Y/N insisted Taehyung spend the next couple of days with his friends and scolded him when he protested.

"They came all this way to see you, we've had our date so please spend time with them now."

Taehyung grumbled, pouting his swollen lips as they reached the door to Y/N's apartment.

"Two days away from you though, don't think I can manage that."

Y/N chuckled, placing a kiss on his cheek.

"It'll fly by."

It took several more kisses before Taehyung finally relented and headed back home.

~

"Tae! Does Y/N like Korean barbecue?" Jimin had asked the moment he stepped though his apartment door and slipped out of his shoes.

"Yeah why do you ask?" He cocked a brow quizzically, stunned to find Jimin sitting at the kitchen counter searching on his phone for party ideas.

"We want to make Y/N dinner tomorrow!" Jimin smiled, eyes focusing on Taehyung to judge from his reaction whether this would be a good idea or not.

Taehyung's eyes widened a fraction, not that he didn't want his friends to meet Y/N but he just didn't expect it so soon.

"We don't have to though, I know this is still new for you guys and that you haven't really labelled what your relationship is yet."

Taehyung smiled, shaking his head as he approached the counter.

"I would really like you guys to meet her, we also have a label now."

"Wait...what? You do? Since when? What's the label?" Jimin stumbled over his words, shocked that Taehyung seemed to be opening up so quickly.

This was a good thing right?

"Well the two of us are definitely dating, we also agreed to be exclusive as long as we're doing this. It's too early to say there's anything more to our relationship but she's different Jimin, she understands me and doesn't push for more."

"I'm happy for you Tae, truly. I was so worried after you lost Jin, you weren't yourself for such a long time and refused to allow anyone else in. I know why, I know the fear of losing someone you care about hindered chances for something more meaningful but maybe you just needed to meet the right person."

Taehyung nodded, totally agreeing with his friend.

"This all started with me wanting to help her but then something shifted, it wasn't just about the tattoo anymore. It was about wanting her to see how beautiful she was, I guess you could say it was one troubled soul meeting another. I could see the sadness in her eyes when we first met, it matched my own in a way. I know it seems crazy." Taehyung huffed out a laugh, fingers nervously drumming over the granite counter.

Jimin simply smiled, elbow on the counter and cheek resting over his open palm.

He didn't say anything, simply waited for his friend to continue.

"I met her just over three months ago now and we've only had two dates but Namjoon hyung said that when he met Jess he just knew, they're still together now so it's proof that a love like that can work."

Jimin felt his heart swell, abundantly happy that his friend was finally getting to experience a love like this.

"Taetae love has no rules, there isn't a set amount of time you need to know someone to feel love for them. It's unpredictable, it can be tumultuous one minute and blissful the next. I know it's not something I talk about much, always trying to convince myself I'm happy with my playboy lifestyle but I want it too Tae. I want to feel a love like Namjoon has with Jess and experience the fall like you're doing now with Y/N." Jimin sighed, eyes wistful.

"If anyone was to hear this conversation they would mock us." Taehyung chuckled.

Jimin screwed up his nose, tone defiant.

"Let them mock all they want. I don't see what's wrong with two guys wanting love, why shouldn't we long for it like women sometimes do? It's society today, having these opinions on how a man should act. I say fuck society and the sometimes ridiculous expectations, we can desire love too."

Taehyung chuckled, heart fond as he watched his friend gesticulate passionately.

The door suddenly opened as his missing friends stepped through, arms filled with bags and bottles of Soju.

"We got enough for tonight and tomorrow." Jungkook smirked as he walked through to the kitchen, setting his bag down.

"How was the date?" He added with a playful eyebrow raise, shoulder nudging Taehyung's as he sat beside him.

"The date was perfect, sorry I got home late."

Taehyung did feel guilty, first he missed breakfast and now the dinner he promised them.

"Oh don't you worry about that, we've still got a few more days to spend together." Hoseok smiled, opening his own bag and pulling out ingredients for their meal tomorrow.

"Did you get my message about the barbecue idea?" Jimin asked as he helped put everything away.

"I did, we managed to get everything you wanted." Hoseok paused, searching through the bags. "Yoongi baby, didn't you get the dessert?"

"I did, it's in one of the bags somewhere." Yoongi replied from his horizontal position on the couch.

"Yah! Get off your ass and come help, both of you!" Hoseok chastised Yoongi and Namjoon, the two lounging instead of helping.

Taehyung chuckled, watching with fond eyes and endless amounts of love.

Jimin was making room in Taehyung's cluttered fridge for all the meat, cursing when a jar of pickles fell and landed on his foot.

Hoseok was still shaking his head as Yoongi and Namjoon complained from the couch that their feet hurt from traipsing around the store.

Jungkook was still beside him, trusty tin out as he started to roll another joint.

"Ever ask yourself why we're friends with these idiots." Jungkook asked with a playful grin.

Taehyung simply smiled, he didn't need to reply really because Jungkook just like the rest of them already knew why.

Love.

It was then his eyes shifted to the picture sitting on a bookshelf adjacent.

It was times like these when he noticed Jin's absence the most.

It sometimes didn't seem right....didn't seem fair that they could be so carefree and happy.

Yet he knew if his brother could he would tell him to stop thinking....stop doubting and just live.

So he smiled, eyes wandering over the picture.

He still remembers the day it was taken, two months before Jin passed away.

Flashback.

"I don't see the point in this, it's stupid." Taehyung grumbled, heart heavy in his chest as he adjusted the camera and set the timer.

Jin rolled his eyes, patting the space beside him on the couch.

"It's a reminder Taetae." He smiled, arm slowly moving to rest behind Taehyung's shoulders.

"Reminder of what exactly?" Taehyung responded, forcing the tears back when Jin rested his temple against the crown of Taehyung's head.

"That I never stopped, no matter how difficult things got....I kept going until the very end."

Taehyung knew there was only so many seconds left until the timer counted down and camera took their picture so quickly he asked another question.

"Didn't stop what hyung?"

Jin simply smiled.

"Living."

The timer hit zero.

The picture was taken.

Jin with the biggest smile on his face.

Taehyung with his own.

End of flashback.

Taehyung ignored the lump in his throat, eyes misting over as he finally moved them away from the picture.

'You okay?'

Jimin silenty mouthed as the two finally locked gazes.

'I love you.' Taehyung mouthed back, suddenly feeling the need to let him know.

"I love you guys." He voiced this one out loud for all of them to hear.

Suddenly five bodies swarmed a startled Taehyung, lots of hugs and declarations of love returned.

Hoseok sniffled which started Jimin off, Taehyung wasn't too far behind when suddenly Yoongi spoke up.

"Is this a bad time to tell you guys I actually forgot the dessert."

The four laughed as they watched a furious Hoseok chase his boyfriend around the apartment.

"What were you thinking about before?" Jimin whispered as Taehyung rested his head against the others shoulder.

"To finally start doing something I've been denying for the longest time now."

"What would that be?"

"Living Chim.....living."

((Another update for Siren! I know you guys are also waiting for updates for different stories and they will eventually get one, just having a sudden surge of inspiration for Siren. I hope you guys liked this chapter, I'm sorry to say some angst will be in the next one but that's life. Hit that star button if you enjoyed and please let me know your thoughts. Love you guys))