"Can you guys please not make a huge deal out of this?"

    "Who's making a huge deal?"

Taehyung pouts at his friends as they all sit in the living with intimidating looks on their faces. Jeongguk was coming over to finally meet his friends after putting it off for two whole weeks, and his friends weren't being nice about it.

    "I just think that when a guy avoids meeting people that their significant other is close to~" Hoseok starts, only for Taehyung to quickly cut in.

    "I've already told you, we are co-parenting for the babies. He isn't my significant other and I'm not his." The youngest of the crowd groans in annoyance.

    "It sounds like he's hiding something." Hoseok finishes. "Jimin thinks so too, he's just trying to side with Namjoon."

Jimin glares at Hoseok as he gets a look from Namjoon. "I am not, Hobi. And you only think that because Yoongi thinks that."

    "Yeah, and he thinks I'm right," Yoongi says as Hoseok puts his arm around him. "It's all a little suspicious to me."

    "Well, I think that it's up to Taehyung to judge Jeongguk. Not us." Namjoon speaks up. "And if he trusts him then we should too."

    "Thank you, Namjoon." Taehyung huffs, rolling his eyes a little. "All I'm asking is that everyone keeps their opinions to themselves for a couple of hours while he's here. He's really nervous~"

    "Sus," Yoongi mumbles as he pretends to clean a smudge from his glass, earning a glare from Taehyung.

    "He's nervous and I don't want you assholes making it harder on him." The brunette finishes, looking at each of his friends individually for a moment. "Okay?"

    "Alright. We'll wear our charm, Taehyungie." Jimin smiles. "I can't wait to meet the guy."

Taehyung sighs as his phone pings. "Okay, he's here. I'm gonna go down and get him."

    "We'll be waiting." Hoseok smiles as Taehyung leaves, waiting until the door closes to drop his smile. "I don't know about this guy."

    "Shut up and drink, Hobi," Namjoon says rolling his eyes.

Taehyung walks downstairs to get Jeongguk, pursing his lips when he sees the older getting out of the car blowing smoke past his lips. "You said you were quitting."

    "I said I was trying. And I am." The ravenette says closing his door as he runs his fingers through his unkempt hair. "I only smoke when you stress me the hell out."

    "Screw you. I gave you an entire two weeks to get your shit together to meet my friends." Taehyung says looking over the ravanette's outfit to be sure he was presentable. "Why'd you wear that shirt? And since when do you have a piercing in your lip too?"

    "Shit, I forgot to take it out." Jeongguk says bringing his hand to the piercing. "And I'm confused about what you have against my shirts. How much more basic can I fucking get?"

    "You should've worn something with sleeves." The brunette says taking Jeongguk's hand away from the piercing. "Just leave it. Come on."

    "Are you really that worried about what they think of me?" The ravanette asks as Taehyung drags him along. "If they don't like me are you gonna dump me?"

    "No, because we aren't dating." Taehyung says with an aggravated eye roll. "I just want you guys to like each other."

    "Is that Namjoon guy gonna be there?" Jeongguk asks with a smug grin, knowing the question is going to set the younger off.

    "Yes. And for the love of god, please put this fake rivalry that you've created out of your head for the next couple hours? He's my best friend, stop being such a fucking guy." The brunette snaps. "And wipe that look off your face."

Jeongguk rolls his eyes as they reach the apartment. "If they're assholes to me I'm going to be an asshole back. That's your one and only warning."

    "Be nice." Taehyung says opening the door, finding his friends standing around the entrance with the same look a protective brother would have if his sister was bringing home her boyfriend for the first time. "Guys," he says with a tight jaw. "this is Jeongguk."

    "How's it going, Jeongguk?" Hoseok says holding his hand out. "I'm Hoseok, Taehyug's hyung."

    "Cool." Jeongguk says shaking his hand. "Jeongguk."

    "I'm Jimin, Taehyung's other hyung." Jimin says doing the same.

    "Yoongi, Taehyung's other hyung." Yoongi says after Jimin, stepping up and shaking Jeongguk's hand. "Nice tattoos."

    "Thanks." Jeongguk says, a skeptical look on his face as Yoongi eyes him suspiciously.

    "I'm Namjoon. I'm Taehyung's hyung as well." Namjoon says after Yoongi, holding his hand out with a smile. "It's nice to meet you, Jeongguk."

    "So you're Namjoon, huh?" The ravanette says, earning an elbow in his side from Taehyung. "How's it going, man?"

    "Pretty good...?" The older says with a confused expression.

    "You know it's weird that everyone here is Taehyung's hyung." Jeongguk says with a smirk on his face. "Because, I'm also his hyung."

    "Okey dokey, so um, how about we move to the living room. Yeah?" Taehyung says walking through the group. "I'll get you a drink, Jeongguk, just make yourself comfortable."

The other six take seats in the living room, Jeongguk sitting on one side of the living room while the other's stand and sit on the other side.

    "So, Jeongguk, how much older are you than our Taehyung?" Jimin asks grabbing his glass of wine.

    "Just a few months." The ravanette answers, trying his best to conceal his aggravation.

    "Oh, so you're still younger than us." Jimin points out, obviously to gain leverage in whatever competition they had going here.

    "You don't look much older from up here if I'm honest." Jeongguk says making Hoseok and Yoongi choke on their laughter as Taehyung returns with his drink.

    "Tae, we were just asking Jeongguk where he got his tattoos." Jimin says before speaking directly to Jeongguk. "You said something about prison or...?"

    "Not quite. Juvy." The ravanette says taking the drink from Taehyung who has a stunned look on his face. "I'm kidding. I'm not a fucking thug."

    "You talk like one, maybe that's why I was confused." Jimin smiles sweetly.

    "Alright," Taehyung chuckles uncomfortably. "What are we really talking about?"

    "Nothing. We were waiting for you." Namjoon says.

    "Were we?" Jeongguk asks with a dramatized look of confusion on his face. "I wasn't waiting for anything. Just patiently letting them stare me down for the past two minutes."

    "You smell like smoke, do you smoke?" Yoongi asks randomly.

    "Yes, I do." The second youngest replies sarcastically. "I used to smoke a lot but now I only smoke a little. Soon, I'll be smoking very little."

    "Second hand smoke is just as bad as smoking, Taehyung." Yoongi says. "And that can't be good for the babies."

    "You know my grandma was a smoker and she smoked all through her pregnancy when she was pregnant with my  mom. And my mom's a doctor. So there's a fifty-fifty chance that at least one of them won't come out stupid." Jeongguk says nonchalantly he sips his drink.

    "If one of them comes out stupid we'll know exactly who to blame." Hoseok mumbles.

    "Jeongguk actually works for his father's company, you guys. That's pretty cool." Taehyung tries to counter in the argument.

    "That actually explains a lot." Namjoon says, in a totally non confrontational tone.

    "Right. Your father wasn't present." Jimin points with a tone of realization.

    "Yeah, and clearly neither was yours, girlfriend." Jeongguk says, throwing a cheap shot at his femininity.

    "That was cheap." Yoongi scoffs.

    "Do you really wanna talk about cheap, Yoongi?" The ravanette asks. "While you're dressed like?"

    "Hey, I got him that shirt!" Namjoon says, highly offended by Jeongguk's comment.

    "Of course you did, Namjoon." Jeongguk scoffs with an obvious eye roll.

    "Alright!" Taehyung says raising his voice over the bickering lot of boys. "I must've missed the punchline. Because since when is it cool to offend and bicker with our guests? And since when is it cool to bicker back, Jeongguk?~"

    "What?~" The ravanette starts in surprise.

    "I thought we could all  be adults for a couple hours and have a cordial hangout. To give you guys a chance to meet the father of my children, and someone who will always be in my life from this point on. And for him to meet you guys, people who will also be in my life hopefully." The brunette shouts, standing angrily. "But no! You guys wanna be stubborn assholes, and do exactly what I asked you not to!"

Everyone stares at Taehyung silently, shocked expressions on their faces.

    "You do this every time, and it always makes things harder for me." The youngest storms off angrily to his room. "I can't even begin to fucking imagine how hard it is to act like adults for an hour of your lives."

Everyone remains silent until Taehyung's door slams so hard it shakes the wall, Taehyung's friends smirking at one another as if they know something Jeongguk doesn't.  

   "Nice job." The ravanette scoffs as he grabs his phone and stands to leave.

    "Wait, Jeongguk. Sit down." Hoseok says before he leaves.

   "Yeah, Jeongguk. Sit down for a second." Jimin says, their tones a complete contrast to the ones they had earlier.

Jeongguk looks at them with a confused expression. "What?"

    "That was just a stupid test we do on Taehyung whenever he brings a new guy home." Yoongi says. "We've been doing it since we were in high school."

    "You passed if that makes you any less pissed at us." Hoseok chuckles warmly.

    "What the fuck are you talking about?" The younger asks. "You guys are trying to test me?"

    "No, mostly Taehyung." Namjoon says. "Usually if he defends both of us, like he just did. Then that means he cares about both of us too much to choose a side. And he just wants us to get along so he won't ever have to choose between us."

Jeongguk looks at Namjoon like he's crazy. "Uhm...possessive much? Taehyung is an adult, I'm sure he doesn't need you to weed off guys that might be bad for him. You should let him learn from his mistakes."

    "You'd think otherwise if you met some of the guys he introduced us to before." Jimin chuckles. "Taehyung usually never listens and learns his lesson one way or another."

    "That's literally so stupid." Jeongguk says. "Why would you try to run me off? I'm the father of his kids. What kind of friends are you?"

    "We just need to know where Taehyung's heart is with these randos he brings in." Yoongi says. "That way it's easier to tell if it's worth taking serious."

    "What do you mean randos?" Jeongguk asks in confusion. "Has he introduced you to a ton of guys?"

     "No, Yoongi's being dramatic." Hoseok laughs. "It's just a stupid test."

    "We're not gonna give you a hard time anymore, Jeongguk. We can tell Taehyung really cares about you." Yoongi says. "Now you should go check on him before he becomes over emotional."

    "You guys are still total assholes." Jeongguk says standing and walking to Taehyung's room.

    "Wait, how'd he know which one was his?" He hears one of them ask as he knocks on Taehyung's bedroom door.

    "Hey, Tae. It's me." The ravanette says. "Can I come in?"

    "Yeah." He hears the other call, his voice muffled.

Jeongguk walks into the room and finds it empty, walking in further and finding the younger in the bathroom sitting on the ground. "Why are you down there?"

    "I got sick." Taehyung responds weakly. Laying his head on his folded arms that rest on his knees. "I wasn't feeling good before either, I shouldn't have done this today. I'm sorry."

    "Tae, there's nothing to be sorry about." Jeongguk says joining him on the bathroom floor. "Me and your friends are fine. I'm not upset and neither are they."

    "They do this every time. And they knew how important this was to me." The brunette sniffles as he wipes his tears.

    "They only did what they did tonight because they really care about you, Tae." The ravanette admits reluctantly. "They're just protecting you."

Taehyung sighs. "Really?"

    "Yeah." Jeongguk nods. "Don't be upset with them. And I'm sorry for arguing back. It was childish."

    "You're not sorry." The brunette says rolling his eyes. "You're just saying what you think I want to hear."

    "Is it working?" The ravanette asks with a raised eyebrow.

    "Yes, keep going." Taehyung says making Jeongguk laugh.

    "And I like your friends, they seem great. Even though Namjoon very clearly wants to fuck you." Jeongguk says, immediately making Taehyung punch him in the arm. "You can deny it but it's the truth."

    "Shut up." The younger laughs, sighing as he leans his head on Jeongguk's shoulder. "I wish the night went like I planned it in my head."

    "I'm sorry." The older hums. "Maybe we can do it over now that I've passed the test."

    "Screw that test." Taehyung chuckles. "I don't care what they think of you. They'll have to accept us as a team eventually. Because you're not going anywhere."

    "Yeah. It's gonna take a lot more to get rid of me, Taehyung."