It was a grey and gloomy day, clouds heavy with rain and wind filled with fallen leaves. A perfect day for a visit to the cemetery, with enough despair in the air to make even the most joyous person shed a few tears over the grief-stricken graveyard. Yet this young man remained immune to the prevailing melancholy and stared at the flower-covered tombstone with a scowl.

He didn't even flinch at the disembodied voice nearby. "You brought a rose."

"I shouldn't have."

"Why not?"

"You have plenty already."

"They're not from you."

"Stop pretending you ever cared."

"I did care. I still do."

"Your life was a lie. Your death is a lie. Give me a reason why I should believe you."

"I made sure you reunited with your friend."

"About that, why Dr. Watson?"

"He owed me a favor."

"Another lie—"

"What do you want, Taehyung?"

"I want out."

"I groomed you for a purpose, son."

"Don't call me that."

"Fine. But you're still needed."

"Whatever for? What is this game you're playing with people's lives?"

"Isn't life a game already?"

"You're not answering the question."

"You're right. It is a game. And you're my protégé."

"You mean pawn."

"Fine. Pawn it is then."

"Who are you challenging?"

"Holmes, obviously. Who else?"

Taehyung suddenly felt weak in the knees.

"I'm sure by now, you've figured out who your adversary is."

Of course he had figured it out. But until this blunt confirmation, he was counting on his reasoning to be erroneous. Because for one thing, he didn't want to play. And he certainly had no desire to take on his lover when he didn't even know the rules of engagement.

The young lord, stripped of his dream of ever being with Jungkook, hung his head low, watching his hopes for a happy future crumbling before his very eyes.

"Don't look so sad. You deserve better anyway."

A newspaper was thrown at his feet, featuring the familiar profile, smiling at an unknown young man who was — Taehyung hated to admit it — terribly good-looking.

As if on cue, the heavy clouds ripped apart, discharging their load onto the earth below.

♠

Night had fallen long ago when a few desperate knocks on the front door had Jungkook rush down the stairs, a concerned look on his face, especially since it was still pouring outside.

This can't be good. Nobody visits at this hour.

In fact, Lizbeth had already gone to bed, from the looks of it, so he opened the door. In tottered a drenched figure he did not recognize at first because Taehyung was the last person he expected to show up on his doorstep in the middle of the night. "Tae! What are you doing out in this dreadful weather?"

"You never invited me over—"

"I—what?"

"Why haven't you invited me, Jungkook?"

"You mean, here?"

"I never got to see your place — while some handsome reporter gets to hang out with you — why?"

Taehyung mumbled incoherently while teetering through the hallway. Jungkook swiftly took his dripping coat away and led his friend toward his study, where he had him sit in an armchair in front of the dying fireplace. "Let me get this fire going before we take care of these wet clothes."

The other let out a jaded chuckle. "Please. Don't be nice to me."

"Why not?"

"You're making it harder for me to quit you."

"What in the name of Holmes are you talking about?"

Jungkook leaned in briefly but long enough to inhale the scent of brandy in the other's breath. "Have you been drinking?"

"Why would you care?"

"You're drunk," he replied pointedly.

"Fine. My turn to ask a question. Have you been seeing someone else?"

Jungkook diverted his attention toward the warm embers, his mind struggling to make sense out of the sudden display of jealousy.

"Answer me."

"You're currently not in your right mind, Tae."

"So you have—"

Soft sobs were heard, which had Jungkook immediately turn to wrap his arms around the shaking shoulders. "No, of course not! Why would you think that?"

Then it hit him: the stolen snapshot of him and Jimin. "It's the Midnight Star, isn't it? You do know they only print rubbish."

"No, they don't."

"Yes, they do."

"Why would I have bothered to frame a piece of trash?"

"You had our article framed?"

The young detective couldn't resist squashing Tae's pudgy cheeks but gasped at the icy feeling under his fingers. "Tae! You're freezing! We really need to get you out of this wet outfit..."

Jungkook's voice panicked a little at the end, his hands fumbling with the buttons of Tae's soaked shirt. The other's gaze filled with amusement. "Jungkook?"

"Yes?"

"Are you undressing me?"

"I sure am."

"Déjà vu—"

"Indeed. Neither of us does well in the rain."

Taehyung reached out to cup Jungkook's face, pulling him in until their lips met. This time, the kiss had an intoxicating quality to it, though none could tell if it was the whiskey or something else...

When their lips parted, Taehyung smiled. "Neither of us does well without the other."

—

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