Chapter Text
Jimin gets into Taehyung’s head.
He was going to leave right after Bangtan’s performance, but now he wants to see Jeongguk. Heartbroken. Completely devastated with the realisation that all his hard work has gone to waste. He wants to see the alpha cry. Wants to see those stupidly bright eyes lose their shine.
A black ocean isn’t something that a group can easily recover from. It’s the cruelest form of rejection; especially because it comes from the very people they’re desperate to be loved by. It’s the kind of humiliation that sticks, planting seeds of doubt that refuse to go away. There is a price to pay for everything, and sometimes the dream simply isn’t worth what it demands in return.
Taehyung walks past the exit and makes his way backstage again.
The corridors are crowded with staff members shouting instructions over each other. There are make-up artists running around with overflowing kits, and exhausted idols are dragging themselves from one room to another. Taehyung stops a passing woman. “Bangtan’s waiting room?”
The woman blinks.
“Which group?”
He tries two more times with two different staff members but when they both look at him as if he's spoken a foreign language, he gives up and decides to look for it on his own. It’s truly unfortunate how Bangtan’s performed on one of the biggest stages of the year, yet half the people working the event don’t even know they exist.
Turning another corner, Taehyung spots the AXO member who’d been bullying Jeongguk earlier. Well, he thinks with a smirk, what a pleasant coincidence. As the alpha walks towards him, too busy chatting with someone to pay attention to his surroundings, Taehyung accidentally bumps into him. Their shoulders collide with enough force to send the alpha stumbling a few steps back. He nearly falls on his ass.
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!”
Taehyung stops, turns around. “Sorry,” he sneers, giving the alpha a dismissive once-over. “You’re just… easy to overlook.”
“What the—”
Taehyung doesn’t wait for him to finish. He turns his back on the alpha and starts walking again, letting his angry voice echo uselessly down the corridor. He finally finds Bangtan’s waiting room at the very end of the hallway.
BANGTAN, it reads. Unlike the other groups’ signs, this one isn’t even laminated—just scrawled across a sheet of paper in rushed handwriting.
Taehyung pushes the door open and steps inside.
Compared to Jimin’s spacious lounge, this feels less like a waiting room and more like a storage space someone hastily emptied to make room for Bangtan. Foldable chairs are stacked haphazardly against one wall. Cardboard boxes with faded venue labels have been shoved into a corner. The room isn’t even air-conditioned. An ancient standing fan rattles noisily in the corner, pushing around warm, musty air. Everything looks filthy, coated in a thin layer of dust.
Taehyung wrinkles his nose.
He’s already got a headache, but now he’s afraid his allergies are going to start acting up too.
"Who are you?" a voice says.
Taehyung turns towards the voice.
An alpha stands a few feet away, his broad frame naturally positioned between Taehyung and the rest of the group gathered behind him. It's their leader, Kim Namjoon. He’s looking at Taehyung with confusion, but his eyes are red-rimmed, as though he’d been crying. The rest of the group isn’t any different, each of them wearing the same exhausted, heartbroken expression.
Taehyung doesn’t answer. Instead, he walks farther into the room, his gaze moving from one face to the next in search of Jeongguk. When he doesn’t find him, his eyebrows furrow. He’s about to ask for him when he hears a quiet sniffle.
His gaze drops, and Jeongguk is there — sitting on the floor. His knees are pulled up to his chest, his face buried in his arms, and he's crying. His shoulders shake, his whole body curled in like he's trying to disappear. He looks nothing like an alpha like this; he looks pathetic. Taehyung walks over to him and nudges him with his shoe. “Get up.”
Namjoon suddenly grabs his arm and yanks him back. “What the fuck are you doing?”
Taehyung slaps his hand away. “Don’t touch me. And who said you could talk to me?” he hisses.
He nudges Jeongguk with his foot again, this time a little harder. “I said get up. Are you deaf?”
This time, Min Yoongi steps up. He’s shorter, but there’s a fire blazing in his eyes that makes the height difference insignificant. “We don’t know who you are but now’s not the time. He’s not in the state to talk to anyone, so I’m kindly asking you to leave,” he grits out.
“He’s not in the state to talk?” Taehyung chuckles darkly, eyes rolling. “I’m not in the state of showing my face to anyone after the mess you all made on that fucking stage. I did everything I could to get you a spot in the lineup, and this is what you do with it? Turn it into a fucking joke?” The lie slips off his tongue like honey. He didn’t do shit. He made one phone call. No one is holding him accountable because he's not even associated with Bangtan in the slightest. But he needs these people to believe he is; he needs them to lower their gaze, to not have the audacity to meet his eyes or speak to him like an equal. He needs them to remember their place.
All the colour drains from their faces once the realisation sets in.
Taehyung is the sponsor.
“So shut the fuck up and don’t talk unless I tell you to.”
Taehyung nudges Jeongguk one last time with his shoe. It’s almost a light kick, meant to snap him out of whatever state he’s in, but the alpha doesn’t budge. He doesn’t look up. His body continues to tremble, his shoulders shaking violently now as his quiet sniffles dissolve into wretched sobs that sound as though each one is ripping out a piece of him. He cries harder and harder with each passing second.
Taehyung clicks his tongue in frustration as he crouches down in front of the alpha. His hand shoots out, fingers tangling in the alpha's hair, and he yanks his head up, hard enough to make Jeongguk gasp and look at him.
And Jeongguk is really crying.
He's crying with so much sadness and pain that it has taken over all his face, carved into every line and crease of his features and leaving no part of him untouched by it. His eyes are full of unshed tears, cheeks blotchy and marred with tear streaks. His nose is red, and lips are bitten raw and trembling. As soon as his eyes meet Taehyung's through his blurry vision, his face crumples and he starts crying even harder, if that is possible.
Taehyung stares at him.
He waits for the rush of happiness, for the familiar surge of satisfaction that always comes when an alpha finally breaks. When their arrogance crumbles. When tears gather in their eyes. When their inflated ego ends up where it belongs: beneath his feet. He waits for warmth to bloom in his chest, for the sharp prickle of triumph to settle under his skin.
But—
It strangely never comes.
He feels nothing but a heavy numbness.
Taehyung eyebrows furrow in annoyance. This is not what he expected. Something is missing. Somehow this isn’t enough, and it should’ve felt better than this.
“I’m sorry, Taehyung-ssi,” Jeongguk sobs, the words catching painfully in his throat. “I’m sorry for fucking it all up. I don’t know what happened. Everything was fine during rehearsals. We practiced it over and over again. We checked everything.” He shakes his head, as though trying to make sense of it himself. “The cues were there. The timing was right. Then we got on stage and everything just—”
His breath hitches.
“Everything went wrong.”
Fresh tears spill down his cheeks. His make-up is running.
Taehyung’s hand loosens into his hair and falls.
“I tried to fix it. I swear I did.” Jeongguk’s trembling hand shoots out to grab onto the omega’s sleeve, fisting the fabric tight. “We all did. We kept trying to adjust, but something new kept happening.” The words come faster now, tumbling over one another. “We practiced every day. We barely slept. I—I didn’t even get to perform my water dance solo. I worked so hard on that. I was so excited.”
Taehyung frowns.
This idiot doesn’t even know it’s not his fault. That they were sabotaged.
“I’m so sorry, Taehyung-ssi. You gave us a chance and we blew it. I—” A miserable laugh escapes him. “Everyone hates us now. What’s the point? I’m so tired.”
Taehyung wants Jeongguk to stop crying.
His head is throbbing.
No wonder Jeongguk is tired. All of the energy he was supposed to put into his performance is now being spent crying. The rest of his members are evidently sad too, but Jeongguk seems to have taken the biggest hit. He must be the most sensitive of the lot, despite being an alpha.
Usually, Taehyung would be savouring every second of an alpha crying, but watching Jeongguk isn’t satisfying somehow. It’s just unpleasant, almost irritating. The sight leaves a bitter taste in his mouth and a strange weight on his chest, which only gets heavier every time Jeongguk wipes his face and fails to stop crying. He could’ve done nothing to stop it, so he hates the twinge of guilt creeping under his skin and making his stomach twist.
Taehyung takes a deep breath before he grabs Jeongguk’s wrist, stands up, and tugs on it. “Get up. Let’s go. It’s not like you’re gonna get any awards so there’s no use staying for the rest of the event.”
Jeongguk doesn’t budge.
“Stop fucking crying,” Taehyung hisses, yanking on the alpha’s wrist. “Get up.”
“Where are you taking him?” Namjoon steps forward, ready to intervene.
The throb in Taehyung’s head grows. He closes his eyes for a second and pinches the bridge of his nose with his other hand. Then he looks at the leader and spits out, “To satisfy my needs.”
Namjoon’s face hardens. “Are you looking at the state he’s in?” His is sharp, almost accusing. The other members start pulling on his arm lightly, asking him to calm down but he doesn't listen. “He’s barely holding himself together. He’s exhausted. He’s upset. He hasn’t stopped crying. And your first thought is what? That he should go serve you?” The disbelief and disgust in his voice is unmistakable. “Are you that selfish?”
“Yes,” Taehyung replies instantly.
Namjoon clenches his teeth. “Take me then. Leave him.”
Taehyung scoffs. “How noble,” he drawls, “trying to play the sacrificial lamb.” He tilts his head, looking Namjoon up and down as though genuinely considering the offer. “Unfortunately… you’re not my type.” He turns back to Jeongguk. He tightens his grip on the alpha's wrist and pulls so hard that Jeongguk lurches forward with a startled gasp. “I said stand up, Jeon Jeongguk. Let’s go.”
Letting out a broken sob, Jeongguk shakily gets to his feet.
Taehyung drags him out of the room.
➤
Taehyung is only doing this because of curiosity.
That's what he tells himself, anyway. He wants to see whether Jeongguk’s solo water performance is really as good as he claims it to be, and that's the only reason Taehyung is going out of his way to do all of this.
They're in Taehyung's car right now, en-route to one of his art galleries. He made some calls and arranged for the alpha's custom-made waterproof outfit to be delivered to his gallery, as well as a full crew to prepare everything for his performance. He’s now deliberately taking the long way there just to give them enough time to get everything ready before they arrive.
Jeongguk sits in the passenger seat: he’s quiet and thankfully not crying anymore. He stares blankly out the window, watching the city drift by in a blur of streetlights. His gaze doesn’t seem to settle on anything in particular. It’s distant, almost vacant. It’s as though his mind is both completely empty and unbearably full of thoughts at the same time. He’s completely oblivious to how Taehyung keeps sneaking glances at him while driving.
Now that the fog's lifted, Taehyung feels like he's putting in too much effort for this dumb alpha. He should've left him crying there on that floor, should've walked away the moment Namjoon stepped in. But Taehyung knows that if he'd done that, Jeongguk would be stuck in his mind later.
“Are we going to the hotel?” Jeongguk asks, finally breaking the tense silence between them. His voice is hoarse, scraped raw from all the crying.
“Yes,” Taehyung lies.
“I’ll do my best.”
Taehyung’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “You’ll do your best in what?”
Jeongguk looks at him. And the omega’s breath catches because Jeongguk's eyes are empty. Soulless. The shine is completely gone, replaced by something dull and hollow. This is what Taehyung wanted to see, but he’s not sure he likes the sight of it as much as he’d imagined.
“To please you.”
Taehyung scoffs. “Look at yourself. Do you think you’re in any state to please me?”
It’s true. The alpha looks like a mess with his disheveled hair, smudged make-up and swollen eyes. His face is flushed, his lower lip torn and bleeding, and Jeongguk keeps gnawing at the same spot with his teeth. It must definitely sting, Taehyung thinks. But Jeongguk probably needs that pain to distract him from the chaos raging inside him.
“I'm sorry," Jeongguk says, pressing the heels of his palms to his eyes. His voice cracks, thick with emotion. He sounds like he's close to tears again. "I'm so sorry."
Taehyung’s face twists. “You should stand up for yourself,” he mutters.
“What?”
“When someone’s bullying you.”
Jeongguk blinks, his eyebrow furrowing. A moment later, it dawns on him that Taehyung is talking about earlier. “We can’t. They’re big—”
"So what?" Taehyung almost snaps. “You're small? They're your sunbaes and you can't disrespect them, blah blah blah. Nobody likes you anyway, so you might as well give them a reason to.” His voice drops, fingers tightening around the steering wheel. “You know that I'm backing you up, right? I would've helped you if you didn't ignore me.” The words come out a little too bitter for his liking.
Jeongguk’s eyes widen. “I wasn't ignoring you!“ His voice pitches higher, desperate. “I—I was embarrassed. I thought you wouldn't want to be associated with me. Plus…" He trails off, grimacing. “My members thought the sponsor was a woman.”
Taehyung huffs. “Well, the cat’s out of the bag now.”
“Right,” Jeongguk mumbles.
“I’ll ignore you.”
“What?”
“I'll ignore you if I don't want to be associated with you.” He glances at Jeongguk, his gaze sharp. “You don't get to decide that for me.”
Jeongguk's mouth opens, then closes. “I'm sorry.”
“Stop apologising. It's annoying.”
“I'm sorry—” Jeongguk winces. “Shit.”
Taehyung’s lips twitch up into a smile. “And what are you worrying about?" He glances at Jeongguk, then back at the road. “I'm your sponsor. I'll make you a star. I give you my word. See those billboards?” Taehyung asks, nodding towards the big screens mounted on the surrounding buildings. “One day, your face will be plastered on all of them. You'll be everywhere. And those AXO fuckers will bow to you.”
Jeongguk is quiet for a while, but Taehyung can feel his eyes on him.
“You promise?”
“Yes. I’ll do that for you in a year.”
“Okay.” Jeongguk takes a deep breath, wipes his face with the back of his hands. “Okay.”
“I hope stardom doesn’t change you,” Taehyung says, almost to himself than the alpha.
“It won’t,” Jeongguk says.
“That’s what they all say.”
“It won’t,” Jeongguk repeats, firmer this time. “Not when it comes to you.”
“Okay.”
Half an hour later, Taehyung pulls up outside one of his biggest art galleries. Jeongguk stares up at the abstract glass building in confusion, but he doesn’t ask any questions. He wordlessly gets out of the car and follows Taehyung in.
Inside, Jeongguk’s head swivels in every direction. He looks like a puppy that has just been adopted into a new home, not quite sure what he's allowed to touch or where he's allowed to go. He stares at the enormous paintings hanging beneath carefully positioned spotlights. His gaze lingers on every piece they pass by it and he slows more than once, nearly stopping altogether to stare at something that catches his attention.
Finally, Taehyung stops.
Jeongguk steps up beside him and sucks in a sharp breath.
The corner of Taehyung's lips lift into a smirk. For such a short amount of time, the crew has done a great job arranging this. In front of him is a rectangular stage made of makeshift black tiles, filled with a few inches of water and bordered by a low transparent frame to keep it contained. Beside the stage, on a mannequin, hangs Jeongguk's custom-made waterproof shirt. It's deceptively simple at first glance, but then Taehyung notices the strips of fabric that hang from the sleeves, designed to move with the dancer, to catch water and air and light.
Taehyung turns to look at Jeongguk, and the alpha looks so dumbfounded that a soft chuckle escapes the omega's lips. He crosses his arms against his chest, tilting his head. "What do you think?"
“What is this?” Jeongguk asks.
“Your stage,” Taehyung simply replies. "After you bragged so much about your solo waterdance, I got curious.” He gestures vaguely at the setup. “You might not have gotten to perform it for other people, but you can perform it for me.”
Jeongguk doesn’t reply.
Taehyung walks to the lone chair positioned in front of the stage and takes a seat. He leans back, delicately crossing one leg over the other. His head’s killing him at this point, the pain throbbing behind his eyes with every pulse of his heartbeat, but he doesn't want to rush Jeongguk. He wants this moment to sink in—wants Jeongguk to understand just how much influence he has. How quickly he can bend the world to his will when he decides something is worth having. How he can make the impossible happen.
“Taehyung-ssi,” Jeongguk breathes out, finally turning to look at him. “I can’t.”
The omega’s eyebrows furrow. “What do you mean you can’t?”
Jeongguk just shakes his head and takes a step back.
Taehyung abruptly pushes himself up from the chair. He crosses the room, roughly yanks the shirt off the mannequin, and spins around. Jeongguk instinctively takes a step back as Taehyung closes the distance between them in seconds. Before the alpha can process what's going on, Taehyung is in front of him, reaching out and smoothly opening the buttons of his shirt one by one. “I went through too much trouble for this. There's no way I’m leaving without seeing your performance.”
Jeongguk tries to stop him, but Taehyung swats his hand away with a glare. “Don’t.”
He slips the shirt off the alpha’s shoulders, letting his gaze linger on his bare torso for only a fleeting moment before forcing him into the waterproof one. He smooths the fabric into place before fastening the buttons one by one, starting at the waist and working his way up, intentionally leaving the top few undone. Satisfied, he takes a step back and gives the outfit one last once-over. “Okay you’re good to go.”
Jeongguk doesn’t move. He just blinks.
“What is the fucking problem?” Taehyung hisses.
“I’m—” Jeongguk takes a deep breath. “I’m scared.”
Taehyung's eyebrows shoot up. That was the last thing he expected the alpha to say. He'd prepared himself for excuses—the setting isn't right, the stage is wrong, he's not wearing the right pants, there's no fog, no lighting, no audience. Anything but this. “Literally what are you scared of? You were gonna perform in front of thousands of people. Big celebrities. Cameras. And it's only me here.”
Jeongguk hesitates. His gaze drops to the floor as he mumbles, “I’m scared because it’s only you.”
Taehyung freezes.
Those words settle somewhere beneath Taehyung’s ribs and something warm unfurls in his chest before he can stop it. He huffs, rolling his eyes as his lips curl into a traitorous smile. “I’m not a judge. And I already think you’re pathetic so you can’t get any worse than that, you stupid alpha. You don’t have to impress me, just perform.” With that, he returns to his seat.
Finally, Jeongguk moves.
He walks up to the stage, hesitates for barely a moment before stepping onto it. The water ripples beneath his feet, tiny circles spreading out across the dark surface. And then—he just stands there awkwardly and stares at Taehyung. “Uhm. I don’t know how to do it without the music.”
Taehyung smirks.
Then claps.
The light dims and music begins.
And as if muscle memory takes over, Jeongguk’s body begins to move. He melts into the choreography, every movement flowing seamlessly into the next as though his body remembers every beat before the music reaches it. It’s a beautiful blend of sharp and fluid. One second it’s controlled, and another it’s completely unrestrained.
Taehyung is captivated.
Jeongguk looks like a piece of art brought to life, moving against a backdrop of masterpieces and permanently woven into his collection. Taehyung can’t look away.
His feet skim across the water before he suddenly drops into a slide. Water fans out around him in a glittering arc before he springs back to his feet without missing a beat. The rhythmic tapping of his boots echoes through the gallery, weaving itself into the music easily. The long strips of fabric hanging from his sleeves whip and curl with every spin, grazing the water before snapping up and scattering water droplets through the light. Taehyung feels a few of them hit his face.
He doesn’t even think to wipe it away.
Before Taehyung realizes it, the final chorus arrives. The music begins to fade. Jeongguk ends the performance by letting himself fall back, landing flat in the shallow water with a splash that sends one final ripple out. He stares up at the ceiling as the last note fades.
And for the first time today, Taehyung's hands lift to clap.
Jeongguk slowly sits up at the sound of the applause, as though only just remembering where he is. His eyes go wide as he looks at the omega, then a toothy grin spreads across his face—so wide it's almost ridiculous. His eyes scrunch into crescent moons. “Did you like it?”
Taehyung wants to play it cool. Wants to give a vague, dismissive answer so as not to inflate Jeongguk's ego. But the alpha looks so hopeful that he decides to let him have it this time. “Yes,” he replies, rising from his seat and walking up to the stage. “It was phenomenal. I loved it.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Jeongguk.”
“Sorry. I’m just—I’m glad you liked it.”
Taehyung's lips twitch. “Others will like it too.” He crosses his arms, already planning. “I'm thinking of shooting a video of your entire MAMA stage performance and putting it up on YouTube.”
“Really?” Jeongguk asks again, the shine returning in his eyes.
"I'm gonna hit you now," Taehyung says, and even though he sounds dead serious, Jeongguk lets out an airy giggle that bounces off the gallery walls. The omega's gaze drops from his dry shirt to his soaked pants — taking in how the material clings to his crotch and those absurdly big thighs. The alpha usually wears oversized clothes, so Taehyung had never noticed how big his thighs really are.
They don't really fit with his baby face.
“Wanna come in?” Jeongguk asks, splashing some water at Taehyung with his fingers.
Taehyung flinches. “Does it look like a bathtub to you?”
“There’s barely any water!”
Taehyung huffs. “My shoes are venezia leather. Do you have any idea how expensive—”
“It’ll be fun! I can teach you a few dance steps too!”
Taehyung's splitting headache would never allow that. But perhaps he can step into the water for only a few seconds. Just to indulge the alpha. Who knows, he might start crying again if Taehyung doesn't, since he's apparently a big cry baby.
Now, maybe his shoes weren't meant for water because as soon as he lifts a leg and steps onto the wet stage, his foot slips. He lets out a startled gasp, and Jeongguk’s hand immediately shoots out to catch his waist. But the momentum is too much so they both lose their balance and fall backwards.
Taehyung quickly covers the back of Jeongguk’s head with his hand as they fall, cushioning the impact against the hard stage. Jeongguk hits the water first, and the omega lands on top of him. The impact of the fall sends a jolt through his body and triggers his headache. Within moments, it feels like something is hitting his skull with a jackhammer. Pain explodes behind his eyes, white-hot and nauseating. He barely manages to pull his head back to look down at Jeongguk, his vision swimming.
He sees drops of blood hitting Jeongguk's face. Red against his pale skin. One drop. Then another. And another. He can't tell where it's coming from, can't feel it, can't process anything except the pounding in his skull and the way Jeongguk's face is shifting beneath him
The last thing he remembers is Jeongguk’s terrified expression before everything goes black.
➤
Taehyung wakes up in a hospital bed with the stifling smell of antiseptic and a lingering ache in his skull. He blinks at the white ceiling above him for a long moment. It doesn't feel like his head is about to split open anymore, so he assumes the IV hooked into the back of his hand is doing its job.
His gaze lazily wanders around before settling on Jeongguk.
The alpha is sitting on a stool beside the bed, looking visibly distressed. His eyebrows are furrowed, jaw tight, and hands clasped together in his lap like he's trying to keep them from shaking. A dozen questions seem to sit on the tip of his tongue but he says nothing. He just keeps staring at Taehyung like he's afraid the omega will disappear if he looks away for even a second.
Taehyung's lips curl into a small smile. “I'm the one lying on the hospital bed, so why are you dressed like a patient?” he asks, gesturing to the pale blue hospital shirt and loose pants the alpha is wearing.
Jeongguk blinks. He doesn’t even crack a smile. “They gave it to me because my clothes were wet.”
“Your custom waterproof shirt?” Taehyung huffs, attempting another joke.
“My pants,” Jeongguk replies flatly.
“Ah.”
“What happened, Taehyung-ssi?” Jeongguk finally asks, unable to hold himself back any longer.
“I have cancer,” Taehyung replies with a straight face.
Jeongguk pales.
“Just kidding.”
“Why would you do that!” Jeongguk cries, his voice pitching higher with a mix of relief and frustration. He practically launches himself forward, hands gripping the edge of the bed. "Do you have any idea how scared I was when you just passed out!"
Taehyung blinks, startled at the outburst. “Relax!”
“I’m not going to relax!” Jeongguk hisses, lips curling into a scowl. “No one passes out from a nosebleed!”
“Exactly,” the doctor cuts in as she swats the curtain aside and steps in. “While you were coming to, you kept mumbling about a severe headache. We've currently administered a pain killer, but we need to do further tests to find out what happened. You should take care of yourself, sir. Your alpha here was on the verge of tears when he brought you in. Carried you in his arms and all." She glances at Jeongguk with something like approval. “He looks pretty young, so spare him the heartbreak."
Taehyung's head whips to Jeongguk.
The alpha refuses to meet his gaze, his face flushing a deep, embarrassed red. “I wasn't crying,” he mumbles, the words barely audible.
Taehyung rolls his eyes. “First of all, he's not my alpha. He's an acquaintance. Secondly, I don't need to do any tests. I'll contact my own doctor, thank you very much."
“Alright,” the doctor says, unbothered.
“Now if you could get this off my hand so I can leave.”
The doctor shakes her head. “No, please. I'd insist you stay at least for the night. Just in case.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Jeongguk lets out a loud sigh.
Taehyung's eyebrows shoot up. He looks at the alpha as he rubs a hand down his face, a tired expression etched across his features. He looks like he's been through a war. Like he hasn't slept in days. Taehyung knows Jeongguk finds him a pain to deal with.
“So?” The doctor asks, waiting.
Taehyung's jaw tightens. “I’ll stay,” he mumbles in defeat.
Soon, he's shifted to his own personal room. It's cleaner, smells better, and has a large window overlooking the city lights. The nurse attending to him comes in with a stack of folded clothes. “Here are the clothes you can change into,” she says, setting them on the chair beside his bed.
Taehyung takes one look at them and decides if he has to pick between the hospital gown and sleeping in his suit, he'd rather sleep in the suit. It's much more comfortable. He takes off his jacket and lies back down in his vest. It’s no big deal.
Jeongguk lingers by the door. “I'll wait till one of your family members arrives.”
Taehyung frowns. “For what?”
Jeongguk looks confused, like the answer is obvious. “To be here with you?”
Taehyung scoffs. “They wouldn't even come if I really had cancer.”
Jeongguk stares. “Uh, so one of your friends?”
“I don’t have anyone to call,” Taehyung replies, voice flat. Well, he has Jimin, but he doesn’t want to bother the omega for something so trivial like this. “And I don’t need anybody either. I like being on my own.”
Someone akin to pity flashes across Jeongguk’s face, but it’s gone before Taehyung can call it out. “Alright,” the alpha says. “I’ll go now.”
“Sure.”
Jeongguk hesitates. “Can I borrow your car?”
“What?”
“I’m sorry I used your car to bring you here. The seat is all wet; I'll return it after cleaning it up,” Jeongguk explains.
“Fine. But if there’s even a scratch on it, you’re paying for it.”
“Okay! I’ll go now.”
The moment Jeongguk leaves, the room feels inexplicably empty.
➤
It’s 12:52 AM.
Jeongguk carefully opens the door to his dorm room, wincing as the hinges creak, trying to slip in as quietly as possible so as not to wake the other members. But as soon as he steps in, he freezes.
The lights are still on.
All the other guys are awake, sitting on their respective beds and waiting for him.
“Oh.” Jeongguk blinks. “Hi.”
“Hi?” Namjoon hisses, his eyes narrowing in rage. “Do you have any idea how many times I called you?”
Jeongguk blinks again, patting his clothes for his phone only to realise he doesn’t even have it on him. He must've left it back at Taehyung's gallery, if not there then in the hospital. His face falls. “Sorry, I don't have it right now.”
Hoseok jumps off the bed. “Wait, why are you wearing hospital clothes? Are you okay?”
That’s when the others notice it too, immediately crowding around him fussing over him in concern. Seokjin brushes his bangs away from his face, tilting his head to check for any injuries. Yoongi and Hoseok do a very physical inspection of his body, prodding his arms, checking his ribs, patting down his back like he might be hiding a wound.
“I’m fine!” Jeongguk cries, swatting their hands away with an exasperated laugh. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. I was with Taehyung. He passed out so I took him to the hospital.”
The room goes quiet.
When Namjoon breaks the silence moments later, he doesn't ask what happened to the omega. Instead, he inquires, “How much is the contract termination fine?”
Jeongguk’s eyebrows furrow. “What?”
“How much is it? We’ve talked it over, and we’ve decided you don’t have to do this anymore. We'll find a way to pay the fine. We'll take loans. Yoongi has an old family house that he doesn't use anymore. He said he can sell it—”
“No!” Jeongguk cries. “What are you talking about?”
Namjoon steps forward, his hands clenched at his sides. "We can't let him treat you like this, Jeongguk."
“What did he do?”
“He’s not a good person, Jeongguk-ah,” Seokjin says, giving Namjoon’s shoulder a gentle squeeze to rein in his temper. “No one should have the authority to drag you away for their needs when you're crying and clearly very upset about something." He pauses, his eyes searching Jeongguk's face. "We're thankful he gave us a spot in the lineup. We really are. But nothing is worth seeing you lose your self-respect to someone like him."
“He’s not that bad,” Jeongguk mumbles.
“Jeongguk,” Namjoon says, his face twisting. “You don’t need to defend him. You don’t owe him that.”
“No, listen!” Jeongguk says, his voice laced with desperation. “He took me to one of his galleries. He had an entire stage set up so I could perform my solo because I didn’t get to do it earlier. He—he said he’d help us film our entire MAMA stage performance and upload it to YouTube. He said he’d take care of everything.”
Now, it's quiet again.
From the looks on his members' faces, none of them were expecting that.
“He's not a good person,” Jeongguk says quietly, “I agree. But he's not bad either.” He pauses, searching for the right words. “He's… complicated.” Lonely too, Jeongguk wants to add, but he doesn't. He keeps that thought to himself. "I think we should stick with him for a bit more. Just to see. And it's not like Yoongi hyung's old family house is going anywhere, right?” he jokes.
They all chuckle.
Namjoon's shoulders relax, just slightly. "What happened to him? Taehyung?" he finally asks.
Jeongguk's smile fades. “I don't know. He got a nosebleed, and then he just passed out. I don't think he'll give me any straight answers, so I'm not even going to ask anymore." He runs a hand through his hair, the damp strands still stiff from his performance. “But I'm going to take a quick shower, then go back. He's alone there.”
“You don’t have to,” Yoongi says.
“I know. I want to.”
Jeongguk starts to walk past them to the bathroom when Namjoon catches him by the upper arm and stops him. He looks Jeongguk right into his eyes as he says, “Don’t get attached. Today it’s you. Tomorrow it’s going to be someone else.”
“Got it.”
➤
Taehyung can’t sleep.
He doesn’t know what time it is or how long it’s been since Jeongguk left. He’s spent what feels like hours tossing and turning across the hospital bed, unable to find a position that lets him drift off. He's more uncomfortable in the vest than he'd like to admit. The material might be expensive, but it's definitely not meant to sleep in. With an irritated sigh, Taehyung flips onto his back and stares at the ceiling.
He should’ve just gone home. Why’d Jeongguk make him stay when he wasn’t even going to be here? Taehyung frowns at the thought. This is ridiculous, he thinks. He’s not some helpless omega who needs a babysitter.
Taehyung pushes himself up, legs swinging over the edge of the bed. He should just go home. It’s not like the alpha cares whether he stays or not—not when he isn’t even here to make sure he does. Just as his feet touch the floor, the door creaks open.
Jeongguk walks in.
Taehyung scrambles back onto the bed, pulling the blanket up to his chin as though he’s on the verge of falling asleep. His heart pounds irrationally, the beat so loud it thrums in his ears.
The alpha is wearing gray sweatpants and an oversized black hoodie that completely swallows his frame. God, he never runs out of those. His dark hair is slightly damp and tousled, as though he’d showered in a hurry to be here. He’s carrying a large paper bag decorated with little doodled clouds and stars.
“What are you doing here?” Taehyung can't help but ask, his voice sharp with irritation even though he's obviously feeling relieved about not being alone. He’ll never admit it.
Jeongguk doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he walks around the bed, his gaze sweeping the room until it lands on the nightstand. He reaches out and grabs his phone. “Found it!”
“You came back for your phone?”
"Yeah." Jeongguk shrugs, slipping the phone into his pocket. "Thought I'd left it somewhere."
"Oh."
“And here,” the alpha says, placing the bag on the edge of the bed. “I brought some clothes for you. They’re practically new, I’ve worn them like twice.”
Taehyung stares.
Jeongguk shifts on his feet, suddenly awkward. “I've even ironed them.”
Taehyung snorts, sitting up and rummaging through the bag with his nose scrunching in distaste. “Why do you think I’ll like to wear your clothes?” he huffs. But then—his fingers brush against something impossibly soft and he pauses. The material is warm and plush, the kind of fabric that would be so comfortable to sleep in.
Jeongguk reaches for the bag, but Taehyung snatches it out of his reach. “Did I say I’m not gonna wear it?”
“Make up your mind, Taehyung-ssi.”
Taehyung scoffs, then starts taking his clothes off right in front of the alpha. Jeongguk awkwardly turns away, scratching the back of his neck. Even in the dark, Taehyung can see the flush creeping up his cheeks. He smirks as he says, “Look at you acting coy. Not like you haven’t seen everything already.”
Jeongguk lets out an embarrassed noise.
Once he’s changed, Taehyung climbs back into bed. Jeongguk’s clothes are soft against his skin; smelling faintly of him but mostly of the same floral fabric softener as before. Almost unconsciously, the omega lifts one of the oversized sleeves to his nose and breathes in. Whatever it is, it’s better than the sharp antiseptic smell the hospital reeks of.
Jeongguk cracks his neck and stretches his limbs before making himself small and compact on the tiny sofa by the window. It’s barely big enough for someone half his size, forcing him to keep his knees bent while his feet hang over the edge. “Goodnight,” he mumbles, closing his eyes.
"You're sleeping here?"
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Jeongguk pauses. “Because I can.”
Taehyung stares at him, incredulous. “How can you sleep on that? You're just signing up for back pain.” He pauses. “Your posture is already bad as it is.”
Jeongguk cracks one eye open. “Stop nagging, Taehyung-ssi. I've slept in worse places.” He shifts, trying to get comfortable. “This is better than a chair, and I fall asleep on those most days anyway.”
Taehyung stares at him for a full minute before reaching out and ringing the bell to call the nurse. As soon as she steps in, the omega says, “I'd like to upgrade to a VIP room.”
The nurse blinks. “Okay, we'll shift you tomorrow.”
"Right now."
The nurse lets out a soft sigh before leaving. She returns minutes later with a clipboard, and asks him to follow her. Taehyung pauses at the door and looks back at the alpha curled up on the sofa, and says, “Aren't you coming?”
Jeongguk blinks sleepily. “You’re not upgrading because of me, right? Because I’m perfectly—”
“You’re not that special, you stupid alpha. The bed here is stiff.”
“Oh.”
The VIP room is much bigger, and the air smells noticeably fresher. A basket filled with complimentary snacks and chocolates sits on the table, and Taehyung catches Jeongguk staring at it subtly with a sparkle in his eyes. There’s also a mini refrigerator, a television, and a small selection of books and magazines. Along with all that, there's a makeshift bed for a visitor, placed right beside Taehyung's bed.
“You can eat the snacks tomorrow, it’s too late now,” Taehyung mutters.
Jeongguk's head snaps to him. “What? I don’t wanna!”
“Okay.”
Jeongguk’s lips curl into a small frown as takes the makeshift bed. Taehyung rolls onto his side to face him, and the alpha pointedly avoids meeting his gaze. Before Taehyung can say anything, Jeongguk steals a quick glance at him and blurts out, “I’m not going to sing here.”
Taehyung blinks. “I didn’t ask you to.”
Jeongguk immediately clamps his mouth shut.
Taehyung smiles.
He closes his eyes, and falls asleep in less than a minute.
➤
Taehyung wakes up to an alarm.
He groans, his hand fumbling blindly across the nightstand for his phone before finally finding the cold glass of his screen. He tries to stop it, tapping at the screen, but the noise continues. He realizes it isn't even his alarm that's going off.
It's Jeongguk's.
And the alpha is snoozing away despite it ringing right next to his ear. Taehyung angrily stares at him for a moment before reaching down, grabbing Jeongguk's phone, and shutting off the alarm. He catches a glimpse of the alpha’s wallpaper—it’s a motivational quote Taehyung is too sleepy to read. He tosses the phone back down beside the alpha's head, barely missing his drooling face.
Now that he's woken up, he gets out of bed to freshen up. He washes his face, brushes his teeth, and runs his fingers through his greasy hair so it doesn't look like a bird's nest. He stares at himself in the mirror, noticing the faint stubble already beginning to grow.
He steps out of the bathroom just as the door swings open and the doctor walks in. Her gaze shifts from Taehyung to Jeongguk—who is still asleep on the makeshift bed. The corner of her lips lifts into a smirk, head tilting in amusement. “Oh, your acquaintance is still here?”
Taehyung scowls.
"Anyway," she continues, clearly enjoying his discomfort, "your doctor is here to see you. Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes."
"Should I send him in then?"
"Yes." Taehyung's voice is flat. "Thank you."
“Alright.” She gives him one last knowing look before stepping out.
Taehyung walks over and takes a seat on the sofa, positioning himself so that Jeongguk is right in his line of sight. Despite having an entire bed to himself, the alpha is still all curled up like a baby—knees drawn up and face half-buried in the thin pillow. Taehyung wonders how Jeongguk makes it anywhere on time when he sleeps through his alarms like this. He'd probably sleep through an earthquake or a tsunami too.
The door opens again, and this time Dr. Choi steps in.
He glances at the alpha as he makes his way over to Taehyung but doesn’t ask questions. He simply takes a seat on the armchair in front of the omega and smiles. “Good morning. How are you doing, Taehyung-ssi?”
“Good morning. I'm okay now," Taehyung says, leaning back into the sofa. "But it was really bad last night. I think it's my fault too, for pushing myself. But oh well.” He waves a dismissive hand. “Thank you so much for coming so promptly, Doctor.”
“That’s alright. Do you wish to do a quick session right now?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright. Is that your alpha over there?”
Taehyung squeezes his eyes shut in annoyance. How many times does he have to tell people Jeongguk is not his alpha? He's not his anything. He opens his eyes and forces a tight, strained smile. "This is the alpha who's helping me, yes."
“And you don’t mind if he hears us?”
Taehyung scoffs. “I do mind, but he’s dead asleep. Besides, he’s a shit actor and an even worse liar. If he were awake, he’d never be able to fake sleeping. He’s not going to wake up, so please, continue.”
Dr. Choi hums. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small notepad and a pen as he says, "First, please tell me about yesterday—when the headache started, if you took the pills I prescribed, and how it came to you passing out.” He looks up, meeting Taehyung's eyes. “Then tell me about any changes you've noticed ever since you've first come in the presence of an alpha's pheromones."
As Taehyung relays the entire incident from last night, Dr. Choi keeps scribbling something on his notepad. He politely interrupts him from time to time to ask questions. Taehyung keeps glancing at the alpha, fully intending to stop talking if he wakes up in between. But Jeongguk remains dead to the world, barely even stirring in response to the sound of two people talking.
“Now tell me how your body reacted the first time you were exposed to the alpha’s pheromones,” Dr. Choi says. “And how many times you’ve been exposed to them since.”
Taehyung answers. He still remembers how violently and viscerally his body reacted to the alpha's pheromones for the first time. His pulse had spiked so fast he'd thought he was having a heart attack. He’d retched, his stomach lurching with every wave of the scent. The nausea, the suffocation, the pressure had been so overwhelming he didn’t know what to do. But once he got used to it, it got better. The second time was easier—still unpleasant, but manageable. And at that time, he'd actually felt his headache getting better, his bad mood slightly improving.
“Did you come in contact with any pheromones yesterday?”
“No.”
"When was the last time you did?"
Taehyung pauses, thinking. "About a week or two ago."
"Alright." Dr. Choi makes another note. "Have you been taking the heat suppressants?"
Taehyung shakes his head. "No."
“Alright,” Dr. Choi says, snapping his notepad shut. “I have a few observations to make. I want you to listen to me calmly.”
Taehyung nods, his gaze flickering to Jeongguk for a moment before returning to the doctor. “Yes.”
“You've been on high-dose heat suppressants for eight years, and the medication did exactly what it was designed to do. It suppressed your heat cycle so effectively that, over time, your body stopped expecting it altogether,” Dr. Choi says. “Normally, an omega's physiology isn't meant to function in isolation. An alpha’s pheromones are necessary for an omega because they help maintain hormonal balance, ease anxiety, improve sleep quality and reduce physiological stress. And if you deprive your body of that for years, your body eventually starts malfunctioning. I already explained this to you in our last session, where I insisted you would need an alpha to get better."
“Yes,” Taehyung replies. “I did. I’m confused why it’s still happening. The headaches, the fatigue, the nausea, the dizziness—it’s all still there.”
“You can't expect to get better in one day, Taehyung-ssi.”
Taehyung frowns.
“You’ve spent eight years depriving your body of something it instinctively expects to experience. Imagine keeping a muscle immobilized for years. The first time you try to use it again, it doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. It hurts. It spasms.” Dr. Choi taps the end of his pen lightly against the notepad. “Your body did the same thing. Your system is trying to force itself back into a natural rhythm after years of suppression. When you were first exposed to an alpha’s pheromones, your body didn’t know how to process them anymore.”
“So I need to give it time?”
Dr. Choi nods. “Yes. And you need regular exposure to an alpha’s pheromones. Now that your body has been reintroduced to them, it remembers what it's been deprived of for the last eight years. If you continue avoiding them, it's going to keep searching for that stimulus. That's likely why your symptoms are escalating. Your body is essentially sending stronger and stronger distress signals because it knows what it's missing now.”
Taehyung stays quiet.
“Think of it this way,” Dr. Choi continues softly. "For years, your body had forgotten what normal felt like. The first exposure shocked your system because it had no idea how to process it. But now it does. If you repeatedly expose yourself to alpha pheromones, your body will gradually readjust. If you deprive it again, you're forcing it back into that imbalance."
Taehyung's throat feels tight. He swallows hard. “So I need to keep… being around an alpha?”
“Yes. You don’t necessarily need physical contact. Simply being around an alpha—particularly one whose pheromones your body has already begun responding to will help your system continue adapting. Right now, avoiding them is only making things worse.”
“When will I get my heat then?”
“I can’t tell you when.” Dr. Choi gives him an apologetic smile. “It could be weeks. It could be months. Eight years is a long time to suppress your body’s natural instincts, Taehyung-ssi. There’s no medical literature that can tell me exactly how long it’ll take to reverse.”
Taehyung sighs, dropping his head into his hands.
If things weren't already bad enough, they've gotten worse. Now he has to spend every waking moment with an alpha when he can't stand them. He hates how he has to be so dependent on them—on Jeongguk. He hates having to give him so much power.
He scowls at Jeongguk, who is sleeping peacefully without a care in the world.
“Your body has been asking for something it needs for a very long time, Taehyung-ssi," Dr. Choi says. “It's simply gotten to the point where it can't be ignored anymore. You cannot forget who you are, no matter how hard you try.”
Taehyung sits there for a long time after Dr. Choi leaves.
His head's a mess. He thought seeing the alpha once every week was too much, and now he'll have to see him every single day because he needs his pheromones. The universe has to be playing a joke on him—some cruel, elaborate prank designed to make his life as difficult as possible. He needs to fit himself into Jeongguk's schedule and make the alpha a part of his own, and he also has to deal with the rest of the members now that he'll be around them.
It’s such a hassle.
Finally, Taehyung rises from his seat and makes his way over to Jeongguk. He stands over him for a moment before nudging the alpha with his foot. "Wake up."
Jeongguk doesn’t move an inch.
"Hey." Taehyung nudges him again, harder this time. "Wake up. Don't make me repeat myself."
Jeongguk stirs, letting out a soft groan. His eyes flutter open slowly, blinking against the light, and he yawns before stretching out on the makeshift bed like a cat. His arms reach above his head, his back arches, his joints pop. Taehyung assumes this bed is much more comfortable than the one back in his dorms. No wonder he slept like a fucking baby.
The alpha looks around before his gaze finally lands on Taehyung standing over him with his arms crossed against his chest. He shoots up, his eyes going wide. “What time is it?”
“It's half past ten.”
"Oh." Jeongguk reaches for his phone, fumbling with it. "Why didn't my alarm go off?"
"It did,” Taehyung says dryly. "And I woke up because of it.”
“I'm sorry.” Jeongguk's voice is hoarse from sleep. His eyes are barely open as he stands up, swaying slightly, almost stumbling from how drowsy he is. Taehyung has to reach out and catch his arm to steady him.
“Come. We need to talk,” Taehyung says, making his way back to the sofa and taking a seat. Jeongguk follows, settling into the armchair Dr. Choi had occupied earlier. Jeongguk sits like he's being punished; legs pressed together, hands on his knees, posture straight. His eyes, though, keep darting to the complimentary snacks in the basket on the table.
Taehyung rolls his eyes. “You can eat them.”
Jeongguk shakes his head. “No.”
“Jeongguk.”
“They're yours.”
“Do I look like I'm gonna eat them?”
Jeongguk pauses. “No.”
“Then fucking take them. You’re pissing me off early in the morning. How the fuck do you wake up this starved?” Taehyung hisses.
Jeongguk mutters a quick apology under his breath before pulling the basket closer to him. He tears open a packet of crackers and immediately starts munching on them loudly, crumbs scattering across his lap.
The omega squeezes his eyes shut for a second and takes a deep breath, trying to keep himself from snapping at Jeongguk. How can someone eat something this unhealthy so early in the morning without even washing their face or rinsing their mouth. “I’d rather die than be around him all day,” Taehyung mutters under his breath.
“Did you say something?” Jeongguk asks.
Taehyung forces a smile. “No.”
“What did you wanna talk about?”
Taehyung takes a deep breath. “We need to spend more time together. I need to be around an alpha more.” Taehyung feels mildly disgusted by his own words, yet he forces himself to continue. “Doctor's orders. We're going to have to fit each other into our schedules. I'll probably have to do most of the adjusting since you usually don't have much to do."
Jeongguk’s mouth falls open. “I have lots of work.”
“Sure.”
“I do!” Jeongguk cries, all defensive now. “We have dance practice almost every day, vocal lessons, gym sessions, recording, interviews whenever we get them—”
“Okay.” Taehyung cuts him off tiredly. “I have a gallery opening soon, but before that, I can accompany you to your rehearsals and work from there. I’ll work around your schedule for the next two weeks. After that, you’ll have to work around mine.”
Jeongguk blinks. "Alright."
Taehyung's eyes narrow. “That's it? You have no complaints?”
Jeongguk shrugs, dropping his gaze to the floor. “It's not like my opinion matters. You'll do what you want anyway.”
Taehyung blinks in surprise, caught off guard by his response. “Wow,” he huffs, impressed. “Not bad. You’ve saved us a bunch of time.” He pats the empty space beside him on the sofa as he says, “Come here.”
Jeongguk stills. His eyes dart to the spot, then back to the omega's face. “There?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to.”
Jeoongguk drops the half-eaten packet of crackers on the table. He slowly stands up and moves to sit beside Taehyung, leaving plenty of space between them—a gap that could easily fit another person. He's evidently nervous, his pupils trembling, his shoulders tense, and hands clasped tightly in his lap. He's started gnawing on his lower lip again, worrying at the same spot.
Taehyung places his elbow on his knee and props his head on his hand as he stares at the alpha. He’s doing it solely to make him uncomfortable, and it works almost immediately. Jeongguk starts to squirm, swallowing audibly as he struggles to figure out what to do.
Taehyung smirks.
Finally, he reaches a hand out towards him and the alpha visibly flinches. Taehyung freezes, his hand hovering in the air. His eyebrows furrow slightly. “Are you… scared of me?” he asks, tugging at his sleeve and silently beckoning him closer.
“No! No, I'm not.” Jeongguk lets out a panicked laugh as he scoots closer, closing the gap between them in a rush. Taehyung keeps pulling at him, his fingers curling into the fabric of the alpha’s sleeve and guiding him until Jeongguk is sitting right beside him. Their sides press against each other, enough for Taehyung to feel the warmth radiating from the alpha’s body. Jeongguk looks like he’s hyperaware of their closeness, and he’s doing everything to avoid looking at the omega.
“If you say so,” Taehyung chirps. “Release your pheromones now.”
Jeongguk doesn’t need to be told twice. A second later, a light wave of his scent begins to drift through the room. It's barely there, as if he's holding himself back.
Still, every muscle in Taehyung’s body locks up. His stomach twists, his instincts screaming at him to get away. He knows the resistance is only temporary as Dr. Choi said, so he fights against it. He grits his teeth and presses closer to Jeongguk instead. He straightens up before gently leaning his head on Jeongguk’s shoulder. He focuses on controlling his breathing, his fingers flexing on his lap.
The alpha stiffens under him, hands tightly curled around his knees. He’s hardly breathing.
Taehyung likes that he’s not the only one suffering.
When Taehyung doesn't stop him, Jeongguk lets out more pheromones. The scent spikes and slowly unfurls through the room, weaving itself into the still air without controlling it. Taehyung feels it seeping into his skin, making his head feel light.
“Are you okay?” Jeongguk murmurs.
"Yeah," Taehyung says, surprisingly not as affected by the pheromones as before. His pounding heart slows as the minutes tick by. The tension in his body begins to dissolve, his breathing evening out. He needs to get his dose of pheromones today. He's spent enough time with Jeongguk already to be stuck with him for the rest of the day.
They sit like that for almost an hour.
After Taehyung stops being hyperaware of the alpha's scent, his system finally calms down—so much so that he starts drifting off. His head grows heavier against Jeongguk's shoulder, his eyelids drooping. He thinks he even dozes off for a while, because the shrill ring of Jeongguk’s phone startles him awake.
Taehyung straightens up. “Were you gonna sit here all day if I didn’t wake up?”
“Yeah.”
Taehyung blinks. “I can’t tell if you’re flirting with me or if you’re just stupid.”
Jeongguk’s eyes widen. “W-What?”
Taehyung chuckles. “Just stupid then.”
➤
Me
you’re never on time for anything
and you wanna be a superstar
Just as Taehyung sends the message, the doors to the dance studio swing open and Jeongguk walks in with the rest of the members. They file in one by one, their voices overlapping in excited chatter. Jeongguk's head turns in every direction, his eyes wide in awe as he takes in the massive mirrors and the rows of cameras already set up around the studio.
It takes him a while to even spot the omega. When he does, his face immediately lights up. He lifts his hand and gives a tiny wave, almost shyly. Taehyung beckons him closer with a crook of his finger.
Taehyung wants Bangtan’s MAMA performance video on YouTube as soon as possible while the buzz surrounding the event is still at its peak. They're doing one final rehearsal today before the actual shoot. Taehyung has gone out of his way to rent a high-end dance studio for them since he plans to film their rehearsal and upload it online too. They need to produce as much content as possible, so he’s also assigned a team to follow the members around the clock.
Taehyung’s eyes skim over Jeongguk's body as he comes to a stop in front of him. The alpha’s wearing his ugly, oversized clothes again. The baggy hoodie swallows his frame, while the shapeless sweatpants hide every line of his body. They don’t make him stand out or give him the aura of someone destined to be a star. They drown him—make him look almost invisible, like he's trying to disappear into the background.
The other members' clothes aren't any better but the omega doesn't care about them.
He only cares about Jeongguk.
How he looks, how he’s perceived. He wants people’s eyes to naturally gravitate towards him—he wants them to stare. He wants people to look him up, and remember his name.
“I knew you’ll come dressed as a loser,” Taehyung says, crossing his arms against his chest. Several heads turn. Namjoon looks up as well, and Taehyung can feel the alpha’s eyes on him. “Please work on your fashion sense. You look like a fucking beggar." He gestures dismissively at Jeongguk's outfit. "I have some clothes for you in my car. Go with my secretary, get changed, and come back.”
“But—” Jeongguk starts.
“Go!” Taehyung snaps. “Don’t waste time.”
Jeongguk pouts, his shoulders drooping in defeat. He grumbles something under his breath before reluctantly following Taehyung’s secretary out the door.
Taehyung watches him leave.
The alpha can complain all he wants, but he’ll look infinitely better in a fitted black T-shirt that shows off his physique and a pair of well-cut jeans that make his proportions look longer on camera. With a little makeup and styling, people won't be able to take their eyes off him.
“You just want everything to go your way, don’t you?” Namjoon drawls, making his way over to Taehyung with his hands buried in his pockets. His pace is slow, casual—but there’s nothing relaxed about the look on his face. His jaw is tight enough to hurt, his eyes hard as they lock onto Taehyung. Min Yoongi tries to stop him, but Namjoon roughly shrugs him off as he comes to a stop in front of Taehyung.
He's taller, broader, but Taehyung doesn't feel intimidated at all. He crosses his arms across his chest and leans back against the wall as he sizes Namjoon up with a flick of his gaze. “Sure,” he says, bored.
“You don’t care if you’re making someone uncomfortable,” Namjoon says, his voice sharp and accusatory. “All you care about is getting them to look the way you want.”
Taehyung doesn’t need to explain himself. But still, he does. "I just want what's best for him. I want him to look good on camera."
“You want what’s best for him?” Namjoon lets out a bitter laugh. His dimples show, even though his smile is anything but genuine. “I’m supposed to believe that after I hear you call him a loser and a beggar in front of everyone.”
“You—” The word dies in Taehyung’s throat. He sucks in a sharp breath as a wave of pheromones crash into him. They’re potent, sharp, downright invasive. The scent pours out of Namjoon in heavy pulses, each one stronger than the last. The faint curl of Namjoon’s lips tells him that he’s doing it on purpose. He wants Taehyung to back down. To overwhelm him with his pheromones until he’s too weak to stand his ground. He wants to suffocate Taehyung because that’s the only way he can intimidate him.
It starts to affect Taehyung much more than it should because of his condition. His aversion.
“Yes?” Namjoon smirks.
“If you have a fucking problem, why don't you terminate the contract?” Taehyung says, his hands clenching at his sides as he pushes through a wave of nausea. There's a tremor in his voice that he hopes the alpha doesn’t notice. “But you won’t, because you’re profiting from it without paying the price. You're just all talk, Namjoon-ssi. The group's probably sinking because you're their leader.”
Namjoon’s smile drops.
It’s a low blow, Taehyung knows it. He needs Namjoon to back off because it’s getting increasingly difficult to breathe. Namjoon’s pheromones only grow stronger, pressing in around him like invisible walls. Still, Taehyung refuses to let it show. He won’t give Namjoon the satisfaction of seeing him break.
“And what about you, Taehyung-ssi?” Namjoon almost hisses, taking another step forward until there’s barely any space left between them. His eyes narrow into slits, burning with poorly concealed anger. “If I'm all talk, you're nothing but a coward living off your family's name. All that money. All that power. None of it belongs to you. And let’s not pretend your family actually gives a flying fuck about you. They wouldn’t care if you live or die. Imagine being so pathetic that the only person who stayed with you in the hospital was someone you bought.” His lip curls. “If I'm a shitty leader, you're a sad, miserable loser who doesn't have anything of his own. No family. No friends. Not even a lover who wants to be with you unless you pay them.”
“You’re crossing the fucking line,” Taehyung snarls.
His heart slams violently against his ribs. His legs tremble, threatening to buckle at any moment. His stomach churns, and his vision starts to swim. He digs his nails into his palms hard enough to hurt, anchoring himself to the pain. He’d hate—absolutely fucking hate to break in front of all these people.
“You started it, Taehyung-ssi. Don't expect me to play nice to a bitch—”
“Hyung!”
Namjoon freezes at the sound of Jeongguk’s voice.
The alpha closes the distance between them in seconds. He plants a firm hand against Namjoon’s chest and shoves him a few steps back before stepping in front of the omega, completely shielding him from Namjoon’s view. Jeongguk’s pheromones cut through Namjoon’s oppressive scent almost instantly.
Taehyung’s hands instinctively lift to clutch the back of Jeongguk’s t-shirt in tight, desperate fists. The fabric bunches beneath his fingers as he unconsciously pulls the alpha closer, resting his forehead between Jeongguk’s shoulder blades.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jeongguk cries.
Namjoon’s face twists. “Jeongguk-ah! He—”
“Leave,” Taehyung mumbles, his voice trembling. It’s barely loud enough for Jeongguk to hear. “Tell them all to leave.”
“Everyone out,” Jeongguk screams, his voice booming through the studio. Namjoon opens his mouth to protest, but one look from the younger alpha is enough to stop him. “Now.”
One by one, everyone begins filing out of the room.
Just as the last person to leave shuts the door behind them, Taehyung collapses. His back slides down the wall, his legs giving out beneath him. His hands press against the cold floor as he squeezes his eyes shut and takes in deep breaths. Namjoon's pheromones in the air begin to dissolve, their suffocating grip on him loosening with each passing second.
Jeongguk crouches down in front of him. One hand grabs the omega's shoulder, the other cradles his face, tilting it up to meet his gaze. His eyes are wide, worried. “Are you okay, Taehyung-ssi?”
Taehyung swats his hand away, his teeth clenching. “I’m fine.”
As the minutes drag on, his breathing gradually steadies and the haze clouding his mind begins to clear. As the fog lifts inch by inch, the panic gives way to rage. It starts as a slow burn in the pit of his stomach before spreading through his chest like wildfire.
How dare Namjoon speak to him like that? How dare he intimidate him with his pheromones and call him a loser. How dare the alpha look down on him when he’s nothing but dirt under Taehyung’s shoe?
Once Taehyung calms down, he pushes himself to his feet. “Call Namjoon in.”
Jeongguk's face crumples. He looks desperate, his eyes wide and pleading. “Taehyung-ssi, please. Whatever he did, I apologise for him.”
Taehyung meets his eyes. “I said call him in.”
Jeongguk’s face twists.
“You can come with the rest of the people after five minutes.”
Jeongguk eventually obeys. He gives Taehyung one last look before turning around and walking out of the room. Less than a minute later, Namjoon steps in. He's still tall, still cocky as he makes his way over to Taehyung lazily. He stops right in front of the omega and says nothing—just tilts his head as he regards him.
“Apologise,” Taehyung says.
Namjoon scoffs. “Yeah, right.”
Taehyung stares. “Get down on your knees and apologise or I’ll make Jeongguk’s life a living hell.”
Namjoon sucks in a sharp breath.
Taehyung pushes off the wall and steps closer. “He’s already so sensitive, it won’t even take me long to break him. I’ll tear down his confidence piece by piece until there’s nothing left of it. I’ll work him to the bone. I’ll drag him through dirt. Sooner or later, he’ll lose sleep and blame himself for everything. I’ll make him suffer in ways you can’t even imagine. He’ll stop singing, dancing, and living. I’ll change him completely. I’ll make him into a person you don’t even recognise anymore.”
Namjoon trembles.
Taehyung can see the cracks beginning to form. All he needs is one final blow.
“I’ll make you mourn someone who’s still alive.”
Namjoon’s face crumples. “You won’t do it.”
Taehyung smirks. “Watch me.”
Namjoon’s head falls in defeat, the fight completely draining out of him. He slowly gets down on his knees in front of Taehyung. His hands clench into tight fists against the floor. He doesn’t dare meet the omega’s eyes as he says, “I’m sorry. I’m really very sorry.”
Just then—
The door swings open, Jeongguk steps in and freezes at the sight in front of him.
Taehyung smiles at him.
“I just noticed how good you look in that fit.”