Work Text:
Seokjin stared at himself in the mirror, looking at the creature that stared back at him. He had perfectly highlighted the curves of his face, sharpened the angles. The soft eyeshadow he had dotted along the lid of his eye was perfectly accentuated with a sharp swoop of black eyeliner. His lips pressed together, further smoothing the rosy, water tint gloss he had selected for the night. He fluttered his eyelashes, shifted ever so slightly, the silk of the pink dress that he wore swaying along with his small movement, and blew himself a kiss. He looked stunning.
“Baby, we gotta get going. If we wait any longer, we’re going to get caught in traffic, and we’re going to be late--” Seokjin’s boyfriend stepped behind him, wearing a neat black suit, hair all messy and unruly, in front of his eyes-- just the way Seokijn liked it. His boyfriend of four years glanced down at his watch, but immediately trailed off the second he saw his partner encased in the soft fabric.
Taehyung stepped forward, his hands curling around his Omega’s waist. He dipped his head down, fluttering a soft kiss to the side of Jin’s neck as their eyes met in the mirror. Seokjin shivered ever-so-slightly: the dark look in Taehyung’s eyes was one that was downright predatory, and he found that he didn’t mind the way he felt like he was being chased.
“How,” Seokjin was immensely pleased to hear the slight strain in the Alpha’s voice, “Are we supposed to leave now, when my boyfriend is looking so delectable?” Taehyung’s hands tightened at his waist, but released a firm grip all-too-quick in fear of his boyfriend scolding him for crinkling the fabric.
Seokjin spun, facing his boyfriend and pressing their chests together as he looped his arms around the other’s neck. “As much as I’d like nothing more than my Alpha to chase me around the house and claim me as his--” The words drew out a growl from Tae, who shoved his face in the crook of Seokjin’s neck huffily and inhaled the soft scents of lilac and jasmine, “My Alpha has just shifted to a new job. And we’re kind of expected to go to the first company party, baby. Don’t worry. It’s a great chance for you to network, and I really want to put in a good word for you, love.”
Taehyung drew back, hands sliding up to cup his Omega’s face gently, thumbs stroking along Seokjin’s jaw. The blonde man stared at him back with an affectionate sparkle framed in those honey-brown eyes, tilting his head upwards.
“You’re right, baby. Let’s go, shake some hands and rub some elbows, and then we can come back and complain about everyone and get to more interesting parts of our night.” Taehyung wiggled his eyebrows teasingly, relaxing into a boxy grin as his boyfriend squeaked out his amused laugh. Their lips connected in a soft kiss, and with a few more retouches of makeup, checking if they had everything, they were off.
Seokjin had to admit, the feeling of being spun around on his boyfriend’s arm was absolutely amazing. He had been the one to pressure Taehyung into taking the brave step from being an accountant to an artist, and he had known that the career shift was big, but he knew that Taehyung was destined to be a wonderful artist. The apartment that they shared was decorated with Taehyung’s pieces, carefully crafted art works that made Seokjin’s heart swell up with pride every single time he saw them.
He hadn’t expected the crowd that they were met with to be so...stereotypical. Taehyung had mentioned that the gallery he was now contracted with was somewhat more modern, with new innovations and ideas being readily accepted, but Seokjin found himself confronted with the same caricatures of people that usually came to mind when mentioning the art industry. The business moguls had their own corner, cigars between their lips and glasses of fine amber liquid--they hardly paid any attention to anyone who wasn’t within their circle. Then there was the directors, who seemed like lovely people and welcomed Seokjin so warmly--and then there were the artists themselves. Seokjin thought that he was quite an amicable person to talk to, and had reckoned that he would have been able to hold a conversation with just about anyone, but the woman he was currently talking to was so dreadfully boring. She kept going on about one piece after another, and Seokjin himself, being a chef, could only understand so many art references. Besides, he was more content to look at her earrings, which were apparently little plastic water bottles. (Was that a common art thing, to make random everyday objects into earrings?)
And Taehyung. He was looking at Taehyung. His Alpha looked absolutely radiant, laughing with his own group of artists. Sue him for managing to get distracted when his hunk of a boyfriend stood there, looking like the hottest man in the universe. Taehyung knew his effect on his boyfriend, even had the audacity to raise his eyes and wink at Seokjin.
The blond, turning pink, hastily turned to the woman who had been droning about pointillism. “Er--Miranda, so sorry to cut you off, I’m just feeling a bit flushed. I’m going to grab a drink.” Or two , Seokjin added in his head as he stepped away from the woman, who looked a bit like a fish out of water as she gaped at him hurrying away.
Seokjin finally made it to one end of the art gallery, reaching out to one of the trays and gripping one of the flutes there. He raised the glass to his lips, sipping and taking advantage of the silence he finally managed to obtain, right as he felt someone step next to him.
“Enjoying the night?” A kind voice reached his ears, and he turned his face towards the other man.
“Ah, somewhat. Art really isn’t my forte.” Seokjin said with a half-shrug.
“Oh, you’re not one of the artists? Are you one of the pieces? You’re very stunning, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were.” The Alpha continued, smiling down at him. He had brown hair, a genuine smile curling on his lips, and despite the neatly tailored blue suit and the watch that rested on the other’s wrist that was probably worth more than Seokjin’s life, the other man didn’t seem to have any of the arrogance that the other businessmen of his caliber seemed to possess.
“Ah,” The Omega shook his head, ears burning bright red at the compliment. “No, no. I’m not one of the pieces either. My boyfriend is an artist--Kim Taehyung. I’m just here to be his plus one.”
“But what do you do, Mr…”
“Kim. Kim Seokjin. And, I work as a chef.”
“Ah! I’m a Kim as well. I’m Kim Namjoon. And I’d say that art and cooking have a lot of things in common, yes? Plating, presentation. The plate is your canvas, and you use a multitude of tools as ‘brushes’ to piece a dish together, correct?”
Seokjin pondered the analogy before nodding. “Yeah, that’s actually pretty true. I guess I’ve grown too acquainted with my job to view it as something so...artistic.”
Namjoon shrugged. “For you, it’s normal. For someone like me, who cannot cook, watching you put together a dish is like watching a masterpiece come to life.”
Seokjin brightened. “Oh! I guess I can understand that. When my boyfriend has a vision, he says that it’s all mundane to him, because he has various inspirations and pieces that he wants to create. It’s when I look at him from the outside that I’m able to see his creativity. He took one of my old shirts and made it into such a gorgeous portrait--”
“Oh!! Is it your face on that one piece that’s a bunch of fabrics sewn together that resembles a face when you lean back and look at it?!” Namjoon asked excitedly.
Seokjin nodded, almost sloshing his drink in his eagerness to speak. “Yes! That’s Fabric of a Man ! My boyfriend is the one who created that work!!”
Namjoon’s eyes brightened and Seokjin noticed the dimples that appeared, adorable craters in his cheeks. “I love that work! I’ve always mentioned how it seems to tie in both previous art styles with a twist of modernism, and to see that the muse is right in front of me--well, it’s so amazing!” The man winked playfully. “See! You are one of the pieces!”
Seokjin sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re right, I am. I didn’t even realize that.”
Namjoon was pleasant conversation. Seokijn found himself wanting to hear more and more of the other’s perspectives and philosophies--and the equality that the Alpha enunciated was refreshing. At no point in time was the conversation unbalanced--both of them listened and spoke equally. Empty glasses slowly accumulated next to them as they went from talking about Taehyung to how to craft Alfredo pasta to hair clips to Taehyung again.
Eventually, a solid arm wrapped around Seokjin, and a glance upwards revealed it to be his boyfriend.
“Ah! Namjoonie! Meet my boyfriend Taehyung. He’s the artist that we’ve been talking about this entire time. Taehyung, this is Namjoonie. He works for some business part of the gallery!” Seokjin introduced enthusiastically, leaning into his boyfriend to breathe in the familiar scent of amber and pine.
The Alphas shook hands--maybe it was because he had too much to drink, but Seokjin didn’t really see a smile on Taehyung’s face.
“Ah! It’s a pleasure to meet you. Seokjin has told me so much about your works, and I myself am a fan. I really think that your debut installment was absolutely wonderful--you have a way of writing a story through your works!” Namjoon said, and Taehyung nodded, thanking him graciously.
“I think this one has had a bit too much to drink. We ought to get going. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Namjoon-ssi. Thanks for keeping my boyfriend company.” Taehyung said, glancing down at the figure of the Omega that had nestled into his side while the two had talked.
Seokjin waved as his other hand was gently taken, Taehyung leading him away. “Bye, Joonie!! Let’s talk more soon!”
He felt exhilarated. Talking about his boyfriend and making a new friend always did give him such a happy glow. He swung their hands in time to music that only he could hear as they made their way back to the parking lot, Taehyung quiet beside him.
“Taehyungie, I did so well today! I marketed your name so much. They all love you, I didn’t have to do a single thing. Namjoon loves your artwork, Tae. I know my baby is so talented.” The blonde rambled as the dark haired Alpha slowly helped him into the passenger seat, buckling him in.
Taehyung didn’t say anything, just closed the door, rounded the car, and slid into the driver’s seat, easing the car out of the lot and onto the highway. Seokjin told him all about Namjoon and everything that they had talked about, only to realize that his boyfriend hadn’t said a single word as he had helped him from the car to inside, standing beside the Omega in silence all throughout the elevator ride. Seokjin waited for them to cross the apartment threshold, before turning to face his boyfriend with a confused tilt of his head.
“Taehyungie, are you okay? You’re really quiet…” Seokjin said as he was gently pushed down to sit on their ottoman, his Alpha kneeling down before him to slowly work off the heels from his feet.
Taehyung worked in silence, deft fingers undoing the strap that had laced around Seokjin’s ankle, and neatly deposited the pair next to his own shoes that he had undone once they had stepped in. He made no attempt to get up, his hand curling around Seokjin’s tender feet (why the hell were heels so rough to get through? The Omega’s feet were aching.), his hand pressing down to massage along the arch of his boyfriend’s foot.
Seokjin stared down at his boyfriend, worried at the lack of response. Sometimes Tae needed time to piece together what he was feeling and why he was feeling something, and he did it slowly and in silence, and Seokjin knew that sometimes he had to give him some space. Eventually, Taehyung spoke.
“Jin-ah…do you...do you ever realize that you deserve better than a shitty apartment and being a boyfriend to a poor artist who isn’t even your real mate? You deserve someone like Namjoon, someone who will take care of you and provide for you. I can’t even begin to give--”
Seokjin had heard enough. He leaned forward, pressing a crooked finger to his lover’s lips. The glaze of the alcohol that had staggered his motions had worn off, and there was nothing but pure fire in his eyes.
“You listen to me and you listen to me right now, my silly boy. You could be the poorest man in the country and I would still love you. You could be the richest man in the country and I would still love you. I don’t love you because you can do something in particular for me, or that you have money and connections. I love you because you’re my Taehyungie. You’re so devoted to your craft and I love the little wrinkle that comes right above your eyebrow when you’re focusing, you’re so thoughtful and caring and you’re my safe haven. I don’t care if we don’t have a stereotypical mating bond--you are it for me. And I don’t want you thinking otherwise.” Seokjin said firmly. He reached down, pulling Taehyung’s face up, knocking their foreheads together. “You’re mine. No clauses.” He said stubbornly.
Taehyung blinked at him, before relaxing, the stress that had built up in his shoulders over the course of the night finally dissipating with the passionate words of his Omega. “How are you so firm and understanding? I don’t deserve you. I’m going to work hard for you, baby.” he scooped the other man up, guiding them into a little twirl.
Seokjin tightened his legs around his Alpha’s waist, the fabric of the pink silk riding up on his thighs. “The only work you’re doing now is in the bedroom. And I want you to say how much we’re meant to be together between every single kiss.”
Taehyung’s eyes darkened, and he tilted Seokjin’s head up to capture his lips. Their lips slotted together, tongues twining, and they parted only for air. Seokjin giggled, feeling lightheaded seeing his gloss so teasingly smeared on Taehyung’s lips, tilting his head so his Alpha could kiss down his jaw, down his neck.
“As my boyfriend commands,” Taehyung growled slightly, lips beginning the descent down to Seokjin’s bare shoulder, pushing the door to their bedroom open with his toes, before settling his darling down for a night of ravishing.
--
Seokjin blinked open, tossing over in a groan. He should have drawn the curtains beforehand, and now he was left to deal with the consequences of sunrays hitting his face first thing in the morning.
He snuffled, stretching his arms out in a desperate attempt to feel for his boyfriend, and blearily pulled his head up and blinked when he didn’t immediately feel the solid body of his lover next to him. Regular mornings, he’d feel around until he’d make contact, then clingily attach himself and kiss Tae until he woke up and grinned his favorite sleepy grin. But Seokjin was met with an empty half of the bed, the coolness of the mattress indicating that his darling had left quite a while ago.
He sighed, flopping down on the mattress. Taehyung had been working so much harder recently, and he loved his boyfriend so much and wanted to support him, it just meant that Seokjin ate alone a lot more, and barely saw his lover.
But Taehyung would be finally home tonight! He was so excited. Good timing too, it was their anniversary.
As Seokjin pushed up, slowly making the bed, and heading to the kitchen to make some coffee and plan out the day, he remembered how he’d started dating Taehyung in the first place. It had been his last and final year in college, and he had been a worker in one of those all night convenience stores. And every single Thursday and Friday, the same boy walked up to him and bought the same things over and over again. Always a container of one of those three triangle kimbaps and a water. Never anything different. Seokjin once tried to persuade him to try something new by mentioning how something was on sale, but no dice. The Alpha stuck to his purchase every time, so much that Seokjin had set out a container for him every single time on Thursdays and Fridays.
“Pleeease!! We have ramyun on sale.”
“I’ll stick with my usual.”
And then one night, he was late. Instead of the familiar scrawny boy buying the same kimbaps (despite how many ever times Seokjin told him that they had too much sodium and weren’t really good because of the preservatives) he was met with a group of drunk men, men who reached across and dragged their fingers against his cheek as they tried to purchase soju.
“So pretty.”
“Mm. Such a gorgeous man.”
“Are you spoken for?”
And there it came. “Yes, he is.” Sharp, authoritative, and the scrawny boy that he had been helping for so long didn’t quite seem so small as he came to stand by Seokjin and glare at the others. “Yeobo, my usual, please. I’m going to add a coffee too, I want to sit by you tonight. Finish helping these gentlemen, please.” Taehyung had asserted, and Seokjin bit back the amusement that had bubbled on his tongue, before ringing them up. Once the drunkards had passed, he had leaned on the counter, raising an eyebrow expectantly.
“You can go now, Yeobo.”
“What if they come back? I’m staying. I have work to do, I’ll just sit beside you.”
And so the days progressed. Seokjin’s boss didn’t comment that there was an extra chair beside his cashier station, Taehyung came for all the five days that he worked, and stayed with him until his shift was over at four am. One night, as Taehyung walked Seokjin to his dorm, the Omega finally got the courage to reach and tilt Taehyung’s face at the angle to brush his lips against the other’s. The Alpha responded in kind, winding his arms tightly around the tiny waist to press endearing little kisses over his face. It was natural--Taehyung greeted him with a kiss when he came around regularly, and the transition to sleeping over at his place was close behind. They had learned to love each other under the constraints of college classes that they had little to no interest in, and slowly coaxed each other’s passions.
Seokjin grinned, looking down at the cup of coffee that he had miraculously managed to brew while being so occupied with thoughts of his lover. Taehyung had been a force of passion and instinct, and the second that Seokjin had graduated, his boyfriend had absolutely demanded that he go and experience culinary life. It was with his encouragement that Seokjin managed to find his passion, realize that his true talents lay within the kitchen.
Oh, he loved this man. Meeting Taehyung had been a turning point in his life, where the gray, colorless days finally had spark and verve, enough excitement to keep him going. And today, he was going to make the anniversary absolutely perfect, going to show how much he loved his boyfriend.
The coffee was quick to be downed and after a quick shower, Seokjin had gotten dressed, a paper with a list in his neatly detailed cursive, rushing out of the apartment and tucking a scarf around his neck. The December air was chilly, nipped at his skin and turned him all shades of pink, but he didn’t mind the colder months. Taehyung always liked to press small little kisses to his pink frosty nose, always said that he was quite literally a bundle of joy in his thousands and thousands of layers.
First was flowers. When they first moved in together, it was tradition that they’d always have a vase of freshly bloomed tulips on their dining table--one of them would replace the bouquet when it wilted. Their favorite purchase was when Seokjin had brought them home lemonade tulips with some extra cash he had managed to accumulate: the flowers were two toned, with yellow tips and pink bulbs. Seokjin set out to find the very same flowers, knowing damn well that Taehyung had loved the vibrance and the oddness of it.
Seokjin quickly located a florist, a small little shop nestled away in a slow corner of the shopping district. He stepped inside, hearing the tinkling of the bell, the florist lifting their head to greet him.
“Why, hello there! Welcome to Hope’s Flowers. Were you intending to browse or did you have something in mind already?” The red haired man’s grin was infectious, Seokjin found himself beaming back at the other’s cheery personality.
“Could I have a bouquet of tulips, please? The lemonade ones, the ones that are pink and yellow.” Seokjin murmured as he stepped up to the table.
“Oh, sure! Excellent choice, we just received a few in bloom. Would you like to make it into an arrangement ? It’s just a few other flowers to give it more body with some ribbons and what not.`` The man’s name tag read Hoseok, and Seokjin nodded his assent.
Hoseok’s eyes twinkled as he began crafting the arrangement with an expert eye, choosing a lovely pastel blue as the binding ribbon as he wove together the flowers and tugged at them to be in order. “Might I ask who this gorgeous arrangement is for?” the florist asked.
Seokjin flushed, toying with the zipper of his wallet as he met the other’s eyes. “It’s for my boyfriend. Our anniversary is today.”
Hoseok grinned at him over a tulip. “Oh, how nice! How long have you been together? What’s his name? Give me all the details, won’t you? I barely get business and the youths nowadays don’t come in for flowers for their loved ones.”
Seokjin perked up, despite the way his ears were practically burning red. If there was one thing that he enjoyed talking about, it was about his boyfriend. “Well, his name is Taehyung, he’s an Alpha. We’ve been dating for a few years now, we met in college.”
Hoseok grinned, winding a silky ribbon between the blooms. “And?? Don’t skimp out on the details. How did you two know that you were true mates?”
Seokjin internally sighed. Here came the usual judgement, the usual commentary about the nature of their relationship. “Actually, we’re not true mates. I didn’t hear my wolf when I saw him, and he didn’t hear his either. It’s just that we decided to put that away and still engage in a relationship because we truly loved each other.”
To his surprise, Hoseok didn’t even blink. “Oh! You’re just like my boyfriend Yoongi and I. But both of our true mates passed away after we met them. When we found each other, it felt like a second chance.”
The two chatted amicably and before long, the flowers were done. “Best of luck with your anniversary surprise!” Hoseok called out as Seokjin ducked out of the shop, waving.
Time for the two other stops. Seokjin continued down and pushed open a door. He held out his phone as he approached the sales clerk, holding out his phone for her to register his mobile order. In all honesty, Seokjin had no idea about anything in the art industry, but he had read an article a few months ago about particular pastel instruments that were must-haves in the art world. He had to go a solid thirteen months without a single cup of coffee for them, but the satisfaction he gained when the cool metal container was handed to him by the clerk was very much well deserved. He perked in the container where the ten colors lay, nestled in silk and protective encasing, and a zing of excitement swept through him as he thought about their future owner.
Oh, he hoped his Taehyungie was having a good day and working hard. He was so excited to spend their anniversary with the love of his life.
Finally, one last stop. At the jewelry store down the block, he knew that he had to look for unique pieces, ones that screamed out Taehyung. Seokjin wandered around the glass and peered down. No necklaces, my rings — those got in the way of Tae’s work all too often. Maybe a bracelet ? Earrings? His Alpha would like any gift he got him, he knew, but he wanted everything to be perfect .
Aha! Seokjin spied a dainty bracelet of linked silver, with a small little charm dangling off of it. Upon closer inspection, the charm was a little paintbrush. It was absolutely perfect. With his wallet feeling considerably lighter than before, Seokjin took all three of his gifts and rushed home to put the next stage of his plan into action.
Taehyung….adored home cooked meals. When they had first started dating, Taehyung had been more than happy to be Seokjin’s taste tester as he figured out new techniques and recipes in broadening his culinary career. Seokjin felt bad--Taehyung had borne the brunt of too many botched cookies, too many too-spicy curries, and artificially tasting food. But after tentatively voicing it to his new boyfriend, the Alpha had adamantly shaken his head, had stated that he just appreciated if someone took the time to make food for him if at all. “It’s like another way I feel your love!” Taehyung had proclaimed. “I can taste my boyfriend’s affection in every single bite. So I love your cooking. Always.” (That, and Taehyung wasn’t allowed to come into the kitchen. They no longer talked about the Great Microwaved Noodle Incident.)
With that in mind, Seokjin rushed to the kitchen, grinning at the vegetables he found in the fridge. It wasn’t like he didn’t cook, but with his job, it became a bit harder to sync up their schedules. Seokjin adored cooking--and that was one thing that he’d always be thankful for Taehyung for suggesting. Sure, the Omega had bigger dreams than being a chef in a posh restaurant downtown, but the thought of cooking as a profession had never occurred to him before his boyfriend.
He settled into the comfortable routine of chopping vegetables, keeping an eye on pans and setting out spices. It was second nature--he had long realized that he didn’t need recipes--he just put whatever felt right in that moment, and it usually came out okay. And it did. A quick glance at the clock revealed that it had been three hours since he had come in--and he had a bubbling curry, sparkling grains of rice and a variety of side dishes to account for. Putting the burners on low, Seokijn rushed to get ready, opting for a soft pink babydoll slip to wear, knowing the silky fabric made his boyfriend go a little crazy. He got the gifts ready, transferred the dishes over to their dining table, lit a few candles all over the apartment to set the mood, turned on soft music, and waited.
Eight o’clock. Taehyung should be home at any moment! Seokjin busied himself with wiping down the kitchen counters clean so that he had something to do with his hands, excitement bubbling up in his stomach.
At eight fifteen, Seokjin glanced up at the door, wondering if there was an excessive amount of traffic. Not to worry! His boyfriend was probably working a bit later.
At nine, Seokjin was wiping the counters down for the third time, dreamily wondering if Tae was late because he was trying to snag a gift--the Alpha always had such a penchant for knowing what Seokjin wanted even before he did.
At ten, the playlist had completed its loop of 137 songs. The stereo fell silent, and the candles flickered, watching anxiously as the excitement started to drain from Seokjin’s face.
At eleven thirty, Taehyung opened the door and stumbled in. He toed off his shoes and flung his coat over a nearby chair, raking a hand through his hair before stepping out. His eyes caught the candles first, then the gifts and food on the table, and finally, the dejected Omega sitting in one of the chairs.
Well, fuck.
“Jinnie, I’m home.” He called out, watching nervously as his boyfriend got up, and gestured to the table without quite looking at him. Taehyung sank across his beautiful boyfriend who filled up a plate and passed it to him, motioning for him to eat.
“Baby, I’m sorry.” He tried again, but Seokjin didn’t say anything, just pressed a spoon into his hands before filling up his own plate.
“Work has just...gotten to be a lot. I’m sorry, baby. Please don’t be upset.” He pleaded, after obediently swallowing a mouthful. He knew that the curry tastes divine, and he would have lavished so many compliments on the gorgeous dishes set in front of him. But now, in the face of Seokjin’s anger, everything tasted bland, save for the spice that reared its angry head at him.
“Work has been getting to be a bit too much these days. Seems like every single night that you’re working late, or gone in the morning. So much to the point where you can’t even remember your anniversary.” Seokjin remarked quietly from across him.
He’s right, but Taehyung’s had a very, very long day, and the comment just rubbed him the wrong way.
“What do you mean that work has been getting too much? You’re the one who encouraged me to go for this job in the first place, Seokjin.” He said, setting his spoon down with a clang.
Seokjin meets his eyes for the first time, and he can see a mix of unreadable expressions in his Omega’s eyes, and that only served to unsettle him more. The entire time that they had been together, Seokjin’s eyes had always been more of an open book: those eyes were very much tell-tale, accurately expressing whether or not his lover was happy or upset.
“I did, Taehyung. But I didn’t realize that it would get to the point where you’d miss our anniversary. Not even that, but not even a text, nor a kiss. Not even a single wish. You’ve forgotten, and I’m allowed to be upset about it.” Seokjin shot back.
Taehyung felt the anger rise. “And that’s just a side effect of shifting to a new job. Honestly, Seokjin, you’re so hypocritical. Just a few days ago, you were encouraging me to work hard and promising to support me no matter what. Now, you’re here upset over a silly day.” It’s foolish to say, and Tae felt the guilt roiling in his stomach as soon as he spat out the words bubbling up in him, and the unshed tears that now reflect in his boyfriend’s eyes is enough to make his heart twinge in pain.
“Just a silly day?” Seokjin questioned softly. That was one thing about his Omega--the elder never yelled. He was always patient, not wanting to lose his temper or raise his voice. Taehyung wished he wasn’t. In that moment, he wanted to be yelled at, wanted Seokjin to scream. “Well, then, I won’t keep you. If our anniversary doesn’t really mean that much to you, then you can go on with your day. Sorry about bothering you so much,” The other said bitterly. “Sue me for fucking wanting my boyfriend home to celebrate a day that’s special to us--no, just me.”
“Boyfriend.” Taehyung murmured, wanting to hurt the other--wanting to say something that would break the other--. “It’s a good thing you remember, Seokjin. You’re my boyfriend. Not my soulmate.” It didn’t feel good, god, no, he didn’t want to hurt his boyfriend, why was he saying this?
Seokjin’s face cracked, and the tears slipped down his face. A strangled sob escaped his lips as the Omega slid out of the chair and fled into the bedroom, the sharp sound of the lock echoing into the room just before the eldest dissolved in sobs.
--
Taehyung woke up to his alarm going off. He glanced over to the bedroom door-- he had crashed on the couch-- surprised to see it open. He peeked inside, and there was no Seokjin. The other must have gone to work. He felt guilt pool in his stomach at what he had said the night before, but he made up his mind. He was going to make it up to him tonight, apologize properly after work.
He rushed through his shower and made his way out. The commute, thankfully, was okay, and the traffic wasn’t as bad. That was one downside to working to a bigger gallery--everything that was worthwhile was located in the city and the trip to get there could sometimes turn into hours because of the traffic. Today, it seemed as though the interstate was rather clear, and Taehyung sped to work.
He parked, slinging his messenger bag across his shoulder, waving with two fingers to the receptionist, who greeted him with a warm smile. The elevator and the subsequent button he pushed felt familiar now, like he was truly settling into his job. He had stayed behind the day before (missing the anniversary, unfortunately) because he had wanted to think of concepts for the gallery’s upcoming event. Not just bland concepts, one where the artists would be pushed to think. Maybe because he wanted a challenge for himself--he wanted to do an installation piece this time. He’d fleshed out a few ideas and written them up to the gallery director.
Hopefully he didn’t suck too bad at the assignment.
When the elevator doors dinged open, Taehyung blinked at the sight of the gallery director and a smaller man by him, blinking in surprise at the sight of the two.
“Ah, Taehyung! You’re here!” Jihyun-ssi was always so wonderful, so enthusiastic whenever talking. As Taehyung approached, he was met with a firm hand on his shoulder and a praising squeeze. “Taehyung, your ideas were absolutely wonderful. You really have a great vision and I think you’re going to do some great work with this gallery. In fact, I want you to run point on this event.”
Wait, what? He was running an event even as a rookie? He beamed, bowing to the director. “Thank you! I promise I won’t let you down.”
Jihyun let out an infectious laugh, clapping his shoulder. “I know you won’t! Now, events can be difficult and this is your first time, so let me introduce you to our newest hire, Jimin-ssi! I want you two to work together and work the event together. For Taehyung-ssi, the goal is to implement your artistic vision. Jimin-ssi, this is your test run to see whether or not you’ll be handling more of the managing director role or not.”
Taehyung turned to see the smaller man, gorgeous eyes and plush lips looking back at him with a grin. Beach blond hair, cargo pants and a cropped top, and a delicious floral scent that marked him as an Omega. Aside from the fact that the man was insanely gorgeous, there was also the addition of Taehyung’s wolf booming into his mind.
Mate .
He blinked, and he saw that the answering grin that curled up on the other’s face was enough confirmation. Jihyun shifted between them, a shit eating grin on his face. “I’ll let you two...work things out!” The director said, shuffling away.
“Do you usually have a habit of staring?” Jimin broke the silence with a perfect eyebrow raise, and Taehyung found himself following the action before blinking once, and realizing that he had been staring like a starving dog without introducing himself.
“Only when I meet my soulmate. Suffice it to say, it doesn’t happen all that often. Jihyun-ssi already introduced me, but I’m Taehyung.” He stuck his hand out, raking a hand through his black curls nervously.
“Oh, only that rarely? Good to know. It’s lovely to meet you, Taehyung. I’m Jimin. I know we have to work on this project right now, but would you want to grab a coffee with me later to get to know each other better?” Jimin invited with a little tilt of his head that Taehyung was entranced by.
“Oh, absolutely.” He murmured, answering the other with a sharp grin.
--
Jimin was… a breath of fresh air. They worked together well. Taehyung took some time to muse over his plans and thoughts, wanting to mentally plan before actually committing anything, and Jimin was more than understanding of that. His soulmate seemed to flit around and tackle other things that Taehyung wasn’t needed for in the time that it took the artist to solidify themes and design choices.
And there was the little things. The way Taehyung noticed the little scrunch of Jimin’s lips when trying to ponder over something that was rather difficult, how they wordlessly passed each other utensils and pens, how Jimin was so quick to pluck the stylus wedged over Taehyung’s ear right as the artist started patting for it. They seemed to have such a connection that their actions were seamlessly connected, as though they had the experience of a couple that had been married for years.
And not to mention the scent. Jimin’s soft, rosey fumes settled Taehyung’s Alpha considerably, the wolf within him buzzing in happiness at the contentment of having their mate so close. And their coffee break that they shared was even better--over their mugs, they exchanged jokes and their numbers. Everything felt easy, more relaxed. Was this what Taehyung had been missing out on?
Work was quickly concluded, and Jimin patted his hand as they stepped out of the elevator, intending to go their respective ways. Taehyung stopped at the other’s request, his face blooming pink as Jimin leaned up and brushed a soft kiss to the apple of his cheeks.
“Let’s meet up outside of work soon, okay? You have my number. Text me.” Jimin invited, and Taehyung watched the other walk away with a bit of glaze in his eyes, wondering when the last time he had had such a genuinely fun day (with his mate!).
In fact, he seemed to make his way home in much of a daze, the traffic he was swept up in something menial to him now. He just kept replaying the moment that he had realized the other half of his soul had been found, how Jimin giggled when he had wrinkled his nose at the scent of coffee and said that he preferred tea, how quickly they had worked together…
It wasn’t until he came to the familiar door that the happy feeling of Jimin ebbed away. Oh, god. Seokjin. Seokjin, his boyfriend. He slid his key into the lock and pushed open the door, feeling dread pool up in him as he worked off his coat and toed off his shoes. He stepped out carefully, catching Seokjin’s turned head from where he was resting on their couch.
“Welcome home,” The Omega said softly, an indication that he wasn’t as upset as the day before. Taehyung pressed a strained smile at the other, before coming around to sink down on the couch next to your day. He could hear the other asking about his day and how it went, but his mind was wandering--what should he do? Should he just tell him? There was nothing with Jimin, but what--what was the right thing to do in this situation?
“Seokjin,” he called out, turning to look at his Omega’s worried honey irises. “I… I have something to tell you.”
The other seemingly realized that it was quite serious. He reached and clicked his phone off, turning his chest to indicate that Tae had his full attention.
“I...I met my soulmate. Jimin. He’s my assistant at work.” The words come out in a rush, and Taehyung can still spot the moment that it registers in Seokjin’s mind.
The Omega took a shaky breath, hands clasping on his lap. He blinked, gaze turning down, trying to work through it. Taehyung...found his soulmate. Was that...why he had been so late in the recent days? Was that why he spent more and more time at work, because he had managed to meet the other half of his soul, the one that soothed his wolf, and there was no use in coming to someone who couldn’t do the same for him? He blinked furiously, trying to stop the tears in pooling--he was supposed to be happy for him, right? This was a good thing, right? Taehyung himself had said the night prior that he didn’t consider Seokjin to be his soulmate, and that was for good reason. He had already found the answer to the rest of his life.
“Well, I’m very happy for you.” Seokjin said after a moment, lifting his head to look the other in his eyes. Taehyung peered closely, but his boyfriend’s eyes were unreadable once again, setting him on edge.
“I hope you get to know him and I hope you two are happy,” Seokjin murmurs. “You don’t have to only see him at work. You should...get to know him outside.” Calm, Seokjin, be happy. This was something that they couldn’t control, there was no reason being upset. Then why did it hurt so much?
Taehyung blinked in surprise. He had been expecting a fight, more of a violent protest from his boyfriend of so many years. So...Seokjin was letting him go so easily? Not even a single amount of “No, stay with me?” He was just letting him go just like that? The thought of the other not even caring to fight for their relationship was answer enough. He stood up, nodding. “Yeah, thanks. That’s what I’m going to do. Glad you can understand.” He turned, heading into their bedroom without another word and pulled out his phone.
[To Jiminie!!: Hey, so about that meet up out of work-- would you be down for tomorrow? We can just take a day off and say that we’re out scouting for decorations, but just go down to one of the districts and spend some time there.]
[From Jiminie!!: yes i’d love to !! it will be so much fun.]
[To Jiminie!!: It’s a date. :)]
--
It feels like they’re ditching school. They make up some boldfaced lie about needing to look for external decorations to really incorporate the theme, and Jihyun doesn’t mind it one bit. In fact, he encourages them to take their time and praises them for doing such a good job. Taehyung feels a bit bad that he’s already sneaking and lying to the boss so early, but Jimin’s hand slipping into his as they skip to his car is definitely worth it.
Their hands remain interlocked throughout the entire drive, which is filled with pleasant chatting. Taehyung learns that Jimin was the youngest in a family full of children, and learned to stand up for himself and his siblings pretty early on. He’s proud when his mate says that he was the only one in the family to complete his Master’s, and even prouder when Jimin talked about being a straight A student all throughout highschool.
Taehyung didn’t feel the same inhibitions that he would feel with anyone else, so his story flowed freely off his lips. He told Jimin about how he was an only child, hailing from a struggling family, how he had to work several jobs all throughout high school and college to keep himself afloat. He didn’t delve too much about his college life, knowing that most of his years were tainted by Seokjin, but he talked about how he struggled. Jimin’s thumb sweeping gentle circles against the back of his hand was enough to keep him going and press a warm smile at the man who sat in the passenger seat.
There was no shame that came with admitting that he struggled financially, and Taehyung marvelled at the contrast. He had been reluctant to tell Seokjin, always feeling like he was inferior in their relationship even though Seokjin’s financial status was no better than his. But Jimin? Jimin simply looked at him with crystal clear eyes of encouragement, and didn’t press.
Soon enough, Jimin cracked a joke about how one time his pants got stuck to a cactus and he had to dash home in nothing but his boxers, and the laughter returned to the car. When Taehyung finally pulled over to park, the mood was lighthearted, cozy. He fixed his own scarf around Jimin’s neck, wondering if this is what it was truly like to be happy with your mate.
They strolled up and down the street, swinging their hands in time to music that only they could hear. Whenever Jimin saw something interesting, he’d drag them over, and Taehyung was more than happy to oblige. They decided to get cups of hot chocolate first, blowing on the surface of the sweet liquid and taking scalding sips as they looked around at the vendors slowly starting to set up for Christmas. Tae had never gone out with Seokjin during Christmas--the elder was always worried about their expenses.
“Taehyungie! Let’s go in here!” It was a high fashion shop, and they spent the hour dressing up in ridiculous outfits. Taehyung styled a hawaiian shirt with the most ridiculous glasses, making Jimin double over in laughter. They twirled and tried on outfits in their own little fashion show, as though they were kids instead of self respecting adults. Their next shop was an electronics store, and while the two of them agreed that they didn’t need a new device, they took their time, taking a selfie on every single phone before ducking out of the shop, giggling. Seokjin never did that, he was always too busy during the times Tae was free.
They ducked into a little florist shop, right at the corner, and waved to the owner, who looked up from his phone to beam up at them.
“Hey guys! You two are very cute together. What’s up? Can I get you any flowers?” The enthusiastic man grinned.
“No, no! We’re just here to look around.” Jimin smiled. “Maybe we’ll come back another day and get an arrangement. I’m all tied up, my vases are all occupied.”
The answering smile from the florist didn’t dim at the rejection. “Take your time. These flowers are meant to be appreciated!”
Taehyung swung their joined hands as he led Jimin around the shop, scanning for familiar flowers. Finally, he spotted the blooms. “Jiminie. What do you think of this?” He daintily pulled one stem up to show the two-colored bloom.
Jimin studied it for a moment. “Mm. It’s pretty, but I don’t think I like tulips very much, Taehyungie. If you’re looking to buy me flowers, I’d prefer some roses.” He said cheerfully. It wasn’t necessarily a rejection, but Taehyung felt a bit odd--weren’t they supposed to be compatible in everything? He shrugged it off, waving to the florist as they left the shop, not quite noticing how the florist had stared at him the entire time with a questioning expression.
“Ooh! A jewelry store! Let’s go inside, Taehyungie!!” Jimin tugged him across the street and into the shop, beaming at the sight of all the pretty chains and rings displayed. Taehyung swallowed dryly. By the looks of one of the boxes that another attending was packing up, Seokjin had shopped here for Taehyung.
“Oh! It’s so cute.” Jimin gazed over dangling earrings, pointing at a silver cross underneath the glass case. Taehyung wandered over to look, watching as Jimin tried it on.
“How does it look?” Jimin turned his head to show the silver pendant dangling elegantly from his left ear. Taehyung nodded appreciatively.
“Yeah, it looks great!” Taehyung praised. It did, Jimin carried all pieces of jewelry so well, there was no question that this piece would look wonderful on the Omega as well.
“Ooh, wonderful! I’m going to buy it.” In a minute, Jimin had whipped out his credit card and had slid it over to the attendant who was looking at them with a smile.
Taehyung raised a brow--Jimin had bought it so quickly, not even seeing the price of anything of the sort. It wasn’t like he was uncomfortable with the other using his money, but he wondered how compatible they’d be--Taehyung carefully considered every single purchase once or twice, and his rule was always that if he really thought about it after leaving the shop then he’d come back and get it. Most often than not, he didn’t. He always ended up getting whatever he desired whenever Seokjin gifted it to him.
His gaze turned back to Jimin, who was receiving the tiny box and his credit card. That was another thing that they weren’t working out with.
“Where next?!” The Omega tugged on his hand excitedly out of the shop, but Taehyung, never one to have too much of a battery, couldn’t exactly replicate the enthusiasm. “There’s a vendor down the street selling some cookies. Do you want to snag some and then sit down?” Jimin was more than happy to accept, and they made their way to the other vendor.
“You two look so lovely together. What a pretty couple. You two are blessed to be with one another.” The vendor praised as she handed them wrapped snickerdoodles. Taehyung could feel the warmth seeping off of the cookies, and he smiled at the lady. Jimin admitted that he was allergic to cinnamon, so Taehyung quickly rushed back to grab a different cookie. He couldn’t help but think that there were a few critical things that they were off kilter on, struck with a sudden vision of Seokjin’s lips tasting like cinnamon.
They rushed over to one of the benches and nibbled at their treats, shoulders brushing with one another.
“Jiminie… do you think what that lady said was true? That we’re meant to be?” Taehyung was the first one to break the silence, eyes fixated on the difference of their treats. And he knew, he knew that it was stupid to be considering this over something as simple as cinnamon on a cookie, but it felt like there was a larger message at play.
Jimin thought for a moment, before his face crinkled apologetically. “I’m not...really sure. I know we just met and there are some things that we work so well on, but I can’t.. I’m not sure. Listen, Taehyungie...I haven’t been honest with you. Technically I was in a situationship with this person before I met you...and we knew that we weren’t each other’s soulmates, and we decided to keep it casual and not put a label on it, but we did all the things that were important, you know? And I know that my wolf didn’t respond to him, but it kinda felt like--”
“It was someone who nature didn’t order you to love...and you fell in love with them anyways.” Taehyung finished, nodding. “I understand that. What’s his name?”
“Jungkook,” Jimin answered. And the difference was unmistakable. Jimin simply glowed at the mention of his lover’s name.
“My boyfriend’s name is Seokjin.” Taehyung quietly told the other, nudging him with his shoulder.
Jimin’s head snapped around to look at him, and relief colored his features at the realization that his mate was in the same boat as him. They talked, Jimin slowly filling in Taehyung that Jungkook was a professional gamer, and they had been neighbors for the longest time before a few drinks had led into something more. Jungkook was very energetic and liked to keep Jimin on his toes and it felt easy and natural.
“My boyfriend’s name is Seokjin. And...he’s too good for me. No, seriously, he is. He’s patient and kind, and he’s so understanding. He works so hard for us and not once has he put me down or shamed me for my odd habits--he’s just encouraged them. He always reassures me. He’s like...my safe haven. As soon as I get a hug and a kiss from him, all my worries about the day melt away.” Taehyung murmured, feeling a pang in his heart at the man that he had so callously left behind for a day with Jimin.
They sat in silence for a moment, just watching people pass by. A couple threw a coin into a fountain, the metal radiant as it arched upwards then into the water with a splash. The woman giggled, leaning into her lover, the other woman tilting her head up for a soft kiss. It was the happiness that was tangible and more real than the ones noted by the vendor--a romance that Taehyung didn’t necessarily feel with the man beside him. Jimin had found him at a time when he had been weak, when the days weren’t so great with Seokjin, but at the end, he was truly a reminder that Taehyung’s perfect mate wasn’t the one sitting by him--but the one at home.
“Jiminie...I think I need to go home. To Seokjin.” Taehyung clarified, standing up. He looked down at the younger man, who nodded understandingly, patting his arm.
“I know. I think I have to go to Jungkook as well. We’re good, but...they give us something that neither of us would be able to replicate.” Jimin murmured. “We’re better off as friends, aren’t we?”
“Best friends. We’ll be best friends. Thanks so much for coming out with me.” They exchanged a quick hug, a tight reminder that they were there for each other before both rushed off, intending to console the ones they had left.
--
Taehyung pushed the door of his apartment without any hesitation, intending to find his Omega, when his expression faltered looking at the boxes that had accumulated in the living room. They were all marked in Seokjin’s cursive, detailing out ‘clothes’ and ‘cooking items’.
“Seokjin?!” Taehyung called out as he stepped further into the apartment, but he got no answer. His boyfriend wasn’t in the kitchen, nor was he in the small study they had--Taehyung finally found him in the bedroom. The blonde was hunched over, slowly folding a towel into a box, tears running down his face.
“Seokjin?” Taehyung called out, stepping into their bedroom.
The Omega perked up and wiped his tears, turning to shoot Taehyung a watery smile. The Alpha’s heart broke at the sight of his lover so dejected yet attempting to put such a happy smile on his face. “Hey, you’re back earlier. How did it go with Jimin?” The Omega sniffled.
“It was--why--why are you crying?” Taehyung worried, slowly approaching the other as though he was a wounded animal. He crouched down, gently thumbing away the tears that bloomed on his beautiful boyfriend’s face.
That seemed to be the catalyst for the precariously constructed dam that had held all of Seokjin’s emotions back to break. The Omega burst into tears. “I--I tried to be happy for you, Taehyung. I--I really did. And I a-am. I’m so happy for you t-that you finally met your s-soulmate. I’m j-just not happy that I h-have to lose mine. So I’m m-moving out, before y-you can leave me.” The other wailed, and Taehyung gently scooped Seokjin into his arms, the Omega burying his face into the crook of his neck to inhale the soothing, spicy scent. Taehyung waded out of the boxes that had gathered, heading to the living room to sink down onto the couch and sit Seokjin down on his lap.
“Seokjin, look at me.” When the Omega shook his head and curled his fingers into the fabric of Taehyung’s shirt and only cried harder, he knew that he had to soothe his darling before the other cried himself sick.
“Baby, look at me. Look at me, sweetheart. I need to tell you something.” Taehyung murmured gently.
Even as Seokjin pulled his face out of his hiding spot, even with his red-rimmed eyes, he was so gorgeous. But it was the heartbreak that made Taehyung’s heart shatter, that he had been so cruel to send the love of his life into such despair, into thinking that Taehyung would leave him. God, he had been such a bad boyfriend, a bad Alpha, a bad...mate.
“Baby, I went out with Jimin today. And we realized that we aren’t really...compatible with each other. We both had people waiting on us back at home, people whose company we preferred much more. I’m not leaving you, okay. I’m never, ever leaving you.” Taehyung murmured. “And I owe you quite a few apologies. First, baby. I’m so sorry that I forgot about our anniversary. I know that there’s no excuse. I forgot and I should have taken responsibility that day.”
Seokjin shook his head. “No, that’s on me. I should have been more patient and understood that work really got tough.”
“But it was up to me to remember and time manage my work so I could come home. Maybe we could have communicated better, but at the end of the day, it’s on me. And I’m sorry for calling you a hypocrite. You really aren’t one, baby. And I’m eternally grateful for what you do for me.” Taehyung paused, before ducking his head shamefully. “I’m sorry to say that despite your reassurance that day when we went to the company event, I was pushing myself to work harder so that I could earn more money for us to live comfortably. I know what you said and I should have listened, but I really felt insecure.”
A soft finger pushed his head up, and Seokjin shook his head. “You know that whatever amount you make, you’re always going to be my number one. Your value isn’t determined based on how much you earn.”
Taehyung nodded, dipping his head to kiss the pad of Seokjin’s index finger. “I know. I know that, baby. And I’m going to work on it. And.. I need to apologize for my last comment. Seokjin… you..you are my soulmate. And it doesn’t matter about my wolf or what society says. You’re my soulmate. You match with me on so many levels and know how to balance out my flaws. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I’m so sorry that I disrespected our relationship by looking elsewhere when the answer I’ve had all along was right in front of me.” Taehyung’s voice broke, and tears started sliding down his face.
The blond gently patted them away with careful swipes of his fingers. “Please don’t cry,” Seokjin whispered. “I don’t want to see you cry.”
Taehyung clutched his Omega close. “I know that you have every single right to leave me because I’ve done nothing but disrespect you, but please take another chance on me, my soulmate. We’ll work on it. But I don’t want a future if it’s not with you.”
Seokjin was silent for a moment before nodding. “I’m yours, Taehyungie. Always. You’ll always be my mate.”
Taehyung tilted the blonde’s head towards his, their lips connecting in a soft kiss. Their lips slotted together slowly in a soft, sweet kiss, but they needed more, needed...to be reminded of each other again. When Taehyung’s tongue swiped across Seokjin’s bottom lip, the Omega opened his mouth willingly, allowing their tongues to tangle.
Their lips stayed connected, exploring one another as Taehyung rolled over, pressing Seokjin into the cushions. He drank the sight of the other man in, lips forming a pout because the Alpha had stopped kissing him.
“My mate. Mine.” Taehyung murmured reverently as he ghosted his lips across the spot where the shoulder met the neck.
“Yours, forever. And you’re mine.” Seokjin answered, and it was enough for Taehyung to lean up and capture his lips again.
They eventually did make it to the bed, content in their desires for one another. Taehyung took apart Seokjin with his tongue, his fingers and then eventually their bodies entwined as one, basking in the affection. Even his wolf was content with Seokjin--their pairing truly was blessed.
And even now, as they held each other tenderly under the covers, the faintest moonrays trickling in through the window, the fresh mating mark on each of their necks seemed to say enough as their lips met again.