Work Text:
His poor heart can’t stop fluttering.
The mattress shakes slightly from all the little jumping & thumping of the omega, sitting cross-legged and insanely engrossed inside the little phone screen, squealing happily every time he slices the fruits perfectly.
It’s been a week or more that Jeongguk gifted Taehyung a smart phone, absolutely besotted by the omega’s discovered interest in learning new devices. Watching his mate prattle happily over breakfast one day how after being homeschooled he could now easily use the waffle-maker and toaster without asking anyone’s help (“Now, I don’t have to peek behind everyone to remember which side they turn the knob or which button they push to turn the frier on. I can read the labels above the buttons”), Jeongguk thought it would be a good thing if the omega also learns how to use a smartphone.
(However, he doesn’t mention his little selfish reason of how he simply wants an excuse to call Taehyung to hear his voice rambling about basic home appliances and how he is finally an expert in using the “Intense Spin Dry” in the washing machine.)
So, needless to say the alpha went out and bought the latest model of the smartphone for his mate, which now is reduced to nothing but a gaming console, not of any extreme game but of a silly fruit ninja (because according to Taehyung, “Alpha, you won’t understand. It’s an omega game, meant to cut perfect fruit slices”)
Jeongguk had only sighed at that. At least, one good deed is he had taught Taehyung how to click pictures which fascinated the brunette so much so that Jeongguk’s gallery in a week's time is filled with hazy pictures of food, flowers, washed laundry, cutesy stationary and of course…Taehyung—bright-eyed, bread cheeks and effervescent smile.
Jeongguk is definitely not complaining.
His recent obsession over the game weirdly endearing, so much so that Jeongguk indulges him by sometimes peeking over and slices the fruits when the omega finds the pace of the game too fast. And when the screen displays a “you won”, and Taehyung in blinding happiness snuggles up to Jeongguk with dainty hands clutching his shirt, Jeongguk thinks fruit ninja is probably the best game in the world.
But right now, Jeongguk is close to sulking (not really).
The omega has barely batted an eye at him since…well past ten-too long-minutes. And Jeongguk feels a whine build inside his throat at how easily the omega can remain engrossed in his game, unbothered by the alpha’s presence, when the said alpha is desperately waiting for his attention.
It’s scandalous how easily the oblivious omega can turn the alpha into a mush. But ever since Taehyung has entered his life, the boy just wants those pretty hazel-brown eyes fixated only on him.
And so…
“Okay, that’s enough. It’s past bed time”, he swiftly (but gently) pries the phone out of the omega’s hand and switches it off before placing it on the nightstand.
“Alphaa…but I wanna play more”, Taehyung whines pouting his lips, hands trying to reach out for the phone again when Jeongguk pulls him closer making him fall back to lay next (closer) to him.
“It’s already 10, and you didn’t even tell me the story you learnt today. I want my time too”, Jeongguk is equally petty and pouty.
And Taehyung’s cheeks flare warmly as he wordlessly snuggles closer to his alpha, internally cooing at his needy mate and in soft voice narrates the tale of “beauty and the beast” while carding his fingers through the fluffy black hair. His deep voice a pleasant husk that slowly lulls Jeongguk into calmness—like rain after a summer day, refreshingly calm.
As the story comes to an end, he lazily tips his head up and presses a soft kiss to the omega’s cheek and utters a “good night” before slipping his eyes shut and nosing further into Taehyung’s neck, inhaling the scent of jasmines.
It’s been a month since their first kiss and even though there’s nothing much has progressed, Jeongguk is content with their recent customary good-night kisses and occasional cuddling…is happy to end his day going back into the arms of his beautiful mate.
Taehyung is thankful for the darkness that hides his burning red cheeks every time Jeongguk kisses him at night, leaving his lips tingling and his entire body buzzing in pleasant sparks, like a balmy blanket of comfort and warmth—and Taehyung just feels so… overwhelmingly happy.
~
It’s probably in the middle of the night when Jeongguk hears it.
There are sharp knocks at his door waking him up, bewildered and alert. His eyes scan around the room before settling on his mate who still, luckily, hasn’t woke up. Unwrapping Taehyung’s hands from his waist, he pads over to the door, gently unlocking it to see—
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”
The loud scream at once wakes Taehyung up and Jeongguk curses internally at his cousins and pack members.
“Happy Birthday Jeonggukkie!!”, Hoseok without a shame, yells loudly and wraps himself all over Jeongguk’s body.
“Happy Birthday Kookie!”, Jimin yells and jumps to cling Hoseok and Jeongguk, almost making the birthday boy fall down.
Jeongguk is nearly suffocating (and smiling) when he is finally freed from the loving death grip of his hyungs.
“Happy birthday Gguk! Be more handsome this year!”, Rose says bashfully and others hoot another round at that.
Jeongguk’s ears turn red at that, always being shy around his female friends. He could barely manage a “thank you” when, “Yeh Jeonggukie, I hope this year you would turn out to be more like me…. Legendary!”, Seokjin says and the small crowd laughs and yaps at his dad joke.
“No way I will be like you!”, Jeongguk says although his ear-splitting smile means complete opposite of it.
The small crowd is so lively and vibrant and Jeongguk is truly grateful to have born in such a pack that never misses out on any chance of showering him with love and warmth. Jimin and Seokjin have been his hyungs since forever. Hoseok joined later with his mate, Solar, and yet became one of the closest to Jeongguk. It’s wonderful—and Jeongguk wouldn’t trade it for anything.
~
Taehyung wakes up puzzled from the sudden noise, sits upright on the fluffy mattress.
His eyes widen at the small crowd in front of the door, lights flooding into the dark room like the warm sun does at the break of the dawn.
“Happy Birthday Jeonggukkie!”, a shrill yell echoes as the omega watches another alpha, Hoseok, latching himself to his mate. His lips parts at the information—it’s his mate’s birthday.
He sees one by one people congratulating his mate and the crowd erupting in laughter at intervals. He couldn’t see Jeongguk’s face, but his giggles are enough evidence of his happiness. Taehyung can almost imagine the bunny teeth, upper lip disappearing showing a full grin; doe eyes shining & sparking, crinkling at the corners and cheeks flushed with warmth—Taehyung’s favorite view.
He was almost on his knees ready to walk up to his mate when,
“Yah! Let’s not take too much time! He got a mate to celebrate with.”
“Yeahhh! Taehyung is so particular about caring about our Kookie. He must have planned something very special.”
And Taehyung freezes on the spot.
He reels back in his position, baffled at the perception of him celebrating Jeongguk’s birthday, as if the statement singularly was the most offensive thing ever said in the history.
He could hear Jeongguk asking the people in hushed voice to lower down their tempo for it might wake up the omega, but unbeknownst to him, the said omega was already up, and stupefied to stillness at the mere suggestion of his friends, mind whacking through and through to make any sort of sense out of it.
Back at his old pack, the omegas weren’t allowed in such celebrations that entailed exclusively for alphas. Unless it’s a pack ceremony, the omegas weren’t part of it. Only the superior ranks were allowed to hold such frolics and festivities—considering they were the stepping future of the pack. The omegas were just ordered to prepare everything before the time of celebration, hastily organizing the pack house or soiree-hall for the event.
He doesn’t necessarily remember omegas celebrating anything with the alpha—the mated ones would just cook something indulgent and the alphas were left to celebrate with their friends of the same rank. Being mated doesn’t necessarily bring any difference, other than the omegas being allowed to stay along with their alphas and of course, beautiful apparel and accessories to look pretty for their mates.
Other than the elevated lifestyle, the customs were still the same—an omega never equates with an alpha—and hence, it was blasphemy for Taehyung to even think about being in the celebration with Jeongguk alongside his alpha friends and cousins.
But, now he is in Jeongguk’s pack.
Jeongguk’s pack that’s totally different from his old pack—the customs, the traditions, the beliefs—everything is different here. And Taehyung has been here for three months—that was enough time for him to learn about his new pack; learn about the rank roles and pack members; learn about the customs that entailed the omega mate to celebrate the alpha mate’s birthday.
However, the brunette hasn’t learnt anything yet, didn’t even know half of the people piled up in front of his door. Too busy in his own head, figuring out how to use the electric kettle and rice cooker; too occupied in adapting to the “everyone’s equal” dynamic of the pack; too busy in understanding the gestures of his kind mate who buys him books and cute carrot-shaped erasers—Taehyung (too happy and engrossed in his world) forgot to carry out his duties for his pack—forgot the first thing he was taught after presenting as an omega—
“An omega, mated or unmated, is obliged to work for the pack’s welfare & maintain its long-standing pride. That’s the irrevocable imperative duty of an omega—to serve.”
He hears the crowd slowly retreat and hastily lays back down hiding under the sheet.
Jeongguk, thrilled by the unexpected surprise doesn’t pay attention to the tensed omega on the bed and crawls back to his side, this time spooning the omega gently before closing his eyes to sleep, while the wide hazel eyes remain open in the dark rethinking about the words—" Taehyung is so particular about caring about our Kookie. He must have planned something very special.”
~
Taehyung wakes up with a jolt, vision disoriented from the suddenness of the action. He could hear the shower running, the burnt wood scent lingering in air, indicating his mate is the one in shower. His eyes swiftly pass over the clock and the omega whelps. Without a second thought about his disheveled hair or wrinkled sleepwear, he rushes down to the kitchen.
After the entire night mulling over his guilt, the omega was beyond embarrassed, for neglecting his duties for pleasure and fun. He spent hours learning fairy tales when he could have just learnt the pack rules and traditions.
At least he wouldn’t be upsetting his alpha with his incapability to prepare something special.
Throughout the night the omega wondered what would be special enough for a person who gave him a new life and showered him with undeserving kindness—it was simply unfathomable. Jeongguk didn’t just fulfill the role of a provider, but he became Taehyung’s mate in all truths and aspects. The alpha gave him a world that was beyond Taehyung’s imagination—a world filled with colors of love, respect and kindness—away from the monochromes of cruelty and rigidity.
Jeongguk gave him a fairytale—a real fairy tale where Taehyung can dare to dream of castles, princes and “happily ever after”s.
For a person that’s so extraordinary…Taehyung couldn’t help but wonder, what would be special enough for him.
What does the moon even have of its own to give back to the burning sun?
So, with guilt-tripping heart and barely open eyes Taehyung dashes towards the kitchen only to see the entire table is brimming with assortments of what are mostly Jeongguk’s favorite dishes. Starting from rice, noodles, soup to delicacies of pastries, croissants and pies—all freshly baked & cooked wafting deliciously in the air.
His eyes almost fall out of their sockets at the extravaganza spread at the table (and his eyes dim a little bit thinking how he isn’t the person behind this special treat obviously prepared for his mate). He sees the Luna happily sauntering around placing everything on the table immaculately, obviously going overboard with everything for her only son’s birthday.
“Oh, Taehyung. Call Jeongguk, will you? The breakfast’s getting cold.”, she chirps happily.
Taehyung meekly nods his head as he heads back up stairs feeling rather dejected. He enters the room to see the alpha drying his hair. Jeongguk’s eyes light up immediately at seeing his mate and Taehyung’s guilt deepens.
He slowly walks towards the alpha who easily offers a hand towards Taehyung.
The alpha chuckles, mischief swimming in his eyes as he stares at Taehyung. The omega frowns, confused, until he feels Jeongguk’s hand against his head, gently smoothing down his hair.
“Seems like someone overslept!”, it was meant to be a joke but the remark makes Taehyung sink further, but the alpha doesn’t notice, too consumed in staring at the mole on Taehyung’s nose, a sudden urge surges in him to just lean and kiss it.
But they aren’t in that stage.
They don’t even touch casually, unless there’s an excuse. Even their good night kisses are an excuse, something Taehyung stumbled upon while exploring curiously his newly acquired phone and watched with big wide eyes at the tiktok video of couples kissing on cheeks every night. Jeongguk was surprised when Taehyung asked if he can kiss Jeongguk good night as well.
In no way would Jeongguk decline it.
However, he felt (still feels) bad for just indulging Taehyung into it; into something that’s meant for genuine exclusive couple and not for a relationship like theirs—something that’s one-side; which Jeongguk had forced on Taehyung. (“It was for a good reason”, his mother had argued, and Jeongguk tried not to argue over how never had Taehyung’s consent)
It’s something Jeongguk still finds hard to deal with.
But when the omega had crawled close and pushed his face closer to Jungkook’s, asked with wide eyes to kiss him, that selfish part of Jeongguk’s heart won over, and he jerked his head in a nod unable to resist when soft pillowy lips brushed against his cheeks. Whatever moral philosophy and principles Jeongguk had inside his head all silenced by a single innocent kiss and Jeongguk succumbed to it.
Although he wished they grew closer gradually, but the sequence of their story is so puzzled that Jeongguk doubts he can ever fix that. And so, he rolls as it is—with being mates first before being lovers, with casual kisses before casual hand holding. (Honestly, he isn’t complaining)
Jeongguk, personally savors those moments—the brief physical contact through out the day until they end up in the bed, ending their day with sweet pecks and sweet dreams.
He watches Taehyung frown cutely as he continues to smooth his hair when there’s a knock on the door making Taehyung jump and step back (Jeongguk wants to pull him back) and peeks inside Jimin, with a shit-eating grin.
“Hello birthday boy!”
Jeongguk wants to roll his eyes. (Wasn’t the late-night surprise enough?)
“Good morning to you too hyung.”
Jimin’s grin grows wider.
“We are throwing you a party. Before you give your “I don’t like party lecture”, it’s for us and we have decided you are coming. For once let us enjoy and you can come back early since I can clearly see you just want to be with Taehyung.”
Jungkook’s ears turn red and he is glaring at the short man who as usual looks unbothered with whatever petulant threats (tantrums) Jeongguk is trying to give him through those glaring eyes.
Jimin simply throws a kiss before turning on his heels.
Jeongguk sighs.
~
Taehyung watches from where he is standing as Jimin gracefully enters the room and announces about the party the pack members are throwing for the alpha.
Taehyung doesn’t even know if he is allowed in the party, but judging the fact that last night some omega friends of Jeongguk wished him, he assumes that omegas might be allowed as well.
The realization doesn’t make him happy, rather just makes him feely burdened.
Everyone is doing something for alpha.
He couldn’t help but think how possible everyone has something or other in their list to do for the alpha’s birthday. Everyone except him—his mate.
Taehyung wants to sit and cry. His mind is all jumbled and he feels frustrated. He just wants to do something for his mate as well.
Jeongguk must notice his change in expression as he eyes him worriedly.
But a loud yell from downstairs, from Jeongguk’s mother draws his attention and Taehyung takes it as his escape to get into the bathroom and fix himself.
~
It’s noon when Taehyung hesitantly knocks on Jimin’s door. Jeongguk is busy with attending the numerous calls and texts he gets from his other family members and friends who are away since Jeongguk’s pack had shifted.
Taehyung’s unsure if Jimin would allow him to help, but he wants to take in any chance.
The door unlocks showing a very wet and soapy beta.
“Thank God! Someone’s here. Jin hyung is that you?”
Taehyung shakes his head even though he knows the beta won’t be able to see it with how his eyes are scrunched close from the soap foam getting into them.
“Taehyung.”, he replies softly.
Jimin tries rubbing his eyes to look at the omega, surprised and caught off-guard at the sudden visit. The two definitely have known each other and sometimes have exchanged greetings over the breakfast table, but Jeongguk had advised everyone to not overwhelm his mate with their over-friendly behavior. (“Please don’t go all koala on him. He isn’t your tree to climb on.” That brat!)
“Oh Tae! Sorry. I m a bit messy now, as you can see.”
Taehyung again shakes his head, feels a bit uneasy looking at someone wet and half-naked.
“Umm…what happened?”, he hopes he doesn’t sound awkward.
“Water issues! Because I forgot to call the plumber to fix Jin hyung’s bathroom sink, he is punishing me.”, Jimin whines. His eyes are stinging badly as he tries to open them.
Taehyung giggles. It’s funny how Jimin complains like a petulant child, almost reminds Taehyung of his old pack days where he used to babysit the head alpha’s son.
Without a word he dashes towards the kitchen and pulls out two big bottles of water he usually stocks in for emergencies. Even though the kitchen worker had said Taehyung once that the pack never faces such issues, Taehyung still thought it wouldn’t be any harm if he actually did store water. It’s a habit he had acquired from his old pack, where omegas often had such water shortage problems (and many others)
Jimin’s confused over where the omega suddenly went away when Taehyung returns holding the two huge bottles of water and Jimin is grinning ear to ear.
“You are fucking guardian angel”
~
Jimin’s eyes finally blink in peace without the toxic chemicals in the soap stinging and burning his eyes. Taehyung had helped him clean his half-shampooed hair with such expert ease that the slight discomfort that a grown-up man should feel on being bathed was absolutely absent. Jimin unregretfully enjoyed the deftly working fingers over his scalp and washing the shampoo off his hair. And by the looks of how Taehyung giggled all the time, he assumed the omega enjoyed it too.
Taehyung leaves Jimin to get dressed while he waited for the beta.
For some reason, Taehyung felt happy. It didn’t feel anyway wrong or awkward. Jimin was literally like a baby and Taehyung just wanted to dot over him.
“You are amazing Tae! Damn! Gguk would be so jealous if I tell him how you gave me an exclusive spa treatment today”,
Taehyung smiles bashfully saying, “It’s nothing. I felt happy helping. I used to take care of little kids in my old pack too when mated omegas would be busy tending to their mates. It was nothing of a work.”
Jimin’s smile dimmed a bit at the mention of that. Jeongguk had told his close friends about Taehyung’s old pack, not every explicit detail, but enough to let them understand what kind of a background Taehyung comes from. That’s why when they see the omega doing chores, they never interfere. It takes time to break away from old habits and Jeongguk is trying to ease his mate into that.
But listening the omega directly speak about his experience is a bittersweet thing—he looks happy at the mention of his old pack, he smiles as he narrates his days in his old pack which had only snatched away his childhood from him. But to see Taehyung’s innocence still intact, can melt anyone’s heart—even Jimin’s.
He simply nods.
“Oh! By the way, did you need something? I wasn’t expecting you to come to me.”, Jimin asks.
Taehyung hesitates a bit, feels a little uneasy at being reminded of the reason why he came here.
“Uh… I wanted to ask…the party—”
“Oh! Yeah! We are so excited for the party. It’s gonna be epic. Now, that you mention I remember I had to give these to you & Gguk.”, Jimin says pointing to the different decorative bags in the corner.
“What’s that?”, Taehyung asks.
“Those are dresses you guys will be wearing for the party. A gift for Jeongguk! I picked them.”, he says cheekily.
“I didn’t really know about your favorite colors or clothes type but I picked up something that is sort of similar to Gguk’s—the white one is yours and the black color is for Gguk; other than that the style is pretty much same..”, Jimin continues to ramble as he dries his hair, eyes narrowed down to his root hairs inspecting the blue that’s begun to fade.
“Oh. Those are special presents…”, the omega’s voice fades away.
“Yeap!”
Taehyung’s guilt only worsens at that. He doesn’t have any money of his own to buy anything special for his mate and now, looking at the expensive clothes inside the designer bags, he doubts if he could have even matched up to such standard had he had the money.
He bites the insides of his cheeks, not wanting to give up. There’s must be something he can do for his mate.
“Um…is there any-anything… I-I can help with, m-maybe bake a cake or—”
“NO WAY! I HAVE A GRAY STRAND!”, Jimin shrieks immediately plunging over his tweezers to pluck the offending strand of hair. He winces as he holds the tweezers and tugs hard on the strand.
“I hate gray strands. Oh…and about the cake, Jin hyung is the one who always bakes it. Even Luna aunt can’t stand a fight against that.”, he say chuckling; remembering the dramatic way the elder had announced that rule the day he joined culinary school.
When for a long minute Taehyung doesn’t say anything, the beta turns back.
There’s a conflicting emotion all over the omega’s face. His eyes are casted down and his fingers are fidgeting badly enough to give away his nervousness. Jimin doesn’t know what happened for the omega to appear so tensed up, but he approaches him nevertheless, wishing he could help Taehyung anyway he can.
“Hey, Tae. You okay?”
“Y-Yeah.”, Taehyung whispers, giving a small smile.
“No. You are not.”
It’s more of a statement than an assumption. Jimin isn’t the patient guys who would wait around for his friends to come up to him whenever they feel it’s too much. Rather, he takes pride in being the impulsive friend who once gets a sniff of your troubles would cling to you till either the problem is resolved or he is assured enough for you being able to handle it on your own.
And there’s no exception to that rule.
So, he gently tugs Taehyung to sit on the bed, has his laser-focused eyes fixated on him gauging every single strain on the omega’s face, and tries to talk.
“I can clearly see something is bothering you. Tell me if I can help in something.”
At first Taehyung hesitates and at the first sign of it, Jimin is declaring a “no lies” rule. Taehyung sighs defeated.
“I just wanted to help in the party, do something for alpha.”
“Well, you can dress up pretty for him, and I swear it would be the best present. I brought you the dress for that—you to be dolled up for Jeongguk. Since he is always whining about how he wants to buy dresses for you but can’t decide on what your preferences would be.”
“He wants to buy me clothes?”, Taehyung’s eyes are a little wide as he asks.
“Shit! It was meant to be a surprise. Park Jimin you are dead”
Jimin expects the remark would make Taehyung giggle or smile as he had when the omega helped him give a head wash but it didn’t.
In opposite, Taehyung’s expression just dims further as if little heart was just stomped by some cruel person. His lips slightly wobble and Jimin is worried that the omega might start crying any moment.
He has never dealt with such situations ever, where people are too vulnerable or emotional. Jimin in his lifetime in the pack has watched the omegas to be the strongest, if not in their physical strength, but in their emotional capabilities. Their backbones are what makes the pack’s foundation so strong—by being caretakers they rear their emotional intelligence to the pups who grow up to be insightful and strong as them.
But that’s not the kind of pack Taehyung comes from.
And the fact hits him now when he actually witnesses it on his own—the sheer vulnerability and fear in Taehyung’s body language, who despite having spent much time in their pack, hasn’t come out of his shell yet.
He can hear quite sniffles as if the omega is trying to control himself from breaking down.
Jimin realizes his impulsiveness can’t force answers from Taehyung. The omega needs someone who is more patient and gentler and even if Jimin doesn’t really believe he is that, he is willing to try—willing to be a friend to Taehyung.
“Hey, Tae...”, his voice is calm and gentle this time.
“Are you worried about gifting something to Jeongguk?”
Jimin could guess the way Taehyung had insisted over doing something for his alpha and how his demeanor changed into a dull version when he had declined any sort of help offered by the omega.
Taehyung’s head jerked up to look at Jimin, his eyes a little glassy and shocked at the beta’s question.
A weird sense of shame creeps inside his heart, thinking about how disappointed Jeongguk’s friends must be on knowing that he being the alpha’s mate has nothing to present to the alpha. He feels ashamed, eyes immediately dropping down and every restraint of holding back his tears snap.
“I-I a-am sorry. I d-didn’t know..”, his words are muffled between the cries and Jimin almost panics.
He is suddenly getting up from the bed to crouch in front of the omega.
“Hey! It’s okay. It’s no biggie”
And like the floodgate that has broken, Taehyung, overwhelmed by everything, spills out all the antsy emotions that had been consuming him since midnight. He tells Jimin about how his old pack was different and how omegas never had right to celebrate anything on their own or seek participation in high ranker’s parties. He tells about the punishments, the discipline, the code of celebrations of his old pack—where omegas were mostly organized stuffs for the function but never partake in it.
Jimin’s eyes almost blaze at that, urging to just storm into the stupid ex-pack of Taehyung’s and ruin everything that stands as an obstacle to humanity.
Taehyung with tear-eyes and hiccups hesitates at first, but with a comforting hand of the beta placed over his trembling hands, he tries to speak further. He talks about his fear of disappointing his mate and the entire pack, anxious of becoming an undesirable omega who is incapable of being a good mate and good pack member. His voice grows smaller when he speaks about the most vulnerable thing—his inferiority. It’s something that has been on his mind since the first day—how Jeongguk could have had a better mate, a better omega, someone like omegas of his pack, who are bold and confident, unlike Taehyung who panics over a simple microwave beeping.
Jimin can hear the sadness in the voice, can feel his own heart break around edges seeing the omega being so vulnerable.
Even if he is the shorter one between the two, but Taehyung, somehow feels smaller in his eyes. His shoulders are hunched while his head is bowed down almost tucking his chin into his chest, curling himself as much as he can.
His heart aches at that.
His hands slowly interlace with Taehyung’s, afraid the movement would startle the already upset omega.
He isn’t sure his words can be of any help to the omega, but he can offer Taehyung the truth—which even though is simple still holds much more weight than any false lies.
“You are right. Jeongguk could have got someone better. No one in the pack thought of even thought about Jeongguk having someone as you as his mate.”
Taehyung sucks up his breath, lips already parting in apology, when Jimin stops him.
“But Jeongguk chose you. Even when he didn’t have to, he did. Because he wanted to. Jeongguk wants you. Despite the shortcomings, he wants you as his mate. You are his choice Taehyung, not an obligation.”
Taehyung feels his heart swell, so much so he feels he’s going to combust.
“You are everything he wanted, everything he wants. When he promised himself to be your mate, he did it by choice—to have you in his life, to have you by his side for life.
So, don’t ever feel like Jeongguk compromised on anything in his life by having you, cause from where I can see, that brat is the luckiest to have you.
You care for him probably the most than any other omega does to their mates. And even if Jeongguk insists it’s because of your old pack practices instilled in you, I can see that—it’s not true.
You care for him, because you want to. If that hadn’t been the case you wouldn’t be so worried over a silly gift.”
Taehyung’s cheeks are flushed red by the end of Jimin’s speech. His eyes are still glassy but there’s no frown marrying his face anymore. The words Jimin said felt difficult for him to admit, too different from his own perception—of being a choice than a burden.
He had often heard some alphas of his pack, the older one especially, of how life is carefree without an omega who don’t have earn and yet be taken care of. Even if Jeongguk had never given him a reason to doubt the alpha’s intention, he couldn’t shake off the fact that had he been anything better, he wouldn’t be an imposition on Jeongguk.
“He cares for me so much, and does so much for me…I am just. I just want to do the same for him.”
“You already do Taehyung. Even if you don’t realize. I am glad that you’re grateful of Jeongguk for treating you kindly, but…you need to understand that you deserve kindness just as much as your mate, or any other person. So, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Just because your previous pack didn’t think of you as a human, doesn’t mean you’re not. You are a human deserving respect and kindness and they have wronged you. And Jeongguk isn’t doing a great favor by treating you right, he does it because you deserve it.
Don’t feel that you are undeserving of the good things in the world. You deserve happiness, love and respect— You deserve the world Taehyung.
So, don’t feel apologetic for being treated tenderly, it’s your right. People who wronged you are wrong, not you.”
Taehyung feels his throat clog up. There’s a whirlwind of emotions inside him. He could feel his heart swell beyond what his ribcage and there’s so much, so much of gratitude inside him that just wants to burst out and pour it all to the beta in front of him. He hasn’t felt like this in his entire life.
There’s a sense of belonging—that beautiful feeling of cherish one’s own self. Taehyung feels as if more than belonging to Jeongguk or the pack or anyone else, he feels his own more. And for all the kindness that he has been treated, all the kindness that Taehyung had perceived as a debt, now feels a part of him—feels he, after all, is worthy of what kindness is given to him.
“Kindness isn’t a trade Tae, that you are indebted to someone, or someone is indebted to you. It’s a part of being human—treating someone else kindly. Gratitude isn’t slavery. So, don’t ever feel obliged to do something that you don’t want to do, just because they showed you a shred of humanity when it is them, who should be respectful and kind towards you. It’s not cool to be rude or mean! So don’t entertain that bullshit.”
When there’s an ocean of emotions, it’s hard to just express them in words—in such cases, actions speak louder than words.
So, without a word, Taehyung surges forward and wraps Jimin in a hug, catching the beta off-guard. He is so overwhelmed with everything, that he simply cries and prays that Jimin understands it.
Jimin does.
He gently wraps his arms around Taehyung, heart already melting to form a huge space inside for the omega—his new friend, who Jimin knows would be capturing his whole heart in no time. He can feel wetness on his neck, the little sniffles too, but he doesn’t comment; understands that silence would be a more profound answer than words.
They stay like that for a few moments, absorbing the vulnerability of their newly formed friendship.
When they move apart, Jimin messily wipes Taehyung’s tears with the towel that he had haphazardly thrown on the bed.
“Jeongguk’s gonna kill me if he knows the amount of “bad-words” I have uttered in front of you. He is very protective of not tainting your innocent head”
Taehyung finally giggles at that, wonders if he should tell Jeongguk that he already knows those words since alphas of his previous pack didn’t bother filtering them ever.
His dull eyes seem sparkly. He feels different, but in a good way. It’s not an easy realization for him, but he is happy for whatever little understanding he got over it—his heart feels lighter. It’s not much difference, but it’s better—better in a way where Taehyung no more feels like a burden on his mate.
“But..Jiminshii, I still want to do something for alpha”, his voice is soft, not trembling like before.
Jimin smirks playfully.
“Of course, you do. You two idiots love each other after all.”
Taehyung’s cheeks flush a pretty pink at that. He does love his mate after all, that’s how mates are supposed to be right?
“But, I don’t know what—”
“Tae, relax. You can literally give a creepy looking dinosaur doodle to Jeongguk and that dork would frame it as some Van Goh painting on his wall. He is that whipped for you.”
“I don’t know how to doodle dinosaur”
There’s a silly pout on Taehyung’s face and Jimin just wants to roll his eyes because how much more adorable can he be.
“You can gift him anything Tae. It’s just an expression of love. Jeongguk would love anything from you. Whatever you think is special in your eyes, would also hold same respect & admiration by your mate. Whatever is special to you, is special to him as well. It’s the thought that matters.”
Taehyung’s eyes light up at that and lips break into a boxy smile as he announces,
“I know exactly what to gift.”
~
Jeongguk’s eyes are frantic as he searches the entire pack house.
It’s almost sunset.
Everyone is getting ready for the party. Jeongguk’s ready too, his all-black attire fitting him like a glove. The jeans are perfect and his shirt though simple, still feels like a statement. Jeongguk feels a little too smug in it.
The entire afternoon he was busy attending phone calls from his friends and families who complained his ears out about him forgetting all of them. His little cousins also demanded him to visit them over holidays. His huge family as always was happily excited for his birthday.
However, the alpha missed his mate. Consumed with the restless people demanding his attention, he barely could talk with his mate. He is still waiting for Taehyung to wish him. Hopefully, after the party they can lay peacefully together without anyone disturbing them.
He checks the bathroom the third time. It’s been ten minutes he has been searching for the omega who out of the blue has disappeared. For a moment, his heart panics thinking the omega’s in some trouble. But the scent of the omega is clearly lingering in the house (almost everywhere) that he’s confused over where to find him. So, he searches the entire pack house.
“Hey Jimin hyung, have you seen Tae?”
Jimin shrieks from under the kitchen sink, surprised at the intruded voice.
“I was hiding, you weren’t supposed to find me”
“Even a blind man wouldn’t pick that spot”, Jeongguk deadpans.
Jimin scowls as he stands up, dusting off the non-existent dirt from his clothes.
“Have you seen Tae?”
“I am not supposed to tell you.”
Jeongguk squawks offended, “Why not?”, he half-yells.
“Because he is preparing a gift for you, brat and doesn’t want to be found until it’s prepared.”
Jeongguk’s lips curl involuntarily into a face-splitting grin.
“He is preparing a present for me!”
Jimin thinks Jeongguk instead of ageing forward has regressed to a five-year-old who’s excited over getting stupid helium balloons and pomp-pomp.
“Where is he? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me.”
“I am not telling you that he is in your studio.”
Jeongguk immediately throws the man to aside as he sprints outside the pack house, barely paying an ear to the beta who yells a ,”Remember, I haven’t told you..”
Jeongguk can smell the calming scent of his mate grow stronger as he approaches the lit studio.
As much as the alpha wants to burst inside and just engulf the omega into his arms for the sheer force of love he feels coursing inside his veins, he doesn’t. He puts a break on his fast-pacing heart and slows down and stands once he is in front of the door. He can hear shuffling sounds and little hums and giggles, that are undoubtedly Taehyung.
He doesn’t want to startle the omega, and hence, knocks gently on the door. When he doesn’t get any reply, he carefully opens the door.
The entire room, well, is sort of a mess. With papers strewn on the floor in every color and glitter smeared on the some part of the walls, the room feels like a rainbow burst inside it.
He sees the Taehyung, kneeled on the floor as he is hunched forward probably decorating the said gift that Jeongguk is thrumming in excitement to receive. The omega is so engrossed that he doesn’t feel the alpha entering the room, until he sees a shadow towered over him and he shrieks, immediately covering up the handmade box and tries to hide it.
Jeongguk chuckles and steps back.
Taehyung’s face has smudges from different colored markers. The alpha wants to slap himself of how he wants to just capture a picture of it. It’s unfair, how the omega can look the cutest even while being a mess.
“I see someone’s preparing a present for me.”
Taehyung’s blush is a rewarding sight as the omega timidly walks closer and holds up the box to Jeongguk.
“Happy birthday alpha”
Taehyung feels unreasonable shy holding the gift that’s covered with bunny cutouts that he pasted haphazardly all over it.
Jeongguk unreluctantly (read: exceedingly excitedly) grabs the box. His eyes scoff peculiarly at the bold letters across the box in purple marker—"FREE VOUCHERS”
Unsure of what to expect, he carefully removes the tapes around the box and opens it. Inside are a whole lot of colored papers, cut in neat rectangles and squares and circles, just as the one’s scattered under his feet on the floor. The only difference is there’s something scribbled on them.
Curiously he picks the first one that his eyes land on—“Free sick day hugs”. There’s a tissue and sneeze emoji doodle on the corner of the paper while the middle of it is decorated with blue and pink markers.
He then picks the next one— “Free Happy Hugs”; this one decorated in a bright red and have yellow smiley face stickers all over it.
The next one—” Free Sad day Hugs”—decorated in a soft blue and green glitter splattered on edges.
Then there’s— “Free Bad day Hugs”—neatly calligraphed in an orange color with a frowning bunny doodle at the end of the sentence.
Jeongguk’s eyes burn as he goes through the countless papers inside the box; each of them making him weaker in knees over how much love and warmth is embodied in every single piece of paper.
“Free Tired day Hugs”, “Free No Sleepy Hugs”, “Free Anytime Backhug Hugs”, “Free Victory Hugs”, “Free Scary Painting hour hugs”, “Free Busy day hugs”, “Free Cuddly hugs”, “Free No sleepy hugs”, “Free Thunder Time Hugs”…the list is endless. Every single paper, or " voucher" as Taehyung had named it, is unique and so much thoughtful, mentioning every mundane reason possible behind a hug, that Jeongguk feels like bursting out of his seams.
“Tae…it’s…”
Jeongguk’s floored.
His tongue feels dry and he feels loss at words, almost as if he in incapable of any coherent words to spell out the intense, undefinable emotion he feels inside him—he’s like a cloud filled up to brim with emotions ready to bust open any moment.
“I… When I was in my old pack, the days were hard for me. We had to work on most days; some days less and some days more. There were days I didn’t want to work, days I got sick and have a runny nose, I didn’t feel like working. But all the omegas had to do it, because it was our duties.”
Jeongguk’s astonished. It’s the first time the omega has willingly admitted about this struggle, his suffering instead of justifying it with the excuse of his rank. It’s the first time Taehyung admitting his pain.
The alpha’s fingers itch from where they are around the box, to just reach out and hold the omega closer. But he doesn’t, afraid it might ruin something that appears to be a small progress—something that Taehyung is doing on his own; like a little baby trying to stand on its own—Jeongguk doesn’t want to interrupt it.
“But on all those days, when things got tough for me, I could still go through it happily because of my friends. My omega friends, the elder omegas and the younger ones too— they all would hug me on those days. Even if none of us remember our families, I still felt like having a family. That hug felt safe; the hug felt like family—Hugs feel like home.
We would hug on sad days and on happy days too, on sick days and on good days too. That was probably the only kind thing I received from my old pack.
And I want to give it back to you as well—the kindness.
In my life that’s the most beautiful thing that I have got, and you have gifted it to me the most—in visible ways and in between the lines as well. You have been patient and kind, and even though we all deserve kindness, not everyone realizes it. I didn’t, and yet, you did—gave me something that I never knew I needed so much.
You have been so tender to me alpha, and I want to do it for you too. I want to be kind to you too.
I want to be your family, and want you to be mine”
It’s extraordinary how the simplest of the things in the world are the most wonderful of all. A thousand billion galaxies, some discovered and a larger share still hidden beneath the tranquil blanket of darkness, and yet the most effervescent of everything in the entire world, the most desirable, the most wonderful of all is—love.
That inexplicable feeling that’s a mad amalgamation of every good and bad thing, ranging from loyalty to passion to destructive obsession and yet—when collides with another heart, it doesn’t explode like a grenade but like a big bang explosion—it creates a new universe; a new person.
And like the universe grows and expand, Jeongguk has watched Taehyung grow too—from the blurred unsure lines to vivid concreteness; from hesitant permissions to gradual confidence—from being an omega to being Taehyung.
Jeongguk wonders if there’s any limit to that universe; but the more he stares into those brown eyes, he feels, there’s probably none—Taehyung is just limitless and Jeongguk just wants to watch him grow, bloom and flourish.
There’s no limit to you, there’s no limit to love, there’s no limit to us—for my love is you and you are my (ever- growing) universe.
Jeongguk feels like exploding.
His throat clogs up with words that he has restrained himself from speaking out loud, the words inching close to “I love you”, desperate to tear down the confines inside him and declare to the world, how madly he is falling for the omega with every passing day and just make him his—but he holds on.
Not now.
Not when, Taehyung has just begun to rise on his own, when he is still learning the little miracles of life, exploring the myriad shades of the world on his own—not when, Taehyung needs to be his own, more than being Jeongguk’s.
Jeongguk can wait.
And he does.
He waits till his heart is not pounding as loud and fast as it is, waits for it to calm down enough to subside his overwhelming tides of feelings, and then he steps closer. He sets aside the box carefully and hugs Taehyung.
Strong but gentle arms wrap around his body and his face naturally finds its way into nuzzling Taehyung’s neck, near his scent glands like a rehearsed habit.
“You forgot to add “Free Birthday Hugs”, he murmurs, prays his heart is calm enough for Taehyung to not feel how breathless he actually is.
“I added “Free Special Day Unlimited Hugs”—it includes birthday too”,
The omega’s words are muffled into Jeongguk’s skin, as Taehyung reciprocates the action of nuzzling closer to the alpha. Jeongguk’s hold tightens.
“So, it means I get unlimited hugs today?”
He can feel the omega nod against his neck; and the tender arms grow tighter around him.
And he can feel the intangible words turn physical…turn real—"Hugs feel like home."
Because in that moment, he understands, Taehyung isn’t just his mate—Taehyung is his home; his universe.