Archive of Our Own

Yeontan loved the dog park. Taehyung was very aware of that fact but he’d always been hesitant to bring Yeontan. He was such a little dog, and while on the surface, that wasn’t really an issue.

The issue was that Yeontan loved to start shit. He was the very definition of “The Drama”. 

It’s almost as if he chose to forget how small he was, seeking out the biggest dogs at the park so he could bark at them. 

And boy, would he bark. 

Little yaps would fill the air and Yeontan would kick his feet in the dirt until he was noticed.

Taehyung still couldn’t forget the time Yeontan had nipped at a mastiff to get its attention. He had been so close to having a heart attack that day.

But it was Yeontan’s birthday and against all better judgment, Taehyung brought him to the dog park. 

He could be the drama for one day, as a treat.

As soon as they got to the dog park, Taehyung regretted that decision. Dirt flew into the air as Yeontan kicked his feet, rushing to find a dog to bark at.

And the one he seemed to set his eyes on was a massive Doberman with probably the goofiest face Taehyung had ever seen. But regardless of how dopey the dog looked, Taehyung felt his heart drop as the dog jumped at Yeontan, massive paws knocking the little Pomeranian to the ground.

Taehyung ran, heart hammering as he listened to the loud yaps that left Yeontan’s mouth. And despite the fact that he was pinned to the ground, he wasn’t letting up. His body thrashed in the shirt, teeth nipping at the Doberman’s paws.

In the end, it was the other dog owner that arrived first, tugging at the Doberman’s leather collar.

“Bam! Stop that!” The man snapped, eyes lifting to look at Taehyung. His face was barely visible with the black mask and low hanging bucket hat. “I’m so sorry about that. Is he okay?”

Taehyung picked up Yeontan, the puppy’s tongue hanging out as he stared at the Doberman.

“He’s fine.” Taehyung gave an apologetic smile as he brushed the dirt from Yeontan’s fur, hoping that it didn’t all get onto his coat. Wearing light colours was a mistake. “And please don’t apologize. He’s quite the troublemaker.”

The man didn’t respond for a moment, simply staring at Taehyung with large eyes that almost looked as if they were sparkling. Was there something he was missing?

But then the man spoke again.

“Taehyung-ssi…?” It was hesitant and slow, as if the man wasn’t sure he was right. But the thing was, he was right. And yet Taehyung had no idea who the mystery man behind the mask was.

So slowly, he nodded, holding Yeontan a bit tighter. A stalker? Maybe a crazy ex? 

But then a tattooed hand lifted to pull down the black mask and the whole world stopped.

Taehyung knew the face before him. He knew the pouty lips with the small mole and the eyes that sparkled like the night sky. How long had it been? Ten years? No, surely it had been more. But even after so long, he recognized the face in front of him.

“Jungkook-ah,” Taehyung breathed out, disbelief filling his voice. He’d never expected to see Jungkook again, not after the teary goodbye they’d shared so long ago. “You’re back.”

“Yeah,” Jungkook laughed quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. “The States never really felt like home, you know? So I came back after my studies there.”

God, it felt like centuries but also only yesterday that Taehyung had said goodbye to Jungkook. He could still remember sitting on the front steps of their high school, listening to his Jungkook had been offered music training in California. Ever since they were little, the two of them had been inseparable, but suddenly, there was a whole ocean between them. 

With the time difference and their school lives, the two of them had found it a bit difficult to communicate. So slowly, they fell out of touch, even though it broke Taehyung’s heart to do so. 

He’d missed Jungkook so much and suddenly, after so many years, he was right there again.

He’d grown into himself so well, and Taehyung found himself just as smitten as he was so long ago. Fuck, his heart was hammering so hard.

“Do you wanna go get coffee or something?” Jungkook asked with a small smile, his fingers playing with the floppy ears on his dog's head. “Catch up?”

“That sounds amazing, but,” Taehyung trailed off, eyes flicking down to where Yeontan was still watching Bam with big eyes, tongue hanging out of his mouth. “What about these two?”

Jungkook hummed quietly, patting Bam’s head before he let the Doberman’s collar go. The dog didn’t move, staying by Jungkook’s side as his tail whipped back and forth. 

“Why don’t we just let them play together? And we just talk,” Jungkook suggested, and though Taehyung was hesitant, he still leaned down to set Yeontan down. The dog wiggled a bit and when Taehyung finally let him go, he bounded over to Bam, their noses bumping as they tried to sniff each other.

He seemed much calmer for a brief moment before the two dogs started to run, Yeontan chasing after Bam through the park.

“How have you been?” Jungkook asked, coming to stand next to Taehyung, their shoulders bumping gently. When Taehyung had checked the weather that morning, it said it would be cool. If that was the case, why was his entire body burning up?

“I’ve been alright,” Taehyung murmured, hands shoved into his pockets. He felt so awkward, shifting around on the grass as he stared at Jungkook. His heart was hammering in his chest. “I got my art degree and I’ve been working as a freelance artist.”

“That’s awesome,” Jungkook smiled so brightly, his eyes glittering in the sunlight. “How’s that going?”

“It’s alright.” It was difficult but Taehyung didn’t want to say that. He didn’t want to explain to Jungkook that sometimes, he’d be late on his bills because it was a slow month for commissions. He’d already had that talk with his parents. “It’s my dream job, so how bad can it be?”

Jungkook gave a quiet laugh, nodding. The two of them fell into silence as they watched the dogs bound around each other excitedly. As Bam hopped around Yeontan, he seemed to narrowly be missing the smaller dog every time his paws hit the ground.

“How are your parents doing?” Jungkook asked. Making casual conversation with someone that Taehyung had once been in love with was incredibly awkward. 

Had once been? Surely he still wasn’t in love with Jungkook. They’d grown and changed, there was no way.

But as he looked at Jungkook, eyes flicking over the man’s face, he wasn’t sure how much Jungkook had really changed. Or how much his feelings for him had changed.

He could feel his heart racing in his chest and his palms sweating. Fuck, it was just like he was 15 again.

“They’ve been good,” Taehyung finally answered after a far too long pause. Was his voice shaking?  He felt like a wreck. “How about yours?”

Jungkook paused and the silence spoke volumes, making his heart drop.

“I came back from America when dad got sick last year,” Jungkook explained and Taehyung couldn’t miss the heavy sadness in his voice. He felt it in his chest, vibrating through his heart. “And I decided to stay when he passed so that Mom wouldn’t be alone.”

“I’m so sorry,” Taehyung murmured, unsure of exactly what to do. Sure, they had been friends but was it really socially acceptable to take Jungkook’s hand or hug him? They were practically strangers after so much time had passed.

“It’s the way things go,” Jungkook shrugged, though the solemn look never left his eyes. Taehyung knew Jungkook had always been close with his parents, so something like that must have been even worse. “I think you should come over some time. Mom would love to see you again.”

“That sounds nice.” Taehyung gave a small smile. “My parents would love to see you as well. They used to ask about you all the time.” They stopped when we dropped contact.

“We’ll have to set up a date.” 

Their conversation was cut short when Taehyung glanced back over to the dogs. He could see Yeontan’s tongue hanging out, chest heaving as he watched Bam continue to scamper around him. 

“I think we’re gotta head out,” he murmured, stepping out of the shaded trees to go to his dog. He could hear Jungkook following 

behind him, watching in concern as Taehyung picked up Yeontan. His dark fur was warm to the touch. 

“Is he okay?” Jungkook asked, carefully petting a hand over Yeontan’s head.

“He’s okay. It just get hard for him to breathe sometimes,” Taehyung smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of Yeontan’s head. “Having such a cute, little nose has its downsides.”

Jungkook hummed in understanding, scratching behind Bam’s ear as the Doberman settled himself on the ground, out of breath from running around so much.

“It was really nice to see you again,” Jungkook smiled, hands tucked into his pockets. “I’ve really missed you.”

Taehyung felt his heart hammering in his chest at those words, stomach flipping. 

“I’ve missed you as well,” Taehyung agreed, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice as he continued. “We have to get together sometime soon.”

“Drinks on me.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Taehyung laughed, holding Yeontan close as he took a couple steps back. “I’ll see you later?”

“Yeah, see you later!”

And as Taehyung walked away, his heart felt as if it was soaring, like a kite all the way in the sky. Fuck, he couldn’t calm the butterflies in his stomach. 

It wasn’t until he’d gotten home and given Yeontan some water that it dawned on him.

They hadn’t exchanged numbers. How was he supposed to set up a date with someone when he had no way to reach them? 

Date?

Was it a date? It sounded like one. Or maybe Taehyung was just a bit hopeful.

Smacking his palm to his forehead, Taehyung tried to clear his thoughts. It had been so long since he’d seen Jungkook. They were practically strangers. He had to stop thinking about the Jungkook he used to know.

With a heavy sigh, Taehyung dropped himself into the chair at his desk, staring at the commission propped in front of him. It was a landscape painting, one of his least favorite types of commissions. But money was money. 

So, with a quiet sigh, Taehyung got back to work.

Among the sea of wildflowers, bathed in the warm glow of the sun, Taehyung painted two figures, dancing together. And though they were just dark silhouettes on the canvas, he knew who he saw. It brought a smile to his face. 

Back when they were in school, Jungkook and Taehyung would often go to the fields outside of the city to play. It was surprising that their parents had let them wander so far from home. Or maybe they hadn’t even known.

They would spend hours playing make believe, acting as knights in shining armour with swords made of old sticks. Their voices would carry out into the sky and they laughed and played.

It was so long ago but it had become such a prominent memory for Taehyung. A memory he often thought of. 

And as he brought the figures to life on the canvas, he smiled. He saw them, dancing together in a field with nothing but their own laughter to accompany them.

Taehyung could only hope that he would run into Jungkook again.

━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━

The sun hung high in the sky when Taehyung’s eyes finally cracked open, squinting against the bright light shining in from his window. The birds called to each other outside, accompanied by the sound of vehicles passing by his apartment building. 

It was probably close to noon but Taehyung really didn’t want to get up. He was incredibly tired, though he had no one to blame for that but himself. If he hadn’t started a new drama at midnight, maybe he wouldn’t have stayed up so late.

But unfortunately, he had errands to run. He’d finished the painting of the dancing silhouettes which meant he had to get it packaged up and sent off. And once the payment was sent, he’d have to go grocery shopping. His fridge was looking a bit bare.

So, with a slow, tired sigh, Taehyung dragged himself out of his warm bed. Instantly, he missed the comfort.

Yeontan was quick to greet him, trotting into the room with his fluffy tail wagging. 

“Morning, Tannie,” Taehyung cooed, scooping the small puppy into his arms as he walked to the kitchen. “Did you sleep well?”

There wasn’t much of an answer, only a wet tongue licking at his unshaven chin. He’d take that as a yes. 

With Yeontan cradled in his arms, Taehyung walked over to the cupboard, humming gently into the dog's warm fur. 

“The usual?” He asked, setting Yeontan down next to his bowl. It wasn’t as if there were any options or Yeontan could even reply, but it had become routine to ask. He didn’t even laugh at the phrase anymore.

With a loud clatter, he poured the kibble into the bowl, listening to the quiet crunch of Yeontan eating before he set to work on his own meal. But with how little there was in his fridge, there weren’t many options. Maybe he’d wait until after the commission payment went through. 

That thought reminded him that he had to go message the commissioner. The painting was only going to Busan, so he was sure the shipping wouldn’t be too much. He could deal with estimating.

Dragging himself back to his room, Taehyung picked up his phone, blinking when he saw a message request on his Instagram.

abcdefghi__lmnopqrstuvwxyz wants to message you.

A spam account? 

Hesitantly, Taehyung opened the message.

hey i wanna get a commisison from you!!

It was a bit of a surprise to see that the account wasn’t just a bot. Though it was a private account with just a silhouette as the profile picture. It screamed SCAM but Taehyung still replied.

Sorry for the late reply! What was it you were thinking of getting? 

The answer came before Taehyung could even swipe out the conversation.

paint me like one of your french girls 😏

Taehyung stopped, staring at the message with disgust clear on his face. He was gonna throw up. He swiped across the screen to hit the block button but stopped when another message appeared.

WAIT THAT SOUNDED SO MUCH CREEPIER THAN I ANTMWD IT TO

DONT BOOCK ME PELEAE

ITSJUNFLOOKK

JUNGKOOK

PLESE

Taehyung stopped. Jungkook? After a moment of simply staring at the screen, Taehyung let out a laugh. After ten years of never seeing each other, Jungkook had managed to make Taehyung think he was a creep twice in barely even a week. 

You realize how close I was to blocking you???

I KNWO IM SO SORUR 😭😭😭😭😭😭

i relaized i never got your number and ive been teuingn to fidn you on here sixne we met

I could have sworn you knew how to type last time we messaged

Bam is clinbign on me rifjt neo

Hodk kn

There was a moment where the chat was silent but soon, the little message bubble appeared once more.

okay i put him outside 

hi how are you doing

BRING HIM BACK INSIDE I DIDN'T WANT YOU YO KICK HIM OUT

HES BEING ANNOYING

YOURE A TERRIBLE DOG DAD

WHAT THE FUCK?????

I BREATHED??????

The conversation had a wide smile spreading over Taehyung’s lips, heart swelling in his chest. They fell into conversation so easily, just as they always had. 

Maybe not much had changed over ten years.

what are you up to today?

wanna get coffe?

wait ididnt wait for your answer

what are you up to today?

I don’t have much planned. Errands.

And I’d love to get coffee with you 🥰

Was the emoji too much? Hopefully it wasn’t coming across too strong. Taehyung felt his stomach flipping as he waited eagerly for a reply, pacing across his small bedroom.

okay!! Lets get coffee and I can help with your errands!!!

Taehyung felt his heart in his throat. They were going to be spending the day together running errands. It was happening. 

Vaguely, in the mess of Taehyung’s mind, he managed to pick out the sound of heavy footsteps in the hallway, chains rattling with every step. 

Rushing to the door, Taehyung ripped it open and poked his head into the hallway.

“Hyung!” The figure that had already made its way down the hallway stopped. Heavy platforms shifted on the carpeted floor and soon, dark eyes were turned to Taehyung.

“Tae-yah,” Yoongi hummed lowly, a small smile spreading over his pierced lips. “What’s up?”

It had only been a year since Yoongi had moved into the apartment down the hall from Taehyung and just as long since the two of them had become friends. Taehyung had been drawn to the dark leather and heavy chains of Yoongi’s clothes. To the numerous piercings and smudged eyeliner. He found it quite fascinating.

And Yoongi had admitted that he’d been drawn to how fruity Taehyung was. 

If there was anyone Taehyung trusted to help him with an outfit, it was Yoongi. Even with their completely different styles, Taehyung knew Yoongi would be brutally honest and would tell him if he looked stupid.

“I need help picking an outfit.”

Yoongi looked overjoyed at the thought, eyes brightening as much as they could with the dark makeup lining them. 

“Do you have a date?” Yoongi asked, following Taehyung into the apartment. It was always funny when Yoongi would take off his shoes, his height dropping far below Taehyung’s without the thick platforms.

“Not a date, exactly,” Taehyung murmured, walking over to his bedroom. “I mean, kind of. Maybe? Define ‘date’ .”

A scoff came from Yoongi’s lips as he immediately set to work flipping through Taehyung’s closet.

“Well, what is it you’re doing?”

“Getting coffee and then running errands together.” Taehyung rubbed his hands against his thighs, feeling just how clammy his palms were from just thinking about it. He was going out with Jungkook.

“Domestic,” Yoongi commented, tugging out a white button down, humming to himself before tossing it onto the bed. “So, who is it?”

“It’s, um,” he paused, pressing his lips together. Taehyung had talked about Jungkook before, and it had been clear from the very beginning that even after so many years, he had still never gotten over Jungkook. So saying out loud that it would be him that Taehyung was going out with was almost embarrassing. It wasn’t even a date.

But his drawn out silence had Yoongi turning around, pierced brow raised. So, with a slow sigh, Taehyung spoke again.

“It’s him,” Taehyung murmured, watching Yoongi’s eyes widen a fraction. “I ran into him at the dog park.”

“Tae-yah, that’s incredible!” Yoongi smiled, setting the jacket he’d been holding onto the bed. “Why do you sound so disappointed?”

“I’m not! It’s just that… I’ve waited so long to see him again and it’s like nothing changed between us. I still feel so much for him and I’m scared that he doesn’t feel the same.” 

He felt silly saying it out loud, but Yoongi seemed so understanding, kneeling down in front of Taehyung to take his hands.

“If he doesn’t have feelings for you, he blind and an idiot,” Yoongi tried to reassure him, squeezing his hands gently. “You’re funny, kind and incredible company. You brighten the room when you walk in and you make everyone around you so happy. Not to mention the fact that you’re insanely pretty.”

Taehyung felt as if he might cry, lips pressing together to stop them from wobbling. 

When Yoongi would get sappy, Taehyung would become a puddle of emotions. Every sweet text he’d gotten from his neighbour had been saved.

“Don’t cry, dumbass.” A rough hand gently patted his cheek before Yoongi stood up again. “Pull yourself together. We have to get you ready.”

Quietly, Taehyung nodded and set to work trying to find some pants to match the clothes Yoongi had pulled out. And after some digging as well as a pile of clothes, they finally pulled something together.

“Do you think it’s too much?” Taehyung asked, hand rubbing over the soft wool coat, the plaid fabric rippling under his touch.

“You know how you normally dress, right?” Yoongi laughed, shoulder bumping against Taehyung’s. “You always look like you’re gonna be on the red carpet, even if you’re just going to get toilet paper.”

Taehyung couldn’t really deny that. He usually tried to look his best regardless of what he was doing.

“Now, go get dressed. Then we can start on your makeup.”

“Are you gonna make me look like you?” Taehyung asked with a smile, throwing the white button down and brown pants over his arm. 

“Is there something wrong with how I look?” Yoongi raised an eyebrow, the only response sent his way being a laugh as Taehyung disappeared into the bathroom.

It didn’t take long to get dressed, rolling up his sleeves and cuffing his pants. It was comfortable and classy but also just laid back enough not to seem too overboard. At least, he hoped so.

When he stepped out into the room again, he found Yoongi laid on his bed, Yeontan wrapped in his arms. He seemed comfortable, chin resting against Yoongi’s bicep as he watched his owner.

“You look like one of my professors,” Yoongi commented as his eyes flicked over Taehyung’s outfit.

“Is it the one you fucked for extra credit?”

The smile that spread over Yoongi’s lips answered his question.

“Where’s your makeup?” Yoongi asked, plopping Yeontan onto the bed. 

“I honestly don’t have much,” Taehyung admitted, walking over to the small vanity that was pushed into the corner of his small room. The two drawers mostly held his jewellery that he’d gathered over the years, but he had a small eyeshadow pallet and some lip tints. Honestly, Yoongi looked incredibly disappointed when he saw the lack of makeup.

“Alright, new plan. Grab your shit and come with me.” Yoongi tugged at Taehyung’s arm, barely giving him enough time to grab his jacket and scarf.

“Where are we going?” He asked, slipping on some black shoes by the door. Yoongi didn’t even bother with his platforms, simply picking them up and carrying them with him down the hallway.

“My apartment. We need makeup.”

And though Taehyung was a bit scared that he would walk out with the dark makeup he normally saw on Yoongi, he followed. It was a decision that he hadn’t ended up regretting. Not when Yoongi gave him an incredibly subtle look, using mostly warm tones on his eyes and a pretty pink dusted across his cheeks.

The last touch was a clear gloss over his lips and Taehyung was on his way back to his own apartment. On his way back, he sent a quick message to Jungkook to say he was ready to go whenever

want me to come get you?

Taehyung’s heart was fluttering. He was quick to accept the offer, sending Jungkook his address. While he waited, he’d have to get his commission all packed up.

So while he waited for Jungkook’s message, he dragged out his bubble wrap and boxes, making sure he was confident in its wrapping before he taped up the box. He almost missed the quiet buzz of his phone as the loud ripping of tape echoed through the room. He only noticed when he saw the light out of the corner of his eye.

i think im at the right place????

With a quiet curse, Taehyung grabbed the box, rushing past where Yeontan was napping in the sun and out the door. He would deal with getting the address done at the post office.

When Taehyung burst from the front door, he felt his heart soar into the sky as he was met with the sight of Jungkook leaning back against a shiny, black car, eyes on his phone.

Holy fuck, he was beautiful. The wind blew his fluffy hair from his forehead, showing the freshly shaved sides. 

And immediately, it was made very clear that Taehyung had overdressed. Jungkook wore a simple t-shirt and jeans, a worn plaid button down wrapped around his waist. He looked incredible but in such a casual way. Whereas Taehyung had dressed up far too much for the occasion.

Would Jungkook think it was weird? Would he have enough time to turn around and go change?

“Hyung!”

Apparently not.

Taehyung smiled as he walked up to Jungkook, trying his best to cover his outfit with the large box he was carrying.

“I was so worried I was in the wrong place,” Jungkook laughed, reaching out to gently take the box from Taehyung. “I’ll put this in the trunk.”

“Thanks,” Taehyung gave a small smile as Jungkook took the box. But the smile slowly grew tense when Jungkook paused, eyes flicking over Taehyung’s thick wool jacket and plaid scarf. Over his outfit that was a lot more formal than it should have been.

But he didn’t say a word and Taehyung took the opportunity to slip into the car. He felt so embarrassed.

The driver's side door was pulled open and Jungkook slipped inside, giving a small smile.

“Your outfit is amazing,” Jungkook hummed, starting up the car. “I feel a bit underdressed next to you.”

“I feel overdressed,” Taehyung laughed quietly, feeling a bit of the tension fade from his shoulders. At least Jungkook didn’t think he was insane. 

“That’s okay. You look good.”

Taehyung’s heartbeat stuttered. 

“So do you,” Taehyung replied, feeling his cheeks warm as he met Jungkook’s warm gaze. He had to look away. It was too much. He was going to combust. “The post office. I have to go to the post office.” 

The silence in the vehicle was a bit awkward, neither of them exactly sure what to say. Things stayed like that until Jungkook turned up the music the slightest bit and then he heard it. Ring Ding Dong played clear as day and Taehyung saw something akin to shame on Jungkook’s face.

As if Taehyung still didn’t listen to Shinee every single day.

So, without hesitation, Taehyung reached over to turn up the music a bit more, a smile on his lips.

He could still remember when they were children and they would dance and sing to Shinee. When they would fawn over how pretty the members were, even if neither of them had actually come out to the other yet. 

Though Taehyung was pretty sure their constant remarks about Taemin’s beauty was enough.

“Do you still know the dance?” Taehyung smiled, watching Jungkook’s hands twitch against the steering wheel.

“After how long we spent learning it, I don’t think I could forget,” Jungkook laughed, his shoulders relaxing a bit. 

“I do too.” Taehyung’s lips stretched into a wide smile as he tapped his foot to the beat.

“Well, we might have to see how well we remember some time.”

Just the thought of them dancing to Shinee again had Taehyung laughing, his heart fluttering in his chest. 

“Do you think we’ll be better or worse than we were before?”

“Oh, definitely worse,” Jungkook cackled, his nose scrunched up from how wide he was smiling. “I like to think that 12 was my peak for dance.”

A loud laugh burst from Taehyung’s lips, his head falling back against the leather seat. The sound of Jungkook’s bright giggle was like an arrow straight into his chest.

Taehyung knew. He knew he was just as gone as he always had been. Jungkook still held his heart firmly in his grasp without even knowing.

Once they arrived at the post office, Jungkook waited in the vehicle as Taehyung ran inside to send off the painting. He got in and out as quickly as he could, eager to go for coffee with Jungkook.

And it felt as if a wave of relief washed over him when he saw the notification pop up on his phone that the commissioner had sent him the remaining amount of the payment. Finally, he could restock his fridge.

“Ready?” Jungkook smiled as Taehyung slipped back into the car, fingers tapping against the gearshift. Taehyung’s heart was soaring. 

He nodded and they were off, pulling out of the parking lot. They didn’t have to go far, finding a Starbucks only a few blocks away. 

“Wanna go in?” Jungkook asked, turning into a parking spot. “Or would you rather get it to go?”

“Let’s go in.” Taehyung was already getting out of the car as he said it, a smile on his lips as he poked his head back inside. “I didn’t get all dressed up for nothing.”

“I thought that maybe you got all dressed up for me,” Jungkook hummed, following behind Taehyung as they slipped into the Starbucks. 

“You want me to get dressed up for you?” Taehyung teased, though he quickly felt his cheeks warm up at his own words and the implication.

And maybe it was just the lighting, but Jungkook looked as if he was blushing as well.

The sound of the barista greeting them cut off any answer Jungkook was about to give. 

Jungkook’s order was simple. A Peppermint Mocha Latte. Of course, there was nothing wrong with that. It was just that it made Taehyung feel incredibly obnoxious when he stepped forward to order.

“Can I get an Iced Matcha Latte with two pumps of white chocolate, two pumps of toffee and oatmilk?” With every word that Taehyung said, he felt as if he was about to crawl into the ground. Jungkook was watching him. Was he judging? He was definitely judging.

“That sounds good,” Jungkook murmured, a small smile on his lips. “I don’t think I’ve tried matcha before.”

“Matcha in its own is gross, but when you add in the flavours, it kinda tastes like Lucky Charms,” Taehyung explained, trying his best to make his extensive drink not sound ridiculous.

And it seemed to work. 

The mention of Lucky Charms had Jungkook’s eyes sparkling.

“Wait, really?!” Excitement was clear in his voice and the moment Taehyung’s name was called, Jungkook darted forward to take the drink instead. And without even asking permission, he took a big sip of the sweet drink, his doe eyes glittering.

Pulling off of the straw with a smack of his lips, Jungkook smiled.

“You’re right!” 

“I know I’m right! Give me my drink back!” Despite the snap of his words, there was really no bite behind it, a smile spread over his lips as he took his drink back. “Now, stop causing a scene. Let’s sit down.”

Jungkook laughed as he took his own drink, the two of them settling down at one of the small tables. And though Taehyung wanted a sip of his drink, he was now painfully aware of the thinnest layer of lip tint on his straw. Jungkook’s pale, pink lip tint to be exact. 

He recognized that yes, it was his drink. But if he drank out of the straw that Jungkook had used, they would be sharing an indirect kiss.

We’ve shared drinks before! It’s no big deal!

In the end, his hands shook as he took the straw between his lips, taking a small sip.

The taste of the drink didn’t even register in his brain. All he could notice was the sweet strawberry flavour on his tongue. Holy fuck.

“I told my mom that I saw you,” Jungkook smiled, and though Taehyung should have been paying attention to the conversation, the only thing he could do was stare at Jungkook’s lips. Strawberry flavoured lips. “She’s really excited to see you again.”

Taehyung couldn’t focus on the conversation, taking another sip of his drink. He simply hummed and when he pulled away from the straw, he said the first thing that came to his mind.

Something that proved to be a mistake.

“What brand of lip tint do you wear?”

Fuck.

Jungkook blinked in surprise for a moment before a soft laugh left his lips.

“I honestly don’t remember,” Jungkook smiled, reaching into his pocket to produce a small, red chapstick. “I just got it from the drugstore. Why?”

Taehyung couldn’t answer that. What would he say? “I can taste your lips on my straw and I like it.”?

“I really like how subtle it is,” Jungkook hummed, seemingly unaware of the internal struggle Taehyung was going through. And what made it worse was Jungkook uncapping the tube, slowly applying it to his lips before pressing them together. “And it tastes nice.”

I know.

“Wanna try?”

Taehyung's stomach flipped violently. No way was Jungkook offering after just applying it.

It was so tempting but with his heart in his throat, Taehyung shook his head. And when Jungkook clicked the cap back onto the chapstick, a bit of tension released in Taehyung’s shoulders.

“Was that a commission you sent off earlier?” Jungkook’s question helped to take Taehyung’s mind off of the previous interaction. Though he couldn’t quite ignore the faint taste of strawberry on his tongue as he spoke.

“Yeah, I just finished it last night,” Taehyung hummed, thumb tracing over the plastic rim of his cup. Pigment still stained his fingers from the hours spent painting wildflowers. 

“Do you have any pictures?” The conversation had Taehyung’s heart warming. It always made him so happy when people took interest in his profession. Especially with the way his parents never treated it like a proper source of income.

Taehyung gladly pulled out his phone, laying it on the table between them so he could show Jungkook the newest painting. After so many hours, he’d really gotten the dark silhouettes to pop amongst the sea of flowers without making them look out of place. 

If he was being honest, it was probably one of his favourite paintings.

“Holy fuck,” Jungkook breathed, zooming in the photo. His eyes were so wide, lips parted as he simply stared at the phone. “Hyung, this is incredible.”

His heart was soaring. Jungkook sounded so amazed, eyes sparkling. He sounded so proud.

“You know what this reminds me of?” Jungkook asked, tapping his finger gently against the screen before lifting his eyes to Taehyung. “Remember when we would play make believe when we were little?”

As soon as Jungkook said it, Taehyung couldn’t help but laugh.

“I had the same thought while painting it!” It was unbelievable that that had been both of their first thoughts. 

It also made Taehyung so happy to know that Jungkook saw that as such a fond memory, enough so that he still thought of it.

“We should go back there sometime,” Jungkook hummed, leaning back in his seat. “Or do you think that field is gone?”

“We’ll have to go and find out.”

Conversation felt so easy, just as it always had. Taehyung couldn’t believe how nervous he’d been when Jungkook had picked him up. They talked as if there hadn’t been a 10 year gap between their meetings. Even when their cups were empty, they still sat at the table in the small Starbucks, chatting excitedly about all of their old memories they’d had together and the new memories they had made apart.

In the end, they ended up leaving the café when they noticed the baristas starting to look at them weird. But it felt too early to end their time together. Neither of them wanted to leave. So they settled on taking a walk through the busy streets of Seoul, lost in conversation.

“So, I know I was joking around earlier, but I would really love to commission you.” Jungkook’s eyes lifted to Taehyung, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He sounded almost nervous while Taehyung just felt overjoyed.

A painting for Jungkook. He wanted nothing more.

“What are you thinking of getting?” 

For a moment, Jungkook was silent, lips pressed together as he thought.

“I’m not sure, honestly,” Jungkook laughed, bunny teeth poking out in a cute smile. “I’ll get back to you when I figure it out.”

Taehyung couldn’t help but smile as well. Just the thought of painting for Jungkook had his heart fluttering. 

“I’ll hold you to that.”

━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━

The first date with Jungkook left Taehyung wanting more. 

Date? Was it a date?

Whatever it was, he wanted to do it again. Even with their constant messaging, Taehyung felt too far from Jungkook. It felt just as it had when they’d parted all those years ago.

But it took two days for Taehyung to finally ask to hang out again.

!!! i was hoping you would ask

Why didn’t you just ask me then?🤔

anxiety

anyways

hi yes lets hang out

whatcha wanna do

food? drinks? movie?

Food and drinks sound good

wanna come over

we can go get drinsk and come back to my place

That sounds good! Want me to bring anything?

just yourself ❤️

The small, plain heart stared at Taehyung and he sure as fuck stared back. Was Jungkook flirting? Had he used hearts in their conversations before and Taehyung hadn’t noticed?

They’d talked a lot over the past few days, meaning it took a few minutes for Taehyung to scroll through their entire chat and come to the conclusion that no, Jungkook had never used a plain, red heart before.

And the little emoji was making Taehyung's heart thump in his chest. God, should he go to Jungkook’s under the assumption that he was flirting? Or should he act normally?

After a bit of internal debate, Taehyung settled on acting normally unless he got signs from Jungkook that they were flirting.

He just hoped that he’d be able to pick up on those signs.

Assuming they would drink a fair amount, Taehyung decided to wear something comfortable. On the off chance that he let himself pass out at Jungkook’s, he at least wanted to be comfortable. 

Yeontan seemed less than pleased to see Taehyung pulling his shoes on.

“Can you stop looking at me like that?” Taehyung asked, shoving his foot into his sneakers, letting his heel crush the back of the shoe. 

The only answer he got was a quiet huff, Yeontan’s eyes unmoving from him. Taehyung rolled his eyes.

“Can’t you be happy that I’m going out? I can’t spend my entire life inside.”

Taehyung knew that if Yeontan could speak, he’d most likely be asking, “well, what about me?”

“Listen, Tannie,” Taehyung sighed, lifting the small puppy into his arms. “I’m trying to get you a second dad and a brother, okay? You know that Doberman you played with? You could play with him all the time if this works out!”

Yeontan simply blinked. Good enough.

“Thank you. Now, I’ve gotta go. Jungkookie will be here soon.”

Once Yeontan was back on the floor, he left to the bedroom, tiny claws clicking on the floor as he disappeared.

With a slow sigh, Taehyung left his apartment, heart hammering in his chest. Holy fuck, did he really tell Yeontan that Jungkook would be his dad? Was he really planning that far ahead?

“You look like you’re gonna throw up,” a familiar voice spoke up as Taehyung locked up his apartment and with a quick glance, he met Yoongi’s smiling face. “Got another date?”

“It’s not a date,” Taehyung corrected, eyes falling down to where Yoongi’s chunky cat was circling around his legs. Her harness barely even fit, her fur puffed out around the pink straps. But regardless of the tight-fitting harness, she seemed overjoyed to be going outside. “But yes.”

Yoongi laughed, kneeling down to untangle the floral print leash from Taehyung’s legs. 

“Well, the first one must have gone well if you’re seeing him again,” Yoongi hummed, picking up the large cat, cradling her in his arms as if she was a baby. 

“It did go well, yeah.” As they walked down the hallway, Taehyung glanced down to the tortoiseshell cat cuddled in Yoongi’s arms, meeting her incredibly blank stare. For the life of him, Taehyung couldn’t remember the cat's name. He always just referred to her as Fat Cat or Little Lady. Depending on his mood. “Where are you taking Little Lady today?”

The instant Taehyung saw Yoongi’s smile widen every so slightly, he knew what the answer would be.

“We’re headed down to Moon to go see hyung.” Yoongi’s voice was so fond and Taehyung could practically see the hearts in his black lined eyes. 

Taehyung wasn’t sure how long Seokjin and Yoongi had been dating, but they were definitely still in the honeymoon phase. Every time Seokjin was so much as mentioned, Yoongi would become a puddle of goo. He was down absolutely horrendous for the pretty, pastel baker and it was disgustingly sweet. 

Surely he looked the same when talking about Jungkook.

Jungkook hadn’t yet arrived by the time they got outside and Yoongi was kind enough to wait with Taehyung. The chunky cat waddled around their feet, sniffing the cement for a brief moment before plopping onto her side. They both stood in silence, watching her wiggle around in the dirt until Jungkook’s dark car pulled up to the sidewalk. 

“Tell me how it goes,” Yoongi smiled, lifting the cat into his arms once again. She looked like a little sack of potatoes with how limp she was in his grasp.

“I will! Say hi to hyung for me.” Taehyung gave a wave to Yoongi as he slipped into Jungkook’s car. The younger watched Yoongi for a moment before glancing at Taehyung. Was he jealous? Did he think there was something between Taehyung and Yoongi?

“That’s a fat fucking cat,” he finally said, making Taehyung burst out laughing. 

“Isn’t she?! I swear, ever since the moment Yoongi-hyung moved into the building, she’s looked like that,” Taehyung giggled, watching Yoongi scratch behind the cat's ear as he walked down the street.

“She looks soft as fuck, though. Probably like a little cloud.”

“That’s a heavy fucking cloud.”

The two of them dissolved into laughter as Jungkook pulled onto the street, a smile on his lips.

“Where’s he taking the cat?” Jungkook asked as they drove through the bustling streets, headed to the liquor store not too far away. 

“He’s going down to Moon Bakery to go see his boyfriend.”

“Oh, mom loves their cakes,” Jungkook hummed, fingers tapping on the gearshift. “I go pretty often to get her some treats.”

“I’ll have to ask Seokjin-hyung to make something special for you.” It was a thoughtless remark but seeing the way Jungkook’s eyes sparkled and his lips parted, he realized that it went far beyond that. He hadn’t even thought before saying it.

So much for not flirting. Is that flirting? 

“Maybe we can go sometime,” Jungkook murmured, pressing his lips together as his eyes flicked back to the road. Were his cheeks red? “Together.”

Taehyung’s heart was hammering.

“Yeah,” was the most he could muster for a moment, throat suddenly very dry. Was that a date? 

Taehyung was losing his mind. Hopefully with some alcohol in his system, he could stop overthinking every little thing.

A wave of relief washed over him as they pulled up to the liquor store. If he was gonna drink that night, he was gonna do it right. 

So without a second thought, Taehyung went for the wines. Sure, being wine drunk sucked the next morning, but at least he would feel wonderful while drinking.

Jungkook had wandered away to the cooler while Taehyung scanned the many shelves of red wine. Could he afford to go for something a bit more expensive? He had just finished that commission the week prior, but he still had to pay some bills. 

In the end, Taehyung settled for a cheaper bottle of wine, picking it up off of the shelf as Jungkook walked back over to him.

“That shit sucks,” Jungkook laughed quietly, glancing at the bottle that Taehyung was holding. 

He felt frozen, heart hammering. He knew it wasn’t great but it was the best he could do. Technically he could grab a more expensive bottle but it would put him in a bit of a tough position later. 

“Here, let me grab one for you.” Jungkook gave him a small smile as he gently set the bottle back on the shelf, reaching for a different one. Not much more expensive but definitely would taste better than the first one. 

Before Taehyung could even say anything, Jungkook was walking up to the register with the bottle and his case of beer. His heart ached. He felt guilty.

“I’ll pay you back,” he murmured as they walked out of the store, earning him a confused glance from Jungkook.

“Why? I asked you to come drink with me. I’m not letting you pay,” he said so easily, setting the drinks in the backseat. But his words did little to ease Taehyung’s twisting stomach. It felt wrong to let Jungkook just pay for his stuff and it must have been clear on his face as Jungkook nudged his arm. “How about you pay for the snacks? Then we’ll be even.”

A compromise. Taehyung’s heart settled a bit. Even if the snacks would cost a bit less than the alcohol, it was something at least.

Their next stop was at a small convenience store. Neither of them were exactly sure what they were there for, simply picking out snacks as they wandered down the aisle.

And Taehyung may have gotten a bit excited when he found some strawberry mochi ice cream, eyes sparkling as he tossed it in their basket.

He felt so much better once he paid for the snacks, even if it was cheaper. He didn’t feel like a burden.

“I don’t think you ever mentioned what you do now,” Taehyung commented once they were back in the car. “Still doing music?”

“Not right now,” Jungkook murmured, fingers tapping against the steering wheel. “Once I came back to Seoul, there weren’t any music opportunities for me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Taehyung’s lips pulled into a frown. Music had been Jungkook’s whole life. Hearing that he’d given it up was heartbreaking.

“It’s okay. Right now, I’m just looking after Mom.” His lips spread into a smile but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. And finally, he sighed. “I’ve been doing some pet sitting and dog walking. It pays well but I hope I can get back into music. I miss it.”

“At least you get to play with dogs and get paid for it,” Taehyung smiled, elbow bumping against Jungkook’s arm. “I’d say that’s a dream.”

Slowly, the smile reached Jungkook’s eyes and he nodded.

“There’s this one American Eskimo I watch sometimes and sure, the dog is cute but man… his owner.” The statement was followed up by a whistle, a sparkle in Jungkook’s eyes as he glanced over at Taehyung. “Over six foot and a wall of muscle.”

While Taehyung laughed, he felt his stomach tighten a bit. 

“Have you…?” He didn’t want to pry too much but he couldn’t help but ask.

“Oh, no. Not only is he married but I also barely know the guy,” Jungkook giggled, looking at Taehyung properly once they were at a stoplight. “I’m also just the dog sitter. I’m not gonna let my life become a shitty porno.”

The tension eased in Taehyung’s body as he laughed, head falling back against the leather seat. 

He couldn’t even really justify being jealous. They weren’t dating and it wasn’t as if Taehyung didn’t find people other than Jungkook attractive. He honestly felt a bit bad that he’d felt such a way, even if he couldn’t really control it.

There was an incredibly big part of Taehyung that wanted Jungkook to only look at him. He wondered if Jungkook did find him attractive. If, when he looked at Taehyung, he got the same feeling that dog owner gave him.

He wanted that so badly.

As the car pulled into their childhood neighbourhood, Taehyung blinked. They’d never moved? How many times had Taehyung driven down that street and never known that Jungkook was still in that familiar house? 

“I didn’t bring anything for your mom,” Taehyung murmured, a frown pulling at his lips as they pulled into the driveway.

“You brought yourself and that’s enough.” Jungkook gave a small smile as he killed the engine, slipping out of the car. “She’ll be happy to see you.”

Even after Jungkook’s door closed, Taehyung didn’t move. Why was he so nervous? He knew Jungkook's mom fairly well. When they were growing up, she’d been like a second mother, always ready to care for Taehyung if needed.

But years had passed. He’d grown up and fallen in love with her son. Even if Jungkook didn’t know it, Taehyung felt as if he was meeting a partner's parents for the first time. 

Shaking his head, Taehyung tried to clear his thoughts. He was being ridiculous.

Grabbing the bag of snacks, Taehyung followed Jungkook up to the front door, chewing on his lip as he watched the younger fumble with his keys for a moment. But he never even lifted it to the lock before the door swung open and a pair of dark brown eyes met Taehyung’s.

Jeon Seohyun hadn’t changed much in the years since Taehyung had last seen her. It was very clear that much of Jungkook’s looks came from her, their big, doe eyes so similar.

And she looked overjoyed to see Taehyung on her front step, completely disregarding her own son.

“Taehyung-ah?!” She exclaimed with a bright smile. “It’s been so long!”

Before he even registered what was happening, Jungkook's mom had him wrapped in a tight hug. She was much smaller than Taehyung remembered, though he’d only been a teenager last time he’d seen her.

“Hi, Mrs. Jeon,” Taehyung laughed quietly, hugging her back. His eyes flicked up to Jungkook to see the younger boy smiling.

“Told you so,” Jungkook mouthed, shouldering the door open again as he set down the bags of snacks and drinks.

But as they stepped inside, Seohyun’s smile fell and her hand came to hit Taehyung on the arm.

“You never came to visit after Jungkook left!” She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. If Taehyung didn’t know the woman in front of him was Jungkook’s mom, he would have guessed she was their age. God, did she age at all? “After I practically helped to raise you. What an ungrateful child.”

As she rolled her eyes, Jungkook stepped in, his hand settling on Taehyung’s arm. The touch made his entire body tingle and his heart race.

“Enough scolding him. We’re gonna go hang out upstairs,” Jungkook smiled, tugging gently at Taehyung’s sleeve to bring him upstairs. He waved to Jungkook’s smiling mother as they left, following Jungkook up to his childhood room.

The house had barely changed over the years. So many photos had remained in the same places and even Jungkook’s room still had walls of posters, most of which were still the same as Taehyung remembered.

“You still have the Taemin poster over your bed,” he commented, lips spreading into a smile. Jungkook glanced up to the ceiling and instantly, Taehyung saw his cheeks tint a gentle pink.

“I, uh, forgot it was there,” Jungkook tried to say but Taehyung was quick to shake his head.

“Don’t even lie,” he laughed, walking over to the bed, glancing up to the old poster. “You don’t just forget about that.”

With a heavy sigh, Jungkook sat on his bed, an embarrassing smile spreading over his lips.

“He’s still hot, okay?”

Their laughs echoed across the walls as Taehyung dropped onto the bed next to Jungkook. 

“I won’t argue with that,” Taehyung smiled, glancing up at the poster before turning to Jungkook. “So, what are you thinking?”

Quietly, Jungkook hummed, dragging the case of beer closer.

“Mario Kart?” Jungkook suggested, a smile spread over his lips. “You’ve heard of the drinking game with that, right?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Gotta finish your drink before the end of the race but you can’t drink and drive at the same time. You have to pull over,” Jungkook explained, tearing open the box to pull out a couple of beers, a smile on his lips. “Wanna try it?”

Jungkook had always pulled out Taehyung’s most competitive side. So, with a smile, Taehyung took the beer that Jungkook held out to him.

“You’re on.”

And while Taehyung was confident to begin with, it was made abundantly clear that Taehyung had become incredibly rusty at Mario Kart. It had been a favourite for the two of them since they were little, but it seemed that after ten years of not playing, Taehyung had lost all skills he had.

Though, to be fair, Jungkook wasn’t much better. His tactic had been to chug his drink right from the beginning while Taehyung had opted to stop and sip on occasion.

Neither of them were doing well, their respective approaches not helping.

But holy fuck, were they having fun. Laughter bounced across every wall as they traded last place a few times. Taehyung, always one to play dirty, shoved Jungkook before he could reach the finish line, his cart coming to a stop as Jungkook dropped his controller.

And thus, Taehyung pulled ahead, crossing the finish line before Jungkook.

“You’re a cheater!” Jungkook exclaimed, though there was no bite to his tone.

“I didn’t cheat! It was an accident!” It was clear in the way Taehyung laughed that he was lying and Jungkook didn’t wait a second before shoving Taehyung back.

“Rematch with no dirty tricks this time!” Jungkook dragged the case of beer over to where they were seated on the floor. Setting two more drinks down, Jungkook started up a new game, scootching away from where Taehyung was so that he couldn’t get shoved again. 

Taehyung glanced over at Jungkook as the timer went down until the light was green. And he didn’t move an inch, lips parting as he watching Jungkook tip his head back, throat bobbing as he swallowed down the entire can of beer. He was just drinking and yet Taehyung thought he looked like the most beautiful masterpiece in existence. No painting could compare to the view in front of him.

Get a hold of yourself. He’s just drinking.

Taehyung snapped out of his thoughts when Jungkook dropped the can, picking up his controller again. Looking back at the screen, Taehyung cursed. Jungkook had finished his drink and was driving off. 

There was no way he would win.

Drinking some of his beer, Taehyung was quick to take off as well, already so far behind Jungkook.

But with a quiet creak of the door came Taehyung’s saviour. Bam barrelled into the room with his dopey face and wagging tail, rushing over to Jungkook to greet him.

“Hey! Stop!” Jungkook exclaimed as Bam climbed onto his lap, tongue lapping at his owner's face in excitement. He was relentless, not letting up no matter how much Jungkook tried to push him away. It seemed that Bam only got more excited, practically shoving Jungkook to the floor as he continued to leave wet licks across his face.

And Taehyung took the advantage. He passed Jungkook and though he was still in 11th place, he was beating Jungkook.

He even got to have some of his beer before Bam finally plopped onto the floor next to Jungkook, letting him sit up again. And upon seeing his place on the screen, his eyes widened.

“Son of a bitch!” He exclaimed, quickly turning to pet Bam’s head. “Not you, Bam-ah.”

The dog, unable to understand Jungkook’s words, simply wagged his tail, tongue lolling out of his mouth.

Jungkook had barely gotten his cart moving again before the game finished and with a smile, Taehyung set his controller down.

“You can’t win a fair game, can you?” Jungkook smiled, shoulder bumping into Taehyung’s. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Taehyung couldn’t keep the giggle out of his voice, a wide smile spread over his lips as he reached for another beer. “Now, what do I get?”

“What do you mean?”

“I won.” The sound of another can cracking open echoed around the room, Taehyung’s eyes turning back to Jungkook. “What do I get?”

One thing that Taehyung had always noticed was that Jungkook would get the cutest look on his face while he was thinking. A pout would pull at his cherry pink lips and he would never make eye contact, staring off into the distance. 

Taehyung wanted to lean in and kiss him so badly. But instead, he simply lifted the can of beer to his lips, wishing that the bitter drink could taste just like Jungkook’s strawberry chapstick.

“I would suggest you pick but I don’t know if I want you to have that power,” Jungkook finally said, a smile on his lips. 

“How about you dance for me,” Taehyung suggested with a laugh, fingers tapping against the can of beer. “You said you still remember Ring Ding Dong, right?”

“Oh god,” Jungkook groaned, head falling back. “Don’t make you dance to that.”

“Nope, you said you know it and I’m the winner.”

Setting his beer down, Taehyung stood up, ushering Bam out of the room so that Jungkook wouldn’t stumble over the large dog. He whined when the door was closed but the sound was quickly forgotten as Taehyung turned back to Jungkook, a smile on his lips. The younger almost looked to be in physical pain at the idea of dancing to Shinee, just like they used to do as children.

“Come on,” Taehyung laughed, tugging Jungkook’s arm to get him to stand up. “It’s not that bad.”

“I haven’t danced in so long,” he whined, sounding like a child that wasn’t getting their way. It only fueled Taehyung’s laughter more.

“Well, better get started.”

And with his beer in hand, Taehyung plopped onto Jungkook’s bed, watching the younger walk over to his stereo system, tugging his phone from his pocket.

The song, as always, started suddenly. Jonghyun’s voice rang through the air and Jungkook didn’t wait a second before he got into position.

Just as he’d said, Jungkook hadn’t forgotten a single move of the dance. It almost seemed effortless, how easily he recalled it. And Taehyung couldn’t keep the smile off of his lips as he watched, subtly moving to the music as well.

The floor shook with every hop and step of the dance, making Taehyung laugh as some of Jungkook’s action figures threatened to fall from their shelves.

And though there wasn’t anything about the dance that was overtly sexy, Taehyung still found himself checking out Jungkook. He appreciated the way Jungkook’s thin shirt clung to his thin waist and broad chest. Or how the rips in his jeans gave a small peek to his muscled thighs. 

He took a sip of his beer, trying to act as if he wasn’t practically salivating at the sight of Jungkook dancing. 

When the song came to an end, Jungkook was panting quietly, his hair falling into his eyes as he plopped down on the bed next to Taehyung.

“Told you I remembered it,” he smiled, eyes flicking over to Taehyung. His eyes followed the can of beer as Taehyung lowered it from his lips and without a second of hesitation, he took the can, taking a sip from it.

And Taehyung was frozen, fingers twitching as he watched Jungkook drink from his beer, eyes slipping shut. Why would he do that?

“There’s a whole case of beer,” Taehyung commented, watching the way Jungkook’s lips pressed perfectly against the cold metal. Fuck, it was almost as if— “If you want to kiss me that badly, just say it.”

Honestly, Taehyung hadn’t thought those words through. But even then, the response was definitely not what he wanted. 

Jungkook choked, dropping the can to the floor as he coughed, gasping for breath. The can dropped to the hardwood floor, spilling across the ground. He felt frozen. Why had he said that? 

“No!” Jungkook coughed, wiping the beer from his lips as he looked up at Taehyung in horror. “It’s not— I don’t— I mean—!”

He couldn’t get a single sentence out and Taehyung felt as if he may cry. Why had he said that?  

Jungkook was horrified, disgusted at just the thought of a kiss. He made it so clear.

Taehyung had ruined everything.

“It’s just that I was dancing and my throat was dry and I needed to drink something. Not cause I want to kiss you,” Jungkook stammered, though his words barely reached Taehyung’s ears.

Until he spoke again.

“I do want to kiss you but— wait, fuck!”

Taehyung’s head snapped up to meet Jungkook’s wide eyed gaze. He was not horrified at the thought of kissing Taehyung. He was horrified because he wanted to do it. 

And Taehyung had called him out on it.

Silence filled the room as they stared at each other, neither of them so much as breathing.

It was Taehyung who moved first, grabbing Jungkook’s shirt as he lurched forward. He didn’t give himself a second to think before he crashed their lips together.

Electric fire sparked under his skin, every inch of his body tingling despite how uncoordinated the slide of their lips was. It didn’t matter. He was kissing Jungkook. He was finally kissing Jungkook. And Taehyung could feel strong hands gripping at his waist, making sure they didn’t part. Telling him don’t stop.

The taste of strawberries touched his tongue, just as sweet as it had been on his straw. But now he experienced it as it should be; on Jungkook’s lips. It was delectable, absolutely perfect and Taehyung couldn’t get enough.

Even despite the bitter taste of beer and the clumsy slide of their lips, it was still better than any kiss Taehyung had experienced before. 

Only when his lungs were in desperate need for more air did Taehyung pull away, a small string of spit connecting between their lips. He barely even noticed, eyes too focused on the way Jungkook stared at him. Galaxies were reflected in his dark irises, glittering like the stars in the night sky as he simply stared back.

“What just happened?” Jungkook asked quietly, his hand unmoving from Taehyung’s waist. His touch begged silently. Please, stay here. And Taehyung listened. He wouldn’t move

A quiet, barely audible laugh slipped from Taehyung’s lips as he leaned forward again, their noses bumping together. 

“Something that I should have done ten years ago,” he replied easily before tugging Jungkook in once again. He felt breathless, both from the kiss but also from how much love coursed through his body. And though it would be a long time before he would say that outloud, he knew it to be true.

He loved Jungkook. More than the moon loved the sun and the ocean loved the earth. He loved Jungkook with the strength of a thousand hearts.

Taehyung had always loved Jungkook.

━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━

“How long have you known?” Jungkook’s words were spoken into the cool, evening air. With Autumn just around the corner, the days were beginning to cool, but Taehyung preferred it that way. 

Watching Yeontan chase Bam through the tall grass, Taehyung smiled.

“About as long as I can remember,” he replied easily, eyes flicking around the open field. The wildflowers were beginning to wilt, ready to give away to winter, though some still stood strong. Their vibrant colours were just as Taehyung remembered them. 

They’d both been shocked to find that their play area from when they were young had been untouched by developers. It had also been much further out from the city line than they had remembered. Surely their parents hadn’t know about them going so far away.

But after waking up, a mess of limbs tangled in Jungkook’s bed, they’d decided to go get Yeontan and head out for a walk.

They had a lot to talk about.

“How did you know?” Jungkook spoke again, his questions making Taehyung smile. Their shoulders bumped together as they walked, though both of them had their hands shoved into their pockets.

“I don’t know. I just knew,” he answered truthfully, eyes flicking up to where a bird flew through the sky, passing between the trees around them. “I could feel it.”

“And you still do?”

“Now that’s a silly question,” Taehyung laughed, turning his eyes to Jungkook. The younger looked so pretty in the glow of the setting sun. It cast a warm glow across his tanned skin and made his dark eyes glitter. “Question time for you. When did you know?”

They both spoke so vaguely, almost hesitant to speak their feelings out loud. Taehyung knew in his gut that he loved Jungkook. He knew it very well, but he couldn’t actually voice that word. Love.

Not yet.

“Honestly, it was when I left,” Jungkook admitted, unable to meet Taehyung’s gaze. He almost looked guilty for not knowing before then. With a gentle bump to his shoulder, Taehyung gave Jungkook a small smile, letting him know it was okay. But he still looked unsure. “When I was gone and we lost contact, I felt helpless. It was like I lost a piece of me.”

“But now, you’re back.”

“I am.” Jungkook’s feet stopped in the grass and Taehyung turned to look at him, eyes flicking over his face. “I’m not making the same mistake again.”

Taehyung smiled, finally pulling his hands from his pockets as he stepped a bit closer to Jungkook.

“So, what are you going to do?” He hummed quietly, hand a bit hesitant as he reached out to trace his fingers over Jungkook’s sleeve. But Jungkook didn’t waste a second before pulling his hand from his pocket, lacing their fingers together. It was electric.

“I’m not letting you go again. Not like I did before,” Jungkook smiled, closing the distance between them, their noses bumping together. Behind them, Yeontan and Bam were barking, playing in the grass. Neither of them paid them any mind. 

Taehyung couldn’t focus on anything other than Jungkook’s forehead against his own and the fan of warm breath on his lips.

“Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?” Taehyung smiled, letting his free hand curl into the soft fabric of Jungkook’s sweater.

“Yes.” It was quiet, breathless. It was a single word and yet it sent such a warm jolt of joy through Taehyung’s entire body.

A giggle left his lips as he tugged Jungkook closer, crashing their lips together. He no longer tasted alcohol on Jungkook’s lips. It was just the taste of strawberry, almost more intoxicating than the drinks they’d had.

It was something that Taehyung would never grow tired of. Even after ten years. Or twenty. Or an eternity. 

Taehyung was meant to love Jungkook. And he wouldn’t let him slip away again.

━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━

i think i figured out what i wanna commission from you

What’s that?

how about you paint our future together

Gay

weve been dating for 5 months id sure hope we are

so

will you do it

Of course i'm going to do it

What kind of future are we talking about here?

whatever you see when you think of our future

i want that

That’s disgusting

But if I’m being honest, I don't really know what I think of

I think of the future and I just see you. Nothing else really matters

gay

but me too