a series of somethings

by taetaehland

Summary:

Taehyung doesn't remember love being this complicated.

(Spoiler Alert: It's not)

Notes:

• For tkendgamefest.

Special shoutout to:

♡ Linzy for helping me beta read on such short notice
a series of somethings playlist ♡

Chapter 1

Taehyung knows better than to make a deal with the devil, but he did anyway, and he’s now heavily regretting it big time.

The devil being his best friend and soulmate, Park Jimin, that is, who decided to celebrate the start of Taehyung’s one week leave from work by going to a party at Hoseok’s place since according him, it’s the only time he and his husband, Yoongi, are free and the only time his parents are available to look after their daughter.

And as deals with the devil go, Taehyung has no choice but to go along with it since he owed Jimin a favor not too long ago when the latter saved him from a rather disastrous date, and Jimin had decided to cash it in by asking— No, demanding him to go out tonight.

So there Taehyung is. Alone in his living room with nothing but the warm glow from his lamp casting around the room and his lonely reflection to keep him company while he waits for Jimin to pick him up.

Just another day, that is. 

But it’s not like Taehyung has a problem with it. He prefers being alone, actually. Perhaps it’s because he’s outgrown his social butterfly stage and sees the beauty of being a lazy cat more, or maybe it’s because working at a job that requires him to talk to people all the time took the appeal of socializing away, but nevertheless, Taehyung likes being alone since it’s comfortable and easy. Just like how Taehyung likes it.

Taehyung sighs lazily as he looks at his reflection in the mirror, attempting to straighten his black turtleneck and gray pinstripe pants that’s matched with a pair of dark leather shoes. His blonde hair styled to near perfection. Wondering why he’s even bothering to attempt to look good that evening considering that he’ll be around the same people he usually hangs out with. 

But according to Jimin, it’s absolutely crucial for him to look his best, since, ‘It’s the fucking holidays, Tae. You need to look your best once in a while!’ that has Taehyung rolling his eyes but doing as Jimin asks nonetheless since his best friend threatened to drag his ass back into his apartment and force him into one of his old leather pants that makes his ass swell nicely.

The sound of a familiar car’s horn beeping repeatedly outside rings inside Taehyung’s apartment, prompting him to sigh as he picks his coat up from his couch and turn the lights off in his Tae-cave as Jimin liked to call it before heading outside to come meet up with the devil himself.

“Do you really have to make a ruckus every time you guys pick me up?” Taehyung grumbles as he opens the back passenger door of Yoongi and Jimin’s car and climbs inside. “You’re going to wake everyone up at this rate.”

“Don’t look at me.” Yoongi says as he looks at him through the rearview mirror and points towards the passenger side where Jimin has a hand over the steering wheel and was the one responsible for all the noise. 

Taehyung only sighs as he shakes his head and straps his seatbelt on. “You could’ve stopped him, hyung.” he mutters.

Yoongi shrugs, as if to say that there was nothing he could do about it, causing Taehyung to snort — because he’s right , and Jimin to turn around to face him with a big, excited grin on his face. 

“I’m doing everyone a favor!” Jimin exclaims as Yoongi turns the hazard lights off and drives out of their parking spot. “They should be awake. I mean, it’s Christmas! They should be celebrating, not sleeping!”

Taehyung rolls his eyes at the shorter male. “Not everyone celebrates, Mimi.” he points out. “Some people prefer to stay at home and have a quiet night in.”

Like himself, Taehyung thinks to himself as he crosses his arms. 

And it seems Jimin knows like always since he says, “Oh quit being a grinch, Taetae! It’s Christmas. Isn’t this your favorite time of the year?”

“Only because I get to have a week off from work and I could actually sleep for ten hours a day.”

Jimin rolls his eyes at him. “You have plenty of time to do that later,” he says, still bouncing with energy as he faces the front. “Start being more merry and less miserable. You’re killing the mood here!”

Taehyung scoffs at him as he leans his head against the window while Yoongi continues the drive towards Hoseok’s place as the chorus of Mariah Carey’s voice singing her ever famous Christmas song plays through the speakers along with Jimin’s jolly singing.

It’s going to be a long night, Taehyung decides.

⚘

Surprisingly, the party is actually a party. 

Or a proper one, at least, with a large JBL speaker playing loud and raunchy music at full volume that he’s sure that Hoseok’s neighbors could hear through the thick walls. Neon and smoke lights covering all four bases of the living room that’s creating a foggy and purple glow. A makeshift dance floor in the middle as all the furniture has been pushed back against the walls. A huge stock of alcoholic beverages that’s enough to feed a nation. 

And people. Lots and lots of people, that has Taehyung sticking against the walls and emptying his second cup of alcohol that evening while he waits for the clock to strike midnight, so he could grab a taxi home.

Taehyung figures he should thank Jimin for convincing him to dress up nicely since it isn’t the usual six-person crew that he’s used to that’s composed of him Jimin, Yoongi, Hoseok, Namjoon and Seokjin, but at the same time, he can’t help but slightly feel bitter towards the shorter male for not giving him a proper memo since all Jimin said that it was just gonna be a small celebration.

Taehyung internally snorts. Small celebration his ass, he thinks as he chucks his empty red cup away and crosses his arms. Checking the time on his watch for the nth time and groaning when he sees that he still has a few hours left till midnight.

The party is in full bloom with people dancing in the middle of the dance floor, choking on alcohol in the kitchen and talking, or rather screaming into each other’s ears since the music is too loud. Taehyung settles with keeping to himself as he observes the chaos in the room. Not even bothering to try and find Jimin anymore since he knows that his best friend is somewhere in the sea of people getting lost in the lights like always.

Unlike Taehyung who has graduated from partying, Jimin is the opposite of him. His best friend is the epitome of a person who absolutely loves to have a good time since he’s mostly cooped up at home on regular days to take care of his daughter, and the parties he usually goes to are catered to children under the age of five. 

So understandably, Jimin jumps at nearly every opportunity at the prospect of attending a party fit for his age, but unfortunately, Taehyung is usually dragged along with him since his best friend thinks he’s being a little too antisocial.

And although Taehyung finds nothing wrong with being a little (or a lot) antiso— introverted , it has become Jimin’s personal mission to try and ‘get him out there’, so Taehyung could break out of his mundane routine that mostly revolves around eating, working, sleeping, repeat. Or to try and get him some dick for the night to change things up a bit, or worse — try to get him back on the dating scene again.

Taehyung knows that Jimin’s intentions are good and that he just really wants Taehyung to be happy, but he’s long over trying to date again since, frankly speaking, all men are the same. They either want a hole to fuck for some time with no strings attached or someone to own rather than love, with no in between.

After all, it’s been the same thing going in Taehyung’s nonexistent love life, and at twenty-seven and after a handful of failed situationships, he could say that he’s done. He’s already been single for so long. He’s comfortable; content. And as tempting as a pair of arms that could keep him warm for the night sounds, he’s satisfied with his equally comfortable electric blanket instead, thank you.

He just wishes that Jimin would think the same.

But alas.

“Taehyung!”

Speak of the devil and the devil will appear.

Jimin stumbles to his side, obviously has had too many drinks, and stands up straight to smile at him. “I’ve been looking all over for you!” he says eagerly as he wraps a hand around Taehyung’s wrist. “Quick! There’s someone I want you to meet!”

Taehyung whines at the other but lets Jimin drag him nonetheless as they weave through a crowd of dancing bodies into the direction of the kitchen. Already knowing where this is going since this isn’t exactly the first time Jimin tried to play cupid.

“I’m not in the mood tonight, Jimin,” Taehyung tells him tiredly. “I honestly just want to go home and sleep. I’ve had a long day today.”

Jimin scoffs at him over his shoulder. “All you did today was stay under your blankets and read your little manhwas,” he scolds, causing Taehyung to roll his eyes at him in annoyance. In his defense, it’s still considered a long day and he strained his eyes from reading all day. Plus it’s his first long vacation in a long while.

“You need to stop living in that fucking bubble, Taehyung,” Jimin continues to say as he pulls Taehyung with him. “You’re only turning twenty-eight soon. Not ninety-eight, so start acting your age and live a little!”

“I am living.” Taehyung whines. “Maybe it’s not the way people our age usually do, but I’m fine with whatever it is that I have going. I don’t need parties or a good fuck. I’m fine, so stop hooking me up with everyone who’s gay or a little bi. I’m over it.”

Jimin sighs at him exasperatedly as they stop on the other side of the dance floor and turns to face Taehyung with a scolding look on his face that’s usually reserved for his daughter, Chaeyeon. Taehyung can’t help but feel a little intimidated by Jimin’s ‘dad look’.

“Stop being a bitch and hear me out,” Jimin starts as he crosses his arms. “For one, that’s not living. That’s existing, and yes , they are two completely different things, so shut up and let me finish—!”

Taehyung promptly swallows the retort that’s at the tip of his tongue and lets the shorter male continue. 

“I know you’re fine, okay? But things could still get a little better!” Jimin says reassuringly as he waves his arms around. “And by better, I mean, Hoseok knows this guy who’s exactly your type! And he seems really nice plus he swings both ways! Doesn’t that sound great?”

Taehyung rolls his eyes at him. “You said that about the last guy and look where that ended up,” he retorts, crossing his arms. “I don’t want to go through that again, Mimi.”

“Well, how was I supposed to know that Doohan was a fuck boy?”

“He’s your neighbor!”

“Still, how would I know that?” Jimin waves a hand at him dismissively. “He did seem nice when we talked to each other on our balconies, plus you two dated for nearly two months!”

“We didn’t date, Jimin. We just fucked on Saturday nights and that’s that.” Taehyung points out, shaking his head. “I could do that with my dildo and vibrator without having to fake orgasms.”

“It was still worth a try, though!” Jimin says optimistically as he wraps an arm over Taehyung’s shoulders and pulls him towards the kitchen’s entrance. “It’s all about trial and error, Taetae. I mean, do you really think that everyone has it easy? Take me and Yoongi hyung for example.”

Taehyung sighs at him but can’t think of a response since his best friend raises a good point. Before Yoongi and Jimin figured their shit out and became the beautiful family of three that they are today, there was a lot of dancing around each other, misunderstandings and even countless bottles of wine that he and Jimin drank till the morning for years before Yoongi and Jimin decided to fuck it (or each other) and tried a relationship out until they got married and adopted their daughter a year ago.

He guesses that that’s mainly the reason why Jimin is adamant on finding someone for Taehyung. His best friend just wants everyone to get their happily ever after, Taehyung most especially. 

The only problem is, Jimin’s version of a happily ever after includes a prince — which Taehyung doesn’t need.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard about you and hyung’s love story fifty times already and I was even a supporting role.” Taehyung says hastily. “But Jimin–”

“But nothing, Tae!” Jimin exclaims, stopping by the door to push it open to reveal Hoseok laughing with a group of people who Taehyung suspects are his co-workers around the dining area that’s converted into a beer pong area, and Yoongi talking to someone on the side. 

“You need to live your life to the fullest and it starts with Jeon Jeongguk.” Jimin says.

“Jeon Jeongguk?” Taehyung raises an eyebrow as he and Jimin enter the kitchen. “Who’s that?”

Jimin only grins at him as he wiggles his eyebrows before he drags Taehyung in Yoongi’s direction, who’s still in deep conversation with someone. 

Someone who’s extremely hot, by the way. With his insanely big arms which are popping with muscles and one of which has a sleeve full of tattoos. Piercings covering the lobes of both his ears and two on his lower lip. Jet black hair cropped short that’s peeking out of a beige beanie. A broad chest that’s almost hugging the white t-shirt he’s wearing, tapering into a tiny waist.

And eyes. His bright, doe-like eyes that wrinkle with laughter and look as though they’re shining underneath Hoseok’s dim kitchen lights. And his cute smile that oddly reminds Taehyung of bunny rabbits.

Cute and hot. A dangerous combo, in Taehyung’s opinion. He guesses he could trust Jimin to pick out his type to this day.

Jimin stops next to Yoongi and the new guy, his arm still wrapped around Taehyung’s shoulders and smiles at them. “I’m back!” he tells them, causing the two to look at them. 

Taehyung can’t help but look away when he meets the new guy’s eyes to hide the flush that’s creeping at the tip of his ears.

“This is the guy I was telling you about, Guk! Meet Taehyung.” Jimin says happily, squeezing Taehyung’s shoulder and looking at Taehyung meaningfully. 

Taehyung desperately wants to ask what Jimin has told this magnetic man but he can’t. So he tries to tap into their telepathy to ask him what that was about, only for Jimin to grin wider before he says, “Taehyung, meet Jeongguk. Jeon Jeongguk.” 

Jimin winks at him not too subtly and all too knowingly, it nearly causes Taehyung to knock his elbow against his side in embarrassment.

“Hi,” the guy —  Jeon Jeongguk, the guy who Jimin claims as the person who will make Taehyung live his life to the fullest, says as he offers a tattooed hand to shake. “I’m Jeongguk. Nice to meet you.”

“Uhm, hey,” Taehyung replies as he shakes the other’s hand. Noting how soft it is but with hints of calluses that makes fingerin— full stop. 

Taehyung shakes his head and clears his throat. “I’m Taehyung. Nice to meet you too.”

Jimin, who’s clearly watching their interaction, beams at the two of them and says, “You two look cute together,” as he claps his hands together delightedly. “You should get to know each other more!”

Taehyung’s left eye twitches at Jimin’s remark. This is one of the cons of Jimin being his wingman. He’s both a good and a terrible one. 

“Can you shut up?” Taehyung whispers into the smaller male’s ear as he leans close to him.

Jimin — the devil, only smirks at him.

Jeongguk on the other hand doesn’t seem to be affected by the shorter male’s words and just smiles at him easily, his eyes not-so subtly checking Taehyung out from top to bottom. 

Taehyung doesn’t know if it’s a good or bad thing, but he guesses he’ll figure it out soon enough.

“Jimin hyung said that you’re a social media manager,” Jeongguk starts in a polite tone. Not making it obvious that he was checking Taehyung out not more than ten seconds ago. 

“Uh, yeah.” Taehyung mutters, a tight lipped smile on his face. Feeling a tiny bit awkward. “I am.”

“That’s cool.” Jeongguk nods at him as he takes a sip from his cup, sounding genuine.

“Jeongguk-ah works with Hobi hyung,” Jimin suffices, shooting Taehyung a significant look that’s telling him to get his act together. “He’s in marketing.”

The significant look doesn’t have any significant effects on Taehyung, since he only says, “Ah. I see.”

Jimin purses his lips at him. Looking very unimpressed.

“Jeongguk was just talking to me about that video game you like, Tae,” Yoongi says. Obviously in on Jimin’s plan as he gestures towards Jeongguk with his drink. At least sounding a bit more nonchalant, unlike Jimin who’s obviously trying to set them up. 

“Oh. You play Overwatch?” Jeongguk asks, looking at Taehyung before he takes a sip of his drink. Bright eyes focused on him.

Taehyung gulps. The thing is, he is not used to attention. Especially from a cute and muscular guy who seems to be interested in what he has to say. Cons of being alone and all, so he can’t help but struggle to look for the words to keep the conversation going despite his best friends helping him out.

So he merely says, “Yup.” in what he hopes is a friendly tone.

But he thinks he fails since he hears Jimin sigh beside him and Yoongi to grit his teeth.

Jeongguk chuckles at his awkwardness though, and nods before he says. “Not much of a talker, I presume?”

“Forgive him, Jeongguk-ah,” Jimin says, coming to Taehyung’s aid as usual. Sounding slightly exasperated. “He’s not really good at small talk and parties. Plus, it’s been awhile since he was exposed to other people but I promise he’s fun to be around.”

Taehyung clicks his tongue at his best friend. “You make it sound like I’m your four year old.”

“Are you not?” Jimin replies with an eyebrow raised before he turns to Yoongi and says, “Babe, let’s get Taehyung-ah a drink and leave these kids alone to get to know each other.”

“Okay,” Yoongi replies against Taehyung’s inner protests as the elder walks to his husband’s side. “Have fun, you two.”

Fun is the opposite of what Taehyung’s having, and his so-called best friends leaving him with a hot guy without coaching him on what to do is complete torture to him. But he can’t exactly say all that, so he just glares at the two of them and hopes they step on something prickly as they leave him be.

“We’ll be right here,” Jeongguk tells the two of them as Jimin and Yoongi head towards the other end of the kitchen island to get a refill of their drinks.

As expected, silence fills the space surrounding him and Jeongguk with only the sound of Hoseok’s voice and laughter disturbing it as he plays a round of beer pong on the dining table with his friends. Silence, which Taehyung has no idea how to handle. He’s merely an introvert adopted by a group of extroverts and whose interactions, apart from his small circle, occur primarily with his boss and colleagues. 

Plus, all his past hook-ups and situationships are done with the help of alcohol and Taehyung is more sober than drunk despite the two drinks he had. 

In short, he’s hopeless.

From the other end of the kitchen island, Taehyung meets Jimin’s eyes and he finds the elder male gesturing for him to talk with his hands while Yoongi mixes two different kinds of alcohol together while sneaking glances in Taehyung’s direction.

Taehyung tries to give them a pointed look, or more like a desperate one. A cry for help. But Jimin only sighs at him exasperatedly and shakes his head. Looking even more frustrated as he looks away and talks to Yoongi instead.

The devil indeed.

Jeongguk chuckles beside him, causing Taehyung to look at him with wide eyes. 

“I guess Jimin hyung was right about you being a little shy,” Jeongguk starts, his tone conversational. 

A little shy is generous, really. He’s more of that popular song by that girl group and is trending in tiktok. He’s super shy.

“Yeah,” Taehyung replies, licking his lips. “I am. Uh, sorry about that.”

“Nah, don’t be. You’re fine,” Jeongguk says easily as he waves a hand at him. “I’m just a little surprised that that’s the case since you’re a social media manager, is all.”

“Yeah, but that’s the thing,” Taehyung says, bouncing on his feet to try and get rid of his nerves. “I’m a social media manager, so I’m only good at socializing online.” If he calls that socializing, that is.

“I guess you do have a point,” Jeongguk smiles at him and pulls his phone out of his jeans’ pockets. “What company do you work for?”

Taehyung rattles off the name of the company to the other while Jeongguk searches it online and pulls up the instagram account that Taehyung manages on his phone. 

“Hive Cups?” Jeongguk asks. “The trending tumblers?”

“Uhm, yup,” Taehyung replies as he watches Jeongguk scroll through the instagram feed. Mentally kicking himself for going back to curt answers and forcing himself to add more to the conversation.

“It became a hit not too long ago because there was this customer whose—”

“Car caught fire and left her Hive cup inside,” Jeongguk cuts him off as he looks up from his phone and smiles at him. “When she checked the remains of her car a day later, her drink was still cold and it still had ice inside. Right?”

Taehyung blinks at him. “Yeah. Exactly.” he says. “How did you know?”

Jeongguk chuckles. “I remember it trending a couple months ago,” he explains with a shrug. “Your CEO is one hell of a guy for giving her a free car. Good marketing move too.”

“Oh. Yeah. That’s right.” Taehyung nods at him. Feeling a small ounce of his timidness melt away. “You work for marketing too. Right?”

“Yes, I do.” Jeongguk answers, fingers still scrolling through the instagram feed. “I’m more of a promotion manager. The company I work for sells alcohol of all kinds and I’m mostly in charge of advertising and selling them at events like concerts and clubs, and stuff.”

“Well, that explains the hoard of alcohol here, then,” Taehyung replies with a tight smile as he gestures to the bottles of alcohol and cans of beer lining up on the kitchen countertop. 

Jeongguk chuckles at him. “Yeah, I gave Hobi hyung a good discount for these,” he reveals. “But honestly, if he begged a little more, I would have given it to him for free. These are all just extra samples I got stocked at home.”

“I see.” Taehyung replies. Not knowing what to say next, since again, small talk isn’t exactly his greatest forte. Plus Jimin and Yoongi have yet to return with his drink to make Taehyung more loose tongued and to help him out on how this whole socializing works.

Taehyung honestly feels like a fish out of water. He could tell that Jeongguk is trying his best to make him feel more comfortable by bringing up topics he feels that Taehyung knows a lot about, which he appreciates, but there’s only so little they could go with discussing careers.

Silence fills their space with Taehyung trying to meet Jimin’s eyes, who’s busy cheering for Hoseok at the dining table, and with Jeongguk checking his phone. Obviously done in trying to get Taehyung to talk to him.

Taehyung sighs as he also pulls his phone out of his pockets to scroll his feed. Honestly, he doesn’t really expect too much, or anything from whatever it is that he and Jeongguk have going. Not that there’s much to go on. And he can’t blame Jeongguk for giving up considering Taehyung’s lack of social skills.

But he guesses that it’s for the best. After all, he’s seen the same film before, with different male leads and it always ends the way it always does. With a ‘nice to meet you’. A dead end.

So why try?

You should start living your life, Jimin’s voice echoes inside his head that causes Taehyung to frown as he busies himself with his phone.

After a while of mindless scrolling, Jeongguk turns to him and Taehyung expects the farewell or the ‘see you around’. But he’s surprised to hear Jeongguk ask, “Are you the only one logged into this account?” as he gestures to the social media account filled with the Hive cups.

Taehyung raises an eyebrow at him. “Uh, yeah?” he replies, confused. “I’m the only one managing it.”

Jeongguk nods at him and turns his attention back to his phone, making Taehyung scrunch his eyebrows and also return his attention back to his phone.

But soon, his confusion pops like a bubble when he suddenly sees a DM notification in his work instagram and clicks it out of curiosity to find a message from someone with a username called JK.97, and it doesn’t take a genius to know who this person is.

 

JK.97: Is this better?

 

Taehyung stares at the message for a second. A little confused, and turns to look at the male beside him with wide eyes to find Jeongguk smirking and says, “You said you’re better with socializing online.”

Taehyung can’t help but be touched, which is a little odd for him considering Jeongguk is still a stranger to him. But regardless, he appreciates the sentiment and smiles at him before typing into his phone.

 

HIVEcups.KR: Yeah. It is.

 

He senses Jeongguk beside him typing a reply and Taehyung can’t help but feel a little eager as he watches three dotted lines appear in their chat box and finds a reply from Jeongguk again.

 

JK.97: Good :) I’m glad you’re more comfortable.

 

Taehyung feels his cheeks go warm upon reading that. He honestly can’t help but bite his lips as he types out a reply and clicks send.

 

HIVEcups.KR: Thanks, Jeongguk-ssi. I appreciate it.

 

JK.97: Don’t mention it. It’s pretty loud anyway so I guess it’s better this way.

JK.97: And call me Jeongguk or Guk. :D 

 

HIVEcups.KR: Okay. I will. :) You can call me Taehyung or hyung.

 

JK.97: You’re older???!!

 

HIVEcups.KR: Yeah. I heard you call Jimin hyung earlier and we’re the same age. Plus I’m assuming you’re a 97 liner, right??

 

JK.97: haha yup !! :D I hope you don’t mind younger guys >.<

 

Taehyung blushes even more but he doesn’t dare look up to meet Jeongguk’s eyes and tries to keep a neutral expression despite his futile attempts as he types his reply.

 

HIVEcups.KR: I’m used to babysitting my younger cousins. Don’t worry. :) 

 

He hears Jeongguk snort beside him, causing Taehyung to chuckle under his breath as he waits for the younger male to reply. Feeling the awkwardness between them disappear slowly yet surely as Jeongguk replies with:

 

JK.97: Wow. I’m cousin-zoned early on T.T 

JK.97: I need to work on my rizz.

 

Taehyung scoffs and shakes his head. Grinning as he types his next message, but before he could send it, another message from Jeongguk arrives, which nearly causes him to choke on his spit and turn his entire face scarlet.

 

JK.97: You’re pretty when you smile. 

 

And then…

 

JK.97: Wait. You’re prettier when you blush. What the fuck.

 

Taehyung turns to look at Jeongguk, his bottom lip slightly jutting out as his eyebrows scrunch. Jeongguk only chuckles at him happily, flashing him a boyish smile that makes the corner of his eyes wrinkle and bunny smile to poke out. 

He’s so cute, Taehyung thinks as he returns to his phone and replies to him.

 

HIVEcups.KR: And you said you needed to work on your rizz. All men do is lie.

 

JK.97: I wasn’t trying to rizz you up!! Why? Did that work?

 

HIVEcups.KR: Nope.

 

JK.97: You know what? You’re right. All men do is lie, cause I can clearly see you smiling again from here. ;) 

JK.97: You’re lucky you’re cute tho

 

HIVEcups.KR: Shut up.

 

JK.97: Why don’t you make me? 

 

Something in Taehyung stirs at that innuendo and he’s deathly afraid of looking up to meet Jeongguk’s eyes to try and figure out if he means it in a playful way or something else. 

There’s a part of Taehyung that feels a little giddy by this exchange. After all, Jeongguk is rather nice and cute and fucking hot , so knowing that someone like him is hinting at him to do something, makes him flattered.

But at the same time, he knows how things like this usually go and it’s not exactly the happy ending that Jimin expects it to become, yet that doesn’t stop Taehyung from shooting his shot as he finally thinks of something to say and types it out. After all, it doesn’t hurt to have fun while going to a dead end. It makes it a bit worthwhile despite everything.

 

HIVEcups.KR: Is that an invitation? 

 

Jeongguk sucks up a breath beside him upon reading Taehyung’s reply and turns to look up at Taehyung with a dark glint in his bright eyes as he pokes the inside of his cheek before he types out a reply.

Taehyung waits eagerly. Throwing most of his reservations out the window as he watches the three dotted lines bounce one after the other in Jeongguk’s chat bubble.

The reply comes in a second later, but before Taehyung can read it, Jimin suddenly turns up to his side with two cups in his hands, causing Taehyung to jump in surprise and heart to thump erratically as he pockets his phone hastily.

“I leave you two alone for ten minutes and all you do is stay on your phones?” Jimin exclaims with furrowed eyebrows as he passes Taehyung one of the cups he’s holding and shakes his head. “Holy shit. Social media is really the downfall of humanity.”

Jeongguk chuckles at Jimin as he also pockets his phone and leans back on the kitchen countertops. “Don’t worry, hyung,” he tells him. “We did make some progress while you were gone.”

Taehyung purses his lips when he catches Jeongguk’s eyes and the latter winks at him knowingly. 

Thankfully, Jimin didn’t see and just sighs at the two of them as he gestures for them to drink. “If you got him to say more than five words to you, then that’s progress I suppose,” he says in a disappointed tone. “But I’m sure some alcohol could fix this. Bottoms up!”

Jimin raises his glass to toast, prompting Jeongguk to do the same and Taehyung to begrudgingly follow their lead, before they clink glasses and drink their cups empty. The alcohol burning his throat as Taehyung swallows until only a little amount is left.

“Don’t fucking cheat, Tae.” Jimin elbows him, nodding towards his cup. “Finish up.”

“But I don’t drink.” Taehyung whines, pushing the shorter male away from him.

“Overused excuse.” Jimin waves a hand at him dismissively. “So drink up before I make you.”

His words make Taehyung blush at the memory of his and Jeongguk’s chat, and opts to just do as the other says to hide the state of his cheeks from them. However, even though he’s successful in hiding his mortification from Jimin, it does nothing to hide it from Jeongguk, since the latter’s pierced lips twist into a smirk as he also continues to finish his drink.

By the time all their cups are empty and Taehyung is beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol, Jimin drags him by the wrist yet again and pulls him in the direction of the beer pong game that’s going on in the dining table.

“Let’s start having fun,” Jimin announces. Completely oblivious to the looks that Taehyung and Jeongguk are exchanging. “It’s clear that the two of you aren’t having any.”

“I’m having fun,” Jeongguk interjects as he follows behind the two of them and stands next to Taehyung by the table. Their arms brushing and sending a wave of charged energy along Taehyung’s skin that causes him to stiffen.

“Well, that makes one of you,” Jimin grumbles, eyes focused on the current game of beer pong on the table. “But that’s about to change. Wanna play a round?”

Taehyung instantly shakes his head. His third cup of alcohol is already beginning to have its effects on him and any more will make him lose every sense of control. 

Jeongguk on the other hand nods at the shorter male eagerly and says, “Sure. I’ll team up with Taehyung hyung!”

“You’re on!” Jimin says competitively. “Let me call my sugar daddy so we can start after Hobi. One second!”

Once Jimin is away collecting Yoongi, Taehyung turns to look at Jeongguk and says, “I’m not good at beer pong. I think you should team up with someone else.”

Jeongguk waves a hand at him dismissively. “Nah, you’ll be fine,” he replies. “It’s all just good fun anyway.”

All good fun. Sadly, Taehyung has heard that line before too. But again, it’s worthwhile to have a little fun despite them going nowhere. Anything for a distraction, he supposes.

Taehyung purses his lips as he turns to look at the current game on the table that’s happening between Hoseok and Seokjin against Namjoon and one of Hoseok’s friends, with Hoseok and Seokjin surprisingly leading with just one more cup on their rival’s end and four on theirs. 

Jeongguk brushes an arm against his, causing Taehyung to look at him again and finds a reassuring smile on his face. “Don’t worry. You’ll do good. I promise,” he says in a confident tone, that somehow makes Taehyung relax a little bit.

“And besides, I’m good at shooting inside holes.” Jeongguk adds with a devious wink that makes Taehyung look away with blush just as Jimin arrives back with Yoongi in tow for the next game.

The next hour or so is surprisingly fun. Albeit, Taehyung is mostly quiet and settles with short replies, it’s clear that he’s enjoying himself more since he hasn’t taken a look at the time in a while and is actually becoming less and less stiff as the night rolls away.

The beer pong game was a close match. Jeongguk wasn’t exactly lying when he said he was good at shooting inside holes since he cleared most of the cups on Yoongi and Jimin’s end and it seems he was quite the competitive player and didn’t let himself get affected with the jeers that Jimin is sending his way when he focuses on his shot. 

Yet despite Jeongguk’s competitiveness, he always insists on letting Taehyung take a shot in shooting the ball and only laughs and pats him gently on the back whenever he misses. Saying he’d get it next time easily, which makes Taehyung feel more at ease. 

And at one point he even made Taehyung blow on the ping pong ball (for luck, Jeongguk claimed), which Taehyung did with flushed cheeks — thankful he can use the foul tasting beer he drank as an excuse for his reddened cheeks, before Jeongguk took his winning shot that finished the match.

Jimin, as usual, accused them of cheating. Jeongguk simply shrugged at the older male and said they just got lucky.

Got lucky indeed, Taehyung mentally agreed.

After their rather grueling game, their group dispersed with Jimin dragging Yoongi and Hoseok to the makeshift dance floor to dance, Seokjin to man the sound system and with a microphone in his hand to act as some sort of DJ for the evening while Namjoon, his beau, hovered next to his side. Leaving Jeongguk and Taehyung to sit on the couch together to watch the chaos unfold together.

It’s something that Taehyung is used to doing alone during social gatherings like this — observing, that is. But he finds that doing this rather tedious task with someone is better. Way better. Even when there are hardly any words exchanged between them and they’re just sitting down and laughing at whatever dance move Yoongi throws at his two expert dance partners, it’s nice. 

Jeongguk is nice, Taehyung decides.

“Wanna dance?” Jeongguk asks after a while as he turns to look at Taehyung with a friendly smile. Legs bouncing with energy. It reminds Taehyung of an excited golden retriever.

But unfortunately, Taehyung doesn’t dance. Not with so many strangers around at least, so he waves a hand at him and tells him, “I don’t dance.” 

Jeongguk raises an eyebrow. “Everybody can dance.” he retorts.

“I don’t.” Taehyung replies, crossing his arms as he sits back on the sofa. “But you can go on ahead. You don’t have to stick with me all night. It’s fine. I’m used to being alone anyways.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound fun,” the younger male says with a laugh, shaking his head. 

“That’s me.” Taehyung shrugs. It’s true anyway and there’s no use in hiding it. “I’m allergic to fun, it seems.”

Jeongguk merely scoffs at him lightheartedly and stands in front of him before he offers his hand. “Don’t worry. I know a remedy,” he replies with a bunny smile on his face. “C’mon. Let’s go.”

Taehyung looks at his hand for a long second, deciding. Truthfully, he’s not a bad dancer at all considering he’s friends with Park Jimin, who lives and breathes dance, and Jung Hoseok who does it for a living and has even complimented Taehyung on a few of his moves.

But the thought of dancing with a lot of strangers around makes Taehyung feel a little uncomfortable. He’s still painfully introverted and shy even with alcohol running through his veins, so it makes him hesitate.

Jeongguk seems to know, though. Since he says, “Don’t worry.” It’s something that Taehyung has noticed that the younger one likes to say. To him, more specifically. And he doesn’t know how to feel about it. 

“I’ll make a distraction so they won’t look at you.” Jeongguk grins as he holds Taehyung’s hands and attempts to lightly pull him up.

For some reason, it works. Call it magic or witchcraft, but Taehyung willingly stands with a defeated sigh on his lips and says, “Fine.” 

The grin on Jeongguk’s face looks like a winning one; an infectious one that draws out a smile from Taehyung too as the younger one pulls Taehyung to the direction of the dance floor. 

“If anyone starts laughing, I’m going, though,” Taehyung warns, feeling his heart pick up pace. Not knowing if it’s because of the people around him or because of the way Jeongguk is squeezing his hands reassuringly.

“Don’t worry,” Jeongguk says as they stop in the middle and start to sway to the music. “I’ll take care of you.”

Thank god for the neon lights because it was effective enough to hide Taehyung’s tinted cheeks, he thinks.

Jeongguk is dancing in front of him. A wide bunny smile on his face while Taehyung tries to sway side to side. Still feeling awkward and uncomfortable since he’s hyper aware of the people surrounding him. Afraid of what they would think.

But as Jeongguk promised, he makes it his personal mission to make sure no eyes stray on Taehyung but on himself instead since he starts to dance a little too chaotically but in a rather cool way, causing all heads to turn to him.

“Looks like Jimin and Hobi have a run for their money, folks!” Seokjin says into the microphone as everyone goes to stare at Jeongguk in awe as the latter dances with his all, with a huge smile on his face and as his eyes check on Taehyung from time to time. 

It’s so considerate. So sweet. Taehyung hasn’t met anyone before who will go out of their way to make him feel comfortable apart from his friends, considering that he and Jeongguk barely know each other.

Perhaps alcohol plays an important role, Taehyung thinks, but the liquor didn’t seem to affect Jeongguk since the younger one is still able to talk to him normally. Maybe it boosted his confidence, sure. But what reason would Jeongguk have to be nice to a total stranger?

The after party, his brain concludes. The after party in the form of soiled bed sheets and tangled limbs, cause what else would get a stranger to do this for him? There’s always a catch. Taehyung knows this.

But despite that, catch or not, Taehyung can’t find it in himself to care. Not really. He’s not completely opposed to the idea of spending the night with Jeongguk since it’s not like Taehyung hasn’t done it with anyone who did way less before anyway.

Jeongguk is nice and considerate. He hasn’t made Taehyung uncomfortable by any means.

Plus, he’s hot. Fucking hot.

And Jeongguk deserves to get the ass tonight if that’s where things are leading up to.

After a couple minutes of Jeongguk dancing silly and Taehyung swaying awkwardly beside him, Hoseok decides to steal the spotlight away from Jeongguk with some impressive breakdancing in the middle of the floor, causing everyone in the room to cheer for him. Giving Jeongguk the chance to sidle up to Taehyung’s side and look at him.

“What did I say?” Jeongguk says, swaying beside him. “You didn’t have to worry.”

Taehyung smiles at him. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” 

Jeongguk grins at him. “Just stick with me tonight,” he says as he takes a step closer to him and rests his hands over his hips. “I’ll take care of you.”

And just like in the beer pong competition, like at the couch and now at the dance floor, Jeongguk does. He takes care of Taehyung as if they’re not the strangers that Taehyung thinks they are. 

The two of them dance together for longer than Taehyung thought they would, and he’s surprised to find himself having fun and worrying less. Almost uncaring of the people surrounding him and laughing more loudly, worrying less and living his life, as Jimin said earlier.

At one point the dance floor gets more crowded, causing the two of their bodies to flush together due to the lack of space — accidentally or not, brushing crotches as they continue to dance the night away.

And maybe it’s the alcohol mixed with the euphoria and the lust that’s beginning to course through Taehyung’s veins, but he experimentally rubs their cocks again through the fabric of their jeans, causing Jeongguk to stiffen for a quick nanosecond before Taehyung feels arms. Strong and muscular arms wrapping around his waist and pulling him close until their noses bump together.

Jeongguk has an intense look on his face. It’s suggestive, with his pierced bottom lip caught between his teeth and his thick fingers digging into Taehyung’s hips that causes goosebumps to erupt from Taehyung’s skin as he stares back. But at his lips, more specifically.

Taehyung is usually particular with keeping is personal space, but in that moment, Taehyung doesn’t give a fuck. Not when it means that he’s caught in Jeongguk’s arms, staring at his eyes and the distance from their lips keep decreasing and decreasing until only a small gap is separating them.

Not with Jeongguk, it appears.

Taehyung is about to lean in. Just fuck it and get it over with. Everything has been leading to this point, after all. 

But for some reason, there’s a tiny part of him that’s hesitating. He doesn’t know why. Or he doe s but just refuses to acknowledge it. 

Deep down, he knows it’s because he doesn’t want this end. Not yet, at least. He knows dead ends are inevitable and after this, it’ll be over and he’s back to the same mundane routine like the last time. 

Deep down, he wants to get to know Jeongguk a little more, and that’s frightening. 

Suddenly, Seokjin’s booming voice echoes inside the room while the music is cut and says, “It’s almost Christmas!”

Everyone in the room cheers at that and Taehyung uses it as an excuse to pull away from Jeongguk with his head bowed low. And maybe it’s his imagination, but he hears Jeongguk sigh in disappointment.

Taehyung licks his lips as his overthinking gets the best of him and wonders if it was the right choice to pull away. To drag this on any further, knowing it’s the same dead end. Knowing it’s just a night. And although Jeongguk doesn’t seem to be perturbed that Taehyung turned him away, Taehyung still feels a tiny bit anxious.

Everyone starts to countdown with Seokjin leading and screaming the numbers into the microphone. “Three,” Seokjin yells into his mic, raising his fist in the air as the crowd cheers. 

“Two! One! Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!” Seokjin announces into his mic as the music cuts back on and plays Mariah Carey’s song again that evening, while a chorus of polite greetings surrounds Taehyung.

From beside him, Jeongguk is being wrapped with one hug after another from the people he knows as they greet him a merry christmas while Taehyung only smiles at the people who cared enough to acknowledge his existence and greet him too. The two of them polar opposites, with Taehyung and his introvertedness and Jeongguk with his extrovertedness.

But soon, Jimin is rushing over to him with an excited grin on his face and Taehyung finds himself with an armful of his rather drunk best friend clinging onto him tightly and leaving a wet kiss on his cheek.

Taehyung grimaces. “You’re drunk.” he tells him but hugs him back nonetheless.

“And you’re not drunk enough,” Jimin retorts, pulling back and pointing a finger to his chest with his eyebrows scrunched. “What gives, Tae? What happened to the plan?”

Taehyung snorts at him and rolls his eyes. “What plan?” he deadpans.

Jimin shoots him a blank look. “Living your life to the fullest,” he exclaims exaggeratedly. “It starts today, remember?”

It starts with Jeon Jeongguk.

And maybe he did start to believe it for a fraction of time. Almost, but not entirely.

“I’m trying,” Taehyung tells him instead. It was the truth after all, until reality set in. “I’m having fun.”

Jimin positively beams at that. “I could tell,” he replies. “I mean, I noticed that Jeongguk barely left your side since I introduced you two.”

Taehyung snorts at him. It’s true, but he doesn’t want to put Jimin’s (or his) hopes high for nothing. “He’s nice but that doesn’t really mean anything, Mimi,” he says. “It could just be a night and that’s it.”

“You don’t know that,” Jimin chides with eyebrows scrunched. “What did I tell you earlier?”

“Yeah yeah,” Taehyung scoffs. “Trial and error.”

“Right!” Jimin nods. “So just try and try until the error turns into an e-rgasm that will last you a lifetime!”

“That’s quite poetic.”

“I know!” Jimin laughs as he lightly shoves him away. “So take it from me. Stop overthinking, Taetae and just go with the flow. Sometimes it’s better not to think.”

“Mmhmm. I could understand why you’d say such a thing,” Taehyung replies, causing Jimin to scoff. 

“And yet I’m the one with a cock to sit on anytime I please.” Jimin bites back.

Touche, Taehyung thinks but before he could respond to his best friend, Jeongguk suddenly appears at his side with a smile and pats Jimin on the back.

“Hey hyung! Merry Christmas.” Jeongguk tells the shorter male.

“Merry Christmas, Jeongguk-ah,” Jimin replies happily. “Thanks for babysitting for me tonight.”

Taehyung scoffs, while Jeongguk chuckles at the other lightheartedly and says, “Anytime. I’d do it again.”

What is that supposed to mean? Taehyung thinks bewilderedly to himself but opts to bite his tongue as Jimin and Jeongguk exchange a few more pleasantries, before Jimin excuses himself to go so he could find Yoongi.

But of course, it’s not a real Jimin exit without the shorter male making Taehyung even more flustered, since Jimin leans into his side and whisper-shouts, “Go get those e-rgasms” lewdly into his ear that has Taehyung scoffing at him.

Typical Park Jimin.

Once it’s finally just the two of them, Jeongguk turns to look at him with his big sincere eyes and says, “Merry Christmas to you too, Taehyung hyung. Sorry I couldn’t be the first one to greet you, I got stuck there for a second.”

“Don’t worry. You’re fine,” Taehyung replies, smiling to himself. “Merry Christmas, Gukkie.”

Jeongguk smiles at the nickname. “Gukkie?” he asks.

“Is it too soon for nicknames?”

Jeongguk shakes his head at him. “It’s never too soon with me.” he says easily. “Don’t worry.”

And there it is again. Don’t worry. The same thing that Jeongguk keeps repeating all night long and proving with his actions. It’s so simple and Taehyung has heard it multiple times before, but somehow, Jeongguk makes it easy for him to believe it. It makes Taehyung do it — not worry.

Something shifts in the air as Taehyung meets Jeongguk’s eyes, with Jimin’s voice echoing in his head, as if it's his conscience— the devil sitting on his shoulder telling him to just go for it. 

Taehyung should know by now better than to listen to the devil yet again. He should just go as he initially planned, which is to leave as soon as the clock strikes midnight. Hide under his electric blanket and read his manhwas until he falls asleep, and go back to his same old lonely routine.

But the way Jeongguk is looking at him makes him second guess and makes him think back to enjoying the ride despite the dead end. 

It makes him not worry.

Plus the look in Jeongguk’s tantalizing eyes wasn’t helping Taehyung’s case at all and it only makes Taehyung want him even more.

Even if it’s just for the night. 

He could always go home to his comfortable electric blanket afterwards, but tonight, he’s going to follow Jimin’s advice for a change and live his life.

And it starts with Jeon Jeongguk.

“So about that invitation…” Taehyung starts, trying to push all his shyness away as he holds the younger one’s intense gaze.

“Invitation?” Jeongguk asks, brows slightly raising.

“Yeah.” Taehyung mutters, licking his lips slowly. Jeongguk watches it intently. “The, uhm. The one I sent you on instagram.”

A flash of recognition appears on Jeongguk’s face, followed by the sly smirk of his lips as he takes a step towards him until they’re chest to chest. 

“What about it?” Jeongguk asks, tone low as he meets Taehyung’s eyes. “Did you see my message yet?”

“No. Not yet.” Taehyung replies. “What did you say?”

“Well, I recall saying that you don't need an invitation,” Jeongguk says, smiling at him. “You’re free to come to the after party anytime you want.”

Taehyung blinks at him and takes a few seconds to decide. From his shoulder, he hears the devil whisper ‘go for it.’ 

It’s a bad idea, but honestly, what could Taehyung lose? Again, he has close to no expectations. It’s just a night. Just another dead end. A taste of living. Another situation with an easy exit. So Taehyung swallows his spit and says, “Where’s the after party?”

Jeongguk grins at him widely as he gently wraps an arm around his hand. 

“Don’t worry,” he says. Two dangerous words that Taehyung has stupidly learned to trust. “I’ll take care of you.”

And like before, Taehyung trusts him and follows him out the door.

⚘

“It’s always the quiet ones.”

Jeongguk’s words, along with the way he’s looking at Taehyung from below him, do a series of somethings to Taehyung. 

Something that involves the flushing of his cheeks and ears, and the way his cock twitches in arousal from underneath the pinstripe slacks he’s wearing, and the way he’s both awfully embarrassed yet so turned on by that simple statement.

After he and Jeongguk rushed out of the party, and the two of them hastily stumbled into the younger one’s car and drove to his apartment, Taehyung found himself in what Jeongguk called his man cave, that doesn’t really look like one compared to the handful of real man caves that Taehyung had visited before from his previous situationship.

Because for one, this particular man cave is spotless. Clean. No furniture is out of place, no empty boxes of takeout scattered on the floor, no dirty dishes littered anywhere. No dust and no stench. And although there are signs of Jeongguk actually living in it, like the huge bottle of fabric softener on the kitchen countertop next to the detergent. The coffee table filled with small trinkets like packets of candies, a collection of scented candles, a half-empty box of cigarettes and a laundry basket filled with neatly folded clothes on the side, it’s still pristine. Perfect.

When the two of them arrived at Jeongguk’s place, Taehyung expected them to get right into it. Skip all those pleasantries and just fuck right away like how it normally goes, but surprisingly, it didn’t. 

Instead, Jeongguk treated him as if he were a guest rather than a casual hookup. He offered him something to drink and told him to make himself at home, turned on the heater and gave him a brief tour of the place, and just, it wasn’t something that Taehyung expected. It wasn’t the typical setting that he had grown used to.

Even after the two of them settled on the sofa with a glass of alcohol for each of them prepared by the host, nothing explicit happened immediately and they just talked some more. Talked about whatever thing that they could think of and even laughed at a few of each other’s anecdotes as if it were the most normal thing in the world. As if they were friends and they weren’t actually hooking up at any time.

And yes, maybe it is normal. Actually, it is normal. But considering the nature of their relationship — or situation, Taehyung feels far from it being normal. If he has to call it something, he’d call it new. The setting, situation and the feelings that are oddly starting to creep in as Jeongguk tells him all about how he misses his doberman, Bam, who's currently staying over at his brother’s place. It’s new. Strange. 

And the more Taehyung knows about the little stuff — how Jeongguk has a collection of alcohol in his fridge more than actual food and how he likes to do karaoke after experimenting in his kitchen during late nights, the more invested Taehyung becomes. The more it gets complicated. 

At least that’s how it feels for Taehyung. 

Jeongguk makes him feel confused — in a good way and in a bad way. And as much as it has been nice to talk to him and get all cozy together, Taehyung feels like he has to start drawing that imaginary line to remind himself of why he’s there in the first place and to stop himself from feeling anymore.

It’s another dead end after all, he reminded himself as he emptied the glass of alcohol that Jeongguk served him and took a deep and long breath before he straddled Jeongguk’s lap and wrapped his arms around the younger one’s neck to get back in order. He needs to go back to the original plot and skip all these fillers that lead nowhere. 

Hence, there they are with their hardening cocks brushing against each other through their jeans with Jeongguk’s big hands rubbing Taehyung’s sides erotically as he pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue and while his darkening gaze is fixed on him.

Taehyung can’t help but blush, but this time, he doesn’t look away from the challenge in Jeongguk’s eyes and leans in to rest his forehead over the younger one’s as his fingers play with the back of his dark hair.

“Yeah?” Taehyung tells the other, gathering all his shamelessness as he plays with the younger one’s hair. “You been with a couple of quiet ones, then?”

Jeongguk chuckles under his breath. The darkness in his eyes lighting up for a quick nanosecond with a few of those captured stars in them, and goes to tuck Taehyung’s blonde hair behind his ear. “Not anyone like you, I have to say,” he says. “I have a feeling you’re someone special.”

That feeling— that unexplainable rush of confusing emotions returns once again at Jeongguk’s words; that weird one that makes his heart beat erratically and cheeks to dust more scarlet. It feels like playing with fire; like playing along the imaginary line that Taehyung drew. 

And he feels like he has to do something to extinguish it, to put a stop to it, so Taehyung decides to kiss him to shut him up and stop Jeongguk from saying any more of those weird words that makes him feel weird things as he fits their mouths together and licks inside hungrily.

But it seems, kissing Jeongguk did the opposite of extinguishing the fire since Jeongguk is an excellent fucking kisser. A giver. Who opened his mouth wide to accommodate Taehyung’s tongue and sucked it lewdly as his hands gripped his ass.

Taehyung moans through the kiss. Feeling himself let go as Jeongguk’s hands untuck the turtleneck he’s wearing from the waistband of his pants and slowly starts to peel it off of the elder.

“You’re gorgeous, Tae,” Jeongguk says breathlessly as he leans back on the sofa to take a proper look at his naked torso, throwing Taehyung’s shirt away somewhere over the sofa’s edge. His fingers carefully grazing his skin as if he were made porcelain while he bites his bottom lip. “Fuck. Did anyone ever say how hot you are?”

“Maybe a few times.” Taehyung answers, licking his lips. Feeling slightly flustered, a lot aroused but mostly… weird.

“Only a few times?” Jeongguk scrunches his eyebrows. “You should be told that every fucking day, Baby. Fuck. Look at you.”

And there goes Jeon Jeongguk again with his words and his sweetness. 

Plus the pet name only makes Taehyung feel more flustered. He’s honestly at a loss of what to do, but decides to just go along with it and get this over it. He’s sure that after this, he’ll forget about him like he did with rest.

“Are you just going to stare all day?” Taehyung asks, sounding more confident as he raises a challenging eyebrow at him. “I’m no exhibit.”

“If I could, I would. You should be an exhibit, pretty. You’re gorgeous.” Jeongguk replies with a teasing smile as he pulls Taehyung to his chest. Bright eyes shining under the light of the scented candle he lit up and the pin lights from the corners of his ceiling. 

“Well, that’s not any fun,” Taehyung says, hand resting on Jeongguk’s awfully soft cheek and rubbing the scar there with his thumb. “I thought this was an after party.”

“Why the rush?” Jeongguk asks as he holds Taehyung’s wrist and looks up at him. “We got time.”

And yes. They do, actually. Taehyung has all the time in the world until all the New Year’s firework displays have been lit up in the skies and are uploaded on social media until he has to return to his rather mundane routine. 

But what Taehyung doesn’t have is the patience to hold back any more and the will to fight away the feelings that Jeongguk is trying to give him, so he leans in and sucks the side of Jeongguk’s neck, causing the latter to curse under his breath before Taehyung climbs up to nibble his ear and whispers, “Well, I’m impatient. What are you gonna do about it?”

All the stars in Jeongguk’s eyes extinguish completely and are replaced with a hooded look instead at Taehyung’s words. Like a switch was flipped and he turned into someone completely different instead. And before Taehyung could blink, Jeongguk is suddenly standing up from the sofa with Taehyung in his arms as he smirks at him deviously. 

Taehyung sucks up a breath as he hugs Jeongguk around the neck and as the younger one begins to walk into what Taehyung thinks of as the bedroom. 

“Well, we wouldn’t want that. Right?” Jeongguk says, leaving short and hot kisses all over his collarbones, that has Taehyung biting his lips as Jeongguk kicks the bedroom door open and lays Taehyung down on the bed. “I did promise to take care of you.”

Taehyung watches with his mouth agape as Jeongguk sits back on his thighs and finally — finally discards the white shirt he was wearing to reveal a body that looks as though it’s sculpted by the gods. With his six pack abs, defined chest, his big biceps and the rest of the tattoos that Jeongguk was hiding underneath that offensive shirt that was hiding it all away from him.

And fuck.  

How could someone look like this? Taehyung thinks as traces his fingers across Jeongguk’s torso and resists the urge to drool at how fucking solid it feels under his touch. He never really thought he had a muscle kink until today. Or until Jeongguk, that is, since as he feels and touches and explores, his cock from under his pants gets a little more tighter.

Jeongguk seems to notice it too since he smirks at him again and leans forward to hover over him and says, “Like what you see?”

Taehyung unashamedly nods as he wraps his arms around Jeongguk’s neck and pulls him in, causing the younger one to chuckle at him in amusement.

“And you call me hot,” Taehyung mutters through his lips as he lightly kisses and sucks his lip ring. Feeling like a crazed man who just can't get enough of him. “You’re way hotter… Baby. ”

“Let’s agree to disagree.” Jeongguk smiles through the kiss as he places a hand between their bodies to work on unbuttoning Taehyung’s pants. “Cause I could go all day talking about how beautiful you are, Tae.”

Jeongguk should really stop with the praises, really. He should stop making Taehyung feel all these somethings and just do more than say, cause him having the body of Adonis all the while being this insanely sweet person is doing nothing but make Taehyung feel — and that’s that last thing that he wants to do with a one night stand.

So he tells Jeongguk as much, “Less talking, more getting naked. I want you.”

Jeongguk chuckles as he finally unbuttons Taehyung’s pants and pulls them down enough to make the elder’s half-hard and leaking cock spring out from the waistband. “All right, My monarch,” he says. “I’m at your service.” before he leans down to attack Taehyung’s lips with his dangerous mouth.

Taehyung moans. Feeling lightheaded with arousal as he pulls Jeongguk in and grips his dark hair, as if it would make them closer than they already are while Jeongguk works on removing the elder’s pants and underwear expertly with a single hand.

Once Taehyung is fully naked, Jeongguk pulls back from their rather hot kiss and settles himself in between Taehyung’s open legs to stare at him unabashedly, causing Taehyung to blush but he doesn’t dare shy away.

“Even your cock is pretty, Baby,” Jeongguk says, biting his lips as he rubs the inside of Taehyung’s thigh and hangs his legs over his broad shoulders. Eyes darkening with lust as he takes a peek of Taehyung entrance and teases it with the pad of his finger. “Fuck, even your hole looks fucking inviting.”

Taehyung moans, his toes curling and mouth falling open as Jeongguk rubs his rim and uses his spit to make it even more wet. “Oh fuck! That– Nngh. Shit, Baby. That feels so good.”

“Yeah?” Jeongguk asks with a sly grin as he pushes the tip of his finger inside of Taehyung achingly slowly while he watches the elder writhe below him with dark eyes. “You like feeling all stretched out, baby? Do you think my cock will fit inside this tiny hole of yours?”

“Y-yeah. I’ll— Ugh. I’ll make it fit,” Taehyung replies brokenly, trying to push his ass forward to get more of Jeongguk’s finger inside, only for the latter to hold his hips to stop him. “P-Please, Jeongguk. I- I need you. Please.”

“So polite for an impatient baby.” Jeongguk smiles wickedly as he brings a tattooed finger to his lips and sucks it lewdly, as if he’s putting up an erotic show for Taehyung, before he pulls out and re-inserts it inside.

Taehyung winces at the intrusion but he doesn’t do anything to push Jeongguk away and just takes it in, all the pleasure and pain, until Jeongguk pulls it out and pushes it again repeatedly. The burn feeling good and making his cock shoot up and spurt with precum.

“Fuck, Tae,” Jeongguk groans as he looks down on his leaking cock. “You’re already drizzling for me and we barely started.”

“I need more,” Taehyung whines, trying to push back and meet Jeongguk’s fingers despite the restraint. “Please, Baby. I need more.”

“Shit.” Jeongguk winces before he leans forward and kisses Taehyung behind the ear as he pushes his finger deeper inside of him again. “I will, okay? Let me just feel you for a second. Alright?”

Taehyung’s eyes roll behind his head at the pressure in his hole and the way Jeongguk is rubbing his clothed cock against Taehyung’s naked one. Pulling a fistful of Jeongguk’s hair as his back arched in pleasure when Jeongguk crooks his finger inside of him.

“Fuck, Gukkie,” he drawls out breathlessly as Jeongguk starts to suck the lobe of his ear. “That feels so, ugh. So good.”

Jeongguk hums into his ear and Taehyung could sense him reaching into his bedside table to pull something out of his drawer before throwing it beside them — A condom and a bottle of lube. 

“Well, I can make you feel better,” Jeongguk says. Too confident for his own good as he hovers over him and pulls his finger out of Taehyung’s hole. “Just be a little patient for me, baby. Okay?”

Taehyung nods at him and watches with bated breaths as Jeongguk reaches for the bottle of lube and dribbles some into his fingers, the cool liquid spilling over Taehyung’s chest as Jeongguk spreads Taehyung’s legs wide apart and slowly pushes a lubed finger inside.

But this time, instead of that slow and teasing pace, Jeongguk slides in easily and pushes his finger down to his knuckles and pulls out before doing it again at an even faster pace.

“Oh shit.” Taehyung whines, mouth hanging open, legs spreading even more and hips meeting Jeongguk’s fingers. Hands gripping the sheets underneath him. “That– Ugh. I need more, baby. Please. I– Give me more.”

“I will, baby.” Jeongguk bites his lips as he watches Taehyung tremble. “Don’t worry.”

Don’t worry. 

Shit. 

It’s then when Taehyung decides that he likes that sort of promise that Jeongguk likes to make since he always freaking delivers, considering he adds another finger inside of him and scissors him open while Jeongguk leans in to suck his nipples and twirls it around his tongue.

The sensation of both of his fingers and tongue makes the elder hypersensitive to everything around him as he thrashes underneath Jeongguk and moans loudly.

“Nngh. Jeon– Jeongguk–! ” Taehyung groans as he wraps his legs around Jeongguk’s tiny waist and grips his hair. “Baby– I, fuck. Feels so good.”

Jeongguk hums at him contentedly as he sucks one of his protruded nipples into his mouth before he switches to the other to bite it and give it the same treatment he gave to the other, all while his fingers are fucking Taehyung deliciously.

“Fuck!” Taehyung gasps as Jeongguk inserts a third finger inside of him and speeds up his thrusts. The sound of lewd squelching and sucking ringing in Taehyung’s ears as if it were some sort of symphony designed to make him reach his peak arousal.

“Baby,” Taehyung whines, looking down to meet Jeongguk, who looks up while still playing with his nipples with his tongue and free hand. “Baby– I, Nngh. I want more. I want you. It feels too good.”

Jeongguk bites his nipple harshly, causing the elder to groan before he lets go and leaves eskimo kisses all over his chest and looks up at him. “I got you.” he says in a dangerously low tone. “What did I say, Tae?”

Don’t worry.

I’ll take care of you.

Here comes those weird feelings again, Taehyung thinks to himself as he watches Jeongguk stand on his knees after pulling his slicked fingers out of his entrance and wraps his muscled arms around Taehyung’s thighs. 

Before Taehyung could wonder what Jeongguk has in mind, the younger one suddenly lifts half his body up without even breaking a sweat and dangles his legs over his shoulders. And like that unspoken promise to take care of him; to not worry and that he has him, Jeongguk takes it up a notch and begins to spread his ass apart before leaning in to lick his rim.

“FUCK!” Taehyung yells in a tight voice as Jeongguk starts to suck his rim vigorously with closed eyes and pants tenting with his own hardening cock as he eats Taehyung out. 

“Holy fuck. Jeon— Shit. Jeongguk!”

Jeongguk hums contentedly, still sucking the lines along his entrance and even inserting his tongue inside of him. Obviously loving this as much as Taehyung is, which causes Taehyung to tremble and toes to curl. 

Taehyung has had a lot of partners in bed. He wouldn’t exactly call himself a virgin or inexperienced. Despite him being extremely introverted and as Jimin called him ‘antisocial’, he still has a few of his dating (or more like, hookup) apps saved on his phone if ever he’s in the mood to be taken care of.

But none of them. None. Zero. Ever ate him out. EVER. 

So Jeongguk doing this— eating his ass and enjoying it on top of it all, makes Taehyung feel a little like he’s new to this. 

But not that he’s complaining or anything. It just proves that Jeon Jeongguk is fucking amazing at sex — and he hasn’t even fucked him with his cock yet. 

Fuck.

Taehyung is panting. His cock is hard and red, almost begging for release, and Jeongguk keeps giving and giving like he has more to give, which Taehyung doesn’t doubt for even a second and the younger one proves it by shoving three of his fingers inside of Taehyung again as he licks him.

“Fucking— Oh god!” Taehyung moans, lips bitten red and legs shaking uncontrollably as Jeongguk fucks him with his fingers and tongue, and managing to hit his sweet spot that nearly made him cum untouched. “Oh. Nngh. Baby! Baby, please. Agh. Baby, p-please stop. I’m gonna cum. Please. Please–”

Jeongguk, the little shit, doesn’t stop. Nope. He does not. Instead, he crooks his fingers inside of him as he sucks his rim, causing Taehyung’s eyes to fill with tears at how good it is.

“Jeonggukkie. Baby–” Taehyung begs as his chest heaves and looks up at Jeongguk. “Please, baby. I– I’m not gonna last long. I wanna feel you inside me. Please.  I— Shit. Please, Baby. Stop.”

This time, Jeongguk listens and pulls his fingers out after licking his rim one last time, and lets go of Taehyung’s thighs. Letting the elder fall back on the bed, gasping for air with his cock rock hard between his legs.

“Since you said please, I’ll do as you say,” Jeongguk mumbles with a smirk as he crawls to meet Taehyung’s face and hovers over him, one of his hands working on opening his jeans. “But next time, I’m eating you out until you come untouched with just my mouth in your ass.”

Next time.

It’s such an awfully simple phrase you hear nearly regularly, but the thought of it makes Taehyung feel all those series of weird somethings again in his chest. It makes him hope — which is a bad thing, right? This is another dead end. So why is he suddenly expecting more out of this?

Why is Jeongguk making him feel this way?

Taehyung doesn’t get to think of what the answer is, since Jeongguk leans down to kiss him ferociously on the lips. Shutting down his brain and making the elder melt around Jeongguk’s strong and protective hold as the younger one licks into his mouth.

Jeongguk successfully unbuttons his jeans while kissing Taehyung and pushes it down with his legs, revealing the huge bulge that’s forming underneath his Calvin Klein boxer briefs and grabs Taehyung’s hands to put it over it.

“You’re responsible for this,” Jeongguk mutters under his breath as he kisses Taehyung’s neck. “You made me so hard for you, baby, and we haven’t even done anything yet.”

“I can’t wait to return the favor,” Taehyung replies as he hugs Jeongguk closer using all his limbs and rubs their crotches together. “I’ll try to make you feel as good as you’re making me feel.”

“Yeah?” Jeongguk asks, kissing his neck and shoulder before pushing up to grab the condom above Taehyung’s head and tears it open with his teeth. 

“Yes.” Taehyung nods, eyes focused on the way Jeongguk is slowly pulling the waistband of his underwear down to let his cock— his huge cock spring out of it.

Honestly, what doesn’t Jeongguk have? He seems to have the perfect personality, the perfect body, the perfect skills in bed, and now the most perfect cock too? 

There must be a catch, Taehyung thinks as he watches Jeongguk dribble some lube over his cock and pumps it to spread it. 

Surely, there must be a fine print that comes along with someone as perfect as Jeon Jeongguk. A hidden red flag. A weird kink. A crazy ex. Anything. Because Taehyung is finding it super hard to believe that he landed himself in bed with a man like Jeon Jeongguk and is about to have (as what he believes) the perfect sex with him.

“Like it, baby?” the younger one asks with a knowing smirk on his face as he settles between Taehyung’s legs and spreads them apart whilst holding his cock. “Want me to send you a picture on instagram?”

Taehyung’s eyes widen in panic, causing Jeongguk to laugh at him.

“You will do no such thing!” Taehyung attempts to scold with a pointed finger. “As much as that 9-5 job drains the life out of me, it pays my bills!”

“I’ll drain you out,” Jeongguk retorts with a teasing smile as he lines up his cock around Taehyung’s entrance, causing the elder to swallow the retort that’s sitting on the tip of his tongue and moans when Jeongguk slowly enters him.

“Fuck. Fuck. Jeon– Nngh. Fuck.” Taehyung pants with closed eyes as the pain washes over him. It hurts, but in a masochistic and satisfying way that teeters between the lines of pleasure and pain since Jeongguk is so big. Not only does have a decent length but also has a fat girth that’s stretching Taehyung good. 

Once Jeongguk fully bottoms out and Taehyung is still panting underneath him as he gets used to the stretch, the younger one gives him time to get used to his size and stays still like the gentleman he is. Although it’s clear that he’s holding himself back since sweat is beginning to collect on his forehead and his arms are shaking with restraint.

He senses Jeongguk move a little, causing Taehyung to wince but not to fuck him yet, no. He moves to lean close to Taehyung’s face and mutters, “You’re doing so good, my baby.” in an oddly soft tone as kisses him on the lips oh so gently. “You’re taking my cock so well like the good boy I know you are.”

Taehyung releases a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. Oddly finding the other’s reassuring words comforting — which again, should be fucking weird and should be crossing that imaginary line that Taehyung drew to tell this situation apart.

Because, despite Jeongguk being buried to the hilt deep inside of him, those words feel more intimate. 

He should honestly tell him to shut up and not make it any more weird. He should stop making Taehyung feel all these somethings and just fuck him. 

So like the first few times, Taehyung tries to go back to the safe side of the imaginary line and tells Jeongguk to start moving. 

“Fuck me good please,” Taehyung adds as Jeongguk slowly pulls out and pushes in. Repeating the process with caution as he gauges Taehyung’s reaction. 

Taehyung sucks up a breath when Jeongguk hits his prostate, eyes rolling to the back of his head when Jeongguk pulls back and pushes in more vigorously. Following a beat as he starts to fuck him for real.

“Oh–!” Taehyung mewls as he arches his back. “That’s– That’s it, baby. Just– Just like that. Nngh. Fuck me until I can’t think straight, Guk-ah.”

Jeongguk curses under his breath upon hearing that request and nods at him, quickening his pace as his muscled arms rests between Taehyung’s head to hover over him. Hips still pistoning forward deliciously. 

“Okay, baby. I will,” he replies, bottom lip caught between his teeth. “I’ll fuck you dumb until you forget your name. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you. ”

Here comes those somethings again.

Just like first couple of times that Jeongguk made him that simple oath, he delivers as always and pulls his hips back and pushes in rather harshly, sending Taehyung to knock back against the headboard at the intensity of it, and repeats the process until both of them are stuttering messes.

Moans and curses fill the dark bedroom, along with the creak of the bed as Jeongguk pistons his hips inside of Taehyung and pants heavily. As expected from a perfect person like Jeon Jeongguk, the sex is fucking phenomenal as well. 

And true to what Jeongguk promised earlier, he’s fucking him with the intention to make Taehyung stop thinking of everything except for the way Jeongguk’s cock is stretching him well and is brushing his sweet spot with the tip of his dick.

“Jeon— Jeongguk, please,” Taehyung pants, sounding absolutely wrecked as Jeongguk speeds up his thrusts. “Baby. Baby please? faster, please?”

Jeongguk groans and fucks faster– harder. “I love it when you beg for me,” he says, poking the inside of his cheek with his tongue as he fucks him dumb. “I love knowing you want me as much as I want you.”

Taehyung can’t physically reply due to how loud he’s moaning and how wrecked he feels, but the organ inside his chest fucking badumps at the younger one’s words. It fucking goes badump badump as if he were some lead in those manhwas he reads, which should be pathetic.

But there he fucking is.

“You feel so fucking good, Tae,” Jeongguk says through gritted teeth as he pounds into him. “Fuck, baby. I– shit. I’m not gonna last long.”

Taehyung releases a shuddering breath. “Me— Nngh. Me too, baby,” he admits unabashedly that makes Jeongguk bite his lips and eyes to glint with lust. “You make me feel so good with that big fucking cock of yours.”

Jeongguk groans as he speeds up his thrusts, hanging one of Taehyung’s legs over his shoulder to get a better and deeper angle before leaning down to kiss Taehyung on the lips once more.

Taehyung gasps and shuts his eyes closed as Jeongguk hits his prostate with a force like no other, head thrown back and mouth falling open at the unexpected wave of pleasure electrifying his entire body.

“ Ah–! B-Baby,” the elder one whines brokenly. “Baby, right– right there!”

“Do you like how I make you feel?” Jeongguk whispers into his ear as he grips Taehyung’s hips and buries his cock deep inside him. “Huh, Taehyung hyung?”

Taehyung bites his lips. He’s sure he drew a few marks on the younger one’s back with his fingernails due to how Jeongguk is oh so slowly circling his hips to create more friction as the tip of his cock brushes his prostate.

“Gukkie.” Taehyung whines. Out of breath and eyes blown in lust. “I– fuck.”

Jeongguk pushes hard inside of him. “Answer me, hyung,” he demands. Almost looking feral and crazed but it only turns Taehyung on even more.

“Y-yes,” Taehyung nods eagerly as he pushes his hips forward Jeongguk’s thrusts. “Yes, Baby. Y-yes. You make me feel so good.”

“How good?” Jeongguk asks, resting his forehead over Taehyung’s and breathing heavily. Thrusts turning erratic but still as powerful as before. “T– Tell me how good it is, Baby.”

And fuck. 

Taehyung can’t help but think how much of a puppy — a golden retriever puppy, Jeon Jeongguk is. Nice, friendly and eager to please. Seeking praise when he knows how good he’s being.

Taehyung indulges him and even ruffles his dark hair as he kisses him on the lips, and says, “You’re the best. You’re being such a good boy for me. Making me feel good and– and fucking me so good. I can’t ask for anything more.”

“Y-yeah?” Jeongguk asks, reaching for Taehyung’s cock from between their bodies and pumping him along with his thrusts. “You like the way I fuck you, baby?”

Taehyung hums, feeling an electric current of too many somethings coursing through his body as Jeongguk fucks his ass and pumps his cock. Feeling his toes curl and breaths to go uneven, and heat to begin to pool at the pit of his tummy.

It feels all too fucking good. Taehyung could say that Jeongguk did the job in fucking him dumb.

“I’m close,” Taehyung warns as he pushes his ass back to meet the younger one’s cock. “Faster, Gukkie. Make me feel better. Please, baby. P- Nngh. Please. I’m so close.”

“Fuck, Tae,” Jeongguk curses, speeding his thrusts as he gasps for air. Sweat dripping from his forehead and falling over Taehyung’s face. “Shit. I could fuck you all night. All day. Everyday.”

Taehyung doesn’t doubt him, and he internally agrees as he clenches around his cock and moans a series of curses under his breath when Jeongguk keeps hitting his prostate repeatedly and pumping his cock deliciously.

After a few more mind-silencing thrusts, Taehyung’s entire body trembles underneath Jeongguk and stills as he suddenly cums like he has never cummed before as if it’s forced out of his body. His cock spurting out white ribbons of cum in waves, painting both his and Jeongguk’s abdomen white until he’s shaking uncontrollably due to over sensitivity.

“Fuck.” Jeongguk half growls. “Fucking hell, Baby. That’s so fucking hot.”

Taehyung merely winces, his ass clenching around the younger one’s cock and his arms holding onto Jeongguk as the latter continues to fuck him. 

“Baby– I, I’m sensitive.” he whines.

“I’m close, baby,” Jeongguk hastily says as he pushes his hips forward, kissing Taehyung repeatedly on the cheeks encouragingly. “Just a little more. Okay?”

Taehyung nods at him, biting his lips as Jeongguk continues to push and kiss and bite until he senses the other’s thrusts speed up more as if he’s chasing something.

After a few more earth shattering thrusts of Jeongguk’s hips, the younger one suddenly curses loudly as he buries his cock deep inside of Taehyung. Cock filling up the condom as his entire body is shaking due to the ferocity of it.

Taehyung helps him through it and hugs the younger in his arms, whispering nothings into his ear as he cards his fingers through his hair until Jeongguk releases a deep breath and collapses over Taehyung’s body. 

The bedroom is soon filled with the sound of both of them gasping for air as the two of them stay entangled together. The both of them taking their sweet time to recover from that out of body experience.

After a few minutes that feels like an hour, Jeongguk pulls out and smiles down at Taehyung. The stars on his eyes are back as he catches his breath and pushes his hair away from his face.

“That was amazing,” Jeongguk tells him, leaning down to kiss him on the lips. “ You’re amazing, Tae.”

Taehyung smiles at him. As much as he finds it a little odd for Jeongguk to kiss him after sex, he can’t really fight the wave of contentedness that’s filling his body due to the post-sex haze. Allowing the other to kiss him.

After all, it’s not like he doesn’t like it. In fact, he loves the way Jeongguk kisses. It almost makes him feel like this is something else… Wait.  

Pause. 

Rewind.

What?

Taehyung scrunches his eyebrows at himself as Jeongguk sits back to take the condom off and ties it around the end before shooting it inside a nearby trash can.

The sex spell is wearing off immediately and being replaced with his overthinking instead. Wondering what just happened. What he’s feeling— Why he’s feeling this way.

But before he could think any more, Jeongguk suddenly collapses back on the bed and pulls Taehyung to his side, tucking him into an embrace as if they were lovers and kissing the top of his head.

He can’t help but be confused as he silently lets Jeongguk cuddle him in bed. Usually after doing the deed with a one-night stand, they take a few seconds to collect themselves, get up to clean themselves individually, have some awkward small talk — then go. Cuddles are usually out of the question. Taehyung loves cuddles himself — especially if it's from sweet and hot boys like Jeon Jeongguk, but this isn’t how it usually goes. His one night stands don’t rub his back to ease the burn he’s feeling on his ass or smell the top of his sweaty head as if it were perfume. They don’t make him feel a series of somethings.

They don’t make him want to stay.

But it appears that Jeon Jeongguk is the exception. 

It kind of makes Taehyung want to ask him what they are because this feels a little more intimate compared to the sex they just had, which he’s still deciding if he likes or not.

“You good?” Jeongguk asks him, sounding a little tired but not making any moves to let Taehyung go. “You’re quiet. Should I go and send you a DM again?”

That effectively makes Taehyung snort in amusement and stop him from overthinking. “Please don’t,” he says, looking up to find Jeongguk staring at him with a relaxed look on his face. “And please don’t send me nudes there either. I mean it. I like being employed, thank you very much.”

Jeongguk grins at him— the bunny smile as Taehyung mentally calls it and laughs. “No promises.” he teases.

“Jeongguk.” Taehyung deadpans.

“Not even a disappearing image?”

“No!” Taehyung chuckles as he lightly slaps his chest. Sensing his chest to tighten at the sight of Jeongguk scrunching his nose as he smiles at him.

God.

Jeongguk fakes a dramatic sigh. “Fine,” he replies. “I won’t send you nudes there unless—”

Taehyung raises an eyebrow as he watches Jeongguk sit up from bed to grab his jeans from the bedroom floor to fish his phone out of its deep pockets and unlocks it.

Before he could question him, Jeongguk shows him his phone where instagram is open and shoves it in his hands.

“—unless you give me your personal instagram account, that is.” he finishes as waits for Taehyung to do as he requested.

Taehyung blinks at the other with his mouth agape. “What?” he asks, sounding confused and slightly shocked. “You– you want to follow me on instagram?”

“Only if you like.” Jeongguk shrugs at him easily as he sits over the bed’s edge and climbs out of it. “No pressure, though.” 

Taehyung doesn’t know what to say, honestly. And thankfully, the younger one gives him the time to collect himself and think as he disappears inside a door which he figures is the bathroom since he hears the sound of water running from the inside.

Taehyung looks down on Jeongguk’s phone with his bottom lip caught between his teeth and fingers hovering over the keyboard. 

On one hand, this sounds like a bad idea. His brain tells him to refuse. Once is enough and twice is too much for arrangements like these. And it feels like he’s crossing that imaginary line he drew to set up boundaries. 

But on another, he wants to stay to see things out. Explore those series of somethings, that rush he feels when Jeongguk looks his way and somehow make him feel special. Enjoy it a little more. And if it’s a dead end… Well, it’s not like Taehyung wasn’t expecting it, so what more does he have to lose?

Like what the devil said, he should start living his life instead of just existing and it starts with Jeon Jeongguk.

With a sigh, Taehyung relents and types in his instagram handle just as Jeongguk exits the bathroom, clean from cum and holding a washcloth in his hands.

“Here you go.” Taehyung throws his phone on the bed to show that he followed his account. “But that doesn’t mean you can go send me nudes here either.”

Jeongguk lights up with a smile, his eyes sparkling as he retrieves his phone from the bed and sits down on it. “Not even one?” he asks teasingly.

Taehyung snorts. But internally, his brain is screaming yes in bold capital letters.

Jeongguk seems to hear his rather intrusive thoughts though, since he snickers as he brings the washcloth over to Taehyung and wipes the cum that’s drying over his tummy, and catching the elder off guard for a quick nanosecond, because again, one night fucking stands and even fuck buddies don’t do this. 

They don’t clean each other up and look at them with a soft smile. They don’t tease or exchange socials. They don’t make him feel a series of weird somethings in his chest.

They don’t.

But Jeongguk does and Taehyung doesn’t know how to feel about it. He doesn’t know what to make of it.

After cleaning Taehyung up, Jeongguk throws the washcloth on the floor and slumps back on the bed with his hands behind his head as he looks at the elder.

Taehyung remains seated, not knowing what to do since the line is now blurred and confusing. Wondering if it's his cue to leave considering he got what he came for… or something else.

Jeongguk makes the choice for him.

“So,” he starts to say as he traces a tattooed finger around his thigh, causing Taehyung to look at him with an eyebrow raised in curiosity. Expecting the ‘Well, I had a good time’ or the ‘Want me to book you a cab?’ or anything remotely close to it.

But that isn't what Jeongguk says or anything close to it.

No. 

Jeon Jeongguk says, “Wanna fuck again?” in a casual tone, almost as if he’s asking for candy instead of something else.

Taehyung blinks at the younger one twice with his mouth open. He’s not opposed to it. He wants to do it again multiple times until he can’t walk straight and until he’s knocked dead to the world with a dopey smile on his face.

But…

This is new.

Taehyung shakes his head to get a grip of himself. Noting the hopeful look on Jeongguk’s face and the way it looks like it's begging Taehyung to say yes.

And to make matters worse, Jeongguk adds, “Please?” with a devious smirk on his pierced lips that makes his cock twitch in interest.

Fuck.  

Taehyung slumps back on Jeongguk’s pillows defeatedly. “Fine,” he mutters as he looks to his side and finds Jeongguk grinning at him. “But don’t fuck me just yet. My ass still hurts.”

Jeongguk chuckles as he turns to hover over him with the same dark look on his eyes that he was sporting earlier. 

“Don’t worry, Tae.” he says in a hushed tone as he tucks Taehyung’s hair behind his ear. “I’ll take care of you.”

Taehyung sucks up a breath. Dangerous words, he thinks. Words that make him breathless and weird and aroused and confused… but words he’s stupidly starting to—

“I trust you.” Taehyung replies as he licks his lips invitingly.

Jeongguk leans down to kiss him on the lips softly and mutters, “Good.” under his breath. 

And Jeongguk did. 

For the second, third — and fourth round. Like always.  

And all Taehyung can think as Jeongguk pulls him close to his chest after the last round is, ‘What the fuck are we?’