The door swung open.

A floral scent showered the air around Taehyung while he stepped past the door frame, body light, shoes removed and placed at the entrance. He peered over at Jeongguk, who hurriedly pulled a pair of slippers from a low shelf beside them, and placed them neatly to the floor.

"Here, use t-these.." The boy uttered, timidly stepping back to allow Taehyung enough room to enter. His heart rang loud inside his chest, a wave of nerves forming at the pit of his stomach just having the handsome man finally visit the place he resided in. "W-Welcome to my home. It's not much, but... I like it. It's really cozy, and all.."

Taehyung let a doting smile spread over his lips. And, really, who could blame him? He's never been in Jeongguk's apartment until now, so needless to say, he could hardly contain his excitement. He's had various daydreams over what Jeongguk's home could possibly look like. What kinds of furniture he housed, the scents each room would have.

In his imagination Jeongguk kept things clean and tidy. Would rarely have dishes in the sink, nor laundry scattered in his room. No, everything would be in order. And so far, Taehyung had been right.

The younger's place was just as he imagined. The air was fresh, furniture modern, everything was tidy and orderly, not a speck of dirt to be found. The walls were a beige color, a smooth burgundy rug below the coffee table, a pile of books stacked neatly over the surface. Bouquet of flowers adorned the marbled kitchen counter, and Taehyung stopped to examine it a moment.

"These are... hyacinth flowers." He spoke slowly, after having observed them closely for a moment. Jeongguk looked to him at the sound of his deep voice, fingers rubbing shyly together. He hadn't expected the man to notice such a detail, and yet, it made sense for him to take note of something they had worked on for so long together.

"Y-Yeah.. I grew to really like them. Y'know... After all our research for the project and whatnot..."

Taehyung hummed, a calmness fogged over his eyes as he kept his gaze over the vividly colored flowers. "Hm. Looking at hyacinths always reminds me of you.." He spoke quietly, though the air was still. And to Jeongguk his words were projected loud and clear.

The boy let his hands rest over the marbled surface, nails tapping lightly on it while he leaned closer. "S-Same here, they-... remind me of you." His cheeks flushed. "O-Of our project."

A modest silence. The two's gazes were now lowered, settled over each other's hands on the kitchen island. At some point Jeongguk found himself speaking up again.

"Would you like something to drink? Like water, or... maybe tea?"

Taehyung shot him a cheeky grin. "Got any hard alcohol?" Jeongguk's eyes narrowed at the man, and his smirk quickly fell. "Right. Water it is."

The boy's face brightened up again, a playfully low giggle leaving his lips while he walked around the counter, towards the cabinet. Taehyung, too, let a soft laugh erupt from his throat before watching as Jeongguk pulled a bottle of red wine from the shelf beside him.

"Actually, this is just about the only alcohol I have here," he turned to hold up the bottle for the other male's view. "My new neighbors gave it to me as a gift for helping them move in, but.. Well, you know I'm not much of a drinker, so.. Maybe you could help me out with it?"

Cute... The thought rang loud in Taehyung's head, and with a placid smile he gave the boy a firm nod. At the affirmation, Jeongguk excitedly turned back to grab wine glasses, while the older then retreated back to the living room, decided to linger around while he waited.

Naturally, his head turned at all directions, spectated the tidy room while he hovered towards the large bookshelf to his right. Beside it was an elegant mini table, where an old record player rested above it. He gently placed a hand on its golden frame, feeling up the cool material and admiring its craftsmanship.

"You've got a vinyl record player? How classy of you," he spoke up, lips lifting into a smile. Jeongguk turned from the kitchen to peek at where the older stood.

"Ah, that's... My mother's. She was really into that stuff and played a lot of records when I was a kid. She gifted me that old thing when I graduated high school," the boy chuckled and finished pouring the wine into two glasses. "The shelf to your left has all the vinyl cd's she gave me."

Taehyung turned his head to look at the very shelf the boy spoke of, and his fingers began to brush the edges of each precisely placed stack of records, which happened to be stored in their respective disc holders. Not much later he felt Jeongguk's presence appear behind him, uttered a quiet 'thank you' once the younger handed him a glass of wine, and then continued to browse the records while tasting the alcoholic drink.

"Mmn." His large hands pulled back a disc. "Waltz No. 2, by Dmtri Shostakovich. Legendary."

Jeongguk cracked a bunny smile. "You know how to do the waltz?"

"And you don't?" Taehyung turned, brushed his finger over the younger's button nose. "You're the one who owns the vinyl record, darling."

Jeongguk gulped down a sip of wine into his throat and pouted a little. "I told you—it's my mom's. I n-never learned those kinds of dances."

Taehyung blinked down at him for a still moment, and reached to carefully place his wine down to the mini table. Jeongguk watched as he then pulled back the disc and began to fumble with it over the record player.

"W-What are you doi—"

"I'll teach you." Taehyung placed the disc down and secured the needle over it. With a bit more maneuvers, the record player began belting out music, a classy tune lifted the room to a hearty glow. Jeongguk gaped at the older while Taehyung snatched the drink from his hands and pulled him a few steps back.

"W-What? I'm not even a good dancer—"

"I'll teach you." Taehyung repeated. "Let me show you, bun. Just trust me and follow my lead."

He pushed the coffee table back, cleared the living room to give them space for a sudden dance lesson, then stepped towards the smooth carpet with his bare feet, leaving the comfy slippers behind.

"But I'm really clumsy, and I—"

"I'll teach you." Taehyung huffed one last time and pulled the younger to the center of the large rug. "Straighten your back. Get into a more princely posture." He tapped at Jeongguk's shoulders and grabbed his hands. The boy timidly obeyed, propped himself over his toes while Taehyung guided him forward. "Mhm, that's the key to a proper dance."

The vinyl player's music persisted. Taehyung brought their arms up and held them in the air. "Follow my lead," he hummed, took a delicate step back before swirling to the side. Jeongguk squeaked out a gasp while their hips swayed in unison.

The motion pulled him closer to the man, where he could almost hear Taehyung's soft breaths above him.

"Left.." Taehyung whispered in his ear, sending a wave of cold shivers down Jeongguk's spine. "Bun. Swing to your left."

Jeongguk complied with the command, Taehyung lifted his arm up, guiding him beneath it, where Jeongguk naturally twirled his body and returned back at Taehyung's side.

"W-Whoa.." He exhaled, then watched as a charming smirk formed at Taehyung's plump lips.

"Now back. Bounce back," the older spoke. "Go with the rhythm."

Jeongguk listened. Listened to the older's instructions, and to the elegant music guiding his body at every direction. And soon enough, the boy began to feel as though he were some sort of disney princess, ballroom dancing with her prince at a ball reaching midnight.

He'd have a long, flowing dress. A tiara over his head. When time struck zero o'clock, the magic would all be over.

But—no. Right now time didn't exist. Nor his fears or hesitations. No, right now all that existed was him, Taehyung, this ballroom they'd built up over his burgundy carpet, and the classical music binding them into a lover's frolic.

And this continued a while, until the record ran itself toward the end, leaving the two males exhaling quietly beneath their breaths, eyes locked on each other attentively. Their senses seemed to have heightened from the dance, hearts conscious of each other's prominent presence—how close their bodies had remained.

Taehyung leaned forward, only slightly, though closing in that short distance had settled their noses just centimeters apart. For a moment Jeongguk thought he'd forgotten how to breathe. His big eyes were captive to Taehyung's piercing stare, and he felt all the blood in his body ignite once the older's husky voice spoke beside his lips.

"Look at you.. Such a fast learner.." Taehyung uttered beneath his breath. "Well done, pretty boy."

He didn't quite know what was wrong with him in that moment. But Jeongguk nearly moaned at the mere sound of the man's voice, his knees weak at the praise. He felt his cheeks burning up, his throat close in on itself, an irregular speed to his heartbeats.

"T-T-Thanks.." he stuttered over his words, broke free of the male's grasp as he stumbled a bit backward, turned to take hold of his wine glass back from the mini table. He lifted the glass quickly to his lips, hoping the action would distract him from the pumping in his chest.

And once he took down another gulp he made a clumsy attempt to return back at Taehyung's side, though not before tripping over his own foot first, jolting himself forward just enough for a portion of his wine to jump up and spill itself into Taehyung's white t-shirt.

Jeongguk's jaw dropped, watching as the red liquid buried itself into a stain over Taehyung's shirt. "O-Oh my god, I'm so s-sorry, h-hyung, I—"

The man burst out laughing, cutting off the flustered boy's apology. "Hey, hey, it's okay!" Taehyung cackled, lifted the hem of his shirt over itself to dab on the material.

Jeongguk's brows lowered to a frown. "W-What are you doing, y-you're... You're making the stain worse!"

Taehyung peered his head up and blinked innocently at the boy. "Yeah?" he hummed. "Then I guess I'll just.." He trailed off while pulling the shirt over his head, removing it from his torso to reveal his naked upper body; and Jeongguk's eyes immediately settled over the man's perfectly tan skin. He gawked at Taehyung's abs, and the Bangtan tattoo beside his most recent tiger one over his abdomen.

The boy's knees felt they could give out any moment now because, well.. How could someone possibly be so perfect? He just couldn't understand it.

Though before his mind could spiral into other, much more sinful thoughts, Jeongguk blinked repeatedly while coming to a slow realization.

"The, uhm... Tiger t-tattoo you have there.." he squeaked out. "D-Did you get that yourself?"

Taehyung glanced down at the side of his stomach and then shook his head, fingers padding over the ink gently. "Mm, no. V got that tatted up for us on a whim. I had no idea he'd do that shit."

Jeongguk's lips parted, a puzzle piece clicked into his head. No wonder that day he had asked him about the new tat, Taehyung seemed so unsure of it. It was as though he didn't even remember getting it in the first place, which was a strange thing all on its own. That day, Jeongguk had dismissed his uncertain behavior, but finding out the truth about it made much more sense. It was something he could see V doing, with how stubborn he tends to be.

Het let out a low sigh, then forced himself out of his chain of thoughts only to be faced with the same initial dilemma he had found himself in, in the first place.

Which was, a shirtless Kim Taehyung.

"U-Uhm, I-I'll go get you a c-change of clothes.." Jeongguk stammered, biting his lip to hold himself back from saying anything even more stupid than the embarrassing shit he already had a habit of spouting.

But before he could scurry on down the hall to his room, Taehyung gently grabbed his arm to stop him.

"It's alright," he said softly. "I'm okay. It's a bit hot in here anyway." Jeongguk stared wide-eyed at him as he continued. "Let's just keep dancing, yeah?"

Jeongguk wasn't sure how he had managed not to squeal out, or scream, or maybe even melt into hot molten and spew himself out in chunks from the opening of an active volcano—or something oddly along those lines. Surely, just as one tends to do, under the inspection of a man like Kim Taehyung.

But he held himself back, merely nodded in response. And at the sight, Taehyung flashed him somewhat of a boxy grin and released his hold on him. When the man turned back to skim over the collection of vinyls on the shelf, Jeongguk let himself gawk at the man's back muscles, and—oh lord, his arms. His veiny fucking arms.

Maybe melting into a steamed magma liquid form didn't sound like such a bad idea after all.

"Hm. Elvis Presley. Your mother's a classy woman." Taehyung's voice broke him from his thoughts of disintegration and potential lava molding.

"Y-Yes, it's... It's a c-classic, that o-one.."

"You're right," Taehyung cracked a grin, and began to replace the vinyl disc over the music player. "Do you by any chance know how to slow dance, at least?"

"J-Just a little.." Jeongguk choked out his words. "Though I-I'm not very good."

Taehyung turned to look at him, eyes peeking from the hair strands over his face. His dark, wavy curls and charming smile. Good god, the man looked incredible. Jeongguk nearly lost feel of his pulse when the male called to him in a soft, endearing voice.

"C'mere, bun.." Taehyung whispered, stepping back to the center of the carpet when the music began strumming Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling In Love. "Here."

Jeongguk obediently stepped forward, found himself face to face with a topless Taehyung, who wasted no time in settling his large hands over the younger's waist.

"Arms around my neck," he instructed. Jeongguk lifted his arms up to do just that, his hold nested perfectly over the man's shoulders.

Taehyung then shifted them closer in one swift pull. Jeongguk felt his skin heat up when their chests pressed close together.

"wise men sa~ay... ♪
only fools rush in..."

The lyrics filled the room, gentle instruments composed the well-known melody around them, leading the two into a delicate dance. Jeongguk slowly leaned his head forward, rested it over the older's broad shoulder, and Taehyung instinctively tilted to the side a bit, allowing the boy more room to nuzzle into him.

"but i... can't... help,
falling in lo~ove, with you... ♪~"

Taehyung felt a throb at his heart, a quiet breath escaped his lips while he let the feeling of the boy grasping onto him fill every inch of his skin.

The song continued, and so did their slow dance. Hands clasped together, bodies embracing one another's. The boys fell silent while letting the music consume them whole, pull them into another realm of just the two of them. Taehyung's feet swayed over the rug, and following them were Jeongguk's steps, which gradually gained more confidence the more they engaged each other in the gentle rhythm.

"I really missed you..." Jeongguk's words broke through the melody in a gentle voice. "For those months we didn't speak to each other, I... would wonder what you were up to. If you were okay..."

Taehyung lifted his hand up, gave a light rub of his thumb over Jeongguk's back while he continued to guide them in a peaceful sway. The corner of his lips lifted to a smile. "You missed me?"

"Of course I did..." The boy's eyes slowly opened. "I was terrible to you... Found out about your disorder and practically ghosted you for weeks and weeks.."

The older was quiet. Lyrics of a man falling into innocent love filled the room. Though his own heart was far too distracting. Screamed at him the feelings he knew too well already, towards the very boy he held in his arms right then and there. His hold on Jeongguk's waist tightened.

"I'm just... really grateful that you still even talk to me."

Jeongguk frowned. "Of course I'd still talk to you. You're still human, after all."

"Hm. Not many seem to think so, after learning the truth about me. Not everyone keeps me in their lives, after finding out. I'm not sure what I'm even supposed to be anymore..."

Jeongguk let his unfocused gaze stare at a spot on the wall. Somehow, in the split of a moment, he felt his heart plummet to his stomach. Because, a sudden thought ran down his veins as though a nightmare flashing in his vision. A thought that, Taehyung may have had it much harder than he ever could have possibly imagined.

Sure, he knew the man had gone through a lot. In the past, in the present, and surely there would be more rough moments in his future. But Jeongguk had a sudden realization that, really, nothing has changed, and he still knew nothing about Kim Taehyung.

The things he knew, and the things he wished to know. It was all a frame in his head. A frame he had painted there, over a canvas, without really knowing anything of his muse.

He always thought he knew it all. About the world, about others around him. But being around the older proved to him time and time again that he was nowhere near understanding a single thing.

That he knew nothing at all.

After a long silence, Jeongguk uttered his reply, voice lowered to a whisper. "You've... always just been Taehyung. Kim Taehyung. That's all that really matters to me.."

"take my hand~...
take my whole life, too... ♪~"

Taehyung's gaze lowered, a slow blink in his eyes while he let the younger's words simmer in his thoughts. He then pulled back, parted their bodies enough so that he could take a look at the boy in front of him—who, when he'd look in his eyes saw him. Like, really saw him. For who he was. For all that he was.

When Jeongguk looked at Taehyung he didn't just see one thing. One person, one conceptualization of a being. No, Jeongguk saw all of him. All five of him. Acknowledged separate dreams and aspirations. Their boons and all their flaws. Saw them as individuals, and as a unit. And he refused to run away from it all.

No, rather the boy always seemed to embrace it. Was ever so patient with them. And when Taehyung looked into this boy's eyes, all he saw were stars and constellations and kindness and love.

Yes, he was in love.

So, sincerely, deeply, irrationally in love. To the point he'd feel ache in his chest, feel joy in his veins, longing when Jeongguk would stare back at him with his pretty, big eyes and gentle lashes.

Taehyung hadn't known love. No, not for sure. Not until he met Jeon Jeongguk. And now that he knew, processed, accepted this feeling, all he wanted to do was express it. Love, care for the boy, ensure his happiness and his safety.

"for i... can't help...
falling in love wi~th you... ♪ ~..."

The song's concluding lyrics buzzed from the cd player in a sweet melody, and Taehyung's large hands cupped Jeongguk's face into his hold. The younger's doe eyes were settled on him, returning eye contact with parted lips while the older leaned in, though only slightly, making a careful approach toward the boy's face.

There was a click sound. The vinyl record came to a halt. And to fill the silence came Taehyung's yearning question.

"May I kiss you, bun...?" Taehyung's voice husked out. Their lips nearly grazed each others, Jeongguk's brows slowly rose at the words, a jolt in his heartbeat, surprise at his eyes.

He found his hands gently sliding up Taehyung's skin, caressed his naked torso until they reached both his shoulders. There was a dazed look in his eyes, fogged over with an illegible emotion Taehyung couldn't quite pinpoint.

"Y-Yes please.." He whispered, almost desperately. Taehyung's long lashes lowered as his stare shifted toward the boy's pretty pink lips. He let his hand cup the boy's cheeks now, lifted Jeongguk's chin up to adjust for his own taller height.

And then the older closed his eyes, pressed their lips together into a tender kiss, a kiss long overdue after months that had felt like years upon years in their heads.

He had forgotten how sweet Jeongguk tasted. Like a ripe berry, an alluring fruit housed in a sacred garden. And he tasted a fountain in his lips, with water so pure and clear it could cleanse the world of all calamity. A safe haven. Taehyung's very own sanctuary.

Jeongguk slipped his hands past the older's shoulders, wrapped his arms around them again to pull him closer. A muffled hum left him, mouth parting open. The kiss quickly became a little slippery. The two men were desperate to taste each other, feel each other's tongues, and their skins and their heightened breaths.

Taehyung quickly became obsessed with the soft whines Jeongguk would utter when he'd bite at his bottom lip, tug the flesh, pull at it. Then he'd release, only to smooch it again. Over and over, their lips connected, they'd messily exchange saliva, they'd savor each other's tastes until they'd run out of air; only to pull apart, regain their breaths and go back for another round.

At one point Jeongguk hopped up, desperate to taste more of the older. They'd both waited so long, both wanted this for so long. It was hard not to pounce on the man and devour him whole, just as Jeongguk longed to do. But the momentum led the older backwards, where he caught Jeongguk beneath his legs and stumbled, landed himself down over the couch, their lips never breaking apart as they furiously made out in a vigorous rhythm.

Taehyung hadn't been aware he was sitting on the couch with Jeongguk straddled above him until they next broke apart to catch some air, and to fill in that time, Jeongguk let his hand lower to the man's clothed crotch, palming him in a gentle motion while he monitored the expression on Taehyung's handsome face.

The older looked down at Jeongguk's hand rubbing his crotch, legs apart in a manspreading position while the boy was plopped over his lap. He lifted his gaze, looked past his disheveled bangs to peer at Jeongguk.

"You sure you want to do this, bun..?" he asked softly, out of breath, the words barely making it past his lips.

Jeongguk stared back at him, continuing his kneading motions. His cheeks were flushed, a submissive glint in his eyes. "I-I... really want-, u-um.."

Taehyung blinked, waiting patiently for the boy to get his words out.

"R-Really want your... c-cock in my mouth, hyung.." He let out in a whisper, head falling shyly.

Taehyung's eyes bulged, and so did the buddy between his legs. His hands flew to grab gently at Jeongguk's wrist, causing the boy to lift his head back up and gape at him.

"That's not fair.." The man nearly growled. "You can't say those things to me, with that voice of yours, and expect me to hold back..."

Jeongguk cracked a timid smile, fingers prying the male's zipper down. While he did so he clashed their lips together, kissed him whole, engaged him in another dance, this time with their tongues. Taehyung was quick to react by holding the back of his head, kept the boy in place while their kiss became rough.

Jeongguk sank down over Taehyung's leg, began to grind his own crotch against it, Taehyung grasping the boy's lips with his own. A helpless whine left Jeongguk once the older gripped tightly to his thick thighs, fingers pushing into the clothed skin.

"Hyung, I.." Jeongguk pulled back, breath wavered, a lustful gasp pushing past his throat. A bulge in their pants, each other's saliva near their lips, a fire in their hearts. "I n-never said anything about holding back, so p-please..."

"Please what, baby?" Taehyung caressed the boy's hair, pushed it back behind his ear. "Use your words."

"Please... f-fuck my throat... I-I want to taste all of you, all over again."

✱