It was late. Past midnight, for sure. The exact time? Jimin didn't quite know.

The blond boy couldn't get any sleep. Between homework and his haunting inner thoughts, it was difficult to find enough peace to doze off in. So instead, the boy had thought it a good idea to take a walk for fresh air. To the 24/7 convenience store, maybe. Just so he'd have a destination to get to.

He took his time walking, looking around the not-so-crowded streets and consuming that distinct middle-of-the-night vibe the city had to offer. His reddened hands were taking shelter from the cold inside his hoodie pockets and as he reached a narrow path he looked across the street towards a small group of people scattering from an alleyway. They were talking loudly about something he couldn't quite understand, most of them clearly drunk, and after them followed a smaller group.

The buzzed group would break out into singing every now and then, and Jimin laughed to himself. They must've been at karaoke, he thought, for he too knew the experience all too well by now. He watched with mirth, seeing person after person walk out with flushed faces from the alcohol.

Then, he stopped in his tracks. The next two people to have followed behind that group looked all too familiar.

A brunette, and a red haired man.

"Hyung.." he whispered under his breath, watching as Hoseok strolled from across the street with one arm wrapped around Yerin.

Jimin knew. Knew that, when people told the two that they make a great couple, they were right. They did seem perfect for each other. Hoseok's amazing, and Yerin's amazing. So why couldn't he be happy for them?

The blond boy let out a shaky breath, not looking away even as the couple shared a long kiss and continued on their way, oblivious to his presence a few feet away. He felt something wet on his cheek, and soon realized he'd let a tear slip out.

"Dammit..." He quickly wiped it off and turned around, rushing down to the corner of the street with his heart beating loudly. "Dammit... Dammit... Dammit!"

Before he knew it, he had crashed into someone harshly, the velocity of his running adding to the impact. The person he had bumped stumbled backwards a bit before regaining their composure, and Jimin looked up with large eyes.

"I'm really sorry—" He paused, his brain beginning to process the identity of the man in front of him. "O-Oh... Kim Taehyung. Hello." He bowed quickly and sniffled. "Sorry. I didn't see where I was going."

"You don't say?" Taehyung grinned. Jimin wiped his cheek and looked up at him, unsure if the male's eyes were so dark because it was nighttime, or if this intense aura was always surrounding him. The blond boy stepped back once and breathed out gently. "Were you crying?"

Jimin's mouth dropped. "W-What?"

"You look like you were crying."

He shook his head. "N-No. I wasn't, don't worry."

Taehyung tilted his head and looked up at the dark sky.

"Then... What are you doing out so late in the night?"

Jimin huffed. "Does it matter?"

Taehyung looked at him again, and Jimin swallowed quietly. He skid his foot across the pavement and began to walk past the blond boy. Jimin raised a brow.

"C'mon," Taehyung said.

"Where?"

The man merely continued to walk down the path, hands stuffed cooly into his pockets. "Just come with me."

※ ※

Jimin wasn't sure why he had listened to the older male, but frankly he had left his apartment to take a breather, and following the man couldn't hurt.

Taehyung had ended up taking him to the very convenience store he was headed to and, despite Jimin's retaliation, had bought him a pack of candy and an ice cream.

Now, the two were sat at a bench outside the store, unwrapping their ice cream sticks and watching the few lit buildings in the distance.

"I'll pay you back for these," Jimin hummed as he took the first lick at his cherry flavored ice cream.

"No, you won't."

"I will."

"I don't want your filthy money." Taehyung feigned disgust, and Jimin was quick to smack his arm.

"Are you calling me filthy?"

"Anyone whose out at 4 in the morning is filthy inside," the man hummed, pushing one leg out. Jimin licked his lips and ate some more, but not before mustering up a snarky comeback for the other.

"You're one to talk."

He heard the man chuckle beside him, and then abrupt images of the couple he had seen earlier began to revisit him. Images of Hoseok's arm around Yerin. His lips on hers.

He felt a sudden rage in him. One that quickly turned into gloominess. Helplessness. Rejection.

"Gosh.." he mumbled. "My emotions are all over the place today."

"You on your period?"

Jimin turned to shoot him an irritated look, but was instead distracted when he saw a bottle of beer in Taehyung's hands.

The older man blinked. "What?"

"Awesome! When did you get beer?" Jimin quickly scooted closer to him and reached out, making grabby hands at him.

"Now who said I got you a bottle?"

The blond's face fell back into frustration and he sighed out loudly. "Ugh.. Then just give me a few sips."

"Nah."

"C'mon〜!"

"No."

"Tae—," Jimin grabbed the bottle and began to pull it towards him, but the other's grip was too strong and he effortlessly pulled it back, taking Jimin along his vigorous force. "—hyung..!" Naturally, the two's faces ended up centimeters apart, Jimin's hand grasping over Taehyung's on the glass bottle, and he looked into the man's bottomless eyes.

He breathed out softly. Everything he had heard about Kim Taehyung from Jeongguk was starting to make sense to him. How alluring he was, despite his unpredictability. His handsome looks. There was something charming about his actions, his gazes, the simple way in which he carried himself. Maybe the reason there were so many rumors, the reason he always seemed to be the talk of the school, were due to the strong dominant ambience that oozed out of Taehyung without him having to think twice. A deadly feature that attracted others with ease.

"Now.." Taehyung's deep voice trickled down Jimin's ear canal. "You're gonna eat your ice cream like a good boy, yeah?" His dark eyes were locked boldly into Jimin's glittery ones. "And you're going to let me finish my beer, yes?"

"Y-Yes.." Jimin stammered out, unsure why he felt the sudden need to give him a clear response. He slowly let go of his grip on him, their gazes still secured on each other, and Jimin watched the male's lips lift into a smile.

"Good."

Good. His lips. Good? His lips seemed good. But they weren't the pair of lips Jimin wished were on him right now, and yet...

And yet why was it that it seemed Taehyung's lips were only getting closer?

Jimin let out a curt breath, eyes widened, head finally realizing what was currently happening. Taehyung really was leaning in. To kiss him. Taehyung. Kiss?

Somehow he found he couldn't move. In this moment, Taehyung's void gaze rendered him still, and Jimin merely shut his eyes tightly in response. He was expecting the man's lips to collide with his any second now, a concept he wasn't quite sure on how to process. But much to his surprise he felt a short peck at his neck instead.

There was a pause. Jimin fluttered his eyes open, a pine wood scent seeping into his nose. Taehyung kissed at his neck again, his lips gentle over the blond's skin, and Jimin's hands suddenly flew to the male's shoulders, prompting him away.

"Y-Yes, well..." Jimin cleared his throat and quickly retreated to the edge of the bench, cheeks flushed, eyes down at the floor. "Um, good. Good, y-you finish your beer and I'll... I'll finish my ice cream."

He could feel Taehyung's piercing eyes on him until, eventually, the two heard a new voice suddenly speak up beside them.

"Jimin?"

The blond looked up to see his English partner standing a few feet away from them, hands inside his jacket. Jimin's brows lifted and he let a small smile form at his lips. "Oh, Yoongi-hyung. What-.. What are you doing here?"

Taehyung proceeded to chug his beer once again, while the oldest male stared blankly at him.

"That's what I was just about to ask you," he said in a murmuring voice. Jimin glanced at Taehyung, then back at Yoongi, watching as the two men became silent.

Odd, he thought. The two were so close they sat next to each other in class every single day, yet here they were seeming rather... awkward. The two hadn't even greeted each other, so naturally Jimin began to wonder if there was something going on all of a sudden. Like them getting into a fight, perhaps... Was it even possible?

"I, uh... I ran into Taehyung a bit ago, so... we stopped for a chat," Jimin spoke, having a strange need to explain their situation to the older. Though he wasn't sure why, exactly; and he couldn't help his pale cheeks heating up at the lingering feeling of Taehyung's lips on his neck. What even was that, anyway? He didn't know, but he'd rather not think on it too much right then. "We were just.. talking."

"Oh," was all Yoongi replied with, and Taehyung shifted closer to the blond.

"Should I walk you home, Park?" The dark haired male said in that husky voice of his, and Jimin felt a cool chill rush his skin at the sound.

"That's alright, Taehyung," Yoongi cut in, "Head on home. I'll take him back safely."

Jimin swallowed his saliva, and watched as the two gang captains stared sharply at each other. The blond gently grazed his teeth over his lip, unsure what to make of the uncomfortable tension.

"Let's go, Jimin," Yoongi thankfully broke the silence, and the smaller boy blinked twice before nodding with a quiet hum.

"Thank you for the ice cream, Taehyung," Jimin bowed, then waved goodbye to the man who still clutched his bottle of alcohol tightly.

Taehyung's lips curved to a grin. "You're welcome, blondie."

※ ※

Jeongguk blinked. Once. Twice. His eyes steadily fluttered open, although they felt heavy while they adjusted slowly to the sunlight bathing the unfamiliar room. It took him a moment to remember precisely where he was, and that's when memories from last night began to flood back into him all at once.

He was in Taehyung's apartment. In his bed. Taehyung's scent was everywhere, and the boy's sensitive nose basked in its glory. Frankly, he loved this smell, much more than he'd admit out loud. Just a few sniffs got him smiling, hands reaching up while he stretched his body out against the mattress.

"Taehyung..." he mewled quietly, toes curling as he turned to the side where he mentally prepared himself to face a naked, sleeping Kim Taehyung. What a sight that would be—it even got his heartbeat accelerating.

But when he rolled to feast his eyes on a reality of his imagination, Jeongguk landed upon an empty spot on the mattress. His gentle smile faded, and he brushed his hand against the vacant sheets.

He sniffed the air again because, well, maybe the older had woken up first and had gotten started on breakfast. But there were no smell of pancakes, or bacon or any classic meal of the sort. In fact, the apartment was rather silent, and Jeongguk soon confirmed Taehyung's absence upon roaming around looking for him like somewhat of a lost child.

He gave up after precisely ten minutes, and instead found his phone to check for any messages the man might've left him. But all he found were the unread texts Jimin had sent him yesterday. Texts he didn't take notice of, as he was too busy drowning in Kim Taehyung's lips.

Jeongguk scratched at his head, a pulse of guilt within him as he began to message his best friend back.

jeongguk
— morning chim!!!
— sorry for the late reply
— I just woke up.. 🧚

delivered ⤸

jimin
— asshole 🙄
— why were you ignoring me last night HMM ???
— where were u ???

jeongguk
— well......
— are you free to meet up rn?

delivered ⤸

jimin
— the cafe with the nice ass croissants?

jeongguk
— you know it girlie 🤤

delivered ⤸

jimin
— 🥰🥰 its a date 🥰🥰

Jeongguk smiled at his phone gently, then switched contacts to his conversation with Taehyung. He bit his lip, brain churning of ways he could strike up a conversation somehow, but whatever it was he came up with in his head felt too weird to execute.

Hey where are you? No, sounds too clingy.

Hi, will you be back soon? I'll be going out. No, that sounds like he'd gotten too comfortable.

I had fun last night. See you soon? Clingy. Again. And just straight up embarrassing.

Jeongguk groaned loudly. Maybe it'd be best to not say anything yet. He'd consult Jimin first, as he always tended to do when he found himself stumped over something.

"Alright.." he whispered to no one in particular, then looked down at his own naked appearance. "Shit."

Would it be weird to borrow Taehyung's clothing without asking him first? Granted, he'd only need a shirt (Jeongguk's was, indeed, covered in cum).

So Jeongguk timidly approached the man's closet and pulled out something that didn't seem too expensive or important of some sort. He then dressed himself and began to make his way out the bedroom before something at the corner of his eye caught his attention. He halted, retreated a few steps back, and settled his gaze on the clear perfume bottle with a lavished design standing proudly on Taehyung's desk.

Jeongguk bit his lip, grabbed hold of the shirt he'd borrowed and took a quick sniff. It smelled like Taehyung, no doubt about it. But that classic smell of musk and autumn leaves... of a hinoki plant that sent Jeongguk straight into a feverish state of zen; alongside the faintest mint odor of green tea.

He just couldn't help it. He had a strange obsession with pleasant smells, and had completely fallen in adoration with Taehyung's aroma.

So, carefully, he approached the perfume bottle and took a sniff, then gave a light spray at both sides of his neck. He unleashed a gentle exhale, letting the smell consume him, to take him back to last night where Taehyung's scent washed over him with every thrust. How his entire bare body had hovered over him and his deep booming voice whispered sweet nothings into his ear.

Undoubtedly he now smelled exactly like the older. The only thing that would bring it to absolute, undeniable perfection would be that nicotine smell achievable by cigarettes, but Jeongguk decided he could live on without it.

His next breath wavered, and Jeongguk set the perfume bottle back in its place and turned once again to leave. But as he did so, his hand accidentally knocked over a notebook that had been at the edge of the desk. "Ah—" He quickly lowered himself to the floor to pick it up, the book resting opened at a random page. Jeongguk couldn't help but eye the spread, gaze brushing over the messy handwriting scattered all across the paper. Written on it were a variety of things, such as;

New set of crayons for our coloring time.

He's into chocolate sundaes these days.

Get him a new game for his Nintendo DS.

Maybe he'd like a new pair of Nike's?

Jeongguk smiled, eyes moving to read the top of the page with big letters that read: Hyukjae's Birthday Surprise!

"Hyukjae.." he mumbled to himself while closing the notebook and placing it back onto the desk. Jeongguk figured that must be Taehyung's little brother's name, which only made him smile even wider. He must be a good older brother; a concept Jeongguk wouldn't know too much about, being an only child. But it showed a cute side of Taehyung, knowing he writes and plans things like this for his own family. The little boy must be spoiled, that was for sure.

Jeongguk grabbed his phone and checked his messages.

Still nothing from Taehyung.

He sighed out, grabbed his bag, then finally stepped outside the silent apartment.

✱ ✱ ✱

{ A / N }

not sure if this needs to be clarified or not but i'll say it just in case: in this story Taehyung is older than the maknae line by about a year. Jeongguk and Jimin are the same age :3

also, happy birthday to our little prince Jeonggukie 🥺💜