✧･ﾟ: * thirty-five *:･ﾟ✧    

Taehyung chews his bottom lip while gazing at Maddie, who's curled up in the window seat, snoozing peacefully. He starts to doubt himself. He hadn't pressured her into coming, had he? It was just the idea of leaving her behind all alone terrified him; a lot. He's worried this isn't what she really wanted, though. He's worried she'll feel out of place and be miserable.

Namjoon elbows him in his side, speaking in their native language while giving Taehyung a teasing smirk. "She's fine, Taehyung."

"I know," he murmurs, watching her lips part as she falls deeper into sleep. "What if this is the wrong decision?"

"Then you learn from it," Namjoon replies easily. "Right now, you're following your intuition. Don't get so wound up over nothing."

Taehyung purses his lips. "Will... will you guys care if she stays with us?"

Namjoon snorts. "As if I'd tell you to toss her out on the streets, or get her her own place when she's in a foreign country. I'm sure it won't be a problem if she stays until she gets settled and comfortable to be on her own. As long as you two don't... you know..." Namjoon scrunches his nose. "J-just don't make it awkward, okay?"

Taehyung's cheeks burn as he bristles. "Hyung, we haven't--never mind. We're not talking about this right now."

"Thank heavens." Namjoon sighs. "But really, Tae. Stop stressing so much already, okay? Besides, it's too late to change your mind. All you can do now is move forward with it."

"What if she hates it?" he murmurs with a frown.

"Stop concerning yourself over nothing," Namjoon huffs. "Instead, ask yourself, what if she loves it?"

Namjoon is right; Taehyung needs to stop overthinking so much. Maddie has just been through so much, he doesn't want to pile more on her. He's hoping that since she'll be with him, he can help keep her steady. It's another reason he didn't want her to be alone. People can make rash decisions when upset and alone.

He doesn't want to imagine a version of the story where he leaves her behind and she never picks up her phone again.

This will be good, he tells himself. It'll all work out.

It'll just take some adjusting, that's all.

He opens his mouth to ask Namjoon another overly-thought-out question when his phone rings, Jimin's picture popping up as he tries to FaceTime. Taehyung puts an earbud in, answering the call.

"Finally," Jimin nearly shouts. "I've been calling you the past couple days like crazy."

"Sorry," he mumbles. "It's been really busy."

"You're on the flight home? Was she okay when you left?"

Taehyung licks his lips, eyes darting to her as he scratches his chin. "Actually..."

Jimin's eyes widen with realization. "You're bringing her?"

His stomach knots in nervousness. "T-that's okay, right?" he stammers, suddenly worried about what the members will think with a stranger in their home.

"Well, obviously I don't care. I'm just surprised PD-nim approved it."

"About that..."

"You haven't asked him yet? Taehyung! You can just drag the poor girl onto an airplane to another country without knowing if she can even stay!"

"She's definitely staying," Taehyung says firmly. "That's out of the question. Even if I have to rent a separate apartment to keep her there."

He hadn't meant to sound so bold, which takes Jimin off guard, albeit a grin begins spreading across his face. "Wow, you're really whipped, huh? Maybe we should all take a vacation and find the love of our lives."

Taehyung rolls his eyes, though, his cheeks flush. "Shut up."

"Can I talk to her?" Jimin asks. "I've been practicing my English, you know."

"She's asleep," Taehyung replies with amusement. "You can show her your English skills when we get there."

"Fine. I'll tell Jin-hyung to cook up something delicious so we make a good first impression."

"Can you also tell the members to not freak her out? Especially Yoongi-hyung. Tell that man to find a filter for his mouth, please."

Jimin smirks teasingly. "We'll be on our best behavior, I swear."

Namjoon pokes his head in front of the screen to wave, speaking into the mic on Taehyung's earphones. "See you soon, Jimin. Tell Jungkook he better have his room picked up by the time we get there. I'm tired of seeing his clothes on the floor."

Jimin laughs, giving a thumbs up. "I'll try my best. Have a safe flight, guys."

Taehyung settles back in the seat after hanging up, calculating they only have a little over two hours left. Out the corner of his eye, he sees Maddie stretching, her eyes fluttering open. At first she appears confused, a frown on her face, but then her eyes lock with Taehyung's and she smiles at him.

He really loves her smile.

"Did you sleep well?" he asks. He's been practicing a lot of phrases he already knows, just to get them perfect, but he's been studying hard too. If only English weren't so broad and complicated, he would have already been fluent at this point.

"Mhmm," she hums, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Did you sleep?"

Taehyung shrugs. "A few minutes." He'd been thinking too hard and too much about everything to sleep longer than fifteen minutes at a time.

"I don't want you to be tired," she says with a pout.

He grins at her, leaning forward to kiss her puckered lips. She's just so cute.

"I'm serious." She laughs, grabbing his chin to meet his eyes. "You should try to sleep, Tae."

He sighs, but slouches down in the seat, laying his head on her shoulder and crossing his arms over his chest. Her fingers start running through his hair, making him realize just how exhausted he really is.

"You guys are gross," Namjoon grumbles. "I can't wait to get off this plane."

Maddie giggles, a blush on her cheeks while Taehyung smiles widely. Moments like these prove to him how impossible it would've been to leave her behind.

Taehyung doesn't know when he falls asleep cuddled up next to her, but when he awakes it's from Maddie pinching his cheek, announcing softly to him that they've landed. He sits up, squinting, noticing Namjoon on the phone as he stands in the aisle. The last few people are exiting the plane, leaving Namjoon, Taehyung, and Maddie as the only three left aside from the attendants.

He yawns as he reaches overhead, grabbing their carry-ons from the cabinet. He hands Maddie her things, but holds Namjoon's as he watches the elder's face scrunch. Not good news, apparently.

His suspicion is confirmed when Namjoon hangs up with a heavy sigh. "So... we have to wait for extra security to arrive."

Taehyung rubs his forehead.

"I thought they changed your flight to keep fans out?" Maddie asks, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. This is all very new to her.

"They did, but a lot of fans keep tabs on things like that. Sasaengs, we call them. Stalkers, basically."

"I didn't realize how serious this all is," she mumbles, looking up to Taehyung with worried eyes.

"It will be okay," he tells her, lacing their fingers. He brings the back of her hand up to his lips.

Namjoon apologizes when an attendant asks if they can exit so the plane can be cleaned, prepared for the next round. Taehyung and Maddie follow Namjoon out into the loading area where they wait in the hallway, out of sight from anyone in the airport. It doesn't take long for six large men to show up, gesturing for the three to stay in the center as they exit the hall, entering the main lobby.

At first, it's silent apart from the normal bustle of airports.

However, the second they turn the corner, loud cheers erupt from a crowd of girls standing near the exit. Taehyung's hand tightens in Maddie's while his other pulls on a mask. Maddie settles for keeping her head down, walking as close to Taehyung as possible while Namjoon walks ahead of them.

Korean words are shouted at them, Maddie recognizing none of them except the abundant amount of saranghae shouted. There's another voice that yells above the others, and while Maddie has no idea what was said, whatever it is makes Taehyung squeeze her hand further, his eyes cutting sharply in the direction of the culprit.

Security does a good job keeping the fans--or saesangs, more accurately--away. There's so many flashes going off that Maddie has to keep her eyes on her feet in order to see anything at all. She's relying on Taehyung to guide her, and Namjoon's heels as he takes the lead. It's so hectic, she has to go through breathing exercises in her head, trying not to lose her mind at how overwhelming the entire situation is.

Another fan screams loudly above the others, and this time, Taehyung's steps falter. His eyes narrow as he scans the crowd, his hand gripping Maddie's so tight she thinks it's going numb. His abrupt stop, though, makes the security guard behind him trip up, a saesang slipping past and slamming into Maddie on accident, trying to get to Taehyung. Taehyung wraps his arms around Maddie to keep her from falling, albeit he had stumbled back from the force of the impact as well. The guard jumps back in quickly, tossing the girl aside, pushing the couple to move.

Taehyung keeps his arm around Maddie's shoulders the rest of the walk, his speed quickening as she struggles to keep up. When they're finally out the door, Namjoon is waiting in a black SUV, ushering them inside. Maddie climbs in like her life depends on it, not realizing she's shaking until Namjoon pats her leg and tells her to calm down, that she's safe now.

The car begins to drive off, and that's when Maddie realizes Taehyung is shaking too. The only difference is that his is from rage.

He snaches the mask off, turning to her as he cups her face. "I'm so sorry, Maddie. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she manages to say, but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't shaken up by the entire event.

"What happened?" Namjoon asks.

Taehyung blurts out in Korean, an angry string of words that has his cheeks tinted red by the time he finishes. He runs a hand through his hair, keeping his other on Maddie's knee, as if she's going to be snatched away from him at any moment.

"Tae," she says softly, trying to get a good look of his face but he's glaring out the window.

Namjoon leans over to her to whisper, "He feels guilty, Maddie. He thinks you won't trust him anymore because your safety was at risk. He's embarrassed by how the fans acted."

Her lips part, her heart feeling as if it's cracking. "Taehyung," she says, firmer this time, grabbing his chin to lock their eyes. Namjoon's phone rings again, so she speaks quietly. "It's not your fault, okay? I'm okay, I promise."

His eyes are so big, so full of sadness and guilt that she strokes his cheekbone with her thumb. "I'm okay," she repeats. "Don't be upset."

He lets his forehead fall to rest against hers, exhaling heavily. "I'm sorry," he tells her again. "That is not the welcome you deserve."

"You can make it up to me by showing me around tomorrow," she says with a grin, kissing his nose.

He smiles, nodding.

It's about four in the afternoon when they arrive at a large building, causing Maddie to look up in awe as she steps out the car. It's clearly a very expensive apartment complex, making Maddie feel almost like she doesn't quite belong. She's certainly not the fancy type, nor has she ever been rich. This lifestyle is completely alien to her.

"I hope I don't make things awkward," she says sheepishly, giving Namjoon a wary glance.

"Nah," he replies with a wave of his hand. "The members are really outgoing. They'll do their best to talk to you and make you feel comfortable. Yoongi-hyung is quiet naturally, though, so don't be offended if he doesn't speak much."

Hearing him say "hyung" reminds her. "Is there any honorifics or anything I should know? I don't want to offend any of them..."

Namjoon grins, his dimples popping out. "That's cute, Maddie. Don't worry, they won't hate you if you don't know everything. Everyone has to start from somewhere, right?"

Taehyung puts a hand on her lower back. "It's okay, Maddie."

Crap.

"I'm really nervous all of a sudden," she says, fidgeting with her bag to keep from picking at her nails anxiously.

Namjoon laughs, patting her shoulder. "You'll be fine, I promise."

She follows him up the pathway, Taehyung at her side with his hand still on her back. It makes her relax a little that neither of them are as frantic as she is, confident their friends and her will get along. She certainly hopes so. The last thing she wants is to come in uninvited and make things hard for everyone. She makes a note to herself to remain as invisible as possible so as to not get in anyone's way. They won't even know she's there.

She inhales a breath, already feeling like this is a bad idea. She's only going to make them feel weird, make things difficult. She can't even properly communicate with them, and now she's stepping into their home unexpectedly? It isn't fair to them. Of course she wants to be with Taehyung, but not at the other members' expense.

Taehyung senses her uneasiness, kissing her temple. "Relax," he tells her. "They know you are here."

That doesn't help her relax. What if they already hate her just for showing up at their home?

She tries to stop her thoughts; she's probably being ridiculous. But she can't help it.

Once inside, they take the elevator up. Maddie doesn't focus on the ride, failing at keeping her thoughts subdued as she drowns in them. As of now, her thought process is one of guilt. She should've taken more time to learn Korean, should've been more considerate of how hard Taehyung works just to speak to her. It's only fair if she puts in the same amount of effort. Suddenly, she feels like a terrible person, expecting so much without returning the same.

Namjoon is getting his keys out when Maddie slips behind Taehyung, making the boy laugh as he grabs her hand, pulling her back to his side. The door swings open and Namjoon steps inside, leaving the couple to follow. Maddie looks around, expecting five men to be crowded in the main room, however, it appears to be empty. The house is quiet, and absolutely beautiful, might she add. The silence is just starting to soothe her when suddenly--

One of the members comes flying around the corner, a second close behind as he shouts something. The first member is tall with brown hair and a bright smile, his cheeks pink from running. The second is slightly taller, black hair and a disgruntled expression, his full lips continuing to spout things as the first member uses the island in the kitchen as a barrier between them.

The first member, though, ignores the second as his eyes catch on the three in the doorway, his smile faltering as shock fills his eyes. This catches the attention of the upset man, turning around to see what confused the other.

Namjoon says something to them while Taehyung leans over to Maddie and whispers, "I will introduce you in Korean, okay?"

She nods, feeling incredibly out of place as Taehyung steps forward, tugging her with him. She hears her name leave his lips and she dips her head, recalling how Taehyung and Namjoon have always done as such whenever greeting someone. Hopefully, the amount of time she's spent watching Taehyung will help her be as respectful as possible.

"Maddie," he says, turning to her. "This is Jungkook, the youngest--" He points to the brunette "--and Jin-hyung, the oldest. They are both children."

"Nice to meet you," she says quietly with a shy smile, annoyed with herself that she hadn't looked up certain phrases to become aware of.

The confusion washes away from them as if it were never there, smiles taking over their faces. "Ah, hello," Jin says, contemplating his words before speaking again. "Sorry, uh, you had to see... that."

Jungkook mocks Jin's pointed words, giggling at himself before bowing to Maddie. "Nice to meet you, Maddie."

She's surprised by how fluid his English sounds, but Taehyung had already told her Namjoon is the only fluent one. She vaguely remembers a while ago when Taehyung had been pointing the members out in a picture how he said Jungkook is the one good at everything. Maybe he's just a quick learner.

She wishes she was.

Satisfied he introduced himself, Jin realizes what they previously came to the kitchen for and starts complaining to Namjoon, making the leader sigh heavily as he gives Maddie a look that makes her grin. As if these are children he has to babysit on a daily basis, and their bickering is constant.

Namjoon responds by saying something to Jungkook, the youngest grinning in response as he tosses Jin's phone back to him without warning. Jin nearly drops it, and albeit Maddie doesn't know Korean, she's certain he spews a string of curses, which only makes Jungkook laugh before going to the refrigerator.

"Let's go find Jimin," Taehyung tells her, keeping a hold of her hand. She forgot he'd been holding it the entire time.

Jin hears Jimin's name, and speaks something to Taehyung.

"Ah," Taehyung lets out. "Okay, okay. We have to go downstairs."

Namjoon hits Taehyung on the shoulder. "Why don't you let her put her stuff down first? Don't be rude."

Taehyung flushes as Maddie smiles. "Sorry, sorry. I will show you my room, okay?"

He leads the way, and Maddie hears the boys behind her whispering despite her not knowing what they're saying nonetheless. She isn't offended, just more self-conscious. She can't blame them for asking questions about a girl suddenly staying in their home.

Taehyung opens the door to his room with a proud smile, taking her suitcase from her. His bed is made neatly, his closet doors open to reveal an organized array of clothing. There's various canvas art hanging on the walls, one she recognizes as a Van Gogh while the rest she isn't so sure. There's a photograph of him and his parents on his nightstand, and other pictures of family lining his dresser. There's something peaceful about stepping into his room, like she walked into a mini art gallery created by Taehyung himself.

Maddie picks up a picture of Taehyung crouching, two little boys throwing their arms around his neck while large smiles take up each of their faces. The happiness is contagious, somehow erasing all of the nerves she felt earlier about intruding.

"My... cousins," he says, noticing her. "They are older now."

"They're adorable," she tells him.

"I miss them," he murmurs as she sets the frame back down. "It's been a long time."

"Hopefully you'll see them soon," she says, trying to be positive as she watches the bittersweet smile tug at his lips.

He nods at her words, setting her suitcase down near his closet. "You can unpack later," he says, changing the subject. "I want you to meet Jimin and Hobi-hyung. They are at dance, uh... practice."

She follows him, but her nerves return the second she steps out his room, crossing her fingers in hopes she doesn't ruin everything by being here.