Back from hiatus :'D
Thank you to everyone still here!!
I needed a break because I'd just gotten a third job around when I was writing this and I was always too tired to write anything 🥲

But seeing the comments on this fic really motivated me to come back to it and finish this update now I have a bit of a break!

This is the 2nd longest chap in the fic so far too (I can't do 10k again sorry T_T)

Taehyung wasn't trying to avoid his manager.

It was odd, for once he was going about his day, talking to the customers, doing his job, and even actively looking for Seokjin.

But he didn't run into him.

It was slightly irritating but Taehyung knew he didn't really deserve credit for his work, one day of doing his job wouldn't mitigate all the time he spent slacking.

A heaviness settled in his chest with determination, he embraced the weight, ready to tackle the mess he'd created for himself. Almost immediately his limbs set in stubborn fatigue but as he kicked a loose receipt further beneath a shelving unit out of view he sighed and toddled back along to do his work.

He hadn't expected his coworkers to notice his shift, he hardly remembered half their names and he expected no more care in return.

They did notice though. Little smiles and looks of awe, nervous glances that confused him. It wasn't as though he were doing anything spectacular. Perhaps after his usual subpar effort this really did seem extraordinary.

After five hours of cleaning, restocking and being somewhat helpful to whoever pestered him in the moment, he was desperate for a break.

A deserved one, he thought, as he skulked back away to the staff room. Hiding in plain sight for a change, it was almost liberating enough to compensate for the ache in his feet and the tension in his neck.

He threw himself down into the hard plastic seat, willing himself not to slump forward and smack his head on the table.

He took a deep breath, and then another, hoping to ease the tension from his tired limbs. Embracing any sort of tiredness that wasn't from drinking or getting fucked was disconcerting, as if he'd been possessed.

There wouldn't be any extra pay for his work, he reminded himself, no real reward, gratitude from the coworkers he didn't care for maybe, less pestering from his manager, though the easy work around of never picking up the phone sufficed with far less effort.

And yet he felt compelled to continue, to keep an eye on the time as to not ridiculously exceed his break just to stagger home and fall into Jimin's bed, if all went well Jungkook should have the evening off too.

He wanted to do better.

After a few long minutes he slumped over, rubbing his tired eyes and pulling out his phone. He responded to Hoseok, Jungkook, sent off a quick message to Jimin, a simple nag to hopefully steal his attention while working. As he sat waiting for a response he eyed his notifications.

Skimming over each of them one little phrase caught his eye. See me tomorrow.

He dragged down the message from his manager, ready it in its unadulterated entirety, spying the numerous calls he'd blanked, slept through, he couldn't quite remember.

It was far from his first time getting in trouble at work, the off the books meetings with his manager insisting he tried harder were practically part of his weekly routine, but they usually lacked urgency. In the recent few weeks there'd hardly been any at all, he'd given up.

He hadn't done anything especially bad to prompt a flurry of calls. He strained his mind to think if he'd somehow stolen or broken something, he may have been useless but he never did anything that bad.

He stared down at the device. The screen dimmed down from disuse.

There was a faint metallic echo of steps from downstairs, a one-sided chatter, muttering, a loud sigh as the door to the staff room swung open.

He lifted his cup of boiling coffee to him lips, cautiously eyeing his manager who stood frozen, a wad of papers in hand.

It was still enough to hear his short breaths, matching his faintly rosy cheeks. Seokjin gathered himself and walked towards him without a discernible expression. He set the papers down across from him and patted down his hair in the way he always seemed to before facing a particularly disagreeable customer.

"You're here," He said, a forced smile teasing the corners of his lips before sinking back down. "I've been looking for you, assumed you were home,"

The coffee was bitter on his tongue as he set it down, forcing a slight nod of his own.

"We need to talk,"

"Again," Taehyung gritted, both hands fiddling with the peeling design on the old mug that held his drink. "Saw your message,"

Jin pursed his lips, uttering something short about him ignoring it, interrupting himself with another loud sigh. "Yes, well, as I'm sure you've noticed we have an some staffing issues lately,"

He nodded in dumb agreement, eyes darting back towards the clock.

"We've had less customers, sales are dropping and hours have been cut, unfortunately there isn't enough work," He flicked the papers between his fingers, stuttering slightly before he continued. "As you know you- we have had some discussions about your performance previously... I've been forced to let some of our staff members go,"

The room fell silent again. Seokjin watched him with pleading eyes, don't make a scene.

He could faintly hear his own breaths in his head, the whirring of the shoddy air conditioning unit that spat out dust rather than clean air, a grating electrical buzz of the lights that rung in his ears through the silence, waiting for more information even if it didn't need to be said.

"You're the obvious choice Taehyung, I'm sorry,"

"Don't be,"

"I tried to keep everyone but you know how it is, it's out of my hands. With your behaviour I can't justify keeping you on,"

He gnawed on his cheek, his muscles tensed. "Should I leave then?"

"You have two weeks notice,"

He gritted his teeth, unwilling to spend another hour in the place but knowing fully well he'd need anything he could get to push through the next months rent.

"Okay,"

Seokjin deflated into a sigh, a slight genuine if not cautious smile gracing his lips. "Any questions?"

"Do I get a payout? That's a thing right? With redundancy?" He asked slowly with a dangerous flicker of hope. He'd have been too ashamed to ask with his shoddy performance if it weren't for the bills readily accumulating without a foreseeable paycheck.

His smile faltered. "You haven't quite worked here long enough... I am sorry Taehyung, if you like I can put you on for some extra shifts before you go,"

"Don't bother," He muttered, resisting the urge to rub at his temples, the tension steadily growing. The uncomfortable chair was growing unbearable the longer he sat there, twitching desperately with the urge to climb back into bed, the thought a bitter reminder to his situation. He didn't have savings.

Jimin would help, if he asked.

It didn't take many more brusque responses for his manager to leave him be, metallic footsteps echoing back down the steps as he returned to the shop floor.

Taehyung overstayed his break.

No one dared comment on his change of demeaneur, not to his face at least. He gave a half assed attempt to keep up his work but found he struggled to care at all.

The minutes dragged by painfully but for once clocking out spared him no relief.

When he finally made it to Jimin's apartment he was met with a smile and a warm hug which he embraced dutifully, ruffling his boyfriends neatly parted hair as he kicked off his shoes and joined Jungkook where he sat on the sofa.

He looped an arm around his shoulder, carelessly pulling him into his chest while combing his fingers through his hair, unable to hinder the smile tugging on his lips as his partner crooned and stretched into his touch. "How was work?"

"Shit," He said, deflating into Jimin's touch as he squeezed himself into the remaining space.

"You always say that," Jungkook scolded with a grin, head sinking deeper into his hand.

He hummed in lazy agreement, mindful of Jimin watching them both.

He didn't need to burden him with the news just yet. To ruin things when they were finally okay.

He knew fully well how Jimin would react, he'd become his doting self, insist he be financially supported, move in. Slip into that same old routine.

It was tempting, he had no doubt Jimin would gladly employ him again too. Maybe it could be different this time.

"We should order food," Jungkook said, hopeful as he craned his neck back to look over to Jimin.

He let out a strained noise. "I can cook anything you want,"

Taehyung pouted up at him. "But we want pizza, ay Kook?"

He nodded in agreement, bulky arms slinking around Taehyung's waist. "I love your cooking but I want you to relax, you're always too busy making things nice for us,"

Taehyung basked in the comfort, an effortless smile sneaking onto his face as he watched Jimin crumble into agreement, huffing as he wandered off only to slap a fast food leaflet on the coffee table. Jungkook reached for it limply, the corner grazing his fingertips until his partner held it out to his hand. "You're an awful influence on him," Jimin chuckled, watching over them with a warm smile.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Taehyung dismissed, twisting to comb his fingers through Jungkook's dark hair. He crooned into the touch, barely flicking through the leaflets. The sound of Jimin bustling behind him was soothing, the two people he cared for most slotting together so seamlessly. He couldn't ruin it.

After some time they picked out some food, eventually persuading Jimin to take part and creating space for him on the sofa to join their tangle of limbs.

By morning Taehyung had almost forgotten about his conundrum, awoken by the gentle shuffling of a body beside him, rocking the overcrowded bed while he twisted and stretched.

Peering over the blanket he could see Jimin, head propped on a pillow as he scrolled through his phone.

Slowly pale arms snuck from beneath the blanket, blocking the device and capturing his waist.

Containing an irritated sigh Jimin glanced down, no doubt being met with the warm sleepy eyes of Jungkook Taehyung had come to be so fond of, that somehow sparkled with a certain determination even when half conscious.

The moment was almost startlingly intimate, urging him to back away but forced into the moment nonetheless, his bare chest pressed comfortably against Jungkook's back.

There'd barely been a morning together where they hadn't had some fun, he thought, trepidation growing in his chest while Jimin fished his phone from beneath his partners bicep with an insistent promise he'd only put it to the side. It seemed Jungkook had already discovered how easily work could whisk him away, even lying in bed.

The phone set down and hot entangled limps pressed closer, a comforted hum was muffled into the pillow.

It was a topic they hadn't breached.

Jimin met his eyes. His arm was moving slowly, near Jungkook's hip, the steady motion shifting the blanket above.

His mouth was hidden by Jungkook's long knotted morning curls but his smirk reached his eyes, having read his thoughts.

Whatever magic Jimin held at his fingertips came into action, their shared sub let out a pleasured groan and stretched into the touch.

A slight shiver followed, after which Jungkook tilted his head upwards to meet Jimin's gaze only to follow his stare across to Taehyung.

Jimin kept a solid arm slung across his torso, rubbing soothing shapes into his side and lowering his cheek to meet his neck. "Usually Tae is used to being the one who's doted on," He uttered hardly loud enough to be heard, feigning a whisper towards Jungkook with full knowledge his voice could carry seamlessly through the silent room.

"Shut up," His hoarse voice laced with morning drowsiness failed to carry any sense of threat. Jungkook turned to him with wide, curious eyes.

"He's so docile in the morning, at first I couldn't believe it was the same person" Jimin trailed off and Taehyung didn't have the heart to bat him away when short fingers reached over to carress his cheek, grazing against his morning stubble. "He's cute in his sleep too, we haven't played like that in a long while,"

He groaned and twisted into Jungkook's chest, gripping his torso tight. "He's clingy," Jungkook pondered in a sincere whisper. "But I never thought of it that way,"

"Clingy," Jimin repeated cooing.

"Shut up,"

Despite his muffled grumble a pair of firm arms encased his torso pulling him on top of Jungkook's chest, a third hand tangled into his hair. Compressed from his sides and with a reassuring touch on his head he felt drowsiness beginning to wash over him again.

The temptation to let him be sandwiched between his lovers was unbearable, it may have been the most restful sleep he could muster. He wondered if Jungkook had felt as such throughout the night.

He heard an amused sigh puff fron Jimin's lips just as his eyes fluttered closed.

Jimin's short fingers curled in his hair, tugging gently and scratching at his neck.

A soft hum rumbled through his throat and Jungkook's chest beneath him shifted.

Falling asleep would be so simple.

Jimin hadn't played with him like this in so long.

He wouldn't. Would he?

Sleep beckoned him but each touch was weighted.

Did he care if they touched him in his sleep?

He willed the answer to be a resounding yes but his stomach coiled in anticipation.

With weighted eyes he clutched onto a slither of consciousness, envisioning the attentive movements of Jimin's fingertips as he prodded at his boundaries.

His eyes were closed when a feather light trace danced down his back, Jungkook's grip tightening on his hips.

There was a cautious stir in his stomach, a steady dripping realisation of the impending ultimatum. Could he let it happen? Let Jungkook see him in that state?

Beneath the waistband of his pants Jimin hooked a finger, tugging at the fabric for a moment before allowing the elastic to snap back against his skin

He stirred, pouting in Jimin's direction before squeezing his eyes shut. His dom chuckled, warm fingers sneaking beneath the band to sooth the area. He heard the quiet wet smack of lips above his head and Jungkooks lean fingers gripping onto his bare back. Slowly Jimin's hand inched lower until he had a palm full of his ass, caressing him through his shallow breaths.

Against his stomach he could feel Jungkook's cock growing harder, meekly grinding up into his warmth. His breathing was unsteady when Jimin pulled away from their kiss, redirecting attention to Taehyung who laid only mildly aware of his own arousal and bathed in a warm, supple kind of comfort.

Perfect to play with. A little voice supplied in the back of his mind. Jimin's, he realised as his dom shifted to straddle his back, engulfing him in a hug from behind, sneaky wet kisses finding their way lightly along his jaw.

He hummed tiredly and craned his neck for access, his own hands beginning to wander up Jungkook's torso that was protected by a plush hoodie.

Jungkook preened into the touch, shifting with a languid arch of his back to push his grip tighter, harder, bruising just how he liked it. Taehyung mustered up some energy in his sleepy state to dig his fingertips deep into his waist; he was rewarded by a shaky gasp and a furrow of his partners brows.

His head easily fell back down to his cushioned shoulder, eyes fluttering shut. Jimin's weight above him pushed him deeper into Jungkook, who was currently the plushest pillow he could dream of.

"How are you feeling doll? Do you want to play?"

There it was. His chance to decline. But how could he when Jungkook was already sighing so prettily in his ear? And Jimin's skilled fingers threatening the band of his pants.

It would be so nice to ignore everything and bask in this moment. His eyes were so heavy, the blanket so warm.

"Whatever," He let out a noncommittal answer, not quite able to simmer down his pride. He'd be crazy not to want them both right now.

For a few moments nothing changed, Jimin's warm hand rubbed up and down his back, loosening any remaining tension between his muscles. He could feel the shallow rise and fall of Jungkook's chest beneath him, fingers stayed sat on his hips while he tilted his head to press feather light kisses along his neck, as much as he could access.

Taehyung felt his limbs grow even heavier if possible, his awareness growing perfectly fuzzy around the edges.

In some distant place he was aware of the pressure on his back. Small wet kisses moving south, a second pair of hands over Jungkook's holding his hips still.

He let out a pleased hum and tucked his head into the others neck when he felt hands massaging the bare skin of his ass, gently worming down the only cloth protecting his semi conscious body.

So it follows he barely spared a thought when the kisses became less small. Teasing the cusp of consciousness as his dom sucked and nibbled, dangerously south before flattening his tongue over his hole. Taehyung's thoughtlessly spread his legs.

It wasn't until he was three fingers deep and he found himself sleepily rutting against the man below him with broken moans that he opened his eyes again. "Jimin..."

"Hm?"

"Feels good..." He admitted in a whisper, feeling a burning pink dusting over his cheeks as he gasped into Jungkook's neck, gripping onto him as he pressed back onto Jimin's fingers.

"Don't be shy, let us hear you doll," Jimin crooned, Taehyung could practically feel his satisfaction when he let out a little whimper, bucking helplessly against him.

Nuzzled against Jungkook's neck he hummed confused, gripping clumsily at his hoodie to pull it up, sighing contentedly at the feeling of more warm skin pressed against his. His cock was hard and rubbed so perfectly against his bare abs.

He could feel Jungkook's strong arms slink around his shoulders, encouraging him with a rut of his own stuttering hips.

"Jimin," Jungkook sighed, Taehyung only half aware shivered, unfamiliar with his sub bypassing his authority.

"Yes my little slut?" Jimin cooed, another finger pushing past the ring of muscle and making him keen. Something about the mornings made him more sensitive and pliant. Never was a morning person. Except for Jimin. He could have him however and whenever he wanted.

Jungkook's shakey little sigh pulled him back to the moment. "Need more,"

Taehyung resisted a whine as the fingers slipped free from him, the pleasurable pressure against his prostate disappearing in an instant to leave him swollen and needy.

The teasing coos that left Jimin's lips easily could've targeted either of them as Jungkook groaned in pain and pleasure, Taehyung in loss.

He rutted against Jungkook's stomach as the younger came undone in a series of moans, being carefully pushed to the edge.

A few times Jungkook's grip on him tightened before releasing with a whine.

Taehyung couldn't help but join in the tease, the pretty cries of his sub too good to pass up. He caressed his torso before nudging his hoodie up further to expose his chest. Still so warm and supple from sleep. His hands roamed his chest, catching on the thin ridge of his piercing.

He pinched at the hard bud and ducked his head to take the other into his mouth, smirking against his chest when the youngers back arched into the touch.

He flicked it with his tongue with a grip bruising on his waist, pinning him down to stop the twitching of his desperate hips.

Taehyung stopped only when a hand tangled through his hair and pulled, the faint whirring of a vibrator making him salivate. His cock ached from the lack of attention, bucking in air doing nothing but heat the coil of shame in his gut that made him want to snap.

By habit he spread his cheeks, giving that view Jimin loved so much, silently asking as nicely as he could for it.

But to his disappointment and arousal the toy wasn't for him. Instead he got to watch Jungkook's flushed features fall lax in pleasure, eyes rolling and brows pinched. His mouth fell open in a silent moan and his clammy hands grasped weakly at Taehyung's thighs.

Staring down at his body, his hoodie bunched up over his chest, strong body weak with pleasure and his own hard cock pink and desperate, Taehyung had half a mind to fuck himself on it. It would feel so good. But Jimin was in charge here so he would wait, hovering above their sub with frustration and lust simmering under his skin.

So while Jimin fucked him with the toy Taehyung contained himself to watching, toying with his tip with a sadistic smile, sure to never give quite enough, just the right kind to hurt.

It wasn't a suprise when their dom pushed his back down to lay over the others writhing figure that he immediately bucked up against Taehyung's stomach, hand worming between them to squeeze their cocks together.

He choked out a moan, one that quickly transformed into a whine as he finally felt Jimin on him again. Coated with warm, sticky lube he fucked between his cheeks, purposefully dragging it out, testing how far he could push him with the new company.

"Jimin," He complained, Jungkook's hand still working between them.

"Yes my lovely,"

"Stop fucking with me," It was supposed to sound threatening but his voice was still husky and it cracked with a moan. "Please," He finished it off with a whine, he may as well.

"Ask nicely,"

He wanted to turn and slap him. But also roll over and beg like a dog.

"I want it, please..." He arched his back and pressed his head into Jungkook's neck. "Give it to me,"

Taehyung found himself biting down on Jungkook's neck as Jimin finally pushed in, feeling himself stretch around his cock and fill him so deep.

Wedged between their two bodies he barely had to hold on to a single thought, both bodies working away at pleasuring him. He moaned helplessly, weakly pushing back and up into Jungkook's hand, the feeling of a cock against his own presses tight by his long fingers stirred something deep in his gut.

Jimin let him, for once letting his unrestrained limbs slide as he haphazardly groped at the man beneath him.

Taehyung couldn't help but but be loud as his paced increased, a crude slapping of skin masked by his own whimpers and pleasured sighs. The tight grip on his hair returned, stopping him from further muffling his own whines.

The burn of pain pushed him further, biting his tongue to stop himself from begging for more. He needed more, for it to be faster and harder. If they were alone he'd no doubt be pulling out a belt or a whip, making him cry before a sweet release.

He shivered at the thought desperate for more.

Of course these types of moments tended to be like that. When Jimin would wake him with a gentle kiss and a cock buried in his ass, letting him whine and buck into the sheets, still drowsy and confused but doused in pleasure.

It wasn't until Jungkook started scratching at his back, heels digging into the mattress that Jimin finally gave him what he knew he wanted. Hard and deep, so fast he could barely feel the lube dripping down his thighs. Taehyung gasped and moaned, his cock was grinding up perfectly pushing him closer and closer to the edge. He couldn't stop his eyes from rolling back in pleasure, the burning of his scalp edging him on.

"Please," He barely choked out.

Jimin pulled him in, front flush against his back, hips never faltering. "Come for me doll, got you feeling so good hm? So on edge, let it go, feel good for me,"

Someway through his monologue, his perfect strained voice muttering in his ear, Taehyung couldn't help himself, coming undone and relaxing into his hold in a series of desperate whines. He was so full and warm.

As the haze of pleasure cleared, a thrum of heat shooting through him and Jimin moaned, hold tight on his hips as he came deep inside him, he sighed relaxed.

During the show Jungkook had finished too, having taken the toy out of his own accord to now stare up at hum with a lazy smile.

Taehyung's cheeks flushed and he lowered himself to lay by Jungkook and tuck into his side.

"You're so perfect," Jimin smiled catching his breath. He pulled out a packet of tissues from the bedside drawer and took to cleaning them up, chuckling whenever they might whine in sensitivity.

When he finished Taehyung reached out an arm, gesturing for him to join.

Hesitantly he laid behind Taehyung, an arm slung over his waist. No doubt he immediately wanted to rush off to clean up properly but Taehyung was eager to keep him a little longer.

Stress was already starting to creep back in and invade his thoughts. He wanted to enjoy this moment while it lasted. Before he was forced to face the longer term consequences of his actions.

For now, at least in this short moment, everything was perfect.

"What do you think?" Jimin's sweet voice called out over his shoulder, Taehyung knew he wasn't talking to him.

Jungkook gave a shy smile and pushed his hoodie down to cover his abused stomach, blotches of purple staining the pale skin. "So good, thanks for having me,"

Taehyung couldn't help but snort. "We should be thanking you, surprised you're putting up with us,"

The youngers cheeks were dusted a pretty pale pink. "Don't be stupid, you're way out of my league, I'm happy you're giving me a chance,"

He felt Jimin prop his head on his shoulder and could practically feel his concerned frown. "Kook we both want you here, don't think about things like that. It doesn't matter we've known eachother longer, it'll come with time hm?"

Jungkook nodded but he could tell he wasn't fully convinced. "Yeah... I just mean, you're so handsome and experienced, successful too," His smile turned bashful, fingers that were almost nervously toying with the blanket moving to fiddle with Taehyung's fingers. "It's hard to believe you're interested in me,"

Taehyung pouted, he was hardly successful, maybe Jimin was out of both of their leagues, or maybe just Taehyung's. He only really had time on his side in terms of their partnership now, if they were to break it down.

But Jimin was sentimental, so it was no suprise that he dismissed Jungkook's concern again almost immediately. He liked him and that's what mattered. Briefly Taehyung wondered if they'd end up in a harem of people Jimin liked but brushed the thought away. He wasn't giving him enough credit.

For as sentimental and overprotective as Jimin could be he was a closed person. Picky.

He carefully crafted a life he wanted and rarely let people in who might disrupt it.

Not unless he harbored a major soft spot.

Evidently that's where they both fell.

Sensing Jungkook's quiet dissatisfaction with his answer he decided to elaborate, combing his fingers through the youngers tangled hair. "We wouldn't ask you to stay unless we cared about you. It's not about experience or success, we just want you, no one else would be the same,"

It was true, Taehyung reckoned, if he had to quantify why he liked to younger so much he couldn't.

It would be easy to say he was handsome or fuckable, with a perfect physique and even better cries.

But he'd been with people who fit that criteria and he'd never felt a need to keep them around.

He liked how Jungkook listened, how he would smile at stupid videos and nudge him if he wasn't laughing along, how patient and considerate he would be, a gentle spirit who could stand just fine on his own but still chose to be vulnerable, to let himself be swayed by others.

It was no wonder Yoongi was so keen to protect Jungkook from him.

Jungkook seemed to like his answer a little more, eyes wrinkling in a smile that tightened Taehyung's chest.

Behind him Jimin hummed in agreement. "Exactly, I never thought I'd find someone else who slotted with us so well, I hope you stick around," He reached over to hold Jungkook's hand, Taehyung could feel his cheek pushed into a smile against his shoulder.

Taehyung hoped nothing would change.

But no moment ever lasted forever. And he had to make a decision, to accept Jimin's help or not.

He had two weeks to try and find a new job, not entirely unachievable but not ideal. And it certainly wouldn't be any better than the last.

Or he could go crawling back into Jimin's lap. So much more tempting. More risky. He didn't want to ruin anything with extra tension from work.

But really a sad part of him missed it. The attention, the shows, actually being good at something. He was pretty good at getting peoples attention, drawing a crowd. Even some of the more drab aspects, he'd helped with editing, planning, the extensive admin work for the licences and booking forms.

It felt good to be a part of a passion project. Even better when he was essentially costar of the show.

But it was an oversimplification. He wouldn't have left if it was really that perfect.

He wondered how Jungkook would cope with that kind of attention. It didn't really seem up his street.

Jimin had been stroking his hip for some time, soft and soothing, enabling him to space out and wander his thoughts. He broke him from his trance with a pinch. "We should shower,"

Jungkook pouted and rolled in closer.

Taehyung felt it. "I think you'll have to help us, we're too tired,"

He felt Jimin's lips graze the shell of his ear. "Oh yeah?"

A whimper caught in his throat and he was hyper aware of Jimin's wandering hand over his waist. "Yeah, tired us out you know,"

"Hmm, I seem to remember you having a lot more stamina than that. Both of you. If you're going to be bratty maybe I should forgo cleanup and just have you put on a little show,"

He cursed under his breath and shrugged him off before he got too heated. "Fine... Going,"

With him out of the way Jimin shuffled over to press a kiss against Jungkook's temple, the rest of his face masked by pillows. "You too my love, I'll get breakfast ready for when you're done hm? Do you have lectures today?"

"Not til the afternoon," He groaned, slowly peeling himself from the bed.

Taehyung sent him a gentle smile and kept a hand on his waist as he stumbled along to the bathroom by his side.

Few words were spoken but the silence was comfortable. He washed the youngers hair, relishing in the soft sighs as he relaxed into his touches, spending time detangling the wavy strands before rinsing it thoroughly.

Jungkook returned the favour washing his back, getting just a little side tracked as he pressed kisses onto his shoulder and encapsulated him from behind in a hug.

Even by the end washed and dried he could see Jungkook's slightly drowsy expression through the mirror, interrupted by a yawn.

He helped him to dry off his hair with a smile, thankful the room had steamed up enough to not be too cold.

"How's college?" He asked absentmindedly.

Jungkook shrugged. "The usual. I can't be bothered right now but I know I have to stick with it, in too deep now,"

He could only hum in agreement, having dropped out pretty early he couldn't comment. He was hardly the authority on great career choices either.

Luckily for him the conversation turned to easier topics, a show they'd both been watching and food. They agreed in the spur of the moment they'd have to pin down Jimin at some point and force him to watch it with them, carefully laying plans for when they were both free to ambush him.

They'd come ready with food and drinks and blankets on a time they knew he'd have off, he'd have no choice but to say yes.

Giggling amongst themselves at dramatic renditions they eventually got dressed and joined their unknowing victim in the kitchen, who'd already prepared a savoury breakfast for each of them and was busying himself tidying papers that had cluttered the kitchen counter.

Jimin gave them a bright smile and pushed a bowl over to each of them, his own love language Taehyung thought. He couldn't help but try and supply everything the people he cared for might need, even when it's not in their best interest.

For once he managed to convince Jimin to sit down long enough to eat with them and tactfully dodged any conversations about work, buying himself time for the dreaded conversation or realisation or however it came about.

As long as it didn't become an argument he was happy. He was too tired to keep dealing with petty dramas even of his own making.

At this point, the only effort he could scrounge up was to put into making this work. It's all he had and all he wanted.