Update:2/2

~~~~~~~~~~

It was sweltering hot.

Jungkook felt like he was hugging the furnace and melting from the heat.

He tried to turn away from the furnace but it was glued to him. The more he tried to push it away the harder it held on.

A low whine came from the furnace as it surrounded him and Jungkook froze.

Furnaces don't whine, do they?

He opened his eyes to the blinding morning light and blinked. The furnace made another whiny sound. Jungkook's head snapped down to see Taehyung wrapped around him like a burrito.

"What the fuck?" Jungkook exclaimed, kicking off the covers and pulling away.

Taehyung made a low sound of protest and tried to hold on to Jungkook but released him when he got elbowed on his chin.

"Oww!" He cried, rubbing his jaw.

"What the hell are you doing in my bed?" Jungkook scolded.

"It got cold." Tae whined "and it was very uncomfortable and the bed looked warm and inviting."

Jungkook made an irritated sound at the back of his throat and stomped off to the bathroom.

Tae stretched out on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He had debated with himself for barely three minutes before sneaking into Jungkook's bed.

It was just too good an opportunity to pass up. He had just laid his head on the pillow and the next moment, he had been snuggled against a warm body. Jungkook had pulled him close and even laid a soft kiss on his shoulder. Tae had panicked for a moment before he heard the soft snores resume and he realised that the younger had reached for him in his sleep.

And though every single nerve in his body had lit up like a Christmas tree, he had been so warm and comfortable that it took less than a few seconds for him to drift off.

A loud banging on their door shocked Tae out of his blissful state.
"Wake up, lovebirds! We are going to the beach!"

Tae recognised Beomgyu's voice and smiled. Jungkook's younger cousins were a handful for sure but they were seriously endearing and very, very cute.

"Yeah! Beach baby!!" Soobin's voice echoed through the house.

Taehyung rolled off the bed just as Jungkook came out of the shower, a towel slung low on his hips. He ignored the older and went over to the dresser to pull out his clothes so he could get ready for the day.

"The kids are planning to go to the beach today." Taehyung said, trying to break the ice.

Jungkook made a non committal sound and continued to get dressed. Taehyung sighed and went into the shower to get cleaned up.

He came down the stairs and saw the Jeons all huddled around the table, bustling with energy and radiating joy.

"Hyung!" Beomgyu called, grabbing his arm and getting him to sit at the table. How he had managed to find a space was a mystery. Before Tae could even blink there was a plate full of food in front of him.

Taehyung's stomach grumbled with hunger and he dug in with a single minded focus.

"Fuel up." Soobin joked. "Kookie hyung must've drained you last night."

There were muffled sniggers around the table until Jungkook smacked Soobin on his head.

"What?" Taehyung asked with his mouth stuffed full of food.

"Nothing. You enjoy your breakfast, honey. Ignore these idiots." Mrs. Jeon said kindly as she ruffled his hair. "Hope you slept well?"

Another round of sniggering followed her question.

"Yes, thank you." Tae answered with a smile. "The bed was very comfortable."

"I doubt they used it to sleep much." Yeonjun commented, making the table erupt into loud giggles.

Jungkook reached over and smacked him too.

"That's enough." Mrs. Jeon announced. "Finish up or we can't have a picnic on the beach."

"Beach!"

"Beach!"

"Beach!"

The boys chanted as they scarfed down the food.

The beach was barely a few minutes walk away. Taehyung hadn't really noticed when they had arrived at the Villa the family had hired for this vacation. He could hear the waves hitting the rocks on the cliff nearby.

When they arrived, the older generation quickly set about laying down the sheets and the baskets while the kids all ran to the water.

Jungkook sat down under one of the umbrellas and watched as Tae got splashed by his cousins. He smiled involuntarily as Tae was tackled into the oncoming waves, his laughter echoing off the cliff's rocks. The sound husky and deep, settled deep into his chest. Tae barely ever let go or relaxed enough to laugh like that, carefree and happy. It warmed Jungkook's heart.

"He looks like he's having the time of his life, doesn't he?" Junghyung asked, sitting down beside him.

Jungkook nodded, not taking his eyes off him. "It's good to see him so happy."

"He's not happy with you?" Junghyung enquired.

Jungkook swallowed, it had just slipped out and his brother was smart enough to catch it. So he ignored the question and looked the other way.

"Jungkookie." Junghyung called. "Look at me."

Jungkook bit his lip and slowly turned to face his older brother.

"You can tell me, dongsaeng. Hyung will help you." Junghyung assured.

"I don't know, hyung. It's all too complicated." Jungkook answered.

"Complicated... like how you suddenly went to Vegas for your best friend's wedding and returned with a husband of your own?" Junghyung asked, side eyeing him.

Busted.

"Or maybe... the complication is how it is the same guy whose pictures and newspaper clippings have decorated the walls of your room back home." Junghyung added, lying back on the sheet with his hands pillowing the back of his head.

Jungkook was speechless. He didn't think anyone other than his eomma had noticed the resemblance.

"Or maybe the complication is that, that man right there, is 100% straight?" Jyunghyung hit the final nail right on its head.

Jungkook's mouth hung open.

"You might think your hyung is too busy to know what you're up to, but let me assure you little dongsaeng, that is not the case." Junghyung smirked. "We are far too open in our family - accepting of everyone's orientation - for us to not notice when someone is faking it."

"I am sorry, hyung." Jungkook hung his head. "Please don't tell Eomma and Appa. It would hurt them."

"Wasn't planning on it." Jyunhyung shrugged. "What you do is your business. But I don't want you to get hurt and judging by the way you look at him, you are far too involved already."

"I-I... It's just...."

"Complicated." Jyunghyung finished for him.

"Yes." Jungkook replied in a small voice.

"They call him The Tiger at Cambridge, right?" Jyunghyung asked looking at Taehyung now carrying a screaming Minji, deeper into the water.

"Yes."

"Well, you know what they say about tigers." Jyunghyung asked looking back at Jungkook.

"That they can never be tamed?" Jungkook asked.

"That too, yes. But most importantly, A tiger doesn't change his stripes, Jungkook-ah." With that Jyunghyung got up and dusted himself. "Guard your heart, koo. That's all I'm saying." He walked towards the water as Tae walked out.

"Why are you sitting out here alone?" Tae asked as he approached Jungkook. "Come on! The water's awesome. Can we get some surf boards?" Taehyung asked looking around.

Jungkook got off the sheet and waved to Yeonjun who came running. "Yes hyung?" He asked panting.

"Help him find some surfboards." Jungkook said walking away.

"Where are you going?" Tae asked, rushing behind him.

"Just taking a hike." Jungkook shrugged, walking away.

"Wait!" Tae scrambled behind him. "I'm coming with you."

"You don't have to." Jungkook tried to stop him.

"I want to, bun." Taehyung replied earnestly.

Jungkook shrugged again and continued up on the trail. Tae kept pace with him with ease.

They climbed in silence for a while before Taehyung couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm sorry for sneaking into the bed last night. In my defence, it really did get cold." Taehyung said.

"You could have just grabbed a blanket." Jungkook replied skipping over a few loose branches.

"It wouldn't have been as warm as you. Besides, I didn't hear you complaining in the night, in fact,  I distinctly remember you pulling me closer." Tae said with his tongue firmly tucked into his cheek, barely holding back his grin.

"What?" Jungkook spun around to stare at him.

"Uh-huh." He nodded "Might've planted a kiss right here too." Tae tapped his own shoulder lightly.

"I... I..."

He laughed watching the younger sputter to find an explanation.

"Don't worry. I didn't say I minded." Tae winked, "Maybe even liked it a little bit." He whispered in his ear and then walked ahead after giving Jungkook a light tap on his back.

He heard Jungkook follow him closely but didn't turn around to look. He wanted him to fester in his thoughts for a while. It was fun to watch him squirm.

"The game season's starting right after we get back." Jungkook said after a while and Tae recognised it for the white flag it was.

He smiled. "Yeah. We're opening against Dartmouth's Big Greens." He climbed up over the last few feet and on to the flat surface above. "Who are you going to play first?" He asked.

"Princeton" Jungkook huffed as he climbed up too.

"Woah. That's going to be a tough one." Tae said as they walked beside each other.

The light breeze was blowing the grass and it was so beautifully peaceful. Tae could hear the waves crashing nearby. He had avoided looking down as they climbed up because he didn't want to appear weak. He had always been afraid of heights and being so high up on the cliff would leave him paralysed if he were to look down, so he stared at the clear skies, the pretty flowers and the dancing grass blades.

"Not for my team. We are ready." Jungkook said with conviction. "We are taking the cup this season."

"It's good to dream." Tae shrugged.

"Oh, I have dreamt long enough." Jungkook had walked right to the edge of the cliff face and was looking down.

Tae could feel sweat trickling down his back. He wanted to grab Jungkook and pull him away from the edge. He was still far enough away to not see the bottom, yet he could feel the wave of nausea coming on.

"You are forgetting your biggest rival, aren't you? Snatched the cup right from under your nose last time, didn't we?" Tae smirked, trying hard to hide how uncomfortable he was. The wind felt like it was howling in his ears, leaving his mind in a puddle.

He wanted to ask Jungkook to get back from the edge before he broke down completely and threw up. He really shouldn't have come up here.

"We have trained hard this year. We are better. So yeah. We are taking the cup this time, right out of your hands."  Jungkook was still looking down at the water below.

"Like I'm going to let a fag put his hands on my cup." Tae scoffed.

Jungkook spun around to stare at him and Tae realised what he had just said.

Damn the foot in mouth disease.

His mind wasn't clear. He was sweating profusely, his phobia getting the better of him.

"Bun, I didn't mean-"

"Save it, Kim. Your mood swings are giving me a whiplash." Jungkook cut him off.

He continued before Tae could speak.
"You know. Just for a second I thought... no I hoped... I hoped you would see me the way I see you. Not right now but someday." Jungkook stepped closer to the edge and Taehyung's throat seized.

"Fool's dream, I realise that now. You will never change your stripes." Jungkook's voice shook.

"B-bun" Tae extended his hand. He needed Jungkook to step away from the edge or he was going to pass out.

"Fuck you, Kim Taehyung." Jungkook said as he jumped off the edge.

Taehyung's vision blurred.

What the fuck had just happened?

Taehyung ran on wobbly feet towards the cliff edge. "Jungkook-ah??!!!" He called.

He still couldn't bring himself to go over to the edge. He fell to the ground and crawled over to edge looking down. The water seemed to rise and fall. The roaring in his ears got louder and louder.

No sign of the man he was looking for. Just water far, far, far down below.

"BUN!!!???" He screamed.

Why would he do that?

Who the fuck jumps off a fucking cliff?

His head was spinning so fast he couldn't think straight. "Help!" He called weakly. "Bun?"

Taehyung closed his eyes and took a breath through his mouth. He opened his eyes again, but he didn't see him.

He stood up, his knees shaking as his fear rose again. There wasn't much time. Every second he spent quivering in fear up here could be a moment that Jungkook was struggling to breathe down there. It was that thought and nothing else that could give him the strength to do what he had to.

Jungkook was in danger.

He closed his eyes again and felt the air whoosh past him. He had done it then, he had managed to conquer his fear, he had stepped off the edge. He opened his eyes and saw his feet approaching the water in slow motion. The edges of his vision seemed to darken and move out of focus.

His body hit the cold water, hard. It was like a million knives were piercing his skin, he struggled to keep conscious. It was so dark, he didn't know which way was up anymore.

He tried to look for him, the one he had taken this leap for. But his lungs were burning, his thoughts garbled and his heartbeat achingly slow.

He couldn't go on any longer. He couldn't remember what he wanted to do. The darkness was closing in.. it was easy... peaceful.

Maybe could rest in it? Just for a moment.

Wouldn't hurt anyone, would it? He thought as the cold darkness closed around him.

He felt a tight grip on his arm and felt it yank him up. He sputtered as his head broke the surface of the water and greedily took in large gulps of the salty air and coughed. The hand gripping his arm dragged him towards the beach, he couldn't see who it was over the splashing water. His eyes were itchy and burning too which didn't help much with his vision either.

Once they hit the land the hand wrapped around him and carried him out, dumping him unceremoniously in the sand.

"Are you out of your fucking mind, Kim?" Jungkook asked, leaning over him.

"Bun?" Tae asked squinting up into the sun and rubbing the sand out of his eyes.

Jungkook's face came into focus, his wide eyes frantic.

"You're alive." Tae said stupidly.

"Of course I am, dumbass." Jungkook admonished. "Who the hell steps off a cliff like that? You could have hit a rock or something that close to the edge."

"You did it first" Tae said in a small voice "I thought you had drown-"

"I jumped." Jungkook corrected. "Jumped, Tae. Far enough away that it was safe. Haven't you ever been cliff diving before?"

Taehyung shook his head mutely.

"You could've fucking died, you know?" Jungkook shook his shoulders.

"I think I almost did." Tae whispered.

"What?" Jungkook asked angrily.

"My throat hurts." Tae said instead, his hand involuntarily rubbing his neck.

"Aish!" Jungkook swore picking him up and carrying him to the family. "Pabo."

He lay him down on the sheets and let the grown ups fuss over him, walking away towards the sea.

He needed a moment to calm his erratic heartbeat. His hands were still shaking from fear.

He had jumped and swam to the beach only to look back over to the cliff to see that idiot step off it like he would off a stair in his house.

When he had seen Tae step off the cliff like that.... he couldn't put into words what he went through in that moment.

He swam as hard and as fast as he could towards the spot he had seen Tae fall in. But the current was too strong. He had prayed to anyone and everyone who would listen while frantically searching for him, his heart trying to beat out of his chest the whole time, until he had seen the last bubble of air breaking the surface.

He had almost cried in relief when he caught his arm and dragged him out.

He turned back to look at him sitting up on the sheets as his mother rubbed his hair with a towel and his aunt slung another dry one over his shoulders. They cooed in unison, offering words of love and comfort. Tae sat there in silence staring at him, unblinking and drained.

"We should go back." He said to his mother, who was still fussing over a stony Taehyung.

"Yes. A good warm bath and some of my kombucha would make you feel better in no time, Taehyungie. Let's get you home, son. Come on." Mrs Jeon offered kindly.

Tae looked at her tearfully. "Thank you."

"Aww you poor boy." She hugged him. "Gave us all quite a fright."

"I am sorry." Tae mumbled against her shoulder.

"It's okay, sweetie. Let's go." She tugged on his arm and helped him stand.

Jungkook stepped up and held his waist as he wobbled.

"I'm okay." He managed and Jungkook let go, walking ahead.

~~~~~~~~

Taehyung sat down on the sofa.

He'd had a warm bath, sipped on hot komubucha and taken a long nap. He was feeling as good as new. The same couldn't be said for his mental state however. Because the cause of this condition of his, had disappeared the moment he had set foot in the house.

He saw him now, sitting quietly on a chair in the corner of the living room, staring down at the pint of beer in his hand.

He had almost lost him. After saying something completely moronic too. Imagine losing someone and the last thing you ever did was call them a fag. He was such an ass sometimes, he amazed himself.

He had to find a way to apologise.

If only Jungkook would look at him.

"Truth or dare!!" Beomgyu announced, breaking the silence.

The kids all gathered around the centre table. They even managed to drag Jungkook who was still avoiding his gaze.

"Let's start!" Yeonjun said spinning the bottle. It landed on Soobin.

"Dare!" He claimed.

"Go spill water on your parents' bed." Yeonjun dared.

"Bro, they'd kill me." Soobin whined.

"Pussy!!!!" The rest booed.

Soobin made a face and picked up a jar of water. "See you at my funeral." He said as he headed to the bedroom. Minji followed him to make sure he completed his task.

A few minutes later muffled shouts and screams echoed through the house and Minji raced down the stairs imitating a sliced throat with her hands and a big grin on her face.

Yeonjun giggled "He's so dead." He spun again.

The bottle pointed at Minji.

"I was going to say dare but I'm too chicken now, so truth." She said.

"Did you make out with Beomgyu's friend who came over last year?" Hanni asked.

Minji covered her face and nodded. A round of catcalls and hooting followed.

She spun the bottle and it landed on Tae.

"Dare." He said looking Jungkook dead in the eyes.

"I dare you to give Jungkook oppa a lap dance." Minji winked.

Taehyung laughed. "Are you serious? You call that a dare?"

"Yeah, Minji you idiot. That's probably an average Saturday night thing for them. They're married." Yeonjun cried. "What a waste of a good dare."

Taehyung laughed again. This was his chance to break the ice.

"Music." He ordered, standing up and walking over to Jungkook who stared blankly at him.

He swung his hips to the music and danced with exaggerated movements that had every one breaking into fits of laughter. Even Jungkook cracked a small smile.

He bowed to the crowd with a flourish.

"That was hardly a lap dance but we'll give you a pass." Minji said, wiping the tears of laughter out from her eyes.

Tae laughed as he sat down and spun the empty bottle, landing on Jungkook.

"Truth."

"A secret that no one knows." Tae asked.

"I hoped for a miracle. Got the truth smacked into my face instead. There's not much you can do when someone hates you so much." Jungkook said, his gaze locked with Taehyung's.

"That's more like a riddle...." Yeonjun's voice sounded like it was coming from far away.

Taehyung couldn't concentrate. He felt like his mind had left his body behind and floated away. Everything seemed dull and hollow.

Hate.

Jungkook thought he hated him.

Maybe he had believed he had, once. It felt like eons ago. They had come so far, learned so much. Yet, that is what Jungkook still believed he felt.

The rest of the night was a blur of words and movements around him. He couldn't remember a thing.

He had somehow managed to climb up the stairs to their bedroom and gotten in bed. Maybe even fallen asleep for a while.

He stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts a garbled mess.

He remembered staring over the cliff to look for Jungkook and his breathing picked up. His hands felt clammy and his throat parched. He sat up and stared around the room in the darkness to look for the familiar silhouette of his husband, only to find it missing.

Jungkook hadn't come to bed.

He threw off the sheets and went down the stairs barefoot. The living room was empty so he headed to the kitchen to grab some water.

He saw Jungkook standing at the counter, suckling on the remainder of what looked like an ice lolly.

"What are you doing up? I thought you were sleeping." Jungkook asked as he spotted him.

"I got thirsty." Tae answered. "Why aren't you in bed?" He filled a glass at the sink and gulped down a few sips.

"I'll just sleep down here in the living room. You should rest." Jungkook said, dumping the stick in the trash and walking past Tae.

"Not so fast." Tae blocked his path.

"What?" Jungkook frowned.

"Explain what you said earlier." Tae probed. His arm blocking the way.

"What did I say?" He asked calmly.

"That you think that I hate you?" Tae reminded.

"Think? Your words and actions have made it plenty clear that you do." Jungkook shrugged.

Tae stepped closer, his eyes narrowed in anger. "You really think I hate you?"

"I know you do." Jungkook repeated. "You called me a fag just a little while ago, remember?"

"I say a lot of stupid things I don't mean, Bun. You should know that about me by now. I was also trying to distract you from the fact that I was almost about to throw up." Taehyung explained. "I'm sorry, I still should not have said that."

"Yeah, right." Jungkook scoffed.

Taehyung closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Did you know that I am afraid of heights?" He asked softly. "Terrified actually."

Jungkook stared at him without interrupting.

Taehyung stepped even closer. Their chests almost touching. He could smell Jungkook's mouth watering scent so up close.

"I almost fainted when you were walking close to the edge." He explained.

So close now, their breaths mingled.

"Yet, I stepped off that cliff today." Taehyung said as his eyes roamed Jungkook's face as if memorising every line and curve.

"Almost killed myself." He whispered. "Because I thought you had drowned. I did it for you." His fingers trailed up Jungkook's tattooed arm. "Just you."

Jungkook gulped.

"Would I do that for someone I hate?" Tae asked angling his head and staring at the tinkling ring and those lush lips.

They parted longingly under his gaze.

When Jungkook remained silent he bent closer still.

"No." He breathed. "I wouldn't." He answered himself. "I'd only ever do it for you." Tae said as he crushed his lips to Jungkook's.

Though Jungkook froze in shock at first, he melted under the onslaught of sensations that flooded him.

Their lips moved in a frenzied rhythm, like they had missed each other for far too long. Tae lightly bit his lower lip demanding entrance.

Jungkook's lips parted in surrender.

His heart thudding loudly in his chest, seemed to match that of the man in his arms.

Taehyung's tongue entered his mouth, caressing his own and Jungkook was lost. His hands roamed down his shoulders over his back, grabbing his waist, they pulled him closer.

Kim Taehyung was kissing him.

Of his own free will.

Sober.

Kissing.

Him.

Jeon Jungkook.

Was he dreaming again?

But it felt real.

He squeezed the rounded ass in his hand and earned a desperate moan in return.

Yup! Definitely real.

Taehyung was everywhere. His fingers were weaving themselves in Jungkook's hair while his tongue explored his mouth. It was driving him wild.

Jungkook pushed him back against the fridge and devoured his mouth. His hands pulled up his t-shirt and snuck underneath to stroke his smooth skin. They roamed over his bare torso before sliding around his waist and up his back, causing the elder to almost melt under his ministrations.

He wanted so much more and Tae was so deliciously pliant in his arms. He was so hard he was sure he would tear through his boxers before long.

He pulled Tae closer and ground into him, when their dicks brushed through their clothes, Taehyung gasped, his eyes wide.

"So gorgeous." Jungkook murmured as he took his lips again, grinding hard into him.

"Yah!! Get a room you two!" Hanni exclaimed breaking the spell.

They sprang apart, panting and shaking.

"Out!" She admonished again, making them scarper out of the kitchen.

They ran up the steps to their room giggling all the way, like teenagers who were caught making out.

The making out part was right though, Jungkook thought with a laugh.

He had been making out with Kim Taehyung.

In the kitchen.

With his parents sleeping under the same roof!

It was too weird to be real.

But the hand he was holding in his, was definitely real. So were the husky giggles that were following close behind him as he flew up the stairs.

He ran into their room and heard the click of the door behind him.

He turned to look at Taehyung with trepidation. Everything going forward depended on how he would react now.

Would he back off?
Blame Jungkook again?
Be disgusted once he realised what they had done?

Jungkook's eyes searched his and he saw Taehyung standing with his back pressed against the door with a sly smile on his lips.

"Where were we?" Taehyung asked reaching for him again and Jungkook's heart soared.

This was actually happening!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you hate me for stopping here?

😈

I still love you though.
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See you in the next chapter. 😄

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.

TXT & New Jeans members don't belong to me either.