Taehyung was surprised to receive a cold shoulder from Jungkook on the way back. I mean, everything was going well, and then suddenly, Jungkook was not meeting his eyes. Nor did he utter a single word. He just started to walk away, rather hurriedly, making Taehyung stumble behind.

“Kookie, slow down!” Taehyung called out, as he was struggling to follow the younger one because of the crowd and the few seconds head start he had. “Where are you going?”

Jungkook, of course, didn't answer. If anything, he increased his speed even more. Taehyung let the younger go, until they were out of the market area, before catching up with him.

Taehyung grabbed Jungkook's hand and stopped him. “Kookie?”

Jungkook refused to look at the other, making Taehyungto walk in front of him.

“Kookie, what's going on?” Taehyung was genuinely concerned now. “Did I do something wrong? I apologize for whatever it is. Please… talk to me.”

With a slightly hesitant mind, Taehyung put his finger under Jungkook's chin and lifted the younger face. And he was dismayed to see redness in those starry eyes. “Jungkook.. what's wrong?”

Jungkook shook his head, trying to dismiss Taehyung's concerns but the latter didn't let him.

“You can't tell my nothing is wrong when your eyes look like that. What did I do? Should I have not told him that the gift was for you? Or… or did you not want it in the first place? But I asked you. I wouldn't do something like that without your consent.”

“It's not that, I wanted the gift.” Jungkook's words sounded muffled, while he looked everywhere except Taehyung's eyes.

“Oh.. okay.” Taehyung was considerably relieved to know that the gift was, indeed, welcomed. “Then I'm sorry I didn't realize you wanted to keep this a secret. I should have discussed it with you first before assuming-”

“It's not that either-”

“Then what is it?” Taehyung leaned closer and softly held Jungkook's face with both his hands. “Baby, you know I am an idiot. Please be an angel and let me know what mistake I made this time? So that I can fall to my knees and beg for your forgiveness properly.”

Again, Jungkook's eyes widened, before he roughly pushed Taehyung's hands away from his face and turned around. “This! This is what's wrong!”

Taehyung was confused. And frankly, he was damn worried. This was not the first time he touched Jungkook and never had the younger responded negatively like this.

“I'm sorry- Gods! I keep messing things up. Kookie, I-”

“Urhhhh!!!” Taehyung closed his mouth tightly at that groan, and watched with worried eyes as Jungkook turned around to face him again. “Stop apologizing every five seconds!”

“Kookie, what-”

“Don't you understand?! You make me frustrated a-and.. and shy… and..you make me think like I'm about to have a heart attack!! I can't form a coherent thought in my brain or.. or even breathe!”

Taehyung was speechless. He could only blink like an idiot. And open his mouth but close it without making any sound. Jungkook's face was so red and Taehyung could swear he could feel the heat coming out of Jungkook's ears, even from where he was standing.

“Here!” Jungkook grabbed Taehyung's both hands and placed those palms over his own cheeks for a few seconds, before letting them fall. “Do this all you want. It's your damn mouth that's making my life hard.”

Taehyung smiled. A relieved and heartfelt smile. And after staring at it for a few seconds, Jungkook couldn't help but give one back, despite feeling like he'd rather dig a hole in the ground and bury himself.

“Okay.”

“O-okay?”

“Yeah, I'll try to keep my words to a minimum. Can't let you have a heart attack now can I?”

It didn't seem possible but Jungkook blushed even more. “S-stop.”

Taehyung smiled again and gently held Jungkook's hand. “So, this is okay?”

Jungkook nodded his head in response, his eyes widening when Taehyung placed a soft kiss on the palm. “And this?”

Jungkook nodded again. Taehyung gave another kiss to the palm and let go of it, before raising his own hand up to touch Jungkook's cheek. His large palm covered Jungkook's entire side of the face, and he ran his thumb over Jungkook's lips. “How about this?”

By Jungkook's sudden gasp, Taehyung knew that the younger one clearly understood where this was going. And when Jungkook gave the softest nod, Taehyung just smiled.

“No, baby. I'm afraid I'm gonna need words this time.”

Jungkook's throat bobbed as he tried to clear his airways to speak.“Y-yes.”

“Yes, what?” Taehyung asked in the same deep tone. “You're gonna have to be a little more specific than that. I won't trouble you by asking again, you have my word. Just give me permission this one time. Hmm?”

“Yes, it's okay! You can-”

Taehyung didn't wait till Jungkook finished what he was saying. He simply pulled the younger gently by his face and captured his lips in a soft kiss. He felt Jungkook trembling so he let his other hand go around the younger's waist and pulled him closer to his body. A few eternities later, he felt Jungkook's own shaking hands tugging the sides of his shirt as well.

“Calm down.” Taehyung whispered against Jungkook's lips. “Breathe.”

The kiss lasted for several minutes. By the time Taehyung pulled away, Jungkook had his eyes closed, and a soft smile adorned his lips.

“Gods! You're so beautiful.” Jungkook opened his eyes to see Taehyung looking at him with pure adoration. “How did I get so fortunate in life?”

The magical bubble burst as quickly as it was made. Jungkook slapped Taehyung's arm, hard, all softness gone from his eyes, while the latter jumped back with a surprised whine.

“I just told you not to say things like that!”

With that Jungkook walked away, while a smiling Taehyung followed him. Neither saw the gazes focused on them from a distance.

________________________________

   
  
  
“Your majesty!”

The King lifted his head at the sound of that. One of his eunuchs had already alrearted and requested permission for this man to come into the king's office chambers.

“Hoseok ” The king said, as he extended his hand towards the scroll Hoseok was giving him.

It took the king only a few minutes to read what was in the scroll, before he lifted it up to the flame on the night lamp. The king watched as the scroll fully burned, hiding away what was there without a trace.

“Tell your spy to stay vigilant. The prince's safety should not be compromised at any point. Neither should your spy's identity. The prince can never know we have him followed.”

“As you command, your majesty.”

Hoseok gave a deep bow, before retreating back from the room. The king closed his eyes, trying to stop the tears gathering in them from spilling over. But one managed to slip past, and run down over his cheeks.

‘Hold on just a little bit longer, my son.’ The King sent a prayer to God for his son's safety. ‘You will soon be where you belong.’

__________________________________

When Taehyung returned home that day after dropping Jungkook, his sister was waiting for him on the path leading to their house.

“Seolhee? What are you doing here?”

“I was waiting for you, Oppa.” Seolhee sounded angry. “We need to talk.”

“About what?”

“Where were you today?”

Taehyung raised his eyebrows at that tone, but answered the question anyway. “Not that it's any of your business, but I went to the market.”

“With that leech??”

Taehyung never felt a stronger urge to slap his own sister, than he did today. The anger he felt at the disrespect shown towards Jungkook was making him shake. He didn't bother replying and turned to walk away, but of course, Seolhee had other plans.

“We saw you today. Me and Dahyunie. At the market. We saw you kissing him! Disgusting! Aren't you the one who kicked him out?! Why are you running behind him again?? Did he cry to you about not having any place to go again? Huh? Answer me, Oppa, did he-”

“Enough!” Taehyung's deep voice boomed even more due to the night air. “Shut your mouth, before I shut it for you, Kim Seolhee.”

“O-oppa-”

“I already told you all that he is my partner. And I will not tolerate any more disrespect towards him. He's the love of my life, and the one I'm gonna share my future with. You'll do well to remember that!”