Archive of Our Own

9:57PM

"Okay, we're going to walk in, say hello to everyone, and then tell them. Rip the bandage off quick."

"Right, just, no big deal. Quick and easy."

"Exactly."

"Okay."

Yoongi is just about to ring the doorbell when Taehyung grabs his wrist. His hand slips down and effortlessly slides into Yoongi's, locking their fingers together. It makes Yoongi nervous because they're still standing outside the hall where anyone could pop up and see them and because he wonders if Taehyung is having second thoughts. "What?"

Taehyung bites his lip and he doesn't quite make eye contact, leaving Yoongi increasingly worried that it's the latter of his concerns, but then he leans in and kisses Yoongi on the cheek. A quick one, but a kiss nonetheless, and he's smiling when he pulls back. "I'm glad we're doing this." He lets go of Yoongi to hold up both fists. "Fighting!"

Too cute. Yoongi is grinning before he even realizes it and shyly returns the gesture, raising his fists as well. Then he takes a deep breath and rings the doorbell to Seokjin's apartment.

The door swings open a few seconds later and it's Hoseok's cheery face that greets them. "Oh my god, there you guys are!" He grabs Taehyung and Yoongi, literally dragging them inside. "Were you two competing against Jimin or something?"

"Huh?" Yoongi slips off his coat and waits for Taehyung to do the same so he can hang them both up.

"For being late. It's a terrible game and you have no chance of winning anyway."

Taehyung peers around the corner and Yoongi hears Namjoon and Jungkook greet him. Seokjin pokes his head out from the kitchen and nods at Yoongi.

"Wait." Taehyung turns to Hoseok. "Is — Jimin isn't here yet? We beat him?"

"Yeah." Hoseok gives them a strange, but amused look. "Are you disappointed?"

"But it's ten. You told everyone to show up at eight."

"I did," Hoseok said, throwing his arm around Taehyung's shoulders, herding him into the living room. Taehyung looks back at Yoongi as if to ask what they do now right before he disappears from view. "Why don't you tell me why you're two hours late? Jimin is a lost cause but I expected better from you."

"Hey, get in here and help me."

Yoongi's just taken a step to follow them when he's forced to backtrack, pulled into the kitchen by Seokjin. There's snacks laid out all over the counter and Seokjin is meticulously slicing sashimi, the plate next to him only half-filled.

"I thought we were ordering food. There's at least three good sushi places around here."

"Past me was arrogant and insisted to Hoseok it wouldn't be a big deal to do this myself, so here I am." Seokjin wipes his forehead with the back of his hand, the same one holding the knife. Yoongi takes a step back. "We're getting pizza and probably other stuff whenever Jimin finally decides to show up. You need to make more ham and cheese things before Jungkook starves."

Yoongi doesn't have the energy or a good reason to decline. Usually when they all get together he and Seokjin are in charge of food. Jungkook and Hoseok are good at helping out, but it's really just the two of them who can confidently say they won't give anyone food poisoning.

"Jimin, where are you?" Taehyung wanders into the kitchen, phone held in front of him on speaker. He leans against the counter next to Yoongi. "It's already ten."

"I know, I know! I was halfway there when I realized I forgot something and had to go back, then my neighbor, you know that grandmother that lives two doors down, she needed help bringing some packages inside, I don't know it was this whole thing, I'm almost there though!"

Yoongi methodically places a triangular slice of cheese on each of the crackers he just finished spreading out. Taehyung glances at Seokjin who's frowning in concentration as he slices up the remaining flatfish and hooks his finger in the belt loop of Yoongi's jeans.

"Okay, hurry up, you're the last one," Taehyung says, hanging up a few seconds later. He leans in a little and the conversation from the other room provides some background noise. "Just twenty more minutes."

Yoongi nods, but they both startle when Seokjin comes up behind them suddenly.

"Is Yoongi putting cheese on crackers that thrilling?" Seokjin says, handing Taehyung the plate of sashimi. "Go bring this to the table."

Taehyung mouths 'okay' and slinks away. Yoongi watches him, but Taehyung doesn't look back.

"Guess he's eager to have Jimin here," Seokjin says, doing some of the dishes. "He's always been a little awkward around us older ones."

"Yeah, guess so," Yoongi says, briefly getting the urge to just confess everything, but it would be a shitty thing to do without asking Taehyung first. "Should we order food now instead of waiting for Jimin? Then it'll be here when he shows up."

"Yeah and orders are probably busy tonight." Seokjin dries his hands and picks up his phone, walking into the living room asking what everyone wants.

Part of Yoongi wants Taehyung to come back just so they can steal a few more moments, but he isn't disappointed when it doesn't happen. He finishes up in the kitchen and tells himself they just have to get through tonight.

Three years ago

"Who did Jimin say he was bringing?" Seokjin said only for his attention to stray when the server arrived to order another serving of fried chicken.

"Someone he met last week who came into the cafe," Hoseok said. He was already flushed from the single round of beer they'd had. "He's the only person I know who actually makes friends at a coffee shop."

Five minutes later Jimin's voice burst over the din of the restaurant and Yoongi sipped his beer, watching over the rim of his glass as he made his way over, a taller person with bushy hair tailing him.

"Sorry, the train was packed so we had to wait for the next one." There were two empty seats across from Yoongi. Jimin and his friend sat down, the smell of the chilly autumn air still clinging to them. "Everyone, this is Taehyung, he's getting a PhD in math."

That comment earned a big reaction from most of the table given none of them were good at the subject, but Yoongi stayed quiet. Taehyung greeted them shyly, brushing the hair from his eyes. He had on these big, thick-rimmed glasses and a brown oversized coat. But even underneath all that it was easy to tell that he was good looking.

As the evening wore on, they discovered that he was nice too and funny, fitting in with them easily. He got on with Jimin and Jungkook the best, which wasn't all too surprising considering they were closest in age.

After Taehyung came back from a bathroom break there was already some ridiculous debate involving shrimp or perilla leaves. Yoongi wasn't paying much attention.

"So, what sort of things do math PhD candidates study?" Yoongi said, picking up a wedge fry just for something to occupy his hands.

It took a second for Taehyung to realize he was being spoken to. He had taken off his coat earlier, revealing a sweater with a bear on it. "Oh, um, anything really. Anything that you can use math with. I'm not trying to be a smartass, it's really anything related to math, not just math itself."

Yoongi nodded. "And what are you studying?"

"Space-time theorems!" Taehyung said, laughing a little. "If you guys keep me around and you don't think it's too boring, I'll show you sometime."

Yoongi couldn't remember a single thing about math more complicated than the multiplication table. "I'll hold you to that," he said anyway, intrigued by this guy who didn't look anything like what Yoongi would expect for someone who loved math so much that they'd continue going to school for it.

Of course, over the weeks and months both of them forget the conversation.

But they did end up keeping Taehyung around.

10:45PM

"Okay, okay, hey!" Seokjin smacks the back of Jungkook's hand to stop him from reaching for a slice of pizza. "We have to make a toast first since everyone's here."

Jungkook reaches for the champagne instead, filling up everyone's glasses. They're crowded around the coffee table in the living room, though the table itself can't be seen under all the food. Seokjin has a perfectly usable dining table next to the kitchen, but it's like none of them are comfortable unless they're wedged into a small space, knees on top of each other.

"Are we doing new year's resolutions again?" Hoseok says. "Did anyone keep theirs this year?"

"I went to the gym all year."

"It's not a resolution if it's something you would've done anyway," Jimin says to Jungkook. "I know it's shocking, but I did not get a girlfriend this year. It was just a practice year though! Next year it's my resolution for real."

Seokjin patted Jimin's shoulder. "That's not how it works, but we'll let it slide."

"I think I also want to find someone next year!" Taehyung says, not waiting for the actual toast and drinking all of his champagne. It certainly gets everyone's attention.

"Whoa, slow down," Seokjin says, amused. "Since when were you a one shot kind of guy?"

Taehyung isn't listening. He's only looking at Yoongi. "Hyung, what about you? You want to find someone too, right?"

The way he asks is so unnatural that Yoongi thinks Seokjin or Jimin at least must think something is up, but instead there's just laughter.

"I've seen hyung go on maybe two dates in the entire decade we've known each other," Namjoon says. "Spending an evening engaged in small talk must be the worst for him."

"Yeah, but he can," Taehyung starts to say, frowning at Yoongi. "People can change. Hyung, didn't you tell me the other day you were thinking about it?"

It's crystal clear the way Taehyung is teeing things up, but Yoongi wasn't expecting it so he just sputters some vague noises as he tries to think of what to say.

"Seriously?" Hoseok says, leaning forward. "Hyung, there's a bunch of people I could set you up with. Better than meeting strangers and hoping for the best."

"No, you don't have to do that," Yoongi says.

Hoseok shakes his head. "You know you can trust me. I know you and I won't suggest anyone unless I really think you'd get along. You too, Taehyung, you liked that guy who worked at the dance studio, right? See, I pay attention."

It's definitely not what's important right now, but Yoongi has no idea who Hoseok is talking about and he really wants to know. "When was that?"

Taehyung stares at Yoongi a little in betrayal. "Months ago and it was just, he had a pretty face! Hoseok-hyung, you read too much into it!"

"But you do like a pretty face," Hoseok says with a grin.

"All right, okay, let's toast to Taehyung finding a pretty guy next year," Jimin says, refilling Taehyung's glass. "Me first, then Taehyung, but you all get it."

Before either Yoongi or Taehyung can say anything else, everyone is raising their glasses. Yoongi pats Taehyung's knee and just goes along with it, but it's easy to tell that Taehyung is slightly frustrated. While everyone is preoccupied reaching for all the food, Yoongi offers an apologetic smile and Taehyung shakes his head.

Yoongi catches him later when Taehyung comes out of the bathroom. "Hey, sorry, I should've just said it earlier. I just wasn't expecting it and blanked. I still want to tell them."

Taehyung smiles a little and hooks his arm around Yoongi's. "I know. It's fine, we'll get a chance. We've already kept it a secret for two months, so what's ten more minutes?"

Some tension leaves Yoongi. He really thought Taehyung might've been upset at him for not stepping up, but he should've known that Taehyung isn't like that. Leaning closer, he rests his chin on Taehyung's shoulder. "I want to kiss you," he says, slipping his hand into Taehyung's.

"Wow, what if someone catches us?" Taehyung whispers, but his smile is brighter and he brings his face closer.

"Taehyung, are you constipated, what are you doing in there?" Jimin's voice calls out.

Yoongi's eyes widen and both of them push away from each other at the same time, but he stumbles back further and loses his footing. Jimin appears around the corner just in time to witness him try to catch himself, which he does, but he also hits his face against the wall in the process.

"Hyung!" Taehyung says, grabbing Yoongi's shoulders to steady him. "Are you okay?"

But Yoongi is too embarrassed to look at either him or Jimin right now. His nose throbs and his eyes are watering. "M'fine," he mumbles, then shuffles off after an awkward pause.

He hears Jimin ask Taehyung what that was all about, but doesn't catch Taehyung's answer.

"Why do you look so glum?" Seokjin says when Yoongi plops down next to him. "You're slouching even harder than normal."

Beyond the obvious, at least in that moment Yoongi is most bummed that he didn't get his kiss.

Three months ago

"You should've called this morning if you weren't feeling well," Yoongi said, sighing when he got a pathetic, sickly moan in response. "Stay hydrated, call Seokjin-hyung if you don't have anything to eat, he's not doing anything today. Definitely don't try to make anything yourself."

When Yoongi hung up, he walked back over to where Taehyung was waiting.

"Namjoon can't make it. He thinks he got food poisoning from whatever he 'cooked' last night for dinner." Yoongi didn't hold back on the air quotes.

Namjoon had asked if any of them wanted to see an exhibit at the art museum that was only going to be in town for a few weeks. Taehyung and Yoongi were the only ones who wanted to go and were free.

"Oh, that sucks." Taehyung looks down at the tickets in his hand. "We already bought ours though and we're here. Do you still want to see the exhibit?"

The very first thing Yoongi thought about was how he and Taehyung had never done anything just the two of them before. They've been friends for a few years now, but Taehyung had been friends with Jimin first and since then the two of them were still the closest. Yoongi was only ever in the same room as Taehyung when a bunch of them got together. Honestly speaking, more than once during those get-togethers he has had the passing thought that he and Taehyung had very little in common.

But not nothing in common. They were both here, after all.

"Yeah," Yoongi said, something strange in his chest bubbling when Taehyung beamed at him. Like Taehyung was genuinely happy Yoongi wanted to stick around. "Namjoon is the art nerd though, so I might not have a lot of commentary. Just, you know."

"Hyung, don't sell yourself short." Taehyung slung his arm around Yoongi's shoulders. "You turn into a chatterbox when you get on the right topic, so that's all I have to do, right?"

It wasn't like Yoongi's habit was a secret, but to hear Taehyung mention it was unexpected. It made him feel a bit guilty too, that he hadn't been very good about paying attention to Taehyung in the same way.

"It's fine," Yoongi said, as Taehyung handed over their tickets to be scanned. "I want to hear you talk."

Taehyung's expression fell slack in surprise, but then he smiled softly and reached for Yoongi's wrist. "Come on then, I have a lot to tell you."

+

The sun had mostly disappeared behind the skyline by the time they left the museum and there was more of a chill in the air. Yoongi hadn't expected to stay so long, but Taehyung really did have a lot to say and Yoongi — well, he'd found he liked to listen.

"It's really too bad Namjoon-hyung couldn't make it," Taehyung said as they walked towards the metro station. "What did he even try to make?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Yoongi said. For as long as he'd known him — and that was a very long time — Namjoon never had much luck in the kitchen. It was admirable of him to keep trying, Yoongi supposed. Or foolish.

Yoongi thought Taehyung would want to part ways now. The thing they came here to do was done. So he shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his feet, ready to say goodbye, but was thrown for a loop when Taehyung said, "Hyung, are you still free? Do you want to grab dinner?"

When Yoongi didn't answer right away, Taehyung took him by the arm and started to lead them down the street.

"There's a really good Italian place that's just a ten minute walk!" Taehyung grinned at Yoongi, who still hadn't answered but was clearly just going to follow Taehyung and do as told.

A comfortable silence fell between them as they walked. Taehyung's arm stayed looped around his, the warmth from Taehyung's body seeping through despite the multiple layers between them. When he thought about it, Yoongi realized that over the past year Taehyung has mellowed out a bit. It used to be that he couldn't sit still for more than two minutes and got rowdy especially when he was with Jimin and Jungkook. But now he was doing things like going on bike rides with Namjoon along the river or listening to Seokjin talk about different types of alcohol.

And this: spending time just with Yoongi.

The restaurant was on the second floor of a small commercial building. There was a cafe on the ground floor that was almost full, but the restaurant just had one other table occupied when they walked in, still too early for the dinner crowd.

"Hyung, you don't like cream sauce, right?" Taehyung said without looking up from the menu.

Yoongi was surprised. He didn't know when Taehyung would have picked up on such a random fact. "How did you know?"

Taehyung shrugged. "I don't remember. Maybe you mentioned it once."

Yoongi didn't think that was true. Even if it was, it was such a tiny detail to notice.

They ordered three dishes to share and a glass of wine each. Taehyung talked about all the paintings he liked and past exhibits he's seen.

"You're really into it, you know more than Namjoon," Yoongi said, a little surprised because before today he hadn't known about this part of Taehyung at all.

Taehyung shrugged. "Yeah, but I like that Namjoon-hyung gets to have it as his thing."

"Then what's your thing?"

"I'm still working on figuring that," Taehyung said, licking his lips after slurping up a long spaghetti noodle. "I've been really into jazz lately."

"That fits you," Yoongi said, getting sauce on the corner of his mouth despite his best efforts. He wiped it away with his ring finger and looked at Taehyung strangely when he caught him staring. "Did you play any instruments growing up?"

Taehyung perked up. "Yes! The saxophone!" He mimed it for a few seconds, closing his eyes as if he were really playing a very intricate run. It did actually help Yoongi believe it more.

"No piano?"

Taehyung shook his head. "My mom asked me if I wanted to switch, but I was stubborn. I really thought I was going to become a professional saxophonist. And then I quit a year later. Jazz piano is really cool though."

"Have you ever seen a live show? There's probably a few places around the city if you looked it up. Small music halls or whatever."

"I never even thought about that!" Taehyung reached over and grabbed Yoongi's wrist. "Hyung, we should go. You should take me."

"I should?" Yoongi was surprised enough that the pasta he'd just stabbed slipped off his fork. "Me?"

"Yeah," Taehyung said, pulling back a little on his excitement and Yoongi's immediate instinct looked something like flashing emergency lights in his head. "I mean, today was nice, wasn't it? So more of it would also be nice."

More of it would be nice, Yoongi found himself thinking and said so outloud after a few seconds when he couldn't take Taehyung's pleading gaze any longer.

Taehyung gave a subdued celebratory fist pump and immediately changed the subject to ask if they should get dessert waffles after this.

Yoongi was clueless about why Taehyung wanted to continue to spend time with him, but wouldn't be for much longer.

11:24PM

"You know what I never ended up doing this year? Going to that art exhibit that I had to bail on."

Taehyung and Yoongi are getting more drinks and snacks in the kitchen and Namjoon had wandered in to steal some in advance.

"Did you guys end up still going?" Namjoon says.

"Yes," Yoongi says, spreading tuna mayo on a plate of crackers. "You've asked us that at least twice and it's only been three months."

Namjoon scratches his head. "Sorry. Guess I keep forgetting because it's strange to picture the two of you hanging out."

Yoongi sees Taehyung frown beside him. "Is it?" says Taehyung. "Why?"

Namjoon shrugs. "You guys disagree all the time when we talk about stuff. Last week you two fought about being hypothetically stranded on an island for like, ten minutes."

"It wasn't a fight," Yoongi says. "It was a lively intellectual debate."

Namjoon doesn't look convinced. "I feel like if you tried to hang out you wouldn't even be able to decide where to go."

Yoongi sets down the spoon and faces Namjoon. "You know what, actually, Taehyung and I have been—"

"Namjoon-hyung!" Jimin bursts in and stares at all of them for a split second before grabbing Namjoon's sleeve to tug him out of the room. "Come look at this!"

For a split second, Yoongi wants to chase after both of them and drag them back in here, but his sudden burst of confidence has deflated and now he barely has the motivation to pick the spoon back up.

"Do you think all of them think you and I don't get along?" Taehyung says.

Yoongi looks up at Taehyung, surprised to see how glum his expression is. "No. Would it bother you if they all said that?"

Taehyung shrugs. "You wouldn't be bothered at all?"

"I just don't know if it matters what they think."

Taehyung runs his hands through his hair, gripping fistfuls of it. "Oh my god, we do disagree on everything."

"Okay, hey." Yoongi takes Taehyung's wrists and pulls his arms down, sliding his hands down to hold Taehyung's. "We do not disagree on everything. If we were really that incompatible, we wouldn't have made it past the first couple dates."

Taehyung takes a deep breath and sighs, nodding. "You're right. I guess I'm just nervous about everyone finding out. Not that I think they won't be happy for us, but."

"But it's just nerve wracking until you find out for sure."

"Yeah," Taehyung whispers.

Yoongi squeezes Taehyung's hands. "See? We get along fine."

Taehyung smiles before he catches himself and tries to look at Yoongi sternly, but the corner of his mouth keeps twitching. "Hyung! You're so." He even turns away and stares at the ceiling, needing quite a few seconds before he's able to spin around again and even then has to pull his mouth into a tight line. "You're so cheesy!"

"Should've found that out before you asked me out," Yoongi says, munching on a broken cracker.

Taehyung hugs Yoongi's shoulders from behind. "I didn't say it was a turn off." He tips his head like he's going to kiss Yoongi, but then he just — stops.

Yoongi, newly peeved that he wasn't able to get a kiss earlier, goes to close the gap, but Taehyung ducks away just before their lips touch.

"I better get these to everyone before they start complaining," Taehyung says, grabbing the plate from under Yoongi's hands.

"No, hold on, what was that?" Yoongi says, catching Taehyung by the elbow.

Taehyung does that thing where he feigns innocence, but his expression is so exaggerated — eyebrows too high, mouth in a stiff almost-smile — that it defeats the purpose. "Hm?"

"You just avoided my kiss," Yoongi says.

"Ah!" Taehyung weasels out of Yoongi's grasp again and taps his fingers on Yoongi's cheek. "I heard it's bad luck to kiss before midnight." He wanders off with a small wave.

"That's not a thing!" Yoongi yells after Taehyung, betrayed, then continues mumbling to himself. "That's not a thing. It's bad luck not to kiss."

He hears Taehyung's laugh above the conversation of the others and remains in the kitchen sulking until Jungkook pops in to ask why Yoongi is taking so long with the drinks.

"Hyung, cheer up," Jungkook says, a bunch of beer cans gathered in his arms. Yoongi is empty-handed as he follows him. "Next year is your year. You'll definitely find someone."

"Huh?"

"Your resolution," Jungkook says, sitting down and handing a couple cans to Jimin and Namjoon.

Right, his resolution. Yoongi looks at Taehyung, at the time, and finally at their friends who are unnecessarily enthralled in a discussion about what baby animal is the cutest. It's a useless argument, but also none of them have said the correct answer. He's about to interrupt with his big announcement when Taehyung jumps into the fray, loudly proclaiming that the cutest baby animal is the lesser panda with a knowing glance in Yoongi's direction.

Maybe the resolution can wait just a few more minutes.

Two Months Ago

The cafe was emptier than it was just ten minutes ago. Yoongi guessed that those who couldn't afford to miss the train had started to head home for the night. He waited for Taehyung to notice and say they should do the same and Taehyung did look around, but mentioned nothing about going home.

They have been sitting here for two hours just talking. Their glasses were empty, just the remnants of melted ice pooled at the bottom. Taehyung was going on about how much math was in music and how fond he was of songs in triple meter.

"There's just something about it that makes them catchier and the slow songs just," Taehyung paused and clenched his fist ardently in front of his chest. "You know?"

Yoongi nodded even though he'd never thought about it before. A table near them cleared out. The cafe had two floors and Yoongi could only see one other table still chatting all the way in the other corner.

Taehyung sighed and his shoulders slouched. "I guess if we don't leave soon, we'll miss the train."

Since there was no one around, Yoongi decided he could be a little brave. He leaned his arms on the table. "We probably should," he said, glancing down before he went for it, reaching for Taehyung's hand.

Just as he did, Taehyung stood up, meaning Yoongi's hand knocked against the table top instead. He pulled it back hastily, acting as if he meant to do that, but there was no way to recover. He just tried to hold Taehyung's hand and embarrassingly failed.

"Hyung, did you just?"

"Nope, we should head out," Yoongi said, standing up too. He gathered their cups and dropped them off by the trash bins, spinning around to find Taehyung standing extremely close behind him.

"You were going to hold my hand," Taehyung said, smiling. "But I messed it up."

"No, there was just a fly," Yoongi said, stepping around Taehyung. He stood there awkwardly then remembered they were leaving and headed towards the stairs.

The streets were still quite busy in comparison to inside. The two of them walked in the direction of the metro station. Yoongi shoved his hands into his pockets. It was cold anyway, the briskness of late fall showing itself.

Yoongi stopped at the intersection where the entrance to the metro was. It seemed like everyone passing them was a couple.

"Hyung?"

"How long would it take to walk to your apartment? Half an hour?"

"I— I guess," Taehyung said, looking at his phone. "You'll definitely miss the last train though."

"I can spare the taxi fare," Yoongi said, grabbing Taehyung by the sleeve to run across the crosswalk before it turned red. He was being so obvious, yet Taehyung wasn't saying anything about it.

Yoongi went with Taehyung to a small jazz club just a couple weeks after their visit to the museum. He hadn't expected Taehyung to want to go so soon, but Taehyung had messaged him everyday until he agreed. They had a good time, Taehyung discovered a bunch of new music, and then at the end Taehyung asked Yoongi if they could go on an official date.

"Because I like you," Taehyung had laughed and said when Yoongi had asked why. "I've always thought you were cute and funny and you let me talk about whatever I want and never zone out. So I want to go on a date with you."

Sitting in a dimly lit lounge with some serendipitously-timed romantic jazz in the background and Taehyung's very charming smile directed right at him had made it impossible to say no. So here they were on their first date — or the tail end of it. They'd had dinner, then walked around and Taehyung had made them go into no less than five photobooth studios, before spending the rest of the night at the cafe. So many hours together and still Yoongi wanted to stay out just a little longer.

Taehyung pulled out the photos they took earlier while they walked, fawning over them. The two of them wore silly hats, animal ears, and at the last place they went there had been money gun props. At the start, Yoongi didn't really get what was the big deal but by the end he was almost more into it than Taehyung, being very particular about which props to pick and telling Taehyung how to pose. The effort paid off. They now had plenty of good photos of their first date.

Yoongi didn't bring anything tonight other than his wallet so he told Taehyung to give him his copies next time.

"Oh, so we're already going on a second date," Taehyung said, slipping the photo strips back into his bag.

Yoongi shrugged, nonchalant even though multiple times tonight he'd shown that he was anything but. "Yeah. If you want. I'd like to."

"Hyung, you're so cool!" Taehyung said, nudging Yoongi's arm. He smiled and knocked their shoulders together gently. "I'd like a second date too."

They walked silently for another few minutes, then Taehyung said, "Do you think we could keep this just between us for a while?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like, not tell anyone just yet. Date secretly — just for a while!" Taehyung smiled at Yoongi. "It's not that I don't want our friends to know, but you know when they find out they'll make such a big deal out of it and bombard us with questions and every time we all hang out they'll tease us. I just want a little bit where we don't have to put up with that yet."

"Here I was about to make a joke about you being embarrassed to date me," Yoongi said, trailing off. Taehyung was completely right about their friends and there had been relief when Taehyung initially proposed it because he'd been thinking about it too. "Yeah. Of course we can keep it a secret."

"Exciting," Taehyung said. "It'll be like we're spies except better because you know, instead of being in danger and killing people we'll be having fun and—" He pressed his lips together as if he didn't just stop in the middle of a sentence.

"And what?"

"Oh, look, this is me."

With all the talking, Yoongi hadn't even noticed they'd arrived at Taehyung's apartment building. It was like any other, maybe twenty stories. He knew Taehyung lived in this neighborhood, but never the specifics since they always went out or gathered at Seokjin's place.

Again, Yoongi was faced with the end of tonight, of this date, but couldn't avoid it this time. "Well. Good n—"

"Do you want to come up?" Taehyung glanced at the doors then back at Yoongi. "I actually cleaned it earlier so it won't scare you off. Well, pretty sure, I don't know what your threshold is."

It wasn't like they were strangers, but at the same time the meaning of Taehyung's words now versus if he had asked them just a couple weeks ago was completely different. Did Taehyung clean his apartment specifically because he was hoping Yoongi would come up? What if they had parted ways after leaving the coffee shop? Did he predict Yoongi would volunteer to walk him home?

"Hyung." Taehyung slipped his hand into Yoongi's. It was warmer than Yoongi's even though his had been in his pockets the whole time.

It quieted all of Yoongi's unnecessary thoughts. He didn't say anything but took a step towards the entrance and Taehyung fell into step beside him.

The elevator was already coming down when Taehyung pushed the button. He held on tight to Yoongi's hand and watched the numbers descend until it beeped and the doors opened. A high school student walked out, but didn't even register them, typing feverishly on her phone.

"Look at that, we're going home and she's just heading out," Taehyung said. "Oh, I didn't answer you, did I? About what came after having fun."

They stepped inside and Taehyung pressed the button for the tenth floor. As the doors closed, Taehyung did the same with the distance between them until Yoongi could feel Taehyung's breath on his lips and he realized — belatedly, embarrassingly, pleasantly — exactly what came after.

11:44PM

It has to be now. They wasted so many chances during the night trying to find the right moment, but they should've just made everyone listen to them from the start.

Except Namjoon got a call and has wandered off to some other room and Jimin's got Taehyung trapped on the couch to co-write replies to all the people he's matched with on some dating app just in the last half hour.

Yoongi empties out the last of the prosecco, unsure of how many bottles they've already gone through. A few, at least. He wanders over to where Hoseok and Jungkook are chatting, wanting to just tell them he has something to tell everyone, but when he gets close Hoseok grabs his arm, nearly making him spill his drink.

"Hyung, do you know what Jungkook just told me?" Hoseok starts to say, then shakes his head. "Hold on, everyone needs to know about this."

Jungkook reaches out but fails to grab onto Hoseok as the latter goes off to search for Namjoon. "It's not that big a deal," he says, slumping against the wall.

Yoongi knows Jungkook has a habit of downplaying all the things he excels at, so he thinks that whatever Jungkook told Hoseok probably is a big deal. Things in the past Jungkook has treated this way included being on TV because he got stopped on the street by the most popular variety show that happened to be filming and when he beat up four guys by himself because he caught them bullying another student.

Hoseok comes back a minute later with Namjoon and claps his hands to get everyone's attention. "Excuse me. Our youngest has something to tell us."

Yoongi looks at Taehyung who seems to share his own resignation. Depending on how big Jungkook's news is, their plan might be ruined completely. It's not like they have to confess tonight or else, but they had committed to it and it would just be a bummer if they couldn't.

After a big sigh, Jungkook says, "Fine, you know how I've been posting song covers online for a couple months?"

"And have already somehow gained a quarter million subscribers?" Seokjin says. "I haven't been keeping track, but go on."

"Well, a few companies have reached out to ask if I want to do it more professionally," Jungkook says with a stiff shrug. "I'm thinking about saying yes. Or at least talking with them."

"Oh my god, you're going to be a celebrity!" Jimin jumps up and rushes over to hug Jungkook.

"You're making a lot of assumptions," Jungkook says. "I could hate them, they could see what I look like and think I'm too ugly to be a singer."

"Please be serious," Seokjin says. "It annoys me to say it, but you're not ugly. Your face is pretty good, actually."

Jungkook pushes Jimin away and stares at Seokjin. "Wait, you think that?"

"No, I lied," Seokjin says, busying himself on his phone. Yoongi watches him open up the map and spin the globe around over and over.

"That's so cool though," Namjoon says."Congratulations!"

"Guys, I haven't even talked to any of them. This could go nowhere."

"Taehyung, what are you doing?" Jimin says, waving him over. "Come here and tell Jungkook he's saying nonsense."

"Huh? Oh." Taehyung gets off the couch and smiles as he rushes up to Jungkook, smothering him in another hug. "Our Jungkookie!" He sandwiches Jungkook's face between his palms, wiggling it back and forth before placing a big, smacking kiss on his forehead.

For the very first time in all the years they've known each other, Yoongi is annoyed at Jungkook. Jealous in an embarrassing way.

"More champagne!" Jimin says, grabbing the first glass he sees and refilling it, shoving it into Jungkook's hand. It means Taehyung has to let go of him, at least, in order to drink it.

Yoongi is happy for Jungkook and finds a moment to tell him once he mentally chides himself for being a bad friend. Now he's just kind of sad watching Taehyung hang off Jungkook's shoulders. For most of his life, he's preferred to keep things close to his chest, especially the things most dear to him. But right now what he wants more than anything is to shout from the rooftops that he also has something very important to say, has someone very important, if only so he can have Taehyung at his side.

Last Weekend

"There you are, hyung, it's so cold."

It was cold, but since Taehyung was whining about it, Yoongi pretended like he was fine. The sun was out, not a cloud in sight, deceptive considering it was actually frigid outside and the windows in Yoongi's apartment were old and drafty. Taehyung was buried deep beneath the comforter, just a mop of hair sticking out the top, the sunlight bringing out his brown highlights.

Yoongi had left bed in search of coffee, something he needed in his system by a certain time otherwise the caffeine headache would come for him. He set his mug down on the nightstand before crawling under the covers where it was nice and toasty, at least half due to Taehyung's body heat.

"Your feet are freezing," Taehyung said, immediately attaching himself to Yoongi's side. Yoongi buried his hand in Taehyung's soft hair to scratch his scalp, earning a hum of approval.

Before this, Yoongi would have found it difficult to imagine himself having this kind of calm, serene morning. Something like this belonged in a drama, especially the kind Taehyung liked to watch. But here he was on a late Sunday morning, lying in bed with his favorite person, and not a single worry on his mind.

Yoongi's feet were warm again when Taehyung poked his head up, peering at Yoongi pensively.

"What's with that look?" Yoongi said, pushing Taehyung's hair back, smiling at the nose scrunch he gets. They'd barely been dating two months and it was a problem — for himself — all the different ways he found Taehyung to be endearing.

"Do you think we should tell people?" Taehyung said, tugging the comforter with him as he sat up, keeping his shoulders covered.

"We could," Yoongi said. "Is there a reason you're bringing it up?"

"Jimin stopped by my place last night right when I was leaving to see you," said Taehyung, dropping his head against Yoongi's shoulder. "I basically had to lie and say I was going on a date with someone I knew from school and it just felt bad. Keeping it a secret is fine, but I don't like lying about you."

"If you want to, we can tell everyone." Yoongi also had a couple times where he had to lie and say he couldn't go out because he was working late. He understood what Taehyung meant by it feeling bad. Even though they'd agreed to privately date, lying about Taehyung felt like he was ashamed of him, when that couldn't have been further from the truth.

Taehyung nodded. "I don't like feeling like you're something to hide," he said, holding Yoongi's hand under the blankets. "I want everyone to know that I'm really happy dating you."

It was a cheesy thing to say, but Yoongi liked hearing it. He was happy too. At the beginning, he was surprised to discover how well they fit together. When Yoongi didn't feel much like talking, Taehyung was either happy to fill the conversation or happy to be just as quiet as Yoongi and sit together in comfortable silence. When Yoongi did feel like talking, Taehyung always gave him his full attention. They were balanced.

"We could tell them at Seokjin's place next week," Yoongi said. They've been spending New Year's Eve at his apartment ever since Taehyung joined their little group. "Start the new year as an official couple."

"I like the sound of that," Taehyung said, rubbing his face against Yoongi's neck.

"What are you doing? Are you a cat?"

"Mm." Taehyung turned and pressed more of his weight onto Yoongi. "Are you into it?"

Yoongi groaned like Taehyung was being annoying, slouching lower and lower to get away until he was lying down again.

Taehyung laughed and pounced on top of Yoongi. "Is that a yes? Is it doing it for you?"

"You're so noisy," Yoongi said, but he hugged Taehyung's waist to pull him down. It was nice to be smothered by Taehyung, more effective than any weighted blanket.

"I can be persuaded to shut up," said Taehyung, closing his eyes and puckering his lips.

"Swindler," Yoongi said, but he pulled the blanket over their heads, all too happy to take the deal.

11:55PM

"It's almost midnight, turn on the TV!" Seokjin says, ripping open a bag of noisemakers. He's already passed out a bunch of 2023 tiaras for everyone to wear.

"Hyung, you look really pretty," Taehyung says to Yoongi. It's completely genuine and that's why Yoongi's face turns up fifty degrees.

"Oh, Yoongi-hyung!" Hoseok says, already taking a slew of photos. "You do look nice."

"Take one of both of us!" Taehyung says, slipping his arm around Yoongi's waist and posing effortlessly.

"A couple of good friends," Hoseok says, snapping away. "Cute."

"Hear that?" Taehyung says. "We look cute."

"As friends," Yoongi mumbles under his breath.

Jimin comes over and drapes himself over Hoseok's shoulders. "You guys can use these in your dating app profiles."

"Yes, very exciting," Seokjin says flatly as he goes around the room shoving a noisemaker into each person's mouth.

They gather in front of the TV. Yoongi sits at the end of the couch and Taehyung is about to take the spot next to him when Jimin grabs him to sit on the floor with him and Jungkook. Taehyung shoots him an apologetic look and Yoongi puts on a smile as he shrugs. Can't be helped.

But this all kind of blows.

He wants Taehyung to be next to him, hand tight around his, for Taehyung to stare at him with a dopey smile on his face while Yoongi does a poor job of ignoring him. Even though it wasn't a promise, he told Taehyung they could start the new year as an official couple and he feels like a disappointment that it isn't going to happen.

"Oh, a minute left — everyone, group photo!" Hoseok says. He's on the opposite end of the couch and holds his arm out to get everyone in the frame. Yoongi's face barely shows with Seokjin and Namjoon in front of him.

"Yoongi, look more excited!" Seokjin says.

The countdown on TV becomes more prominent when there's thirty seconds left. The unease in Yoongi's chest makes him fidgety and he keeps looking at Taehyung, but the discomfort doesn't go away.

"Twenty seconds!" Jungkook says.

This isn't right. Yoongi gets up and goes to stand in front of everyone, in front of Taehyung. He grabs Taehyung's wrist and pulls him to his feet too.

"What are you doing?" Jimin says.

Their friends are staring at him like he's possessed. Maybe he has been. He doesn't know why it's so important that this needs to happen right now, before that clock hits midnight. But he thinks about the way Taehyung coolly asked him out and feels like it's his turn to be the same.

"Hey, Yoongi, they're counting down!" Seokjin says.

There's still a noisemaker hanging off Taehyung's lips. Yoongi takes it and flings it aside, then holds Taehyung's face in both hands.

'—five—'

"Um, what is happening?"

'—four—'

"Hyung?"

Yoongi's heart is beating as fast as if he just sprinted 100 meters. He has no idea what he's doing, just knows the one thing he's wanted to do all night.

'—three—'

He looks at Taehyung, really looks at him, just to make sure Taehyung is okay with this foolish thing he literally pulled him into. It would be awful to ruin this amazing thing he's found just because his brain fizzed out for two seconds and he ran on nothing but impulse.

'—two—'

But Taehyung is looking back at him with a knowing smile and gives the tiniest nod.

"Holy shit, are you two gonna—"

'—one—'

Yoongi surges forward, rising up on his toes, and kisses Taehyung. It's just like another cliche scene from a drama — the surroundings fade away and all he can feel is Taehyung's lips against his, Taehyung's hands on his waist, the pure elation of finally, finally being able to have what he waited all night for. He doesn't even care that this was supposed to be about their friends finding out. He's kissing Taehyung and Taehyung is kissing him — nothing else matters.

Someone clears their throat and Yoongi reluctantly breaks free, but Taehyung stops him from pulling away more than that, hugging his waist tightly. Whatever confidence and determination that drove him just now starts to slip away and he finds it difficult to face everyone. He doesn't regret what just happened, but didn't put a lot of thought into what comes after this part. Any thought, actually.

"So, uh, happy new year?" Namjoon says and blows his party toy.

"Not happy new year," Seokjin says. "What the hell was that?"

Taehyung keeps one hand around Yoongi's waist and throws up a V with the other. "Surprise! We're dating."

Yoongi makes himself look up and puts on a smile. Seokjin and Jimin are unreadable, Namjoon and Jungkook look lost, and Hoseok is, unsurprisingly, filming all of this and smiling like a proud parent.

"Since today," Jimin says, a threatening edge to his voice.

Taehyung shakes his head. "A couple months."

"You've been hiding this from me for months?" Jimin says, getting to his feet. Taehyung shields Yoongi behind him.

"Listen. Jimin-ah. My best friend. My soulmate."

"You think you have the right to say those words?" Jimin says, standing stiff when Taehyung hugs him in apology, deflating two seconds later. "You're terrible."

"I'm happy for me, too."

"How did this even happen?" Seokjin says.

"I think because of Namjoon-hyung," says Taehyung.

"You did this?" Seokjin says to Namjoon.

Namjoon stares at Taehyung. "I did this?"

"That day you couldn't make it to the museum because you gave yourself food poisoning. I got to hang out with Yoongi-hyung and my crush on him got bigger and I asked him out." Taehyung grabs Yoongi again, back hugging him this time. "Have you ever gone to the cafe with hyung and you come back with his coffee and he says 'oh yeah!' in the cutest voice? Of course I asked him out."

"Okay, we don't have to share everything," Yoongi says loudly, then gestures his arms around awkwardly. "We just wanted to tell you and now we have, so. Yeah. Thank you, Namjoon, for making yourself ill. Nothing more to discuss."

"For someone who doesn't like attention, you sure did pick the most dramatic way to reveal things," Seokjin says, then points at the TV like a grumpy grandpa. "You made us miss the countdown!"

"It's just a countdown! It happens every year!" Yoongi says. "It's not even a good sounding year."

"What does that mean?"

"What kind of number is 2023? It's so awkward."

"What does that have to do with wanting to count down to midnight? Am I supposed to be happy I had to watch you two suck face instead?"

"Okay!" Hoseok grabs his glass of champagne and stands up. "A toast to the new year and to our happy couple. Come on."

Everyone listens to Hoseok because no one is willing to deal with the consequences of not cooperating. Yoongi knows that Seokjin is picking a silly fight because it's his way of saying he doesn't care that they kept their dating a secret, that it's no big deal. Seokjin is never this loud when he's actually upset.

"Hyung, I'm happy for you guys," Jungkook says once the excitement has died down. They're sitting on the couch watching Taehyung try to cajole Jimin into forgiving him. "Taehyung told Jimin and me he liked you a while back and he always talked himself out of doing anything about it. I'm glad that changed. You guys look good together."

"Thanks," Yoongi mumbles, staring into his empty glass. It's good his entire face is red since it hides the blush from Jungkook's heartfelt words.

"Jungkook, you can't have him!" Taehyung comes over and drops onto Yoongi's lap, hugging his shoulders. "I only just got him to date me."

"Only just," Yoongi snorts. "It's been months."

"Months is what you say when it's been half a year, not just two," Taehyung says. "You're a catch, I have to be careful."

"Don't worry, I'm leaving," Jungkook says, holding his hands up to show he's non-threatening. "Hyung is all yours."

"Is this how you're going to act now that everyone knows?" Yoongi says once Jungkook has wandered off. Taehyung gives no indication he's going to move from Yoongi's lap.

"Maybe." Taehyung somehow manages to tuck his head against Yoongi's shoulder. "I need to make up for the time when we were a secret."

"You're happy about our decision?"

Taehyung nods, then looks up at Yoongi. "You're such a romantic though, kissing me in front of everyone. I can't believe you did that."

Yoongi shrugs and traces a seam on the armrest. "We decided we would do it tonight. You liked starting the new year as an official couple."

"Hyung, everything you do is cute," Taehyung says, squeezing Yoongi's cheeks. "Do you know you pout when you talk?"

Yoongi does know, but he refuses to answer. "My legs are falling asleep."

Taehyung slides off and sticks to Yoongi's side instead. He hugs Yoongi's arm. "What's your real resolution?"

"To floss every day."

"Good one," Taehyung says, closing his eyes and resting his head on Yoongi's shoulder. "Mine's to make you fall in love with me."

Yoongi isn't a betting man, but if he were, he thinks only one of them will see their resolution through and it's not going to be him.