Chaos.

Overwhelming Chaos.

That is exactly what Taehyung saw as he stared around the room in silence.

Sounds of laughter, shrieks of excitement and.... Just plain chaos.

Jungkook's parents had driven them from the airport straight to the grand villa they had leased for the vacation. Taehyung chuckled as he remembered thinking why a family would need such a big house.

Oh, what a fool he had been.

Just a family vacation, he had said.
Just getting to know everyone, he had said.
Nothing to worry about, he had said.

And like a complete idiot, he had believed it.

His parents were sweet. Great people, Taehyung had expected nothing less, judging from the fine man they had raised.

But then they had led him here.

And all hell had broken loose.

He swirled the contents of his glass around as he looked across the room at the star of this evening.

Though one might believe that it would be him since he was the new addition to this family, but Taehyung knew that people rarely, if ever, actually liked him. They had all tried, he had to give them that. But small talk and Taehyung didn't really mix. He was far too direct and blunt for it, most of them gave up after a few minutes. So here he sat, alone in his lounge chair, looking at the man who was surrounded by an extraordinary amount of people and yet seemed more relaxed and at ease than he had been on the flight with just him.

People flocked Jungkook, he realised. Not just his family, but people in general. He was funny, approachable and just a very good person. Unlike himself, Jungkook actually liked people and took the time to get to know them. The doorman of their building, the shrink, the cab driver this morning. Just about everyone he met, he befriended.

He stared as the younger laughed heartily at his cousin who almost slipped in her haste to reach him.

Taehyung was enamoured by how beautiful the guy truly was. The easy smiles, the pretty giggles and cute nose scrunching, were adorable and it came naturally to him, which made him even more appealing. The fact that he was smoking hot, was just a bonus.

He could overhear some of the conversation. Everyone was excited about his upcoming theatre debut. Tae now wished he had asked more about it when he had the chance. It was obviously an achievement. Though it wasn't really his scene, he knew that theatre in New York was a big deal. You had to be exceptionally good to get in and Jungkook was obviously exceptional, he had to be, he was good at everything.

"You okay?" Jungkook asked, breaking into his thoughts.

"I'm... Okay." Taehyung smiled. "It's a bit much but I'm holding on."

"Yeah, it can get a bit overwhelming sometimes." Jungkook said sheepishly. "Tell me if you get tired."

Taehyung nodded in agreement and sipped the last of the drink, looking longingly at the bar at the other side of the room. He'd have to walk through the whole crowd to get there. He'd rather walk through hot coals.

Jungkook seemed to notice his discomfort.

"I'll get you a refill." He offered, plucking the glass off Tae's fingers and quickly slipping through the throng of people.

"Thanks, bun!" Tae called after him.

"Why do you call him bun?"

Taehyung turned around to see a little girl standing next to his lounger, wearing a tiara.

Tae smiled and beckoned her close. She assessed him for a moment before climbing up his legs and settling onto his lap.

"Hi!" Taehyung cooed at her. "Aren't you the prettiest princess in the world?"

"Uh-huh" she nodded and giggled happily.

Jungkook returned with his drink. He smiled at the girl in his lap. "Your Majesty." He bowed with a flourish, making her giggle again.

"Bun, do you think this beautiful princess would keep me as her knight?" Tae asked him.

"Why do you call Unca J, bun?" The girl asked again before Jungkook could answer.

The niece, Tae figured as he scratched his brain to remember her name.

"It's a nickname, sweetheart. Short for bunny." Tae answered her, looking at Jungkook who was staring at him curiously.

Didn't he know?

"Why bunny?" She continued.

"He looks like one when he smiles, don't you think? And he's just as cute." Taehyung answered, still not leaving his gaze.

Tae watched as Jungkook's eyes widened in surprise and then softened before his gaze shifted to Taehyung's mouth and for the briefest moment, he looked like he wanted to kiss him. Maybe he would have, if they were truly together, he would have and Taehyung gobbled up the feeling like a man starving, his lips parting in anticipation. He swallowed as Jungkook leaned the slightest bit closer.

"I don't know." The girl said, breaking the spell.

They both looked at her, startled as if they had forgotten she was there.

Jungkook quickly stepped away and threw him a panicked look. The fear and pain evident in his eyes before he blinked and turned to the child in Tae's lap.

He cleared his throat and held out his hand to her. "Come on, Hari-ya. Let's go find your mommy."

The girl nodded and jumped off his lap. "Bub-bye" she waved.

Tae's stomach felt like it was filled with lead and he barely managed to wave back.

What could have caused him to look like that?

One moment his gaze was hot enough to set the house ablaze and the next he looked like he had seen a ghost.

He looked at Jungkook who was speaking to his sister in law. He didn't look so bright anymore, the smile didn't reach his eyes, his posture was rigid, his fists clenched.

Had he missed something?

Said something wrong?

Did he not like being called a bunny?

Or maybe it was the cute part he disagreed with?

He had been calling him 'bun' for over a week now, it had never seemed like it bothered him. Had he just understood what it meant? But hadn't it been obvious?

He watched the younger sit at the bar, his shoulders hunched like he was carrying a burden on them. He looked so desolate, Tae debated whether to walk up to him and join him there.

When he slumped down and lightly banged his head on the bar table, it took every thing in Tae to stay where he was, every single bone in his body was screaming at him to go to him, comfort him, apologise, grovel if needed. But he held back. He didn't know what he had done and he didn't want to make it worse, so he stayed where he was, staring at his back, willing him to turn around, hoping that he would forgive him.

~~~~~~~

Jungkook banged his head on the bar table again, like that was going to help with the massive migraine he could feel coming on.

Usually, meeting people and having fun was something he enjoyed. But doing so, while the only man you've crushed on your entire life, studied you, was definitely not his idea of 'fun'.

Add that to the fact that the same man had been calling him 'bun' because he thought it was short for a cute bunny, had his insides melting to the point that he had completely forgotten his niece and was about to let his intrusive thoughts win.

He banged his head again as he remembered how close he had been to throwing all caution to the wind and kissing him in that moment.

He had suspected that "bun" was something along the lines of bunny but he had expected it to be something more sinister. He had been surprised by the look in the older's eyes when he had called him cute. Yet, that was no excuse for the way he had reacted to it.

He thanked the Gods, and the universe and every higher power that had intervened in that moment before he had done something irrevocably stupid.

Jungkook was sure Taehyung had noticed the hungry way he had stared at his mouth. He was surely creeped out again. Who wouldn't be? He had a child on his lap for God's sake! And there he was, salivating over them, like some predator. Anyone would be creeped out.

He was such an idiot.

He felt like crying, why was this so hard?

Every single time he thought that things were getting better between them, he just had to ruin it.

They were barely getting through last week. Even though Tae had been acting weird and being more "interested" than ever before, Jungkook knew better than to trust him.

He could flip faster than a switch. He had done it before, he could definitely do it again. And back there, just a few minutes ago, had been a very close call. Taehyung was not one to mince words. He would have ripped Jungkook's throat out, right there in front of his entire family.

He let out a shuddering sigh.

He should just accept that he was a lost cause and give up. A guy like Kim Taehyung would never settle for a nobody like him.

He needed to move on.

He just didn't know how.

He let out a low moan and banged his head again.

This was all such a mistake. He should've simply agreed to the divorce. Taehyung was straight for goodness sake. He wasn't suddenly going to have an awakening at the age of 25.

Why had he set himself up for pain like that?

Was it really worth it?

"Honey, I am kinda tipsy and really tired. Can we go to our room?" Taehyung asked sharply.

Jungkook whipped around to see him standing with a few of his cousins who were coercing him to join them for a game.

"Jungkookie, it's barely 11. Tell your new husband it's a tradition for us." Soobin whined.

Jungkook gulped as he saw the hard look in Taehyung's eyes. There was no way that he'd agree to it, but Jungkook had to try. Soobin was right, it was tradition.

"Uhm... W-we play games after the adults-"

"And the little ones" Another cousin added.

"-go to bed." Jungkook explained. "J-just some Pictionary and stuff." He hastily added.

"We are adults." Taehyung said pointedly.

"No, silly. Adults meaning, our parents." Soobin injected.

"I don't think I-" Tae started.

"Please?" Jungkook asked softly.

Taehyung froze and stared. He seemed to be dazed for a moment before he agreed with a soft sigh.

Jungkook was elated. He didn't want his family to know the truth about their marriage. This way he could ease Tae into what to expect for the rest of the week.

He felt all the earlier tension leave his body and without much thought, he grabbed Taehyung's hand and pulled him along to the center of the room to join the rest of the youngsters.

Taehyung walked half heartedly behind Jungkook, staring at the back of his head, his hand clasped tightly in the younger's. He was trying very hard to ignore the tingles forming on his palm, shooting up his arm and down his spine. It was the first time in many days that Jungkook had initiated any form of physical contact. He could hardly believe that something as simple as holding hands was causing such a reaction in him.

He saw Jungkook heading to the centre of the room, where so many of his cousins were already gathered and he knew he was going to regret this.

He knew he had always been a sucker for Jungkook's eyes, big and bright as they were. But being faced with those pleading, puppy dog eyes was something he wasn't prepared for. It had hit him right in the chest, straight in the feels and he had found himself agreeing before he could even think.

Was there anything he wouldn't do or give up for those gorgeous eyes?

No. No, there wasn't. He'd move mountains and change the weather if Jungkook asked for it with those eyes.

Jungkook stopped and turned around to grin at him.

Tae swallowed loudly.

If there was any lingering doubt in his mind about the way he felt for the man in front of him, it was wiped clean.

He sighed.

Jungkook's eyes lit up as the rest of the cousins rejoiced.

And Taehyung knew he had made the right choice. Whatever erased that despair from his eyes, Tae would do without hesitation.

And holding his hand in his like this, if Jungkook led him over a cliff, he knew now, he would happily step...

Right off the edge.

~~~~~~~~~~

A/n:
I have no excuses for how late this update is.

Forgive me if you can. 🙈

Disclaimers:

Names of teams / mascots / universities/ schools / education institutions have been used only to make the story more authentic. There is no malicious intent behind the usage of the name, neither do my books depict or reflect anything that is even remotely real about these institutions except their names. I hold all educational institutions and providers in the highest regard. Hence no offence or malice is intended.

Any and all characters in this book are fictional, any resemblance to anyone dead or alive is purely coincidental.

Pictures/Audio/Video/Song/Lyrics Credit goes to the original source/artist/owner.

No malice or offence is intended to any race, religion or sexual orientation.

I donot promote shipping of any members in real life.

🔞 This book is meant for mature audiences only 🔞

BTS and its members belong to themselves and Bighit/Hybe. They do not belong to me. Their names and characteristics are used only for entertainment purposes.

Kim Mingyu of Seventeen doesn't belong to me either.