The rose scented bath shared with Taehyung after Kiko's departure had somewhat helped Y/N to relax but the confession was still very much on her mind.

"Do you think I should call or at least message Ki tomorrow? Let her know that I'm here if she needs to talk?" Y/N had questioned as Taehyung gently ran his fingers through her wet hair, slowly massaging the coconut scented shampoo across her scalp.

"Baby she asked you to give her some space right? That she needed time to process everything so maybe hold off on contacting her....at least for now. I'm sure that when she's ready, when she's had time to think things through she will contact you herself." Taehyung soothed, gently guiding her back to rinse out the shampoo.

She knew Taehyung was right, that Ki had asked for space but she was worried about her friend.

Yes the confession had been totally unexpected and she was still trying to wrap her head around everything that had been said but Kiko was like family to her and she hoped they could figure this out....that Kiko was going to be okay.

"I know how much she means to you." Taehyung had said later that night, fingers slowly moving up and down her arms as the two lay in bed together. "I know you've been friends for a long time, that she helped you after the accident and stayed with you through recovery. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, it must be difficult."

Y/N settled herself back against Taehyung's chest, eyes closing as she allowed herself to be pampered.

It was true, Kiko was the one constant in her life and now she was going to be separated from that....it was a scary prospect and one she didn't really like to think too much about.

"I never noticed how she felt, all this time....all the years we've been friends and I never picked up on anything. I just feel so guilty, especially as all I've been doing lately is talking about you."

"People can bury things deep down, especially if it's something that scares them or that they're too afraid to face. I'm guessing Kiko just hid how she felt extremely well but everyone has a breaking point and maybe seeing you with me....seeing our relationship grow was the push she needed to finally tell you how she felt."

Taehyung was right, it was all too easy at times to hide how you truly feel.....she did so herself for weeks after the accident.

Trying to convince herself and others that she was okay, refusing to speak about the recurring nightmares and crippling depression.

Yet like Taehyung said, there was always a breaking point. For Kiko it was seeing her relationship with Taehyung blossom, for Y/N it was seeing how much her loved ones were suffering as she slowly allowed herself to waste away and become a shell of the person she used to be.

"Just give her time Tink, she will come around and the two of you will figure this out."

"I don't know what I did to deserve you Tae, you've been so understanding about this and not many people would be."

"I was angry at first, had a few choice words for her but.....she loves you and wanted to see if she had a chance before it was too late. I actually admire her for that, it takes guts to accept your own feelings and act on them. I'll be there too....when she's finally ready to see me again. I want her to know there's no hard feelings, that we can make this work."

Taehyung had been so understanding, allowing Y/N to talk about what happened without jealousy creeping up on him like it had earlier that night.

"I keep talking about Ki but.....how about you? Are you okay?" Y/N finally asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence.

"I'm much calmer, certainly not as angry and confused." He chuckled, fingers stilling over her shoulders. "I'm still feeling slightly possessive of you but that's understandable considering the circumstances.....a beautiful Japanese woman just tried to take my girl away." He teased, hoping it would ease the turmoil in Y/N's heart.

"You're such an idiot." Y/N giggled, mood lifting considerably.

"Your idiot though right?" Came his playful reply.

"Mine, definitely mine." Y/N whispered, heart racing as Taehyung placed kisses along her shoulder.

"How are you feeling about tomorrow? Having your tattoo done?"

"Excited, been waiting for this a long time."

"Me too Tink, me too."

~

Taehyung's frantic knocking against the bathroom door brings her hurtling back to the here and now, heart racing for an entirely different reason this time.

Last night Y/N was confident she had made the right decision regarding her tattoo, excited at the prospect of finally getting it done but the moment the two of them had arrived at Kim Ink something ugly started to claw at her chest.

"I'm okay Tae, just need a moment."

The knocking stops, she can make out some shuffling as Tae no doubt struggles to be separated from her as she's having this ridiculous mini meltdown.

"We don't have to do this today, especially if you're not ready....you know that right?"

"I want to do this.....just give me a few minutes and I'll be fine. I'm sorry Tae, it just hit me that this is actually happening and for some stupid reason I freaked out."

"And decided to lock yourself in the bathroom."

Y/N winced at Taehyung's stern tone, she didn't mean to startle him but the overwhelming panic she felt the moment they stepped through the door was unexpected and consuming.

So she kind of......bolted.

"I'm sorry Tae, I didn't mean to cause a scene."

"Baby....." Taehyung's tone was softer this time. "I know you didn't.....I'm just worried about you and don't want to force this especially if you're not ready."

"I'm ready Tae, please believe me when I say that. I'm just......scared."

Taehyung doesn't reply which she finds odd, the silence stretching out until it starts to make her feel uncomfortable.

Was he upset with her?

She did bolt the moment they entered Kim Ink, ignoring Taehyung's worried calls of her name as she raced through to the bathroom and locked herself inside.

He had every right to be mad.

"I'm sorry Tae, you're probably disappointed in me right now and I don't blame you. I just freaked out the moment we got here and I don't even know why.....we've come so far and I desperately want to have this tattoo done but it's a huge deal and it suddenly just hit me I guess." Y/N moved closer to the door, forehead resting against the wood as she waited for his reply.

Instead of a reply there was a knock, softer this time.

"I don't want you to see me like this Tae, just give me a few moments to calm down and then we can get started okay?"

"It's not Tae doll, it's your friendly neighbourhood Jungkookie with the biggest spliff you've ever seen.....so why don't you let me in?"

Y/N couldn't help but chuckle, hesitating a little before finally releasing the lock.

She really did need to calm down and maybe this was the perfect solution.

Seconds later the door swung back, Jungkook leaning against the frame with a smirk playing at his lips.

"So how about it? Want to get high with me and talk about what's troubling you?"

Y/N worries at her bottom lip, wondering where Tae went and if he was still upset with her.

"Tae is fine doll, don't worry your sweet little head over it okay? I just got here with Jimin and Joonie told us what happened, made my way back here and convinced Tae to let me have a moment with you...he wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea but he knows that I'm pretty skilled when it comes to helping people relax so what do you say? You want to join me?" Jungkook steps inside, trusty tin clutched in one hand.

"Yeah, sounds good." Y/N relents, lowering the lid of the toilet so she can sit down.

"So, you're trying to convince Tae you're just freaking out over the tattoo but I'm not buying it.....why don't you tell me the real reason you're hiding out in here." Jungkook leans back against the counter, perfectly rolled spliff dangling between his lips.

Was she that transparent?

"I just had this stupid thought......that maybe once the tattoo is done....that Tae might get bored of me." Y/N shakes her head, knowing full well how ludacris that sounds.

"This is the honeymoon stage of our relationship, everything is heightened you know? Like....what if once this stage is over, once the butterflies disappear he doesn't like me as much? God....I sound so tragic." Y/N laughs, taking the spliff from Jungkook after he takes the first drag.

"So that's why you wouldn't open the door for him, you were afraid to voice your concerns?" Jungkook hops up on the counter, inked fingers curling around the edge as his dark doe eyes soften in understanding.

Y/N gives a nod, taking a long drag.

"Listen doll, nothing about how you feel is tragic okay? It's perfectly understandable, especially after all the self doubt you've had in the past but you need to have some faith in Tae. I've known him most of my life, he wouldn't be here with you right now if he didn't truly want this to work between the two of you. I've seen how much he's changed since meeting you, it's like the old Tae.....the one from before Jin passed is coming back to us again and that's because of you Y/N." Jungkook pauses, taking the spliff back from Y/N once she's had her fill.

"Relationships aren't perfect, I'm not saying everything will be smooth sailing for you guys but you'll find a way to keep those butterflies alive doll....I'm sure of it. So stop hiding out here in the bathroom with a very hungover stoner and go take that next step in your recovery, sound good?" Jungkook cocks a brow playfully, relieved to see a smile pull at Y/N's lips.

"You know.....for a stoner you're not so bad, there's someone out there that's going to be incredibly lucky to have you Jungkook." Y/N places a kiss on his cheek as she passes.

Time to take that next step.

((OOF this took me ages to finish for some reason as I was trying to tap into Y/N's mindset and how she would be feeling now the day to get her tattoo has finally arrived. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! Next chapter will be the actual tattoo followed then by the art exhibition and then finally meeting Taehyung's parents. Are we ready? Do we think everything will be smooth sailing? 👀👀 what do we think of Y/N's breakdown in this chapter and of Jungkook's sudden appearance and advice? 💜💜))