Chapter Text
“And last but not least, sign here to agree that the contract is valid and binding for at least six months,” the secretary chirps. Her overly-excitable personality has Taehyung worried. To sign his life away for that long upfront was unexpected to say the least.
Bodyguards came and went, were hired and re-hired like typical work. It wasn’t like they were in short supply, so why did he need to keep the contract for so long? Perhaps he’d looked at this rather generous offer with rose-colored glasses. This gig might pay well, but they hadn’t even let him know the name of the client.
Reluctantly, Taehyung signs on the line. At the end of the day, it was only six months. He could put up with someone for six months.
“Perfect! Let’s go meet him,” she hums, scooping up the paper and tucking it beneath her arm. Taehyung follows her outside the small office, into the elevator, and up to the top floor of the building all while she speaks to him about his resume:
“...And your experience was outstanding for someone so young!” she continues. “We thought, this time, someone your age might…” She searches for the right word, “... Understand him a bit more.”
“Mm…” Taehyung replies, looking at his reflection in the elevator doors, taming one of his stray hairs. “Is the client, um, particular ?” Difficult . He means difficult. But he’s trying to be nice.
“You could say that. Mr. Kim has a busy schedule, so we need someone who can keep up with him. Not everyone is cut out for this kind of work.”
“Right…”
“Ah! Here we are,” she beams as the elevator doors open. Unexpectedly, the first thing Taehyung notices is the shouting coming from down the hall. Undeterred, the secretary continues forward. Taehyung jogs to catch up as the words become easier to make out:
“I told you, I don’t need a babysitter!” a man, perhaps the infamous Mr. Kim, snaps.
“He’s not a babysitter! He’s for your protection! ” A woman protests, “He’ll help you get to your schedules without any issues and make sure you’re safe!”
“So he’s a babysitter. And why is he any different than the last few? Just wait! I’ll get him to quit too!”
The secretary rounds the corner. A glass office has the shades drawn to prevent onlookers, but the silhouettes of the two shouting people are easy to make out - one lounging on the couch and the other standing above them, exasperated with a hand on her head. The secretary knocks and the pair fall silent.
“Come in,” the woman says.
“Hello, Mrs. Lee. Mr. Kim,” the secretary greets them before gesturing Taehyung inside. “This is Taehyung. He’s excited to meet you!”
Contrary to her words, the secretary guides Taehyung inside with two firm hands on his shoulders. He manages a smile that quickly fades as he sees the pair of them.
Mrs. Lee - or, Deji Lee, is a well-known manager under one of Seoul’s largest idol and entertainment companies. She’s a small and severe-looking woman with cropped hair who puts on a dazzling smile to greet him. Taehyung knew very well what company he applied to, but he wasn’t expecting to meet her. After all, she was so famous because she managed - more like corralled - the company’s most infamous idol, Jin.
This handsome idol had graced the screen and topped the charts since his childhood, holding just about every award imaginable for his heart-racing performances. He acted, he endorsed, he sang, danced, and modeled... Despite having a reputation for a somewhat icy and quick-tempered nature, he was as “in-demand” as one could get. Jin was undeniably easy on the eyes which must’ve canceled out the rest of his personality. He had the allure of an aloof and mysterious celebrity, preferring to keep his private life a secret, but backstage rumors favored the word “ diva .”
Taehyung suspects that these rumors have some credibility. Jin’s real name is Kim Seokjin - meaning he must be the difficult - ahem - particular Mr. Kim.
Jin looks at Taehyung in what could only be described as distaste, as if something bitter had landed on his tongue the second Taehyung walked into the room. He frowns before he says, “You hired a kid ?”
“Nonsense,” Deji says, “he has plenty of experience. Besides, you need some friends your own age.”
Jin rolls his eyes. “My own age? He doesn’t even look old enough to drive.”
Deji ignores him. “Now, I trust you’ve gone over the basics with Taehyung?” she asks the secretary, who nods enthusiastically. “Good. Come with me. I’m late for a meeting. I’ll leave you two to introduce yourselves,” she says. “Be nice!” Deji calls to Jin.
Before Taehyung can protest, the two women leave the room.
He stares at Jin, who studies his fingernails on the sofa.
“I’m Taehyung,” he says.
“We’ve already established this,” Jin sighs. “Anyway, I’m sure you know who I am.”
“I do now.”
Jin scoffs and crosses his arms. “Well, just so you know, I don’t need a babysitter. I’m 28. I don’t need someone like you telling me what to do.”
“I’m not here to tell you what to do. I’m here to keep you safe,” he says, echoing Deji’s earlier words. Perhaps, coming from her, Seokjin could accept them, but coming from Taehyung, they only make him angrier.
“I’m not a child! I don’t need a babysitter! And I certainly don’t need to be taking orders from a kid!”
“I’m not here to give you orders. Trust me, this will go a lot smoother if I don’t have to boss you around. I’m just here to ensure your safety.”
“My fans aren’t going to hurt me.”
“It’s not that, exactly-”
“Then what? Because you’re like, the seventh guy they’ve hired to do this.”
Great, Taehyung thinks bitterly. “I’m here to ensure that you move efficiently between schedules. That includes keeping you safe from people who want to prevent that. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get you home earlier.”
“So I can get an extra hour of sleep before doing it all again the next day? Thanks,” Jin mutters, sinking down into the sofa with his back to Taehyung. “I already don’t like you,” he states plainly.
So much for giving me a chance! Taehyung thinks, trying not to solve this with his fists. He unclenches them slowly. “Well, you’re stuck with me for six months so you’d better start liking me.”
Jin groans. “Six months? That’s twice as long as the last guy! Ugh, this is going to be miserable…”
Taehyung is halfway across the room before he can stop himself, grasping Jin by his shirt and pulling him off the couch. Perhaps it’s the training ingrained in him from his profession, or perhaps he just wants something to punch, but he can’t stand to be talked down to, especially by someone who hardly knew him.
“Eh!?” Jin wears the startled look of someone who has never been manhandled in his life. “What the hell do you think you’re doing!?”
Thankfully no one else is in the room, or else Taehyung would never be caught dead saying what he’s about to say: “Well, maybe if you weren’t so insufferable, this wouldn’t be so bad!”
Jin’s gaze whips to him. It’s the first time Taehyung has received it for more than three seconds. “Excuse me?”
“I said, you’re insufferable.”
“And you’re fired.”
“Ha.” Taehyung smirks and pushes Jin away from him. “Good luck trying to fire me. Deji won’t allow it. She wants us to be friends~”
Jin glares. “Huh. From your first impression, I was thinking you were a pushover. Turns out you’re just annoying and childish. As if I’d ever be friends with someone like you.”
“Fine. You don’t have to like me,” Taehyung says, stepping closer. Jin, perhaps worried that Taehyung is going to grab him again, takes a step back. “But you’re not going to treat me like shit.”
“ Me? I’m the one treating you badly ? ” Jin gapes, aghast. “What have I ever done to you?”
“Stop acting like a brat,” Taehyung says evenly. He closes the distance between them, forcing Jin to move back again. He staggers into the couch, faltering. Taehyung leans over him without hesitation. “I’m not afraid of you, and I’m not letting you treat me like dirt. So drop the attitude, princess .”
Jin looks like he wants to say something, but he stays quiet as Taehyung glares at him. Jin drops his gaze, breath shuddering in anger as he pushes Taehyung’s chest, still pinned against the couch. He’s not strong enough to push Taehyung off. They’re frozen like that, neither daring to give in.
Taehyung’s heart is racing faster than he expects. He hates to put his foot down, to use his strength to his advantage, but how was it fair to let Jin talk to him like that?
Suddenly, the door opens.
“Oh!” The secretary exclaims, her face reddening immediately. Taehyung quickly moves away as Deji enters.
“I trust you two have finished introductions?” she asks, looking between them. Surprisingly, Jin holds his tongue and doesn’t start barking about getting Taehyung fired.
“Yes,” Taehyung says.
“Yes,” Jin echoes, sullen.
“Good. Then Taehyung, if you’ll come with me, I’ll start showing you how to access Jin’s schedule, get you your keys, and all that other introductory nonsense,” Deji says.
Taehyung follows her without a complaint, happy for a reason to escape that stifling office. He passes the secretary on his way out, who tries to hide her blushing face with her clipboard. Taehyung smirks and sends one more glance back Jin’s way. His eyes narrow.
This is going to be a long six months, Taehyung thinks. He gives Jin a half-hearted smile.
He gets the middle finger in reply.