[ CHAPTER 4  ]
all the time in the world

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

ONLY after he had stumbled into his flat, face burning and flushed a light rose did he recall the fault in his words. he had told someone about the incident, impulsively after having been riled up so tight that the very words that left his mouth were laden with the bitter flame of distaste, bleary and unfocused as it twisted in the air.

but then, with the fury that had shredded through his veins, he had thought spitefully of it as karma, the young male deserving every once of reprimanding media as he got.

such thoughts seemed to disperse the very moment he had shifted the remote into his large palms, stamping huffily on the controls as the familiar tune of his preferred news channel swarms into view. it appeared as if he had missed a good portion of the topic, three males frowning heavily as they conversed.

"-i'm not entirely sure if he'll still be permitted to take up the job after that immature stunt, all eyes are on mr.jeon to see how his interpret's his son's behaviour." a man in olive, stripped suit says curtly.

another male, back straight and expression pointed, prods on, "and what's your opinion on his behaviour?"

"well," the man coughs, lips tugging as he grins, "immature as i said, but if i may be honest i've always thought of mr. jeon to be a tad bit too young to uphold the title of a ceo so soon in his life. his little stunt shouldn't be so surprising considering his age and the foolish trends that come with it,  but regardless he should know how to behave with such a name, God knows's what he would do with an entire company in his hands."

at this, the men share a hearty laugh, taehyung feeling increasingly agitated as the cheshire grins on their cheeks widen at the brewing misery of an influential male.

"it's really very disappointing." he simpers, "when i met him he looked like a good lad, tall and professional, everyone thought he was the best for the job but to think his whole life's work's at stake after one mistake-"

"a terrible and disgusting one, mind you." the other male intervenes, visibly older as he purses his lips.

smiling grimly, the younger man nods, "right, as a dog-owner myself i find his actions quite horrific, no animal or human deserves such treatment."

the interviewer shifts in his seat, expression indifferent as he speaks, "keep in my mind that these are purely rumours, there is no hard evidence of whether mr.jeon abused the animal or not."

"i suppose so." the younger male agrees, "but such rumour had to rise from somewhere, especially such a peculiar one-"

the television suddenly blinks closed, coal screen now staring pointedly at him as taehyung drops his remote-cladded arm to the sofa, spare hand sifting through the soft fur of his tiny pomeranian.

he felt oddly guilty witnessing jeongguk's career now crumbling into pit of hissing ashes of reprimanding disappointment. he should feel satisfied, over the moon to see his enemy's smug exterior now splintered and cracked with hollers of hate, but he doesn't nor can he bring himself to.

in fact, jeongguk was right in some point. jennie needed not to know of what didn't concern her and taehyung was old enough to have harnessed his infuriation firmly until in the safety of his apartment where he would rant to his inquisitive puppy or even his trustworthy rose-haired friend.

feeling increasingly remorseful for having opened his big mouth that day, taehyung's disrupted by a gentle nip at his finger, furry eyebrows pulled together in a persistent glare as the pomeranian signals what only his owner would comprehend.

"right." taehyung chirps, tickling the dog's chin teasingly, "time to feed your needy ass, tannie."

and so he rises to his feet to wash his hands and fetch yeontan's bowl but for some strange reason, his thoughts remain clouded with the nagging pinches of guilt as he pops another treat into his dog's awaiting mouth.

─── ·𖥸· ───

taehyung was rather lucky to be spared with the ending month's cheque, not hopelessly awaiting a stroke of magic to appease what he expected would be a gaping hole of expenses without a stable source of money to feed them. looking after not just himself but his dog now meant the demand for spending was impending and so strict boundaries had to be put in place.

such defiance and firm determination to save his money until God knows when seemed to fly out of the window they very moment his friend calls him giddily, first thing in the moment with the promise of coffee and chatter.

so after refilling yeontan's water bowl and pressing a chaste kiss to his head, he had trudged out of his apartment, donned in a heavy fawn coat paired with a cream scarf.

the familiar pink neon lights loom into view, bold letters wheezing down at him in a curly form of the words "don't be a fake noodle you IMPASTA" and even as taehyung remains just a few blocks from the restaurant, he's rather certain that the familiar wind-shield laughter is audible from even where he stands.

lips unconsciously tugging upwards, he presses the pads of his fingers to the glass door, heat flooding his palms as he steps into the warm restaurant, spotting a mob of colourful heads chatting animatedly between themselves.

"taehyungie!" a voice chirps loudly and before he knows it he's thrown back, short arms encircling his waist as rose hair obstructs his vision.

stumbling back lightly, he shifts a stable palm to the elder's back, grin wide as he greets his best friend, "well hello to you too chim."

"c'mon, we've been waiting for you. jin's just gone into the kitchen to whip up some pasta, that good with you?"

nodding absently, too invested in the contentment that swells at his chest, a break from the whirlwind of his life. he takes notice of the soft hand that curls around his wrist, tugging him towards the table where their friend sit, grinning widely at him as they near.

"tae!" a man with fiery-orange hair squeals, darting from his seat to engulf the said man with a bone-crushing embrace.

returning the hug with just as much vigour, taehyung beams as he's greeted by the rest of his friend, jimin leaving him to coddle his blushing boyfriend and hoseok ranting loudly in his ear.

"you look tired tae," a man with lilac hair pipes up, dimples popping as he smiles in concern, "something bothering you?"

tell anyone and you're dead. what was the harm? half of korea were aware of jeongguk's 'immature stunt' and his friends were trustworthy men who had kept him sane through the nightless days of never-ending studying, taehyung knew very well that they would know better than to blow the situation out of the portion.

"no..." he hesitates, lips curling over his teeth as he feels everyone's stare rest upon him, "yes? it's just been crazy and i-i don't even know.."

long fingers thread their palms together, squeezing his hand gently and as he glances up he feels the warmth flooding his veins as hoseok smiles affectionately down at him.

"when you're ready," he murmurs, eyes shifting into tangerine crescents, thumb kissing solacing circles to his skin, "we have all the time in the world for you."

and so he untangles the stricken knots upon his chest, throat swelling to a ball of shaky tears that smear the expanse of his cheeks, palms caressing the back of his neck and spine as he's held close, lips puckered against his temple and words of consolation stringing the air.

"oh tae." jimin simpers, frowning as he surveys his sniffling best friend pressed against his chest, "i'm sure taeyong'll call you back soon, he's not like that."

"b-but what if jieun does something? i d-don't want to lose my job jiminie!" he cries, head throbbing as his mind brews the worst result possible, "i don't know what i'd do..."

"positive thoughts," the rose-haired male murmurs firmly, fingers reaching to work the knots at the back of the younger's neck, "it's just a lil break alright? besides we're all here for you need some help."

"i don't want to burden you all."

scowling, jimin pinches at the other's skin once again eliciting a yelp of surprise, "the only burden you'll be is when we have to pay for your funeral funds after your horrific death from your ridiculous stupidity."

whining, taehyung shuffles away from the glaring boy, pressing himself against the protective arms of a chortling hoseok who props his chin against the crook of his neck.

"if anything, jeon has more to lose than you do." yoongi pipes up, "i bet a little bit of blackmail would do just the trick."

"revenge is what got us in this mess in the first place, i doubt lengthening the string would do any good." namjoon frowns from the head of the table.

"i say you just forget about it, before you know it you'll have your job back and the media will find something else to pick on, but for now don't mention anything about that night to anyone."

"fair enough." taehyung agrees, permitting an apologetic jimin to dab a wad of tissues against his moist skin, "but thank you, everyone, really."

a chorus of 'don't worry about it' and 'all good's' pepper across the table, seokjin, having returned from the kitchen with bowls of pasta just in time for the beginning of the stir, even clapping his back and informing him of the secret, weapon base in his and namjoon's shared apartment hid that was always open for his use.

and for a while taehyung's worries are appeased as he joins on with his friend's absurd topics, cheeks pulled into an aching grin as his lips smear with the homemade sauce that holds his heart well in place.

~
[a/n]

bit of a filler this time, please don't forget to vote! ⭐️