Taehyung did not see him soon.

He thought he wanted to know what he needed to do but it was so clear now- he didn't. Because now he had to actually do it.

Jimin had stopped calling.

If it weren't for little daily updates from Jungkook he'd think he'd somehow moved on entirely. But the cheerful message came around the same time everyday.

Have you spoken to him yet??

No. Of course he hadn't.

Today it was a little different. Some chit chat about the weather and sleep and food. Jungkook hadn't asked the dreaded question yet but he knew it was coming. He stalled, asking instead what he was planning to eat, keeping the conversation flowing as long as possible before it ground down to an inevitable halt.

All wss as usual, the pleasant conversations Taehyung had been given the privilege of pursuing since grovelling to Yoongi.

But what he didn't expect was a pause, a photo. The familiar tile backsplash between pristine white cabinets, Jungkook's ruffled hair peeking out the corner of the picture, barely noticeable to the focus- Jimin's back turned away to face the stove, entranced as he prepared a meal for them both.

'He's surprising me with something' A message quickly followed.

Taehyung's chest ached but he was enraptured by the simple picture and couldn't bring himself to look away. He could practically see his movements, hear the melodic hum of his voice. What wouldn't he give for Jimin to pull him close and whisper those sweet words in his ear?

It was hours later when he found himself opening up their chat again, scrolling up until he could stare at the picture, unable to cope with the shame of saving it to his camera roll in the moment. He made himself work for the image, fight the guilt that lodged in his chest as he searched for it once again. Making something that should already be his so unnecessarily complicated because he didn't deserve the quick fix.

He wasn't sure just how long he stared at the picture, inspecting it all sorts of stupid details that definitely didn't matter.

Once he'd looked at every crease in Jimin's clothing, each loose spoon strewn across the counter, his eyes became tired of staring.

He gulped and forced himself to close it. The view wasn't his to see as if it mattered when he'd already scanned every inch.

The thought of seeing Jimin again in person loomed over him. There was no way he could be taken seriously, he wouldn't even take himself seriously anymore. But he didn't have the heart to take the rejection once and for all.

Cautiously he flicked around his homescreen, impatiently looking for something that could occupy his mind, sheer willpower stopping him from opening up the chat again.

He found himself on his contacts page. The log of calls in and out, his manager, Hoseok, one from Jungkook. Despite his dread he scrolled down, the pages of missed calls from Jimin glaring back at him. His fingers must have moved on their own accord as he opened his contact, pressed call and held the device to his ear to hear the taunting melody.

They must have moved on there own because there's no way he would have acted so stupidly.

Static. "Hello?"

His tongue dried up in his mouth, heart thumping as he heard nothing but an impatient sigh.

"Taehyung?" He prompted again. "Are you here?"

"I- yes,"

"You called,"

Taehyung squirmed on his sofa, glad Jimin couldn't see him. "Yeah I did..."

"Are you going to tell me why?"

"I love you," He whispered pathetically, wrapping his arm tightly around his knees, the pressure against his chest comforting in a distracting way.

Jimin sighed. "Is that all you have to say this time?"

"I uh... Yeah? No, I don't know,"

The silence stretched on uncomfortably but he could faintly hear Jimin's breathing, he was still there.

"... Do you want to come over?"

Taehyung froze, bumbling out something that must have sounded like a yes as Jimin sucked in another breath. "I'll see you soon then,"

The call ended and Taehyung let his phone fall to his lap. Fuck. It was happening. His shoulders were solid with stress as he willed himself to get up and look even half presentable for the dreaded conversation.

He didn't know whether to scream or cry when his phone dinged in an ill fitting chime.

Jungkook: Well done!! 😘

He groaned.

It would be rude to keep Jimin waiting- he needed to show it was different this time. Even if he wasn't quite sure what was different. Or if anything was different at all. He wasn't quite sure when he wanted something to be different, some weird magic Yoongi must have placed on him in the midst of him pleading for his normality.

Because if this was what normal meant then he didn't want it.

So there was nothing to worry about.

The lie was comforting for a fraction of a second, long enough for him to close Jungkook's message and pull himself to his feet.

With the slither of momentum he managed to get himself showered and dressed, just enough time to spare to rummage through an old box beneath the sink to spray some of Jimin's favourite perfume he'd buried so long ago. He promptly tried to rinse it off again to no avail- he couldn't come on too strong.

Sensing the all consuming temptation to roll back into bed and pretend the call never happened he gave up and rushed out the door, hastily dabbing away the moisture from his neck with his sleeve.

He could do this. He could change for the sake of not sucking out each bit of enjoyment from his own life like a self sacrificing leech. The humming of his thoughts was merciless as he walked the route through the town to Jimin's building. He walked quickly, dreading his arrival bit desperately needing to shake off some of the nervous energy infesting his muscles.

It didn't work, by the time he'd raced up the stairs he was a tad sweaty and breathless and no less pathetically nervous. He knocked, a bit harsher than intended, only to grimace when the door swung open almost instantly.

"You took your time,"

Taehyung pushed aside the inclination to push past and welcome himself into his old home, waiting outside obediently with his hands in pockets and heart hammering in his chest.

"Sorry,"

A script was already filling itself out in his mind, packed with familiarity and snide comments. Usually it would have brought him some comfort. Instead a pit of disgust lodged itself in his stomach.

He wondered if Jimin felt something similar as he stared aimlessly back at him, not moving or speaking only to eventually utter. "What are we doing Taehyung?"

The question caught him off guard, stuttering uselessly until Jimin interrupted. "What do you want now? Sex? Jungkook?"

"No- I mean yes of course but that's not why I'm here," Taehyung defended. Why was he here again?

Jimin raised an eyebrow but sighed in defeat. "Just come in..."

He nodded and hesitantly stepped past, struggling not to let his guard down as he sunk into the sofa.

It looked as though Jimin was about to speak so he dug his fists into the fabric of his jeans and forced himself to take a breath. "Look," He started. "I know I shouldn't have left and I wasn't a great partner but I needed some time okay? You- you're not perfect either you know, this wasn't all because of me. Mostly me but not all..." He added the last part in a mumble, slumping back.

"Was that supposed to be an apology?" Jimin asked, tone painfully gentle as he stood just a few feet out of reach, arms crossed firm over his chest.

He nodded meekly. "Things used to be so good. I want them to be good Jimin. I know it's my fault and I want to do better I think... If you'll take me me,"

Jimin faltered, tongue peeking out to wet his lips. "Things were good,"

"I can be good,"

"I know you can darling, so good for me," Jimin uttered, carefully taking a seat beside him. "But we know how this ends, hm? It's not pretty,"

"So what? I'm just alone forever? No friends or partners or anything because I just fuck everything up? I can't do it anymore Jimin. I thought I could but I can't, the last few years have been so shit I don't know how I didn't see it,"

"You have your family, Hoseok, Jungkook..."

Taehyung flushed, squirming with guilt, a small 'oh' escaping his lips followed by a wave of shame from his lack of gratitude. "I didn't think of it like that... Just feels like I've ruined everything,"

Slowly Jimin nodded. "I haven't been perfect either, even though I try to be,"

Taehyung couldn't help but snicker but bit his tongue to let him finish.

"I knew what I was getting into with you and I did it anyway. You were very um, blatant, about yourself, hm? You don't poke the besr and get mad at the bear for biting now do you? Gave me just about every red flag there is,"

His shoulders sagged with relief. "I guess I did, yeah. Thank you for putting up with me,"

"You don't have to worry about that, we had a good time didn't we?"

Taehyung chuckled dryly. "I still want to be better, sick of being a burden to everyone,"

"Yeah?" Jimin asked quietly, he gave a nod of approval. "Tae the kind of changes you want to make, they won't happen overnight and I can't afford to get invested in you again right now,"

"It's already been nearly two months..."

"I know. It's felt long,"

Silence settled between them both, the unanswered question hanging in the air.

"I don't want to pressure you this time," He admitted softly. "It's your choice... Even if I don't like it I'll respect it now,"

Taehyung braced himself for the rejection and felt the flare of anger hot in his chest knowing it was his own fault. His old method of getting Jimin may have been shitty but at least it worked. This didn't do him any favours at all- it was plain stupid.

But it didn't anger him as much as Jimin drawing it out, sitting poised with a thoughtful expression as though the answer wasn't obvious.

Jimin was smart enough to cut him off. To not have to spend the rest of his life babysitting his partner who recklessly damaged nearly every relationship with every person they spoke to.

The solution was obvious and for once Taehyung was handing it to him on a silver platter.

"I love you too, Tae,"

"Yeah... I know you do," He whispered. "I understand,"

Jimin supported his weight on one hand as he twisted to lean in closer. The plush press of his lips against his made his skin tingle and muscles melt.

He didn't open his eyes when Jimin pulled away or raked his fingers through his hair. He wasn't ready.

"We can make it work,"

He squeezed his eyes shut tighter, breath burning in his lungs. He must have misheard, surely. The gentle petting of his hair drove him wild as he sat painfully still.

"Taehyung?" Jimin prompted, voice soft and skewed with a smile. "Is that okay?"

"No, you're stupid," He forced out, denying himself the surge of relief that rushed through his blood. "Just- Go be happy and date some lame business man or something,"

He wanted to cry out when Jimin placed a hand on his jaw, the light pressure excruciating as he turned Taehyung's head to face him. "I could but I don't want to. I want you Taehyung. That's why I put up with you in the first place," He laughed but it was strained. "We can make it work,"

Taehyung crumbled when he finally nodded, diving into the crevice of his neck and melting into the warm hug as strong arms wrapped around his back.

He felt Jimin's chest jostle in a chuckle before he squeezed him tighter. "I've missed you,"

"You're crazy,"

"Hm, look what you did to me," He cooed, fingers pressing firm into his jaw to position his head again.

Taehyung couldn't help the boyish grin that followed. "You love it,"

Jimin guided him forward for a kiss. "I do,"

Taehyung smothered his giggle against his lips, carelessly elated by his touch. Something niggled in the back of his mind, warning him that this was too fast, his eyes watering while his fingers iyched to hild on tight becuase nothing so perfect ever lasted long.

Jimin's palms massaged his lower back, moving in an effortless rhythm as Taehyung shuffled in closer and slung his arms around his neck.

It was dizzying to have him so close again after so long and his chest swelled with gratitude and possession.

He couldn't fuck it up this time. He didn't think he could survive another blow.

Jimin groaned, hands steadying on his waist. "We need to talk,"

The phrase sunk deep in his chest and brought along an all too grounding lucidity.

"About Jungkook," Jimin let out in a sigh, a slight smile on his lips barely softening the topic.

"Yeah?"

Jungkook couldn't possibly have a problem with this; not after pushing him to go back to Jimin for weeks now, it would be inane.

But in their fragile state it would hardly take a feather to topple the balance. At some point the integral foundations of their relationship had crumbled and Jungkook had become a wedge desperately keeping it afloat. If it hadn't been such a help Taehyung might have felt bad for allowing him to carry the burden.

"He wants in,"

He stilled. "What do you mean?"

"I've been talking to Jungkook," Jimin muttered, grip falling down to loosely carress his thighs.

He nodded, giving his best attempt to listen with the distraction and emotions running wild.

"Spoke about your argument... Why he left,"

"Yeah?"

"I like him,"

Taehyung forced his face to be motionless, unwilling to give away the paranoia bubbling away.

Images of the two of them together, simultaneously so nice and so cruel.

"Yeah?" He forced out quietly.

"He's pretty open minded," Jimin continued, fingertips dancing wickedly along his hips.

"Hm?"

"What do you think, Tae? I know it's a lot, we have a lot to work through already,"

"Th- think about what?"

Jimin raised an eyebrow. "Dating Jungkook,"

Although he knew exactly what he meant the blunt phrase winded him all the same. Nervously he wet his lips. He didn't want to think about it; to let himself get excited about something that could never be his. He should have known this was going far too well, too easily. Was he dreaming? It would make sense then. He must be.

He was moments away from trying to pinch himself awake when Jimin gently caressed his cheek. "We can just see how it goes first; it'll be okay,"

"It'll be okay?" Taehyung repeated.

He nodded. "Things will have to be different; you know that right? If we want this to work,"

Different. That word again that never failed to tie a knot in his stomach. "Yeah... I want this,"

Jimin grinned and squeezed his hand. "Thank you for calling,"

He shook his head. "I'm sorry I took so long... And for the uh, other stuff,"

"Will you make it up to me?' Jimin smirked, thumb dimpling the sensitive skin of his wrist.

He flushed. "Of course, however you want me,"

"Darling," Jimin uttered, eyes hooded.

Taehyung keened and pulled himself impossibly closer.

In the soft high of Jimin's lips against his neck he almost missed him repeating himself. "Darling?" His voice was husky and warm. "When should we talk to Kook? He's waiting you know, knows you're here,"

Taehyung thought back to his good luck message and chuckled. "Do you want to message him? It would be nice to see you both in person soon,"

"Definitely,"

Taehyung's could see the lust settling in his eyes after their period of longing and gulped, his own temptation building steadily. "Should we go out?" He offered carefully.

"We can, do you have somewhere in mind?"

"We um, the cafe?"

"You liked your banana milkshake?" Jimin teased.

"Maybe,"

He whined as Jimin pulled him up off of the sofa and carefully set him onto his feet but let himself be pampered as Jimin pressed kisses into his neck and helped him into a thin jacket to protect from the sun.

And then, in a strange twisted thought, he felt thankful to Yoongi. It was as unsettling as ever but for once he held some hope, just enough faith in himself that he could do better, make it work.

Jimin ushered him out the door with a lazy blissful grin.

Seeing Jungkook again was a bigger challenge than he expected. After a nice, successful date with Jimin, his partner had the bright idea to invite Jungkook along just a few days later.

He stumbled into the cafe after them, sorely out of place in the gentle ambience despite his gentle and nervous demeanour. As per his usual style he wore a dark black jacket and jeans, breaking the monochrome of his outfit only with the slither of white on his chest. His boots made his steps heavy as he approached them, sorely lacking the grace and clarity Taehyung's mind needed to even begin dissecting their conundrum, if there was one at all.

Jungkook carefully pulled out a chair between them, offering a timid smile as he huddled himself onto the little seat. Taehyung noticed the rings on his ear glisten, a new one dangled down his neck, a charm he must have bought recently. He resisted the urge to comment.

"Hi,"

Taehyung held back a coo and it seemed Jimin did the same as he grinned, slumping back in his seat as though relieved. "It's good to see you again, thanks for coming,"

"Of course I'd come, you know I..." He trailed off, pale cheeks dusting with pink.

"I've told him you're interested," Jimin informed, gesturing to Taehyung with a hand that lingered on his forearm, offering a little squeeze that calmed his buzzing nerves.

"Right," Jungkook nodded, sparing a glance to Taehyung.

Upon a moment of semi uncomfortable silence Jungkook spoke again. "I really like you both," He started with a shy smile. "I know you've had some issues and I wouldn't want to overcomplicate anything for you but if you're okay to have me around I'd appreciate it,"

To Taehyung's suprise Jimin looked to him to respond. "I uh, you know we like you Kook," It felt strange seeing Jungkook by Jimin's side, he was weary of keeping the possessiveness at bay. Possessiveness of Jungkook.

"More than just for sex?" He asked quietly. "It's okay if not I just uh, gotta know you know?"

"Yeah..." Taehyung uttered. "I think so," He wet his lips at the thought. At first he thought he'd spent more time fucking him than talking to him. As the nights crawled by without him he realised how much he reciprocated the longingness for those slow nights. Where the blanket of night was warm enough to blind the gentle touches, heads rested on slowly shifting chests and arms wrapped tight pressing bodies impossibly closer to satiate the evergrowing yearning for closeness.

It definitely helped that they usually fucked first. Even on the rare occasion they hadn't though, Taehyung found himself surprisingly tolerant, tension seeping away with childish conversations and teases.

Jimin was beaming like a proud parent when he messily slung an arm around each of them. "Ah this is going to be great I can feel it,"

Jungkook smiled bashfully and reached out a hand to take Taehyung's. "It's nice to see you again, it'd been too long,"

"It was," Taehyung agreed, a laugh creeping out from beneath his breath. "Don't let it happen again,"

"I won't, I'll visit you everyday," Jungkook preened, using the chance when Jimin slumped back to drape himself over his old dom, not caring for the overt affection in public and easily slotting into place on his chest.

The hand that shifted to toy with his long dark hair moved by second nature, holding him in tight. "I'm counting on it,"

When their drinks came they begrudgingly separated, not before Jimin forced everyone on hold for some pictures he insisted on taking for the occasion, something to replace the sad empty frames that lingered in the apartment for the previous two years.

Conversation broke out more naturally that Taehyung could have ever dreamed, the two having bonded during his absense but all too eager to suck him into their antics. Jungkook rubbed off on Jimin his own special way, tricking him into laughing along to whichever stupid pun floated to the top if his mind, grinning an adorable little smile when Jimin rolled his eyes and batted him away.

It gave Taehyung the perfect opportunity to harass his dom in the sweetest way possible, the way that made his eyes glint in that lustful annoyance that promised him he'd struggle sitting the next day.

Once a few hours had passed and a few too many cups of coffee drank Taehyung could barely remember feeling discomfort at the two together at all. His partners. Possession swarmed his chest for them both, appreciating how pretty Jimin looked tucked against Jungkook's side as he gave him a shy peck on the cheek goodbye, moments before he himself was sucked into the interaction.

Leaving was difficult but not as impossible as he'd expected. Finding himself back in his small lonely apartment even less so.

It didn't matter that he was alone because he knew he wasn't. And for the first time in months he was grateful for the space in fear that his teeth would begin to rot away with the sickly sweet feeling that never dissipated from his chest whenever either of his partners were by his side.

He slept well that night, falling asleep half way through a not so serious conversation with Jungkook, Jimin having slept long before them both ready to lecture him in the morning when he inevitably overslept for work.

There was a little guilt at the fact. An uncanny awareness that he'd been fucking over his manager for far too long. The man who gracefully gave him a chance on a whim and came to sorely regret it. He needed to do better there too, and he would, he told himself. Tomorrow. Well, tomorrow after he showed up.

Work was easily pushed to be the last thing on his mind when he had Jungkook's soft voice emanating from his pillow where his phone sat, telling him all the mundane details of his lecture that if it weren't for his story telling would've made Taehyung claw his eyes out.

And when he woke up it was to several messages. He'd fallen asleep right at the best bit of Jungkook's story so he had to be filled in, naturally. The expected push from Jimin questioning if he'd managed to get up on time, he hadn't.

Despite his tardiness he switched off his phone and rushed to get ready anyway, doing at least the bare minimum of being as fast as possible.

And maybe if he hadn't switched off his phone maybe he would have noticed the missed calls that littered his notifications. Or the messages from the work chat that he'd long since tuned out when checking his phone piling up to an inordinate degree.

But he didn't, so he pulled on his cleanest shirt and prepared to make amends.

Ahhh I really don't like this chapter 😭😭😭 sorry it's short too...
Smut is coming back next chapter dw, I know it's been a while :')