Author's note: First of all...*hides face*, I'm apologizing to taekook for writing this mature story about their ship. But I love them so damn much that it hurts. Okay, you can read the story now.

~~~

"Jungkookie!" Taehyung breathed as I put an open-mouthed kiss on the crook of his neck. "Mmmh." The sounds he made when we did these things were my favorites. I sucked on the spot a couple of times as my hands sneaked inside Taehyungie Hyung's white shirt.

"Jungkookie, please. We're going to be on stage in less than ten minutes," Taehyung complained as my lips grazed up his neck to his jaw.

"Ten minutes is enough, Hyung." I reached his lips and captured them in an unhurried kiss. Hyungie gave in to my desire and wrapped his hands around my neck. Our lips moved in sync as we lost ourselves in the moment. Shortly, a soft moan escaped Hyung's lips, and I groaned. We broke the kiss to catch our breath as I expressed my admiration for my Taehyungie Hyungie. "You're so handsome, Hyungie."

Taehyung sighed contentedly, then gave me a kiss on the cheek. "So is my baby."

I smiled.

"You're getting bold, Jungkookie. What if some staff catches us?"

I shrugged and buried my face into Taehyung's neck. He held me softly and ran his fingers in a circular motion on my back. I tightened my hold around his waist and whined, "Hyungie! They never let us stay together. Always separate us. I hate it."

Taehyung ran his fingers through my hair and comforted me. "It doesn't matter what they do. We know what we are. I'll always protect you and take care of you. My eyes are always on you, Jungkookie."

"Hyungie is the best." I smiled and stepped back from him. "Does Hyungie want me to stop now? Because I have some dirty thoughts running through my mind."

Taehyung smiled shyly and pushed on my chest. "There's a camera everywhere."

I chuckled at his playful push and eyed around the room. It was the attached room where the band members were changing for our next performance. We didn't have much time backstage, and I was already nervous. I meant it wasn't like I was nervous for my performance. It was more because we were meeting our fans after a long time. They had been waiting for this comeback eagerly, and I didn't want to disappoint them. So, I wanted to take my mind off of this worry, and Taehyungie Hyung was my favorite comfort place. My other hyungs were there too. But I wanted to feel my hyungie before the stage performance.

"There's no camera, Hyungie."

Taehyung raised his index finger and pointed toward the camera sitting in the corner of the room.

I groaned in annoyance, making him giggle. He pinched my cheeks and flicked my chin playfully before turning around and putting on the black blazer over his white silk shirt. As he was tucking the shirt in his pants, I couldn't help myself anymore. I grabbed his waist and pulled him toward me, grinding myself against him.

Taehyung wasn't expecting that. He gasped and bent over the table in front of him to give me more access. I reached over and grabbed his chest as he tried to push himself up.

"Not now, Hyungie." I bent over and purred in his ears. "I want you in this position so bad. I can't help it. Let's do this."

"Jungkookie!" Taehyung exclaimed as he somehow managed to push himself up and now was standing in front of me. Our bodies merging together, like one soul, two bodies. "You've gone mad! I'll call Hyungs if you don't behave now."

I pouted. "But why calling the hyungs?"

Taehyung turned around and reached below and grabbed the little me. I groaned. "Because of this! You can't go on stage like this! We're professionals, Kookie! Our fans expect a lot from us."

At the mention of our fans, I straightened up and let go of him. "Okay fine. But tonight, I'm not going to leave you alone."

Taehyung smiled shyly and shook his head. "When will you grow up? This is why they still treat you as a baby and call you cute."

"Am I not cute then?" I wiggled my eyebrows and waited for his response as he put on the gorgeous earring on his left ear. My hyungie got his signature style, and he looked handsome in anything and everything. Taehyung had that magnetic aura that could attract anyone, and that was exactly how he was able to help me get out of my shell. I was a shy kid when I came here, but Taehyung taught me how to enjoy life while still working diligently. I love him so much.

"Of course you are. But tonight, you do not particularly look cute," he commented.

"What do you mean?"

He pulled me toward him as we stood side by side in front of the mirror. Our reflection stared back at us. I was in my all-black outfit paired with a shiny black blazer and the new permed hairstyle.

Taehyung praised, "You look like a daddy material. So hot and handsome."

I chuckled. "Really?"

"Of course. Fans going to drool over this look."

I freed my hand from his grasp and hugged him from behind. "What about you?"

He stared at my reflection in the mirror and confessed honestly, "You're mine. I can do whatever I want with you. Can't I?"

I grinned as my bunny teeth exposed them. "Oh sure, you can, Hyungie."

Taehyung ruffled my hair at the front and said, "Let's bring fire on the stage, shall we, baby?"

I nodded and let go of him. It was almost time. The opening song was Mic Drop, and the adrenaline coursing through me was unmatched. I couldn't wait to take the stage.

Yet, as the excitement built, the persistent thought surfaced again at the back of my mind. If I hadn't become an idol, if I hadn't met my members or Taehyungie-hyung, what would've happened to me?

I'd probably be still trapped in those castle walls, waiting for the coronation day.

The fear they held against me was the same fear that helped me escape the castle seven years ago. I knew they were only holding back from reaching me because of my true self they witnessed on the day I escaped.

The fear they had of me, of what I truly was, had kept them away from me all these years. It was that very terror that helped me escape seven years ago. Even now, I knew their hesitation to reach me stemmed from the memory of what they had witnessed that night. It was the raw, unrestrained truth of my existence the day I broke free that kept them away.

So I knew the life I was living now was a blessing in disguise. Every performance, every moment on stage, was my reminder—this life, this freedom, was worth everything I had fought for.

And I would do everything in my control to protect it.

Especially my mate, who was still unaware of what he was dealing with.

~~~

Author's note: This is my first fanfiction, and perhaps my last one. I never thought I'd write a fanfiction for the two of my favorite people on earth. I love them so so so much, my pookies, my taekook heart misses my ot7 a lot. And I couldn't stop myself from writing this story. Actually, I wanted to write this story a long time ago, precisely around 2021-22, but I didn't get time for it. So, I'm doing it now. I hope you'll like this story. Also, I write Romantic Suspense and Werewolf/Shifter fantasy in general. All my stories are available on my profile (& also Inkitt). You're most welcome if you like those genres. Thank you in advance. 

And I apologise to Jungkook and Taehyung for writing such a mature story with their ship. But I can't help it. I'm a believer. Heh! ARMY, let's do this together, okay? Your opinions are most welcome. I'd definitely like to know what you think about this story. Give me a follow if you like the story. Thank you so much. Borahae 💜