A/N - sooo, bit of a trigger warning. This chapter contains homophobic slurs and degrading terms. If you're uncomfortable, please don't read. It's nothing nice.. 😔😔 I'll put a ❌️❌️ mark at the start and end of it so you can skip..
 
 
 
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"Are you okay?"

Jungkook gave a tiny nod, without turning away from the car window. After being hastily pushed into Taehyung's car, Jungkook didn't utter a word. He spent a few minutes reading the damn article about his alleged playboy era in high-school but after that, he kept his gaze steadily focused on the view from the car window.

His mind was cleared from the earlier haze and strangely, it felt peaceful. Taehyung didn't disturb him either, for which Jungkook was truly grateful. He heard the telephone conversation Taehyung had with Hoseok and Jimin, and the plans of going to Hoseok's house since apparently, the company building is swamped with reporters too.

Jungkook had been to Hoseok's house a few times, but not enough times to call it a familiar place. It was cozy, but it lacked the secure feeling Jungkook's and Taehyung's apartments had. Must be because there aren't any security personnel guarding the entrances, key required elevators or pre-approved visitor log etc.

Jungkook really wanted to go home, lay down on his own bed and cover himself from head to toe. Maybe that will help with pretending the past hour or so didn't actually happen. But things rarely go the way we want in life.

"We are here, sir."

Jungkook's head snapped involuntarily towards that sound, to see one of the bodyguards looking at him and Taehyung with a questioning gaze. Jungkook didn't knew what the guard was asking for but luckily he didn't had to worry about it

"Check whether there are any reporters outside and please find me something to cover my face. I forgot to get my mask from home."

The guard gave a nod in affirmation, before getting out of the car. He returned after a few minutes, with a baseball cap and a black face mask for Taehyung. After the actor had successfully covered up his face, both him and Jungkook got out of the car. Taehyung stayed close to Jungkook, but didn't try to hold his hand, no matter how hard his heart was yelling for him to do so. It only took about a minute for them to reach the front door of Hoseok's house and the latter opened it even before they had a chance to ring the doorbell.

Hoseok gently grabbed Jungkook by his forearm and used him inside, while Taehyung closely followed. Jimin was already there, looking back and forth at the two newcomers before coming over to Taehyung.

"Are you okay?" Hoseok's voice was laced with concern, as he looked at the idol carefully. "Did they hurt you somewhere?"

"Nope, nothing like that." Jungkook assured him with a small smile. "I was just shocked. Didn't expect something like that would happen."

"I tried to call you but-"

"Yeah, sorry about that. I just wanted to go for a run to clear my head." Jungkook said as he accepted the glass of water Hoseok gave him. "Any update on the article?"

Hoseok gave a sigh. "It was taken down. But just like the last time, it had been reposted many times for us to completely remove it from cyberspace. It's even harder this time with all the media coverage, but we are trying to get rid of those as soon as possible too."

"Hmm…" Jungkook looked deep in thought. "I want that bastard exposed or behind bars. Please find me something to hit him with."

"Uhhh…" Jimin raised his hand in a tentative manner. "I'm actually working on it. Will let you know as soon as I get something for that."

"Huh?" Jungkook looked surprised at that. "How did you-"

"I had him have someone to trail Kai, and get any and every dirt they could find. I wasn't gonna let this one pass, no matter what you decide to do with him."

Jungkook looked at Taehyung for a few seconds, with his expression really hard to read. He then gave a small nod.

"Okay, I'll leave it to you then. Please just make sure he's never coming into my life again. I'm seriously so done with him and his bullshit."

"Of course baby, you won't hear from him again."

If Jungkook acknowledged the use of the pet name, he didn't show it. He pulled his phone put and started to go through social media sites again.

That's when he noticed the new wave of gossip, backed by videos from several tabloids. Jungkook sighed and started to read. He was expecting it, dreading it from the moment Taehyung came to his aid.
 
 
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"Omg! Why is Taehyung helping him??!! Leave him alone, you disgusting pig!"

"Of course he would try to seduce Taehyung.. his kind is always trying to contaminate other with their disease too.."

"You mean I stanned a gay dude? 🤮 No. I'm not gonna stan any Korean celebrity."

"Leave Taehyung alone!! He doesn't need to associate with the likes of you."

"Poor Taehyung.. for sure he must have gotten deceived by that trash. Otherwise my Tae oppa wouldn't go ten feet near him"

"Why are you all defending Taehyung? Bet he is gay too. Maybe they are fucking behind the cameras. 🤮🤮🤮🤮"

"Take your dirty hands off of him, you abomination!!"

"Go back to hell, that's the only place for people like you."

"Don't get angry at taetae, he's just too kind to even ignore a waste of space like that. That's why he's helping him."

"Bet he sucked some dicks to be this popular."

"Why do people like this even exist?!? Ewww. Disgusting. Tae Tae please stay away from him."

"Is he even a man?? Disgusting!"

"He should be pulled out from that drama. Or I'm not gonna watch that. He doesn't deserve to be next to Taehyung."

"I will not let my daughter watch any k drama or K-pop anymore. I don't want my daughter to be influenced by them."

"Is being gay even real?? No man can love another man. It's just sex. Gay love is not real."

"Jungkook is just a freak who likes to have it in his ass."

"He should be in jail. Having feelings for another man is not normal at all."

"Gosh, did jungkook seduce taehyung? Yuck!! I'm gonna puke. I can't imagine taehyung touching that disgusting thing."

"Kick him out of that drama!"

"I can't believe he dragged taehyung into this. I hope no other idol or an actor will be jeonguk's victim."

"#Free Taehyung!"

"#Free Taehyung!"

"#Free Taehyung!"

"#Free Taehyung!"
 
 
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It's not like there weren't any comforting posts. There were hundreds of messages, offering sympathy and support, outraged call-out of the media for lack of regard for personal space, heartfelt messages about how brave Jungkook is or how much of a beacon of hope he's for the community. And then there were a flooding of comments expressing how this all must be a lie, and that Jungkook could never be gay.

But the truth was that all those messages didn't even make sense in Jungkook's head. He read those, all of them, but it was like he was reading something from a different language. He could read, but not understand what they were saying.

Except for the comments about Taehyung. Oh those seemed to be getting carved into his brain. Leaving a permanent print, something he would probably see every time he closed his eyes.

Jungkook went back and searched for the initial article, to see whether there is anything there that can be linked to Taehyung. And to his relief, found absolutely nothing. The article made it seem like Jungkook had a string of flings and had heated makeout sessions all over the school. While some of the instances seem to be legit ones, others are purely fabricated.

Taehyung and Jungkook had always been careful, except for those few rare occasions where they gave in to their teenage urges. But even then, it was innocent makeouts, done mostly at places away from other eyes. Nothing like the 'rabbits in heat' behavior that the article spoke of.

Jungkook put his phone down and looked at Hoseok, who already had his gaze firmly fixed on the idol. So did the other two people in the room.

"Hyung, is there a place where I can start a live?"

Hoseok seemed hesitant about that idea. "Kookie, I don't think-"

"Please hyung."

There was a silence for a few seconds before Hoseok gave a nod. He then turned around and walked out of the living room.

"Kookie, are you sure about this?"

Jungkook turned his head to look at Taehyung, and gave a curt nod to the latter. "Yeah, I am."

"What are you going to say?"

"Don't worry, I won't out you."

"Baby, that's not what I'm asking and you know it."

Jungkook gave a sigh before looking at Taehyung apologetically. "I know. I'm sorry."

Taehyung walked closer and hugged Jungkook and let off the breath he was holding when Jungkook hugged him back. They stayed like that for a few seconds before Taehyung pulled back.

"Maybe we should just tell them."

Jungkook looked as if Taehyung suddenly spurted horns over his head. "What?"

"Maybe this is as good a time as it'll ever be. We can't stay hidden forever baby."

"Taehyung are you fucking crazy?!" Jungkook took a few steps back, creating a distance between them despite Taehyung's stretched out hand. "Look at how the world is reacting. You can't tell me this doesn't scare you."

"It does, baby. It really does. But I can't just watch you take the heat alone."

"You're being stupid. So fucking stupid."

"Maybe I am! But tell me this. Were you expecting something else? Were you expecting they would welcome us with open arms? Jungkook, you can't be that naive!"

"Yes, I was so naive to think that one day, we would be together. One day we wouldn't have to hide ourselves. I don't want to be your secret forever and I don't want you to be mine either. But clearly, it's. Not. Today."

"My career can afford to take a hit, Tae. I don't give a shit about what assholes like these think of me. I don't give a shit about advertising or sponsorships or any of those crap. I have my own production team. I can keep on making music. I would still have fans who cares about my music, rather than who I fuck with. I earn through royalties and album sales. But what will you do when people don't cast you for dramas or movies? What will you do when they don't give you ambassadorships? Or take away the ones you already have?"

Taehyung groaned and ran his hand through his hair a few times, before looking at Jungkook.

"I don't know, okay! I don't know what I will do if I lose my job. I mean it's not like I'd go broke. I have enough net worth attached to me for three future generations of my family to live comfortably, so I know I can survive that. But there's one thing I know that I can't survive without. It's you. If my career is the price I have to pay to have you, then let it be. It's okay."

Jungkook felt the tears gather in his eyes. It's like the last few days didn't even happen.  This is the man he loves, and the man he wanted to grow old with. "Tae.."

Taehyung walked closer and gently wiped the tears that had fallen onto Jungkook's cheeks. "And career wise, maybe I can be a house husband. And let you spoil me with those hard earned royalties money. What do you say?"

"You're such an idiot." Jungkook's voice was strained with the effort he's putting to keep it steady.

"But I'm your idiot, right?" Taehyung asked in a soft voice,  with a tiny hint of doubt in it. "Please tell me I'm your idiot."

"Yeah." Jungkook grabbed Taehyung's shirt collar and pulled him closer. "All mine."

Taehyung had heard from somewhere, he couldn't remember where exactly, that make-up kisses after a fight, taste extra sweet.

And today, he finally got to experience it himself.. and Boy! It really is the sweetest thing ever..