*Mild Taegi Smut ahead*

***

"What are you doing here?" Aera paused in the middle of her office when she noticed another presence inside.

"It took you long enough." James McGriffin was tall, handsome and an annoying son-of-a-dick. "I thought you'll make me wait all day."

"I cancelled the meeting," Aera said in a clipped tone and walked to her desk. But instead of going to her chair, she perched on the edge of her table and glared at the Actor, who shamelessly ogled at her from top to the bottom. "You can take it up with Jimin."

"You look nice."

"Did you even listen to anything I said?" Her irritation flared.

"Of course, sweetheart." He stalked to her with a suggestive grin that made her want to punch his face. Perhaps, she'd do just that today because he was no longer her client. "But why would you do that?" he pouted, which looked extremely ugly and unfitting in her eyes. "I was being a good boy, wasn't I?"

Aera snorted. "That's not the notion I got from the sex tape," her tone hardened. "A minor, James? You're fucking insane."

James shrugged. "I didn't know she was a minor. I was stoned and horny," he said as if it was a most normal thing to say. "I don't ask women their age right before I fuck them. She was willing that was all that mattered."

Aera gritted her teeth, reigning in her anger. The police will do their job. He was trying to bide time by getting Vinora involved as if that would magically erase the scandal. Vinora was extremely good at what they did, but he had another thing coming his way.

"Leave my office, James. I'm done talking to you."

"Ah, come on, baby. You can't call it quits just like that." He smiled a dazzling smile that normally made women swoon. But it never worked on her.

His smile was beautiful but it dimmed so much in comparison to someone with the perfect dimple smile she had ever seen. Her heart dropped at the thought and she hadn't realize James had closed the distance between them, now standing only a mere inches from her. If she lifted her chin, his breath would fan her lips. She clenched her fists ready to react but—

"Back off, Asshole!"

Speak of the devil. Her heart stuttered.

James turned lazily, throwing a glance over his shoulder. "Can't you see we're busy here? You can come later." He turned to face her again. "Where were we?" he grinned again, one of his hands lifting to caress her cheeks.

Aera lifted a brow with a knowing smirk. The intruder or more like her savior was on James in a blink of an eye, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back.

"What the fuck man!" James let out a painful yelp.

"Try to touch my wife again... I'll break every fucking bone in your body."

An involuntary shudder wracked her body at the sound of his masculine voice echoing through the walls of her office. Namjoon easily towered over the male, putting Jame's height to shame. James looked too small and cowardly in front of him.

"Ah, shit. I...I didn't know. Let go, asshole. I'm leaving."

"Even if you didn't know that doesn't give you the right to touch her," Namjoon growled in an intimidating voice that had warmth pool in her chest. "Get the fuck out of here. If I ever see you anywhere near her again..."

"You won't—ah fuck Jesus, calm down. It hurts..." James cried out.

Namjoon released his hand and gave a rough shove. "Get lost."

Aera watched the other man leave before turning to face Namjoon. "You didn't have to pull the wife card at every chance you get," her voice was the exact opposite of how she felt inside. She was extremely glad that he was here but—

"You're my wife."

Aera snorted. "Oh, you still remember that?" She straightened and turned to go to her chair.

Namjoon caught her wrist, stopping her. "Is this how you greet your husband?" His large arms encircled her tiny frame, cocooning her with warmth and a homey scent of coffee and cologne that she had grown addicted too. Aera closed her eyes, taking a moment to imprint the moment in her memory, saving it to cherish later. "I missed you," his voice was a soft caress in her ears.

Aera had to bite her lips painfully to stop the sob. She tasted blood as she fought the urge to turn in his arms and bury herself into his secure embrace. As the first tear slid down her cheeks, she also remembered why things were this way between them.

"Let go, Joonie," her voice was a weak whimper, laced with a beginning of a sob.

"Baby..." He buried his nose in the crook of her neck, chest pressing on her back. "Please..."

"You're hurting me, Joonie."

Namjoon stiffened, his hands immediately dropping to his sides, but he stayed close. Aera breathed deeper. He could never hurt her physically, ever. But—

"Why are you here?" she asked weakly. "Weren't you supposed to be in Paris?"

"We came early," he said, his breath fanning her nape as he rested his head at the back of her head.

Right. She should have guessed that since her brother had texted her earlier saying he was coming home. Namjoon and her brother were business partners and best friends. They often traveled together for work and always joined at their hips. Why else would he be here? She scoffed. She was a fool to even think he was solely here for her.

"When are you leaving?" the question sounded bitter and she swallowed another sob, her resolve steeling again.

"Next week," his weak response was whispered against her skin.

"Then you would have no problem staying away until then, Namjoon-ssi." She took a few steps, putting as much distance as possible between them. "Leave."

"Aera..."

"No. I don't want to talk to you."

"Baby..."

"Thanks for the birthday wishes by the way." She turned to face him, her eyes narrowing as her heart clenched inside her chest.

The moment his eyes widened and mouth parted she knew, he had forgotten it. He was always the first to wish her on her birthday for the past seventeen years. They had first met when they moved to California. Namjoon, a year younger to Yoongi, her brother was in the same class with him. Fuck his intelligent brain. He started coming home with Yoongi and soon became an integral part of their family. At sixteen, he became more than just a friend to her.

There was always a first of everything for everything and this meant only thing. They were losing the remnants of what used to be a wonderful relationship they used to have between them. It cut her deeply, slicing her heart and she didn't know what to do about it.

Namjoon opened and closed his mouth, his expression fallen.

"Leave, Joonie," her eyes softened. What was the point in yelling at him anyway? Not that it ever worked. She was too exhausted at this point. Aera once thought she was the luckiest woman to live on this planet for she had the most amazing man loving her. Now everything had become a distant memory. Though he stood so close within an arm's reach, he was too distant already.

"I'm sorry."

Aera smiled sadly. "Sorry..." The cursed word tasted bitter in her tongue. "It lost its purpose long ago," her voice was soft, badly audible anymore. She was hurting and he knew it too. His actions contradicted his words. When all she wanted was for him to pull her into his embrace, he stood like a statue, his emotions masked.

The silence stretched between them for a long moment. As he opened his mouth to say something, his phone rang. He threw an apologetic glance at her and answered the call, his face and tone growing serious as he barked at someone on the other end.

He closed the hand over the phone and mouthed, "I'll see you later."

Aera bit her lips and watched his tall figure disappear from her office. Her knees gave out and she sobbed into her palms.

I fucking miss you too and want you to look at me like I'm the only person that mattered to you.

Why is it so hard?

Why do you have to be like this?

I just want you to love me.

Violent sobs wracked her body and she gave into the pain once again. She will never be a priority in his life. One phone call was all he needs to forget her. Work always came first. It was never her.

Why can't you love me the way you used to do?

Why?

***

Taehyung stepped back from the mannequin observing yet another masterpiece he'd created. His compact workspace was calm, his favorite peace of classical music playing in the background. Working has always been like meditation to him. It left him with a satisfaction and endless peace he relished so much. Especially, the satisfaction that came after finishing what he believed to be his best creation ever cannot be put into words. It took him once again took him through a swirl of emotions.

A soft, fond smile stretched his lips as he trailed his gaze at the design that stood proudly. It will look so good on Jimin, he thought gleefully. Oh, wait he couldn't wait to see Jimin's reaction to this showstopper.

Jimin, his soulmate was the first person to wear his creations and Tae was adamant that he would never have any person who wasn't Jimin to represent Vante when he launched his brand. His best friend hadn't argued then.

Vante was now one of the brands that made people's head turn. But Tae would never forget their humble beginnings, when they were nothing more than a bunch of rookies.

Meeting his group of friends was fated. They all met in kindergarten, but Tae didn't enter their close circle until thirteen. Taehyung, an awkward shy boy in school only had one friend Park Jimin, whom he shared a few classes with. But when Jimin moved to the United States, Tae lost his only friend.

Three years later, Tae wasn't expecting to win the Min scholarship and he sure wasn't expecting to move to United States for his education. His parents were elated. Coming from a humble family that worked multiple jobs to make the end meet, the scholarship had been a boon. So, Tae packed his bags and left with a heavy heart full of fear of the unknown.

As expected, the life in California was horrible. Only three months into the school and he already hated it. Though he was in an Asian school, the fellow kids had laughed at his struggle with English. The language had never been his friend. It certainly did not help when one of the Korean kids found out he was gay.

His life couldn't have gone worse. Because the bullying had grown intense. One day, they had cornered him near the playground and the biggest of the group had punched him when Tae had tried to stand up for himself. Tae fell to the ground, clutching his mouth, a sob threatening to fall from his lips. His bully had pulled him up and pinned to the wall, his fist ready to land more blows.

"Get off him!"

When Tae looked up he was shocked to see the last three people he expected to help him that day. The boy who had him pinned to the wall was on the floor, his hands cupping his crotch as he moaned in pain. His body jerked when someone touched his lips.

"That sonofadick," Katy, the poker faced and scary looking of the group gritted her teeth. Tears filled Tae's eyes as he waited for the insults to come.

"You bust his lips, Asshole." Porshiya kicked the boy again much to his surprise.

When he turned, his fearful gaze locked with Min Aera, the bossy one and the un-proclaimed leader of the group that called themselves as queen bees. But this Min Aera, she was a fucking royalty, a descendent of the Min clan from Joseon dynasty and the real princess. Her family owned this school. He was here because of the scholarship they offered after all. So when the staff came rushing to the spot, she hadn't even blinked.

"Suspend him and issue warning to his parents," she'd said with so much authority that a shiver raked his spine.

They had changed a lot since he had seen them the last time. Katy offered him a kind smile as he pressed the handkerchief on his lip, wiping the blood.

"Does it hurt?" she asked in a kindest voice he heard for the first time after coming to California. Before he realized he was sobbing into her arms. The dam of pent up frustration and sadness broken at the first touch of home after three long months.

Now, he knew them, alright. They met in kindergarten. Went to the same school before they moved to California. The only time he saw them was when they walked past him in the halls. As much as Tae was relieved to know they were in the same school as him, he also didn't dare to approach them because of their reputation. He didn't belong in their circle. He'd seen them a few times in the new school, even felt hopeful Jimin would be here. But he saw his friend nowhere.

Katy was rubbing his back soothingly, speaking words of comfort when they led him somewhere. He only heard, "It's okay. I've got you." For him, that was enough.

"What happened?"

Another voice broke through the haziness of his brain and his body shivered involuntarily, this time for whole another reason. With butterflies now fluttering in his stomach, he had lifted his head from Katy's shoulder to lock his gaze with the senior boy he once looked up to.

Min Yoongi stared at him, his gaze full of fury, not directed at him he soon realized. Because Yoongi was in front of him in a heartbeat, soft fingers tracing his injured lip.

"Who did this to you?" his voice was full of concern and Tae's lips trembled.

"It was that Minhee," Porshiya grumbled from somewhere behind Yoongi, who was now inspecting his injury with a frown.

"Minhee?" Yoongi's frown deepened. "That kid who play baseball?"

"Yeah."

"Why?" The question was directed to Tae this time. "This isn't the first time, is it?"

Tae sniffled, shaking his head, but he didn't know if he could tell him the truth. What if they kick him out of the school? Revoke his scholarship. But something in Yoongi's eyes forced him to meet his gaze again. "Because he found out I'm gay," he spoke before he could process what he wanted to say.

Yoongi's eyes softened, an understanding dawned on his features and the disgust...it never came. Tae for the first time that day felt hopeful.

"Dismiss him," he without hesitation and Tae's eyes widened. So much for feeling hopeful. His heart felt like being crushed under a tight weight before Yoongi spoke again, "Minhee stepped out of line this time." He caressed the side of Tae's face. "No one will ever hurt you again."

Tae smiled at the warm memory. Yoongi made a promise that day. A promise he kept till this date. He knew what he was missing. Yoongi would be delighted—

"That's beautiful."

Tae whipped around upon hearing the deep, yet caressing voice that blanketed him with warmth.

"Hyung..." he breathed in surprise. "You're here."

He rushed to Yoongi, pulling him into a bear hug before hoisting him and twirling him. Their loud laughter echoed the white walls of the small studio.

"Let me down, you brat."

Yoongi hit his shoulders playfully and Tae let his body slide down. Tae cupped Yoongi's face, a grin almost splitting his face. "You said you won't be here until November." Tae wasn't expecting his husband to visit him after this soon. He'd just left to continue his business trip after attending Aera's birthday party last week.

"What can I say? I missed you." Yoongi was kissing him then and when was he ever someone to complain. "You're leaving for Seoul in a few weeks and I wanted to see your work."

Tae smiled into the kiss. Yoongi always did his best to visit him before he launched his next designs. His encouraging words were all the boost he needed. "So you think it's beautiful," he asked against his lips.

"It is," Yoongi caressed his face with a soft smile. "I don't know how you manage to outshine your previous creations every time you create something new. You're so talented, baby."

Tae melted into the praise, kissing him again. Oh, he missed him so much. When Yoongi broke the kiss to trail his lips down Tae's throat, Tae turned his neck to give him better access. A soft moan escaped his lips when his husband sucked the skin harder. His fingers tangled into Yoongi's hair pulling him closer.

Soon Yoongi was backing him to the only leather couch in the studio. It wasn't comfortable but who cared. Their needy hands were tugging at each other's clothes as they kissed messily, their tongues tangling. Anyone could walk in on them now, but he didn't care. Yoongi's hands on them and the sensations they stirred in the pit of his stomach was the only thing he cared for.

It didn't take long before he was coming apart in Yoongi's arms. He dropped his head to his Yoongi's shoulder, catching his breath, their bodies still joined. Tae slumped into his husband's lap, where he was straddling him.

"That was intense." He grinned pressing lazy kisses along the side of Yoongi's neck.

"It always is," Yoongi agreed, stroking his hair and running his hand over his back.

"Did Namjoon hyung come with you?" Tae lifted his head.

Yoongi's contented expression altered. "Yeah."

"Did you talk to him?"

"He loves her." That was all Yoongi said. Aera and Namjoon's relationship had put them all in a tight spot. Either of them were addressing the strain and behaving like adults to talk it out.

"He clearly doesn't love her enough," Tae griped. "Listen, hyung, he missed Aera's birthday this year. Do you realize what that means?"

Yoongi nodded sullenly.

Tae clenched his jaw, slowly separating their bodies and climbed off his lap to grab the tissues. Yoongi accepted a tissue silently cleaning himself before helping Tae. A comfortable silence settled between them as they relished the intimate moment a minute longer.

Aera and Namjoon's relationship began to fizzle when Namjoon took over his father's business, successfully partnering with the Min Group. It demanded a lot of his time, but as years went by he had slowly started to lose himself to work and started neglecting Aera. She had been the understanding one in the relationship but there was only so much one could handle.

"He's losing her, hyung," Tae spoke once he was clean. He started dressing and watched as Yoongi tightened his belt.

"He's aware."

"And yet he isn't doing anything." Tae ran a hand through his hair. "Hyung, the only reason we planned that Vegas trip was to bring them together and give them a chance to work on their relationship." That cursed trip only brought more problems home than one.

Yoongi sighed in defeat. "He's my best friend and she's my sister. I don't know what to do, Tae."

"Hyung, we were dating as long as them," he said. "Long distance relationship is never easy, but we managed to work it out, didn't we?"

Once Yoongi had taken over his father's business, he barely had time for Taehyung. And then when Tae launched his fashion brand, their communication had halted. But they worked harder than ever to be where they were now. It hadn't been easy, but they were happier.

"The last time I went to see you, this time you came to me," Tae said. "You never miss my important days, I never miss yours. You always make time for me, hyung. You never let my calls go to voicemail unless you're sleeping and you always tell me beforehand if you're gonna have a busy day. That's how a relationship works."

"But still there is a line we can't cross yet." Yoongi sighed, pulling Tae on his lap and wrapping his arms around his waist. "I love you, Taehyungie."

Taehyung leaned back, resting his head on Yoongi's shoulder. They were married for two years and started dating when Taehyung graduated high school. Their marriage was legal because both had American citizenship now. But the world cannot know yet because of Yoongi's status in the Korean society. It never bothered Taehyung though. Yoongi's love was the only thing that mattered.

"I want the world to know you're my husband," Yoongi murmured against his neck. "I want to hold your hands in the public."

"I know," Taehyung whispered, turning his head to peck Yoongi's lips. "I know you love me, that's the only thing that matters. There's no hurry, you know."

"I want to do so much, Taehyungie. Yet I feel my hands are tied."

"You do so much, hyung. You're here, aren't you?" Tae completely turned to straddle his lap again, squishing his cheeks. "I was missing you, you know." He brushed his nose against Yoongi's button nose he loved so much. "You're my lucky charm. Now I know I'm gonna rock the Seoul fashion week."

Yoongi rewarded him with a gummy smile that had his heart clench with pleasure.

"I love your smile," he leaned forward kissing his chin as Yoongi laughed more. He was reaching for his lips when Yoongi's phone blared.

Yoongi's smile fell, but he soon masked his dismay. "Forget it." He cupped Tae's face, pulling him closer.

"Hyung," Tae smiled into the kiss. "Answer the call, maybe it's something urgent."

"Nothing is more important than you."

Tae kissed him a moment longer when the phone blared again. "I think you're needed." He kissed Yoongi's nose before climbing off his lap. "Anyway, I'm not stopping Jeoni or Porshiya if they went for Namjoon again."

Yoongi lifted his hands in a surrendering gesture. "I won't intervene." He flashed his gummy smile again. "Perhaps, Jeoni and Porshiya are exactly what he need right now."

Taehyung shrugged with a knowing smile. If Namjoon was visiting Aera today—

"I'll cover the expenses if they break anything this time."

Yoongi waved him off. "It's on me as long as they get the job done."

It'll be a while before Jungkook makes his appearance. We see the Vinora gang first and Jungkook will come soon though. Hang in there.