weeks,” Jeongguk says, fumbling with his hands, evidently becoming a bit shy now. Taehyung resists the urge to put them into his, reckons this kind of gesture is too intimate for this, for them. Jeongguk looks up and gives him a small smile, eyes big and hopeful. “Maybe I can show you sometime.”

Please, is the first word that comes to Taehyung's mind. He's not able to keep the grin from spreading on his whole face, crinkling his eyes at the edges. The truth is, he'd love to see Jeongguk again, and he loves that Jeongguk does as well, that he actually seems convinced that this is only the first meeting of many. Party acquaintances are usually just that. They rarely lead to something and that's okay, that's great, but with this particular one he wouldn't mind if it was different, just this once, just with Jeongguk, who offers him help and company and makes him feel a bit more at ease. Jeongguk, who is cute and funny and right here when he could be anywhere at this party.

“Yeah, definitely!,” is what he ends up saying instead, and he cringes over how awkward it comes out, slightly worried it might seem insincere in the other's eyes, because it's anything but.

They exchange a small, secret smile, dropping the topic of any future meetings then, and Taehyung focuses on the hairdryer again and at this point, he's almost ready to give up. He's been at it for 10 minutes and he's getting impatient—the fabric is still damp. “I don't think this is working,” he sighs, defeatedly. 

Jeongguk perks up at the words, eyes big, looking as if he just got an idea. “You could've said something!,” he says and when Taehyung raises a questioning eyebrow he explains: “I've got a spare T-shirt in Jackson's room. You can take it, if you want.” He shrugs, trying to feign indifference, maybe. Or maybe it really doesn't matter that much to him. Maybe he's always this nice, this kind, so ready to give.

“Oh my God, really?,” Taehyung asks, immediately stopping the task at hand and fully turning to Jeongguk with inquiring eyes, unable to believe he might be this lucky. Because honestly? The prospect of a dry shirt is more than promising right now.

“Yes, of course!,” Jeongguk hops from the tub, "We need to keep on searching for your necklace, after all." With that, he winks and then he's grabbing Taehyung's hand, leading him out of the bathroom.

People look at them and Taehyung belatedly realises he's still very much half naked, so he quickly presses the piece of fabric against his chest with burning cheeks. He briefly wonders how this might look to other people—with Jeongguk's hand in his, guiding him upstairs—and it only makes him blush more.

“Speaking of!,” Taehyung starts to ramble after a moment, trying to come up with something that drives his mind into another direction, to the actually important matter at hand: his necklace. "It's gold with a little emerald stone attached to it…You know, since you asked how it looked like earlier."

He's mostly talking for the sake of talking, trying to cover up how nervous he's feeling with Jeongguk's hands in his and the possible implications this whole scene might have for bystanders. Because the possible implications are there, hard to miss, to overlook, though they couldn't be farther from the truth.

Jeongguk doesn't let go of his hand until they've reached Jackson's room, where he needs it to open the door. He steps in and gestures for Taehyung to follow, but the other hesitates in his steps, feels like he's overstepping, intruding, entering a space he doesn't belong to, so while Jeongguk looks through his backpack, Taehyung is just standing awkwardly in the threshold. He's got his arms wrapped around himself and lets his eyes wander through the room.

“Don't worry,” Jeongguk says, as if he had read his mind, “Jackson wouldn't mind you being here. As long as we're not making out on his bed, it's fine.”

Taehyung's eyes widen at the words and then he's laughing, surprised to find that Jeongguk's comment actually managed to put him a bit more to ease. It's easy like that with him.

“Here,” Jeongguk says then, fishing out a white shirt and throwing it into Taehyung's direction. The other catches it clumsily before mumbling a quiet “Thanks”. He quickly changes into it and he guesses that would be his cue to go, to bid his goodbye, but he lingers, overwhelmed with the urge to say something, anything.

“What?,” Jeongguk asks, raising a questioning eyebrow at his hesitance.

“Thank you,” Taehyung repeats, says it again, more sincerely this time. He catches Jeongguk's eye and flashes him a grateful smile.

They share a look and for a moment quiet settles between them and Taehyung kind of feels like he's on fire with Jeongguk looking at him like he doesn't plan on stopping. “No problem, Tae,” he says, quietly, softly and it contrasts with the loud, noisy music in the background.

“I need to get going now,” Taehyung starts then—slowly, hesitating, not really wanting their conversation to end, but he still needs to find his necklace and doesn't want to waste any more time. They both know it.

Jeongguk nods. “Yes, of course,” he says immediately, giving him a cheeky smile, “We'll have enough time to talk when I find it, after all.”

“Right, Jeongguk," Taehyung laughs, "I'll remember your words.”

To Taehyung's surprise, it's actually Jeongguk who finds the necklace.

He's outside, busy scanning the ground with his phone's flashlight, when someone appears at the door, calling Taehyung's name. Taehyung knows exactly who it is and turns around instantly, spotting Jeongguk at the doorstep. He breaks out in a grin and as soon Jeongguk sees that he has his attention on him he jogs towards Taehyung, triumphantly waving the necklace through the air—or at least, Taehyung thinks it's his necklace, it's hard to tell in the dark.

“I've been searching for you,” Jeongguk says, breathless, the necklace dangling from his hands and glistening in the moonlight.

Taehyung lets out a sigh of relief, can't possibly believe his eyes and the next moment he's throwing his arms around Jeongguk. The other lets out a startled sound but quickly composes himself and reciprocates the hug.

“Thank you,” Taehyung whispers, tightening his arms around Jeongguk's neck, “Thank you so much, Guk. I owe you, I really do.”

Jeongguk laughs fondly and squeezes Taehyung's waist tightly in response and maybe it should be weird, because they don't know each other like that, but somehow, it isn't. They are tipsy and this is nice and Taehyung has his fucking necklace back.

When they part again, Jeongguk grins at him and it's contagious, so contagious that Taehyung can't help but do the same. Taehyung blinks and when he opens his eyes, the necklace is right in front of his eyes, Jeongguk letting it fall from his fingers with a dopey smile. 

“May I?,” he asks, softly, as if afraid he'd destroy the atmosphere if he spoke too loud and Taehyung nods, once, twice, not quite trusting his voice to not betray him. 

With that, Jeongguk steps behind him and suddenly cold fingers are brushing over warm skin and Taehyung's heart picks up a fast pace, beating against his chest uncontrollably and he has to take a deep breath to keep calm. He feels Jeongguk's breath on his neck while he’s concentrated on putting the necklace into place, and Taehyung can't suppress a shudder at the feeling of it.

A moment later, he feels the hands disappear from his neck. “Done,” Jeongguk whispers and when Taehyung turns around, they stand close, so close. The proximity allows it to look Jeongguk directly into the eyes, makes it necessary, even, because everything else would border on suggestive; He tries hard to keep his eyes trained on Jeongguk's, forces himself to not let them wander south, as tempting as it is. And it's crazy, ridiculous, even, how Jeongguk's eyes alone radiate a kindness, a softness Taehyung has rarely seen in anyone else. It's like there's not a single bad bone in his body.

Jeongguk’s gaze on him is intense, searching, and Taehyung doesn’t allow himself to stare back for long before he awkwardly clears his throat and looks away. The moment's over.

Taehyung pointedly ignores the questioning look Jeongguk sends his way after and lowers himself on the doorstep behind him. “Where did you find it?,” he inquiries, set on changing the topic, “The necklace, I mean.”

“In the living room, actually,” Jeongguk grins and then he sits down as well, right next to Taehyung. 

“No way!,” Taehyung exclaims, almost offended at this revelation, “I've searched every corner of that damn room, I refuse to believe this.”

“What can I say?,” Jeongguk turns to him with a self assured smile, “I know this house like the back of my hand.”

“I take it Jackson and you are close?”

Jeongguk nods. “Yeah, he's one of my best friends. Him and Yugyeom kind of took me under their wing first year of college.” He pauses, hesitates, and Taehyung gives him the chance to collect his thoughts while Jeongguk takes a deep breath and leans back on his hands. “I…kinda had a hard time settling into college until they came along…all my highschool friends are somewhere scattered around the country and I—I wasn't exactly the best at meeting new people.”

And see, Taehyung never had that problem. He and Jimin enrolled in college together, so he was never really alone, was never forced to find new friends. He had it easy, he supposes. He never had to be brave.

“I'm glad you found them,” Taehyung says with a small smile, “They seem like great friends.”

“They really are.”

And silence settles between them then, the two of them distracted by their own thoughts. Both have their eyes on the fireflies that fly around the darkness of the garden. It's funny—in the depth of silence, every little thing becomes mesmerizing all of a sudden.

“Do you know The Princess And The Frog?,” Jeongguk suddenly disrupts the quiet, “The Disney version, I mean.”

Taehyung groans, dramatically covering his eyes with his hands. He knows exactly where he's leading with this. “Oh God, don't remind me. I bawled my eyes out when the firefly died.”

“Same, bro.”

A pause. Taehyung distractedly picks at the fabric of his jeans. Then he looks up. “Did you know that fireflies actually use their light to communicate with each other?”

Jeongguk shakes his head, and before he gets the chance to comment further on this Taehyung adds: “If you count the seconds between every time they light up, you can even tell whether they are male or female, apparently.”

“How do you know all of this stuff?”

Taehyung shrugs. “The internet.”

“I feel like we hang around on very opposite sides of the internet, then,” Jeongguk snickers.

“Maybe.”

And then they both look ahead again, watching the fireflies. It's nice like this, Taehyung thinks. He might prefer this to the actual party, not really in the mood to drink and dance and play stupid games after the whole debacle with his necklace. Just sitting here and talking to Jeongguk is way better.

“5 seconds,” Jeongguk eventually says, turning his head to look at Taehyung again. When he sees the other's confused expression he explains: “The time in between every time this firefly lights up. I counted.”

Taehyung hums. “It's probably a male then.”

“Mhm. Tell me another one.”

“Another what?”

“Animal fact!,” Jeongguk requests and he beams and it's so cute, Taehyung doesn't quite know how to handle it.

“I see you're getting the appeal of it,” he teases, and then he thinks for a moment, taps his chin absentmindedly. His mind is filled with useless trivia, but when someone asks, when it counts, he goes completely blank. “Okay, this is a good one: Did you know that butterflies taste with their feet?”

A startled laugh tumbles out of Jeongguk’s mouth. “That’s probably the most useless piece of information I've ever got in my entire life,” he says, “And I did two years of Latin in high school, so that has to mean something.”

“But that’s what’s so nice about it! Sometimes it’s cool to know something just for the sake of it.”

“Oh, shut up! That’s so fucking dorky, I can't believe this.”

“Yeah,” He shoots Jeongguk a look, “Says the guy with the 'I might look like I'm listening to you but in my head I'm playing my drums' shirt.”

“You need to pronounce it more hardcore, Tae. I'm in a rock band, after all,” he says, jokes, throwing him a Rock n' Roll sign and sticking out his tongue, but he's betrayed by the cute grin spreading over his face.

And Taehyung laughs—can't help it, really—and leans his head against Jeongguk's shoulder for a moment. “How am I supposed to pronounce it hardcore, dude?,” he asks and even though Jeongguk can't see his face he can hear the grin in his voice and it makes him smile as well.

“Let me show you,” he says, clearing his throat with a faux serious expression before he does just that ; He pronounces the quote with a dark voice, dropping one octave or two. All that while furrowing his eyebrows, imitating a “Rock n' Roll face”, as Jeongguk later calls it.

It's so ridiculous but Taehyung thinks it's endearing and he can't help but laugh out loud, not able to contain it any longer and Jeongguk joins him, leans against him with shaking shoulders. 

“You're crazy, dude,” Taehyung says, barely catching his breath and it's stupid, so stupid, but the truth is, this is the most fun he had in months. “You legit sound like Mr. Bean.”

“I do not!,” Jeongguk exclaims, lightly slapping him with an offended expression.

And it's easy like that with Jeongguk—laughing is. Laughing and talking about nothing as if it's everything that matters. They just click and they talk and talk, and in this very moment, Taehyung forgets about everything else. Forgets about college starting again soon, forgets about the party in the background, forgets about everything that lays behind and before him.

That is, until Yoongi appears at the door behind them. 

“Kim Taehyung,” he pronounces slowly, scoldingly and Taehyung bolts, turns around, suddenly remembering that he hasn't told the other that he got his necklace back yet, that he doesn't need his help anymore. Oops.

Yoongi looks at him with raised eyebrows and Taehyung can't quite pinpoint whether he looks immensely annoyed or just amused. Maybe both. He can't really blame him.

“How come I find you chit chatting instead of searching for your necklace?,” he asks, putting on an oh-so-oblivious-expression. He so obviously knows the answer to that question, knows that Taehyung got it back already, can see the necklace dangling from his neck, even. He probably also knows, what—or rather who—got him so distracted that he forgot all about his friend. 

“I'm sorry, hyung!,” Taehyung says instantly, voice turning into a plea and lips forming into a pout because he knows Yoongi can't resist his puppy eyes. “I kind of forgot about it for a moment.”

It doesn’t even take a second and his friend sighs. He shakes his head with a small smile, and it's already clear he'll let it slide. “Okay, Tae,” he says begrudgingly, as if he had to contemplate it, as if he hadn't made up his mind already, “But you have to introduce me to Hoseok to make it up for me,” he adds cheekily and Taehyung isn’t surprised in the slightest, grins back in response. He really couldn't be more obvious about his crush.

Taehyung is about to turn back to Jeongguk, get back to their conversation, when he notices Yoongi looking at him expectantly. The younger raises his eyebrows. “Wait, now?,” he asks and Yoongi scoffs with the hint of a smile.

“Yes, of course now!”

Taehyung's immediate reaction is to look at Jeongguk and gauge his expression. He seems a bit perplexed, as if his mind doesn't quite catch up with the fact that their time is being cut short. 

And Taehyung? He really doesn't want to leave this spot at the doorstep with Jeongguk. Wants to talk with him more, talk about uni and music and animals. Talk about all the things they already talked about and the things they didn’t even touch upon.

But he can't just say that. So he sighs. “I need to go now,” he says quietly, as if the volume of his voice would change anything about the truth of his words, “but it was…it was nice talking to you, Jeongguk!” It comes out awkward, of course it does. It doesn't match their previous energy, their previous closeness at all. Maybe it’s his reluctance to go or Yoongi’s curious gaze on them, but the air around them is different to before and Taehyung hates it.

“Yeah!,” Jeongguk responds, strained, looking as if he was just ripped out of a daydream, “Good talk!” 

It's equally as awkward, and he immediately winces, probably cringes about his choice of words. He sends Taehyung a tight lipped smile. Taehyung returns it halfheartedly.

And he lingers for a moment longer, really doesn't want this to end with a “good talk”, but he doesn't quite know what else to say, so he stands up and goes inside. It's not like they won't see each other again, it's not even like the party is nearly ending. Nevertheless, it weirdly feels like a goodbye.

It's not a goodbye. And Taehyung probably should've known they'd see each other again sooner or later because Jeongguk somehow is everywhere at this party.

He just introduced Hoseok and Yoongi and it’s almost ridiculous how fast their conversation turned into him third wheeling, so Taehyung fled to the kitchen under the premise of getting himself a drink. And that’s exactly what he does when Jeongguk enters the room.

“We meet again,” he greets him and Jeongguk grins back.

Gesturing towards the cup in Taehyung’s hand he asks: “Make me one as well?” and Taehyung nods, mixes the other a drink while Jeongguk leans against the counter and watches him with attentive eyes.

“Here,” Taehyung says when he’s finished. He extracts his arm, handing the other the drink he requested. Then he positions himself on the counter opposite of Jeongguk and they both gulp from their drinks in silence. It’s comfortable like that, almost natural, even. With the music playing in the background it doesn’t feel too quiet or awkward at all. Even though the music could definitely be better, Taehyung thinks.

He says as much. “No offense to Jackson, but the music here is horrendous.”

“Fair enough,” Jeongguk laughs. “Yugyeom and I always tease him for his taste in music.”

“I take it you and Yugyeom aren’t too fond of Liam Payne’s Strip That Down, then?,” Taehyung grins, leaning forward a bit.

“Definitely not. My taste in music is exquisite.” He smiles, lets the word linger in the air for a while and then he looks at Taehyung, cocks his head curiously. “Are you a music snob, Taehyung?,” he asks, “Because you kind of strike me as one.”

“Wouldn’t call it that, really. Just not a fan of hearing the same shit at every party.” He raises his cup to his lips and takes a sip, fixing Jeongguk with a look.

“What kind of music do you listen to, then?"

Taehyung groans as if the question actually makes him suffer physically. “That's a horrible question!,” he complains, “Honestly? My taste in music is…all over the place.”

Jeongguk hums understandingly, but he doesn’t let it go. “Okay, what's your favorite song then?,” he pushes, leaning forward a bit.

“That's an even worse question!”

“Just tell me the first that came to your mind, dude.” He rolls his eyes, but it’s fondly, so fondly. A small smile spreads over his lips, so subtle it could easily be missed.

“Okay,” Taehyung determinedly says after a minute of thinking, “I got one.” He places his cup on the counter and turns to Jeongguk, looks at him with a sudden eagerness in his eyes. “Do you have headphones with you?”

“Uh—yeah?”

“I'll show you, then.” And Jeongguk doesn't ask, doesn't question, because he gets it. Some songs need to be listened to. “We need to go somewhere quiet, though.”

Jeongguk thinks about it for a moment before he pushes himself from the counter and extracts his hand. “Come here.”

And Taehyung does—he takes his hand and lets himself be pulled down and the weight of Jeongguk’s hands is familiar even though they’ve only done it once before and that was merely for convenience. 

Jeongguk guides him through groups of people, through the front door and over the front porch until suddenly they are on the street and he locates them right in the middle of it just because they can, because there are no cars in sight and it feels like the thing to do.

He drops his hands and then he looks at Taehyung expectantly. “Go ahead,” he gestures vaguely into the direction of where Taehyung has his phone in a loose grip, urges him to play the song.

“Okay,” Taehyung breathes out, “but I'm warning you. This is an upbeat song, so,” Taehyung pauses for a moment, shyly looks up to the other before taking his hands in his once again, “you gotta dance with me.” He mutters the last part, slightly blushes when he says it as well. And the eye contact almost feels unbearable but still, he searches for permission in the other's eyes, for any sign of discomfort. There are none.

“You're completely ruining my rockstar image!,” Jeongguk whines nonetheless, but there's no malice behind it, no real intent. He smiles and with a swift motion he tugs Taehyung closer and gives him one of the earphone strings.

It makes them stand impossibly close to each other.

“Don't worry,” Taehyung whispers, not daring to be any louder with this little distance between them, “Nobody will see us here.” And it's kind of ironic, kind of a lie, because they're in the middle of a street and technically anyone could see them there. It doesn’t feel like it, though. It feels weirdly private.

Taehyung presses play before pocketing the phone. The first chords of “Everywhere” fill the chilly night air and he boldly reaches for Jeongguk’s hands again. It doesn’t take long for the other to recognize the song. Jeongguk grins. “Fleetwood Mac?,” he says, eyebrows raising almost to his hairline, “Really?”

And Taehyung shrugs, a slight smile tugging on his lips. “They're iconic.”

“True.”

And then they dance. They dance badly, ridiculously, swinging their arms and shaking their bodies and Taehyung lip syncs to the song and it should be awkward, it should feel weird, but it isn't and it doesn't and Taehyung just feels so fucking good in that very moment—dancing with a stranger under the midnight moon in the middle of the street; with no one to watch them, no one to judge them.

“You know that I'm falling and I don't know what to say, ” Taehyung mouths along to the song and dramatically presses his hands against his chest as if in pain. Jeongguk can’t help the wide grin spreading over his face. He doesn’t even try anymore, the smile tugging at his lips becoming a constant companion with Taehyung next to him.

“You better make it soon before you break my heart.”

With every passing line, they’re slowly gravitating towards each other more and more until suddenly, the distance between them is hardly even there and Taehyung increasingly loses track of the song, only mouths along absentmindedly, distractedly, too caught up with Jeongguk and the way he looks at him. Because Jeongguk watches him intently, does for the whole song and he looks at Taehyung so intensely, it overwhelms Taehyung in a way he didn’t expect at all, but suddenly Jeongguk is all that he can focus on. He’s right in front of him—he’s got his hands and eyes locked with his and it’s so impossible to avoid his seeking gaze and Taehyung feels himself burn under it.

The end of the song is nearing and it’s Taehyung’s favourite part, the one he waited for, but he doesn’t even fucking notice when it comes on. Because Jeongguk’s eyes are brown and warm and they trail over Taehyung’s face—his nose, his brows, his lips —like he wants to savour all the parts of him before they lock with his again and something changes in Jeongguk’s gaze.

He carefully frees his hands out of Taehyung’s and Taehyung lets him, loses his grip around them and his hands instantly fall limply to his sides as if they were deprived of their purpose. Jeongguk slowly raises one hand to cup Taehyung’s cheek and Taehyung’s eyes close at the touch, the intensity too much to keep them open. 

A feeling of anticipation spreads over Taehyung, his heart beating against his ribcage uncontrollably and when he opens his eyes again Jeongguk is right there where he was seconds before, hasn’t moved an inch.

“Won’t you kiss me?,” Taehyung asks quietly and it’s the question that lingered between them the whole time—the question whether this night will end with a kiss, with a promise of more. Whether Taehyung was the only one who felt this crazy pull towards the other.

Jeongguk smiles and lightly shakes his head. “Not unless you ask me to.”

So Taehyung does. “Kiss me,” he says, he whispers and it’s not as much a question as it is a request, but he sees no point in asking when they both already know they want this, when they both already know the answer.

The answer is a kiss. It’s the only answer, really. And Jeongguk leans forward, does it slowly, increasing the tension between the two, in a way he knows it’ll kill the other, but Taehyung doesn’t know how to wait, never did, really, so he grabs Jeongguk by the neck and presses their lips together in a swift motion.

And then they kiss. They kiss and they forget all about the song playing in the background, Stevie Nicks singing about craving and longing, while the two of them momentarily forget all about that when they got each other right in their palms. There’s a lot of things Taehyung wants, a lot of things he dreams about. He finds kissing is the easiest way to forget about all the things he doesn’t have, to focus on what’s right there instead.

And having a hand to hold, lips to kiss—even if it’s only momentarily—it’s the greatest way to live in the moment.

Taehyung is the first to pull away from the kiss, a feeling of euphoria flooding through his body when he does. “Bad dancing, drunk making out sessions. Looks like we started our own party out here,” he says breathlessly, grinning against the other’s lips. “Just with better music, of course.”

“Mhmmm, don't tell Jackson but I might prefer this one,” Jeongguk whispers against his lips, so privately between them and Taehyung giggles as if it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard.

“Oh, believe me, I'm so gonna snitch,” he says and then he leans in once again, going for another kiss. Jeongguk tightens his hold around him.

They are currently laying on the grass of Jackson’s front yard, gazing into the night sky despite the polluted city air denying them to see the stars properly.

“I miss seeing the stars, sometimes,” Jeongguk sighs, “It’s one of the few things I miss about my hometown.”

“Same,” Taehyung says quietly, “That, and home cooked meals.”

“Oh God, yes,” Jeongguk says, his head slightly turning to look at Taehyung, “I’d kill for some home cooked meal right now.”

“Have you been home during summer break?”

Jeongguk shakes his head. “No, I wanted to visit but—it didn’t work out as planned.”

Taehyung hums understandingly. “Me neither, did an internship at a marketing firm so I couldn’t exactly leave.” He shrugs. “Everything for the perfect CV, am I right?” 

“Ha, it certainly feels that way sometimes,” Jeongguk lets out a humourless laugh. “Otherwise I would have dropped out of college already. Or—maybe not. I don’t know.”

“Do you hate it that much?”

“I don’t... hate it,” he says and it kind of sounds like a lie, “But it always feels like a waste of time. Like, shouldn’t I chase my dreams instead?”

“I—can’t tell you that,” Taehyung says carefully, because it’s the truth. He knows the bare minimum about Jeongguk, about the position he’s in. It feels a bit like a wake up call; a reminder that despite them feeling and acting like they’ve known each other for years, they are mere strangers. “It depends on what you want, I guess.”

“Yeah,” he releases a breath, absentmindedly ripping out some grass, “I’ve never been good at figuring that out.”

“Listen,” Taehyung says, sitting up slightly, balancing his weight on his hands, “You don’t have to figure it all out now. This is only your second year, right?”

Jeongguk looks up at him, eyebrows drawn in confusion. “How do you know?”

“Figured you’d be the same age group as Jackson.”

“You’re right,” Jeongguk nods, “About me having time, I mean. Though the age group thing is true as well.”

And then Taehyung lays down onto his back again and the two go back to wordlessly staring into the starless sky. Taehyung feels his body relax in that position and closes his eyes for a moment, for a while. 

He senses Jeongguk shifting next to him and when Taehyung opens his eyes again he sees he’s hovering slightly over him, carrying his weight on his arms that are positioned on either side of Taehyung now. “Sleepy?,” he asks, grinning down on the other.

Taehyung smiles softly before closing his eyes again. “Mhmm, no. Just comfortable.”

“Liar,” Jeongguk laughs before he pokes a finger into his side, making Taehyung squirm and erupt into giggles.

The action brings them closer, with Jeongguk hovering on his underarms now and Jeongguk eyes widen when he seems to realize the same. “Is that okay?,” he quietly asks, putting some more distance between the two for a moment.

“Of course,” Taehyung says and he smiles brightly, blindingly, before he loops his arms around Jeongguk’s neck, pulling him down even more, until their faces are only mere inches apart.

“Is that okay?,” he asks in return and his voice comes out quiet, barely a whisper. They’ve kissed just half an hour ago, but somehow it feels necessary to ask again. He wants to ask again, wants the confirmation that they’re on the same page.

Jeongguk nods and then he leans down and goes in for another kiss. Taehyung responds immediately, tightening the grip around his neck while his other hand snakes around Jeongguk’s middle, holding him securely. They take their time with it and Taehyung loves it like this, could easily kiss Jeongguk for hours.

Taehyung has met many people at parties. Kissed a share. People who became friends, people who became more; people he had great conversations with and then never met again, people who were the life of the party and people who preferred to be bystanders. He’s met and kissed all kinds of people, yet he feels like Jeongguk is the most intriguing one of them all. Maybe it’s because they can talk so easily, as if they’ve always been friends, or maybe it’s because Jeongguk seems so real, so genuine—not putting on an act to seem cool or approachable. There’s just something special about him, about them.

The thing is—he has his fair experience with party acquaintances and he’s pretty sure there’s some unwritten rule about the casualty of making out at a party. No strings attached, that kind of thing.

Making out with Jeongguk doesn’t feel very casual to him. Maybe it’s because they spend more time talking than they do kissing. It’s that mixture that makes them tread a dangerous line. It’s that and it’s Jeongguk, who is sweet and considerate and so fucking funny. Jeongguk who makes plans for future meetings when they’ve only known each other for a few hours and who laughs about the same things he does.

They kiss and kiss and suddenly they are interrupted by a raindrop landing on Taehyung’s nose. He startles and immediately brings some distance between the two. “It’s raining,” he states the obvious, looking up and spreading his palms to catch some of the raindrops.
“Yeah,” Jeongguk says but his eyes don’t leave Taehyung’s face even for a second.

“Are we still gonna lay around here?,” Taehyung asks and it might as well be a proposition, a dare, even. It’s a Let’s stay here a bit longer, please disguised as nonchalance, as a question.

Jeongguk grins. “You bet we will.” And then he lets himself fall back into the grass, Taehyung following suit.

So they lay there like that, talking and kissing and laughing, for what feels like hours. They lay there until the rain stops again and starts again and stops again. Taehyung hasn’t had a look at his phone even once after he played the song for Jeongguk but he knows it’s getting late; more and more people are leaving and if he’s honest, Taehyung’s getting sleepy as well. Keeping his eyes open gets increasingly difficult, especially in the position he’s in, but he fights the urge to close them.

He just really doesn’t want this night to end. Every new day comes with new responsibilities and Taehyung just wants to lay around here, forgetting about those for a while.

But his body screams at him to relax and Jeongguk starts to notice Taehyung dozing off as well. He chuckles. “Tae,” he nudges him lightly. “Don’t you think it’s time for you to leave, maybe? To sleep?”

Taehyung only hums as an answer, too tired to get out any words.

Jeongguk groans, nudges him more forcefully this time. “Come on, Tae. The earlier you stand up, the earlier you can go to bed.” 

Tae, he says. Has been saying it quite a few times the last few hours, but it still makes Taehyung a bit dizzy.

“Or I could just sleep here,” Taehyung says, still not opening his eyes, but smiling slightly.

“I don’t fucking think so,” Jeongguk says, pulling Taehyung into a sitting position. “I’m sure you can crush at Jackson’s if you want to, but you’re not sleeping in his front yard.”

Taehyung shakes his head, the sleepiness making him pout slightly. “No, it’s okay,” he says, a bit delayed, declining the offer, “I live at the dorms, so it’s not far from here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Mhmm, positive.” He brushes his hands over his face and yawns. “You can walk me there, though,” he cheekily adds, catching the other’s eye, “It’s partly your fault I’m this tired to begin with, anyway.”

“How is that my fault, dude?”

“If it wasn’t for you, I would have left this party hours ago,” he says softly and it’s a confession of sorts, though he didn’t intent for it to be one. It’s true though and Jeongguk looks stunned for a moment, can’t do much else but stare at Taehyung before he breaks into a fond grin, overwhelmed with the meaning behind Taehyung’s words. 

“Okay,” he says, trying hard to fight the smile off his face, “I’ll walk you.”

He stands up and offers Taehyung a hand.

As Taehyung said, the walk to his dorm isn’t very long. Under normal circumstances it would probably only last five minutes, ten minutes at most. They both know and maybe it is that knowledge that makes them wait at every crossroad though they know there are no cars around, what makes them walk a bit slower, taking smaller steps.

They are buying themselves time, as people do when they are dreading the inevitable. The inevitable in this scenario, in their story, is a goodbye, the end of the night. It’s nothing tragic, nothing out of the ordinary, but Taehyung fears that the night will take its magic with it and he’ll be left with the mere memories of a first meeting and with awkward exchanges in bypassing.

When they eventually, inevitably arrive at the dorms, they stop in their tracks and look at each other cluelessly, silently asking the What now? question that arises.

“So...about that band practice,” Jeongguk starts, shyly scratching the back of his head, and Taehyung’s lips immediately spread into a grin at the words, urging him to go on. He’s talking about the offer he made earlier the night, about him showing Taehyung his original songs. That kind of feels like ages ago, now. “I thought it would be beneficial if we exchanged phone numbers before that.”

Taehyung raises his eyebrows teasingly, the grin never leaving his face. “You mean the same way it was beneficial for you to know my name?,” he says but he’s only messing with him, already fishing his phone out of his pocket.

“Yep!” Jeongguk grins, gently prying the phone out of Taehyung’s hand, “Exactly the same way.”

After Jeongguk saved his number in the other’s phone, Taehyung quickly shoots him a text so that he’d have his number as well. “Here you go,” he says, before pocketing the device again.

Jeongguk nods, looking slightly to the side and burying his hands in his jeans. “Guess that’s the point where we say goodbye?,” he asks, sending Taehyung a half-smile that looks as bittersweet as he feels.

“I guess,” Taehyung sighs.

“So…” Jeongguk starts, but he has no idea what he wants to say in the first place. He just wanted to say something .

“We’ll talk,” Taehyung finishes for him, speaks it into existence, really.

Jeongguk nods, lips pressing into a thin line. “We’ll talk.” He scrambles for words, for something more to say, but eventually settles on waving and uttering a quiet “Bye, Tae!” before he takes a few steps backwards and turns on his heels, ready to leave.

“Wait!,” Taehyung exclaims weakly, gripping Jeongguk’s wrist and tugging him around before he can even think about it. Jeongguk startles slightly, a question already on the tip of his tongue but before he can ask what’s up Taehyung takes a deep breath and gently presses a kiss to his cheek. The words die on Jeongguk’s lips.

It only lasts a second, if even, but Taehyung feels his cheeks burning as he retracts again. “Thanks for being the best party company I’ve ever had,” he whispers, “And, you know, for finding the necklace.” He shrugs, a bit shy. “You didn’t have to do that.” 

And Jeongguk? He’s stunned, overwhelmed and the small smile on his face speaks volumes. “You’re always welcome, Tae,” he manages to say after a second, equally as quiet. He reaches for Taehyung’s hand to give it a small squeeze and he hesitates for a moment but then he turns again, disappears into the night, soon only a shadow lid by the street lights surrounding him.

It’s the last Taehyung sees of him that night, but Taehyung’s comforted by the new number in his phone, by the knowledge that they’ll see each other again.

(The first time he meets Jeon Jeongguk, Taehyung’s crouching on the floor in the middle of a Jackson Wang house party, but the last time is far far into the future.)