Chapter Text
“Kookie… Will you come watch my game tomorrow?” Taehyung asked, his voice soft and a little hesitant. “You said you weren’t sure, so…”
He knew Jungkook already had plans, but he really, really wanted his best friend there. Tomorrow’s basketball match was important.
Taehyung had been playing basketball for about a year now, and he was good—really good. His team was made up entirely of omegas and betas, and he was the captain.
Jungkook, on the other hand, did boxing. He was also extremely talented, and his important matches often took place outside of university.
“Tae, you know I always make it work,” Jungkook replied with that easy, reassuring smile. “I’ll find the time, don’t worry.” Then he added, teasing, “Now shut up for a second and let me watch this movie. I’ve been waiting to see it for days.”
Taehyung laughed and snuggled back against him.
It was true—Jungkook had been excited about this horror movie for a while. Taehyung wasn’t particularly into the genre, but he never minded watching with Jungkook. He wasn’t scared when they were together.
At some point, he drifted off, head resting on Jungkook’s shoulder.
When he woke up, he was being carried—Jungkook’s strong arms holding him gently as he walked toward the bedroom.
They’d been roommates since the very first year of university, and best friends since kindergarten.
They had never really been apart. They knew everything about each other. Their secondary genders had never created any distance between them.
They were impossibly close.
Taehyung even spent his heats with Jungkook. Jungkook took care of him so gently, always there to help, always steady. A true anchor.
Jungkook had also gone through a few of his ruts with Taehyung around. Taehyung would cook for him, bring him cold drinks, keep him comfortable.
But Jungkook—being the alpha he was—never let Taehyung get too close during those times. He had perfect control, but he still refused to take any risks. Taehyung was an omega, after all.
Jungkook laid him down on the bed and started tucking the blanket around him.
Taehyung opened his eyes sleepily.
“Kookie… you’re not staying?”
It was nothing new. Since they’d started living together, they often slept in the same bed.
Jungkook loved holding him close, loved breathing in his scent. And Taehyung… Taehyung loved Jungkook’s scent too. It was warm, familiar. It had been that way ever since Jungkook presented as an alpha. If anything, it had only made Taehyung feel more secure—knowing his best friend could protect him if he ever needed it.
“Why? You want me to stay?” Jungkook asked softly.
“Mmh… I just need to feel good for tomorrow. The match is stressing me out a little, Kookie… It’s an important one and…”
“Tae.” Jungkook’s voice was gentle but certain. “You’re going to win. I know it. And I’ll be there cheering you on. But tonight I…”
“You…?”
Jungkook suddenly looked a little embarrassed.
Oh.
Taehyung understood right away.
It happened from time to time—Jungkook occasionally had one-night plans. He wasn’t interested in dating anyone seriously right now; he wanted to focus on his studies and his boxing. But his wolf… his wolf sometimes needed release.
“I get it,” Taehyung said lightly, offering a small, teasing wink. “Go have fun. See you tomorrow, Kookie.”
“Shut up,” Jungkook muttered, cheeks still faintly pink, but he was laughing too.
***
The time for the match finally arrived, and Taehyung still hadn’t spotted Jungkook anywhere in the stands. His stomach was starting to twist with stress.
“You okay, Tae?” Jimin asked, his second-best friend and the vice-captain of the team, giving him a gentle look.
“Jungkook isn’t here. He told me he’d come…”
Jimin let out a small sigh and patted his shoulder.
“He’ll come. He always does. Stop stressing yourself out, okay? He’ll be here.”
Taehyung took a deep breath and forced himself to focus on the game.
He hadn’t heard from Jungkook since last night—no text, no call, nothing. It was making him more anxious than he wanted to admit.
The match was in full swing. Taehyung was playing well, and so was his team. But the opposing side was strong too. No one had scored yet.
At halftime, Taehyung lifted his head again, scanning the crowd once more. Still no Jungkook.
He exhaled heavily. He wasn’t angry—just scared. Jungkook wasn’t the type to disappear without a word.
Then he felt a light tap on his shoulder.
He turned around sharply. A mascot.
“You scared me,” Taehyung muttered, a little irritated.
The mascot pulled off the big foam head and burst out laughing.
Jungkook.
“I saw you looking for me everywhere since the start of the game, Taehyungie,” he said, still grinning. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Sorry.”
Taehyung let out a long, relieved breath. Jungkook was here. He was okay.
Before he could say anything else, Jungkook pulled him into a tight hug and pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head.
“Come on, Captain. Go win this.”
Taehyung smiled despite himself and gave Jungkook’s chest a playful shove.
“Watch me,” he said.
Then the whistle blew, and the second half began.
The second half was different.
With Jungkook there supporting him, Taehyung felt simply unstoppable.
He scored two perfectly placed baskets. The match ended with a score of 4-1.
As soon as the final whistle blew, Taehyung didn’t hesitate—he ran straight to Jungkook and threw himself into his arms, hugging him with all his strength.
“I won! I won!”
Jungkook wrapped his arms around him tightly in return and buried his face in the crook of Taehyung’s neck, voice warm and proud.
“Well done, Tae.”
“Come on, you two lovebirds, time to separate now!” Jimin called out, laughing as he physically pulled them apart.
Jimin was always teasing them like that. Of course he was only joking—it was just because Jungkook and Taehyung were so ridiculously close.
But by now, they were used to it.
“Taehyung!! Taehyung!!”
Taehyung turned around just in time for Bogum to throw himself into his arms.
Bogum had been his friend since high school. He was always very clingy with Taehyung. It didn’t really bother him—Bogum was sweet and kind—but… Jungkook never reacted well. He really didn’t like Bogum.
Taehyung caught Jungkook rolling his eyes from the corner of his vision.
“Bogum! Thanks for coming,” Taehyung said warmly, gently untangling himself from the hug.
“We have to celebrate, Tae! There’s a little victory party tonight anyway, right?”
Taehyung glanced at Jungkook. They had planned a long video game night at home tonight—it was the weekend, after all. Taehyung almost never went to victory parties.
“Yeah, but—” he started.
“Just go, Tae,” Jungkook cut in suddenly, his voice flat and emotionless. “We can play tomorrow.” Without waiting for a reply, he turned and started walking away.
Taehyung frowned, quickly excused himself to Bogum, and hurried after Jungkook toward the locker rooms.
“Hey! Why are you leaving like that?” he asked, catching up.
“I have to return the costume.”
“But why were you even wearing a mascot costume in the first place?”
“It wasn’t really planned… I just wanted to surprise you, so…” Jungkook answered, barely looking at him.
Oh.
“Thank you, Kookie.”
“No problem.” Jungkook started changing without really paying attention to him.
Taehyung didn’t mind—he had seen Jungkook in his boxers plenty of times before. What actually bothered him was how distant Jungkook had suddenly become.
“Kook… Do you really want me to go to that party? We had a video game night planned.”
“Mmh. You deserve to celebrate, Tae.”
“Then come too. Don’t stay home alone.”
Jungkook finally looked at him. “Bogum invited you.”
Taehyung let out a small scoff. “So? You know he’s just a friend. Yeah, he’s clingy, but he’s nice. And honestly, I’d rather stay with you.”
Jungkook laughed, short and dry, as he pulled his shirt back on. “That’s not how you’re going to find someone.”
Taehyung had indeed mentioned more than once that he’d like to have a boyfriend. But no one had ever really caught his interest… or rather, no one had ever shown enough serious interest in him.
“Maybe I’ll meet someone at the party.”
“Then it’s better if I don’t come. Not sure anyone’s going to approach you if I’m glued to your side the whole night.”
“If you don’t come, I’m not going either.”
Jungkook let out a long sigh. Taehyung knew perfectly well that Jungkook could never resist when he asked like that.
“You’re such a cheater,” Jungkook muttered, half-complaining, half-resigned.
“See you at the apartment then. I just need to grab some stuff before heading home.”
He didn’t need Jungkook to say it out loud—he already knew. Jungkook had given in. He would come.
***
Taehyung and Jungkook arrived at the party early in the evening. The tension from earlier had already completely vanished—thankfully, it rarely ever lasted long between them.
Taehyung knew Jungkook really didn’t like Bogum.
He was convinced Bogum was playing some kind of game, that all he really wanted was to get Taehyung into his bed. That his friendship wasn’t genuine, just a way to toy with him. Taehyung didn’t believe a single word of it… but he still hated when Jungkook got like that.
He hadn’t taken any suppressants all day—they would have messed with his performance during the match. So tonight, everyone could smell him clearly. Out of habit, he pressed himself close to Jungkook. It made him feel safe. He never liked going to parties like this without suppressants, but when Jungkook was there, everything felt better right away.
“Tae, not that I mind, but don’t you think you should go say hi to your teammates?” Jungkook asked after a while.
“Jimin’s spending the night with Yoongi. I’m not really that close with the others. So no, I’m staying with you.”
Jungkook let out a small sigh. “Whatever you want.”
They found a table and started having fun. They even danced for a bit—until Taehyung had to excuse himself to go to the bathroom.
When he came back out, he bumped right into an alpha. The scent hit him immediately.
“Ah, uh… hi. I’m Seojun.”
“Hi…?”
“Um… I saw you at the game. You’re really good. I’d like to get to know you, if you’re okay with that.”
Seojun… the Seojun? Taehyung only knew him by name—he was pretty popular on campus. A wealthy alpha who didn’t hang out with just anyone.
“Taehyung,” he replied, offering his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too, Taehyung. So…? Are you interested?”
“I’m here with someone tonight. But next week, if you want—sure.”
“And why not tomorrow?” Seojun asked, still holding his hand firmly.
“I already have plans.”
Seojun paused, eyes narrowing slightly. “Do you already have an alpha, Taehyung?”
“No? Why are you asking?”
“You smell like one. His scent is all over you, like it’s soaked in.”
“Oh, uh… that’s probably my best friend, Jungkook. We live together. We’ve been glued to each other since kindergarten. He tends to… mark me with his scent in places like this. To protect me.”
Seojun gave a small, crooked smile. “So he’s here with you tonight?”
“Mmh. I’m actually going back to him now.”
“See you soon then, Taehyung.”
Taehyung nodded politely and headed back toward Jungkook. He wasn’t sure if he should mention it right away. There wasn’t really much to say.
“Kook! I’m back, sorry for the wait.”
Jungkook turned toward him and immediately stepped closer—but then his brows furrowed.
“What’s that smell?”
“What smell? What are you talking about?”
Jungkook stepped closer and leaned in, nose brushing near Taehyung’s neck as he inhaled deeply.
“An alpha’s scent. Who put their smell all over you like that?” Jungkook asked, his voice low and edged with clear irritation.
“I didn’t— oh…”
Had Seojun deliberately scented him without him even noticing?
“‘Oh’ what?”
“Seojun… It must be Seojun.”
“Seojun?”
“Mmh. We bumped into each other when I came out of the bathroom. He asked me out.”
“Oh.”
Taehyung couldn’t quite read Jungkook’s expression. It was flat, closed-off, impossible to decipher.
“You’re going tomorrow?” Jungkook asked.
“No, we moved our game night to tomorrow. So it’ll be next week instead.”
Jungkook let out a short, humorless laugh. “You’ve gotta stop putting me first in situations like this…”
“You’ll always come before anyone else, Jungkook.”
The rest of the evening passed quietly. They danced a little more, laughed, drank a bit—nothing too wild. By the time they got home, both of them were completely exhausted.
Out of pure habit, Taehyung followed Jungkook toward his room, ready to collapse into their usual tangled pile of limbs and blankets. But Jungkook stopped him at the door with a gentle hand on his chest.
“I’d rather sleep alone tonight.”
“Oh… okay…” Taehyung blinked, caught off guard.
He didn’t know why it stung so much. Normally it was Jungkook who insisted, who pulled him close and glued himself to Taehyung’s back all night like the clingiest koala on earth. Being refused felt… wrong.
“See you tomorrow, Tae.”
Taehyung managed a small smile and turned toward his own room. At least tonight he wouldn’t have to deal with the snoring.
***
The next day, Taehyung didn’t see Jungkook at all.
From the moment he woke up until late in the evening, Jungkook was simply gone. Taehyung wasn’t usually the type to worry this much—Jungkook sometimes disappeared for a few hours when he needed space—but after the way he had pulled away last night, the silence felt heavier, sharper. Jungkook had a habit of shutting himself off completely over the smallest things.
Taehyung spent the day on campus, wandering aimlessly between classes he barely paid attention to.
At one point he ran into Seojun at the library. They ended up talking for a long while. Seojun apologized right away for scenting him without permission the night before.
He admitted, a little sheepishly, that he had done it on purpose—he just wanted to… mark his territory, as he put it.
Taehyung didn’t really know what to say to that. He brushed it off with a small laugh, but the whole conversation left him feeling oddly unsettled.
Jungkook still wasn’t home that evening.
No video game night. Nothing.
Taehyung kept calling. Straight to voicemail every time. His messages went unread, unanswered.
In a moment of growing panic he even called Yoongi—Jimin’s boyfriend and one of Jungkook’s closest friends. But Yoongi hadn’t heard from him either.
***
It went on like that for four long, endless days.
Taehyung stopped going to classes properly. He was a complete mess—nervous, distracted, jumping at every notification that wasn’t from Jungkook.
He ignored Seojun completely, even though the alpha had already tried to reach out three times.
On the fifth day, Taehyung didn’t even leave the apartment.
He stayed in Jungkook’s room.
Curled up on his bed, surrounded by his scent, his pillows, his hoodie pulled over his head like a blanket. It was the only place that felt even remotely calming.
Normally Jungkook always warned him when he was going to be gone for more than a day or two. Always. But this time… nothing. No note, no text, no call.
Taehyung was terrified.
__________________________________
Six days.
Six endless days without being able to come home.
Jungkook had truly believed this rut would never end.
It had started creeping in right at the end of the party. That was why he hadn’t let Taehyung follow him to bed. He had felt it building—hot, insistent, far more intense than usual.
Some ruts he could handle with Taehyung nearby, could grit his teeth and keep control. But not this one. This one had felt dangerous. Uncontainable.
He couldn’t risk it.
Worst of all, he had forgotten his damn charger. His phone had died completely, and for six full days he had been completely cut off.
He knew Taehyung was going to be angry. He knew he’d have a lot to explain. But there had been no other choice.
He finally pushed open the apartment door at dawn, body heavy and mind foggy from exhaustion. The moment he stepped inside, Taehyung’s scent slammed into him—sharp, raw, suffocating. It wasn’t just sadness. It was pure distress.
Jungkook’s heart dropped. He yanked off his shoes and jacket in one hurried motion and headed straight for Taehyung’s room.
Empty.
His eyes darted around the apartment: takeout containers piled up, food barely touched, clothes scattered across the floor. Chaos. Nothing like Taehyung’s usual neat habits.
Where was he…?
He walked to his own bedroom and stopped dead in the doorway.
Taehyung was there.
Curled into a tight, trembling ball in the middle of Jungkook’s bed, buried in a nest made entirely of his things—hoodies, t-shirts, sweatpants, blankets. Everything that carried his scent.
Taehyung sometimes built nests during his heats, small safe havens when he needed comfort and grounding. Jungkook had always found it endearing.
But this… this wasn’t a heat.
Or could it be..?
His face was streaked with dried tears. His breathing was shallow, ragged.
Jungkook moved quietly, almost afraid to breathe too loudly. He crouched down beside the bed, bringing himself to Taehyung’s level.
Taehyung’s eyes fluttered open slowly. Then they widened in pure shock.
The next second he launched himself forward with desperate force, arms locking around Jungkook’s neck so tightly they both crashed off the bed and onto the floor.
“T-Tae! Hey—careful, are you—?”
“Where were you… where were you…” Taehyung whispered against his shoulder, voice cracked and shaking.
“I’m sorry. My phone died, and in the state I was in… I couldn’t do anything…”
Taehyung’s grip tightened, fingers digging in like he was afraid Jungkook would disappear again.
“W-why didn’t you leave a note… why didn’t you—”
“Tae…” Jungkook eased back just enough to look at him, but he didn’t let go. Not even an inch. “I’m okay. I promise. I… I was in rut.”
A long, heavy silence.
“Alone?” Taehyung asked, voice barely audible.
“Yeah. You know I always do them alone if not with you. And I couldn’t stay here this time. It wouldn’t have been… safe.”
Taehyung pressed his face back into Jungkook’s neck, breathing him in like he was starving for it.
Jungkook let out a low, instinctive sound in his chest and released a steady wave of calming pheromones, wrapping them around Taehyung until the frantic edge in his scent began to dull.
“Why the nest, Tae?” he asked softly, fingers threading gently through Taehyung’s messy hair.
“Your scent… I missed it. It calms me down.”
Jungkook’s arms tightened around him, guilt clawing hard at his insides. He knew how easily Taehyung worried. He knew how badly this would have hurt him. He had known it even as he left.
But he really hadn’t had any other option.
He just hoped—prayed—that Taehyung wouldn’t hate him for it.
“T-Tae… please don’t be mad at me… I swear I did the best I could.”
He felt Taehyung press even closer, burying his face deeper into the crook of his neck, as if trying to disappear inside him.
“Let’s just stay like this today then. And I forgive you.”
“Tae… you should go to class.”
“No. I don’t feel like it. I want to stay with you. My omega wants to stay.”
Jungkook knew. He could feel it. His own alpha was clawing at the inside of his chest, demanding Taehyung’s presence just as badly.
But this… this wasn’t healthy.
They were best friends—nothing more.
They couldn’t keep blurring the lines like this, letting instincts take over every time one of them was vulnerable. If he let his feelings shift even a little, if he let himself want more… he would lose Taehyung. He was certain of it.
He gently pulled back, creating just enough space to look at him.
“Tonight, if you want. But it’s not even nine in the morning yet. You’re coming to class with me, Taehyung. And that’s not up for debate.”
Taehyung pouted, lips pursed in that way that usually got him whatever he wanted. But this time Jungkook didn’t budge. Taehyung had already missed far too many classes because of him.
“Fine… okay…” Taehyung muttered. “But… you better not leave my side all day. I want to feel you close to me, Kookie.”
Jungkook sighed. “Alright.”
***
The day was hell.
And Jungkook knew exactly why.
Taehyung’s heat was coming. Fast.
He had suspected it the moment he walked through the door this morning—Taehyung had been unusually clingy, needy—but the scent hadn’t fully bloomed yet.
Now it had.
Sweet, warm, unmistakable. It rolled off him in waves, impossible to ignore.
And because Taehyung hadn’t taken any suppressants, every alpha on campus could smell it too.
Thankfully, his next basketball game wasn’t until next week. Jungkook, on the other hand, had a boxing match tomorrow. He’d already decided he would call Jimin and ask him to stay with Taehyung while he was gone.
No way was he leaving him alone like this.
They had run into Seojun during the day.
The alpha had walked right up to them, all polite smiles and concern, and offered—without hesitation—to help Taehyung through his heat.
Jungkook had nearly growled on the spot.
The sheer audacity.
They barely knew each other.
But thankfully, Taehyung had refused immediately, pressing himself tighter against Jungkook’s side without even thinking about it.
When they finally got home, Taehyung headed straight for the shower. Jungkook went to the kitchen to start dinner.
He already knew Taehyung probably wouldn’t eat. He never had much appetite during his heats—everything hurt, his body felt like it was burning from the inside out. But Jungkook refused to let him skip meals. He always took care of him.
His pheromones helped a little, dulled the edges of the pain, but mostly it was just his presence. His warmth. His scent. Jungkook would stay glued to him for hours, sometimes the whole night, until the worst of it passed.
When Taehyung came out of the bathroom, hair damp and skin flushed, he made a beeline for Jungkook’s bedroom like it was instinct.
Jungkook intercepted him gently, catching him by the wrist.
“Tae. You need to eat first.”
“I’m not hungry…”
“Tae…” Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “Eat, or no cuddles.”
Taehyung pouted again—deeper this time, dramatic—but he turned around and shuffled toward the dining table without another word.
***
After dinner, Jungkook went to take a quick shower and sent a message to Jimin at the same time, asking him to keep an eye on Taehyung tomorrow while he was at his boxing match. He didn’t want to leave him alone.
When he came back into the bedroom, towel still around his neck, he found Taehyung already curled up in his bed. The nest had been completely remade—fresh hoodies, pillows arranged just so, blankets pulled tight.
Everything smelled overwhelmingly of Taehyung’s oncoming heat and of Jungkook’s own scent layered over it.
Jungkook let out a soft, fond huff. “Of course…”
He climbed into the nest without hesitation.
Taehyung immediately latched onto him—arms around his waist, face pressed against his chest—like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Within minutes, his breathing evened out and he was asleep. Jungkook was used to it. This was just how things went during Taehyung’s heats.
In the middle of the night, a quiet sob woke him.
Taehyung was trembling, tears streaming down his flushed cheeks. The sheets beneath them were soaked. He had wet the bed—his body reacting to the heat, overwhelmed, uncontrollable.
Taehyung was drenched too, hair sticking to his forehead, clothes clinging uncomfortably.
Jungkook didn’t even blink. He had seen this before. Many times.
He pressed a gentle kiss to Taehyung’s damp forehead.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured.
He got up quietly, grabbed clean towels, fresh sheets, and a set of soft clothes from Taehyung’s drawer. The nest was ruined—too wet to salvage—so he carefully dismantled it while Taehyung sat on the edge of the bed, looking small and miserable.
Jungkook helped him out of his soaked shirt and sweatpants. He handed him clean underwear and clothes and let Taehyung finish cleaning himself up in the bathroom.
When Taehyung came back, still shaky but cleaner, Jungkook had already remade the bed with fresh sheets. Taehyung immediately started rebuilding a smaller nest with whatever dry clothes and blankets he could find.
He looked exhausted, hands trembling as he tried to arrange everything just right.
Jungkook watched him for a moment, then stepped closer and helped him get into the bed.
“Kookie…?”
“Mmh?”
“It… it hurts…”
Jungkook’s chest tightened. He pulled Taehyung gently against him, wrapping both arms around his smaller frame, letting his scent and warmth envelop him completely.
“I know, Tae… I know.”
He rubbed slow circles on Taehyung’s back, releasing more calming pheromones until the sharp edges of pain in Taehyung’s scent began to soften.
Eventually, the tension left Taehyung’s body. His breathing slowed. His grip loosened. And just like before, he fell asleep against Jungkook’s chest.
Jungkook stayed awake a little longer, Taehyung’s soft breaths brushing his collarbone.
He told himself this was just what best friends did.
He told himself it didn’t mean anything more.
But deep down, in the quiet of the night, his alpha wasn’t buying it anymore.