Yoongi's apartment looked no different than how Taehyung remembered it the last time he visited, which was over a month back. Namjoon guided Taehyung and Jeongguk inside, Hoseok and Jimin following them. Taehyung saw Jin waving at them as they entered and Yoongi sat on the sofa, a few band aids on his face and arms.

Taehyung guided Jeongguk to sit on the sofa, across from Yoongi and the five other friends also sat down in the living room, a heavy silence settling amongst them. It was Jin who first spoke.

"How are you feeling now, Jeongguk?"

"I'm alright. Like nothing happened at all" Jeongguk grinned. He was always so cheerful, such a positive thinker. Always believed everything would work out just fine.

Taehyung sighed.

"No, for real, man" Yoongi said, leaning forward, elbows on his thighs. "How are the injuries?"

"They aren't bad" Jeongguk said. "It's a bit difficult to walk since my ankles hurt. The muscles on my stomach and back hurt when I move those muscles. The doctor said I would be able to work out in a few days too"

"The doctor wanted us to visit the day after tomorrow and for him to get a lot of rest and not move much" Taehyung started explaining the doctor's instructions to the friend Gorup.

Hoseok sighed. "Those are some dangerous people yesterday. The way they beat us up... I can't imagine how they might have beat you up, Jeongguk. You looked like a bloody pulp when we arrived yesterday"

"Yeah, and they were ready to kill Jeongguk and Luna knows what Minseok would've done for us" Jimin whispered.

"I understand that you had no other way to put a stop to all of that yesterday than to propose a duel, Jeongguk" Namjoon spoke. "But-"

"There are no buts" Jeongguk said firmly. "All of us were in danger. They would've killed me, done unimaginable things to Taehyung and forced him to marry Seojoon which would make his life a living hell. They would hurt you all more than we can imagine. There was only one way to stop all of this from happening"

Taehyung gulped and massaged his temples. His head thrummed with the beginning of a headache.

"It was a matter of life and death for all of us," Jeongguk stated.

"So you volunteered to put your life on the line?" Taehyung whispered.

"Taehyung, please" Jeongguk pleaded. "Understand me"

"I do understand you. I understand that you did it to save all of us but-" Taehyung's throat closed up.

Jeongguk sighed, a few moments of silence passing between them. The alpha spoke at last. "Regardless of what happened... whether they came to save us or not, if I couldn't get you out of there safe, I would've proposed a duel"

"What?!" Taehyunng looked at Jeongguk in disbelief.

"I won't let that alpha take you away and ruin your life. You're my omega"

"Anything would've been better than you dying! I would rather be trapped in a marriage that I didn't want than watch you die in that duel"

"I won't die" Jeongguk said, "Besides, I can't let them take you away from me. I can't lose you, Taehyung. I won't allow it. You're my omega. My mate. How dare they try to take my mate away from me? All of us were true alphas. How dare they try to take away a true alpha's mate!"

"Jeongguk..." Taehyung whispered.

"You guys could run away" Jimin said. "Flee the country and go somewhere they can't find you. You won't have to fight the duel that way"

"I would rather do that than risk Jeongguk's life" Taehyung said.

"I don't think you two understood what I said" Jeongguk muttered, his eyes sharp. "I'm not backing down on this. Seojoon needs to die by my own hands"

A silence stretched around the group of friends until–

"What is wrong with you?!" Taehyung let out in disbelief. "Satisfying your vengeance would take us nowhere! So what they try to take your omega? So what they insulted you and treated you like trash? Is it really worth risking your life? Seojoon is a true alpha too. He is older and I know he's stronger than you. There is a big chance that you could lose–"

"I'm not only doing this because of the insults they did to me. This isn't about me at all. This is mainly about you, losing everything you hoped and dreamt of for your future. This is about you losing all the hard work you put into your education your whole life. This is about you becoming nothing more than an abused breeding machine for the Park family"

Taehyung felt a tear roll down his cheek as Jeongguk's words sank into his brain.

"It's also about losing everything we built together so far" Jeongguk's voice was softer now. "It's about all our plans for a future together being destroyed. So don't blame me when my belief is that I would rather die fighting for you than watch you get married to that alpha and lose yourself"

"Jeongguk" Taehyung whispered.

"Okay but" Jimin spoke after a few minutes of silence. "Why not run away? It would solve everything"

"I can't run away from a duel I proposed"

"Because you're an alpha and they would call you a coward for it?" Taehyung asked.

"I will lose my honour" Jeongguk muttered.

"But man, why not lose your honour for a good life with Taehyung?" Hoseok asked. "I understand why you don't want to run away from this. It's such an ugly scar on you, as an alpha. They will laugh at you but you have to be strong at a time like this and withstand it"

Jeongguk shook his head. "I can withstand it. But I... I want to put an end to this once and for all too. Once I kill Seojoon at the duel, this will all be over. If I had the strength that day, I would've done it. But I thought that if I built up my strength, I would be able to do it later"

The six other people watched Jeongguk.

"Nothing wrong with it. It's what they wanted to do to me, after all. I'm just going to do it in an acceptable way" Jeongguk shrugged.

Yoongi shook his head and Jin didn't look like he agreed with Jeongguk. Taehyung stared into blank space, lost in thought. His heart was heavy but he felt numb. The epiphany that there was no way to stop Jeongguk from this duel dawned on him painfully. However, part of him already knew that. He just couldn't accept it.

"I still think the best solution out of this is to run away" Jimin muttered. "I wish you wouldn't take chances. This is your life we're talking. Think about Taehyung. How would he manage if something happens to you?"

"You all have so little faith in me" Jeongguk said. "I am not backing down from this. I need this to end so I can live a peaceful life with Taehyung without worrying about getting caught and killed"

Namjoon sighed. "There is no use speaking of what could've been done. We need to plan what we should do now to make sure Jeongguk wins it"

This earned a few nods from the circle of friends.

"I'm going to start working out after I get checked up the day after tomorrow," Jeongguk said. "I will have four more days after that to work out and practice for the duel"

"It's not enough time" Taehyung whispered.

"I'm already strong," Jeongguk said. "I'm sure Seojoon didn't work out every day like I did for the last six years. I mean, most days of the week, at least"

"I'm sure we can help him, right?" Jin asked and a few faces turned to him.

"You can't" Jeongguk wasn't looking at Jin. He stared at the blank wall across him.

Yoongi let out a heavy sigh. "In a duel, only the two people are allowed to fight. A duel is usually to death and Jeongguk said that he challenges Seojoon to a duel to death. So he needs to kill Seojoon to win the duel. If he gets help from someone during the duel, he loses the duel. He can't get any kind of help. A lot of people are going to be watching so it's risky to try and be smart"

"Cheating is out of the question" Jeongguk muttered.

"Are there any rules surrounding a duel?" Jimin asked. "I get that it's Jeongguk versus Seojoon but other than that..."

"I know it's legal. A person killing another in a duel won't be convicted of murder" Namjoon said.

"But the moment someone else comes and gets involved or helps the dying person with maybe also fighting the opponent, then it becomes illegal" Hoseok explained, "Say someone from Seojoon's family comes and tries to kill Jeongguk for killing Seojoon... then that person would be accused of murder"

The friends nodded in understanding.

"It's crazy, isn't it? Duels are legal, regardless of what happens with them" Taehyung muttered.

"Also pack fights" Namjoon pointed out. "As long as you do anything in the name of your pack, it's legal"

"That's just ridiculous!" Jin exclaimed.

"As long as the traditional packs exist, there is no peace" Taehyung muttered through gritted teeth. "I loved being in a pack. I loved how everyone inside the pack was like a second family to me and a circle or people who I could rely on"

The six other men watched him.

"But now I just regret ever having such thoughts" Taehyung muttered. "They are not my family and the subculture inside the pack is so toxic. Everyone feeds into that toxicity by accepting it and passing it on. They think it's normal. It's normal for them to treat omegas like breeding machines"

"And the amount of people who raised eyebrows at you and talked shit about you when you decided to go to university? It's ridiculous" Jimin said.

Taehyung nodded.

"They talk behind your back all the time" Jeongguk added. "They are anything but family"

Taehyung nodded, his heart feeling heavy. "I feel like I have no family at all now"

"My pup" Jeongguk whispered. "You forget the family you and I can create"

Taehyung looked at the alpha sitting next to him, his hand squeezing the omega's thigh softly.

"The family that we have already started creating" Jeongguk smiled. "You and I are already a family"

"A-Alpha" Taehyung whispered.

"Hey, you forget that we are your family too" Jimin said. "We love you and cherish you. I will go to prison with you, bitch"

Taehyung chuckled. "I won't let you go to prison with me, dumbass. We have already been through this!"

"We're going through this again! We're partners in crime!" Jimin whined. "We shall go to hell together"

Taehyung laughed, shaking his head. Jeongguk circled his arm around Taehyung and the omega placed his head on the alpha's shoulder, thriving in his warmth and comfort.

"So there is nothing we can do to help Jeongguk?" Jin asked.

"Technically, no" Jeongguk muttered. "I'm afraid I'm on my own in this"

"I have something" Hoseok said.

"What?" Taehyung asked.

"Back in my hometown, I had a friend who got challenged to a duel. Also regarding an omega. Fortunately, he won. I was a teenager and he was around Jeongguk's age back then. He went to this class to learn some techniques that would help him in the duel. I can ask him and get the instructor's number so Jeongguk can also take lessons"

"Please, Hoseok. Please get us his number" Taehyung pleaded.

"Of course" Hoseok said, "I will check now" he said and walked out of the room, phone in hand.

"Jeongguk can start his sessions the day after he visits the doctor" Taehyung said.

"He needs to eat a lot of meat so he can get proteins. It's essential to gain strength" Yoongi said. "I will bring some meat and cook for him"

"My mother used to make this drink from herbs that makes the deepest wounds heal in days and I have seen old people work like youngsters after they drink it. It gives you so much strength" Jin said.

"Oh! I know of that one. My mom also used to make that. It has cloves and...um..." Jimin was saying.

"And Ginseng!" Jin exclaimed.

"Yes! And a bunch of other herbs that I can't even pronounce" Jimin grinned.

"It smelled awful" Jin smiled. "I can ask my mother to make it"

"Oh that would be amazing," Taehyung said. "Tell her to make a lot of it so Jeongguk can drink it every day"

"I will call her right now"

"When I take him to the hospital on the day after tomorrow, I will tell the doctor to recommend him some medicine to regain his strength too" Taehyung said.

"I hope they don't put him into physiotherapy. That would fuck up all the plans" Namjoon said.

"Oh fuck, that didn't cross my mind" Taehyung muttered.

"It sucks that he can't use weapons," Jimin said.

"Then the fight would be over in seconds" Namjoon smiled. "You can't carry any kind of weapons. It's just you and your body. You can claw him and use your canines. Rip his throat out"

"Which is why we need to train Jeongguk to be better than Seojoon" Taehyung said sternly.

"The one Jeongguk goes to currently is pretty shit. Half of the equipment doesn't work properly. I only got a backache after trying a new machine" Yoongi said.

"How about the one near the university? I heard a rumour that Wonho used to go there last year" Taehyung said.

"Yeah, I also heard that it's great" Jimin said.

Taehyung nodded. "We should get Jeongguk in that. I have a lot of money in my savings account. I will get him a membership of that Gym. Besides, it's not even that far from here"

"I know a guy who works there," Namjoon said. "I will hook Jeongguk up with him so that he can train him"

"Is he good?" Taehyung asked.

"He's strong and bulky AF"

"Awesome" Taehyung nodded.

Jeongguk looked around him, bewildered. "Hey, did I miss the memo where this turned into a committee deciding my life choices?"

Taehyung turned to him. "You made your choice to fight some guy to death, by which you have lost all other choices! So you are going to do everything we say so you can fucking make it out of it alive"

Jeongguk ducked his head. "Yes, sir"

"You're going to eat some food and go back to sleep right after this discussion"

"Yes, sir"

Taehyung smiled.

"I have rice and meat. Also kimchi. Who's staying for lunch?" Yoongi asked.

"I am!" Six voices said at once and Yoongi smiled, getting up.

"Well then, come help me out in the kitchen"

-

After their friends bid their farewells, Jeongguk and Taehyung found themselves alone in Yoongi's apartment. The air was filled with a warm, comforting silence and Taehyung guided Jeongguk to the bathroom. The alpha leaned against a wall, pain and exhaustion evident in his eyes. Taehyung's heart ached at that but with hopes of getting the alpha to bed quickly, he started taking Jeongguk's clothes off.

As Taehyung's nimble hands popped button after button, eyes fixated on the work at hand, he could still feel Jeongguk's smile without even looking at him.

Jeongguk cleared his throat, his voice an octave or deeper when he spoke; "I thought you liked it when I took my clothes off in front of you"

Taehyung blushed.

"Not you taking them off me"

Taehyung pinched Jeongguk's chest, making him let out a small "ow!"

"Just shut up" Taehyung muttered, popping the last button off. He quickly but carefully got the fabric off the alpha's body and started undoing Jeongguk's pants.

"This would've led to something very different at a different time" Jeongguk muttered lowly, his head bent to catch a glimpse of Taehyung's eyes. When Taehyung kept his head down, two fingers came to raise Taehyung's head, his eyes meeting the alpha's.

Taehyung pulled down Jeongguk's pants, his eyes fixated on the alpha's dark eyes. Taehyung smirked a little before looking down.

The omega hummed. "This is my first time seeing you flaccid"

"Hey!" Jeongguk brought his hand to cover his cock. "Don't look at my little guy like that!"

Taehyung giggled.

"Talking about flaccid, if I stood in front of you like this, this guy wouldn't be so flaccid in a minute or two"

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "You're so much smaller like this" He smiled.

Jeongguk's eyes widened. "That's how flaccid cocks work, Taehyung! You have one too"

Taehyung laughed.

"Oh you're laughing now?!"

Taehyung burst out laughing.

Jeongguk scoffed and the next thing Taehyung knew, Jeongguk was kissing him. Taehyung's laughter and his breath were knocked out of him as Jeongguk attached his mouth with his own. One of the alpha's hands circled around Taehyung's waist, pulling him closer. Moments later, Jeongguk switched them around, pushing Taehyung against the wall and devouring him.

Jeongguk only pulled away minutes later, panting like he had run a marathon. Taehyung looked at him with eyes glassy with arousal. The omega pressed another kiss onto his lips and proceeded to plant kisses on his cheek and jaw. Jeongguk let out a sigh of pleasure.

"My omega" Jeongguk whispered.

"Hm?" Taehyung pressed a kiss against Jeongguk's lips.

"I still can't believe I'm going to be a father"

Taehyung smiled, cupping Jeongguk's face with his hands. "Alpha"

"What if I'm not a good father?"

"You are" Taehyung whispered. "I promise. We can figure this out"

"So we're keeping this?"

"Let's decide after the duel. For now, I'm carrying your pup. Let's enjoy this"

"I am enjoying this very much" Jeongguk whispered. "I'm so happy that I could cry and I'm so scared that I could die"

"What are you scared of?"

"Our future" Jeongguk muttered. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared of the duel. I'm shit scared, Taehyung"

"My love" Taehyung whispered. "I am too"

"I don't want to admit that I am scared. I have confidence that I could do it but self-doubt also exists"

Taehyung nodded, listening attentively to his alpha as he poured his inner thoughts to him.

"I would not be this scared if it was me alone. But so many things are dependent on my victory. Starting with your future and now this pup's" Jeongguk said, placing his hand on Taehyung's stomach. "I'm so scared of leaving you alone in this cruel world. I will sacrifice anything to make sure you're not alone"

"Alpha" Taehyung whispered. "If you would do anything, why not run away? This way, you could make sure that you will be in my future. We will be together"

"I know. But the cost of it is so large. How is that no different than sacrificing both our futures?"

"But at least we get to be together"

"I understand where you're coming from but one of the reasons I wanted to win you over through this duel is to save you from being a breeding machine to the Parks which would make everything you have worked so fucking hard for, for all these years, to go to waste"

Taehyung watched him.

"If we run away, you will still have to sacrifice everything you worked for. Also the things I worked for"

Taehyung sighed. "We can't have everything"

"We can, if I win this" Jeongguk said sternly. "I will do everything you guys told me to do today. I will do everything I can to win this"

Taehyung nodded. "Okay. But I wish you didn't have to do this"

"There is no other way" Jeongguk said. "I hate this too but I won't live if your future is destroyed, Taehyung. So there is really no way for me to win in this game. Only if I kill that motherfucker"

Taehyung placed his head on Jeongguk's shoulder and they waited in silence of the bathroom. Taehyung only raised his head when the buzzing in his head stopped and it no longer felt like he was going to die from worry.

"Let's get you cleaned up" Taehyung muttered. "And I'll put you to bed"

"You're acting like my mom"

"I'm not acting like your mom"

"You are!" Jeongguk giggled. "Ordering me around and taking care of me when I'm sick"

"Please"

"Since my mom passed away, I always took care of myself when I'm sick" Jeongguk smiled.

"Well, now I'm here so you're not going to be alone on your sick days"

"I'm grateful" Jeongguk smiled. "But this reminds me of my mom!"

"Jeongguk, stop" Taehyung said sternly.

"You really are acting like my mom" Jeongguk laughed.

"Really? Did your mom do this?"

"Wha-"

Before Jeongguk could let out a single word, Taehyung grabbed Jeongguk's now erect cock.

Jeongguk choked, his eyes bulging out in surprise. "Tae-"

Taehyung smirked.

"Wait-" Jeongguk let out. But Taehyung dropped to his knees.

"Tae!"

"You better not think about your mom now"

Jeongguk gaped out as Taehyung wrapped his hands around the alpha's cock once again. He looked speechless as he looked down at Taehyung, his eyebrows knitted together, eyes glassy and a pretty blush adorning his cheeks. Taehyung gtined.

"Please-" Jeongguk let out.

"Hm?"

"Please don't talk about my mom when you're about to suck my cock"

Taehyung smirked. "That's what I thought"

-

An hour or so later, Taehyung had cleaned Jeongguk, careful not to get water on the alpha's bandages, and taken a shower himself. He had applied medicine to Jeongguk's wounds that needed reapplying, and dressed the alpha in comfortable pyjamas. Taehyung was relieved that the both of them had clean clothes. Namjoon and Jin had brought some of Jeongguk's clothes and all the clothes they could find belonged to Taehyung, from Jeongguk's dorm.

Taehyung now sat on the bed, next to Jeongguk who was under a comfortable blanket. Jeongguk smiled at Taehyung dreamily.

"Best suck of my life" Jeongguk grinned. "I felt like I burst a vein down there"

Taehyung raised his eyebrows. "I don't think it would feel good if you burst a vein"

"You know what I mean" Jeongguk grinned cheekily.

Taehyung shook his head, his heart heaving at the sight of his sweet alpha. He pressed a soft kiss on Jeongguk's lips. Taehyung, ever attentive to Jeongguk's needs, noticed the subtle signs of exhaustion lingering in his alpha's eyes.

"Shall I make you some lemon tea?"

Jeongguk shook his head. "Just stay here. Sleep with me"

Taehyung smiled. As the evening sun bathed the room in a golden glow, Taehyung slipped into the space next to Jeongguk. In the hushed tranquillity of Yoongi's guest room, the soft murmur of their voices filled the air. Jeongguk's eyes, drowsy yet glowing, traced the contours of his omega's face with a fondness that spoke volumes.

"You've been taking care of me all day," Jeongguk remarked, his voice a gentle rumble. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Taehyung chuckled, a warm and melodious sound that resonated with the deep affection he held for his alpha. "Well, someone has to make sure you're in one piece. I can't have my alpha falling apart on me, can I?"

Jeongguk's lips curved into a playful grin. "Falling apart? I'm not that delicate, you know."

Taehyung's hand reached up to affectionately tousle Jeongguk's hair, a tender gesture that spoke of familiarity and love. "Maybe not delicate, but you're still my alpha. And I'll always be here to take care of you."

Their eyes locked and in the soft glow of the room, Jeongguk leaned in, capturing Taehyung's lips in a sweet, lingering kiss. It was a silent promise, a reassurance that their love could weather any storm.

As they pulled back, Jeongguk's gaze held a depth of emotion that mirrored the unspoken sentiments in Taehyung's heart. "I don't say it enough, but I appreciate you, Taehyung. You're my everything."

Taehyung's eyes shimmered with unspoken gratitude. "And you're mine, Jeongguk. Always."

"I know" Jeongguk whispered, smiling. "I will marry you someday"

"Alpha" Taehyung whispered. "You'd better"

"You'd better marry me" Jeongguk smiled. "I want to give you more pups"

Taehyung giggled. "How many will we have?"

"We're already having one" Jeongguk whispered. "I've always wanted two. A girl and a boy"

"I wanted five when I was younger. But as I grew up, I saw the omegas in my pack struggling with their pups and screaming at them, being full-time moms, I thought that I didn't want that many, after all. My life cam't be all about my pups. I have my own life"

Jeongguk laughed. "Yeah we should only have like one or two so we can manage with work and... we need some time for ourselves too, right? Besides, I want to make sweet love to you every once in a while. How could we do that with five pups?"

Taehyung giggled. "So true"

"Do you think this one is a boy or a girl?" Jeongguk whispered, warm hands cupping Taehyung's stomach under his shirt.

Tingles went up Taehyung's body from the alpha's touch. "I heard that boys make the mom glow and girls make the mom look tired. Am I glowing or do I look tired?"

"Fuck, I can't say" Jeongguk whispered, his eyes scanning his omega's face. "You look a bit tired right now but that's probably because you barely got any sleep last night and you were taking care of me the whole day"

Taehyung hummed.

"But your eyes are glowing so maybe it's a boy?"

Taehyung grinned. "Do you want a girl or a boy?"

"I would be happy with either"

"Come on, pick one"

"A boy" Jeongguk grinned.

"Really?"

"Yup. So the next one can be a girl so she will have a big brother to take care of her"

"You thought ahead" Taehyung smiled. "I like that too. But what if it's a male omega?"

"Then he will be like you and that's more than I could ask for" Jeongguk grinned. "Imagine having a son as strong as you. He would be the best older brother for our baby girl. He would understand her and also protect her. There would be no better gift Luna could give us"

Taehyung grinned. "If it's an alpha, he would grow up to be the most gentlemanly alpha. Just like his father"

Jeongguk smiled. "I think we would be good parents. We're good people and we both love kids"

"We will be. We can figure it out. As long as we're together"

"As long as we're together" Jeongguk smiled dreamily at Taehyung.

Taehyung couldn't help the blissful warmth he felt as he stared at his alpha, lying cuddled up on the bed. He felt blessed to love and be loved by someone like Jeongguk.

"If it is a girl, I can't wait to buy her all sorts of cute clothes and accessories and dress her like a doll" Jeongguk said.

Taehyung giggled. "Same! That's the best thing! And she will grow up to be a strong young woman"

"Because she has a mom that is strong as hell"

"And a strong as hell dad" Taehyung grinned.

Jeongguk smiled. In the soft glow of the sun's dying rays, they stayed cuddled up on the bed, sharing quiet moments of contentment, the gentle rhythm of their breaths a soothing melody against the backdrop of the city's nocturnal symphony. Their fingers intertwined, tracing invisible patterns of reassurance and affection as they basked in the simple pleasure of each other's presence.

Lost in the tranquillity of the moment, Jeongguk pressed a tender kiss to the crown of Taehyung's head, his lips lingering in silent reverence. "I love you," he murmured, his voice a soft caress against Taehyung's ear.

Taehyung's heart swelled with warmth at the whispered declaration, his own lips curving into a soft smile. "I love you too, Jeongguk," he replied, the words carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken promises.

As the evening stretched to night, they remained ensconced in their private sanctuary, savouring the precious moments of togetherness that illuminated the darkness. In the quiet hum of the city outside, the land of dreams slowly engulfing them, they found solace in the knowledge that no matter what trials lay ahead, they would face them together, united in the unbreakable bond of their love.

🌸

I just love these two