Work Text:
Taehyung thought paintball was the worst thing anyone had ever invented. Seriously. The pain, the dirt, the exhaustion, and absolutely no satisfaction or fun.
He hated the game and yet he still went to every work outing once a month. It was both the best and the worst day of the entire month. Why? Because despite the pain from the paintballs and the stains of paint on his face, Kim Seokjin was always there.
Somehow, ever since Taehyung started working there the previous year, they always ended up on the same team. He watched as the older one played well and genuinely enjoyed himself. Seokjin ran after the others, hid like a ninja, collected points, and thanks to him, their team won more often than not. Jungkook helped with that too, always even more determined to win. Together, they made their team nearly unbeatable.
And Taehyung? Taehyung just hid and panicked whenever someone got too close. Namjoon was also good at paintball, but unfortunately, he was always on the opposing team, and thanks to him, Taehyung had the most bruises every single time.
But did he complain? Not really. After they returned home, Seokjin always took care of him. He made him dinner, applied ointment to his bruises, and helped wash the paint out of his hair. Taehyung loved paintball. Or rather, he loved what happened after it.
Eventually, the one day each month came when all seven of them went to the paintball field together. Taehyung wished he could skip the entire game and just get to the part that came afterward.
“Today we're changing the teams," Namjoon announced once they were already dressed and had their helmets on.
“What?” Tae blurted out.
“Someone begged me to, and honestly, I don't see anything wrong with it, so I agreed.” Their boss glanced at Jungkook as he said that.
“You traitor.” Jin pretended to look offended.
“Sorry, hyung. It's too easy to win against you,” Jungkook said with a smile, making Jin roll his eyes.
And so, today Taehyung was on a team with Yoongi and Jungkook. It wasn't that he wasn't happy about it, but there was one less of them. Besides, he had seen Yoongi play before. The blond preferred avoiding paintballs rather than actually shooting anyone. They went to their sides of the field and took their positions. The moment the signal sounded, Jungkook jumped out of the bunker and started moving toward the enemy as quietly as possible.
“Why haven't we changed this game yet?” Tae groaned.
“Because Jungkook likes it. And our boss likes Jungkook,” Yoongi said with a small smile. “Besides, I definitely prefer this over something like bungee jumping.”
Tae grimaced slightly. At this point, he wasn't even sure which option would be worse. His thoughts were interrupted by a rustling sound. He held his breath, but it was already too late.
“Same hiding spot as always,” Seokjin scoffed.
On the other side stood Jimin and Hoseok. The three of them shot them down like sitting ducks, grabbed the flag, and ran away triumphantly. Taehyung hated paintball.
🔫
When he got back to his apartment, he collapsed onto the couch and had no intention of moving again. He felt more sore than usual and already knew he would have even more bruises this time. Most of them were definitely Seokjin's fault. Tae had a feeling the older man had specifically targeted him and shot him way more times than necessary. He definitely preferred being on the same team as him rather than against him.
He was lying there, trying not to think about the pain, when he heard the doorbell. He already knew who it was, but he didn't have enough energy to get up.
“Come in!” he called out.
A moment later, Jin walked inside.
“Hey... Wow. Are you alive?” he laughed.
“Mm... Probably not. These are my final moments,” Tae replied dramatically.
“Oh, then I guess I came here unnecessarily.”
“At least I won't die alone,” he answered, making the older man quietly laugh.
Just like always, Jin made him dinner first and then took care of his bruises. He gently applied ointment to his back and shoulders. This time, he also took care of his legs because he felt a little guilty about how badly he had beaten him during the game.
“Done. Don't move now. Let it dry.”
“Thanks. Why were you so cruel today, hyung? You know I hate this game.”
“Law of the jungle. The stronger one takes down the weaker one.”
“Wow. What a betrayal,” Tae sighed, shaking his head.
Jin set the tube of ointment down on the coffee table, but he didn't move his hand away from Taehyung's back. Slowly, he spread the last of the cool cream over the largest bruise as if he were giving it his full attention. Taehyung let out a quiet hiss.
“Gentler.”
“Sorry. I am being as gentle as I can.”
“Shame you weren't this gentle two hours ago.”
“That was a game.” A barely noticeable smile tugged at his lips. “Don't be mad.”
“I'm not. But why did you decide to use me as target practice?”
“Because...” The older one hesitated. His hand brushed over Taehyung's thigh, and Tae felt his heartbeat pick up. “I knew I'd get to take care of you afterward.”
“What?” Taehyung blinked in disbelief.
“What? I know you're always sore after these games and you wouldn't be able to manage on your own.” Jin pulled away, but Tae caught him by the wrist. He wasn't even sure why. It was pure instinct.
“Hyung...” He didn't finish. He didn't have the courage.
So he let the moment slip away, and nothing else happened.
The following week at work, Taehyung kept stealing lovestruck glances at Jin, while the older man seemed to be avoiding him. Even when Tae started a conversation first, Jin always found a way to cut it short, saying he had too much work to do. Then he'd return to his desk, only speaking up now and then to discuss something with the others.
During one of their breaks, Tae stood by the tea machine, watching Jin through the office windows. A moment later, Jimin walked over, smiling the instant he noticed where his friend's attention was.
“Tae, why haven't you told him yet?”
“Told him what?”
“You know exactly what.”
“I don't know anything.” Tae looked away and took a sip of his tea. “What about you? Have you talked to Yoongi and Hoseok yet?”
“Don't change the subject!” Jimin's cheeks turned pink before he hurried away.
Neither of them was particularly good at expressing their feelings.
Taehyung glanced toward Namjoon's office, where Jungkook, as usual, was hanging around. Maybe they were only talking at the moment, but everyone in the office knew other things happened in there too. Tae was a little jealous. He wished he had enough courage to tell Jin how he felt.
“What are you sighing about?”
The voice behind him made him jump.
“H-hyung... What are you doing here?”
“Getting coffee?” Jin pointed at the machine.
“Ah... Right.” Tae stepped aside to make room for him.
“Spying on our boss? That's not very nice.”
“I'm not spying on anyone!” Heat rushed to his cheeks.
His brain completely short-circuited, so he hurried back to his desk before he embarrassed himself even more. Sometimes he wanted to cry because of how hopeless he was. Sometimes he just wished the next company outing would come sooner.
🔫
The following month, there was no paintball. Jungkook had requested an amusement park instead, so Namjoon bought tickets for all seven of them, and they spent the day at Lotte World. Taehyung wanted to strangle him. He had spent the entire month looking forward to paintball, imagining Jin coming over afterward so they could spend time alone together again. And now that was ruined. Why would Jin come over after a day of roller coasters? There wouldn't be any bruises for him to take care of.
Tae walked at the back of the group so no one would notice how disappointed he looked. Jimin noticed almost immediately that something was wrong and quietly moved closer to Jin.
“Hyung, I think Tae isn't feeling well,” he whispered.
The older man turned around at once. Jimin didn't even have to try very hard. He left the two of them behind and caught up with Yoongi and Hoseok instead.
Seokjin walked beside Tae in silence at first. In the distance, cheerful music blended with the screams of people racing down roller coasters. Every now and then, the older man's shoulder brushed lightly against Taehyung's as they wove through the crowds.
“Everything okay?”
“Mhm.”
“You're not excited about something other than paintball? I thought you hated it.”
“I do, but...” He smiled. “Never mind. I am happy.”
“Or maybe you're scared?”
“What?! No.”
“You sure? I was already thinking I'd have to hold your hand.”
Jin had meant it as a joke, but Tae suddenly saw an opportunity.
“Well... Okay. Maybe I'm a little scared,” he lied smoothly. “Just don't tell the others.”
“Your secret is safe with me.” Jin placed a hand over his heart and smiled warmly.
Fifteen minutes later, they were sitting in the front row of one of the roller coasters. Naturally, Tae chose the seat beside Jin, and when the ride began, they held hands. Throughout the entire day, Taehyung took every excuse he could to stay close to him, and Seokjin didn't seem to mind in the slightest.
By the time they left Lotte World, they were both smiling, each returning to their own apartment. It was nice to have one company outing that didn't end in bruises.
🔫
A month later, they were back at the paintball field. Taehyung thought he was going to lose his mind, but the thought of Jin coming over afterward kept him going. He was so excited about it that he even left his hiding spot and actually tried shooting back. Unfortunately, that earned him a paintball straight to the helmet, but even that didn't ruin his mood. He was having an unusually good time. He might even be starting to like paintball. He and Jin stopped to buy takeout on the way home since they were both too tired to cook.
Only after Taehyung had closed the apartment door behind them, kicked off his shoes, and glanced at the mirror in the hallway did he burst into laughter. A wide streak of yellow paint stretched across his cheek all the way to the corner of his mouth, and there was still a smear of green across his nose.
“Why didn't you tell me my face was filthy? I went out in public looking like this!” He looked at Jin, though there wasn't a trace of anger in his voice.
Seokjin stepped beside him and caught sight of his own reflection. Unlike Tae, he had bright red paint smeared across his lips.
“Couldn't I ask you the exact same thing?” he scoffed before carrying the takeout bags into the kitchen.
Taehyung was in an unusually good mood that day. So when a thought crossed his mind, he decided to take a chance.
“Hyung... Do you like oranges?” he asked innocently.
“I do. Why?”
“You know... When you mix red and yellow, you get orange.”
“What does that have to do...” he blinked several times.
For a moment, he genuinely looked like he was trying to figure out what Tae meant.
Only when his gaze lingered on the yellow streak across Taehyung's cheek and then shifted to the red paint on his own lips did he finally understand. Both of their hearts skipped a beat. Tae stepped closer and barely brushed their lips together. The moment fear crept in, convincing him he'd made a mistake, he started pulling away. But Jin cupped the back of his neck and deepened the kiss instead. Their lips tasted bitter from the paint, but neither of them cared. Seokjin slipped an arm around Tae's waist, drawing him closer.
When they finally pulled back, their eyes met.
“So? You got your orange. Happy?”
“Very,” Tae murmured against his lips. “But... Hyung...”
“You want to know why I kissed you?” Jin gently wiped another streak of paint from his cheek. “I've wanted to for a long time.”
“Then why didn't you?”
“And you?”
“Fair enough... But... Since when? I never noticed.”
“Why do you think I always came over after paintball?” He kissed him again. “And why do you think I shot you so many times last month?”
“That was incredibly stupid... and cruel,” Tae breathed between kisses.
“I know. I'm sorry. I got carried away.” Jin smiled sheepishly. “I just wanted an excuse to come see you.”
“You're really an idiot.” Tae looked at him quietly for a long moment. “You could've come over without one.” He rested a hand against Jin's chest. “How about a private game of paintball?” He smiled. “Without the paintballs.”
🔫
About half an hour later, they were standing beneath the shower, washing the paint from each other's skin.
Seokjin wasn't entirely sure how they had gotten there. One moment Taehyung had been holding bottles of paint, and the next, colorful streaks covered both of their bodies. Bright splashes of color decorated their collarbones, ribs, and stomachs.
The paint streamed down their skin with the warm water. Seokjin brushed his thumb across Taehyung's cheek, wiping away the last trace beneath his eye with the same gentle care he'd always used while tending to his bruises. The bathroom mirror had fogged over. The only sounds filling the room were the soft rush of water and their breathing, growing steadily less even.
Taehyung slipped a hand into Seokjin's damp hair, letting it rest at the nape of his neck. The cold tiles pressed against his back while the warmth of Jin's body settled against his own. Just a few hours earlier, their hands had been wrapped around plastic paintball guns. Now they were entwined for an entirely different reason. Their kisses wandered across warm skin while wandering hands slowly memorized every inch they could reach.
The last traces of paint mixed together on the shower floor before disappearing down the drain. Taehyung laughed quietly to himself. Only moments ago, it had been a silly joke. Now it felt like something much more.
“You know...” he whispered. “I think I actually like paintball.”
“Really?” Jin asked with an amused smile before pressing another kiss against his neck.
“Well... I like what comes after it.”
He let out a shaky breath as the older man nipped lightly at a particularly sensitive spot.
“Then let's play it as often as we can.” Jin captured his lips once more.
After that evening, they no longer needed a game, bruises, or any excuse just to find themselves together.
Taehyung still believed paintball was the worst thing anyone had ever invented. But for the first time, he was grateful Jungkook had come up with the idea.