Red Looks Good On You

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/24289672.

Rating: Explicit
Archive Warning: Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence,
Major Character Death
Category: M/M
Fandom: | Bangtan Boys | BTS
Relationship: Jeon Jungkook/Kim Taehyung | V
Character: Jeon Jungkook, Kim Taehyung | V, Kim Seokjin | Jin, Kim Namjoon |
RM, Park Jimin (BTS), Min Yoongi | Suga, Jung Hoseok | J-Hope, Kim
Yugyeom, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Blood and Injury, Blood, Fights, Death, Weapons, Mentions of
Torture/Trauma, mafia bosses, Mob Boss Kim Taehyung | V, Mob Boss
Jeon Jungkook, Toxic Start, Top Kim Taehyung | V, Bottom Jeon
Jungkook, Dom Kim Taehyung | V, Sub Jeon Jungkook, Kinky, Enemies
to Lovers, Gun Violence, Fist Fights, First Time Bottoming, Crimes &
Criminals, Kim Taehyung | V is Bad at Feelings, Miscommunication,
Jeon Jungkook is a Little Shit, Bring Holy Water, Kinks Will Be Added
Later, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Tags Are Edited With Each
Update, Minor Character Death, Knifeplay, Bratty Jeon Jungkook,
Drunken Shenanigans, Degradation, Car Sex, Jeon Jungkook is So
Done, Jeon Jungkook is Good at Feelings, Pain Kink, Developing
Relationship, Kim Taehyung | V is Trying his Best, Subspace, Consent
is Sexy, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Mentions of Suicide, Safeword
Use, Childhood Trauma, Aftercare, Major character death - Freeform
Stats: Published: 2020-06-26 Completed: 2021-05-01 Chapters: 7/7 Words:
166619

Red Looks Good On You

by vantaegukk

Summary

In a city divided by two powers, the Kim and Jeon gangs have ruled the streets of Seoul for
decades. However, when a new uprising group threatens both of their sides, it calls for a
new resolution amongst Seoul’s highest leaders.
 ◄│ 1/6 │►
Chapter Notes

Before you start, be aware that:

— All the tags are important, please read them;
— Don't skip the notes at the start;
— This is my first time writing anything with this amounf of NSFW (don't be
surprised with how many I eventually skipped) so please bear with it;
— I'm currently revising/editing this au so, if you're re-reading, don't be surprised if
something is different! The plot won't be changed, I'm just fixing typos as there were
quite a lot that went unnoticed and fixing some things that could’ve been worded
better (and perhaps making some scenes longer);
— So far I've edited 1/6 chapters;
— Enjoy! <3

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Jimin checks the watch on his wrist with a bored, lazy look, before going back to the documents in
his hands. He turns to the next page, numbers and more numbers filling up almost the entirety of
the sheet and he has to rub his eyes so that he can properly focus on his task.

One tiny mistake leads to big consequences.

They can’t happen.

He looks up when he hears hurried steps approaching, Yugyeom entering the room with a few men
following close behind. Some of them have a noticeable limp, Yugyeom has a cut in his eyebrow
and Jimin is immediately alarmed. “What happened?” he asks, concerned.

“We were attacked, some drugs got stolen and a respectful amount of cash as well. No one’s
seriously hurt but… we really fucked that one up. The attackers were way more than us, we were
outnumbered and couldn’t do much.” Yugyeom explains, being as brief and direct as possible.

“Are you sure no one’s seriously injured?” Jimin raises an eyebrow. “Did you triple check?”

“We’re sure, yes, we checked everyone.” the other nods.

“How much was saved and how much was taken? I need exact answers, you know that.” Jimin
says as he closes the binder in his hands, getting up. “Numbers, I want the numbers. I can’t walk up
to Mr. Jeon with half answers, it’s my ass that gets put on the line.”

“Around three thousand was taken and we only managed to save half of the shipment, they took
half of what we had in drugs. Money is still hard to tell you exactly as we’re not so sure either.”
Yugyeom explains, scratching the back of his head. “It was a really quick and messy moment, we
couldn’t do anything… otherwise we would’ve.”

“Right, ok.” Jimin nods, eyeing the men a few steps away from them. “Head to the medical bay,
all of you, just to check and be sure that none of you are actually hurt, boss would kill you himself
if you ended up with a concussion or some shit. I’ll— I’ll talk to him.” he instructs, watching as all
of them bow, turning around on their heels. “Yugyeom, you stay back.”

There’s some snickers in the room, quiet laughs that have the both of them frowning, angry.

“Is there any problem? Would you all like to come too and tell Mr. Jeon how you’ve all messed
up?” the men repeat a series of no’s and Jimin tsks, rolling his eyes. “Now you.” he turns back to
the other. “Who were they? Who attacked you? Do you have any idea?”

“No clue… I honestly don’t know, Park, none of us could identify anyone.” he shrugs. “And uh, do
I really have to go in with you…?” Yugyeom asks as he gestures towards the office door. “He may
get pissed that we got shit stolen from us, I don’t have a death wish…”

“He’d prefer having drugs stolen than men lost, you can only replace one of them.” Jimin says with
a rather cutting tone. “He’ll be fucking pissed, but you know he won’t kill or punish any of you for
this.” he finishes, motioning for him to go in.

Yugyeom stands still, doing nothing but shake his head and wave his hand for Jimin to go instead,
too afraid to do so himself. “You’re his right hand, you’re the only one he definitely wouldn’t kill,
everyone is always at least ten percent at risk. If not twenty or higher.”

“You’ve been working for him for years and you’re still a little bitch.” Jimin insults with a smile
trying to come out. “Just go, leave then. Go check if you’re ok, too, I’ll throw myself under the bus
for you. Again. As always.” he dramatizes.

“Thank you, Park.” he simply taps his shoulder before walking away. Jimin rolls his eyes.

He stands in front of the door for a long second, collecting himself and his thoughts before he
knocks, still a little unsure of how to address and explain the situation when he doesn’t know half
of it. He wasn’t there, he can’t say much.

There’s a low “Come in.”, from the inside and he makes sure to clear his throat before pushing the
door open. He hopes for the conversation to go smoothly, he doesn’t like it when his boss gets
angry, especially when it’s at him. It’s scary.

Jimin closes the door behind himself, standing in silence as he watches the other man write
something carefully on the immense pile of papers in front of him. Jungkook looks up once there’s
only silence and he has to take a double glance at how stiff the other appears to be.

He raises an eyebrow, gives a short hand gesture that is enough for Jimin to know he must start
speaking and so he clears his throat again for good measure. “We have a situation.”

“What is it now?” Jungkook puts his pen down, paying full attention.

“Some of our men got attacked today during their trip to sell products and some shit got stolen and
they have just returned with this information so I’m passing it on so that—”

“Is everyone ok? What the fuck happened?!” he asks, clearly upset, the crease between his
eyebrows so deep Jimin knows for a fact he’s angry. It’s not a surprise.

“No one’s hurt. Not seriously, at least. All men involved are in the medical bay getting checked for
injuries as we speak. Apparently they were outnumbered, but they’re not sure of who it was or why
they did it.” Jimin watches in silence as the other chews down his teeth for two long seconds,
fingers hitting the table as he thinks.

“How much was taken? Was it a new group?” Jungkook asks as he reaches for a new, unused sheet
of paper and his pen to write down whatever information Jimin may have for him.

“Around three thousand worth in materials, but they’re still unsure of how much money was taken.
And yes, it’s plausible that it’s a new group since they couldn’t identify anyone, we don’t know. I
can send a team to survey the area, see if there’s any signatures, traces, anything that can get us
more leads.” Jimin suggests but his boss simply shakes his head, raising a finger.

“Not tonight.” Jungkook concludes. “I’ll arrange that for tomorrow at dawn, it’s safer, they may be
waiting for us to return there today as it’d be the obvious move. Is there anything else that could be
critical? Anything I should know?”

“Not really… would you like me to do anything?”

Jungkook waves a tattooed hand, dismissive. “Just make it clear that I want everyone in the main
salon at six. Sharp. I have to inform the whole team of what’s happening and what may be to
come. Also, I want you to see if they know anything else that could be helpful before then.”

“So you think it will be a big problem?” Jungkook just hums, already opening one of the drawers
in his desk to pull out some files. “We honestly have no fucking clue of who could’ve attacked
them, so it could be a big problem, right, boss?”

“You know the answer to your own question, so why asking me?” he turns the question around
with a cold snap behind it. “It may be a small problem or it may be a huge fucking problem, I don’t
know, we have to be prepared for everything.” Jimin nods, three times. “Just make sure everyone
gathers at six, I have to communicate this to everyone.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now leave, I have some calls to make.” Jungkook instructs, hand already holding his phone.

Jimin bows. “Sure thing, boss.”

│►

When Jimin enters the room a few minutes later, everyone is speaking loudly amongst themselves.
He clears his throat. “Everyone shut it, Mr. Jeon is here.” he informs with a firm tone in his voice,
watching as every single man in the room goes quiet, sitting straighter, waiting for their boss to
make an appearance. Jimin takes a seat as well.

They can hear each one of Jungkook’s steps, the sound of his hard boots echoing in the hall, and
he’s soon entering the room as well. He’s dressed in all black, choker in place and his black hair
parted almost perfectly at the center. He looks just as self-assured as always, leather jacket a little
torn in some spots from past fights, but it fits his image. A little rough, but good.

He leans back onto the table at the center, half sitting down, but posture still respectable enough
for everyone to be as quiet as they could possibly be, unwilling to do anything to anger him any
further than what they assume he already is.

“I’ve been informed that some of you were attacked earlier today.” Jungkook starts, eyes scanning
the room. Some of his men have patched eyebrows, busted lips, and it’s not hard to spot those who
were involved. “As glad as I am to hear there were no fatalities, I’d like to comprehend how a
group so large in power managed to be overwhelmed and outnumbered by a new… lowly group.”
no one dares say a word, just look between themselves, quiet. “A new group that you failed to
gather information from.” he adds.
Jungkook clears his throat, looking down at his black painted nails for a second before he
straightens up, moving away from the table, posture a little more rigid.

“We’re not just some group, we cannot and will not allow someone to even dare take material from
us, so as you can imagine, we’re going to retaliate. Bigger. Stronger. We’re going to take them
down. All of them for their fucking bravery. However, before we consider that, we need more
information. With that being said, unless those here tonight can provide some useful information,
such as a symbol on their jacket, their weaponry, their techniques, I’ll have to send out some of you
to articulate and survey the place tomorrow morning.” Jungkook finishes, looking at them, waiting
for someone to volunteer.

Yugyeom quickly raises his hand. Jungkook motions for him to speak, crossing his arms. “They
had hoods and masks on, we couldn’t see their faces at all, and even if they hadn’t been wearing
that, they used smoke bombs, we were all blinded.” he starts, standing up. “There was gunfire but
also close combat, they picked up a fight with us, so I can’t tell you which one’s their forte, they
may be good with both, sir.” Jungkook nods, weakly.

“How many were there? Any idea at all?”

“No, sir.” Yugyeom shakes his head. “And they didn’t have any significant symbols either, not that
we saw, at least. It was hard to see anything at all.” he finishes.

“Alright.” Jungkook claps his hands once, looking around. “Yugyeom, Jimin, Seokjin, you’ll go
there in the morning to check the place. I want you guys up at ass crack of dawn, you must get
there early and return early.” the three of them nod. “Minseok and you, new guy, I want you two to
stay alert tonight. If you want to sleep, don’t. We don’t know who we’re dealing with so we don’t
know if they’re stupid enough to come here.”

Everyone nods at the orders, no one protesting.

“To the rest of you, get ready. As soon as we have a location, which I expect to be found as soon as
possible, we’re going to act, and you better be ready by then, because as much as I don’t want to
lose anyone present in this room, I can’t let some fucking newbies think they have anything on us.
We’re better than that.”

Jungkook deems his speech as finished, so he gives a short head sign to Jimin, turning around to
leave the room, boots yet again sounding loud with the echo. “Get ready.” he still says before
closing the door again, everyone still quiet.

“You heard him.” Jimin breaks the silence. “Get ready.”

“This may be a war.” Yugyeom adds.

Seokjin hums. “Fun.”

│►

It’s a few days later that Jungkook finds himself at the dinner table with his top men, everyone’s
immersed in some conversation he’s not paying any attention to. He’s not hungry either, mind
running through their plan again, and again, making sure there’s not a single flaw.

It has been thought out many times, planned to perfection, but it’s only reasonable to have
something going wrong, especially when they have such little information. He has to make sure
that doesn’t happen, nothing can go wrong when he has such status.
There can’t be anything else other than success.

For everyone’s sake.

“Are you guys ready for tomorrow?” he tunes back when he hears Seokjin ask. “Tomorrow is
going to be a big day for us.” Jimin hums, swallowing his food before facing their boss.

“Give us a speech for tomorrow, sir.” Jimin suggests.

“Oh, yes, a motivational speech.” Yugyeom adds. “You should, sir.”

“Right.” Jungkook clears his throat, putting his cutlery down. “We’ve been preparing this for a
week. You’ve all done a remarkable job at gathering the information we needed, at preparing
yourselves and I’m positive when I say that we’re all going to show them tomorrow that they have
no idea who they tried to go against.” the men at the table hum in agreement.

Jungkook wipes his mouth with his napkin before continuing.

“I know that a lot of you are on edge and wary of what tomorrow brings, after all, we’re going
there without knowing for sure what we’re going to be faced with. I can’t assure you of your safety,
since I too, am walking into this with as much clarity as you are. What I can assure you of is that
we are here, together and we’ll go there and we will end this together. The person beside you and
in front of you will have your back tomorrow, it’s just another mission. This is my empire, as it is
yours in a way, too, and we run this city. No one challenges that, and tomorrow, we will make sure
that doesn’t change.”

“Amen.” Yugyeom jokes, clapping. Jungkook just sends him a lazy glare. “We’re going to show
them that they can’t just try to challenge you like this, sir.”

“Exactly. Though their bravery is… kind of impressive.”

“Being brave with the wrong people can get you killed, Park, never forget that.” Jungkook points
out with his knife. “They should’ve known better, attacking my men was the same as signing their
death sentence. They were doomed from the moment they even thought of it.”

“It’s going to be a pleasure to end all of them tomorrow.” Seokjin rubs his hands together.

“I don’t want a single man left standing.”

│►

Jungkook aligns his knife with the light, inspecting the blade carefully. It looks sharp, but not
sharp enough, so he places it back against the rock on the table, continuing the swift, skillful
movements. The sound of the blade fills up the quiet basement and Jungkook’s lost in his thoughts
once again, going through everything they’ll have to do.

The adrenaline of being on a mission is an unmatched feeling, but the type from the night before is
the closest thing to it. He enjoys it almost just as much.

He slides his finger tip on the blade, his skin starting to get caught. He hums, satisfied. There’s
four another knives already perfectly sharpened in front of him and one gun he chose just in case of
need. He’s not that much of a gun lover so one is more than enough.

Jungkook’s more than ready for what’s to come, even if unsure of the exact dimensions of the
problem. He’s prepared for whatever it may be. Always.
“Hey, sir.” he hears by his side so he turns his head only to see Jimin standing a few steps away,
surprised that he didn’t hear his right hand approaching. He was very distracted. “How are you
feeling?” Jungkook gives him a brief chuckle paired with a light shrug.

“Confident.” it’s his reply. Short and honest.

“As per usual, I see.” Jimin nods, watching as he carefully slides the blade on the rock in the
perfect angle for it to be as sharp as possible. “I’ve got all of my weapons ready for tomorrow, I’m
just now sharpening the last ones.” he informs with a little smile.

“Good. Has everyone gone to bed? They should be resting, tomorrow’s a big day, we’re not sure of
what we’re facing, we can’t go there tired or sleepy.” Jungkook asks, stopping his movements to
face the other. “Including you, you should also be resting by now.”

“I’m going to bed as soon as I’m done here, sir, just came to ask if you needed anything.” Jimin
explains himself quickly. “And most of them are in bed already. A few are still checking the status
of the armory for tomorrow, making sure everything is right and ready to be used. The night watch
is up as well and… you and I. That’s all. Everyone else is asleep.”

“Hm, ok, thank you for checking on that.” he analyzes his knife again. Almost there. “I’m just
finishing up this one and I’ll retreat too.”

“It’s… ready.”

“I can tell when it’s ready.” Jungkook’s words are clipping but his tone remains the same. “It’s not
quite there already. Not to my liking, at least.”

“Alright.” Jimin simply nods. “Do you think we’ll win tomorrow, boss?” Jungkook’s eyes drift to
him with a little teasing smile, cocking his head to the side.

“Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet, Jimin.” he chuckles. Jimin frowns, almost offended.

“You know I never do, you’ve picked the best right hand.” he defends himself. “In fact, I’m very
confident as well, I know for a fact that our men wouldn’t fail at this, no matter who we’re going
against. We always get what we want.” Jimin says with pride.

“I know.” Jungkook reassures. “Just head upstairs to your room, you have to be fresh in the
morning, I’ll finish up and go rest as well once I’m done.” Jimin bows.

“Night, boss.” the other simply hums again, going back to his knife once Jimin leaves the room.
Angling it with the light again shows him that it’s sharpened enough already, just how he liked
them to be, and he puts it down next to the other ones.

Everything is ready for the mission they will be having in the morning and he can’t wait for it to
be done. Just the thought that someone really had the audacity to do that to them, to him, makes
him seethe. No one dares to do so.

No one even dares to talk back to him. He rules the city — well, half of it — and everyone treats
him accordingly. No one dares to disrespect him. Some new group thinking they can, has him riled
up. He’s going to let it go just like that.

So he’ll end each and every single one of their men, with no remorse whatsoever. He’s Jeon
Jungkook. He’s to be respected by everyone and nothing else.

│►
“No, we’re not interested.” Yoongi says as he puts the phone down, rubbing his eyes before he
goes back to his files. He’s been trying to focus on them for the past hour but calls can never be
ignored as they can be important clients, and he finds himself being interrupted way too often.

He looks up as he hears footsteps approaching. Hoseok gives him a weak, close mouthed smile
before bowing to him. “Hey, Min.” Yoongi gets up right away to walk towards him, inspecting the
cut on his lip. “Something happened and I’m taking full responsibility as I was leading them.”

“I can see that much. What happened?” he asks.

“We were patrolling and handling business when we were attacked. We didn’t see anyone, they
used smoke bombs. They took some guns and about five hundred in cash. No one’s hurt, just some
cuts and bruises.” Hoseok explains, as direct and informative as he knows he must be.

“Any idea of who they were?”

“No clue, Namjoon followed the cars but they crossed to Jeon’s side so we stopped, we didn’t
want to go further and maybe get some war started with the Jeons again.” he scratches the back of
his neck. “We kind of fucked up big time today.”

“You did, yes. I’m glad no one’s hurt, but now you must go and inform Mr. Kim of what
happened.” Yoongi instructs as he sits down, grabbing his papers again. “Thank you for informing
me first, you can go, he’s free right now.”

“What? No.”

“Excuse me?” he looks up with an eyebrow raised.

“Sorry, sir, I just— he’ll be pissed.” Hoseok whispers, tone worried.

“Of course he will.” Yoongi waves his hand, dismissive.

“Min, sir, I’ve told you everything I know… with a purpose.” Hoseok says with the brightest smile
he has and Yoongi just stares for a few seconds. “Please.”

“You want me to tell him?” the other nods. “You know he will ask questions and you’re the one
who holds the answers to them, so why do you want to put me in that compromising position?”

“You know what happens when he has enough of someone and he won’t shoot you right then and
there so I’d say I’d be more in danger than you, Min.” Hoseok explains, persuasive.

“Still, you were there and I wasn’t, if he asks something that I don’t know, he’ll go after you, the
outcome is the exact same, so just grow a pair and go in. It’s just your fucking boss, stop being like
this.” he says, trying not to chuckle. “Go to his office.”

“Dude— You’re his right hand, just pass him the message!”

Yoongi sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Alright, just go check your lip, I can’t fucking
believe you guys just throw me under the bus like this all the damn time.”

“You’re the best, thank you so much, just tell him we really have no fucking clue who it was but
we’re almost sure it may have been a new group, we’ve never seen any of them before… so they
weren’t from Jeon’s group either, we actually considered that for a minute but it wasn’t their style
of fighting… I don’t know, can’t be too certain.”
“Ok, I’ll go talk to him. You, go take care of that cut on your lip and make sure everyone’s really
ok, if there’s anything to add, just come to me, alright?”

“For sure.” Yoongi gives him a head nod before heading towards the door no one really dares to
approach on a bad day. He knocks twice, waiting for any sign that he can open it.

“Come in.” and so he does, opening the door without much noise.

Yoongi bows as soon as he finds himself inside the office, bowing even though his boss didn’t even
lift his head to face him. He stands by the door, waiting for further confirmation that he can,
indeed, speak, and Taehyung finally looks up as he finishes typing away in his computer.

He receives a nod and a wave for him to go on so he clears his throat. “Something happened, it’s
important and you’re not going to be happy, sir.” he informs.

Taehyung raises an eyebrow, resting back on his chair. “Continue.”

“Some of our men were attacked while patrolling today, they have no idea who did it, but around
five thousand in cash was taken alongside some guns.” Taehyung rubs his temple for a long
second, closing his eyes as his jaw sets. Yoongi gulps.

“Who the fuck was in charge and incompetent enough to allow that to happen?” his voice sounds
as assertive as always but his posture remains relaxed, back still resting against his chair giving
him an almost unbothered look. Yoongi knows better. He’s not unbothered, he’s fuming.

“I have no idea.” Yoongi lies.

“Then you shouldn’t come here without the answers I want, Min.” Taehyung says as he straightens
up, tattooed hand punching the table without much strength before he closes his laptop. “Have
they been caught? Did you get rid of them already?”

“No, sir, but Namjoon followed the car until it crossed to Jeon’s side so they figured it would be
better to only act under your command. If they went on, it could’ve sparked a new problem
between us and the Jeons and we know you don’t want that.”

“Of course I don’t, that guy’s fucking insufferable.” Taehyung looks away for a second, thinking
of the new information over. “How sure are we that it wasn’t them? It may be Jeon trying to look
for trouble for himself, he never knows when to give up.”

“They said whoever attacked them had unfamiliar techniques, sir, the men there are affirmative
that they don’t know who it was but that it really wasn’t the Jeons. Or so they think.” Yoongi
explains, feeling a little trapped as he doesn’t know anything for sure given he wasn’t present as it
happened. “I’ve never fought the Jeons myself and never even met Jeon himself so I don’t really
know what they’d be like but I trust our team.”

“The Jeons are very physical, they don’t use guns that much.” he clarifies. “Jeon is just about the
same, he doesn’t like guns. We have some men that have worked for them before, you must know
what they say about him already.”

“I’ve only heard he’s… not to say nicer, but nicer. Sir.” Taehyung laughs quietly, a little mocking
chuckle. “Only with his men, though. I heard he has a good relationship with his workers.”

“I didn’t get to where I am today by being nice. Besides, I do think he’s stupid but I doubt he’d be
stupid enough to steal shit from us, so we’ll have to figure out who the fuck had the audacity to
steal shit from us—”
“Can I interrupt, sir? It’s a very pertinent question.” Taehyung gestures for him to go on. “Can we
act on it? If it’s a group from Jeon’s side? We’re not supposed to surpass, Jeon may think we’re
trying to start something against him…”

“We have to surpass if he’s unable to fucking control these rookies that think they’ll get
somewhere. If they think we’re trying to attack, then it will be their loss as they will come here to
buy an unnecessary war.” he says as he rests back on his chair. “We’ll do whatever necessary to
make the attackers pay for even trying to harm us.”

“Alright.” Yoongi nods. “Do you want me to do anything? Send any men to see what we can find
in the spot it happened? Maybe try to find the cars?”

Taehyung just tuts. “Tell them to gather in thirty minutes, I want to talk to everyone.”

“Of course.” he bows. An instruction is final and is also a sign for him to leave, so he simply heads
back to the door, leaving the office. Hoseok is standing just a few feet away. “Now, what are you
doing?” Yoongi asks. “What are you here to see?”

“I’m here to ask how did it go, did he get too mad?”

“Surprisingly no, but he does wants to meet everyone in thirty minutes. Be of use and spread the
message, he wants everyone present. We’re going to find whoever attacked us and make them pay
for it.” Yoongi informs, walking past him before turning around. “And next time, you’re the one
talking to him, he hates not having all the information he needs.”

“Alright, I’ll owe you one, Min.” Hoseok smiles.

“Psh.”

│►

Yoongi watches as the room goes quiet once the door opens, Taehyung fixing his suit just the
slightest as he walks in, grey hair shining under the ceiling lights. He walks until he’s standing in
front of all of them, chin high up and posture looking just as self-assured as per usual.

“Who was there?” he asks, some hands going up in response. “Give me a single reason as to why I
should spare any of you for getting my material and my money stolen.” Taehyung watches as his
men share a concerned look, some even trying to lower their hands and go unnoticed.

“We’re the only ones who would be able to recognize the culprits.” one of them says with a little
chuckle that has Taehyung raising an eyebrow.

“Stand up.” the man is quick to obey. “Name?”

“It’s— uh, it’s Minjae, sir.”

“So, Minjae, are you going to play smart after causing me such hassle or will you sit the fuck down
and learn your place?” the latter is quick to sit back down. “Figured.” he claps his hands together.
“I need information about what you saw, anything could be useful.”

Someone gets up to speak. “They’re from Jeon’s side—”

“I know that already. If you simply allowed me to lose over five thousand in material, taken from
an unfamiliar group without any of you being able to give me just a simple fucking indication as to
who they were, then your lives aren’t beneficial to me at all. I’d suggest someone starts speaking.”
his tone is enough for three men to stand up at the same time.

“They were pretty physical but they stole guns so we can count on them possibly being good with
both, fights and weapons.” one of them says.

“And— And the smoke bombs, they used smoke bombs.” another one points out.

“They’re also most— most definitely a new group, as no one in their right mind would go against
you, sir.” Hoseok gives him a little tense smile.

“Did any of you see anything significant? A symbol, a logo, anything?”

“No, sir… we couldn’t see because of the smoke, but I’m pretty confident when I say there were no
logos or symbols on their clothing..” Hoseok adds. Taehyung nods, his jaw set. They all sit down
again, waiting for him to go on.

“Looks like we’ll be retaliating half blinded then. Hoseok, Yoongi and Namjoon, tomorrow you’ll
be returning to the place the attack happened. I want hints, I want tire prints, I want anything you
can get me. I want a location and if I were you I wouldn’t come back empty handed. I want
something on my desk as you return, whatever it is.”

“Yes, sir.” they say in unison.

“The rest of you, start preparing yourselves. Extra training if you need it, we’ll be retaliating very
soon. As soon as I get a location, we’re going to do something about this. Prepare to run in blind if
we have to. No one dares to attempt to overrun me and gets to live to tell the tale.” he fixes his
blazer. “This meeting is over but if any of you remembers anything, feel free to come to my office.
Don’t come with bullshit that I don’t need.” Taehyung informs.

“Yes, sir.” he waits as all of them get up to show him a bow before he walks out of the room,
everyone keeping quiet until the door is closed again. “So… that went better than expected.”

“Because it’s just some newbies, duh, we can k—”

“You really don’t learn shit, do you?” Yoongi interrupts. “Never underestimate a target, you make
yourself weaker. Try and learn something before you get yourself killed out there.” he tsks before
heading towards the door. “And you heard the man, prepare yourselves, we have no idea what
we’re getting into.”

│►

Taehyung clears his throat as he enters the dining room, his men at the table getting up from their
seats to bow respectfully to him. He gives them a short nod of the head and they sit back down,
resuming their dinner.

His plate is already waiting and he’s not even hungry, but he still sits down, taking a quick sip from
his wine. Not too much as he doesn’t like nor allow drinking the night before a mission.

He eyes his closest men, the ones living in his house, how they eat in silence, two of them chatting
quietly over something he’s absolutely not interested on.

“Are you guys ready for tomorrow?” Namjoon asks after a while, putting his chopsticks down as
he deems his meal as over. “It’s going to be an interesting day.”

“I wouldn’t call it interesting.” Hoseok points out. “Eventful, yes, though.” he hums. “We’re going
there with our eyes blindfolded.”

“Your eyes aren’t blindfolded and neither are your hands tied, are they?” Taehyung raises an
eyebrow as Yoongi speaks and settles for simply sipping more of his red wine. “We’ve been
preparing for over a week, I know we’ll rock that shit, remember who you’re working for, we
don’t half ass anything and we most certainly won’t walk out of there with a loss under our belt. So
be ready, and don’t speak like that.”

Namjoon is quick to slap the back of Hoseok’s head.

“Speaking too much will get you in trouble one day.” Taehyung warns, glass cup still in hand. “If
you don’t feel up for the job, you can always back out. Though you know what that means.” he
offers him the fakest smile possible and Hoseok nods.

“I didn’t mean it like that, sir. I’m as ready as everyone else in the team, I just meant that we don’t
have that much information.” their boss just hums, putting his glass down. “We’ll obviously
succeed.”

“I pride myself on not making mistakes, so don’t make me start thinking promoting you was my
first one.” he gets up. “Rest well tonight, all of you. Tomorrow will be an important day, you either
walk out of there alive or you don’t. Keep that in mind.”

They’re all quiet as Taehyung walks out and Yoongi tsks. “You’re so dumb, I swear to God.” he
pinches the bridge of his nose. “Do you want to end up fired?”

“We die to be fired—”

“Exactly.” Yoongi raises an eyebrow.

“It’s not on purpose, ok, I just meant something else than what you guys processed, you know I
have trouble explaining myself. Besides, Mr. Kim makes me feel nervous as shit when he’s in the
room, I feel like I could piss myself every time he talks me down.” Hoseok explains, running a
hand over his face. “I’m ready for tomorrow, more than ready, I want to end some motherfuckers, I
just meant— You get it.”

“Just watch your words next time, if you seem unprepared, you’re not useful.” Namjoon points out.
“It’s been over a year of you working here and you still make rookie mistakes, I don’t want you to
die or whatever, man.”

“Just shut up.” Yoongi interrupts. “We’re going to nail tomorrow, everyone’s more than ready so
act like that and don’t let him think otherwise.” he says. “We’re going to teach that fucking new
team a lesson that they very much deserve.”

“It’s going to be so much fun.” Hoseok claps his hands.

“It might if we all walk out alive.” Namjoon adds.

Yoongi tuts. “We have to.”

│►

Taehyung disassembles his gun, spraying it with his cleaning product, giving it a few seconds
before grabbing a cloth, already dirty with oil, to scrub down each part of his gun. He likes that
process, it takes some time but he’s able to stay quiet, on his own, focused on nothing but getting
his guns ready. It’s almost therapeutic.
He grabs a long cotton tip, aligning his gun with the light to be able to see properly and get into
every little spot and crevice, his hand delicate and knowing. He’s done that so many times before,
he could do it relying on just muscle memory.

The following day can go many ways, he’s not sure of what to expect himself but one thing he
knows for sure, he’s more than ready to get the mission done and teach them their place. He
doesn’t like to be tested, let alone actually stolen from.

He could never let that pass.

There’s a faint knocking on the door and he turns to see Yoongi standing by the entrance to the
basement. “Can I come in?” he asks, waiting for confirmation.

“Sure.” Taehyung nods, eyes drifting back to the gun he’s cleaning thoroughly. “What is it?”

“I was just checking if everyone has retreated. You’re the only one up.” he points out, leaning on
the table. “I just finished cleaning my guns too.”

“Ready for tomorrow?” his boss asks.

“Always.”

“Good.” Taehyung hums. “I know you are.” they both fall silent, Taehyung still cleaning his gun
as Yoongi simply observes his movements, curious and interested. There’s always place to learn
and he does that by watching.

“Sir?” he calls after a while. “We’ll be going there blindly tomorrow and… and in the eventuality
of something happening, I want to say that—”

“There’s no such option.” the other quickly interrupts, tone firm, and Yoongi knows not to bring it
up again. He knows there’s no place for mistakes, but they’re not so sure of what they’re going up
against. They can’t be so sure that everything will be ok.

“I’ll go rest now. You should go too.” Yoongi says. “Don’t stay up too late.” he advises as he pats
Taehyung’s shoulder before bowing. “Goodnight, boss.” Yoongi offers with a smile.

“Night, Min.” Taehyung’s tone is a little lighter then, his right hand leaving the room. He finds
himself alone again in the basement, putting his gun back together. He eyes the gun as it’s back to
its original form and he loads it with bullets until it’s filled, putting it back down on the table next
to the other two.

He’ll use them on everyone that steps in front of him tomorrow. On everyone that dared cross his
path. Even if they’re from the Jeons, even if it was Jeon himself. Whoever it was, dared take from
him, from his possessions, and for every crime there’s a penance.

He’ll make sure of that.

│►

Taehyung fixes his earpiece, checking his gun one last time. He looks around the quiet van, the
men present all quietly staring at their feet, ready for what’s to come. “Any final encouraging
words, boss?” Yoongi asks, everyone lifting their eyes to face them.

He cocks his gun, getting it ready before humming. “Fuck this up and you’ll wish you didn’t.” his
men smile with a shake of the head. They’re used to his sharp, honest words.
“We won’t fuck this up, sir.” Namjoon guarantees. Taehyung just gives him a knowing look and a
raise of the eyebrow, looking back down at his guns, securing two of them on his belt for easy
access, keeping the other in hand.

“This is going to be fun.” another one says.

“Remember.” Yoongi starts, looking around. “Keep your eyes well open.”

“Remember to protect those next to you, keep your eyes open and guns ready. But I don’t need to
tell you any of this, you’re all working for me for a reason and you already know what you must
do.” they all nod. “Get ready.” he finishes once he feels the van coming to a stop and soon there’s
too taps on the side, indicating that they’ve arrived at the location.

They all cock their guns, leaving the car one after the other. Taehyung fixes his bandana to keep
his hair out of the way, watching as his men all exit the vans quietly. He just gives them a quick
hand gesture so they know to start approaching the place, everyone taking the positions they’re
already used to take.

Taehyung keeps his gun down but ready as he follows up close, attentive of his surroundings. His
feet don’t stop or lose their fast pace until he finds himself by the warehouse, back against the wall,
searching for a window to look into.

“Sir, I see movement at six o’clock, just one man so far.” one of them informs, his voice right to
Taehyung’s ear and he touches his earpiece to speak.

“Where are you positioned?” he asks, voice low.

“Wait, I don’t think it’s a target.” Yoongi interrupts. “Is it one of us?”

Taehyung tsks at the lack of information, walking further, some of his men following him up close.
“If it’s not one of us, take them down before he can warn those inside.” Taehyung instructs,
peeking through the first window he finds. He can’t see anything as it’s covered by bookshelves.
He resumes walking.

“They’re not armed, I don’t think.” someone else adds. “I can’t see any guns but they have a mask,
sir, I don’t think it’s one of us, I’ll take them d—”

“Uh.” Namjoon clears his throat. “I know who that is.”

“Namjoon, you know I don’t have the fucking patience for this, just speak.” he says, tone clipped
and void of patience to wait for proper answers. “Take down whoever it is, don’t waste our time or
risk us being caught.” Taehyung orders.

“You won’t like this, sir.”

“Who is it?” Taehyung asks then, though he doesn’t need a reply as he himself sees the
approaching man. “He’s most definitely not unarmed, don’t even bat an eye.” he warns, walking
towards the newcomer as his men point their guns towards him.

Jungkook just raises an eyebrow, not halting until he’s standing about five steps away from
Taehyung. “My men have all of you in their target point, I wouldn’t dare if I were you.” he says,
loud for the others behind them but none of them move from their defensive position. “Now you,
the fuck are you doing here? Get the hell out and take all of them, Kim.”

Taehyung chuckles in disbelief. “I could ask you the same question, Jeon. I’m here cleaning up
after your own incompetence on this side. How about you guys head on your way back and let me
deal with this problem, as per usual?” he points, tone condescending.

“I think there’s a small little detail slipping your mind.” Jungkook says with a cynical smile as he
touches his own temple twice. “It’s our right to shoot every single one of you down the second you
step a fucking foot on my side, give me one solid reason as to why I shouldn’t order my men to
pull their triggers right this second.” his smile drops into a serious expression, challenging.

“Maybe because some rats from this side went over and raided an outpost of mine. I wouldn’t be
here if I didn’t have to, Jeon, but you and I both know I can’t let this shit slide. If I don’t end up
with them dead, I don’t mind you and your own filling their places.” Taehyung threatens, uncaring.
“Run along, leave before I lose my patience.”

“We were attacked by them too, I’m here for a fucking reason, or—” he stops, looking to the side
as he hears cars rapidly driving away and soon Jimin is running towards him, stopping as he
notices it’s too late. They stand in silence, fists balling up, the targets escaping before their eyes.

“Yeah… they must’ve heard the commotion here.” Jimin says, scratching the back of his neck as
he stands a few feet away from Jungkook, who bites down his teeth, posture changing with anger.
“I was coming in to let you know that and—”

“Great fucking job, Kim. This is what happens when you don’t leave shit alone when you have to.”
he says, louder now. “You really had to come and fuck everything up, didn’t you? Why couldn’t
you stay in your place?”

“Control your fucking problems so that they don’t become mine and this wouldn’t happen. I most
certainly wish I didn’t have to waste my time with this, but I do, since you can’t handle anything on
your own.” Taehyung spits.

“You really think that it’s ok for you to just come and think you can do anything on my side
without even confronting me? You self-righteous prick, you’re the only fucking rats here right
now and you’re really not in any place to shift blame, I can end you all right now.” he says, angry,
and Taehyung takes a step further, patience wearing thin.

Jungkook’s not scared of him, he concludes soon enough, as the aforementioned takes a step closer
too, eyes unwavering, chest puffed out; challenging, ready.

“Boss, they’re gone, let’s not waste our time with them.” Yoongi speaks loud enough for them to
hear from where he stands a few meters away.

“Go back, Kim, this isn’t your place.” Jungkook warns.

Taehyung spits to the grass on his side. “Quiet down on the bitching, Jeon, it’ll get you
compromised and killed one day.” he taunts.

Jungkook chuckles. “I’d love to see you try that.”

Taehyung tsks, signaling for his men to retreat, everyone running back to the vans and Taehyung
starts walking away himself. “You shouldn’t try your luck, Jeon.” he gives a head nod, glaring at
him while walking back rather than turning around.

Never turn your back to a target, first rule.

Especially not with someone as sneaky as Jeon Jungkook.

Jimin clears his throat. “Do we—” Jungkook just raises his hand to quiet him, eyes never leaving
Taehyung’s until he’s inside his car, banging the door. Only then does he stare at the shorter man
who stays quiet, waiting for instructions.

“Let’s head back.” it’s the only thing he says before heading to the car.

The drive is silent, at least for the most of it. Jimin watches from the passenger seat as Jungkook
grips the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles turn white and he knows all too well the other is
fuming. Still, “Are you mad?” he asks, just to be sure. Jungkook shakes his head once.

“I’m not mad.” he says, tone clipped.

Jimin turns to the men sitting in the back. “He’s so mad.” Jungkook glares at him the same second,
eyes darker, and Jimin knows better than to anger him further, so he returns to his seat, thinking
about what to say to make it better. “Ultimately, we didn’t exactly fail the mission, it was
interrupted, don’t be pissed at the group, we—”

“Jimin, shut the fuck up.” Jungkook warns.

“Ok.” he puckers his lips, looking out the window. Jungkook’s not a very approachable person
when he’s mad but Jimin rarely lets himself be intimidated, he always tries to make some
conversation and try to make things better, even if it never really works out.

Everyone stays quiet the rest of the way, as the warehouse isn’t as far away from their place, and
Jimin doesn’t try to say anything else, letting silence do the job, giving his boss the space to be
angry, as he himself is.

The frown between Jungkook’s eyebrows is enough indicator that he’s fuming.

He slows down once they reach the block of houses, parking in front of the biggest one. They all
get out of the car quickly, not wanting to make Jungkook wait, and the man just walks away after
locking it. They trail after him, the other vans approaching close by.

Jimin sticks to his friends, all following Jungkook with a distance they deem as safe, watching him
get into his office and slam the door so hard they’re sure those outside could hear. They exchange
concerned looks, knowing they won’t want to be in his radar in the next few hours.

“Is he mad at us?” Yugyeom asks, worried.

“I don’t know.” Seokjin shrugs. “You should go check.” he goes on, pushing Jimin lightly by the
shoulder. “Make sure he’s not about to fire everyone.”

“I’m not going in there—”

“You’re the right hand, just go in.” Yugyeom pushes him too. “Mr. Jeon just had his mission
ruined by the guy he hates the most, if you don’t go there, he’s most probably going to let out on
everyone. Why would we want that when he can just let out on you?” he smiles.

“So you want me to die?” Jimin raises an eyebrow.

“Die for each other… isn’t that our second rule?” Seokjin smiles just as much. “I’d rather have you
dying than me dying, anyway, so yes, go on.”

“What kind of fuck—”

“Just go!” they say at the same time.

“Fine, alright.” Jimin gives up, throwing his hands in the air before walking up to the door. He
sends them both a glare before quietly saying a prayer for himself. Jimin knocks on the door, his
hand a little shaky. “Boss?” he calls. There’s the sound of something smashing against the wall and
he jumps in place but gathers himself to open the door and peek his head inside, nonetheless.
“Boss…?” his voice comes out almost squeaky.

“Come back!” he hears Seokjin calling but ignores. “Jimin, abort, abort, return.”

“What do you want?” Jungkook asks, voice loud. “Can’t you see I’m busy?!” there’s another vase
in his hand and Jimin gulps.

“I-I’m coming in, okay, please don’t throw that at me.” he steps inside, closing the door behind
himself quietly. “Are you ok?” Jimin asks, eyeing him up and down. Jungkook still looks furious,
he’s gripping the vase so hard it’s a second away from breaking under his strength. The man just
gives him a nasty look. “I’ll take that as a no.”

Jungkook tries to even out his own breathing as Jimin carefully takes the vase from his hand,
putting it down on the desk. He just walks around to sit himself on his chair, hands on his temples,
trying not to yell at Jimin over something he didn’t even do himself.

“So, you’re really pissed.”

“I’m not.”

“I think there’s steam com—” Jungkook looks up, glaring. “You’re not, you’re absolutely right,
what am I even saying...” he smiles, nodding multiple times. Jimin lets the silence fill up the room,
it’s not very comfortable but he prefers silence over his boss’ yelling, so he just fiddles with his
fingers for a few seconds.

Until he can’t hold it anymore.

“Are you mad at us or…?” he asks, tentative, ready to be yelled at.

Jungkook punches his desk. “I’m mad at that fucking idiot, who does he think he is to come to my
fucking side of town and ruin the plan we worked on for over a week?!” he says, anger coming
back to him and Jimin blinks at the sudden outburst.

Jimin rocks on his heels, clasping his hands. “As your right hand is it my job to calm you down so
do you want to talk about it?” he asks.

“Fuck no.” Jungkook quickly denies.

“Ok.” silence fills up the room yet again and Jimin lets his eyes wander for a little until they stop
by the window. “The weather is nice today, don’t you think?”

Jungkook rubs his eyes. “Park, what the fuck are you trying to do?”

“I’m trying to help you out, chief.” he tries.

“How many times have I told you not to call me that?!” Jimin regrets his words right away.
Jungkook’s still too mad to be humorous, he’s seriously defying his luck. “You make me want to
fire you every single damn fucking day.” Jimin lets out a shaky, nervous laugh.
“You certainly don’t want to do that because you'd have to kill me to fire me.” Jungkook just gives
him another look. “Ok, understood, sir.”

Jungkook tugs at his hair. “They’re now going to change their locations and we’ll have to go
through this shit again, I’m so fucking mad.” he finally admits. “They’re probably smart enough to
know that they must hide better now, they’ll be more cautious with what they do, this is going to
be a shit job, I can’t— I’ve never wanted to slice someone’s throat this hard.”

“I could tell…” Jimin scratches the back of his head. “I actually thought one of you was going to
pull their gun out and just…” he gestures.

“And we were so damn unprepared for that, everyone had their guns pointed at me and none of
you were around. If he crossed a line, if he had shot me, I’d be dead before you even knew it. We
have to fucking step up, we have to be more cautious, we have to better our approaches, we must
learn from mistakes like these, mistakes a group in our position should never even think about
making.” Jimin blinks, Jungkook seemingly angrier by the second. That’s not how that was
supposed to go. He wants to help making it better.

“In our defense, sir, we had no idea of knowing Kim Taehyung was going to be there.” he tries,
scratching the back of his neck. “He was invading our territory.”

Jungkook pulls his own hair, eyes on his desk, silent. Until he looks up. “Leave my office.”

“I promise I’ll think of something, I won’t let you down.”

“Just leave.” Jimin nods. “Don’t bother me again today.”

│►

Yoongi enters Taehyung’s office after knocking twice, looking at him as if asking for permission
to stay. His boss simply waves a hand for him to go in, Yoongi nodding as he closes the door again.
“Should I order the men to do something?” he asks.

“Not yet, I have to think.” Taehyung’s voice sounds more assertive than usual and Yoongi is quick
to pick up on the fact that he’s angry. He wasn’t expecting anything else, either way.

“What are your thoughts, sir?” Yoongi walks closer until he’s sitting across from Taehyung. His
boss is great at masking his emotions but Yoongi isn’t dumb, he knows Taehyung is fuming on the
inside. Understandably so. “I just want to try to help you with whatever it may be.”

Taehyung taps his desk with his finger multiple times as he goes over something in his head before
looking up, gaze unwavering. “We need to take Jeon down first.” Yoongi’s eyes grow bigger in
surprise, taking a moment to even process his words.

“We need to do what?” he lets his confusion be known. “We can’t go to them just as much as they
can’t come to us, sir, you know that…”

“How do we know they’re not working with these newbies?” he asks, eyebrow raised.

“Because… Jeon said they were attacked too…?” Yoongi tries.

“And how do we know, Min?” Taehyung throws again. “We saw them in the same location and
the first thing he did was confront us long enough for the others to make an escape. Think about it,
he got in the way and left the moment the others did too, he made the newbies be able to flee. Are
you sure you want to leave us at risk trusting his word?”
Yoongi looks down at the desk, thinking it over. “With all due respect, Jeon didn’t get to his place
for being stupid so I don’t think he’d be the one to make that mistake, he knows we’d come for
him and we have more men than he does, he’d be outnumbered.”

“Wouldn’t be outnumbered if he’s working with these new guys.” Taehyung finishes his point,
letting the other take a new moment to think it over. Yoongi nods after a few seconds. That makes
sense, at least makes enough sense.

“So what’s the plan?” he asks.

“Kill Jeon Jungkook before we get to the new group.” Yoongi hums in acknowledgment.

“And his men?”

“Cut the head off of a snake and the body dies, Min. I doubt there’s one single man in there willing
to avenge him by going against us; the ones smart enough have left for our group, no one would
step in his shoes.” Yoongi smirks. Taehyung rests back in his chair. “I’m so fucking mad, I just
want his head right now.”

“Will you keep it?” Yoongi asks with a quiet laugh.

“Hm, maybe, could make a good vase.” Taehyung looks around. “Or just simply a nice trophy on
my shelves.” he shrugs. “Either way, that’s what we’re doing. We kill him, his men stop being a
problem, we make sure he’s not coming against us… then we move to these new guys and make
them pay for what they did.”

“So… how do you propose we perform this?”

“Next time we see him, we don’t hesitate, I’m thinking about going to them and get the deed done,
but I have to think it over more carefully. Don’t let the other men know yet, besides, I want it to be
my shot, leader to leader.” he smirks. “We’ll give his men a chance to surrender and join us, give
us more numbers, if they don’t want to, our guns outweigh their… what the fuck do they even
use?”

“Uh… they’re known for being extremely skilled at fighting and Jeon has his knives besides his
fists.” Taehyung lets out a mean, humorless laugh.

“This is going to be an easy task, I reckon. Fists don’t stop bullets, nor do knives ricochet them,
he’s truly as stupid as he looks.” he chuckles. “Now leave, I need to think.”

“Call me if you need someone to yell at, sir.” Yoongi says as he gets up, bowing. “I know just how
pissed you can get and we don’t want you breaking things.”

“And I am, so leave, I don’t want to be bothered the rest of the day unless it’s something of great
importance.” Taehyung gestures for him to leave.

“Sure thing, sir.”

│►

The second Jimin’s eyes open in the morning, he’s jumping out of the bed and rushing to put on the
first set of sweatpants and tee shirt he pulls from his wardrobe. He doesn’t even bother putting on
shoes, leaving his bedroom barefoot.

“Where the hell are you running to at seven in the morning?” Seokjin asks as he goes up the stairs
Jimin runs down. He has a coffee mug in his hands, slippers on his feet, hair still all over the place.
“Did someone piss on your bed for you to get up so early?”

“Is Mr. Jeon awake?” he asks, ignoring his questions.

“Yeah. He’s in his office, I saw him walking there when I went to make my coffee… why?” Jimin
nods, trying to resume his run but the other grabs his forearm. “What’s going on? Why are you
running to him? Did something happen?”

“I had the best idea when I woke up and I have to tell him…” Jimin starts. “Though I’m sure he’s
going to kill me once he hears it, I really need to tell him.”

“Kill you? Why?” Seokjin tilts his head. “Do tell me.”

“It’s uh… compromising. In a way.” Jimin says as he scratches the back of his neck. “I think he’s
going to hate the idea but I’ll pitch it anyways.”

“Park… you know him well enough to know that if he’s going to hate it, then you most likely
shouldn’t share your magnificent idea.” Seokjin points out, gesturing with his free hand. “Is it that
important or can you just… not?”

“It is very important. Besides, I have a gut feeling, so excuse me, I have points to make…” Jimin
pats his back as he resumes his run down the stairs and Seokjin sighs, taking a sip from his coffee
before he continues to go back to his room.

Jimin stops as he reaches Jungkook’s door, knocking on it softly. So softly he gets no response to
it. Jungkook didn’t even hear it. “Oh God please stay by my side through this.” he prays to a force
he doesn’t even believe in, hands clasped together, before he tries knocking again, this time harder.
He hits the door with his knuckles just twice.

“I’m busy.” he hears.

“Oh fuck.” Jimin whispers. “It’s really important, sir.” he says, loud enough for it to be heard on
the inside. “It’s Jimin.” he decides it’s best to add.

He’s pretty sure he hears a sigh before a simple, “Come in.”

So he goes in.

Jungkook’s already looking up, waiting for him to be quick to say whatever he has to say and
leave, but Jimin closes the door and walks closer, only stopping when he’s sitting in front of him.
Then he clears his throat. “I have a suggestion.” he states.

“What is it this time?”

“So…” he clears his throat. “You rule this side of the city, right? You say what can and can’t be
done, you control everything and all, no one defies you and—”

“Jimin, I don’t have much time, please just go straight to the point.” Jungkook interrupts, eyes
falling to the sheets of paper he was reading before Jimin knocked on the door. He can only hope
Jimin will be brief as he’s still angry and he still has a headache from the day before.

“Ok. Uh, where was I— you rule this side yes, yes, and someone else rules the other.” Jungkook
raises an eyebrow. “These newbies are creating problems to the both of you…” he gesture
mindlessly around. “It’s… uh, a common problem… do you see where I’m going with this?”
“You can walk back out.” Jungkook gives him a quick wave of the hand, grabbing his papers.

“No, please allow me to support my idea.” he puts his hands down on the table. Trying to get
Jungkook’s attention back. “While you were having that staring contest with, uh, him, I watched
the newbies leave. Do you know how many vehicles there were? Sixteen. That’s easily around a
hundred people by the size of it… we took six cars, Kim had eight. Both groups were walking into
a slaughterhouse, we underestimated these newbies. I don’t think we can handle them on our own,
sir, we’ll be outnumbered and just taken down.”

Jungkook looks at him for a longer second after he’s done before scoffing. “If you’re scared, you
can always not fucking go.” it’s what he says. Jimin frowns.

“That’s really not the point, boss, I promise that it’s not being scared or fearing death or whatever.
The point is, I would die. And so would you. And honestly, so would he who we shall not name
and his crew, we have to think smarter.” Jimin goes on, breathing in before he carefully grabs the
papers from Jungkook’s hands to put them down.

“This city has been divided for years, our fathers—”

“Your fathers are dead, boss.” he says, tentative.

Jungkook rubs his temples. “I also fucking hate his guts so I’m not going to work with him.”

“Neither of you want these people around, and neither of you want your people to die either. As...
As leaders, if I may, you should put the safety of your people first, likes and dislikes second.
Grudges third. At least in this situation where the mission would be fucked if we went in with what
we have right now. We need men, we need numbers. We can have them.”

Jungkook clenches his jaw. “I’m not asking him for help.”

“It’s not asking for help, though… it’s joining forces for a common interest that will have you both
killed if you try solving it separately… Just until we take those fucking newbies out. Think about
it, with both groups it would be faster to come up with a plan, faster to get it done and we’d go
separate ways soon enough, you know we would.” Jimin gestures around, trying to sound as
convincing as possible.

“Do you have any idea of the humiliation if he says no?”

“It will be humiliating for him when he sends his people in there to die. We don’t really have other
option if we want to get this done, boss. I hate him just as much as you do so you know I wouldn’t
just suggest this if I wasn’t sure it’s the only way.” Jungkook sighs.

“I’m ready to put a knife in his throat right now, right this second, and you want me to ponder
shaking his hand? I don’t know if you’re joking or actually gone insane.” he points out with a dry
chuckle. Jimin purses his lips.

“You can… fist bump on it?”

“You have four seconds to get out of my office.” Jungkook gets his papers back. “I need to think,
so get the hell out, go to bed or something, it’s still early.”

“I will.” Jimin smiles, getting up. “Think well.”

A few minutes go by, maybe even a full hour, before Jungkook puts his papers down as he can’t
focus any longer, Jimin’s words bothering him too much. He did make solid, true points that
Jungkook, as the leader, can’t just ignore and it’s giving him a headache that he even has to
consider such a thing with an enemy.

The chances of getting things done by himself, backed up by no more than his own men, are too
low and he can’t possibly risk getting all of them killed. But he can’t just not do anything about it
either, so justice has to be made, one way or the other.

Turning to someone he despises is terrible for his ego, just the thought is already bruising it and he
seriously wishes there were other options. But Jimin is right. There are no other options. He can
either let the new group free with what they pulled on him or agree to work with the enemy.

His father’s wish would be completely disrespected like that. He’s grown up knowing the Kims
can’t even be allowed to speak to them, knowing there can never be peace between the two groups,
and he knows Taehyung has grown to the same mindset.

He’d never agree to anything Jungkook suggested.

Jungkook’s unsure if he’d even be allowed in the house without a bullet going through him.

He sighs, rubbing his eyes. What’s the point of a rivalry if they’re both dead?

The Kims were attacked just as much as he himself was and if they continue losing their material,
it will weaken them. Doing nothing about it will take their power away, practically hand it to the
new group if they don’t put them in their place.

He’d like to say Jimin wasn’t right.

That there are other ways to go about it.

But the more he thinks about it, the righter Jimin sounds.

│►

“May I come in?” Yoongi asks by the door, his head peeking inside. Taehyung just gives him a
wave of the hand. “I have something for you… something you may not like.” that grants him a
raise of the eyebrow.

“What is it?” he asks, looking away from the screen of his laptop. A file is placed on his desk and
he picks it up, seeing a picture of a car. “What am I looking at?”

“One of our men sent me that picture just two minutes ago and I printed it for you to see it clearly.
Jeon just drove into our side.” Taehyung stiffens. “Just one car, though, and the seats on the back
were empty so it’s just him and whoever that is on the passenger seat, we can’t really tell who it is,
I have no clue.”

“It’s probably his puppet, that short one.” he puts the picture back down. “Whoever sent you that
picture, I hope they’re following him.”

“They are. Up close.” Yoongi nods. “What do you think they’re doing here? They know way too
well they can’t just come in… business? You think?”

“Who the fuck knows with that guy.” Taehyung runs a hand through his hair. “Inform me if and
when you figure out what he’s trying to do on our side.” his eyes drift back to his laptop. “Tell the
man following him that if he kills Jeon, he’ll get a promotion.”
Yoongi chuckles. “Don’t you think this can be proof to your suspicions, though? That maybe he
really is working with the other group…? He’s never crossed to our side, maybe he’s here… for a
reason.” he tries. “He may come to attack you.”

“We need to think about this and think well. There may be a way to kill two birds with one stone.”
Taehyung looks back at him, clasping his hands together. “Jeon and the newbies. If they’re
working together, they’ll end up being at the same place… mix in the fact that the only weapons
they like to use is their stupid fucking hands, how easy would it be?”

Yoongi smirks. “I like that plan. We must think.”

“I really want that vase.” Taehyung offers a little smile, Yoongi laughing. “I’ve even thought of
where to put it already, his head is going on that shelf right there.” he points.

“What flowers are you planting?” Taehyung shrugs.

“I’m unsure.” Yoongi shakes his head. “Shooting him down will be the most pleasant thing I’ll
ever do. Our fathers fought for years, trying to take the other down, being able to do that will really
set the tone for once and for all. No more Jeons.”

“Your father was a nice boss to serve too, it’s a shame he’s passed the way he did.” Yoongi
scratches the back of his head. “But, as you said, it will set the tone and I’m waiting for that day to
come, it’s going to be so rewarding.”

“Get me Jeon and you’ll get a raise.”

“I just might.”

“Next time I lay my eyes on him, it will be the last time.”

│►

Jimin looks out of the window once they stop, the big house across the road looking just as
prideful as he had imagined it to be. Jungkook turns the car’s engine off, running a hand through
his hair. “Are you ready to go in, boss?”

“I’m actually contemplating driving away. Are we still being followed?” they both look through
the rearview mirror, watching as a black car stops a few meters away from them, turning off their
lights as though they haven’t been following them for the past hour. “Stupid fucks, couldn’t be
more obvious even if they tried.” he mumbles.

“We couldn’t expect not to be followed.” Jimin shrugs. “Are you wearing any bulletproof vest or
something? You may get shot the second you step out of the car.”

“Who do you take me for?” Jungkook raises an eyebrow. Jimin sighs, relieved.

“Oh, okay, good, yo—”

“I’m not wearing anything.” Jimin looks back at him, both falling silent for a few seconds where
they just blink. “No one’s going to shoot me, I don’t think.”

“This may go terribly wrong… good luck.” he offers him a smile, gesturing for Jungkook to leave
the car. “Do you even know what approach you’ll take? Will you knock? Are you going to ask to
talk to him or just go in? Hold up, did you plan anything, sir?”
“If I planned too much I’d give up on the idea to shake my mortal enemy’s hand so no, I didn’t
think about that shit, I’m just going in and I’ll see what happens when it happens. He’s too much of
a stuck up asshole so he’s most probably not even going to let me in his damn office— Jimin this is
a terrible fucking idea, I’m driving away—”

“No! And it’s not, you know it’s not.” he reaches for Jungkook’s arm to stop him from turning the
car on. “You’re Jeon Jungkook, just go into that fucking house like you own it and get this damn
deal done, it’s our chance at getting what we want.”

“I know. I hate it, but I know.” Jimin taps his own thighs, unsure of what to say. “What would my
dad say if he knew I’m doing this? He’d be so fucking mad.”

“Your dad’s not here anymore, though. You call the shots. What he’d think doesn’t matter. Us
being alive, you being alive, is what matters. And for that, we need more power.” he points
towards the house. “Which you’ll get there if you play nice and don’t slice his throat while
speaking, because that wouldn’t solve a thing.”

Jungkook presses his teeth together, seething.

“God fucking damn it.” Jungkook mumbles, opening the door. “I’m just going to go, if I don’t
return in an hour, assume the worst.” it’s the last thing he says before climbing out of the car,
keeping the one that followed them on sight through the corner of his eyes, fixing his shirt.

He walks with his nose high, chest puffed out, despite having no idea of what the outcome of such
interaction may be. He may leave with a deal made or he may not even walk back out of there. He
may not even have the time to speak and explain why he’s visiting.

But whether he leaves dead or alive, at least he can go knowing he was the one trying to insure the
safety of his people.

He uses one of his many tricks to open the door, knowing that if he was to knock or ring the
doorbell he’d either be shot from one of the windows or they wouldn’t even answer the door. As
soon as he sees himself inside, there’s around twelve men surrounding him, all keeping a certain
distance. They all have their guns pointed at him.

“You thought you could just come in?” one of them speaks.

“And you think I wasn’t already expecting this?” he gestures. “Tell your men back in the car to
learn how to follow someone.” Jungkook teases. “Put your guns down immediately.”

“You don’t have any power here.” Yoongi says, his voice strong, assertive. Jungkook doesn’t even
bat an eyelash. “I’d suggest you to leave right now as we’re feeling nice, we’ll let you go.”

“Lower your guns before I’m forced to shoot every single person in this room.” Jungkook
retaliates, as calm as one can be, even if standing in front of twelve guns that he’s sure are cocked.
He looks just as confident as he was before he got inside.

“We’re twelve, you’re one.” Jungkook raises an eyebrow.

“Don’t underestimate me.” he threatens.

“And don’t you underestimate them.” Jungkook’s eyes shift once he hears the strong voice, seeing
the male standing by a now open door with his arms crossed, dressed in one of the many suits he
always seems to have.
“We need to talk.” he informs, walking forward, ignoring the guns being cocked and how he’s a
second away from being hit with a bullet. They weren’t before, he concludes then. Taehyung raises
a hand, a clear silent indicator for no one to shoot. Yoongi sends him a questioning look but
Taehyung just shakes his head slightly.

Jungkook doesn’t stop walking until he sees himself inside Taehyung’s office.

“Make yourself at home.” Taehyung says, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

“Cut the shit, we have a problem.” Jungkook turns to him, chest puffed, jaw set. “I have—”

“Already sounds like a you problem.” he sounds uninterested as he closes the door.

“It’s a common problem—”

“I doubt anything could concern the both of us.” Jungkook has to hold himself back from just
hitting him with the back of his hand.

“Can you just shut the fuck up and listen?” Taehyung lifts an eyebrow, walking around his desk
before he sits, giving nothing but a brief wave of the hand for him to go on. Jungkook steps closer
until his hands fall on the chair in front of Taehyung. “The newbies that stole from the both of us
made a huge mistake by doing so and I can’t just let them get away with it. I know you probably
can’t either, as you also had the goal to teach them a fucking lesson.”

“Hm, the mission you fucked up?” he tilts his head, resting back on his chair, looking both
uninterest and arrogant. Jungkook just wants to kick him on his throat.

So he closes his eyes. Breathes in. “They have more men than I do. More than you have, too.
Walking in there would have been a death sentence. For the both of us. Both our teams would be
outnumbered no matter how skilled we are, it would be a bloodbath. It’s a common problem to
which we can… join teams to solve. We’re smarter than trying to fight them alone.” Jungkook
explains Jimin’s idea, trying to maintain eye contact through the whole thing.

“I’m not working with you, you know your way out.” Taehyung says once he understands
Jungkook’s done, making a grab for some papers he was going over before being interrupted.

Jungkook nods, walking to the door. “Fine by me, I hope you get shot in the head.” the other
doesn’t even reply as he reaches the door handle but Jungkook grips it tight instead of twisting it.
What he told Taehyung is true. He can’t not make them pay but he also can’t do it by himself.

He can’t walk emptyhanded and let his men down.

He has to keep them all safe and keep their status, too.

So he turns back to the older male. “Listen—”

“No.” Taehyung cuts him off, eyes on his papers.

“Fucking listen.” Jungkook says, louder. “You’re taking this deal, I’m not giving you a fucking
option right now.” he states, walking back to where he was, standing behind the chair, in front of
the other.

Taehyung lifts his eyes to him and he laughs. He laughs. It’s a condescending laugh, arrogant,
sarcastic. “I’m not one of your men, sweetheart, you can’t tell me what to do. Get the fuck out of
my sight with that tone and that proposition.”
“You’ll have no men if you keep acting arrogant and ignorant like you are right now. How about
you swallow your pride like I swallowed mine instead of allowing your own people to get killed?
Fucking think for once.” Jungkook throws.

“I’d rather die myself than shake your hand right now.” Taehyung just gestures to the door.

“And you really think I want to shake yours?!” he chuckles humorlessly.

“You’re asking for my help—”

“No, I’m asking for your numbers, your men and your skills that combined with mine would be
unstoppable. No matter how much we hate each other, we know that. If there was another group I
trusted to share this interest with, I’d be asking them. Don’t think this is anything to do with you or
your individual skill, you lack it.” Taehyung looks at him for a few seconds before he hits his desk
with two fingers, twice, getting up.

He walks until they’re standing face to face, their eyes strong, posture confident, unrelenting.
Taehyung doesn’t look convinced enough, though, so Jungkook has to inhale to speak again.

“If they come here and attack you guys, you’re all dead. So are we if they come to us. Stop being
fucking stupid.” he says, his voice lower.

“You do realize our groups aren’t even close to having a truce—”

“There won’t be groups if you don’t sit on your damn pride and let us join forces just for this one
matter.” Taehyung’s expression doesn’t change one bit, his eyes don’t look any softer, he doesn’t
look like he wants to kick him out any less. Jungkook raises a hand to pinch his own nose, starting
to lose patience. “Look, I get it, you were raised to hate the Jeons but quite frankly, Kim, we can’t
handle the numbers or the unfamiliarity of this new group alone. Times change, what’s the point of
having a rivalry if both sides are dead?”

Taehyung walks until he’s resting on his desk, not quite sitting, more so leaning on it. He crosses
his arms. “What made you think I couldn’t handle it by myself? You got in the way and it’s safe to
assume that you were there only with the sole purpose of helping them escape.”

Jungkook gapes. “You think I’d be standing here alone when I know all of your men are ready to
take me down any second if I wasn’t being fucking honest about my intentions?!”

Taehyung grins and Jungkook hears a gun being unloaded, the safety being put back on and he
blinks, unaware that he was at such danger but he figures it’s a good thing. It’s a good sign. “My
rules, my plan, or I’ll get my men to show you out right now.”

Jungkook scoffs. “I came here, we do it my way.”

“Not a chance, Jeon, get the fuck out.”

“I don’t trust you with my men, sixty-forty or yours can die.” Jungkook offers, watching as
Taehyung walks back behind his desk and sits down, grabbing his papers. He just stands there,
confused, trying to understand what’s happening.

Taehyung looks up after a few seconds. “You’re still there? I’m not taking it, you can leave.”

Jungkook clenches his fists. “Fifty-fifty.”

“Well, now you should say please.” Taehyung challenges.

“Fuck off, I’m not taking it.”

“You’re not taking your own deal?” he lifts an eyebrow, amused.

Jungkook rolls his eyes, turning on his heels to leave. “You’re an ass, you can die.”

“Jeon.” Taehyung calls once Jungkook’s hand reaches the door handle. His voice strong yet calm.
Collected, unbothered, even. “Return.” Jungkook does so, standing by the chair in a few seconds.
Taehyung lets out a quiet chuckle. “If you’re going to be this behaved then I guess taking the deal
won’t be that much of a hassle… I’ll take it.”

Jungkook has to ignore his words for his own sanity. Also not to jump over the desk to choke
Taehyung to his eminent death. “Good.” he says.

“How about a thank you?” Taehyung rests back on his chair, looking way too cocky.

“You should be thanking me.” Jungkook shakes his head.

“For coming into my house uninvited?” he tilts his head.

“Saving your ass, you dickhead.” Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“Technically, I’m saving yours.” Taehyung smiles, a rude one, one that positively annoys
Jungkook even further. Taehyung’s aura annoys him, his arrogant posture annoys him, his
overflowing self-assuredness annoys him.

“I guess we’re saving each other’s.” he concludes.

“Bring your people in the morning, the one’s for the planning. Now, you can actually get the fuck
out of my house.” Taehyung gestures towards the door. Jungkook turns around, walking away.
Taehyung gets up to stay close behind, to make sure Jungkook leaves.

“Nice talking business, Kim.” as soon as he opens the door, he sees the guns being aimed at him
again. “I fucking dare you.” it’s the only thing he says as he walks in front of them.

“Put them down.” Taehyung orders, all of them dropping their arms. The door is slammed as soon
as the other leaves. “Come.” he tells Yoongi, giving him a quick gesture of the head towards the
office where he walks back into, followed by his right hand.

“Why did he walk out of here? Why is he still breathing?” Yoongi ask right away as he closes the
door, Taehyung sitting down on his chair.

“We have him, Min.” Taehyung says with a cocky smile.

“I’m sorry, what?” Yoongi tilts his head, sitting down in front of him, eyes wide with curiosity.

“He came here for a deal, work together to take the newbies down. He’ll be close to us, he’ll be
working with us, he’ll be reachable. When he least expects him to… pow.” Taehyung whispers the
last word, making a gun with his fingers that he pretends to fire.

“Don’t let him get into your head, sir. He’s the enemy at the end of the day, even if we will be
working… together, our goal is still to take him down and we’re not sure of his actual true
intentions, don’t let him get up there.”

“I’m Kim Taehyung. What do you take me for?” he lifts an eyebrow.

“I take you for a really smart man but even the smartest of them can be fooled. And I’m positive
that you won’t, but I’m doing my part as your right hand and making sure of our safety. Jeon’s just
as manipulative as you are, I’m sure.” Yoongi points out.

“Worry not, I’ll use him to extract information until I’m absolutely sure he’s not working with the
other side. Once I don’t need him anymore...we cut the head of the snake.”

“…and the body dies.” Yoongi completes.

“Hm, exactly.” Taehyung nods.

“What did he say, though? If you don’t mind telling me, sir.”

“Some naïve shit about the world changing and what not. I never took him for the optimistic type.
Dumb type? Absolutely, but fucking hopeful?” he chuckles.

“But… we’ll be actually working together?” Yoongi wonders. Taehyung nods. “Do I have to
respect him…?”

“Yes, you do. For now, at least, until I say otherwise.” Taehyung taps his desk. “Not for long, I
hope, I don’t want to act like he has any kind of authority under my roof, but we’ll have to work
with this until we decide otherwise.”

“The men won’t take this very well.”

“The men won’t disobey me, long gone are those who have tried to.” Yoongi nods. He knows that,
he agrees with it.

“This may end up being fun.” he smirks.

Taehyung grins, eyeing his gun. “Surely. Get Hoseok and Namjoon.”

“Boss.” Yoongi bows, leaving in a rush to get the both of them. Taehyung uses the time alone to
read over the documents he was busy with previously, waiting for the knock that soon comes.

“Can we?” he asks.

“Come in.” Taehyung puts papers down. The three of them stand side by side in front of him
across the desk. “Jeon will be back.”

“Is that a threat?” Hoseok asks, eyeing the others. “Should we warn everyone?”

“We don’t know these newbies and for all we know, Jeon may be involved with them. We’re going
to keep them close, really close. An offer was made by them to take the newbies down together but
—” he starts, only to stop as Hoseok lifts a finger, asking for permission to speak. “Go on.”
Taehyung nods.

“What if they want to come here for the same reason…? To be close enough to end us?”

“That’s where I was getting at.” Namjoon elbows him for interrupting. “I’m telling you this so that
you know what we’re doing and so that you have your eyes open twenty four-seven. We have to be
smarter. By the end of this month, we’re going to be the only group left standing in Seoul. We’ll
take them and the newbies down, I want each and every single member of both of them dead… or
imprisoned. But no one touches Jeon, he dies by my hand.” he finishes, standing up from his chair.

“So… we’ll be working with them?” Namjoon asks.

“Yes, we’ll get them to give us information, we’ll use his men for our own gain, we’ll get what we
need in order to get to the newbies and that’s it. When Jeon becomes disposable, we’ll end his
group. This may be a bloodbath, so I expect you to be ready.” Taehyung smiles, fixing his tie.

“We are.” Hoseok nods.

“Always.” Namjoon adds.

“Good.”

Yoongi clasps his hands together. “So basically, we have to act civil and obey Jeon because he will
technically be our boss until he’s, well, dead.”

“Are you going to trust him with your men, sir?” Namjoon asks. Taehyung tuts.

“No. I’m trusting my men with him. I’m not the only one that wants him dead. This has to remain a
secret between us, if he suspects anything, he may pack and leave and we'll start a war that we may
be caught unprepared for, so I want you to act as though he actually has a say under these roof, got
it?” he lifts an eyebrow, pointing at them.

“Sir, what if he goes for you? If Hoseok is right, what if he’s here to kill you too?”

“He’ll be having his funeral arranged before he tries.”

│►

Jungkook sighs, relieved, as he finally sits down on the driver’s seat. “Ok, so you’re alive.” Jimin
lets out, exhaling, putting his phone down.

“Should I not be?” he asks, turning the car on.

“I just thought he was going to pull out his gun the second you mentioned working together. How
did it go?” Jimin asks, as curious as he’s ever been.

“I mean, he did and so did at least twelve other men but other than that, it went better than
expected. Took some convincing, that man sees nothing but his own nose, he’d rather keep his
fucking pride than his people alive, apparently.” Jungkook says with a roll of the eyes.

“But he said yes.” Jungkook glares at him. “Did he not…?”

“Yes, Jimin, he fucking said yes.”

“Wow… Kim Taehyung’s my boss now, I don’t know how to feel about that.” Jimin comments as
he looks out the window.

“He’s not your boss, you simply have to respect him for a while.” Jungkook taps the steering wheel
with his hand. “He said to bring the men involved in here tomorrow morning so we’re going to do
that.”

“Oh, so do I have to be there?” he asks.

“Yes, why?”

“Boss, I hope you’re aware that going in there leaves us with absolutely no advantage, right?”
Jimin scratches his head.
“We’re our own advantage, Park.” he states. Cold and clear. Jimin only nods with a short blink.
Doesn’t sound very promising. “Now quiet, we have a long drive and I need to think about
tomorrow, if you will.”

“Alright, boss.”

│►

“Damn, this house is bigger than ours… why couldn’t you get us this big of a mansion? You have
the money.” Jimin asks as he looks around once they get inside.

“My dad wasn’t as rich as his and I didn’t want to get a new place once I took over, now shut up,
will you?” he whispers the ending through gritted teeth as they walk in front of the guns pointed at
them. He was expecting them already, even if he also expected Taehyung to warn them about their
visit. Maybe he did and they simply have no respect for Jungkook whatsoever. “What a way to
treat your guests, I knew he was an ass but this…” he tsks, posture confident.

“You’re not in your place, Jeon, you should have some respect.” Jimin makes a move to defend
Jungkook’s position but Jungkook raises a hand to stop him. “My boss is waiting for you.” Yoongi
informs, gesturing to the office door.

There’s already two other men inside when they get in, Yoongi closing the door behind himself.

“You’re late.” Taehyung says, not even looking up at them.

“Your men were off their leash.” Jungkook throws back.

“My men want you dead.” Taehyung sounds just as unbothered as always as it has a special power
to piss Jungkook off. He hates the uncaringness and how Taehyung speaks as though he’s so
superior. He hates it.

“They know how to recognize a threat.”

That does get him to look at Jungkook, eyeing him up and down. From his big, hard looking boots,
to his leather jacket and black dangling earrings. “Supposedly.” he says with a shrug.

Jimin clears his throat. “The plan…?”

“Jeon, your dog thinks he can tell me what to do.” Yoongi snorts, not even trying to cover it up.

“What the fuck are you laug—” Jungkook holds him back by a hand to his chest. His gaze hard,
speaking louder than he ever could. Jimin aggressively fixes his jacket, glaring at Yoongi who still
hasn’t dropped his smirk. Annoying smirk, they’d say.

“Behave.” Jungkook warns before he turns to Taehyung. “He was simply telling you not to be
distracted so I think he made a good point.”

Taehyung just clears his throat, clasping his hands together. “I want you to find out exactly how
many people they have—” he points at his men. “—and you, work on searching to see if their
location has changed. If yes then get to finding out where it is. Now get the fuck out of my office,
all of you.”

Jungkook’s men look at him questioningly, trying to understand if they must take the orders right
away. Jungkook gives them a short nod, enough to have all of them leaving the office. They’re left
alone then, so he turns to the older man, who’s back to going through some papers Jungkook isn’t
sure what they’re about.

“If we’re going to work together, we’re going to have to set some rules first.” he starts.

“Enlighten me.” Taehyung replies without looking at him. That has to be the most annoying thing
he does, Jungkook deems. He hates not having the attention when he speaks. His men know to
listen, know to respect him, no one dares to do otherwise. Taehyung looking like he doesn’t even
care to listen has him on his last straw.

“Your men will have to calm their vaginas every time we’re around. Especially with me, we’re on
the same level right now.” Jungkook states.

“They know where their loyalty lies.” Taehyung shrugs.

“I don’t give a single shit about that. You’re going to talk to them, they have to respect the both of
us from now on. As long as this plan is going, I’m their boss too and the next gun I see pointed at
me, will have its holder killed in a fucking second.” Jungkook’s voice sounds a little louder, a little
angrier, and Taehyung lifts his eyes from the papers to face him.

“I guess that’s fair.” he nods. “You princess needs anything else?”

“First of fucking all, you’re never, ever, going to call me that again or else I’ll slit your throat.
Second, one of us has to move houses.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow.

“Excuse me?”

“We cannot stay like this or else we’ll end up killed before we finish the mission.” Jungkook
explains.

“Don’t you have a plan of defense? Or do you just think of getting attacked and defeated?”

“My men are trained to defend our own in case of need, aren’t yours too? What kind of crew do
you have?” he offers with a little smirk.

Taehyung steps closer to him, crowding him. “Do you want to find out?” he challenges, voice
deeper than ever. Jungkook rolls his eyes, posture unrelenting.

“I think it’d be more important to do what we have to do instead of just wasting time with you
trying to prove that you can get anything done.” Jungkook replies in the same tone.

“I really fucking hate you, there’s no way I’m taking my men to yours.” Taehyung says through
gritted teeth.

“Well, then you better make room.” Jungkook walks past him, making sure to bump their
shoulders. “I want my people safe even if it means bringing them here.”

“I guess we do have some rooms available.” he compromises, just going back to his papers.

“My main men are to stay here and I’m not taking a no for an answer…” he walks to the window,
opening the curtains to see the view of the backyard. “Wonderful view, do you happen to have any
similar to this one? I’d like to make that my bedroom.”

“Don’t test your limits, you’re still under my roof.”

“You’re going to have to work on your attitude problems, Kim.” Taehyung chuckles bitterly.
“You’ll never get anything but attitude from me.”

│►

Jungkook stares at his men, all of them in front of him sitting on the diverse chairs, everyone
paying attention, focused on what he has to say that was so important that they all were rushed for
an emergency meeting. “There is something happening.” he starts. “There’s a mission starting and
it’s one we’re not used to.”

He can see them sharing confused looks.

“As you all know about the Kims, you all know that they’re our enemies, too.” they nod. “We will
be putting that aside for at least a month, possibly less if we’re lucky, which I hope we are. We will
be working together to get the information we need to find the newbies again as we can’t do that on
our own, we can’t attack on our own. We will be joining teams for the mission but unfortunately I
can’t take all of you with me.”

The silence is thick and filled with questions that Jungkook can only hope to be able to answer
without them being asked directly.

“Only Jimin, Seokjin and Yugyeom will accompany me to the house and will be staying there with
me but you will all be needed when the time comes, when the time to act comes, and you will all
have to be ready for that call, you will have to be at your best form.” Jungkook states as he starts
walking.

He clears his throat. “I can’t simply leave you here with no supervision, without someone to call
the shots and tell you what to do, so I’ve decided to select one of you to be… well, the bearer of my
commands and to keep everything in order while we’re gone. May be one week, may be two, may
be three, we don’t know. After having a long talk with Park, we’ve come to an agreement as to
who that person should be.”

Everyone shares looks, crossing their fingers to be the one trusted with such position. Jungkook can
see that and it does make him want to smile. They care a lot, they’re all extremely loyal, and it
never fails to please him. He feels accomplished.

He walks until he’s standing in front of one of them, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Minseok, do
you think you can handle this for me while we’re gone?”

The man gets up, eyes big. “I— Sir, I-I don’t know, it’s uh, it’s great responsibility and I don’t
know if I’m the one for the job, I—”

“All these men look up to you as it is, don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’ve handled small
issues to prevent them from coming to me. Everyone here acknowledges that, including me.
You’re a natural leader and I need you to be one for me right now.” Jungkook offers him a little
smile. A trusting one.

Minseok bows, ninety degrees. “I won’t disappoint you, sir.” he promises.

“Good. I know you won’t.” Jungkook taps his shoulder before he walks back to his spot, not
fighting the small smile that escapes as he hears the congratulating whispers at the other man He’s
proud of them. “Is anyone opposed to the idea? If you have any concerns, now is the time to speak.
And if not now, we’re just a phone call away if Minseok isn’t able to solve the situation or answer
your questions.” Jungkook shoves his hands down the pockets of his jeans, leaning back on the
desk at the center of the room in front of all of them.
 No one speaks, so he guesses everyone has got the message.

“Alright, I hope you prepare yourselves, don’t lack on your positions and jobs just because I’m not
here, I still have eyes here. On all of you. Don’t lack on your tasks. Train well, too. This mission
may be a hard one, maybe the hardest we’ll ever have.” he turns to his main men. “And the three
of you, start packing. We leave early in the morning.”

Everyone bows to him. “Yes, boss.” they say in unison.

Jungkook just gives them a nod before he leaves the room.

He can’t say he’s not a little unsettled. Working with Taehyung, with the enemy, isn’t something
he’s ever thought he’d do. It can go so many ways. He knows for a fact he won’t enjoy it one bit,
but he’d do anything to ensure the safety of his people and to ensure his position.

│►

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Chapter End Notes

I hope you've enjoyed this, I hope this approach is better sksk

Please feel free to leave your opinions in the comments
 ◄│ 2/6 │►
Chapter Notes

Hey! I know it took some time to update this but I hope you understand it as I have
other aus and this one requires LONG chapters,,, besides, this is kind of all over the
place given it's kind of a oneshot but in 6 parts (does that make sense?). Anyhoo.
NSFW is something I'm not very good at so I'm pushing myself to try somethng new
and explore my own limits with this one au and we're going to try our best. With that
being said, I hope you enjoy this <3

“Once we get inside, I want you to respect him just as much as you’d respect me. I know his men
won’t be the same and I don’t want you to show that you don’t know how to follow orders or
respect those protecting you. Got it?” Jungkook says, eyeing his main men in front of him.

Jimin scratches the back of his neck, Yugyeom looks away and Seokjin simply pushes his lips into
a pout. “Respect him as in, do what he says or just not threaten him with a knife?” Seokjin asks.

“You’re really dumb if you think you could stand in front of that man and pull out a knife.”
Yugyeom is the next to speak, getting elbowed by Jimin soon after. “What was that for?! I was just
saying, he’s fucking scary.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “Let’s just go.” he says as he picks up his luggage, leading the way
towards the house. He rings the doorbell this time, waiting way too long to have it open, probably
purposely. He recognizes Taehyung’s right hand as the one to greet them.

If a scowl and a very visible gun in his waistband could be considered a greeting.

Jungkook pushes past him, his men following up close. There’s at least ten other men watching
them, all of them with a hand on their guns, threatening. Jungkook wants to roll his eyes again.

“I still can’t believe Mr. Kim allowed this scumbag to—” Jungkook stops walking then, turning
towards the man who just spoke, words dying halfway through. He puts his bags down, walking
closer, crowding.

“Talk to me like I’m not above you ever again and I’ll show you what disobeying my authority
looks like.” Jungkook threatens, voice low.

Contrary to his expectations, the man chuckles. “I’m not scared of you.” Jungkook smirks.

It’s in a split second that the man is pushed against the wall, a knife to his throat. “Say it again.”
Jungkook challenges, smile not relenting. “Repeat that and I’ll give rest of these men a reason to
be. So will you, as you bleed out.”

All he gets is silence then. Silence and a glare.

“Will you dare answering me?” nothing. “Good.” he pulls back, storing his knife carefully back
where it was, fixing his own sleeves as though that was a big inconvenience. Then he eyes the little
crowd that has formed. “Anyone else?”
His eyes fall on the figure behind all of them, Taehyung leaning on the door frame with his arms
crossed, suit fixed to perfection as always, wavy grey hair shining under the lights. His expression
is unreadable, he doesn’t look angry, though.

“I’d tell you to teach your men to have some respect if you knew anything about that yourself.”
Taehyung raises an eyebrow as Jungkook picks up his luggage again, walking closer to him and
past everyone else. “Show your guests their rooms, won’t you?” he challenges.

Taehyung keeps the eye contact for a long second before he straightens up. “Min, show them their
room.” he looks back at Jungkook once Yoongi nods. “I’ll take you to yours, I don’t want you
fucking lurking around my house.”

“Oh, you’ll have to get used to that.” Jungkook says nonchalantly, walking past him. Taehyung
rolls his eyes, following with a few feet of distance. Mainly because it’s rather entertaining to watch
Jungkook walk as though he knows where he’s supposed to go.

Even more entertaining when he turns left on the hallway when his room is to the right. Taehyung
just shakes his head, walking in the right path himself, hands in his pockets, posture seemingly
unbothered. “You’re in the wrong direction.” he speaks then.

Jungkook stops, turning around, only to see him way more distant than he was just a moment prior.
“For fuck’s sake…” he curses before rushing to follow. Taehyung stops in front of one of the
doors, just gesturing for him to go in.

So he does, putting his bags down as he looks around.

“Breakfast is at seven in the morning, miss it and you’ll starve.” Taehyung informs. “Also, you
asked for a nice view so I made sure to get you the one with the worst one, if you check the
windows you’ll see the nice dumpsters. I hope you enjoy them.”

Jungkook has to close his eyes to inhale for a second before facing him. “I’ll be the mature one in
this and I’ll take the fucking room because I’m not a petty child like you are.” Taehyung doesn’t
even react to his words. “Give me the keys.”

Taehyung takes the room keys from his pocket, throwing them at it. Jungkook catches them with
an eyebrow raised.

“Both sets. I don’t want you having keys to my room.” he says, firm.

“Do you really think I’d let you have the freedom to keep the door locked should we need to find
you?”

“If I wanted to hide, you wouldn’t find me even if you tried. Give me the fucking keys, Kim.” he
holds his arm out, hand opening and closing twice, waiting. Taehyung looks at his hand for a
moment before he smirks and turns around his in heels to leave. “Kim!” Jungkook calls.

“The shower is broken in that room.” he hears Taehyung say already in the hallway.

If he punches the wall, no one has to know.

│►

Jungkook’s lucky enough to say he makes through the first day without any other encounter, as his
patience is already wearing thin and he just want to lay down, close his eyes, and worry about
stuck-ups the next day.
But he’s not as lucky to say he’s able to do that.

“See you tomorrow, Park.” he offers a wave, toothbrush in his mouth.

“Sleep well, boss.” Jimin bows. “If you need to use the shower in the morning too, feel free to just
come in even if I’m still asleep.” Jungkook just nods, hand moving the toothbrush in a steady pace
as he makes his way to his own room across the hall in nothing but a towel.

His door is open, contrary to how he left it.

He rolls his eyes, walking a little faster. There’s two men, who he has never seen, going through
his belongings, Taehyung standing in the center of the room with his hands in his pockets. “What
the fuck are you doing here?” he asks, words muffled and a little dragged with the toothbrush. “Get
the fuck /out/.”

Taehyung just gestures them to leave with a faint head nod. He turns towards Jungkook with an
unbothered look that grows just the slightest amused at the pout to Jungkook’s lips. If it’s
intentional or not, he has no idea.

“What the fuck are you doing in my room, you stupid bitch?” again, his words are almost
imperceptible, the toothbrush making it almost impossible to comprehend.

“Speak clearly if you want me to even try to care for what you’re saying.” Jungkook pulls the
toothbrush out then, flickering it. Taehyung looks down at himself, the small drops of white
toothpaste on his black suit.

Jungkook’s eyes grow just the slightest bigger, unsure of what reaction he may get. He’s in a
towel, unarmed, it’s not the best case scenario. Taehyung looks back up, biting his tongue with an
angry smile. “You—” Jungkook clears his throat. “The fuck were they doing here? What are /you/
doing here?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“It actually is, as three strangers were going through my shit. What were you doing, and I won’t
repeat myself.” Taehyung just raises an eyebrow, saying nothing. “For fuck’s sake— What were
you doing?!”

“Hm, just making sure we wouldn’t find anything.” he says with a shrug.

“I see, you still think I’m here to help the others.” Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“And you’re not?”

“No, Kim, I’m not.” he throws his hands in the air, exasperated. “If you weren’t too fucking stupid,
you’d know I wouldn’t stand, literally like this, with nothing to defend myself from the gun you
have in your belt, if I had any bad intentions. We have the same goal, open your fucking eyes, stop
thinking you’re everyone’s priority. I’m not here for you, I’m here for my men.”

Taehyung steps closer. “Watch your tone, Jeon.” he almost whispers.

“I don’t think I will. Leave my room, now.” Taehyung’s eyes fall from his face, taking in his
position, but they stop at the shiny nipple piercings on Jungkook’s chest. Jungkook can almost feel
his skin burn from Taehyung’s gaze.

“You’re not in your place and I don’t care of how much you think you are, or how much authority
you think you have here, but it doesn’t work with me.” their eyes meet again. “So reduce yourself
to your insignificance and learn to shut the fuck up.” he lifts his hand to the piercing, tugging on it.

A little too mean, perhaps.

Jungkook takes a hand to his chest as soon as Taehyung lets go, trying to ease the pain away. His
nipples are way too sensitive for him to allow Taehyung to just do that.

Taehyung’s already out of the room when he’s able to think again, once he’s able to ignore the
actually pleasant tingle on his chest. He hates that.

Fuck Taehyung, he thinks.

│►

Jungkook checks himself in the mirror before he leaves his bedroom, still a little tired, definitely
sleepy, in desperate need for his morning caffeine. He walks down the stairs with a pair of
sunglasses on, unwilling to let them see just how poorly the night has treated him.

He slept horribly and he starts to believe that they must have switched the mattress to make sure
it’s as solid as an actual rock.

The kitchen is quiet, the only thing heard the faint sounds of the spoons hitting the mugs, but apart
from that, all of them eat quietly, in silence. The first thing he notices is the hard glare Jimin and
Yoongi offer each other but it’s too early for him to be bothered by that.

He fills up a mug with the coffee on top of the counter and he goes to sit across from Taehyung,
both at the ends of the table. The other only has a coffee mug in his hand, he’s wearing one of his
black suits, as per usual, grey hair messy but an intended kind of messy, and it’s annoying. He
looks ready for the day, he looks like he slept well, when Jungkook could barely close his eyes the
whole night.

“Pass me the sugar.” Jungkook points at the item right in front of Taehyung.

Taehyung looks down at it before locking eyes with him again, simply taking a sip from his coffee.

Jungkook scoffs.

“Here, boss.” Yugyeom grabs it himself, passing the sugar at the other man that gives him a short
nod of the head, appreciative. He adds the amount of sugar he desires, mixing it as he tries not to
fall asleep right then and there.

“So…” Jimin starts, clearing his throat. “What are the plans for today?”

“We don’t talk business at the table, learn your manners.” Yoongi interrupts.

He soon yelps in pain when Jimin kicks him under the table. “Learn your manners…!” Jimin
copies his voice, a little exaggerated, barely dodging when Yoongi tries to kick him back.

“Hey, puppy.” he tuts. “You’re not in your house to do that, kick him again and I’ll break your
foot.” Hoseok threatens, mouth stuffed with bread. Not very intimidating, Jimin deems.

Jungkook rubs his tired eyes. “I literally have no patience for this today.”

“If I do anything about it, he’ll end up without a leg to kick my men with.” Taehyung says, as
unbothered as ever, sipping more from his mug. Jungkook does his best not to sigh again, beyond
done with the whole ordeal already.

But he still speaks. “Jimin, stop.”

“But he—”

“Jimin.” that’s enough for his right hand to shut up, mumbling something under his breath as he
goes back to his coffee. Taehyung swallows the rest of his in two big gulps, getting up from his
seat. All his men get up too, bowing for him, before sitting back down to continue their breakfast.
Jungkook wants to laugh but he refrains from doing so.

“Meet me in my office once you’re done.” they look up to see who he’s talking to but Jungkook
doesn’t have to look away from his mug to feel Taehyung’s gaze.

“Fine.” it’s all he says. He has no patience to fight him at such time of the day.

│►

A few days go by and, despite Jungkook’s beliefs, neither of them kills the other or attempts to. It’s
beyond infuriating to work with Taehyung, they can’t seem to agree on anything or even be in the
same room without glaring nastily at each other, but one thing Jungkook hates is unnecessary
fights under his roof and even though it’s technically Taehyung’s roof, he still feels as though he’s
at home in some way.

And he doesn’t want to lose his patience with Taehyung and have him ending their agreement.
They need each other to get that mission done and even if Jungkook hates that, it’s the truth.

However, Jungkook will never be ok with having his ideas downplayed. “Your approach is
absolutely fucking terrible, Kim, they will notice us before we even see them.” he points, both
standing by the desk.

“Can you stay quiet? Someone’s trying to get work done here.” Taehyung speaks with the same
monotone voice that always gets on Jungkook’s nerves, and he’s had enough of Taehyung not
listening to him and his ideas.

“But you can’t do shit, your ideas are as irresponsible and faulty as you are yourself, this is a
fucking failed idea and if you continue, you’ll get all of us killed, you—” he’s interrupted by a
hand on his neck as he’s pushed aggressively to the nearest wall.

Taehyung goes to speak but stops once he sees the brief, almost unnoticeable way Jungkook’s eyes
roll back. It’s just a split second, had he blinked, he would’ve missed it, but it’s there, and he sees
it, and he would never not use such thing in his favor even if it shocks him.

He feels a little cocky, even, so he smirks ever so slightly, squeezing Jungkook’s throat further.
“So, are you going to agree with me or am I not being clear enough?” he asks.

Jungkook holds onto Taehyung’s wrist but he’s not pulling him away, he’s just holding it. “Your
idea fucking sucks.” he still says, even with the hand around his throat like that.

Their eyes meet, Taehyung raising an eyebrow. “It’s really bold that you’re saying that when
you’re looking like this literally under my hand.”

“You’re— fucking pushing your limits right now, Kim.” he threatens. Taehyung doesn’t feel scare
at all, not when Jungkook doesn’t even try to push him away. And Taehyung knows Jungkook
could push him if he wanted to, Jungkook’s used to fighting others, he’s certainly even stronger
than he himself is, which just proves to him that Jungkook isn’t that bothered with Taehyung’s
hand around his throat.

Taehyung leans closer to whisper by his ear. “I can squeeze harder if you’d like.”

Jungkook chuckles, but his cocky smile isn’t one of Taehyung’s liking — nothing Jungkook does is
to Taehyung’s liking, anyways — so he does as promised, squeezing a little harder. Jungkook bites
down his teeth to keep a sound in.

But Taehyung feels the vibration under his fingertips and it makes him want to laugh. “Really? Is
this who your crew obeys? Pathetic.” he tilts Jungkook’s head up by the grip on his throat,
watching as Jungkook’s eyes react again, this time closing, possibly to hide how they roll back yet
again. “For a leader you’re sure acting like a bitch right now.”

“You know I can beat your fucking ass any given day, right?” Jungkook threatens.

“You seem pretty comfortable on the receiving end, Jeon. Don’t get cocky when my hands are on
your throat.” he whispers.

“If you weren’t this shitty at coming up with plans, we wouldn’t even be here, why the fuck are
you even their leader? You’re absolutely terri—” Taehyung deems it as enough, squeezing to the
point where Jungkook can’t possibly enjoy it anymore, he can’t breathe and the hand pressing on
his neck like that hurts.

So he tries to pull the hand away, tugs on Taehyung’s wrist. Taehyung just watches him grow red
with a satisfied smile, grip unrelenting. The more Jungkook pushes him away, the more the
squeezes, and he only speaks when Jungkook’s eyes start to blink shut.

“You should learn to only speak when spoken to when you’re in this position, Jeon, it might get
you hurt… more than you’d like to, apparently, anyway.” only then does he loosen his grip, letting
go of his throat. Jungkook falls to his knees right away, gasping for air, one of his own hands
around his throat.

“Are you fucking crazy?! You could’ve killed me!” he yells, voice a little raw.

“You seemed to be quite enjoying it, actually.”

“Enjoying you trying to kill me?!” Jungkook says, unbelieving.

Taehyung steps closer to him, eyeing him down as Jungkook is still on his knees trying to get his
lungs back to work, and he bends down just enough to try and tilt Jungkook’s head up with a rough
finger, only to have his hand slapped away.

He grabs Jungkook’s jaw then, harshly.

“Don’t be a bitch about it, my idea’s going forward, that’s final.” Taehyung concludes, pulling
away to walk back to his desk. A mistake, he’d soon realize, as Jungkook finds his way to him, an
arm holding him across his chest, something cold touching his throat. Taehyung doesn’t take long
to understand that it’s Jungkook’s knife.

“You really should watch your tone when talking to me.” he speaks, low and threatening, his lips
just barely grazing Taehyung’s neck.

But Taehyung looks nothing but relaxed and it’s beyond infuriating. “The only reason that you’re
not on the floor right now is because I’m being nice. Disarm yourself before I dislocate your arm
doing it for you.” Jungkook doesn’t budge, just presses the blade harder. “I’m not repeating myself,
I’m really not.”

“I’m not afraid of you.” he informs, only to yelp as his wrist is held and pulled on aggressively. He
wasn’t really expecting Taehyung to do anything, he’s more than aware that Taehyung isn’t really
known for being physical like that, so to be tugged on out of nowhere throws him off.

He’s really not proud to admit that his chest is pressed against the desk in a moment, his arm bent
back. “I’d pop your shoulder clean but quite frankly, I don’t want to deal with your bitchiness
much longer.”

“Let go of me, you fucking—”

Taehyung leans closer so that his lips are next to the other’s ear. “I’m going to give you two
options. A, you stop being a fucking bitch and do as I say, and I’ll let you get up. Or B, I’ll have to
restrain you on a chair like an insignificant man and use your people for my plan anyway.”

Jungkook tries to move away but soon realizes his shoulder will pop if he pulls too hard and so he
closes his eyes, biting down his teeth. “A.” he growls out.

Taehyung pats his head. “Good boy.” he lets go then.

“Fuck off, honestly, fuck you.” Taehyung chuckles. “I still don’t agree with your shitty plan.”

“I don’t care. You’re going to listen to what I have to say.” Jungkook closes his eyes to avoid
rolling them and he inhales slowly, trying to calm himself down. Then he nods. If they end up
killing each other, they will ruin their legacies, there’s no point on doing that.

So he just walks up to the desk, trying to listen to what Taehyung has to say and he does see him
gesturing to the papers, to the maps, but Jungkook’s eyes lose focus as they stare at the tattooed
hand. It was around his throat just a minute prior and he can’t stop thinking about how poorly he
reacted to it.

He didn’t even try to defend himself, he could’ve perfectly broken Taehyung’s arm in a second, but
he didn’t even try to pull it away. Why? He doesn’t know, he can’t comprehend it himself, and he
feels rather stupid.

He’s never felt like that, as he’s never allowed anyone to even get that close and put him in such
vulnerable position. He hates Taehyung’s guts but he hates himself for his reaction even more.

“Are you even fucking listening?” Taehyung asks and he snaps out of it.

“Cut the shit, if we’re going with your mess of a plan, then I’m taking part of it to fix the obviously
wrong things about it. I don’t care about what you have to say.”

“You really should watch your mouth.” he says without even looking up, writing something down
on the paper. “And your attitude, I’m not some fucking member of your team, show me some
damn respect.”

“I literally don’t care about who you are, how about you shut up?” Jungkook throws back.

“Listening to you two is like watching two chickens fight.” they hear and they look up.

“Are you at the fucking door?!” Jungkook asks, loud enough for Jimin to hear.
Silence follows before a faint “…no…?” can be heard.

Taehyung chuckles with a shake of the head. “Your crew is brilliant, seriously.”

“Yeah, I know.” Jungkook frowns, defensive.

“I get that your cave brain has some difficulty working but I was being very much sarcastic.”
Taehyung throws and there’s something about the unbotheredness behind his tone that h always
has that has Jungkook wanting to pull his own eyes out. It gets under his skin. It irritates him
beyond belief.

“We don’t have time for your games and sarcasm, shut up and let me fix your mistakes on—”

“Actually, I have something important.” Jimin interrupts.

“Not now.” Jungkook says right away.

“But boss, it’s /really/ important.” Jungkook opens his mouth to tell him to leave but Taehyung
raises a hand and he actually finds himself closing his mouth back. He’d rather not even
acknowledge that.

“Come in and speak. Make it fast.” Taehyung instructs.

Jimin still knocks on the door before he pushes it open, just for a good measure. “There has been a
mistake from uh, from our side… these are the actual plants for the warehouse…” he places the
papers on top of the desk, the other two following them. “I’m so sorry.”

The look Taehyung offers Jungkook makes him want to shoot everyone. He looks too smug,
Jungkook hates it. “Your team is just plain incompetent. You think I’m shitty at plans when you
and your whole crew was incapable of getting me the correct map?”

“Why are you speaking like I was the one—”

“Rule number one of being a leader, in case you didn’t know, is taking responsibility for your
team’s actions. Now I’d like a fucking apology for your team’s mistake for making me and mine
lose time trying to think of how to approach /this/ one warehouse.”

“You’re not getting one, they’re not incompetent, if anything it—”

“Sir, it’s my f—”

“I didn’t talk to you, leave the map and go.” Jimin nods, bowing before he leaves, bowing once
again at the door just to make sure they saw it. “And from you, I said I want an apology.”

“Tough fucking shit.”

“You kiss your mother with that mouth?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow, pulling his gun from his
waistbelt. It’s soon directed at Jungkook’s forehead. “Give me one solid reason for me not to
believe that you’re not setting me up.”

“Because you’re able to point a gun at me.” Jungkook says, looking at him in the eyes. He’s not
afraid of anyone. He never was, Taehyung wouldn’t be the first one. “I know my team and I would
be dead if we set you up, put your brain to work, I’m standing here, unarmed, why would I try to
try you over right now?”

Taehyung bites down his teeth before he slams the gun down on the table. “I’m so fucking done
with you.”

Jungkook lets out a quiet, shaky breath. “Do I get on your nerves, Kim? I thought my existence
didn’t faze you?”

“Shut up, Jeon, you know what happens when you don’t.”

│►

Taehyung fixes his tie before he enters his office, the first thing he sees, Jungkook going through
his drawers. His hand rests on his gun right away. “What the fuck are you doing?” Jungkook looks
up so fast that he bangs his head on the desk.

“Shit—” he complains, rubbing the pain away. “Yeah, do you have a lighter?”

“A lighter?”

“…yes?” Jungkook tilts his head.

“Why were you going through my drawers?” Taehyung asks, wary.

“…to see if you had a lighter?” he says as if it’s all too obvious.

“You know I don’t smoke, why were you going through my drawers?” he repeats his question.

“Are you fucking deaf? I was looking for a fucking lighter, damn. Mine broke.” Jungkook gets up
from the floor, rolling his eyes. Taehyung looks at him up and down. “Do you want to fucking
check me or something?”

“Empty your pockets.” Taehyung orders.

Jungkook chuckles. “Are you fucking serious right no—”

“Did I stutter?”

“You can’t tell me what to do, fuck right off. Fuck off with that shit, Kim, I came to you, for help.
Do you really think I’m what, going to steal your documents? When I’d be putting myself at risk
by staying under your roof? You’re a joke.”

Taehyung steps closer. “Who are you calling a joke?”

“You.”

So Taehyung, pretty much understandably, reaches for the only weakness he’s learnt so far, which
is Jungkook’s throat. Which he wraps a hand around, not too tight, but tight enough to pass the
message. Jungkook does his absolute /best/ not to show any reaction.

“You don’t have what I want, to I’d like to leave your office now.” he says.

“And what do you /actually/ want, Jeon?”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. Taehyung’s infuriating. “Right now? To break your hand. But I also want
a cigarette, to which I need a damn lighter that you don’t have, so I’m going back to minding my
own fucking business. Let /go/ of me.” he instructs.

Taehyung stares at him for a few seconds before he drops his hand, not before giving it a firm
squeeze that has Jungkook inhaling a little sharply.

“Thanks, have an awful night.” Jungkook says before he leaves for the backyard, wanting to get a
bit of fresh air. Ordering everyone around was never an easy task but ever since Taehyung’s been
involved, it got so much harder, so more challenging.

And he really, really just needs to close his eyes and take a deep breath in. Which he does.

He turns to the side a few minutes after when he hears the grass breaking, steps approaching until
they stop a few meter away from him and soon, a lighter. Jungkook can see Taehyung lighting up a
cigarette and seriously, he just wants to punch Taehyung in the nose.

“You said you don’t smoke.”

“I’m a good liar.” he blows the smoke into the air, looking over at Jungkook before throwing the
lighter that Jungkook catches with finesse, using just one of his hands. He quickly takes a cigarette
out, lighting it as well. He stores the lighter back in his pocket alongside the pack. It’s his lighter
now.

“Couldn’t you just have handed me the lighter?”

“No, I couldn’t..”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I seriously hate you.”

“It’s mutual.”

│►

“…if we went from here and here, we could have more advantage.” Taehyung explains using two
pens, creating an invisible line with them with the path they’d be taking.

“Alright, yeah, that could work, but what approach are we taking?” Jungkook takes the pen from
Taehyung’s hand. “If we go from here, we’re going to face them head on, you’re aware of that,
right? And you /suck/ at anything physical so it’s going there to lose.”

Taehyung chuckles, a little mean. “If you knew how to use actual weapons, you wouldn’t even put
yourself at that risk to begin with.” he retrieves his pen. “So, as I was saying—”

“I don’t know how to use weapons?” Jungkook lifts an eyebrow.

“Your hands aren’t actual weapons, Jeon, I can’t believe I have to explain this to you.”

“Like you could hit a bullseye at fifty meters with a knife, Kim.” Jungkook challenges.

“I can kill a man at a hundred with a bullet, Jeon.” he says, indifferent, shaking his head.

“You take the easy way out.”

“That’s kind of the point.” Taehyung tilts his head. “Why would I risk getting stabbed or my nose
broken when I can take someone out in a second? It makes no sense.”

“If you weren’t so much of a pussy, you’d change your mind and enjoy the thrill of it.” he teases.

Taehyung raises an amused eyebrow. “The thrill of what? Pain?” Jungkook opens and closes his
mouth. He didn’t see that one coming. “Well, shit, you like the pain.” Taehyung laughs. It’s mean,
definitely mean, way too cocky.

“I never said that.” he still tries.

“You really are just a little bitch.”

“Don’t fucking test me, you can’t call me that.” Jungkook’s voice grows just the slightest louder.

Taehyung just looks at him with a smirk, resting back on his chair. “This is getting interesting.”

│►

It’s about a week later that they find themselves before an older man, someone who they believe
may be a reliable new client, when Jungkook starts noticing his body language. He doesn’t look
like he means his words, he doesn’t look like he means any good, and Jungkook can also see how
Taehyung doesn’t seem to be aware of that.

He pulls his knife out, opening it so that it’s ready to be used in case of need, Taehyung still going
on about what they’d be exchanging and truth be said, Jungkook agreed with Taehyung about
going to the man for the material they were promised, but now, he wishes he had been a little more
paranoid, a little more cautious.

“I agree with the terms as long as you make the payment first.” the man says and Taehyung stops,
turning towards him with an eyebrow raised.

“That won’t be happening.” Jungkook is the one speaking.

“The exchange happens at the same time. We see the material, you see the money, it’s as simple as
that.” Taehyung adds. “I don’t know what idiots you’ve been working with, but that’s not going to
work for you.”

“Are you trying to steal from me?” the man says, taking a step towards Taehyung.

“Lower your voice.” it’s the only thing the grey haired says and Jungkook’s more wary than ever.
“I’ve never stolen shit, I don’t owe anyone money. You hand me the mat—” he stops when the
man stumbles towards him with a loud groan.

Jungkook’s near him in a second and Taehyung can only see him moving his arm back and forth,
his knife in his hand, and blood everywhere. The man’s eyes have gone empty already, even if
they’re still open, and Taehyung’s beyond confused.

“Now, why the fuck did you kill him?” he asks, stepping back when the man falls to his feet. He
doesn’t want to get his shoes dirty. “You just cost us our deal.”

“You really can’t do your job, can you?” Jungkook asks as he pulls his knife from the man’s back,
getting back up straight. “He had his gun ready to shoot you, stupid ass. I didn’t cost us our deal, I
just fucking saved your life, you’re welcome, by the way.”

“I’m not thanking you.” Taehyung shrugs. “Look at the mess you just made, if you knew how to
use a damn gun, this—” he grunts when he’s pushed against the nearest wall, Jungkook having
enough of him. He grabs Taehyung’s jaw with his bloody hand, taking a good look at him.

“Hm.” Jungkook’s eyes fall to the blood mark that is left on Taehyung’s skin. “Red looks good on
you.” he teases, starting to be unable to ignore the tension that has been building between them.
Taehyung gets on his nerves, he does, but he has good hands.
He has good hands.

Taehyung is beyond confused, shocked. He has no idea what’s gotten over Jungkook but he
doesn’t like the position they’re in, Jungkook pining /him/ against the wall, which is unacceptable.
So he turns them around. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Jungkook smirks. “You can’t really act tough, I just killed someone because you’re too
incompetent to do it yourself.” he says as his eyes fall to the blood on Taehyung’s jaw and neck

Taehyung looks him up and down. “I’m not the one against a wall.”

“Do you want to be?” Jungkook asks with a smile. “Blood suits you, I might just slit your throat
next so that the blood is actually your—” Taehyung, yet again, goes for his weakness, wrapping a
hand around his throat as he uses the other to pull his hair back, exposing his neck completely.

“I despise you.” Taehyung lets out and Jungkook gulps when he tugs harder on his hair.

He’s never been in such position.

He feels kind of humiliated.

He tries to fight for a split second when Taehyung forces him down onto his knees. “You speak
way too much, you need to learn your place, you need to learn how to keep your mouth shut.”

“What the f—” he’s unable to keep a moan in when his mouth is already open as Taehyung tugs a
little harder on his hair. Taehyung drags a finger slowly up his throat, trying to understand just how
far he can push before Jungkook punches him in the face, but the younger doesn’t even try to fight
him when he pushes two fingers past his lips. He pushes his tongue down.

He’s not very sure if he’s able to mask his surprise completely when Jungkook wraps his lips
around his fingers. “Oh, so you can be quiet? What a surprise.” he teases to try to keep himself well
put together, deciding that the more unfocused Jungkook is, the less he will notice Taehyung’s
surprise.

Jungkook tries to speak but Taehyung pushes his fingers further down with one intent and one
intent only and that’s to gag him, which happens soon enough. Instead of pulling his fingers out
when it happens, Taehyung keeps them there, pushing.

Jungkook’s eyes grow teary at that.

Taehyung’s never been that surprised by anything Jungkook has done.

The man on his knees before him looks like a completely different person.

Taehyung isn’t very sure at to what the hell is going on. They certainly hate each other, that hasn’t
changed one bit, so why does he have his fingers down Jungkook’s throat, getting amused by the
tears in his eyes and his chocking sounds?

Jungkook refuses to even acknowledge the position he’s in or he’s going to end up using his own
knife to slit his own throat out of pure humiliation.

Taehyung pulls his fingers out from his mouth, hands going for his bet. Jungkook gulps the saliva
accumulated in his mouth. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he asks, eyes following
Taehyung’s fingers as they pop the button open.
The grey haired looks down at him with an eyebrow raised. “Do you want it or not?” he asks.

Jungkook takes a second. Does he want to say yes and do something about the problem in his pants
or does he want to keep his dignity and walk out of there with a visible boner that he doesn’t even
understand why he has in the first place?

He looks up, eyes still shiny with the tears that were there. “Don’t act so cocky just because your
fingers gagged me, I doubt whatever’s there could fucking do anything.”

Taehyung just offers him a suspicious smile as he pulls his zipper down, pulling himself out of his
pants. Jungkook bites down his bottom lip. His head is pulled back once again so that they can
make eye contact. “You really never know when to shut up.” he chuckles, his fingers going back to
Jungkook’s mouth.

Taehyung tuts.

“If you’ve choked on my fingers already, I’m unsure if you can take something bigger.” Jungkook
just looks up at him, bloody hands still on his lap, prettily on his knees, sitting back on his heels.
“Do you want it?” Jungkook nods. Taehyung pulls his fingers out. “Have some manners and say
please, will you?”

“Fuck you.” Jungkook says instead.

Taehyung cocks his head. “That’s not very nice now, is it?” he asks. Jungkook remains quiet but he
doesn’t move, he simply looks up at him. So Taehyung sighs, starting to tuck himself back inside
his boxer briefs. “Well, we can resume as if nothing has happened, there’s still—”

Jungkook has to fight everything, every sane part of himself, to speak. “Wait.” he calls in a
whisper, his eyes closed, inhaling quietly.

“What was that?” Taehyung turns back to him.

“For fucks sake— please. Asshole.” he mumbles the last part, his fists closing into tight balls on
his lap. Taehyung steps closer again.

He taps Jungkook’s cheek. “Good boy, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Jungkook leans away from the
hand, wanting nothing but to beat Taehyung up for putting him through such humiliation, making
him use such word, making him feel that vulnerable. Which angers him the most is the fact that he
actually doesn’t want to stop whatever is happening.

And he can tell Taehyung doesn’t either.

Which, truthfully, shouldn’t be happening when they can’t even hold a conversation for a minute
without fighting and threatening each other.

Taehyung grabs his jaw hard enough to get his mouth to open. “Tongue.” Jungkook doesn’t do as
told. “I said tongue.” he demands and Jungkook decides angering Taehyung in such moment isn’t
really going to give him anything or get him anywhere, so he pushes his tongue out, looking up at
him with his cheeks a little flushed from the immense amount of embarrassment he’s feeling. He’s
never in his life been that vulnerable.

He’s always been the one looking someone down, not the one on his knees.

“You’re going to keep your bloody hands away, got it?” Jungkook nods. “Get any blood on me and
I’ll honestly lose it with you.” but the younger just rolls his eyes, hands going to Taehyung’s calves
to pull him closer, so he takes a step towards Jungkook.

Jungkook shows his tongue again when Taehyung tugs his boxers down to where they were
moments prior and he closes his eyes as his mouth is slowly filled. There’s a hand at the back of
his head soon after, gripping his hair in one tight fist and it hurts his scalp but he’s not about to
complain about it.

He grabs onto Taehyung’s legs to make sure he keeps his hands away, aware that he has a random
man’s blood all over his fingers and, even if he hates Taehyung to death, he’s a fairly decent
human, he won’t smear a stranger’s blood all over him like that.

He’s a little uncoordinated, the movements are hard without the help of his hands, so it’s way
messier than expected. The hand gripping his hair controls the speed and how far he goes and it
makes him choke way too much, Taehyung having zero consideration for his gagging reflex. If
anything, enjoying it.

And Jungkook can’t lie and say he’s not enjoying the rough handling, the piercing pain in his
scalp, the zero control over the situation. It’s a position he’s never seen himself in but that he has
nothing to say against it. Not then, not in /that/ one moment. They’re never going to mention it
again, he’s certain.

At least he surely hopes so. They’re never going to bring that up again.

He looks up, a little surprised, when Taehyung pinches his nose to close it and pushes his head as
far as it can go, keeping him there. He /really/ can’t breathe at ll. Taehyung throws his head back
with a long groan and Jungkook would be lying if he said it didn’t do anything to him too.

He tries to take it for as long as possible but he eventually hums, pinching Taehyung’s leg to try to
get him to realize that Jungkook’s a second away from fainting if he doesn’t breathe in, so
Taehyung pulls out, hand still on his hair.

Jungkook gasps for air, coughing a few times.

Though he’s unable to steady his breath as Taehyung simply goes back in after less than ten
seconds. Jungkook tucks his hands between his thighs. There’s drool already reaching down his
neck, tears streaming down his face that he doesn’t even fully comprehend how and why they’re
coming out, but he has better things to focus on.

“Where do you want it?” Taehyung asks between his low, controlled sounds, and he’s surprised
he’s even being given the option. “Your face?” Jungkook shakes his head with a disapproving
hum.

Taehyung takes his free hand to Jungkook’s cheek, wiping a falling tear away.

“Do you think you can swallow it? Hm, princess?” it’s the second time Taehyung’s used that word
and the first time, Jungkook hated it beyond belief. He can’t say the same now, the word goes
straight to his pants and it has his eyes rolling back.

For some reason.

He has no idea of what’s taking over him.

It’s humiliating.

He knows he’s going to punch the air or actually himself when he gets in his bedroom later.
But he nods, confirming that yes, he will swallow it, so Taehyung nods, speeding up the pace a
little bit. Jungkook’s not very proud to say he gags every single time Taehyung pushes his head
down. In his defense, it goes way too far that time.

He’s a bit relieved for his own throat when Taehyung stops, pushing him down one last time as he
finishes down his throat. “Fuck.” he curses, moaning at the back of his throat. A part of Jungkook
whishes Taehyung would just be vocal about it.

For some reason, as well.

Jungkook closes his mouth as soon as Taehyung pulls out and he swallows what’s left in his
tongue, pushing it out afterwards to show that he did just as told. Taehyung smirks, running his
thumb across Jungkook’s bottom lip. “Didn’t waste a thing, you greedy boy.”

He watches as Taehyung tucks himself back, closing his slacks, taking his sweet time, and
Jungkook takes the opportunity to grab himself back, pulling himself together, fixing the mess
Taehyung’s made of his hair.

He gets up onto his feet, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion when Taehyung walks towards the
body, bending down to check whatever it may be that he’s focused on. Jungkook clears his throat
to speak. “You’re not going to do something for me?” he asks.

Taehyung tilts his head. “Do you want me to praise you? Alright, it was a good kill.”

Jungkook frowns. “A good kill? Just that?” he chuckles, offended. “You’re not going to say
anything about anything else? I just gave you the dick sucking of a lifetime and that’s all you’ve
got to say?”

“Yes. Actually. Yes it is.” Taehyung nods, unbothered, and Jungkook walks closer to him, pulling
him from his crouching position by grabbing onto his forearm.

“You— You have to do something back.” he says, frustrated.

Taehyung chuckles. “I /have/ to? You can’t boss me around, Jeon.”

Jungkook’s this close to complain about how unfair and unbelievably mean he’s being but he can
already see the comments on how childish he will be acting if he says that. Taehyung walks closer
to him, crowding him, making him take a few steps back until he’s against the wall.

“You want something back?” Taehyung whispers.

“Yeah.” he nods.

“And I /have/ to do something back?” he tilts his head.

“You sure as fuck do.” Jungkook nods again.

Taehyung smiles before placing both his hands on Jungkook’s shoulders, his knee going up until it
hits where Jungkook’s the most sensitive. “Fuck—!” he groans, falling back to his knees. “What
the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Taehyung goes to speak but he’s interrupted by the door being open, Jimin and Yoongi coming in
with their guns. They relax when they see them. “You were taking so long, we thought they had
gotten you guys or some shit.” Jimin says. “Aren’t you coming?” he eyes the dead man on the
floor. “What the… isn’t that the client—”
Jungkook pushes himself off of the floor, ignoring the pain. “Kim has volunteered to clean up, we
can head back.” he informs, walking past them without even looking back. Jimin looks between
Taehyung and the body before he follows after his boss.

Yoongi rolls up his sleeves. “C’mon, I’ll help. What even happened here?”

“Jeon has anger issues.”

Yoongi chuckles. “He ruined our client after fucking up with the maps to the warehouse… this is
getting way too fishy, boss.” he whispers. “I’m starting to fully believe he’s working with them.”

“I know.” Taehyung nods. “We may have to kill him sooner than expected.”

“Whenever you think the time is right, just call the shots.”

│►

It’s about an hour later that Taehyung returns home, going straight to his office to get his wallet
and he finds Jungkook sitting on his chair behind his desk. “Quite the mess you made, so much
fucking blood, can’t even do a clean job.”

Jungkook slams his hands on the desk, getting up. “That’s it, I’ve fucking had it with you, you have
no ounce of respect and after the shit you pulled today, you can fuck yourself. Fuck you, get the
fuck out of here.”

“You clearly have to calm the fuck down, and I’ll have you know I’m in /my/ office, so if anything,
you get the fuck out. Go to bed or something, for all I care.” Jungkook’s fists close.

“You’re really damn lucky that I want to protect my crew, because they’re my fucking family, or
I’d be walking out of this fucking house right now. You don’t know what respect is, you only care
about yourself, and I’m done. I’m fucking done. You can fuck yourself.” he yells the end, pushing
the vase on Taehyung’s desk to the floor.

Needless to say, it breaks.

“What the fuck—” he makes sure to kick it as he walks past it on his way to the door. “You really
just behave like a fucking kid, don’t you? Every day you prove you me that I should’ve never
accepted this stupid deal.”

“No, really, /you/ prove to /me/ that I should’ve never suggested in the first place.” Jungkook turns
back to him, face red with anger. “You’re the worst fucking person I’ve ever encountered in my
life, I can’t wait to get this done so that I don’t have to look at you ever again.”

“You weren’t saying that an hour ag—”

Jungkook slams the door closed after taking one step out of the office.

Taehyung can hear his hard boots as he walks away.

He chuckles.

Jungkook’s fuming, apparently.

He doesn’t really have time for that.

│►
Jungkook inhales to collect himself in the next morning before he gets into the office. He’s slept
terribly just like every single night since he moved into Taehyung’s place — temporarily, of course
— and he’s tired, achy. Definitely not in the mood to fight or deal with Taehyung at all.

He closes the door behind himself, feet stopping once his eyes fall on the table. The knives he uses
the most all laid out, seemingly recently polished and, after taking a few steps forward, he can also
see how they were sharpened.

Not as well as when he does it, but still, acceptable enough.

He looks to the side once he hears someone switching pages of a document and he knows it’s
Taehyung before he even sees him, ever so well put together, is suit and tie fixed to perfection. “Is
this your way of apologizing?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Taehyung says without even lifting his gaze.

Jungkook catches himself smiling just slightly. “Okay. Well, don’t worry about what happened.”

“I wasn’t worried.”

“You really can’t be nice for ten straight seconds.” Jungkook sighs, sitting down on Taehyung’s
chair given the other is on the small couch to the right. He picks up one of the knives to inspect it
properly.

“I apologized, what else do you want?” Taehyung finally puts his papers down to face him and
Jungkook scoffs.

“I didn’t hear an apology, if I’m quite honest.” he puts the knife down.

“You’re not getting anything else other than that. And that’s already way too much, don’t you ever
expect such thing again.” his words are final and Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“You were beyond incoherent yesterday, not to even mention how you knelt me in the balls, you
know how much that hurts, so yes, I think I deserve an actual fucking apology, not my knives
sharpened. Which wasn’t even properly done, to begin with.”

“Now you’re seriously never going to get anything nice.” Taehyung just looks back to his papers,
crossing one leg over the other. Jungkook frowns.

“You’re the worst.”

“Stop whining all the time, fucking princess.”

Jungkook has to close his eyes to keep himself calm. That word annoys him so, so much. “Stop
fucking calling me that all the time, I’m going to lose it with you if you say that again.” he says
through gritted teeth.

“Oh?” Taehyung looks up with an amused eyebrow shooting up. “You didn’t really complain
yesterday.” he offers with forged innocence in his tone.

“We’re never going to talk about it again.” Jungkook is quick to shut it down.

Taehyung chuckles. “Believe me, the last thing I want is to remember /that/ unfortunate moment.”
the younger looks back at him with a frown, an angry, offended one.

“Are you going to bullshit now and say it wasn’t good? Fuck off.” he defends his own pride.
“Hm, yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“I—”

“No need to cry, there might be someone out there who would enjoy… that.” Jungkook looks away
at his laptop, opening it with a frown. Taehyung looks over the document he’s holding, seeing how
Jungkook mumbles something to himself. “Cat got your tongue?”

“Fuck off.”

│►

“Maybe we can go from here instead and—”

“This still doesn’t feel right.” Taehyung interrupts him, voice stressed. Jungkook drops the pen
he’s holding, resting back in his chair with a groan.

“We don’t even know what their strong suit is when it comes to defending themselves, this is
stressing me the fuck out.” he agrees, sounding just as negative as Taehyung himself. He looks up
once he notices Taehyung dropping his head on his hands, elbows on the desk, rubbing his
temples. It’s the first time that he’s seen Taehyung remotely upset over anything.

So he sighs.

“I don’t think there’s a way to plan against them without having an inside look. Not only about
them but also their warehouse.” Jungkook tries.

“You think I don’t fucking know?” Taehyung looks back at him as he lets his hands fall from his
face. “It’s been weeks, I can’t deal with you all in my house anymore, we can’t get this shit done
without an inside look and there’s no way to get it so truth be said, I don’t need you or your team,
you can go b—”

“I have an idea.” Jungkook interrupts, trying not to feel offended. Taehyung scoffs. “Can you try
not to be an ass for a second and listen to what I have to say?”

“Go ahead.”

“I know how you can get an inside look, I know how we can get a plan of the place, I know what
to do.” he informs.

“And what’s your idea, genius?” Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“Watch your tone.” he warns. “Get me kidnapped, I’m fucking done with this mission already, I’m
just as done seeing you every day. Get me kidnaped, I’ve done it before, I’ll just break out of there
once I know enough.”

Taehyung takes a moment before he chuckles. “That’s the stupidest fucking idea ever, it’s an
unnecessary risk.” he points out. “That’s not what we’re going to do. Absolutely not.”

“I’ve done this before, Kim, you let them think they have control when they don’t. Trust me for
once, will you?” Taehyung remains quiet, simply looking at him. “I’ll break out of there.”

“Alright, let’s say we agree on that, how the fuck do you plan on getting inside?” he asks.

“Simple. I act as though I’m trying to either attack them or like I’m spying on them, which will
make them want to take me in—”
“Or take you out.”

“Irrelevant, I can defend myself. Anyways, they’ll want to take me in, and they will because I’ll let
them. Once I’ll try to get information on them and get confirmation that these maps of the
warehouse are really the right ones. Easy. I just need three days, so that it’s not too long but also not
too suspicious.” Jungkook explains. “Fucking trust me on this.”

Taehyung nods, slowly, before he looks down at the desk. He meets his eyes again. “Fine,
whatever, if they get you killed is just a bonus for me.” Jungkook rolls his eyes. “Do we what, set a
meeting point for you to meet us after those three days?”

“Yeah, exactly.” Jungkook nods. “It’s going to be alright, I just want to be done with this fucking
mission already, and I definitely want my bed back, so we’ll do this and we’ll get a proper plan and
just go and do it. Easy.”

“Alright, it’s a plan.”

│►

Said and done, Taehyung accompanies him to the warehouse, watches with the help of a pair of
binoculars as they take him in, Jungkook acting as though he fights them back, just like how they
planned it. Taehyung watches it happen before he drives back home, Yoongi on the passenger seat
to his right.

Three days, in that same spot.

That’s enough of an agreement and Taehyung doesn’t want to think about Jungkook again until he
has to go pick him up but, much to his dismay, Jimin is knocking on his door the very next day.
“Sir?” he calls after he opens the door and peeks his head in.

Taehyung looks up from his laptop, questioning.

“Sir, I’m a little worried.” he says, stepping inside too.

“About?” Taehyung asks back.

“Mr. Jeon…” Jimin looks down at his fingers. “My pinky is telling me something, it’s warning me
that something isn’t right, I— I don’t know, sir, I have a bad feeling.”

“Jeon was a hundred percent certain that he will be able to do this so let’s wait for him to return
with the information we need. He said he did it before, was he lying?” Taehyung challenges with
an eyebrow raised and Jimin shakes his head quickly, stepping closer.

“No, no, no, he did it, just… not with this big and dangerous of a group. I don’t know, sir, I don’t
want Mr. Jeon to be hurt but I may just be paranoid… I’m sorry to bother you and waste your
time.” he offers a smile, bowing. “I’ll leave you to it now.”

“Close the door on your way out.” Taehyung instructs, eyes back on the laptop, clearly unbothered
by Jimin’s gut feeling, his emails won’t answer themselves.

But it starts flooding his mind, he’s unable to focus. What if Jungkook’s actually dead on a ditch?
He wants to be the one killing Jungkook, to watch him as life leaves his eyes, he doesn’t want
someone else to do it for him, take away the pleasure of ending the Jeons for once and for all.

Taehyung tsks for even thinking about it. It’s Jungkook, he’s not dead, Taehyung thinks.
He’ll find his way out, Jimin’s just paranoid.

│►

Taehyung stands by his car on the agreed day, arms crossed as he waits. “Nothing, boss.” Yoongi
says as he holds a pair of binoculars, aimed at the warehouse Jungkook should be getting out from
in the next few minutes. “Nothing yet.”

“I have a bad feeling…” Jimin murmurs yet again.

“Can you shut the fuck up with that? You’ve been repeating that shit for the past three days, it’s
annoying, shut the hell up already.” Yoongi looks back at him, Jimin walking from side to side.
Taehyung rolls his eyes at the fight he can already see coming.

“It’d be nice if anyone fucking listened.” Jimin throws his arms up. “We agreed he’d be here after
sunset. It’ almost fucking midnight, how is no one getting worried about this?!”

“Didn’t you and Jeon himself preach about how unbeatable he is? About how he’s so capable of
going in there and leaving again? Then keep your silence and wait for your boss to get the fuck out
of there. Which he better do, I have more important things to do rather than waiting for him.”
Taehyung finally speaks, lighting up a cigarette.

Jimin wishes he were brave enough to reply to that, be rude, tell him Jungkook /is/ important, but
that’s Taehyung and he doesn’t want to go against him, doesn’t want to annoy him, so he swallows
all his comments, stealing the binoculars from Yoongi’s hand.

He eyes the warehouse, how everything is just too quiet.

“Sir.” he calls.

Taehyung bite down his teeth. “What?”

“I don’t think he’s coming. Something went wrong. I know it did. I know Mr. Jeon, he’d be here
by sunset if he said he would. I’m sorry for nagging you with this and— What I’m trying to say is,
Mr. Jeon isn’t safe right now. I can feel it. We have to do something.”

“Park, we can’t go in there like that. One, there’s three of us and two, he’s there so that we can
even know how the fuck to approach these guys. We can’t just go in, it’s too risky. I’m not risking
my men for your boss.” he says, tone final.

“Fine, I’ll go there myself then.” Jimin pushes the binoculars against Yoongi’s chest, who grabs
them, watching as Taehyung looks just as unbothered as before Jimin spoke. Jimin starts walking
away and Taehyung doesn’t look like he has any intention of telling him to stop.

Yoongi knows it’s a terrible idea.

Jimin will most definitely die and it may make the others be even more alert.

So he groans, before calling after him. “Park, wait.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “Mr. Kim, I
think it’s pretty obvious that he’s going to go in there no matter what and it’s going to fuck it up
even further for us so… we should probably go there. We should.” Yoongi offers. “Let’s go home
and plan this out. There’s nothing really to plan but let’s try our best and get Mr. Jeon out of
there… hopefully alive.”

“Min, you know that if we go in there, it’s not just to get him out, right? If we go in, we’ll have to
do it /well/ and leave once they’re all dead. We have to end the mission as we go in there, you’re
aware of that, right?” Yoongi opens his mouth. Taehyung lifts his hand. Yoongi closes it. “We
can’t fail, we have no time to prepare, we didn’t get any new information given Jeon was stupid
enough to allow us to believe he’d get them, so we have to go in there with everything we have.”

“And we will, boss.” Yoongi assures. “We’ll call Jeon’s men, we’ll gather ours, make sure
everyone’s ready. We just have to set up a base plan as we’re unsure of what to even do with them,
so let’s just… focus on killing and surviving, that should be our plan. You know we can do it.
We’re more than enough.” Jimin looks between the two.

Taehyung is silent for a second. “Alright.” he nods. “Let’s head back. Park, call your men over.
We’ll all be here first thing in the morning.”

“Thank you so much, si—”

“I’m not doing you a favor.”

│►

“After your word, boss.” he hears Yoongi on his earpiece and he closes his eyes, making sure his
gun is loaded. They have no time to think, the second they start, they can’t stop, so he takes a
moment to breathe in. They didn’t have much time to come up with a reliable plan but he’s feeling
rather positive that they’ll get it done.

“Is everyone ready?” Taehyung asks, hearing the leaders of each smaller group confirm it. “Go in.
You know what to do.” everyone agrees and he hears the movement around him, the men
responsible for shielding him kick the door down, holding their guns, ready to fire at any given
moment. And Taehyung knows his task.

Find the idiot.

There’s already gunshots, he’s never been that attentive, he’s never been that focused in his life.
He’s threading through territory he’s not familiar with.

He has to shoot two people to get to the room where the map they had indicated would be the
place where they keep those locked up but a big part of him doesn’t believe it will be that easy.
“We got you covered, go now, now.” Jimin instructs, gesturing for him to rush into the hallway
and so he does, gun always ready.

It’s the second door, he remembers, so that’s the one he kicks open.

He rests his back on the wall for a few seconds before he dares peeking inside.

It’s dark, there’s only a light on at the very corner of the room but he can still see two men chained
by one of their feet on the floor. He doesn’t recognize them, so he doesn’t care to spare another
look, he just walks further into the room.

Taehyung’s slightly relieved to see Jungkook completely chained to the wall, arms and legs, the
group probably too well aware of how sneaky Jeon Jungkook is, he’d just break out of there, as he
intended to, so they made sure that wouldn’t happen. Under no circumstance.

He’s only /slightly/ relieved, though, once there’s a man standing by Jungkook, a gun pointed at his
head, eyes on Taehyung. But Taehyung needs at least some confirmation that Jungkook’s alive to
begin with. His head is hanging, he might be dead, for all Taehyung knows.
“One step and he’s dead.” the man threatens and Jungkook does lift his head, confused, until his
eyes meet Taehyung’s. Jungkook looks pale, really pale, tired, exhausted even. He’s been there for
over three days so Taehyung shouldn’t be surprised.

“You pull that trigger and there will be nothing stopping me or our men from burning this place
down to ashes and tearing you and the others apart. Rethink who’s got the upper hand there. Put
down your weapon and I’ll consider letting you walk out of the room.” one thing Taehyung prides
himself with is how he’s able to speak as though he has the situation under control.

Even when he really doesn’t.

“Do you really think I’ll listen?” the man answers, contrary to his expectations, and Taehyung
tightens his grip on his gun. He must think and think fast.

The man can just shoot.

He has no reason not to, that’s his job, he must protect his own, he has absolutely no reason not to
end Jungkook’s life right then and there, so Taehyung can’t say it doesn’t irk him. Not having the
final say, not having a grip on the situation.

He’s there to save Jungkook and he may walk out with his body over his shoulder instead. He can’t
let that happen but the situation isn’t really under his control.

That doesn’t sit right.

“You’ll be dead before he hits the ground.” Taehyung points out, his heartbeat quickening. “Let
him go. Now. Or I’ll make sure everyone else in your crew dies in the most painful way.”

Jungkook looks between the two, knowing that can only end poorly.

He gulps.

He’s been there for long enough to know why that one man is the one just watching over the ones
locked up, he’s there because he doesn’t have the brains for anything else. He’s seen it, he’s heard
it, he’s made fun of it himself, which granted him a kick to the stomach.

He laughed, though, it didn’t hurt that much.

“Hey, listen, we should all—” Jungkook starts, only to gasp loudly, exaggerated, looking ahead
and behind the man who furrows his eyebrows. “What the fuck is that—” he goes on, staring at
nothing. The man turns around to check, only to have his arm headbutted away, the only movement
Jungkook’s able to make.

Taehyung shoots immediately. As soon as the man’s gun is aimed somewhere else than
Jungkook’s head, he shoots. The other gun shoots as well.

Taehyung holds his breath for a moment, eyes trying to understand where did the second bullet hit
but all he sees is the man falling to the floor, lifeless, and he rushes to look up. Jungkook’s already
looking back at him. Jungkook’s ok.

Jungkook’s alright.

“You look pale.” he says.

“I thought he had fucking shot you.” Taehyung breathes out, walking closer in quick steps.
“Please get me out of these…” Jungkook tries to say but it comes off as a weak, broken, whisper.
Taehyung uses his foot to roll the man over onto his back, seeing the key hanging on his jeans. He
gets them, untying Jungkook’s legs one at a time, hearing him hiss as he frees each limb. The skin
is red, bruised, from being held back with such force.

He moves onto his hands then, his wrists looking abused by the chains.

Taehyung has to catch Jungkook when his body gives out. He’s weak, he hasn’t been fed in who
knows how long, his mouth is beyond dry, he’s weak. Taehyung breathes out into his hair for a
short second, relieved before collecting himself.

“Are you with me? Are you hurt? Can you walk?” he asks.

“No, I don’t think so… I think— I think I’m about to pass out.” Jungkook informs, both eyeing
each other but Jungkook’s look unfocused, blank. He definitely looks like he’s about to pass out,
lose his conscience.

“Right, ok—” Taehyung holds him a little harder as Jungkook goes limp in his hold. He pulls him
up so that he can carry his body into the corner, taking his jacket off to cover Jungkook. He looks
rather peaceful, weak, but peaceful now.

Taehyung touches his earpiece. “Park, send two from your group to the second room where I’m
standing. Jeon’s ok.” he states, eyes still on the man. Taehyung’s leather jacket — that he only uses
during missions — placed over his folded body.

“Got it, boss, they’re on their way.” he hears soon after.

That’s enough confirmation for him to leave the room, guns ready, more than willing to end that
mission and that group for once and for all.

│►

Jungkook’s eyes start blinking open ever so slowly, his consciousness coming back to him, and he
can’t help but to notice how everything around him feels different. It’s not cold anymore, he
doesn’t feel the skin around his wrists and his ankles being held oh so tight by the chains.

He doesn’t feel immensely hungry anymore, doesn’t feel his mouth dry.

The first thing he sees once his eyes focus is Taehyung leaning against the wall with his arms
crossed and he can just /hear/ the scolding his way and his head hurts too much, he’s too tired, he
really doesn’t want to deal with that.

So he does what a smart person would.

He closes his eyes.

“I know you’re awake.”

Well. Fuck.

“No, I’m not.”

Nice.

Nice save indeed.

“You could’ve died, you know that, right?” but Taehyung receives nothing but silence. “You
literally just talked, you fucking idiot, I know you’re awake.” still no answer, so Taehyung walks
closer, slapping his forehead. Hard.

Jungkook holds his wrist faster than Taehyung even sees him moving. He looks beyond offended.

Taehyung simply yanks his arm back. “Do you realize what you did? What you put everyone
through with your stupidity? With your irresponsibility? Do you realize what you fucking did?!”

“Yes, I took one for the team.” Taehyung glares at him so Jungkook sighs, relaxing further on the
bed. He’s tired, he wants to sleep more, for as long as possible. “It was fine, Taehyung.”

“What if we couldn’t have gotten to you on time?”

“But you did.”

“You’re pissing me off.” he says through gritted teeth.

“It worked out, so stop getting so fucking worked up, seriously.” Jungkook complains. He just
wants to sleep, for fuck’s sake.

“You nearly fucking got yourself killed, Jungkook. You made me and everyone have to rush a plan
to get into an unknown place to get your fucking irresponsible ass. You just proved why you
fucking suck at this, that’s what you did. I’m glad I don’t have to work with you any longer after
this mission.” Taehyung walks away to leave the room and Jungkook frowns, refusing to say
whatever it may be.

Jimin comes in with a bow that Taehyung doesn’t even spare a look at.

He watches him leave with a confused look. Taehyung certainly looks angry and he’s unsure why.
“Hey, boss.” Jimin regains his smile once he eyes the bed. Jungkook looks more alive than when
he saw him hour before, his skin has more color to it. He sits down in bed, handing over the glass
of water.

Jungkook drinks it right away.

“How did you fuck that one up so bad?” Jimin asks with a tentative smile.

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “They chained me to the fucking wall, I literally had no way out.” he
explains. “I had no way to get out, they fucking— seriously.”

“So you almost died?”

“Yes.”

“You’re fucking lucky, you know? The medical team said that you hadn’t eaten or drunk anything
for over three days, you were unconscious when Mr. Kim pulled you out of there, you could’ve
seriously died.” Jimin scratches the back of his neck.

“He just gave me a lecture with that fucking attitude of his—”

“With all due respect, chief, you two are on the same level, working together, and yet, you still
manage to fight every single day like… two teenagers, I’d say.” Jungkook puts own his glass of
water, fixing his pillow to lay back.

“I may be weak right now but don’t think I won’t strangle you.” he threatens but he doesn’t sound
very threatening, if at all. His voice is still a little broken.

“We sent some men to buy drinks, we’re celebrating tonight.” Jimin informs. “Mr. Kim allowed us
to after we convinced Hoseok to convince Yoongi to convince Mr. Kim.”

“Celebrate what?”

“We got this done, chief.”

“Call me chief one more time and I swear to G— What do you mean got this done?” Jungkook
perks up. “What happened?”

“We finished the mission while you took your nap, everyone’s dead. Well, almost everyone. One
of their bosses ran away but what will he do? He has no one now… We lost two men, three injured
but not severely. And we don’t have to work with Mr. Kim anymore, either.”

“I wasn’t taking a nap.”

“You weren’t awake.” Jimin tries. Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“I got tortured for four days, you insensitive prick.”

“Oh, shit, what did they do?” he scoots closer. “Tell me.”

“Nothing big, to be honest, but it doesn’t matter. Leave my room now, I’m tired, I want to rest for a
while longer before we have to return home.” Jungkook waves him off. “Go, leave.”

“I’ll come back in an hour with some food for you, I’m pretty sure you’ll be allowed up and out of
bed after you’ve eaten something, boss.” Jimin informs, leaving the room with a bow that
Jungkook doesn’t even see, given his eyes are closed.

Once silence sets, Jungkook can’t stop thinking of how, even if he’s mentally and emotionally ten
years older after dealing with Taehyung’s temper for so long, after daily fights, after being close to
punch each other so many times, they still managed to get the mission done.

That’s incredible, in his eyes.

Even if he was, indeed, sleeping as they fought those men, he was the one volunteering to go in
there in the first place, he helped coming up with many plans, helped train those men to be ready to
fight. And Taehyung did his part. Everyone did their part.

They succeeded. As a team.

Even if they hate each other, they were still able to get it done.

He’d pat his own back if that didn’t require him to move from his comfortable position.

│►

Jungkook continues munching on his food as he listens to Jimin’s explanation as to how they
fought those men, how they got it done, how they returned to pick Jungkook up, every single detail
he can give. “…and then he—” he stops, looking back when the door is pushed open.

Taehyung stands by it with an unbothered posture. “I hope you’ve started packing.”

Jimin smiles. “Won’t you miss us, sir? I’m sure deep down you actually liked having us around
here.” Jungkook stops chewing, the air becomes way thicker.

“Jeon may let you speak however you want but we’re not friends, Park. You’re not even on my
team anymore, so I’d advise you to shut the fuck up and know your place. There’s not a single
reason for me to give a shit about you now.”

Jimin gapes.

Jungkook blinks.

“Start packing your shit.” he says before he leaves.

“I almost pissed myself.” Jimin whispers, a hand to his chest. “Oh my God, he’s so scary, I hate
him, I never know how to talk to him.”

“You keep playing with fire, you’ll get burn someday.” Jungkook singsongs, twisting his fork to
collect some of the pasta, taking it to his mouth. “Be glad we won’t have to see him anymore.”

“But… we made a pretty good team out there, I won’t lie.”

“Relying on what you told me and on the fact that you took out a whole group, I’d say you did.”

“It was so cool, seriously, we even—”

│►

Jungkook folds yet another shirt, placing it inside his suitcase. He moves onto a pair of pants,
stopping for a short second as he feels himself being watched. “What do you want?” he asks, pretty
sure of who’s standing by the door.

“As much as you made it worse, your men want you downstairs.” Taehyung informs.

“I don’t do celebrations.”

Taehyung scoffs. “And you think I do?”

Jungkook turns towards him, pants still in his hand. “Can you just— For once?”

“Your men want you downstairs, you have five minutes until it starts.” Taehyung says, tone final.

“I’m not going.” Jungkook says, just as determined.

“If you’re not down there by the time I am, I’m coming here and dragging you myself.”

Jungkook scoffs. “Of course, as the brute you are. No one’s fucking surprised.”

“Don’t test me, Jeon.”

Jungkook does crack a smile at that. “Don’t I always?”

Taehyung just shakes his head with a roll of the eyes before leaving the room. Jungkook’s left
punching the air, throwing the pants into the suitcase with a new found anger, getting a new shirt
to change the one he’s wearing, doing the same with his pants so that he looks more put together to
attend the stupid celebration.

He puts a choker on too, wanting to look like himself.

A pair of boots and he’s leaving his room after putting everything inside his suitcase.

He follows the noise in order to find where they’re celebrating and he appears to have gotten there
just in time. Everyone has a glass with whatever it may be, possibly wine or champagne, and
they’re in a big circle, Jimin standing in the center.

“So after this what, month or so, maybe less, working together, we have finally reached the
common goal that we had.” Jimin starts. “There have been fights and we’ve all been through some
tough times agreeing with plans and agreeing with literally… everything, so honestly, we should
all be happy and proud of ourselves and of those next to us because we did it. There’s no one left
from them, that group won’t bother us anymore.”

Jungkook smiles to himself.

“Tonight… tonight ends the alliance, we’ll go back to go on separate ways but I must say, I really
enjoyed working with all of you, I’m happy this happened. And—! We deserve to get fucked up
tonight, we deserve the day off, the night, whatever. So drink away, we did great.” he holds his
glass up, everyone celebrating as hey raise their own.

Some cheer with those close next to them, the sound of gasses clicking against each other fills the
room and suddenly there’s music coming from somewhere Jungkook isn’t even curious about. He
is curious though, when he sees Taehyung pushing himself off of the wall he’s leaning against and
grabbing a freshly opened bottle of liquor before he leaves the room.

He decides to follow.

Because why not, really.

He follows the other into the garden where he finds Taehyung sitting where the light starts being
really faint, liquor bottle in hand. Jungkook walks closer, sitting a few feet away from him. “So.”
he speaks into the air. “The mission is done… why did you come outside?” he asks.

“Just need some air, why are you following me?” Taehyung looks back at him and Jungkook
shrugs, looking ahead at the sky.

“I’m not following you, I just needed some air too. It’s a weird environment inside, everyone’s
happy and shit.” he says with a sheepish smile.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever seen them like that in a long while, we don’t really celebrate often.”
Taehyung decides to share, his voice sounding softer than usual.

“We don’t either, we just— move on from whatever mission we’re doing…” Jungkook agrees,
pulling at the grass between his legs. It’s quiet for a while before he gathers himself enough to
speak. “Ever since I took over after my dad died, it’s been hard for everyone to relax like this. I like
that they are enjoying themselves for once, they deserve it. They’re good people. This is just…” he
stops, seeking for the word.

“Unfamiliar?” Taehyung helps.

“Yeah.” he nods.

Taehyung takes a sip from the bottle of liquor. “I can relate to that.”

Jungkook scoots a little closer to make a grab for the bottle, taking a long sip too. “Who would’ve
known we’d have found something in common.” Jungkook says with a little smile.
Taehyung chuckles. “Don’t tell those men back there that, they’d think they’re hallucinating or
some shit… or that we’re on drugs.” Jungkook laughs. It’s not very loud, it’s a quiet laugh, but it
has Taehyung looking at him again. He’s never seen him with a genuine smile, let alone laughing.

It lights up his whole face, he looks like he doesn’t have a single care in the world when he laughs.
It’s weird. It’s fucking weird, Taehyung would really say.

They continue drinking in silence for some long minutes. They can hear the party — or the
celebration — going in the back, but they do their best to ignore it. The bottle going back and forth
between the two, already almost the end.

“I actually think we have a bit more in common than we think.” Jungkook speaks after a while.

“You think?” Taehyung lifts an eyebrow.

“You know what, Kim, in another life, if things were different, maybe working with you wouldn’t
be so bad.” he says before taking another sip. It’s good liquor.

“If I had my bottle back I’d say cheers to that.” Taehyung nods, the alcohol starting to get to his
head.

“We can’t cheer… we only have one bottle.”

“Then give it back.” Taehyung requests.

“Ok let me just—” Jungkook takes two sips, face cringing a little as it burns down his throat. It’s a
good kind of burn, though. He then hands over the bottle. He watches Taehyung’s Adam’s apple
moving as he sips the liquor himself and he bites own his bottom lip. “I have another way to cheer
this.” he whispers.

“Are you going to get another bottle?”

“Not quite…” Jungkook says as he leans closer, his eyes on Taehyung’s lips, hand going for this
cheek. It’s the alcohol. It’s definitely the alcohol. They’re both tipsy, it’s definitely the alcohol.

Taehyung leans back. “What are you doing?” he asks, surprised.

“Kissing you…?” Jungkook pouts. Taehyung just hums before he leans in again and their lips meet
then for the first time. It’s slow for a brief moment before they both press closer, heads tilting in
opposite directions to make it deeper.

Taehyung licks his bottom lip, silently asking for him to part his mouth and so he does, accepting
Taehyung’s tongue in his mouth. It’s not rushed, it’s not too fast paced. It’s slow, it’s calm,
relaxing, even. Just what they needed after the gathering with the other men.

A nice way to wrap it all up. The mission, the fights, everything. They’ll never have to cross paths
again. And they’re drunk so really, who cares? Not them.

Jungkook’s hands are still on Taehyung’s cheeks when the latter’s kisses start going down
Jungkook’s jaw, where he sucks a harsh hickey. Jungkook lets out a little sound that makes the
both of them get a grip on themselves.

Realize where they are. What they’re doing.

“Why did you stop?” he still asks, even if he also pulls back.
“Why did you start?” Taehyung finds a way to turn it around.

They fall silent, the bottle of liquor empty between them, their eyes on the glass. Jungkook clears
his throat. “We’re never talking about—”

“Ever again, yes, we’re not doing that.” Taehyung nods. “I’m going to bed, goodnight.”

“Yes, absolutely, uh goodnight.”

“You leave in the morning, right?” he asks as he pulls himself up from the floor.

“Yeah, why?”

“Nothing.” Taehyung clears his throat, wiping his lips on the back of his hand. Jungkook looks up
at him as he starts walking away.

“Sleep well, Kim.” he says, a little louder.

“Yeah, you too.” Jungkook’s left alone then, fingers picking at the grass again, the bottle next to
him. It’s silent again and silence gives him space to think. All he can think about is the kiss, for
some reason. He’s too lightheaded, he can still feel Taehyung’s lips on his.

It’s really, /really/ not something he’s ever seen coming, something he’s never going to
acknowledge or admit that happened once the alcohol wears off, but it still did.

Taehyung kisses his jaw, his neck, Jungkook initiated a kiss.

For absolutely no reason at all.

He thinks the worst part of it all is how he liked it.

Again, he’ll never admit it.

│►

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 ◄│ 3/6 │►
Chapter Notes

Hi! So I'm finally posting the third part of this... I know it takes a while for me to
update this au but it's because the chapters are so long jnfgjfng. I hope you really take
in consideration the 'toxic start' tag because they do have a questionable start,,,

Now I shall ask two things:

- check the new tags (always do with each update);
- do ignore any typos and enjoy!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Jungkook slaps his pillow a couple of times until it’s comfortable enough, laying his head as he
closes his eyes. It’s late, he didn’t leave the outside before the party started dying down and he still
stayed a little bit longer with those who wanted to ask the most variate questions.

Especially his men.

He’s tired and he wants to sleep.

He opens his eyes, startled, when his door is opened, him knowing for a fact that he left it locked.
He makes a grab for his gun, relaxing when he sees his right hand standing in nothing but his
underwear. “I have something to tell y— please put the gun down.”

“Who gave you permission to come in?” he asks, placing the gun back under his pillow, holding
himself on his forearm. Jimin takes a step out of the room, knocking on the door. “For fuck’s sake,
come in.” Jungkook sighs.

“Good morning, boss.” Jimin greets.

“It’s five in the fucking morning, Jimin, what do you want?” Jungkook asks. They /just/ parted
ways, Jimin /just/ said he was going to bed and so did Jungkook. He wants to sleep, it’s late.

“Listen, what if—”

“It’s too late for this, we’ll talk tomorrow at home.” Jungkook gestures towards the door, laying
back down and pulling the sheets over his body. Jimin shakes his head, walking closer.

“No, no, no, wait, that’d be too late, uh, I have a suggestion. What if you and Mr. Kim stuck
together? Huh?” he tries, both of his hands raises just in case he needs to defend himself from
anything too sudden.

“Get out.” Jungkook doesn’t even look at him.

“Please, boss, let me give you my points, I’ve been thinking about this the whole night…” Jimin
just about begs. “It won’t take much of your time, I promise.” Jungkook sighs, sitting up again.

“Jimin, you have fifteen seconds to explain yourself as to why you’d bother me with something so
idiotic.” he instructs.
“Starting now?”

“Thirteen.” Jimin gasps.

“Ok— I believe it would be extremely beneficial to everyone in the team… and to you and to Mr.
Kim too if we were to come together for a second and take a breather and think about life and what
has gotten us here and what we w—” Jungkook lays back down.

“Time’s up, leave my room.” his voice sounds final and it has Jimin stomping his foot.

“Jungkook…!” he drags. “I’ll just say it really, really fast. I don’t think we should go home.” Jimin
says in less than a second. Jungkook rubs his eyes, starting to accept the fact that he’s not going to
be able to sleep unless he gives Jimin the attention he’s looking for.

“Why would you think that?” Jungkook tries, eyes half closed.

“C’mon, boss, did you see how everyone got along so well? How we all learned so much from
each other? Yoongi doesn’t even want to kill me anymore, he just hates me a bit and I hate him too
but that’s beside the point… we all worked together so well and you two would honestly be so
powerful if you teamed up.” Jimin lists off on his fingers.

Jungkook takes a moment. “Are you going to be the one to go to him and suggest such a thing?”

“Boss, with all due respect, I’m really scared of him, I don’t want to be on his bad side, especially
if we do end up as a whole, he has to like me.” Jimin takes a step back.

Jungkook sighs, forced. “I should’ve picked someone else as my right hand…”

“Consider it done.” Jimin straightens up.

“Don’t go, he’ll break your neck.” Jungkook’s fast enough to say before Jimin leaves the room.

“Then let’s go together, I know that I’m in underwear but I think—”

“Not now. Go to bed, I need to think if this is even that good for us. Besides, I’m still a bit drunk
and so is he, I don’t want to deal with his shit right now and I certainly don’t want to make such
important and impactful decision when I’m not a hundred percent sober.” he explains. “I’ll get to
you in the morning, I have to think.”

“Okay, then let’s talk to him in the morning. I’ll leave now, sleep well, boss.” Jungkook just
mumbles what Jimin guesses was a ‘you too’ as he turns around to find a comfortable position on
that horrible mattress. “Thank you for even listening to my suggestion, I knew you’d be smart and
see how we can benefit so much from such deal.”

“We can also lose a lot. Like our dignity.”

“No, because you’ll gain power. So will he. Think about it, alright, it’s late, I’ll go to bed and I’ll
leave you to sleep too. Rest well, boss.” and with that, he leaves. Jungkook doesn’t bother getting
up to lock the door, too tired to do so.

No one’s brave enough to go into his bedroom, anyways.

He has a lot of thinking to do.

And ok, fuck, he’s really not going to sleep.

│►

Taehyung enters his office the very next morning, holding his coffee mug that will, very hopefully,
wake him up after going to bed so late. His feet stop for a moment once the scene before him clicks
in his mind, Jimin sitting on his chair.

Jungkook’s just carelessly on the couch to his right, unbothered by the position Jimin’s taking but
it couldn’t anger Taehyung more. “You allow him to just sit behind my desk?” he asks.

“Not my desk, not my problem.” Jungkook shrugs.

Jimin rushes to get up. “Sir, last night was so good, please don’t be mad, I was just— the chair
looked so comfy.” he gestures for Taehyung to take his seat, politely bowing when the other walk
past him to do so but the glare Taehyung holds is enough indicator that he should just back off. So
he does.

Taehyung’s eyes meet Jungkook’s already waiting ones when last night is mentioned.

Jungkook coughs awkwardly. “Jimin came to me last night with something important.” he starts.

“Go on.” Taehyung encourages, sounding everything but interested, eyes on the pile of papers on
his desk that he starts going through. He doesn’t look like he’s listening but Jungkook holds onto
the idea that he is for the sake of his own patience.

“Have you thought about ruling the entire city?” Jungkook asks.

“Aw, are you finally realizing that you suck at this?” Taehyung looks up with a smile. It’s not
honest, that much is obvious.

Jungkook gets up from the couch. “He’s a lost cause, this obviously is out of his expertise, we
shouldn’t have come.” he says, looking at his right hand, Taehyung rolling his eyes.

“Stop being immature and speak.” Jungkook wants to punch him on his chin.

“Listen, you dickhead, Jimin made a suggestion that could end both the fucking fight we’ve been
having between our families for years and the division of the city. Now, will you fucking listen or
will you stay ignorant?” he walks closer until he places his hands on the desk, bending down just
the slightest. Taehyung rests back on his chair.

“And why would I want to make peace with you?”

“The same reason you just did the other week, dumb fuck. Do I have to spell it out for you, Kim, or
are you actually going to let your brain do some thinking for once?” he tries to sound as threatening
as he can, even if Taehyung’s gaze is way too strong. Jungkook’s not very sure as to why it radiates
such energy.

Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “Go on.”

“You have your deals on this side, we have ours on our side. If we combined, we’d be
unstoppable.” Jungkook explains.

“Again, what benefits would I get from joining teams with someone like you? We both know that I
have the strongest, most allied team, joining you would only give me more mouths to feed and
more lives to be prepared to die for. I wouldn’t gain all that much.” Taehyung throws back, eyes
briefly looking over at Jimin. He’s still standing by their side, attention shifting between the two as
they speak.

“There’d be less to die for if there were more of us than any other threat. The food won’t be a
problem, we’ve managed just fine for the time we were here, that shouldn’t even be considered an
issue and you know that. We both have enough resources to be stable as a group, there’s no loss for
you. Besides, you wouldn’t be ruling shit on your own, that’s why I’m here, we have to be on the
same level, or I’m not even offering anything to begin with.”

“This is my father’s legacy, Jeon. My family has always hated yours, I can’t go against his will like
that.” Taehyung still denies, Jungkook’s points going through one ear and out the other.

“How would it be against his will to make peace and prevent any more tragedies and attacks from
happening? Was he really just that much of a power hungry ass?” Jungkook throws, getting the
other to get up from his seat. Taehyung walks closer to him, crowding, taking too much off of
Jungkook’s personal space.

“Watch the way you fucking speak. Have you never been taught to have some respect for the
dead?” Taehyung asks through his teeth.

“Why would I watch the way I speak of him when you’re showing just how much of an arrogant
piece of shit he was?” and yes, Jungkook knows he’s pushing too far, he knows he’s saying way
too much, but he wants a reaction. He /has/ to get a reaction if he wants to get under Taehyung’s
skin just the slightest, just enough to have him accepting the deal.

But Taehyung looks angrier than ever. “Jimin, get out.” he groans without breaking eye contact.

Jimin makes a grab for his gun. “Boss…?”

“Jimin, go.” Jungkook instructs.

“I don’t think—”

“Get the fuck out before I make you.” Taehyung instructs, final, eyes still on Jungkook’s.

“Yes, sir.” Jimin nods at last, leaving the room.

As soon as he’s gone, the sound of skin against skin fills up the office, Taehyung slapping the
other with the back of his hand, the mixture of his rings and the strength put to it enough to bust
Jungkook’s bottom lip open. Jungkook’s shocked.

Especially when he’s pushed back against the wall behind himself with a hand on his throat.

He spits the blood into Taehyung’s face. “You have four seconds to remove yourself from me
before I snap your arm in three.” he threatens, voice low.

“You’re really testing my patience under my own roof.”

“You’re forgetting that you’re not the only one who can hurt someone, I’d highly suggest you’d let
go before I grab my knife and cut your neck open. You know I will— let go right now.” he inhales,
a little harder, when Taehyung’s fingers press on the side of his neck before he lets go.

“You’re honestly so fucking annoying, I can’t fucking deal with you even being in the same room
as me, and you expect me to create some… alliance?” Taehyung asks like it’s some joke, taking a
step back and away from him.
“That’s not what you said last nig—”

“Don’t you fucking bring that up.” Taehyung interrupts.

“So we’re just going to ignore that you literally said that if things were different, we could work
well together? Kim, things can be different, our fathers were ignorant enough to believe otherwise.
Don’t make the same mistake, you saw what you did to them, you know what it has been doing for
us, for fuck’s sake.” Jungkook still tries, ignoring the pulsing pain in his bottom lip. He really,
really wants to punch Taehyung for that one.

“What I said last night doesn’t matter. We were drunk. End of story. Now get your team out of my
damn house before we shoot every single one of you down.” Taehyung says, his voice growing
stronger as he points towards the door.

“Stop being fucking prideful, you stupid ignorant piece of shit.”

“What the hell did you just call me? You’re really just a disrespectful ass—”

“You’re being the worst fucking leader you could be right now. Your arrogance and your pride are
getting in the way of protecting your own people with the numbers and men you know we both
could use. I get that I’m younger and newer to this than you are, but you can’t deny that we worked
well as a team. You can’t deny that last night— last night something changed, goddamn it. But if
you’re going to be this irresponsible, selfish, and arrogant piece of shit because of your own daddy
issues, like you’re the only fucking one here who has them, this would’ve never been a good idea
in the first place. Tell your cook not to bother with extras, I’ll be taking my men right now.” he lets
out almost in one breath, pushing away from the wall.

Taehyung watches as he walks away to the door.

But Jungkook turns back again. “One moment you kiss me, then you slap me and make me bleed,
and you think I’m the one being a disrespectful ass? At least I had enough fucking respect to ask
you if you wanted to protect your men, at least— Thank you for hosting this, Kim, I hope I never
have to run into you again.” and with that, he’s out of the office, slamming the door with all his
might. Taehyung rubs his eyes.

He’s way too tired for Jungkook’s shit, so he walks to his chair, taking a seat again and grabbing
his files. He doesn’t care for anything Jungkook has to say.

But he can’t focus anymore.

He puts the papers down, running his hands through his silver gray hair. “For fuck’s sake…”

│►

Jungkook bends down to slap Yugyeom until he wakes up, the man looking up, startled. Jungkook
just gives him a glare, before moving away to slap the next one. They’re all passed out on the
floor. A shame. Some of Taehyung’s men wake up as he walks around to look for his own but
quickly close their eyes again.

Everyone’s still under the influences of the alcohol.

Jungkook straightens up when someone grabs his forearm, pulling him up. Taehyung dabs the cut
on his bottom lip with is thumb, making Jungkook hiss. He stops then. He’s holding a pack of ice
that is soon pressed against his lip and Jungkook watches as the other grabs his hand to lift it up
and make him hold it himself.
“Give me an hour.” Taehyung says, offering him nothing but a brief look before he walks out of the
room again. Jungkook’s left there, confused.

Yoongi trails after Taehyung after being called into the office. “With all due respect, sir, I’m still
kind of drunk.” he excuses himself as he sits down in front of Taehyung’s desk.

“Well then get fucking sober because we have a situation.” Yoongi nods, rubbing his eyes rather
aggressively before looking up, nodding for his boss to go on. “Jeon wants to create an alliance.”

Yoongi positively chokes. “Excuse me, what?” Taehyung rubs his temples. “I mean… that
wouldn’t be that bad of an idea if you stop to think about the benefits it would bring us.”

“He’s too fucking soft for this, Min, and that’s just point number one.” he stresses.

“What do you mean soft, everyone’s mad sacred of you two.” Yoongi tilts his head.

“He gets hurt and bitchy so easily, I can’t deal with that daily, I can’t willingly sign a contract to
put myself through that every day.” Taehyung points out, voice sounding just as done as he himself
is feeling.

“Get him to shut up, then. You know how to. You’re fucking Kim Taehyung, you think everyone
here was afraid of you from the start? No, we weren’t. You know how to put people in their place,
learn how to do the same with him.” Yoongi encourages.

Taehyung’s mind drifts to the times he has indeed put Jungkook back in his place.

Jungkook’s very easy to do so.

That has him almost smirking.

“Sir?”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

“I think Mr. Jeon could be a good addition to our group.” Taehyung shakes his head with a sigh.

“But my father—” Yoongi lifts a hand.

“Again, with all due respect, he doesn’t run the show anymore, you do. It’s up to you to decide…
you and Jeon. Don’t let past bad blood get in the way of something that could be a bigger benefit to
your own. Besides… they have skills that we don’t, we have skills that they don’t. We deal with
money and weapons, he’s got a whole drug business on the side, imagine the money and power
and just— fucking empire you’d have if you teamed up.” Yoongi says, a hand on his head to try
and cope with his increasing headache.

“He has no respect whatsoever, though. You know how I hate that.” Taehyung bite down his teeth.
“How am I supposed to work with that entitled fucker?”

“How about you prove him wrong and earn his respect, you know that’s not something you can
just get, either, and—” he stops when the door is pushed open rather aggressively. Jungkook enters
the office like he owns the place.

“It’s not been an hour.” Taehyung says.

“Well, I don’t have time for this shit. You, leave.” Yoongi gets up from his chair as soon as he’s
addressed, knowing Taehyung would give him any kind of sign if he wasn’t to obey such order, but
Taehyung doesn’t, so he simply gets up and leaves.

Taehyung gestures for Jungkook to take a seat as he rests back on his chair. He remains quiet until
Yoongi is out of the room.

“Are you going to speak or?” Jungkook cuts the silence.

“You know, Jeon, patience is a virtue.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow with a tsk.

“I don’t have that. Speak or I’m out.” he says, making the other roll his eyes.

“I’ve had a talk with Yoongi.” Taehyung gets up from his chair, closing the button of his suit’s
jacket. “There’s obvious benefits that I can’t just turn a blind eye on. We’d both benefit a lot from
this.” he speaks as he walks around his desk until he’s leaning against it right in front of him.
“There’s downsides, but the money and power we’d get speaks louder.” a shrug. He lifts
Jungkook’s chin with his hand. “Besides, I could teach you a thing or two on how to lead.”

Jungkook leans away. “Not just you, I’ve seen how you fight, not everyone’s going to be a faraway
target.” he says as he looks up.

“Are you saying I can’t fight?”

“I’m saying you could get better.”

Taehyung lets out a mean chuckle, almost amused. “Princess’ going to help me fight?”

“You know what, fuck you, I’m done—” he tries to get up but there’s a hand on his shoulder. He
stops, being pushed back into his seat.

“You’re going to have to work on your sensitivity too, I can’t have you crying because someone
told you your hair looks bad.” Taehyung points out. Jungkook gapes. /What/.

“I’m not sensitive.” nice.

“You’re too fucking soft for the job, I’m sure you know that.” he tilts his head, crossing his arms.
Jungkook looks offended, which only confirms Taehyung’s words even further.

“I’m not soft— what the fuck.”

“Jungkook, you allow Jimin to even have a say.” Jungkook furrows his eyebrows.

“Because he’s my friend. He’s been my friend since forever, of course he has a say.” he defends.

“We can’t have friends. Friends betray you, we have allies and people who would die for you. You
can’t treat them like they’re your friends, that’s when you make yourself vulnerable.”

“I’ve been doing just fine so far. And who are you to say anything? If you don’t have any friends,
you don’t know anything.” Taehyung chuckles.

“I’ve had my fair share of friends. They’re all in the backyard, seven feet under. That’s why I’m on
top of you, I don’t allow anyone to have the chance to bring me down.” Jungkook gets up,
Taehyung’s eyes following him lazily.

“Having a heart doesn’t make me soft, if it makes my men trust that I give a fuck about them,
that’s fine by me. I’d rather not have my hallways smelling of piss, which is something you really
need to consider cleaning, by the way.” he gestures behind himself.
“It was your fucking drunk men doing that last night as they figured they’d be going away this
morning. If anyone’s going to be cleaning my hallways, it’s them.” Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“I believe we should be discussing what matters.”

“It’s discussed already. I’ll have Namjoon taking care of a contract, I don’t just /trust/ you fucking
ass all of a sudden.” Jungkook forces his lips to tug down in a small pout.

“Won’t you even shake my hand?” he asks, pulling out the best set of puppy eyes.

Taehyung sighs, offering a hand for him to shake.

Jungkook grabs it, pulling him so that he headbutts Taehyung straight on the nose. Hard.

“That’s for my lip, you fucking idiot. And if you weren’t so arrogant, you might admit that you
actually deserved that.” he lets go of Taehyung’s hand, the latter immediately taking it to his
bleeding nose with a pained groan.

“I gave you an icepack, you bitch.” he complains further.

Jungkook hums, touching the blood with the tip of is finger, looking down at it. His eyes meet
Taehyung’s, who has to do his best not to show any reaction when Jungkook licks his finger. “Nice
talk, Kim.” he says with a smirk before he walks away.

Taehyung rolls his eyes, a hand still holding his bleeding nose.

Yoongi comes in as soon as Jungkook leaves. “Oh—” he freezes. “Should I go after him?”

“Show some respect for your new boss.”

“My— Holy fuck, how did that go?!”

“Get me a towel first, will you.” he demands with a tone that could be interpreted as a simple
request but Yoongi knows better. So he bows.

“Of course, sir.”

│►

“…and do this with your arm.” Jungkook explains, roughly exemplifying it on the other before he
pull away. “Try to attack me with that now.” he instructs. Taehyung hums, snapping his knuckles
before he does as requested.

But he’s on the floor before he knows it, Jungkook flipping him easily.

“Try again.” Jungkook says without waiting a second. Taehyung pulls himself off of the ground,
rolling his eyes. It’s only the first class — that Jungkook pretty much annoyed him into — and he’s
already done with the whole ordeal.

Jungkook goes to flip him again as soon as he’s on his feet. “Hold on a minute—" Taehyung holds
hand out to keep him away.

“Do you think an enemy would give you a minute? Be prepared any second.” Jungkook claps his
hands twice.

“You know I’m not a physical guy, give me a fucking second.” he still says, a hand on his chest.
He’s tired, Jungkook’s spent almost an hour just warming up and it’s been one of the worst
experiences of his life.

“You won’t have a gun every single time, you can run out of bullets, you have to know how to
fight better than whoever comes to you. Now fucking try attacking me again.” Jungkook gestures
between them. Taehyung takes his time fixing the bandana on his forehead, his sleeveless shirt.
Buying time, one would call.

“You know I slapped your stupid face just the other day, right?”

“I was unprepared.”

“Ah! Be prepared any second.” Jungkook stares at his grin for a second too long before repeating is
previous action, flipping Taehyung over so that he falls on his back. He groans, pained. “I’m
starting to believe this is just some kind of payback.”

Jungkook smiles down at him, hands on his hips. “I’d be lying if I said I’m not enjoying this.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Fucking idiot. Just— Give me a minute.” he says, still on the floor.

“No, get up. You’re so fucking out of shape, it’s unbelievable.” Jungkook kicks his thigh with no
strength. “Get up you lazy fuck.”

“Give me a minute and I’ll beat your ass.” Jungkook sighs, giving up as he turns around to walk
away. He crouches next to his phone and the water bottle, taking a sip from it. Next thing he
knows, his chest is touching the floor, an arm being pulled to his back as Taehyung presses him
down with his knee. “Forgot your own first rule? Never turn your back to a target?”

“You’re playing dirty.” Jungkook rolls his eyes with a little smile.

“I’d rather say I’m playing smart. I play the game with the cards I’m handed, you turned your back
to me, if we were on the field, I would’ve just shot you.”

Jungkook scoffs. “You’re— so annoying, what part of ‘you can’t always have guns’ did you not
understand?!”

“Princess always gets so riled up, chill out.”

“Stop calling me that!” he just about screams, pushing back as Taehyung stops applying pressure
with his knee on his back, seemingly distracted. That’s enough of a window of opportunity for
Jungkook to turn it around.

He’s a little bolder, he doesn’t press his knee onto Taehyung’s back, instead, he keeps it on his
throat, even if he doesn’t apply much pressure to it.

“Never underestimate your target. Just because they’re on the floor, doesn’t mean they can’t turn it
around, dickhead.” Jungkook says with a smile.

Taehyung taps his thigh. “Get off of me.”

“Make me, that’s the whole point.” his smile only grows further, clearly enjoying it a little too
much. Taehyung looks away with a sigh, mustering all his energy before he pushes him up by the
leg he has bent on his throat and rolls them over.

He makes sure Jungkook’s under him as he holds himself up with one hand on the floor, the other
wrapping around Jungkook’s throat easily.

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “Why do you always go for my neck? Do you realize how unfair that
makes all of this?”

“Unfair? No, it just makes you easy.” Taehyung tuts.

“I’m not easy.” he tries, biting down his bottom lip when Taehyung’s fingers press on the sides of
his throat. His hips buck up. Embarrassing, he deems. “Fucking— get off.”

“Why haven’t you made me? Unless you don’t actually want me to…?” Taehyung asks, almost
teasingly. Jungkook feels dumb but as he stares up, Taehyung’s grey hair falling from where it’s
held back by a black bandana, his tattoo sleeves on full display, sweat going down his neck.

Looking up at that, Jungkook isn’t quite sure of what to say or do.

Be honest, perhaps. So he goes with that option. “What if I don’t?” he smirks. “What do I have to
lose at this point?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow, definitely surprised.

“A lot more than just your dignity, princess.” Taehyung says, voice low as he leans down. His
hand presses harder around his throat. “Just the way your fucking eyes roll back when I do this is
embarrassing enough.” Jungkook bites down his teeth, annoyed.

Taehyung leans further down, their noses almost touching. Jungkook’s lips part, seeing the kiss, or
possible kiss, coming. At least he hopes so. But it never does. Taehyung barely grazes his cheek as
he gets up from the floor.

Jungkook doesn’t move, only lets out a heavy exhale.

Taehyung fixes his shirt, stretching to crack his back just right.

He looks down at the younger man, still on the floor. He steps closer, pressing his foot between
Jungkook’s legs. “Get up.” he presses a little harder. Jungkook only tries to close his legs,
unconsciously trapping Taehyung’s foot. Taehyung chuckles. “How cute.”

Jungkook huffs, closing his eyes once Taehyung walks away.

“Will you get up or do you really just want me to step on you?” and Jungkook doesn’t have a reply
to that. “Oh? Really?”

“Fuck off.” Jungkook complains. He doesn’t know what to say, think, or do. He doesn’t know
anything anymore whenever Taehyung’s involved in such way anymore. He hates him, sure does,
but no one’s ever gotten under his skin /like that/ and he doesn’t know what to make of it. It’s
weird, new, and definitely irritating, too.

Though kind of interesting.

No, definitely just irritating.

He’s brought back by a sudden pain when Taehyung’s foot returns, meaner this time. Now it’s
definitely just trying to hurt him, and he succeeds, Jungkook’s back bending, head thrown back.
“Get up.” Taehyung chuckles. “I don’t think an enemy would play around in the field.” he says
before pressing one more time and letting go.

“Why can’t you just fucking— I fucking hate you.”

“Can’t I what?” he raises an eyebrow, amused.

“Nothing, just— go.” he sits up, looking away, embarrassed.

“So is your class done?”

“Very much done, leave me alone.” Jungkook almost mumbles.

“Hm, thank fuck.” Taehyung grabs his phone and bottle of water. “Have fun jerking off.”

“I’m not—”

“Hm, sure.” he says with a cocky smiles, soon taking the bottle to his lips as he walks out of the
room. Jungkook punches the floor with an insult dying on his lips. He wants to kick Taehyung.

In his face.

Right there.

Twice, perhaps.

Definitely twice.

│►

Jungkook hisses quietly as he dabs the wound on his right arm, cleaning up the blood oozing out.
He grabs a gauze, trying to patch it up, but he finds it difficult to do with only one hand. Especially
with the left one.

He turns his head back when he hears someone going down the stairs into the basement he’s in but
he quickly turns back to the front when he realizes it’s Taehyung. “Your phone’s been ringing non-
stop.” he says.

“I forgot it here, I was just cleaning my guns.” Taehyung grabs it, placing it inside his pocket as he
eyes Jungkook’s arm. “Did you hurt yourself?”

“Yeah, I was sharpening my knives and one slipped… I almost slit my wrist on accident.” he
explains with a little shrug.

“Aren’t you supposed to be good at doing that?”

Jungkook looks over with a smile. “So you think I’m good at it?”

Taehyung rolls his eyes. “I think you’re a fucking idiot. That’s deep, Jungkook, stop fishing for
compliments when you almost killed yourself on accident.”

“Are you worried about me?” and he pouts. He actually /pouts/. Accidental or not, Taehyung’s not
very sure, but either way, it makes him want to slap him again. Jungkook has no business doing
that. Pouting. That’s just not ok, it’s irritating.

“I’m not worried, I’m just pointing out the fact that you’re an idiot.”

“Can you just shut up and help me?” he gestures towards the gauze that he’s still very much
struggling with. It’s testing his patience, too. He’s a second from just leaving the wound like that.

“Sit down, you’re going to give me a fucking stroke one day, you’re so high maintenance.”
Jungkook decides not to reply to that and keep his composure. He sits down on top of the table, his
legs dangling just a little bit and he parts them when Taehyung steps closer to grab the gauze.

He takes a double look between Taehyung and his tattooed hands on his arm, but his eyes end up
staying on his face. Jungkook observes how he furrows his eyebrows when concentrating, how he
bites his teeth a little harder, which makes his jawline look stronger.

His eyes switch to his face again, the way his septum piercing looks so fitting on him. That tattoo
on his cheek, a small sentence. The shadow like me, it reads. Jungkook feels a sudden urge to run
his finger across it. But he doesn’t. He’s sane enough not to.

Taehyung looks up as he feels watched and he chuckles. “Like what you see?” he teases. Jungkook
rolls his eyes, letting him finish securing the gauze but Taehyung doesn’t step away like he expects
him to. Instead, both of his hands fall on Jungkook’s thighs, rubbing them for a second before
going up and round to his hips.

Jungkook does what any mature person would and proceeds to sit on them when they go further
down. He knows he’s heavy. Taehyung raises an eyebrow but does nothing more than close his
palms to squeeze it. “That’s my butt.” Jungkook points.

“Those are my hands.”

“They’re touching my butt right now.”

“Because you’ve sat down on them.” Taehyung tilts his head, amused.

Jungkook takes a second. “I see your point.”

“Lift your ass up.” he instructs.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” Jungkook frowns, crossing his arms.

“Move your ass, Jeon.”

“Move it yourself.” Taehyung sighs.

“Fine.” he picks Jungkook up from where his hands rest and lets him go again, Jungkook plopping
back on the table. It’s hard enough to make a sound. Jungkook frowns further. “Should’ve moved
when I asked nicely.”

“You didn’t ask, you demanded.” he points out, picking up what he used to clean his wound so that
he can put it inside its box. He doesn’t really get up, though.

“Hm, that’s asking for me.” he shrugs.

Jungkook looks back at him almost offended. “No. It’s not the same thing!”

“I don’t ask for things, princess.”

“Stop! Calling me that!” he stresses, throwing his hands in the air.

“Why? You seemed to enjoy it that one time I got you on your knees.” Taehyung smirks.

“The fact that you keep bringing it up makes me believe that you want it to happen again, Kim.”

“And if I did?” Jungkook can’t say he saw that one coming. He just wanted to seem as in control as
Taehyung always does. He wanted to seem well put together, wanted to tease too. He didn’t think
Taehyung would confirm it instead of telling him to fuck off. That’s what Jungkook usually does.
It does the deal.

Taehyung wants it again?

Does Jungkook want it? Well, yes.

But he doesn’t want to say it.

He doesn’t even want to /admit/ it to himself that he wouldn’t mind repeating what happened.

His eyes focus again when Taehyung lets out a mean chuckle. He can see the fight behind
Jungkook’ eyes, he can see the inner turmoil. “Try not to hurt yourself again.” it’s all he says
before he picks his phone from his pocket and unlocks it as he walks away.

Jungkook looks down at the gauze around his arm. “You didn’t even kiss it better!” he calls after
him. He’s not very sure as to why he’d ever say that, either.

“Fuck off!” he hears Taehyung yell back from the top of the stairs.

He finds himself giggling.

And he forces himself to go back to his serious expression once he realizes he just produced that
sound due to anything related to Taehyung.

If he dares to think about it again, he’d just end up cutting his other wrist. Willingly this time.

│►

The very next day, Jungkook is back in Taehyung’s office. He doesn’t bother knocking, which
makes Taehyung not look up as no one but Jungkook was brave and entitled enough not to knock
and wait for permission to go in.

He does look away from his laptop when something’s dropped on his desk and he eyes it to find
the first aid kit, Jungkook standing there with a neutral expression. He pushes Taehyung’s laptop
away to sit himself on top of the desk, rolling the sleeve of his black sweater up.

“Can’t you see I’m busy?” Taehyung asks.

“Ok, you should change my gauze then.” Jungkook says, unbothered.

Taehyung gives him a quick once over, from the cargo pants, to the choker around his neck, to his
black painted nails. “I’m literally going through a shit ton of emails right now, get the fuck off of
my desk.” he gestures for him to leave but Jungkook simply closes his legs, hands resting on his
thighs as he waits.

“Then you should literally stop and change my gauze.”

“Get off of my desk.” Taehyung slaps the side of his thigh. “Leave.”

“I will, once you change my gauze.” Jungkook points at the box and Taehyung rolls his eyes with a
long, dragged, exhale. “C’mon, just— I can’t do it myself. Change this for me.” he asks, a little
nicer that time, holding his arm out.

“Why can’t you change your own damn gauze?” Taehyung asks.
“That’d require me to twist it and move way too much, which risks the stitches. Usually I’d just
ask Jimin but /someone/ gave him a job without even telling his leader, so that guy can do it
instead.” Taehyung sighs, closing his laptop before he faces the other properly.

Taehyung takes his time lighting up a cigarette before he grabs Jungkook’s arm. “You don’t even
have stitches, dramatic ass.” he says as he starts unwrapping the gauze.

“I might as well have gotten them, it keeps bleeding.” Jungkook pouts unintentionally.

“Because you keep playing with it. Don’t think I didn’t see you at breakfast.” Taehyung tsks.

“Because it itches—”

“Irritating it more won’t help that go away.”

“Then what will?” Jungkook says with a roll of the eyes.

“Maybe disinfecting it and actually leaving it alone?” Taehyung looks up at him with an eyebrow
raised. “Just a thought.” Jungkook hums, his legs swinging from the desk, one by each of
Taehyung’s side. It’s annoying, he deems. So he places a hand on his thigh, the other hand still
holding the gauze. “Behave.” he says.

Jungkook rolls his eyes but stops his movements.

Taehyung twists his nose in distaste once he finishes taking the gauze. “This looks so ugly today,
why do you have to be a kid? Couldn’t you leave this shit alone?”

“Just because I make it bleed, doesn’t mean I don’t like it. I enjoy it. It’s fascinating.” he says with
a little smile and Taehyung grabs the cigarette for a moment to exhale the smoke, his eyebrows
going up and down with surprise.

“You’re sick.” he finally says, cigarette back on his lips so that he can focus.

“Thank you— ow! What the fuck—!” Jungkook hisses, trying to pull his arm back.

“Stop, it’s just disinfectant.” Taehyung keeps it in place.

“Blow on it…!” Jungkook asks.

“Fucking—” a sigh. Jungkook takes the cigarette from his lips so that Taehyung can do as asked
and the latter rolls his eyes before blowing on the wound as he applies the disinfectant. He looks
up when he hears Jungkook exhaling and he understands that he’s taken a drag from his cigarette.

He dodge it when Jungkook tries to get it back to his mouth. “So I suck your dick but this is where
you draw the line?”

“Can we not talk about that?”

“Why? Does it bother you? That I /sucked/ your dick?”

“Jung—”

“That I let you cum—”

“Jungkook.” it’s said with a low tone, clearly conveying the message intended, and Jungkook
huffs, his leg kicking just the slightest.
“Fine…!” he inhales a little more from the cigarette smoke as Taehyung searches for the right
ointment in the box. “You did come right down my throat, thou—”

“Don’t make me physically shut you up.” Taehyung threatens without even looking at him,
opening the tube that he’s found to be the most adequate. He applies it to Jungkook’s wound
almost gently. Jungkook goes quiet for a few seconds.

“Are you going to kiss it better this time?” he asks, eyes on Taehyung’s focused expression.

“If I did, I’d have to kill you.”

“You could try.” Jungkook shrugs.

“Oh, I will.” Taehyung says with a chuckle, his fingers starting to press a little harder on the
wound. Jungkook hisses every single time.

“Do you have to be so brute?!” he complains.

“Do you have to be so sensitive?” Taehyung rolls his eyes.

“You’re going to make it worse, you’re /burning/ it.”

“I’m literally just disinfecting it, stop being so bitchy about everything, shut up for /once/ in your
damn life.” Jungkook gapes, offended, letting out a louder whine when Taehyung purposely
applies way too much pressure to it.

“Stop!” he slaps Taehyung’s arm. Hard. “You’re doing this on purpose.”

“I’m not!”

“Yes you are!”

“Now, why would I? You’re the one who’s annoying as fuck.” Taehyung looks up as he closes the
tube of ointment, Jungkook still enjoying his cigarette even if it’s at the end.

“I’m not annoying, I just asked you to change my damn gauze, is it that much of an
inconvenience?” Taehyung tilts his head.

“Is that an actual question?” he asks.

“Yes—? It takes you five minutes and you’re sparing me of like, blood infections.” Jungkook
points out.

“Five minutes of inconvenience is still an inconvenience. Especially when it’s you.”

“Ok then.” he says as he tries to pull his arm back but he’s held in place.

“Stay still.”

“I’ll just get someone else to finish it, it’s fine.” his tone sounds completely different from just
moments prior.

“I’m nearly done now, just hold still.” Taehyung tsks, cleaning up the dry blood stains around the
wound with a small ball of cotton.

“You’re confusing.” Jungkook sighs. “Do you just enjoy complaining and making the mood
shitty?”

“Pretty much.”

“Then you’re just sad.”

“And who isn’t?”

“Wh—”

“Give me the new gauze, will you?” Jungkook reaches for the box, handing it over in silence,
Taehyung opening it before he starts to wrap the gauze around Jungkook’s forearm.

Neither of them utters a single word.

It’s silent for almost a minute.

“I didn’t mean it.” Jungkook is the one to speak.

“You did.”

“No, I said it to annoy you. Why are you sad?” Taehyung looks up at him with a dry chuckle and a
shake of the head, clearly not in the mood to talk.

“We’re not having this conversation, Jungkook.”

“Why are you sad?” he repeats.

“Ask me that again and I’ll pull the scab open.” Taehyung threatens.

“You wouldn’t—” but Taehyung moves as though he’s going to do just that. “Ah— Ah— Okay, I
get it, stop now.” he rushes. He remains quiet as Taehyung finishes patching him up, his eyes
never once leaving Taehyung’s face. He looks more upset than before. Jungkook feels bad.

“It’s done. Get off of my desk now.” Taehyung says, opening his laptop.

“What’s wrong?” Jungkook still asks.

“You’re on my desk, that’s what’s wrong.” he looks up, bothered, expression closing off further
when Jungkook opens his mouth to speak. “We’re not friends, it doesn’t concern you, hop off.”

“We don’t have to be friends for you t—”

“Jungkook. Now.” Taehyung says, louder and clearer.

“Okay… Thank you for the gauze.” but he makes no move to get off of the desk.

“Yeah. Out. You’re bothering me.”

“What’s actually bothering is your toxic masculinity and your pride, but sure.” Jungkook says as he
hops off with the box in his free hand and Taehyung doesn’t say anything as he watches Jungkook
walk over to the door.

But the young man stops before he even gets to open it, turning back.

“You know, talking about shit won’t kill you. You’d be much happier and nicer if you weren’t so
fucking— repressed.” he points out.
“You live a lot longer if you don’t have people to betray you. Giving them something to stab you
in the back with, causes exactly that.” Taehyung responds just as drily, contrary to his expectations.
Jungkook sighs.

“And what’s the point of living, in any of this, if you aren’t happy? Why living a long life if you’re
going to be unhappy, Taehyung?”

“My father taught m—”

“Stop living for someone who’s dead and probably never even loved you.” Jungkook interrupts, his
own expression falling as soon as he registers the words he just let out. It’s not something he
should say, never in a million years. He knows from personal expression what’s like to grow up to
be an heir and nothing else, he can’t believe he just used it like that.

Especially when Taehyung has hinted that he had a poor relationship with his father.

“Get out.”

“I—”

“I said get out.” Taehyung’s voice sounds a lot louder now and Jungkook gulps. He messed up.

“Tae—”

“This is exactly why I don’t tell people shit, Jungkook. Thank you for proving my fucking point,
get the fuck out.” he says as he gets up, angry. Jungkook looks down before he opens the door to
leave, knowing he has no right to say anything further when he went /there/. It was too far.

And he feels bad. Taehyung looked upset, almost hurt.

Jungkook has to make up for it somehow.

Which he definitely tries to.

A few hours later, of course, once he believe the anger may have died out. At least he hopes so.

He enters the office without knocking, as he never does. Taehyung’s sitting behind his desk, only
now he’s reading a book instead of doing any work, which is good, in Jungkook’s opinion.
Taehyung /only/ works, it’s not good for him.

But was Jungkook ever going to tell him that? Definitely not.

Still, he walks until he stands behind Taehyung and he lifts his hand to place the daisy he picked
from the garden outside, on the grey hair. Taehyung’s startled for a moment and he immediately
takes his hand to his head to try and understand what Jungkook did.

He shakes his head, paired with his hand ruffling his hair to try and get it away and Jungkook
frowns, the daisy falling to the desk but now it looks beaten up, one of the petals already missing.
“It took forever to find a good one…!” a brute, indeed. “It was so pretty, why would you smash
it?” Taehyung blinks.

“Why would I want a damn flower on my hair?” he asks, tone a little clipped.

“Because I wanted to say sorry.” and yes. Taehyung’s definitely surprised by that. He’d never
apologize, for anything, really, so Jungkook having the capability of saying sorry like that and not
look like he’s got a gun pointed at him, is surprising. “I thought about making you a flower crown
as I was bored but besides anticipating that you’d destroy it, I also don’t know how to make one.”
Taehyung raises an eyebrow.

Jungkook looks down, changing his weight from one foot to the other.

“I shouldn’t have said what I said about your dad, it was out of line.” Taehyung leans back on his
chair as Jungkook leans back into his desk by Taehyung’s side. “Stop looking at me like that— I’m
sorry, okay, I didn’t mean to say that.” he looks down with a little huff, Taehyung rubbing his chin
with two of his fingers, thinking.

He sighs, at last. “It’s fine.”

“No. It’s not, he’s not my dad, and I didn’t know him or you, I still don’t know you, at all. I
shouldn’t have gone there, even if I was frustrated. I am sorry. I just— I want you to just—“

“Just what?”

“Live a little sometimes? Like, you are cold, and calculating and, and— there’s just, I want to know
you…? I shouldn’t push you. I’m just a curious person. So I’m sorry for doing that.” Taehyung’s
briefly amused by the faint blush on Jungkook’s cheeks.

So much for a gang leader.

“You really need to know how to mind your own business.”

“I know, I’m sor—”

“And you also need to stop apologizing.” Jungkook scratches the back of his neck.

“Okay. Uh, then— then how am I supposed to tell you that I’m sorry that I said that?”

“You already have.” he says with a little wave of the hand.

“But— But I—” he stops. Taehyung doesn’t want to hear the word sorry so how is he supposed to
say what he wants to say?

“I get it already, ok? You don’t need to repeat yourself or come whine on my desk. I knew you
were sorry when you left without saying anything.” Taehyung just shakes his head before he grabs
his book again.

“How did you know?” Jungkook tilts his head.

“I’m smarter than you think I am.”

“I don’t think you’re dumb… I just think your brain is this size.” he says as he shows his hand, his
thumb and index finger just some millimeters away from each other.

“As small as your dick, I see.” Taehyung responds without even looking at him.

“Excuse you— You’ve never even seen it, you can’t say that!” Jungkook frowns.

Taehyung looks up with an eyebrow raised. “You’re getting defensive which proves my point.”

“I— No, that’s not how it works.” he points his finger accusingly.

“Your nose is growing, Jeon.”

“Shut the fuck up— I hate you so much.” Jungkook groans.

“I hate you too. Go get freshened up, we have to go to dinner in thirty minutes and Jimin will be
back to give us a run down and what happened today.” Taehyung closes his book, getting up and so
making Jungkook follow him with his eyes from where he leans back on the desk.

He watches as Taehyung closes his suit and he hates how attractive that looks.

“You’re sure we’re good? Because I can understand if—“

“Jungkook. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you it’s that you somehow manage to care about
the people you work with. I know you wouldn’t throw something like that in my face, I could tell
the moment your face dropped as you said it. And now you’ve said you’ll respect the space.
There’s nothing to be mad about. It’s like nothing happened. Stop worrying and go and get ready.”

“…yes sir.” he teases with a smile.

“Don’t call me that.”

Jungkook huffs. “So many orders.”

“Just get out of my sight.” Taehyung says but there’s a little smile. The faintest. It’s barely there.
Jungkook isn’t even that sure if the smile is really there or if he’s seeing things. Jungkook leaves
with lighter shoulders and Taehyung shakes his head as he picks up the daisy on his desk.

He chuckles.

That’s probably the nicest thing someone’s ever done for him.

Maybe he’ll plant daisies in the vase he’ll make out of Jungkook’s head and remember that
moment for a few years. It was nice.

│►

Taehyung pushes the door of his office open before going in, Jimin and Yoongi both trailing after
him, still listening to his requests of what to do. Taehyung stops walking once the sight before him
clicks in his mind.

Jungkook’s sitting on his chair, his heavy black boots on top of the desk. He has a blue lollipop in
hands, the only colored thing between the all black attire. He stares into Taehyung’s eyes as he
takes the lollipop into his mouth, sucking on it for a moment.

Then he looks at the other two in the room. “Hey” he greets them with a nod of the head. Jimin
raises an eyebrow. He’s never seen his boss like that. And Yoongi doesn’t even know where to
look. They both bow, still.

“Just get me copies of the last transactions with them, you may leave now.” Taehyung instructs,
the two right hands bowing again before they leave. “Take your feet off of my desk.”

Jungkook sucks on the tip of the lollipop for a second too long before he pulls away with a pop.
“No.”

Taehyung walks closer, turning the chair around with enough strength for Jungkook’s legs to go to
the floor. He leans down with a hand propped on the chair’s arm, Jungkook pouting up at him with
the lollipop.
He chews on the inside of his cheek when Taehyung takes it from him, not breaking eye contact as
he takes it to his own mouth. “Hm, blueberry?” Jungkook nods twice, his lip a little blue. “Let me
see your tongue.”

He doesn’t show his surprise when Jungkook simply sticks his blue stained tongue out without
protesting. Taehyung slides his finger into his mouth, digit pressing down Jungkook’s tongue.

But the latter closes his mouth, his teeth pressing just slightly on Taehyung’s finger. Hard enough
for him not to be able to pull it out. “What are you going?” he raises an eyebrow.

Jungkook grabs his wrist to be able to pull the finger out without Taehyung walking away. “Did
you know it takes the same amount of strength to bite a finger off as to bite a carrot?” he asks with
a little smile before placing Taehyung’s finger back in his mouth.

He closes it again. Taehyung blinks.

“So you’re going to bite my finger off?” Jungkook nods. “Open up.” a shake of the head. “Open.”
when he doesn’t do as told, Taehyung grabs a handful of his hair, pulling it back rather harshly. “I
said open. I don’t like to have to repeat myself.”

Taehyung uses the moment Jungkook hisses to pull his finger out. “At least give me my lollipop
back.” Taehyung hums, offering the candy. Jungkook opens his mouth to take it, Taehyung
twirling it against his tongue before simply leaving it. It’s almost at the end.

“Put your feet on my damn desk again and you’ll wake up without them.” Taehyung threatens as
he pulls away. Jungkook tsks before spinning on the chair, prompting his feet on top of the desk
again. “What the fuck did I just say?”

“I don’t know, I don’t really care.” he shrugs, biting down his lollipop so that it comes off of the
little stick. He proceeds to throw it at the older male.

“I’ll give you a chance to fix that answer. I asked, what did I just say?” Jungkook let’s a sound that
sounds close to a giggle before he turns on the chair to face him again.

“I said I don’t know, I don’t really care.” he repeats.

“You’re lucky I’m in a good mood but don’t fucking test me. Get the fuck out of my chair.”
Taehyung orders.

Jungkook pouts. “No.”

He chokes on his spit when there’s a hand on his throat, his whole body stiffening, and Taehyung
uses his grip there to pull him up and out of his chair. Jungkook just about hates how Taehyung
knows his biggest weak point. He can just use it as he pleases. “If I tell you to do something, you’ll
do it without talking back, got it?” Taehyung asks, fingers pressing into the sides of his throat.

“Fuck off.” Jungkook manages to let out even if it’s hard to speak like that.

Taehyung sits down. “Don’t provoke me.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes, leaning back on the desk as Taehyung opens his laptop. Jungkook knows
he should start to get some work done soon too as it’s almost midday but he didn’t really wake up
in the mood to do that. He doesn’t really want to do anything at all.

So he might as well have some fun.

He leans down, licking Taehyung’s earlobe before biting and tugging on it with little to no
strength, the piercings cold against his tongue.

“What the fuck are you doing— stop.” Taehyung leans away, only to be pulled back to have that
same tongue dragging across the side of his jaw. “Jeon, I swear I’m going to lose it with you.”

“My lollipop ran out…!” he frowns.

“Then you better find something else to satisfy you before I find you something myself.” Jungkook
smirks. Maybe his attempts weren’t all failed after all.

He pushes away all the same and pride he has before he speaks. “And what will you give me…?”
he looks down at the desk when Taehyung slams something into it and he rolls his eyes when he
realizes it’s his gun. “You’re seriously no fun.”

“Get off.”

“Fine.”

│►

Jungkook looks over at him, fixing the fingerless gloves he’s wearing. “Do you have my back out
there?” he asks as Taehyung cocks his gun, both leaning against the wall.

“Just act like I didn’t have your back last time.” it’s what he says, waiting for the signal for the
both of them to join their men. The signal that it’s safe, along the lines of what safe can be for
them, given the position and situation they’re in.

Jungkook chuckles. “You have to let that one go.”

“Hm, I don’t think I will.” Taehyung just shakes his head and Jungkook goes to speak before they
hear Jimin through their earpiece and so he stops, both turning opposite ways just like how they
planned.

Jungkook’s definitely way too dumb, Taehyung believes. They’re going up against a small little
group that specializes with guns and yet, Jungkook refused to use one. He has his under his waist
belt but in hands, nothing but a knife that Taehyung isn’t sure how it’s supposed to protect him at
all.

Jimin and Yoongi are the ones supposed to sneak inside the warehouse and take what their leaders
have assigned them to as they and other men keep things under control on the outside and so
Taehyung figures it’s best to keep an eye on Jungkook.

He’d say it’s a rather easy mission. Getting in and coming back out, not much of a bother. They
planned everything to the smallest of the details, so they’re there as the group is out. At least some
part of it. It’s not much of a challenge.

Still, the ones there put up a fight.

How Jungkook manages to take armed men down with a stupid damn knife, Taehyung has no idea.
He just knows he stops worrying so much once he realizes Jungkook doesn’t need anyone’s
protection.

There’s guns being fired from every direction and Taehyung ends up straying away from
Jungkook, trusting his skills to keep him protected.
“We have it.” he hears Yoongi informing through the earpiece and so he takes a finger to the small
button to be able to speak.

“Everyone shield them for them to leave and let’s head back to the cars.” he says, watching
everyone change their positions just like they planned it, creating a safe path for Yoongi and Jimin
to take.

Then all of them start running to the cars, still paying attention to the shots and the threats.

“Fuck—” he hears after another gun being fired and soon Jungkook falls from where he was
running by his side. Taehyung stops right away, rushing to kneel by his side. He’s bleeding, there’s
a hole in his leather jacket and Taehyung lets out a stressed tsk.

“Are you alive?” Taehyung asks as he rolls Jungkook over so that he’s lying on his back instead.
Jungkook groans with the movement.

“Yeah, so far.” he complains. “I got— I got shot.”

“I can see that, come here.” Jungkook hisses as he’s pulled up, Taehyung helping him walk the rest
of the way towards their black van, the men taking cover before getting in as well. There’s only
five other men in the back of the van with them, Yoongi and Jimin on the front seats, given it was
a small mission. They’re all from Jungkook’s team, too.

Jungkook’s sitting between Taehyung’s legs in the dark van. It’s pitch black.

Taehyung is quick to rip Jungkook’s shirt in order to press the cloth against the wound. He can feel
Jungkook slowly falling back against his chest and so he slaps him. “Stay the fuck away.”
Taehyuns instructs, feeling the amount of blood running down to his hand.

“That hurt…” Jungkook complains.

The van’s filled with nothing but the sounds of the tires screeching and the men’s heavy breathing.

“I’ll quite literally punch you in your dick if it means you’ll stay awake.” he threatens before he
leans back to be able to whisper right behind his ear for no one else to hear. “I’ll kiss it better later,
but you have to stay awake for that.”

Jungkook doesn’t think he’s even opened his eyes that fast. “How about you just suck me o—”

“‘ll fucking shoot you if you don’t shut your mouth right now.” Taehyung interrupts.

“Sorry, Mr. Kim, boss is always quite flirty when the situation’s this bad. He believes being funny
helps us relax… which it works to some extent.” he hears someone speak and he looks down at the
man leaning against his chest even if he can’t see him.

“So he just asks for these things?” Taehyung asks.

“Yeah, to make us laugh.”

“Everything’s fine until he starts singing.” another one adds and everyone laughs quietly, including
Jungkook, who soon groans with the moment. Taehyung doesn’t join them. “We all singing at
some point when losing blood... when we start losing conscience.”

“Have you… dealt with death before, sir?” someone else asks.

“I can tell you I didn’t sing any of those times.” it’s the only thing he says.
“Singing makes it better.” Jungkook comments.

“Yeah, it relaxes people, and you can die laughing… and it’s always like a drunk story to tell if you
survive, sir. It’s easier to think about it that way, sir.” Taehyung almost scoffs, shaking his head.

“You know we’re dangerous people, right? You guys act like everything’s a joke.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I can… assure you everyone in here would take a bullet for the other at…
any given day. We have respect and care for one another. We… We prefer it that way. You finding
it a joke or not, it’s what keeps us loyal and… s-safe. And we laugh when we can, yes, because
unlike you, we don’t act like someone has peed in our coffee every… every damn morning.”
Jungkook speaks with a rather amused yet slurred tone. Taehyung remains quiet. It sounds so
stupid he doesn’t even know what to say.

“Though... when we’re in a normal situation where one isn’t dying, we’re very— respectful
towards our boss. We would never make fun of him because, you know, he’s Jeon Jungkook and
he’s our boss, but when the situation is like this, we all try to make out the best we can…” one of
them explains and Jungkook smiles, feeling proud of the crew he’s gathered.

So he decides to break the silence that follows, mumbling the first song that comes to his min.
“Twinkle, twinkle little star…” he starts, everyone laughing quietly. Taehyung is confused, really
confused, but he figures whatever keeps Jungkook awake is welcome.

He continues singing, some of his men joining in eventually but Taehyung has to slap him again
when Jungkook’s voice starts to die down.

“He slapped me again…” Jungkook complains.

“We could hear it, sir.” a chuckle.

Taehyung simply presses his hand harder against the wound on his chest, more towards his
shoulder than anything, and stays still for the rest of the ten minute ride. Ten minutes that feel like
ten hours with everyone around him quietly singing.

Sure, it doesn’t feel as tense and as bad as it is, but it’s not something he wants to experience again.

Hoseok and Seokjin are already running towards them with their medical supplies as soon as the
vans stop and Taehyung passes him over, acting as though he wasn’t even holding him, not
wanting anyone to get the wrong message.

He was simply putting pressure to the bleed.

“Is he ok?” Yoongi asks.

“I don’t think it's bad, he was singing the whole fucking ride.”

“...singing?” Taehyung shakes his head, starting to walk away. Yoongi follows. “You could’ve
used the opportunity to let him bleed out… no one would suspect a thing.” he whispers.

“I didn’t have the window to do that, he would die in my arms, they’d know.”

“But—”

“I need to take a shower. Good job out there, you didn’t disappoint, as per usual.” Yoongi smiles at
that, bowing for him as Taehyung quickens his pace, wanting to wash the blood and the sweat
away.

He may check on Jungkook later. Only if he has absolutely nothing else to do.

│►

Taehyung peels his head into the medical room and he can see Jungkook on his feet, talking to
someone on the phone. He waits until Jungkook ends the call, which fortunately only lasts about a
minute further, before he walks inside the room.

“So you’re awake.” he says, leaning against the doorframe. Jungkook turns around to face him,
placing his phone in his pocket right away.

“I got shot on the shoulder, not my heart or head.” it’s the smug tone to his voice that has
Taehyung rolling his eyes.

“I don’t even know why I came here— fuck your shoulder.” he says as he turns around to leave but
Jungkook quickly steps closer.

“Stop, come here.” he holds onto Taehyung’s forearm, keeping him in place. He let’s go once he’s
sure Taehyung won’t walk away.

“Are you aware that you embarrassed yourself in front of your men by asking me to suck you off?”
Taehyung asks and Jungkook chuckles with a shrug of the shoulders. “So you’re aware?”

“I tend to do that when I’m seeing the light.”

“How fucking often do you see it? And who the hell do you ask, then?” Jungkook tilts his head
with a smile.

“Jesus. I ask Jesus.” he jokes. “You actual dumbass, I just make jokes, I ask it sometimes too
because pain makes me horny but they don’t know that, they think it’s a joke.” Jungkook says,
winking. “That’s what that was.”

“First of all, you’re not seeing Jesus when you die. Second, /why/. They’re supposed to take you
seriously.” Jungkook almost sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Kim— in such moment as a member dying, especially me since I lead them, there’s no use
making everyone panic and make the situation even worse. We joke, we distract each other, then
when it’s over they know their place again.” he explains.

“So you just ask people for blowjobs?” the younger hums. “Has anyone ever said yes?”

“Why?”

“Just asking.”

“Hm, why?”

“No one should take advantage of someone in a really vulnerable situation like that.” to say
Jungkook’s surprised is an understatement. “Why the fuck do you look so surprised, I don’t have to
be nice to have basic manners.”

“Talk about being nice.” Jungkook starts as he walks towards Taehyung. “You owe me something.
Remember? What you said you’d do, back in the van.” Taehyung blinks, taking a moment to
remember it.
“I never said I’d do it.”

“I have a pretty irresistible dick, Taehyung.” using his first name still sounds weird, it’s almost like
it doesn’t want to come out.

“You don’t.” Taehyung’s quick to shrug his shoulders.

“You’ve never even seen it.”

“Your personality already tells me that you have a weak dick gam—”

“I have /what/ now?!” Jungkook frowns. “That’s so offensive, what the hell, you—” he turns
around and Taehyung can hear, and see, him starting to open his belt.

“Don’t embarrass yourself.” he says with a chuckle.

“I have a point to prove and you still haven’t gotten me back from when /I/ sucked /you/ off.”
Jungkook shakes his head, determined. He only stops when Taehyung grabs both of his wrists,
pulling them away. There’s a hand on his chin, tilting it back until Jungkook’s head in laying back
on Taehyung’s shoulder, back against his chest.

“Keep your hands away, will you?” Jungkook just nods. Taehyung places a hand between his
pectorals, dragging it down ever so slowly until he cups Jungkook through his pants. The latter
bites down his bottom lip. Taehyung chuckles behind his ear. “You’re so pathetic.”

“No, I’m n—”

“Oh, you’re not? Needy to the point of asking /everyone/ to see who’s going to do something for
you, because you can’t do anything by yourself, huh? Like a fucking spoiled princess.” Jungkook
rolls his eyes, wanting to headbutt Taehyung on the nose again.

“I’m not a fucking princess—!” he complains.

“Are you sure? You sure act like one.” Taehyung comments, sounding as unbothered as ever, his
hand squeezing, mean. It hurts, yes, but Jungkook is still unsure if he wants to lean away or lean
closer. He refuses to acknowledge that.

He opens his mouth with a quiet moan but he’s not even allowed to finish the sound as Taehyung
pushes two fingers past his lips and into his mouth. It’s a clear message.

“You’ve been giving me shit for me to do something for you for weeks so you’ll take whatever I
give you and you’re going to shut up about it. I don’t want to hear a single noise, got it?” he asks
without looking for an answer, pulling the fingers out of his mouth as his other hand continues
opening and closing in a torturous pace.

He drags his hand across Jungkook’s chest ever so slowly, trying to find something, a soft spot,
something — still, careful not to touch the patched up area near his left shoulder — and raises a
hand as Jungkook’s knees fail him when Taehyung’s fingers touch his nipple for a split second.

“Oh?” he lets out with an amused chuckle, going to bite Jungkook’s earlobe but he stops as he
remembers there’s nothing to grab except the metal of the gauges on his stretched ears. A bummer,
really.

Jungkook has to bite down his teeth not to complain about how cold Taehyung’s fingers are when
they crawl under his shirt.
Taehyung’s beyond amused when he starts twirling one of his nipples, his other hand squeezing
even harder to the point where he just knows it’s getting really painful, but the way Jungkook keeps
trying not to make any sounds, a blush high on his cheeks, is enough for Taehyung not to even
think about stopping.

“Sensitive, are we?” Jungkook frowns. “Do you play with them often? Hm?” Jungkook nods
frantically. Taehyung chuckles.

He pulls the piercing on Jungkook’s nipple at the same time as he palms him again and Jungkook
can’t contain himself. The second he lets out a loud whine, he knows he’s messed up, his eyes
shoot open, waiting for a reaction.

He certainly wasn’t expecting Taehyung to pull away all together. “What the fuck— What are you
doing?!” he looks back, reaching for him but the older male jus tsks, taking another step back.
“Kim—”

“I gave you very specific rules, you went against them… that’s a shame for you.” Taehyung says
with a shrug, fixing his suit. “Well, I’ll head back, I have things to do, I was just checking to see if
you had died, already which you haven’t, so…”

“No, no, please, I’ll be quiet.” he frowns, unable to feel any sense of shame.

“No.”

“Kim— What the fuck, it was just a little sound, c’mon.” Jungkook stresses.

“A little sound wasn’t on the rules, was it now?” he raises hos eyebrow questioningly and
Jungkook just pulls out the best set of puppy eyes he has. “You should know by now how puppy
eyes don’t work with me.”

“You’re really fucking mean.”

“You have hands, do it yourself, just prove that you’re not a fucking spoiled brat.”

“Taehyung.” he still tries, a second away from stomping his foot.

“Good night, Jeon.” and Jungkook’s there, baffled, when Taehyung really walks out of the room
without any other word said. And he does stomp his foot then, his fists moving as though he’s
finally gifted with the possibility to hit Taehyung right on his face.

Then he sighs, crossing his arms with a low hiss at the pain on his shoulder.

It’s nothing close to the pain between his legs.

Taehyung’s way too mean, Jungkook deems.

That’s just been further proved.

│►

Taehyung skips the steps as he goes down into the basement, set on grabbing a few bullets. He can
hear the ever so irritating sound of Jungkook sharpening his knives and he soon finds him there
with nothing but a lamp on, pointed towards the rock he uses to get the job done.

He also has a can of beer by his side and two packs on top of the table.
Taehyung just gets the bullets with no words being said and turns around to leave. “Want a beer?”
Jungkook asks once the other climbs the first step. Taehyung halts. “They’re not very cold but…
the offer is coming from a nice place.”

“I can do a beer.” he accepts, walking back to take one of the beers, opening the can.

Taehyung watches as Jungkook puts his knife down, gets the packs of beers and walks away until
he sits down against the wall. He then proceeds to pat the floor for Taehyung to sit down too. To
Jungkook’s surprise, he does.

“Can I… ask you something? Since we’re buds and all.” Jungkook asks as he takes a sip from his
beer. Taehyung chuckles.

“We’re not buds.”

“We’re not, but I want to ask you something.” he shrugs. Taehyung just hums for him to go on.
“Did my dad say anything before he died?” Jungkook asks, tone quiet. Taehyung blinks, having to
take a moment to even process what he was just asked. Jungkook looks over at him, waiting for a
response.

“I don’t—”

“Chill, I’ve been known it was you, I’m not that stupid.” he says with a chuckle. Taehyung’s
confused, really, he doesn’t know if he should apologize or not. Not that he would, anyways.

Jungkook just takes another sip from his beverage.

“We were really close, you know… but once I started getting close to turning twenty one, he turned
— cold, he changed a lot and we just— he started treating me like his heir and not his son… we
had a really big fight about that a day or two before he died and— I remember I was by his side
during the mission and it got compromised and… I stepped away. I pretended I hadn’t seen it. I
didn’t help when he got surrounded by your men. In a way… I guess it’s my fault that he died but
— yeah.” he chuckles, a little awkward.

Taehyung takes a moment before he answers. “Be thankful that you left, if you had stayed, you
wouldn’t be here right now. You were the target, I knew you two were close and after he killed my
dad, two years before that day, I vowed to kill you. But I killed him instead, because you left.”

Jungkook laughs, bitter. “He wouldn’t have cared, you were better off putting a bullet through his
skull, at least he might have flinched at the trigger.”

“He actually begged for his life for a second.” Jungkook looks over at him.

“Did he really?”

“Nah.” he rolls his eyes, looking back to the front, both taking a sip from their beers.

But Jungkook decides he must break the silence. “You say I’m too soft for the job but he was like,
the opposite. He created unnecessary wars, he killed your dad for no damn reason even after we
agreed to stay apart, one on each half of the city. He had no business being that way, I fucking
hated the man he had become towards the end. The man you killed wasn’t my dad anymore, and I
may be ‘too soft’ in your books, but I’d rather be like this than be anything like the man he was
when he died.” he speaks, surprising himself at how much he’s doing so.

“You know… you’re supposed to be like that if you’re a leader, right?”

Jungkook is quick to glare at him. “I’m the leader. I say what I’m supposed to be like, I say what to
do and when to do it, no one’s here to tell me otherwise and no one dares to question me. I call the
shots. I’m soft but you know damn well I’m tough when I have to be, or do I have to bust your nose
and break one of your ribs again and spark your memory?”

Taehyung just takes a sip with an eyebrow raised. “Fair.”

Silence settles again, Jungkook picking at the black nail polish that definitely needs a touch up and
Taehyung just stares ahead.

“I’m sorry about my dad killing your dad… you were eighteen and— that must’ve been so terrible
and he was your dad so— I’m sorry.” Jungkook says after a while.

“You did me a favor.”

“What do you mean?”

“Be glad that you had love until you became a grown up, at least. Some people don’t get that
lucky.” Taehyung shares and he doesn’t even know why. He just knows he regrets it immediately.
Jungkook’s way too nosy to be told anything at all.

“Did you… have a bad relationship with your dad?” he asks.

Taehyung chugs his beer until it’s empty. “You’re wanting to know too much now.” he says as he
gets up wiping the dusk from his suit. Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“Can you have a normal conversation for ten minutes? Jesus fucking Christ, sit the fuck down.” he
taps the spot next to him where Taehyung was sitting.

“Maybe I just don’t want to talk to you, stop fucking whining all the time.” Taehyung throws,
demeanor changed, as he heads to the door to go directly outside instead of climbing the stairs. The
second he grabs the door handle, there’s a knife right above his hand.

“I said sit the fuck down.” Jungkook repeats.

Taehyung pulls the knife off of the door, looking down at it for a second. “You can’t tell me what
to do so keep your damn toys to yourself.” he says as he throws the knife back but Jungkook
catches it. Rather gracefully, he’d say.

“These toys, my dear, can make big damage if you know what you’re doing. And I happen to know
what I’m doing.” Jungkook says with a glint behind his eyes.

“Not as much damage as an actual weapon, doll.” if Jungkook’s left eye twitches at the pet name,
neither of them mention. He just raises an eyebrow instead.

“Do you want to try and see?”

Taehyung chuckles. “You wouldn’t want to test that.”

“Can you just come sit down? We were having an actual civilized conversation for the first time,
stop being a fucking idiot. We won’t talk about your dad or whatever just come.” he stresses a
little, pointing towards the floor again, a little more aggressively.

“I’d rather not, have a good night.” Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“Taehyung.”
“What.”

“Sit down.” Taehyung sighs, loud and exaggerated, before he does take his seat back. Jungkook
gives him another beer that he quickly opens. It’s silent for a while, neither of them really knowing
what to say, but Jungkook hates silence, he hates the awkwardness of it all.

So he’s quick to think of something to say.

“The first time I threw a knife it went so wrong it—” he laughs quietly. “It broke the blade in
three.” Taehyung chuckles, looking over with a rather surprised expression at the sudden
information. They’re not friends, they don’t talk, they don’t share. He doesn’t know anything
about Jungkook.

“How old were you?” he asks.

“I don’t know, ten, I think.” Taehyung hums. “What about you?”

“What about me?” he tries to dodge it but Jungkook just tsks.

“How old were you when you held your first weapon?”

“I don’t know, four?” he says with a shrug.

Jungkook blinks. “Four?” he blinks again. “What weapon was it…?”

“A gun. I almost shot myself in the head, I thought it was a toy.” Taehyung explains as he takes a
long sip from his beer. It doesn’t taste very good, especially since it’s not cold, but it’s acceptable.
It’s not horrible. “How was it the first time you killed someone?” he asks.

Jungkook’s surprised by the question, to say the least. “I felt really bad. For a long time. I couldn’t
do it again for like— a year or longer. Then you just… learn how to numb that part of you.”

“Why did you kill them?” Taehyung asks, curious.

“He stole money from my dad so my dad tied him to a chair, handed me one of my knives and told
me I had to start learning the business… so I uh, I slit his throat. I found out, a few weeks later, that
he was married and his wife was pregnant, like I wasn’t mortified enough.” he sighs.

“You should’ve just killed her too.” Jungkook’s quick to glare at him. “I’m kidding.”

A roll of the eyes. “And you? The first person you killed?”

“I wasn’t given a choice, I was told to kill. All the time. I felt weird when I did it for the first time
because like… someone’s there and suddenly they’re not anymore… but the very next day, my dad
made me do it again so I just never cared. I guess we’re very different.” he ends with a shrug.

“I’d say that’s good, given we work together.” Taehyung looks at him for a moment before he
looks ahead and just drinks more from his can of beer.

Jungkook chews on the inside of his cheek before he attempts laying his head down on Taehyung’s
shoulder.

“No.”

Jungkook pulls away. “Okay.”

They stay quiet then before they both chuckle, Taehyung taking his hand to Jungkook’s thighs,
purely to pull at the strings on the rips of his jeans. Nothing else. And Jungkook just lets him,
watching his tattooed fingers tugging at the loose strings.

“You know.” he starts. “Sometime you’re not such an annoying asshole.”

“I can’t say the same.”

“I fucking hate you.” Jungkook says with a quiet laugh before he opens a new can for himself.

And they just drink, and drink, and drink, ending up going upstairs for wine, for more beer. And
really, they just drink, mainly I silence, or bickering somehow.

But it’s not so bad, they think. It’s a good night.

Jungkook’s content with the progress.

│►

Taehyung looks up when someone storms into his office and he knows it’s Jungkook before he
even sees him. No one else would be as brave. Jungkook looks livid. “What do you want now?”
Taehyung asks, not really in the mood. Not that he’s ever in the mood.

Jungkook locks the door. “What the /fuck/ did you do to my ass?!” he whisper yells. Taehyung
fails to hide both his surprise and confusion, watching as the other starts opening his belt and walk
closer. He stands on the other side, in front of the desk, and he soon pulls his pants down just
enough to show what he wants Taehyung to see.

And Taehyung takes a moment before he laughs. Really, he laughs. Jungkook wants to kick him in
the throat. Taehyung looks back at where Jungkook’s pants are down, the word ‘princess’ tattooed
onto the skin.

“Why the fuck would you do this?” he almost screams.

“How do we know it wasn’t you asking?”

“Yes, act like you don’t fucking remember doing it.” Jungkook rolls his eyes, closing his pants
again. He can cover it up, right. He can just cover it up. That’s the only thought preventing him
from jumping Taehyung right away.

“Do you really think I wouldn’t laugh in your face the second you came in if I remembered that?”
Taehyung simply asks, looking unbothered and Jungkook rolls his eyes with a sigh, sitting down
across from the other.

His eyes go wide at the weird, definitely unknown, unfamiliar pain. “I think— I think something
happened.” he informs, voice rather terrified, and Taehyung sighs, looking up from his paperwork.
It’s a little too early to be working already, Jungkook deems.

“What now?”

“My ass hurts.”

“Tattoos get sore, you know t—”

“Taehyung. Not my butt. My ass.” Taehyung blinks, putting his pen down. “What the fuck— What
the fuck did you do? What the fuck happened?!” he gets up from the chair, pulling at his hair. It’s
something he’s never done, it’s not a place he’s ever allowed anyone to touch.

So the possibility of Taehyung having done it, makes his blood boil.

Terrified isn’t enough of a word. Freaking out doesn’t explain it.

But he can’t possibly tell Taehyung that. He’d simply laugh at him again.

Taehyung has to put an end to his pacing and stressed words. “Dude, relax, we didn’t do /it/.”

“How the fuck would you know if you don’t fucking remember?!”

“I’d remember that.”

“You don’t even remember fucking tattooing that, how—”

“I’d remember fucking you, now sit down, shut the fuck up. Your voice goes ten times higher,
twenty times more annoying when you start stressing.” Jungkook tries his hardest not to be
offended, figuring he has bigger problems at hand, bigger concerns.

“Then what the hell happened last night? Where did you wake up? Because I was in bed so how
did I even end up there?” he asks.

“I was in bed too, I don’t know what happened last night. I just remember us drinking a lot and you
kissing me, I think, nothing else.” Jungkook looks down, forcing himself to remember that.

“I… We were… Yes, I remember that to…” he tries not to feel too embarrassed.

“Well, anyways.” Taehyung shrugs, uncaring, eyes back to his papers.

Jungkook shakes his head, heading for the door. “I need ten showers.”

│►

Jimin takes a double look at his boss sitting right next to him as he watches television, Jungkook’s
position a little too weird. “Why are you sitting like that, sir?” he asks.

“I hurt myself last night.” Jungkook lies. “On my leg.” he adds.

Jimin buys it without a second thought. “Oh, okay, I hope it’s not too bad.” he shrugs. “I just asked
because you’re sitting like— like this.” Jimin copies with a short laugh. “Like a princess in the
movies, type position.”

“Don’t push your luck.”

He looks away, the word used making him feel nothing but annoyance, and he rolls his eyes. He
remembers Taehyung calling him that the night before, he remembers them drinking, kissing,
sharing a cigarette. It all comes ever so slowly, those little fragments.

When he remembers being bent over a table with Taehyung’s head between his legs, he pales. He
really can’t believe it.

“Sir? Are you ok?” Jimin asks at the sudden silence and the color to his face.

“I’m fine.” Jungkook lies before he gets up, rushing back into the office. He doesn’t bother
knocking, he never does. Yoongi and Namjoon sit in front of Taehyung, Namjoon holding a tablet
as he goes through whatever it may be, Jungkook guesses the trade for the next morning.

“You two, leave.” he says, straight up, a little surprised when they simply do as told. Jimin would
never obey them like that without at least giving him a look. Jungkook sits down. “I can’t fucking
believe this.”

“Did you remember it?” Taehyung asks with a little smug smile. Jungkook nods. “I did too, some
parts. How was it?”

“Shut the fuck up— it still hurts.” he complains, cheeks a little red. Taehyung tries not to smirk
even further.

“I’ll take it as a compliment.” he shrugs. Jungkook closes his fists.

“I’m fucking glad that I don’t remember it exactly, I can’t believe I allowed it to happen.”
Taehyung just hums. “How the fuck are you so calm?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? We’ve done other shit before.”

“But not like that, you fucking— you ate me out.” he stresses.

“Yes, so?” Taehyung tilts his head. “By the way, I don’t know if you’ve remembered the tattoo but
I did remember you asking for it.” Jungkook makes an affronted sound.

“Don’t lie, I’d never fucking ask for it—”

“But you did, you were bent over the table and very much told me to do it, so quit whining like the
little princess you always are and let me continue my job since you refuse to do yours now.”
Jungkook ignores the last part.

“Why is this not a big deal for you? You literally—”

“Jeon, stop bitching about it, it happened, get over yourself, I have shit to go through.” Jungkook
leans closer when Taehyung tries to open a binder and he closes it again, keeping his hand on top
of it, making it impossible for Taehyung to open.

“I wouldn’t allow it to happen if I were sober, it’s not something that simple, Taehyung, I don’t
expect you to understand. And how do I even know that you were that drunk, to begin with? How
can I know?!” he raises his voice just the slightest.

Taehyung takes a second. “Do you think I’d take advantage of you?”

“You’re an asshole, how do I know you didn’t?” he says without breaking eye contact.

“I told you I wouldn’t do anything to you if we were both drunk, and I didn’t, even though the
opportunity was probably there, how dare you accuse me of that when you were the one asking me
for it? I ate you out, big fucking deal. Leave my office now.” Jungkook’s a second away from
ripping his hair out.

It is a big deal. To him, it’s a huge deal. No one’s ever done that, he was never not the one to let
someone even see him vulnerable to that extent. He’s never been like that, to begin with.

He sighs as he sits down. He can’t tell Taehyung that.

“I get the fact that you didn’t want none of that if you were sober but I was as drunk as you were,
I’m not at fault here.” Taehyung tries, sounding significantly more empathetic.
“I didn’t mean to think that you would take advantage, Kim, I just don’t trust you. Especially when
we’re both drunk. Intention doesn’t matter when you can’t even remember what happened
afterwards.”

Taehyung gets up, walking around the desk. “I’ve never taken advantage of anyone and as much as
I hate you and as much as the opportunity was there, I wouldn’t. So stop freaking out, stop giving
me a headache, and shut up.”

Jungkook looks down at his lap. That’s not exactly the only reason as to why he’s freaking out.
There’s so much more, especially the fact that Taehyung isn’t aware of how that was his first ever
experience like that and he doesn’t even remember it.

But again, he can’t tell Taehyung that.

So he just breathes out a quiet ‘Okay’.

Taehyung smirks. “But how well did I eat you out if you’re literally sore?” the kick to his shin is
immediate. Taehyung reaches for it, fingers rubbing the area. “You bitch—”

“Learn when to shut up.” Jungkook crosses his arms with a frown.

“It’s not my fault that you’re such a fucking pr—”

“Don’t call me princess again or I swear to God I’ll lose it with you.” Jungkook threatens.

“Hm, isn’t that what the tattoo says?” he has to rush to get away from him before he gets another
kick. Jungkook groans, frustrated.

Taehyung’s left amused.

│►

Jungkook goes into Taehyung’s room holding a binder with a few paper sheets he was supposed to
hand him and his feet stop once he sees the other laying in bed on his phone. Taehyung’s hair is
messy, still a little wet, he clearly just had a shower.

He has a white tee shirt on and grey sweatpants, something Jungkook has never, ever seen him
wear. He’s always in some suit, or a shirt and cargo pants when in missions. Never like that, never
that relaxed. There’s something extremely attractive to it.

And Taehyung hasn’t even looked up from his phone, Jungkook notices he’s too focused on
whatever. Jungkook kneels on the bed, eyes on the tattoos along Taehyung’s arms, crawling
towards him. Until he realizes what he’s doing and so he stops.

He sits down instead, clearing his throat. “You didn’t notice me.” he says.

“I purposely ignored you.” Taehyung locks his phone, putting it down. “Why are you in my
bedroom?” he asks.

“I came here to give you this.” Jungkook gestures towards the binder.

“My door was locked.” Taehyung points out.

“Was, yes.”

“You didn’t even knock.” he raises an eyebrow.

“I did. Quietly. I also thought you might have been sleeping so I… broke in.” Jungkook smiles. “I
was going to leave this somewhere in case you were asleep.”

“And now that I’m not?” Taehyung asks as he crosses his arms, failing to understand what is
Jungkook doing sitting on his bed.

“Well, uh…” Jungkook looks around before he throws the binder aside on the bed and gets up.
“I’ll leave.” he informs. Taehyung follows, grabbing onto his forearm. “Wha—”

“You didn’t knock. You wanted to come in, why?” he turns around, opening his mouth to speak
but he cuts himself off, his eyes falling over Taehyung’s shirt. Now that he sees it up close, it’s
pretty much see through. Leaves almost nothing for imagination.

Just like his sweatpants.

“Stop drooling.” he says once he follows Jungkook’s eyes.

Jungkook scoffs. “Choke.”

“—you?”

“Ugh, can you stop that—!” Jungkook complains. “I hope you fall off of your bed in your sleep.”

“Just leave my room.” he says with a little smirk as he watches Jungkook almost stomping out of
the room. Taehyung chuckles quietly, just going back to bed. After locking his door twice, of
course. Jungkook’s a piece, that’s for sure. Unpredictable as hell, too.

Quite entertaining.

│►

Taehyung fixes his suit as he goes down the stairs, wanting to see the men who must have just
arrived from a small mission they were sent to, and he feels the house a little too quiet. Especially
as he approaches the halls, the living room, he hears nothing but small sniffs from Jungkook’s men
and his own trying to say comforting words.

It all seems somber as hell.

Something definitely happened. And Jungkook is nowhere to be seen.

He leaves without even letting himself be seen, rushing to his office. Just to know if he’s finally
gotten rid of Jungkook, that’s all.

His feet stop once he gets inside and he stands, a little unsure of what to say when he sees
Jungkook quickly wiping his tears away and trying to grab some papers to act like he wasn’t crying
just a moment prior.

“Who died?” Taehyung asks, in some kind of attempt to joke.

“Yugyeom.” Jungkook says, contrary to his expectations. He didn’t see that one coming.

“Well, at least it was just one.” that’s the only thing Taehyung replies with as he reaches for the
laptop on the desk so that he can sit on the couch, given Jungkook has taken up his chair. Jungkook
follows his movements, angry, disbelieving.

“You’re such a fucking— I fucking hate you so much, he was my friend, shut the hell up if you
don’t have anything to say.” and so Taehyung doesn’t open his mouth again, focusing on going
through his emails quietly.

His eyes shift back to Jungkook, though, as he sees him struggle to collect himself, to keep his tears
under control. So he sighs. “People die every day, I’ve had people die, too. But you can’t let it
affect your work, how you see yourself as a leader, otherwise more people will just die after. You
have to keep moving forward, learn from whatever mistake he made. We don’t have time to grieve
when it all falls onto our shoulders, it’s not just that one life that depends on us, we have to stay
focused for everyone else.”

Jungkook sniffs, cupping his mug of tea between his hands. He has his legs bent, boots positively
marking Taehyung’s chair but he’ll worry about it some other time. His mascara running down his
cheeks. Taehyung wasn’t even aware that he used that.

“I guess you’re right… but he was my friend…”

“That doesn’t mean he was invincible, you shouldn’t see his death as something impossible just
because he’s your friend.” Jungkook looks up at him, eyes red.

“How— How can you think like that? How can you not… feel something? You really don’t care
about anyone but yourself, do you?” he asks with a weak voice, almost breaking at the end.

Taehyung shrugs. “I did once. And it got more people killed. I was naïve, new to this, and I kept
making mistakes because of that. Don’t do the same. I’m not judging your leadership all the time
because I think you’re bad at it, I judge it because I used to be like you and it got people hurt and
killed. I’m— I’m trying to stop you from making the same mistakes. Take this as a lesson, before
there are more fatalities.” he shares, looking back down to his computer. “Now dry your tears, we
can’t be weak.”

“But we can, Taehyung.” he says with a sigh.

“You have weak moments, you get men killed, or worse, you get yourself killed. Don’t make such
mistakes when we both know how capable you are.”

Jungkook gets up from Taehyung’s chair, walking closer. “What happened to you?”

“Irrelevant.”

“Relevant, I want to know.”

Taehyung tsks. “You always want to know too much.”

“And you always tell me so little, isn’t that unfair?” Jungkook tilts his head as he sits down on the
couch next to him, sideways to be able to face Taehyung.

“My openness doesn’t have to match yours. You choose to tell me things. I never ask.” Taehyung
shrugs, eyes on his laptop.

“We’re partners.”

“Partners, not friends.”

Jungkook sighs. “How am I meant to trust you if I don’t know anything about you?”

Taehyung raises an eyebrow, looking back at him. At his frowny face. “You can always not trust
me for all I care, don’t try to persuade me by making that face.”

“Trust comes in the field too, we should be able to trust each other mutually, don’t you think?”

“You’re really naïve if you think I trust you blindly.”

Jungkook shrugs. “Not blindly but I’m your partner, you just said that.”

“Yes, partner. So trust me when it comes to business, you don’t have to know about me, you just
know I’d protect you and your men if it came down to it. Now get off my dick, I have a shit ton of
emails to read.” he says with a final tone.

“The way you speak only makes me more curious.”

“Your curiosity will get you killed one day.”

│►

Jungkook crosses his arms behind his head as he faces the ceiling. The conversation with
Taehyung earlier just simply refuses to leave his mind. He’s always so secretive, it only makes
Jungkook more and more curious. Only makes him want to ask more, to know more.

He’s all calloused, he treats his men like employees only, doesn’t resent their deaths, doesn’t show
emotions in the slightest. Jungkook wants to know why. He wants to know what made Taehyung
the way he is. He wants to know everything.

Taehyung may be lonely, he believes.

And he’s hot— no, he’s not. He’s not.

But— no. No, he’s not.

Not one bit.

Jungkook turns around so that he’s laying sideways and he hugs his pillow, his mind all over the
place. Taehyung’s a little different from when they met, he’s slightly more approachable, he
doesn’t have death in his eyes every time he looks at Jungkook. That’s good, right?

He chews on his bottom lip when he remembers the day Taehyung got him on his knees. It’s still
odd to remember, still unbelievable to him. How he allowed himself to be so roughly handled, how
Taehyung spoke, how harshly he treated him.

The weirdest part is definitely the fact that Jungkook liked it. It’s new, he’s always been the one on
the other end, so it’s weird, but it’s a good weird. He will obviously never tell Taehyung that, he
doesn’t need to boost his ego even more.

But that day was something else. His bloody hand, the blood smeared on Taehyung’s face,
everything from then on.

He looks down when he feels himself uncomfortable and his eyes go wide. He runs a hand over his
face at the fact that he just got turned on by remembering such day. He takes a guilty hand down,
pushing his sweatpants out of the way.

It’s humiliating, he thinks, but no one will ever know.

No one will ever know how he bites his bottom lip so hard he feels blood in his mouth soon
enough, no one will ever know how his hand moves with the imagination that it’s Taehyung’s
instead. That big, tattooed, calloused hand. Softer than his own, but still calloused.

His other hand crawls up his chest, fingers toying with his nipple.

He tugs a little harder once he acknowledges Taehyung would never be that nice, that gentle.

He even tries to hold back for as long as possible.

Taehyung’s a menace. He knows he’d be one to do that.

So he squeezes harder, pinches harder, goes slower.

He feels guilty and definitely embarrassed.

But again, no one would ever know.

│►

Jungkook sits alone at the breakfast table the next morning, eyes closed, coffee mug in his hands.
He’s beyond tired. He didn’t sleep at all, thinking — and fantasizing — about his work partner.

He looks back when he hears someone approaching and he sees the man who kept him awake
walking in. “Morning.” Taehyung greets with the deepest, most growly voice he’s ever heard
coming from him. Must have just woken up.

“Morning.” Jungkook says back, watching him serve himself a mug of coffee too and sit down
across from him, eyes on the wall. It’s too early, he looks tired. Jungkook’s eyes follow the
movements as he takes the mug to his mouth a few times and he has to shake his head to stop
staring at his hand.

It’s way too early for his veins to be looking like that.

So he decides to speak, break the silence. “Couldn’t sleep?” he asks.

“You could say that.” Taehyung replies in the same deep tone, taking another sip from his coffee.

“I couldn’t sleep all that well either.” Jungkook decides to share.

“Working all night?” Taehyung asks. Definitely not, Jungkook thinks. That was really not it.

“I uh, I uh, you? Why couldn’t you sleep?” he turns the question around.

He watches as Taehyung chugs his coffee down before getting up. “You don’t need to know that
much.” he says, starting to leave the room. Jungkook frowns once he’s gone and he huffs to
himself. He’s not about to let Taehyung simply leave.

He’s started the ‘get to know Taehyung’ project and he’s not going to fail at something just like
that. So he drinks his coffee down too before he trails after the other, following him to the office.
Taehyung’s already sitting at his desk, reading some papers that Jungkook will have to go through
later, too.

He sits in front of him. “Why couldn’t you sleep? Thinking a lot?” he asks.

Taehyung writes something down. “Don’t be nosy, Jeon.”

“Why are you so closed off?”

“Because you don’t have to know anything.” Jungkook rolls his eyes and he gets up, walking
around before he sits on top of the desk, right on top of the papers. “What are you d—”

“When I was six, I fell from the window while playing but I didn’t really hurt myself, I only cut my
eyebrow.” he says with a little smile.

Taehyung looks up at him, confused. “…okay?”

“Your turn.” Jungkook points.

Taehyung chuckles. “Nice try.” he says as he grabs a paper from under Jungkook’s butt, pulling at
it with all his might as Jungkook doesn’t cooperate one bit. And he tries to roll his chair away but
Jungkook wraps his legs around him, hooking his foot around the chair and pulling it back to place.
“Jeon—”

“When is your birthday?” Jungkook asks.

“Why does it matter?”

“Because.”

“It’s not important.”

“It is important.”

Taehyung just rests back on his chair to keep some space between them, grabbing the paper to
continue to read over it. Jungkook takes it from his hand. “Why can’t you let me do my job?”

Jungkook bites the inside of his cheek, gathering his courage and pushing away any shame or any
ounce of dignity before he slides down from the desk onto Taehyung’s lap. “Because I want you to
be fucking nice for once.” he says, voice a little lower.

“Move.” Taehyung gestures.

“Tell me your birthday. I just want to know something about you.” Jungkook forces a pout.

“You know my name.”

“But I want to know something… personal.” Taehyung opens his mouth but someone knocks on
his door so he pushes Jungkook off of his lap. And the latter really isn’t expecting that to happen,
so once he falls to the floor, he finds he can’t get up as the door has already been opened.

So he sits on the floor, under the desk, with a scowl.

Taehyung looks down when he feels something against his groin. A knife. It’s a knife. Jungkook
looks just about pissed off. Taehyung takes a hand to his head, fingers massaging his scalp a little
roughly. He’s trying to stay intact, that’s for sure.

“—and these are the last two transactions made with them, as you asked me to get you, sir.”
Namjoon informs and Taehyung looks back up. “Did you injure your knee, sir?” he asks, eyes on
where the desk ends, and the only thing he can make out is Taehyung rubbing something under the
desk, a little far from himself. His knee, certainly.

“Yes, I did. You can leave the papers, Kim.” he instructs and Namjoon does as told, placing the
documents on the desk before bowing and exiting the office. Jungkook pushes the chair away the
second he hears the door closing.

He tries to crawl away but Taehyung grabs him by his hair.

“What the fuck did you think you were doing pointing your knife like that?” he asks, tone serious.

“Let go unless you want me to actually use it.” Jungkook threatens.

“Don’t make threats you won’t keep.”

Jungkook makes an affronted sound, knife back to where it was previously. “You think I won’t?”
he presses harder and harder each second that Taehyung only gives him a raise of the eyebrow.
Until he groans at the back of his throat. “The only reason I won’t do it it’s because I don’t want to
listen to your bitchy ass crying afterwards.”

Taehyung chuckles, mean, grabbing the knife from his hand. He drags it over Jungkook’s jaw, not
nearly hard enough to cut. He places it flat against the underside of his chin, the tip against
Jungkook’s throat. “Stand up, princess.”

“Make me.” his breath hitches when the knife is pressed harder and he can feel two drops of blood
going down his neck soon enough, one after the other. It hurts, even if not too much. And it’s not
like he doesn’t like it, either way.

He stands up right away.

Taehyung just looks at his lap before looking back at Jungkook and that’s enough for him to know
he must sit down and so he does, the knife still to his throat. “What do we say when we
misbehave?” Taehyung asks.

“Fuck you.” he says. Taehyung raises an eyebrow, pushes the knife harder. “I-I’m sorry—” he
bites down his teeth when his hair is yanked back, neck exposed.

“You appear to be bleeding.” Taehyung comments, eyeing the small trail of blood. Only a few
drops, the cut being almost inexistent.

“Oh, no shit, you fucking—”

“Careful.” Taehyung interrupts, warning, pulling the knife away only to lean closer. Jungkook
gasps when a tongue collects the blood on his neck, slowly. Taehyung’s tongue is hot, contrasting
with the cold ball of his piercing.

“Y-You’re crazy.” Jungkook whispers, shuddering.

“You seem to enjoy it, though.” he licks it just one more time before he pulls away.

“You’re licking my neck, what are you expecting?” Jungkook tilts his head down, slowly.

“Maybe for the so called gang leader to stop me.” Taehyung says with a raise of the eyebrow.

Jungkook chuckles. “Why would I stop you?”

“I just cut your neck—?”

“Hm, I know.” he smiles. “I’m more curious as to why you’d lick the blood than anything else.”
“Can’t say blood isn’t a turn on.” Jungkook tilts his head with an even larger smile.

“Is this how I get information from you? Blood turns you on… what else?” he asks with a pout.

Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Putting brats like you in their place.”

“I’m not a brat.” Jungkook frowns.

“You held a knife against my dick only to get attention.” Taehyung challenges.

“Wrong. That’s not the reason.” he shakes his head, pointer finger poking Taehyung’s chest over
his black suit. He’s still sitting comfortably on his lap but they both refuse to comment on it.

“Why did you, then?”

“Because I could’ve hit my head, you asshole.” his pout only makes Taehyung chuckle again.

“So you’re admitting that you’re really just a bitch?” Jungkook sighs, getting up only to change his
position, sitting back down but this time, he’s sitting sideways on only one of Taehyung’s thighs.
Taehyung lets him.

“You really… really have to stop calling me a bitch.” he says as he picks on his nails with the lip
of his extremely sharpened knife. Taehyung just observes with an amused expression.

“Why? You’re acting like it. Or do you prefer princess?” Jungkook huffs, his leg kicking.

“Why can’t you call me— nice things?” he asks with a frown.

“Because you’re interrupting my work, Jeon, get the hell out of my lap.” Taehyung gestures for
him to get up. Jungkook tilts his head, not moving an inch.

“So you’ll pull my hair, lick my neck, and leave it at that?!”

“What would you like me to do?”

“Nothing. Just— choke.”

“You wish.” Jungkook rolls his eyes with another huff, getting up at last. He stores his knife back
in one of his pockets as he makes his way towards the door, fists balled up, feet heavy. Stomping.

“Careful, don’t let them see your boner.” Taehyung teases.

“Fuck off!”

│►

Jungkook enters the office, set on annoying Taehyung yet again, as it has been his main mission
for the past few days, and he frowns when he doesn’t see him there. But he did see Taehyung get
into the office earlier.

He eyes the door that leads directly to Taehyung’s bedroom and he approaches it. It’s locked, as he
expected it to be, but that has never stopped him, so he uses one of his many tricks to get inside
with one of his hairpins.

He scans the room, it’s empty too.

But there’s light coming from under the bathroom door, so he walks closer, placing his ear next to
it. It’s silent, he doesn’t hear anything.

Taehyung looks up from where he’s taking a bath, head resting back on the tub, when he hears
someone trying to open the door. He reaches for the gun on the side of the tub when he sees
something pocking through the keyhole but simply relaxes back when he sees Jungkook.

And Jungkook looks pleased with himself once he closes the door behind himself. He stares for a
moment, Taehyung’s bathing in water that has been tinted red from the blood Taehyung washed off
of himself, his hair is wet. The water is only up to his chest and he has his arms on the sides of the
tub. All of his tattoos on display.

Taehyung scans him up and down before cocking his head with an eyebrow raised. Jungkook takes
off his leather jacket, wasting no time on pulling his shirt off. He feels himself growing almost shy
under Taehyung’s strong gaze that follows his every move, but he sticks to it, discarding every
piece of clothing he has on.

Then he walks closer, getting inside the tub across from him. The water is still very hot, Taehyung
must’ve just got there too. He looks down. “Is this blood?” he asks in a soft whisper, not wanting
to break the silence completely.

“Mhm.”

“Nice.” he nods, resting his head back into the tub as well. They maintain eye contact for a while,
both staring at each other with relaxed eyes, limbs touching from where they lay under water.
Taehyung scoffs lightly with a shake of the head and Jungkook wonders what’s going through his
mind. He can’t ask, he’d never tell him.

So he settles for watching Taehyung grab his shampoo but he leans closer, taking it from his hand.
He scoots as close as necessary to end up on Taehyung’s lap, the latter’s hands falling to his thighs.
He then opens the bottle of shampoo, squirting some of it onto his palm.

He tilts Taehyung’s head back gently, taking both hands to his head, massaging his scalp ever so
slowly. Neither of them says as word as he washes the grey hair thoroughly.

Taehyung’s thumbs caress the area where they rest, where Jungkook’s butt meet his thighs.

Jungkook tilts Taehyung’s head back when the time comes to wash away the shampoo, using the
handheld showerhead, rinsing all the shampoo away. His eyes fall to Taehyung’s throat then, the
tattoo on the side of his neck that connects with his sleeve and ends just where his jaw starts.
Jungkook wonders what’s the meaning behind it, because he doesn’t really understand what it is.

It looks like some branches, but it also looks like it’s cracking, spreading. He runs his fingers
through it, pulling Taehyung’s head back by the hair when he tries to look down. Taehyung just
chuckles, letting him do his thing.

Taehyung does look down when Jungkook pulls away to place the bottle of shampoo back in its
place and takes the opportunity to press a kiss to Jungkook’s collarbone. Jungkook lets him, makes
absolutely no move to stop him when Taehyung starts sucking hickeys into his skin.

He closes his eyes, hand tugging on Taehyung’s hair every time he sucks a new bruise into his
skin. His lips go from Jungkook’s collarbone to his neck and down to his chest. Neither of them
breaks the silence, though, the only sounds being Jungkook’s soft, breathy moans and Taehyung’s
wet kisses.
Taehyung pulls away to grab him by the chin, forcing him to make eye contact and he forces
himself not to smile at how flushed Jungkook already looks. He slides his thumb into his mouth,
allowing Jungkook to suck on it for a few long seconds, eye contact never broken.

They both look at the phone near the tub when it starts ringing and Taehyung reaches for it with
his hand, having to take it away from Jungkook’s mouth. “Yes?” he says, his voice now filling up
the bathroom. Jungkook leans closer to kiss his neck, Taehyung’s free hand falling onto his butt.

Jungkook can’t hear what they say on the other side but he simply focuses on kissing Taehyung’s
neck, on letting his hands feel up Taehyung’s abdomen; on sucking a few hickeys onto his skin,
too. Taehyung pinches his butt when he tries biting him.

He jolts, creating friction where he shouldn’t, which only makes Taehyung groan at the back of his
throat. “Shit, I’ll be there in a second.” Jungkook pulls away when he hears that, Taehyung already
end the call.

Jungkook doesn’t ask, he just looks at him with the biggest puppy eyes that are enough of a
question. He watches as Taehyung gets up from the tub, wrapping a towel around his hips. Then he
seems to acknowledge Jungkook’s expression.

“You can wait in my bedroom, take clothes if you want.” he whispers, the silence filling the
bathroom again. He cups Jungkook’s cheek, thumb running across Jungkook’s bottom lip, and
Jungkook closes his eyes, waiting for the kiss that never comes.

He only looks up when Taehyung pulls away and walks out of the bathroom with his phone and his
gun. He sighs, resting back on the tub again, closing his eyes with a little smile.

He can enjoy the hot water for a little longer.

│►

Taehyung opens the door to his bedroom carefully, unsure of what he’s going to see once inside,
hoping Jungkook has given up on waiting given it’s almost three in the morning. But he’s left
surprised to see him sound asleep in the middle of the bed, wearing nothing but one of Taehyung’s
button up shirts and underwear.

He looks comfortable.

Taehyung walks closer, pulling the sheets to cover his sleeping body, but he doesn’t want to lay
down. Sleeping together like that is too much, Taehyung doesn’t see a single reason to do it, so he
simply kicks his shoes off before he heads towards the office, leaving Jungkook to enjoy his bed.
For the night, only.

He sits behind his desk, opening his laptop, figuring he can go through work plans as Jungkook
sleeps and then take a nap or something once Jungkook leaves his bedroom. He stays there the rest
of the night, going through work, trying not to fall asleep, getting through one too many cigarettes
to stay up.

And the clock keeps ticking, giving a short notice every time the hour changes.

He hears it change a few times, sees the sun light start to get through the blinds of his window.

The morning comes as a blur. His head feels heavy, he just wants to lay down.

But he pulls through.

Pulls through long enough to see Jungkook getting out of his bedroom into the office, rubbing his
eyes with one hand, still only wearing Taehyung’s button up. Taehyung eyes him up and down. He
looks almost adorable, Taehyung has to give him that.

“Why didn’t you come back?” Jungkook asks, voice groggy from sleep.

“I only came back around thirty minutes ago.” he lies.

“What were you doing all night…?” Jungkook sounds upset.

“And why would you need to know that?” he finds himself getting a little defensive.

Jungkook’s shoulders sag. “Because I waited for you… I fell asleep waiting…”

Taehyung looks back to his papers. “Nonsense, you should get dressed, someone may appear.”

Jungkook nods, face going serious. “Right.” Taehyung watches as he walks away and he feels a
little weird once he thinks back at the expression Jungkook just had. He looked hurt in a way,
which doesn’t make much sense to him, because why did Jungkook get hurt by the truth? But it
bothers him.

He continues writing what he was focusing on before being interrupted and only does he look up
when he hears Jungkook coming through the door again.

He’s back in his clothes, his hair looks less messy, he looks proper, composed, and he leaves
without saying a word. He doesn’t even look at Taehyung.

Taehyung fiddles with his pen. He doesn’t have energy to even bother thinking about Jungkook.

But Jungkook does, so he asks Yoongi to get Taehyung a coffee as he could see just how tired the
latter was.

He’s eating a bowl of cereal when Yoongi returns to him with the mug he has prepared. “Uh, sir,
he’s asleep.” he informs. Jungkook looks up at him, tilting his head.

“Is he in his bedroom?”

“Uh, no, he’s fallen asleep on his desk…” Yoongi scratches the back of his neck. “Should I just
leave the mug next to him? It will get cold… but I don’t want to wake him up…”

Jungkook sighs. “Give me that.” he gets up, leaving his cereal behind to go back to the office. He
gets inside without knocking, given it’s really no use knocking anyways. Taehyung’s head is on
the desk, his arm covering his eyes, pen still in hand.

Jungkook tsks, closing the door before he walks closer. He takes the pen from his hand before he
walk to the couch to get a blanket to cover Taehyung’s back with. He could carry him to bed or to
the couch, but he figures it’s best to leave him.

And Taehyung was rude, so Jungkook figures back pain is deserved.

He’ll offer a massage later.

│►
 Follow me on twitter guys, also you can share your thoughts in the comments or privatly through
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Chapter End Notes

So... let's discuss!

 ◄│ 4/6 │►
Chapter Notes

Before we start:
- Read the new added tags;
- Remember the 'minor character death' because it comes to play again;
- This got kinda long (33k lmao) so bear with it;
- Do enjoy it hehe.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Taehyung grabs another pile of bills, counting through them rather quickly as he separates them
into two new, even, piles. He looks up briefly when the door opens but quickly fixes his attention
back on the money in hands.

“Can I help?” Jungkook asks. Truth is, he simply wanted to check if everything was done for the
night so that he could head upstairs to his bedroom, but now that he sees Taehyung sorting money,
he wants to do something.

But Taehyung just shakes his head as a no without stopping his counting.

“Let me help.” Jungkook insists, walking closer until he sits down on the chair across from
Taehyung. The latter doesn’t even reply. Jungkook frowns. “Are those their salaries?” again,
Taehyung simply nods, already starting new piles.

Jungkook rests back, elbows on the arm of the chair, leg bouncing up and down.

He hates not being answered.

“Eighty, thirty five, forty two, twenty three, seventy—”

“Don’t make me have to start again, princess.” Jungkook rolls his eyes with a pout forming,
annoyed, and so he crosses his arms, just watching. Taehyung chuckles. Jungkook still wants to
help, though, so he sits up straight, grabbing the already sorted piles.

He taps them on the table to make them neat, before he rolls them and secures them with a rubber
band. He does that to all of the piles before placing each on the assigned plastic bag with the name
of the members.

They continue in silence until every bag is filled with the respective roll of bills.

“That was the last one, we’re done here.” Taehyung informs, gathering the extra money to put if
back from where he took it, the safe. Jungkook puckers his lips, reaching to stop him from getting
up from his chair.

“I’d actually like to give Jimin an extra this month.” he says.

“I don’t like him, no.” Taehyung is quick to deny.

“But half of this belongs to me.” Jungkook says with an eyebrow raised.
Taehyung sighs, looking back down at the money. “How much?”

“How much are you willing to give without me having to fight you for twenty minutes? I’m not in
the mood for that.” he says with a shrug and Taehyung raises an eyebrow.

“However much you want.” Jungkook stops himself from smiling.

“Two-fifty?”

“Two hundred and fifty? Do you think we get money off of trees?” he asks as Jungkook goes
through the bags to look for Jimin’s. He pulls his roll of money once he finds it.

“Taehyung, we get that by blinking, just fucking add it to his pile.” Jungkook instructs.

“What did he even do to get that raise, anyways? If my men find out, they’ll frown at it, since, you
know, they actually work.” Taehyung points out, making the other roll his eyes.

“Then give a raise to your men too, stop being—”

“Smart about my money? I already pay double to my main men, Yoongi gets triple, why would I
still add extras? They get paid way too well.” he says, final.

But Jungkook isn’t the one to give up. “Can you just add it and shut up?”

“No, I don’t like favoritism.”

“You pay Yoongi triple.”

“For being my right hand, Jeon. I’m not giving him bonuses on top of a set wage. So what did
Jimin do?”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “Tolerated you.”

“Then I deserve to be put on a throne of gold for putting up with you, him, and the rest of your
men.” Taehyung says with a forged chuckle. “You’re out of your mind.”

“I’m not going to ask again, just fucking put the mon—”

Taehyung sighs. Exaggerated. “I don’t want to listen to this any longer.” he says, sounding just
about done, before he counts the right amount of bills and hands over for Jungkook to add to
Jimin’s bag. He then raises an eyebrow when Jungkook snatches two big bills and puts them in his
own pocket. “And what’s that for?”

“My own bonus for putting up with your bad tempter all the time.” he says with a smile.

“I’m pretty sure I already give you your bonus.” Taehyung rests back on his chair.

Jungkook raises an eyebrow. “Every bonus is welcome.”

Taehyung chuckles. “You’re so annoying.” and even then, there’s no bite to his words.

Jungkook smiles, showing him his tongue.

He likes it when Taehyung smiles.

He has a really nice smile.

│►

Taehyung checks his watch once again before he rolls his eyes to himself. Jimin’s the only one in
the room, sitting across from him, as they wait for the others to give start to their meeting, and
Taehyung really just wants to stand by the door and slap them in the order they come in.

Still, he tries not to show any emotion, especially when he feels Jimin’s eyes trailing to him every
so often, clearly wanting to say something but not having enough courage to do so.

That is, until he clears his throat. “Thank you for this month’s extra, sir.” he says.

“It’s not me who you should thank. Personally, I don’t know why Jungkook thinks you deserve it.”
Jimin’s hopeful smile falls into a small frown and he looks at his fingers, fiddling with them before
running a hand through his messy orange hair.

“He gave me the bonus, sir, because I took a bullet for another man, sir. I had a vest, and they
didn’t… so I took it… and they told Jungkook, for some reason. He believed that should be
recognized somehow, and I’ve been asking if I could—”

“I didn’t ask.” Taehyung cuts him.

Jimin frowns even more, fiddling with his fingers even harder. “I-It was someone from your team,
sir…” he tries.

“So you did your job? Am I supposed to give everyone a bonus for doing what I pay them to do?”
Jimin opens his mouth to speak but closes it again when the door is open, his own boss and the
other main men coming in with a laugh still dying down. They all go serious when Taehyung
speaks, “You’re late.” he says.

Jungkook is the one to excuse them. “Yeah, sorry about that, Daehyun tripped on some lifted
carpet and we—”

“What is it with you and your people, giving me life stories when I literally didn’t ask or want to
hear about them?” Taehyung cuts him halfway, just like he did with Jimin some minutes prior.

“What the fuck has you so grouchy?” he complains as he walks around to sit on the chair next to
Taehyung, all the others sitting on the table around them. “Don’t worry, Jimin, I’ll tell you about it
at dinner, since you’re actually capable of humor and holding a conversation that isn’t work
related.” Jungkook says with a smile.

A smile that Jimin is too intimidated to give back.

Everyone remains quiet, eyes on the both of them, as if expecting Taehyung to lash out on
Jungkook, but he doesn’t. He just rolls his eyes.

Jungkook clears his throat, grabbing the papers Taehyung has brought. “Let’s just get this started.”
he says.

“About time.” Taehyung complains.

“Shut up, Kim.” Jungkook nudges his knee with his own. “So, as we all agreed, with this new
arrangement, the main benefit would be the mutual development of both our weaponry and drug
trade, with the hopes that we’d be the strongest single trade group in Seoul, or even South Korea.
Am I right in saying that?” everyone agrees.
Taehyung just watches them.

“Kim and I discussed this last night and we came to an agreement regarding the teams and who
will be in charge of doing what for this next following month or at least the next two to three
weeks until we say any different.” he says, looking down at the papers.

He can feel Taehyung’s stare and it makes him forget everything he wanted to say. He should start
just writing down what he must say on the meetings.

“Since these teams are new, it’s likely that you’ll find yourselves to be incompatible, so there will
be regular rotations and options to report or review your experiences with certain people in certain
areas of activity. You’ll be assigned either undercover work, external affairs, simple runs and
trades, or the more enforced defense and attack objectives over the next month, multiple of each
will be pre-planned and executed, in the hopes of giving us a kickstart with dealerships, and upper
hand on threats. And also a springboard for our reputation. Does everyone understand?”

“Yes, sir.” they all say, Yoongi looking over at his boss once he realizes he hasn’t really said
anything. Taehyung’s just watching them, almost resting back on his chair, two fingers rubbing his
chin slowly. Observing.

“Some of the missions have been planned to the point of having been scheduled already, as you
know. Including one tomorrow where Yoongi will be leading, so that we see how that goes.” he
speaks as he gestures towards the party in question. “Kim and I will be present on the ones we find
fitting and essential but we’ll also try and put some trust on you for the easier ones. We won’t be
actively participating in how the objectives are executed for the more laid back missions, as we’d
like to see how well you and our men can handle the procedures alone. We can’t grow at a rapid
rate if we can’t trust each other to get the job done. However, we also trust that you’ll ask us for
assistance or help should you need it. Are there any questions?”

Namjoon raises his hand. “Permission to speak?”

Jungkook wants to elbow Taehyung for the way they all act scared to talk. ”Of course, go ahead.”
he says with a smile. He wants to be respected, not get respect by being feared.

“Will you hand us the list with the teams…?”

“Yeah, it’s right here.” Jungkook nods, taking the sheets from the binder before he slides them
over, one for each. There’s not a lot more to add, so the rest of the meeting goes just as smoothly
and quickly, Taehyung still not uttering a word.

Soon enough, Jungkook is excusing them to leave.

He smiles as he watches them go but that smile quickly falls once the door closes. He turns to his
work partner. “Why are you looking at me like that? I’m fucking sweating.” he complains, pushing
his arm with barely any strength.

“Why are you sweating? They’re our men.” Taehyung asks, unbothered.

“And this is new territory. It’s hard to be assured in yourself about a partnership when your partner
is acting like some sort of fucking— examiner or some shit. Actually participate next time.” he
says as he slaps Taehyung’s arm again. Again, no retaliation. Weird.

“I was letting you do your thing, you always complain that I don’t give you enough authority and
now you’re going to bitch because I gave it?” he tilts his head. Jungkook frowns.
“Ok but… ok, that’s kind of thoughtful of you but I’m still getting used to this whole thing of
leading such a large group of people that takes over such a large city…” he looks down. “I haven’t
been a leader for as long as you, are you forgetting that?”

“You did well, though. You spoke well.” Jungkook’s neck snaps up again. What?

Was Taehyung nice? Willingly nice? That’s impossible.

“I— You’re— I did?” he doesn’t even know how to take it.

“You don’t think so?” Taehyung turns the question around as he sits up straighter. “Understandable
with how stuttery you are now. You were fine a second ago.” he points out.

“It’s… you make me nervous.” Jungkook admits, voice close to a mumble.

Taehyung chuckles. “Good.” he gets up, fixing his suit, beyond ready to get out of there.

“Where are you going?” Jungkook asks, looking up with an angry frown.

“Well, the meeting is over, isn’t it?”

“But dinner isn’t for another two hours…”

“And? The meeting is over.” Taehyung points.

“And… sit down.” Jungkook gestures back to the chair.

“Why would I?”

“Because… I’m asking you to?” he looks up.

“Hm. Not convincing enough.” Jungkook huffs.

“Taehyung. Sit. Please.” he rolls his eyes with a long, exaggerated sigh, as he does so.

Jungkook smiles, throwing his legs across Taehyung’s lap. “I think the fuck not—” he pushes them
off but Jungkook only repeats his action, using his legs to pull their chairs closer. “You’re really
entitled, aren’t you?”

“Maybe.” Jungkook shrugs with a smile, clearly comfortable. “Are we joining them tomorrow on
their mission?” he asks, masking his smile when Taehyung settles for placing a hand on his knee,
therefore allowing him to keep his legs there instead of pushing them away.

“I’m not sure if it’s that necessary.” Taehyung says. “But again, I don’t trust Jimin for shit so it’s
better if we join if it’s only him and Yoongi. Maybe you can see what’s like to have a decent right
hand.” he shrugs.

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I’m going to make you loosen up tomorrow.”

“The hell you are, we’ll be there for work, nothing else.”

Jungkook smiles. A suspiciously large smile. “Yes, of course.”

│►

The bartender hands Jungkook another martini with a polite smile before moving on to another
man that has just approached the bar. Jungkook turns around to rest his back into the counter,
Taehyung right by his side, only he doesn’t have any drink.

Jungkook eats the olive from the pick in the glass before he takes a sip. “Are you sure you don’t
want to drink anything?” he asks, eyeing his partner who looks way too stern, too rigid. It’s dark
inside the club, there’s too many people dancing.

The music is loud, it’s a nice ambient. Taehyung looks like he’s having absolutely no fun at all.

At least he’s not in a suit, after a long discussion about how suspicious that would look.

“No, we have to stay alert.” he replies, eyes ahead.

“C’mon? Just one? Be fun for once.” Jungkook pokes his arm.

“I’m not drinking, I didn’t eat anything, I’d get drunk in a minute.” Taehyung shrugs it off. He
looks at the other when Jungkook tugs on his jacket.

He’s pouting. “Just one?”

“For fuck’s sake— Fine. Just one.” Jungkook’s face lights up with a smile and he kicks some
drunk men away from the bar counter, none of them trying to fight his orders as they recognize the
two. Jungkook proceeds to climb onto the counter, laying right before Taehyung.

He grabs a tequila bottle from the inside, alongside a small salt shaker. The bartender doesn’t say a
word. He knows them, too. Taehyung raises an eyebrow when Jungkook pulls his shirt up.
“Motherf— stop.” Taehyung tries, pulling Jungkook’s shirt back down.

Jungkook frowns, slapping his hand before pulling the shirt back up to his chest.

He applies a good line of salt right over the line of muscle that trails from his abdomen and
disappears into the waistband of his jeans. He reaches for the already sliced limes that he spots in a
little container inside the counter as well.

Taehyung rolls his eyes as he watches him fill his bellybutton with the tequila, the slice of lime
simply on his hand. Jungkook just tilts his head, waiting.

He leans down, pulling Jungkook’s jeans down just the slightest for his tongue to touch a little
further, slowly licking up his v line to gather the salt. Jungkook chews on the inside of his cheek.
Taehyung then proceeds to suck the tequila from his bellybutton and finishes by taking the lime
from his hand.

The music seems to return from around them, almost as though it all had gotten quiet. At least for
Jungkook it did. He couldn’t focus on anything else.

He swallows. “Want another one?”

Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “Sure.”

Jungkook fills up his bellybutton again, pulling his shirt higher. He locks eyes with the grey haired
as he drops the salt all over one of his nipples, eyes challenging. Goes as far as then biting the edge
of the lime slice.

Taehyung chuckles, before leaning down again.

He definitely takes longer than necessary sucking all of the salt from Jungkook’s nipple, tongue
toying with the piercing, teeth tugging on it. Perhaps because of the way Jungkook’s back arches,
making the majority of the tequila drop down his abdomen. Taehyung makes sure to lick it away
before taking the remaining alcohol.

Jungkook follows him with his eyes once the time to take the lime comes. Taehyung bends down
but, contrary to his expectations, grabs the lime without allowing their lips to touch. Jungkook feels
almost dumb for trying to chase them.

He still watches as Taehyung sucks the juice from the lime until there’s nothing else.

A thumb runs down his bottom lip, motioning him to open his mouth, and he does without even
questioning. Taehyung drops the lime from his mouth into Jungkook’s before pushing his chin
back up so that he closes his mouth.

Taehyung pulls back then.

Jungkook blinks. “Did you just spit in my mouth—” he tries. Taehyung just wipes the tequila
dripping from the side of his mouth with the back of his hand. “I don’t know if I’m grossed out as
fuck or turned on but like… do it again…?”

“When is it my turn?” they both face ahead when they hear someone ask, only to find a random
stranger eyeing Jungkook’s still exposed stomach. Taehyung pulls his own jacket to the side
enough to expose his gun.

“Ask again.” he challenges.

The man raises his hands, disappearing into the crowd again.

“That was hot.” Jungkook comments.

Taehyung turns back to him, pulling his shirt down. “We have work to do, focus at last, we’ve been
distracted enough.” Jungkook sits up on the counter right next to him still, martini glass back in his
hand. They scan the club with their eyes, attentive.

Jungkook bends down just a little to make sure Taehyung hears him over the music. “Do I get to
take a shot from you too?” he asks.

Taehyung chuckles. “Do you really think I’d climb on the counter for someone to lick me?”

“It’s not someone, it’s me.”

“Irrelevant.”

“Well… I did…”

“That’s because you like it that way.” Taehyung says with a shrug of the shoulders and Jungkook
tilts his head, confused.

“What way?” he asks.

“The way it is. Being watched. You like it, don’t you?” he turns back just a little with a smirk,
Jungkook rolling his eyes before swallowing the majority of his drink in one go.

“I’m not confirming or denying.” he says. Taehyung opens his mouth to answer when they both
spot the man they’re there to get. Taehyung looks away when he realizes he’s looking at
Jungkook. They can make that work.
“I think he wants a shot from you too.” Taehyung informs, Jungkook smiling and sending a small
wave in the direction of their target, who waves back with a way too gross smirk.

“You reckon I should let him have it as a distraction? Then cut his tongue off for ever touching
me? Hm?” he says, still smiling at the party in question.

“That could work, yes, but we’re not doing that. Unlike your useless right hand who’s too busy
drinking away and watching us, Yoongi is already there.” Jungkook narrows his eyes a little to be
able to see better and he hums when he spots Yoongi not too far away from the man.

“You put on quite the show with the lime over here, can you blame Jimin for being intrigued?”

“I can and I will.” Taehyung shrugs. “The show is over.”

“You can go on and suck my dick and continue it, I’m just s—”

“Quiet.” Taehyung interrupts, raising a finger.

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “Quiet…!” he copies Taehyung’s voice by making his own lower.

“Can you shut up just for once?”

“When did I ever give you the impression that I could?” Jungkook smiles. One of the most
entertaining things for him is testing Taehyung’s patience. “I can suck you off instead, if that’s
what b—”

“Jungkook, shut the fuck up.” he interrupts.

Jungkook huffs before hopping down the counter, resting back against it like he was previously.
“Thanks.” he takes the drink the bartender was just finishing — not for him — and takes a sip right
away. The poor man sighs, starting a new one without even being able to complain.

They watch in silence as Yoongi puts a napkin over the man’s nose, the latter losing his senses
almost immediately. It’s too dark and too crowded for drunk people to worry or notice as Yoongi
acts as though he’s simply helping the man walk out of there.

Taehyung taps his thigh before he starts walking away but stops, looking back. “You coming?”

Jungkook chugs his drink. “Wouldn’t miss the fun.”

│►

“…and so we’ll just get rid of him now, is that the plan?” Yoongi asks as he finishes writing down
everything the man has been able to provide them, said man kneeling on the floor with his hands
tied up and a cloth wrapped around his mouth to keep him quiet.

“If he doesn’t have anything to tell us, then yes.” Jungkook says, pointed eyes threatening. The
man shakes his head aggressively from side to side. “Yep, he’s useless now.”

“What should we do with him now?” Jimin asks.

“He’s useless so just get rid of him.” Taehyung dismisses them with his hand and the two right
hands nod before picking the man up, who tries screaming through the cloth in his mouth, but they
all ignore it.

They can feel the mood physically changing once they see themselves alone after the door is
closed. Jungkook sighs, looking at the other. “What a night.” he says, voice a little tired now that
he allows himself to feel it.

“Could’ve gone terribly wrong with what you pulled in the club but I have to say, we got what we
wanted, so it’s not that bad.” Jungkook rolls his eyes, a little smile on his lips.

“In my opinion, I think I did a great job at keeping his and the others’ eyes away from Yoongi with
my little stunt. And, besides, don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it.” he challenges, leaning back onto
Taehyung’s desk. Well, technically, theirs.

“Again, what matters is that we got what we needed.” Taehyung still replies.

“Again, you can just say you liked sucking on my nipple.”

“Where did that even come from?” Jungkook can hear the tiredness in his voice, it makes it sound
a little lower but softer. It’s nice, he never really heard Taehyung sounding anything but angry or
assertive. He sounds almost sleepy, contrary to the way he still carries himself.

“You’re acting like I didn’t feel your tongue—”

“Judging by the way you didn’t stop moving I’d say you definitely did. I was this close to holding
you still.” Jungkook chews on the inside of his cheek for a moment.

“The salt was gone in the first two seconds, Taehyungie, but you didn’t stop, did you? Just admit it,
you liked sucking on my tit.” he says with a smile a little too big for what he’s saying.

“On your what— What the fuck.” Taehyung isn’t sure if he’s just really tired of if he indeed just
lost any ounce of patience he could still have for that night.

But Jungkook shrugs, pushing away from the desk. “It’s understandable, honestly. If I weren’t me,
I’d want to suck on my nipples too. But the way you pushed down on my v line with your tongue?
It’s almost like you /wanted/ me to squirm in front of everyone.”

Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “You call that squirming?”

“Mhm… but you can show me what /you/ call squirming.” he challenges.

“I know what you’re doing and no. It’s not happening.” Taehyung shakes his head.

Jungkook steps closer. “But I’m curious… if that wasn’t you making me squirm, then what is?” he
whispers, the room quiet enough to still make him audible.

“You really don’t want to find out, princess.”

“Yes I do.”

Taehyung takes his blazer off. “Not tonight you don’t, I’m tired, use your hand.” he says, walking
past him as he uncuffs his shirt’s sleeves, undoing his tie and popping his first button open.
Jungkook’s mouth waters at the sight.

“It’s like you’re asking me to get on my knees right now.” Jungkook watches the movements.
Taehyung walks closer, ever so slowly, one of his hands grabbing a hold of Jungkook’s waist, grip
hard. He leans closer to his ear.

“That’s the thing, princess.” he whispers. “I don’t ask.”

Jungkook almost snorts. “You could’ve said that sooner.” he says as he lets himself fall to his
knees, looking up with a challenging glint in his eyes. Taehyung looks down at him with a pointed
expression, clearly unimpressed.

He tsks, bending down to grab his jaw, pulling him up, Jungkook cooperating fully to whatever
Taehyung may want to do with him. Which is something he’ll never understand, to begin with.
“We don’t do that either. That’s too easy.” Taehyung says.

Jungkook half whines at the back of his throat when the fingers on his jaw tighten. “Then what do
you do?” he dares to ask.

Taehyung hums. “I make you beg.”

“I’ve done that once, I’ll never do it again.” Taehyung looks at him for a moment before he
chuckles, dropping his hand and getting his discarded blazer from where it has been left on the arm
of the chair.

“Anyways, get out of my office, I’m going to bed.”

Jungkook gapes. “But we—”

“You did good tonight.” Taehyung compliments, voice a little softer. It makes Jungkook smile
rather shyly, not that he’d ever admit to that. “Now, don’t piss me off and ruin it. Just go to bed.”

But Jungkook doesn’t like not getting what he wants. “I’m— I’m hard, can you like, not fucking go
to bed after sucking my nipple in public?” he gestures towards himself.

“Have you /been/ hard since we left the club?” Taehyung asks, already by the door that directly
connects his office to his bedroom.

Jungkook walks closer until he’s right by his side. “Kind of. Yes.” he admits.

“Well. Sucks for you. I’m going to bed.” he twists the keys on the door, pushing it open.

“I’ll jerk off onto your desk.” Jungkook threatens.

“I’ll make you lick it clean in the morning.” Taehyung threatens back and he doesn’t sound like
he’s lying. At all. Jungkook groans, just holding him by his forearm when he tries to walk into his
bedroom. “What do you want?” Taehyung faces him again.

Jungkook takes a few seconds to ponder on his next actions.

He /really/ doesn’t want to leave the office with a bullet wound.

But he feels like they’ve been getting… closer, he could say. Definitely not friends, but there’s
something. There’s an unspoken something. Jungkook feels comfortable yet so intimidated when
he’s with Taehyung.

A good kind of intimidated.

The kind that only makes him want to challenge Taehyung every single time he has the chance to.
Which is exactly what leads him to make his next decision to step closer, pressing his soft lips to
Taehyung’s cheek.

“Good night.” he says with a smile, cheeks growing red.

Taehyung looks like he’s seen a ghost.

Not uncomfortable, though. At least Jungkook doesn’t think he looks uncomfortable.

And that’s why he giggles, letting go of Taehyung’s forearm and starts walking away.

Any progress to get closer to Taehyung is good progress, even if it tends to leave him with a raging
boner that he doesn’t even understand. Taehyung just gets under his skin without even trying. It’s
infuriating. Also kind of tempting.

And embarrassing. But as long as no one knows how Taehyung’s the name on his mind when he
has a hand around himself at the end of the day, he doesn’t /have/ to feel embarrassed.

That’s something.

│►

Taehyung fills up his coffee mug, looking up when he hears some of the men laughing. It’s
Jungkook, he finds soon, holding his own coffee as he chats with three other men and they’re all
laughing, clearly entertained.

Taehyung will /never/ understand how does Jungkook wake up in a good mood. Every single day.
It doesn’t make any sense. Makes even less sense that his laugh brings a smile to his face. Just a
little one, it’s almost not there, but it’s still so stupid.

He’s quick to put on a serious expression before he leaves with nothing but his coffee mug.

Jungkook’s eyes drift from the man who’s talking, smile slowly falling once he realizes
Taehyung’s leaving. He didn’t even sit down at the table, didn’t enjoy his coffee. “Excuse me…”
Jungkook says, walking away from the conversation. He takes an apple, placing it inside one of the
many pockets in his cargo pants.

He trails after the older man into the office, Taehyung already sitting down on his chair when
Jungkook gets there. He doesn’t say a word as he closes the door, walking towards him. Taehyung
looks up. Jungkook gestures to his lap.

Much to his surprise, Taehyung simply drags himself on the chair a little back, allowing him to sit
down. Which he does, right away. He’s sitting sideways, holding his mug with both of his hands.
He blows on it before taking a sip. He cringes at the taste.

“I asked Jimin to get me this but it seems he forgot how much sugar I like…” he complains
through a pout. He tries taking another sip but he cringes even harder then.

“I’d offer to swap but I don’t add sugar at all.” Taehyung chuckles.

“Oh, so you like it as bitter as yourself.” Jungkook comments with a little smile.

“I can be sweet sometimes, you know.” he says.

Jungkook snorts. “The day you’re nice is the day I die, there’s not a chance.”

“I’m literally allowing you to sit on my lap.” Taehyung points out with an eyebrow raised.

“Ah yes, because it’s such a hassle to have this fine ass on you, huh?”

Taehyung takes a second. “This what?”

“Fine ass.” Jungkook repeats.

“But you’re literally flat.”

Jungkook gapes. “Hey! I’m not! You tattooed it, you know that’s a lie.” he defends himself,
smacking Taehyung’s arm.

“The swelling of the tattoo was bigger than the ass itself.”

“That’s so mean! I do a lot of squats, okay.” Jungkook frowns, blowing on his hot coffee mug.

“I’m kidding. You have… something. Mosquito bite? Is that enough? That’s good, right?” he can
barely holds himself back from snorting at how offended Jungkook looks, jaw falling to show his
shock and everything. “Stop looking so hurt, princess, your waist and thighs make up for it.”

“Now you’re just saying that so that you don’t have to compliment me properly.”

“I’d compliment you if there was something to compliment.” Taehyung says as he takes a sip from
his black coffee. Jungkook gasps.

“What—”

“You’re so easy to antagonize, it’s entertaining.” Jungkook would really like to say he was able to
reply to that, maybe defend his pride at least once again, but the fact that Taehyung is /smiling/ is
too distracting. He’s actually smiling. It’s not huge, it’s not blindly bright, but it’s a smile. Coming
from Taehyung, that’s huge.

It makes him smile too. “It’s the second time you smile today, are you feeling feverish?” he asks
rather innocently. Taehyung’s smile is charming, he wants to see it again but now that he’s pointed
it out, he’s already expecting Taehyung to push him off.

But he doesn’t. Instead, “I’m just in a good mood.” he says.

“Such a good mood that you left without eating or talking to anyone? Which reminds me, I brought
fruit.” Jungkook says with a smile, remembering the apple in his pocket.

“It’s definitely not peach, that much I can confirm.”

“I can’t believe that I’m out here checking on you and all you do is call me flat assed and unworthy
of compliments.” he pouts, which turns into a shocked frown as Taehyung leans closer to press a
kiss to his shoulder through his clothes. “Did you do something really bad? Did you kill someone
I’m close to?”

“What— No, why?”

“Oh God, where’s Jimin—”

“I didn’t kill anyone, what the hell is that coming from?”

“You’re smiling and kissing me and— letting me sit here without me having to fight you for it.
You didn’t even push me away like four times before I was able to sit down.” Jungkook points out.
“I’m just confused. I like it…” he admits. “But why?”

“Because why not?” Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“Okay.” he nods. “Can I kiss you th—”

“No.”

“Oh. Okay.” he looks down at his coffee mug, taking a new sip. He cringes again.

“I’ll get you some sugar, give me that.” Taehyung gestures towards the mug and Jungkook really
doesn’t think he can ever be more surprised than that. Maybe his persistent attempts to get closer to
Taehyung are finally showing good, proper results.

Sure, Taehyung’s nowhere near what he was when Jungkook first entered his office asking for
alliance, but it still doesn’t mean he’s exactly nice to him. He has his moments sometimes. Like
now. And Jungkook feels almost dumb for feeling that weird excitement in the pit of his stomach.

He perks up once he hears the door opening again, Taehyung coming in as he holds his mug and a
part of Jungkook can’t shake the thought of it having poison now, but Taehyung’s being /nice/ so
he can’t ruin it by making an accusation or even just a joke.

“They were asking where you were.” Taehyung says. “You’re necessary in the mornings.”

“I am?”

“You’re the only person I know that manages to make people laugh at ass o’clock in the morning.”
he points out.

“It’s my dazzling personality if I do say so myself.” Jungkook says with a smile.

Taehyung tsks. “That or the amount of sugar you have in your morning coffee. Are you trying to
get diabetes or something?” he says as he hands the mug over and Jungkook takes an immediate
sip. Yes. So much better now.

“Shut up, don’t be a hater, I thought you were in a good mood.”

“And I am.” Taehyung shrugs.

“And why is that anyways? This has to be a first. You in a good mood this early? Weird.”

“I don’t know, you seem to lift everyone’s spirits in the morning.” Jungkook’s shocked. To say the
least. He didn’t see that coming. At all. He can feel himself blushing which, really, shouldn’t be a
reaction to anything Kim Taehyung says.

“I-I wasn’t expecting that…” he whispers.

“As I said before, I can be nice.”

“Being nice and telling me I’m the reason why you’re in a good mood because I make you smile
are two very different things.” Taehyung gags. It sounds a bit too real, Jungkook isn’t sure if that
was forced or not.

“Don’t put it that way, it’s disgusting.” he says as he gestures towards the chair and Jungkook gets
up, allowing him to sit down. Jungkook takes a big gulp from his coffee before putting it down on
the desk and resting back so that his head rests on Taehyung’s shoulder. “What are you doing?”

“I’m sleepy.” he mumbles, closing his eyes. “Tell me why we always get up this early, we don’t
even have plans until later.”

“You could’ve stayed in bed.” it’s all Taehyung says.

“I like to grab breakfast with everyone… shut up and let me sleep.” Jungkook says as he fixes his
position to get more comfortable.

“You’re not sleeping on me, I have work to do.” he reprehends but Jungkook just makes a snoring
sound. “Jeon.” Taehyung warns. Jungkook shushes him. Taehyung sighs, reaching for his phone so
that he can go through the emails he has to read.

“What are you doing?” Jungkook asks, opening his eyes but not moving an inch.

“Working.” Jungkook hums, watching as he unlocks his phone and has to scoff at the all black
background. How boring. “What are you scoffing at?”

“Your background is so boring and plain… change it to my face.”

“Fuck no.”

“…I tried.” he smiles, snuggling closer. “You’re actually comfortable, who would’ve known.”

“Don’t make me regret this and push you off.” Taehyung warns even if there’s no audible bite to
his words. Jungkook just tsks.

“We’re sharing a moment… don’t ruin it.” Taehyung rolls his eyes, but he does wrap his arm
around Jungkook’s back, the one that isn’t holding the phone up. That only makes Jungkook smile
even more. That and how good Taehyung smells.

│►

“Are we done here? Can we retreat to the vans?” Taehyung hears Yoongi ask through his ear piece
as he looks around, making sure he can walk ahead, gun still in hands, ready to be used.

He takes one of them to his ear. “Yeah, our team can head back.” he informs. It’s a rather small
mission, something they could’ve left only for their men but that Jungkook insisted on joining for
some reason. Even then, it’s only them and five men from each team, no one else.

Taehyung gets to the front seat of their van, using the keys to turn it on. His hand freezes when
they’re able to hear gunshots. Jungkook never uses guns unless it’s a very serious matter. His men
are all the same — a dumb decision, Taehyung knows that much for sure, but it’s a trait.

“Didn’t Jeon’s team finish their part?” he asks, already starting to drive away. They agreed to get
their part done and return separately to their place.

“I don’t know.” Namjoon says from the backseat. “No one is responding on the walkie-talkie, I’m
afraid communication with them has been lost.” he informs, Taehyung bringing the car to an
immediate stop, Yoongi having to put his hands on the front so that he won’t hit his head.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“Their devices must have been damaged, sir. You know we can’t go back there now…” Taehyung
bites down his own teeth before he nods, pressing on the gas again, his hand tapping the gear shift
anxiously. He hates not having things under control.

He also really, really hates traffic. So combine the two and you have his leg bouncing up and
down, hand tapping the steering-wheel, head leaning on the arm he has prompted against the
window. Everyone remains quiet for the whole ten minutes that silence settles for, being able to
sense how angry their boss is.
Taehyung’s the one to speak first. “Try contacting them again.” he instructs, watching Namjoon
through the rear-view mirror. Namjoon nods, grabbing the walkie-talkie.

“Can you guys hear me? Over.” Namjoon says and nothing but silence fills up the van. “This is
Namjoon, does anyone hear me? Over.” again, nothing.

Taehyung feels something cold at the bottom of his stomach. Worry? No, it can’t be.

“Yeah, sir, it’s safe to say that we can’t communicate with them.”

“No shit.” Taehyung snaps, pressing his foot on the gas once he sees possible to move a little
forward. “Did you hear— Did they say anything previously that could hint that they didn’t have it
under control? That something went wrong?”

“No, sir, they didn’t tell me anything about that… I’m sure nothing bad happened.” but Taehyung
isn’t so sure of that. Not when they don’t even know how to use proper weapons to defend
themselves. “Maybe you could try calling Mr. Jeon? I’m sure he’d have his phone with him if he’s
left the area.”

“I’m not worried about him, I don’t really care for his state at the moment, I just want to know if
the others made it out and if they did their part.” it’s all he says, mumbling a few curse words once
he’s finally able to turn on their exit, free from traffic.

He presses his foot on the gas almost all the way down, definitely going over the speed limit.

No one says anything else during the rest of the ride, Namjoon still trying from time to time to
establish communication with the other team. To no avail.

Once they get there, Taehyung gets out of the car as soon as it’s parked. “Lock the doors.” he
orders, leaving the keys for Yoongi to do as told. He makes his way to the main house, the
mansion where only the main men live.

He hears a lot of talking, many distinct voices at the same time as most of their men just hang in
there, talking and laughing about whatever it may be. Taehyung’s eyes catch Jimin almost right
away. His bright orange hair a little hard to miss.

Taehyung turns him around by a firm tug on his forearm. “Oh, sir, h—”

“Where the fuck is Jeon at?”

“Mr. Jeon is in your office, sir, why?” Taehyung doesn’t reply, he simply turns around to leave and
Jimin shrugs, going back to the conversation he was having.

Taehyung storms into the office.

Jungkook raises his head right away. He stands in a split second. “What the fuck took you so long?
I was fucking worried you— bitch.” Jungkook asks, exasperated, as he walks around the desk. “We
couldn’t talk to you, I thought—”

“I heard gunshots from your side, I didn’t know how things were with you.”

“I thought something had gone wrong in your side and I was so worried about you and—”
Jungkook’s eyes go wide open when Taehyung’s hands grab his both his waist and his jaw, pulling
him into a firm kiss. He can’t even kiss back for three solid seconds, way too taken by surprise.
But as soon as he’s able to move, he places both of his hands on Taehyung’s jaw, closes his eyes,
and lets himself enjoy the kiss. It’s not the first time they kiss but Jungkook can count on his hands
the times he saw himself in such a position.

So he breaks the kiss after a few seconds, not only to breathe but also to understand the reason
behind it. “What’s gotten into you?” he asks, breathing heavily against Taehyung’s lips.

“Shut the fuck, just— shut up. I thought you had fucking died or something, just— shut the fuck
up, Jungkook.” Jungkook blinks. Taehyung sounds worried. Taehyung’s already pulling him back
before he gets the chance to speak but he doesn’t see it in himself to complain.

He throws his arms around Taehyung’s shoulders, hands tugging on the grey hair and the ends of
the bandana Taehyung always seems to wear during missions to keep his hair back. A great choice,
Jungkook thinks.

His fingers tug on the hair a little too strongly, their mouths move together harshly, Taehyung’s
hands a bit too firm as they touch Jungkook’s sides, as they lift his shirt so that they can rest on his
waist properly. Jungkook’s skin burns under his fingertips.

The sloppy noises of their spit mixing together almost as loud and heavy as their botched breathing
and Jungkook has half the mind to cringe at how wet it all sounds.

He hears some things falling from the desk as he’s bent over it, but he decides to be a bit brave,
turning them around. With the knife he pulls from one of his pockets, he cuts Taehyung’s shirt
open so that he can start pressing kisses to his chest.

Taehyung chuckles. “You’re buying a new one.”

Jungkook looks up through his lashes as he sucks a hickey onto his pectoral. He yelps as he’s
turned over again, though this time, his chest is on the table. He tries to push back but a firm hand
on his back keeps him just like that.

“Don’t move.”

“And what if I do?”

“You’re such a fucking brat.” Taehyung tsks, walking away. The room is completely quiet, they
can hear the men talking outside, but the sound of the key being twisted to lock the door is still
able to sound so loud it fills up the room. As least in Jungkook’s head it does.

He’s all too aware of the sound of Taehyung’s shoes on the floor as he returns, he hears them closer
and closer, and he’s taking his sweet time. It’s almost like he’s doing it on purpose, almost like he
knows how impatient Jungkook’s able to get in a matter of seconds.

Jungkook inhales sharply when he hears Taehyung kneeling behind him. He closes his eyes, chews
on his bottom lip, closes his fists, pushes himself forward into the table when Taehyung bites his
thigh over the material of his pants.

“Will you be quiet or should I gag you?” it’s a simple question but it’s way too promising and
Jungkook doesn’t even know how to answer that. He will try to, but he knows, from things they’ve
done before, that being quiet isn’t exactly something he’s good at nowadays.

“I’ll be quiet.” he still says, allowing Taehyung to pull him back just enough to get his hand on his
button. He pops it open easily.
Taehyung slides down his zipper. “Will you?” he asks again, tone a little darker. Jungkook starts
having a feeling that Taehyung simply knows he won’t be and is waiting for him to admit it.

Which is why, “Yes, I will. I’m hard to please.” Taehyung chuckles, a hand slapping him as soon
as he pulls his jeans down. Jungkook jolts, repressing an insult from how hard that was. He
could’ve been warned, at the very least.

He feels goosebumps spreading through his body when there’s another bite to his thigh but, this
time, there’s no jeans between Taehyung’s teeth and his skin. “I do have to admit…” he closest his
eyes as a tongue goes up the back of his leg. “Your thighs are something else.”

“Just— Just my thighs?” he asks, turning his neck so that he can look back, cheek now on the hard
wood of the desk. Taehyung raises an eyebrow.

“Do you want me to talk about your ass or can I just eat it instead?”

And ok, Jungkook’s heart is definitely going crazy now. That’s not something they’ve done before.
Well, not when sober. Jungkook has no recollection whatsoever of how it was when they were
drunk and decided it would be a good idea to let that happen.

He knows trying to reply to the question will show how nervous, yet excited, he is. So he goes with
the easier way. “You’re so annoying, seriously.” he insults.

Taehyung squeezes his butt. “Thought so too.” with that, he’s getting up to go around the desk so
that he can open the last drawer. Jungkook eyes him the whole time, frowning to himself when he
sees a bottle of lube.

“Who the fuck are you bringing into this office to have that there?” he asks, tone a little snappy.

Taehyung raises an eyebrow, already walking back towards him. “Don’t worry about that now.”
it’s the only answer he gets and he hates that. He has half the mind to complain, but the will goes
away once he feels a lubed up finger start to tease him.

Alright. Alright, that’s happening.

Taehyung doesn’t wait a single second.

Jungkook didn’t expect him to be gentle, either, so really, he’s not surprised.

It’s not pleasurable enough, the only thing that keeps his boner intact is the thought that it’s
Taehyung, that’s Taehyung’s finger, and the reminder that after that, a lot can happen. He’s not
sure of how far it will go, of where Taehyung even wants it to go, but he’ll take it.

He breaks his promise to keep quiet when he feels Taehyung’s tongue.

“I said no sounds.” the other pulls back right away.

Jungkook whines into the palm of his hand. “I was just taken by surprise… keep going…
please…” Taehyung hums before he leans closer again. He raises himself a little to be able to press
kisses to Jungkook’s lower back, one finger back inside the younger man.

A/N: I hate writing nsfw I’m lit rally gonna Kermit

Jungkook rests his forehead on the desk when one finger turns into two and a tongue. “Fuck—” he
mumbles, pushing back. “Tae… Tae, hold on…” he requests, though he doesn’t mean for it to stop,
a hand reaching back to grip Taehyung’s hair and keep him there.

It’s messy. He can feel the lube and spit running down the back of his legs and his inner thighs. He
loves it. Keeping quiet proves to be a bigger challenge than he had initially anticipated, so he pulls
the collar of his shirt up so that he can bite it. Keep himself silent.

Taehyung finds it rather amusing how Jungkook’s so easily worked up. Every time. Doesn’t matter
what he does, it’s a matter of minutes — sometimes seconds — for him to be completely in
Taehyung’s hands.

It makes him chuckle to feel Jungkook try to push his head away as his knees shake. He’s doing
better than Taehyung thought he would, keeping quiet exactly like he was told to.

With how bratty he is, Taehyung really thought he’d purposely be even louder just to piss him off.
It seems to be his favorite thing to do. Get him angry.

Jungkook whines when he feels Taehyung pull back after some long minutes that, in his opinion,
shouldn’t have gone by that fast. “Patience.” Taehyung tells him with a clipped tone, his fingers
three fingers disappearing all together.

“I don’t have patience.”

“Shut up.”

“Make me.”

Taehyung chuckles and Jungkook knows it’s already a bad sign when he doesn’t hear a reply but
does hear him unbuckling his belt. He gasps when his head is yanked back by his hair and it takes
him a moment to even see the golden pack being held in front of his mouth.

He bites down, Taehyung ripping the package open.

Then he waits, anxiously adjusting his position.

Just like previously, Taehyung’s not gentle but, this time, not only it isn’t pleasurable, it hurts. It
hurts quite a lot. He has to reach back, hand touching Taehyung’s abdomen. “Wait, wait, wait,
stop, fuck— go slow, it fucking hurts.” he complains, a little choked up.

“Never taken someone this big before?” Taehyung asks with the cockiest tone Jungkook’s ever
heard in his entire life, but he stops. He also places a hand on his waist, thumb caressing his hip.

Jungkook scoffs. “Don’t flatter yourself, I’ve never taken anyone at all.” it slips before he can stop
himself and the regret is immediate. He goes back to having his forehead against the desk and if
he’s screaming at himself inside of his head, he does a good job at hiding it.

“What the fuck?” Taehyung replies on the tone Jungkook was expecting him to. His thumb stops,
everything seems to stop. “Jeon, are you— are you a virgin?”

“No.” it doesn’t sound true at all now and he honestly just wants to smack his own head on the
table. “I mean, not entirely. I’ve… fucked other people before.”

“So you’re a virgin.”

“No, I have fucked other p—”

“Has anyone done that to you?” silence. “Fucking— Goddamn it.” he curses under his breath,
pulling his own hair back. Jungkook can almost physically feel the change in the air and now he
doesn’t have the smallest of the ideas of what’s going to happen.

Taehyung may stop.

Jungkook feels something close to a punch to the guts when he does pull away and he’s already
preparing himself for the walk of shame out of the office, but Taehyung holds his by his waist,
turning him around so that they’re face to face.

He gapes, surprised, when he’s simply fully stripped of his pants since they were still only down to
his knees and picked up. He wraps his legs around Taehyung’s hips, confused, but definitely not
complaining, helping the older man discard his shirt.

Jungkook hums in contentment with the kisses now pressed onto his neck and he removes
Taehyung’s shirt himself which, really, isn’t a hard task given it’s already ripped in half. He holds
himself up on his forearms when Taehyung drops him onto the mattress and he tries not to think
too much about how soft Taehyung’s sheets are.

Red silk.

Definitely a first.

He watches as Taehyung removes his own pants before crawling on top of him.

Jungkook’s legs part right away, he doesn’t even have to think of doing so.

“Comfortable?” Taehyung asks as he looks down at him and Jungkook simply nods, too focused
on the sight before him. “You should’ve told me, you fucking idiot.” despite his harsh words, his
voice sounds rather sweet, which Jungkook isn’t very sure if it’s true or his mind fooling him.

Most probably the latter.

“I thought you’d fucking laugh or something.” he admits, words quiet, almost a whisper.

“Or I’d bring you here sooner.” Taehyung says with a tsk, one hand reaching to pull one of
Jungkook’s legs a little higher, bending it a little more. “You’re an idiot.”

“Thanks.” Jungkook smiles. “I was never on this side of— fuck, fuck—” his hands dig into
Taehyung’s shoulders. “I was never on this side of things, I didn’t want to tell /you/ that, it
slipped.” he tries to speak while being slowly stretched open.

Taehyung’s fingers felt so much better, he doesn’t understand.

“Stop, this sucks, I don’t want to anym—”

“Hey, look at me.” Taehyung grabs him by his jaw, getting Jungkook’s attention back on his face.
“Do you really want me to stop or does it just hurt?”

Jungkook frowns. “Hurts…”

“Alright, turn around.”

“What— No.”

“Jungkook, turn around, it’s easier.” he instructs, sitting back on his heels. Jungkook makes no
move to do as asked. “Can you not be bratty for once in your life and do what I’m telling you? I’m
trying to help you, dumb fuck.”

“You’re a dumb fuck…” Jungkook mumbles as he turns around, laying his cheek onto Taehyung’s
pillow. It’s really comfortable. He frowns when Taehyung grabs his hips, pulling them up. “Yes,
just break my back, it’s fine, it’s fine.”

“Do you ever stop complaining?”

“On rare occasions I do.” Taehyung rolls his eyes, angling himself before he pushes forward and
just the fact that Jungkook shuts up is enough of a blessing, so he doesn’t stop this time. Not until
he’s completely inside the younger man. Jungkook’s mouth forms a complete silence ‘O’.

“Finally quiet?” he teases.

“F-Fuck of— off.”

“Wrong answer.” Jungkook’s halfway through even opening his mouth when he’s pushed face first
into the pillow, a hand gripping his hair so hard he’s sure he’s going to get out of there with some
sort of bald spot. He hopes not. He’d have to beat Taehyung up and they’re just now getting along
all nicely.

“Are you going to move or…?” he asks after some seconds.

“I’m giving you time—”

“I’m getting bored, hurry u—” and really, he should already know Taehyung’s not exactly the best
person to challenge or push but didn’t exactly think the man would pull back completely and push
back all in one go. Hard. He’s beyond embarrassed of the broken scream that he lets out into the
pillow.

“You should learn to stay quiet when someone tells you to.” Jungkook has to bite down the pillow
when Taehyung repeats the movement again. And again. And again. It still hurts, but not the same
way. Now it’s a kind of pain that makes his toes curl. “Got your tongue?”

“Fuck y-you—” he insults, hand gripping the silky sheets. “G-Gosh, slow down will you—”

“What is that word you say a lot? No, is it?” Jungkook tries into the pillow, using his hands to push
himself away, so Taehyung is quick to hold them both with one hand, the other pulling the bandana
still around his head. He ties Jungkook’s wrists together with a tight knot, only loose enough to
allow blood circulation.

Jungkook lays there then, mouth open, unable to close it no matter how hard he tries, drooling all
over his cheek already. Taehyung’s hand doesn’t let go of his hair, neither does he stop pushing his
face down into the pillow.

The hand on his hip is definitely bruising, if the pain is anything to go by. It’s a good pain.

Taehyung doesn’t slow down for a split second and Jungkook’s already easily worked up, so to say
he’s overwhelmed, it’s an understatement.

“Tae…” he tries. “Taehyung—” again. Still, ignored. “Tae, I’m really close.”

“Hold it.” it sounds a threat that comes as the same time as a particularly hard thrust and he feels
himself growing weaker and weaker. Floaty.
“I fucking can’t.” he warns.

“I’m going to be really fucking pissed if you finish first.” Taehyung says, cocky, slapping
Jungkook’s thigh.

“Stop—” again. “You’re— You’re not helping.”

“I’m not trying to, princess.” he raises an eyebrow at the loud moan that follows. “Oh, you like
that? I thought you weren’t a princess.”

“S-Shut u— Oh my God, fucking— Don’t stop—” Jungkook cries when Taehyung pulls his head
back by his hair. “Let me— Please, I can’t— I can’t—”

Taehyung smirks as he sees Jungkook’s thighs shake, hands pulling so hard at the bandana to be
freed. It’s his first time, Taehyung concludes, he’ll go easier on him. So he leans down, turning
Jungkook’s head to the side. He’s taken aback. “Are you crying?” he teases.

“Of course I’m fucking crying— My dick’s probably blue and you won’t slow down— I hate
you.”

Taehyung coos. He coos. It makes Jungkook want to hit his own fist at how condescending that
coo sounds. Taehyung’s not in awe, he’s making fun of him. He stops his movements.

Jungkook chokes. “No, no, no—”

“I’ll let you cum…” Jungkook stops, biting his bottom lip as a tongue drags itself behind his ear
before there’s a bite to the tip of it. “If you beg for it.” Taehyung whispers.

Jungkook’s too in his head to even think about keeping his pride, which isn’t much when it comes
to Taehyung, anyways. So he forces himself to open his eyes, trying to look back at him. “Please
continue, please— please, I want to cum, pl—”

“How much do you want to?” antagonizing Jungkook has got to be the most entertaining things
he’s done in a long while.

“I /really/ want to— Oh thank you, fuck, thank—” he whines when Taehyung starts moving again,
hiding his face completely into the pillow, arching his back even more. It doesn’t last five full
seconds as Taehyung comes to a stop again. “No—!” Jungkook rasps out, his body writhing
against the sheets. Maybe that friction will get him what he wants.

So he keeps doing that, unable to process that he’s not being discrete, that Taehyung can see what
he’s doing. He gasps, startled, when he’s turned around in the most uncomfortable position as his
tied up hands are still around his back.

“Were you—”

“N-No, I wasn’t.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You didn’t?”

“No, I didn’t.” Jungkook tries, letting out the louder whimper so far when a hand comes down his
cheek, making him face the side. The most humiliating part has to be how he tips over with that,
back arching off of the bed, proving himself correct as he feels himself spill onto his stomach.

“Seriously?” Jungkook only cries at the back of his throat, body spent, limp. “What a fucking pain
slut.” Taehyung insults with a tsk, holding himself with his hands so that he can start moving
again. He positively ignores Jungkook trashing in bed.

Jungkook can’t even say anything but mumble incoherent words to himself.

“Where do you want it?” Taehyung asks.

“My— My mouth…” nothing Jungkook says is predictable but sometimes he does really surprise
him, though he does his best not to let it show. So he pulls out, removing his condom before he
scoots up. Jungkook just opens his mouth, tongue sticking out. He doesn’t even open his eyes, he
just waits for it as Taehyung jerks himself.

He swallows what gets in his mouth, but only closes his eyes tighter as he feels the rest land almost
everywhere on his face.

“I said my mouth—”

“Maybe behave next time and I’ll do what you ask me.” Taehyung says as he pulls the bandana off
of Jungkook’s wrists. That’s definitely going to leave a mark.

“I’m fucking blind— Am I blind—” Jungkook tries to open his eyes, relieved when nothing goes
into his eyeballs, but he feels his eyelashes sticking together. “This is gross.” he complains without
even meaning it.

Taehyung smirks, leaning down to lick his cheek, collecting some of it. Jungkook cringes, though
he pulls Taehyung down for a kiss. It grants him a hand around his throat, which he’s very thankful
for, that’s where Taehyung’s hand should be. At all times.

He likes it. He’s accepted that now.

He whines into Taehyung’s mouth when his free hand pinches and tugs on Jungkook’s nipple
piercing and it’s all just a little too much. He hasn’t come down fully yet, he just wants it all to stop
for a moment.

Jungkook sniffs with a pout when Taehyung’s thumb wipes a falling tear away.

Taehyung’s breathing is rapid too, just like his own, but he doesn’t look like an absolute mess. He
can’t even begin to imagine how he must look. Red from his waist down to his thighs, hair all over
the place, lips swollen.

Not to mention the state of his face.

They lay side by side for a while, trying to regulate their breathing, and Jungkook starts working
himself up in his head. He doesn’t know what to do next, doesn’t know if Taehyung’s going to
clean him up, doesn’t know if it’s going to hurt to walk.

What is he going to say? What will Taehyung say?

Perhaps it’s best to simply get up and leave, no words exchanged.

So tries to, sitting up with a hiss due to how sensitive he still feels, but Taehyung pulls him back
down by his shoulder. “I may be an ass but not that much. If it’s your first time, you stay right
here.” Taehyung instructs.

Jungkook relaxes back into the pillow, watching as Taehyung gets up from the bed, putting on his
underwear. He disappears into the bathroom and Jungkook’s too tired to even try to worry about
the cum drying on his face. He might just sleep right there, like that.

He opens his eyes again, being awakened by something falling on his chest and he looks down to
see a towel. It’s wet, warm. He didn’t really expect Taehyung to clean him himself, but the towel is
already a surprise.

Jungkook cleans his face first before moving to his stomach, lazily wiping himself clean. It’s not
done very properly, but he just wants to sleep, so he can worry about it the next day. He opens his
eyes to see Taehyung looking around the room, almost as if thinking of what to do next.

“It’s late.” Jungkook says, patting the mattress.

“Am I supposed to lay down there?” Taehyung gestures.

Jungkook follows his finger to the space right next to him. “Then why else would you tell me to
stay?” he asks, confused.

“Because it was your fir—”

“Cut the bullshit and come to bed.” Jungkook interrupts, pulling the sheets over himself, covering
his still naked body. Taehyung walks closer, laying on top of he covers. Jungkook blinks. “Why are
you like this?” he whispers.

“Like what?” Taehyung turns his head to face him.

“It’s ok to be nice sometimes.”

“I was nice, I just fucked you.” Jungkook stares at him for a moment, unable to hide his frown,
before turning around so that his back is facing Taehyung. “Why are you suddenly mad?”

“Fucking sleep, Taehyung.” he says, holding the sheets to his chest.

“Should… I give you a shirt or something?” Taehyung asks, eyes on Jungkook’s naked back.

“Please stop taking, just sleep. And go under the covers… it’s cold.” he closes his eyes, thankful
for the silence that follows even as Taehyung joins him under the sheets, though still with some
space between them. And really, the room is completely silent. That until Taehyung clears his
throat around two minutes after. “What?”

“I need to hug that pillow to fall asleep.” Taehyung informs and Jungkook chews on the inside of
his cheek. He scoots back a little. “Uh—”

“Hug me.” Jungkook whispers. “You can— You can hold me.” a gulp. He drags himself further
until he feels Taehyung’s chest pressed to his back. “I don’t want to deal with your whiny ass while
mine is aching.” he tries to play off.

“Are you in pain?” Taehyung asks, arm dropped around Jungkook’s waist.

“No, just sleep.”

│►

Jungkook wakes up the next morning with the sunlight coming through the blinds. He reaches for
the other body for some warmth as the sheets are down to his waist, but he feels nothing but the
mattress. So he raises his head, looking for Taehyung, only to realize that he’s alone.
He pouts to himself, laying back down with his arms around the pillow. He feels cold and alone.
He doesn’t like that feeling one bit.

He lifts his head again when he hears the door being unlocked and his lips stretch into a little smile
as he sees Taehyung coming into the room with a mug, already dressed in one of his many suits.
Jungkook has no idea how he manages to wear suits every day.

Jungkook doesn’t think he even owns a suit at all.

“I thought you had left.” he whispers.

“Well, I did.” Taehyung shrugs.

“No but like… left left.”

“Left left? I did leave, I brought you coffee.” Jungkook doesn’t know if he actually misses the
point or if he’s simply playing dumb to avoid the conversation but, either way, he decides to ignore
and move past it. Taehyung brought coffee.

“Is that for me?” he asks, a bit surprised. Taehyung nods. “But why?”

“Because you always have this grouchy, bitchy attitude and pouty face when you don’t have coffee
an— just take the damn drink and stop asking questions.” Jungkook rolls his eyes, groaning in pain
when he tries to sit up. Everything hurts, it seems.

His arms from being pulled back, now that he focuses, his scalp still tingles, and his abdomen
definitely hurts a lot. He glares when Taehyung chuckles.

He accepts the coffee, taking a sip from it. The right amount of sugar, too.

Taehyung sits down at the foot of the bed. “Hey listen… What happened last night—”

“Don’t say what I think you’re going to say or I’ll seriously walk out of this house and not return.”
Jungkook whispers, using the mug to warm his hands.

“What do you think I’m going to say?”

“Just— You’re going to say that last night was a mistake that should’ve never happened and can
never happen again.” he looks down at his coffee, definitely more entertaining than looking at
Taehyung’s calculating eyes.

“Do you think it was a mistake?” Taehyung turns it around and Jungkook grips his mug, feeling a
bit too vulnerable in that position, having to answer that.

So he does the same thing Taehyung did. He turns it around. “If I said yes, would it bother you?”

“It would only bother me if you were bothered about me being bothe—”

“For fuck’s sake, do you think last night was a mistake? Or— Or that you didn’t like it?” Jungkook
asks, bracing himself for the worst. His ego is rather fragile when it comes to Taehyung, and he
doesn’t think he’s going to be able to hide his hurt if Taehyung confirms his question.

“I reckon you should’ve told me that it was your first time, you know I hate lies. It bothered me
that you didn’t tell me, and maybe I wouldn’t even have done anything at all had I known.” he
says, honest, and Jungkook sighs.
“I didn’t tell you because this is what I wanted.” he admits with a soft, quiet tone. He’s
embarrassed, if the blush high on his cheeks is anything to go by.

“As much as I find it weird to say, what happened last night, isn’t something I’d be mad if
repeated.” Jungkook looks up, frowning.

“Can you fucking talk like you’re here and not just— Like I’m one of your men?”

“But I’m here…?”

“Last night isn’t something I’d be mad if repeated.” Jungkook repeats his words as he tries to make
his voice deeper, perhaps a bit too exaggerated, but it sounds like a success to him.

To Taehyung, not so much. “I don’t sound like that, you brat.”

“That’s not the point! We had sex, fuck it, we had sex, we fucked, talk like this isn’t some mission
or meeting where you have to be professional. You just fucked me, fucking act like it.” he says
then, voice a little louder, exasperated. He’s starting to believe Taehyung doesn’t care about what
happened. At all.

“I’m… not following. I fucked you, what else? What do you want now?”

He doesn’t miss the way Jungkook’s expression falls or he way he looks genuinely hurt. Jungkook
just nods, gulping down his coffee even though it’s a bit too hot. “I really should’ve believed when
you said you don’t have a heart.” he puts the mug down before looking at the other. “You know
what, Taehyung. Last night /was/ a mistake.”

“You just said it wasn’t.”

“Well, you just really made me regret it. I hope you’re happy. Don’t fucking talk to me— Where
are my clothes?” Jungkook asks as he gets up from bed, pulling the sheets hard enough for him to
be able to wrap himself around them.

“In my office.” Taehyung replies, sounding as uninterested as ever, and it’s like another kick to the
stomach. Jungkook doesn’t even know why he’s so hurt.

He should’ve seen it coming.

He’s a fool for thinking they were going anywhere, a fool for thinking Taehyung being nicer meant
anything at all. Of course it didn’t, Taehyung doesn’t care for anyone, why would he care for him?
He’s a fool. The biggest.

Taehyung watches him leave the bedroom into the office, not saying a single word.

Perhaps it’s better like that.

│►

Later that day, when they gather with some of their men to discuss an approach, they’re both set on
acting like nothing happened. Yoongi’s a little intrigued as to why the atmosphere around them
feels as though they just took five steps back, but he doesn’t say anything.

It hasn’t felt that tense in some time.

“…so we might as well just go from here—” he points at the street map. “You’d get there faster
and we’d just—”
“That’s a great plan, but that plan sucks so give me that shit, I’ll figure this out.” Taehyung
interrupts with a roll of the eyes, taking the map from Jungkook’s hand.

“Don’t be a fucking asshole, give me that shit back.” Jungkook complains, taking a step forward.

“Stop with your bitching for once and let someone who actually knows what they’re doing—”

“Always the same shit…” Jungkook hears Jimin say and that’s enough for him.

“All of you, leave. Right now.” he says as he turns to them, gesturing to the door. They bow before
doing as requested, though Jungkook’s sure Jimin’s still mumbling something for Yoongi to hear.
He doesn’t care.

Not now.

“I thought we had a fucking agreement, who do you think you are to embarrass me in front of
them? We’re on the same level, Kim.” Taehyung rolls his eyes.

“We are, except, your plans always have flaws.”

“It’s literally your fault too, I was supposed to go through this last night.” Jungkook says as he
gestures towards the map and Taehyung scoffs.

“Then maybe you should’ve done your job instead of opening your legs so easily for me.”

“What did you just say?” Jungkook’s patience wears thin and his voice drops, quiet, eyes showing
just how angry he is feeling.

“Weren’t you supposed to work on that shit last night? Instead, you thought it was better to just be
under me.” Taehyung still says, uncaring.

Jungkook can’t really believe what he’s hearing. “What?”

“I said, and I’ll repeat since you’re so slow, if you weren’t such a slut y—” he freezes when he
hears a gun being cocked, Jungkook raising his arm then so that it’s aimed at Taehyung’s forehead.
Taehyung only blinks, but he tells himself it’s just Jungkook, so he’s quick to put his unbothered
expression back.

“Why do you act like two different people? All the time?” Jungkook asks through his teeth.

Taehyung walks closer until the tip of the gun is touching his skin. Challenging. “And you don’t?”
Jungkook fixes his position, showing more eagerness, trying to look like he’s ready to fire any
second. But Taehyung chuckles. “What are you going to do? Pull the trigger? Do it then.”

“You think I won’t?”

“I /know/ you won’t.”

“You think I’ll just let you call me a fucking slut? Just like that?” Jungkook presses a little closer, a
little more crowding and ok, Taehyung does understand he went too far, that comment was a little
too much, but there’s a gun to his head and he’s not about to show any remorse.

“Lower your gun. Right now. You’re not going to do it, so just put it down.” he orders, eyes locked
with Jungkook’s and he can see his inner fight between the will to just shooting him and the fact
that he can’t do it.
So after a few seconds, Jungkook drops his gun to the floor, turning around, hands on the nearest
table, head hanging low.

Taehyung lets out a quiet exhale. “I told you. You’re too fucking soft, couldn’t even do it? Really?”
at this point he knows he’s only aggravating the situation even further, but that’s what he wants.
Jungkook had the audacity to point a gun at him so now he just wants to hurt him. “I bet you’d
open your legs for everyone if they gave you any sort of attention, right? Any attention and you’re
just as distracted as the next guy. And you think you can try and point a gun at me?” Taehyung
insults, expecting some sort of reaction.

But there’s none. Jungkook doesn’t move, doesn’t say anything.

“Look at me when I’m talk—”

So Jungkook does, he turns back to him, eyes shiny and bottom lip quivering. He looks angry,
beyond angry, but he also looks so, so hurt. Taehyung’s mortified for a moment.

“C’mon, Jeo—”

“The biggest problem here, Kim, is not me opening my legs, is you being so fucked up in the head
when it comes to feelings.” he says, voice breaking twice.

“The only problem is your constant need for feelings.”

“The only problem is you not feeling at all. Go fuck yourself, do whatever plan you want, I’m
done.” Jungkook shakes his head with a tear rolling down his cheek that he immediately wipes
clean. He walks away.

“Done? What the fuck do you mean done?”

Jungkook turns towards him while still walking towards the door. “I’m done. I’m done with you,
with this house, with the teams. I’m done with plans, I’m done. I’m fucking done.” his frown
intensifies as he turns his back again before disappearing through the door.

Taehyung stares at nothing for a moment before scratching the back of his neck. “Shit.”

│►

Later at dinner, Taehyung doesn’t fail to notice how Jungkook isn’t there despite the fact that he’s
already late himself. Weird. Jungkook never misses a meal.

He still sits down, though he doesn’t even feel hungry, he doesn’t want to eat anything, the food
doesn’t look appetizing at all. Really, not one bit. He settles for his glass of water and nothing else,
watching as their men chat about the most random topics, seemingly unaware of the tension
Taehyung himself is feeling.

“Where’s Mr. Jeon?” Namjoon asks once he checks the time.

“I don’t know… he said he wasn’t hungry.” Jimin says with a shrug, filling up his mouth again.

Taehyung’s had enough, so he gets up, the table going silent as they watch him walk towards the
door and he can hear the unasked questions in the air. “Mind your own business.” he says, tone
clipped, without even looking at them, and shakes his head at how fast they go back to their
conversation.
He stops by the kitchen to get a bowl of food and a pair of chopsticks before he climbs the stairs,
backing away at least five times before he gets there, part of himself completely against what he’s
about to do.

And Jungkook’s just lying in bed, covered from head to toe, hood on, hugging the pillow. He’s
really hurt and he doesn’t even fully understand why. Sure, what Taehyung said was horrible, but
he’s heard worse. Worse from the man himself and from others.

Perhaps it’s because Taehyung’s not indifferent to him anymore, he likes his attention, he likes it
when Taehyung takes care of him. He definitely loves his kisses. Which shouldn’t be a reality, he’s
aware of that, he shouldn’t feel that way.

Yet, why does he?

He lifts his head when there’s a knock to his door and only gets up when they knock again.
“Jungkook?” he hears and his feet stop, though he almost runs to the door afterwards, a frown
deeply set on his face.

“Get the fuck out.” he says.

“I brought you dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.” he lies. He’s actually starving, he didn’t go to lunch either.

“You need to eat.” Taehyung says.

“And you need to get the fuck out.”

“I’ll… I’ll leave the bowl here then.” Jungkook perks up at that and he counts to sixty before he
opens the door, ever so slowly, to get his food and go back inside, but Taehyung’s still standing
there, holding the bowl of food. Jungkook feels dumb. Is he that predictable? “We need to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you. Unless it’s business, if it is, then make it fast.”

“Please, Jungkook, just fucking let me in?” they’re both surprised that Taehyung really just said
please like that, so easily, but Jungkook isn’t about to be swayed that easily.

He takes a step closer, grabbing the bowl from Taehyung’s hands before taking a step back again.
“Fuck you.” and then, he slams the door shut, making sure to twist the keys twice.

│►

Jungkook curses out the coffee machine at least three times once it refuses to work, only to realize
he’s simply pushing the wrong button, which only makes even further angry. There’s usually
always coffee made when he gets there, he never had to understand how to use that machine. He
taps the counter as he waits for his mug to fill up.

Everyone’s quiet, watching, as it’s not something normal to see from him. He’s always smiling in
the morning, he makes /them/ smile in the morning, he shouldn’t be angry like that.

Jimin’s the one to approach him. “Did you not sleep well?”

“Do I fucking look like I did?” he turns back as he feels everyone’s eyes on them and just tsks,
grabbing his mug that hasn’t even filled completely, heading out of the room.

Taehyung sighs before he follows. He grabs a protein bar on the way.

Jungkook turns back in the hall as he feels himself being followed and scoffs when he sees him so
he does the most mature thing he can think of. He runs to his bedroom, slams the door. Taehyung
rubs his temples, still making his way there. He knocks.

“No, Kim, seriously, get out of here.”

“You can’t be that mad.” Jungkook gapes at the door, wanting to pull it open only to throw the hot
coffee at Taehyung’s face.

“That mad? /That mad/?! Are you— Are you that incapable of any sort of emotion that you don’t
even comprehend how much of an ass you were? I’ve been nothing but patient with you because I
can usually read beyond what you say and you fucking— throw that shit in my face and expect me
to just— oh he brought dinner because he upset me so I guess everything’s good now? You’re a
dumbass, Kim, but we both know you’re not that fucking stupid.” he says to the wood of the door,
voice louder.

“Stop calling me Kim.”

“Why? The moment we get friendly you might think I’m opening my legs for you.”

“Can you just open the fucking door?” Jungkook curses him with every word he knows, unlocking
the door and pulling it open. He glares, eyes red from the amount of tears he spent the night before.
Embarrassing, he knows. “I’ve called you worse things before, I don’t understand why you’re this
mad right now. I literally called you the same thing last night too.”

“Context matters a lot, Taehyung. And things before were before, you literal dumb fuck.”

“I… I’m not getting it— Wait—” he has to put his arm against the door to stop Jungkook from
closing it again. “Stop, Jungkook.”

“If you’re going to stand there and try to apologize for something that you don’t even understand,
then save yourself the time.” Jungkook’s voice sounds angry again and really, he’s not even
surprised. He is angry. Fuming, really.

“Can I just come in? I want to talk about what happened and what I said.” Jungkook sighs.

“Fine, whatever, fucking— fine.” he gestures inside.

“It felt weird to see you in a bad mood getting your coffee.” Taehyung comments as he gets into the
bedroom. Jungkook scoffs.

“It felt /weird/ to be called such things by a guy whose bed I slept in the night before but I guess it’s
just a cycle with you.”

“I didn’t mean to do that, I just meant to offend you.” Jungkook furrows his eyebrows, waiting for
him to say something else but no, he doesn’t. He wants to laugh from how incredulous he is.

“How is that an apology? In any way?”

“Jungkook, can you just—”

“Tell me to suck it up and I’ll fucking slap you, you insensitive—”

“No, I’m asking you to shut your damn mouth and give me a fucking second.” Jungkook crosses
his arms, one leg slightly forward, frowning. Taehyung sits down on his bed, running a hand
through his hair. “Look, I’m not good with this— With words so… give me some time to word this
right.”

“Word what?”

“What I want to say?”

“What do you—”

“Fuck’s sake, princess, I’m trying, just give me a moment.” Jungkook’s frowns lessens as he sighs.
He can tell just how stressed Taehyung is, and how he’s actually trying, so he nods.

“Take your time.” he says, calmer.

Taehyung looks down at his fingers for long seconds, inhaling sharply before he starts talking. “All
my life, I haven’t exactly been a person, I was an heir and nothing else, then I became a leader, and
nothing else. I wasn’t raised by lovely people, like you were, despite everything, your parents were
/nice/ and /loving/ to you when you were a kid. I never had that. I don’t even know who my mother
is. There were fights and death around me every day, all day, everyone was cold, I never knew
anything else.”

Jungkook’s demeanor changes, chest aching with the new information. He’s very empathetic,
always has been. He doesn’t like it when people he cares for are upset.

“Feelings… they weren’t a thing. We were pessimistic, realistic, no time to feel good or bad about
things, just get the job done and move on… But then you come along and you look at me like you
did, with— fucking tears in your eyes and I don’t know what I meant to do with that.”

“You’re meant to feel something… something.”

“I do, I just— I don’t know what it is, I don’t… understand it.”

“Well, try to, please, because right now all I’m thinking is that the only moments you don’t hate
me is when we do anything sexual.” Jungkook requests, running a hand through his hair.

“No, not like that, it’s… more…”

“Do you think I’m a slut?” Jungkook asks.

“No, I don’t.” Taehyung looks up at him.

“Do you really just think that I open my legs for ev—”

“Fucking shut up and let me continue.” Jungkook pouts. “You have work methods that are very
different than my own. You… care for people and you show it without thinking twice, you /care/
for things, you don’t just live for the missions and the money… You have friends and— emotions
and just— Do you understand what I’m trying to say here?”

“Truth be told, I don’t understand what this has to do with you and I.” Jungkook admits with a
shake of the head and Taehyung sighs, letting himself fall back into the mattress. Jungkook pulls
him back up by his collar. “How about this, I’ll ask you questions, I’ll try and figure out what
you’re trying to say. Gosh, you’re like a kid.”

“Fuck off.” Taehyung tsks, Jungkook sitting next to him.

“So you don’t think that I’m a slut, so did you mean what you said downstairs?” it’s his first
question and Taehyung scratches the back of his neck.

“Partially.” he admits. “I meant that you’re— You get hurt really easily, you’re a very sentimental
guy but I don’t think of it the way I said it. It’s nice… because it’s also really weird to find people
with feelings in this line of work and you’re their fucking boss on top of it all, so it’s odd that
you’re like this but it’s also— refreshing. In a way. I guess.” Jungkook nods, a little smile on his
lips. Ok, that’s a start. A good start.

“Then why… why did you say all of those things?” he asks.

“Because I knew it would hurt you.”

“So you wanted to hurt me?”

“Yeah, not only were you pointing gun at me, but you also frustrated me. You didn’t understand
what I thought about last night and everything you said, wasn’t what I thought or would say
myself. It wasn’t a mistake but then you jump to conclusions and it suddenly was a mistake. You
confuse and frustrate the fuck out of me.”

Jungkook tilts his head. “What would you have said then?” he asks. “What were you thinking…?”

“It wasn’t a mistake for me and I know it wasn’t for you either, I got mad because you were
assuming shit and getting angry over things in your head.”

“What was I meant to think? It felt like you didn’t care, and you only made it worse with what you
said after. I get it now… kind of, but I still need you to at least try to help me understand what you
mean, because I don’t like feeling like a sex object. I really don’t.”

“I feel like a fucking child.” Taehyung complains.

“You sure act like one.”

“Shut it.”

Jungkook clears his throat before he says what he wants to say, gathered from everything that he
has heard. “I know we as in… who we are we, have to come off as stone cold, and we have to be
serious, and we are, you know how I am when I’m working, I’ve beat your ass before, but it
doesn’t mean we can’t have feelings when we’re alone. Doesn’t mean we can’t sit down and talk
like normal people, Tae. And just because you were raised without that, doesn’t mean you can
never do it. I like talking, and by now you know I do get really sensitive sometimes, but it’s not bad
if done with the right person. Your feelings may be tough to understand but if you talk, I’ll try.”
Jungkook says with a smile. “And don’t worry, I’ll continue acting as if you have none when in
front of people, your secret is safe with me.” he giggles.

Taehyung blinks, eyes going a bit wide. “What was that? Do that again.”

“Do what?” Jungkook tilts his head, confused.

“That sound, that was really… uh, adorable. I think. I like it. You looked happy. Do it again.”
Jungkook giggles, purely out of confusion and Taehyung points an accusing finger at him. “That
thing. It sounds exquisite.”

“Kim Taehyung, you’re the biggest challenge ever.” Jungkook jokes as he takes a hand to his grey
hair, running his fingers through it. “But I’m still upset so you’re going to have to do better than
that. Praise me more, if you will.” he says with his lips puckered out.
Taehyung rolls his eyes. “I enjoyed that the sex—”

“Are you serious right n—”

“Stop interrupting me, I swear to fuck.” Taehyung covers his mouth with his hand, Jungkook
frowning. “I enjoyed that it was you, like I enjoy teasing you, like I enjoy antagonizing you and
making you all bitchy and pouty all the time. But I actually… enjoy getting you coffee and—
talking to you is nice because you’re… special…?” he sighs. “I might have to kill you now that
I’ve said all of this.”

Jungkook laughs, wrapping his arms around Taehyung’s shoulders as he scoots closer to sit on his
lap, Taehyung’s own arms wrapping loosely around Jungkook’s waist.

“I’m sorry.” he whispers into the crook of Jungkook’s neck. “I’m actually really sorry.”

“I know.” Jungkook nods, hugging him a little closer. “I do have one more question now…” he
says as he pulls back, his hands now resting on Taehyung’s shoulders. “What do you want to
happen now? To you and I?”

“I don’t… want anything to change.” Taehyung shrugs.

Jungkook nods, trying to comprehend it. “So… we’re supposed to still point guns at each other?
Yell? Let everyone know we hate each other?”

“We haven’t even acted like that recently, you’re a drama queen.” Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I want
to get you coffee, sit in the office with you while dealing with your annoying ass not leaving my
lap for a minute. And maybe I won’t say no to you kissing me now or say no when you ask to take
naps on my bed.”

“You want us to be special?”

“Uh… yeah. Exactly.” Taehyung nods. “I guess I don’t hate you all that much now.”

Jungkook giggles. “That’s shocking but I don’t hate you either.” he leans closer, kissing
Taehyung’s cheek, right over his tattoo.

“Nice, can I feed you now?” Taehyung asks as he pulls the protein bar from his pocket and
Jungkook blinks down at it, surprised. That’s really thoughtful, and he’s actually hungry. “Say ah.”
he instructs as he opens the pack.

“I’m not a baby, I—”

“By the way you constantly act, I’m led to think otherw—”

“Finish that and the knife in my pocket goes to your neck.” Taehyung looks down at him.

“Oh that’s a knife? Thought you were just happy to see me.” Jungkook pulls it out, opening the
knife, the blade looking very sharp. “Just say fucking ah.” Jungkook opens his mouth, accepting
the protein bar. “Good boy. You look cute with your mouth stuffed.”

“I’d rather have it stuffed with something else.” he says, a hand in front of his mouth as he chews, a
little smirk on his face.

“I… It’s going to be weird that this is now an agreement.” Taehyung shakes his head, placing the
bar in Jungkook’s mouth again.
“Tae, you idiot, you could’ve kissed me whenever you wanted, you could’ve held me, you just
chose not to and chose to play hard to get.”

“Don’t put this on me.”

“But it’s on you. I’m not asking you to do anything you aren’t comfortable with, and I’m not mad,
but if you don’t want me feeling like you’re just using me for sex, then you’re now going to have
to show it, okay? As you said, I do get hurt and I do have the need to feel affection, that’s why I’m
friends with my crew even if they know I’m not the one to mess with.”

“You were being a horny brat not thirty seconds ago, how are you—”

“We’re literal sociopaths, you should expect sudden changes in my humor.” Jungkook points out,
lifting Taehyung’s arm up for him to feed him a little more. He munches with a big pout.

Taehyung chuckles. “What if our men just saw you like this?”

Jungkook fidgets on his lap. “That’s kind of hot but— I’d have to kill all of them after and we can’t
lose crew so I’d say, bad idea.”

“What would they think if they saw their scary boss on my lap looking like the little princess he
is?” he teases further, with no real intention behind it other than easing the mood.

“Tae, stop…”

“Why?”

“Because you’re going to start feeling something other than my knife.”

│►

Jungkook presses send on the email they were writing and structuring together and turns off the
laptop, getting up to stretch his limbs. “We’re done for the night, right?” he asks.

“Yeah, that was it.” Taehyung nods, grabbing his phone to go to his bedroom. “Sleep we—”

“Can I stay in your bed?” Jungkook asks with a quiet voice, half expecting a rejection, but
Taehyung just reaches for his hand, pulling him in. They turn off the lights, locking the door once
they get inside.

Jungkook gets rid of his clothes ever so slowly, leaving everything neatly on a chair. He takes off
his choker, his necklaces and everything, putting them over the clothes. He retreats to the
bathroom, leaving Taehyung alone to change and the latter smiles to himself as he does, putting on
a pair of sweatpants.

He’s already fixing the sheets over himself when Jungkook returns. “Your soap smells nice.”

“Did you have time for a shower?”

“No, I was washing my face. Not everyone has your face and your skin.” he tsks as he climbs to
bed beside Taehyung, going under the sheets in nothing but his underwear.

“Do you want a shirt or something?”

“No, I’m good.” Jungkook smiles, bending down for a kiss, a slow kiss, that has him cupping
Taehyung’s cheek and all. He then rests on the mattress, head on the fluffy pillow, turning around
so that his back is facing the other. Taehyung gets it, so he scoots closer until their bodies are
pressed flush together, his arm around Jungkook’s waist.

Jungkook lifts his arm again just to turn off the lights.

They lay in silence, eyes closed.

The younger man perks up again when he feels a kiss to his naked shoulder, followed by a hand
pulling him even closer. “I-I’m not in the mood…” he whispers into the quiet room.

“I’m not trying anything.” Taehyung whispers back behind his ear.

“Oh.” Jungkook pouts to himself.

“I wasn’t trying to get anything, I just— I don’t know, kissed you? It wasn’t a move to get
anything from you.” he further explains himself and Jungkook holds onto his wrist when he feels
Taehyung pull back.

“This is just new, I’m sorry, let’s just— lay here. Like this.” Jungkook scoots back a little bit,
nuzzling closer. “I like your kisses, you can do it again.”

Taehyung chuckles. “Just go to sleep.”

“Just one?” it’s quiet for a few seconds before there’s another kiss to his naked shoulder and he
smiles, closing his eyes. “Goodnight, Tae.”

“Hm.”

│►

Jungkook frowns at his phone upon the realization that he doesn’t have enough moves to pass that
level of Candy Crush. He looks up when Taehyung sits next to him, an arm resting on the couch
around his shoulders.

“Move that one.” Taehyung points.

“If I move that one, I’ll lose.” Jungkook says with a frown.

“Trust me, move that one.” he looks dead serious when Jungkook looks at him so he nods, doing as
Taehyung told him to. The message of a level failed appears soon enough on the screen and
Taehyung chuckles against his shoulder. “How sad.”

“I was already going to lose so I won’t rip your balls off.” Jungkook tsks. “But what’s up? Why are
you sitting here? Did something happen?”

“What, I can’t just sit next to you?” Jungkook raises an eyebrow. “Fine, I wanted to have a
conversation with you… but uh— I— This is stupid, just try the level again.”

Jungkook locks his phone. “Are you trying to have a serious conversation…?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Is this… related to what happened the other day?” he tries.

“Yeah… you got really fucking upset so I want— I don’t want to do that again so we should
probably… talk about that.” Taehyung starts, albeit a little embarrassed.
“Talk about what? Me being upset?” Taehyung nods. “Do you want to talk about how to not upset
me?”

“Yes… In a way.”

Jungkook giggles. “Tae, you’re so hard to talk to.”

Taehyung smiles. “Thanks.”

Jungkook turns to his side to face him a little better, leg bent. “So like, boundaries? Things we
should both say and not say?” Taehyung nods. “Well… okay, I’ll tell you one thing that upsets me
and we take turns, you say one too. And we don’t ask about it… or— or we just don’t have to
explain if we don’t want to.” he offers. “Does that work?”

“Yeah but you go first.”

“Alright… well, I don’t like being, uh, like degraded or uh, when you’re— when you’re mean,
outside of like… when we’re…”

“Tae, you’re so hard to talk to.” Taehyung copies his voice, making his own higher. Not very
accurate and gets him a punch to the arm.

“Shut up. I just— When I’m in my head, it’s strangely nice to be called names but like, outside of
that… it’s hard to tell if you mean it or not and it— I don’t know.”

“You said we don’t have to explain, you don’t have to.” Taehyung reassures.

“No, but I don’t mind. I don’t want you to be mean when we’re not…” he stops, looking for the
word. “Fucking.” he shrugs. “Like, you can call me what you did but not in that context. It really
hurt me… and I also don’t like it when you don’t pay attention to me. Or don’t listen. Or—”

“I thought it was one at a time?” Jungkook closes his mouth, patting Taehyung’s thigh for him to
go on. “Hum… I don’t like it when you question me or go against me in front of people. Fucking
irks me.”

“And I don’t like it when you call my ideas stupid in front of people.”

“I don’t like it when you push things I don’t want to talk about.”

“I don’t like it when you insult my skills as a leader.”

“I don’t like it when you talk about my dad.”

Jungkook frowns. “I never did that, not in an insulting way, at least.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Whatever way bothers me. I don’t like it.”

“And… your mom?” Jungkook asks.

“No. I don’t like talking about them, if I ever want to, I’ll try and start it myself, but don’t mention
or make me talk about them. Or my past. Don’t do that.” Taehyung tries to be as clear as he can.

“I won’t. That’s okay. I’m sorry that I did before.” he apologizes, hand squeezing Taehyung’s thigh
down to his knee. “I can’t think of anything else right now.”

“Me neit—”
“I don’t like it when you’re mean to the others an—”

“Sweetheart, don’t get it twisted, this is between you and I. The way I treat them isn’t going to
change.” Taehyung interrupts, raising his eyebrow as Jungkook smiles.

“I had to try.” Taehyung opens his mouth to speak, only to be interrupted as Jungkook’s arms wrap
around him in a hug.

“It was really sweet of you to have this conversation. Thank you, I know it must’ve taken some
effort.” Jungkook says before he presses a kiss to Taehyung’s neck. Taehyung clears his throat,
hugging back awkwardly.

“I told you I can be sweet sometimes.”

“Fine, I’ll let you win that one. You were right.” Jungkook giggles. “Just one more thing… can I
kiss you whenever I want? Because like, I hold back… a lot…” he asks through a pout.

“As long as it’s not in front of the others, yes.” Taehyung shrugs, hand lightly tapping Jungkook’s
butt. “We’ll be a dirty secret… if you will.” he teases.

“That’s hot.”

“Everything’s hot to you.”

“Lies.” Jungkook shows him his tongue as he climbs onto Taehyung’s lap, the latter’s hands
holding him by his thighs. “It’s crazy to think that we really just— had this conversation.” he
giggles. “Imagine if our dads saw this?”

“Didn’t we just agree—”

“It was positive! And the last time. Promise.”

Taehyung sighs. “I hate you.”

“Mhm. I hate you too.” he says as he leans closer, lightly biting Taehyung’s cheek. “Yum.”

“If our dads could see then my dad’s definitely laughing at yours down there.”

“Wha— Why would he laugh?!” Jungkook asks, frowning.

Taehyung realizes then how mean his answer can come off as and he doesn’t want to upset
Jungkook again, so he just clears his throat. “Because your voice squeaks when giving orders.”

“We both know that’s false and a panicked response that you used to avoid what you were going to
say.” Jungkook points out.

“Take it as effort being made.”

“Oh… okay, a fair point.”

│►

“I think we’re all set, though.” Jungkook points, eyes on his papers. “We give them drugs, they’ll
give us ammo, we keep this deal for as long as we want, I don’t see anything wrong with it. At all.
They did ask for a little more than offered but it doesn’t damage our stock in any way so it’s a good
deal.” he supports his idea, thought Taehyung doesn’t seem to be buying it.
“If he asks for a single gram beyond what we’re offering, we’re not taking it.” Taehyung dismisses
the idea immediately.

Jungkook scratches the back of his head. “We’ll still have a forty percent profit as a constant
income, why can’t we just allow him to ask for a bit more and keep the ammo coming?” he looks
up at Taehyung sitting across from him on the desk.

“It’s not crucial. Those types of bullets with that specific compound can be found in other places,
especially Japan. If he demands higher prices, we’ll look elsewhere, we can’t look desperate,
especially when we don’t need them.” Taehyung explains, resting back on his chair.

“He’s only asked for thirty kilos above what we offered, Tae. It’s not that much.”

“They’ll end up demanding more, that’s how they work. We’ll end up having to give more, paying
more, it’s not what we need or want.” Jungkook frowns. “It’s about finding the highest bidder,
Jungkook, not jumping at the first chance of an agreement.”

“Can we at least see what he’s going to say tomorrow? Maybe he’ll change our minds…?”

“We can hear them but we’re not changing our minds. We’re above them. They need us, not the
other way around. You seem not to understand and respect your own position sometimes.”

Jungkook sighs. “We may lose his contacts, Tae, that’s the whole point. He’s an asset. We don’t
need him but we can make good use of him. He’s useful.”

“He’s a pain in my ass.”

“I’ll be a pain in your ass if you don’t start compromising.” Jungkook threatens albeit empty. “He
asked for thirty kilos, if we’re smart and persuasive enough, we can get that down to ten or even
less if I pull out my very charming eyes.” he smiles. “C’mon.”

“You give them a hand, they’ll want to take an arm. It’s time for you to start learning a thing or
two.” Taehyung points out, closing the binder in his hands and placing it on the desk, clearly done
with the discussion and the client.

“If you don’t have a bit of leniency, you can get what you want. That’s how I grew so quickly. You
know how to maintain a reputation, as you kept your dad’s name bigger than it was, but I know
how to build one. My dad was a mere toy next to yours in terms of power and look at what I have
now. This is my specialty, you should be the one taking notes.”

“You’re getting it twisted, sweetheart—”

“Don’t sweetheart me, you know I’m right.” Jungkook points an accusing finger.

“This deal may be right in the way you lead but in my way, that’s not how we do it. We’re not
going to bow down, we’re not going to lower ourselves to their level, got it? Say, I got it.”
Jungkook presses his lips together. “Say it.”

“No.”

Taehyung leans closer, squeezing his cheeks with one hand. “Say it.” he instructs but Jungkook
doesn’t do as asked so he moves Jungkook’s lips himself, forcing out a high voice. “I got it.”

Jungkook slaps his arm with all his strength. “I don’t sound like that!”
“Just say it, goddamn it.”

“No!”

“Don’t make me make you.” Jungkook raises an eyebrow, closing his own binder.

“My lips are definitely sealed now.”

“Oh for fuck’s—”

│►

Taehyung looks up from his phone when Jungkook opens the door to get into the car and watches
as he sits himself on the passenger seat. “No.” Taehyung says, directly and dry. Jungkook stops
from where he goes to put his seatbelt on.

“No what? Are you forgetting something?” he watches Taehyung’s eyes fall to his clothes,
inspecting his outfit without the tiniest bit of shyness.

“Are you aware of where we’re going?” Taehyung asks, eyes back to his.

“Seeing a client, are we not?” Jungkook smiles, mischievous.

“Ok then.” Taehyung says then, final, turning the car on so that he can start driving. Jungkook
pulls down the wing mirror so that he can check himself, the choker around his neck, the mascara
he has applied as per usual, his hair. He checks his shirt, which is almost see through, see through
enough for his nipple piercings to be visible.

Truth is, he wants to repeat that night with Taehyung but doesn’t want to be too obvious so he’s
figured if he makes Taehyung take the first step, he won’t have to do it himself. Taehyung reaches
over, pulling his hands down when he tries to open another button.

“No.” Taehyung says.

“Why not?”

“It’s cold.”

“This is see through… it’s not like this makes any difference.” Jungkook says with an infuriating
smile. Infuriating for Taehyung’s eyes.

“Do you want my jacket? Because I’m half a second away from giving it to you.”

Jungkook smirks to himself. “No, I’m good, thanks.”

Taehyung looks away from the road to face him. “You’re good?”

“Mhm. Don’t I look good too?”

“I don’t have to answer that.” he denies, looking back to the front.

“That’s true… but I do look really fucking cute right now.” Jungkook checks himself one last time
before flipping the mirror up again.

“If you think so.”

“I know so.”

│►

“I do have something to request.” the man says, posture a bit too arrogant to their liking.
Taehyung’s standing with his hands in his pockets, clearly not even interested in the conversation
anymore, but Jungkook’s still seemingly paying attention, sitting next to the man, even if with
some distance between them.

“What is it?” Taehyung asks, an eyebrow raised.

“I was very serious when I said I wanted those thirty kilos above what you two offered initially
but…” he runs his eyes to Jungkook, scanning his chest before looking back up at Taehyung. “If
you’re not happy with that, I can think of other arrangements to satisfy me.”

Jungkook’s mouth opens in surprise when a hand falls on his thigh and he then realizes how his
plan to wear those clothes has backfired immensely. Not to mention how disgusted he feels with
that over sixty year old hand squeezing his thigh like the man has any right to do so.

But he’s still interested on the deal, so he does his best not to pull one of his knives right then and
there and settles for the hand right there.

Taehyung looks down at the hand and he doesn’t know if he’s angrier at the man or at Jungkook
for allowing it to happen. “We’re not taking any deal with you.” he says then, deciding he’s had
enough. Neither did the man respect their offer, nor his boundaries.

“We should at least listen to what he wants to say.” Jungkook points out.

“Shut up and go wait in the car.” Taehyung gestures behind him and Jungkook’s neutral expression
turns into an angry frown. What did Taehyung just say?

“Don’t fucking talk to me like that, I get to have a say too and I say we listen to this man.”

“And I say go wait in the damn car.” he doesn’t get to answer once he’s interrupted by shock as the
hand goes further up. He hears a gun being cocked and he doesn’t even have to look up to know
what Taehyung’s doing. “Get your fucking hand off right now.” he says, voice low, demanding.

Their client — well, not so much — lifts both of his hands in surrender, resting back against the
chair he’s sitting on. “You clearly need discuss this before giving me an answer. I’ll wait for a
call.” he says, lighting up a cigar.

“There won’t be one.” Taehyung lowers his gun, glaring at Jungkook before walking out of the
room. Jungkook’s pushing his knife into the man’s neck not even five full seconds after.

“Touch me one more fucking time and I’ll make sure to cut each and every one of your fingers and
guarantee you’re never fucking touching anyone in your life again.” he threatens, crowding the
man who’s still sitting down. “Was I clear?” he presses the knife further.

“Kid—”

“I’m sure I was.” he pulls back only to grab the man’s head, pulling it with a great amount of force
to hit it against his knee. Then he fixes his own shirt, walking out as well, the man no longer
conscious. Deserved.

He figures he should probably jog to the car, if not sprint, knowing Taehyung is very capable of
simply driving off without him. The car has indeed been started when he gets there so he runs a bit
faster, making sure to enter the vehicle before he’s left there.

He puts on his seatbelt, sitting at the very edge of the seat, knees turned to the door instead of
being turned to Taehyung in an offer for him to place his hand there. Taehyung doesn’t utter a
word and he’s now too nervous to do it either, so they remain quiet.

Neither of them speak.

It stays like that for ten solid minutes before Jungkook looks over at Taehyung’s frown and clears
his throat. “Are you mad?” he asks, voice timid.

“Oh, so you can fucking talk again? I thought you had lost your voice from all of your bitching
back there. Unfortunately not, it seems.” Taehyung says without even looking at him and Jungkook
gapes. Wow. Okay.

He looks back out of the window, going silent.

But the silence doesn’t sit right with him. “I just thought we could get the deal signed if we had
negotiated a little bit.” he says, eyes on the landscape outside of the car.

“If you actually used your brain for once, you’d realize not only was he being way too cocky about
it but also was asking for way too much from us. We don’t need that shit. If I said no, then it’s no,
don’t run your mouth like that.”

“I was trying to get the deal, Tae, I have just as much of a say as you do.” Jungkook sighs.

“Don’t fucking Tae me right now, you—”

“We literally agreed to stop fighting over business, why are you so mad at me right now?! So what
we disagreed with something? Let’s use this shit to grow and learn as work partners instead of
fighting over it.”

“That’s not the only point, Jeon.”

“Then what did I miss, Kim?” he throws back, the name feeling weird on his tongue.

“You really think that it’s ok to just let someone do that shit to you? What were you going to do?
Whore around and suck his dick to get a deal?” Taehyung spits his words, eyes shifting to
Jungkook for a split second.

Jungkook sighs again. “You know I wouldn’t do that and I don’t want to fight.”

“Then don’t speak at all, just your voice is pissing me off.”

“You just called me a whore who does shit to get more power and I’m still trying to—”

“It’s not like I lied.” Taehyung interrupts. “Is it not what you did with me, too?”

Jungkook’s shoulders fall. That hurt. “Wow. Ok.” his voice is much quieter now and he just
slumps back on the seat, eyes on the window, deeming the conversation as over. That one really
hurt. He never thought Taehyung would go there.

But he also knows about Taehyung’s thing for being an idiot who doesn’t mean what he says, who
simply wants to hurt him when they fight. Something they definitely need to change but, while
they don’t, Jungkook will try to work around it.
“Pull over.” he says. “We need to talk.”

“No, we don’t.” Taehyung replies with a clipped tone, not even slowing down.

“Taehyung, I’m serious, pull the car over or I’m going to turn the steering wheel.” Jungkook
threatens, knowing how Taehyung feels about his car.

“You wouldn’t.”

“Do you want to test that? I have balls big enough for the both of us, if I die, I die, but I’ll have
proven my point. Pull over or I’ll turn the steering wheel.” Taehyung rolls his eyes before he starts
pulling to the side of the empty road. They’re in the middle of nowhere and he just wants to get
home and lock Jungkook out of the office.

He rests his elbow on the door, holding his head.

“I’m not saying sorry for speaking up.” Jungkook starts.

“You embarrassed yourself.”

“And why is that, Tae? Why is it embarrassing that I wanted to see what deal we could make?
How in the world is that embarrassing? Please enlighten me.” he turns to the side, positioning his
leg on the seat so that he can face Taehyung properly.

“Are you serious right now? So you think it’s fucking ok to let him grope you like that? Is that how
you used to secure your deals before we started working together? Behind a w—”

Jungkook interrupts by covering his mouth with his hand. “Stop fighting me. Stop doing this, we
agreed not to. Stop, Tae. Please.”

But Taehyung just takes a hold of his wrist, prying his hand away. “No, I can’t be ok with what
you did there.”

“I was just trying to see if we’d get the deal! You said no before even listening to him and didn’t
even let me have a say, you didn’t even ask what I thought about it, you fucking—” he stops
himself, pressing his lips into a thin line.

“Fucking what? Go on, don’t stop.”

“I don’t want to go on.” he pulls his hand back.

Taehyung tsks, reaching forward to turn the car back on so Jungkook concludes he must act fast,
throwing a leg across so that he can climb onto Taehyung’s lap, where he sits himself. “Get the hell
off of me.”

“No, I won’t, unless you stop being mad at me and recognize what you did wrong. I should be mad
at you for many reasons and I’m not, so I’m not getting out of here until we talk like two civilized
adults who /don’t/ hate each other.” Jungkook instructs.

“Jeon—”

“Stop calling me that, we’re alone.” he complains, tilting Taehyung’s seat back so that he can have
a little more space. It’s a tight fit and Taehyung’s hands still hold him by his thighs to make sure he
stays in place. Jungkook sighs, mindlessly twirling with Taehyung’s tie. “Can we just talk?
C’mon.”
“Do you have to be on my lap for this?”

“Yeah, so that I know that you’re actually listening.” Jungkook hums to himself, placing his hands
on the other’s shoulders. He drags them up and down his upper arms, slowly, waiting for a reply
that comes after a long sigh.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Then we’ll be quiet until you figure out the obvious talk that has to happen.” Jungkook offers a
smile, adjusting himself on his lap to get himself comfortable. Taehyung rolls his eyes, simply
sitting there observing Jungkook as he plays with his tie and his buttons. “Are you really going to
stay silent?”

“Yes.” Taehyung shrugs.

He raises an eyebrow when Jungkook grabs him by the jaw. “What if I say sorry and you say sorry
and we fucking move on since you’re so incapable of admitting that you’re wrong?” he suggests,
fingers pressing a bit too tight.

“What would I even be sorry for?” Taehyung replies with his thumbs digging into Jungkook’s
thighs, warningly, but Jungkook doesn’t let go of his jaw even if he knows he should. He still
hasn’t gotten what he wants and he didn’t spend twenty minutes picking an outfit for nothing.

“Talking to me the way you did, telling me to wait in the car like I’m not as much as a leader as
you, calling me a whore, calling me a bitch, being mean to me, and definitely for not groping my
ass as soon as I sat on your lap. I should be mad and I’m not, because I know how to separate
business from you… and I understand how you don’t even mean half the mean shit you tell me.”
he points out. “Our communication is so damn poor… we have to work on that. So say sorry, I’ll
say sorry too.”

“I’m not apologizing, princess.” Taehyung says with a little smirk that anyone would miss but
Jungkook doesn’t. He’s /looking/. The last reason Jungkook gave makes it obvious to him why
he’s even on his lap in the first place and the way his eyes shine down at him, he can’t stay angry.
Jungkook’s too bright to stay angry at him. “How can I apologize for calling you a bitch when
you’re /still/ being one?”

“First of all I wasn’t a bitch, I was just trying to make sure we could avoid a mistake. And now I’m
just trying to get you to grope my ass instead of frowning at me. So if anyone in this car is being a
bitch, it’s you.” Jungkook smiles, his hands falling back to Taehyung’s shoulders.

“What did you just call me?”

Jungkook pokes his cheek. “A bitch. You’re a bitch.”

“You seriously need to learn your manners.”

“Teach me then.” Jungkook puckers his lips.

“I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to get me to—”

“—to remember that we’re not just leaders, we’re also people and you’re not like this with me
anymore. Yes, that’s exactly what I’m trying to do.” Jungkook smiles, leaning closer before he
bites Taehyung’s bottom lip. He sucks it into his mouth, only releasing when Taehyung pinches his
thigh.
“You’re sly, you know that? Annoying as fuck too.” Taehyung points out with a tsk, placing his
hands in the back pockets of Jungkook’s pants. Jungkook smiles, leaning closer for a soft, slow
kiss. He’s not shy in the way he runs his hands up and down Taehyung’s arms and back to his
shoulders. He just wants to take Taehyung’s clothes off. He wants to touch.

“I—” Jungkook says before a peck. “Am—” another peck. “Sorry.”

“For what, princess?”

“Not calling you a bitch twenty minutes ago because it apparently worked on making you stop
being angry at me.” he smiles. “I can’t believe you were going to let us get home mad at each
other, you’re horrible.”

“I don’t know what’s telling you that I’m not angry anymore.”

“You— You called me a princes…?”

“I’ve always called you princess.” Jungkook takes a moment to process that before he whines,
tugging on Taehyung’s tie.

“Just say that you’re not mad and that you’re sorry. I did too, we were both wrong, c’mon. Let’s be
like, healthy and shit.” he instructs but Taehyung doesn’t do anything other than pressing his
mouth into a thin line. Jungkook’s a man on two missions.

One, hear Taehyung saying sorry and two, get the same man naked and doing what Jungkook
wants him to. It’s not that hard, he doesn’t think, so he starts circling his hips as he slowly fastens
Taehyung’s tie even more. Taehyung chuckles. “I’d stop if I were you.”

Jungkook hums, pulling the tie around Taehyung’s neck so that he can pull on it. “Say sorry.”

“No, fuck off.”

“It’s just one damn word.”

“It’s giving you what you want. I won’t. I don’t give anything for free.” Jungkook huffs.

“What payment can you possibly want? I’m on your lap, rubbing myself on you, isn’t that enough?
What else for you to just say that damn fucking word so that I can be satisfied?”

“I don’t satisfy anyone unless they beg for it.”

“I’m not going to beg for you to say sorry!” Jungkook defends himself and his pride.

“You’ll beg for something else and that’s enough for me. Go back to your seat like a behaved little
brat before I lose it with you.” Taehyung instructs, tapping his thigh in encouragement.

“Tae, for goodness’ sake, we agreed not to fight again and we both went against it. We should both
say sorry and I did my part, so do yours!” when he receives nothing but silence, he places his hand
around Taehyung’s throat, deciding his hand can do more damage than the stupid tie.

He presses his fingers where Taehyung always does on his throat.

He chokes as a hand pulls his head back by his black hair. “What are you doing now? Trying to get
me mad again?” Jungkook doesn’t even realize how his hand slips from Taehyung’s throat.

“I mean, you’re hot when you’re mad but no, that’s n—” he opens his eyes when he hears the door
open. “W-What—”

“Get out.” Taehyung says.

Jungkook perks up, alarmed. “What? No!”

“I said get out.” Taehyung’s voice grows a little louder and it has him gulping before doing what
he’s being ordered to and he stands there, worried, feet unconsciously pointing inwards as he looks
at the older man. A part of him is sure Taehyung’s just going to drive off now that Jungkook
succeeded at pissing him off, but the other part still has hope that he won’t be left like that.

Especially because his phone is still in the car and they’re really far off from their place.

He’d have to stop a car and possibly kill someone to take it and he’s really not in the mood for
more adventures for the day.

He’s relieved to see Taehyung getting out of the car too and guide him to the front of it with a soft
hand on his waist and Jungkook’s confused. He may be about to get tied to the wheel or
something, he’s not even sure of what to expect anymore.

A huff leaves his lips when a hand pushes his head down and forward, forcing him to bend over
the hood of the car. Again, he’s torn, a part of him wants to tug his pants himself but the other
wants to cry at the thought of the pure humiliation if any car drives by.

He’s not sure if he’d be bothered, still.

“I did nothing wrong!” he still tries to defend himself, though he’s getting exactly what he wanted
from the start. Sly and annoying, Taehyung may call it, he thinks he’s simply smart and discrete.
Smooth, even.

“Jungkook, I know this is exactly what you’ve been trying to get.” ok, maybe not so discrete.
“Thought so.” Jungkook hears Taehyung unbuckling his belt and he just wants to scream.

“Someone may drive by…” he tries.

“If you want to act like a bitch, then let people see how much of a bitch you truly are.”

“I didn’t do anything!” Jungkook repeats, allowing the other to open and pull his pants down to his
knees. His ass is out in the open, in the middle of the road, and he really wants to knock Taehyung
out for that. Only after getting what he wants, though.

“You allowed some man to grope you in front of me, so now you’ll shut up before I drive back and
fuck you on his desk.”

“That’s hot.” he jolts when a hand comes down harshly to his thigh. So hard it hurts and he’s sure
it is /definitely/ going to leave a red mark that will bruise later. “Not hot, not hot at all.”

│►

Taehyung covers Jungkook with his blazer, giving a last adjust to his tie before he turns the car on
again. That took longer than expected. He watches as Jungkook snuggles to the window, nose
buried on Taehyung’s blazer. “Is your throat ok? I may have pulled a bit too hard on the tie.”

“No, it’s ok, I’m just sleepy… and spent.” he answers with a quiet tone, resting his head against the
window so that he can rest during the ride back home.
“You can asleep, I’ll wake you up when we get there.” Taehyung says, still fixing the blazer over
him. “Do you want me to turn the heater on?”

“No… but can you kiss me? You didn’t kiss me at all. Are you still mad?” he asks with his eyes
bugging out and Taehyung leans closer, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “Not there…” Taehyung
chuckles quietly, giving him what he wants.

“Sorry for being rude to you.” he whispers against Jungkook’s lips, kissing him again. “Sleep.”

Jungkook smiles, sleepy. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Taehyung tsks, starting to drive away. “I want to add something else to the list of things I don’t
like. I don’t like it when other people touch you like that. I don’t like that you flirt to get your way.
That’s never going to happen again. Not to mention how you dressed like this to a meeting with a
client.”

“Incorrect, I dressed like this to rile you up, I didn’t want him to touch me either and had you
waited a minute longer, you’d have seen me knocking him out with my knee.” Taehyung looks
away from the road, an eyebrow going up in surprise. “I wore this for you, it’s funny to rile you
up… I didn’t think you’d get that fucking mad or that he’d touch me like that.”

“I don’t care— wait, what? No, hold on, I was talking. If things aren’t going our way, don’t do
that. Don’t— Sell yourself or whatever that was. I didn’t like it, it made me want to kill him.”

“Mhm, okay…” he mumbles, half asleep.

“You’re not listening to me right now.”

“I am! I am, I just know why I did it and I know I’d never degrade myself to get a deal, so I know
you’re right and I also know that I don’t need to hear this to know that… so don’t worry, Tae, only
you get to touch this fine a—”

“Don’t call it that again.”

“Fine ass.”

“Just go to sleep.” and Jungkook doesn’t really need to be told twice, not when he’s already more
asleep than awake as it is. He sleeps with his nose buried in Taehyung’s blazer and with
Taehyung’s hand resting on his thigh.

He doesn’t even notice the thirty minute drive they have on the way back home.

Taehyung parks in front of the house, turning off the engine. He looks over, Jungkook’s sound
asleep. His mouth is slightly parted, there’s a little trail of spit running down to Taehyung’s blazer
and the latter tries not to smack him in the forehead for that.

He reaches a hand to wake him up but stops halfway, eyes falling to the steering wheel. He gives it
a second thought before pressing his palm on the center, the horn sound loud and clear. Jungkook
jumps in place, startled, looking over, only to see Taehyung calmly gathering his phone and
belongings.

Then their eyes meet. “What’s up?” Taehyung asks.

“I’d swear— Did you hear that?”

Taehyung looks around, seemingly confused. “Hear what?”

Jungkook takes a moment before scowling. “Nothing.” Taehyung hums, pulling the keys out. “Are
you /sure/ that you didn’t hear anything?”

“Are you alright? You’re hearing shit.”

Jungkook pouts, wiping the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’m hungry and tired. I
want to go to bed.” he says with a rather angry tone and it has Taehyung chuckling.

“You always wake up in a good mood, what happened to that?” he asks.

“My naps aren’t to be disturbed, I know you honked.”

“I didn’t.”

“You /did/. I am going to bed — to your bed, actually — and I hope no one dares to disturb me for
ten to twenty minutes. My ass hurts, my neck hurts, I want to eat.” Taehyung snorts, entertained,
when Jungkook reaches for the door knob but stops when he turns back with an angry expression.
They both turn serious.

“Don’t laugh at me— You may have met the Jeon that wanted to work together or the Jeon
wanting to make a truce or the cute Jeon but wake me from a nap and you’ll meet the Jeon who’s
your enemy.”

Taehyung coos. “Oh, he’s the cutest one.”

“You ruin my masculinity.”

│►

Jungkook stretches his body as he starts regaining his conscience, turning to his side. He frowns
upon seeing Taehyung sitting next to him holding a few papers. He allows himself to let his eyes
wander for a moment as Taehyung’s in nothing but grey sweatpants. He hair a pair of glasses on,
something Jungkook’s never seen. It fits him. Makes him look almost younger.

“Do you ever stop working?” he asks. Taehyung looks down at him.

“Finally awake? Your naps take longer than my usual nights.” Taehyung comments, voice quiet, as
if not to disturb him too much as he’s still more asleep than awake.

Jungkook smiles. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“I tend to always be working on something, yes.” Taehyung confirms and Jungkook hums,
reaching up to take Taehyung’s glasses off of his face, folding them and placing them on the
bedside table. He grabs the papers next, placing them on the same spot. “I need to finish that.”

“No, you need to cuddle me and sleep.” Jungkook instructs, tugging on his arm. “C’mon.”

Taehyung reaches for his glasses again, quickly putting them on. “I know you never do your office
work now but one of us has to.” he teases, grabbing his papers again so that he can finish reading
over his documents.

“Shut up, I do help… sometimes.” Jungkook says with a pout.

Taehyung looks at him over his glasses. “Name one contract you’ve read of a deal you’ve signed
recently.” Jungkook remains quiet. “Exactly.”

“I’m sorry, you should be able to rest, I’ll start—”

“No, it’s fine, don’t worry about it.” he places a hand over Jungkook’s head, fingers threading
through his hair slowly. “Are you still tired?”

“A bit… my ass hurts. Cuddle me? Please? Don’t be a mean ass, besides, I can see the bags under
your eyes, you quite literally want and need to sleep.” Jungkook instructs and Taehyung tsks,
taking his glasses off and placing them on his bedside table.

He drags himself down, throwing one arm around Jungkook’s head so that he can use it as a pillow
and cuddle onto his side. Jungkook is quick to do so, his hand resting on Taehyung’s bare
abdomen. He kisses Jungkook’s forehead before closing his eyes.

He’s out like a light, Jungkook wonders if he even laid his head properly down before he even fell
asleep but Jungkook’s not surprised, Taehyung looked incredibly tired. It’s been a long day, on top
of it all.

Jungkook looks up, taking his time to appreciate how relaxed Taehyung looks. There’s no frown,
his lips aren’t turned down, he looks peaceful. He lifts his hand from Taehyung’s abdomen to his
face, slowly running his finger across his eyebrows, down the bridge of his nose. He moves is
along Taehyung’s jaw and bites down his own bottom lip as he traces Taehyung’s.

He pulls his hand away when Taehyung makes a face in his sleep, turning around. Jungkook’s jaw
falls. “Taehyungie?” he calls. Nothing. “Hun? Baby!” he whisper yells but is met with nothing but
silence. He tries to turn Taehyung back around but to no avail.

So he tsks, climbing over him to get on the other side, pulling Taehyung’s arms back around
himself. Taehyung opens one of his eyes, confused, but closes it again, pulling Jungkook’s head
into his chest, one hand on the back of his head and the other arm around his shoulders.

Jungkook can’t really breathe like that, so he tries to change his position ever so slowly. “Stop
moving.” Taehyung groans with his sleepy voice, hand playing with Jungkook’s hair.

“Sorry.” he whispers into his chest. “I’m kind of suffocating.” Taehyung pulls back, allowing him
to turn around. Jungkook frowns when Taehyung doesn’t scoot closer. “You’re supposed to back
hug me now.”

“Is that how it works?”

“I— Yes!” he whisper yells, reaching for Taehyung’s hand to pull him, Taehyung dropping his arm
around his waist. They settle like that, quiet for a while until Jungkook hisses as Taehyung’s
freezing hand crawls under his shirt.

He tries to ignore the difference of temperature but when the hand lazily traces the lines of the
muscles in his abdomen, he has to hold it.

“Your hand is freezing cold.” Jungkook whispers. Taehyung kisses his shoulder as a silent
apology, slipping his hand out and simply resting it over the shirt. Jungkook intertwines their
fingers then and scoots closer. They fall silent then.

Doesn’t take them long to be asleep again.

│►
Jungkook hums a melody to himself as he takes off his choker, wanting to take a shower and
maybe watch a movie, work already done. He lays the choker with all the other ones he has, when
he feels someone peeking over his shower.

He turns to see Taehyung admiring his — extensive — collection of chokers. “This one’s pretty.”
Taehyung comments, pointing at one that has a hanging heart shaped padlock with a keyhole. “I’ve
never seen you wearing that.”

“I know my audience, this isn’t for anyone to see. It’s for me.” he shrugs. “I may show you one
day, though. Who knows, if I’m feeling nice enough.” Jungkook closes the box, putting it back in
his closet.

“Would you like to try a new one?” Taehyung asks and he turns around with an eyebrow raised,
curious. He’s sure he’ll scream if Taehyung goes ahead and wraps his hand around his throat. Yes,
he wants to try a new one.

“Which is?” he still tries not to seem too eager. His eyes fall to follow Taehyung’s hands and gulps
when the latter starts unbuckling his belt. “T-Tae—”

“Come here.” Jungkook steps closer without even questioning his order, lifting his chin higher
when Taehyung starts wrapping the belt around his throat. He makes sure to tighten it enough for it
to be pressing even if not too much. He leaves the long part loose, knowing he’ll be using that later.
“Kneel.”

Jungkook surprises himself with how fast he does so, looking up. He bites down his bottom lip as
Taehyung steps back so that he can sit down in bed and Jungkook really wants to follow, but he
doesn’t, he just sits back on his heels, hands on top of his thighs, waiting for confirmation.

“Come here.” Taehyung hums appreciatively when Jungkook crawls his way to him, stopping
when he gets there, sitting back on his heels again. Taehyung stretches his arms back, resting his
hands on the mattress and Jungkook gets the message right away.

He raises his hands to open Taehyung’s pants, only to be stopped.

“No hands.” he blinks, excitement bubbling in his stomach. He nods, holding his hands behind his
back as he leans forward, trying to pop his button open with his teeth, which proves to be an
impossible task. The button is too small, his tongue seems unable to push it.

He struggles, huffs to himself, moves his hands to Taehyung’s calves instead, frustrated, still trying
his hardest to do what he was told to.

Taehyung tuts, pulling his head up by his hair. He sighs, as if disappointed. “Do I really have to do
everything for you?” he asks, tone clipped.

“It’s— It’s not working…” Jungkook replies with shiny eyes, one of his hands moving to pull at
his own jeans, uncomfortable in them.

“Then try harder.” is all Taehyung says.

“But—”

“Did I say that you could talk back?”

“You’re so mean…” he tries with a pout, only to have his cheek cupped by a large hand.
“You don’t like to play nice, don’t bullshit me. Now, if you want to do anything at all, you’re
going to have to do it yourself, be a good boy and open the button. I won’t do it for you.” he pairs
his last words with a sinical smile, hand tapping Jungkook’s cheek harshly.

He reaches to tug on the belt around Jungkook’s throat, encouraging. Jungkook chokes on a gasp.
Jungkook ends up on his hands and knees as he’s finally able to open Taehyung’s pants, already
pressing his tongue flat on the skin he can reach.

“That’s it, puppy—” he stops as soon as the words leave his mouth, Jungkook freezing in place
before he pulls back, looking up to meet Taehyung’s eyes that are already on him. They’re both
quiet, both looking at each other. Taehyung clears his throat. “Let’s— Let’s not do that.”

“Yeah just— insult me or call me princess.”

“Yeah, thought so too.”

“I’ll— I’ll continue now.” he gestures.

“Yep.”

│►

Jungkook lifts his head from Taehyung’s chest after a whole good minute trying to catch his breath
and the latter sits up with him still on his lap, still very much around him, taking his hands to
Jungkook’s back where his hands have been tied together with the tie.

He pulls them free, massaging his wrists for a split second before he moves to remove the belt
from around his throat. Taehyung chuckles as he does so. “Puppy.” he repeats.

“You almost killed my boner.” Jungkook admits, lifting his chin to give better access.

“I almost killed /my/ boner.” Taehyung puts the belt down on the mattress, wrapping his hand
around Jungkook’s throat loosely to massage it with his fingers. “I was testing, you’re a kinky little
bitch, I was just making sure that that was out of the list.”

“I’m a kinky what now?”

“Little bitch.”

“Excuse the fuck— oh shit— the fuck did you do to me—” he complains as he lifts himself on
Taehyung’s lap to get him to pull out, the friction proving to him how sore he will be once rested.
“I’m neither kinky, nor am I a little bitch, so I expect you to correct yourself.”

“Jeon, your neck is literally red from being tugged on with a belt, what the fuck are you trying to
prove?” Jungkook frowns. A deep frown. “Little bitch.” he smiles, teasingly, only to have a pillow
smacked against his face only a few seconds after.

“Has no one ever told you not to mess with stronger people?” Jungkook asks, pillow still in hand
and ready to be used again.

“The same way no one has ever told you when to stop being such an annoying brat.” he gasps,
clearly forged, before smacking him again, this time harder. Taehyung tsks before rolling them
over. Giving Jungkook advantage for one moment is recipe for disaster.

Jungkook giggles. “Get off, you’re heavy.”

“Will you behave?” Jungkook whines as though Taehyung’s asking for something greater than
what it actually is.

“Do you want me to, hyungie?” he drags.

“What?”

“Hyungie.” Jungkook repeats.

“I want to slap you for that one.” Taehyung threatens, scrunching his nose in distaste.

“I mean, go ahead.” he says with a teasing smile, hands already starting to grope Taehyung’s sides,
legs winding around his waist, pulling him closer. Taehyung looks down at him, at his blown out
pupils, which are enough for him to understand that Jungkook hasn’t even completely come down
from wherever his mind goes — a wonder, really.

Taehyung fails to comprehend how he gets up there so fast and how much it changes him.

He hasn’t deal with Jungkook like that enough times to want to push him even further. Not yet. It’s
something that can go very wrong, very fast, and he figures they’re not that irresponsible.

“Why are you so still…?” Jungkook whines, trying to move his hips, trying to get /something/.
Whatever it may be. His hair is still all over the place, his cheeks insanely red, lips swollen.
Taehyung takes a hand to his cheek, caressing it with his thumb. “Taehyungie, please…”

“How about we lay down? Hm?” Taehyung suggests, reaching for Jungkook’s leg to unhook it
from around himself. Jungkook shakes his head, lips tugging down.

“But— But Tae, I’ll be good—”

“Hey, we’re done.” he interrupts, pulling Jungkook so that he’s laying with his head on the pillow.
“Come back down, c’mon, we’re done.” Taehyung lays beside him, figuring they can clean up
later. He has to do his best not to coo at Jungkook’s big pout.

“Did I do something?” the younger asks, eyes shiny. “Did I mess up— are you angry…?”

“Of course I’m not angry, princess, you did so well.” Jungkook nods, pout intensifying, before he
allows himself to be tucked into Taehyung’s chest.

“You changed your mood really fast, I-I was worried.” he mumbles, quiet. Taehyung kisses the top
of his head, hand softly playing with his hair. “Y-You’re nice when you’re gentle.”

“You’re so very lucky then.” Taehyung teases, pulling him closer. “I’ll clean you up, you can close
your eyes.” he feels Jungkook nod against his chest, soon going quiet and still. Taehyung makes a
mental note to bring it up the next day. How far he can go. How far he can push.

He feels irresponsible, he should’ve asked that already.

The next morning does come and Jungkook wakes up startled as he sees Taehyung looking right at
him as soon as he opens his eyes. “I could’ve had a stroke.” he mumbles, changing to lay on his
back, his head still on Taehyung’s bicep, clearly a better pillow than his own.

The first thing he notices is how he has a shirt on and how he doesn’t feel sticky or gross. “Good
morning to you too.” Taehyung greets. “I’m never letting you fall asleep like that, you’re fucking
dead weight when you fall asleep, took me five minutes to put a shirt on you.”
“What better way to start my morning than with that negativity of yours.” Jungkook says with a
smile, eyes still closed. He grabs Taehyung’s hand, kissing his palm. “But good morning.”

“How are you feeling?” Taehyung asks, quietly.

Jungkook opens his eyes to face him. “I’m good. I mean, my ass kind of hurts, but other than that,
I’m good. Why? Are you not good— Am I not supposed to be good?”

“I’m asking because you were pretty upset last night, took you a long while to fall asleep, kept
asking why I was angry at you.” Jungkook tilts his head. “Do you not recall that?”

“I do… the memory feels a bit floaty, though.” he turns to his side, body pressed to Taehyung’s
side, looking up at him. “Were you angry? I don’t remember, I do remember being blue balled. I
remember that vividly.”

“I don’t know fully how you get if I push you too much, we’ve never gone to any extreme, and
your eyes were already getting all unfocused, I didn’t want to continue. Not without… asking you
first about it. Pretty fucking flattering that you get that vulnerable with me, but— you get the
point.” Jungkook is quiet for a few seconds, eyes focused on Taehyung’s. He feels immensely
comfortable. Respected, too.

Not exactly something he’d ever imagine to feel towards Kim Taehyung.

“If you have that moment of thought again, where you’re unsure if you can push me… you can do
whatever… I uh, I trust you…?” his voice dies down at the end, eyes falling on Taehyung’s
exposed chest. Much more interesting.

“You seem to be asking me, Jungkook, and you—”

“I’m not asking, I’m just awkward. And so are you. If I say it, the chances of you smacking me,
are really high.” he says with a little smile and Taehyung chuckles.

“There’s that possibility, yes.” Taehyung nods.

“But in all seriousness… this is new for me, you’ve probably had many boys crying for you but
I’ve never cried for anyone, this— this place in my head is very new to me, but I think I’m still
able to say if I want you to stop. I get like that because I feel good… so like— do whatever.” he
explains, a little shy.

“Are you sure?” Jungkook nods. “Right, ok.”

“So, about the fact that you’ve blue balled me—”

“You just woke up, shut the hell up. I haven’t even had my morning coffee yet.” Taehyung says
with a tsk, closing his eyes, head turned back to the ceiling. “You should definitely go make some
coffee.” he instructs.

Jungkook scoffs. “You go make us coffee.”

“Do you realize how much energy I wasted on you last night? Stop complaining and go get us
coffee.” he taps Jungkook’s chest, getting his hand slapped away immediately.

“I’m still sore, though… be nice, go get me coffee, please.” he’s definitely surprised when
Taehyung actually gets up, his sweatpants low on his hips, exposing the waistband of his boxers.
Jungkook hugs his pillow, appreciating the view as Taehyung gets dressed quietly. “How do you
have the patience to put on suits so early in the morning… every day?”

Taehyung chuckles from where he’s doing his tie. “The same way you have patience to pick shirts,
pants, a pair of boots.” Jungkook rolls his eyes. “Or to paint your nails and pick a new collar every
morn—”

“It’s not a collar, it’s a choker, it’s just a necklace.”

“You definitely have some collars there, though.” he points out. “You better wear one someday.”

“If you call me a dog again, you can bet your ass I won’t.” Taehyung stares at him for a few
seconds before turning to leave the room. Jungkook giggles to himself, hugging Taehyung’s pillow
even closer. He’s content.

In days where he gets to wake up next to Taehyung, he’s definitely content.

Usually, he’s the one staying in Taehyung’s room, they’ve never slept in his, so it’s a nice change,
Taehyung’s cologne on his pillow, on his sheets. He likes it a whole lot, perhaps more than he
should, all things considered.

He doesn’t move an inch, nose buried in the pillow Taehyung slept in, almost falling asleep as he
waits for the latter to return with the two mugs. Taehyung kicks his shoes off before sitting back
next to the younger man. Jungkook sits up too to be able to grab his mug. “Thank you.” he says
with a smile, leaning closer to press a kiss to Taehyung’s cheek over his tattoo.

He really — really — loves that tattoo.

“You drool a lot when you sleep.” Taehyung decides it’s time to share after having Jungkook
drooling on his arm the whole night. “Like a dog with rabies.”

Jungkook chokes on his coffee, trying to slap the bottom of Taehyung’s mug. He misses. “Stop
being mean to me, I swear to God.” he complains. “I’ll call the police on you one day.”

“Oh, do that, go ahead and tell them you’re also a criminal.” Jungkook frowns before he tries to hit
Taehyung’s mug again. “Dude, if you burn my dick, I’m going to genuinely twist your neck.”

“I really shouldn’t, I need it, it’s your best feature.” he acknowledges, taking a sip from his drink.

“No, it’s not. Have you seen my face?”

“Meh, I’ve seen better.” Jungkook says with a shrug. Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “Like— That
dude.” he says, empty.

“What dude?”

“You know, that one. There’s… that one.”

“Ah, I see.” Taehyung nods, smirk cocky. “You could also just admit that I’m the best you’ve ever
had, darling.” Jungkook shakes his head, denying with finality in his tone. “It’s not like I don’t
know it already, the way you try to rile me up twenty four-seven is enough confirmation.”

“I rile you up because I want you to do better.” Taehyung chuckles, mean.

“Don’t ask for what you can’t take.”

“Maybe that’s exactly what I want.” Jungkook puckers his lips, placing his leg over Taehyung’s
but the latter pushes them away.

“Stop, it’s too early for this.” Taehyung says with a tsk. “Besides, we have a meeting in a bit, so
control your hormones, drink your coffee, and most importantly, stay the fuck still.”

“I mean, we’re the leaders, we can just cancel the meeting.”

“Absolutely not, you’re going to get your ass out of the bed and get ready. It you’re even late to the
meeting, I’ll—” Jungkook smiles, ears perking up. “—have it without you and make sure your
opinion isn’t counted for.”

“Lame. I thought you’d at least threaten me with something I can enjoy.”

“For someone who’s only now started being in this position, you’re always incredibly eager.”
Taehyung comments, placing his empty mug on the nightstand. Jungkook can feel himself
blushing at the observation.

“I don’t know, I like it, it’s a nice ch—”

“Nice to fuck up your insides? Always be sore?” Taehyung tilts his head.

Jungkook elbows him for interrupting him. “No, I mean mentally. It’s nice.” he can tell by
Taehyung’s expression that he doesn’t quite understand what he’s saying. “I get to be…” he sighs.
“I get to let go of control for a moment. That’s good for me, I like it that way.”

Taehyung goes to speak, only to be interrupted by his phone pinging in his pocket. He pulls it out,
both of them reading the preview of the text on the screen, Yoongi asking if he can head to the
office, stating that he has a few questions regarding the meeting. “We’re definitely talking about
this someday.” he says, already getting up.

“Okay.” Jungkook offers one of his warm smiles, nodding. Taehyung turns back to him once he
reaches the door. “What’s wrong?”

“Get ready. You have forty minutes to be downstairs and you take two hours to get dressed. Don’t
be late.” Taehyung says with a pointed finger.

“You’re not even showering with me?” he tries to sound upset.

“Forty minutes.”

Jungkook waits until Taehyung closes the door. “Forty minutes!” he copies his voice.

“I heard that.” he shrinks to himself, giggling.

“Good!”

│►

“Tae?” Jungkook calls into the quiet room after the puts his book down and Taehyung hums. “Can
you give me attention for a second?” Taehyung’s eyes drift from his phone before he locks it and
he just waits for Jungkook to go on. “Have you ever thought of what it would be like to be
normal?” he asks and Taehyung blinks.

“Normal?”

“Yeah, if you weren’t running… this. Where do you think you’d be— Where would you like to
be?” he rephrases, gesturing mindlessly with his hand.

“I don’t know, I’ve never thought about it. Where would you be?” he turns the question around
and Jungkook changes his position, clearly with his answer already on the tip of his tongue.

“Somewhere in Europe.” Taehyung laughs quietly. “Don’t laugh! The culture there is so different
and everything is so pretty… maybe after I retire.”

“Where in Europe?” he asks as he leaves his phone on the bedside table, laying down properly.
Jungkook looks down at him from his still sitting position.

“After seeing it all? I’d probably stick somewhere like… France or Italy or— or maybe
Switzerland.” his smile is big, clearly fascinated by the idea. “Would you go? With me?” he asks,
voice quieter. “After we retire, that is.”

“We’ll probably retire the way our fathers did, Jungkook, not by choice.”

“But what if we had a choice?”

“Jungkook… this is our reality, I don’t like making plans ahead, much less for things that will
never happen.” Taehyung shrugs. “Focus on the present, that’s how you don’t get disappointed.”
he suggests.

Jungkook lays down, holding himself sideways on his forearm. “But what if we can make a new
reality? Eventually, that is. Doesn’t mean that it has to be now. Or in the near future…”

“How do you even imagine that? How can you imagine the both of us up and leaving all of our
responsibilities. There’s nothing worth us doing that, we’d get people killed for a few trips to
Europe, and for what? If you want to go, you can take vacations, but—”

“Just say you don’t like the idea because it’s with me.” Jungkook interrupts.

“Why do you always get so defensive? I didn’t even say that.” Taehyung rolls his eyes.

“I’m not getting defensive, you just said that I can leave but that we can’t go together. Just forget I
said anything, if I wasn’t here, I’d be in Europe, where would you be?”

“C’mon, Jungkook.” but the man only gives him a pointed look. Taehyung sighs. “France or Italy.
Or Switzerland, isn’t that where you’d be?” Jungkook looks at him for a moment before huffing,
frustrated, letting himself lay on his back, eyes on the ceiling.

“You frustrate me so much.” he complains. “One moment you kiss me and act like you actually
care for me, the other you say you want no future whatsoever with me in it… but then you say shit
like that. I don’t— I don’t understand you and fuck, I try, you’re so confusing.”

“I don’t really understand either.” Taehyung admits. Everything is way too new for him to even try
to act like he has anything under control when he clearly doesn’t. Jungkook looks back at him,
expression puzzled. “For now, can we just say that I don’t want you anywhere else but here? Can
we work with that?”

“So you want to string me along?”

“Whatever I say right now is going to be poorly interpreted by you so just tell me what you want
me to say. I don’t want you upset, just— What do you want to hear?” Taehyung sits up.
Jungkook sits up as well. “I just want to know that I mean more to you than anyone else in the
building. Sometimes I’m not sure if that’s how it is.” he whispers, eyes never leaving Taehyung’s.

“If we had the freedom— If we ever have the freedom to leave our responsibilities behind for a
moment, I’ll go with you, wherever the fuck you want to go. There’s no one else in this building or
anywhere that I’d do that with.”

“Alright. That’s enough for me right now.” Jungkook smiles, scooting closer to be able to pull
Taehyung into his arms so close that he ends up sitting on Taehyung’s lap all together.

“What are you doing now?”

“Hugging my murderous, sex, feeling-allergic partner.”

“I’m not allergic to feelings.” Taehyung corrects.

“You’re sweating just from saying that I mean something to you.”

“Shut up.”

│►

“Come in.” Taehyung instructs after someone knocks on his door which already tells him it’s not
Jungkook. He never knows how to knock. He rests back on his chair when Yoongi comes in
followed by Namjoon and Hoseok. “Is there something wrong?”

“No, we’re here because we were chilling on the couch, waiting for dinner to be ready—”

“Get to the point.”

“Why is Jeon still alive?” Hoseok asks. “You said he’d come here for us to kill him, sir, and he’s
still alive and standing.” he points out. “Do you want us to just… do it? Maybe you haven’t had the
opportunity, sir.”

“Don’t worry about it, let me worry about it. I’ll do it myself when I see it fitting.” it’s all he says.
“Now leave, go back to waiting for dinner, I’m quite busy.” they bow, never once questioning his
orders, before they leave.

Taehyung has to take a double look when Yoongi doesn’t move. “Do you happen not to want to
kill him anymore? Is that it?” he asks once they’re alone, quietly, as the door hasn’t been closed.

“Yoongi, you know not to put your nose where you’re not supposed to.” Taehyung says as he looks
back down at his laptop. “You can leave too.”

“Alright… so you being happier lately is completely unrelated to the fact that you two are
definitely closer than before.” Yoongi points out.

Taehyung looks up. “Do I have to repeat myself?” he asks.

Yoongi bows. “Of course not. I was already on my way out.” he says as he steps back with each
word, turning on his heels once he sees himself out of the office. “Oh—” he lets out as he collides
into someone. “Oh, God, I’m so sorry, sir.” he bows.

“No problem, don’t worry.” Jungkook says with a smile.

“Where are you going, sir? If you allow me to ask.”

“I’m going to Tae— Kim’s office. Why?”

“Oh, I see, I see.” Yoongi nods, bowing again before he walks away. Jungkook follows him with
his eyes, confused, but ends up shrugging, resuming his path. He closes the door behind himself.

“Why is Yoongi acting weird?” he asks.

“He’s always weird.”

“He’s exceptionally weird today, then. What happened?” Jungkook asks with a chuckle as he sits
down across from him.

“He just thinks he’s outsmarted me but he didn’t.” it’s the only explanation he offers.

“Outsmarted you in what?” he asks, curious.

“Nothing, did you finish sharpening your knives?” Taehyung gives him a smile and Jungkook
raises an eyebrow.

“Yes, I did…?”

“Good, what about—”

“I’ll let you distract me from finding the truth just this once, only because I’ve never seen you this
desperate to avoid something.” he points out. Something he never really considered himself was
stupid. He’s quite good at catching on.

“Good.”

“Just tell me if it’s bad or if I should worry about it.” he requests.

“Not one bit.” that leaves him slightly more worried, but he decides it’s best to trust Taehyung.

“Okay, I came in to tell you that dinner is ready and you’re going to hurry your ass up because it’s
stew and I’m fucking hungry.” he’s already getting up but Taehyung looks back down to his
laptop, uninterested.

“I’m not very hungry tonight, I have to read—”

“Fuck off and come and eat for thirty minutes. Jesus.” Jungkook interrupts, hand closing
Taehyung’s computer in one go.

“…since you asked so nicely.” Jungkook smiles, watching as he puts on his blazer, closing the
button, before he walks to the door alongside him. They’re both quiet as Taehyung locks the door
once no one will be inside, but Jungkook can’t hold himself back from speaking.

“How cool would it be if we could walk there holding hands, huh?” he suggests.

“I don’t like holding hands.”

“You’re so lame.”

│►

Jimin hums a song to himself as he walks through the hallways, headed for the office, and his hand
freezes when it goes to knock on the door. The door isn’t completely closed and he feels bad for
spying on them, but his eyes catch something that he can’t ignore.

Jungkook’s sitting on Taehyung’s chair, Taehyung cupping his jaw while standing.

Jimin’s worried for a split second, until he notices Jungkook’s smiling and Taehyung doesn’t look
like he’s about to pull his gun out to shoot him. He can see Jungkook’s eyes shining, can hear a
giggle falling from Jungkook’s lips at whatever Taehyung says and he has to cover his mouth not
to shriek.

He just leaves without saying anything.

That, until he catches Jungkook by himself sitting outside with his phone — playing Candy Crush
has become addictive — and holding a cigarette with his other hand. Jimin taps his own knees
twice before he clears his throat. “So…!” he drags. “I saw something interesting today.”

“Oh, really?” Jungkook asks, taking a new drag from his cigarette. “What was it?” he blows the
smoke out with his eyes still glued to his phone. He’s been stuck on a level for days.

“I think there’s two people having an affair. You know, one from each team. Is that allowed?
Affairs? Are they /allowed/?” Jungkook does look at him then for a brief moment.

“No…?”

“Are you asking me?”

“I’m not certain of my answer, that is. Who’s having an affair? Are they compromising anything?
If they are, then it would be a problem, yes. So, are they?” he asks.

Jimin hums. “They could be. They could be compromising the leadership of the teams.” Jungkook
blinks at his phone, looking up at him, silent. “I /know/.” Jimin decides to add.

“Know what? I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jungkook says. Nice save.
Perfect save, he’d say so himself.

“Don’t lie to me.” Jimin nudges his thigh with his knee. “I have two working eyes.”

“Well, do you want to keep them?” Jungkook threatens, cussing his game as he loses again, but he
does lock the phone as he’s out of lives, focusing his attention on the other.

“I want to know the truth, that’s what I want.”

“There’s nothing to know.” Jungkook shrugs.

“He was grabbing your jaw!” Jimin whisper yells. “And you were smiling! So don’t lie. Do you
like him or s—” he stops, leaning away when Jungkook pulls a knife out, popping it open.

“I’ll slice your tongue out. There’s nothing for you to know, whatever you saw, wasn’t there, now
leave me alone. I can’t even enjoy a damn cigarette in peace.” Jimin frowns.

“At least tell me… are you happy?” Jungkook stops at that, looking away.

“I think I am, Jimin, yeah.” he answers then, voice quiet, honest. Jimin smiles before tapping
Jungkook’s shoulder twice and getting up, almost skipping on his way back inside. Jungkook takes
a new drag, longing the nicotine.

Is he happy? That’s an easy answer. As frustrated he may get, as hurt as sometimes he may feel,
he’s happy but is Taehyung? Is Taehyung happy?

Is there even anything to be happy about?

There /has/ to be, right?

He sighs, lighting up another cigarette, significantly more stressed than he’s been all week. “Damn
you, Jimin.” he mumbles to himself. He can already see himself overthinking about it for the rest
of the day.

│►

Jungkook watches as Taehyung types away on his phone, the both of them sitting on the couch in
the office. Taehyung looks up as he feels watched and offers him a little closed smile, before
looking back to the screen. “Why are you so tense?” he asks.

“Jimin knows.” Taehyung eyes him, confused. “He saw… us. He knows that there’s something
going on.” Jungkook explains with worry all over his face. Taehyung nods, eyes leaving his so that
he can continue to type.

“Did he say anything? What is he going to do about it? I can talk to him if you—”

“He asked me if I’m happy.” Jungkook interrupts.

Taehyung freezes for a moment but plays it off. “Did he now?” Jungkook hums. “What did you
say?” he asks, trying not to sound oh so curious.

“I said that I am.” he admits, tone quiet. “Are… Are you?”

“Am I happy?” Jungkook nods, he can see it through in peripheral vision. “Do you want me to be
happy with whatever is going on?” again, the man nods. “I am. Exceptionally.”

“Good.” Jungkook rests back on the couch with a smile and Taehyung hums. “So… what do we do
about Jimin?” he asks.

“Nothing, we can’t erase his memory so we can’t really do anything. Are you ok with that?”

“You’re not?” Taehyung looks up at him.

“I didn’t say that, I asked if you’re ok with Jimin knowing, nothing else.” he tries not to snap at
how defensive Jungkook always seems to get, at how he always interprets Taehyung’s words as
something bad and not for what he actually said.

“No, I’m not ok with it.” Jungkook lies. He wants a reaction, he wants something.

“Oh. Then deal with it, he’s your friend.” Taehyung shrugs, unlocking his phone again. Jungkook
stares at him for a few seconds before scoffing and getting up. “Where are you going?” he asks.

“Doesn’t matter.” it’s all Jungkook says as he gathers his things.

Taehyung’s beyond confused. “I— Are you ok?”

Jungkook stops with his hand holding the door open and he gulps. “Actually, I don’t think I am.”
Taehyung takes a second before he puts his phone down and gets up, walking towards him. He
closes the door again.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”

“You’re wrong.”

Taehyung blinks. “I’m wrong? How— What did I even do this time?”

Jungkook closes his eyes with an inhale. “Don’t— Don’t get mad.” he begs. “You’re just… you’re
not responding to— to this. To the problem.”

“What problem, Jungkook? I can’t understand what you’re thinking about unless you fucking
explain yourself.” Jungkook knows he’s right but it doesn’t make it any easier.

“I told you about Jimin knowing because I care about what others think of you. Of— Of us, and I
want you to care too, but you’re not caring, and that’s frustrating.” he tries to explain, eyes glued to
the floor. Taehyung lifts his chin up.

“You’re an idiot.”

“Thanks.” he pulls back, frowning. “I’m going to bed, good night.” it’s all he says before he leaves
and Taehyung stares at the door before running a hand over his face. He figures Jungkook could
use some time to think, so he finishes replying to the email he was focused on, takes a shower.

He debates on going to bed or checking on Jungkook and, many curse words after, he settles on
leaving his room with the key he still has to Jungkook’s. No one sees him walking there, which is
good, and he’s soon unlocking the door quietly.

The door is dark, the window is open so there’s still some light coming in so he can see a lump
laying in the middle of the bed. He sighs, locking the door again before walking closer and laying
down behind him. He pulls Jungkook’s body against his.

He can tell Jungkook’s awake by his breathing, so he figures he can speak, he’ll be heard. “I care.”
he starts, his fingers going up and down Jungkook’s arm. “I didn’t think anything of it because
Park is your friend, I didn’t see it as a big deal.” he explains himself with a quiet voice. “But I do
care. About you, that is.”

Jungkook turns around to be able to face him. It’s a little hard to see but he can definitely see
Taehyung’s eyes. “I’m sorry for overreacting. I just need reassurance every once in a while. I do
get hurt easily, you know that.” he apologizes.

“Don’t apologize.” Jungkook’s lips tug down in a quiet frown before he leans forward for a kiss,
hand cupping Taehyung’s jaw. His tongue tastes like his mint toothpaste. Taehyung follows when
Jungkook rolls over to be on his back, legs opening right away to accommodate Taehyung between
them. Taehyung breaks the kiss to look down at him, still cupping his jaw with one hand, thumb
running over Jungkook’s bottom lip. “Are you ok?” he asks. Jungkook nods. “Are you sure?”

“I was upset over nothing… I’m okay.” he offers one of his warm smiles before reaching up to pull
Taehyung into another kiss. They kiss slowly, lips moving almost lazily against each other.
Jungkook tilts his head back with a breathy exhale when the kisses move to his neck and Taehyung
grabs the hand that is pulling at his hair, pinning it next to Jungkook’s head.

Jungkook intertwines their fingers.

Taehyung doesn’t pull away.

Jungkook crosses his legs around him.

│►

Jungkook wakes up the next morning with something warm dragging across his stomach and he
opens his eyes to find Taehyung with a warm soaked towel, wiping his stomach carefully.
Jungkook smiles, a little surprised. “What are you doing?” he asks.

“You looked gross.” Jungkook giggles, sleepy, closing his eyes again. “We’re never going to sleep
without cleaning up again.”

“It’s not like you ever clean me up after.”

“I give you a towel.” Jungkook gives him a pointed look. “Would you like me to?”

“It’s a nice touch.” he shrugs, eyes scanning Taehyung. He has a pair of sweatpants on — a pair of
Jungkook’s sweatpants.

“Open your legs.” Taehyung instructs and he does, allowing the older man to clean him up quietly,
Jungkook watching him as he does his best to make sure everything is wiped away.

Jungkook chews on the inside of his cheek before he speaks. “Last night— Last night was really
different.” he whispers, Taehyung meeting his eyes for a moment before humming. “As much as I
really enjoy it when we’re rough with each other, that was— that was really nice. I’ve never uh,
done it like that.”

“Like what? Slow? Intimate?” Jungkook nods. “Yeah, me neither.” he folds the towel in half, using
the clean part to give it a once over again. “We’re never going to sleep with me still inside of you,
either. Everything was gross this morning.”

“But it felt good.” Jungkook persuades.

“Still an easy no for me.” Taehyung lets the towel fall to the floor before he lays down, pulling the
sheets over them. Jungkook’s completely naked, it’s cold. “Also, don’t question if I care or not
again.” he warns.

“I didn’t mean to.” Jungkook pouts. “I thought you weren’t mad at me…”

“And I’m not but stop doubting me and my word. I get it, you’re paranoid as shit, but you don’t
have to be with me.”

“Hey, that’s not very nice.” he frowns. “I’m not /that/ paranoid.”

“That’s really debatable.”

“I’m going back to sleep.”

│►

Jungkook switches the page of the document he’s reading, a little smile on his lips. He’s decided to
be of help, knowing he ends up leaving all the office work for Taehyung to do which isn’t really
helpful at all. They both look up when there’s a knock on the door and soon enough both their right
hands are coming in.

They both look troubled. “We’ve just returned from the trade you asked us to take care of.” Jimin
starts, eyes shifting between the two. “Five of our men have passed away in an accident.”

“Ok.” it’s all Taehyung says, eyes falling back to his laptop. “No one’s irreplaceable, go store what
you brought, we’ll—”

“Sir, Namjoon was one of them.” Yoongi interrupts, biting down his own teeth. Jungkook’s eyes
fly to Taehyung immediately and he can see him freezing where he’s starting to type again. “Their
car— They lost control of the car and it just started burning as soon as they hit the wall.”

Jungkook sits up straight. “Hoseok was with you, is he—”

“He’s ok, he was in our car, but everyone in the same car as Namjoon— they didn’t stand a
chance. The flames got to the gas tank before we could help.” Yoongi explains.

“Are you sure they’re all dead? They might’ve—”

“No one in the car made it out. It was less than a full minute, everything happened so fast.” he
says, eyes welling up. “I’m sorry.” Taehyung nods, trying to think of what to even say. No one can
be indifferent to such a thing. It’s Namjoon. Everyone adored him.

“You can go now.” he finally speaks and Jimin shares a look with Yoongi before they both bow,
leaving the room. Jungkook leaves the papers aside, getting up right away. He almost runs towards
the desk. “We should change the plans we have involving Namjoon and the others and think
about… interviews and—”

Jungkook cups his cheek, making Taehyung face him properly. “I’m so sorry, Tae.”

Taehyung smiles. “What’s gotten into you? It’s just another man.”

Jungkook plops himself on his lap, hugging him as tight as possible. “It’s just us, Tae, you don’t
have to pretend with me.” Taehyung shakes his head.

“I’m not pretending.”

“You’re upset and sad, maybe even hurt.” he pulls back to be able to face him. “I know you are and
it’s ok— It’s normal, someone you were close to has died. It wasn’t just one of your men, it’s
Namjoon. I know you’re upset.”

“I’m not sad, stop this, we have to see what the next step is now, we can’t just lose five men and
—” Taehyung says as he tries to push him away but Jungkook holds his wrists, keeping him from
even attempting to push him off his lap. “Jungkook, please.”

“Just stop, Tae. Be honest with me.”

“There’s nothing I’m lying about.”

“Kim Taehyung, you and I both now that’s a lie. Please talk to me. You know your words are safe
with me.” Taehyung lets his hands fall between them, Jungkook still holding his wrists just in case.
“Talk to me.”

“I… I’ve known him for almost ten years. It’s kind of fucked up that he died and I couldn’t do
anything about it.” he finally says, looking down. Jungkook furrows his eyebrows, worried.

“You couldn’t have known, Tae. It wasn’t your fault.”

“But it was. I’d probably be the one driving but suddenly I’m too distracted by you— I’m too
compromised by listening to your opinion and now I don’t even get involved in these small
missions. I’d be the one driving.” his tone is colder and Jungkook’s shoulders sag.
“I know you have a hard time dealing with these things so I’m going to pretend that you didn’t just
say that.” Taehyung sighs, seeing just how hurt Jungkook actually is, and he hates it all a little
more. He didn’t even mean to say that.

He just lays his head to Jungkook’s shoulder, the latter running his fingers up and down his back
soothingly. “I know you were never upset with anyone’s death so this is probably even harder for
you… and it’s ok… I’m here.” Jungkook reassures again.

“I’m better alone.” he whispers.

“That’s not happening.” Jungkook pulls back, reaching for the cigarette pack on top of the desk,
getting a lighter from his pocket. He lights it up himself, exhaling slowly before he offers it to the
other. Nicotine always helps him calm down, he just hopes it will help somehow. He’s never seen
Taehyung upset, it’s a challenge to know what calms him down.

Taehyung accepts the tip of the cigarette on his lips, Jungkook holding it for him as he takes two
drags one after the other. He holds the smoke for a few seconds before letting it out to the side.
They both remain quiet, simply enjoying the smoke as Jungkook continues to shift it between the
two.

Quiet, until Taehyung breaks the silence. “I didn’t mean that.” he says.

“I know.” Jungkook reassures.

“I need to— Get the men…” Taehyung starts as Jungkook crushes the little end of the cigarette on
an ashtray but the other doesn’t let him get up.

“No, you need to take a minute. Have another smoke, maybe a drink. We can handle them
tomorrow. You lost someone important, you can take a moment, Tae. Hold on here, I’ll get us
some whiskey or something.” Jungkook taps his shoulder as he gets up from his lap.

“But—”

“No, we’re done for the day.” he says, final, and Taehyung sighs, holding his head in his hands as
Jungkook leaves. He doesn’t know how to process what he’s feeling, doesn’t know what to feel
either. He hates not having control over things.

He sighs.

“I brought three just in case.” Jungkook returns not even a full minute after, three bottles and two
glasses all balanced a little questionably. He plops himself on top of the desk in front of him,
placing everything down before he opens the first bottle. He fills both of the glasses.

“I don’t think we should be drinking.” Taehyung says.

“We definitely should.” he puts the bottle down, offering one of the glasses for the other to take.
Taehyung eyes it before groaning quietly.

“Jungkook, we have to focus and accept what happened, and move on, we—”

“Someone died. You’re upset. We’re not just going to ignore and move on. We’re going to take a
moment, and now you’re going to take the glass and enjoy some whiskey with me and we’ll grieve
him. Them. For today. We’ll figure it all out tomorrow. Let’s… grieve. For tonight.”

Taehyung nods, accepting the glass. Jungkook watches as he downs everything in a moment, face
cringing with the taste of whiskey. He doesn’t question, doesn’t comment, he simply fills
Taehyung’s glass again.

And again. And again. And again.

Enough times for him to lose count.

As the time goes by, as the hours pass where they’re mainly quietly drinking, Jungkook can see the
man before him getting drunker and drunker. He decides not to drink much himself, knowing
someone will have to be the sane one. It’s usually Taehyung, so he has to be responsible this time.
That’s why he only has two glasses while Taehyung finishes the first bottle by himself.

Jungkook fills up his glass again, already halfway gone through the second bottle. Taehyung takes
it, resting back against his chair. His tie is loose, his hair a mess from tugging on it, and Jungkook
can definitely appreciate the rosy tone to his cheeks.

“I just— I should’ve done something.” Taehyung finally says and Jungkook hums, taking a sip
from his own glass. He’s been waiting for the emotional talk to start, and he’s surprised it even
took so long. He would’ve been crying long hours ago.

“You couldn’t.” he reassures, shifting a bit from where he’s sitting on the desk.

“I’m the leader… I have to have everything under control…” he closes his eyes, voice slurred. “But
you—! Distract me. All the time.” he points with his glass in his hand.

“You’re not God, Tae, you can’t stop people from d—”

“I could if I stopped fucking around and— and having fun… it’s not worth it when people— I care
about—” he hiccups. “Die just like that.” Jungkook frowns.

“What do you mean it’s not worth it? You being happy doesn’t—”

“Do I look fucking happy to you?” Taehyung interrupts.

“Not— Not right now, you don’t, but usually… lately you do…” he says, quietly. Taehyung scoffs,
downing the rest of his glass. “Are you unhappy? With me?”

“Unhappy?”

“Yeah. Do you want me to leave you alone to work by yourself like you did before? Like—
Separate offices and all?” Jungkook asks, an ugly feeling in his chest. He knows he shouldn’t be
using Taehyung’s drunken honesty, but he can’t help it.

Taehyung pours himself another glass, half of it spilling onto the desk. “If we had been— vigilant,
we’d have thought about reinforcing the cars we us and we’re just fucking stupid. I’m stupid to let
your smile and shit to distract me.”

Jungkook stops him before he can drink more. “Do you really think I’m the problem?”

“I think… I’m the problem.” he frees his hand, downing another glass. He’s already seeing
everything blurry, there’s two Jungkook’s before him, so might as well just black out.

“Tae, you’re the smartest, most attentive guy I know, it’s no one’s fault.” Jungkook tries, watching
as Taehyung’s eyes roll back for a split second when he blinks. “That’s enough drinking for you.”
he puts the bottles away and Taehyung is quick to complain, reaching forward for them.
 “No, give that back—!” he burps. “Give me that.”

“It’s time for bed, c’mon.” Jungkook hops down the desk, helping him up. Taehyung tries to push
him away but not only is he so uncoordinated already, Jungkook’s still stronger. “We’re going to
bed. Now. Let’s go.”

“Don’t boss me around…” he slurs.

“Shut up.” Jungkook helps him walk to the bedroom, thanking God that it’s connected to the office
so that one sees Taehyung like that. Taehyung mumbles something under his breath. “Hm? Did
you say something?”

“I said stop trying to help me with this. Just— Just because people die around you more often
doesn’t mean that I don’t know what to do with someone’s death.” he mumbles and Jungkook just
drops him onto the bed. Taehyung falls face first into it.

“Yeah, because I just let everyone die, don’t I?” he asks, tone angry, but Taehyung doesn’t even
move, so Jungkook rolls him over, placing his legs on the bed as well. “You’re an asshole, I don’t
know why I even— try sometimes.”

“Neither do I.” Taehyung replies, contrary to his expectations. He thought he might’ve been asleep
already. Jungkook sighs, trying to keep Taehyung awake so that he’s cooperative to take his
clothes off. He decides not to even try to dress him, deciding the underwear he’s wearing is enough
to sleep on.

He sits down next to him then, hand stroking his messy grey hair. “I hope you get the world’s
worst hangover.” he whispers, still caressing his scalp.

“Why would you wish that for me…”

“Because your first reaction to being upset is trying to hurt others and I happen to be the one
always around you so now I always have to take it like a punching bag.” he says, only getting a
hum back. Taehyung’s more asleep than awake already. “I’m not mad because I know where this is
all coming from but I still hope your head hurts like a bitch in the morning.”

“Will you get me painkillers if I do?”

“Yeah.”

Taehyung rolls onto his side, hiding his face against Jungkook’s thigh that he hugs with his arms,
deciding that’s exactly how he’s going to sleep. “I don’t deserve you.” he mumbles.

Jungkook’s quiet for a moment, hand moving from Taehyung’s hair to stroke his cheek. “Damn
right you don’t…” he whispers with a little smile. “Sleep well, Taehyungie…”

│►

Follow me on twitter guys, also you can share your thoughts in the comments or privatly through
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Chapter End Notes

Chapter End Notes

So, let's discuss.

 ◄│ 5/6 │►
Chapter Notes

Before we start:
- Read the new added tags;
- Any scene with knife play where self-harm is intentional or any scene with
referrenced self-harm will still have an indicator before it starts;
- The 'major character death' does not apply for this part but for the last one, I just
figured I should give some time to prepare hehe;
- This got kinda long (34k lmao) so bear with it;
- Do enjoy it hehe.

Taehyung lets out a groan as soon as he opens his eyes, the light making his headache hurt ten
times harder and he hides his head with Jungkook’s pillow. He can’t stay in that position longer
than a few seconds as the pounding inside his skull doesn’t get any better, so he sits up.

“Shit…” he complains with his hands going to his head, grabbing it with both of them as though
it’d help in any way. He tilts his neck to the side, wanting nothing but to hear the bones cracking
and stops momentarily as his eyes fall on his bedside table.

There’s a glass with water and a napkin with a pill on top of it. He leans closer to grab the yellow
sticky note glued next to the glass. ‘I hope your head hurts like a motherfucker’ it reads. There’s a
heart drawn under it and he’s confused as to why would Jungkook even write that, so he just takes
the pill before he lays back down with his eyes closed.

“Oh, you’re awake.” Jungkook says as he enters the bedroom, watching as Taehyung blindly fixes
the covers over himself. “How are you feeling in this beautiful mor—”

“If you don’t lower your voice, I swear to God.” Taehyung interrupts, voice groggy and low.

“Does your head hurt?” Jungkook asks.

“Just breathing is hurting right now.” he replies and Jungkook smiles, clearing his throat before he
yells as loud as he can. He has to duck down to dodge the pillow Taehyung throws at him. “What
the fuck is wrong with you?! Oh my head—” Taehyung complains, positively regretting how loud
he himself spoke.

“That was for yesterday.” he says with a smile, picking up the pillow.

“What did I ever do to you?”

“Should I make a list, a letter or a full PowerPoint presentation?” Jungkook watches as Taehyung
opens his eyes, facing the ceiling quietly. He can almost physically see realization wash over his
face before he curses under his breath.

“It’s coming to me.” Taehyung admits.

“Good.” Jungkook throws the pillow back at him, specifically his face. “I hope you reflect on your
actions now.” he puts a knee on the mattress so that he can sit down next to him, a hand falling to
Taehyung’s abdomen. “How long ago did you take the pill?”

“Like— Right after you came in.” Taehyung stretches his arms before placing his hands behind his
head. Jungkook isn’t shy as he runs his eyes over his exposed chest before looking up again. “Why
are you here?” he asks. “You should be mad as fuck.”

“Because I know you didn’t mean what you said. Either that or I’m too naïve but I’d rather think
you’re not the asshole you seemed to be at the start.” Jungkook says with a shrug. “What I think is,
you—” he pokes his abdomen. “Just say whatever the fuck you can if you know will hurt the other
person in the moment whenever you see yourself in some kind of emotional situation. But I know
you don’t mean it. Not with me, at least. I mean— I sure as fuck hope you didn’t mean it. If you
did, I’m going to yell at you again. And cut off your balls. Or just the right one.”

“Why the right one?” he raises an eyebrow.

Jungkook shrugs. “I don’t know, whichever comes first.”

Taehyung chuckles as they both go quiet, Jungkook’s thumb caressing his abdomen. Taehyung
chews on the inside of his cheek before exhaling ever so slowly. “Jungkook, I—”

“Don’t.” Jungkook interrupts, tone soft. “It’s already forgiven, okay? I’m just glad that you didn’t
force me out of the room so that you could be alone.” he says with a slow shake of the head. “How
are you feeling, by the way? About… Namjoon. I’ve already requested a meeting in two hours
with both our teams. The entirety of them, not just our main men.”

“You’re too nice and definitely too forgiving, you should at least—”

“I yelled. That’s enough for me.” he kicks his boots off before he climbs into bed, laying down
beside the other. “I’m not mad, I won’t be mad just because you want me to, either.”

“Okay…” Taehyung nods. “About the meeting, I don’t know if I want to get up from here, my
head is killing me.” Jungkook hums as he leans closer, kissing the top of Taehyung’s head over the
mess of grey hair. Twice.

“Then don’t go. I’ll handle it.” he smiles.

“What will you tell them?” Taehyung asks, suspicious.

“Don’t worry about it, let me worry about today, alright? You should stay here. You drank like—
Like— There’s not even anything to compare that shit with.” Jungkook laughs quietly to himself.

“But they’re my men.”

“Our.” Jungkook corrects, holding a finger up. “I’m just going to tell them we’re reinforcing the
vehicles, increasing the number in groups… have more surveillance in the vehicles too and the
building, we can never be too safe. We’ve talked about this and never really decided to go forward
with the idea, so well, I’ve decided to go forward with it.” Taehyung opens his mouth so
Jungkook’s quick to go on. “Nah-ah, I’m not asking for your input, I’m informing you of what I’m
going to say to them.”

“Alright.” Taehyung nods. “Do what you think is best.” he says as he pulls Jungkook closer and
the latter can’t mask the surprise in his expression. He can’t believe Taehyung’s accepting it just
like that, not saying anything against it.

He’s even more surprised when Taehyung kisses him and settles again, just keeping him close like
that. Jungkook hums, content, closing his eyes too. He can take a nap — even though he should
definitely be thinking about what to say during the meeting — but he can take a nap.

“I didn’t mean anything I said last night, just to be clear, alright? You didn’t deserve it and I
shouldn’t have said it. You can’t excuse it just because I was upset and drunk. It wasn’t fair on
you.” Taehyung says, voice low, and Jungkook pulls back.

“Are you still drunk?” Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Are you like— dying or some shit?”

“Do you really think I’d die before killing you?” he asks and Jungkook giggles.

“Of course, I forgot about that.” Jungkook hums as he scoots closer again. Taehyung cups his
cheek before he presses their lips together ever so slowly. Jungkook’s tongue tastes of his morning
coffee. Taehyung has half the mind to complain about how sweet it is.

Taehyung pulls back, thumb running over Jungkook’s bottom lip. “I don’t say it often… but thank
you.” he whispers.

Jungkook gapes. “I’ll cry. You think I won’t?”

“Shut up, just lay here for a moment.” Taehyung says as he pulls Jungkook closer so that he’s
lying on top of him, Jungkook’s head resting on Taehyung’s chest. Jungkook has no reason not to
make himself comfortable.

He settles for tracing Taehyung’s chest tattoos, humming quietly to himself. He puckers his lips as
his finger traces over the small scars he has, circular in shape, and he sighs, holding himself back
from saying anything. He can’t ask. Not like that.

Instead, he looks up, chin prompted on Taehyung’s chest. “Do you promise that you’re ok?
About… About Namjoon?”

“It’s fucked up but... like I told you when Yugyeom died, just because they’re close doesn’t mean
they can’t make mistakes. Mistakes get you killed. I was just in shock, I didn’t see it coming. But
it’s ok. Thanks for... having the patience.”

Jungkook kisses his cheek, quietly. “Don’t thank me for being there when you need it. It’s like…
my job. You know, as your partner and all.” he smiles.

“How does it feel? Doing your job for once.” Taehyung teases.

Jungkook raises an eyebrow before scooting closer until his lips touch Taehyung’s ear. “I’ll yell
again. Right here.” he threatens, even though he doesn’t even mean it.

“Don’t. Just take a nap with me.”

“I have to prepare for the meeting…” Jungkook tries, making absolutely no move to get up.

“No, you don’t. You’re a natural, come here.” Taehyung shushes him, pulling his head back down
onto his chest.

“You’re saying that so that I stay.”

“No need to bring up what no one needs to know.” Jungkook tsks.

“Fine. I’ll stay. Whiny ass.” he mumbles under his breath, hiding his face in the crook of
Taehyung’s neck. He has to hold onto him when Taehyung tries to push him off.
“I don’t want you here anymore, get off.”

“Deal with it.”

│►

“…and, therefore, we’ll do as I’m telling you. Reinforce the cars and—”

“Is this really necessary?” Jungkook’s interrupted all of a sudden. Everyone turns to the man
speaking, one sitting on the right side of the room, where Taehyung’s men are. Everyone falls dead
quiet. “I don’t think we need your dramatic flair, it’s our people that—”

Jungkook rests back on the table he’s half sitting on, tilting his head. “Would you like me to tell
Kim what you just said? You should know by now that if he’s not here to be in charge, then I’m
the one you listen to and talk to with respect. Speak when you weren’t spoken to again, especially
when it’s to question my authority, and I’ll make sure you don’t speak at all. Was I clear?” he
watches as the man nods, looking away.

“Yes, sir.” he says.

“Good.” Jungkook diverts his eyes to the center of the room again. “So we’ll start interviews to
recruit five new men and maybe three or four only for security so expect new people around. Any
suggestions or recommendations, feel free to come to us.” as everyone agrees with his words, he
heads out towards the door.

But he stops, turning back to face Taehyung’s men. They fall quiet again.

“You have no idea the shit I save you from. Instead of questioning me, learn how to fucking say
thank you.” he says, tone clipped, before looking back as his own with a smile. “Take the day off
as someone has passed, I know it’s hard… but stay vigilant anyways.” with that, he leaves.

He lets out an exhale with a smile. He did well.

He returns to Taehyung’s bedroom with the same smile still on his face.

“Question my authority and I’ll use my knife to make sure you don’t speak again… that was a nice
one.” Taehyung comments as soon as he enters the room. Jungkook’s feet stop, a frown replacing
his smile. “What? I’m complimenting you.”

“Were you listening by the door?” he asks, frowning further.

“I’m literally in the same position you left me in.”

“Then how—” Taehyung raises his phone. Jungkook sighs. “You don’t trust me for shit, this is so
upsetting.” he says as he removes his leather jacket.

“It’s not you I don’t trust.”

“Who then? Your men?”

“When I’m not there to make them behave? Absolutely. They like to question you a lot.” Jungkook
hums, kicking his boots away.

“They’re all like you, suspicious as shit.” he points.

“I know, that’s how I taught them to be. Never trust anyone who’s not in your team. They also
learnt to hate you as hard as I did... we can’t blame them for still questioning you.” Taehyung
groans as Jungkook plops himself on top of him before rolling over to lay on the empty space in
bed.

“Well, look at me. I’m in their leader’s bed who, by the way, didn’t mind getting black out drunk
in my presence just some hours ago. It’s like when you go for the snake’s head. Cut the head of the
snake—” Taehyung raises an eyebrow.

“—and the body dies.” he finishes it off for him. “What are you trying to tell me? You’re planning
on cutting my head?” Jungkook looks away in thought before he shakes his head.

“Nah, that’s too much work cleaning up. If I killed you I’d probably twist your neck in your sleep
or some shit. But I won’t, worry not.”

Taehyung chuckles. He wasn’t worried, he knows Jungkook would never do that. For multiple
reasons. “Good.” he says, refraining from commenting further.

“But why? Are you a snake?” Jungkook asks with a smile before he gasps, loud and exaggerated.
“Are you still trying to kill m—” Taehyung tsks before placing a hand over his mouth.

“You talk too much.” Jungkook is quick to pull his wrist away.

“But did I do well in the meeting? I did, right?” he smiles. “I put that man of yours in his place.”

“You did indeed, princess.” Taehyung nods. “You did well.”

“Your men are so entertaining, though.” Jungkook chuckles as he rolls onto his back, hands resting
on his abdomen. “When you’re not around, they’re the funniest, they really think I won’t slit their
throats if they don’t start learning their place.”

“I’m sure they’re aware of that.”

“They better be because I’ll lose my patience one day and that’s a hard thing to happen.”

“I’ll shoot them before you can.” Jungkook turns his head to the side, mouth parted in surprise.

“That’s hot as fuck.”

Taehyung pulls the covers over himself. “My head hurts, it’s not happening.”

“I didn’t even do anything!”

│►

Jungkook hums a melody to himself as he heads for the office, pushing the door open without
bothering to knock because, really, why would he? His feet stop once he sees Taehyung’s talking to
someone who isn’t from their crew sitting across from Taehyung on the desk.

He locks the door as he finds the figure rather familiar and he walks around the desk, eyes
widening. “What is Jihoon doing here?”

“Uh, no, this is Minjun, he’s my new man.” Taehyung explains, waving a hand towards said male.

“What? No, his name is Jihoon, he’s been working with a group I’ve gone up against some time in
the past. He has a snake tattooed on his right shoulder, it’s the group’s symbol, if you don’t believe
my words, you can check it for yourself.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow, looking between the two.
“He’s known for his escape artistry and his undercover work… he’s not here to work for us, he’s
here for information.”

The man remains quiet before he pushes his chair back, trying to make a run for it, but Jungkook’s
faster to act, pulling him by his hair. Taehyung rests back on his chair as he watches the man try to
punch Jungkook, only to have his hand twisted in every possible direction. He’s punched soon
after. Three times. Taehyung has to say, he’s entertained.

Jungkook slams Jihoon’s head on the desk soon after, holding his hand out. Taehyung places his
gun on his palm, Jungkook cocking it as soon as it’s against the man’s temple. He really wasn’t
expecting to have such encounter, but he does really enjoy his hand to hand fights, so much more
entertaining than just shooting someone.

“I’m going to let go of you and you’re going to show him your shoulder, got it?” he warns,
watching the blood running all over Jihoon’s face. Jungkook lets go of him, warily so, and
Taehyung gets up to check if it’s indeed true.

He hums once he sees the tattoo. “How did you know about him?”

“I know a lot about a lot of people. I fight them with my bare hands, I have to know what I’m up
against.” Jungkook explains, both looking down at the other. “What have you told your boss?”

“N-Nothing yet, I promise, just— just let me go. I promise I won’t say shit.” the man begs,
desperate. Jungkook hums, looking back at Taehyung.

“What do we do with him?” he asks.

Taehyung shrugs. “Whatever you want, princess.”

“Hold this.” he hands the gun back with a smile and Taehyung uncocks it before putting it back on
his waistband. Jungkook walks closer, the sound of bones cracking filling the room when he twists
the man’s neck as fast as possible.

“Couldn’t you use a gun like a normal person?” Taehyung asks as Jungkook takes a step back for
the body to fall onto the floor. Jungkook hops on top of the desk, legs crossed.

“That’s not fun.” Jungkook says with a pout, taking a hand to his eyebrow. It’s bleeding. “Fighting
makes me horny. Killing /definitely/ makes me horny. Come here.” he makes grabby hands, legs
closing around Taehyung’s waist. Taehyung leans him back down on the table. “We’re just leaving
the body there, though?”

“Do you want to go take care of it right now?” Jungkook shakes his head. “Me neither.” he says,
nosing at Jungkook’s jaw. “What a little badass you are, hm?” Jungkook whines at the back of his
throat. Yes. Yes he is. “Is the door locked?”

“Mhm…”

“Good.” Taehyung bites his neck, moving down as he slowly unbuttons Jungkook’s black shirt.
“Little princess all protective, huh?”

“I can’t let my men be tricked by some dude.” he says, cupping Taehyung’s cheeks and pulling
him back up so that they’re at eye level. “Or put you in danger.” he whispers, thumbs caressing
Taehyung’s spotless skin.

Taehyung hums. “We’re always in danger.”

“True… but if I can prevent some of it, I will.” he says through a thick pout. “Now, can you do
something, or…? I just trashed this man with my bare hands, c’mon, I deserve a reward.”
Taehyung hums, sliding his hands up his shirt, thumbs caressing his soft skin, the curve of his tiny
waist.

“And what is it you want?” Taehyung asks, voice low.

“You know damn well what I want.” Jungkook says with a tsk. Taehyung chuckles, lifting
Jungkook’s shirt before he bends down, attaching his mouth to his right nipple right away.
Jungkook exhales shakily, hands on the back of Taehyung’s head, pulling him down further.
“Fuck… love when you do that.” he whines.

That’s enough for Taehyung to let go — not before tugging on the piercing a little too hard. He
moves his lips to Jungkook’s throat, pressing open mouthed kisses. He chuckles. “The dude’s eyes
are open, he looks like he’s watching.” he comments. “Want him to watch you? Hm?”

Jungkook turns his head to see what Taehyung’s referring to and his body almost shrinks. It does
like the deceased body is watching them. He whines when Taehyung holds his head like that, not
allowing him to divert his attention anywhere else.

“Imagine if he found out about this.” he teases, lips back to Jungkook’s chest. He presses a wet kiss
onto it, moving lower ever so slowly, hand still holding Jungkook’s head. “What if he walked in on
us instead of you walking in at that time? Imagine the enemy knowing just how well you take it.”
Taehyung goes on, kisses now circling Jungkook’s bellybutton.

“S-Stop saying that…” he whines.

“Hm, why? Wouldn’t it be so fun? If everyone knew how fast their boss’ legs open?” Taehyung
grabs his chin, forcing him to make eye contact again. “I wonder what they’d think when they
realize that their big badass leader loves to be treated like a little insignificant—”

“Tae—”

“—princess.” Jungkook doesn’t even have time to whine properly as he’s turned around so that his
chest is against the desk, head yet again forced to face the side, a hand fisting his hair rather
harshly. “Keep watching him.”

“It— It makes me feel shy…” he admits, a weird feeling on the pit of his stomach.

“Don’t you dare close your eyes. Have I been clear enough?” Taehyung’s voice sounds too
assertive for him to even try to say anything other than agreeing with it. It’s not like he’d ever not
do what Taehyung tells him, either way. “Keep watching him.” he repeats.

“I-I will…”

│►

Jungkook drops himself on Taehyung’s chair, body spent, Taehyung’s blazer around his shoulders.
He watches the latter as he put on his pants back, unbuttoning them as he looks at the body on the
floor.

He approaches the body after cuffing his button up sleeves, placing two fingers on the man’s throat
just to be sure. No pulse. Not that he was expecting to find one, Jungkook twisted the man’s neck
with enough force for them to be sure there wouldn’t be a pulse.
“Please be comfortable, you don’t have to do anything at all.” Taehyung tells him and Jungkook
lets out a weak giggle, if anything, making himself more comfortable on the chair.

“You’re doing great…!” he encourages. “How are you not sleepy? It’s— ass o’clock.”

“I am, but I’m not about to sleep with a body resting on my office floor. Just go to bed, I’ll be right
there.” Taehyung instructs.

“And not see your unfit ass try to carry him after wasting all your energy? Psh, you don’t know me
at all.” Jungkook teases. Taehyung just gives him a hard look. “Hurry up…! This body isn’t going
to cuddle itself.” Taehyung rolls his eyes.

Jungkook watches as Taehyung puts the man over his shoulder without much trouble, contrary to
his accusations. “I’ll be right back.” he informs and Jungkook nods, reaching for the first drawer
once Taehyung leaves.

He pushes past everything that is there until he finds what he’s looking for, a cigarette pack, and
he’s quick to pull one out, alongside the lighter. His body relaxes further as he takes a first drag out
of it, exhaling it ever so slowly.

His ears perk up once the door is open again and he tilts his head. “That was like— way too fast.
The fuck did you do to him?” he asks as Taehyung locks the door to the office.

“Just handed the body for someone to discard.” Taehyung shrugs. “Just asked someone to do their
job, pretty much.” Jungkook tsks, opening his arms when the other walks closer, and Taehyung
gets the message right away, so he picks him up. Jungkook offers his cigarette, Taehyung inhaling
some of it before they both lean in for a kiss, their smoke mixing up.

Jungkook allows himself to be laid down in bed and watches as Taehyung disappears into the
bathroom. He returns with a towel that he throws at Jungkook. Jungkook frowns. Turns out,
Taehyung cleaning him up really was just a one-time thing.

He holds himself back from complaining, placing the cigarette down on an ashtray before he
focuses on cleaning himself properly with the warm wet towel, Taehyung getting rid of his clothes
so that he can join him in bed. Which he does, soon enough.

Jungkook drops the towel on the floor next to the bed, putting the little end of the cigarette out as
Taehyung pulls the sheets up to their laps. He has a shirt in his hands and Jungkook gets the
message without the need for words. He puts it on, doing the poorest of the jobs at buttoning it up,
only closing three of the buttons to keep it from slipping off in the middle of the night.

Then he lays down. Taehyung does too, turning the lights off. “That was impressive.” he says, an
arm bent for Jungkook to use as a pillow. “I didn’t know that you’re that informed.”

“I don’t like to brag but I’m pretty amazing.” Jungkook says with a smile, looking up at the other,
though he can barely see anything in the darkness of the room. “You should definitely learn a thing
or two, you know.”

“I’ll let you have that one.” Taehyung agrees, fingers threading through Jungkook’s hair. The man
almost purrs at the sensation in his scalp, scooting closer, hand resting on Taehyung’s abdomen.
He draws invisible circles onto it, both of them falling silent.

He smiles again when he feels a kiss to his ear before Taehyung settles completely, hand coming to
a stop, clearly trying to fall asleep. Jungkook decides to do the same, arm around Taehyung’s
middle, quietly scooting even closer.
Neither moves a single inch after that.

That, until they’re woken up by loud knocks on the door a few hours later. Jungkook groans,
rolling over. “You go, I’m only in a shirt.” he mumbles, hiding his face into the pillow. Taehyung
rubs his eyes before sitting up.

He hates having his sleep disturbed like that.

Still, he puts on a pair of sweatpants given he had nothing but underwear on, before walking to the
door. He opens it carefully enough to cover the view of the inside, unwilling to let whoever that is,
see Jungkook in his bed.

That concern goes away once he realizes it’s Jimin. “I am so sorry to interrupt your sleep, sir, but
Mr. Jeon wouldn’t open his door and I don’t know if he’s dead or—” Taehyung steps aside
slightly, Jungkook already rolled over again so that his face is turned towards them. Jimin blinks.
“I— Sir. Hey.” he waves.

“Jimin.” Jungkook gives him a quick head nod, sheets pulled up to his shoulders, wrapped up like a
little burrito. Jimin clears his throat.

“Can you come here for a second?” he requests.

That’s enough for Jungkook to turn away again. “No, I can’t. Kim’s there, talk to him.”

Jimin puckers his lips before looking at the man in front of him. “What is Mr. Jeon doing in your
bed… sir?” he whispers. Taehyung raises an eyebrow, clearly not having it.

“Park, what do you want?” he asks, tone clipped.

“Oh. Oh! Yes, of course. I wanted do ask permission to lead some men to get some supplies that
we’ve run out of. And I’d also really like to leave now. You’re very intimidating. Sir.” Jimin
explains as quickly as he can, confidence wearing thin under Taehyung’s gaze. He knows
Taehyung doesn’t like him, it’s not very hard to tell.

“You woke me up to ask me if you can go do your job? The one I pay you to do?”

Jimin scratches the back of his neck. “I also thought my boss might’ve been dead, sir. But now I
see that he’s very much alive. N-Not that I mean anything by that— I just— I’d uh, I would’ve
gone there and ask him but— but he wasn’t in his room.”

“Let him be, Taehyung, he’s about to piss himself.” they both turn towards the source of the voice,
Jungkook not even facing them.

“Just leave.” Taehyung instructs. “Take whoever you need.” with that, he closes the door, locking
it properly before making his way back into the bed. Jungkook unrolls himself from the sheets to
allow him under them again. “That guy is really something else.” he comments.

“He’s been my best friend since forever… please don’t lose your patience with him, I’d have to kill
you afterwards too.” Jungkook threatens.

“So I can’t even punch him in the face?” Taehyung asks, looking like a scolded child. “What side
are you on?” he asks. Jungkook laughs quietly.

“Don’t ask questions that you won’t like the answers to.” he shows him his tongue, huffing when
Taehyung pulls him closer for a short peck. But that’s not enough, not for Jungkook, at least, as he
quickly joins their lips again, this time a little harder, definitely a lot longer, hand cupping
Taehyung’s cheek to keep him closer.

He’s not shy in the way he climbs onto the other but he hisses, breaking the kiss, as he accidentally
grinds down. He’s still naked and the friction isn’t oh so welcome. Taehyung kisses his forehead
before pulling his head down onto his chest. “Are you hurt?”

“No, just sensitive.” he pouts. “I think we might need to tone down in the next day or two.”

Taehyung chuckles. “You had this coming, you’re horny all the fucking time.”

“Technically it’s your fault. /You/ make me horny, so it’s not on me.” Jungkook still tries to defend
himself but he knows he doesn’t sound very convincing. If not at all. Taehyung opens his mouth
but he’s interrupted by the door as someone knocks again.

“S-Sir?” they both sigh.

“It’s your turn. I’ll actually kill him if I go there myself.” Taehyung warns and so Jungkook pushes
himself off, searching for a pair of sweatpants as he can’t really open the door like that. He’s not
even wearing underwear. He opens the door with a frown.

“You have the garage keys…” he informs, voice quiet. Jungkook turns back and Taehyung reaches
for the keys on the bedside table before throwing it at them. Jungkook catches them with just one
of his hands, handing it over. Jimin clears his throat before he whispers a quiet, “Were you two
cuddling?”

Jungkook tsks. “Don’t test your limits, just go before he actually loses it with you.” Jimin bows
with a nod and Jungkook laughs quietly to himself as he watches him walk away with a rush to his
step. He locks the door again. “If I have to get up again, I’ll kill him myself.” Jungkook complains
as he lays down.

“I’ll never understand how you let him talk to you like that.” Taehyung says with a chuckle, clearly
having heard what Jimin asked. “If Yoongi ever tried, he’d be a dead man already.”

“He’s my friend.” Jungkook shrugs. “We were friends before I told him… about this life, and he
didn’t want to leave, he wanted to stay anyways, which— not many people would do.”

“That’s actually nice of him.” Taehyung hums. “Is that why he’s your right hand?”

“He ignored the danger of being friends with me and just… stayed, so when the time came to pick
a right hand… I couldn’t possibly choose anyone else.” Jungkook explains.

“So he’s been disrespecting you ever since?” Taehyung asks with an eyebrow raised. Jungkook
frowns, just reaching for his phone. He groans, stretching his body.

“It’s past the time we usually get up and start… acting like scary people.” he informs, though he
makes no move to get up from his position. “Breakfast is over but I’m sure my men would’ve
saved something… because they care, you know.”

“Ah, so you’re saying mine don’t?”

“I’m saying that if yours saved anything then it’s because they’re too scared to eat everything.”
Taehyung tsks, rolling over in bed so that he’s lying on his back. Jungkook, ever so annoyingly,
scoots closer until he’s lying on top of him.
“Go make me a sandwich, then.” Taehyung instructs.

Jungkook blinks. “I’m sorry, what?”

“I said, make me a sandwich.”

“I’m failing to comprehend what you’re saying, Tae.”

“A sandwich.”

“If you think I’d ever be the person to make you a sandwich on command, you’re crazy.”
Taehyung chuckles. He knows that. He doesn’t even want a damn sandwich, to begin with.

“What kind of boy toy are you if you don’t even do what I asked?” Jungkook gasps, climbing
completely over him to meet his eyes. “What?”

“This is a really poor way to treat your—”

“—cock warmer?” Taehyung finishes it for him and Jungkook gives him a smile, almost looks
real, before he gets up from the bed, stretching his limbs once again.

“I think I have some poison somewhere, do you still want that sandwich? I’ll go make one, what do
you want with it? Ham? Some lettuce?” that does get Taehyung to laugh, albeit quiet. Jungkook
glares at him. “Now, I’ll go make myself a sandwich and I’ll eat it in front of you.”

“That’s alright from me, sweetheart, I didn’t actually want one.” he sits up. “Besides, I should be
working already, you’re a horrible influence, I can’t believe I’m in bed past ten.”

“One day you’ll realize that sleeping is so much better than what you think.”

“Sleeping is useless.”

“But it allows you to cuddle.” Jungkook points out. “And rest.”

“It’s wasted time. Sleeping is a waste of time where you could be doing useless shit.” Taehyung
still says, looking up when Jungkook yawns. A forced yawn. “I can’t stand you.”

“I can’t stand you either, get up, let’s get something to eat. And coffee.” Jungkook puckers his lips,
reaching for Taehyung’s hand for him to get up from bed as well. “And you, Taehyungie, are
making /me/ coffee for what you just said. Ah— Ah! Don’t start complaining, we both know
you’ll end up making it so spare us the bickering.”

“Again, I can’t stand you.”

│►

Jungkook looks up from the cards on the table where he’s been playing a very lazy version of
poker with some of his men, Taehyung sitting close to them after being dragged from the office.
He didn’t want to play but, in Jungkook’s eyes, it’s still a big step for him to even be there.

Jimin enters the room with some other men following suit, all looking worried, somewhat guilty.
“We uh, we have a problem.” he says. Taehyung crosses his arms where he’s sitting, looking angry
before Jimin even goes on. Jimin gulps. “We may have not paid for this because they were acting
up with us.” he explains, gesturing towards the men behind him, all holding different sized boxes.
Jungkook blinks.
“Acting up how?” he asks.

“They were being really fucking disrespectful because none of you were there so uh… we knocked
them out. But we realized our mistake so we… ran with the supplies. Pretty much.” no one in the
room dares to utter a word, knowing way too well how big of a problem they have created. “So we
may have started a war with one of our allies…” Jimin still adds, quietly.

“Jimin, are you fucking—”

Taehyung gets up. “Park, my office. Now.” Jimin drifts his eyes at Jungkook, looking terrified, but
Jungkook only gestures for him to do as said, as he gets up himself. Though Taehyung sends him a
look for him to stop, telling him to stay out of it without the need for words.

Jungkook isn’t very sure as to why, but he nods. “You all, go store what you brought in.” he tells
the other ones, gesturing towards the door. They do as told, no one saying a single word.

Jimin’s legs shake as he walks after Taehyung, shaking even harder as he sits down in front of him,
the desk between them. “Will you put a bullet through my brain right now?” he asks, gulping
nervously.

“Trust me, that’s exactly what I want to do right now.” Taehyung’s voice is far away from nice,
posture rigid. “For now, we have to fix your rookie mistakes and go there ourselves to pay and try
not to let them end business with us. You really wouldn’t like it if that happened.”

“Sir, we’re really sorry.” Jimin tries. “We—”

“What the fuck made you think that was a good idea?!” Taehyung half yells, voice strong,
intimidating. Jimin feels himself shrinking on his seat. “Even if they decide to keep business with
us, didn’t you think they might start a war against you and your own? Not everyone’s aware of our
alliance yet. Be careful where you tread. Jungkook and I’s protection may not always be able to
supply for you all, especially when you’re a fucking idiot.”

“I was trying to prove to you that I could… do something…” he looks down. “I didn’t think well.”

“Well you should’ve thought, Park. Because now we may step there and be greeted with guns to
our heads just b—”

“I’ll go instead.” he immediately says. “It was on me, I’ll go.”

“No, you won’t. They will kill you the moment they see you, and then Jungkook wouldn’t hesitate
before starting a war for you. I’ll just have to fix your fucking mess. Now just leave my office, I
have calls to make.” Taehyung gestures, Jimin getting up right away.

“Would you like me to tell Mr. Jeon to come in…?”

Taehyung takes a moment. “Yes, actually.” Jimin nods, bowing before he leaves the room.
Taehyung runs a hand through his hair, thinking of what to even do from then on. He looks up
when there’s a knock to his door, Yoongi poking his head in before entering the office, followed
closely by Jungkook.

Jungkook takes a sit in front of him while Yoongi just stands by the desk. “So, what do we do?” he
asks, looking between them.

“What supplies did they even bring? What did we steal from them?” Jungkook asks.
“I didn’t go with them, I stayed behind to look after things, I don’t know what they brought in…”
Taehyung rubs his eyes, a headache slowly but surely forming. “Can you just call them and
explain? Say Jimin is a new guy, I don’t know.” Yoongi suggests.

“And all the other men with them? I doubt they’d believe that. Besides, we wouldn’t send a new
man leading them.” Taehyung points out. “Park’s a fucking dumbass.”

“I’m going to get a list of everything they took, give me like… five minutes.” Yoongi informs and
Taehyung gives him a head nod. His right hand bows before leaving the office. Jungkook’s
shoulders fall, his body shrinking within itself, hands going up to cover his face.

Taehyung reaches across the desk to pull his wrists away. “This isn’t your fault.” he says, quietly.

“Maybe it is. Maybe you’re right. I give him too much freedom.” Jungkook starts, and he’s never
looked that guilty before. “They’re my men, they should know better than that, I thought I’d—”

“Blaming yourself isn’t going to fix anything. Coming up with a way to solve this will.” Taehyung
interrupts. “Stop sulking, start thinking.”

Jungkook pouts. “Okay…”

“It’ll be fine, alright? We’ll figure it out. We—” he stops, sitting back when there’s a knock to the
door. Yoongi steps inside again, holding the house phone. “Who is it?” Taehyung asks. Yoongi
just gives him a sigh before handing over the phone.

Jungkook bites down his fingernails as they both stare at Taehyung. “The man leading them is new
to my crew, he acted out of limits and the team seriously had nothing to do with it.” Taehyung says,
tone impressively calm to the situation at hands. “Yes, of course we’re going to take care of him.”
Jungkook’s eyes grow big, hand aggressively waving for him to take that back, but Taehyung only
gives him a firm look.

“Park’s as good as dead.” Yoongi mumbles.

“Shut it.” Jungkook says through gritted teeth.

“Proof?” they both turn back to the other man. “How the fuck do you expect proof?” Taehyung
scoffs at whatever he’s told from the other side. “Can we just pay double of what they stole instead
of having to do that? We’ll hand it over ourselves.” Jungkook nods, agreeing. “Triple. Fine.”
Taehyung sounds a little more done with the topic the more he speaks. “You’ll have it by night
time.” he ends the call with that, putting the phone down.

“So?!” Yoongi says right away.

“What did they say?” Jungkook hurries him to go on.

“We need to pay them triple by tonight, with Jimin present, or they’ll just, you know, attack us and
kill Jimin or some bullshit like that.” Taehyung explains. Jungkook runs a nervous hand through
his hair, unable to understand how Taehyung sounds so calm.

“Why does Jimin need to be there?”

“Because if it’s the wrong amount, they’ll kill him on the spot.”

“But will— Are they still keeping business with us? Or did we lose that?” Yoongi asks, just as
calm as Taehyung is. Jungkook wonders if it’s just him worrying about Jimin’s safety and their
own. They both sound like it’s just a small inconvenience.

“We’ll discuss that once we get there, that’s not something to do over the phone.” he says as he
gets up. “Now, let’s get their shit ready to be handed, you and Park will go with us. We leave in an
hour.” that’s enough indicator for Yoongi to bow and leave, knowing what he must do next.

Taehyung walks around the desk once the door closes. “This is my f—”

“Jungkook, I swear to God, get your ass up from that fucking chair and stop blaming yourself.”
Jungkook frowns but does as told, expression still closed off. “It’s not your fault that Park’s fucking
incompetent. Now, be the competent boss you are, and let’s fix their mess.” is all he says before he
walks out of the office and Jungkook runs a hand over his face to gather himself.

Taehyung’s right, it’s not his fault.

And it coming from Taehyung immediately makes him feel better, to begin with.

It’s with a new fresh wave of confidence that he walks out of the office as well.

│►

Jimin walks quietly behind the other three once they get out of the car, already back home, a few
hours later. It went better than expected, but the scolding he had to listen to the whole ride back,
still plays on the back of his head. He knows they’re both mad at him, but Taehyung was very
vocal about it.

Jungkook, not so much, which worries him even more. He must be disappointed.

“Hey… can you come here for a second?” he whispers, holding onto Jungkook’s forearm. The
other two don’t stop walking into the house, so they’re left alone soon enough. “I’m really sorry
about what happened… I had no idea it would escalate this much.”

“You could’ve ruined a lot of things, you know that, right?” Jungkook says as he crosses his arms.

“I wanted to make you proud… and to get Mr. Kim to trust me for once.” he mumbles, eyes on his
feet, certainly more interesting than Jungkook’s hard gaze. He’s never that angry, not at him, at
least, which makes it a lot harder to deal with. He doesn’t know what to do or say.

“By attacking an allied group during a trade?” Jimin feels like he could lay down and stay there.
On the floor. Jungkook sighs. “I really can’t defend you on this, Jimin, you really messed up. On
top of that, messed with one of their allies… you were lucky he didn’t shoot you when you told us
what you did.”

“I know…” he looks up, eyes shiny. “I’m really sorry, sir.”

“It’s fixed… it’s okay. Just— Just learn from it, alright?” Jungkook still gives him a small smile.

“Why didn’t he, though?” Jimin asks, his boss tilting his head, confused by the question. “Shoot
me, that is. Why didn’t he shoot me? We all know he wanted, then why didn’t he?”

“He wouldn’t hurt you if I said not to. Which I’ve been doing.” Jungkook decides to be honest and
Jimin puckers his lips in a small pout, nodding.

“So I’d be dead by now if you hadn’t?”

“Most likely.”
Jimin nods again, scratching the back of his neck. “He hates me a lot, doesn’t he?”

“You really didn’t do anything in your favor by doing this.”

“What can I do? I just want the man to hate me less, he’s hated me from day one, he doesn’t even
let me talk to him without giving me a glare. I just want to make you two proud but— God, he’s so
difficult. How did you—? I don’t get it.”

Jungkook shrugs. “Maybe try to gain his trust. You haven’t given him a reason to trust you.” he
points. “And I’m always proud of you, even if you fuck up sometimes.”

Jimin’s eyes light up. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Now go to bed, it’s late.” Jungkook offers a new smile before turning to walk away.
Jimin skips to walk beside him. He raises an eyebrow when Jungkook doesn’t head for the
staircase like he does but, instead, walks ahead.

“So you’re not going to your bedroom.” he points out. “Are you going to his?”

“Hey, don’t be so nosy.” Jungkook tsks. “But yes.”

“Hm, alright. I don’t see anything, I don’t see anything.” Jimin places his hands over his eyes as he
starts climbing the stairs and Jungkook chuckles to himself with a shake of the head, entering the
office. He locks the door, heading for Taehyung’s bedroom.

Taehyung’s already putting on a pair of sweatpants when he gets there. “Did Park hold you back?”
Taehyung asks without even turning towards him, climbing onto the bed.

“Yeah, he was apologizing.” Taehyung just hums, grabbing his phone. Jungkook pulls his shirt off,
kicking his shoes away as well before walking closer to the bed as he opens the button of his pants.
“Are you mad at him?”

“He wouldn’t be among us anymore had he not been your friend.” Jungkook frowns, nodding. “I
guess he’s just a lucky man.” Taehyung says as he puts his phone down, watching as Jungkook
discards his pants before joining him under the covers.

“He really wants you to like him.”

“I don’t like anyone.”

“You like Yoongi.” Taehyung hums.

“I respect Yoongi, it’s different.” Jungkook holds himself back from putting his name in the
conversation. If Taehyung said no he’d be left sulking, he knows himself enough. So he simply
scoots closer, laying his head on Taehyung’s arm, a leg going over his.

His hand focuses on creating invisible shapes over Taehyung’s chest tattoos, fingers ever so
slightly tracing them as well. “Tae?” he calls, eyes on the small round scars on his chest. They’re
barely noticeable, they’re covered by tattoos, but when Jungkook’s looking so up close, he can’t
pry his eyes away. “I’ve been dying to ask and I’ve just decided that I don’t care if you flip on me
for asking. Why do these look so much like cigarette burns?”

“Ah, yes, those. That was my dad.” Jungkook blinks, looking up right away. “To toughen me
up…?” his tone turns questioning towards the end, confused by Jungkook’s incredulous frown.
“He burnt you?!”

Taehyung chuckles, not really understanding what’s so shocking about it. “He shot me once too,
this is really nothing. Lay back down, go to sleep.” he says, pushing Jungkook’s head down until
it’s laying back on his chest.

“Tae— No— What the fuck—” Jungkook says, debating to get away from the hand pushing his
head down. “Why would you dad do that?”

“Your dad never did that to you?” he asks as if it’s nothing and Jungkook’s never looked that
shocked before. “Hm, probably why you’re so soft.”

“I’m not soft, you’re just— fucking traumatized, no wonder you’re so cold towards everything.”

“I’m not /traumatized/, you’re being dramatic as per usual.”

“Yes you are! Your own dad shot you? Burnt you?! How did he even— Why did he— Did he do
anything else like that?!” Jungkook asks as he sits up. “Did he do anything else?”

Taehyung sighs. “You’re going to make a drama about this.”

“So… something immediately came to your mind. What was it?” Taehyung looks away. “Tae,
c’mon, tell me…” he encourages, tapping his abdomen.

“When I was twelve, he grabbed me by my shoulders and sat me down in front of one of his
favorite men. Almost every men he had was there too.” Jungkook gulps. “I was handed a gun and
he told me there was space for twelve bullets in the gun. For my birthday and all. There was only
one bullet put in. He uh… he told me the man played that all the time and if he was there, he never
lost it. That was kind of nerve wrecking.”

“Jesus… You were a fucking kid, why—”

“I remember I was scared, I think, but my dad told me it would be fine. And I hadn't killed anyone
before that so when he handed me the gun, I was shaking, I won't lie to you, it took a lot from me
to pull the trigger but nothing came out... I was sweating when I gave him the gun after. This went
on for so long and— I think I cried at some point, I don't remember, it's a very torturous game.”
Jungkook really wants him to go on, feeling almost special to be able to know more about
Taehyung, but what he hears makes him want to put a stop to it right away.

“Tae, you don’t have to go on.” he tries.

But Taehyung shakes his head. “The worst part was that some sick part of me was relieved when it
finally shot. When he finally died. I was relieved, I relaxed and my dad told me that it was it.
That’s when I should’ve known I was too far gone. To just— be relieved that someone is dead by
your hand just so that you can stop. I-I think— I think that was the last time I really felt anything at
all. I shut down. I just… stopped being afraid or nervous or scared. It was my first kill, and—and I
think a big part of me died with it too.” Taehyung speaks, eyes on his hands, only to look up when
he hears a little sniff. “Are you c—”

“No.” Jungkook looks away.

“Why are you c—”

“I’m not.”
“Hey, come here.” Jungkook doesn’t need to be told twice before he leaps onto Taehyung’s lap,
hugging him as tight as he possibly can. Taehyung finds himself chuckling. “What’s up with you?
Why are you tearing up?” he asks, chuckle still dying on his lips.

“I called you an ass so many times, you’re just what your dad made you to be, I’m so fucking
sorry. You deserved better, ever since you were a kid. I’m so sorry.” Jungkook whispers into the
crook of his neck.

“It’s ok, I mean it. I don’t care. I never think about it either, I haven’t even thought about that in
ages.” Jungkook pulls away to run his finger over the marks and he gulps before looking up into
Taehyung’s eyes properly.

“I know we don’t say these things often but… I have a lot of respect for you. You’re not just an
ass, you’re not just mean… you were just a kid who didn’t know any better.” Taehyung rolls his
eyes but Jungkook cups both of his cheeks, forcing him to keep eye contact. “Thank you for letting
me get to know you.”

“Just come here…” Taehyung kisses the bridge of his nose, hands rubbing the sides of Jungkook’s
thighs as their lips meet for a slow, deep kiss. They both pull away slowly, eyes opening at the
same pace. Jungkook smiles to himself, thumb caressing Taehyung’s cheek right above his tattoo.
Then his smile drops.

“Tae?” Taehyung hums. “I…”

“You…?”

Jungkook looks back up at his eyes and he gulps. “Nothing.” he smiles, a little nervous, before
ending the space between them again in a quick peck. “Should we lay down? All that Jimin crap
gave me a headache.”

“Yeah… let’s lay down, my mood’s beyond ruined because of all that shit.” Taehyung nods,
allowing him to lay back down, head on his chest his time, instead. He bends down to press a kiss
to the crown of Jungkook’s head.

Jungkook smiles to himself, snuggling closer. He’s happy. He’s really content. Evert time
Taehyung opens up to him, he feels them growing closer, and he loves that. The mutual trust, the
mutual care, even if no one knows about it. Well, no one except Jimin.

It makes it all even more exciting.

Especially in moments like these.

│►

Taehyung’s feet stop once he opens the door to his office and his eyes fall on the desk. There’s a
bouquet of flowers, a lit candle and some chocolates. He quickly looks around, ready to tell
Jungkook to get that nonsense away from his work place, but he sees Jimin peeking in the corner.

Jimin steps closer once he realizes he has been seen. “Hi, sir. I hope you like chocolate.”

“I don’t.”

“W-Well, uh, do you like flowers, sir? I went out e-early to get those…” he gestures, shyly.

“Flowers give me allergies but nice try.” Taehyung says, tone clipped.
Jimin sighs, defeated. “I just want to make you proud, sir.”

“You’ve been doing a shitty job at that.” he says before he turns around, Jimin being left staring at
the now closed door. Taehyung blows the candle, effectively putting it out. The door opens not
even ten full seconds after and, judging by the lack of knocking, it’s not Jimin.

“Aw, you got me chocolates?” Jungkook asks, already grabbing one to open.

“Park is trying to win me over with fucking chocolates and flowers.” Taehyung says with a roll of
the eyes, walking around the desk to sit down. “He gets dumber every day.”

“That’s kind of cute… what did you tell him?”

“That I don’t like chocolates or flowers. And he said he’s trying to make me proud, so I let him
know he’s very far behind that.” Jungkook stops munching on the chocolate he has just popped
into his mouth, walking around the desk as well, an open chocolate bar in hand.

“We’re learning basic fucking manners today.” he informs, plopping himself on the other’s lap. He
takes a new bite from the chocolate. “When someone does something good to you, with a good
intention, you have to say thank you.”

“They’re doing their job.”

“Fucking say thank you. Again. What if… I do something nice to you, what do you say?”
Jungkook tries, pointing with the chocolate he has in his hand.

“Uhm… Good boy?” Taehyung has to keep back an amused smile at the frustration in Jungkook’s
expression. He’s just so easy to annoy.

“I swear to God, focus.” Jungkook punches his chest with no strength. “When someone says
they’re trying to make you proud, what do we say?”

“If it comes from someone who keeps fucking up, like Jimin, I say what I just did.”

“No! You encourage them to keep trying.”

“But it’s fucking moronic to go out of their way—”

“They’re being /nice/. So, we’ve got that part down already, when someone does something /nice/
what do we say?” Jungkook asks, a hopeful smile adorning his lips. Taehyung looks thoughtful for
a split second. “C’mon, go on.”

“You did your job.” Jungkook’s smile turns into a frown.

“You’re not even trying.”

“Of course I am.” he lies. He’s not trying at all.

“Well, try harder. We’re not going anywhere today if you don’t give me what I want and we both
know that, so—” he takes the last bite from the chocolate. “—if someone does something nice or
good, what the fuck do we tell them?” he smiles.

Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Thank you.” he says, as monotone as ever.

“Yes! Thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything nice.” Taehyung points out.

“Yes you did, you did well.” he pats Taehyung’s head twice.

“Right, is the lesson over? Because we have shit to go over.”

Jungkook puckers his lips. “What do we say when we want something?”

“Fuck out of my lap so that I can see my laptop and see down on the chair?” that really does get
Jungkook frowning again. Taehyung grins. “Please, princess?”

“Actually… I’m not mad at that. But you can’t call everyone princess, though. That’s not allowed.”
he says as he turns around so that they’re both facing the desk. They both quiet down then,
Jungkook grabbing a pen so that he can be the one taking care of the files for once, Taehyung
handling the laptop.

He scoffs to himself as he writes down. “What?” Taehyung asks.

“I was just thinking about you calling the other men by princess. I’d fucking shoot them.”

Taehyung takes a moment of silence before he hums. “That’s all I have to do for you to kill Jimin?
You could’ve said that a long time ago.” Jungkook turns his neck to face him, glaring. “I’m
kidding…! I can’t even put his name and princess in the same sentence.”

“Why do you hate him so much? He’s a good guy.”

“I don’t hate him, I just strongly despise him.” Jungkook rolls his eyes, putting the pen down to get
up from Taehyung’s lap once they hear someone knock on the door.

“Can I come in?” Jimin asks from the other side so he sits back down as Taehyung gives him
permission to come in. Jimin’s holding two mugs with what smells like coffee and he stops,
looking at the two of them, how Jungkook’s sitting on his lap even though they’re seemingly
working, and it takes him a second too long before he closes the door with his foot.

“What do you want?” Taehyung asks.

“I uh—” he stops, stepping closer to place the mugs down.

“Thank you, Jimin.” Jungkook says, grabbing one of the mugs. “Does it have sugar?”

“That one does, this one doesn’t…” he gestures with a hesitant smile, balancing himself on his
heels as he musters the courage to speak. He’s been dwelling on something ever since he found out
what his bosses’ have going on and he figures he’s already on thin ice, so there’s no reason not to
just go for it. “Can I say something, sir?” he still asks.

“Make it fast.” Taehyung gestures with a hand, eyes back to his laptop, not very interested.

Jungkook’s still writing down, but it’s not his attention that Jimin wants at the moment, anyways.
“I get that you’re our boss and you’re Kim Taehyung and you might kick my ass for this but… that
man right there—” he points. “—is my best friend and if he gets out of this hurt, I-I will kill you. In
your sleep.” he threatens, knees shaking.

Jungkook looks up, alarmed. “Jimin…?!”

Taehyung’s eyes leave the laptop’s screen as well, back relaxing against the chair. “You’ll kill
me?” he asks, amused. Jimin nods, absolutely terrified, but he nods, part of him already preparing
his goodbye speech in his head. But Taehyung only reaches for his coffee, taking a sip. “Thank
you for the coffee, you may leave now.”

Jimin blinks. “I-I mean it, sir.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“Okay. Keep that in mind, sir.”

“Yes, of course.”

Jimin still bows a perfect ninety degree angle before leaving. Jungkook reaches for a new
chocolate. “I don’t know what’s more surprising, the fact that he walked out of here or the fact that
you said thank you but, either way, I’m proud for this character development.”

“I’m actually impressed.” Taehyung admits. “His loyalty to you is impressive. He was terrified and
shaking, fucking stuttering, and still had the audacity to threaten to kill me.”

“You know that if he knows about this, he’s going to cry.”

“That’s why I didn’t say anything. I can’t stand crying people.” Taehyung shrugs. “Now focus,
let’s get this done before lunch.” Jungkook hums, munching on the new bar of chocolate. “You’re
really getting diabetes one day.”

“Diabetes is the least of my concerns. If that’s what kills me, I’ll go happy.” Jungkook defends.

“If you think so, who am I to say otherwise.”

“Thank you.”

│►

Jungkook sits himself on top of the desk as he watches Taehyung store the files, opening another
small chocolate. “Stop eating that, you’re going to get cavities.”

“I thought it was going to be diabetes.” he shows Taehyung his tongue as the man sits back down
on the chair on front of him, reaching for his phone. Jungkook munches quietly, Taehyung typing
whatever it is away on his phone, clearly texting someone.

Jungkook raises his hand to lightly trace the letters across Taehyung’s cheeks, which makes their
eyes meet soon enough. “This is the best tattoo you have.” he says.

“Why is that?”

“I love face tattoos. I don’t really have any but I like them… besides, it makes you really hot.”
Jungkook shrugs, Taehyung humming, eyes back to his phone. Jungkook doesn’t like that, he
enjoys having the attention on him. “Do you want to know a secret?”

“Sure, what is it?” Jungkook pouts when that still doesn’t get Taehyung’s eyes back on him.

“I’ve always found you hot.” he admits.

“I’m pretty aware of that, it’s not like you didn’t suck me off almost im—”

“No, no, I’m talking about before. Like— When my dad slammed a file with your picture on
saying you were the enemy’s son.” now yes, Taehyung’s eyes meet his, eyebrow shooting up in
surprise. “Yeah.”

“You— Are you for real right now?” Jungkook only nods, popping the rest of the chocolate into
his mouth. They’re too small, he deems. “No, you’re not.”

“I am! It was an unapproachable type of hotness, though. You had that cheek tattoo already and
you were hot, that’s it.” he hops down from the desk, straddling Taehyung’s lap instead. He’s
found that to be way more comfortable than chairs lately. “I hated you, either way. Still hate you,
to be honest, but we’ve learned to live with that.”

“Hm.” Taehyung nods in agreement, hands tapping his butt before simply resting there.

“Did you find me hot too?”

“I asked if it was a joke.” Jungkook blinks. “You looked fucking funny with the haircut you had on
the picture.” he admits, trying to hold back a chuckle, and Jungkook doesn’t think he’s ever been
that offended before. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“My closeted thirteen year old self popped a secret boner and you thought I was a joke. I can’t
fucking believe this, I actually hate this.”

“Listen, my dad picked a bad picture.” he tries. “Not my fault.” Jungkook crosses his arms, looking
away with a frown. Taehyung tries to remain serious but he ends up snorting. “You were really
next to your dad hiding a boner for the enemy… that’s so embarrassing.”

Jungkook looks back to him with an eyebrow raised. He just offers a smile before leaning on for a
kiss. His tongue tastes like chocolate and Taehyung almost pulls back to complain, hadn’t it been
for the hand at the back of his head, keeping him there.

His hands are still resting where Jungkook’s thighs meet his butt and he simply moved them a little
higher, rounding them on his hips. He ends up grabbing his waist when Jungkook starts circling
his hips, movements hard, pressing down with intent.

He moans softly into the kiss, fingers tugging on Taehyung’s hair.

He’s happy when Taehyung allows him to move his kisses to his jaw, following the tattoo on the
side of his neck, hands slowly feeling around Taehyung’s biceps. He focuses on sucking hickeys
onto the expanse of his neck

Taehyung’s never really vocal, Jungkook doesn’t think he’s ever heard an actual proper moan from
him — which is beyond upsetting — so the vibrations he feels against his lips from the low groans
are a massive turn on.

He moves back to his lips, their tongues meeting.

Jungkook bites down on Taehyung’s bottom lip, pulling it as he breaks the kiss. He then pecks
him, getting up. “Who’s the one with the boner now?” he asks with a smile, grabbing another
chocolate before walking to the door. “Get ready for lunch in five… I guess it’s your turn to hide.
Embarrassing.”

“Hey, come back.” Taehyung instructs.

“No, I don’t think I will.” he smiles even bigger.

“You—” the door closes. Taehyung looks down at himself before chuckling. “—bitch.”
│►

“…I’m going to bed, my eyes are closing already.” Jimin informs, getting up from the bench in the
backyard as he puts his cigarette out. Jungkook’s eyes grow big in alarm.

“Why so early?” he tries to get him to sit down again. “Smoke another one.”

“Nah, I’m good.” Jimin denies, missing the push in the other’s voice. “We’re in pajamas and my
ass is freezing, let’s head inside. Besides, you’d probably rather be cuddling someone we know
rather than sit here in the cold.”

“Actually. No. I’m avoiding that. I’ve avoided him since lunch.” he admits, crushing the end of his
cigarette with his shoe. “But I guess I can’t do that any longer.”

“Whatever the reason is, you can always just sleep in your own room.”

“No.”

“Well— then I guess we all must man up sometimes.” he smiles. “I’m going to bed, freeze your ass
off or go inside too.” Jungkook rolls his eyes but gets up too, following after him. They part ways
with a simple good night and Jungkook takes his time walking to the office.

He locks the door before entering the room. Taehyung looks up but looks back to his phone right
after. Jungkook frowns. “Will you just stand there?” Taehyung asks.

“Depends. Are you going to beat my ass?”

“It’s not really on my plans at this very moment, no.”

“So you’re not mad?”

“Just lock the door.” Jungkook steps in, closing the door behind himself, locking it. He walks
closer to the bed, a bit hesitant, as Taehyung puts his phone down on the nightstand. “By the way,
I’ll get back at you for that one.”

Jungkook stops. “Take that back or I’ll leave.”

“Leave then, I’m not taking anything back.” he hums, covering himself with the sheets. Jungkook
drops his weight on top of him, frowning. “Right as you’re finishing, when you’re right there…
I’ll stop.” Taehyung smiles. “Good night.”

“Tae— No, I cannot sleep like this.”

“But I can. Good night.” he pushes Jungkook away, closing his eyes. Jungkook sighs. Then he
pulls the covers over himself before sighing again. Not even ten full seconds go by before he sighs
once more. “Is there something bothering you?”

“Promise you won’t take revenge.” Taehyung is quick to deny. “I’m not letting you sleep until you
assure me that you won’t do anything about this.”

“Don’t make me tie you to the bed.” Jungkook giggles, climbing on top of him. “Just lay the fuck
down, I want to sleep, I wake up early, remember?”

“What if I like, give you the best suck ever? Mind blowing type shit. Will you let it go then?” he
tries to negotiate. Taehyung doesn’t reply. “Three?” again, nothing. “Tell me what I can do then.
You know I’m paranoid as shit, you can’t do this to me.”
“I can. And you can let me sleep.” Jungkook whines. “You keep going about it and you’ll wake up
blue balled. Get off of me.” he pushes him into a laying position again.

Jungkook only then processes the threat. “If I wake up to you sucking me off and you stop, I’ll
probably fucking cry.”

“Only if I stop?”

“You think I’d be mad if I woke up to that? I’d be mad if I couldn’t enjoy.”

“Hm. Good to know. Good night.” Taehyung rolls over, turning his back to him. Jungkook gapes
with an angry frown, manhandling Taehyung until he’s being back hugged properly.

“You’re really mean.” he mumbles into the dark room.”

“Stop bitching all the time.”

Jungkook scoffs. “Stop bitching all the t—” his attempt at copying Taehyung’s voice is interrupted
by a hand covering his mouth and so he huffs, settling. Taehyung doesn’t remove his hand and he
finds he doesn’t exactly dislike it, so he eventually closes his eyes, scooting back.

Taehyung closes his eyes too.

Jungkook doesn’t complain further.

│►

“How many boxes?” Yoongi asks, five other men behind him.

“Bring ten, that should be enough for now.” Taehyung instructs, eyes catching Jimin sulking in the
corner of the hall. “Take Park with you.” he focuses his attention on the latter, Jimin perking up
and almost running so that he’s next to Yoongi. “Don’t fuck up.”

“I promise I won’t.”

“I wouldn’t even let him return if he did.” Yoongi points out, only to get elbowed. He elbows back.
Jimin makes a move to punch him, stopping immediately when Taehyung clears his throat. They
both face him again.

“I want those ten boxes here, no casualties. Drop anything on my desk other than this and you’ll
regret it.” he assures. “Now, get out of my sight.” they all bow, turning around. Taehyung fixes his
suit as he heads back to the office. Jungkook’s still working on some paperwork that he’s decided
to do, tongue poking against his cheek in concentration.

“I’m almost done.” he says, proud of himself. “Record time, huh?”

“Not bad for someone who never reads shit.” Jungkook only gives him the middle finger. “Don’t
make me break that, Kook.”

Jungkook gasps. “Did you just call me Kook?”

Taehyung sits down across from him, pulling his gun from his waistband and a small cloth and a
set of bullets from the desk. “You must’ve heard wrongly.” he says, eyes on the gun as he starts
loading it. “Focus on reading.”

“Does this mean I get to call you Taehyungie? No—! TaeTae.” Jungkook snorts when Taehyung
gives him a firm glare, looking back down at the gun. “Sweetie pie…” he puts his pen down.

“Wha—”

“Little munch—”

“Stop.”

“Sugar—”

“Jungkook, I swear to G—”

“What about dadd—”

“You’re asking for it.” the sound of the gun being cocked should intimidate him but it only makes
him smile harder, amused. “Just finish the damn document.”

“So you’re not into daddy? Hm… maybe master? That’s kind of corny but I’ll make that sacrifice.”

“That word really doesn’t do anything for me and you should stop even saying it out loud. Just
focus.” he places the gun on the desk. “Or give me that shit and I’ll finish.”

“Nuh-uh. I’m entertained.” Jungkook grins. “What’s even there apart from that…” he tilts his head.
“Sir?” silence. Jungkook’s eyes grow bigger. “Everyone calls you that! How do you deal with it?! I
can’t fucking believe this!”

“Can you just shut up and finish that shit?”

“No, /sir/, I don’t think I will. Why did you never tell me about this? It’s kind of hot.” he teases
further, propping his elbow on the table to rest his chin on his palm. “Do I get to—”

“You know what, fuck off. I’m going to be the responsible out of the two of us and I’m going to do
my job. Finish the document.” Taehyung gets up, taking his gun with him on his way out.

“Ok, sir, will do.”

“I hate you.” he says with a roll of the eyes as he closes the door behind himself. “Hey, did you
finish doing what I told you to?” he asks as Hoseok walks past and the man quickly puts his phone
in his pocket.

“I have cleaned every single gun downstairs and loaded them. I did get help from two other men
but we’ve got it done to perfection, yes.” he nods. “We will sharpen the knives in like fifteen
minutes, we just took a coffee break.”

“Alright.” Taehyung nods. “Sharpen them well, Jeon will go after you if you don’t.”

Hoseok laughs quietly. “We know. Thus the coffee break. We also figured we should probably not
touch his.”

“That’s most likely a good decision.” Taehyung nods. “Anyways, I’m leaving to meet someone, if
anyone needs anything, bother Jeon and not me unless it’s urgent.”

“Yes, sir.”

│►
Jungkook moans, fingers gripping the hair on the back of Taehyung’s head with great intent,
pushing him lower every time he goes down. “Fuck—” he curses, letting out a heavy exhale once
Taehyung pulls away. His hand shakes as he uses his thumb to wipe the corner of Taehyung’s lips.
“W-Where is this coming from?”

“Are you complaining?” Taehyung asks with an eyebrow raised.

“N-No! Not at all. Who’s complaining? Not me.” he rushes to say, eyes never once leaving
Taehyung’s eyes when the latter licks his lips, tongue then pressing on the visible vein along the
shaft, dragging it up to the tip.

A/N: I’m actually about to end it all, I hate it here

Jungkook drags Taehyung’s name in a long, low moan as his head tilts back, hips thrusting up. He
hisses as he feels Taehyung’s rough hand around him. Two pumps paired with the pleasure of
watching Taehyung’s swollen lips nip at his head are enough for him. “I’m going t—”

Taehyung removes his hand and his mouth, cleaning his lips properly with the back of his hand.
Jungkook whines, perhaps turning into a loud cry once he realizes the other isn’t even kneeling
down anymore.

“W-Where are you going?!”

“Hm? Oh, I have things to do.” Taehyung says, going as far as offering him a smile. “Finish
yourself off, I’m sure you’re capable of that.” Jungkook sits up properly, alarmed, trying to pull
him back but Taehyung’s already walking towards the door.

“Kim Taehyung, get back here right n—”

“You really think I’d just get down on my knees out of nowhere for you? You’re so innocent
sometimes.” and alright, Jungkook should’ve seen that one coming, but when Taehyung started to
open his belt, he didn’t really think about anything other than Taehyung’s mouth.

But still, Taehyung told him he’d get his revenge, and he should’ve known Taehyung would never
just let him get away with what he did. “Tae, please…” he begs.

“No.” Jungkook whines. “Oh, and I’ll think if this is enough or not.” is all the man says before
closing the door behind himself and Jungkook is a split second away from throwing a tantrum in
the now quiet office. He doesn’t want to finish himself off, why would he want such thing?!

His hand isn’t the same as Taehyung doing it, whatever way he does it, it’s just not the same.

He really, really should’ve known better.

│►

Jungkook looks up from the knife he’s sharpening once he hears someone stepping closer and he
smiles once he sees it’s Taehyung. The latter stops right next to them, eyes scanning the table.
Every single knife Jungkook owns is displayed on top of it and he’s intrigued by some of them.
There’s some pretty ones that he has never seen before.

He picks up a pink one, an angle looking like wing forming the handle. “Why don’t you use these
ones?” he asks. Jungkook shrugs, eyes back to the one he’s working on.

“I just like them but that doesn’t mean I’ll show them to people.” he says.
“They’re— I mean—”

“Don’t make fun of them…” Jungkook asks with an almost dejected voice.

“I’m not. They suit you, they’re pretty.” Taehyung comments as he sits down next to him.
Jungkook giggles, smile almost blinding. “Do you want help?” he offers. Jungkook faces him with
an eyebrow raised, surprised.

“You want to help me sharpen my knives?” Taehyung nods, albeit confused. “Oh, that’s the most
romantic thing you’ve ever done— here.” he hands him a simple black one and Taehyung decides
not to even ask how in the world dragging a blade over a sharpening rock is romantic in any way.
They fall silent then, the room filled with the sounds of the blades.

His eyes move onto Jungkook’s hands to see if he has any special movement to get the blades just
right but all he focuses on is the amount of scars he has on them. He’s always known they’re there
but now it seems like a suitable moment to bring them up. “You know, if you used actual weapons,
your hands wouldn’t look like that.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “See this one?” Taehyung hums. “Someone cut me. Isn’t that funny? I cut
his throat after but he did that. Oh, and this one was when some dude twice the size of me pinned
me down trying to shove a knife in my throat... I had to grab the blade and twist it in his jugular, it
was… gruesome, to say the least. I got the blood all over my face.” he explains with a shrug and
Taehyung blinks.

“You grabbed the knife?”

“Mhm. Kind of hurt like a bitch but it gets me going. The adrenaline is something else.”

“You’re so stupid. You could’ve just shot them, one second and it’s done. No scars, no hassle.”
Taehyung points out, still focused on sharpening the knife he’s holding. Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“I was aiming at someone else and I still made the shot so it’s a pretty fucking big win in my
books.” he shrugs, watching Taehyung’s movements. He looks concentrated.

“Who would’ve thought you could be a little baddass sometimes.” Taehyung teases.

“Not little, just a baddass.”

“Not so much, don’t let it get to your head.”

“I could end you any day, Taehyung.” Taehyung looks up at him and they’re both quiet for a few
seconds, trying to remain serious, but when Taehyung snorts, Jungkook can’t hold in a quiet laugh
of his own before nudging their shoulders.

They focus on the task at hand then, both quiet for a while.

Until Taehyung raises his hand, the blade right under the light coming from the lamp. “Is this
enough?” he asks, knowing how picky Jungkook is with his knives.

Jungkook hums. “That’ll do.”

Taehyung frowns. “I’ve sharpened knives before.”

“Not mine, though.” Taehyung rolls his eyes, back to trying to get it done properly. Jungkook
giggles, placing his hands over Taehyung’s. “Rotate it at an angle like this, you’ll catch the tip
more.” he explains, removing his hands to let him try on his own.

They fall silent again. Jungkook loves moments like those. He treasures them.

“How about this?” Taehyung asks again.

“That’s way better.” he takes it from his hand, placing it on the side with the other ones that are
already done. “Here, try this curved blade, they’re easier to sharpen and you may just reach my
standards this way.” Jungkook says with a smile as he reaches for a red one this time. “Red, for
you. It’s your color.”

“You’re so annoying.” Taehyung complains, still processing Jungkook’s insult.

“At least I know how to handle my weapons.”

“At least I have actual weapons.”

“At least I can take care of someone without weapons.”

“At least I can go a full day without crying.” Jungkook looks up at him then and Taehyung lets out
a surprised sound when his chair is kicked so hard he tumbles back. “I guess I deserved that.” he
groans as he gets up. “Could’ve fucking stabbed myself, you prick.”

“Don’t push my buttons when I have all of my toys in front of me.” he sing songs.

“And you shouldn’t push mine when I have two guns under my belt.” Taehyung threatens back.

“I’m not scared of you or your guns, Taehyungie.”

Taehyung gags. He actually gags. “The fuck did you just call me?”

“You don’t like it? I thought it suited your nice, sweet, caring personality.”

“My what now— this is fucking gross.” Taehyung complains, placing the knife down on the table,
a hand to his chest as though he’s actually feeling sick. Jungkook wouldn’t even be surprised,
coming from him.

“So you don’t think you have a nice and sweet personality? I think you do, you’re so non-
aggressive, so sentimental, how do you not see it, Taehyungie?” Jungkook teases further. He just
can’t have enough of irritating Taehyung. It’s his favorite hobby.

“I’m actually going to cut your throat open.”

Jungkook hums. “That pretty blue one does the job the best, I’ve seen.” Taehyung follows his
finger, only to raise an eyebrow.

“I thought you didn’t use the pretty ones?” he asks.

“Only on myself.” Jungkook almost pats himself on the shoulder when Taehyung chokes on his
breath. “Are you alright?” he asks with a smirk.

“Where?” Taehyung asks, eyes darker.

“Wherever I’m feeling like it…” he shrugs. “Usually on my thighs. I haven’t in a while, you know,
so that you wouldn’t know now that you see me naked like— every day.” Jungkook says with a
sad sigh. “I should’ve suspected I wasn’t as dominant as I thought I was—” he stops himself to
look at the other once Taehyung inhales a little harder. “Curious, Taehyungie?”

“Actually? Yeah?” he admits. “So you just like pain that fucking much?”

“You think I’d fight hand to hand if I didn’t enjoy the pain and thrill that came with it?”

“You’re just a big masochistic, then.”

“You could say so, yes.” they fall silent as Taehyung simply picks up the knife again to continue to
sharpen it. Jungkook puckers his lips, processing his words for a few moments. “If you were nice
to me more often, I’d let you play with my pretty knives. Maybe if you said please, too.”

“Do you really believe I’d ever say please?” Taehyung says with a sarcastic chuckle. “I was taught
to get what I want, my own way, sweetheart.”

Jungkook tuts. “A simple ‘please’ would get you places.”

“And yet, I’ve never had to use it with you.”

“That’s it, I’m never doing anything else with you.” Taehyung chuckles with a shrug, unphased.
Jungkook frowns. “You wish I’d suck you off anyway…” he mumbles under his breath.

“You speak like you’re the only one in line.” Jungkook goes quiet at that. Taehyung notices the
way he sags on the chair. “What’s wrong?” he asks, confused.

“Nothing.” Jungkook takes the knife he’s holding, storing it.

“We didn’t finish the knives.” Taehyung points out but Jungkook gives him no answer, still putting
the knives back into their places. “Jungkook.” he calls. “You seriously can’t be mad.”

“I’m not.” he lies. He is.

“Why are you making that face, then?” Taehyung asks, resting back against his chair, posture
cocky. Jungkook wants to kick him again.

“Because I’m officially done with you.” he says. Taehyung pats his lap. “Fuck off, go ask someone
else.” Taehyung laughs at that. He laughs. He has the audacity to laugh. “Do you want me to knee
you in the fucking nose—”

“I can’t believe you’re jealous.” he laughs even more.

“I’m not fucking jealous.”

“Then come here.”

“No. I don’t want to.” Taehyung simply asks why, the amused smile never once leaving his lips.
“You have plenty of others to ask, so ask them.” he explains as if it’s oh so obvious.

“And you’re not jealous, correct?” Jungkook groans, trying to slap him, though weakly, but
Taehyung holds his wrist. “Would me telling you that you look the prettiest, make you feel better?
Does that help?”

“It… helps a little bit… and if you say I do the best job.” he crosses his arms with a frown.

“I can admit no one else amounted to how good you are.” Jungkook doesn’t even know if he’s
being serious or not but he eats the compliment up like it’s the last thing he’ll ever get before
plopping himself on Taehyung’s thighs.

“But who are these people?” Taehyung just combs the hair out of his forehead with a shrug. “Tae, I
don’t like this.” he admits. Taehyung tilts his head. “Other people.”

Taehyung chuckles. “Other people aren’t around for you to be worried about, darling.” his hand
drags down Jungkook’s back until it stops on his hip. “I haven’t seen anyone in a while, ok? You
can drop it now.”

Now that, is exactly what Jungkook wanted to hear. “Just say we’re exclusive.” Taehyung snorts.
“Or you can suck yourself off. I’m not looking at you until you say it.” he turns his head away, jaw
immediately grabbed by Taehyung’s free hand but he doesn’t meet his eyes.

“Why is it so important to you?” Jungkook wonders how a human being so smart, can be so dense.
But he figures Taehyung gets a pass for being that attractive.

“Because you don’t often say nice shit so if you say it, I know you mean it. And I need to hear nice
shit sometimes. Like right now. So— Say it.”

“You’re the only one, does that make you feel better?” but Jungkook looks down sigh a frown.
Taehyung lifts head up and Jungkook looks so puzzled that it has him even more confused. He
flicks his chin lightly. “There’s something else, what’s wrong?” Jungkook doesn’t fail to notice
how soft his voice sounds or how his thumb creates circles on his hip.

Jungkook chews on his bottom lip, not courageous enough.

“Whatever you say right now, won’t leave the room, if it’s that much.”

He swallows his pride. “Is this like, for now?” he asks. “Do you want me or do you just want
someone to get you off?” he can see by Taehyung’s eyes how he’s now following and he tries not
to get frustrated. “Could I just be anyone? Or is it me that’s the only one? Am I the only one you...
want or the only one currently ready to suck your dick or showing interest in doing so?”

Taehyung hums as realization downs on him, combing his hair away. “As much as you’re
annoying—”

“Never mind.”

“Let me finish. A much as you’re annoying and give me headaches every day, you’re not… all that
bad.” Jungkook’s lips tug down. “It’s because it’s you.” Taehyung hates having to have such
conversation, he hates the topic, but he hates Jungkook’s frowny face even more.

“So… you won’t go to someone else even if you want to do something and I’m like— not in the
mood…?” he phrases it differently, trying to get Taehyung to say what he wants to hear.

“Let me make one thing clear. I may be one of the worst, sociopathic, unfeeling people on this
planet, but I would never want you to feel or make you feel as though you have to do any of this
with me. If you weren’t in the mood for any of this, or simply didn’t want it anymore, I’m not
going to force you to do it so that I stick around. I may be a monster at times, but I still respect
some common human decency when it comes to— things like this.”

Jungkook ignores the butterflies. “So just to be clear, you want me. As in, Jungkook.”

“…yes.” Jungkook smiles, big and bright. “Right, you can get off now.” but Jungkook only wraps
his arms around him in a tight hug and they stay quiet for a while, Jungkook’s face tucked into
Taehyung’s neck.

Taehyung chuckles after what feels like minutes. “Do I get to use your pretty knives now?”

“Only if you say please.”

“Nah, I’m good.”

│►

Jungkook gets up from bed with only one eye open, groaning at the non-stopping knocking on his
door. It’s faint now, whoever is on the other side clearly growing tired, but he still knows he’s
going to kill whoever is walking him up at that time.

“I can’t sleep.” Taehyung says once Jungkook opens the door and his murderous will is thrown out
the window. “Can I sleep here?” he asks.

“You kicked me out and now you want to come in?” Jungkook smiles, a little lazy smile, closing
the door again once Taehyung’s already walking to the bed.

“Because I have faith that you’ll behave and keep your hands to yourself.” Taehyung explains,
covering himself up with the sheets. Jungkook is quick to join him, both laying side to side now.
Jungkook turns the light on the nightstand off, cuddling onto the other. “No touching.”

“What— I can’t even cuddle?! That’s so fucking mean.”

“I don’t trust your ‘just cuddling’ shit.”

“You’re actually horrible, I can’t believe it’s been so long since you’ve touched me that way, it
makes me want to cry myself to sleep… and now you won’t even cuddle me? Bullshit.” he
complains, attaching himself onto Taehyung like a koala. “There’s no getting away from me.”

“Stop being dramatic. It’s not even been that long.”

“Seventeen days. I’m counting. Fuck off.” Taehyung chuckles, his fingers going up and down
Jungkook’s sides.

“No one told you to mess with me.” he leans down to press a kiss to the top of Jungkook’s head.
“Now sleep, I’m sorry for waking you up.” Jungkook hums, closing his eyes as he hides his face
on the crook of Taehyung’s neck.

He tries to sleep then, he really does, but he’s wide awake now and, judging by the fingers still
giving him goosebumps, Taehyung hasn’t been able to sleep yet, either. So he chews on the inside
of his cheek before rolling over to lay on his back.

“I read something about France today.” he whispers. Taehyung hums for him to go on and closes
his eyes to avoid the light once Jungkook turns on the lamp on his bedside table. “It appeared on
my social media… they have walls where people leave letters.” he fiddles with his fingers, unsure
if he should go on. He decides that he doesn’t have much to lose. “They leave letters and believe
their soulmates will be the ones finding it. It’s kind of cute, isn’t it? People just… trust that. I think
it’s cute and special.”

“And unrealistic.” Taehyung’s voice sounds a little groggy, not only tired but also on the brink of
falling asleep. Jungkook sighs, he doesn’t know what he was expecting, but he shouldn’t have had
any ounce of hope.
“You’re annoying.” he still insults.

“No, I just think all of that love bullshit isn’t real.” Jungkook gapes, demanding an explanation
right away. “The concept of love is literally just… chemicals in your brain, which by itself, is a
fucking piece of meat with electricity so how can you rely on that and just a bunch of coincidences
to dictate someone is your soulmate or whatever it is you call it? Love isn’t a thing, people like you
just find comfort in—”

“No, this just means you have never been in love, so you don’t get it. Do you really think people
just… make music and poetry and films and all of that based off of a chemical reaction in the
brain? Love is more than that…” Jungkook tries to explain, both wide awake again, eyes on the
ceiling above them.

“Have you ever been in love?” Taehyung asks.

“No, but I’ve loved people.”

“It’s the same shit, Jungkook.”

“No, it’s not. In the slightest. Otherwise the world wouldn’t be so adamant that we need it in our
lives.” he gestures, perhaps a little too much.

Taehyung chuckles. “You’re so optimistic, it’s insane.”

“Is it that bad?” Jungkook asks, a bit frustrated. “Is it that bad that I want to be in love with
someone and have that feeling returned? I know… I know that I’m a bad person and I do bad
things but— it’s because it’s my legacy, I was born into this, I didn’t pick it. I consider myself a
fairly normal person, with normal feelings — not like you — and I… I want to have that before I
die, I don’t care how stupid that makes you think I am.”

“If you’ve loved people, you’ve loved people. You’ve done that.”

“I’m going to slap you— it’s not the same. You can perceive people differently, love people in
different ways. You can love friends, love family… but you can /love/ love someone. And I want
that. I want the whole thing.” Taehyung ponders on using the very pillow he’s lying on to suffocate
Jungkook in order to put him to sleep and free himself of such conversation but Jungkook sounds
so interested that he feels almost like he /has/ to listen.

“And what’s the whole thing?” he asks.

“The butterflies… the stealing kisses, I want the conversations at four in the morning… the
connection, the lack of need to speak sometimes, the mutual understanding, the—”

“You sound like every thirteen year old girl ever.” Jungkook groans, crossing his arms.

“I give up.”

“No, I mean, if you’re… let’s say you’re right and love /is/ a thing, it certainly won’t be the same
for everyone, it should differ from people to people. It’s just unrealistic to think it’d be the same
shit for everyone.” Jungkook takes a moment to think about that.

“I guess you’re right. But it’s a feeling, besides the whole concept, it’s a feeling of… euphoria and
safety just by holding their hand… I want to feel like that even being here, even working on what I
do… I want the whole thing. Both the feeling and the concept.” he chews on the inside of his
cheek, a long beat of silence following.
“You’ve really thought this through, huh?”

“Yeah, lately I’ve been thinking about it.” he admits.

“Why?”

“No reason.” Jungkook whispers quietly.

“So you just think about love randomly?” Jungkook rolls his head to the side to face him and he’s a
bit surprised to find Taehyung already staring back. Jungkook’s eyes fail him, falling on the clock
on the other side of the room, and he almost smiles once he notices it’s almost three in the
morning. He /just/ mentioned that.

“What if I said I do think about it randomly?” he finally answers.

“I’d call you young and dumb.” Taehyung shrugs.

“It’s not dumb to want love.” he says, again.

“It is when you’re in our position.”

“I still have people around me, Tae.”

“Do any of them give you butterflies, though?” Jungkook’s caught off guard as he doesn’t see such
question coming and he just stares back at the older man for a few seconds, unsure if he should be
honest about it or just act dumb.

He decides to go with the first. “Yeah.” he whispers. Taehyung looks surprised for a split second
but one thing he’s great at is masking his emotions so he’s quick to look serious again “Have you
really never considered it? Love?”

“No, I didn’t grow up with it. I’ve never known… love.”

Jungkook runs a finger across the tattoo on Taehyung’s cheek and he breathes in and out before
speaking again. “Maybe— Maybe one day you’ll change your mind about love and believe it is
actually a thing.” he whispers.

“Yeah.” Jungkook turns the light back off, cuddling onto Taehyung’s side, hand blindly searching
for another one to hold onto and he bites his bottom lip as he feels the butterflies breaking loose in
the pit of his stomach once their fingers intertwine on top of Taehyung’s abdomen. “We should
sleep.”

“Mhm, I enjoyed this conversation. Good night, Tae.”

“Night, princess.” the man whispers.

Jungkook only smiles, hugging him even closer.

│►

Jungkook waits as Taehyung drinks from his bottle of cold water and dabs at the sweat on his
forehead. “Your stalling.” he points out after a while. “Are you nervous to try what I just taught
you?” he teases with the biggest smile on his face.

“I’m never nervous.” Taehyung says as he throws the towel back to the floor, walking back
towards him. “I’m getting better than you at this, you should be the nervous one.”
Jungkook raises an eyebrow, accepting the challenge. He turns his back to him. “Go on, attack me
using what I taught you, I’ll go easy as it’s the first time you’re trying it.” he encourages, hearing
Taehyung crack his knuckles before attempting to do what he was taught to.

But Jungkook does not go easy. As soon as he feels the hands on his waist, he does exactly what
he’d do if Taehyung was an enemy, relying on the cocky statement to think Taehyung may be able
to fight back. Except, Taehyung isn’t expecting him to do such a thing and he’s also not as good as
Jungkook when it comes to using his strength like that.

So, soon enough, Jungkook is turning back around as Taehyung hisses as he bends down with a
hand covering his eye. “Oh shit—” he curses, rushing to aid him. “Did I hurt you—” Taehyung
glares at him with the eye he’s not covering and Jungkook does his best not to laugh. “I’m sorry, I
thought I had heard you saying you’re getting better than me…”

“I actually hate you.” Taehyung complains, allowing Jungkook to pull his hand away. “Why would
elbow me like that— I’m bleeding, I’m going to kill you.”

“You have a cut in your eyebrow— I’m so sorry.” he covers his mouth. “Let’s head upstairs to the
office… that shit looks like it needs stitches.” Jungkook points out, handing over his towel for
Taehyung to press it against the cut and stop the bleeding.

Taehyung tsks before leaving, Jungkook looking for a first aid kit before trailing after him into
Taehyung’s bedroom. He sits on the bed as the other sits on the floor, facing away from him, head
tilted back. Jungkook examines the cut for a long second. “Do you even know what you’re doing?”
Taehyung asks.

“Well, not quite, but you should be fine.” he hums, nonchalantly, starting by cleaning the blood
with a gauze coated in rubbing alcohol. Taehyung just sits with his legs bent, forearms on top of his
knees; his head tilted back, resting between Jungkook’s thighs. Jungkook looks extremely focused,
he has to give him that.

It’s when he grabs a needle that Taehyung leans away. “The fuck were you about to—”

“You need stitches, it’s deep as fuck.” Jungkook grabs his head, pulling it back. “Trust me, I’m
like, good at everything, just shut up.” Taehyung rolls his eyes, watching him prepare everything
before there’s a needle going through his skin.

Taehyung refuses to tell him just how much that stings, so he distracts himself by watching
Jungkook’s double chin. He does hiss when Jungkook takes a little too long sticking the needle
through, eye twitching by itself. “Stay still.” Jungkook complains.

“You’re a sticking a fucking needle through my eyebrow, you sit still.”

“I’ll poke your eye on accident if you move again, stupid, stop moving. And stop flexing your
eyebrow, it’s going to hurt more.” he taps Taehyung’s forehead before continuing to do the task at
hand. He cleans the blood there right after he’s done — if he takes two minutes trying to figure out
how to knot the thread, neither of them comments on it. “Let’s hope that doesn’t infect… anyways,
it’s done, you can stop crying now.”

“Finally.” he raises his hand to touch it but Jungkook grabs his wrist.

“You can’t touch it…” Jungkook whispers as he leans down to examine it. The stitches look
straight so he’s rather proud of himself. He kisses the tip of Taehyung’s nose.

“That was fucking gross.” Taehyung complains but he doesn’t have time to say much else when
Jungkook just kisses him. It’s a little awkward as they’re facing opposite directions, something
close to a Spider-Man looking like kiss, but Jungkook’s hands are still cupping his cheeks, thumbs
caressing his skin.

“I’m sorry that I cut your eyebrow.” he kisses his chin. “If you weren’t so bad at fighting, this
wouldn’t have happened…”

“In a real life scenario I would’ve shot you before you even came close.” Jungkook rolls his eyes.

“I know…! But I’m not the one with a split eyebrow, am I?” Taehyung tries to speak but he’s
interrupted by a loud peck to his lips. “You can’t wet your brow for three days, minimum. Only
baths for you now. I’ll wash your hair if you let me.”

“I mean— alright.” he nods, closing his eyes when Jungkook starts massaging his scalp ever so
slowly. Jungkook looks down on him, giggling at the stitches on his eyebrow. He feels guilty but
he also wants to laugh at it, so he’s not very sure of how to explain it. “Just so you know, this is
only going to grant you another month of no action.” Jungkook’s hands stop.

“You’re kidding me.”

Taehyung opens his eyes. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”

“Literally what do I need you for if I have to jerk myself off?” Taehyung chuckles, tone dark,
closing his eyes again as he rests his head a little further back, well aware of where it’s pressing.

“You’re only making it worse.”

“But— But Taehyungie…!”

│►

⚠ This scene has some self-inflicted cutting (knife kink) so please, do be aware.

Taehyung gathers his things, set on leaving the office to go on about his tasks, when his arms are
pulled back at the same time that he’s pushed to the floor. “What the f—” he frowns once he
realizes it’s Jungkook, a knee on his back to keep him on the floor. “What do you think you’re
doing? Get off of me.”

“Shh… keep quiet.” Jungkook sing songs as he ties up Taehyung’s wrists with a rope. “Don’t be so
impatient, sir.” he leans down to whisper behind his ear before pulling him up so that he’s sitting.
He makes sure Taehyung’s wrists are secure before walking onto the desk where he plops himself,
Taehyung on the floor in front of him.

Taehyung watches as he takes off his pants. “Jungkook, what the fuck are you about to do?”

“You didn’t want to help me so I have to do it myself…” he says with a tsk and a forged sad tone.
Taehyung bites down his own teeth as Jungkook pulls out one of his knives, a pink one with a wing
lookalike handle. “Do you need a word?” he asks.

“Untie me right fucking now.” Taehyung orders.

Jungkook pouts. “That’s not a word…” he points out.

“I don’t need a word, I need you to untie me right now.” Taehyung warns, tone dark. “I’m giving
you the chance to do the right thing.”
“Hm…” he acts as though he’s thinking. “No.” Jungkook offers a smile as he takes the knife to his
thigh. Taehyung’s eyes follow the movement, the other letting out a mix of moan and a hiss as the
sharp blade runs over his milky skin, a red line being left behind. “ Fuck.” he curses. “I’ve missed
this— Gosh.”

“You’re going to regret this.” Taehyung warns as he watches him create another cut, not too deep,
but deep enough to leave an angry red blood line. “You’re /really/ going to regret this.” he repeats.

“You kept stopping, sir.” Jungkook says with a pout, pressing his knife down. “Kept leaving me
high and dry…” he drags it again, his thigh shaking, head thrown back. “At least my knives do the
job, since you don’t.” and really, he knows he’s doing nothing but further angering Taehyung, but
still, he’s willing to risk that. It’s been too long.

Taehyung tries to get up, only to have a foot against his chest, pushing him down again. Jungkook
tuts, dragging his foot down ever so slowly. “You have five seconds to open this shit willingly.
That’s the last warning I’m giving you.”

Jungkook raises an eyebrow. “One, two, three, four… five.” he ends with a giggle, licking the
blade of his knife before making another cut. A little deeper this time, perhaps a bit deeper than
he’s ever tried to. It hurts, but it makes him let out a long, dragged out moan. After that cut, many
more. Ones shorter, others deeper.

Taehyung doesn’t remember being that annoyed before.

Jungkook chokes on his breath. “Shit, I’m almost there, just from this, see how fucking mean you
are?” he puts his knife down before he gets up, standing in front of the other. Taehyung raises an
angry eyebrow, challenging, as Jungkook takes a hand down to hold himself.

He looks away, closes his eyes, when he sees Jungkook’s knees buckle. It really doesn’t take
longer than just a few seconds until he feels it on his face. He chuckles, fuming. Jungkook went
there. He’s never been that willing to put someone in their place.

Jungkook sits down on the desk to allow himself to come down from it, head still thrown back.
“That was gr—” he gasps once he opens his eyes only to see Taehyung getting up without the rope
around his wrists. He looks angry. Beyond angry. “Oh shit—”

“What’s your word?” Jungkook’s eyes grow big as he tries to scramble back but he’s held by his
legs. “I asked you a question.”

“Let’s— Let’s all calm down—” he tries but the look in the other’s eyes tells him it’s better if he
just replies. “Uh— Uh— Busan.” he settles for the first thing that comes to his mind. “You can’t
be that mad, I didn’t even do anything…”

Taehyung just shakes his head as he kneels down, looking up at him before running his tongue
across the open wounds on his thighs, licking the blood away. Jungkook shouldn’t find it as hot as
he does, but his thighs are still shaking and that only intensifies with the image.

“I’ll let you decide if you want to leave right now.” Jungkook’s embarrassed at how fast he shakes
his head as a no. “You’re really just a sick bastard.”

“I guess that makes two of us.” he tilts his head up once Taehyung cups his chin, thumb pulling his
bottom lip down. Taehyung just offers him a wicked smile, one that distracts him from the fingers
going down to his thigh but he definitely notices when one of his wounds is forced to open further,
even if not that hard, it still hurts.
Jungkook loves it.

He still has to press Taehyung’s palm flat against his mouth to muffle his own scream once a finger
applies pressure onto the already hurt area. His eyes grow wider as they hear two knocks to the
door. He mentally pats himself in the back for being smart enough to lock the door.

Taehyung leans closer to his ear, finger still torturing one of the cuts. “I dare you to make a sound.”
he challenges. Jungkook lays his head on his shoulder, crying onto it. He can feel the hot tears
rolling down his cheeks, and he can’t wrap his head on how in the world he’s able to get so turned
on by the pain shooting through his legs, the lips lightly grazing his ear, the man hand further
wounding him.

“Sir? Is anyone there?” they hear Yoongi’s voice from the outside.

“Want to let them know what’s happening here?” Taehyung taunts, his free hand replacing
Jungkook’s own where he was left jerking himself slowly, lazily, still not fully down from the
prior orgasm he had. His mind feels floaty, way too much, he doesn’t even register what
Taehyung’s saying anymore, he can only hear his soothing, deep voice by his ear.

He holds onto Taehyung’s arms with both of his hands, trying to anchor himself, but it feels
impossible. He bites Taehyung’s shoulder to muffle a scream once he feels a finger pressing on
another one of the wounds on his thigh.

His legs shake, the tears running down his face make it hard for him to even see anything, so he
keeps his eyes closed, teeth biting down Taehyung’s suit jacket. He tries to pry Taehyung’s hand
away once he speeds up his movements. “Do I have to tie you up?”

“N-No, sir, I’m— I’ll stop.” he settles for gripping the edges of the desk, glossy eyes staring right
into Taehyung’s and the latter can’t help but to chuckle at how /gone/ he looks.

He tilts his head to give space to the kisses, slow and wet, sucking a bit on his skin. It’s all too
much and he’s been deprived of Taehyung’s touch for far too long. He should find it suspicious
how easily Taehyung gave in, but his mind is too clouded for him to think about anything.

He’s unsure for how long he takes it, the stimulation, the pain, the dirty talking, but it’s only when
Taehyung’s hand that was further opening his cuts moves to squeeze at his throat that he realizes
he can’t anymore.

Taehyung drags the tip of his knife across the side of his throat, pressing enough for it to leave a
red scratch, but not enough to cut, though just the thought leaves Jungkook’s thighs shaking.

“I-I’m almost t—” he tries to warn but he’s hit with whiplash once everything stops, Taehyung
taking a full step back. Jungkook’s senses kick in once he realizes what Taehyung’s doing and so
he quickly grabs his forearm to keep him there.

“Let go of me.” is all Taehyung says, freeing himself.

But Jungkook’s too deep into his own mind. “B-Busan, Busan, Tae, B—” he can physically see
Taehyung’s demeanor changing and, soon enough, there’s a hand cupping his cheek. He feels
pathetic for the way he cries into his hold and especially for the way it all just sounds like a wail.

“Talk to me, what’s wrong?” Taehyung encourages.

“Please, it hurts, just finish, please, I’ll be good, I’ll be so good—” he stutters out before his head is
pulled onto Taehyung’s chest, a hand playing with the hair on the back of his head while the other
goes back to jerking him off at a consistent, steady pace.

Taehyung doesn’t stop, doesn’t tease, don’t even say anything until he knows Jungkook is done.
Jungkook’s body just sags onto him. “Better?” Taehyung whispers by his ear before kissing his
forehead. Jungkook just sniffs with a nod. “I’ll go grab you some water.” Jungkook allows him to
leave, sitting there, on top of the desk, only clothed from the waist up, eyes on his thighs.

They’re still bleeding even if not as much.

He looks up once a water bottle is offered, already with the cap off, Taehyung wrapping a blanket
around his body once he starts chugging it down. “Where are you? Where’s your head?” Taehyung
asks once he gives the bottle back for him to close.

“I’m ok…” he raps out. “Just don’t leave right now.”

“I won’t.” Taehyung assures. “Come here…” he picks him up rather easily, walking over to the
couch before sitting him there still wrapped up in the blanket. Jungkook waits until Taehyung joins
him with the first aid box. “Place your thighs on my lap.” the man instructs.

Jungkook does as told, head laying down on the pillow. Taehyung takes a cigarette to his mouth,
lighting it up before passing it over for Jungkook to enjoy it. He uses a few gauzes to clean up the
blood from Jungkook’s thighs as carefully as possible but, even so, Jungkook still hisses every once
in a while, leg jolting.

Taehyung caresses his skin with his thumb every time he does.

“Are you alright?” he asks after a few minutes in a comfortable silence.

Jungkook takes a long drag out of his cigarette. “I think I’m okay.” he blows it out. “I think.”

“You’re not leaving this room until you’re sure.” Taehyung informs, reading the tables of the
ointments to find something useful to fix the mess Jungkook just made of himself. Jungkook closes
his eyes to enjoy the silence again, Taehyung finally picking one of the tubes.

He uses a cotton swab to apply the ointment onto the wounds after having all of them cleaned up.
Jungkook remains quiet, thighs still shaking ever so slightly ever so often.

“Why did you use the word?” Taehyung asks, eyes focused on his task. “What got so bad this
time? I don’t want it to happen again, so I’d really appreciate if you tried to explain.”

Jungkook’s heart feels a bit fuller at the thoughtfulness. “I guess the— just uh, the pain and the
denial on top of it and— and I was already kind of overwhelmed so that really— I’m— I don’t…
not like it, it was just too much and— I couldn’t— I uh, it was really… I don’t know…”

“The pain as in your thighs? Or was it from going at it so quickly after doing it once?”

“Both, I guess…” he whispers, stretching his arm to reach the ashtray on the nearest table, where
he puts the cigarette out. “I really love pain, like— don’t get me wrong, I love it, but… I endure it
knowing I’ll have a reward at the end and… I didn’t… because you stopped and so I just— I don’t
know, my mind turned off, I panicked.” he gulps.

“So it was the denial?”

“It was confusing… and I didn’t understand and—”

“Alright, that’s okay don’t get stressed again.” Taehyung stops him before he can go on with an
infinite ramble. Jungkook frowns.

“I’m not saying that I don’t like denial…” he finds the need to add, eyes watching Taehyung’s
hands as he carefully applies the ointment. He’s always had to take care of them himself — as he’s
never even let anyone even as know about it — so it’s nice to be able to just lay there.

“I know, princess, you just need to know if it’s rewarding or not, yeah? Not a mix.” Jungkook nods
twice. “So, if you go through such pain again, I can’t just stop on you, right?”

“Yeah…” Jungkook pouts. Taehyung just hums, pulling out the rolled up gauzes to patch up his
thighs, figuring it’s easier to just wrap the both of them instead of each individual cut as there’s too
many. Jungkook hisses when he has to help by raising his head.

“You know you’re fucking sick for this, right?” Taehyung asks with an amused smile.

Jungkook giggles. “You act like it doesn’t turn you on.” Taehyung just rolls his eyes, still focused
on doing the best he can to make sure Jungkook’s thighs are well patched up. “You were so mean
for stopping.” Jungkook points out with an angry frown.

“You literally asked for it.”

“No—! I didn’t! I just wanted to teach you a lesson but of course you had to be the biggest menace
ever and do that to me when all I wanted was to get off and get attention.” he lists on his fingers.
Taehyung chuckles.

“You should know by now, the tougher you try to act with me, the worse it is for you.”

“And that’s what makes it so tempting.” Taehyung just hands him the water bottle back, carefully
lifting his legs to place them on the couch instead to be able to get up. “Where are you going…?”
Jungkook whines.

“Just getting you a warm towel.” he informs as he disappears into his bedroom. Jungkook covers
his lower body, which is still naked of any clothing, taking a few sips from his water as he waits.
Taehyung throws the towel at him, using another one to clean his own face.

Jungkook giggles. “I can’t believe you’re wasting such gift.” he jokes. “But uhm, did you enjoy
watching me? I’m well aware that I’ve killed your boner by now, if you had any, so I’d like to at
least know if that was enjoyable.”

“If you want me to be honest, both enjoyed and hated it.” Jungkook makes a confused face, a little
too adorable. “I enjoyed it because you’re so fucking pretty and honestly out of your damn mind, I
can’t comprehend how you were getting off on pain in front of me, but you know I hate not being
the one dictating what’s happening and you got me helpless. That got me fuming, if you didn’t
drop your word, I really wouldn’t have helped you in the slightest. Not even patch you up.” he
explains and Jungkook frowns.

“I hate when you do that.” he mumbles.

“Do what?”

“Walk out on me.” Taehyung just gives a look for him to elaborate. “If you want to be mean and
stop or— whatever, just stay in the same room as me after. It makes me feel lonely, don’t ask why,
I don’t know either.” he admits, looking just as embarrassed as he feels.
“But I’ve walked out many times, not even thinking about it, why didn’t you tell me this before?
Shouldn’t we tell each other this shit?” Taehyung lifts his legs again to be able to sit down,
Jungkook throwing them across his lap right away.

“You’re Kim Taehyung, I can’t just ask you to stay with me after sex.”

“Yes you can—? Some months ago I’d probably have laughed in your face but not now.” he
furrows his eyebrows. “I would understand.”

“Well… then I don’t want you to leave me again. For at least an hour.” Taehyung nods and hums
in agreement. “And— And I want aftercare. Always. Not just when we go a bit hard.”

“Alright.” Jungkook’s eyes bug out just the slightest.

“And I want you to /always/ be nice.”

“No.”

“I tried.” he shrugs. “But will you /really/ stay every time now? Because we have like… a lot of
sex and you just leave most times to go to work or whatever and that has to stop—!” Jungkook
pouts. “You know I get easily into my head.”

“Have you been feeling like this since we started?”

“Uh… yeah, but I never expected you to stay, especially not back then.”

Taehyung rubs his eyes. “I don’t hate you as much now and I don’t want to hurt you. Not like that
at least. I know I’m not the first guy you’d trust, but this is important. We both need to know
boundaries, right? This is one of them. We’ve had this conversation before. Knowing what you
need is part of this, otherwise the lines between this and assault can begin to blur too much for
comfort, we go from you getting off with knives to me simply hurting you, and that’s not the goal
at all. I need you to tell me, is there anything else I should know?”

Jungkook feels like he could kiss Taehyung for hours. Maybe he will if he plays the hurt card well
enough. He shakes his head to focus on the question rather than the thought of cuddling the whole
afternoon. “Uhm… no.”

“Jungkook.”

“I’m just needier than what I let out, okay. I know you’re not the guy for that and I already
antagonize you for attention as it is, imagine me doing that but twice or three times more often,
you’d fucking shoot me. And I’m ok with toning it down, I compromise like you do and… I like
this we have… the exclusivity and all… I like it, everything about it, even when you’re mean or
rough or whatever. This is the only thing I had to point out, lever leave me after. I need attention
and reassurance.” he does his best to explain himself, almost purring at the hand softly massaging
his hurt thighs. “Tell anyone about this and I’ll slit your throat.”

“Stop trying to be tough right now.” Taehyung tsks.

“I’m not trying anything, I’m informing you of the consequences.”

“You’re much easier to handle when you’re in your head, so pliant.” Jungkook giggles. “And about
this, you better be able to walk tomorrow.”

“I probably won’t. I went a bit overboard, I cut a bit deeper than I usually would.”
“I’ll get you painkillers…”

“And a massage.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “C’mon, I’m hurt…”

“Fine.”

│►

⚠ This scene has mentions of a suicide attempt and self-harm. Even if brief, I still want to
leave a warning.

“But why can’t you leave the bed? I’ll just get you some soup, boring days are /way/ more boring
if you’re going to be in your room.” Jimin half whines, standing by the bed. Jungkook rolls his
eyes. “Boss— c’mon, don’t make me beg.”

“As I said three hundred times already, I’m feeling unwell.”

“And what does that mean?” he frowns.

“It means shut the fuck up, I’m not leaving the bed today.” Jungkook says, pulling the sheets a
little higher. “I feel sick and tired, just let me be for one day, it’s not asking for too much. One day
to just lay here, not doing anything.”

“But—”

“Park, what in the world are you doing in my bedroom?” they both turn to the door, Taehyung
standing with his blazer already half off. “Get out.”

“I was just here talking t—”

“I didn’t ask, leave.” Jungkook almost giggles to himself but he refrains, watching as Jimin bows
almost ninety degrees at Taehyung but glares at him. They’re quickly left alone then, Taehyung
discarding his blazer and rolling up his sleeves up to his elbow. “How are you feeling?” he asks,
voice much softer.

“Like hell, it burns.” Jungkook says with a pout. “Did you finish what you had to do?” Taehyung
hums. “Can you stay here with me now, then?”

“Yeah, I can.” Jungkook watches a he kicks off his shoes and removes his tie, unbuttoning the first
two buttons of his shirt. It’s a sight, really. “What was he doing here, though?”

“He was just asking me to join him because he doesn’t have much to do and he’s not used to
getting a no as an answer… so he was trying to get me to say why.” he closes his eyes as he tilts his
head to the side to receive the kiss to the cheek that Taehyung gives him. “I couldn’t tell him the
reason I’m in bed is because I can barely move my legs.”

“If only you weren’t a little psycho.” Taehyung tsks but Jungkook knows he means no harm. “We
should probably change the gauzes… and clean the wounds…” he pushes his hair back, giving it a
thought. “I’ll get the first aid kit, just lay here.”

“I wouldn’t really try to go anywhere.” Taehyung just gives him a pointed look before leaving to
the bathroom and Jungkook lays there quietly as he waits, pushing the sheets away. He’s in nothing
but underwear and one of Taehyung’s button ups and he frowns at the sight. There’s blood on the
gauzes, which is expected, but he doesn’t feel like cleaning all of that up.
“Jesus, Jungkook.” he hears as Taehyung returns. “You stained my shirt.”

“That’s what you’re concerned about?” he frowns. “I could be dying for all we know.”

“If that stain doesn’t come off, you really are.” Jungkook rolls his eyes but allows Taehyung to lift
his legs, hissing at the movements. “Look at this— what a mess.” he tsks, placing his thighs over
his own. Jungkook gapes.

“You’re— You’re going to change them yourself?” Taehyung’s hand stops from where he was just
getting a pair of scissors, giving him a questioning look. “I didn’t think you’d do it that’s all…”

“This is kind of my fault.” he explains, starting to cut the gauze, careful not to drag over any of the
wounds. “And I promised to try to get better at aftercare, didn’t I?” again, those stupid butterflies
shouldn’t be there.

“Yes, you did.” Jungkook whispers, allowing the room to go quiet as Taehyung focuses on getting
rid of the used, stained gauzes. He’s careful when he starts to clean up the blood on his skin,
enough pressure to actually wipe it away, but not enough to hurt.

“Can I ask you something?” Jungkook hums. “How did you realize this…” he gestures. “…thing
turned you on?” Taehyung asks, not really looking away from his task. Jungkook chews on the
inside of his cheek before he actually replies.

“It’s… kind of humiliating, actually. I started it because— I couldn’t handle everything going on
around me and it would relax me but then as I grew older and uh… I don’t know, hornier…? It
became enjoyable not only in a relaxing way but also in a pleasurable way…? People do say
traumas often become kinks, so I guess that explains that too. It was weird, I just did it and— stop
looking at me like I have two heads.”

“So self-harm? This started with you harming yourself?” Taehyung asks, both hands frozen,
expression unreadable.

“I— Now that you put it that way… yeah?” he tilts his head.

Taehyung looks down at his wounds again, which Jungkook is beyond thankful for as he was
never able to handle his serious stare. “How old were you?”

“Uhm— Like thirteen, I don’t remember very well.”

“Can you show me?”

“You’ve seen me naked—”

“The scars. I thought all of them were caused by fights. Show me which ones.” Jungkook looks
down on himself before he nods, scratching the back of his neck. Taehyung looks back at him
when Jungkook raises his arm, pointing out a scar. Long, deep, dragged down from his wrist to the
middle of his forearm. Taehyung hates how he never thought anything of it.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever done anything.” he whispers. Taehyung puts the gauze down,
holding his forearm to take a better look. He runs a delicate finger over it, jaw set.

“Jungkook— You could’ve fucking died.” Taehyung points out and Jungkook almost rolls his eyes
again at the obvious.

“The fuck did you think I was trying to do, genius?” he swallows when Taehyung asks for an
explanation. “Because I’m not messed up like you, I didn’t want to take on all of this.”

“I’m going to ignore that— Why did you go to this extreme, though? What did your dad do?”

“It doesn’t matter—”

“It does. To me, it does.” Jungkook can feel his cheeks heating up, so he coughs, looking away.

“He beat the fuck out of me when he found out, that’s what he did…”

“But I thought you two got along well…?” Taehyung asks, confused.

“And we did but— from that day on, he changed quite a lot because he realized I wasn’t the son he
wanted, I didn’t want what he had and what he stood for and— he changed a lot. He never treated
me like your dad treated you, but he wasn’t nice. At all.” Jungkook says with a frown, eyes set on
his thighs.

“Bab—”

“And then he’d always bring it up. Whenever I was upset, he’d make jokes about ‘oh, don’t go and
try to kill yourself again’ in front of everyone. I was a kid, it was fucking humiliating. But it also
felt relieving to go against him by actually doing it, I feel like the more I explain it, the stupidest it
sounds but yet again, this is who we are so nothing should be a surprise anymore.”

Taehyung remains quiet.

“What? What is it? Your silence is terrifying.” Jungkook admits.

“I just don’t even know what to say.”

“That’s even more terrifying.” he watches as Taehyung grabs another clean gauze to finish cleaning
up the blood so that he can patch him up again. “Say something, please.” he whispers.

“You lied about your relationship with your dad, how about we start we that?” Jungkook feels
himself frowning at that. He should’ve known Taehyung would point that out if he remembered.

“I… I only lied because I knew your relationship was bad and I didn’t want to compare it. I’ve—It
sounds bad but I’ve always had my shit brushed off like it doesn’t mean anything or like I’m just
sensitive… I didn’t really want you to do that either so I didn’t give you anything to compare.”

“You think I’d do that?” Jungkook only gives him a pout. “I probably would. When we had that
conversation…” he looks back down, focusing on adding some ointment onto the open wounds.

“I know, you’re an asshole.” he smiles.

“Not to you.”

“Not /now/. You would’ve made fun of the situation and I wasn’t going to have that. I also wants to
seem better.” Taehyung gives him a questioning look. “Didn’t want to come across like some
weak, like, bitch who can’t handle this shit, it would’ve just been something to prove you right.
And I knew you’d throw it back in my face just to hurt me, and I didn’t want you to— to remind
me of my dad, I guess.” he admits, watching as Taehyung chews on his bottom lip, silent, focusing
on nothing but his thighs. And he doesn’t know what to say either.

“Did I ever remind you of him? Do I— Have I done that?” Taehyung asks after a long beat of
silence, not meeting his eyes. Jungkook gulps. He didn’t mean to bring the mood that down.
So he tries to change it. “You literally fuck me senseless, I’d be concerned if you did—”

“Shut up, Kook. Have I? Be honest.” his hands stop what he’s doing, his eyes meet Jungkook’s and
the latter has to look away, looking away at the door, wondering if he can walk fast enough to get
out of there. Taehyung notices, so he places a hand on his leg, grounding. “Jungkook.”

“Only like… once, or four times. But I— Only once.” he tries.

“You said four.”

“Maybe thirty.”

“W—”

“Maybe more than thirty, actually.” the look he’s met with is questioning enough without
Taehyung even having to say anything. “When you criticized my leadership or my decisions or
called me weak and— and just— it was really upsetting.” Taehyung opens his mouth to speak but
Jungkook goes on. “My dad called my mom princess when I was a kid and he ended up killing her
so it triggered me /so/ much when you started calling me that, not even by how derogatory it was,
just the memories were enough to make me want to slit your throat.”

Taehyung can’t say he’s not surprised. “I can stop if you want, you should’ve said something.”

“No, I like it. It means something else now, it doesn’t make me think of them, just— I like it. May
be the mommy issues, we’ll never know.” Taehyung chuckles, thumb stroking Jungkook’s knee
carefully. “I like being your princess.” he whispers.

“Just know you’re not weak for what you did.” Taehyung still reassures as he grabs a small roll of
gauzes, lifting Jungkook’s thigh carefully to start wrapping it up.

“I know I’m not weak, I could fucking kick your ass right now and I can barely move. It’s just how
you said it like you’re so much better than everyone— you’re so irritating to anyone who tries to
put up a front against you.” Jungkook frowns, lifting his free leg to kick Taehyung in the arm even
if lightly.

“Give me your damn leg, and I’m going to ignore what you just called me.” he points out.

“That’s even more irritating, how you can just ignore everything everyone says when you want
to.” Jungkook complains further, leg bent to allow the other to secure the gauzes, deeming that one
as complete.

“You can just say that you hate me, sweetheart.” Taehyung says with a little smile, already
focusing on wrapping up the other leg.

“I hate you.” Jungkook shows him his tongue when Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “I am wounded,
you can’t hurt me further than what you did yesterday.” he warns before Taehyung can even do so
as think about doing anything.

“You just kicked me.”

“At the cost of a scab.”

“Stop being dramatic and stay still.” Taehyung says with a tsk, tapping his thigh warningly but not
hard enough to hurt him in the slightest. Jungkook watches with a little content smile, Taehyung
tapping his thigh again once done.
“Kiss it better.” he instructs, lifting his leg up. He’s surprised when Taehyung does in fact press a
kiss to the bandages without even trying to fight him on it. What he really doesn’t expect is for
Taehyung to grab his arm and kiss his wrist. “Tae, I—”

“Yeah?” Jungkook swallows drily as he watches Taehyung’s thumb carefully caress his wrist.

“…n-nothing.” he shakes his head.

“It’s not the first time you do that, do you want to tell me something?” Taehyung asks.

“No!” Jungkook says, perhaps too fast. Taehyung just gives him a faint chuckle before kissing his
wrist again. “I don’t… want to say anything in specific.” he says, quieter now.

“Alright.” Taehyung nods, “Do your legs hurt a lot?”

“A bit, but you’ve been helping a lot…” Jungkook says, his puppy eyes shining.

“I’ll get you some painkillers, sweetheart.” he taps his thigh before lifting them up so that he can
get up, tucking Jungkook in with the sheets. “Here, drink up.” Taehyung offers a glass with water
alongside a pill that Jungkook takes right away.

“Can you cuddle me?” Taehyung hums, placing the glass down on the bedside table before joining
him in bed, pulling him closer to his chest. “Thank you for being so respectful about that.” he
whispers. “Though I don’t really want to talk about it… makes me feel like crap when I think back
into the time I felt like that.”

“Okay, we don’t have to talk about that.” he presses a long kiss to Jungkook’s temple. “But if you
ever feel like that again… just come to me, alright? Or Jimin, if it’s easier for you to talk to about
these things, but don’t— you can’t leave me with all of them, yeah?” Jungkook looks up from
where he lays on his chest, his eyes meeting Taehyung’s worried ones.

“What if you’re not here? What if you’re mad at me?”

“You speak like I’m mad at you five days out of the week.”

“It happens sometimes…” Jungkook pouts.

“And you think I wouldn’t care if you came to me with this? Even if I was mad?” he tilts his head.
“Have you been feeling like that, Jungkook?”

“No but it's nice to know that if it happens, I have you.” he smiles.

“You’re an idiot.”

“How? When you’re mad, I don’t put it past you to shoot me. The number of times you have put a
gun to my head…” he mumbles, looking back down onto Taehyung’s chest where his hand plays
with the buttons of his shirt, given he’s still dressed and laying over the covers.

“That’s because I want to kill you, not find you dead.” Taehyung whispers to his ear before kissing
it and resting their heads together.

“What sense does that even make—”

“I want you dead by my hands, not your own or someone else’s.” Jungkook giggles.

“Ah, I see. Well, for today, can you cuddle and not kill me? Cuddle me the whole day as I am
wounded and don’t think I’ll be leaving this bed.” Taehyung hums, pulling him closer.

“That can certainly be arranged.”

│►

Jimin grabs the pair of binoculars again, trying to look into the house not that far from them. He
turns to both of his bosses, both sitting on the open trunk of one of the two vans brought and he
curses quietly. “There’s a kid.” he informs.

Taehyung holds out his hand, getting the binoculars handed to him right away. He hums. “Just
shoot the kid.” Jungkook snatches the object from his hand in a second.

“We are /not/ shooting a fucking kid.” he says as a matter-of-factly. “We’re here to go in, kill the
man and leave, we’re not killing the kid. He’s not the one refusing to pay us.”

“I agree with Mr. Kim, let’s just get rid of it.” Jungkook turns to one of Taehyung’s men that is
present, one that he so very much dislikes.

Jimin tsks. “We can’t kill a kid, he’s like four or five, we’re not complete monsters.” he says.

“Mr. Kim is always right so, to me, it’s whatever he wants.” Jungkook rolls his eyes before
reaching for one of the bags in the trunk, getting out a piece of candy that they’ve never really used
before, never had the chance to.

He hops down then. “Do you at least have a vest?” Taehyung asks, understanding that Jungkook is
really about to go get the kid out of the way of their mission.

“No, it’s a kid, the fuck is he going to do to me?” Jungkook shrugs.

“Jeon, get the fuck back here before I shoot you in your knees.” he raises an eyebrow as Minjae
lifts up his hand, holding a gun. “Lower that before I shoot you before you can even cock it.”
Taehyung threatens, getting up as well. “Jeon, get back.”

“No, I’ll get the kid out of there.” and Taehyung knows enough to know no matter what he says,
Jungkook’s not going to back out on something he’s already set on doing, so he just sits back,
Jimin right next to him, as well as Minjae; the rest of the men present simply standing by them.

“He’s being irresponsible, if we get our cover blown because of him—”

“Shut up, Minjae, that’s my boss you’re talking about.” Jimin interrupts.

“And yet, it’s my boss who—”

“Shut the fuck up you two.” Yoongi says through his teeth and Taehyung silently thanks him with
just a quick raise of his eyebrow, getting his binoculars back to watch.

Jungkook approaches the door, pulling out the knife in one of his pockets, using it to unlock the
door, ever so slowly, carefully not to make too much noise. He doesn’t want his presence to be
known otherwise he’ll have to end up shooting someone in front of the poor kid.

Said kid is already standing by the door once he manages to open it, attracted by the noise. “Hi.”
Jungkook offers a smile, hiding the knife as he lowers himself to be on the same height. “Where
are your parents?” he asks.

“My dad told me to scream in front of strangers… so…” Jungkook watches in horror as he fills his
chest with air, ready to yell his lungs out.

“I’m not a stranger!” he interrupts. “I’m your dad’s friend.”

“I’ve never seen you around…”

“I’m… a new friend.” he shrugs. “I’m— I’m Kookie, call me Kookie, now we’re not strangers, are
we?” the little boy pouts, still holding one of his toys in his hand. “Where’s your dad? I’m here to
see him…”

“He’s in the basement with two other friends.” Jungkook smiles, knowing the others are able to
hear the new found information through the earpiece.

He sits down with his legs crossed. “Do you want some candy as we wait?”

“C-Candy?” his eyes shine before his demeanor changes again, hesitant. “Dad said to never take
food from strangers, though…” he takes a step back, which leads Jungkook to gently reach for his
much smaller hand to keep him there.

“And he’s /so/ right, it’s so dangerous.” he agrees, already grabbing the candy in his pocket. “But
I’m not a stranger, so you don’t have to worry. Here.” the little boy eyes him and the small
chocolate bar at least three times before taking it. Jungkook feels almost relieved as he watches him
devour the whole thing in a matter of seconds.

Only around a minute goes by before the boy’s knees start to give in. “Kookie— I don’t feel
good…” he manages to say before he completely loses his consciousness, Jungkook holding him
before he can hit his head on the floor. He then gets up, rushing out of the house immediately.

“You can go in, he’s in the basement with two other men, we don’t have to wait any longer to
know how many are there.” Jungkook instructs, all the men present nodding before getting their
guns ready. They leave them alone, Jungkook sitting down next to Taehyung again.

Taehyung eyes him with something close to a glare, furrowing his eyebrows at the way Jungkook’s
holding the kid so carefully instead of just laying him down in the trunk. “What are we doing with
that now, genius?” he asks.

Jungkook giggles to himself. “Let’s keep him.” he jokes.

“Get the fuck out.”

“No, but we can’t leave him here or let him to go back to his dad and his friends with their skulls
blown out.” Jungkook tries to rationalize.

“You can be serious right n— He’s from a criminal household, we can’t just fucking keep that. We
don’t own him or them any favors, we should’ve just killed him.” Jungkook gapes. He really can’t
believe Taehyung’s suggesting such horrible thing. “Do whatever you want.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes once Taehyung gets up, walking away from him while lighting up a
cigarette. “Don’t worry.” he whispers to the kid. “No one’s going to hurt you.” he promises, laying
him down with a hand still under his head that he soon replaces with his own jacket.

He sits there by himself until the others join them, not too long after, and Jimin goes straight to
him, peeking to see the kid sleeping. “What are we doing with him…?”

“I have no idea.” Jungkook admits. “This is a first, we never had a kid getting in between, I don’t
know what to do but we can’t leave him there. We better come up with something quickly, the
drug only lasts for about nine hours. Maybe twelve for a kid, I don’t fucking know.”

“I have a proposal…” Jimin says as he sits down.

“We’re not killing or raising him.”

“I know, I know. Do you, uhm, remember that place in Busan we trade low class drugs with?”

“The one we pretty much control, yes.” Jungkook tilts his head, not quite getting the point.

“It’s on our tasks this month to have a meeting for a bulk trade, they told us they were ready when
we are, doesn’t take us long to get there...” Jungkook expression turns sour right away.

“We aren’t leaving him to another gang either, what the fucking hell is wrong with all of you?”

“No! no, wait. There’s that orphanage by the edge of Busan, remember? The one that looks both
rich and creepy at the same time. Yoongi and I are running the promotions too, maybe we could
take one or two men with us to run the trade tonight, drop the kid there on the way, far away
enough to not be affected by the news here, and far away enough to cover us up...”

Jungkook blinks. “You have the biggest fucking brain.”

“I expect a raise this month.” Jimin says with the largest smile. Jungkook just tsks.

“You all, get back into the cars, let’s head back.” he instructs, gesturing towards the two vans. He
rolls his eyes once he sees Taehyung still smoking but now he’s not alone, Minjae is right next to
him, going on about something. Truth be said, Taehyung doesn’t look very interested but again, he
never does, so Jungkook doesn’t like to see it.

He already hates Minjae, anything he does will get to his nerves.

“Hey, Taehyung.” he calls but he’s seemingly not even heard. “Taehyung.” again, nothing.
“Fucking— Kim.” his voice comes out a bit stronger, a bit louder, and the latter turns to him with
an angry quirk of the eyebrow.

“You could see I wasn’t done with my conversation. Be polite.” Jungkook can feel his blood
boiling the second he sees Minjae smirking.

“We’ll leave without you two, then.” he turns around, getting into one of the vans that drives off
soon enough. Taehyung rolls his eyes, dropping his cigarette to put it out, already knowing
Jungkook’s going to be sulking for hours.

Which he’s already doing in the car, especially knowing he shot his own foot by leaving them to
ride the car together instead of having Taehyung riding with him like they did previously. He
realizes then that he /really/ should’ve told Taehyung about how much Minjae’s presence bothers
him when Taehyung asked if he had anything else to complain about.

But it’s not like he cares. Taehyung can give attention to someone else.

Of course.

He doesn’t care.

Not one bit.

│►

Taehyung’s feet stop as soon as he steps inside his office and sees Jungkook sitting on his chair
with the kid in his arms. Jimin and Yoongi are going through two boxes that he doesn’t even try to
identify. “Are you fucking stupid?” is what he says instead, closing the door with a loud bang.

“Lower your tone, don’t wake him up.” Jungkook states.

“He’s drugged, he’s not waking up. What the hell are you thinking?!”

“I wasn’t going to leave him on the road, Taehyung. That’s fucking cruel and traumatizing.”

“Like none of this is fucking traumatizing!” he almost yells, his strong voice making all of the take
a second to let it sink in. “Get the kid out.”

“What’s it with you?! It’s a fucking child.” Jungkook’s jaw falls once Taehyung raises his gun,
cocking it. Jungkook does the same right away, he’s not about to tolerate that.

Yoongi cocks his own gun too, pointing it at Jungkook, just in case. He bites down his own teeth
once he realizes Jimin is also ready to take Taehyung out. It can only end poorly.

“Jimin, put it down.” Jungkook instructs, eyes never leaving Taehyung’s.

“Min, leave. You two, get out of here.” they both stare at each other, lowering their guns ever so
slowly, hesitant. “Out!” both of their bosses say at the same time and that’s enough for them to
rush out of the office, albeit wary.

“You don’t want to be pointing a gun at me, Taehyung.” he says through his teeth. “We’re not this
anymore, think very well of what you’re doing.”

“If you’re stupid enough to bring a kid in here, we probably should still be this.” Taehyung says
back. Jungkook ignores the hurt that brings. He can’t help it, he’s only human.

“You don’t want to say that either.” he says, more to himself than anything. His eyes go wider once
Taehyung lowers his gun so that it’s directly pointed at the kid instead. Jungkook does the first
thing he can think about, he turns his own gun to his own head, knowing damn well Taehyung
wouldn’t shoot him. He wouldn’t.

Taehyung fails to hide his shock.

“Shoot the kid. Do it. Shoot the kid and you’ll have all our men shooting each other, you were fine
shooting me a minute ago, so why haven’t you? Shoot the fucking kid, Tae. Do it.” he presses,
blood boiling yet again.

“Jungkook—”

“No. You want to be a heartless piece of shit? Be it. Shoot the kid, see what happens.” Taehyung
bites down his own teeth, eyes never leaving his, silent for a few seconds, before he puts his gun
down on the desk rather harshly.

Jungkook’s shoulders relax, able to stop threatening himself with a gun to his own head. “If you
think about keeping the kid, the contract we signed is over. I hope you know that. You think about
keeping him and you and your men will go back to—”

“Maybe if you had asked nicely, I would’ve told you that I actually have a plan. But it’s nice to
fucking know you still don’t trust me to do shit. Do you really think I’m stupid enough to keep a
kid around this place? No, I wouldn’t want him to turn out like this. Point a gun at me again,
Taehyung, and it’ll be the last time you ever get to.” he gets up, the little boy still fast asleep
against his shoulder. “I’m going with Jimin and Yoongi to handle the kid, so stop pissing your
pants about it. And don’t wait up.”

Taehyung watches as he leaves the office with heavy, loud steps, banging the door once he’s on the
outside. “Shit.” he whispers, running a hand through his hair. “Fuck.”

│►

The first thing Taehyung notices once he wakes up is how empty the bed is. Jungkook’s not
clinging onto him as usually, there’s no legs thrown over his own. He forces himself not to even
think about it as he gets ready to go about his day.

Doesn’t even think about Jungkook — at all — until he sits down at the table to enjoy his morning
coffee and sees him smiling, clearly unbothered by what happened the day before.

Taehyung rolls his eyes before trailing them to Yoongi, who’s enjoying his own coffee right next
to him. “At what time did you come back last night?” he asks.

“Uh, like two in the morning, I think. Traffic wasn’t bad so we got home earlier than expected.”
Yoongi says with a shrug of the shoulders. “Why?”

“Nothing.”

Jungkook’s attention shifts from the conversation to Taehyung once the latter gets up from his seat
at the table and leaves without even taking his coffee. He looks down with a heavy exhale before
pushing himself to go back to the conversation he was having. He’s hurt, he’s angry, and he’s not
about to be the one running after Taehyung as he always is.

And Taehyung simply refuses to be the one showing a weak side first.

Which is why, when Jungkook ends up having to enter the office a few hours later to get his phone
charger, he doesn’t even look up from his laptop, already waiting for Jungkook to say something,
to start the conversation.

But he doesn’t. He walks to the couch to get what he’s there for and he turns around to leave again
without even sparing a glance. Taehyung decides that that’s enough, so he gets up, rushing to close
the door once Jungkook pulls it open.

Jungkook holds back a gasp when he’s spun around, a hand holding his jaw. “Stop being fucking
immature.” Taehyung says, eyes boring into his own. Jungkook frees himself rather quickly.

“I’m not the one who wanted to kill a fucking innocent child.” he spits.

“Dying sounds a thousand times better than being forced into our lives, Jungkook. You’re not
stupid enough to think that keeping him would be a good idea.” Taehyung still defends his point as
he takes a step backwards.

“Exactly. And I wasn’t but it’s really fucking flattering to know you thought I would be.”

“And it’s nice to know you’d manipulate any situation so that you get your way by putting a gun to
your fucking head.” Taehyung throws back, eyes darker. Jungkook furrows his eyebrows.
“I couldn’t let you shoot an innocent child.” he repeats, tone certain.

Taehyung scoffs. “And that was your brilliant suggestion?” Jungkook opens his mouth to speak but
he’s interrupted. “You make me question… this, a lot.” and really, that shouldn’t hurt as much as it
does. It also should make him as angry as it does.

“I make you question?! You put a fucking gun to my head, you— are you serious, Taehyung?!”

“You put a gun to your own! I was angry, I get that. I get that I fucked up but Jesus fucking— Why
the fuck would you throw how much I’d protect you right back in my fucking face?! I fucking
knew— I told you why I don’t get close to anyone, because that can be fucking used against me
and you fucking manipulated me because you knew I wouldn’t shoot you—”

“Stop using this against me—”

“But it’s true! That was the exact reason why I never allowed anyone to be close to me so thank
fucking you for proving me right.” Jungkook takes a step forward but Taehyung takes two steps
back. “No. You can be mad all you like. I fuck up a lot and I get it, and it’s usually okay, because
you understand, but that’s the fucking problem this time. You understand, you know why I find it
hard to trust /anyone/ and you still used it against me for a fucking kid—”

“Tae—”

“Get out.” Jungkook is quick to deny such request. “Actually get out, go to your own room again,
leave me alone, Jeon.” he gestures towards the door.

“No, a minute ago you wanted me to stay, you can’t just yell at me and tell me to leave.”

“That’s exactly what you did yesterday.”

“Because you proved, again, how you don’t fucking trust me for anything! I’m not the only one
who fucked up, you did too, the difference is that I always try to fix shit with you even when it’s
you fucking me over, so don’t tell me to leave, fucking— fucking try to fix it too.” he asks, almost
desperately. “Fix what you did.”

“I didn’t do shit to you!” Jungkook flinches as Taehyung suddenly yells, voice too strong, deeper,
way too close to him. And he can physically see Taehyung’s resolve changing, his eyes softening.
“Why did you flinch?” he asks.

“I thought I was going to have to beat your ass.” Jungkook almost whispers.

Taehyung sighs. “If I ever pull shit that makes you think that, feel free to.”

“Like putting a gun to my head?” he receives no answer. “The last time should’ve stayed the last
time, Taehyung. Doesn’t matter how reduced I get whenever we… we do anything privately,
doesn’t matter how little we make me look like, I’m not accepting such behavior. I’ll never accept
you even so trying to— do what you did and not get anything in return. I /will/ beat you up if you
disrespect me, and I /would/ shoot you if you pulled the trigger on me, so don’t fucking point a
gun at me /ever/ again.”

“It wasn’t for you, Jungkook, it was—”

“For a child?”

“I don’t get what’s so deep about the stupid kid. Now he’s growing to grow up traumatized
because some dude showed up to his house, drugged him and dropped him off at an orphanage,
away from his mother and his now dead father. I should’ve just shot him, he’d thank me.”

“Not every traumatized kid is going to end up like us, Tae, there’s better options for the kids in the
system, people who help and unders—”

“That’s not the fucking point, Jungkook! He knows your face. It’s the last fucking face he saw
before he finds out his dad was murdered that same day. And he’ll find out, whether it’s now or
later. And if there is one thing I know about his dad it’s that he wanted his kid to be better than
him. You’ve literally made yourself a target and for what? What the fuck did you gain? I get you
have a moral compass, but I don’t. I couldn’t care less if it was a baby. He could literally just be
coming out of his mother, if it was a threat I would’ve ended it. And it was. Now you’ve planted a
seed for a bigger one.” Jungkook can’ really wrap his head around the fact that Taehyung’s so
uncaring, so cold, so logic and work driven.

“So you were going to kill him.” Taehyung confirms. “With no remorse.”

“None. Don’t act like you don’t know me already.”

“Well, this is pretty different.”

“You knew what you were getting into. I would’ve shot the kid. The only reason I didn’t was
because I didn’t want you to be watching, I know you should’ve cried over that for days.”

“Saying shit like you care about me isn’t going to change just how horrible that is.” he points.

“You know where the door is if my lack of sympathy bothers you so much. You walked away on
your own yesterday. Feel free to do the same again.” Jungkook frowns.

“Stop closing up on me, we’ve been trying to communicate things lately, let’s— let’s fucking do
that.” Taehyung just lets out a dry, sarcastic chuckle.

“Leave my office.”

“No. Fuck off. Let’s just stop for a second. This is exhausting me, I need to absorb everything you
just said and fucking think, so sit and shut the fuck up.” Taehyung watches as he walks ahead to the
couch where he plops himself down and he just nods, getting back on his own chair.

He looks back at his laptop, figuring if he focuses on work he’ll be able to ignore Jungkook’s
presence, and that’s exactly what he tries to do, so he fails to notice when Jungkook hides his face
in his hands and his shoulders start shaking ever so slightly.

He’s quiet, the tears are cold but he doesn’t want to be too obvious about the conflicting thoughts
he’s having so he simply looks up to stare at the wall ahead, hands over his mouth, tears still
slowly, quietly going down his already wet cheeks.

Taehyung does look up at him when he hears a small sniff and he has to take a double look.

He sighs, getting up. Jungkook’s arms wind around his torso in the same moment that he sits down
and pulls Jungkook’s head onto his chest, hand staying on the back of his head to play with his
hair, soothingly. “We need to talk this through.” Jungkook says as he sniffs. Taehyung nods in
agreement. “But can you promise first that we’ll be ok?”

“We can’t promise that, we can’t know where a conversation goes.”

“Do you want me to walk out?” he decides to go straight to the point.

“You can.” Taehyung says.

“I know I can do whatever I want, but that’s not what I asked.” he pulls away, wiping his tears.
“Do you want me to? Just because of a fight?”

“I don’t want to fight, so if you want to walk out then just fucking—”

“That wasn’t my question. And stop swearing.” Jungkook frowns.

“Why are you crying?” Taehyung asks instead.

“I don’t know, answer my question.” he insists.

“How can you not know wh—” Jungkook is quick to slap his arm. “No, okay, no, I don’t.”

Jungkook sniffs, shoulders relaxing. “I don’t want to walk out either... I— I’m sorry, alright? I
didn’t mean to come off as though I manipulated you there. I just didn’t want you to end a child’s
life. If this brings me problems then I’ll deal with them in years or whenever they come. I’m sorry
about that and I’m sorry for not going to our bed last night. I was angry and I needed to cool down.
I—I don’t want to hurt you, Tae. I’m not— I’m not trying to manipulate you. I wasn’t even
thinking about it, I just didn’t want the kid to get hurt. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not apologizing for wanting to kill him. I stand by what I said. If that makes you sick or
makes you want to cry then it’s probably best you leave now.”

“I’m not leaving, you moron.”

“Right. Then I’m sorry for pointing a gun at you and for yelling. I don’t think you’re stupid, and I
do trust you. I was just really fucking was angry and stressed, I didn’t think. But yeah, I’m sorry.”
Jungkook smiles, proud of how far they’ve come together — most precisely, Taehyung, as he
himself has always been able to pronounce the word ‘sorry’.

Jungkook kisses the side of Taehyung’s neck before hiding his face there, going back to the
hugging position they were previously in. They stay quiet for a while, Taehyung’s hand going up
and down his back, trying to relax him further.

But Jungkook’s never the one to shut up about anything. “I can’t believe you don’t like kids— I
mean, I can believe because it’s you, but they’re so fucking cute.” he comments.

“It’s not that I don’t like kids. I don’t like evil kids. And if you want a kid, get a dog.” he rolls his
eyes at Taehyung’s reply, though he knows he shouldn’t even be surprised anymore.

“You know damn well I’d never put a kid in this life. I’m just saying, kids are adorable.” he still
defends his point, swinging his legs across Taehyung’s lap. He has no idea why Taehyung has
never called him out on being so clingy but he figures it’s good to never address it.

“They’re annoying, never shut up, ask too many questions, cry to get what they want. They’re
spoiled. You’re like a kid, no wonder you like them.” Jungkook gasps, offended.

“I am /not/ spoiled.”

“You really fucking are.”

Jungkook tsks, pulling back. “Before going back to just insulting me… we’re ok, right? Are our
apologies enough or should we like, work on that?” he asks with a pout.

“What does that even mean?” Taehyung tilts his head.

“Well— I don’t know, sometimes when I fought with Jimin back when we were kids, it’d take
days to fix shit. I’m just asking but… I think we work on this mutual growth every day, as it is so
— I just want us to be ok.” he admits, cheeks growing redder. He’ll never not feel shy talking
about such things knowing he’s telling them to Taehyung, of all people.

“Then we’re ok.” he agrees.

“Then kiss me. Unless we’re not ok.” Jungkook requests, puckering his lips invitingly.

Taehyung just looks at him for a moment, a hand cupping his cheek before he leans closer, joining
their lips slowly, movements almost careful. Jungkook exhales into the kiss, relieved, but he pulls
back almost aggressively, frowning. “What?”

“There’s something else bothering me. But I also don’t want to talk about it now. But just so you
know, you’re doing something wrong that has been bothering the fuck out of me. But we’re not
going to talk about it now.”

Taehyung blinks. “I don’t think that’s the way to solve problems, especially when I don’t even
know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“It’s /someone/ and I don’t want to go into that yet.”

“What do you mean som—” but Jungkook interrupts him with a kiss. “Fine, but you don’t’ get to
be pissed when you’re the one refusing to tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’m not pissed, I have a solution. I’ll take care of it tonight.”

“Who the fuck are you killing—”

“No one.” a kiss. He smiles. “Let me worry about it.”

│►

Taehyung stretches as he turns off his alarm, opening one eye once he feels the bed empty.
Jungkook must’ve woken up sooner than he did, which is weird, given the man would sleep until
noon if he could. He closes his eyes again, set on staying there for five more minutes as he reaches
to scratch his itching chest.

He furrows his eyebrow once the area feels rather sore. He looks down, given he’s not wearing a
shirt, and he’s sitting up in the same second. There’s a new tattoo on his pectoral, only three letters,
but it definitely wasn’t there before.

A ‘JK’S’ now written on his skin in black letters and he’s rushing out of bed immediately.

Jungkook enjoys his coffee leaning on the counter, Jimin telling him about how he pulled
something in his back while sleeping. His eyes go wider, he chokes in his coffee as Taehyung
enters the room, dressed to perfection as always, but his eyes are already scanning everyone.

So he turns to his side, trying to hide somehow.

“Jeon, join me in the office.” Taehyung calls and he deems his attempt at hiding a failure.
“Oh, why? I’m drinking my coffee.” he tries.

“It’s urgent.”

“Just say it in front of them, it’s okay.” Jungkook smiles, taking another sip.

“Jungkook. Now.” he’s already turning around and so Jungkook frowns, giving Jimin a look before
he trails after the older man, taking his mug between his palms. He closes the door behind himself
but he doesn’t step forward, simply watches as Taehyung sits down on his chair. “Come here.” he
gestures.

“No, you’re going to hit me.”

“Come here.” Taehyung repeats.

“How mad are you?” Jungkook still tries, his back pressed to door.

“I said come here.”

“Promise it’s not above a seven—”

“Jungkook.” his tone drops and so do Jungkook’s ears as he walks almost shamefully until he takes
a seat on the chair across from the other. “Explain yourself.” he orders.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jungkook offers a smile.

“You definitely do. Explain.”

“I’m sorry, Taehyungie, I don’t know what’s going on…” he tries to play his card for as long as he
can, innocent eyes staring up at him above the mug he takes a sip from again. He watches as
Taehyung unfastens his tie and opens the first three buttons. He can’t help but to let a cackle out.
“That’s pretty, when did you get it?”

“You tell me, Jungkook. It appears to have your imprints all over it.”

“Hm… no, but it does say that you apparently belong to someone.” Jungkook points out as he takes
a new sip from his coffee. “And I agree with the tattoo, you did well getting it.”

“And how exactly do I belong to you?” Taehyung asks with an eyebrow raised and Jungkook just
checks his own nails, painted black as per usual, looking as unbothered as one could be.

“You /do/.” he reinforces.

Taehyung gets up, walking around the desk. Jungkook follows him with his eyes, Taehyung
leaning back with his arms crossed. “Why did you think this was a good idea?”

“You tattooed my ass, it seems fair…” he mumbles through a pout, looking away.

“Fair?” Taehyung chuckles. “It’s not being fair, darling, it’s you trying to push my buttons, being a
brat. Trying to get attention, is that it?” Jungkook frowns even further, putting his mug down.

“I just—”

“I just.” Taehyung copies his tone. “You just wanted to piss me off. As always.” Jungkook gulps,
feeling small under Taehyung’s gaze. He’ll never not enjoy that feeling, perhaps too much.
“I wasn’t trying to— I’m—” he stops once Taehyung goes for his biggest weakness, his throat,
fingers wrapping around it even if loosely. “Tae…” he whispers.

“What? You’re going to apologize? Will that make this fucking tattoo disappear?”

Jungkook grabs his wrist, even if he doesn’t pull the hand away. “You— You tattooed me!”

“But you /are/ a princess, aren’t you? Your tattoo will never not be correct.” Taehyung teases.
“You should definitely watch where you tread sometimes, sweetheart.” Jungkook gets up once he’s
tugged by the hand on his throat and Taehyung guides him until he’s leaning backwards onto the
desk until his feet are off of the floor. “How am I getting this off now, hm?”

“You’re not, that’s how.” Jungkook pulls him closer by wrapping his legs around the other’s waist.
“I’m a princess? Yeah, but then you’re so mine. /My/ property.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow,
having to hold himself with a hand against the desk once he’s tugged even further.

“Someone’s possessive, huh?” Jungkook just pouts, something obviously bothering him. “Is this
about what you mentioned two days ago? About whoever is bothering you? Is that why you’re
pissing on me like a dog trying to mark territory?”

“Minjae has been acting weird.” he mumbles.

“Hm?” Taehyung tilts his head, unable to comprehend what he said.

Jungkook’s expression turns into an angry one. “Don’t tell me you’re blind to him literally
undressing you with his eyes. I’ve disliked him since day one.”

“He does not—”

“He /does/ and it’s getting so much worse lately. So yes, I am marking territory.” he frowns.

“What? You think I’d do something with any of them?” Jungkook looks away. “Because I can just
keep my shirt on, you know.” he tries to push, see how much Jungkook is willing to give.

“You— You wouldn’t…”

“You seem to believe that I would.” Jungkook only pouts, looking down, and Taehyung sighs,
removing the hand that never left Jungkook’s throat. He helps him up by tugging on his hands,
Jungkook now sitting on the desk with Taehyung standing between his parted legs. “Did we not
have this conversation already?” he asks, tone soft, hands on the sides of Jungkook’s thighs.

“I-I thought you had noticed him and just didn’t want to tell him to stop…” he whispers. He’s
embarrassed to even admit that it bothers him, but even more to acknowledge the fact that maybe
Taehyung isn’t bothered by it.

“I didn’t notice it. I didn’t.” Jungkook frowns even further, hands tucked between his thighs. “Hey,
what’s worrying you so much?” he asks, raising Jungkook’s head up by his chin. “C’mon, just tell
me.”

“Never mind it, I’m embarrassed…” he admits.

“Tell me.”

“I just… worry sometimes. You’ve never wanted… this.” he gestures between the two. “And yeah,
we both know I want attention all the time and— you’d probably prefer someone simpler, less
clingy or whatever.” Jungkook says with a gulp. “Maybe someone like you, I don’t know.” he
looks up but Taehyung doesn’t reply, he simply stares back, looking rather confused.

Jungkook panics a bit further.

“See, you don’t like this conversation either so I’ll just— never mind this, I’m sorry for the tattoo.”
he pushes Taehyung back to be able to hop off of the desk and Taehyung’s eyebrows shoot up at
the suddenness of it all.

“Kook, come here—” he’s interrupted by the door opening and Jungkook’s out before he can even
say anything else. And really, he’s not sure of what even happened before him. “Goddamn it.” he
curses quietly, knowing he should probably follow him, but he has responsibilities, things to do,
things to worry about, so, instead, he sits down, opens his laptop.

He’s not even half mad about the tattoo, he’s done worse to Jungkook when they didn’t even get
along, so he doesn’t really feel the need to be angry over something that can easily cover up if
needed. What he’s mad about, though, is Jungkook yet again saving things to himself that clearly
bother him and just expect Taehyung to understand.

It’s really not how that works.

│►

“I still think you’re upset.” Jimin says as he sits down on the couch right next to him and Jungkook
rolls his eyes, already tired of repeating himself.

“I’m not upset.” he says, again, trying to focus on his friend or on Yoongi who’s currently busy
going through some files next to them. He does his absolute best not to even glance at Taehyung
sitting at his desk, typing away on his laptop.

He does glance at the door once someone knocks and he rolls his eyes once he sees Minjae peaking
his head in. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you, come in.” he hears Taehyung say and watches as
Minjae takes a seat across from him. Jimin is still talking, though, so when the two of them start
talking between themselves, he stops being able to hear.

“What is that you wanted to discuss, sir?” he asks, curious.

“It’s come to my attention that you have been, particularly forward, with your interests.” Taehyung
starts and he can see the way the other’s eyes go huge. “Not only did I notice but so did others.” he
adds.

“Oh, uh, sir, I—”

“Before you speak, I’d like to make it clear that that is in no way appropriate. I am your boss, and
you looking at me with something that does not count as respect is something I won’t stand for.
You will not, under any circumstances, disrespect or even as so think about me in such a way
again. Is that clear?” Minjae just wishes the ground would swallow him whole.

“I wasn’t doing anything forward, sir, I respect you a lot… as my boss, and everything else.” he
tries to explain. “But I’m a man and you’re… very attractive, sir.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow.

“And you need to learn your place. You will never disrespect anybody like that again, especially
not me. I’ll say it clearer for you, I’m not interested, in anything. While I can appreciate your
reasoning, it does not excuse your actions, especially in front other people. You have embarrassed
me. Don’t do it again. Get out of my office.” he gestures to the door, looking back to his laptop, set
on going back to what he was doing.

“But—”

“I believe that I was clear enough.” Taehyung says, a bit louder, and Jungkook’s ears turn back to
them.

Which he regrets, once he’s able to hear what Minjae says next. “No one would have to know, sir.”
and his stomach drops when Taehyung gets up and gestures for him to follow, the two of them
leaving the office. What just happened?

Where are they going?

What are they about to do?

“I’m sorry, Jimin, I’m tired, I’m going to lay down for a moment.”

“Where are you—” but he’s already out of the office.

│►

Taehyung opens Jungkook’s bedroom door with the key he still has, hoping to find Jungkook there.
He hasn’t seen him in hours and Jimin only knows that he went for a nap, which should mean he’d
be in Taehyung’s bed, but he’s not.

Jungkook closes his eyes and swallows his tears once he hears the door opening, thanking God that
he’s facing the other way. He hears Taehyung put his phone and key on the bedside table before
sitting down in bed and he has to hold himself from letting out another cry.

There’s a hand on his hip soon after. “Hey… it’s dinner time, we should go downstairs.” he hears
as his hip is shook ever so slowly. “Jungkook, hey, wake up.” Taehyung says, shaking him again,
this time a little harder. He feels Taehyung leaning closer, possibly to see his face, and he’s
completely rolled over once Taehyung sees his state. “What happened?!”

Jungkook just scoots away from him, slaps the hand that tries to cup his jaw. “Leave my f-fucking
bedroom, I want to be alone, go away.”

Taehyung’s taken aback. “What’s wrong, Jungkook?” he tries to cup his cheek but he has his hand
slapped away again and so he grabs Jungkook’s wrists, stopping him. “Stop doing that, what
happened? Tell me.”

“Let me go—”

“Tell me. I’ll handle it. Who or what made you cry?”

“You! You did, just fuck off and get out of my damn room!” Jungkook almost yells, freeing
himself from Taehyung’s hold on his wrists. “Get out!” again, his voice sounds raw and pained and
Taehyung finds himself frowning even harder. Jungkook hates how he knows he sounds like he’s
throwing the biggest tantrum.

“Me? The fuck did I—” he stops, inhaling and exhaling slowly, keeping himself calm. “Why?
What did I do? Please enlighten me as I have no clue of how I hurt you to the point of you being
like this.” he gestures to his red, runny nose, bugged eyes, bitten lips.

Jungkook just sniffs. He feels stupid and embarrassed.

“Can you talk to me? Please?” Taehyung insists.

“Do you think I’m stupid? After— After what I told you in the morning you go and— fuck you,
Tae, get out of here, I don’t want to be near you.” he hates how genuinely confused Taehyung
looks. “You went with him.” he adds.

“With whom? Where? What—”

“Minjae! And I told you— I heard him saying no one needed to know and you just went with him!
I don’t even know why I’m still talking to you, you fucking asshole.” he wipes his own tears
aggressively once he feels a new one falling. Truth is, he never felt that hurt.

He feels like he could hit Taehyung when the latter just snorts after a few seconds of staring at
him. And maybe he does slap his chest hard enough to hurt, but Taehyung only laughs more and
holds his wrists to keep him from doing anything.

“How can you laugh— let go of me— I’ll actually fucking cut you—”

“Stop, stop this, stop crying, princess, y—”

“You can’t call me princess after doing that! I don’t even want to look at you, I just want you to
leave. I’m so hurt, I’m actually really fucking hurt, I don’t want you around me, get out, let go of
me, just leave.” he cries, able to get out of Taehyung’s hold once again.

“But tell me then, what exactly did I do?” Jungkook feels a pang in his chest. The more Taehyung
says or does, the more confirmation he gets that this was just all a big thing to humiliate him. He
doesn’t think he can forgive such thing. “Don’t look away, look at me and tell me what I did.”

Jungkook gulps away the knot in his throat. “You left with him, we both know what you did. I
heard him saying no one needed to know, I— Why would you do that in front of me? After what I
told you? I was in the damn room, Tae.” Taehyung hates how hurt he sounds.

He sighs. “You’re so dumb.” Jungkook gapes, beyond offended. “I left so that I could address
things more directly without having Jimin and Yoongi knowing about it. As you apparently don’t
trust me for shit, I’ll tell you exactly what we talked about. I told him to never /ever/ speak to me
with any second intentions and I made it clear that I’m his boss and he’s my worker, nothing else. I
wouldn’t fucking do that to you, if I wanted to go with other people, I wouldn’t agree when you
asked if we could be exclusive.”

Jungkook’s shoulders fall. He feels even stupider. “You didn’t do anything?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Oh.” he looks down. “I’m so fucking annoying, I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have made assumptions,
I— Fucking hell.” he curses at himself, covering his face with his hands.

“Do you want to know what really is annoying?” he asks as he pulls Jungkook’s hands away.
“When you don’t tell me these things that clearly bother you a lot.”

“You were right when you said this is annoying. I know you said it a while ago, but it annoys me
too. The crying, the constant need for reassurance and I just fucking put you on the spot all the
time with shit I make up in my own head. You’re going to end up having enough of this.”

“So you tattooed your name on my chest?”

“Yeah, so that you remember me after you kill me.” Taehyung rolls his eyes, albeit entertained.
“I’m sorry, I just— I’m sorry. I’m so annoying.” he opens his mouth to reassure him again but
Jungkook is quick to interrupt, holding Taehyung’s hand. “But did he get the message? Because I
don’t trust myself to not kill him next time I see some shit happening.”

“He did get the message, but we should probably talk about your outburst in my office earlier.”

“Not an outburst—”

“You stomped your feet and left without looking back, I didn’t see you again until we were in the
office with Yoongi and Park. That’s either an outburst or a tantrum, whatever you prefer to call it.”
Taehyung points out.

“I was just worried about the Minjae thing.” he admits. “I just don’t particularly like to talk about
things like this, because you always look like you want to either run away or end my life. I know
this, and I respect it, so I keep it to myself.”

“But I need to know these things, otherwise they end up being bigger than they have to be, like
right now. I get I’m not the best with words or emotions but I’d be better at telling you when
you’re wrong over something small than reassuring you over something this big.” Taehyung says,
a hand on Jungkook’s knee, thumb slowly caressing it.

“I’m sorry for overreacting…”

“It’s alright.” Taehyung shrugs. “Is there anything else I should know?”

“Not really… Oh, just— I’m sorry for the tattoo. That was a bit too much…”

“I’m not mad. You could’ve chosen something less territorial, but I’ve tattooed ‘princess’ on you
while it was still an insult, so I guess I deserve worse. Anyways, you clearly aren’t going for dinner
looking like that so I’ll grab us some food.”

“Thank you, Tae.” he pouts. “Kiss me before you go…” Taehyung doesn’t need to be asked twice.

│►

Taehyung wakes up to kisses being places all over his face and he finds himself pushing Jungkook
away. Unfortunately, the younger man is not only stronger but also not half asleep, so he fails at it,
settling for tilting his head to the side. “I made you coffee…” Jungkook informs.

“My alarm hasn’t gone off yet, get off of me.”

“I want to tell you something, please sit up.” Taehyung sighs, pushing himself up and so Jungkook
sits as well right next to him, reaching for the mug of coffee that he soon hands over. Taehyung
takes a sip. “I know I was like, annoying as hell yesterday and I don’t even know why I was like
that but I’m fully myself again so I want to say sorry and uh, enjoy your coffee.” he gestures.

“Jungkook, you need to stop worrying about yesterday.” Taehyung says with a groggy voice, one
of his hands rubbing his eyes. “I’ve told you it’s ok, it happens.”

“But it’s the first time you saw me /that/ needy, I even pissed myself off this morning when I
thought back to it so please, drink my ‘I’m sorry’ coffee.” Taehyung tsks.

“The only thing you should feel sorry for is not telling me sooner and quite literally not trusting
me. I’m not accepting an apology for you being yourself.”
“But me being myself is me being annoying. I’m not going to be mad if you admit this once that it
was too much and irritating. It’s fine this time, it’s like me saying you’re rude as shit, because you
are, so I’m not lying. You’re rude, I’m annoying.” he gestures between the two.

“Excuse you— I’m not even going to be hassled, I just woke up, I don’t have patience yet.” he
takes another sip. “But you’re not annoying. A bit, ok, but not enough for it to be a problem. Not
now.” he shrugs. “So shut up about this. You’re giving me grey hairs.”

Jungkook looks over at him, Taehyung’s expression ever so serious, and he glances between his
eyes and the grey hair on top of his head. “I— I can never tell when you’re joking. How do you
always look like this—?” he pulls the most serious expression he can.

“I don’t look like that.”

“You’re doing it right now.”

“I’m no—” Taehyung opens his mouth in the most forced smile ever to be seen and Jungkook
leans away, clearly bothered by the sight.

“What are you doing— You look creepy as fuck.” he complains, waving his hand.

“I’m just smiling, isn’t this what you wanted?” he asks, continuing.

“The smile of the grim reaper, maybe.” Taehyung hums, that smile never leaving his face. “Fuck,
stop, I take it back, I prefer your bored expression over this.” the smile is quick to fall then,
Taehyung taking a sip from his mug before he places it down on the nightstand to be able to get up
from the bed.

He walks over to his closet, picking one of his black suits that Jungkook will never not argue about
how they all look exactly the same. Taehyung disagrees. He puts his button up shirt on, being
stopped from buttoning it by two hands grabbing his own.

Jungkook looks down at his chest, running his fingers over the still fresh tattoo. He’ll never not
feel proud of that one. “I’m still failing to understand how I didn’t wake up.”

“Don’t ask things that you won’t like the answer to.” Jungkook says with a giggle, pecking his lips
before he himself starts buttoning Taehyung’s shirt carefully. He runs his hands over his shoulders
once he’s done, eyes locking with Taehyung’s. “Tae?” he whispers.

“Yeah?”

“I…” he stops, gulping. The words refuse to come out. “Nothing, kiss me?” he smiles before
puckering his lips and Taehyung doesn’t say anything against such request, simply ending the
space between them, hands falling on Jungkook’s hips.

│►

“Hey, Tae.” he looks up from his phone, Jungkook entering his office with his hands together,
holding something, like some tiny animal he found or something just as precious. “One from your
team got this from a dude that attacked them, do you want to see?”

“Sure.” he puts his phone down, watching as Jungkook walks closer.

He just blinks when he opens his hands to reveal a tongue. Someone’s tongue. “Oh, c’mon, you
didn’t even flinch.” Jungkook complains, clearly not having the reaction he was looking for.
“I’ve seen so much, this doesn’t really surprise me.” he shrugs.

“You’re so boring, I’ll get ready for bed.” Jungkook says with a tsk.

“You’re going to throw that shit out, though, aren’t you?” Taehyung calls after him once he walks
closer to the office door.

“No, dude, I’m going to eat this as a midnight snack— Of course I’m going to trash it.” Taehyung
just offers him his middle finger, to whish Jungkook shows his tongue, before leaving the office.
Taehyung goes back to the email he was reading ever so carefully, knowing Jungkook isn’t going
to read it himself even though it’s addressed to his own email account.

He leaves once he’s done, locking the door before going into the bedroom. He discards his blazer
right away, placing it on the bed, heading to the bathroom. His feet stop for a second, Jungkook’s
almost bent over the sink to be able to see himself well in the mirror.

His hair is up in a pony tail right on the top of his head, something black coating his face. “Now
what the fuck are you doing?” he asks, walking towards the toilet as he unzips his pants. Jungkook
looks at him through the mirror.

“A face mask? As I said before, not everyone has your skin.” he points out. “Also, how romantic is
this— we’re already sharing bathrooms, huh?” Taehyung just rolls his eyes, continuing to empty
his bladder. He flushes, closing the lid.

Jungkook looks at him with a pout as Taehyung washes his hands and the man half gasps when
Jungkook simply rubs his hand on his cheek, leaving some of the face mask on his skin. “Remove
it right now—”

“No…! Let me finish.” he asks with a whine, pulling Taehyung closer. He manages to press
Taehyung between himself and the sink and Taehyung just gives him the most exaggerated sigh,
even if he just lets him do his thing. He’s finding it harder and harder each day to say no to him.

Jungkook grabs his silver hair, putting it up on a pony tail like he himself has. “Is this really
necessary to have?” he asks. Jungkook tsks with a shake of the head.

“Of course it is, how else am I supposed to get to your forehead?” he asks as though it’s so
obvious, using his fingers so carefully spread the face mask evenly throughout Taehyung’s face.
Taehyung’s hands rest on his hips, just staring back at him as he pays full attention to his task.

“Is it done yet?”

“Just this cheek… hold on…” he speaks more to himself than anything, carefully applying the
black face mask onto his already soft, spotless skin. He smiles before he steps away to put the
mask back in one of the drawers, him having claimed half of Taehyung’s drawers already.

“Hey, Jungkook.” he turns back once called, only to gasp when Taehyung snaps a picture of him.

“Did you just— You can’t show that to anyone!” Jungkook almost yells, trying to snatch the phone
from his hand. He doesn’t succeed.

“Should I print this and just hand over to everyone we work w—” he stops at the sound of another
picture being taken, Jungkook holding his own phone. Jungkook runs away as fast as he can once
their eyes meet. “Give me that.” Taehyung follows.

Jungkook puckers his lips, handing over his locked phone as he lays down in bed, unbothered.
“You don’t know my code, so have the phone all you want.” he smiles.

“I will actually kill you like, torturously if you show that to anyone.” Taehyung threatens.

“I won’t if you won’t.” he offers. Taehyung groans, lying beside him. “It’s a good deal.”

“Still, tell me the code.” Jungkook quickly denies. “Jeon, the code.”

“The fuck did you just call m—”

“I’ll break the phone instead.” Jungkook frowns at that and Taehyung inserts the numbers he gives
him to unlock the phone. Jungkook gasps, realizing his mistake once he sees Taehyung’s thumb
nearing the gallery icon.

“Don’t open that!” he tries, but it’s too late. He has to bite his own hand as he watches Taehyung
scroll through pictures of himself doing the most mundane things, such as sleeping or reading or
working. One thing is for sure, he has no idea that any of those pictures were taken. “Please stop
scrolling, this is humiliating.” he half whines.

He runs a hand over his face when Taehyung opens an album with old pictures, mostly him and
Jimin, occasionally other friends he used to have. “Your younger self…” he drifts off.

“Don’t.”

“Extremely unattractive. You were a weird ass kid, I can’t lie. Kind of hot as a teen, I’ll give it to
you, but an ugly ass kid.” Jungkook frowns, though he’s well aware of the fact that he can’t
actually argue over a fact.

“If there’s one thing this life did for me was make me work out enough to be hot.” he comments.

“No, puberty made you pretty too— How old were you here? Seventeen? And you were already
cute. I won’t comment on the eyeliner, though.”

“You’re a bully.” he complains, leaning his head on Taehyung’s shoulder, though careful enough
not to leave the mask on his white shirt. “Oh, that picture…” Jungkook whispers, pressing on one
of them. “We’d go to that ice cream place like— every day, even in the winter. I miss it, haven’t
gone there in years… it’s probably not even open anymore.” he frowns.

“We can check it someday.” Jungkook quickly looks up.

“You’d go with me?”

“Sure, we can go there.”

“Can uh… Can Jimin join us?”

“He can sit on another table.” that’s something, Jungkook thinks.

They sit quietly scrolling through pictures, Jungkook explaining some of them, a funny story
behind it, a funny moment. It’s entertaining, really, he hasn’t had anyone to share those stories with
apart from Jimin, but he was there, so it doesn’t count.

They’re startled when an alarm goes off on his phone. “Oh, time to take this off.” he informs.

“I completely forgot that I have this on, get if off.” Jungkook hums, climbing onto his lap so that
he’s straddling him. He pulls on the edge of the already dried mask, Taehyung leaning away as he
slaps his hand.

Jungkook giggles. “Come here, I have to peel it.”

“No you fucking don’t, that was my skin.”

Jungkook actually laughs at that. “It’s not! I pulled on the mask, come here.” he tugs on it a little
more and Taehyung slaps his hand so hard it goes red instantly. “I have to take it off! If I do it fast,
it hurts less. You’re such a little bitch, I swear to God.”

“You’re going to regret this later, just fucking pull it in one go.” Jungkook does as told, pulling a
big piece out, but his jaw falls and he’s looking down at the mask right after, checking for
something, before looking between him and the mask. “What did you do now?”

“Do you have your gun nearby?” Taehyung just raises an eyebrow and Jungkook slowly turns the
mask to him, showing some of his eyebrow hairs stuck to it. “Please don’t kill me, that was a
hundred percent an accident.”

“I’m never letting you touch my face again—”

“I can fix this, I can fix this.” he chants as he hops off, disappearing into the bathroom again.
Taehyung just sighs, pulling the rest of the mask off, cursing everyone out silently at the pain.
Jungkook’s back soon enough with a pair of tweezers.

He sits himself on Taehyung’s lap again, pulling more eyebrow hair out. “Are you going to remove
my whole eyebrow now or—? The fuck are you doing?”

“Trust me.” Jungkook whispers, completely focused. He pulls back a little once he’s done,
observing the whole thing. Taehyung has now an eyebrow slit, looking intentional. “Your face just
got ten times hotter because of me. Say thank you.”

“I don’t even want to see it, I know I’m going to want to kill you if I do.” he says, sounding just as
done with the whole situation as he feels.

“Can you get this off of my face so that I can suck your dick like, right now? Why haven’t you
done this before? I’m literally— fuck.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow, the one with the new styling
and Jungkook feels dumb for gasping, but he does. “Holy— I’ve never been more attracted to
anything like I am right now.”

“Shut up.” he complains, pulling on an edge of the mask on Jungkook’s face and it’s so sudden that
it has Jungkook leaning away, surprised. “Don’t be a little bitch.” Taehyung uses the same words
as he did, reaching to pull some more.

Jungkook doesn’t really complain, already used to it.

He then places his hands on Taehyung’s cheeks, massaging it in. “Do you feel the freshness and
the cleanness— I can’t believe you’ve never done a face mask, how is your skin like this?”

“Good genes, I guess.” he shrugs, observing as Jungkook drools some more once he runs his
thumbs over his eyebrows. He refrains from commenting on it.

“Can you do it for me?” Jungkook whispers.

“Massage it?”
“Mhm.” Taehyung does as requested, massaging his face carefully, though he’s unable to keep
himself from teasing him somehow, so he does end up pushing his thumb past Jungkook’s lips
once he’s massaging his cheeks. Jungkook bites down his finger. “Don’t put shit in my mouth
when you look like this— Let me see this with your hair down.”

He pulls the hair tie out, combing the grey hair into place. Taehyung just waits for a reaction,
looking way too smug even though he doesn’t even know how it looks, he hasn’t seen it yet.

“This was a mistake. No one can see this, I can’t possibly let that happen. Can you cover it with
eyeshadow or something until it grows back? It’s not ok for anyone to see it, I can’t let t—”

Taehyung places a hand over his mouth. “Are you trying to keep others in place or keep your dick
inside your pants?”

Jungkook quickly removes the hand to be able to speak. “No Tae, actually, you have no idea what I
just did by pulling some hairs off of your eyebrow, this is dangerous. Just come and look.” he gets
up from the bed, pulling him by the hand for him to do the same.

Taehyung takes a second looking at himself once in front of the mirror. Doesn’t look as terrible as
he had anticipated. “Okay.” he says then with a short nod.

“Ok— What? It’s not just okay, I— Look at me.” he turns Taehyung’s head to face him, grabbing
two of his fingers to place them against his own neck. Taehyung chuckles at how fast his heart is
beating over something as simple as that.

He wraps his hand completely around Jungkook’s throat then. “I think I can make it beat faster
than that.” he teases, wrapping his other arm around Jungkook’s waist to keep him up once his
knees give out as Taehyung tightens his hold.

“Whatever we do, please let me be facing you.” he requests.

“When have I ever given you something that I haven’t made you beg for?” Taehyung taunts.

“Please. Please, I’ll beg as hard as you want me to for this one. Plea—” he stops as he’s pushed
over the sink, facing the mirror, a hand tugging on his hair to keep his head there, the other hand
still tight around his throat.

“We were just doing some stupid face masks, why are you so fucking horny all the time?”
Taehyung asks, tone condescending, mean. Jungkook gulps, biting down his bottom lip as he stares
at Taehyung through the reflection.

“This is your fault—”

“I’m not the one who ripped my eyebrow off.”

“But you’re the one who looks fucking hot twenty four-seven, even more now, like this is some
sort of fucking—”

“Are you going to shut up or am I going to have to make you?” Taehyung interrupts, hand leaving
his throat to tease his bottom lip, two fingers easily slipping into his mouth. “Hm.” he kisses
behind his ear before pulling back. Jungkook’s left a bit winded, trying to understand what is
Taehyung going to do next.

Head for the door is /definitely/ not what he was expecting or hoping for. “W-Where are you
going?” Jungkook asks, fast enough to grab his forearm.
“We should sleep now that we’re done with the whole night routine.” Taehyung says, nonchalant,
smile teasing. Jungkook gapes, eyebrows knitted together in an angry frown.

“No, my night routine also requires getting fucked really good.” he tries.

“Not tonight. You can’t always get what you want.” Taehyung leans closer to kiss his forehead.
“Besides, you quite literally ripped my eyebrow, so you’re in no position to ask for whatever.” he
frees himself from Jungkook’s hold, walking towards the door.

“I made you hotter.” nothing. “I’ll let you fist me.”

Taehyung turns so fast he thinks he’s pulled something in his neck. “Come again?”

“You heard me.” he crosses his arms.

“You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

“Yes, I do.” Jungkook says as he stomps one of his feet.

“You’re going to be sore as shit tomorrow, you may not be ab—”

Jungkook sighs, dramatic. “I knew you were all talk…”

That’s enough for Taehyung to walk closer, lift him up by his thighs. “You’re going to regret that
one. And my eyebrow.”

“Regret it? I’m about to really enjoy myself.” he smiles, cupping Taehyung’s cheeks as the latter
walks them to the bedroom, hands gripping Jungkook’s thighs quite harshly.

Taehyung lets out a mean chuckle, dropping him unceremoniously onto the bed. “You really don’t
know what you asked for.”

│►

“Finally awake?” Jungkook hears once he opens his eyes and he smiles, closing them again, lazy.
“I got you some painkillers, just in case you actually need them.” Taehyung says and he finds
himself pouting as he opens his eyes again.

“I don’t need them, I’m not really s—” he stops when he tries to sit up, freezing. “Give me two.”

Taehyung chuckles, handing over just one and a glass of water. “I got you an apple.” he waves it,
grabbing the knife he brough from the kitchen to start cutting it into smaller pieces. He hands them
over one at a time, Jungkook munching quietly, still laying down.

“Tae…” he whines. “I hurts to chew…” he frowns.

“Do you want me to chew it for you like a bird?” Jungkook frowns even further.

“If I could move, I’d slap you, so remind me to do that once I’m well again.” he points out.

Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Just tell me what hurts so that I can try to help.”

“My everything.”

“Don’t a bitch, specify.” Jungkook gives him an offended glare.

“My ass, obviously, for some reason my stomach, my jaw, my shoulders, my wrists— don’t
fucking smirk you fucking dick.” he curses him out, ignoring the pain for a moment to slap his arm
so hard it has his own fingers tingling after.

“I’m not smirking, I’m just listening attentively to what you’re listing, go on.” Taehyung says with
a smile, cutting yet another piece for apple that he hands to him, Jungkook chewing with an angry
look in his eyes.

“Yes, you are fucking smirking. Your mean ass enjoys this so much. Me, in pain. I can’t even
move properly and you’re /smirking/.” he continues to complain, his cheeks full to be able to
speak.

“I did warn you that you’d be sore.” Taehyung shrugs, clearly unbothered, clearly not the one in
pain. Jungkook tsks.

“I asked you to fist me, not ruin every muscle I have.” he still complains. “But I have a feeling that
this is exactly what you were aiming for, and I want to hit you for that.”

“Well, actually, yeah, precisely.” Jungkook gapes. “Do you have any idea of how hot it always is
to see you struggle to walk or sit down in front of our men and I’m the only one who knows why?
On top of that, that I’m the one that made you like that? And you expect me not to smirk seeing
you like this?” he tilts his head.

“Let me tell you, it’s not very fun to feel like you’ve actually rearranged my guts.”

“I mean, you weren’t complaining, were you?”

“I remember screaming.”

“In pain?” Jungkook remains quiet and Taehyung hums. “I see.”

“Shut up.” he rolls his eyes. “I hope you’re aware that you’re going to have to carry me to the
bathroom to pee and everything. Take the day off, today you’re my personal assistant.” Taehyung
raises an eyebrow, visibly disliking the idea.

“I’ll just get you some diapers.” Jungkook makes an offended sound.

“I’d punch you if I could.” he points aggressively with his finger.

“Are you really that sore?”

“Dude, I think you actually like— broke something.” Taehyung laughs quietly. It makes Jungkook
smile instantly. He doesn’t get to hear that very often.

“Probably just your dignity.” he jokes.

“I’ve lost that the moment I first got on my knees for you.” Jungkook agrees, either way.

“Nah, it was when you allowed me to choke you against the wall.” Taehyung points out, granting
an embarrassed groan from the other as Jungkook covers his face.

“Don’t remind me of that, I almost cried with embarrassment as I was taking a shower.” he recalls,
cheeks tinted red.

“Your eyes fucking rolled back, I had a laughing fit while trying to fall asleep.” Taehyung reaches
for his wrists, eyeing his bruises before starting to massage them ever so carefully.
“Shut up, it was humiliating. And you kept going for it after, you literally just wanted to embarrass
me.” he whines.

“Of course I did, I still do. It’s the funniest. You’re really easy to antagonize.”

“You can’t be nice even after ruining my whole body.” he sighs, feigning sadness.

Taehyung coos. “Next time I won’t bring you pain killers or breakfast and definitely won’t
massage your bruises, then.” Jungkook puckers his lips, not a fan of that.

“Can you check if my butt is bruises? I feel like I have the pattern of the belt imprinted on my
skin.” he requests as he shifts a little bit. “And massage my butt. That’s the least you can do.”

Taehyung tsks, rolling him over. “Such a fucking pillow princess.”

“You can’t call me a princess and then not treat me like one.” Taehyung just hums at that, lifting
the shirt Jungkook wore to bed as it’s the only thing he has on and he finds himself snorting. “What
— Why are you laughing?”

“My hand is literally here, you can see my fingers.” Jungkook tries to turn his neck to see it but
he’s too stiff for that, so he just hides his face against the pillow again, frowning.

“That’s it, we’re never having sex again.” he concludes then.

“I’m sorry, I actually didn’t mean to hit you that hard.” Taehyung leans down to press a kiss to the
top of his head before walking away into the bathroom. Jungkook waits until he returns with a tube
of ointment. “This should help with the bruising.”

Jungkook almost purrs as Taehyung carefully massages the ointment into his skin, spreading it
across the bruises on his butt and the back of his thighs. “Can you please stay here with me the
whole day? Or at least until I feel like I won’t have to ask for help to go piss.”

“Yeah, sure.” he smiles to himself, accommodating himself better. “Though you better not take this
for your own profit and use me as your personal slave.”

“Oh, Taehyungie, I’m already thinking of the list of things I’m going to request.”

“For fuck’s sake—”

│►

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 ◄│ 6/6 │►
Chapter Notes

Before we start:
- Remember the 'major character death' as it does apply for this part as it's the the last
one;
- This got kinda long (45.8k lmao) so bear with it;
- Do enjoy it hehe.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“Just go on and do your job, I pay you for a reason.” Taehyung dismisses, the man bowing before
turning around. Taehyung just tsks to himself as he opens the office door and he raises an eyebrow
as he sees Jungkook sitting on his chair, very focused on his task.

But, of course, his task isn’t exactly working. “Hey, Taehyungie…” he greets with a little smile,
eyes never leaving his hand. The smell of nail polish fills up the room and it’s one Taehyung was
never fond of. Irritates his nose.

“I didn’t know it was arts and crafts day.” he comments and Jungkook just gives him a quick glare.
“I kind of need my chair, did you have to paint your nails here?”

“How about you shut up and paint my nails for me?” Jungkook looks up, holding his hand out.
“C’mon, I struggle to paint my right hand and we both know you’ll end up doing it so stop making
me have to waste my voice with the convincing.”

Taehyung raises an eyebrow but he does sit down and he does grab Jungkook’s hand. “Why do you
even paint your nails, this is such a hassle.” he complains, holding the small brush from the black
nail polish. “Too much work.”

“But it looks cool.” Jungkook defends, watching as Taehyung tries to be as precise as possible,
careful not to make a mess on his fingers. He finds it endearing, never did he think he’d have Kim
Taehyung painting his nails for him. “Do you not like it?” he asks about three nails after.

“Like what? Painting your nails? No, I don’t, I’m going cross-eyed.” Jungkook giggles at that.
Taehyung hums. He likes that sound. Exquisite.

“I meant, do you like the result? I always have my nails painted.” Taehyung just shrugs. “It’s a yes
or no question, shrugging doesn’t answer it.” he frowns.

“It looks nice with your tattoos.” he finally says. “The effort is not worth it but given you spend
most of the day on your ass, you have free time.” Jungkook gasps, offended. “It’s true.”

“Not most of the day, just… half of it, roughly.” he defends himself. “I help training the new guys,
I help everyone with techniques to fight /and/ to handle real weapons, I deal with your men, I get
you off and you have the audacity to say this, I’m fucking offended. I’m only lazing around for half
of the day.” Taehyung snorts. “What? What’s so funny?”

“I was joking and yet you still confirmed what I said.” Jungkook blinks.
“Oh. See, I can never tell when you’re joking.” Taehyung just chuckles again and they both remain
quiet as he finishes painting his thumb, the last nail. Jungkook raises his hand to check it, surprised
at the result. “You’re going to paint my nails from now on, this looks good.”

“You sound surprised.”

“I am.”

“You know I’m good with my hands.” Jungkook’s eyes drift from his nails to Taehyung’s amused
expression, feeling his cheeks heat up just the slightest. “Are you blushing?”

“No, never.” he swats Taehyung’s hand away before he can pinch his cheek. “Let me paint your
nails, you have… attractive hands.” Taehyung is quick to deny such request. “C’mon, let me
customize my favorite necklace.” he pouts.

“Just one.” Taehyung places his hand down with his fist closed, only his index finger stretched out.
“You’re actually so annoying for getting me to do shit like this.” he complains, as he just /has/ to,
as Jungkook starts to apply the nail polish.

“I make you more attractive and you still complain.” Jungkook shakes his head. “Let me just blow
on it…” he grabs his hand. “Your nail, not your dick, don’t get it twisted.” he opens a big smile
before gently starting to blow onto the nail polish to dry it.

“I didn’t even think anything.”

“Sure you didn’t.” Taehyung rolls his eyes. “But see? We’re matching, how cute is that?”

“You truly have a gift for making me regret decisions.” Jungkook laughs, getting up from
Taehyung’s chair once the man walks around the desk but he does sit back down right away.
Taehyung’s the least from phased. He’s already grown used to never having his lap empty.

“What do we have to do today?” he asks, hand cupping the side of Taehyung’s jaw.

“Just some shitty emails and documents to go over, which we both know you won’t.” Jungkook
raises an eyebrow, feeling beyond tempted then. “What are you frowning for?” Taehyung asks as
he teasingly taps Jungkook’s chin.

“I’ll do that today, get off.” he shooes him away until Taehyung’s out of the chair.

“That’s exactly what I wanted, thank you, I’ll be meeting someone.” Jungkook looks up from the
laptop as Taehyung ruffles his hair and tries to walk away, so he quickly grabs his wrist.

“Who are you meeting?” he asks.

“A friend.”

“What friend? Whom?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “I’m just asking.” he tries to play it off,
looking back down as he types in Taehyung’s password. “But uhm, who is it?”

“Just a friend, you don’t know them.” Jungkook pokes his cheek with his tongue, something
Taehyung’s noticed he does when angry or annoyed. “Why are you bothered by that? I leave so
many times, what’s it with you?”

“You don’t usually inform me that you’re leaving, I have no opportunity to ask.” Jungkook rolls
his eyes. “What kind of friend is it?”
“Jungkook, what the fuck.” Taehyung chuckles. “It’s literally just a friend, we’re just grabbing a
coffee or some shit.” Jungkook hums, typing away on his laptop. “What— Is this jealousy?”

“No. Never. Why would it be? Of course not.” he says, perhaps a bit too fast.

“Of course.” Jungkook only puckers his lips in anger. “Do you… want to tag along? Is that it?”

“No, I don’t like your friends.” Taehyung rubs his temples.

“You’re so difficult.” he complains, grabbing his phone and keys. “If you want to come along, then
do, if you want to stay, then don’t complain about my friendships.”

“I’ll stay /and/ complain about your friendships.” Jungkook just offers him a smile that lasts for
exactly one second before he frowns again. “And now go, now I want to work and prove you
wrong. I’m annoyed.”

“Fine. Read those documents well.” Taehyung shrugs, walking away to the door. Then he sighs,
loud enough for Jungkook to hear. “Do you want something from the center?”

“Sour gummy bears and you’ll be forgiven.”

“I didn’t even do anything but sure.”

Jungkook smiles. “Drive safely.” Taehyung tsks.

“Fuck off.”

│►

“Was he the only one hurt?” Jungkook asks, plopping himself on top of the table as some of their
men stand in front of him, Taehyung by the door still listening to Yoongi’s report of the mission.

“Not hurt, /dead/. Yes, he was.” he raises an eyebrow as one of Taehyung’s men replies with a
snarky tone. Everyone goes quiet at that, looking between the two. “The fucking pretty boy only
came here to bring us down, fucking incompetence.” he adds.

Jungkook smirks, leaning back on his hands as his legs hang from the table, looking away at
Taehyung who’s already handing Yoongi back the materials, attention on the situation at hand.
The worker looks like he’s seen a ghost once he spots his boss.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Taehyung asks, everyone stepping aside. “You seem to be
forgetting your place. Kneel and apologize.” Jungkook chuckles to himself, sending a challenging
look at the man that stares back at him and then at Taehyung again as if to make sure he’s actually
serious. “I won’t repeat myself.”

“R-Right.” he rubs his hands together before lowering himself onto his knees in front of Jungkook.
“I’m sorry for what I said.” his voice sounds monotone, clearly not feeling his apology at all, and
no one misses that, it’s as clear as the day.

“That was your chance to have this forgotten and you failed.” Taehyung points out. “What do you
want to do with him?” his tone comes out softer as he looks at Jungkook instead, the man checking
his nails, unphased.

“He’s your man, as he so plainly stated, you discipline him as you see fit.” he says with a shrug.

“Hm, he apologized.” Taehyung points out and Jungkook can recognize the amusement in his
voice. He knows the man before them is almost shaking and there’s nothing more entertaining.

“Mhm, he did.” he nods. “But he called me incompetent, I don’t think that should pass like that,
don’t you agree?” he can feel everyone’s eyes on him and it makes him want to laugh, but they
wouldn’t be in such situation had he been respected in the first place, so it’s good they all learn.

“Just slice his throat, Jeon.” Taehyung waves a dismissive hand, turning back towards Yoongi, but
he has his name called before he can go on with the conversation. He ignores it.

So their worker drags himself forward, hand falling on Jungkook’s calf. “S-Sir, I have apologized.”

Jungkook kicks his hand away. “I could stab you in your knee where your arteries are, hurts a lot,
takes a lot longer to die than just having your throat sliced open.” he chuckles as he bends over a
little, crowding. “You’re just as stupid as you look, if I came here with the goal of actually bringing
you down, you’d all be dead by now. Including your boss that you so respect.”

He straightens up, crossing his legs, arms stretched back to hold his weight as he looks down at
him. “Thank you for thinking I’m pretty, though, at least we can agree on that… but it doesn’t
make up for what you said, I’m sorry.” he pouts. “Should I tie you down? Cut you piece by p—”

“N-No!” the man yells. “No, sir, I didn’t mean that at all, I— I’m so, so sorry, I—” they’re all
startled by a loud sound, Jungkook just barely flinching at the gunshot, watching as the man falls
forward onto his feet.

Everyone turns to Taehyung then, eyes wide, as he stores his gun back without a second glance.
“That was so anti climatic.” Jungkook complains. “And you got blood on my boot.” he points.

Taehyung just gives him a look before staring back at their men. “Hope that serves as an example
for all of you.” he says, tone stern. “Clean that up.” with that, he leaves, taking nothing but a file
Yoongi hands him. Jungkook hops down the table, poking the body with his foot.

“Sir, he’s got a bullet in his head, he won’t move.” Hoseok points out.

“How sad, isn’t it…?” he chuckles. “Think about your decisions as you clean up.” Jimin frowns as
Jungkook walks away, making sure to glare at everyone for ever disrespecting his boss like that.
Jimin doesn’t forget to threaten everyone with the same outcome if they dare repeat what just
happened, even if Jungkook’s out of the room.

He sits down across from Taehyung, placing his foot on the table. “Get your boot off of my desk.”
Taehyung says right away, eyebrows pinched together.

“You got blood on it.” Jungkook states the obvious. “Clean it.”

Taehyung almost laughs at that, eyes darker. “Don’t make me get you to lick my shoes instead, get
your damn foot away from my desk. I don’t want to repeat myself.” he gestures for him to remove
his foot, but he doesn’t.

“So you’ll draw blood being all protective of me, making sure they respect me, and you can’t even
wipe my boot? What sense does that make?” Jungkook rests his elbow on the arm of the chair,
chin propped on his palm. He wiggles his foot.

Taehyung tsks, pushing his foot off of the desk.

“Are you seriously going to make me clean it myself?”

“Of course—? It’s your own damn boot, either clean it or don’t. Why do you even want me to
clean it so bad?” he asks with a roll of the eyes. Jungkook raises an eyebrow.

“Because you said no so now I just want you to do what I want.” he smiles. Taehyung simply
opens his laptop so Jungkook gets up, leaving onto Taehyung’s bedroom so that he can get a towel
from the bathroom.

Taehyung sighs when Jungkook throws the towel at his head. “You’re simply not going to drop it,
are you?” Jungkook pouts as he shakes his head, sitting down on the desk. “Gosh, you’re
annoying.” he reaches for Jungkook’s calf, lifting his foot until it’s placed on his thigh.

“Nuh-uh, get on your knees.” Jungkook requests and Taehyung does really snort at that. “Why are
you laughing? I’m serious.” he bends forward, his hand grabbing Taehyung’s jaw. “You just killed
one of your men for me, g—”

“You have five seconds to remove your hand before I break it three different ways.” Taehyung
threatens, eyes unwavering. Jungkook frowns, staring right back, but he can only resist so much.
Taehyung’s gaze is hard to keep, so he groans, dropping his hand and crossing his arms. “Good
decision.” Taehyung taunts.

“I’m not scared of you.” Jungkook mumbles.

“I know, darling.” he folds the towel in half, rubbing the front of Jungkook’s boot to remove the
splash of blood, figuring that should be enough to shut him up.

“You’re so mean.” he complains, foot kicking in. “I just want you to wipe my shoe and you’re
threatening to break my hand— why are you so mean?” Taehyung’s lips stretch into a tiny smile,
one that Jungkook prides himself on being able to see.

“In fact, I do believe that I’m way too nice to you, you’re getting spoiled and not only that, but
you’re also forgetting your manners.” he looks up with a little smile and Jungkook goes to speak,
though he’s slapped with the towel.

He almost tumbles back, surprised by the sudden action. “Did you just—” he lets out a broken
scream when it happens again and he’s soon battling Taehyung’s arms to get the towel from him.
“Listen!” Jungkook calls once he’s able to retrieve the object. “This is absolutely not the way to
treat me, this is not what I signed up for.”

“What did you sign up for, exactly? Because I sure as fuck don’t remember signing up for
anything.” Taehyung rests back on his chair, Jungkook’s foot still on his thigh. “I did sign up an
agreement for you and I to work together, but that’s just about it.”

“Your memory is so foggy…” Jungkook forges a sigh, using his foot to roll Taehyung’s chair
closer. “I remember signing up for one, a really nice dick.” he counts on his fingers. “Two, being
treated /well/ and /nicely/ all the t—”

“I’d never agree to that, you don’t have to go on.” Taehyung interrupts. “You know a little too well
that I don’t necessarily enjoy being nice. Occasionally, perhaps, if I’m in a good mood, I can make
an exception.” Jungkook rolls his eyes. “Behave.”

“No.” he shakes his head. “At least I got the first part.” he lifts his foot just slightly and
Taehyung’s quick to hold his leg in place before he can do anything.

“Don’t make me lose it with you.”

“Boring.” Jungkook complains. “Are you alright, though?” he asks, tone a little more serious.
Taehyung just gives him a confused look. “Two of your men died… one by your hand but— he’s
still very much dead. Are you ok with that?”

“I don’t even remember who the other guy is, I can’t put a face to the name they gave me.”
Jungkook blinks. “It’s just a random worker, I don’t care. I’ve told you, you make mistakes, you
get the consequences. Do your job right and you won’t die.”

“Will you give them the same speech when I die?”

“Yeah, but they already know it.”

“Really?” he hates how hurt he sounds.

“I’d kill you before you died, shut up with that.” Taehyung is quick to dismiss it. “Didn’t you say
you don’t die?” Jungkook hums, sliding from the desk onto Taehyung’s lap, straddling him.

“I don’t die, I was just hoping you’d say something like… no, Jungkookie, my pretty baby, I’d
never let you die to begin with… or something.” he shrugs. “Something along those lines.”
Taehyung just hums as Jungkook leans closer, their lips brushing, but neither of them ends the
space. “You could say it now.” Jungkook whispers.

“I already cleaned your boot, I’m not giving you the pleasure.” Taehyung leans back when
Jungkook tries to connect their lips and the latter whines at the back of his throat. “Get off now, I
want to read Yoongi’s report.”

“Give me a kiss first.” he twirls the silver hair on the back of Taehyung’s head before pulling him
in, his tongue immediately licking across Taehyung’s bottom lip. But Taehyung’s not feeling like
it, so he pulls back. “Stop…!”

“You stop.” Jungkook jumps a little at a smack he receives to his butt. “Get off, c’mon, we need to
work, seriously, someone just died.”

“/You/ killed them!”

“For whom?” Jungkook squints, tsks before he gets up from his lap and drags a chair to sit next to
him instead, arms crossed. “Stop pouting.” he instructs. Jungkook doesn’t do as told, so Taehyung
pokes his sides twice until his lips stretch into a smile and he leans away. “That’s it, good boy.”

“Shut up…”

│►

Jungkook rolls over in bed with a groan, checking the time. He unlocks his phone, opening
Taehyung’s chat before he types in a short order for him to hurry up and get to bed. Taehyung
simply replies with an indicator that he’ll be joining him in five minutes but it’s already the
thirtieth time he’s saying that and Jungkook’s had enough.

He kicks the sheets away, rolling over onto his stomach. He opens his camera, folding his
underwear in a way that his boxers won’t cover the ‘princess’ inked onto his skin and he captures
that alongside his upper thigh.

He sends it, covering himself again. It’s a cold night and he has nothing but one of Taehyung’s
button ups. He smiles when Taehyung opens the text but the smile slowly fades away when he
doesn’t receive any reply. He calls him after a minute. “Did you just leave me on read?”
“There was nothing to reply to.” he can hear the low murmur of Taehyung’s voice coming from
the office apart from the clear version right by his ear and he frowns.

“My ass…?!”

“I’ve seen that already.” he’s beyond offended.

“You’re supposed to want to see it more— why do you hate me?”

“Should I send it in a PowerPoint presentation or a strongly worded letter?” Jungkook ends the call
immediately, kicking the sheets away again before marching into the office. “Why did you get
up?” Taehyung asks, eyes on his laptop.

“Come to bed. It’s three in the morning, that shit can wait, I can’t. Come hug me, for fuck’s sake.”
he orders, pointing back into the bedroom. “My body doesn’t cuddle itself, I’ve told you this.”
Taehyung only gives him a raise of the eyebrow — eyebrow that has luckily grown back to its
fullness, Jungkook’s heart able to have one less thing to be attacked with.

“I just need to finish this.” he gestures to his laptop.

“Please, Tae.” Jungkook frowns. “I want cuddles.”

“But—”

“I really should’ve found someone who cuddles me when—” he stops, face lighting up when
Taehyung closes his laptop and gets up, walking closer. “Finally.” Taehyung bends down just
enough to snake his hands around the back of his thighs, hosting him up.

Taehyung’s a little surprised when Jungkook wraps his arms around his shoulders and lays his head
on his shoulder, breathing in his cologne. “You alright?” he asks and Jungkook just hums, another
clear indicator that there’s definitely something wrong, but he decides it can wait for a moment, so
he places him down on the bed carefully.

“Hurry…” Jungkook lays on his side, watching as the other removes his clothes. He just /loves/
watching Taehyung get dressed or ready for bed, it’s the best sight he can get, especially as his
muscles flex. “Come here.” he whispers, opening both his arms and legs.

Taehyung chuckles quietly before he climbs on top of him, both hiding into each other’s necks.
Jungkook’s arms are back around his shoulders, a hand toying with his hair. “You seem upset.”
Taehyung whispers, thumb caressing Jungkook’s waist under his shirt. “You’d usually just sleep
without me, so what’s wrong?”

“I missed you today.” Jungkook admits without any ounce of shame. He’s learned that’s the easiest
way to get to him. “Missed you.” he repeats, nosing at Taehyung’s neck, right on the spot he
usually sprays his cologne.

“We were together all day.” Taehyung points out.

“We weren’t together… we were working! And with other people, you didn’t give me attention.
Then I come to bed and you don’t even join me…” he’s pouting when Taehyung pulls away and
the latter chuckles before pecking his lips. “I’ve been also feeling a little down today as it is. Just
wanted… this, for a moment.”

Why are you down?” Taehyung holds himself on his forearm, hand caressing the side of
Jungkook’s jaw. “Did something happen that I’m not aware of?”
“I don’t know…”

“You don’t know?” Jungkook just shakes his head. “That’s alright, it happens to me too.”

“It does?” Taehyung hums, kissing his forehead. “What do you do when it happens?”

“I give you attention willingly.” Jungkook huffs. “There’s days where I miss you too for no reason,
so—” Jungkook gasps, so loud he almost chokes. “Is it that surprising?”

“I’d say it’s more surprising that you’re admitting to it.” Taehyung chuckles.

“I feel like you need to hear it today, that’s all.” he rolls over onto his side, Jungkook’s arms still
tightly around him. “You’re suffocating me.” but that does absolutely nothing, Jungkook’s death
grip only tightening even further, if anything.

“Mine.” Jungkook whispers, face hidden into Taehyung’s neck again. “Mine.” he repeats.

“I’m sure it’s the other way around.” Taehyung teases.

“I-I mean— It is but you— You can be mine… too.” Jungkook frowns when Taehyung laughs at
him but the kiss he receives soon after eases it away. “Did you like my picture, though?” he asks, a
smile taking over his lips at last.

Taehyung’s hand goes down from his waist, massaging his upper thigh. “Of course.” he gives it a
little slap, keeping his hand there. “Just go to sleep, your eyes are so red, did you cry?”

“No, I’m just tired.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow, suspicious. “I’m serious, just tired…”

“Sleep, then.” Jungkook nods, tucking himself against Taehyung’s chest, arms winding around his
middle, one of his legs thrown over Taehyung’s. Like a koala. He sighs, content, as there’s a kiss
pressed on top of his head, followed by a hand playing with his hair.

Falling asleep to that is easy and he’s soon snoring lightly, body melting under Taehyung’s
warmth. Taehyung doesn’t take much longer, either.

│►

The first thing Jungkook notices when his eyes start to blink is the lips pressed against his cheek
but they disappear almost right away and he’s left wondering if it was just in his mind. He’s proven
wrong when they’re back, this time on his other cheek, lasting just as long.

He hums, content, a smile creeping on his lips as he feels a kiss being pressed onto them. Short,
just a peck, but they always leave that warmth at the bottom of his stomach, comfortable and
making him itch for more. Every single time.

“Awake?” Taehyung asks by his ear before kissing it and Jungkook’s left with the lingering kisses
on his face, but Taehyung’s already sitting up, much to his distaste. He could lay there being
kissed for hours.

“Morning…” he greets as he stretches his limbs, unfocused eyes searching for Taehyung’s. The
latter gestures for him to sit up as well and so he does, being handed a coffee mug. “I’m not sad
anymore, you didn’t have to.” he whispers, though he swears his heart does a flip inside his chest.
Maybe two, really.

“I didn’t know you wouldn’t be sad, did I?” Jungkook only shows him his tongue before taking a
sip, humming at the sweetness. His eyes grow bigger once Taehyung hands over a plate as well, a
pastry sitting there looking way too appetizing.

It’s one he never gets to eat, everyone loves it too much, the men usually eat them all before he
even has the chance to get downstairs, especially with how he doesn’t exactly enjoy waking up as
early as them. Now with Taehyung, he doesn’t have to, he’s able to sleep a lot longer until he feels
as though he wants to get up.

“I could cry.”

“I’ll take it back then, no tears.” Taehyung’s arm starts to retreat and Jungkook snatches the pastry
faster than the blink Taehyung offers him next, holding the now empty plate. “Alright.”

They both fall silent then, Jungkook enjoying both the pastry and his coffee as Taehyung just sips
from his own, watching him eat with a satisfied pout. “Do you want some?” Jungkook offers,
holding his hand out.

“No, that thing is way too sweet.” Jungkook hums.

“More for me.” he takes another bite, finishing the rest in a matter of seconds. “This is genuinely
so good.” Jungkook comments with a little sad frown once he realizes he’s done with it, licking the
remaining powdered sugar from his fingers.

“Here.” he faces the other with a surprised gasp once he sees Taehyung has another one. “Part of
me thought you’d keep this for later but—”

“No, no, give me, give me.” Jungkook makes grabby hands, Taehyung handing it over. “How
come you’re feeding me, though? You usually just get me coffee. When you do.”

“You didn’t eat well yesterday. I should’ve known you were upset when I noticed that, you usually
eat a lot.” Taehyung points out, getting up.

“I— Yes I did…” he frowns.

“No. You didn’t. You ate half a slice of toast, literally a mouthful of rice and then at dinner barely
even half of the chicken you had on your plate. You usually eat a pile each meal, and
understandably so.” Jungkook feels his cheeks burn, his stomach flip /again/, his chest swell.
Taehyung’s the last person he’d expect to pay attention to such details but the fact that he even gets
to cuddle the man should make everything else not come off as a surprise. It still does.

“You’re so sweet.” Jungkook finally says, taking another bite. “Sweeter than this.”

“No, I’m not.” Taehyung tsks, facing the mirror to fix his tie and his collar. Jungkook guesses to
avoid eye contact, perhaps. It’s something he’d do himself.

“You cuddle me—”

“When you point things out, it strongly makes me want to stop doing them.” Jungkook’s jaw falls
in alarm before he angrily bites more from his pastry, pondering on his next words. He decides it
can’t hurt to just say what he wants to.

“I’ll just get Jimin to bring me coffee and cuddle me to sleep from now on, then.” Taehyung
chuckles as he turns back to him, walking closer just to grab his phone from the bedside table.

“I’m being stripped off of my rights for Jimin? Really? You could get better, definitely people who
are way less annoying than he is.”

“Don’t be mean.”

“Wasn’t I sweet?”

“I’m done.” he puts the plate down on the bedside table as he’s done with that, placing the mug
next to it. He pulls the sheets over himself as he turns his back to the older man. Taehyung raises
an eyebrow. “I’m going to sulk until further notice.” Jungkook decides to inform.

Taehyung places his knees on the bed to be able to pry the sheets away from him. “You’re going to
get your ass up from this bed and you’re going to—”

“No…!” Jungkook dismisses. “If you wanted me to actually get up early, you wouldn’t have such a
comfortable bed.” Taehyung rolls his eyes, poking Jungkook’s ribs, which gets him a yelp and
Jungkook scooting away. Taehyung was never one to let him have anything easily, so he pokes him
again and again.

Jungkook laughs. He really laughs, eyes disappearing into his cheeks, teeth on full display. He
looks happy. Incredibly happy. “You sound like a hyena when you laugh, it’s cute.”

He stops right away, turning around to face him with the nastiest glare he’s ever offered anyone.
Offended. “What the fuck does that even mean— I’m never laughing again in my life, get off of
me— Oh—” he half wheezes when Taehyung’s large hand evolves his waist, tickling his side a
little harder. It makes it hard to breathe, he hates getting tickled.

“Why would you not? I said it’s cute.”

“A hyena is not fucking cute.” Jungkook says as well as he can, his voice wearing thin as he swats
Taehyung’s hand away. “Yo—” he’s interrupted by himself letting out a rather high pitched scream
as the hand tickles over his nipple and he doesn’t think he’s ever slapped anyone as hard as he
slaps Taehyung’s arm.

“What the fuck was that for?!” Taehyung hisses, rubbing the abused spot.

“You touched my nipple. What did you expect?” he pouts, covering both of them with his hands.
Taehyung just tsks, unfastening his tie. “Where are you going?”

“Shower. I didn’t shower before going to get you those diabetes on a plate.” he informs as he gets
up from the bed and Jungkook furrows his eyebrows, piecing one and two together before
scratching the top of his head.

“Did you get dressed up just to grab breakfast?” he asks, confused.

“Well, of course, you didn’t think I’d go there in sweatpants, did you?” he tilts his head.

“I would.”

“We’re not the same, though, are we?” Taehyung just gives him a condescending smile before he
disappears into the bathroom and Jungkook huffs before resting his weight on the bed. He glances
at Taehyung’s phone left on the bedside table and he stretches to get it. Takes him quite a few tries
to guess his code.

He frowns once he realizes there’s no games. “Fucking boring.” he complains to himself, putting
the phone back down. But he picks it up again, opening the front camera. He presses the button
around thirty times, making a different expression each time, and he makes sure that the last one
isn’t exactly of his face.

He laughs quietly, putting it back down, satisfied.

He can hear the water in the bathroom and it has him biting his bottom lip to keep himself from
joining. He can shower after, there’s no need to go in there, no justification for that. Saving water,
perhaps, but Taehyung would never buy that and Jungkook’s tired of boosting his ego.

His eyes are drawn back onto the screen when a text notification fills up the room and there’s an
itch to check it when he sees the name of one of Taehyung’s friends. But he doesn’t pick it up.
He’s not like that. Why would he check it? There’s nothing for him to worry about. At least he
likes to think so.

Taehyung would never have agreed on being exclusive if he didn’t really mean it, he’d never put
up with Jungkook just because, so he feels guilty for feeling jealous. His own friends text him too,
he knows he shouldn’t be feeling like that.

Still, he does.

There’s another text and he groans, getting up from the bed and heading for the bathroom. He
undresses himself off of his underwear and Taehyung’s shirt before getting in the shower as well,
hands softly touching Taehyung’s shoulder blades, dragging them to his biceps ever so slowly.
Taehyung turns around then.

“Took you long enough.” he comments with a smug look behind his eyes. Jungkook tsks.

“I was trying to resist.” he informs. “I’d say I did well, actually.” Taehyung only gives him the
tiniest of the smiles as he steps back, giving Jungkook space to be under the running water.

“Coconut or honey shampoo?”

“Honey…” Jungkook watches as Taehyung squirts some onto his palm before taking his hands to
Jungkook’s head, slowly massaging it in. He closes his eyes, almost purring at the calming
sensation of Taehyung’s fingertips dragging on his scalp. “Why don’t you have games on your
phone?” he asks, eyes still closed, and he feels Taehyung’s fingers stopping for a moment.

“You went through my phone?” Jungkook realizes just how bad that sounds.

“No, I just wanted to see if you had anything for me to entertain myself with. I’m stuck on a Candy
Crush level and if I played it, I’d get angry.” he explains. “Why? Do you have anything I can’t
see?” he can’t help it. He opens his eyes when Taehyung doesn’t reply and he can see the
confusion on his face. Jungkook just gulps. He doesn’t want to reinforce, it’ll make him sound
desperate and that’s the last thing he wants.

“You need to tone it down on the jealousy.” Taehyung says and he tugs on his hair when Jungkook
opens his mouth to reply. “I don’t have anything to hide, if that concerns you so much.” Jungkook
closes his eyes again, an ugly feeling of guilt bubbling in his stomach. “But to answer your
question, I don’t have time or patience to play games.”

“That’s really boring.”

Taehyung chuckles. “Maybe.” he tilts Jungkook’s head back by his chin and Jungkook feels small
under his gaze. He shouldn’t have asked anything, he’s an idiot. Taehyung’s rinsing the foam from
his hair, treating him as sweetly as one can, and he’s being an idiot.
Makes him reach for the back of Taehyung’s neck and pull him into a kiss, short lived but enough
to convey his apology. He knows Taehyung has got the point when he gives him a peck back.

Neither of them says anything for the remaining time they spend showering, but they do share a
fair amount of kisses until they leave with nothing but towels hanging low around their hips.

“Are you mad?” Jungkook ends up asking anyway as he stands in front of the mirror, reaching for
his hairbrush to comb his hair and escape Taehyung’s eyes. He doesn’t want to /see/ if he’s
actually angry.

“No, I’m not. You’re an idiot, but I’m not angry.” his shoulders sag and he doesn’t even know if
it’s embarrassment or relief. “Stop worrying about shit.”

“I only worry because I’m happy.” Jungkook admits, looking everywhere but the mirror now,
unwilling to meet Taehyung’s eyes through the reflection. Taehyung just lets out a confused sound.
“I don’t— Just being with you, I don’t have to be a badass all the time, I don’t have to pretend to be
anything, and it’s nice to just… breathe. I’m happy like this. I worry because I’ve been able to
breathe a lot lately and I don’t… want to lose that.”

He puts his hands down, leaving the brush on the sink when he feels Taehyung stepping closer, his
bare chest against Jungkook’s naked back. He’s crowding him, hand resting on the sink now.
Jungkook gulps, head hanging low.

“Like I said, you’re an idiot.” Taehyung’s voice sounds even deeper right behind his ear and
Jungkook finally musters enough courage to look up at the mirror, their eyes meeting right away.
“Stop worrying about things like this. I get to breathe with you too.”

Jungkook’s lips part to let out a shaky exhale. “Do you like me?” he asks in a whisper.

“Shut up already.” Taehyung dismisses it but there’s a small smile on his lips.

“I’ll shut up when I’m dead.”

Taehyung hums. “Then over your dead body I’ll tell you that I like you.”

“Over my dead body I’d say I like you back.” he turns his head to face him directly, gulping.
Taehyung just bumps their heads together gently before pulling away. Jungkook slaps his own
forehead three times once he realizes he’s been left alone.

He also makes sure to squeal into his palm.

Then he clears his throat. “Where’s your blow dryer?”

“First drawer.”

│►

“Fuck— Tae, fuck— Fuck— Tae—!” he repeats like a mantra as his hands desperately try to hold
onto something, whatever it may be, but Taehyung’s pining the both of them over his head and it
makes it impossible for him to do anything.

“Keep it down.” Taehyung says warningly, using his other hand to wrap it around Jungkook’s
throat, earning a gasp from the latter. He pays attention to Jungkook’s lips when he tries to mouth
something and smirks once he gets it. “Harder?” Jungkook nods frantically. “Keep your hands
there.” he informs as he lets go of them.
Jungkook quickly tangles them with the sheets to stop himself from disobeying. He promptly
chokes when the hand that was holding his wrist now goes down his torso, fingertips teasing,
making Jungkook’s abdominal muscles flex in reaction.

His hands fail him, grabbing onto Taehyung’s forearm, not pulling the hand away from his throat
but keeping it there, if anything. His back arches off of the bed when Taehyung starts stroking him
in the same pace as his thrusts that grow harder and harder, harder that Jungkook asked for, but he
can’t possibly complain when it makes him feel like /that/.

He doesn’t hold back, doesn’t try in the slightest to keep his orgasm away when he feels it but that
paired with a specially hard thrust and a harsh bite to his nipple has his mind fogging up so bad he
loses his hold on himself.

Taehyung blinks down at him when he sees Jungkook’s eyes rolling back and head falling to the
side, the grip on his arm disappearing. “I— Jungkook?” he calls, a little dumbfounded, holding his
jaw. “Jungkook.” he calls again, lightly slapping his cheek.

Around twenty — too long — seconds go by before he watches Jungkook’s eyes roll again but he
doesn’t have to hold Jungkook’s jaw anymore as the later can hold it himself. “What— What
happened?” he looks around, confused.

“Are you ok, princess?” Taehyung asks, cupping Jungkook’s cheek.

Jungkook blinks a couple of times. “That felt so fucking good.”

Taehyung hides his head into his neck, breathing in for a second. “I’m going to fucking kill you for
real one day.” he warns, still trying to comprehend what just happened before him.

“But— But what happened? I came— Did you?” Jungkook asks, still clueless.

“You just blacked out for like fifteen seconds. I wasn’t counting.” he explains as he pulls out ever
so slowly, not wanting to overwhelm him even more. “I can’t believe you passed out from me
fucking you, this is gold, seriously.”

“Wait— Where are you going?!” Jungkook looks alarmed as he watches Taehyung roll away from
on top of him.

“Jungkook, you just passed out.”

“From pleasure—? What the hell, come back here, you need to finish.” Taehyung tsks.

“Trust me, princess, knowing you passed out because of my dick will give me a lot of ‘pleasure’
for the next couple weeks. But I’m not doing anything with you when your body is obviously
overwhelmed. We’re going to sleep, okay? Enough for tonight.” he explains, placing a hand on
Jungkook’s chest to push him back down when he tries to get up.

Jungkook squints, suspicious. “Since when do you care that I’m overwhelmed? Fucking me until I
break has always been how you do it. Besides, I’m not passed out anymore, I want you to continue
to fuck me.” he pokes Taehyung’s stomach. “C’mon.”

“No, we’re going to sleep.”

“But—”

“No.”
Jungkook frowns, knowing just how to get his way. “What do I need a man for if not to fuck me?”
he smirks as Taehyung’s hand goes back to his throat, body quickly towering Jungkook’s again. He
knows he’s gotten his way when Taehyung leans closer to his ear.

“To dote on you and take care of you, hm? You’re just a little pillow princess after all.” he finishes
by biting his lobe, or the lack of it — Jungkook’s stretched ears always making it tough; before he
rolls back onto his back. Ok. Not what Jungkook wanted.

So he sighs, throwing a leg over Taehyung’s lap to straddle him, mind still a little foggy but clearer
than it was. It’s clear /enough/, he thinks. “How about a man who fucks me until I can’t speak?”

Taehyung sighs as if bothered as Jungkook looks down at him and he pushes two of his slender
fingers past Jungkook’s lips, pushing down on his tongue. “Are you sure that your pretty little head
can handle it this time?” he asks, tone condescending as he forces his fingers deep enough to have
Jungkook gagging, coating them with spit.

He sits up, pushing Jungkook back so that they’re laying down again except, they’re facing down
on the bed. He places a kiss by Jungkook’s eye, tasting the salty tears dried from minutes prior.
“You can never have enough, can you? No matter how much you get, you always want more.
Greedy. I don’t quite like greedy people...” Taehyung says with a disappointed sigh as he continues
pulling and pushing his fingers in and out of Jungkook’s mouth, the latter doing the best he can to
suck on them.

Even if he’d much rather suck on something else.

“You’re never sated, are you? You need to learn to accept what you’re given, I’m already nice
enough to—” Jungkook pulls Taehyung’s fingers out of his mouth, dripping with spit.

“Will you keep talking or are you actually going to do something?” he asks, bratty as per usual, and
Taehyung raises an eyebrow, features darkening significantly.

“You’re a fucking spoiled brat aren’t you? You think you just /deserve/ things. That’s not how it
works here, princess. A princess should have manners, hm? You should say /please/, earn it. So
how about instead of demanding, you fucking beg instead?” but Jungkook rolls his eyes with his
lips puckered in irritation.

“I don’t have to beg, if you want to call me princess, you have to treat me like one.”

“I never said you deserve your title.” Jungkook gapes, eyebrows furrowed in offense that he
doesn’t even try to conceal, he has no reasons to hide how frowny he gets over that.

“Are you saying that I’m not a princess?” Taehyung just hums, trying not to look amused when he
feels Jungkook’s leg kick. “I am!” he says. He hates not having his way.

“Like I said, princesses have manners. You don’t.” Jungkook gasps, low on the back of his throat
as a hand grabs his jaw, forcing him to keep eye contact. His hips move ever so slowly, hoping
Taehyung won’t notice him lazily using his thigh for his own pleasure.

His attempt is proven to be a failure when his hips are pressed down so that he can’t move.

“And princesses are patient. You’re definitely not that, either.”

Jungkook’s eyes grow sad at that. “But I’m— I’m a princess.” his lips tug down as his hands hold
onto Taehyung’s torso, caressing his warm skin, seeking for contact again.
“Then why don’t you prove it?”

“H-How can I? I will.” he guarantees, rather hopeful. That’s his title, how dare Taehyung take it
from him? He’s a princess, he won’t have it any other way.

“By taking what I give you and fucking saying /thank you/ like a polite, mannered boy.” Jungkook
doesn’t say anything, only pouts further, and Taehyung raises an eyebrow in question.

“But— But— You’re being mean.” Taehyung chuckles. He can never have enough at just how fast
Jungkook slips. One moment he’s being the biggest brat, trying to prove that he’s the one calling
the shots, the other his eyes are brimming with tears as he looks tiny under Taehyung.

“Am I?” he asks, bending down to press a kiss to Jungkook’s neck, followed by another one and
another one, creating a bee line from there to his chest, going around his nipple but avoiding it,
much to Jungkook’s dismay. “How so?”

“You’re supposed to spoil me... why must I ask for it?” I’m your princess, spoil me.” his hand
drags up Taehyung’s back until it’s tangling in the mess of shiny silver hair, tugging on his head to
get their eyes to meet again. Taehyung hums.

“And what do I get out of that? The least you can do is show me how much you want it, not how
much you think you deserve it.” he finally licks over Jungkook’s already way too sensitive nipple
from being toyed with minutes before, the piercing still coated with saliva. He goes back to his eye
level. “Say please.”

Jungkook whines, torn. He wants to say it and get exactly what he wants and needs but that also
means giving Taehyung his way, means giving in, and he’s done that so many times that he
shouldn’t feel embarrassed anymore but he still does. However, he still likes it way too much.

Taehyung watches, amused, as his body visible relaxes as he gives in, just lets himself go, allows
himself to go pliant under Taehyung’s hands. “Please.” he whispers, facing away to maybe try and
pay off his blushing cheeks but they don’t go unnoticed.

“Please what? I can’t hear you if you don’t speak up.”

Jungkook’s eyes close. “Please…” he repeats. Taehyung cups his jaw, rolling his head back so that
he’s facing up. Jungkook’s eyes open right away, knowing he’d be told to if he hadn’t done it by
himself, anyways.

“Please what? You could be asking for a vast variety of things.” he should know Taehyung never
gives him anything easily but it still has his legs kicking, fist punching the mattress weakly,
throwing a short lived tantrum.

“P-Please.” he hiccups. “I said please.”

“I’m not going to touch you unless you tell me what you want from me, baby, use your words.
Surely you can speak since you were able to bitch not too long ago.” Taehyung offers a smile that
he sees right through.

“Y-You know what I want.” Jungkook frowns.

“Hm, yeah.” he nods. “But you will still have to say it.”

Jungkook exhales through his nose before he gulps. “I— I want you to fuck me again. Please.”
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Taehyung coos, cupping his jaw, thumb running across his bottom
lip as he looks at his eyes for a moment. “Color?” he asks, breaking his act just to be sure.

“Green.”

“Yeah?”

“Mhm…” Taehyung still looks at him for a little longer, trying to see any hint that he’s lying, but
he doesn’t find anything, so he nods, gathering Jungkook’s wrists again to keep them by his head.
One look is enough for Jungkook to know he’s not to move them from there.

Taehyung’s hand runs up and down Jungkook’s thigh, teasing, just giving him the smallest of the
touches, light, barely there. His mouth is back on Jungkook’s nipple, circling it, pulling at the
piercing, Jungkook’s whines doing nothing but encourage him to bite harder.

He presses wet kisses from there down to Jungkook’s abdomen, his tongue going around his
bellybutton. Jungkook has to lay his head down on his hands not to guide Taehyung’s head to
where he’d prefer it to be.

Taehyung’s beyond amused to hear the little breathy ‘thank you’s’ slipping from Jungkook’s lips
at everything he does, exactly how he was told to do. Behave, be thankful.

He bites down his bottom lip when Taehyung sits back on his heels, grabbing him by the thighs to
turn him around, stomach down. Jungkook knows to hold himself on his knees, a hand quickly
coming down on his butt cheek. He does nothing but gasp and jolt, grip the sheets.

Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “What do we say?”

Jungkook’s breath hitches. “Thank you.” he rasps out.

“Good boy.”

│►

Jungkook almost skips into the office, closing Taehyung’s laptop before plopping himself on his
desk. Taehyung sighs, looking up at him. He doesn’t even ask anymore. “Your birthday is on
December thirtieth.” he says.

“How do you know?”

“So I’m right?” Jungkook’s smile grows impossibly bigger.

“You’re not wrong.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “Why are we talking about it, though? It’s just a
regular day, we’re not even going to mention it when it comes.”

“Uh— Yes we will. We’re going to celebrate it.” Jungkook puts his foot on the arm of Taehyung’s
chair to keep him from getting up. “Stop, don’t leave. We’re celebrating it.”

“No, we’re not.” Taehyung quickly says. “I never did and that’s not going to change. You can fuck
right off with that one, seriously.” but Jungkook was never the one to give up easily. Just the fact
that he’s sitting on Taehyung’s desk proves exactly that.

“We /are/ celebrating your birthday.”

“We’re quite literally not.”

“But why? I’m here, Yoongi would probably be down, the men would never say no to a drink and
Jimin knows how to throw a decent pa—” Jungkook stops when Taehyung rubs the space between
his eyebrows, clearly not fond of the idea.

“That’s too outgoing, no.” Taehyung doesn’t even give it a second thought. “That’s not
happening.”

“Okay… then what about a night in? We can watch a movie and have some takeout from
somewhere instead of going for dinner with everyone…” Jungkook suggests, legs pulling
Taehyung’s chair closer, hands cupping his jaw. “C’mon.”

“Why are you so adamant about this? It’s just a birthday, I’m just getting older. Nothing else. Why
is there the need to do anything about it?” he still looks like he doesn’t care about the idea in the
slightest and Jungkook knows he must find something more persuasive. He needs a confirmation.

“Just you and I. We can do whatever all day… just no work.” he pouts. “Please?”

“Jungkook, I don’t think that this is a good idea, at least one of us has to work.” Jungkook slides
from the desk onto his lap, arms winding around Taehyung’s shoulders, the latter’s hands resting
on his hips, knowing that he won’t leave even if he tells him to.

“I’m here this year and I’m not going to let this pass like that, as long as I’m here, I’ll make sure
you live a little, you’re always working.” Taehyung opens his mouth to defend himself but
Jungkook quickly places a finger to his lips. “We can trust our men to go one day every now and
then without us, Tae. Just— One day? Please? It will be fun!”

“I don’t know how to have fun, this is sounding like a disaster waiting to happen, it’s better we
don’t do anything, serio—”

“Fuck it, we’re going somewhere for the weekend. Might fuck around and stay three days to
celebrate New Year’s too.” Jungkook says with a shrug, tapping Taehyung’s shoulders.

“That’s so much worse and irresponsible and—”

“And we’re doing it!” he smiles. “We could even… go on uh, on an actual date…” Jungkook
suggests, cheeks turning a light shade of pink. “Just a suggestion.” he whispers. “I’m down if
you’re down…” he bites his bottom lip to bite away a smile.

“I’ve never gone on a date, that’s just another thing that could make it all go even worse.”
Jungkook rolls his eyes albeit entertained.

“Neither have I! This is going to be so much fun.” he pulls away just enough to clap his hands
together, relying on the hands on his waist to keep him from falling off of Taehyung’s thighs.

“It’s going to be disastrous.”

“Stop with the negativity.” Jungkook tuts. “Can we go to Busan? I know the best places there…”
Taehyung just gives him a hum, already aware that there’s no possible way to talk Jungkook out of
it. “You’ll only find out if it’s a bad idea by doing it and Busan isn’t that far away so we’ll be able
to return fast if something happens… We can be normal. For three days.”

“Do I have any other choice?” Jungkook shakes his head. “Fine then, I gu—” he’s interrupted by a
kiss, Jungkook’s lips pressing against his with intent. He pulls away with a loud sound.

“Do we have a budget— No, we don’t. I need to start looking up what I need.” he rushes out of
Taehyung’s lap, grabbing his rarely used laptop before he slumps on the couch. Taehyung just
blinks before focusing on what he was doing previously.

They both go quiet, only the sounds of their fingers hitting the keyboard. Taehyung barely hears it
when Jungkook calls his name. “Hm?” he asks even though his focus doesn’t shift from the laptop.
Jungkook isn’t looking up either.

“There’s this place my mom told me about. She used to talk about it all the time before she died…
her first boyfriend took her there and she said it was the best night of her life. Not my birth or
anything, that night and that place. It’s in Busan so I’m trying to hunt for it.”

“Your father was ok with her talking about her ex like that?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow.

“No, she’d just tell me when we were alone. My dad was an asshole and she was aware of it. At
least towards the end she was—” he shrugs.

“How did they even end up together?” Jungkook looks up from his laptop, placing his chin on his
palm, thinking back to all those years ago.

“My dad saw her one day and became obsessed with her, that’s the truth. Then he went off his
ways to make her interested in him too… like buying expensive things for her. He’d stalk the fuck
out of her as well.” he shrugs. “I know he was most definitely the one to kill her but I don’t want to
think about that. I loved my mom, it was really hard for me.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s alright.” Jungkook smiles before looking back down at the laptop. “How did /your/ parents
get together?” he can’t say he’s not curious.

“I don’t know. They never told me and I never asked.”

“Your parents fucking sucked.” Jungkook lets out before he can stop himself. “It’s probably better
you don’t know, anyways. Might’ve been a horror story.”

“I don’t really care, if I’m being honest.” Taehyung shrugs. Jungkook gasps. “What?”

“I found it.” he shrieks. “I found it.” he repeats it at least ten more times as he clicks on a link and
Taehyung rubs his temples. He really doesn’t want to do anything for his birthday but Jungkook is
way too happy with it for him to say otherwise.

“You’re so energetic, you’re seriously like a kid.” Taehyung points out. Jungkook groans to
himself. “I’ve been babysitting for—”

“You’re literally fucked me so many times, you don’t get to say you’ve been babysitting me.”
Jungkook tries not to be offended over being called a kid. Again. “Talking about fucking, I ordered
some lingerie the other day to surprise you since you said nothing surprises you anymore, I’m just
going to save it for your birthday now.”

Taehyung blinks. His eyes roam Jungkook’s body and then he blinks again. “What color?”

“Guess.”

“You don’t own a single piece of clothing that isn’t black so I’m guessing black.” Jungkook shakes
his head. “White? The thought isn’t as much as a turn on as black. Or red, red’s a nice color.”
“It’s red. We’ll see if it also looks good on me.” he smiles.

“Everything looks good on you.”

“Right answer. Can’t wait for you to fuck me until I pass out again.” Jungkook giggles.

“Starting to wonder who the ‘gift’ is actually for.” Taehyung teases.

“Details.”

│►

“Did you get hurt?” Taehyung asks, Yoongi holding onto his own shoulder with a short nod. “Go
to the medical room, check it. I’m going to my bedroom. That was good work, everyone, I’m
pleased with all of you.” he looks at the small group of men in front of him and they all share
surprised looks before bowing with thank you’s spilling from their lips. Taehyung turns back to
Yoongi. “Take someone with you.”

“I’ll go. I’ll help. I’ll go with you.” Jimin steps further. Taehyung raises an eyebrow, watching the
both of them walk side by side until they’re out of the room. He just dismisses everyone else, mind
still thinking about the unnecessary hand Jimin had on the small of Yoongi’s back.

He unfastens his tie as he enters his office, locking the door before heading to the bedroom. The
sight he’s met with has him beyond upset over the time the mission ended up taking. Jungkook’s
laying with one of Taehyung’s button up shirts and a choker; he has nothing from his waist down
and his tattooed legs look even longer, shinier.

He must’ve been waiting for him, if the box of toys by the bed is anything to go by.

Taehyung just sighs, removing his clothes until he’s in nothing but underwear, laying behind him.
He turns the lights off, the only thing illuminating the room being the street lights coming in
through the window which, when the morning comes, will leave him regretting not closing them.

He throws an arm around Jungkook’s waist, gentle, but it’s enough for Jungkook to lift his head.
Taehyung’s cologne makes him lay back down again. “Took you guys longer than expected.”
Jungkook whispers, pushing further back into Taehyung’s warmth.

“Sorry.” Taehyung whispers back, one of his legs fitting between Jungkook’s, their bodies pressed
flush against each other. “Were you /waiting/ for me?” Jungkook just hums, tired, unable to keep a
little content sigh in when Taehyung’s hand finds its place on his hip, even if over the shirt.
Jungkook finds himself wishing Taehyung’s leg was higher up.

Taehyung’s fingers trace the curve of his waist ever so slowly, the fabric so thin he can feel the
warmth radiating from his palm. He can feel himself becoming not only more awake but also more
aware the longer the pays attention to Taehyung’s innocent yet teasing touches.

“You smell like strawberries.” Taehyung points out, nose tickling the side of Jungkook’s throat and
he feels himself almost melting “What did you do? Hm?” he asks, voice low, hand still caressing
his waist. Jungkook curses all the butterflies out when there’s a short kiss behind his ear. It’s gentle
and it’s gone before he knows it.

“I didn’t know how the deal would go and I thought you might’ve need to de-stress when you got
back… I played with myself a little. You know, to wait ready. But I fell asleep waiting.” he
explains, voice just over a whisper. “The strawberry smell is from the lube.” he further adds. “Do
you need to? De-stress, that is. I’m still up for it.”
Taehyung doesn’t reply with words, he simply slips his hand under Jungkook’s shirt, stroking the
soft skin of his stomach, mouth now focused on sucking a hickey onto the side of Jungkook’s
neck, just where it meets his shoulder.

Jungkook exhales shakily, eyes closed. He opens his own — Taehyung’s — button up shirt, gently
guiding Taehyung’s hand further up from his stomach to his chest. Taehyung seems to get the hint
as two of his fingers pinch one of Jungkook’s nipples easily. He toys with it a little too slowly, just
as slowly as he presses kisses onto Jungkook’s now exposed shoulder, and it feels intimate.

Very intimate.

He whines when the fingers leave but he’s pleased enough to have that same hand grabbing his
jaw, even if softly, turning his head to the side to be able to meet his lips with a kiss. The hand
leaves to his throat then, closing around it, thumb teasingly pressing on the side.

“Can—” he tries, but Taehyung makes it impossible to speak when he pulls him for another kiss,
sucking Jungkook’s tongue into his mouth. Jungkook’s cheeks feel impossibly hotter as he tries to
keep his tongue still, Taehyung teasing the muscle. He’s then pulled for another kiss that leaves
him breathless. It’s just the perfect combination between rough and calm.

He really has to pull back to breathe for a moment.

“I feel exhausted, I worked out so much today.” he whispers.

Taehyung’s thumb runs across his bottom lip before pulling it down. “We don’t have to do
anything, princess. We can just sleep.” Jungkook absolutely hates that idea.

“But I want to.” he’s quick to say.

“Of course you do.” Jungkook’s too tired to feel offended. Taehyung bites his bottom lip, trying to
kiss him again but Jungkook leans away to turn around in order to face him properly.

“Can I ride you?” he requests, tone quiet. Everything is so quiet, their touches slow. It’s definitely
intimate, a little too intense. He’s still tipping on the verge of sleep and he’s hyperaware of
everything. “I know you don’t like it much but… can I?”

“I’m not good at just laying here.” Taehyung chuckles into his lips.

“Please…” Jungkook pouts, only to have his lips separated by Taehyung’s thumb pushing past
them and into his mouth. He accepts the finger more than willingly, wrapping his lips beautifully
around it. Taehyung pulls it out, much to his distaste, but soon replaces it with two of his long
fingers instead, pushing down on his tongue.

Jungkook’s eyes close, as he holds Taehyung’s hand with both of his own, sucking on his fingers
lazily but as well as he can. He knows for sure Taehyung’s feeling nice when he doesn’t get those
fingers pushed down to the back of his throat to purposely gag him.

Taehyung’s being nice. And Jungkook didn’t even have to do anything for it.

“You can.” Taehyung finally replies to his request and Jungkook’s eyes shine. He pushes himself
up, using the very faint light to locate the hem of Taehyung’s underwear and he’s quick to remove
it. He himself still wearing Taehyung’s button up, though it’s completely open.

He flings a leg over Taehyung’s lap, sitting on his lap for a moment, taking in the sight. Despite
having had sex one too many times, he was never able to be like that, on top of him, Taehyung
being honest about just how much he dislikes just lying there, so he takes it all in, in case it never
happens again.

Then he leans down to kiss behind Taehyung’s ear, creating a path of kisses from there to his chest.
He licks over his initials inked on Taehyung’s golden skin, his own hand reaching back to guide
Taehyung into himself. He’s taken care of himself, he’s prepared himself for that, but it’s been
some hours and the stretch burns a little, but he takes his sweet time sinking down.

“Lube—?” Taehyung asks, a little incredulous.

“Don’t want.” he breathes out, eyes closed tight. “I really wasn’t lying when I said this is your best
feature.” Taehyung chuckles, his hand reaching up for Jungkook’s throat, grip still soft even if
definitely there, and he pulls him down, their chests almost touching. “I—”

“You?” Taehyung’s already grown used to this, Jungkook going to say something but stopping
himself, and he encourages him to go on knowing full well that he won’t. He’ll get the truth out of
him someday. Maybe. Part of him believes it’s not even something important.

“I… love your dick.” he whispers against Taehyung’s lips, starting to move ever so slowly. He’s
almost laying down on top of him but Taehyung’s hands have a firm grip on his hips, helping him
with his movements as they kiss, messily, but still gently.

It’s different from every single other time they’ve done something of the sorts. Jungkook doesn’t
feel the need to feel tiny, doesn’t feel the need to have a hand around his throat, doesn’t feel the
need to be insulted. He just feels the need to feel Taehyung there, to be kissed slowly, to take their
time yet not to tease each other.

He doesn’t even feel the need to be a brat. That never happens.

“Tae—” he exhales, breathless, as he moves in a way where it hits deeper, and he feels Taehyung
everywhere, his presence, everywhere. It’s almost suffocating, especially when he himself doesn’t
fully comprehend those emotions, he’s never felt like that. But it’s nice. He’s left winded when
Taehyung thrusts up, not too hard, but enough for him to hide his face in the crook of his neck.
“Fuck.” he curses, trying not to be loud.

The room is so quiet, he doesn’t want to disturb it.

“Doing so well, princess.” he hears, Taehyung’s fingers gripping his hips hard enough for him to
know it’s going to leave a mark, possibly a bruise to remember the next day. Not that Jungkook
would forget. ”Tired?”

“Mhm.” Jungkook half whines, moans not above breathy exhales and calls of Taehyung’s name.

The quietness around them and the overall intimacy of the moment actually allows him to hear
Taehyung as well, which doesn’t happen often and, even if it’s just a groan here and there,
occasionally a curse word, Jungkook’s still beyond satisfied.

He feels his thighs start to strain, he’s still sleepy and Taehyung’s sweet kisses aren’t helping one
bit. He feels like he could fall asleep right there, tucked into Taehyung’s neck, with his whole body
relaxed, on cloud nine. Still, he really needs to get rid of his boner.

“Can— Can you go faster?” he requests, giving up on trying to keep a steady rhythm when he
worked out on his legs for hours and hours on end and he can barely hold himself up on that
position. Taehyung can do it much better, hit much deeper, anyways.
“Faster?” Jungkook hates how there’s still that slight cockiness to his tone even when he’s being
nice. It’s a characteristic, Jungkook guesses. He always sounds cocky, no matter what.

“Mhm.” he still agrees, sounding a bit desperate. “Please.” he breathes out, teeth sinking in on
Taehyung’s neck with just enough strength. “Please, faster.” Taehyung doesn’t tease, doesn’t ask
him to beg further, doesn’t do the opposite of what he’s asking.

He just. Goes faster.

“I’m— I’m going to—” Jungkook tries to say, his hands searching for Taehyung’s, intertwining
them together as soon as he finds them.

“Go on, princess.” Taehyung encourages and Jungkook doesn’t need to be told twice. He paints
Taehyung’s abdomen white, his body completely melting then. “So pretty, all for me.” Jungkook
can’t even whine, he just battles himself not to fall asleep, especially when he successfully
manages to slide his hands under Taehyung’s weight to hug his torso completely.

He can only pant as Taehyung continues to use him as he pleases, finishing inside of him with a
low groan at the back of his throat. Jungkook nips at his neck, eyes not even able to stay open
anymore. He simply can’t stay awake any longer.

He does hear Taehyung chuckling and he really doesn’t know why, but he does feel a kiss to his
temple followed by a hand playing with his hair. He thinks he hears a few words of comfort for
him to sleep and reassurance that he did well but he knows that might’ve been his head making that
up, so he doesn’t even try to reply.

After that, it’s lights out.

│►

“It was nice getting home to you like that, actually.” Taehyung comments, his fingers going up and
down Jungkook’s arm as the man is tucked in on his side. His alarm has always woken them up
but, with a lot of begging and a lot of pushing, Jungkook has been able to make him stay for
another hour. Just an hour. For once.

“Like how? Asleep?”

“No, you idiot.” Jungkook scoffs. “I meant all pretty, waiting for me. You just totally ruined the
mood, I don’t even feel like praising you anymore.”

“Shut up…!” he whines. “But I liked it too. I like it when you call me pretty, by the way. I like
being pretty. For you, that is.” he admits, bottom lip caught between his teeth.

“I could tell you weren’t as much of a hardass as you tried to look like but I’d never guess you’d be
this much of a princess. You literally don’t like controlling things, ever, that’s fucking weird. I hate
it if I don’t have control over something.” Taehyung points out and Jungkook looks down at
Taehyung’s stomach, fingers tracing the outlines of his tattoos.

“I was forced to be in control over everyone and everything, I have people’s lives on his hands and
as you know, I never asked or wanted this, this isn’t necessarily me. That’s also why I get the way
I do during sex, I think, it’s so nice to let someone else be in control for a change.” he admits.

“That makes sense. And I guess it explains my own point of view.” Jungkook looks up, chin
prompted on his chest, curious. “My father always had control of everything, including me, from
day one. The moment I could take over something… someone, I did.”
“I’m glad you appeared because I was tired of being you.”

“Huh?”

“People expected me to act a certain way, with my status and all. I was never on this side of things,
I was always you, fucking hated it. Got me off but not the same way, not even close.” that seems to
be enough for Taehyung to piece it together and Jungkook groans in offense when he snorts, so
hard it turns into a soundless wheeze. “Stop laughing you fucking menace.”

“I bet you asked if you were doing good—”

“No! I didn’t!” he defends with a frown.

“Did you cry as you were about to—”

“Shut up! No, I did not!” Taehyung opens his mouth to go on so Jungkook’s quick to press his
hand flat against his lips, effectively shutting him up. Feeling the little puffs of breath as Taehyung
laughs against his hand still makes his stomach take a turn. Makes him want to embarrass himself
further just to hear more of that.

So that’s exactly what he does.

“But I genuinely couldn’t bear to eat anyone out for longer than twenty seconds. Is it just me or is
it fucking gross?” he doesn’t get anything other than another soundless laugh. “Hey, it’s an actual
question, do I really put you through such torment?”

“I’ve always liked eating people out, so no, you don’t. Besides, I usually like the taste of the lubes
you get, especially the strawberry one.” Taehyung replies with a shrug of the shoulders, his hand
still massaging Jungkook’s arm ever so slowly.

“Right, ok, but it’s gross.” Jungkook still defends his point.

“It’s not /gross/ if you know what you’re doing.” Jungkook has half the mind to ask why in the
world is he being called incompetent just like that. “You just didn’t enjoy it, that’s all.” that’s
enough of a save, he figures.

“How can you enjoy the taste of a fucking vagina?”

“The same way you enjoy the taste of a dick—?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow and Jungkook tsks.
“And don’t you think it’s horrible of you that you think it’s gross, but still beg me to do it so often?
What’s that all about?” Jungkook puckers his lips, thinking of a good enough excuse.

“Well, duh.” nice.

“You’re a brat.” Taehyung shakes his head, closing his eyes as he gets his head comfortable again
to maybe sleep until they have to get up.

“No, I’m giving you the pleasure of doing something you enjoy so, if anything, I’m a really nice
guy and you dare to call me a brat, it really doesn’t make sense to me.” he says, his hand gesturing
a bit too much, poking Taehyung’s stomach for added effect.

“Jungkook, just the day you had the audacity to show up here, that whole thing was a bratty move.
Coming here like you could? Out of your fucking mind.” he looks up at the mention, Taehyung’s
eyes still closed and he pushes himself sideways onto his forearm.
“Actually, let’s talk about that if you think that’s something to hold over my head.” Jungkook
starts. “I came here to save our asses, nothing else. /I/ was mature, contrary to some people.”

“I would definitely consider the way you walked past I don’t know how many loaded guns aimed
at your head just to come to my office unannounced and uninvited to demand a truce with me, a
considerable bratty move.” Taehyung still has his eyes closed and Jungkook feels rather offended.
He’s trying to assert his power yet Taehyung’s ready to go back to sleep.

“I’d call it badass rather than bratty… and you’re smarter than that to think I was actually
unarmed. I’d not only be able to take them with my knives, but I also still had my guns. I’m never
unprepared, you should know that by now.” he giggles quietly.

“Thank that brattiness of yours for making you walk through all of those guns. You wouldn’t be
here right now.” Jungkook’s smile falls, giving place to a rather confused expression and he tilts
his head, hand falling on Taehyung’s naked chest.

“What do you mean?”

Taehyung finally opens his eyes, folding his arms to put his hands under his pillow. “Your
brattiness got me to listen to you, I was slightly impressed by your balls. Then… Ok, it’s time you
know this, I accepted to work with you to put a bullet through your head when I decided I didn’t
need you anymore, it was the perfect opportunity… with you trusting me, you’d never see it
coming.” he shrugs, failing to notice the way Jungkook scoots away.

“I— You— What?” his voice fails him.

“I told Yoongi, cutting your head off would make your empire fall, I even picked the flowers I’d
plant on the vase I’d turn your head into. A good plan, right? You say I suck at them but that one
was too good. And the only thing I had to do was pretend that I care, pretend that we were on the
same level.” Jungkook’s eyes search around the room. There’s a gun on Taehyung’s bedside table
and he knows he keeps one under his pillow as well, just where his hands are.

Taehyung telling him can only mean one thing.

He’s going to shoot him.

He doesn’t have time to feel the immense wave of hurt when he can already see his life getting
ripped out of him and so he tries to think quickly. He’s really never unprepared, so he quickly
grabs the knife he keeps under his own pillow, pressing it to Taehyung’s throat. The man doesn’t
even budge. “What the fuck— I’m not the one into this, sweetheart.”

“Cut the shit, what’s your plan?” Taehyung’s head shudders for a second with confusion and
Jungkook presses the blade just the slightest harder, warningly. “Tell me, did you choose to fuck
around with me so I’d let my guard down enough for you to just… what? Kill me in my sleep?”

Taehyung looks at him for a moment before he realizes just what’s happening. And he’s never
wanted to smack Jungkook across the head as hard. Instead, he decides to play along, the annoyed
part of him wanting to push him further. “I was actually planning on blowing your head off in
front of everyone, not during your sleep, that’s so… boring.”

“I’ll fucking—” Taehyung has to hold his wrist in place when he feels the blade actually pressing
way too hard into his skin and he knows Jungkook’s brave enough to just slice his throat open right
then and there if he doesn’t explain himself soon.

“You’re so fucking stupid, do you really think I’d tell you my plan like that if it was still on going?
Lay the fuck back down and keep your knife away from my throat, you won’t like what happens if
you actually cut me.” his eyes darken significantly as his hold around Jungkook’s wrist tightens.

“You literally just said—”

“In the past.” he doesn’t move, yet his tone sounds crowding. Jungkook frowns further, bites down
his teeth harder. “I wanted to kill you, I don’t anymore, you have to be dumb to think I’d keep you
around for this long if I were to kill you.”

“No… because it’d make sense, how— how would /you/ actually be nice and— Holy fuck, you
really played me all this time, didn’t you? You made me trust you blindly and now—” Taehyung
rolls his eyes before pulling him down, pining both of his wrists on the bed to avoid getting a knife
shoved directly onto his neck. Jungkook tries his best to free himself, brain still in a defensive state,
wanting nothing but to run out of the room.

“Jungkook.” he says, tone so demanding Jungkook stops moving immediately. He’s not that proud
of that fact. “Are you going to listen or what?”

“I’m going to kill you first, that’s what I’m going to—”

“Jungkook.” Jungkook’s fuming. “I’m not going to kill you.”

“You can bet your fucking—”

“Jeon.” that gets him frowning even more. “The plan was cancelled ages ago. You were disposable
ages ago. Are you dead? No. I’m not going to kill you. Let go of the fucking knife.” Jungkook’s
jaw falls, his knee rising to try to hit Taehyung where he’s the most sensitive but his legs are
pressed down onto the mattress before he succeeds. “Ever—”

“Who the fuck are you calling disposable?!” Taehyung sighs, shifting his weight to pine both of
Jungkook’s wrists with one hand, the other covering his mouth. Jungkook mumbles against it,
eyebrows pinching together angrily.

“You know I don’t like getting interrupted.” he tsks. “Ever since you got purposely kidnapped and
you put yourself in such danger for your team, including mine, made me simply not care for you. I
didn’t want to kill you anymore, I just stopped caring for you and your existence. That’s why
you’re breathing right now.” he slowly uncovers Jungkook’s mouth, ready to cover it again in case
needed. “Once we finished the mission, you became useless so if I wanted to kill you, you’d be
dead. Because let’s face it, I don’t need you and you don’t need me either. We choose to work
together, we don’t need to.”

Jungkook’s silent for a few seconds before his angry expression slowly turns into a sad one. “You
don’t care?” Taehyung blinks. “That’s what you said.”

“You have extremely selective hearing.” he points out.

“Tae. You said you don’t care for me, I heard it.”

“I didn’t in the past, when it happened, in that moment in time, you dumb bitch.” he explains.
Again. Jungkook isn’t very fond of the insult but he decides to look past it. Just this once.

“So what? You want to kill me again? Is that why you’re telling me this now?” Taehyung groans.

“Please just stab me in the neck.” he requests, voice showing just how done he is with the entire
situation. They were having a nice, relaxed morning, but Jungkook just doesn’t know when to shut
up or when to stop assuming things.

“If you let my hand free, maybe I will.” Taehyung takes a risk by freeing the hand that is still
holding the knife but Jungkook just blinks up at him, not putting him out of his misery for once and
for all like he wishes he did. “I’m not killing you.” he lets go of the knife. “But I will if you don’t
tell me that you care for me now.”

“No, I’ve said it before, you’ve heard it already, that’s enough.”

“Please.” his voice drops into a faint whisper and Taehyung almost feels guilty for the visible hurt
behind Jungkook’s eyes. He really thought they’d end up laughing about the whole ordeal, but it
got so blown out of proportion and Jungkook looks /hurt/. It’s like a kicked puppy.

“Listen, I want you alive.”

“And…?”

“And that’s it.”

“Say more. It has to be at least a fifteen word sentence.” he commands and Taehyung wants to tell
him to fuck right off but he figures it’s his fault that he even needs to hear reassuring words to
begin with. So he compromises.

“Jungkook, I’ve been honest with you ever since we ended that mission ages ago. All my words
towards you and everything else since then has been honest. If I’m in bed with you, if I’m even
reassuring you right now, it’s because I don’t hate you.”

“Can you please just say you care for me? I honestly thought you were about to fucking pop my
head.” instead of replying with words, Taehyung cups his jaw and leans in, connecting their lips in
a long, heartfelt kiss. He tries his best to convey his emotions not only with the kiss but with the
thumb that caresses Jungkook’s chin. There’s a little string of saliva connecting their bottom lips
when they pull apart. “Okay.” Jungkook whispers with a nod.

“Okay?”

“Yeah.” he nods again. He’s got the message. Taehyung takes the knife still resting by Jungkook’s
hand and places it on his bedside table before laying back down. “I’m fucking— I’ve made jokes
about you wanting to kill me before, I thought it was mutually funny, you were /actually/ planning
it. Unbelievable.” he scoffs. “And now yes, I totally ruined the mood.” he tries to break the ice,
unwilling to allow things to get awkward.

“Don’t even get me started on that.” Taehyung rubs his eyes. “You just gave me a headache.”

“And I thought I was about to die, I get a pass.” he scoots away, placing his bare foot on
Taehyung’s chest. “Give me a foot rub and I’ll forgive you for lying to me for months and for
plotting my death behind my back when I was being nothing but honest with you.”

“You must be out of your mind.”

“I really thought you were just using me for sex.” he tries the emotional approach, his toe poking
Taehyung’s chest twice. Taehyung is quiet for a long beat of a second.

“Ok, I’m sorry, I should’ve explained myself faster, I forgot how you act first and think second.”

“Insulting me isn’t helping your case. My foot is waiting.”

“Fuck off.”

“I’m mad at you.” Jungkook frowns.

“Get over it then, I didn’t do anything wrong this time so get your disgusting ass fucking foot away
from me.” Jungkook gapes. His feet are pretty, he prides himself on that, not a lot of people can say
they have nice looking feet. He does, he knows that much.

“You planned to kill me.” he pokes Taehyung’s cheek with his toe and he knows he’s risking
getting thrown off of the bed, but it will simply be more he can use to get Taehyung to massage his
foot, so he’s willing to risk it.

“A long time ago?!”

“My tired feet are waiting.” Taehyung glares at him. “If you rub just one, the other will be jealous.
C’mon, get to work.” he wiggles his toes and Taehyung’s a second away from cutting them off.
“C’mon…” it’s when he’s slapped with Jungkook’s foot that he grabs it.

“Fucking /fine/.”

Jungkook hums in satisfaction as Taehyung’s fingers press into the sore soles of his feet. It feels
amazing, he has to admit. Taehyung is great with his hands, something he already knew all too
well, but never knew his massages to be this /good/.

He does place his hands under his head as he watches Taehyung’s half disgusted expression as he
massages his foot and he finds himself smiling. “You can suck my toes, if you’d like.”

“I’ll cut them off, I’m not kidding.” Jungkook laughs, albeit unsure if Taehyung’s even joking or
not. He looks serious, at least, and he wouldn’t be surprised if he actually meant his threat.

“Can I ask you for uhm, can I request you something?” he rephrases. Taehyung looks outraged for
a split second and he rushes to speak again. “I’m not asking you to suck my toes, I’ve tried it before
and I didn’t like it.” Taehyung looks even /more/ disturbed.

“I seriously don’t want to know that you actually had your foot inside someone’s mouth, /that/ is
disgusting. But what? What do you want to request?” Jungkook giggles, wiggling his toes again,
this time closer to Taehyung’s face. The latter groans in distaste, keeping the foot as far away from
him as possible.

“I just wanted to ask you not to kill me. That’s it.”

Taehyung sighs. “I’m not going to, will you just drop this already?”

“No, I mean, if you come to want to for whatever reason, please order someone to do it. I uhm…
don’t do it yourself. Please.” he asks, tone quiet. Taehyung’s fingers slow down a little, the man
clearly trying to understand the reasoning behind Jungkook’s all too sudden request. He fails to
figure it out himself.

“Why are you asking me that?” he figures it’s easier to ask.

“Dying by your hand would be way worse by anyone else’s.” Jungkook says, honest, tone even
quieter. Taehyung takes a moment to process it. It’s a statement too deep for him to comment on it,
he doesn’t want to dwell on it further, doesn’t even want to acknowledge it. So, instead, he settles
for teasing.
“Would my face being the last thing you see not satisfy you?” Jungkook laughs, pulling his foot
back so that he can crawl on top of the other, hiding his face into Taehyung’s neck. “You’re so
dumb. Genuinely fucking dumb.” Taehyung still insults.

“I can’t even defend myself. But I’m still mad at you. And hurt. The foot massage didn’t feel like
enough to forgive this, you’re going to have to do a lot more than that.” he says, pressing a kiss to
Taehyung’s throat, right over the spot where he pressed a blade into just some minutes prior.
“You’re /really/ mean.”

“Why do I feel like you’re going to use this forever?”

Jungkook smiles. “Because I will.”

│►

Taehyung presses on the gas, the car speeding even faster than the not so legal velocity they’re
already traveling at. Jungkook tilts his head back to check just exactly how closely they’re being
followed. He shifts from where he's sitting on Taehyung’s lap, the car only having two seats and
the passenger being already occupied. Had they known better, they’d take a more spacious car
rather than a fast one.

“You’re going to get caught.” Jungkook glares at the man tied up on the passenger seat while
Taehyung doesn’t give him a single second of his attention, jaw set, clearly angry.

“Shut the fuck up.” Jungkook warns, his boot lifting onto to come down with great force between
the man’s legs, granting him a long and pained groan. He can’t move too much, doesn’t want to
distract Taehyung who’s still driving way too fast, eyes focused on the road. He never thought he’d
be sitting on his lap in such context but he can’t say he’s upset over it. He’s not. One bit.

“You’re not going to make it. They’re going to catch up with the car and they’re going to kill you
two. You’re not going to make it out of t—” Taehyung elbows the man as hard as he can, his
temple hitting the window in a way it all cracks, some drops of blood being left behind. His body
limps, unconscious.

“That was… hot.” Jungkook points out, poking the man with his foot twice to make sure he’s not
moving. He’s completely out.

“Shut up, don’t fucking distract me.” Taehyung warns, tone dark. “Can you still see them?” he
asks, unwilling to take his eyes off of the road. He’s dodging other cars, it could go dangerously
wrong to lose focus.

Jungkook stretches his neck to check, only to hum as he leans closer to whisper into Taehyung’s
ear. “You’re going to have to be faster than that…” he ends it with a bite to Taehyung’s earlobe, the
man switching gears before he presses even harder on the gas.

Jungkook’s well aware that it shouldn’t be attractive, of course it shouldn’t, but Taehyung’s angry,
focused expression never seizes to make him forget what’s should and shouldn’t be. Not that he
likes it when Taehyung is angry, per se, but besides looking more attractive than he already does,
the outcome usually works in Jungkook’s favor.

He observes the way his hand grips onto the gearstick, changing it ever so often as he dodges past
all the moving cars. Moving in the opposite direction, Jungkook really has to add.

He can’t stop himself from grabbing Taehyung’s jaw and turning his face to his own, meeting
Taehyung’s lips in a hungry kiss. Taehyung still keeps an eye on the road, his foot pressing on the
gas until it doesn’t go any faster, and Jungkook’s just focused on kissing him so hard he wonders if
he’s purposely trying to get a reaction out of him. Knowing Jungkook, most likely.

Jungkook licks along Taehyung’s bottom lip, request clear. Jungkook’s always fast to turn into
putty whenever they kiss, one touch of Taehyung’s tongue and he’s feeling hot all over, so that
combined with the thrill of the moment, he’s embarrassed to admit he lets out a broken moan into
Taehyung’s mouth.

He pulls away when he can’t breathe any longer, Taehyung taking the opportunity to see the road
properly again, and Jungkook looks behind them again. He smiles, prepping kisses to Taehyung’s
neck. “I can’t see them any longer.” he informs. Taehyung glances from the rearview mirror, as if
to make sure, but he doesn’t slowdown in the slightest. “I didn’t know you were this much of a
good driver, it’s kind of hot.”

“Everything’s fucking hot to you.” he can tell by Taehyung’s tone that yes, he’s definitely angry.
Not at him, but that never really matters when Jungkook gets what he wants.

“Not everything is hot to me.” he still says. “Usually you’re not that impressive, you have
moments.” he provokes, using his foot to push the unconscious man back into place when he shifts
with the movements of the car. He wants to kick him out of the vehicle completely, but he stops
himself from doing it.

“Don’t try to rile me up right now, I’m already fucking pissed.” Taehyung warns, jaw set. He
doesn’t hide the tsk of discontentment when Jungkook pushes himself into another position,
straddling Taehyung now. He’s almost blocking his view and he seriously just wants to throw him
out of the moving car.

“This is quite thrilling.” Jungkook admits with a smile. “They won’t catch us but I’m sure the
police are probably on their way.” he giggles, fingers toying with Taehyung’s earrings.

“If you want to go to jail, be my guest. Open the door and roll out.” is all he says and Jungkook
tsks three times, kissing the shell of his ear before meeting his eyes again. Taehyung leans away in
a second to be able to see where he’s going.

“Why would I want to get out of here…” another kiss. “...right now?” he giggles right into his ear.
“Besides, it’s not like you’d let them take me, don’t think I don’t know about your little agreement
with the law enforcement?” Taehyung only gives a side look. “Respect, though, I tried for so long
to get them on my side and couldn’t make it work, had to give up on that.”

“I don’t have time to get my hands dirty getting rid of those below me. I feed them to the wolves
and keep them on a leash, works out for everyone.”

“Gosh, you’re attractive.” he turns Taehyung’s face to him for another kiss, watching as Taehyung
switches the gear and speeds more once they pull apart. “What are we doing with him?”
Taehyung’s eyes shift to the man for a split second before he looks back to the front.

“Can we discuss that when I’m not driving on the wrong side of Seoul’s busiest highway?”

“If we don’t make a decision right now we won’t even make it off the highway. There’s no way
we can take a trail this messy home, logically we can’t reach out to warn anyone else, we have to
lose those guys in the streets and we need to figure what the fuck to do with this… thing.” he pokes
the man with his shoe again. “They may get to us if we suddenly stop to trash him somewhere, we
need to figure out what to do. Quickly.”
Taehyung looks up at him, Jungkook keeping eye contact in silence for around ten seconds which,
to his interpretation, is beyond dangerous as he’s not exactly looking forward to an accident, but
Taehyung’s eyes are luring enough to keep his attention.

“Shit.” Taehyung mumbles once he finishes processing what Jungkook just said. “I may have an
idea.” Jungkook opens his mouth to ask but he’s left having to place his hands wherever he can
reach to ground himself when the car drifts on the highway floor, Taehyung pulling a U turn
before Jungkook can even realize what’s happening.

“Tae, what the fuck are you doing—”

“Shut up.”

“Don’t tell me to shut u—”

“Shut up.” Taehyung repeats, tone a little stronger, and Jungkook frowns, crossing his arms.

A few seconds go by before he’s mumbling a, “You shut up.” that he receives no answer to.

│►

Jungkook watches as twenty — or more — or their men approach them worriedly the second they
step foot inside of the mansion but Taehyung just walks ahead, through then, phone against his ear.
“We told you we’d take care of it.” he says, tone dark, already unlocking the door to the office.
They can tell just how angry he is by the way he slams the door closed.

Everyone is left staring expectantly at Jungkook, waiting to know /something/ but he just shakes
his head and moves to follow Taehyung. But he stops, turning back. “How the fuck can you guys
continuously mess up things that are so simple? You’re getting the wrong idea just because I save
your fucking asses but if this continues, I’ll be the one firing you all. And you know what firing
you means.”

He gets no response, which he’s grateful for, but Jimin does follow him, holding onto his forearm
when they’re by the office door. “Hey…”

“Don’t play stupid, Jimin, they told us, why wouldn’t you fucking tell us? Or better, why wouldn’t
you not let this happen? You can’t possibly think it’s ok to make these mistakes. It’s not fucking
ok.” Jungkook says, though he keeps his voice low.

“We uh, we thought it wouldn’t be that important, we didn’t want you guys to be mad at us. We
didn’t want this exact reaction…” Jimin says as he scratches the back of his neck, eyes guilty.

“And so you give them less drugs than what they paid for? They thought we were purposely
tricking them. How can you not do something as simple as /thinking/ about what you’re doing?!”
he gestures around, expression showcasing just how angry he is.

“Did you— Did you fix it?” Jimin asks with a gulp.

“Of course we fucking fixed it. I stabbed a worker on the way out as we ran out there so we had to
carry that idiot to the car and get rid of him, so thank you for all the trouble, seriously. And be
ready to be the one cleaning off the blood that got in the car, because I’m fucking tired of cleaning
after you guys.” he reaches for the doorknob but Jimin steps closer.

“Do they hate us now? Did we— Did we make an enemy?” he asks, eyes innocent.
“No, Jimin. Taehyung pulled a mad man move and gave them back the hostage and got them to
terminate all the contracts we had with them instead of starting a war. We just lost one of our
biggest buyers and potentially made a new enemy because all of you were incompetent enough to
not fucking count to the gram. We didn’t even have a damn bulletproof vest on, we could’ve died
because of your pathetic moves.” Jimin’s face falls into a frown so deep Jungkook wonders if he’s
about to cry. He’s angry, he can’t possibly pat Jimin’s back and tell him it’s ok.

“I’m sorry, we’re really sorry, I was the one responsible but—”

“Why is it that you seem to just continuously fuck up under this roof? You weren’t like this, you
were never like this, and you’ve just been slacking so fucking much since we moved. This was
your idea, to stay and stick around but ever since we did it seems to always be either you or
someone from our side that fucks up. Get your shit together or get out, either way, stop
embarrassing me. You know better.” Jungkook says as he gestures to the door before turning his
back to him at last, deeming the conversation as over.

“You’re starting to sound like him.” it makes him stop in his tracks. “You’ve never talked to me
like this.” Jimin adds and maybe it’s the angry tone to his voice or just the overall implication of
what he’s saying that has Jungkook squeezing the doorknob to stop himself from letting all his
anger on his right hand.

“Maybe if I did, you’d know how to do your job.” he pulls the door open but turns to Jimin again.
“Talk to me like that again and I’ll make you quit myself.” is the last thing he says before he walks
in, closing the door behind himself. Taehyung’s already done with the call, focused on writing
something down. Jungkook takes a seat across from him at the desk.

Taehyung glances up, having to take a double look. “Stop frowning, shit is fixed, we don’t need
them, they needed us.” he says, resting his forearms on the table to face him.

Jungkook chews on the inside of his cheek before sighing. “Do you think I’m becoming rude?
Mean?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow, questioning. “Someone said I’m starting to sound like you,
do you think it’s true?”

“I know what Jimin said, I could hear it from here.”

“Oh…” Taehyung shrugs, looking back down.

“I’m going to talk to him about that whether you like it or not, so don’t even try to argue with me
on that.” he says and Jungkook frowns, picking at his nails.

“I don’t want you to, he looked hurt… He used to be my— my best friend. We grew apart, a little
bit, but I don’t want him hurt. I don’t know why I snapped but it’s frustrating… still, I shouldn’t
have talked to him the way I did.” he pouts.

“You don’t know why you snapped?” Jungkook shakes his head. “You snapped because, yet
again, Jimin let you down and gave you another reason not to trust him no matter how bad you
want to. Not only with the drug run, because you were right the first time he messed up, he’s
human and bound to make mistakes, but not telling us wasn’t a mistake, was a choice he made.
Nearly got us killed and I can tell you, if he was one of my men, he’d be dead right now.”

“I can’t kill Jimin.” he mumbles, dejectedly. Taehyung hums. “Would you kill Yoongi? And don’t
bullshit me right now, would you kill him?”

“If he started acting the way Jimin does? I’d think twice but I’d still kill him.” definitely not the
answer Jungkook wanted to make himself feel better. “I’ve told you this but look at it this way, a
team is made out of multiple pieces that you switch if they’re faulty until all the pieces are the
perfect fit. Say Jimin’s a faulty piece. Replace it.” Jungkook looks down. “But I know you won’t.”

“I’m just a little bitch, am I not?” Jungkook whispers and Taehyung reaches forward to lift his
head up with a hand on his chin.

“You’re not cold hearted, you’re not like me. The only thing you seem to be learning is how to stop
letting people walk all over you because they know you won’t hurt them, and Jimin’s being a
careless bitch because of that. You’re not like me, and you’re not a bitch of a leader either. I
thought that before but, seeing you with your men, how much they trust you, it’s rare. And I hate
that Jimin takes advantage of that and tries to guilt trip you when you don’t let him.” Jungkook’s
eyes almost shine at the comforting words. “You’re not like me because you care about what they
think, like right now. And if it’s that much of an insult to you to be like me—” he jokes, getting his
shin lightly kicked from under the table. “—you can stop worrying about it.”

“I’m sorry that they keep fucking up.” he says, sighing. “I’m really fucking sorry for that, they
weren’t like this before, I don’t know what’s getting to them.”

“You wouldn’t have been as big as me back then if this is how bad they were. I know they know
better, and I know you taught them better.” Taehyung points out.

“But… I don’t know, this is fucking humiliating.” Jungkook half whines, his leg kicking.

“While I can respect you accepting responsibility, and I can’t believe I’m saying this but, the
responsibility wasn’t yours. It was ours, but mainly theirs. They should’ve told us, but we
shouldn’t have trusted them to without them being aware of the consequences.” Jungkook opens
his mouth to speak but Taehyung goes on. “Your group taking advantage of your kindness isn’t
humiliating, either, it doesn’t reflect you.”

Jungkook’s lips twitch into a smile. “Am I rubbing off on you too? You’re getting nice.”

“Now /that/ is definitely insulting.” Taehyung points with the tip of his pen before he continues to
write down and Jungkook peeks. Decides it’s not as important as what he wants to say.

“You seem to be forgetting but the first time they fucked up, you told me to be a leader and take
responsibility of their acts, which only reflected how much of a shitty leader I am.” Taehyung
hums, simply shaking his head.

“I don’t recall.” Jungkook smiles, trying not to giggle.

“Whatever.” he rolls his eyes, his smile falling with the seconds of silence that follow. And so he
sighs. “I’m really sorry, though, I don’t know what the fuck is going on with them.”

“Mind if I have a meeting with them? I’d like to tell them a thing or two.” Jungkook squints,
suspicious. Taehyung puts his pen down, clearing his throat. “I don’t think being the nice guy with
them is going to do much for them anymore. Back in your place it was okay because you all were
mutually warmer, but with my people? They’re like kids with no real discipline— that’s not an
insult, princess, don’t pout like that— so I really would ask you to leave them to me, I hate how
they make you so stressed all the time with their constant disrespect around here, because they
know you’ll cover for them. Let me handle them. They need to start being thankful that you’re
around, if it was just me, most of them would be seven feet under already.”

Jungkook gets up from his pace, walking around the desk so that he can plop himself on
Taehyung’s lap, arms going around his neck in a tight hug. “Are you sure I’m not just a shitty
leader who can’t even keep them under control?”

“The fact that you even feel the need to ask me that makes me want to punch Jimin.”

“Maybe I’m just not good at this.” he pulls away, looking down at his hands as they toy with one
of Taehyung’s buttons. “Maybe you were always right about that, I’m not good at this.”

“This has nothing to do with your leadership, just because you can’t shoot someone when they
disrespect you, like I would, doesn’t make you a shitty leader, it’s just your way of doing things.”
he lifts Jungkook by his chin again. “Stop sulking already, ok? Otherwise I’ll actually line them up
and shoot one at a time.”

“No…!” Jungkook whines, cupping Taehyung’s face between his palms before kissing him ever so
slowly, deep, long. “Thank you for everything you said, you’ve— you’ve been making me feel
really good about everything lately.” he whispers to his lips before kissing him again, unwilling to
have Taehyung saying anything against it. “Can we take a shower or a bath? We stink from the
fight, still.”

“You go on ahead baby, I’m going to announce a meeting tomorrow for them, and then I’ll join
you, okay?” he pats Jungkook’s thigh, encouraging for him to get up and lead the way but
Jungkook just gives him a pointed look.

“Go easy on them. Please?”

“No.”

“C’mon… they’re nice people.” he pokes Taehyung’s ribs.

“I don’t need them to be nice, I need them to be competent peo—”

“Please…” the moment he pouts, he knows Taehyung won’t be able to say no anymore.

He’s proven right. “Fine.”

So he smiles. “I’ll fill up the tub.”

│►

Taehyung looks down at a sleeping Jungkook, his hand slowly going up and down his back. One
look at his wrist watch has him pulling away as carefully as he can, pulling the sheets up over
Jungkook’s body to make sure he’s comfortable.

He locks the door behind himself, knowing Jungkook has a thousand tricks to open it if he wakes
up, and heads upstairs, searching the hallways to see if he’s lucky enough to find to who’s looking
for. He clears his throat once he sees Jimin leaving his room.

Jimin’s head whips in his direction, the man bowing immediately. “Morning, sir.”

“Have you been made aware of the meeting?” is all Taehyung asks, walking closer with his hands
inside his pockets, looking as casual as ever. Jimin nods. Three times for good measure. “Ah,
good, good.” he hums to himself, raising a hand to scratch the top of his head with just one finger.
“Just one thing…”

Jimin gulps when the other gets a little too close for comfort, his presence making him step back
until he’s flush against the wall without Taehyung even having to use his strength at all.

“Since you think you have the right to speak when you aren’t spoken to, let’s see if we can have a
quick conversation about just who the fuck you think you are.” Taehyung starts, both hands back
into his pockets.

“Uh— sir, I— I uh, I— W-What is this about?” he tries, eyes already locating the staircase to see if
he’d be able to make it in time if he runs. He’s left disappointed when he concludes that Taehyung
would have more than enough time to shoot him down if he tried.

“Come on, Jimin, for someone who acts like a smartass, you surely can’t be that stupid. Stupid
enough to constantly embarrass your own team, and stupid enough to think you can disrespect your
leader just because he treats you with respect, ok, but surely not stupid enough to act dumb and
innocent in front of me.” Taehyung says, voice taunting. “You want to be a fucking man, Park?
You want to start rebelling? Want to start questioning authority? Start with me.”

Jimin just gulps. Taehyung waits, an eyebrow raised, but Jimin only gapes like a fish out of water.

Taehyung nods. “Show him anything other than respect one more time and I’ll make sure it’s the
last one. Not even him will keep you here.” he threatens.

“If this is about what I said to Jungkook—”

“That’ll be sir or Mr. Jeon, to you.” Taehyung corrects.

“I-If this is about what I said to Mr. Jeon, I was— I was hurt… and upset and mad at myself and
the team. I’m really sorry, sir, I didn’t mean to— say that.” he gulps. “I didn’t mean to show
anything but respect for him.”

Taehyung almost laughs but it sounds nothing like amusement. “Do you really think that’s a
fucking excuse to be disrespectful and borderline manipulative the moment he doesn’t accept the
fact that you constantly humiliate his name over and over again? If you worked for me only, you
wouldn’t last a fucking week.”

“I’m not trying to come up with an excuse, I’m just telling you the truth as to why I reacted that
way. And I’m really sorry for it. He doesn’t deserve that, at all, I was wrong and I admit it.” Jimin
says, hands moving almost frantically around.

“The only fucking thing coming out of your mouth to him from now on, is answers to his questions
and thank you’s for the fact he still tries to defend you. And you think he’s turning cold just
because you can’t get your way once? I’ll /show you/ cold, Park.” Jimin gulps again. “One more
time. Upset him one more time, I fucking dare you.”

Jimin can feel his knees hitting each other. “I won’t. I promise.”

Taehyung steps away then. “I’ll see you at the meeting.” Jimin only feels like he can breathe once
he watches the man go down the stairs, and he bends forward, a hand on his chest. He was just
about this close to passing out.

“Are you ok?” he looks up to see Yoongi leaving his room, a hand still around the doorknob.

“I almost pissed my pants.” he admits, Yoongi walking closer to him. “Mr. Kim just threatened the
fuck out of me for upsetting Jungkook yesterday… he’s so fucking scary, I don’t understand how
you’ve been working so closely to him for so long. Jungkook was mean to me once and I don’t
know what to do anymore.”
Yoongi sighs. “I’ve been here for Taehyung since we were kids.” Jimin guesses the surprise in his
face is more than obvious as Yoongi goes on. “My dad worked for his dad and I never met my
mom so I was always dragged into the house and we’d just spend time together as kids. When my
dad died, I started working for Taehyung’s father as well but I was still majorly there just because
we were friends.” he explains.

“I had no idea…”

“Taehyung would confide a lot in me, we’d talk for hours and hours with no end, we even kissed
like once or twice but if he knows I told you, I’m a dead man.” he points an accusing finger when
Jimin gasps so hard he chokes. “That all changed when his dad made him play Russian roulette
with another man… I quite literally saw the light in his eyes die as I was in the room too.”

“Are you serious…?” he whispers. “Why— How the fuck can a dad make his own son play that?”

“His dad was the biggest monster you can imagine. I promised myself after that day that I’d stay
no matter what. I know he appreciated me being there, especially when he took over, even if he
never confided in me again. I lost my best friend that day. Mr. Jeon is strong, your friendship is,
don’t destroy it because you’re afraid of letting him down. Just be there, Jimin, do your best, it
means more to people like them then you’d ever know.”

“How can I know he's not rubbing that off on Jungkook? He’d never talk to me the way he did, I
feel like I may fucking— lose my best friend too, he may stop caring, Mr. Kim doesn’t give two
shits about us and I don’t want Jungkook to get like that.” he admits, an ugly feeling inside his
chest at the simple thought of losing Jungkook’s friendship.

“One of the biggest reasons Taehyung is the way he is, is because he lost trust in everyone. There
was not a single person in his life that simply wanted him to be okay, no one cared for him. He
couldn’t trust anyone besides me, because everyone he knew either died, left, or betrayed him.
Don’t give Mr. Jeon a reason to be that way too. If anything, he’s is changing Taehyung. He
actually smiles when he gets coffee in the morning, he asks me how my day has been and he
actually listens to people. He doesn’t look so robotic anymore. If your leader is happy as he is, you
should respect it, trust him, because at this point he’s struggling to trust you, and what you said...
maybe even himself. Be his best friend, not just his right hand, that’s the difference. He needs that,
that’s how you know he’s not Taehyung. Let’s be honest, he’d never be Taehyung, he’s too nice.”
he ends with a chuckle.

Jimin sighs, defeated. “I just— I love Jungkook, seriously, he’s the best person I know, he’s
always taken care of me even though he’s younger, he— I want to be there just as much but I feel
like I just let him down. All the time. On top of that, Mr. Kim fucking hates me and he may... he
may influence Jungkook into hating me too.”

“Trust me, if Taehyung wanted Mr. Jeon to hate you, he would already, he’s not the person to pit
people against each other, he simply makes you question things yourself. And people.” Jimin
frowns as he looks down and so Yoongi reaches for his hand, rubbing it carefully. “You know
what you can do? Tell Mr. Jeon everything you just told me.”

“He’s going to strip me of my rights as his right hand if I annoy him again…”

“We’re talking about the same guy who cheers everyone in this damn house, he’s not going to do
that. You’re a good right hand, Jimin, Mr. Jeon is lucky to have you. He won’t take your rights
away, and we both know he wouldn’t give you up without a fight. He’s more in touch with his
emotions than Taehyung is, he shows when he cares for something, so just talk to him. You have
to trust him for him to trust you.”
“Okay…” Jimin nods. “I’ll talk to him if I survive the meeting.”

“Now /that/ I can’t guarantee you.”

“Oh God—”

│►

Jungkook stretches once he wakes up, rolling over to hug Taehyung but he’s met with nothing but
disappointment once he realizes he’s alone. He groans, remembering how they have their meeting
and he glances at the clock, trying to figure out if it’d be done by then.

Possibly.

He stretches once again before pushing himself off of the bed, closing the remaining buttons of his
— actually Taehyung’s — shirt and he picks a pair of sweatpants before walking over to the door.
It’s locked. He curses Taehyung out in his head as he looks for a small hair pin.

He’s free soon enough and he walks with lazy steps, knowing he must look like a mess, having just
woken up, but he’s still hopeful he may catch at least the end of the meeting. He can’t really hear
Taehyung’s voice and if he was speaking, he stops, as everyone else also turns to look at him once
he opens the door to the meeting hall.

The sight makes him chuckle. “I said go easy, they look like they’ve seen a ghost.”

“Sir.” one of his men stands up, clearing his throat. “Sir, we wanted to apologize. As a team.”
Jungkook watches as they all get up at that, their hands in front of their bodies a little awkwardly,
heads hanging low. “It’s been brought to our attention how uh, relaxed, we were getting.”

“We treated you like less than Mr. Kim, when you’ve done nothing but trust us to prove ourselves,
sir, and we let you down, sir, and didn’t take responsibility for our acts… it won’t happen again.”
another one speaks. “Sir.” he rushes to add at the end.

Jungkook turns toward Taehyung, the man watching with a neutral expression, arms crossed.
“Undo the sir thing, it’s weird.” he gestures. “It’s— Too many times.”

“After Jimin speaks for himself too.” everyone’s eyes seem to fall on him, including Jungkook’s,
and he gulps the heavy lump in his throat at the guilt and the attention. He takes a few steps
forward, bowing for Jungkook before speaking.

“We’ve been friends since forever and my mistake was to get that mixed up work. You’re my boss,
sir, and I shouldn’t even question your word just because I know you won’t do anything to me. I
apologize for myself and for the whole team.” he gestures behind himself, eyes too afraid to meet
Jungkook’s.

“I trusted all of you to not let me down, and every single one of you did exactly that, in more ways
than one. While I’m disappointed this is what it took for you to finally realize your mistakes, and
therefore your apology is only half genuine since you weren’t sorry in the first place, you’re
dismissed.” Jungkook says, loud and clear for everyone, voice still a little groggy from sleep. “But
undermine me as your leader or break my trust like that again and you’ll wish you’d never even
been born, don’t think I won’t make your life a living hell if being nice doesn’t work with you.
Now go and get some breakfast, you all look terrified.”

His words are final and so he watches everyone bow respectfully and leave the room one by one.
He does notice how every single one of them gives him a heartfelt variation of ‘sorry’ on their way
out. Jimin’s eyes never leave his feet and he closes the door behind himself, leaving them alone at
last.

He immediately walks closer to Taehyung, feet almost dragging themselves. He’s sleepy. “Three
questions. Why was I locked in, why did I wake up alone and did you go easy on them?” he asks as
his arms wrap themselves around Taehyung’s torso.

“Because I knew you’d get out anyway, because unlike you, I don’t sleep in, and no, I did not. I
thought you knew me already.” Jungkook pouts. “Worked, did it not? They just needed a little
reality check.” Taehyung points out as he combs Jungkook’s hair back with one of his hands,
tugging on it slightly. “Why the hell did you come downstairs looking like this?”

“The fuck do you mean like this?”

“Like a mess.” Jungkook frowns. “And in sweatpants? Did I not teach you better than this?”

“The fact you actually willingly wear a suit every single day should immediately make you
ineligible to have an opinion.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “But let’s focus on what’s really
important… sorry that you had to do this, the meeting, I appreciate it but… sucks.”

“Apologize one more time and I’m going to call them back.” Taehyung points.

“I’m just apologizing for myself now. For being… incompetent, in a way.” he looks away. “I fell
asleep thinking and… just thought about a lot of things.”

“What would ever give you that idea? I’ve told you, their shit doesn’t reflect you.” but Jungkook
shakes his head, pulling away from their loose hug to be able to explain exactly what he wants to
say, exactly what he thought about the night before.

“The first time I stepped foot into your office asking to partner up, you pointed out my flaws, the
majority of them, without even knowing me and you were fucking right and I’ve been proving
that... so— so how bad is it that a complete stranger can see it? How did you even know or think I
wasn’t as confident as I try to seem to be?”

“You can put on a show by walking into my premises without any protection, but I also saw the
way you would unconsciously look for reassurance by having your men agree with you and being
level with them. You never trusted anyone truly, including yourself. You needed reassurance, need
—” Jungkook interrupts.

“How do you— what?”

“Do you really think I’d just let you run half of the city and not have me a pair of eyes on the
inside? C’mon.” Jungkook takes a second too long.

“What do you mean by that? What inside?” he tilts his head and Taehyung watches, amused, as
Jungkook’s eyes grow bigger. “Wait… you’re kidding me.”

Taehyung just offers a smile before kissing him. Just a short lived peck. “You’re probably hungry,
we should go get some breakfast… or at least some coffee, I haven’t had any yet.” he tries to walk
away but Jungkook holds onto his forearm.

“Did you get someone in my damn team? I’ll actually knock you out right now.”

“Okay.” definitely not the answer he was looking for.

“Just tell me.” he holds him in place when Taehyung tries to free his arm. “Tae.”

“I’ll just say that your family’s biggest flaw has ever been even thinking you’re on the same level
as us... we were always a step ahead of you. Had your father figured that one out by himself, maybe
he’d still be here.” Jungkook holds an accusing finger up.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that last bit.” he proceeds to smack Taehyung’s chest.
“How the fuck did you put a mole—” another slap. “—in my team?!”

“That’s for me to know and for you, to not know.” he smiles again. It’s infuriating, really. “Just
know they’re dead already, as soon as they stopped being useful they were killed.”

“This— This only means that I’m /useless/. I should be great at finding moles, I pride myself on
that, I’m so— I’m so dumb, you make me look dumb, I hate you.” Jungkook complains further,
hitting Taehyung a reasonable amount of times more.

“It baffles me how you think so low of yourself when you’ve been outsmarting me since the day
you showed up here.” Taehyung says with a roll of the eyes.

“No, you’re always two steps ahead of me.” Jungkook corrects with a pout.

“So you don’t even notice?” his frown deepens, confused. “When you want to get your way with
someone, you quite literally adapt to their way of thinking and just… twist it to make your own.
It’s crazy. I saw you doing it in the last deal we nearly lost. You challenge them but in a way that
makes them feel challenged to not do what you say, and so they do. You even do it to me— not
that I mind, but it’s still so fucking smart. No wonder you grew so quickly in the drug trade when
your father couldn’t even keep up.”

“That doesn’t make sense… I don’t do that. I don’t adapt— I don’t understand.” he almost stomps
his foot in frustration. “Can you elaborate? It’s too early and I’m sleepy and stupid to understand it
right now…”

“I hated you beyond belief and I knew I’d never work with you in my life, yet what did I do? I
agreed to do it, because you’re one tricky little fucker, and you do all of that sweet talk you do and
you said shit that made me believe that I was lacking and that I /had/ to take the deal otherwise not
only you would die, but so would I. I didn’t /have/ to join forces with you after that mission was
done, but I did because you play those mind games so well that we don’t even notice in the
moment. Which, I pride myself on catching all of them, but you outsmart me.”

“But… what…”

“If you weren’t so good at making people go your way, you wouldn’t even be here right now.”

“Can we please not talk about the fact that while I wanted you to fall for my charms you were
planning my death? Can we actually forget about that? It’s triggering.” he requests.

“Shut up. I know it’s not nice to hear but that’s just more proof. I was so adamant on doing it, ever
since my dad died I’d wanted to, but you did this thing where you just… tear down and reconstruct
how people think, just by showing how you think. When it’s not enough, you pull your mind
games. The little challenges that go unnoticed. You outsmart and outthink everyone, and you don’t
even know. You’re so fucking smart, you idiot.”

Jungkook takes a step back. “Kim Taehyung is telling me that I’m smart… something bad is
definitely going to happen.” Taehyung pinches the bridge of his nose. “Can you repeat that I’m
really smart but like— a lot louder so that those outside can hear? Or say it in the cafeteria, that’d
be nice.” he says, smile large and teasing.

“Not a chance.” is all Taehyung says. Jungkook’s face morphs into a forged frown and Taehyung
simply leans closer, pressing a kiss to the top of his head, thumb caressing his cheek. “C’mon,
princess, breakfast calls. I need my coffee.”

“You never call me princess this early… it’s so rare, it’s like you only start being nice halfway
through the day.” Taehyung turns from where he was headed to the door.

“See? You’re just trying to get me to say it more often.”

“I mean— Yes. Will it work?” Taehyung scoffs. “I’m going to question everything I say now, I
can’t believe I’m so smart— You really should be taking notes.” he points, chest puffed out
unconsciously. “I’m going to fit this in every single conversation now, a constant reminder of how
incredibly smart I am and—”

Taehyung presses a hand against his lips. “You’re annoying.”

Jungkook pries it away. “I’m also smart.” he smiles, huge. “Tell me more, I love praises.”

“Again, no. Get your ass ready for breakfast, I won’t say it again.” Jungkook frowns, walking
ahead of him, jolting a little as a hand comes down onto his butt once he walks past. “Hurry up.”

“I’m /going/, geez.”

“Go faster.”

“For fuck’s sake—”

│►

Jungkook finally joins them in the cafeteria, already dressed up, and he finds Taehyung by the
counter with two mugs that he’s filling up. He walks closer then. “Who was it?” he whispers.

“We’ve run out of caramel syrup, do you want the vanilla one?” Taehyung asks, dismissing his
question completely.

“I— Fine, whatever, was it Minhee?”

“Why would you suspect of that person?” he asks, lips almost twitching into a smile. He doesn’t
allow it to show, though.

“I don’t know, he disappeared one day and no one ever heard of him and you said you killed the
guy so I thought it could’ve been him… so who w— wait, what the f— was it Yugyeom?!” he
asks, voice starting to rise even though he still tries to whisper. “Did you get someone to crawl
their way up to my closest men?”

“It wasn’t Yugyeom, he died by himself, I didn’t kill him. Which means he was never competent
enough to be one of my own, to begin with.” he hands over the mug. “Drink up and shut up.”

“Don’t insult him like that, he died for us.” Jungkook defends, taking a first sip.

“I know, I’m just trying to annoy you now that you’ve admitted that I’ve always been better than
you.” Taehyung says, paired with a teasing smile.

“I didn’t say that!”

“Have you ever seen Mr. Kim smile like that?” Hoseok whispers, the small group by the table
leaning close to each other, trying to discretely watch as the two chat over whatever it may be, they
can’t hear.

“Genuinely? No, I haven’t. It’s nice though, the other day I had to tell him a weapons shipment
was going to be a day late from Japan, he said ‘thank you for letting me know’, can you believe
it?” everyone turns to him as he speaks, Yoongi’s eyes growing bigger.

“He said thank you? Really?” Jimin asks, dumbfounded.

“I know, I was shocked too, I usually prepare to have a gun in my face and to have my entire life
threatened… and he didn’t do none of that.” Seokjin adds.

“I /really/ didn’t like it when Jeon showed up, much less when he just stayed, but I seriously must
respect him for managing to… well, find his way to call the shots. And to get into Mr. Kim.”
Hoseok comments, tone as quiet as possible. He can’t risk being heard.

“Are you insinuating they…?”

“No, I don’t want to die, but you have your own eyes.” he points, taking a sip from his milk.

“C’mon, was it Chaebol?” Jungkook tries.

“No.”

“Seungmin?”

“No.”

“Chan?”

“No— Are you going to go through your entire register of people who don’t work for you
anymore?!” Taehyung asks, growing slightly annoyed. Jungkook frowns so hard his eyebrows
almost come together. “Jungkook, I don’t even remember the name, it was someone I used for five
months and then—”

“Five months?!” he whisper yells. “Though if I turn this around, it means you’ve always been
obsessed with me, huh?” Jungkook raises an eyebrow.

“I literally got information through a mole that I could’ve used to kill you the moment you got too
big for your boots. Do you have to try and look for praise in everything?” Taehyung asks with a
neutral expression yet again.

“Hm, that’s just another way to say that you were obsessed with me.” he smiles, teasingly. “And
now you are again. Obsessed with me, that is.”

“You’re out of your mind, darling.” Taehyung shakes his head as he starts to walk away and
Jungkook follows almost with a skip in his step.

“But I’m the one that drives you ins—”

“Don’t make me drop kick you right here in front of everyone.”

“I’d like to see you trying, you unfit ass.” Taehyung only offers him a nasty glare. “What? You
insult me all the time, why can’t I insult you back? It’s only fair.”
“But you /enjoy/ being insulted. I don’t. That’s the difference, princess.” Jungkook squeals low at
the back of his throat. “The fuck was that sound?” Taehyung gives him a side look as he opens the
door to the office.

“I like it when you call me princess even when we’re not having sex. It doesn’t happen a lot— it
makes my heart swoon, you know.” he admits, pulling Taehyung in by his tie the moment the door
is closed behind them. “You’ve gotten a lot different lately. More… approachable, I’d say.
Definitely nicer.”

“Am I to say thank you?” Jungkook rolls his eyes with a little smile, the hand that isn’t holding a
coffee mug still toying with the tie.

“I like you even better this way. Like— I can actually talk to you without feeling like you’re not
even listening.” he pouts. “I like it. I like having your attention, but you know that way too well
already.” Jungkook leans closer to press a sweet kiss to Taehyung’s jaw.

“I’m always listening, though.” again, Jungkook’s heart misses a beat. “I mean, yeah, I won’t lie I
say I always listened to you, some time ago I mainly acted as though I was listening, but now I do. I
hear you.” Taehyung says with a shrug, not realizing how much that means for Jungkook and the
man isn’t about to tell him either. It’s too embarrassing, he thinks.

“Thank you.” he settles for saying. Taehyung hums, walking away to sit down at the desk,
Jungkook stopping right there for a moment. “I’m actually hungry, I’m going to grab something.
Do you want me to bring anything for you?”

“Are you on the menu?” Taehyung asks with an eyebrow raised and Jungkook wants to say that
yes, of course he is, but he can’t be that easy. Not all the time, at least. So he leaves his mug on the
desk with a shake of the head.

“I’m too expensive to be purchased, Taehyungie.” he points out. “And definitely out of your league
as well, you should consider yourself lucky that I /choose/ to let you have… this.” he gestures
towards himself with a smile. “But anyways, I’ll go get some food.”

“You never know when to shut up, dear.” Taehyung chuckles, opening his laptop. “You know it’s
only bad for you at the end. Though, I do have to say, you’re a lot nicer with self-respect than self-
loathe.” he points out.

“I may think I’m a bad leader but that doesn’t mean I don’t know my worth.” Jungkook giggles.
“No pastries for you?” he still asks before opening the door.

“Nope. I’ll eat you later.”

“Alright. Won’t argue with that.”

“There was no possible argument, either.”

│►

“Hey—”

“I’m busy, just two minutes.” Taehyung cuts him off right away and Jungkook pouts, closing the
door behind himself before walking closer to the man sitting down and so he proceeds to take a
seat on the arm of the chair Taehyung’s sitting on.

A few seconds go by before he sighs, Taehyung still typing away on his laptop.
“What?” Taehyung asks, attention still on the email he’s writing.

“Nothing.” Jungkook says as he crosses his arms. He waits for a little longer, only around five
words being typed into the paragraph before he sighs again. Taehyung’s arm winds around his
waist, pulling him down onto his lap instead. As much as he believed that would be enough for
him to be settled, but, instead, Jungkook sighs again just shortly after, face shoved into Taehyung’s
neck. The latter rolls his eyes.

“What?” he asks again. Jungkook just places a kiss to his neck. “Are you looking for attention?”

“Mhm… I’m bored.” Jungkook mumbles. “I helped some men to learn some techniques and taught
some newbies… I’ve showered and now I’m lazy, just want a kiss.” he explains, toying with
Taehyung’s tie again. “Is that going to take long?”

“I’m almost done.” Taehyung squeezes his waist. “Just behave and wait.”

“Fine. Boring.” he rolls his eyes.

He hurries to get up when someone knocks on the door, going as far as crossing his arms, trying to
look as uninterested in Taehyung’s presence as he can, but his resolve soon disappears when Jimin
is the one peeking in. “Can I come in?” he asks.

“Make it fast.” Taehyung gestures with his hand for him to come forward. Jimin does, hands
clasped together at his front. He looks over at Jungkook, pleading eyes. Jungkook gets the
message, so he clears his throat, knowing he’s going to have to be the courageous one.

“Could you please give us some privacy?” Jungkook requests and it takes Taehyung ten full
seconds to understand not only is he talking to him but is also waiting for a reply. He looks up to
check that, having to take a double look when he notices the both of them staring.

“This is my fucking office.” he says, not moving an inch.

“Ok, then give us your ‘fucking office’ for five minutes.” Jungkook still says.

“Are you kid—”

“Taehyung. Please.” he watches as Taehyung scoffs but gets up, closing his laptop without even
finishing his email. “Thank you…” Jungkook whispers as Taehyung walks past him.

“I’m only going because I need a coffee.” Taehyung still says, Jungkook taking his chair.

“Can you add sugar to mine?” Jungkook requests, opening a blinding smile when Taehyung offers
a glare, him not having offered anything.

“I’ll take one with sugar as well, Mr. Kim.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow, doesn’t even reply to
him before he leaves. “He’s not bringing me coffee, is he?” Jimin asks, a little shyly, sitting down
across from his boss.

“Definitely not.” Jungkook shakes his head. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Don’t act like nothing happened, please… I-I uh, I want to apologize. Sincerely. That meeting
didn’t come across as nearly what I wanted to tell you.” Jungkook rests back on the chair, waiting.
“I didn’t really mean what I said, I didn’t want to offend you in any way, I— I’m scared of losing
you and your trust, so I said whatever came into my head without thinking and you know me, when
do I think… at all.” he sighs, looking down, shoulders sagging. “I just panicked at the idea that
you’re not happy with my work anymore.”

His eyes remain on his hands as he twirls with his rings, waiting for a reply that doesn’t come.

“Can you please say something…?” he whispers.

“I’m not angry anymore, Jimin, you know I don’t really get mad at people I like, I was extremely
upset at the moment, even more so when you made me question many things about myself, so yes,
I /was/ mad, but it’s long forgotten already, you apologized, I know you well enough to know you
didn’t mean it.” Jungkook shrugs. “But, as you can imagine, you can’t just fucking talk to me like
that, not only because you work for me, but also because we’re friends and you don’t get to say
whatever comes to your head in order to hurt me. Like I’d cut someone out of my life that acted
like that, if this continues, you won’t give me other choice.”

“I’m not going to do anything like that again, I promise, promise.” Jimin perks up. “You mean way
too much to me, as a friend, on top of it all, and I promise to be more careful from now on. I also
promise I’m going to work even harder, I won’t let mistakes happen again.”

“Good, that’s exactly what I want, the Jimin I hired.” he doesn’t hold himself from smiling when
Jimin does too. “Just don’t do that shit again, alright?” Jimin opens his mouth to reply but he’s
interrupted by the door opening again.

Not even five minutes, Jungkook almost says, but Taehyung actually left to give them time so he
doesn’t think he can argue with him. /Especially/ not when Taehyung’s holding three small mugs
all well balanced with one of his hands. He places them on the desk, taking his own.

He watches as Jimin takes a sip from his offered coffee, grimacing. So he doesn’t like black coffee,
Taehyung concludes. “You should try the other coffee beans they have in the kitchen. Darkest
coffee there is. It’s really good.” Taehyung suggests, one of his hands inside his pocket as the other
holds his mug; standing right next to Jungkook who’s still sitting down on his chair.

“I-I’ll be sure to.” Jimin nods almost frantically, taking another sip. Another cringing expression.

“Oh, no, he doesn’t like black coffee.” Jungkook points out.

“Of course I do, what do you mean— I love black coffee.” Jungkook raises an eyebrow.

“See, he does. He’s drinking it, too.” Jimin opens his mouth to speak but looks down at his phone
when he gets a text and they both watch as he smiles, bright and open, and chugs the coffee down
before getting up.

“Thank you so much for the coffee, sir.” he bows. “I must go now.” they’re both left squinting at
the now closed door, beyond confused as to what just happened before their eyes. Taehyung clears
his throat, already going through a plan in his mind.

“So, how we’re doing this is, you go in his room while he’s sleeping and you steal—”

“I’m not stealing his phone.” Jungkook says with a quiet laugh, getting up so that Taehyung can sit
and walks around the desk to sit across from him, lazily slouched on the chair. “I can’t do that… I
mean, I could, but I can’t.”

“But what the fuck was that? Your nosiness is rubbing off on me, I want to know where he just left
to.” Taehyung tsks, opening his laptop again. “That was suspicious.”

“It’s Jimin, we never know. Can be anything.” Jungkook shrugs. “He used to sneak off for hook
ups all the time, we don’t even question it anymore, just let him do his thing, I guess.” Taehyung
hums, attention on the laptop.

“I can see why you two are friends then.”

“Now what is that supposed to mean?” he frowns.

Taehyung only gives him a look over the screen. “Like I told you before, I had a mole in your team,
I /know/ how you were before. I have more information than you think.” Jungkook scoffs at that,
prompting his feet on the desk. Taehyung rolls his eyes, knowing it’s no use telling him to remove
them, he doesn’t even try anymore.

“And you think I don’t know /your/ reputation?” he throws back. “I, too, know a lot about you.”
Taehyung just hums, not even trying to deny it. “I sometimes wonder what our reputation is like
currently… We’re fucked if we ever try to hook up again, anyone who knows us is too scared to
even meet our eyes since we joined teams.”

“That’s why we fuck people who don’t know us, you dumbass.”

“Don’t insult me.” he pouts. “And you’re not fucking anyone. Ever again. Just me.” when he
thinks Taehyung may just tell him to tone down on the possessiveness as he himself can’t seem to
ignore anymore, it’s always there, he’s been extremely vocal about it lately, Taehyung says exactly
the opposite.

“You also better never let anyone see you the way I get to see you.” he says, eyes never leaving the
screen and Jungkook blinks.

“And… how is that?” Jungkook asks, tentative. Looking for praises, perhaps, or simply curious.

“Pliant. Doing whatever the fuck you’re told to.” Taehyung finally places his attention on him,
resting his arms on the desk. “Crying under someone, fucked until you can’t even /speak/ properly.
Begging. Bruised. Do I have to go on?” Jungkook gulps with a short shake of the head. He knows
he’ll end up proving Taehyung right again if he goes on. “That’s for me to see, no one else. Got
it?”

“And if I did show someone else just how good I can be for them?” he challenges.

Taehyung chuckles, mean. “I have a lot of bullets, sweetheart.”

Again, that bubbly feeling in his stomach should /not/ be there. “No one’s ever seen that side of
me, I didn’t even know I had it before— you, so— so don’t worry, no one will ever know.”
Taehyung only gives him a half smile before diverting his attention back to his work. But
Jungkook’s quick to go on. “Do you want me all to yourself?” he whispers.

Taehyung rests back on his chair. “Come here.”

Jungkook recognizes how embarrassed he should be for getting up right away, steps quick until
he’s sitting on Taehyung’s lap. His breath gets stuck in his throat when a hand wraps around it,
pulling him closer so that Taehyung’s voice can remain low and yet he’ll still hear it.

“Unless you decide to walk out, you /are/ mine, you know that, right?” Jungkook nods. Perhaps a
bit too fast. “Good. Now get off, I don’t have time for your attempts to get me riled up, I have work
to do.” he drops his hand, tapping Jungkook’s thigh twice.

He gets up without even processing what happened, mind a little lazy.

“I hate you.” he does whisper once he catches on. “Very much.” he adds for good measure.

Taehyung hums. “Surely.”

│►

Taehyung takes another sip from his glass of whiskey, twirling it for a moment. Jungkook does the
same, both leaning closer on the counter or the bar, trying to look as casual as ever, only looking at
their target from the corners of their eyes. “We can’t do it tonight.” Taehyung says, hiding his lips
with the glass.

Jungkook just hums, propping another salty roasted peanut into his mouth from the ones inside the
counter. He didn’t purchase them but the bartenders know better than to say anything. “We can,
though.” he says.

“We have to wait at least until he leaves by himself. We can’t cause a scene, he comes here all the
time, we don’t know how many people here are affiliated to him. One shot and we’ll have how
many guns pointed at us.” Taehyung explains. “We’re not causing a scene.”

“Your bullets cause a scene, there’s other ways.” Jungkook chugs his drink down. “Watch and
learn, Taehyungie.” he winks as he gets up from the stool.

“This isn’t the right time, we must wait.” Taehyung still tries to hold him from walking away.

Jungkook sighs. “Men.” he says, tone condescending as he opens the first button of his shirt. He
doesn’t have a jacket on and his shirt is slightly see through, paired with a choker that is slightly
bigger than the ones he’d usually wear in his everyday life. His jeans are ripped around his thighs,
fishnets peeking and boots making him even taller. “Like I said, there’s other ways.”

Taehyung just takes another sip from his whiskey as he watches Jungkook walk closer to the small
group of men, the one who they’ve been paid to take out sitting between all of them. They grant
Jungkook passage, allowing him to get closer to the man.

He watches the man place a hand on Jungkook’s hips when he leans down to whisper whatever it
may be and although it makes him grip the glass a little harder, it’s working, and that’s all they
need. Jungkook’s not a pass. To anyone. So he’s not really surprised that he’s soon holding the
man’s hand and helping him up.

Jungkook sends him a wink to which Taehyung only gives him a quick nod of the head. Jungkook
gestures for him to follow and Taehyung gulps down the rest of whiskey before putting the glass
down. Missions are always exciting.

He tries not to be too obvious that he’s following them, relying on walking a girl to the bathroom
as it’s near the entrance, a hand on her waist, her drunk self clinging onto him for help. He walks
out the back door as soon as the girl disappears into the bathroom.

Taehyung rolls his eyes once he gets out into the alley, Jungkook allowing the man to push him
against the wall. He’s working his best to make it believable, going as far as letting out quiet
moans at the kisses being pressed to his neck.

His eyes are open, though, bored. Taehyung proceeds to get the knife from his pocket, pulling the
man’s head by his hair. “What the—” he tries but to no avail as the blade is already being dragged
across his throat.

“I can’t believe you were enjoying that. Your moans sounded so real.” Taehyung teases, both
ignoring the third presence as he tries to desperately cover his throat, choking on the blood.

“Does that bother you?” Jungkook smirks, pushing the man by the chest so that he falls back
instead of forward, unwilling to get even more blood on his shirt than what had already gotten
splattered. “As messy as I like things, I can at least make them clean when there’s the need to.
What are we doing about all of this blood?”

“I killed him, I believe it’s only fair that you clean up.”

“No, I gave you the opportunity to kill him. Ten seconds later and I would’ve gutted him myself.”
Jungkook defends. “And I lured him in, which is the biggest point and the biggest move.”

“That doesn’t count, does it? Wouldn’t have killed him.”

“It would have if you had held back your possessiveness just long enough for me to do the dirty
work myself.” Taehyung hums, looking down at the floor as he ponders on what to do.

“You said watch and learn, I watched and disagreed.” he still says. “Go on and join Park, I’ll clean
this up.” Taehyung dismisses, removing his jacket before offering it. Jungkook is quick to put it on,
using it to cover up the blood both on his arms and his shirt.

“Clean well…” Jungkook sing songs, kissing Taehyung’s cheek before leaving him in the alley,
knowing Taehyung knows how to do it quickly.

Jungkook plops himself next to Jimin, startling him. “Where’s Mr. Kim? Did you make him clean
up?” Jungkook hums with a nod. “How did you do that?”

“I know my way with things.” Jungkook smiles.

“But how? He never cleans up according to Yoongi.”

“You talk to Yoongi?” Jimin blinks.

“Don’t answer my question with questions.” Jimin cuts him off, pointing an accusing finger.

“Maybe I don’t want to answer your question.” Jungkook shrugs.

“Maybe I don’t want to answer yours.” Jimin says as well. “C’mon, you’re wearing his jacket…
how close are you two? I’ve seen you sitting on his lap, I know you sleep in his room every night,
but what kind of relationship are we talking about here?” he encourages. “Do you guys—?”

“No, never.” Jungkook lies through his teeth. “We’ve never done anything of the sorts.”

“Really?” Jimin squints. “I find that hard to believe.”

“I’m serious. We’re not together or anything, don’t take it the wrong way. His lap is just
comfortable and so is his bed.” he shrugs. “That is all.”

“Alright, so he just gives you his jacket? And gets you coffee… and lets you cuddle him… kills
one of his own for you… but you don’t like each other or anything?” Jimin tries to make sense of
it.

“Don’t be so nosy.” Jungkook half giggles.

“But I’m being lied to—” they both stop when Taehyung approaches them, a hand falling to
Jungkook’s waist.
“Let’s go.” Taehyung say, hurrying them on. “We need to leave. Now.” Jimin rushes to follow
them as Taehyung leads his boss by his waist, not really caring about him being left behind. Jimin
wasn’t expecting anything else, either way.

“Wh— Okay, stop pulling me— What’s wrong?” Jungkook frowns, almost tripping over other’s
feet as they walk through the crowd of dancing bodies, him having to yell over the music.

“His men were approaching, it’s not long until they find him, we need to leave. Now.” he holds
Jungkook’s hand as it makes it easier to squeeze through the people, quickly leading him outside.
Jimin skips to follow them up close.

They jog to the car, Taehyung starting to drive right away. “Are you alright?” Jungkook asks,
looking over at him. Taehyung nods. “Did they see you or anything?”

“No, no one saw me, it’s ok.” he shakes his head. “Put on your seatbelt.” Taehyung taps his thigh
twice, Jungkook just then doing what he’s told, having forgotten about such detail.

“I have mine on too.” they both look through the rearview mirror as Jimin speaks. He doesn’t
receive an answer, only a hum from his boss.

“Did you have any open drinks?” Taehyung asks. “You only had the whiskey, right?” Jungkook
nods. “Good. We can’t be too sure that they didn’t put some shit in—”

“I didn’t have drinks either.” Jimin speaks again.

“Ok, good for you.” Taehyung does reply this time but he looks over at Jungkook again. “So
you’re sure that you’re feeling ok…? Not nauseous or anything?”

“I’m ok, Tae.” Jungkook wants to reassure him further, make sure Taehyung isn’t worrying so
much, but he holds himself back, knowing Jimin is still in the back.

“Did he say anything to you that could be helpful in any way to who requested this job?” Taehyung
asks. “What did he tell you?”

“He just…” Taehyung gives him a questioning look. Jungkook looks out the window. “You know,
just said things about me.”

“...said what?”

“I— Jimin’s in the back.” Jungkook whispers.

“I wish I wasn’t.” Jimin mumbles.

“Jungkook, what did he say?” Taehyung still presses and Jungkook is almost sure he’s doing that
on purpose, just to have him feeling more embarrassed.

“Just— You know, complimented me… and said things he’d do, it wasn’t anything useful. Just
nasty shit.” he whispers, eyes still on the landscape on the outside.

“How many bones do you think I’d break if I jumped out of the car right now at the speed we’re
going?” Jimin asks, just about hating the fact that he’s in that position and he’s never regretted
volunteering to tag along just as much as he does now.

“About seven to twelve.” Taehyung informs. “Tell me what he said.” he requests again. Jungkook
feels that bubbly embarrassment at the bottom of his stomach and he hates even more how he
always finds himself enjoying it. That’s even more embarrassing, he knows.

“C-Can we do this later?” he whispers.

“Embarrassed?” Jungkook only nods. “Fine.” Taehyung grants him his wish, deciding he can hold
it off for a little while, until they get home. Jungkook knows for a fact Taehyung won’t just drop it
so he doesn’t allow himself to be hopeful about it.

He’s proven right when he’s crowded the moment they’re alone in the office, Taehyung stepping
closer with such glare that has him backing off on his own, back soon pressed to the door. He
gulps. “What did he tell you?” he asks again.

“What if I don’t want to tell you?” Jungkook tries.

“You and I know being a bitch doesn’t really work with me. I’m asking you a question. Answer
it.” Taehyung instructs. Jungkook has to fight himself not to grow weak right then and there.

“I won’t tell you, though.” he squeezes away from between Taehyung and the door, taking a few
steps away from there. He needs to breathe something else other than Taehyung’s cologne or he
can’t keep his front.

Taehyung chuckles to himself, knowing exactly how to get under Jungkook’s skin. “Alright, don’t
tell me then.” he relents, or so he says, walking over to sit down on his chair, opening his laptop to
communicate their client about the mission they were just working on.

“Is someone jealous?” Jungkook asks, smiling.

“Not a bit. If you won’t be of use any longer you should go get ready for bed, wash away the
blood.” Taehyung suggests. “Don’t put those in the basket, though, don’t ruin my whites.”

Jungkook’s smile falls into a frown. “Do you not want to know anymore?” he asks. Taehyung
doesn’t even look up at him, more focused on whatever he’s looking for on his laptop.

“Not really, you’ve lost my interest. Just go to bed, I’ll join you in a moment.” Taehyung
dismisses, clearly not interested anymore. Or so it seems.

Jungkook doesn’t move and neither does he stop glaring at Taehyung who promptly ignores him
and his presence. “He said that a pretty thing like me shouldn’t be alone dressed in this.” Jungkook
breaks the silence after almost a minute.

Taehyung just hums, starting to type.

“He also said he’d make me scream. So much that the only thing I’d remember after would be his
name.” Jungkook adds, upset when he doesn’t get any reaction from Taehyung’s side.

“What a shame that I killed him, it was a good deal for you.” Taehyung sounds so bothered that it
makes him stomp his foot, walk closer.

“He told me to say please.” he lies.

“Did you?”

“Twice.” another lie.

That does get the smallest of the reactions, Taehyung biting down his teeth, jaw set. “Nice. Would
you like me to drive you back? Maybe one of his buddies would live up to his promises.” Jungkook
whines low on his throat. That is not what he wants at all.

“I don’t want anyone else.” Jungkook admits and, though it’s not the first time, he still feels
embarrassed to do so, still feels shy. “I want you to live up to his promises instead.” he whispers,
cheeks growing beet red when he hears Taehyung chuckle darkly, not moving an inch. “Unless…”
he gathers his courage. “Unless I actually have to get someone to give me what I want.” he
challenges. He gets the best outcome when Taehyung’s angry or annoyed.

He’s positively surprised when Taehyung gets up, walking over to him which, just like before,
ends up with him almost pressed flush to the wall. He chokes on his breath when a hand easily
wraps around his throat. “Why do you like pissing me off so much?” Taehyung’s voice sounds
sweet, contrary to the mean hand squeezing and grounding him.

“I—” he only gasps, knees almost giving in when Taehyung’s fingers press harder. Tighter.

“It’s almost like you enjoy me being angry at you.” Taehyung chuckles. “And that just wouldn’t
make any sense, right, princess?” Jungkook frowns, his hands trying to hold onto something,
whatever it may be.

He tilts his head further back. Perhaps too pliant.

“No one knows how to pull you apart like I do.” Taehyung’s voice sounds a little lower when he
leans to whisper by his ear. “And you know it.”

“T-They could learn.” Jungkook whispers, eyes closed, biting down his bottom lip harshly when
Taehyung’s thigh fits right between his, pushing up. It takes everything in Jungkook not to move
his hips.

“I don’t know why you keep trying to get me pissed at you.” Taehyung bites his jaw, lightly.
“What’s your motive, hm?” he asks even if he knows, wanting nothing but to pull Jungkook further
into his pliant mindset. “Why do you want me /angry/ when you ask me to be nicer?”

“I-I like it when you get possessive and— and rough.” Jungkook whispers, eyes everywhere but on
Taehyung. “I don’t— I don’t want or need anyone else, I— just you.” his voice breaks when
Taehyung’s hand closes around his throat tighter again. “Fuck.” he whines. “Tae, please.”

“Please?” Taehyung almost laughs. “Do you really think a please will cut it after you brought up
some gross, old men from the club?” he tilts his head, amused. “I can get very mean and you know
that, you just have to ask, but you still choose to be a fucking brat who doesn’t know when to shut
his stupid, big mouth.”

“I’m not a brat.” Jungkook tries.

“Not even you believe that.” Taehyung taunts, dropping his hand and removing his thigh that
rested just right between Jungkook’s legs. “Go get ready for bed.” he instructs and Jungkook takes
a moment to process the fact that Taehyung is actually walking away.

“No— No, Tae, please.” he reaches forward to hold onto his forearm. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry— I
didn’t— I— Tae, c’mon.” he whines, voice close to a cry. “I’ll be good. I promise.”

“If you want to misbehave, anger me and be a bitch, you can take care of yourself.” Taehyung
removes his hand. “I have work to do.”

“Tae, no, no, I—” he stops, unsure of what to even say as he watches him sit back down on his
chair. He feels dumb, standing there, jeans grown too tight and cheeks flushed. “Please.” is all he
can think of.

“You really don’t deserve anything tonight.” Taehyung shakes his head, looking unbothered again.
“So you can go lay down.”

“No.” he shakes his head.

Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “No?”

“No.” Jungkook frowns, stepping closer. “I’ll— I can be good. I’m not a brat. I’m good.” he insists.
“Please, Taehyungie…” Taehyung looks up at him, resting back on his chair, two fingers rubbing
his chin slowly. He just stares. Jungkook switches from one foot onto the other, fidgety and
nervous. He feels small under Taehyung’s gaze, he has since day one, and he enjoys it. Enjoys it a
bit too much. “Tae. Please.”

“Alright.” Jungkook’s face lights up. “You go on and get yourself prepared. I’ll finish this first, I
have my priorities straight. Needy brats don’t come on top of my list.” the hopeful expression
washes off into concern.

“W-Why? You can— You can do it.” he whispers.

“No, I can’t. You’ll go get ready. That, if you want something.” Jungkook nods right away. “Make
sure I’m able to hear.” Taehyung requests, wanting nothing but to push him further into
embarrassment. It’s not a hard task, not when he knows just how to pull him apart exactly how he
wants to, whenever he wants to.

“Tae— I’m embarrassed.” he admits, his fingers fiddling with each other.

“I don’t care.” Jungkook whines. “Don’t make me tell you to go again. I’ll finish this first. May
take me ten minutes, may take me twenty or thirty, so be careful, you don’t get to finish before I
get there.” he warns.

“You’re— C’mon, Tae, why the fuck…” Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “I meant ok. Ok, I’m going.
I’ll— Please don’t take too long. Please.” Jungkook begs, his hands together, pleading. Maybe if he
pouts enough it’ll work, he thinks.

“I’ll think about it.” Jungkook looks down, already walking over to the bedroom door. “Oh, and
prepare yourself well. If you think you get to insinuate you’d let anyone else make you scream, I’ll
get to show you exactly how that’s never going to happen.”

Jungkook knows he’s fucked. Quite literally.

It only makes him walk even faster to the bedroom.

│►

Jungkook doesn’t even notice when Taehyung leaves him after they’re done, mind still everywhere
but there, body spent on the bed. He does notice when Taehyung tugs on his fishnets to remove
them and Jungkook frowns. “They were my favorite pairs.” he complains, seeing the huge rips on
the fabric.

“I’ll buy you a new one.” Jungkook’s frown turns into a lazy smile, eyes closing. “I shouldn’t even
be doing this after the way you behaved.” Taehyung reminds.

“Don’t leave…”
“I’m not.” he reassures, tapping Jungkook’s thigh. Jungkook parts his legs right away, allowing
Taehyung to clean him up properly, both knowing he’s not going to stand under the shower
anytime soon. Still, he asks, “Do you want to shower?”

“I can’t feel my legs, no.” Jungkook mumbles, making grabby hands. “Cuddles, please.”

“You don’t deserve them tonight.” Taehyung dismisses and Jungkook whines, loud and
unashamedly. He sits up when the older man actually walks away and he’s worried for a moment,
though Taehyung returns without the towel and a new pair of underwear on.

“Are you mad at me?” Jungkook whispers, hands tucked between his still shaky thighs. Taehyung
goes to answer but he’s interrupted by two arms winding around him when he’s close enough,
pulling him down onto the mattress.

“Get off of me—”

“Are you mad at me?” he repeats, eyes shiny. They’re still red from crying just minutes prior but
Taehyung isn’t dumb, he can see the new tears forming. “I was really just trying to rile you up, d-
don’t be mad at me.” Taehyung tries to pull away, simply to be able to breathe correctly, but
Jungkook’s got a death grip on him, keeping him in place. “Don’t leave. Please. Please.”

“I’m not leaving.” he assures, squeezing one of his arms out of Jungkook’s hold to be able to comb
his hair back, tucking it behind Jungkook’s ear. “And I’m also not mad at you, even if I was
before, I got that all out.” Jungkook frowns as he pulls back just enough to look at Taehyung’s
eyes. To be sure.

“I don’t want anyone else. Seriously.” Jungkook still says, scooting even closer. “Definitely not
some gross men from the club.”

Taehyung isn’t very sure of what to say as he, all things considered, doesn’t like that kind of talk
still. “Is my dick that good?” he settles for asking and he watches as Jungkook’s lips stretch into a
smile. Taehyung joking means he really isn’t mad and that’s all he needs to know. So he giggles,
leans down a kiss, giggles again.

“Your dick /is/ that good, but that’s not the only reason.” Jungkook whispers against his lips. “I
may be shameless but not enough to dare say I want someone else when you do this to me. Leave
me like this.” he giggles again. “If I can walk the next day then what’s the point?”

“You never fail to make me question your sanity.” Taehyung says with a little smile, pulling him
into a lying position. Jungkook allows himself to be manhandled, being tucked against Taehyung’s
chest. “Good night.” Taehyung whispers.

“Night, Taehyungie…”

│►

“Hello.” Jimin screams, startled, turning around. “We need to talk.” Yoongi whispers with a hand
already reaching for his forearm to pull him away into a corner.

“What’s wrong?” Jimin whispers back. “Why are we whispering? What’s happening? Did you do
something bad?” he tries to guess it but, from Yoongi’s expression, he can tell he’s incorrect.

“You know something.” Yoongi accuses. “Mr. Jeon must’ve told you something. What is it? What
do you know?” he presses, a finger held up. “Talk. Tell me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking ab—”

“Our bosses. You know something. Your nosy ass must’ve noticed something, at least, and I know
you’d just go to him and ask. So start spilling all of the information you have.” Jimin looks away,
lips pushed together in a pout.

“I don’t know anything.” he lies. “You came to the wrong person.”

“That tells me you do know.”

Jimin groans. “They’re just enjoying their time.”

“What does that mean?” Yoongi squints.

“Do you think Jungkook sits me down to talk about these things? I just know what I’ve seen and
the other day he told me that it’s not a sexual relationship or anything, I think they just kiss and I
know they cuddle at night and—” he’s interrupted by a finger against his lips right away.

“Taehyung? Cuddling? Holy shit are they—” Yoongi leans closer. “—dating?” he whispers.

“No, I don’t think so, Kook would tell me /that/, so I don’t think that’s the case.” Jimin shakes his
head, a hand on his hip. “They’re not dating, especially if there’s no sex, no one dates without sex
these days. I think they might just use each other for some kind of companionship at night. I don’t
kn—”

“But wait, wait, what did you see?” Jimin scratches the back of his neck. “Tell me, c’mon…”

“It’s not safe to talk in here, if Mr. Kim hears me he’ll either kill me or beat my ass aggressively…
And we can’t risk anyone overhearing. Meet me in my room in twenty, I’m going to get coffee.” he
informs, already turning around. “Don’t be late.”

“I’ll be there.”

│►

Jungkook turns the volume of the song playing on his phone a little higher, his own voice singing
along to it, his hips shaking every so often. It’s late, he’s not worried about anyone walking in on
him like that.

His eyes are focused on the gun in his hand, the other moving in consistent motions to clean it up
properly, the lyrics to the song easily slipping past his lips. He’s yet again shaking his hips when a
hand finds its place on his side. “Holy—! You scared the shit out of me.” he jumps in place,
startled. “Where have you been? I texted you.”

“My phone died.” Jungkook hums as he puts the gun down, turning towards him. “How come I
find you shaking your ass like that?” Taehyung asks with a little smile, his hands falling on
Jungkook’s hips.

“I wasn’t shaking my ass… I was enjoying the song.” he corrects, his arms going around
Taehyung’s neck loosely. “What’s wrong?” he whispers, trying to identify the look in the other’s
eyes but it’s hard to, Taehyung looks closed off which is something he’s not as familiar with
anymore. He’s able to get Taehyung to be honest more often than not.

“Nothing.” Jungkook knows he’s lying, but he doesn’t push further, simply steps closer and rests
his head on his shoulder, Taehyung embracing him closer as well, nose buried in Jungkook’s locks.
They smell like honey and his sweet perfume.

They both sway ever so slowly to the calm song coming from Jungkook’s phone but neither
addresses it, finding it easier to act as though they’re just standing there, in each other’s presence,
and now swaying together to a slow song.

Jungkook’s heartbeat is loud in his ears and Taehyung can feel it against his own chest. “Are you
nervous?” he asks, a little confused.

“N-No, just— no, not nervous.” Jungkook swallows dry, trying to find something to justify it with
but, when he opens his mouth to speak again, Taehyung shushes him quietly. “Did something
happen? You’re worrying me…” he whispers, eyes looking everywhere he can to make up for the
fact that he can’t see Taehyung from their position.

“I’m just stressed.” Taehyung admits.

Jungkook feels like he could cry at the realization that Taehyung goes to /him/ for comfort. It’s
something he’d do too, seek comfort in Taehyung, but to have it the other way around makes him
frown, heart beating even faster.

He hugs Taehyung tighter. “I got you.” he whispers.

“I know.” Taehyung whispers back. “That’s why I came here.”

Jungkook’s a goner.

│►

Taehyung rummages through the objects dropped on top of the table, all the jewelry they accepted
as payment for the mission shining under the light of the room. Something catches his eye, a tiara
made out of what he guesses is silver and a lot of diamonds, some other rocks that he’s not very
sure of.

He clears his throat as he reaches for it. He feels watched and it doesn’t take him long to find Jimin
staring at him right by his side. “What? Is there a problem, Park?” he asks, storing the tiara hooked
in the inside pocket of his blazer.

“Is that for you? Or are you offering?” Jimin asks with a smile. “Sir.” he quickly adds before he
can be dragged on the floor for being disrespectful.

“Gifting.” Taehyung answers, contrary to his expectations. He didn’t think he’d get anything other
than a glare which is still there. Jimin gasps. “Not a word, know your place.” he cuts him off
before Jimin can say anything before walking out of the room.

Jungkook is still helping them separate all the jewelry into specific boxes that they can easily store
in their safe and Taehyung knows he can trust him with it. Given he still has things to do, he sees
no reason to be there as well.

He’s glad to see that when he returns home around thirty minutes after, everything has been stored.
He has a text asking where he went but he purposely ignored it, unwilling to tell Jungkook his
whereabouts.

He finds him lying on his bed, dressed in a tee shirt and underwear, with a bowl of popcorn and his
laptop playing some movie Taehyung’s not so interested in. Jungkook taps the space bar right
away, pausing it. “Why did you leave me on read? That’s the rudest fucking t—”
“Shh…” Taehyung steps closer to the bed, placing the plastic bag on top of the covers. “I got you
this.” he grabs the bag by the bottom, flipping it so that everything falls out. Jungkook’s eyes shine
at the amount of chocolates and gummy bears he sees. “And I got you something else too, but
you’ll have to close your eyes for that one.”

“What is it? What is it?” Jungkook asks, already opening one of the gummy bear bags, propping
one into his mouth.

“Come here for a second, pretty.” Taehyung gestures to the edge of the bed and Jungkook crawls
his way there, closing his eyes like he was told to. He tucks his hands between his thighs as he
wants and smiles when Taehyung tickles his chin first.

“What is it…? I’m curious.” he pouts. Taehyung chuckles and Jungkook makes a low confused
sound as he feels something being placed on top of his head. “What— What’s that?”

“Did you see the tiara that was in the middle of the things we got today?” Jungkook shakes his
head, confused. “There was a tiara… glad I snatched it fast enough.” Jungkook’s smile widens as
Taehyung fixes his hair and adjusts the tiara on his head. “Open.”

Jungkook opens his mouth.

“I meant your eyes.” Taehyung chuckles.

“Oh.” Jungkook giggles, opening his eyes and staring up at him. “How do I look?” he asks,
pouting his lips. “Does it suit me? How do I look?”

“Fucking gorgeous, princess.”

Jungkook tilts his head, cheeks a rosy tone. “Did you just compliment me that easily? And
willingly?” he asks, suspicious. “That’s very weird, are you sick?”

“I’m not sick but I also don’t think saying that you’re gorgeous once is enough so perhaps I should
repeat that you look gorgeous.” Taehyung adds as he kicks his shoes off. “Maybe it’s still not
enough, you’re—”

“Stop…!” he whines, pulling Taehyung closer until the man crawls on top of him, Jungkook
scooting higher on the bed. He promptly turns them around, straddling Taehyung, reaching for the
bag of gummy bears, tiara still proudly on his head.

He’s a little surprised when Taehyung sits up, pressing a few kisses to his jaw as his hands rub
from Jungkook’s thighs and round his butt, only to come back down. Jungkook’s positively
confused then.

“Are you trying to get me to suck you off or s—”

“No, just let me spoil you today, hm?” Taehyung whispers against his jaw, pressing another wet
kiss to it. “How does that sound?” he asks.

“Why do you want to? Did you fuck something up and so you’re trying to save your ass from a
beating and a scolding?” Jungkook tries to make sense of it, popping another gummy bear into his
mouth. He bites half of it off, offering the rest for Taehyung to take.

“Because I’m so afraid of you.” he teases.

“Why are you being so nice all of a sudden? Chocolate and gummy bears? A tiara…? What’s up?”
Jungkook squints, suspicious.

“I’m always nice to you. But anyways, what do you want to do? We’ll do whatever you want to
today.” Taehyung says with a little smile and Jungkook’s expression turns even more suspicious.
“I’m serious. Just ask away, what do you want to do?”

“This is a trick, isn’t it?” Jungkook tries to make sense of it. “You’re either going to aggressively
blue ball me after being /this/ nice or you’re going to do the exact opposite of what I ask for.
What’s the answer? What’s your trick, Kim?” he squints again.

“There’s no trick, Jeon.” he tsks. “What I want to do is—” he presses another kiss to his cheek. “—
treat you like the princess you are, hm?”

“Okay… so how about you’re nice today? The whole day. Never mean. Just nice.” Taehyung
hums in agreement. “And I want you all to myself. No working, no going to someone else, no
phones. Just me today.” he requests.

Taehyung hums again. “That can be done, yes.”

“I want your bank details. You’re richer than me, let’s even that out.”

“No.”

“Fie. But I do want a compliment every thirty minutes.” he lists on his fingers.

“I— Okay.”

“And we’re going to watch a romance.” Taehyung’s eyebrows knit together and he opens his
mouth to complain so Jungkook shoves more candy into his mouth instead. “You said you’d do
anything…!”

“I did say that. You’re right. Fine, we can watch a romance.” Taehyung compromises. Jungkook’s
smile grows even more, leaning in to kiss Taehyung’s cheek twice. “What else? Anything else on
the schedule?”

“You have to do everything. No questions asked.”

“But you have to say please.” Jungkook frowns. “Asking for things still means having manners.
Princesses have manners, don’t be a spoilt brat. I’ll take away your tiara.” he says with a rather
stern voice.

“No!” he leans away, slapping Taehyung’s hand. “It’s mine already. It’s me. It’s staying.”
Taehyung raises an eyebrow so Jungkook clears his throat. “Can you please do whatever I want
before I throw a tantrum?”

“Don’t test me, I’ll take back all of this.”

“No, no, please…” he pouts. “I know what else I want…” Jungkook giggles, twirling with the first
button of Taehyung’s shirt, popping it open. “I need a throne… do I not?” he suggests, biting a
smile away.

Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “Where are you going with this?”

“Can I sit…” he leans closer, running his finger across Taehyung’s cheek. “On your face?”

“On my face?” Jungkook nods.

“Mhm. You’ve never allowed me to and I want that. You said anything…” he pouts.

“I didn’t even say no.” Taehyung chuckles. “We can do that, princess.” Jungkook’s face lights up.
“When would you like that to happen, darling?”

“Now.” Taehyung would be happy to say he’s surprised but Jungkook always being in the mood is
something he’s grown used to with time. “Would that be ok? Why am I asking— Of course it’s ok,
you have to do what I want like a nice little puppet.” he smiles, scooting away to remove his
underwear. “Like I said, you can’t call me princess if you don’t treat me like one…”

“Just for today, I’m going to let this slide. Any other day and you’d be regretting every single one
of your words right now.” Taehyung informs and Jungkook hums. He knows that. He’s way more
interested in finding a bottle of lubricant, though. “Get the strawberry one.”

Taehyung drags himself lower in bed to be laying down properly, rolling his eyes when Jungkook
wiggles his butt right in front of him once he’s positioned himself. He gives him a firm slap. “Do
that again.” and so he does. He’s promised to do /everything/ and he never breaks his promises. “I
want to be left shaking, I want— I want no teasing. And— And don’t be mean. Just today. I always
like it but for today just eat my ass. Really good. I want— I want— Your fingers too. Towards the
end.”

The man underneath lets out a chuckle before pressing a kiss to the back of Jungkook’s thigh,
biting the flesh teasingly. “Anything else? Or can—”

“You have to promise this is not a trick and that you’re not going to stop when I’m almost there.
I’ll actually sit on your face and suffocate you if you do.” Jungkook threatens as he looks back to
face him. “I’m not joking.”

“And I’m not tricking you.” Taehyung reassures. “Now shut up and enjoy it before I regret
promising this.” and to that, Jungkook only wiggles his butt again with a giggle.

Giggles that soon then into moans and long dragged calls of Taehyung’s name as his tongue and
fingers bury deep into him, as he rocks back into his face as much as he can.

As his arms start being unable to hold himself up but Taehyung can only be /so/ nice. He makes
sure to tell him to keep holding himself, makes sure he knows there will be punishments if he
doesn’t — even if not applied immediately or on the same day.

And Jungkook’s unable to say no, he’s never able to say no to Taehyung once he gets lost in his
own head. It’s weird, really, it’s like he’s a different person. Taehyung knows how to get him
pliant, knows how to do whatever he wants with Jungkook. How to break his body over and over.
And Jungkook /loves/ it. Loves that Taehyung can take control over him in a way that he doesn’t
have to anymore.

It’s insanely nice to let go. Just enjoy it. Get bruised, get teased, bossed around. Used.

Taehyung does have his thighs shaking but he’s not surprised, they’ve never had anything even
remotely close to bad sex, Jungkook’s never been unsatisfied. Even when he had to put a stop to it
— he got insane pleasure from it.

He’s definitely not surprised by the slap he receives either when he promptly ruins Taehyung’s
slacks without warning. He’s still suspicious, if he said anything, nothing guarantees him that
Taehyung would really go on and just give him what he wants.

Taehyung cleans him up properly, is even extra sweet and gentle as he does so; presses kisses to
Jungkook’s thighs and compliments them with a tone Jungkook hasn’t heard that many times.

They get pizza, Taehyung’s request for their cook as they can’t just get it delivered, and Jungkook
is indeed able to get Taehyung to sit through not one but two romance movies, even if not lucky
enough not to have Taehyung making jokes through the entire thing, especially when he ends up
tearing up and Taehyung /laughs/ at him.

Still then, there’s two arms around him and a hand going up and down his back and he feels so
warm he doesn’t even care about /anything/ else.

He’s dozing off past midnight, curled up against Taehyung’s chest, the movie already becoming
background noise as his eyes start to close. Taehyung smiles when he realizes, presses a long kiss
to his temple. “Happy birthday, princess.” he whispers as he removes the tiara from Jungkook’s
head.

Jungkook looks up with only one eye open. “How did you know…?” he whispers back, voice
groggy. Suddenly everything makes a whole lot more sense.

“The question should be why you didn’t tell me.” Taehyung points, combing the hair out of
Jungkook’s eyes. “But you can just thank Jimin, he told me yesterday.” Jungkook frowns, scooting
closer.

“I didn’t think you’d care.” he admits, scooting closer.

Taehyung takes a moment. “Why wouldn’t I care?”

“You don’t care for your birthday, almost killed me at the idea of celebrating it, I don’t even know
how I managed to get you to accept.” he half mumbles his words as he hides his face into the crook
of Taehyung’s neck. “I didn’t think you’d give a damn about mine either.”

“I don’t give a damn about a birthday exactly but I give a damn about /you/ so you should’ve told
me.” Jungkook pouts to himself, the hairs on the back of his head standing up when he feels
Taehyung’s nails on the back of his arm.

He backs away to be able to face him. “I thought you’d just go… so what?” he mimics Taehyung’s
voice. “So I didn’t tell you.” he admits. “I don’t really care that much for my birthday either so… I
don’t know, I didn’t want to bother you with that.” a shrug. “That’s all.”

“Liar.” Jungkook jolts a little. “Jimin told me you celebrate these things.”

“I don’t!” he holds himself in his forearm, rubbing his eyes to wake up properly. “We do get each
other a gift if we remember something the other wanted but that’s about it. Oh, and a basic ‘happy
birthday’ of course, but that’s it.” Jungkook clarifies. “Are you mad? Don’t be mad, I’m not lying.”

“I’m not mad.” he closes the laptop, placing it on the floor. “But don’t just conclude that I don’t
care for things. I may not care for them, truth be said, but I’m actually making an effort with you. I
don’t give a shit about your or anyone’s birthday but I like to see you smile and if—” he’s
interrupted by two arms pulling him in, Jungkook attaching himself onto him like a koala.

“You’re the sweetest when you want to.” Jungkook says in between kisses that he presses to
Taehyung’s jaw, the latter trying to push him away.

“Stop— Goddamn— Get off—” but Jungkook only holds him tighter, only pulls him closer.
“Jungkook, you’re a damn limpet, it’s impossible to get you away.”
“Koala sounds so much cuter, why am I a limpet? That’s gross.” he complains, loosening his grip
just enough. “But—! But…” Jungkook smiles, pecking his lips. “I loved it. The pizza, the
attention, the movies… the tiara— loved it. Thank you.” another peck. “You’re way more
romantic than you think.”

“I’m /not/ romantic.”

“You let me sit on your face.”

“And that’s romantic?”

Jungkook giggles. “For you, yes. And it was /really/ good so I hope I don’t have to wait for my
next birthday to repeat that.” Taehyung rolls his eyes. “I knew something was up, you’d never be
that /nice/ just because.” he forces a sigh and a shake of the head.

“I’m literally being nice right now.” Taehyung defends himself.

“Yes, yes, but you’d never be sex-nice or just do what I want like you did yesterday. I know you
well enough to know that shit was fishy and I was correct.” he squints, bending down for another
kiss, his leg going over Taehyung’s, missing the warmth he was immersed in. “Thank you.” he
whispers to Taehyung’s lips. “That was extremely fucking nice to.”

“Glad you enjoyed it.” Jungkook smiles. “Lay back down, let’s sleep, hm?” he nods, tucking
himself back against Taehyung’s chest.

“I enjoyed today a lot…” he mumbles.

“I did too, princess. I did too.”

“Really?” he looks up. Taehyung just hums. “You spent like— the whole day with me, though.
We’re never together for that long… are you just saying that? It’s past midnight, you don’t have to
be nice anymore.”

“I’m serious, when have I ever lied to you?” Jungkook raises an eyebrow.

“Shall I start by you planning my death while—”

“Shh…” Taehyung presses a finger to his lips, keeping him shut. “Thought we agreed to never
bring that up again.” he tries.

“I’d never agree to that.” Jungkook tsks. “I’ll go back to try and sleep and I’ll just assume that you
did enjoy my company.” he informs as he lays back down, eyes closed.

“And I did.”

Again. The stupid butterflies.

│►

Jungkook looks up when someone knocks the door to Taehyung’s room and he debates on whether
to get up or to act as though no one’s there. Taehyung’s in the shower so he knows for a fact it’s
not him.

“Sir…?” he hears Jimin on the other side and so he sighs, putting his phone down before he goes to
the door, unlocking it. He pulls it open right away. “Hi! Can I come in?” Jimin asks.
“Sure.” Jungkook gestures for him to go on and so he does, his boss locking the door again.
“What’s up?” he asks.

“How was last night? Your birthday night?” Jimin asks with a knowing smile and Jungkook hums
with a shrug, trying to get him to possibly drop the topic without much fuss.

“It was alright.” is all he says as Jimin frowns, sitting down on the bed, kicking his shoes off so
that he can cross his legs on top of it. Jungkook watches with an eyebrow raised. That’s
Taehyung’s bed.

“Remember when we used to be best friends who told each other everything and talked about
/everything/?” Jimin asks. “Just sit down, Jungkookie.” Jungkook’s eyes grow a bit bigger but he
does sit down on Taehyung’s side of the bed, crossing his legs the same way Jimin has them.

“You haven’t called me that in years.” he points out. “Jungkookie, I mean.”

“You told me to stop.” Jimin frowns. “That’s why I stopped.”

“You kept calling me that in front of the men, they couldn’t think there was some kind of
favoritism.” Jungkook explains. “Or continue to see me as a kid. I couldn’t have that anymore.”

“Alright… that’s understandable.” he taps his own chin. “But we’re alone now so can you please
tell me what happened yesterday? No one saw you two the whole day so… did you spend it
together? What happened?” Jimin asks, eyes curious, smile huge.

“And why would something happen and why would we spend it together?” Jungkook tries. He’s
not entirely sure if he should tell Jimin anything at all, but definitely unsure if it’s ok to talk about
/that/. Taehyung may want to have both of their heads.

“I told Mr. Kim that it was your birthday… and I know for a fact he must’ve gifted you that tiara.
Why? I don’t know, but I can’t see him offering that to anyone. Unless he has a secret girlfriend or
som—”

“No. He doesn’t. It was for me.” Jimin raises an eyebrow. “Just answering your questions…”
Jimin hums, running a hand through his orange hair. “And I have half the mind to hit you for
telling him but also half the mind to thank you.”

“And why would you thank me exactly?” he smiles even bigger.

“What are you asking me?” Jungkook squints.

“Celebrating birthdays can change a lot… so I’m asking if I’m sitting on something that has dried
during the night.” Jimin explains as he gestures towards the sheets he’s sitting on.

“Jesus, Jimin—”

“That wasn’t a no.”

“Do you really think we wouldn’t change the sheets—” Jimin gasps. Loud. Really loud. “If—! If
we did something. Which we didn’t. We’ve never done anything of the sorts, I’ve told you that
already. Just hugs and once an almost kiss. But didn’t happen.”

“Liar!” Jimin pushes him by the shoulder. “What happened yesterday? I demand to know
everything. I’m your best friend.” he frowns. “I’m giving you the chance to come clean but all I
hear is lies.”
“I’m not lying!” Jungkook still tries.

Jimin leans closer. “You stink of sex.”

“I fucking showered after— wait, no.” he realizes his mistake instantly. “I didn’t say shit.”

“You did.” Jimin grins. “How was it? First time with someone is always interesting, to say the
least. Wait, who did what?” he squints and Jungkook runs a hand on his face. “Unless you were
lying, of course, and it was /not/ the first time.”

“You can’t tell anyone about it if I tell you this.” Jungkook points an accusing finger. Jimin pinky
promises himself, kissing both of his hands. “It was not the first time… sex is actually how we
grew closer to begin with.” he finally admits. “The first time we did anything was like… back
when we were just working on that mission that we teamed up for.”

“Oh my God, you’re so grown.” Jungkook frowns, tsking. “How did it happen…? How did it
start?”

“Uhm— Why would I tell you?”

“Because we’re currently acting as though we’re years back when we could sit down shit talking
for hours.” Jimin shrugs. “It makes me sad that we changed… you treat me like I’m just one of the
other men. It’s upsetting. We used to be really— close…” he looks down at his lap, frowning to
himself.

“I didn’t mean to neglect you or anything… you know how hard it was for me to settle into this
lifestyle, I— I’m sorry, Jimin.” Jungkook reaches for his hand, squeezing it. “I promise to get back
to how we were, really, it’s shitty of me to treat you like everyone else.”

“It’s ok… I’m glad you’re also willing to go back to our roots.” Jimin shrugs. “But I want to know
everything between you and Mr. Kim… and if you do, I’ll tell you something as well.” he pulls the
collar of his shirt low enough to show a purple mark on his skin. “But you have to go first. It’s rule.
You can’t not go first.”

“Fine, but you really have to tell me who did that.”

“I will if you tell me everything down to the finest detail.” Jimin holds a hand out for Jungkook to
shake and the latter rolls his eyes with a smile before shaking his hand.

“Well… remember how we commented about how hot he was all those years back? When we saw
a picture of him on my dad’s files?” Jungkook starts, watching as Jimin grabs Taehyung’s pillow to
hold on his lap.

“Yes, I remember that perfectly. I also remember you judging me for saying I’d switch sides to
suck his dick, which I /really/ should hold above your head now.”

“Shut up. Anyways. When I met him for the mission he still pissed the fuck out of me so it wasn’t
something immediate but him being hot wasn’t something that I could just ignore so… yeah, one
day I sucked him off and we started doing shit after that. Still hating each other, though, we were
mean as fuck to each other but… I don’t know, we grew closer and now we’re… enjoying it.
We’re not mean anymore. Well, he has his days, but he’s not /mean/, he’s just Taehyung.”

“So… are you… together?”

“Oh, no, we’re not.” Jungkook shakes his head. “We’re exclusive, I asked to be, but we’re not
together.” Jimin raises an eyebrow. “What?”

“Being exclusive is the same thing as dating, you idiot.” Jungkook frowns. “It means you can’t
fuck or see other people, which is literally what a couple does.”

“We never discussed it and if we did he’d probably shoot me to avoid that conversation so we’re
not together, we’re just enjoying it.” Jimin winks. “No, Jimin, I mean it. He’s really sweet to me
and I can’t have enough of him but we’re just—”

“Yes, I understand.” but he winks again. Jungkook glares. “I’m saying that I understand!”

“Fine. Whatever. It’s your turn. Who’s leaving hickeys on you?” Jungkook decides to change the
topic, curiosity getting the best of him.

“Yoongi and I are kind of—”

“Park?” they both stop when they hear Taehyung’s voice by the bathroom door and Jimin’s neck
almost breaks to face him, Taehyung standing wearing his slacks and his shoes but he doesn’t have
a shirt on and his hair is still wet.

His eyes almost fall out of their sockets when he sees Jungkook’s initials inked onto his skin.

“My eyes are up here.” Taehyung reprehends.

“Oh my God, sir, yes, I’m sorry. Hello, good morning, how did you sleep, sir?” he asks almost
frantically, his eyes switching between Taehyung’s knowing eyes down to his pectoral.

“Let go of my pillow. And you—” he looks over at Jungkook who only flashes him a grin. “—
when you want to talk about me, speak a little lower.” Taehyung walks closer, taking Jungkook’s
coffee from the bedside table. He grimaces at the sugary taste to it, but still takes three gulps.

“I—”

“No, continue telling him about you and Yoongi.” Jimin’s eyes grow bigger. “I must finish getting
ready, I have shit to do.” he hands Jungkook his mug back.

“Wait— How do you know?!” Jimin almost yells. “What the fuck— How?!”

“Do you really think you can walk down a hallway exactly twenty seconds after each other
smelling like sex and I wouldn’t put it together?” Jimin’s face grows beet red. “I’m joking, you’re
really fucking loud.” he leaves back to the bathroom and Jungkook can’t even begin to explain how
betrayed he feels that Taehyung didn’t tell him.

“Ok, so yes, Yoongi and I have been having sex but we’re halfway there to dating, we’ve talked
about it before, we’re just taking it slowly.” Jimin decides to be honest. “But I have a serious
question.” Jungkook just hums for him to go on. “Like… I fuck Yoongi, right, but he also fucks
me, which is why I want to ask—”

“I’m not answering that.”

“Why not?! We used to!” Jimin frowns. “You always told me how you topped but that man—” he
gestures to the door. “That man doesn’t look like he’d let you have that. But you also don’t strike
me as someone who would… please, I’ll actually pay you for this information.”

“Pay me? With my money that I give you?” Jungkook tries to move the conversation to something
else but Jimin shakes his head.

“Details. Don’t change topics. I want details on this subject as well.”

“God— He fucks me, are you happy?”

“But… you switch, right?” he tilts his head. “This is interesting with your personalities.”

“We don’t switch, neither of us wants to and if you saw the way he gets me during sex you’d
understand it’s not even possible for me to try to as so dominate him. Now, shut up with this, I’m
embarrassed.” Jungkook admits. He can tell by Jimin’s face that he won’t just drop it. “I get very
different, very uhm, uh… you know.”

“Submissive?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s cute.” Jungkook only glares at him again. “But care to explain why he has your initials
tattooed?” and at that his boss snorts, soon turning into a laugh. “What— Tell me.” Jimin frowns.

“I had him inhale something during his sleep so that he wouldn’t wake up and I tattooed it on him.
Pretty fucking funny if I say so myself.” Jungkook explains, eyes disappearing from how hard he’s
smiling. “Best idea I’ve ever had.”

“And how the fuck are you still alive and well?”

“He wasn’t mad.”

“How was he not mad at that?”

“Because I have the word princess tattooed on my damn ass cheek. Which he marked on me when
we got drunk when we still despised each other, so I’d say we’re even now.” he shares,
shamelessly. “Which I think also explains why he got me the tiara.”

“It makes a lot more sense now, yeah.” Jimin nods. “That’s so cute, though, he calls you princess,
that’s— Yoongi needs to learn a thing or two.” Jungkook chuckles. “No, I’m serious, he just calls
me Jiminie or… baby, but it’s more the first than the latter. I want a cute nickname too.”

Jungkook opens his mouth to speak but Taehyung returns, already looking like his usual, suit fixed
to perfection, silver hair styled parted in the center. “I’ll be going now, you two ladies continue
gossiping instead of working.” he informs as he picks up his phone and while Jimin looks
/affronted/, Jungkook only rolls his eyes with a smile.

“Can you come here for a moment?” Jungkook asks and Taehyung does step closer, only to be
pulled down by his tie. Their lips meet in a quick kiss, Taehyung clearing his throat once he stands
straight again, fixing his tie.

“I’ll be back in forty minutes, I’m going to set up the teams for today and let them do their thing.”
Jungkook hums, licking his lips, a clear sign that he wants more. “Don’t forget you have to sign
those papers about the incoming stock from yesterday and make sure they were sorted properly,
ok?” Jungkook fakes a yawn. “Stop that.”

“I got it, I won’t forget anything, you can go.” he reassures. “Don’t worry.”

Taehyung just gives him a pointed glance before he leaves, not even sparing Jimin a look.
“I’ve never seen you like this.” Jimin comments, definitely not missing the way Jungkook observes
as Taehyung leaves the bedroom.

“Shut it, just tell me more about what you have going with Yoongi.”

“I guess it’s fair, alright, I can tell you.”

“Good.”

│►

Taehyung looks out from the backdoor, squinting as he tries to check if Jungkook is outside and he
tsks when he does see him sitting on the grass. He recognizes the spot as being the same place they
shared a kiss for the first time on the same night that was supposed to be Jungkook’s last night
there.

He walks up to him, sitting down next to him. Jungkook’s looking down as he picks on the edges
of the label of his bottle of red wine and Taehyung watches him quietly, knowing the man will
speak if he wants to.

And he does some minutes after. “It’s the anniversary since I took over.” Jungkook explains, tone
quiet before he takes another sip. “It’s crazy to think of how much things have changed since then,
life is… fucking weird.” he sighs.

Taehyung remains quiet. He knows how much silence can help sometimes and he trusts Jungkook
to voice it if he wants Taehyung to speak, to say something, so he doesn’t, simply places his hand
on Jungkook’s thigh when the latter lays on his shoulder.

“I wonder where we’d be if I didn’t decide to walk into your building that day, or if one of us
hadn’t shown up to ruin each other’s mission.” that does require an answer from him and so he
hums, thinking about it for a moment.

“Probably still hating each other. More than now.” Jungkook giggles. “Unless you pissed me off in
the meantime and I actually had to kill you.”

Jungkook scoffs. “Let’s face it, you could never kill me if I didn’t have my guard down. You could
definitely kill me now but you’d never be able to back then. Still, if I were aware, even now, it’d be
an impossible task for you.”

“Want to bet?” Taehyung jokes.

“Point a damn gun at me again and I’ll be the one killing you, I swear to God.” he threatens. “Ok,
but I was thinking about this, so picture this.” Jungkook pulls away so that they can be facing each
other. “Us going to the same club. Before.”

“I’m picturing.” Taehyung nods.

“Would we hook up?”

“Fuck no.”

“Not even once? Really?” Jungkook raises an eyebrow, finding it hard to believe.

“We only ended up fucking because I went to strangle you, I’d have to try and kill you, and even
then I probably wouldn’t have stopped.” Taehyung tries to make sense out of it.
“What the fuck do you— Picture me having the same reaction as I did in your office. Would we
hook up?” Jungkook rephrases, his pride slightly hurt, ego definitely bruised.

“No, you’d die.” Jungkook frowns. “You’d be down? We hated each other to death, what are you
even talking about?” he finds himself chuckling.

“I told you I found you hot.” he mumbles.

“Finding me hot and saying that you’d be down to hook up even back then are two very different
things. Are you sure you didn’t just hate me because you were sexually frustrated?” Taehyung
teases, to which he gets a slap on his thigh for.

“I wasn’t sexually frustrated!” he tries to defend himself.

Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “Are you lying to me or to yourself?” he asks, cocky tone behind his
words that Jungkook wants him to choke for.

“I had— decent sex. Shut up. Literally. Shut it.” Jungkook looks away with a frown, taking another
sip from his wine.

He’s further angered by Taehyung cooing and patting his head as though he’s a dog. “I’m sure you
tried your best.” the man says.

“I’m going to—”

Taehyung snorts. “I can only imagine you feeling jealous of whoever you were fucking. This is
gold, seriously, you’re so entertaining.” Jungkook gapes, eyebrows knitted so hard they almost
meet at the center. It only makes Taehyung want to laugh harder.

Jungkook remains quiet for a moment as he takes a new sip and covers the bottle, taking his time
putting it away before he leaps on top of Taehyung, trying to slap him, but he gets a pinch on his
ribs that makes him yelp, lose focus, which grants Taehyung enough advantage to roll them over.

He tries to fight, obviously, he won’t just let Kim Taehyung get the best of him, and he tries to get
his legs under Taehyung’s body to be able to flip them again, his slightly tipsy brain a little slower
than it’d act otherwise, and Taehyung rolls his eyes.

He raises a hand, wrapping it knowingly around Jungkook’s throat. It’s like an off switch, really, as
his hands stop pushing him away, his legs stop kicking, lay flat instead. He looks up with his big
eyes, not moving an inch as Taehyung’s fingers press on the sides of his neck. Taehyung observes
him with an eyebrow raised.

“Is this seriously how you insinuate your be if we had gone to the same club before?” he asks,
beyond amused. “All pliant, pretty… quiet?” Taehyung teases.

“I’ll spit on you.” Jungkook threatens.

“You /really/ don’t want to.”

Jungkook hums. “I’m /really/ tempted to now.” his bratty tone changes into a breathless gasp when
he’s pulled up by his neck, hands just barely reaching to holding him up. “W-What are you—”

“You’ll spit on me?” Taehyung mocks. “Open.”

“I’m not letting you spit in my mouth unless I have a dick very far up my ass. Do it and I’ll have to
carry your unconscious ass back inside.” Jungkook warns.

Taehyung tuts, shaking his head in forged disappointment. “What happened to the whiny and
needy Jungkook that would beg me to spit in his mouth?” he asks, lips tugged down as though he’s
actually upset. Jungkook knows him well enough.

“He’s learned that riling you up first so that you’ll spit in my mouth because you’re angry is hotter
than begging you to do it.” Jungkook shrugs, a little smirk dancing on his lips.

“I can’t tell if he’s dumb or smart for that.”

“Then you’re dumber.” Jungkook shows him his tongue.

“You defy your luck way too much.”

“I enjoy the thrill.” Taehyung opens his mouth to speak but closes it again when they hear steps on
the grass and they sit up straight, looking back to see who’s approaching. At the sight of Yoongi,
Taehyung keeps his hand around Jungkook’s throat, seeing no reason to remove it. Yoongi clears
his throat once next to them.

“Your phone kept ringing in the office, thought I should bring it.” Yoongi explains as he hands
Taehyung his phone as his eyes dart to Jungkook, sitting there quietly with Taehyung’s hand firmly
around his neck. “How are you, Mr. Jeon? I heard you hurt yourself during training today.”

“All—” Taehyung squeezes. Jungkook wants to kill him. “All good.” he pairs it with a thumbs up.

“Hm. Well, have a good night you two.” Yoongi bows, leaving without any other word. Jungkook
observes as he walks away and only turns back to the older man when Yoongi’s out of sight.

“He knew?!” Jungkook whisper yells.

“Don’t look at me, I didn’t tell him anything.” Taehyung shakes his head. “He’s just disciplined, he
knows not to speak, he probably didn’t know.” he tries to rationalize.

“His image of me… must be ruined now.” Jungkook whines, referring to the hand still around his
neck. It’s loose now, but it’s definitely still there, and he likes it. “This is all your fault, Yoongi’s
never going to see me the same way again. He saw us like this.”

“If we were somewhere private, this wouldn’t have happened.” Taehyung whispers by his ear,
fingers teasingly tightening up just a little bit.

Jungkook gasps again but he pouts to himself, tapping Taehyung’s wrist three times. It’s their
known, unspoken code to stop. Taehyung’s fingers loosen up immediately but his hand doesn’t
leave, instead, he places it higher on Jungkook’s throat.

Taehyung looks at him questioningly. “Can we do that later?” he requests. “I just want to sit here
for a while… finish my wine and all.” Jungkook looks down at his feet, picking at the grass.

“Are you ok?” Taehyung asks, thumb caressing Jungkook’s jaw slowly, carefully.

“Yeah, I’m just— thinking a lot today… and I don’t think I can just switch off like that tonight. I
just want to drink my wine, watch the stars… is that ok? Do you mind?” he looks up, Taehyung
frowning. He finally removes the hand from his neck, letting it fall to his thigh.

“You don’t have to ask for permission. What you need to ask is if I want some wine.” Jungkook’s
lips tug down.

“But you could be in the mood and— I don’t know…” he almost mumbles, his hand placing itself
on top of Taehyung’s, twirling the rings on his fingers.

“For wine? Yes, I am. Hand that over.” he holds his hand out for the bottle and Jungkook watches
with a little pout as Taehyung takes a sip. He scoots closer, snuggling into Taehyung’s chest, nose
buried in his collar. Taehyung smells amazing. Always.

“You’re so good to me…” he whispers. Taehyung has half the mind to tell him that taking a no as a
no isn’t being good, is being a decent human, but he doesn’t say anything, settles for kissing his
hair and placing one of his arms around Jungkook’s body.

Jungkook sighs, content. He’s satisfied.

He’s always content in Taehyung’s warmth.

│►

Taehyung half smiles once he finds Jungkook in the kitchen, the man having disappeared from bed
even if at five in the morning, and he sighs at the sight of the other mixing up his scrambled eggs
with his eyes closed, hand lazy. He’s going to end up burning himself, that’s for sure.

He walks closer, taking the wooden spoon from his hand so that he can mix the eggs himself and
Jungkook smiles to himself, hugging Taehyung from behind, resting his head against his shoulder
blades, eyes closed, a second from falling asleep.

Taehyung’s shirtless in the cold kitchen so Jungkook rubs his arms over Taehyung’s stomach,
kisses his shoulder, tries to keep him warm for the remaining time it takes for his eggs to be ready
and he frowns when the older man pulls away.

His eggs are already on the plate he had waiting, a fork there, and Taehyung sits down by the table,
tapping his thigh. Jungkook walks over lazily, sitting down sideways. He digs in right away,
stomach grumbling. Neither of them says a single word, deeming silence as the best thing.

Jungkook would offer a bite, hadn’t Taehyung have his face hidden in his neck, so he enjoys his
food himself, quietly, lazily munching as the other strokes a finger up and down his thigh, the only
indicator that Taehyung’s not asleep.

It doesn’t take him long to finish his eggs and he soon pushes his empty plate away, turning just
enough to hug Taehyung in their position. “Are you ok?” Taehyung finally whispers.

“Mhm, just hungry…” he whispers back, both lightly swaying from side to side, quietly, basking in
each other’s presence. They’re both hanging on the fine line between awake and asleep so it
doesn’t take them long to fall unconscious in that position, holding onto each other.

Taehyung wakes up around forty minutes later to a few taps to his shoulder. “S-Sir?” he hears. He
just hums, not removing his face from where it’s hidden in Jungkook’s warm neck. “I need to start
breakfast, the other cooks will be here soon as well, so I woke you up.” the man says.

“What— What’s wrong…?” they hear Jungkook’s voice as he pulls away just enough. “Oh, good
morning… what time is it?” he asks the cook, voice way too nice for such time in the morning.

“It’s almost six…”

“Oh, we’re sorry…” Jungkook gets up from his lap, legs lazy and hands even slower to reach for
Taehyung’s. “Let’s go to bed…” he persuades, making grabby hands. He’d wash his plate but it’s
not there anymore. Taehyung gets up with a tired groan.

“I made you two some coffee.” the cook calls after them. “Here…” he holds both mugs.

“Thank you so much.” Jungkook says, taking his own as Taehyung reaches for the other without a
single word being said. Taehyung leads him out by the waist, both taking a sip from their coffees.
Mugs that they place on the bedside tables as soon as they get back to the room.

Taehyung falls on the bed over the covers, can’t be bothered.

Jungkook crawls up until he’s behind him, hugging his body as tight as possible, throwing a leg
over him as well, turning into a koala once again. “This isn’t how we—” Taehyung tries to say.

“Shh…” he’s interrupted. Jungkook buries his nose into the back of Taehyung’s head, breathing in
his scent. “You smell so good— your hair, so good…” he mumbles, already half asleep, and he
leans to press a kiss to the skin between Taehyung’s shoulders and neck.

His lips rest there after and Taehyung’s pretty sure he’s fallen asleep like that. “Are you sure that
you’re ok?” he still asks, unsure if he’ll get a reply. Jungkook does nod twice. “You’re being extra
clingy.” he points out.

“Is it bad?” Jungkook whispers.

“Not bad, I’m just worrying about you, princess.” Taehyung admits.

“I’m okay… sleep.” he mumbles. “Skip breakfast with me… sleep longer.”

“Alright, we can do that. We’ll sleep in today.”

“Hm… the best news.” Taehyung chuckles, allowing Jungkook to hold him even tighter.

Whatever reason it is that he’s clingier, they can address whenever Jungkook’s ready to.

For now, they can just hold each other.

│►

“Hey.” Jungkook knocks on the already open door. “Can I come in?” Jimin looks up, gesturing for
him to enter, obviously, so he does, closing the door behind himself. “I wanted— I wanted to uhm,
talk to you.”

“What’s up?” Jimin puts his Nintendo away, crossing his legs on top of the bed. “Sit down,
c’mon.” he pats the mattress so that his boss takes a seat and soon Jungkook does.

“I’ve been thinking a lot… and— and uhm, I don’t know how to say this but… I’ve been thinking a
lot. About Taehyung and I. I—” he runs a hand over his face. “I like him. As in… I like him.”
Jungkook whispers.

“Yeah, no shit.” Jimin rolls his eyes. “Have you two /really/ never had that talk?” Jungkook just
shakes his head, looking all dejected. “Jesus, Kook, how in the fuck… you know there’s no way he
doesn’t feel the same, right? It’s literally obvious from the way he treats you. There’s no damn
reason for you to be worried.”

“That’s not why I’m worried. I’m worried because I’m thinking about having that talk and— and
telling him directly about how I feel and uhm, I don’t know how he’d react.” Jungkook admits.

“You’ll only know if you do it. You’re no bitch, you’re the bravest guy I know, just do it.”

“What if he just shoots me in the head on the spot?”

“Then you’ll die.” Jimin shrugs.

“Jimin— Why did I think it was a good idea to come to you, never mind.” Jungkook tries to leave
the bed but Jimin laughs, holding him down by the forearm.

“Listen to me as your friend, okay. I see the way he looks at you when all the other men aren’t
around. Do you think I’d let just anyone be with you without treating you right? And before you
say it, yes, Kim Taehyung would beat my ass, but I’d still take him any day for you. I wouldn’t be
encouraging you to do this if I wasn’t confident he felt the same, I wouldn’t want you to embarrass
yourself either.” Jimin encourages. “Do you not feel it? It’s something we feel too.”

“I do. I— I feel it in the way he kisses me and the way he takes care of me, especially at night, the
way he holds me and kisses me when he thinks I’m asleep… the way he makes me smile and
laugh and— the way he compliments me or— I do feel it, I’m just scared that I’ve been building
up a lie in my head instead.” he admits.

“Jungkook, if you feel it, then you should just go for it. Trust me, I know better.” Jimin smiles.

“Okay. Okay so I’m going to tell him.” he says, more to himself than anything, as he gets up. “I’m
going downstairs and I’m going to tell him how much this actually means to me.” Jimin claps for
him twice. “I’m nervous, though, for fuck’s sake, he’s going to shoot me.”

“No he’s not!” Jimin wheezes. “You and I both know these aren’t going to be any news to him.”

“Yes but— Fuck. Okay. Okay, bye.” Jimin doesn’t really have time to say anything before
Jungkook’s out of the door. He smiles to himself, laying back down with his Nintendo, set on
passing the level he’s been stuck in for way too many days.

Jungkook inhales and exhales three times before he enters the office, Taehyung reading a few
papers, most likely about their next mission as it’s one they’ll be participating on. “Tae?” he calls.
The other just hums. “Can we talk? It’s— It’s serious.”

“Is it urgent?” Taehyung asks.

Jungkook gulps. “Uhm… yes but also no…?”

“I’m kind of stressed and I’m sure you are too about the mission we have tomorrow so can we
maybe talk about it after? If it’s serious, we should be both in the right mind.” Jungkook wants to
yell that no, that’s not good, he’ll chicken out, they need to talk /now/, but he only nods, sitting
down on the chair across from Taehyung.

“Okay, we’ll talk tomorrow.”

“What’s the topic?” Taehyung asks.

“Oh. Oh— Uh— I uh—” and he’s cursing himself with every offensive word he knows. “Just
something I’ve been thinking about, really, it’s not as urgent as I made it seem.”

“And what’s that stutter about?” /fuck/.

“I was… working out… still a bit out of breath.” they both squint. “Yeah.”

“I’ll act like I believe that.” Jungkook hums, sagging on the chair, relieved. “Do you want to go
over the plan now?” Taehyung asks, offering the papers, but Jungkook shakes his head. “You look
weird, what’s it with you?”

“I have a headache, I took a pill like thirty minutes ago, it’s starting to work… I promise to read it
later.” Taehyung just chuckles with a nod, taking the papers back so that he can continue to write
down the observations he sees fitting.

Jungkook just watches quietly, observes Taehyung’s hand, watches the way his frown appears and
disappears multiple times. He tries to think of a way to get some sort of guarantee that Taehyung’s
reaction will be positive.

He debates on it for a few minutes that he spends just watching Taehyung.

“Would you die for me?” he asks.

Taehyung has no visible reaction. “I’d shoot anyone before they laid a hand on you.” he says
without even meeting his eyes.

“You’d kill for me but— would you die for me?” Jungkook asks again.

“What kind of question is that?” Taehyung puts his pen down, attention on him now.

“Would you… take a bullet for me?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “I’d take a bullet for you.”

“Literally where is this coming from?” Jungkook has to suppress a sigh. That’s /not/ the answer he
wants and needs at the moment.

“It’s a yes or no question. Would you or would you not?” Taehyung hums, fixing his papers before
meeting his eyes again, contemplating his next words and trying to think of a plausible reason for
Jungkook to be asking such a thing.

“Do you want me to?” he settles for asking.

“That’s— That’s a trick question.” Jungkook deflates. “Please answer.”

“I would take a bullet for you.” Taehyung finally answers. “And I’d fucking shoot you myself if
you ever tried to take one for me, so don’t even think about it. I’d rather be shot than you.” he
dismisses the conversation by grabbing his pen again but Jungkook feels the need to go on.

“We both know I deal better with pain so if the time ever comes, I’ll take it. And if you shoot me
on top of it, I’ll take that one too.” Taehyung looks back at him, clearly unhappy, to which
Jungkook puckers his lips and proceeds to make a peace sign with his fingers. Taehyung rolls his
eyes, tsking. He doesn’t like the idea one bit.

“No offence, none really, but I don’t want to hear you singing again so honestly, allow me to be
shot and put out of my misery.” Jungkook’s jaw falls in an offended expression.

“My singing voice is perfect, I’ll have you know!” he defends.

“I have to disagree, your rendition of Mary had a little lamb just made me want to shoot you
again.” Taehyung has to bite away a smile at how offended Jungkook looks. “It also left me hoping
the shot would’ve hit your throat instead.” he adds.
Jungkook gets up instead of fighting it — Taehyung looks fucking amazing when he’s happy and
Jungkook doesn’t even have the ability to stop him — and walks around the desk, plopping himself
on Taehyung’s lap, facing him.

Taehyung half expects to be violently hit after his accusations but, instead, Jungkook joins their
lips, his hand greedily gripping Taehyung’s tie as to make sure he doesn’t move from there, doesn’t
even try to. The kiss is slow, their tongues meet ever so slowly, lips making obnoxious sounds that
neither of them focuses on.

Jungkook’s breathless by the time they break the kiss and Taehyung bites down his swelling
bottom lip, pulling on it before letting go. Jungkook runs his tongue over it once free. “I’d
seriously take a bullet for you.” Jungkook whispers.

“I would too.” his eyes follow as Taehyung’s hand raises to rest on his cheek and his rough thumb
caresses his skin slowly, carefully. “You’re pretty.” Jungkook’s cheeks /immediately/ turn red, his
smile grows, shiny and big, front teeth digging into his bottom lip.

Taehyung’s never not amused by his reaction to compliments.

“Pretty princess.” he adds.

“/Your/ pretty princess.” Jungkook quickly hides his face into Taehyung’s neck right after
speaking, physically feeling himself blush. Taehyung chuckles, arms winding around his torso,
hugging him close, keeping him there.

“Thanks for coming here, I needed a break from the plans for tomorrow.” Taehyung says by his
ear, kissing it. He then rests his head against Jungkook’s, appreciating the closeness.

“We can kiss for longer. Just offering.”

“I’ll take it.”

│►

It’s later at night that they go over the plan together, limbs tangled in bed and nothing but the
lamps on their nightstands illuminating the room. Jungkook’s awfully quiet, Taehyung has noted
already, but when he asks a question and gets no answer other than Jungkook’s concerned eyes on
the papers, he’s left worried.

“What’s wrong? Are you upset?” he finally asks.

Jungkook is quick to put on a smile. “No, I’m not.” a lie, Taehyung detects right away.

“If you think you can fool me with your obviously fake smiles, you’re dumb.” Jungkook looks
away. “Hey, tell me what’s wrong. Is it about what you wanted to talk about earlier?” he tries to
help by guessing but he doesn’t seem to get it right as Jungkook just pouts and shakes his head.

“I just… I feel a bit uneasy.” he admits.

“About what?” Jungkook gestures to the papers. “About tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I feel like— I don’t know, my gut’s telling me something… I feel uneasy.” he looks back
at Taehyung with puppy eyes, hoping they’d work in some way, but Taehyung’s expression doesn’t
change one bit, which is immediately a bad sign.
“Do you want to change something on the plan?” is his offers and definitely not what Jungkook
actually wants so he sighs, runs a hand through his hair.

“I straight up don’t want to do it at all.” he admits.

“I think we can work on it a bit—”

“Can we not, though…?” Jungkook interrupts, tone showing just how distressed he is.

Taehyung scoffs. “Because of a gut feeling?”

“Can we… not?” he repeats.

“For fuck’s sake, Jungkook, you know we can’t just cancel shit like that, especially when it’s a job,
we’re not doing this for us, we have a man to kill and a client to please. The time and money
already invested can’t go to waste over a stupid gut feeling.” Jungkook frowns at his tone.

“We can’t forget that men who survived that one mission we teamed up for are apparently working
with them. They know how we fight, they’ve seen it and they’ve studied us just as much as us
them. I don’t think we’re taking enough men... this entire thing makes me anxious.” he defends his
points, knowing he’d never let Taehyung have his way just because.

“Do you really think they’d start working together? It’s most likely bullshit.”

“It would be a smart move. If it were me then I would—”

“It’s stupid, Jungkook. You’d do that if you were stupid and you’re being stupid now as well. So
don’t be fucking stupid.” Jungkook’s demeanor changes right away, growing defensive even if he
hates it, he doesn’t like fighting Taehyung in the first place.

“I’m going to try and ignore how rude you’re being.” he starts, unconsciously scooting away. “We
don’t even know how many men they have, we should take more with us—”

“That’s more cars, that would only draw attention. There’s no need for that. There’s no point in
changing anything, let’s just get it done.” Taehyung says, tone final.

But Jungkook won’t just give it to him, either. “I don’t want to do it.” he says, firm.

“If you’re so scared then just don’t fucking go.” Jungkook /hates/ how he sounds so much like the
Taehyung from months ago, the one who didn’t care about him or any of his opinions. It makes
him want to either cry or hit him. Or one after the other, that’d be the best option.

“First of all, don’t tell me what to do and second, I’m just /asking/ for us to do it another day
because not only do I feel something uneasy, but I also feel unprepared and if you used to go
unprepared to missions, I don’t, and—”

“We’re not going to lose the money over your hormones acting up.” Jungkook’s jaw falls. “You
can either suck it up and join us or just stay home. Don’t fuck it up for the rest of us.”

“Are you—” he chuckles, visibly fuming. “Whatever. Sleep well, fucking asshole.” Jungkook
insults as he turns off his light, laying down with his back to him. Taehyung rolls his eyes at what
he deems as a childish reaction.

“When you behave like this you really make me regret ever even partnering up.” Taehyung says,
turning off his own light after putting the papers away. He lays down with his back to Jungkook as
well, both as far away from each other as possible.

Jungkook feels even more hurt at those words.

The bed feels way colder that night but neither of them does anything about it.

│►

Jungkook cocks his gun once everyone is out of the car, putting it back inside his waistband and
making sure he has all of his pockets filled with knives he can use. Taehyung holds his forearm
before he can leave the car. “Can we talk after we’re done?” he asks.

“Yeah.” Jungkook whispers.

“Are we good? For now?” Taehyung asks as he cocks his own guns.

Jungkook leans closer, kisses his cheek as a silent promise. “Get out of this alive and we’ll be.”

“You know I don’t die, angel.” Jungkook rolls his eyes with a little smile, cocking his head to the
side, a silent indicator for them to leave and Taehyung gets the hint, so he follows after him, both
giving each other a firm nod before parting ways, followed by their teams.

The mission is fairly simple. On paper, surely, but nothing they haven’t encountered before.

Get in, kill the boss, get out. Simple.

They’re awfully outnumbered, for one, proving Jungkook right but he can’t even think about being
right, can’t even think about the fact that he has no idea how anyone’s doing as he finds himself on
his own. He’s not worried, per se, at least not for himself.

On Taehyung’s side, it’s more controlled. He takes down the target easily, sets fire to the files and
doesn’t bother putting it out. If everything burns down, it’s not his problem. There’s way more
people on the way than when he went inside and they put up a fight. He wastes more bullets than
he was expecting and he’s definitely annoyed.

It turns rougher towards the end but he’s sure he gets almost everyone from his part of the team in
the car either lightly wounded or in good health, though they’re all rushing and he doesn’t have
time to count, he’s sure there’s only two or three missing. Unimportant.

“Is everyone in the cars? We need to get the fuck out of here, there’s way more of them than of
us.” Taehyung hears Yoongi through his earpiece as he closes the door of the car, turning it on as
everyone else buckles up.

“We’re waiting for Mr. Jeon, we don’t know where he is.” Hoseok replies and that has Taehyung
stopping from where he was about to press on the gas. “I don’t know how Mr. Kim’s team did but
our side was a fucking mess, we couldn’t—”

“I’ll get him, get in your cars.” Taehyung interrupts, opening the door in a hurry. He looks back to
the man on the passenger seat. “Take the driver’s seat, wait for my sign the leave.” the man nods,
obeying right away.

Taehyung checks his gun, keeping it at hand as he jogs to where he knows Jungkook should’ve
gone if according to the plan. He wasn’t worried, really, he knows Jungkook can get whatever he
wants done but he comes body across body, identifies some as his own, others he’s never seen
before; a good part he can’t even tell.
And so yeah, he’s worried. Worried because no one knows where Jungkook is and he didn’t reply
through the earpiece either. He finds himself running full speed then, eyes scanning everywhere at
the same time, trying to hear something, trying to spot him.

And nothing.

He’s ready to call for backup and for everyone to hurry the /hell/ up and look for their boss but he
soon sees him once he takes a corner, Jungkook fighting two men with his bare hands. His
shoulders fall with relief as he aims his gun at one of them, shooting him.

Jungkook has the opportunity to grab the other from the back after a good punch and slit his throat
open, pushing him to the floor. They’re both panting as they walk to each other. “Took you long
enough, where the fuck were you?” Jungkook asks, tone worked up.

“I didn’t know I actually had to come and save your ass.” Taehyung takes him with his arms open
when Jungkook stumbles over bodies to run onto him, albeit with a limp, hugging Taehyung as
close as possible. They’re both silent for a moment, eyes closed, just panting into each other’s
necks. “You should really learn how to use a fucking gun.”

“I’m considering… how many dead?”

“I counted eleven on the way here.” Taehyung pulls back, cupping his cheek, checking his face for
any signs of him being hurt. “They didn’t know where you were and I saw all of these bodies, I
honestly thought—”

“I thought something had happened to you, you didn’t fucking— appear and I couldn’t ask, I got
punched in my ear, that shit is broken.” he gestures to his earpiece. “They came from every
direction out of nowhere, I— Fuck, Taehyung, I was so worried.”

“I’m sorry.” Jungkook’s half surprised to hear him say it so easily but allows himself to be hugged
again, his arms around Taehyung’s shoulders, breathing in his cologne. Taehyung’s ok, that’s all he
really cares about now. Not the fight they had the night prior, not the fact that they need to talk.

He’s startled by the sound of a gunshot and he doesn’t move an inch, worry filling up his whole
body again. Was that Taehyung? Did Taehyung get shot? Did /he/ get shot? Certainly not, he
doesn’t feel any pain. He can’t open his eyes, scared shitless it may have been Taehyung.

But Taehyung pulls back, looking down at his legs as he saw him limping moments prior. “Can
you walk?” he asks, not even addressing the man creeping up on them.

“Yeah, my leg hurts but I’m fine.” Jungkook dismisses it. Taehyung kisses his forehead, gesturing
with his head for them to start walking, but Jungkook pulls him back, leans their foreheads
together. “I’m still shaking, I thought something had happened to you.” he whispers.

“I was worried for you too.” Taehyung admits. “Let’s just go, we need to leave.” he offers a hand
that Jungkook takes without a second of hesitation, both walking out of there with their hands
interlocked, Taehyung’s thumb caressing the back of his hand.

“Hey, wait.” Jungkook pulls him into a stop. “You’re not just forgiven, we still need to talk, you
were really mean to me for no reason.” he tells him and Taehyung chuckles.

“I know we do, I—” Jungkook tunes out, his eyes falling to Taehyung’s chest once he sees a red
dot that he /knows/ means Taehyung’s being targeted by someone, a gun pointed right to his heart
and everything turns foggy, everything seems like it goes in slow motion.
He doesn’t have time to think, he just wraps himself around Taehyung, hugging him tight but in a
way to keep his arms trapped as well. There’s five gun shots. He hears them before he feels them,
one after the other, each more painful than the previous one.

Taehyung watches in horror as Jungkook flinches onto him, unable to hold himself up. He falls to
the floor with him, holds him in his arms. “Hey, look at me, look at me.” he half yells, holding
Jungkook’s jaw to force him to meet his eyes.

“They all hit me, fuck this hurts.” Jungkook has a hand on his stomach, where blood is quickly
gushing out and Taehyung can’t think, he can’t process it, can’t wrap his head around the sight
before him. His eyes scan the roof, sees a man running away but he can’t possibly worry about it
when Jungkook’s like that. “T-Tae—”

“I fucking hate you for this, why would you— Fuck, Jungkook.” he stresses, removing the bandana
from his head to press against Jungkook’s wound on his stomach as though it’d help, as if he
hadn’t been shot four other times.

Jungkook groans in pain, eyes threatening to close as his hand grips Taehyung’s shirt for dear life.
“Jeon’s been shot, hurry the fuck up, we’re in the back where the second team went to.” Taehyung
says through his earpiece, removing it as he doesn’t want to hear anyone. He taps Jungkook’s
cheek. “Hey, look at me, you’re ok, you’re going to be fine.”

Jungkook can tell he’s shaking by the hand on his cheek. He tries to speak but he’s interrupted by a
cough, blood making its way out of his mouth. Everything hurts. Everywhere hurts. “I-I don’t think
I’m going to make it…” he tries to say, eyes desperately watching Taehyung’s face taking
everything in, remembering every single inch.

He’s never seen Taehyung that distressed, his resolve that broken.

“Of course you’re going to, shut up.” Taehyung’s voice wavers as he pulls Jungkook closer, a hand
on his cheek. “You’ll be ok, princess, it’s— you— you’ll be ok.” he tries to reassure, rocking him
back and forth. Jungkook tries to smile, linking their fingers, but he only ends up coughing more
blood again, his body starting to shake, going into shock.

“Keep breathing. You’re going to be just fine. We still have to talk, remember? You’re going to be
fine and we’re going to talk and— and we’re going to be fine too.” Jungkook nods, holding
Taehyung’s hand to his chest.

His mind is starting to fog up, it hurts and he knows Taehyung can tell how unfocused his eyes are
by how nervous he’s getting. Jungkook’s never seen him like this. For once, Taehyung has no
control at all over the situation and it’s the worst scenario that could’ve happened.

“Tae?” Jungkook whispers, voice weak, looking up.

Taehyung gulps, panic starting to bubble. “Yeah, princess?”

“I cant.” he chokes on the blood, coughing and spitting some of it, Taehyung trying to lift him a
little to make it easier but moving hurts, everything hurts and he can feel himself growing weaker,
can almost feel his own mind starting to shut off even though he’s trying his best to fight it, even
though he’s trying his best to continue squeezing Taehyung’s hand. “I can’t.” he repeats, voice
scared, airy.

“Why didn’t you wear a fucking vest?!”

Jungkook does smile at that, pearly white teeth now stained with blood. “Who do you think I am?”
he rasps out, breathlessly. Taehyung goes to speak but stops as Jungkook takes a hand to his cheek,
smudging his own blood all over Taehyung’s cheek. “Red… red really looks… good on you.”
Jungkook’s able to say, though he struggles to speak.

“Shut up, just shut up, keep breathing.” Taehyung stresses. Jungkook wheezes, gasping for air, his
hands gripping onto Taehyung’s so tight that he can just feel how desperate Jungkook is, how hard
he’s trying, and it makes /him/ panic. He’s never felt like that in his life, never thought he’d have
to, definitely not like that, definitely for Jeon Jungkook, of all people.

“Shoot me.” Jungkook groans out. “Please. Please, it… huts… so bad.” he lets out a cry, eyes
screwed shut so tight he misses the tear rolling down Taehyung’s cheek.

“I won’t, just— fucking breathe and shut up.” Taehyung lays his forehead against Jungkook’s, his
eyes closed as he tries his hardest not to cry. He can’t. Jungkook’s going to be ok, he’s going to be
ok and they’re going to talk, there’s no reason to crying.

They’re going to be ok.

“I’m really… thankful for… I… I lo…” Jungkook’s voice drags out until he goes quiet and
Taehyung’s eyes open, hurriedly pulling back. Jungkook’s eyes are open but empty, head limp to
the side, the grip he had on Taehyung’s hand loosening.

“No— Princ— Jungkook, hey, look at me.” he taps Jungkook’s cheek. “Don’t— Jungkook, fuck,
open your fucking eyes, I— No, I’m not fucking joking, o-open your eyes.” Taehyung shakes him,
holding his jaw. Jungkook’s eyes remain unfocused. “We need to talk yet, wake the fuck up, you
can’t—”

“Oh, shit—!” he turns back when he hears someone’s voice. “I’m going to get Hoseok and Seokjin,
they’ll— they’re from the medical team, holy fuck—” Taehyung can’t even yell at them for taking
so long as the man is running away again the same second.

They didn’t think it was serious, only sending one person to help carry Jungkook as they thought
was all that was needed.

Taehyung curses everyone out, eyes falling back down to the man in his arms and he takes a hand
to Jungkook’s cheek, his bloody fingers staining Jungkook’s paling skin. He bends down, pressing
a kiss to his lips, hating how he can feel them growing colder already which may be in his head,
but still makes him grip Jungkook’s cheek harder.

“You were right, your stupid gut feeling— I should’ve listened, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.”

“Oh God, he was being serious.” he hears Jimin’s voice soon after but there’s someone else with
him, there’s two people panting and he guesses it’s Yoongi. He’s proven right when the latter steps
closer, tries to pull him up.

“Come here, Tae—” he pushes Yoongi away immediately, positively ignoring the running
footsteps he hears from other men coming to them to help but does look up when Jimin kneels in
front of him, resting his head on Jungkook’s chest, an easy cry already escaping his lips.

Taehyung doesn’t know what to say. What to do. What to think. What to feel.

“I think he’s gone, please carry him as respectfully as possible.” Yoongi whispers his command at
Hoseok and two other who nod right away, even if just as shocked as everyone else there. No one
really knows what to do. “You, please take Jimin to the van, I’ll take Mr. Kim.” he instructs, trying
to think straight as he can tell no one else is able to do.
“Stop, don’t fucking touch him!” Jimin yells when he’s lifted up. “Don’t touch him!”

Taehyung watches as Jungkook’s body falls from his lap with a thud once Jimin’s support
disappears and reality hits him so hard he almost gets whiplash. Jungkook’s not there anymore.
Jungkook’s gone. He doesn’t even try fighting when Yoongi helps him up, he’s just frozen, eyes
on Jungkook’s lifeless body.

“He’s going to be ok.” he raps out, unsure of who he’s trying to tell that, if Yoongi or himself, but
he doesn’t get an answer, only an arm around him to lead him out. “He’s going to be ok.” he
repeats. “He’s going to be ok.” again. “He’s going to be ok.”

│►

Jimin waits until Yoongi closes the office’s door, set on putting Taehyung to bed, and clears his
throat, facing the men in front of him; all shocked some tearing up already. They can see a body
covered by a white blanket and they don’t see Jungkook. It’s not hard to put one and two together,
especially with everyone’s reactions.

“Mr. Jeon has—” Jimin chokes on his own tears. “He has passed. We don’t know how the next
days will be like but please be respectful of the situation… it’s going to be a hard moment for
everyone, but please try to be respectful, alright? You’re all dismissed as of today, you can go
home except who lives here of course…” he tries to speak as firmly as he can, as though his
childhood best friend isn’t lying behind him, lifelessly.

“We need two volunteers to spend the night by the room where we’ll leave Mr. Jeon…” Hoseok
requests and almost all of them immediately raise their hands right away, everyone wanting to be
of help. “You two, can be.” he gestures.

Yoongi closes the bedroom door, Taehyung sitting down on the bed when he turns to him. “How
are you feeling?” he asks, walking closer but still keeping his distance, unsure of what Taehyung
needs. “Are you ok?” Taehyung’s eyes are slow, his whole posture rigid, still in shock.

He drifts his attention from Jungkook’s shoes abandoned in the middle of his bedroom and he
looks up at Yoongi with lost eyes. “We were in a fight.”

“What?” Yoongi whispers, confused.

“We fought last night. I told him I regretted partnering up.” he says, tone void of any emotion and
Yoongi’s shoulders sag at the confession. He runs a stressed hand through his hair before sitting
down in bed next to him. “I didn’t get to say sorry, I— I— Yoongi, I—” Taehyung stops himself,
words caught in his throat.

Yoongi feels like breaking down. He’s never seen Taehyung like that. “I-I’m sure he knew,
Taehyung.” he tries. “I’m sure he knew.”

“He felt bad about the mission, he had a tingle, he told me not to go forward with it and I still did
and now he’s dead and it’s my fucking fault and— oh my fucking—” he places a hand on his chest,
clutching it. “What the fuck is this? My chest suddenly hurts, am I— I’m having a stroke, I think,
what the fuck is this?”

“I-It’s just pain, Tae.” Taehyung looks horrified. Genuinely scared, genuinely confused, and
Yoongi wants to hug him for hours, knowing just how hard it’s going to be for him to deal with his
emotions for the next few days. “You never felt the loss of someone, it’s— it’s just pain, you’re
not having a stroke.”
“Get me a bottle of something, whiskey or vodka, I don’t fucking care, I can’t take this, I don’t
want to take this.” he gestures to his chest, referring to the agonizing sting he feels. “Hurry!”
Yoongi shudders, getting up.

“I’ll be right back.”

│►

Taehyung stumbles out of his bed, steading himself and grabbing the half empty bottle of whiskey
from his nightstand. Yoongi’s curled up in his bed, having fallen asleep keeping an eye on him,
and Taehyung leaves without looking back.

He’s still a little drunk, if not completely, so it takes him a little longer than usual to walk through
the hallways, uncaring that he’s in pajamas, hair most likely the biggest mess ever. There’s two of
his men standing by the door as he expected. “Step aside.” he tells them.

“Sir, we shouldn’t… Park told us not to let you in.” one of them says. Taehyung can’t and won’t
even try to remember their names. He doesn’t care to, either.

“Open the damn door.” Taehyung orders and they sigh, getting out of the way. One of them uses
his key to unlock it, pushing it open just enough. Taehyung walks closer, his feet stopping as soon
as he looks inside. There’s only one small light on, a few candles as well.

“Why isn’t he covered?” he asks, angry.

“I-I’m sorry?”

“It’s cold, why isn’t he covered?” Taehyung repeats his question, gesturing with the hand holding
the bottle. The two men exchange a weird look before one of them clears his throat.

“Sir, he can’t feel the c—” Taehyung’s expression shifts into one of pure anger and the other man
elbows him, so he clears his throat before speaking again “I’ll just go get a blanket, I’ll be right
back.” he informs before leaving.

“Could you let me know if Yoongi or Jimin decide to come here?” he requests at the man that is
left there. “I don’t want to deal with either of them.”

“Of course, sir, absolutely.” Taehyung hums, turning to leave, but he’s stopped. “Sir, if you allow
me to, I’d like to say something…” he starts, a little hesitant, but Taehyung just sighs, giving him
the shortest of the nods before he takes a sip from his bottle. “I’m sorry for your loss, I know it’s
terrible for everyone, sir, but it’s most definitely worse for you… I lost my wife, that’s why I’m
here now, and I really understand the pain of the loss.”

“How do you not— hurt?” he asks, tone quiet, a lot different from what everyone’s used to.

“I do, sir. Everyday. But it gets more bearable overtime and you’ll be ok eventually.” the man
explains, eyes understanding. “Just because I’m still hurting, doesn’t mean I haven’t processed and
haven’t moved on from it. You’ll feel that too, sir.”

Taehyung’s eyes are on the floor as he nods and he just takes another sip. “Why would he be the
same as your wife?”

“Sir, everyone knows…” he looks around, clearly nervous. “We knew about you and Mr. Jeon
being uh, being together and—”
“They don’t know anything. And neither do you. You don’t know shit.” Taehyung stumbles when
he takes a step back. “I appreciate your empathy, but one more word about him from your mouth,
or one word to anyone else about tonight, and I’ll make sure you don’t have a tongue to speak
with.” the man’s shoulders sag, guilty.

“Yes, sir, I’m sorry.” they’re interrupted by the other one returning, holding a warm blanket that he
hands Taehyung who takes it without even a word, simply getting into the room and closing the
door with a bang.

Taehyung chugs down three gulps of whiskey before he approaches Jungkook’s pale body, steps
slow and hesitant. “H-Hi, princess…” he whispers, placing the bottle down so that he can cover
Jungkook with the blanket, trying to ignore the ugly feeling back inside his chest. He doesn’t
understand it, he doesn’t know how to feel it.

He’s had some hours to think, the alcohol making it a little harder to rationalize but easier to
process, and he still has no idea of what to think, has no idea of what to feel, has no idea of what to
do. For once in a very long time, he doesn’t know what to do.

It’s terrifying.

He raises his hand, tentatively touching Jungkook’s cheek. He’s cold. He used to be warm all the
time. It’s weird, it’s wrong. He shouldn’t be cold. It has him taking two big sips from his bottle
again before he can lay his eyes on the man.

“You were right. We shouldn’t have done it, we should’ve stayed put. Y-You would… still be here
if we did, with me… I—uh— I miss you, so much… This is so stupid, it’s been a couple of hours,
what am I even saying, I don’t miss you, I just don’t—” he stops. He doesn’t know anymore. Does
he miss Jungkook? Surely that wouldn’t make any sense. He’s been gone for only a few hours.
“You’d insult me if I told you this directly, wouldn’t you? I actually wouldn’t mind listening to
your bitchy whiny ass right now…” he says with a little awkward chuckle.

Usually Jungkook would frown at that, his lips would pout at the light insult, demand an
apologetic kiss, perhaps even slap Taehyung’s arm. He doesn’t do anything this time. It’s not
possible for him to do anything this time.

That’s the second time he realizes that Jungkook is really gone. A tear rolls down his cheek,
unwanted, unexpected. He doesn’t cry, it’s something that just doesn’t happen, so why does it roll
down so easily?

“I’ve learned a lot from you in the past few months… from that bitchy, sassy, whiny Mafia leader
that stormed through my doors trying to order me around— I learned a lot and I felt a lot that I
haven’t before which is fucking unfair because why would—” he slurs, cursing at himself before
he drinks more. He doesn’t want to /feel/ anything. “I hate you for showing me how to care for
someone, I hate you for showing me what’s like to be cared for. Why the fuck would you show me
that only to leave when I finally want someone to stay?!” he almost yells, though his voice gets
caught in his throat and he feels the urge to cry.

Why does he even want to cry? People have died before. He knows people only die for their own
choices, their own mistakes, he’s never been upset, never shed a tear for anyone.

Takes one look at Jungkook’s pale body, his chapped lips, to know the answer to that. Jungkook’s
not people, Jungkook’s not just anyone. It’s Jungkook. There’s no comparison.

“I was mean to you, not just last night, but— especially last night and I never got to tell you how
sorry I was, I never got to know what you wanted to talk about… you said it was urgent, I wonder
what it was. You looked worried. I never liked to see you worried, I very much preferred to see
your smile. It— It made my day. You made my day like— every day. This is fucking
embarrassing, what am I saying…” he wipes his tears away with the back of his hand.

He can’t possibly accept the feeling crawling up to his chest, he’s not going to feel the pain, he’s
not like that, he knows he can get through that, he just has to accept it and move on. It’s as simple
as that.

“I saw his face.” he says, his hand caressing Jungkook’s cheek. “I saw his face and I promise you
that he’s going to pay for this.” Taehyung says through gritted teeth, his free hand balling up in a
tight fist. “He’s going to pay for taking you away from— from me.”

“Sir…” he turns to the door, Jimin standing by it and he has half the mind to shoot those guarding
the room for not alerting him. “Sir, I—” Jimin stops, closing the door behind himself before he
walks closer, looking up at Taehyung in silence for a few seconds, mustering the courage to just
hug him, which he does after realizing his eyes are red.

To his surprise, Taehyung hugs back. Jimin doesn’t know if it’s the alcohol or the pain, but
whatever it is, makes him hug Taehyung even tighter because he knows for sure, if he’s hugging
/him/, he’s surely struggling. He’s proven right when he hears a sniff.

Taehyung breaks down then. In Jimin’s arms, of all people.

“We have to go, we— we have to let him rest.” Jimin whispers, rubbing Taehyung’s back.

“He didn’t know.” Taehyung whispers back. “He didn’t— know.”

And Jimin gets it. “He did. He knew.” he tries, a tear rolling down his own cheek. “He knew.”

“I never fucking told him, Park, I—”

“It’s a feeling, not a word. He felt it.” Jimin pulls backs, hands itching to wipe away Taehyung’s
cheeks. He’s never seen a single emotion in the man’s face, it feels like someone else is standing
before him. Taehyung looks… messy. A mess. “I knew him since we were kids. I could read him
better than myself. He knew. He knew, Taehyung. You didn’t tell him but you did better. You
showed him.” he swallows the lump in his throat as he watches Taehyung fix the blanket now
covering Jungkook’s body.

There’s something just so insanely tragic to see that happen and he has to cover his mouth with his
palm to muffle a sob. That’s his best friend’s lifeless body being covered by the only person he’s
ever been well taken care of by.

“W-We have to leave him. We have to let him go, let him rest.” Jimin reminds.

Taehyung caresses Jungkook’s cheek with a shaky hand, three words stuck inside his throat that he
just can’t let out, not like that, not when Jungkook’s not /there/ to hear them like he should be, like
he deserved to be. So he just strokes his cheek again, taking in every single inch of his face,
making sure to remember it all, take it all in, before he steps back with the bottle back on his lips
the whiskey easily going down his throat.

Jimin steps closer, pressing a long kiss to Jungkook’s forehead. “Rest well, Kook.” he whispers,
shaky hands grabbing the end of the blanket. “We’ll miss you.” Taehyung closes his eyes when
Jimin pulls the blanket over Jungkook’s head, covering him up completely. “You were the most
amazing person I’ve ever met, I’ll never forget you.”
Taehyung doesn’t say it but with a new tear rolling down he can admit that yeah.

He feels the same.

│►

Taehyung looks up when there’s a knock to his room, Yoongi using his given key to enter holding
an envelope and a new bottle of whiskey as Taehyung has requested. “Can I come in?” Taehyung
just nods, watching as he steps closer and holds his hand out, offering the envelope.

“What’s that?” he asks, voice rough.

“Jimin gave this to me.” Yoongi starts as he sits down on the bed “Apparently Mr. Jeon had a safe
in case he died… this was there. It’s for you. Jimin has read his already and Hoseok’s with him
because he won’t stop crying his lungs out.” he tries to joke with a breathless chuckle but
immediately looks down. “You should read it.”

“I don’t want to. You can take it.”

Yoongi gapes. “You do want to.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Bullshit.” Taehyung’s eyebrows furrow, frustrated, hand still holding another bottle of liquor he
was having. Anything to keep the pain away, anything to keep him from feeling. “I know you and I
know you fucking— cared for him more than all of us. I know you want to know what he had to
tell you. You’re just scared. And don’t try to tell me you’re not.” he quickly adds when Taehyung
opens his mouth. “You’re scared because you don’t know what to feel.”

“I— You don’t know anything.” Taehyung tries, opening the cap of the bottle. “I can’t read that
myself, I just can’t. I don’t expect you to understand.” the only one that ever did is now laying on a
table, he almost adds but refrains.

“I had to read Jimin’s for him, he couldn’t get past the first line. I understand.” Yoongi whispers,
looking down at the envelope. “Do you… want me to? Read it for you, I mean.” Taehyung looks
at him for a moment, unsure. He doesn’t want Yoongi to know what Jungkook wanted to say to
him and to him only but he also knows himself. He won’t be able to read it without burning or
ripping the letter apart and he owes Jungkook to know what he had to say. He owes him that,
especially when he’s the single reason why he’s now gone.

Almost as if Yoongi could hear his thoughts, he adds, “It’s going to be like I don’t know anything
in here, I’ll never comment on this. You know I won’t.”

Taehyung nods, taking a few good sips. “Read it.”

Yoongi clears his throat as he opens the envelope, smiling at the first line. “Hey… and then there’s
bitch, baby and Taehyungie crossed out, he’s settled for Taehyung so… Hey, Taehyung, it reads.”
he starts, his hands shaking just a little. “I can’t believe I’m really adding something to Kim
Taehyung to my safe but if you didn’t get something in case I died, I’d never forgive myself, so
I’m writing this now. I can’t write letters, by the way, so I hope you understand whatever mess
comes out of here.” Yoongi gulps. “You’re sleeping right now, next to me, so I’m trying to write as
gently as possible, but it’s going to be messy as fuck, I don’t know exactly what I want to write
so… I’ll see.”

Taehyung takes another sip. Jungkook was fucking adorable.

“Did you know you look really cute when you’re sleeping? Has everyone ever told you that? Have
you ever even stayed the night with someone? I hope not. I like being the only one you’ve done
these things with. It makes me feel special.” Yoongi runs a shaky hand through his hair, his heart
breaking with each word he reads.

He had no idea they were this serious about each other. It makes it all so much hurtful.

“You look peaceful like this, as if the entire world isn’t on your shoulders right now, like you don’t
hold the lives of so many men in your hands. You look relaxed, it’s ethereal. I still want to hit you
for the way you treated me just hours ago but I haven’t been able to sleep and I feel like I’ve
forgotten you already.”

Another sip. Jungkook’s heart was bigger than the world itself.

“I wanted to tell you something today, and if I’m right, and you have this letter right now, I want
you to know that I’m so proud of you. I’m proud of how open you have become with me. I know
how much you struggle with letting your heart be touched. I’ve seen the pressure behind your eyes
when it comes to open up. I see everything you hide from everyone. You’ve opened up your heart
to me, I hope, and I’m so proud of you.”

Yes, yes I did, Taehyung wants to say but, instead, he only takes another sip.

He can’t let that creeping feeling inside his chest win.

“Don’t stop doing that after I’m gone. I’ve seen how relaxed and happy you can be, I want that for
you. I’m sorry if I broke your heart through this, but please let it feel again, be loved again. I want
you to have the happy ending I dreamed of, even if it isn’t with me. If one day, you find someone
else, or you realize you think less about me, I want you to know it’s okay. You can. You can forget
me. You might think now that you won’t. But if you do, that’s okay. I want you happy, Tae, that’s
the only legacy I truly need. Just be happy. I—” Yoongi stops abruptly as his eyes read the next
lines. “Shit, Tae, fucking hell.” he curses, wiping his tears with the collar of his shirt.

“Go on.” is all Taehyung says and one look is enough for Yoongi to know he’s holding back. Be it
tears, rage, sadness or simply a long lasted yell, he doesn’t know. “Go on.” he repeats.

Yoongi clears his throat. “I love you.” Taehyung gulps. “There, I said it. I love you, Kim
Taehyung, you fucking ass.” Yoongi takes a brief look at the other, knowing just how horrible it
must be to hear such confession in such context.

Taehyung has his eyes closed and his head resting back against the headboard so he can’t even tell
how he’s feeling but, if the shaky hand holding the bottle is anything to go by, he’ll guess he’s as
close to tears as Yoongi is himself.

He lets out a shaky exhale before continuing. “I love your stupid fucking smile whenever you
know you’ve got your way. I love the way your jaw ticks when I rile you up and you try to hide it.
I love your eyes and how honest they are. I love your hair, I love your hands when they ̶— uh,
choke me or hold my hand, I love your voice and how low it can get when you’re working. I love
seeing you in a different light. I love seeing you vulnerable. I love your sleeping face. I love how
gentle you are. I love how you openly wear how you feel when you’re with me. I love seeing how
your eyes light up when you see me. I love hearing your stories, your laugh, your anger. I just love
you. Which is crazy. You were my enemy for years and I’m writing you a letter about how much I
love you and how much I’m terrified of death now because I don’t want to lose this. Doesn't make
sense.” it pains him. Each word.
Taehyung doesn’t bother wiping away his fallen tear. Jungkook saw him for who he is and he took
him in, held him, accepted him. Took his time to understand him. Jungkook truly loved him and
Taehyung knows that’s what he’s been stopping himself from saying, he knows, he’s felt
Jungkook’s love for him and he can’t accept that he’s gone.

That’s all gone.

He’s grown used to have Jungkook there, Jungkook whining for his attention, Jungkook whining
for kisses, Jungkook clinging onto him, Jungkook smiling, Jungkook nagging him. Jungkook. Just
Jungkook. And he’s gone now. It’s unfair. Someone like Jungkook deserved the best.

Deserved to be loved just as much and even more.

He opens his eyes at what Yoongi says next. “And I know you love me too.” his heart beats faster
at that, hopeful. He knew? “I know because I feel it in the way you hold me, the way you make the
effort to say things you struggle to express. I know you love me because of how you see me
compared to everyone else, you ask me how I feel, you care for how I feel. We fought not long ago
and I know you’re probably going to wake up in a couple of hours acting tough like I don’t feel
you playing with my hair and caressing my face when you thought I was asleep. I heard you
apologize. You’re forgiven but I won’t tell you that. I also realized that maybe you’re the softie,
not me.” that makes Yoongi chuckle, sadly.

Taehyung chuckles too, wiping his tears with the sleeve of Jungkook’s hoodie. It’s comfortable, he
has to give Jungkook that. He was never the guy to wear hoodies but he can see himself wearing
Jungkook’s to sleep now. Pathetic. He knows. But they smell like him.

“…struggle to act like you care. But I know.” he curses at himself for missing the start. “I felt it
when you kissed me. I love your kisses too, by the way. But, Taehyung, I know you struggle with
love and I’m so happy, and so thankful that you love me. I don’t know how we got here, one
minute I wanted you dead, the next I was sucking your dick and the next I’m writing you a letter in
case I’m gone tomorrow. I don’t know how we got here, but I’m so glad we did. Even if our time
got cut short.”

The more Yoongi reads the more he feels like he shouldn’t be reading any of that, it all feels too
personal and he can tell by Taehyung’s well masked reactions that it’s news for him as well, even
if not entirely, and he feels like he’s overstepping. But he knows Taehyung too well to know that
he’d do something stupid to the letter if he read it himself.

So he continues. “I made a letter for Jimin years ago, he’s the new leader of my group. I hope
you’re able to find a way to work with him. He’s been my best friend since I wore diapers… he
means a lot. Please help him claim my spot. We’ve seen our numbers make us stronger. We make
each other stronger. Use that to protect yourself and each other, Tae. You know how.”

Taehyung half wants to follow Jungkook with the new information.

“I love you and I hope you don’t hurt for too long. I don’t want you hurt. Grieve me all you need
to, but please be healthy, be happy, live your life and love it. I’m right here, in this letter, by your
side. I’ve got your back. I’m here with you every day and every day I’m going to love you. Every
day I’m going watch over you, protect you. You’re never alone, Tae. I’m always here. I love you
so much. I’m so sorry. You’re forgiven for the fight, you’re forgiven for everything. I love you.
Make me proud. I still hope you never get this fucking letter, I want to tell you these words myself
after the mission and I want to hear them back. With love, always. Your only princess, Jungkook.
And— And he drew a heart.” Yoongi finally finishes, voice rough with tears.
He takes his time folding the letter again, placing it back inside the envelope, eyes trying not to
stare too much at Taehyung as he can hear him sniffing. He knows he’s crying, hell, so is he, and
he can’t imagine what’s like to lose someone you love, especially in their case.

“He’s right, you know.” Taehyung says, a pained chuckle following. “I do love him.” it feels
almost freeing, saying those words. “I’m such a fucking coward for never telling him.”

“Well… he knew. He knew you did. Do.” Yoongi tries, placing the letter on the bedside table in
case Taehyung wants to read it again. “I didn’t know you two were this serious… I could tell you
were definitely close but— not love close.”

“He just knows his way in and it’s impossible to keep him out, he’s— fucking precious, I can’t
believe he’s gone. He should’ve never stepped in front of me, what the hell was he thinking?!”
Yoongi gulps, watching as a tear rolls down Taehyung’s cheek. “Is this weird, ugly fucking feeling
in my chest not going to leave? I don’t want this.”

“I don’t know, Tae, I’ve never lost anyone like this. And— And this is the first person that makes
you feel anything at all… you have to— you have to learn to understand how to accept pain in
order to overcome it. There’s no other way to.”

“I don’t fucking want it, he should be here.”

Yoongi wipes his tears away before scooting closer. “You’re not alone, okay? We’re all here, we—
we will all help you thro—”

“Leave.” Yoongi shudders, confused. “Get out, leave, leave my goddamn room!” he yells, voice
raspy, pained, raw. “Get out!” again.

“Tae, I—”

“Get the fuck out!” he yells. “Please…” his voice breaks then. “Please leave me alone.” Yoongi
nods, albeit hesitant, before getting up.

“Will you be alright?” Taehyung just nods. “Please call me if you need, don’t— don’t hesitate.
This is a shitty moment for everyone but I’m here. We’re all here.”

Taehyung scoffs once the door is closed. Why should he care that they’re there?

They’re not who he wants.

He grabs the letter, opening it. His eyes search for those words and those words only, as if to make
sure Yoongi read it correctly. “I love you. There, I said it. I love you, Kim Taehyung, you fucking
ass.” he reads to himself before clutching the letter against his chest, allowing the pain to take over
as he can’t fight it anymore.

It’s too much.

“I love you. I love you too.” he says, to himself, to no one, he doesn’t know.

He just wants Jungkook there, the only person he’s ever cared for.

And now, for a mistake he did, Jungkook’s not there and he’ll never be again.

│►

Three days. He doesn’t leave his room for three days.

No one dares asking, not one dares trying to drag him out.

Yoongi does force him to eat at least one meal a day, promises to have everything in control with
the team, promises he doesn’t have to worry about anything but recovering. It’s easier said than
done, especially when it’s so hard for him to even accept love in the first place.

It’s hard to accept that he’s in love when he’s never felt it before. He didn’t feel butterflies with
Jungkook like the latter has said love created, he felt ecstatic and excited, felt extremely calm too,
but not butterflies. He didn’t feel everything Jungkook listed but Jungkook also said love works
differently to everyone. That’s true. Three days are more than enough for him to get to the final
conclusion that whatever love is, it’s definitely true and a lot harder to feel than to explain. Love is
tough.

It’s tough to understand love and even tougher to accept that it’s gone to never return. It’s tough to
accept that Jungkook will never return. He’ll never barge into his office again, will never sit
himself on his lap and demand his attention again.

They’ll never kiss again.

One doesn’t give things enough value until they’ve lost it, Taehyung never felt how true that is.

Everyone’s quiet in the cafeteria when he gets there, Jungkook’s loss affecting everyone, even
those who still tried to act as though they didn’t even like him that much. Everyone did. They all
bow to their boss once he approaches, Taehyung fixing his suit, trying to look composed.

“You two, in my office.” he points both at Yoongi and Jimin before walking out and he hears them
following right away. They all sit down by the desk, the three of them showcasing the deepest of
the dark circles, eyes an everlasting red. “Jimin, I heard the news, I would congratulate you but I
wish they were under better circumstances where you take the spot.”

“Thank you, sir.” Jimin bows in his still sitting position.

“I called the both of you because I have to know the news. Everything. Tell me what you know.”
he requests, though it’s a firm order and Yoongi clears his throat before speaking.

“It’s been confirmed, the man you saw in the roof and that shot him is indeed the one that escaped
that mission that brought us together. We managed to get files and eye witnesses...” he explains
and they both gulp when they see Taehyung’s eyes welling up as he runs a stressed hand through
his hair. On top of it, he looks terrifyingly angry.

“He saw this coming, I’m so fucking stupid.” he curses himself.

“There’s— There’s no use blaming yourself... it was no one’s fault, no one could’ve guessed.”

Taehyung bites down his teeth, exhaling through his nose. “He has to pay for what he did. We’re
hunting him down. I don’t care what it takes or who stands in the way. I want a location, a lead,
anything. But I want him alive.” he says, tone dark, eyes darker.

Jimin furrows his eyebrows. “Alive? Sir, there’s no more information he could gi—”

“Not information. I want him alive.”

“Why?” they ask at the same time.

“Because a quick death is too merciful for him. I’ll make sure he fucking pays for each bullet he
 shot, for the blood he drew, for the life he took.” Jimin’s always been scared of him, truth be said,
but he doesn’t think he’s even seen him like that. That dark. That angry.

Yoongi gapes. “Tae, you just lost your... I don’t know what to refer to Mr. Jeon as in this context
but— someone really, really important to you. You should take a break, we’ll control everything
for a while... you should— you should take a break. For yourself. For him.”

Jimin chews on his cheek. “He’s always wanted to visit Fr—”

“Don’t you fucking dare.” Taehyung interrupts.

But Jimin goes on. “So you know? You should do that. For him. For yourself too, you need that
break, sir. Just take a break, take care of yourself, we’ll control things here.”

“For him, I’ll think about it. After I fucking make that son of a bitch pay for what he did. He’s
going to regret ever stepping in our way.” Taehyung gets up, fixing his suit. “That’s none of your
concern. Clear out the basement too, we’ll need the room. You’re dismissed.”

“Taehyung, sit down—” but he’s already walking out, looking down at one of Jungkook’s
necklaces around his wrist, fist balling up in anger, pain, a mix of both, a mix of everything else.

“He’ll pay for what he did.” Taehyung says through gritted teeth. “I won’t rest until he does.” he
adds. “But you do, princess, rest, as I make sure that cunt gets what he deserves and your memory
lives on.”

Because it will.

As long as Taehyung is alive, Jungkook will live on.

He’ll make sure of that.

And he’ll never forget him. The man who saw him for him. The man who loved him.

The man who he will never not love.

Jungkook.

│►

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Chapter End Notes

So... let's discuss...

And now that we've come to an end... this has really been a ride to write, took so many
turns that I wasn't expecting when I started, this wasn't even supposed to have MCD
but I'm really happy with that ksks (which, if I was able to make one (1) person tear up
then this has all been worth it.

I never really write nsfw so writing an au half based on it was kinda challenging
despite the many blue balls I gave y'all through this.

I do have to say, though, that their character development was really cool to write, so I
really enjoyed the process of this au... and I hope you have enjoyed it as well <3

Feel free to check my other aus!

 ◄│ EXTRA │►
Chapter Notes

I decided to write a little extra to this as some people wondered if Taehyung would
ever go on to respect Jungkook's wishes and so here it is. It's a little short but I think
it's a good length for just an extra ((: Hope you enjoy it!

I'm not going to tag this as it's not part of the main story but in this extra, please
beaware of:
— There's a few brief mentions of drug use.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Taehyung sniffs, wipes his nose with his thumb, his eyes closed as he feels the substance getting
into his system. He swipes the remains of the white powder from the table, uncaring that it falls to
the floor, before reaching for a cigarette.

He throws the lighter to the side, eyes blinking a few times to focus properly. He looks at the
balcony ahead, the Eiffel Tower standing out from the city view. It’s a great view for a hotel room,
he has to give them that. Maybe the prize is justified after all.

“Come back to bed…” the young man whispers by his ear as his arms wrap around Taehyung’s
torso, hands feeling up his abdomen ever so slowly.

“We’re done here, leave my room.” Taehyung says instead, eyes never once leaving the outside.
He doesn’t even want to look at the other, never once did from the moment they got into the room;
kisses weren’t allowed and he made sure to keep the man facing down on the bed.

“Oh, don’t be like that, a second round sound—”

“If I repeat myself, it’s going to be to a corpse. Get your fucking self out of my room. I’m warning
you.” Taehyung gets up from the chair, walks to the balcony in nothing but underwear, cigarette
between his fingers.

“Hey, who are you talking to?!” the other asks instead of doing as told, and Taehyung bites down
his teeth when he’s turned around. “You can’t just—”

“You have fifteen seconds to leave before I get my gun and kill you. You’re the one who has no
fucking idea who you’re talking to.” Taehyung’s voice sounds deeper now, easily towering over
the shorter male that walks back with every step closer Taehyung takes.

“You— You have a gun?”

“One word about it and I’ll make sure to kill everyone you love.” the man gasps, nods, hurriedly
looking for his clothes to put them on. He leaves without another word and Taehyung sighs, runs a
hand through his hair before letting himself fall back onto the mattress, eyes closed, cigarette now
between his lips. The bed smells like cologne that isn’t his and he doesn’t like it, he’ll make sure to
demand new sheets in the morning.

He puts the cigarette out, eyes now on the shiny necklace hanging from his wrist. Jungkook’s
necklace. “Sorry, princess.” he whispers, touching one of the diamonds. “He kind of looked like
you from the back. Don’t be mad at me.” Taehyung says with another sigh, hugging the pillow.

Sleep will ease the pain in his chest for a few hours, at least. It always does, except when he ends
up dreaming of a time Jungkook was still with him, or when it tricks him into creating forged
memories from that doomed day, ones where Jungkook makes it out alive.

On those days, it’s a lot harder to wake up.

Taehyung sighs, hugs his pillow. “I wish you were here.” he whispers into nothing, eyes closing
shut. He should be asleep already, wants to meet his mark the following day, go everywhere he
listed off, every place Jungkook mentioned and he wishes he had paid more attention.

He didn’t care to remember each place; assumed that if he ever did end up in France, it would be
from being dragged there, not like this. Never like this. He was only ever supposed to visit the
country /with/ Jungkook, not by himself. He never pictured this scenario.

Visiting the places Jungkook wanted to see is the closest thing he can do now to make Jungkook’s
dream a reality as he still feels him around, it’s like Jungkook’s always there. Except he’s not, and
Taehyung’s always alone in bed at night, thinking about all the times he complained about how
tightly Jungkook used to cling onto him.

He should’ve appreciated him a lot more, Jungkook was too good to have such an ending. He was
too nice, too understanding, his heart was immense — despite everything. He didn’t deserve it.

Taehyung deserved it way more.

With one last sighs, he hugs the pillow to his chest in order to drift to sleep.

Sleeping has become a hard thing to do.

│►

The Eiffel Tower turns out to be nowhere near as exciting as Jungkook claimed it to be. Way too
many steps, to begin with. He thinks about giving up after less than fifty, but he knows for a fact
Jungkook would be holding his hand, would be climbing those steps excitedly, would tell him to
hurry up and stop complaining — because he knows himself, he’d definitely be complaining.

But Jungkook would be happy and that’s all that matters.

He climbs all the way to the top, has to do his absolute best not to shoot every single couple he
spots. Just because. He was never one to feel jealous over things but, seeing them hold each other
close makes his blood boil. Even if it’s not fair.

The view is /ok/, he supposes. It’s still morning so he can see almost everything. The ground all the
way down there looks extremely inviting as well. Jungkook wouldn’t be happy, though. He made
Jungkook sad way too much when he was alive, disappointed him enough times.

It’s with a sigh that he steps away from the ledge.

Taehyung makes sure to at least glare at everyone he walks past on his way down. Fucking stairs.

He knocks against someone’s shoulder, totally not on purpose as the guy looks sickeningly in love
with the girl whose hand he’s holding onto as they climb up and he doesn’t even look back to
apologize; even if the other does, spewing some words in French that he doesn’t comprehend.
He only knows how to say ‘yes’ and that’s about it.

His eyes fall to the necklace around his wrist. “Happy?” he whispers. “You’ve been to the Eiffel
Tower, I climbed all those fucking stairs for you, happy?” knowing Jungkook would a hundred
percent be pouty and complain about how negative he is makes his mood deteriorate even further.
Jungkook should be here. He should be here.

The next thing he does is purchase a padlock.

He remembers vividly Jungkook sitting on his lap in the office, talking his ears off about all of the
plans he had for them when the time came to visit Paris — Taehyung did act uninterested, didn’t
stop working, didn’t reply with anything other than a few hums here and there, but he did listen.

Jungkook planned on visiting one of the bridges and leave a lock with their initials on it, a practice
that has become illegal but it’s not like they’ve ever — really, ever — cared for or respected the
law. Taehyung only hummed back then, told him how stupid it was.

He remembers Jungkook getting upset over that; he didn’t say a word, only leaned his head on
Taehyung’s shoulder and tried to help him with work, but Taehyung knew him too well, he knew
he had gotten hurt over that. He was, after all, a hopeless romantic.

Taehyung hates himself for not having appreciated him more. He should’ve showed it more,
should’ve given him all the attention he wanted, should’ve taken care of him harder, should’ve
been way nicer than he was. How he regrets it.

The old man at the hardware store has broken English and it shouldn’t be as annoying as it is but it
really makes Taehyung want to shoot him and take the damn lock, however, he wants to remain
lowkey. Killing someone would be too much of a hassle during what should be a vacation week.
He doesn’t want to have to leave the city sooner than planned.

He leans against the railing on his elbows, watching the small boats on the river sway with the
movements of the water and he sighs. When has he become /this/? Part of him wants to throw
Jungkook’s necklace down into the river, book a flight and go back home, back to work, get
himself together and stop thinking about someone who’s dead.

The other part knows he’d end up hating himself even more at night, when his thoughts consume
him, when Jungkook’s in his dreams. If he could go back in time, he doesn’t know if he’d cancel
the stupid mission they went on or just kill Jungkook the first time he saw him. Everything would
remain the same, isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that exactly what he’d want?

He’d never let some guy with big eyes and a warm smile creep his way into his heart, he’d still not
care for anyone, would be able to remain focused on work, would have whoever he wanted.

Wouldn’t have to listen to whines, rants, wouldn’t have to shed layers of himself, wouldn’t have to
/care/ and it sounds amazing, sounds just like what old Taehyung would want. Present Taehyung,
on the other hand, isn’t so sure if that’s what he’d do.

He knocks those thoughts off, gets the lock from his pocket. He’s already written their initials
down, despite cringing every second it took him. There’s a tap on his shoulder before he can close
it and he turns with an eyebrow raised.

The woman’s wearing some sort of uniform, Taehyung has noticed a lot of security around the city
but didn’t care enough to try to find the reason behind that. He thinks he vaguely remembers
Jungkook commenting on how they’d have to careful of them.
He only gives her a look when the lady says something. Then she clears her throat, takes a step
closer. “English?” still no answer, but he does give her a nod. “You can’t put that there, it’s not
permitted anymore, we can’t let any be added to the ones there already.” she says.

“And who’s going to stop me?” Taehyung straightens up, easily towering over her. “You with that
rubber bullets gun?” he points, her eyes following his finger.

“Well, yes. You’ll get fined if you put that there.” she crosses her arms, defensive. Taehyung
chuckles. “This isn’t a joke—”

“Listen, sweetheart, I’m going to turn back around and I’m going to hang this stupid lock there and
you’ll go around with your day, hm? We’ll avoid further complications here.” his smile falls as he
steps even closer, his tone dropping. “Or you can /try/ to stop me and I’d have to do things that
would ruin my vacation… and you don’t want to see me angry.”

“I can literally call for backup right now.”

“But you won’t.” he challenges, his hand raising just enough to press a finger under her chin, lift
her head higher. “Are we going to do this the hard way or—?”

She looks away, pulls back. “Just hang the stupid lock.”

“Good choice.” Taehyung turns back to the bridge, locks it in place. He can still feel her stand
behind him and he has to stop himself from speaking, settles for thinking about how Jungkook
would’ve been so happy hanging that damn padlock like it means anything at all.

He curses to himself, turns back to her. “Done?”

“Fuck off.” Taehyung fixes his jacket, walking away the same second. She’d just dragged his
mood down even lower, he didn’t think that was possible. He’s already hating the stupid vacation,
he should’ve stayed home, what was he even thinking?

He figures he can just go back to the hotel and continue the next day. There’s still almost a week to
go and he’s sure he’ll have time to see everything Jungkook would want to see. He just wishes he
wasn’t doing it by himself, he wishes Jungkook was the one dragging him to places.

He hates how emotional he gets just thinking about him. He was never like that.

Strangely enough, he’d rather be sad than let go of Jungkook’s memory.

Only makes him hate it even more.

│►

Taehyung takes another sip from his bottle, putting it down on the nightstand as he wipes his
mouth with the back of his hand. He eyes the young woman kneeling on the bed with his vision
getting a little blurry but he’s still sober enough. She lays back once he steps closer. “There’s one
rule.” he speaks up. “No kisses.”

“Why not?” the girl, whose name he didn’t care to register, pouts and he knows she’s trying to
appeal to his good side but he doesn’t really have one, so it flies right past him.

“Because I said so.” Taehyung shrugs, kneeling on the mattress next to her lying body as he rolls
up his sleeves. She just watches, her clothes already discarded somewhere for her to find later,
because Taehyung really just won’t care to help look for anything. “Turn around.” he orders, tone
serious, demanding.

One thing he can’t help but to compare every single time is how everyone just does what he says
immediately, too lost in the moment, and part of him — if not his whole self — misses dealing
with Jungkook’s brattiness. It was so entertaining. Irritating at times, sure, but it kept him riled up.
It feels almost dull now.

And it happens again then, the girl simply turns to lay on her stomach without saying a word.
Boring. “Why, though?” she turns her face to the side, biting her bottom lip. “Is it to keep me from
kissing you?”

He chuckles. “Amongst other things.” like not seeing your face, he almost says. He could say it,
there’s nothing to lose.

“Are you dating someone?”

“There’s two rules, not one. The second rule is that I don’t do talk, we’re not here to bond.” she
rolls her eyes, lifting herself on her knees.

“Do something then, please.” again, boring. It’s /boring/ how easily people just say that word, it’s
not even exciting to get them to say it, it just comes so naturally it turns him off. Jungkook would
never just say please without a fight. One he’d always lose, but one he’d never turn down.

What happens next is almost muscle memory, his mind isn’t really there and he’s not quite
enjoying himself, but the alcohol does make it a little easier to get lost in the moment and he just
focuses on her rather than thinking about what /he’s/ doing otherwise he’ll feel guilty and he’ll
have to kick her out before they finish.

Next time he gets a grip on his thoughts, she’s kneeling on the floor as he sits on the edge of the
bed, just as naked as she is, a hand pushing her head down further every time she bobs it. He has
his eyes closed and it slips out. He doesn’t even notice but it does.

“Jungkook? What’s that?” she asks, coughing as she pulls back, and he has to clear his throat, give
himself some time to push the image of Jungkook away. He really did a number on him.

“It’s just a word in my native language.” he says.

“Oh. What does it mean?” Taehyung bites down his teeth, the grip on her hair tightening. She does
moan at that, eyes closing.

“It doesn’t matter.” he almost growls out, thumb parting her lips so that she’ll get the hint.
Thankfully, she does.

He doesn’t allow any more conversation following that, keeps her face pressed against the pillow
so that she’s not exactly able to speak anything other than the necessary and he’d love to say he
doesn’t picture Jungkook the entire time, but that’d be a lie.

He continues with the image of Jungkook, continues occasionally mumbling his name to himself,
comes with a silent apology. It’s always the same. He feels guilty throughout but, once he’s done,
it hits him like a truck. Jungkook must have been out of his mind when he wished for Taehyung to
move on and meet someone else. He can’t even have sex without feeling like he’s betraying
Jungkook. Which he is. In a way.

Thinking about Jungkook so much just makes him imagine what his reactions would be to
practically everything and he knows for a fact Jungkook would be destroyed with the idea of him
being with someone else if he was still alive. Taehyung saw that first hand when he /thought/
something had happened: how much he cried, how broken he sounded.

The memory of his crying face makes him pull away from her as soon as he’s done, her panting,
spent body slumping down on the mattress.

He gulps, looks for his underwear. “Get out.” he tells her.

“Excuse me?”

“I said get out.” Taehyung repeats, voice a little stronger as he opens the first drawer to get his
cigarettes. “I don’t like repeating myself, just get your shit and leave.”

She gets up with an angry frown, legs wobbly as she makes her way to him and she pulls her arm
back but Taehyung’s fast enough to hold her wrist before she gets to slap him. “You’re an asshole.
Seriously. Fucking asshole.”

“You won’t like what happens if you hit me.” he warns, eyes darkening. Not that he’d hit her, no.
His morals, as bad as they may be, don’t allow him to do such a thing to a woman. They allow him
to shoot her, though, and he wouldn’t hesitate. “Get out of my room.”

“You’re actually an asshole. Fuck you.” Taehyung lets go of her arm so that she can get dressed,
takes a seat on the bed to enjoy his cigarette, eyes closed, positively ignoring the curses she’s
throwing at him in French. The accent is kind of attractive, maybe Jungkook was onto something.

He opens his eyes when the door bangs closed and he sighs. “I’m sorry.” he speaks into thin air. “I
actually hate how inside my head you are. I’m going mad because of you, fucking talking to
myself like an idiot. I knew I should’ve kept you away.” a sigh. Another drag from his cigarette. “I
hung the lock like you wanted to. I was listening, I promise.”

It’s with a gulp that he puts the cigarette out, throws his condom away. He’ll pick it up in the
morning. Probably. If he feels nice enough not to leave it for whoever has to clean the room. He
knows how much of an ass move that is. Doesn’t care enough.

He turns around, hugs the other pillow against his chest. He misses the weight of Jungkook’s head
on top of him while they sleep, misses his arms holding his torso; how he’d always whine when
Taehyung didn’t cuddle him properly or took too long to join him in bed. He’d always complain
about just how annoying his whining was and he couldn’t feel /worse/ now. He took him for
granted. The biggest fool.

“You were so jealous sometimes, I hope you’re not upset down there.” he whispers with his eyes
closed. “They really don’t mean anything.” a sigh. “Good night, princess.”

│►

The next day goes exactly as he had initially planned it: he visits pretty much all the places he
scheduled to see during that trip, doesn’t get that angry with the couples he walks past, doesn’t
verbally fight anyone. That’s an improvement compared to the previous day.

He ends up on a stupid boat going through a canal, remembers Jungkook saying something about
hugging while some man told them about the streets and monuments while standing at the front of
the boat. Something he’s realized is just how much Jungkook has talked about France, it was way
more than Taehyung initially thought. He /really/ wanted to go there. He would’ve been so happy.

The boat is filled with couples and he weighs the pros and cons of committing a crime right then
and there. Just for fun, really. No one’s done anything to him directly, he just quite literally hates
everyone and that’s enough to want them dead.

He lights up a cigarette, holding it between his lips as he leans on the railing on the side of the
boat. Someone takes a space next to him. “Tourist?” he asks. Taehyung’s eyes fall to the small
mole under his lips and he’s tempted to throw the young man to the water. For no reason other than
having that mole.

“Hm.” he finally replies, looking away, blowing out the cigarette smoke.

“Are you here by yours—”

“Do you need something?” Taehyung interrupts, tone stern as he stands up straight. “I’m not
interested in any sort of conversation.”

“We don’t have to /talk/.” the other raises an eyebrow. Taehyung groans, eyes back on the river.
He’s never out and about too much back at home, he doesn’t have to deal with /this/ type of
encounters. Not that he’s not used to being approached like that, he’s been flirted with since he can
remember, but he never had the persistent image of /someone/ in the back of his head judging him
for that. At the same time, part of him wants to try and get over that.

He hates feeling like that.

He hates suddenly not being himself just because he couldn’t resist Jungkook’s advances.

He was happier when he didn’t care for anyone. Definitely happier when he had no feelings.

“We’ll see when we get back.” Taehyung says, tone indifferent. “Depends on how I’m feeling
then.” the boy scoffs, steps closer. “I think I’ve made my words pretty clear.”

“A bit cold, aren’t you?”

Taehyung hums. “Haven’t seen a thing yet.”

And, alright, that’s definitely not how that boat ride should end up like, that’d never be the
outcome if Jungkook was there and Taehyung should be there /for him/ because that’s the whole
reason why he’s even visiting the country to begin with.

He’s found that the only moments he’s able to not think, to see himself remotely free from
Jungkook’s memory, is when he’s distracted by someone under him. It’s a short moment of relief
that comes followed by guilt, but at least there’s /something/.

Jungkook’s face is always at the back of his mind like some sort of punishment, it’s haunting, and
it only seems to go away when laying between someone’s open legs. Which is exactly why he does
end up taking the flirty young man to his hotel room.

It’s easy to forget Jungkook when there’s a mouth around him, it’s easy to forget Jungkook when
his mind is clouded by booze and he’s buried deep inside someone else. It’s easy then, it’s like he’s
just Taehyung again: free, uncaring, rough, emotionless.

It’s easy until it’s not, because the moment he’s done, the peace washes away with it, replaced by
guilt and memories of a time where he truly was happy without even noticing how much.

He rolls over to lay down, lights up a cigarette. “Leave.” he says, eyes closed.
“Can— Can I catch my breath first?” Taehyung hums.

“You have a minute.”

There’s a scoff and Taehyung only focuses on enjoying his cigarette. “I’d insult you for being an
asshole but you didn’t strike me as a nice person anyway.” that does make him chuckle. “Hope you
can get over them soon.” the other says as he sits up.

“What?” he opens his eyes with a stern frown.

“The way you didn’t look at me or let me kiss you… you either just used me to cheat or to get over
someone.” Taehyung watches as he starts collecting his clothes. “Which, for the sake of my
conscience, I hope was the latter.”

“You’re talking too much, you’ve caught your breath enough. Leave.” he instructs and, thankfully,
there’s no other words said as the other man gets dressed, tries to fix the mess his hair has turned
into from being roughly tugged on.

Taehyung sighs in relief when he sees himself alone again, cigarette caught between his lips and an
arm behind his head. He really wants to go back home, sleep in his own bed, back to work so that
he can make himself busy with it.

He’s not very thrilled, if at all, to go back and have to work with Jimin, as he’s been made the new
leader of Jungkook’s team, just like he wanted and made clear in his letter. However, he has to
admit that Jimin’s not nearly as bad as he had anticipated. He’s really trying to make Jungkook
proud. And he was great help for Taehyung to catch the man that took Jungkook’s life.

He turns around to grab his phone, fingers ever so hesitantly working on opening his gallery and he
chews on the inside of his cheek before clicking on the very last album, as remote as it could be so
that Jungkook would never open it in times where he’d grab Taehyung’s phone to play some game
that he only had for Jungkook anyway.

The cover of the album is a screenshot of an email and it’s titled with just a date and a location,
pretty convincing. He clicks it. Apart from the cover picture, every other is just Jungkook.
Jungkook sleeping, mostly. He’d never risk getting caught taking a picture of him, Jungkook would
never shut up about it.

He caught Jungkook taking pictures of him many times, went through his gallery as well so he’d
know either way, and Jungkook wasn’t embarrassed of it, but /admit/ that /he/ took pictures isn’t
something he’d ever do. For the sake of his pride.

Scrolling through the pictures is hard. It’s the first time since Jungkook died that he’s mustered
enough courage to open them and he’s immediately reminded of why he hasn’t done it. It hurts. It
hurts a lot, really. It’s a different kind of hurt, it’s not the same he felt the day he watched Jungkook
die, it’s not what he feels daily, it’s something different: an intense feeling of longingness, of loss.
He misses Jungkook, it’s insane to admit.

He misses everything about him. Even the things he complained about, such as how clingy he
could get, how jealous he was — even if he tried to hide it. He misses everything.

Now looking at pictures of him, that adorable pout as he slept, secured against Taehyung’s chest or
hugging his pillow as he waited for the latter to join him in bed, it makes his chest ache.

He hates that, he hates that he feels tears in his eyes, hates that his thumb hovers over Jungkook’s
cheek as though that’d make it possible to just feel him again, he /hates/ that he can’t. He feels
stupid, that’s not the Taehyung he’s always been and he hates Jungkook for getting under his skin
like that.

“I hate you.” Taehyung voices as he looks at the next picture, one of the only ones where
Jungkook’s enjoying an ice cream. “I hate you for giving me something to look forward to, only to
take it away from me.” he says, scrolling to another picture. “Should’ve kept you away.” he sniffs,
locks the phone before putting it away. “Fucking hell…”

He needs to get out of there. France is definitely messing with his head way more than he thought it
would. He needs to leave.

│►

His shoulders feel lighter as he nears his office door and it’s almost like some sort of relief washes
over him once he opens the door. Jimin’s sitting on his own desk — he actually enjoys doing office
work, unlike his old boss, so they had to get a second desk, Taehyung would never let him share
the same desk or just even do as much as sit on his chair — and Yoongi’s sitting by his side, one
arm around him.

They both pull apart, surprised to see him. “Oh, hey.” they stand to bow for him. “You weren’t
supposed to return today, I thought there were three days to go still.”

“I’m over it.” is all he says as he heads for the door that leads to his bedroom. “Did anyone fuck up
anything or did everyone do their job right?” he asks, sliding his keys into the lock, eyes still on the
two of them, looking for any signs of them lying.

“No, actually everything went on perfectly fine, no one fucked up in any way.” Jimin explains with
a little shrug. “And, uhm, Mr— Taehyung, can you come back here after you put away your stuff?
We need to discuss something… important.”

“I’m done for today, I’m jet-lagged as shit.” he quickly denies, stepping foot inside his bedroom.

“It’s about Jungkook.” Jimin adds and that does get him to stop. “It’s important.”

“Five minutes.” Taehyung says before closing the door behind himself, letting out a long sigh. It’s
good to be home, the air feels heavier than it did in France but, somehow, his shoulders feel lighter.
Maybe it’s just the familiarity of everything around him.

He leaves his suitcase next to the bed before sitting down, hand running through his hair, eyes
scanning the bedroom. Everything is just like how he left it and he tenses up at the heavy pair of
boots in the corner. He didn’t have the strength to remove them, they’ve been there since Jungkook
died, just like all of the hoodies and other clothing items in his closet; his toothbrush, hair products,
skin care creams. Everything’s still in the cabinets in his bathroom.

“Fuck’s sake…” he curses to himself before pushing off of the bed, deciding he can shower after
hearing whatever they have to tell him. They both stop talking again once he opens the door and
clears his throat. “You have two minutes, make it fast.”

“So uh, we were thinking while you were away but we didn’t want to do anything without your
final word.” Jimin stars and Taehyung crosses his arms, waiting for him to go on. “We thought
about what to do with his… uhm, with his things so that we can clear his room and—”

“No.” Taehyung interrupts and they both blink, Jimin gaping as he doesn’t know what to say next.
“No one’s trashing Jungkook’s things or touching his bedroom. Was that all?”
“Sir… we— we have to accept that he passed, it’s the only way to feel better.” Jimin tries. “I’ve
taken some of his clothes to keep them to myself, not only because I like them but also to feel him
with me, I guess. We just wondered what you’d like to do with the rest. The room could be for
someone else now that—”

“Park, like I said, no one’s touching his shit.”

“But—”

“Don’t forget your place.” Taehyung says, a little sterner. “I can send all of you back home any
second. I made a deal with Jungkook, not with you, so don’t forget your place just because you’ve
been passed what he conquered.”

“I know that and thank you for keeping the deal even if I’m the leader now, I just— it hurts a lot to
pass by the bedroom and know it’s his, so we wanted to give it a new use and just… I don’t know,
take out his stuff from there. We have to let him go or we’re never going to feel better about his
passing.”

“It’s not up for debate, Park. That room isn’t going to be touched.” he says, firm. “Don’t bother me
for today.”

“Alright…” they both nod. “It’ll get easier.” Yoongi still adds.

“Stay in your place.” Taehyung almost growls out as he turns his back, entering his bedroom again.
He closes the door with a bang. He can’t understand why they’d ever even think about throwing
Jungkook’s things away.

He doesn’t have to get rid of them to get over Jungkook. He knows for a fact one doesn’t come
with the other. That’s not how things work.

The fact that he finds himself looking at pictures of Jungkook and tearing up at them tells him
enough: he’s never really going to get over Jungkook. At least not without feeling guilty. He’s the
only person ever to /want/ to know him for him, tried his best to do so, was so genuine about his
feelings. He’s never going to have that again. No one with such pure intentions, such genuine
interest.

He doesn’t even know if he wants anyone. He’s never needed that, he’s never wanted anyone to be
there, but Jungkook showed him what’s like to long for someone, what’s like to be cared for, what
its’s like to have someone waiting for him in bed at the end of the day.

He can’t even /imagine/ opening up to anyone again and he knows himself too well to know that’s
never going to happen. Jungkook took a piece of him that he’ll never get back and be able to give
to someone else.

Even if he wanted to look for someone else, one thing he knows for sure.

No one would ever be Jungkook. The only one he wants.

And he’s gone because of a mistake Taehyung did.

│►
 ALTERNATIVE ENDING: I wrote an alternative ending for those interested. I won't post it
directly here as I don't want it to be seen as the end of the au because, to me, the beauty of this
story is the tragedy of it... but it will be available for anyone who wants to read it! Click >here< to
read it.

Chapter End Notes

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