"Are you sure you'll be alright?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

Taehyung nods as Namjoon walks to the kitchen to get himself some water.

"I'm not that drunk actually." The older chuckles. "Can I get you anything?"

"No, thanks. I should probably go." The younger says checking the time. He wasn't in any rush to see Jeongguk but he knew he couldn't avoid him forever.

"I wish you'd stay," Namjoon says walking from the kitchen. "It's like we never hang out since you moved in with Jeongguk."

"I know." Taehyung pouts. It did seem like they were both always busy. "Fine. I'll stay for a little while. But then I really have to go."

"Okay." The older smiles happily before walking back to the kitchen. "Sit down. I'm getting food."

"Are we watching a movie or what?" The brunette asks grabbing the remote. "You know I pick the best movies."

"No. I wanna talk." Namjoon calls from the kitchen. "I have to finish telling you what I was saying earlier."

"Right. I almost forgot about that." Taehyung says turning to the music channel on the tv. "I'm dying to know who your next victim is, Joon."

"Victim?" The older asks returning from the kitchen with chips and drinks.

"Yes." The brunette says patting the spot next to him. "Who's the latest victim of your charm?"

Namjoon laughs as he sits down. "You still like honey butter right?"

"Yes, I love honey butter," Taehyung says taking the bowl from him. "Now go ahead and spill all the details."

"Okay. I'm gonna try not to screw this up." The older says taking the remote and turning the tv down a little. "So, you do know this person. Keep that in mind."

"Mhm." The brunette nods making a mental note. "How long have I know them?"

"Your entire life," Namjoon says, laughing at Taehyung's expression.

"Don't tell me you have a crush on my brother, Namjoon." The younger frowns.

"Just listen." The older says before continuing. "I've known them for almost six years now. We first met in high school. I was in my last year they were in their second."

Taehyung tries to think of the people he went to high school with that Namjoon could potentially be interested in but no one came to mind.

"I kinda always knew I liked them. From the first time we met I felt more for them than any friend would." Namjoon continues with a fond smile on his face. "I wanted to tell them but before I worked up enough courage someone new came into my life."

"Jimin?" Taehyung asks as he pops another chip into his mouth.

"Yeah. And I really liked him, y'know? I really thought we were good for each other." The older says. Sighing as he briefly reminisces about the good times spent with Jimin. "There were times when I actually thought I loved him. But whenever I would try to take that next step he'd always become distant. Or he'd disregard me."

Taehyung pouts in sympathy for Namjoon. It wasn't fair to him that Jimin treated him that way.

"But I think the real reason it never worked was because Jimin knew about the other person," Namjoon says. "He knew that I had feelings for someone else. And I did because my feelings for this person never went away fully. And it didn't help that I saw them every day. And I was constantly reminded of how beautiful they were. And how funny and smart they were."

It makes Taehyung smile a little to hear Namjoon talk about someone he cared about this way. It was a side of his friend that he rarely saw.

"I wanted things to work out with Jimin so much because I knew that I'd never get over my feelings if I didn't move on." The older continues. "But after years of trying, I think I'm just ready to accept my feelings. Because so much has changed in this person's life and I feel like if I don't confess now it'll be too late. I'll lose any chance of having a place in their heart. If I have any, y'know?"

Taehyung nods for Namjoon to continue.

"I know that on top of everything going on in their life they don't need to lose a friendship. Or two for that matter." He says looking at Taehyung with an unreadable expression. "That's why I was so afraid to do this. Because I don't want you to react badly and I don't want to ruin things between us. Or you and Jimin~"

"Namjoon~" Taehyung starts when everything clicks in his head. He doesn't know how he should react but he already feels tears pricking his eyes.

"I don't want this to mess anything up, Tae. But I'm so tired of running away from my feelings." Namjoon tries to explain quickly as Taehyung sits the bowl of chips on the coffee table.

"Please, Namjoon." The brunette says, but he isn't sure what he's saying. So many things are running through his head right now. Not once did he ever think Namjoon liked him as more than a friend. "You're my best friend~"

"I know. You're my best friend too." The older says. "And that doesn't have to change. I know you better than anyone, Tae. And you know me. We understand each other on different levels."

"You can't do this," Taehyung says as tears start to form in his eyes. He didn't know why he was so upset. He was just extremely caught off guard.

"I didn't want to upset you," Namjoon says watching the younger wipe his tears. "I know it's a lot to take in. And I don't expect you to say anything right now if you can't."

"I think I should leave." The brunette says grabbing his phone and his keys from the coffee table.

"Tae~"

"This complicates things, Namjoon. Whether you want it to or not." Taehyung says standing. His frustration coming across as anger. "What did you expect me to say?"

"I don't know." The older says standing with him. "I needed to tell you, Tae."

Taehyung shakes his head. Glancing up at the ceiling as he tries to control his emotions. "I'm sorry, I can't right now. I just...I need time. Or space. Or time and space. To think. I can't think right now."

"I understand." Namjoon nods. "That's fine."

"I have to go," Taehyung says before rushing out of the apartment in tears. His head starting to ache as he thinks back to when he first met Namjoon.

He never suspected that he had a thing for him and it was just so inconvenient at the moment. It made everything so messy for him.

Now he had to go home and face Jeongguk.

Who was also about to make things much more complicated.

~~

Jeongguk sits in the living room nursing his third drink when Taehyung finally walks through the door. He brings the glass to his lips and finishes it before standing.

"Where were you?" He asks as Taehyung shuts the door behind himself. Crossing his arms and waiting for an answer.

"I don't want to talk." The brunette says walking past him without meeting his eyes.

"Come on, Taehyung. Can you just talk to me?" Jeongguk asks grabbing his arm to stop him.

"Let me go," Taehyung says snatching his arm away. "You're drunk. And I don't want to talk to you while you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk." The ravenette says. "I just wanna talk. Why can't we talk?"

"Because you're just going to make things complicated." The brunette says in frustration. "As if things aren't already complicated enough for me. Can you just stop being so fucking selfish for a second? Please?"

"What's complicated, Taehyung?" Jeongguk asks. He didn't see why they couldn't at least talk about his feelings. "I haven't done anything to complicate things."

"I don't want to talk to you," Taehyung says again before walking to the kitchen to get some water. His hands were shaking and all his emotions were making him feel sick.

"Well then don't talk to me." The ravenette says following him to the kitchen. "But can you listen?"

Taehyung shakes his head without responding. Grabbing a water from the fridge and leaning against the counter as he drinks it.

"I'm sorry if this complicates things for you. But I can't help what I feel, Tae." Jeongguk continues anyway. "I care about you. A lot. And I may be a little drunk but that doesn't change the things I feel for you."

"Stop, please." The brunette says closing his eyes. "Please just stop."

"I know you feel something for me too. I know you do, I can tell~" Jeongguk starts. Stepping in front of Taehyung when he tries to leave the kitchen, blocking him in. "Tell me you feel nothing when you're with me. Tell me there's nothing there."

"Don't do this, Jeongguk," Taehyung says shaking his head. Looking down as he felt his heart quickening in pace like it always did when he was this close to Jeongguk.

"Don't do what? Don't tell the truth?" The ravenette asks trying to make eye contact with the younger.

"Don't ruin what we have going for us," Taehyung says looking up at the older with tears in his eyes. He was starting to feel so overwhelmed. He doesn't even care if he cries. "We're doing good, Jeongguk. With the babies and with our friendship. So please don't ruin it."

"I'm falling in love with you," Jeongguk says, Taehyung looking away as if those words hurt more than anything. "And if that ruins things, then I'm sorry."

The brunette wipes the tears that fall from his eyes. He just shakes his head again. "I'm sorry."

Jeongguk almost wants to beg him not to walk away but he bites back the words. Letting Taehyung brush past him with tears in his eyes.