1.

Taehyung had lived in his new apartment for a little over three weeks but tonight was the first time it had really felt like home. And maybe it had everything to do with the fact that his older brother was in the kitchen, singing terribly and far too loud while he made dinner but he was never going to tell Seokjin that. He would literally rather eat glass than tell his older brother that he had missed him since moving out. It didn’t matter that it was true.

And it was true. All of his things were here now, his paints and canvases and books and clothes, but none of those things gave him the same comfort as his brother. He realized this as he sat at the table, legs tucked under him, watching Seokjin move around the kitchen like he had been there a million times before when in reality, including the day that Taehyung had moved in, this was only his second time there.

“You do know you don’t live here, right?” Taehyung asked because Seokjin was rearranging his spices, muttering to himself about alphabetical order and idiot brothers.

“It makes more sense for them to be like this,” Seokjin told him without so much as a glance at Taehyung. “You’ll thank me later.”

Taehyung rolled his eyes and picked his phone up to check the time. “I’ll thank you when dinner is ready. Will that be anytime tonight or…?”

Seokjin placed the last of the spice jars in place before he turned toward his brother. “You whined about missing mom’s cooking so I came here to cook for you and this is how I’m treated? Ungrateful. I should just leave and take the food to someone who would appreciate it. Like Jungkookie. How would you like that, hmm?”

Knowing Seokjin, there was about a eighty-five percent chance that he wasn’t bluffing and if Taehyung didn’t apologize promptly, he really would take the food and leave. And since Taehyung wasn’t really in the mood to order takeout again, he wasn’t going to take any chances. Especially not with the smell of food permeating the air, making his stomach growl.

(He would never admit that he also really didn’t want his brother to leave.)

“Sorry, hyung.” He pouted as he tipped his head to the side and widened his eyes. “I was just joking. I am so grateful. You’re the best big brother in the whole world.”

It was Seokjin’s turn to roll his eyes as he turned to pull the pot that had been steaming and bubbling from the heat. “Stop sucking up and come make your bowl.”

With their bowls filled to the brim with noodles and broth and meat, Seokjin and Taehyung made their way to the table. It was brand new and Taehyung felt a little strange sitting alone at a table that could easily seat six or seven. He had been eating on the couch or in bed instead. But sitting across from his older brother as he loudly slurped his noodles and groaned about how delicious the food was made it feel less strange. Made him feel more at home in his home. And, as he popped a chunk of meat into his mouth, Taehyung was sure that he could do this, could actually live alone for the first time in his life.

Of course, that was the moment his brother said, “So the leasing agent is kind of cute, isn’t he?”

Taehyung promptly choked and reached for the glass of wine in front of him, swallowing almost half of it in an attempt to clear his airways. All the while, Seokjin kept eating, a faint smirk on his lips.

“I could have died.” His voice was raspy, throat a little sore.

“You were fine.” Seokjin reached for his own glass, lifting it to his mouth for a sip. “Jimin, right? I talked to him on the way up.”

“What did you say to him?” Taehyung asked, failing completely at keeping his voice calm.

“Nothing really,” Seokjin answered, smiling sweetly with his eyes closed and his mouth closed. He took another drink before he added, “He asked about you.”

“What did he say?” This time, he didn’t even try to act calm. He was feeling anything but calm after hearing that Park Jimin, the leasing agent with the prettiest lips and eyes and skin Taehyung had ever seen on a person had asked about him. Jimin lived one floor below Taehyung, always talked to him when they passed each other on the stairs or ended up in the elevator together, and Taehyung couldn’t even pretend he didn’t have a big fat crush on him. Especially not in front of his brother.

“He asked if I was your boyfriend,” Seokjin answered and then cackled, the sound echoing off the walls. Taehyung was sure his neighbors across the hall could hear it loud and clear in their own apartment. Seokjin wiped his eyes as he chuckled. “As if you could ever pull someone as handsome as me.”

“Ew,” Taehyung said and laughed when Seokjin stuck his tongue out at him.

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

With his brother gone, Seokjin’s car disappearing around the corner as he watched, Taehyung sighed and picked up the bag of trash he’d grabbed to throw in the dumpster on the way out. It was just his luck that it caught on the concrete, ripping the bag on one corner. With a soft curse under his breath, he held the bag as far from his body as he could and took careful steps toward the dumpster.

He was almost there, somehow managing to avoid splashing the pungent liquid leaking from the bag on himself, when someone called out his name. The unexpected sound made him flinch which in turn made the bag swing toward him and splatter on his leg.

That someone was Jimin because of course it was. Taehyung could only stare at him with wide eyes and wish for the ground to split open and swallow him whole as the trash juice dripped onto his foot. Because he had trash juice dripping on his foot while Jimin looked like that. Black jeans hugging his hips and thighs, blue ribbed velvet shirt stretched obscenely across his chest and around his biceps, the arms rolled up nearly to his shoulders. His hair curled at the ends, framing his face and bringing Taehyung’s attention directly to his pretty pink lips and eyes lined with dark makeup.

“I met your brother today,” Jimin told him, lips curled into a smirk as he looked up at Taehyung who hadn’t missed the emphasis he’d used. “He told me something really interesting about you, Taehyung-ssi.”

Oh, Taehyung was going to kill Seokjin. Quickly and efficiently. Without remorse. And-

Something dripped onto his foot again, cold and wet and enough to shake him from thoughts of fratricide. A shiver of disgust worked its way down his spine as he peered down at his feet, lamenting the fact that he had chosen open-toed slippers instead of sneakers.

“My trash is leaking,” he said finally. After a moment of silence, which was only broken by what Taehyung was sure was Jimin snickering under his breath, he added, “Just. Just give me one second.”

He waddled to the dumpster, head hanging in shame as the trash left a trail on the concrete. Once the dripping bag was disposed of, Taehyung turned back to Jimin. The instant their eyes met, Jimin broke, lips splitting into a grin as laughter spilling from between them.

“It got on my foot.” Taehyung pouted which only made Jimin laugh harder. His face had to be tinged with pink, cheeks warm as he averted his gaze.

“I’m sorry,” Jimin told him, sounding earnest despite the fact that he was still laughing. The sound of a zipper had him lifting his eyes from a very interesting spot on the wall, just enough to watch Jimin reaching into the bag hanging from his shoulder.

“You’re still laughing,” Taehyung pointed out. “I don’t think someone who was sorry would be laughing. Especially not at something so tragic.”

“Right, so tragic,” Jimin nodded, pausing in his digging only to raise a brow at Taehyung before he continued. “Your poor slippers.”

“I don’t care about the slippers,” Taehyung huffed, crossing his arms. “It got on me, Park Jimin-ssi. There is trash juice on my skin and you seem to find it funny.”

“I said I was sorry!” Jimin peered into the opening of his bag with his perfectly sculpted brows furrowed. After a moment, he grinned and pulled something from its depths. “Here they are!”

He held up a package of wet wipes, directing his grin at Taehyung. A distracting flash of teeth and pink tongue between his full lips that had Taehyung’s brain lagging a bit. By the time he thought to extend his hand to take the wet wipes, Jimin was already moving. All Taehyung could do was watch with wide eyes as Jimin sat cross-legged on the concrete, tugged a wipe out of the package and reached for his leg.

“So…” Jimin started, swiping the wipe across Taehyung’s leg. His eyes were focused on what he was doing but Taehyung could see the hint of a smirk on his lips. “Did you want to hear what your brother told me about you?”

Taehyung parted his lips to tell him that whatever his brother had said was a lie because he was a dirty liar just as Jimin’s other hand wrapped around his ankle.

The question he had just been asked completely escaped him. Fluttered away on the warm breeze. All he could think about was how it felt like Jimin was holding him in place. That paired with the angle from which he was looking down at the other man. He would be lying through his teeth if he said he hadn’t imagined the two of them in a similar position before. Probably far more than he should have considering he had only known the man for a few weeks at this point.

“Taehyung-ssi?” Jimin tapped his fingers against Taehyung’s ankle, pulling him away from his thoughts.

“What-” Their eyes met just as he started to speak so Taehyung had to pause, swallow and try again. “What did he tell you?”

“He told me you missed your mom’s cooking and begged him to come make dinner,” Jimin told him, pulling his hands away to grab a new wipe. His hand went right back around Taehyung’s ankle as he returned to wiping the trash juice from his skin. “Sounds to me like you’re a bit of a momma’s boy.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Taehyung hissed, covering his face with his hand to hide the way he was blushing furiously. (And hoping that Jimin didn’t notice that he didn’t deny that he was a momma’s boy. Because he was but he didn’t want Jimin to know that.)

Jimin laughed, patting the top of Taehyung’s foot.

“I think it’s sweet,” he said before he stood up to toss the dirty wipes. When he turned back to Taehyung, the weight of his gaze had heat coiling low in Taehyung’s stomach. “Goodnight, Taehyung-ah.”

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

Taehyung had no idea how long he stood there, outside of the building next to the dumpster, after Jimin had gone. Maybe it had only been a few minutes but to him, it felt like it had to have been hours. When he finally managed to break himself free of whatever spell Jimin had cast, he hurried to the elevator and back to his apartment, barely breathing until the bathroom door was closed behind him.

He stripped as steam filled the room, tossing his clothes in the hamper before climbing into the shower.

The water was close to scalding, leaving red marks where it sloshed against his skin before disappearing down the drain. Even so, he was distracted, hands over his face as he stood under the spray with the entire conversation he’d had with Jimin replaying in his mind in 4K Ultra HD.

The way Jimin had looked in the dim light from the street lamps, dark curls and pink lips and honey skin and curves beneath the tight fitting clothes. The way Jimin had looked at him, eyes focused and lids heavy. But most importantly, the way his fingers had felt, curling around Taehyung’s ankle. So small and warm against his skin.

With a frustrated groan, Taehyung dropped his hand and wrapped it around his aching cock.

2.

“What’s this?” Jungkook asked, picking up the flier that Taehyung had left on the coffee table and replacing it with the plate he had piled with far too much pizza for one person. He held it up, eyes trailing over the words printed on the page without waiting for Taehyung to answer. “A pool party?”

“For charity,” Taehyung said, turning his focus back to the television where a movie they had seen a million and one times was playing.

Not that he needed to look at the flier anyway. He had read it over so many times since finding it in his mailbox that morning that he practically had the words memorized. Community Pool Party was printed in big, bold letters in the middle. There were beach balls, flamingo floats and colourful umbrellas on the middle of the page and at the bottom it read: All proceeds to be donated to Furry Friends Animal Shelter. If you’d like to volunteer (in the form of time, baked goods and/or food), please text Jimin at [000-000-0000].

Taehyung had immediately texted Jimin to volunteer his time. Definitely not baked goods because he didn’t know how to bake or any kind of food because he much preferred when others cooked for him and avoided the kitchen unless absolutely necessary.

He told Jungkook this and was completely thrown off by the confused look that he received, the flier returned to the table in favor of pizza. He had expected support. Praise even. He was doing this for charity after all.

“You heard me say for charity, right?” Taehyung asked, swiping a slice of pizza from Jungkook’s plate. He rolled his eyes when Jungkook made a pained sound and took a bite, chewing it for a moment before asking, “Did you even read the rest of the flier?”

Jungkook tilted his head to the side with a sheepish grin, blinking shiny brown eyes at Taehyung like he always did. When Taehyung simply stared at him, Jungkook reached forward to grab the flier again. His eyes scanned the words on the page as he chewed and then, with wide eyes and a mouth full of half-chewed crust and cheese and veggies, he said, “Oh. That’s why.”

With the pizza almost to his mouth, Taehyung paused. “What are you talking about?”

“Please text Jimin,” Jungkook read, pointing at the bottom of the flier with his pizza crust. “That’s why you’re volunteering.”

“I don’t know what you mean. I love charity. I love being neighbourly.”

Turning his gaze back to the television, Taehyung shoved the pizza into his mouth, taking an outrageously big bite. Of course, this meant that he couldn’t do anything but choke and gasp for air when Jungkook said, “I think it’s more that you’d love to bang the hot leasing agent.”

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

Taehyung [10:15AM]: Hi, Jimin-ssi. This is Kim Taehyung

Taehyung [10:15AM]: From apartment 313.

Taehyung [10:16AM]: I was just wondering if you were still needing volunteers for the community charity pool party?

Jimin [10:30AM]: Good morning, Kim Taehyung From Apartment 313. 😊 Yes, I still need volunteers. Are you interested?

Taehyung [10:35AM]: Yes but I can’t cook or bake so all I can offer is time

Jimin [10:37AM]: That’s perfectly okay, Taehyung-ssi! I’ll mostly need help setting everything up and managing activities since a few other residents have volunteered food and baked goods. Does that sound okay?

Taehyung [10:37AM]: Yes! Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it. 🫡

3.

Even after showering away the day, scrubbing the paint from his skin and lathering his hair up with far too much shampoo, Taehyung was filled to the brim with restless energy. Brain buzzing and limbs tingling with it as he dressed, as he stood in front of the open refrigerator eating strawberries straight from the pint, as he settled at his desk. He had been pushing away thoughts of plush pink lips and silky dark hair and smooth honey skin tirelessly but now they were catching up with him.

The fact that it had been days since he’d last gotten off was finally catching up with him.

Exactly six days but he wasn’t counting.

Really, he wasn’t.

With a sigh, Taehyung slouched in his chair and reached for the mouse, giving it a little shake to wake his computer. A couple of clicks later, he found himself perusing the regular sites. Closing one and opening the next because nothing was catching his eye. None of this was what he needed. What he needed was…

The next click brought him to a cam site. Like most other porn sites, this one had its most viewed videos and most popular streamers on the front page. Free videos mostly, a means to entice viewers into subscribing to paid content.

One in particular drew him in, honey skin and soft curves like a siren call.

Without a second thought, Taehyung was clicking through, letting the video load as he settled back into his chair.

There were many things that Taehyung noticed in the first few seconds of the video - the star-shaped lights strung on the wall emitting a soft glow, dark velvet mask dotted with silver shining stars adorning the man’s face, dusky nipples and miles of skin.

All of it faded away with the first soft gasp from between pink bitten lips.

(Lips that reminded him of a certain leasing agent. One he absolutely needed to stop thinking about. Especially since he would be seeing the man tomorrow at the charity pool party.)

Taehyung was enraptured.

He wanted to say there was no other word for it but he could easily think of more to describe how he was feeling watching this man work himself up with slow, careful touches. He was captivated by fingers following the line of a collarbone. Transfixed by nipples pebbling from the faintest touch of fingertips. Mesmerized by those very same fingertips brushing the waistband of silky black shorts. And absolutely spellbound by the quiet whine that left parted lips when the man’s hand made contact with his erection, barely visible through the silky material.

Somehow during that time his own cock had filled out. Was aching at the sight before him; aching with want, aching to be touched. So he touched, teasing himself as the man on the screen did the same. Following the same trail on his own body - fingers across collarbone, brushing against his nipples through the fabric of his shirt, until he reached the waistband of his pajama pants.

He wasted no time at all wrapping his hand around himself, groaning quietly at the feeling of tight heat around him. The sound echoed through the room, mixing with the sounds coming from the computer speakers in a way that had heat pooling low in Taehyung’s stomach. Had him teetering on the edge as he gave his cock a slow tug.

On the computer screen, the man had pushed his silky shorts down just enough to get his hand around his cock - pretty pink head shiny with precome - and it was obvious he was already close. From the way his chest heaved, nostrils flaring with each flick of his wrist. From the way his whole body flushed, apparent even in the dim light of whatever room he was in. From the constant whine in the back of his throat, adam’s apple bobbing around it.

“Fuck… M’gonna,” came from the speakers, the man’s voice low and deep.

And completely unexpected.

Taehyung was sure it was the surprise that pushed him the last little bit, had his orgasm rushing through him between one breath and the next. And maybe he would have felt bad about how quickly it had hit him if he hadn’t been so distracted by the sight of the man on the screen painting his soft stomach with thick stripes of come. By the way his softening cock stirred with interest at the gasp that filtered through the speakers despite the fact that he hadn’t gotten off that hard in a long time.

The video didn’t end there like Taehyung expected. Instead, the man trailed his fingers through the mess he’d made of his chest, globs of come sticking to his fingers as he lifted them to his mouth. It was the moment his lips wrapped around the tips of his fingers that the video ended abruptly, no fade to black as he was left dazed and panting in his chair.

Fifteen minutes later, Taehyung had cleaned himself up, changed into a clean pair of boxers and pajama pants and bought a subscription to a cam site for the very first time.

All because of a camboy in a velvet feline-shaped mask.

Little Lynx.

4.

“You really didn’t have to come,” Taehyung said as he stepped into the hallway and pulled the door closed behind them. He didn’t move from the spot he stood in, hesitation beyond obvious as he reached for the handle to check that the door was locked.

“Oh no, I really did,” Jungkook told him, waiting patiently with a shit-eating grin stretching his mouth wide. “Besides, I love charity.”

Rolling his eyes, Taehyung turned on his heel and started down the hallway, sure that Jungkook would follow without having to look back to make sure. This only made Jungkook cackle. Literally cackle, like an anime villain.

“I hate you,” Taehyung threw over his shoulder as he sped up, aiming to leave his so-called best friend behind.

Unfortunately, they were heading to the same place so Taehyung had to endure more of Jungkook’s not-so-subtle jokes. He did so in complete silence, hoping that Jungkook could feel all of the disappointment radiating from him as they made their way downstairs. Maybe this time Jungkook would realize that Taehyung was giving him the silent treatment. (He wouldn’t.)

The private pool was one of the reasons that Taehyung had picked this apartment complex. It was nestled in the middle, visible from a handful of apartments, with a privacy fence surrounding it. Normally it was closed to the public but for just today, it was open to the surrounding community in order to raise money for the charity. It was still early so the only ones who were inside were the few tenants who had volunteered - a few that Taehyung recognized including Jimin and two of the maintenance crew, Yoongi and Namjoon.

Both men were older than Taehyung and close friends with Jimin. The first time Taehyung had met them had been just a handful of days after he’d moved in, when the garbage disposal in the kitchen had started making a strange sound. Like something was caught in it. Too scared that it would be his hand that eventually got stuck, Taehyung had immediately called the main office.

Now, the pair were helping Jimin organize the tables. Yoongi and Namjoon were laying out napkins, plates and cutlery on one table while Jimin placed platters of sweets on another. There was fudge and cupcakes, sweet rice cakes and bungeoppang; all of it looked delicious and made Taehyung’s mouth water.

Or maybe the sight of Jimin was what had his mouth watering.

The sheer shirt that showed off his golden skin and swim shorts that clung to his thighs and ass like a second skin certainly had Taehyung’s heart thumping wildly. Who was he kidding? It had him wanting to turn around and run back to his apartment to hide (and probably jerk-off because god, Jimin was so damn hot).

“There you are, Taehyung-ah!” Jimin called out, voice happy and smile bright, as his eyes landed on the two of them at the gate.

A quiet groan rumbled in Taehyung’s throat before he had a chance to stop it.

Unfortunately not quiet enough because Jungkook snickered from just behind him. The younger man inhaled as if he was about to say something and, as Jimin drew near, almost within earshot, Taehyung jabbed his elbow into Jungkook’s side. The snickering faded into a sad whine just as Jimin stopped before them.

“And who is this?” Jimin asked, tilting his head as he looked from Taehyung to Jungkook and back again.

Taehyung was sure Jungkook was going to embarrass him then, rubbing the pain from his side with a frown, but whatever words he had prepared died in his throat as Yoongi and Namjoon approached, stopping on either side of Jimin.

“This is my best friend, Jungkook,” Taehyung said after a long pause. He elbowed Jungkook again to get his attention, head turning sluggishly from where he had been staring at the two men. “Jungkook-ah, this is Jimin. He works in the office.”

Jungkook blinked at him, lips slightly parted. He blinked again. And again. It was with the third blink that he came to his senses.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Jimin-ssi.” Jungkook bowed, eyes lowered.

Taehyung frowned but pushed on with the introductions, gesturing first to Yoongi and then to Namjoon as he told Jungkook their names.

“They work maintenance for the apartment,” Taehyung added.

Silence fell again, awkward and tense as Taehyung looked between his best friend and the three men across from them. The tips of Namjoon’s ears were pink as he pretended like he wasn’t looking at Jungkook from the corner of his eye. Yoongi’s cheeks were flushed as his eyes danced back and forth between Namjoon and Jungkook, like he couldn’t decide who he wanted to look at. And then there was Jimin with his watchful eyes.

The way he gazed at their friends made it clear that Taehyung wasn’t the only one picking up on the tension building between them.

Those sharp eyes found Taehyung then.

“Taehyung-ah, why don’t you come help me?” Jimin said, dipping his head to the side in a clear invitation for Taehyung to follow.

And he did, with one last glance at Jungkook.

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

Taehyung was sure that Jimin had only said he needed help as an excuse to leave their friends with… whatever that had been. Of course, he was wrong. Jimin led him across the patio to where the tables were set up along the gate and instructed him to start setting up the build-your-own nacho station. He left Taehyung there for a few minutes as he finished up the baked goods table before he returned.

“So…” Jimin rearranged the bowls of toppings that Taehyung had just placed as he spoke. “That was weird, right?”

“Oh my god,” Taehyung hissed, dropping a bag of tortilla chips on the ground as he whipped toward Jimin. “It was so weird. Jungkook was being so…weird.”

“So were my hyungs,” Jimin told him as he straightened the edge of the tablecloth.

“I have to ask,” Taehyung started, bending over to pick the chips up. “Is there something going on between them? Namjoon and Yoongi?”

Jimin glanced over his shoulder at their friends. “Not that I know of but I’m pretty sure they’re into each other and don’t want to admit it.”

Honestly, Taehyung had been curious since he’d first met them and had gotten a similar vibe from them in the time he’d spent with them which was admittedly not much. Not just because they lived together, although he would be lying if he said that wasn’t part of it. It had more to do with the way they were with one another, the way they looked at one another when they thought no one was watching. And now, both of them were looking at his best friend in a similar manner. It was a little strange, Taehyung had to admit, but not in a bad way. Just unexpected.

Maybe there were real feelings there, between Yoongi and Namjoon, but there was one thing Taehyung knew for sure as he watched the three of them interacting from the other side of the pool. They wanted to fuck each other and Jungkook.

“It seems like they’re into your friend too,” Jimin said, echoing Taehyung’s own thoughts.

When Taehyung turned to look at him, he found that Jimin had stopped what he was doing to watch the three men as well.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Taehyung licked his lips, eyes still on Jimin. On the way the sheer shirt was hanging slightly off his shoulder, revealing a cluster of freckles that Taehyung found incredibly distracting.

Taehyung wondered for a moment if Jimin could hear his thoughts, or the way his heart skipped in his chest, as their eyes met. Or maybe he had let his own hunger for the man on the other side of the table seep into his voice without realizing it.

“Does that bother you?” Jimin asked then, head tilted and eyes narrowed just slightly as they trailed across Taehyung’s face.

The question caught Taehyung completely off guard, left him grasping for words as he tried to figure out what he had missed. Because he had to have missed something, right? Why would Jimin think that he would ever be bothered by his best friend getting railed the way he absolutely deserved?

“Of course not,” he answered, brow furrowed.

“Good.” Jimin smiled brightly, full cheeks pressing his eyes into half moons. “Once you finish with the nacho bar, we’ll be ready to go! I’m going to grab the donation boxes while you do that, okay?”

Jimin didn’t wait for an answer, turning on his heel and waltzing away, leaving Taehyung feeling entirely off-kilter from the abrupt subject change. From the entire interaction, if he was being honest. Plus, that smile directed right at him. It was verging on too much. He frowned again, turning his head to watch Jimin’s path to the supplies he had piled near the gate, but the frown quickly slid from his face to be replaced with a look that was surely pure awe.

This angle gave Taehyung a clear view of Jimin’s back and the line of tattoos down his spine visible through the loose stitches of his shirt. Phases of the moon beginning with a waxing crescent at the nape of his neck, dark ink pressed into honey skin. In that moment, all Taehyung could think about was how badly he wished to press his lips to each moon in turn, taking his time as he made his way down to the most perfect ass he had ever laid eyes upon.

It wasn’t until Jimin threw a look over his shoulder, lips curling into a smirk that had Taehyung’s cheeks burning hot, that he remembered he was supposed to be doing something.

Right, nacho bar, he thought, shaking his head as if that would be enough to clear his mind of the very filthy things filling it.

It wasn’t but he pushed himself to move, to open the chips and pour them into the waiting bowl and closing the lid after. He kept going, putting out all of the toppings and chips and cheeses while avoiding looking at Jimin. (Despite how badly he wanted to.) He finished up quickly, gathering up any trash left over from everything he’d opened and taking it to the closest garbage bin.

Only then did Taehyung allow himself to look around the pool. His friend was helping Namjoon move a cornhole board as Yoongi directed. Some of the other volunteers were adding finishing touches to the tables but most of them were standing around like Taehyung, awaiting instruction from the person who had thrown this whole thing together.

Thankfully, they didn’t have to wait long. Jimin finished placing the last of the donation boxes and clapped his hands together.

“All done!” He called out, looking around at all of their hard work. “And right on time!”

The gate swung open just as he spoke, revealing a family with two kids that Taehyung recognized. They lived one floor below his, near the opposite corner of the building. Right behind them came a couple that Taehyung didn’t recognize and another family with more kids. After that, he stopped trying to keep up with everyone arriving, even as he watched them pay the entry fee at the first table and spread out around the pool in chairs and at tables, all under umbrellas that blocked the bright rays of the sun.

An hour later, Taehyung was passing a stack of napkins to a parent whose kid had just spilled an entire cup of soda when Yoongi came to see if he needed any help.

“The cornhole game pretty much runs itself,” he explained as he popped a chip in his mouth. “Plus, I’m hungry.”

“Well, we still have plenty of food,” Taehyung told him, gesturing to the table as if Yoongi hadn’t already been eyeing the spread with interest. “Help yourself.”

Yoongi grinned at Taehyung, already reaching for a paper plate, and said, “Thanks.”

The older man loaded his plate with chips and cheese and various toppings as Taehyung held out the donation box for an absolutely adorable toddler whose parents had sent them over with a wrinkled bill grasped tightly in their sticky hands.

“For th’ kitties,” the little girl lisped, red pigtails bouncing as she wiggled around and held the bill up for Taehyung to see.

“Wow, you’re so kind!” Taehyung smiled at her as she dropped the money into the box. “Thank you so much!”

He glanced into the box after she’d returned to her parents and saw that quite a bit of money had accumulated in the time he’d been distracted helping with the food.

“Looks like the animal shelter is going to be getting a really nice donation,” Taehyung commented, returning the box to the table and turning to Yoongi who had just taken a bite of his nachos.

Yoongi chewed and swallowed before he said, “Good. We definitely need it.”

“We?”

“Oh, Namjoon and I volunteer at the shelter!” Yoongi explained. “A close friend of ours is the vet there. It’s a very small organization and donations help so much which is why I’m so grateful to Jimin for doing this. I never would have thought of it.”

“You might have eventually.”

Jimin had appeared seemingly from nowhere, standing across the table with a soft smile on his face. Something about the way the dying rays of the sun touched his skin had Taehyung’s heart thumping painfully in his chest.

“Eventually,” Yoongi agreed with a big grin that revealed little white teeth and pink gums. “Even so, thank you for doing this. You know Hoseok really appreciates it.”

Jimin waved his words away, a move that made it clear that he wasn’t doing any of this for gratitude and thanks; he just wanted to help. Before Taehyung could parse out what exactly he was feeling thanks to that information, Jimin was turning his attention to him.

“We’re out of cups and ice. Can you help me grab more from my apartment?”

Taehyung agreed easily, more than happy to help the pool party continue without any hitches since it was for such a good cause. He almost wanted to find Jungkook and tell him: See, I do care about charity! I do love being neighbourly! He just wasn’t sure he wanted to deal with how Jungkook would respond to that. Instead, he followed Jimin into the elevator and up to his apartment on the second floor.

Unsurprisingly, Jimin’s apartment looked much like his. The furniture was different, of course, but the layout was similar. Kitchen and dining room side by side with doors off to the side where Taehyung knew there was a bedroom, bathroom and storage closet.

“I’ll grab the cups from the closet,” Jimin said, already crossing the room as he did so. “Give me just a sec.”

Taehyung nodded, forgetting that Jimin couldn’t see him from inside of the closet because he was distracted by the apartment. By the small touches that spoke of Jimin’s presence. Monochrome colours - soft, black leather couch, grey rug spread on the floor, pillows on the couch stamped with white moons that reminded Taehyung of the tattoo on the other man’s back. There was a big television across from the couch, mounted to the wall between two bookshelves.

An open door caught his attention, drawing his gaze from the framed photographs on the shelves. His feet were moving before he made the conscious decision to step further into the apartment, curiosity directing him.

Jimin’s bedroom. It was much like the main room of the apartment, monochrome and simple. A desk with a computer and an expensive looking chair in front of it. A bed that hadn’t been made, sheets and blankets hanging onto the floor. Another bookshelf. Strings of light hanging around the room, casting dark shadows across the wall.

Looking in made him realize exactly how little he knew about Jimin. How much he wished he knew. A whole life was lived inside of this apartment and Taehyung couldn’t help but wish that he could be part of it.

“Found them!” Jimin called from within the closet, shuffling noises following.

Taehyung stepped back, worried Jimin would think he was a creep if he saw him looking into his bedroom. A worry that was pointless because Jimin didn’t seem to notice at all, too busy balancing two packs of paper cups in his hands as he kicked the closet door closed behind him.

“Now we just need ice.” Jimin huffed like he was trying to catch his breath. “There are bags in my freezer. Do you mind grabbing them?”

“Not at all,” Taehyung answered, turning toward the kitchen. Jimin’s fridge was the same as Taehyung’s, double-sided with a big freezer that Taehyung was so thankful for because he often forgot to eat while painting and frozen foods had saved him from starvation on more than one occasion. It clearly came in handy for Jimin as well, two gigantic bags of ice sitting on the shelves inside.

“Both?” Taehyung threw over his shoulder as he reached for them.

“Yes,” Jimin said, voice closer than Taehyung expected it to be. “Thank you again for your help, Taehyung-ah.”

“It's no problem,” Taehyung said as he pulled the bags out and stepped back, letting the freezer shut behind him. “I love charity.”

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

After Jimin and Taehyung made their way downstairs, the pool party passed in a blur of too loud music, the smell of food and sunscreen overwhelming as the sun dipped below the horizon. And he was distracted. Distracted by Jimin’s smile. By the way he laughed, head thrown back to reveal the long column of his neck and hand finding Taehyung’s arm. By everything about him.

Even with how distracted he was, Taehyung couldn’t help but notice the way his best friend was acting. The way he was never without either Yoongi or Namjoon or both. The fact that he barely spoke to Taehyung the entire night except for when he had pushed him into the pool. Everyone cleared out when it got dark, leaving the volunteers behind to clean things up and even then Jungkook was distant.

It wasn’t until Taehyung was walking Jungkook to the parking lot that the two of them finally talked and it was Taehyung that broke the silence.

“So…” He tucked his hands into the pockets of his swim shorts, finally dry from the dip he hadn’t wanted to take. (At least not until he’d seen the way Jimin’s eyes had darkened as they followed trails of water down Taehyung’s chest.)

“Are we going to talk about-,” he started but Jungkook cut him off with a quick, “No.”

Taehyung bit his lip, barely holding back the laugh bubbling in his throat as he glanced at his friend. Jungkook was blushing, cheeks a furious red as he focused on the concrete beneath their feet.

Silence followed them all the way to Jungkook’s car. He unlocked the door and went to open it before pausing, brow furrowing.

“Are they together?” He asked, not looking at Taehyung. “Namjoon and Yoongi, I mean.”

“They aren’t,” Taehyung answered, tipping his head back to look at the dark sky. He wished that the stars were visible here in the city. “Jimin said he’s pretty sure they’re into each other though.”

He looked back just in time to see Jungkook’s shoulders drop.

“He also said it seemed like they were both into you, Jungkook-ah.”

At that, Jungkook hastily opened the door to his car and clambered inside.

“Goodnight!” He called before he slammed the door behind him.

Taehyung laughed then, the sound of it echoing through the parking lot as he watched Jungkook back out of his spot and disappear into the night. Once he was gone, Taehyung made his way back up to his apartment, the day finally catching up to him. He wanted so badly to crawl straight into bed and pass out but he knew he would hate himself for it tomorrow. Plus, a hot shower always helped him sleep better.

At least, it usually did. Not tonight apparently. Even wearing his most comfortable sleep clothes, Taehyung couldn’t seem to settle his thoughts. Mind wandering to the way Jimin’s small hand had felt against his bicep, fingers curling and pressing into his skin. He tossed and turned in his bed for a few minutes, too stubborn to give up, but eventually, he sat up with a sigh.

Just as he did so, his phone buzzed on the mattress beside him. He grabbed it up, tapping the screen to see the notification. An email from a website he didn’t recognize at first. Until he read the subject line.

Little Lynx is Live!

Taehyung had never moved faster in his life, jumping from the bed and rushing across the room to power up his computer. He typed the website into the address bar as he settled into his chair and shoved his pants and boxers down his hips.

An orgasm was exactly what he needed to help him sleep. And, if Little Lynx live was anything like the video he had watched last night, Taehyung was sure he would have no problem at all getting off.

He was half hard already, just waiting for the stream to load. He cupped his cock, fingers cool against the warm, velvet skin, as he watched the circle spin in the middle of the screen. It felt like it was taking forever, anticipation thrumming through him, but Taehyung was sure it was only a few seconds before Little Lynx came into focus.

The very first thing Taehyung’s eyes found was the tattoo across Little Lynx’s ribcage. He hadn’t noticed it last night but the video he watched had been older. The tattoo was obviously new, the dark letters across smooth, mole-dotted skin were hot, but there was something familiar about it. Something that had him pausing, hand stilling on his chest where he had been plucking gently at his nipples.

The hand circling his cock gave a firm squeeze, an attempt to focus that nearly backfired. It would have sent him spiraling if Taehyung hadn’t let his eyes wander, further up to Little Lynx’s face hidden behind the same dark velvet mask just as the man’s lips parted on a moan. As something in the chat had him smiling, soft and sweet, revealing his teeth.

Of course, there was nothing unusual about this, about an indulgent smile for his audience or a flash of white teeth between plush pink lips. This alone wasn’t what had Taehyung’s stomach flipping and fluttering, his chest tight with confusion and arousal that had yet to subside despite it all. He couldn’t stop watching even as realization grew, sinking into him like a lead weight.

A crooked front tooth visible between pretty pink lips.

Dark nipples and honey skin.

The screen went black as Little Lynx moved the camera. Even then, Taehyung couldn’t look away. His eyes were fixated as the blackness shifted, star-shaped lights strung along the wall above a bed coming into focus.

A bed that Little Lynx was kneeling on, silky sheets wrinkled beneath his weight.

Hints of blue in the dim light, reflecting on pale-washed skin.

His pink cock, head shiny with pre-come, curved toward his soft stomach, balls hanging heavy between thighs that Taehyung would have been more interested in if the conditions were different.

(He was kidding himself, honestly. As per usual. Even as the weight in his stomach became heavier, he couldn’t help but think about sinking his teeth into them, leaving behind red and blue and black, bite marks and bruises from fingers digging into soft flesh.)

Little Lynx was teasing himself, in turn teasing anyone who happened to be watching. And there were plenty of people watching, the counter slowly rising into the high thousands the last time Taehyung’s gaze had strayed. Watching as Little Lynx caressed his skin, starting at his thighs and working his way up, skimming over the part of him that so clearly ached to be touched. As he worked himself closer and closer to the edge, cheeks flushed a red that spread down his throat and chest.

When the man on screen toppled over the edge, it was with a sigh of relief that went straight to Taehyung’s cock, jumping in his loose grip as if it hadn’t been neglected for minutes now. And it was with awe that Taehyung watched Little Lynx run his fingers through the splatters of come on his thighs, gathering as much of it as he could until his fingers were coated with it.

Taehyung had no idea what he had planned, could only watch as Little Lynx shifted on the mattress, spinning around so that it was his ass in view, round and soft and something else that Taehyung wanted so badly to sink his teeth into. A want that only intensified when Little Lynx tipped forward, clean hand on the mattress to keep him up, and arched his back.

The movement had his cheeks spreading for the screen, for the audience of strangers watching. Revealing the dusky rim of his hole, wet and shiny from the lube that had clearly been used to prep him before the start of the livestream.

It was there that Little Lynx’s fingers traveled, carefully spreading his release around before allowing his finger to breach his entrance, hole sucking him in to the first knuckle with little to no resistance.

And Taehyung couldn’t breathe.

Despite his best efforts, despite the deep inhales and the way his mouth hung wide.

Not as a second finger joined the first.

And certainly not as his eyes, desperate to memorize every inch of skin, every freckle and mole, finally caught on the black ink that trailed up Little Lynx’s spine.

Phases of the moon, detailed and beautiful, pressed into honey skin.

The realization that had been blooming like a spring flower hit him with a jolt, had his grip tightening around the base of his cock and an orgasm barreling through him.

The man on the screen of his computer, fucking his own come into himself with quick fingers with the tattoo on his ribcage, messy letters spelling out Nevermind. The man who turned his head to press whines into his shoulder, with moons etched in the notches of his spine. The man who had smiled with a crooked front tooth and lips that had Taehyung feeling entranced from their very first meeting.

It was Jimin.

Little Lynx was Park Jimin.

5.

Taehyung almost always faced his problems head on. Didn’t let himself dwell on things or let them fester. Like when Jungkook had decided he needed to leave post-its all over their dorm room in university, even in the fridge and the shower. Or pretty much every disagreement he and Seokjin had growing up (although it took them quite a few years to get to the point that they could talk it out instead of throwing hands first). Basically, he was quick to work through them and move on.

Except…

He was avoiding Jimin.

He had been for almost a week now and it was not an easy task. Jimin lived and worked in the same apartment complex as Taehyung so he was bound to run into him. And he had. Several times. At the mailbox where he made excuses not to stay and chat. While taking trash out to the dumpster. When, after he had spent an hour trying to fix the leak in his sink himself, he finally called the office and Jimin answered the phone.

Just two days ago, Taehyung had stepped out of his apartment, already late to lunch with his mom and brother, and found Jimin coming down the hallway in his direction. Alone with his phone in his hand and his eyes glued to the screen as he walked. And, after a single moment of hesitation, Taehyung had practically dove back inside and closed the door behind him. He had no idea exactly how long he had stood there with his back against the door and his heart pounding wildly in his chest but it was long enough that his mom gave him an earful when he finally showed up at the restaurant.

It went without saying that Taehyung felt terrible.

He felt terrible for avoiding Jimin, especially when was sure Jimin could tell something was off. But he felt even worse for having seen Jimin like that.

Without his permission.

Yes, Jimin posted his videos online for anyone to stumble across. But he kept his face hidden and that alone was enough to tell Taehyung that he wanted to keep his identity a secret. Didn’t want his perverted neighbors to know what he did in his free time.

And that was the thing - he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

About Jimin. The way he looked when he came, the way his stomach looked painted with his release. The sounds he made as he teased himself, fingers circling his dark nipples or caressing his thighs. Every single little detail about the man was etched in his mind like a tattoo pressed into skin.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t free himself from it. Couldn’t stop himself from turning the other way when he saw Jimin or changing the subject when his brother or Jungkook or even Namjoon and Yoongi brought him up. Of course they noticed, had even tried to broach the subject. Three of the four men backed off when he insisted he wasn’t avoiding Jimin.

Then there was Seokjin. He was like a bloodhound when it came to finding ways to get under Taehyung’s skin. The power of an older brother knew no bounds.

“So are you going to tell us why you’re avoiding Jimin?” He asked it so nonchalantly, as if he were commenting on the weather or some other trivial thing and not this. Not now while he and Jungkook were fighting over the last of the pizza on Taehyung’s couch and Taehyung watched fondly from his place on the floor.

At least, he had been watching fondly until that moment.

“I- What?” Taehyung spluttered, sitting up straight and frowning at his brother. His eyes flicked to Jungkook who was very pointedly not looking at him. The traitor. “I’m not avoiding Jimin.”

“That isn’t what I heard.” Seokjin swiped the pizza from Jungkook’s hand and proceeded to tear it down the middle, handing half of it back to Jungkook.

Taehyung turned away from his brother and his ex- best friend, eyes focusing on the screen of the movie they hadn’t been paying attention to for at least twenty minutes.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, obviously lying straight through his teeth.

Seokjin hummed thoughtfully but thankfully left it alone.

It did nothing to ease the guilt. Because if Seokjin, who didn’t even live here and rarely came to visit Taehyung, had noticed, had heard about him avoiding Jimin, then that meant that Jimin had to know too. Of course he did. Up until this week, Taehyung had no qualms at all stopping to blatantly flirt with talk to him; in the hallway or the office, at the mailbox or the dumpster. And now he was running away, cutting conversation short and pretending he didn’t see the flash of disappointment on Jimin’s face with each interaction. Even knowing that Jimin knew, Taehyung knew that he wouldn’t stop avoiding him.

So yeah.

Taehyung was a goddamn coward.

6.

Painting was the easiest way to clear his mind of the things he didn’t want to think about. So Taehyung painted. The studio space he used was nearby, close enough to easily walk back to his apartment. He spent the rest of the week there, staying later than most everyone else, only leaving when his arms were aching, fingers itching with phantom strokes of a brush, and his mind was blissfully empty.

The quiet walks home in the cool night air had quickly become his favourite part of the day, eyes wandering from concrete to passing strangers to lights reflected in glass to the unending blackness of the sky until the apartment building came into view. But tonight, he was so tired. His eyes had barely lifted from the cracks in the concrete as he made his way home. It seemed the week was finally catching up to him, guilt weighing heavy on his shoulders. And normally he would have taken the stairs even after his walk but he shuffled right past the door and pressed the button to call the elevator.

Taehyung’s stomach flipped as it always did when the elevator lifted from the floor and his shoulders dropped with relief. He was so close to being curled up in his bed with his head on his pillows and the comforter tucked under his chin. Only one floor stood between his bed and him.

The second floor.

Where Jimin lives, his brain provided, not-so-helpfully. Where Jimin films himself.

Where the elevator was suddenly stopping, Taehyung realized, heart skipping painfully in his chest. He froze as the doors slid open, pleading with the universe for someone - anyone else to be waiting there. For it to be a fluke. A ghost, even. He would have taken the building being haunted over facing Jimin right then.

The universe was against him, of course, because when the doors opened fully with a soft ding, it was Jimin standing in the hallway.

Taehyung held his breath as if that would somehow prevent the other man from seeing him standing there with hunched shoulders and wide eyes.

Without lifting his eyes from the phone in his hands, Jimin stepped onto the elevator. The doors were closing when Jimin finally tucked his phone into his pocket and reached out to push the button for the fourth floor where Taehyung knew that Yoongi and Namjoon lived.

Only then did he glance at Taehyung.

For a moment, Taehyung hoped that Jimin hadn’t noticed that he’d been avoiding him. That this wasn’t about to be the most awkward elevator ride in his entire life. Those hopes were shattered into a million pieces when Jimin’s shoulders tensed.

“Hi,” Taehyung croaked, giving Jimin a weak smile when their eyes met.

“Taehyung-ssi,” Jimin nodded his head slightly before looking away.

He definitely knew.

Not only was Taehyung a coward, he also happened to be an asshole. He felt terrible.

The elevator stopped again, this time on Taehyung’s floor. Once the doors had parted enough, Taehyung quickly stepped into the hallway.

“Goodnight, Jimin-ssi,” his voice was soft as the doors started to close again.

But then it stopped, Jimin’s hand curled around the edge, triggering the censor that kept the doors open.

“Wait.”

When Taehyung turned, he found Jimin’s full lips curving into a frown. He stepped closer before speaking again.

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Taehyung-ssi. If I was coming on too strong, flirting too much. Really, I am. But you didn’t have to avoid me like this. If you had just told me it was bothering you, I would have stopped.”

Taehyung felt like his brain was short-circuiting as he tried to process what Jimin had just said. But then, Jimin’s frown somehow deepened as he added, “I would have been embarrassed but it would have hurt a lot less than this.”

The words were like a punch to the gut.

Jimin thought he was avoiding him because of their flirting. The same flirting that had made Taehyung feel like he was floating; had his heart soaring, his stomach filling with heat and want. Jimin thought Taehyung didn’t want it, didn’t want him.

God, he really was an asshole.

“No, that isn’t…” Taehyung stopped, lifting his hand to shake out his hair in frustration. “Okay, yes, I have been avoiding you. But it isn’t because… I liked the flirting, okay?”

“You did?” Jimin asked, head tilting in confusion.

“So fuckin’ much,” Taehyung admitted, forcing himself to hold Jimin’s gaze, even as his face burned, cheeks surely red enough to be noticeable.

“Okay, if you liked flirting with me, why were you avoiding me?” Jimin asked then, stepping closer again, hand shifting along the edge of the door.

Taehyung would be lying if he said that several excuses didn’t flit across his mind in the moment following Jimin’s question. But he had never been very good at lying. Had never liked the way it made him feel either. Besides, he had to fix this.

The truth was the only way to do that.

“I know that you’re Little Lynx.” The words left him in a rush, slurring together as they did. As he let his eyes fall to the ground, to the faded carpet fraying where it met the lip of the elevator. “I didn’t know at first. I swear. The only video I had seen was older, before you… before you got your tattoos. The ones on your back. Until…”

Jimin interrupted him. “Until the night of the pool party.”

Taehyung nodded, licking his lips. “You went live and I saw your tattoos. Everything kind of clicked then.”

He didn’t mention everything that had brought him to the realization. He didn’t think he could handle anymore embarrassment, especially if he had to tell Jimin that his lips had been part of the equation. Instead, he fell silent, waiting for Jimin to say something. Anything. To put him out of his misery.

He didn’t have to wait long.

“Okay, let me make sure I’m getting this right.” He stepped closer again, his movement bringing him out of the elevator and into the hallway, into Taehyung’s space. The doors slid closed behind him, a quiet ding echoing as the elevator rose. “You were avoiding me because you found out what my job is. My other job, I mean. And you felt…guilty, I’m guessing.”

Taehyung nodded and Jimin hummed, low and quiet. The sound shot heat through Taehyung like lightning, quick and unexpected, followed by the thunder of guilt in his stomach. He couldn’t stop himself from looking at Jimin then, lifting his eyes just as Jimin asked:

“So it had nothing to do with wanting you to fuck me?”

Taehyung froze again, brain buffering like a video with poor connection.

“You- You want me to fuck you?” He managed to ask after a moment.

Jimin laughed, head tipping back to expose the long line of his throat, shirt shifting to reveal the sharp jut of his collarbone, as he said, “I’m also open to fucking you.”

Taehyung was sure he knew what whiplash felt like, despite never having experienced it in his life. Surely it had to feel like this entire interaction, like the back and forth of guilt and desire, guilt and desire.

“You want to fuck me?”

The smile slipped from Jimin’s face, replaced with what Taehyung could only describe as hunger, dark eyes watching him carefully as he said, “Yes please.”

It was silent again. Long enough that the confident expression on Jimin’s face faded, his lips parting around words. Taehyung knew in that moment that Jimin was going to take it back. Even though he had meant it, he was clearly still afraid he was coming on too strong. And Taehyung couldn’t let that happen. Not when he had been wanting to hear that Jimin wanted him just as badly for weeks. Since the first day, honestly.

Both of his hands found either side of Jimin’s face, relishing in the feel of soft skin against the tips of his fingers. Taehyung waited just long enough for Jimin to change his mind, to pull away if he didn’t want this. When he didn’t, when he tilted his chin up, Taehyung wasted no time at all capturing those parted lips between his own.

It was a little awkward at first, as most first kisses are, but then Taehyung was tilting his head just so and… oh.

The kiss deepened with a slow, wet slide that left Taehyung’s head spinning. There were hands fisted in his shirt, tugging at the fabric until it was tight against the back of his neck, and a warm body pressing against his. Pressing until he was stumbling back, almost losing balance when his back hit the wall next to the elevator. And then Jimin was pulling away, just enough that the tips of their noses were nearly brushing.

“If we keep this up,” Jimin panted, breath fanning across Taehyung’s face as he spoke softly. “I’m going to get fired.”

Pulling his focus from Jimin’s kiss-swollen lips, Taehyung licked his bottom lip, chasing the tingling feeling across the flesh and managed to ask, “Why don’t we go to my apartment then?”

The look on Jimin's face then had to be a match to the one that had been on Taehyung’s just moments ago. It said that Jimin was processing what Taehyung had just said, taking a moment to catch up before he rushed to answer with:

“Yes please.”

That was all it took for Taehyung to smash their mouths together once again, teeth clacking with the force of it. There were hands on his shoulders, pulling until he was pushing away from the wall, until he was moving down the hallway. Kissing while walking wasn’t an easy feat, feet catching on the carpet, nearly crashing into walls but eventually the two of them made it to Taehyung’s door.

Thank fuck because Taehyung had just gotten a handful of Jimin’s ass, palming him through his pants. It was with a low groan that he pulled away, breaking the kiss with a wet pop so that he could reach for the keypad. He put the code in with shaking fingers, nearly missing one of the numbers when lips found his throat, pressing sloppy kisses against the vulnerable skin there.

Finally, they were stepping over the threshold, the door closing with a quiet snick behind them. Taehyung reached for Jimin again, desperate to feel those lips against his own. To kiss him until he couldn’t feel his lips anymore. But it appeared that Jimin had other plans, ones that included shoving Taehyung against the back of the door and dropping to his knees in front of him.

Jimin’s hands easily found the waistband of Taehyung’s pants, fingers making quick work of the button as Taehyung’s head hit the door with a resounding thunk.

Chest heaving, Taehyung tried to catch his breath. Tried to get himself under control even as Jimin worked his pants down. Down his hips, his thighs, his calves until they were pooling around his ankles. His boxers followed soon after, cock almost fully hard now as it hung between them.

“Fuck,” Jimin’s voice was low and breathy as his hands found purchase on Taehyung’s thighs, fingers cold against overly hot skin. “You’re so big. I knew you would be. Especially after Jungkook pushed you in the pool. I could see you. Couldn’t stop thinking about it. About doing this.”

Before Taehyung could ask what this was, there was Jimin’s tongue lapping at the head of his cock. Slow and soft enough to have Taehyung’s head spinning again, body burning with desire as he blinked at the ceiling.

He didn’t stop there. Soon, Jimin was pressing kisses along his shaft, letting his tongue lave at delicate, sensitive skin as Taehyung’s hands curled into fists at his side. Swallowing him down, throat fluttering around the head of Taehyung’s cock as his fingers dug into Taehyung’s hips. Holding him in place, ass pressed against the door, stronger than Taehyung could have ever anticipated.

All Taehyung could do was take.

The tip of Jimin’s tongue along the underside of his cock.

Fingers pressing into flesh hard enough to bruise.

His own fingers eventually found their way to Jimin’s head, curling around the back and threading through the silky strands of Jimin’s dark hair.

And still, he didn’t let himself look. Kept his eyes on the ceiling, or clenched shut as he whined and moaned and tried to buck his hips away from the door. He knew that if he looked, it would be over. His stomach was already clenching, thighs shaking as Jimin’s mouth stretched around him.

That was the thought that nearly had him spilling down Jimin’s throat, the image of Jimin’s pretty pink lips stretched obscenely around his cock.

He tugged at Jimin’s hair and the whine that escaped his throat vibrated through Taehyung, making his cock ache, his balls tighten. That was… That was something Taehyung was definitely going to tuck away, safe in the back of his mind for next time. (And hopefully there would be a next time.) But now, he wanted to make sure this time wasn’t going to end here, at the door to his apartment before he’d even gotten to look at Jimin, touch him in all the ways he’d been dreaming of.

“Waitwaitwait.” Taehyung swallowed roughly, tugging again until Jimin was easing off of him with a sigh.

“Is everything okay?” Jimin asked as Taehyung tipped his chin down to look at him.

His lips were shiny with spit, impossibly red and swollen from having Taehyung between them. And all Taehyung wanted was to have them pressed against his own again. His hands were moving before he made the decision, grasping Jimin’s shoulders and tugging him up and up, until he was standing, until he was pressed along Taehyung’s front, until their lips were crashing together.

Taehyung allowed himself to get lost in it for a moment, in the evidence of how much Jimin had been enjoying himself pressed against his aching cock and the slide of their lips together. He broke the kiss when the ache became too much.

“So you want to fuck me, huh?” He asked.

The smile that spread across Jimin's face then was all teeth; a shiver worked its way down Taehyung's spine at the sight of it. Of the hunger reflected back at him in dark, shining eyes as Jimin nodded in answer.

Within two minutes, Taehyung had Jimin in his bedroom, kissing him at the foot of his bed. Wet, languid kisses that Taehyung could feel from the top of his head to the very tips of his toes as they curled in the carpet beneath their feet. Eleven minutes after that, Jimin was kissing a line down Taehyung’s spine, each brush of lips making his fingers flex against the sheets on his bed.

Overwhelmed.

That was the only word Taehyung could think of to describe how he was feeling then.

Overwhelmed by the feeling of two fingers, slick and warm, circling his entrance.

Overwhelmed by the weight of Jimin along his back; the heat and smell of his skin engulfed Taehyung until he felt like a frayed wire, electricity coursing beneath his skin.

Overwhelmed as one of those fingers sank into him and Jimin pressed a curse against the dimples in the small of his back.

Overwhelmed by the head of his cock catching on the sheets as Jimin began to fuck into him in earnest, twisting his wrist and curling his fingers until he had Taehyung mewling. Open mouth against the bed, eyes clenched shut as those deft fingers worked the bundle of nerves deep inside of him until Taehyung was close to weeping. Close to begging.

“Please.” The word slipped from between his lips with a whimper and Taehyung realized that he had already toppled over the edge as he wiggled his hips back to meet the next thrust of Jimin’s fingers. “Please, Jimin-ah. I’m ready. Please.”

“Just a little more,” Jimin murmured as he carefully scissored his fingers inside of Taehyung, the palm of his other hand flat on Taehyung’s back.

“I-I don’t mind if it hurts,” Taehyung told him, voice shaking as tears lined his lashes.

Jimin cursed softly then and Taehyung wished that he could see him. Wanted to know if he furrowed his brow when he concentrated, as he worked Taehyung open, taking him apart with each flick of his wrist. Wanted to see the pretty pink flush across golden skin that he had only seen from the other side of a screen in person. Wanted to look and look and touch. He just wanted.

Just as he registered that Jimin was pulling his fingers out, leaving him empty and aching, there were hands on him, fingers slick with lube sliding against his skin as his hips were pulled up off the mattress. Cold air brushed his skin as Jimin moved away, the sound of a wrapper crinkling as he opened a condom and slid it down his length. And then, as his back arched, as his chest pressed against the sheets, Jimin gripped his hip firmly with one hand and lined himself up with the other.

Unhurried. Careful. That was the pace that Jimin set. Time passed syrupy slow and all Taehyung could do was grapple with the sheets, inundated with the feeling of fullness, the heat radiating from Jimin, the sounds flowing between them. Soft sighs when Jimin caressed a line down his curved spine. Deep groans when Jimin bottomed out finally. Air hissing between teeth when he eased out only to push back in. There were other sounds, of course; positively lewd ones that made Taehyung’s stomach tighten if he focused on them.

With one particularly hard roll of his hips, Jimin tipped forward, catching himself with his hands on either side of Taehyung. The weight pressed Taehyung more firmly into the bed, his cock caught beneath him. Just enough to give him some sort of relief.

“You feel so fuckin’ good,” Jimin murmured, nose brushing the space between Taehyung’s shoulder blades. He pressed a kiss there, tongue flicking out to lick at the sweat salty skin.

Taehyung wanted to say something. Wanted to tell Jimin that he was the one that felt good, making Taehyung feel so good. Wanted to sing praises for each expert roll of hips, for how full he felt. But the only thing that left him, when his lips parted, was a whine.

A pathetic sound that bordered on sobbing that prefaced Jimin pulling out of him again.

Only long enough to flip him over. To give Taehyung a glimpse of his flushed skin and pink mouth, lips shiny with spit before he settled between his thighs..

“Fuckfuckfuck,” Taehyung panted, fighting to keep his eyes open. He didn’t want to miss a single second of Jimin like this but each thrust of his hips was harder now, frantic as the sound of skin slapping against skin filled the room.

“Look at you,” Jimin breathed, voice practically reverent. There were long fingers wrapping around the base of his cock, drawing Taehyung’s focus to his abdomen, smeared with precome. To the head of his cock disappearing in Jimin’s fist. “You’re so wet.”

Jimin was right. Taehyung was so very wet, angry red and slit drooling almost non-stop as Jimin continued to fuck into him. Throbbing, nearing painful, as Jimin worked him closer to the edge. Closer and closer until his back was arching off the bed, until his body was taut as a bowstring, until he was spilling over Jimin’s fist with a cry. It was only a moment before Jimin was following, moaning what sounded like Taehyung as he filled the condom with his own release.

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

It was late when the pair of them settled into Taehyung’s bed again; bodies wiped clean and this time, wearing clothes. There had been a moment when Taehyung wasn’t sure if Jimin was going to stay, worried he would rush off but too scared to ask him not to. But then Jimin had asked for something to sleep in, as if him staying wasn’t even a question, and relief had filled him swiftly. (The sight of Jimin in one of his t-shirts had nearly sent Taehyung into cardiac arrest as he’d tucked the last corner of the clean sheets under the mattress but he was coping. (Mostly.))

Now, curled beneath the sheets with Jimin a line of heat along his back, Taehyung could feel sleep tugging at the edges of his consciousness. He was tired in the way that only came after a really good railing, all heavy limbs and eyelids. The sound of the washer taking care of the sheets and their clothes was a quiet rumble in the room that only made them heavier.

Jimin’s quiet voice broke through the haze.

“Next time, you’re fucking me.”

Taehyung was smiling when sleep finally pulled him under.

7.

When Taehyung woke up, there were warm rays of light coming through the blinds and the other side of the bed was cold. And even though he tried, told himself that he and Jimin hadn’t talked about anything other than wanting to fuck one another, he couldn’t help but feel kind of weird about waking up alone.

No, it wasn’t just the fact that he was waking up alone. Although that was definitely playing a big part in how off he felt. It was that he didn’t know Jimin well enough to know if he wanted anything more. More than the undeniable chemistry between them, than what was hands-down the best sex of his life. And, if Taehyung was being completely honest, it was that he didn’t know what he wanted. He would have liked the opportunity to discuss it more. To at least walk Jimin back to his apartment. Maybe even kiss him goodbye.

Groaning, Taehyung pulled himself out of bed and headed for the bathroom.

There was no point in wallowing, no point in thinking of the what ifs. Jimin had left, as was his right, and Taehyung was going to go about his day. He was going to shower, get dressed and text Jungkook to meet him for lunch.

By the time he was ready to leave his apartment, Jungkook had finally texted back.

Taehyung [10:25AM]: Jungkookieee~~

Taehyung [10:25AM]: Wanna grab lunch? 🥺

Jungkook [10:45AM]: It’s still breakfast time.

Jungkook [10:45AM]: You are aware of that, right?

Taehyung [10:46AM]: 🥹🥹🥹

Jungkook [10:46AM]: I hate you

Jungkook [10:46AM]: What are we eating?

Taehyung [10:47AM]: Let's get fried chicken.

Taehyung hit send as he made his way to the door and slipped his shoes on. He wasn’t looking as he opened the door, still focused on his phone where he was picking the perfect emojis to send to Jungkook, which was why he very nearly walked face first into Jimin’s raised fist.

Even though he was clearly just as startled as Taehyung, Jimin somehow managed to drop his hand back to his side. He quickly shook it off, stepping back to slowly look Taehyung up and down. (And Taehyung couldn’t believe how quickly his stomach filled with the fluttering of hundreds of wings from one single look.)

“Going somewhere?” Jimin asked, tilting his head and smirking as their eyes met again.

“I thought you-,” Taehyung paused, finally taking in the fact that Jimin wasn’t standing at his doorstep empty-handed. In his free hand, he held a drink carrier with two paper cups that seemed to be from the coffee shop nearby. And if that were the case, then it was safe to assume that the paper bag held in his fingers was from the shop as well. He blinked and asked, “What’s that?”

“I got breakfast!” Jimin exclaimed, extending the drinks. “That one is for you. The one with the T on the lid. I wasn’t sure how you liked your coffee so I got what Yoongi always gets!”

There was in fact a T scribbled on the lid of one of the cups, the one closest to Taehyung’s reach. He carefully took it and brought it to his face, inhaling the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. It was a scent that Taehyung truly enjoyed, always associated with his mother who drank coffee almost religiously in the mornings. The drink, however…

And still, he brought the cup to his lips. There was no hiding his distaste when the bitter liquid hit his tongue, brow wrinkling and lips pursing as he forced the sip down.

“What’s wrong?” Jimin asked immediately, frowning.

Taehyung hesitated for only a moment, licking the remnants of coffee from his lips with another cringe at the taste, before he answered honestly. “I actually don’t like coffee.”

“Well, now I know for next time.” Jimin took the cup from Taehyung and brought it to his own mouth, taking a careful sip before grinning. “Just means more for me today.”

Instead of focusing on the way that smile and those words filled his chest with warmth that had his heart giving a pitiful little thump in his chest, Taehyung stepped back into his apartment and gestured for Jimin to follow. As Jimin breezed past in the space that was made, Taehyung was overwhelmed by the scent of something citrusy and woodsy, something that made his mouth water and his head spin. It wasn’t the first time he had caught a whiff of Jimin’s cologne but it was the first time since he’d had the man in his bed.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Taehyung closed the door and trailed after Jimin. He unlocked his phone and messaged Jungkook.

Taehyung [10:55AM]
Change of plans

Jungkook [10:56AM]: Kim Taehyung, are you really cancelling on me right now

Jungkook [10:56AM]: I can’t believe this

Jungkook [10:56AM]: Hyuuuung

Jungkook [10:57AM]: You better have a good reason because I am really craving chicken now

Taehyung stopped at the threshold of the kitchen, phone in his hand as he watched Jimin setting out the food he’d brought. Paper napkins that held croissants loaded with egg and veggies and cheese and pastries filled with fruits and cream; all of which made Taehyung’s stomach growl with hunger. Without hesitation, he opened the camera on his phone and snapped a photo, capturing the soft smile still tugging at Jimin’s lips as he placed both cups of coffee on the table. And then he hit send, locked his phone and ignored the steady vibrations of incoming messages in favor of joining Jimin at the table.

The conversation over breakfast was surprisingly easy. Flowing from one subject to the next, only stopping for bites of food or when Taehyung had to get something to drink. Taehyung told Jimin about a few of his recent paintings (pointedly leaving out the fact that many of them had featured the night sky, stars and the moon on canvas), about how he was settling into his apartment, and made sure to throw in a few very embarrassing stories about Seokjin as revenge. Jimin told him about how he, Namjoon, Yoongi and their veterinarian friend Hoseok (that he had yet to meet) had been friends since high school. Jimin also told him about how he’d lived in the complex for a few years now but had only been the leasing agent for about two years.

This, of course, led the conversation to Jimin’s other job.

“Does it bother you?” Jimin asked before taking a sip of his coffee and smacking his lips. He had just told Taehyung about how he’d learned about the cam site through an acquaintance who told him it was an easy and fun way to make some money. And now he wasn’t looking at Taehyung, eyes focused on where he was rubbing at the edge of the cupsleeve with his fingers.

Taehyung realized that Jimin was nervous and something about that struck him as wrong. This absolutely gorgeous man who was always so confident, who flirted with an ease that made Taehyung’s head spin, was telling Taehyung about himself and he was nervous? What did he have to be nervous about? Did he think Taehyung was going to react badly? Taehyung couldn’t help but wonder if he had done something to make Jimin think he would, searching his memories for anything that pointed to that.

When he came up empty, he asked: “Why would it?”

Jimin looked at Taehyung then, eyes wide and bottom lip caught between his teeth. He released his lip and soothed it with the tip of his tongue, the sight distracting Taehyung just a bit. (Images of that tongue on him, wrapped around his cock and licking at his skin, flooded his mind but he somehow managed to push them away and focus. Barely.)

“It’s just…” Jimin trailed off, pursing his lips as he searched for words. He took a deep breath and sat up straight. “It’s been an issue before. With someone I was seeing. And a couple of people I’ve hooked up with. They thought it was… weird that I didn’t want to stop when we were together. And I get it, kind of. Me showing my body to strangers on the internet, getting off for them, is…”

“It’s not weird,” Taehyung interrupted, the corners of his mouth turned down as he leaned forward with his elbows on the table.

Lips still parted around his unfinished sentence, Jimin blinked.

“And it doesn’t bother me.”

Jimin blinked again.

“I’ve seen you. Your videos. I can tell that you enjoy it. And you’re good at what you do.” Taehyung licked his lips, eyes dropping to the stretch of skin visible above Jimin’s collar, the jut of his collarbone, the dip at the base of his throat. Further down, where fabric hid soft honey skin and a pretty pink cock that Taehyung didn’t think he’d ever be able to stop thinking about.

When he lifted his eyes back to Jimin’s face, he found pink blooming on his cheeks, the tips of his ears. Taehyung wanted to eat him.

“I do enjoy it,” Jimin said, voice raspy in a way that stirred something warm and low in Taehyung’s stomach. “I have a full-time job so it’s not like I really need to do it. Not anymore but I like the extra money to buy things I don’t need. And I like…” He paused, licked his lips as he met Taehyung’s gaze. “I like being watched.”

Taehyung shivered under the weight of that look.

“Is it just-” The words caught in his throat, heat creeping up the back of his neck and curling around his ears. He tried again. “Is it always just you? Or have you had…guests?”

“Guests?” Jimin echoed, tilting his head. “Are you asking if I’ve ever fucked someone during a livestream?”

“Y-yes…” Taehyung wished he had kept the cup of coffee Jimin had brought him just so he could have something to do with his hands. “Or…if you’ve been fucked.”

“It’s always just been me,” Jimin answered. He considered Taehyung for a moment, a very long moment that had Taehyung shifting in his seat. Finally, his lips curled into a smirk. “Why? Are you interested in fucking me during a livestream?”

“I-” Taehyung stopped, swallowing roughly. He wasn’t sure what he had even been about to say. He was sure he had been ready to deny it even though the very idea had his stomach tightening, his dick stirring with interest, his body thrumming with something he couldn’t name. He gave himself a moment to process before he continued, honestly. “I don’t know. Maybe. I-I’ve never done anything like that.”

The edges of Jimin’s smirk softened, just slightly. He tucked his fist under his chin and blinked demurely at Taehyung. “Well, are you interested in fucking me? No cameras involved.”

Taehyung was answering with a resounding Yes before Jimin had even finished speaking, shocking a bright laugh out of him.

“What are you waiting for?” Jimin asked and that was all Taehyung needed, pushing his chair away from the table and wrapping his fingers around Jimin’s wrist.

The sound of Jimin’s laughter, a sound that Taehyung found he absolutely adored, bounced throughout the apartment as Taehyung dragged him to the bedroom and closed the door behind them.

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

It was with great difficulty that Taehyung pulled himself out of bed, out of Jimin’s arms. Away from Jimin and the slow, wet kisses they had been trading even after Taehyung had fucked Jimin into the mattress until he was close to crying and they had cleaned themselves off. The only reason he had was because his phone had been ringing for a good ten minutes now, stopping abruptly only to start again. Which meant that someone was calling him over and over.

He tugged his shirt over his head as he made his way from the bedroom to the living room, leaving Jimin who had been in the middle of pulling his own clothes on with a rushed apology.

There were only a handful of people who would even call him but Taehyung had a pretty good idea of who exactly it was blowing his phone up. Even as he was filled with annoyance at being interrupted, Taehyung couldn’t help but feel a little worried as he picked his phone up off the table and brought it to his ear with a “Hello?”

Only to immediately pull it away from his face, cringing because Jungkook was shouting.

He waited, giving Jungkook time to calm down.

When silence came from the other end of the line, Taehyung raised a brow and asked, “Wanna try that again, Jungkook-ah?”

“Men are ruining my life,” Jungkook lamented, voice lower but no less whiny. “Can I come over? Please say yes because I’m already almost there and I swear I’m going to go insane if I don’t talk about this.”

“Is this about Yoongi and Namjoon?” Taehyung asked just as Jimin stepped out of the bedroom, fully dressed with his dark hair still mussed from Taehyung’s fingers.

Jimin paused, brows raised in interest, and Taehyung rolled his eyes.

“Hyung please.”

Taehyung could hear the pout in his voice, felt himself folding at just the thought of it. There was the click click click of his turn signal in the background and Taehyung knew he was pulling into the parking lot of the complex.

“Fine,” he sighed before hanging up.

“Jungkook?” Jimin guessed, stepping easily into Taehyung’s space. “I can’t believe he’s going to be the reason Yoongi and Namjoon finally get their shit together.” His hands found Taehyung’s hips, sending his heart stuttering in his chest. All Taehyung could do was nod, swallowing as Jimin smiled at him and said, “Text me later, yeah?”

And then he was on his tiptoes, pressing his lips against Taehyung’s cheek. A soft brush that made Taehyung feel like he was glitching again. Jimin made his way to the door, slipped his shoes on and disappeared with a wave before Taehyung’s brain caught up. Before he processed what Jimin had said.

Later.

Taehyung was sure he must have looked silly, standing alone in his apartment grinning at nothing, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care.

“Why do you look like that?” Jungkook asked when Taehyung opened the door for him a handful of minutes after Jimin had left. He didn’t give Taehyung a chance to answer, brushing past him into the apartment in a blur of movement. His voice came from the kitchen where Taehyung was sure he was already going through the cabinets. “Just because you got laid doesn’t mean you can rub it in my face.”

“I thought you wanted to talk about your Namjoon and Yoongi problem, not harass me in my own home.”

Jungkook threw a pout over his shoulder but didn’t turn away from where he had finally spotted what he wanted, fingers gripping the package of banana milk on the top shelf and pulling it out. Once he had it open, straw stabbed into the cardboard box, he turned toward Taehyung.

“They’re best friends, hyung.” He was still pouting, words slurring together slightly from it. “I don’t want to come between them.”

“Where is this even coming from?” Taehyung grabbed a box of banana milk for himself, opening it and leaning against the counter next to Jungkook.

“I kind of…ran into them a few days ago. And the three of us ended up hanging out for a while.” Jungkook slurped his milk noisily. “For like hours, hyung. And they’re so funny and so cute together. But they were both flirting with me the whole time and I felt like I was going to explode.” Taehyung snorted and Jungkook elbowed him. “I don’t know what to do, hyung.”

“I think it’s pretty obvious, Jungkookie-ah,” Taehyung told him, setting his banana milk to the side. “You just have to talk to them,” He paused when he caught Jungkook rolling his eyes. “I’m serious, Jeon Jungkook. I’ve seen how they are with each other but I also saw how they were looking at you at the pool party, okay? How they acted with you. I think if you just talk to them, the outcome might surprise everyone.”

Jungkook was quiet for a while but Taehyung knew it was because he was thinking about what Taehyung had said, finishing his banana milk while he did so.

Eventually, he broke the silence.

“Feelings are stupid.”

Taehyung laughed and grabbed his banana milk again. “Yes. Yes, they are.”

8.

Time passed and before he knew it, the end of summer was approaching. Taehyung had been busy working, preparing to submit some of his paintings to a gallery for an upcoming showing, but he had been spending less time hiding away in the studio. At least a bit less time. There was definitely still a lot to do but his apartment had something that the studio didn’t.

Park Jimin.

It had been nearly a month since Taehyung had confessed to knowing about his camboy alter-ego, since he had ended up in bed with the most beautiful man he had ever seen. And in that month, Taehyung had spent more time with Jimin than he had in the two months he had lived in the building. Quite a bit of that time had been spent naked. Not that Taehyung was complaining. In fact, he was doing the exact opposite.

The problem was that… Jungkook was right. Feelings were stupid.

And Taehyung realized he had started developing them. Or maybe they had always been there and he just hadn’t wanted to admit it, pretending that the fluttering he felt in his stomach and his chest was of the horny nature instead of what it really was. Either way, he didn’t know how Jimin felt. Did Jimin just see him as someone to hook up with? Someone to have fun with on occasion? He wasn’t sure, thought maybe there was something there in the way that Jimin looked at him and touched him and leaned into his space when they were together.

But he was too scared to ask.

Too scared of what the answer would be.

So he was ignoring it.

Or at least, he was trying to. It was kind of hard to do when Jimin lived in the same building as him.

It had only been a day since he’d realized that what he was feeling for Jimin was a little more than horny. He and Jungkook had just returned from a snack run for movie night and were waiting for the elevator when Jimin came down the hallway towards them, raising his hand in greeting when their eyes met.

“What are you boys up to tonight?” Jimin asked, stopping just a couple of feet away. He eyed the plastic bags in their hands, bulging with drinks and candy and chips.

“Movie night!” Jungkook answered, bouncing excitedly on his heels. The smile on his face rounded his cheeks, making his eyes crinkle and disappear. “Iron Man marathon, actually. Do you like Iron Man?” He didn’t pause to let Jimin answer before continuing, “Oh, you should join us!”

Jimin, who had been watching Jungkook with a soft, endeared smile, looked at Taehyung then, brow raising in silent question.

“You should.” Taehyung ignored the way his heart skipped. “If you want to, I mean. And if you like Iron Man.”

“I do like Iron Man.” Jimin grinned, reaching for the button to call the elevator that neither Jungkook nor Taehyung had pressed. “A movie marathon sounds fun. But…do you have popcorn?”

“Duh!” Jungkook shook the bag he was holding so that it rustled and jarred the contents. “Popcorn is a very important movie night snack.”

“One could argue it’s the most important movie night snack.” Jimin said as the elevator doors opened. He stepped on, Jungkook and Taehyung following him, and pressed the button for Taehyung’s floor. “It’s good to know you’re men of taste.”

Jungkook began ranking the best snacks for movie night as the elevator ascended, not stopping until the three of them were walking into Taehyung’s apartment. Leaving their shoes at the door, they made their way into the living room where Jungkook and Taehyung laid out their convenient store spread on the coffee table for Jimin to peruse. Boxes of chocolate and bags of sour gummies. Shrimp-flavoured chips and buttery popcorn. Salty chips and nacho cheese. Soda and soju. All of it sure to leave Jungkook with a stomachache, begging Taehyung to let him sleep it off on the couch.

“Definitely men of taste,” Jimin decided as he swiped a bag of popcorn and a can of coke and plopped down on the couch.

While Taehyung dimmed the lights, Jungkook grabbed the chips and cheese and took the seat on the opposite end of the couch. This left only the seat in the middle open for Taehyung. He hesitated for only a moment before taking it. Even after the movie started playing on the television, it took Taehyung a moment to focus, to remember the snacks on the table. He was thoroughly distracted by his proximity to Jimin, by the warmth of the other man’s body radiating across the small distance between them.

Shaking his head slightly, he grabbed the sour gummies and settled back in his seat, determined to watch the movie instead of letting his thoughts stray.

And he was successful for a while. Relaxed against the cushions, leaned into Jungkook when they both laughed at one of their favourite parts. Shared popcorn with Jimin and took the shot of soju that Jungkook poured him. Laughed when Jungkook eventually passed out against the arm of the couch. Everything was fine. It was great even.

Until Jimin returned from the bathroom.

When he sat down, he was closer to Taehyung, the space between them basically nonexistent. Shoulder to knee touching, heat nearly unbearable. This, Taehyung was sure he could handle, could just breathe and ignore. But then there was a weight just above his knee and his heart thudded as he glanced down to find Jimin’s hand there.

All he could think about was a week and a half ago when he, Seokjin and Jungkook had been down at the pool, enjoying the warm sun on one of the rare days when the three of them were free at the same time. Time seemed to slow down when Jimin stepped through the gate with Namjoon and Yoongi trailing behind him. There was so much skin on display and, while Taehyung could agree that Namjoon and Yoongi were both hot, he only had eyes for Jimin in that moment.

The six of them came together next to the pool, introductions made and laughter bouncing off the concrete. Soon, they were joined by Hoseok, who smiled like the sun and gave Taehyung a knowing look the moment they were introduced. Taehyung was sure he had never seen his brother take to someone as quick as he did with Hoseok. By the end of the day, the two of them had exchanged numbers and were basically attached at the hip.

All of this fluttered through his head in that moment but it wasn’t what sent heat spreading through him, had his stomach twisting and twirling.

It was the memory of Jimin wrapping those same fingers around Taehyung’s wrist and leading him to the pool shed when the others were distracted by the very strange direction their conversation had gone.

Their voices had been muffled by the closed door but Taehyung had still been able to make out what they were saying.

“That doesn’t make sense,” Yoongi had snapped, followed by Seokjin insisting, “A dog has four legs so the pants would have four leg holes.”

And then Jimin’s mouth had been on him, stealing his focus and his breath. He had kissed him back, no hesitation, a soft groan in the back of his throat when Jimin’s fingers found the waistband of his swim shorts, easing them down his thighs and circling his fattening cock with cool fingers. It had taken Taehyung no time at all to jump into action, helping Jimin shove his own shorts down to get his hands on him.

That - licking into each other’s mouths as they worked one another closer and closer to the edge. That was what Taehyung was thinking of as Jimin’s hand slid further up his thigh, fingers digging into the seam of his pants.

He exhaled slowly, shakily. Tried to keep his eyes focused on the screen where Tony Stark, wearing his shiny, red Iron Man suit, was kissing Pepper Potts against a city skyline.

“What are you thinking about?” Jimin asked, voice low and quiet against the shell of Taehyung’s ear.

Taehyung thought about lying. Just for a second. He was still unsure of where he stood with Jimin, of what they were even doing, and he knew he could end this before it even started. He knew he could give himself more time to think it over, to figure out what he wanted to do. What he wanted in general.

“You,” He said instead.

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

They just barely made it onto the bed, nearly tripping over one another in their haste to undress. Almost forgetting to lock the door behind them just in case. Scrambling up the mattress until Jimin’s head was cushioned by the pillows.

“We have to be quiet.”

Taehyung pressed the words against the line of Jimin’s throat, over the subtle swell of his Adam’s apple. A whisper of breath followed by the flat of his tongue. His fingers found the hem of Jimin’s shirt, skated across the soft skin at his sides as he eased it up.

Jimin nodded even as his lips parted around a soft sound.

Knowing that Jungkook was just on the other side of the door amplified everything. Each sigh and moan. The rustle of clothes being removed and the bed shifting. It all sounded impossibly loud in the quiet of Taehyung’s bedroom. But that wasn’t all. It magnified the way he felt. Had something fizzing like champagne, buzzing like electricity beneath his skin. Had his heart thundering in his chest.

It was with a jolt that Taehyung realized maybe he liked it. Liked the idea of someone hearing them, of someone catching them. Liked the idea of someone watching them together.

Not necessarily Jungkook but…

Someone.

The sound of Jimin whining brought Taehyung back.

“Baby…” His lips slid along the line of Jimin’s jaw. Teeth nipping at the juncture of his shoulder as he eased himself down the length of Jimin’s body. “Quiet.”

Jimin was anything but quiet when Taehyung’s lips circled the head of his cock, when he finally swallowed him down, throat fluttering. And all Taehyung could think about was what it would be like if there was a camera at the foot of the bed, recording every second of it.

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

Seokjin was chewing as he stared at his brother, cheeks puffed out and eyes assessing. Taehyung stared back, chopsticks hovering above his bowl as he waited. The two of them were sitting in a cafe near Taehyung’s studio a few days later. (The only reason Taehyung had even left was because his brother had showed up unannounced, after texting to meet up had failed on multiple occasions, giving him no other option. “I don’t care about your deadlines, Kim Taehyung,” Seokjin had said as he basically shoved him out the door of his studio.)

“What I’m hearing is that you finally did something about your obnoxious crush on Jimin,” was all Seokjin said before he piled more rice and meat into his mouth.

“I tell you that I’ve been hooking up with someone that I am now considering fucking live for strangers on the internet.” Taehyung frowned as he put his chopsticks down and crossed his arms. “And that’s all you have to say?”

Seokjin shrugged, swallowed his food. “What do you want me to say?”

“I-,” Taehyung stopped abruptly, blinking at his brother. “I don’t know.”

“It’s 2023, Taehyung-ah. We are living in the future.” Seokjin gestured to the window where the city could be seen waiting in the bright sun. As if that meant anything. “Besides, I’m not one to judge.”

At that, Taehyung snorted. “Yes, you are.”

“Okay, maybe I am,” Seokjin conceded before taking a drink of his water. He smacked his lips, returning the cup to the table before he continued. “But not about this. You are both consenting adults. What you do in your free time is your business and nobody else’s.”

“Not even my annoying brother?” Taehyung asked, relaxing in his seat. He picked up his chopsticks again.

“Not even your stunning and perfect older brother,” Seokjin snapped, pointing his chopsticks at Taehyung threateningly. “Your body, your choice and all that. Now stop telling me about your sex life and tell me more about Jung Hoseok.”

“You literally met him when I did,” Taehyung pointed out.

Seokjin paused. “But you know his closest friends. You’re literally fucking one of them.”

“I thought we weren’t talking about my sex life anymore.”

Seokjin paused again.

“Fine,” he said before sticking his tongue out.

The rest of their meal passed with ease. As usual, Seokjin insisted on paying. Taehyung ventured out onto the sidewalk outside the restaurant to wait. It was warm, the sun out in full force over the city. Autumn was on its way but the weather hadn’t seemed to get the memo just yet. Taehyung usually disliked summer, much preferring the cooler seasons, but this year had been different. This year there had been days spent bathing in the sun, surrounded by friends, paint smeared on his fingers and splattered on his clothes, a place of his own. (Taehyung didn’t let his brain wander further but the thought was in the back of his mind anyway: This year there had been Jimin.)

“I’ll walk you back to the studio,” Seokjin announced when he finally joined him, tucking his hands in the pockets of his shorts. “C’mon!”

Taehyung wanted to make a joke, wanted to say something along the lines of Aw, maybe you do care but he was quiet. Listening to the sounds of the city, their feet on the concrete as they walked. Even with the heat, it was nice spending time like this with his brother.

“Thanks for lunch, hyung,” Taehyung said as they stopped at the corner where they had to part ways. He could see Seokjin’s car parked down the block a bit, black paint reflecting the sun.

Seokjin ruffled Taehyung’s hair with his fingers, giving him a mocking smile that eased into a very real one. Taehyung rolled his eyes and turned to leave, throwing a quick wave over his shoulder as he went.

“Taehyung-ah.”

The sound of Seokjin’s voice had him stopping, turning back around.

“What is it, hyung?” He asked, brow furrowed with confusion and concern.

“If the stream is something you really want to do, I think you should do it and enjoy it and forget what anyone else thinks.” Seokjin shrugged, shaking his keys in his hand as their eyes met. “But only if it’s something you want and not what you think Jimin wants.”

Taehyung had been teetering back and forth on the line of uncertainty, mostly focused on what his friends and his family would think if they found out. What was the saying? The internet is forever. Taehyung knew it was true but he realized at that moment that he didn’t mind.

“It is,” Taehyung assured his brother. At the same time, it felt like he was finally voicing what he really wanted, without any of the worries attached to it. He could admit that he was nervous. But the excitement was what he clung to.

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

Two days passed before Taehyung got the nerve to broach the subject with Jimin.

It was late, the world outside the apartment quiet and dark. Taehyung was reheating their dinner, fried chicken that had long gone cold when they’d gotten caught up in kissing on the couch. The whole scene was incredibly domestic, Jimin leaning against the counter as he watched, one of Taehyung’s t-shirts hanging from his shoulders, and Taehyung was struggling with ignoring the swell of emotions in his throat, the warmth in his chest.

“I’ve been thinking…” Taehyung paused, clearing his throat as he focused on the timer on the air fryer.

“That sounds kind of ominous,” Jimin told him and when Taehyung turned his head to look, he found that Jimin’s face was creased with worry, lips pulled down into a frown.

“No no no,” Taehyung said quickly, turning to face Jimin fully but letting his eyes drop to the ground “It’s nothing bad, I promise. It’s just that I-I… I was wondering if the offer to fuck you on livestream was still on the table?”

Silence filled the kitchen, broken only by the whirring of the air fryer heating their chicken. Every second that ticked by filled Taehyung with dread, with regret. Maybe the offer had never actually been on the table and Jimin had only brought it up as a joke. Maybe Taehyung had completely misunderstood.

Eventually, he couldn’t stand it a second longer. He had to say something.

“I’m sorry.” He forced the words out around his heart in his throat. “I must have misunderstood. Just… Just forget I said anything. Please.”

Suddenly, Jimin was in his space, crowding him against the counter. There were fingers under his chin, tilting his head up until their eyes met, gripping gently to keep him in place. Taehyung wasn’t sure what he expected to find on Jimin’s face. Anger, perhaps. Disgust. Instead, he found eagerness, excitement. Heat in his eyes, lips curled into a smirk that eased the tightness in Taehyung’s chest.

“The offer is definitely still on the table.” Jimin used the hold he had on Taehyung’s chin to pull him down, until their noses were nearly touching. Closer until their lips were brushing. He kissed Taehyung soft and slow for just a moment, just long enough to have Taehyung relaxing into his hold, before he licked into his mouth. An easy twist of his tongue that had Taehyung’s heart plummeting, his dick half hard in no time at all.

When he pulled away, Taehyung leaned forward, followed after him, eyes closed and lips parted. He laughed, a husky sound that shot like lightning through Taehyung.

“When?”

It took Taehyung a moment to answer, eyes fluttering open slowly.

“Soon.” He chased the taste of Jimin on his mouth with the tip of his tongue. “Please.”

“How could I say no when you asked so nicely?” Jimin released Taehyung’s chin, traced the line of his jaw with a finger.

The sound of the air fryer beeping broke whatever spell Taehyung had fallen under. He turned to it, pulling the basket out by the handle, as he tried to ease the racing of his heart.

Soon.

He would be fucking Jimin on camera soon.

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

It was roughly 24 hours later when Taehyung’s phone vibrated with incoming texts, twice in a row. Without thinking, he picked it up and unlocked it, opening the messaging app to find new texts from Jimin.

Jimin [8:15PM]: How does Saturday sound?

Jimin [8:15PM]: That’s when I was planning to do my next stream

Jimin [8:20PM]: Is that too soon?

Taehyung [8:45PM]: It’s not

Taehyung [8:45PM]: Too soon, I mean

Jimin [8:47PM]: Okay, good. I can’t wait.

Taehyung [8:48PM]: Me either

Taehyung dropped his phone on the mattress next to him and fucked up into the tight circle of his fist. Once, twice and then he was spilling over his hand, onto his stomach with a grunt. His chest was heaving, heart pounding as the adrenaline faded away and something else took it’s place, but that didn’t stop him from grinning like an idiot at the ceiling above his bed.

9.

Taehyung wasn’t sure exactly how long he had been outside of Jimin’s apartment. However long it had been, it had to look beyond suspicious at that point - the way he was standing there staring at the door, the way he kept raising his fist to knock only to drop it back to his side. He was nervous. Had been the entire day. Since last night. All week, if he was being honest.

The last few days, he had tried to distract himself with work, only partially successful because as soon as he left the studio, he was alone with his thoughts. And his thoughts had been full of Jimin. Of what they were planning to do. He had played through what could happen more than he was willing to admit, more often than not with a hand on his dick. Even so, it did little to ease his nerves. His worries.

That was why he hesitated. Despite how much he wanted this. How much he wanted Jimin.

Inhaling until his lungs felt close to bursting, Taehyung raised his fist again.

This time, as he released the breath, his knuckles met the painted wood, the sound like thunder in the quiet hallway.

A moment later, the door swung open.

The sight of Jimin very nearly stole Taehyung’s breath.

He was beautiful. His shiny, black hair was swept back from his face, eyes lined with a smoky gray shadow that made the golds and yellows of his irises pop. A robe hung from his shoulders, the hem brushing his knees. The front was open, revealing his bare chest, soft stomach, silky black shorts and toned thighs.

“Hi.” The word left Taehyung on a breath exhale, the sound making his cheeks warm. He swallowed roughly, eyes trailing up and down Jimin once more before he peered down at himself. At the oversized t-shirt he wore and the pajama pants that hid his favourite boxers - a dark blue number that hugged his ass in the best possible way. “I feel a little overdressed.”

At that, Jimin laughed, a tinkling sound that brought bright warmth to Taehyung’s chest. He reached forward, fingers wrapping around Taehyung’s wrist and tugged him inside. Once the door was closed behind them, Jimin stepped into Taehyung’s space, pushed up on his tip-toes to press their lips together. Just a firm brush of lips but it did something to Taehyung. Had his heart skipping a beat, his dick twitching with interest.

When Jimin pulled away, he was smiling but there was something about it, something dark and heavy, full of hunger, that had Taehyung shivering.

“Why don’t we do something about all those clothes then?”

All Taehyung could do was nod, let himself be pulled further into Jimin’s apartment, into his bedroom.

He had been here far less than Jimin had been at his apartment, a fact that made him frown. Things were much the same as they had been last time except, of course, for the laptop open on the desk and the camera pointed at the bed. Taehyung made himself focus on the things that were familiar, the string of lights shining warmly on the wall and the big, comfy bed.

Or, at least, he tried.

It was kind of hard to ignore the display in Jimin’s closet. There was an extensive collection of toys, a few that he recognized from videos he had seen and several that caught his eye, had his stomach twisting with heat. And then there were the collars - leather, lace and rope that instantly filled his mind with images of the long line of Jimin’s throat adorned with them.

“Something catch your eye?”

It wasn’t until Jimin spoke that Taehyung realized he had wandered closer. He flushed, attempted to reply but stuttered to a stop.

“Maybe next time,” Jimin told him, fingers touching the small of Taehyung’s back, guiding him to where a handful of masks were displayed. “Why don’t you pick one to wear?”

The soft scent of his clean skin eased the tightness in Taehyung’s chest as he peered at them. He recognized the one that Jimin wore most often, silver stars reflecting the light, but there were others too. Five in total, each reminiscent of a cat in the curve of the eyes and pointed ears. One in particular caught Taehyung’s eye, blue with silver accents much like the mask Jimin was picking up and sliding onto his face, the silk tie against his hair holding it in place. Taehyung was reaching for the mask before he even turned back to it, plastic cool beneath his fingertips.

He held it closer, eyes following the filigree and lace, before putting it on.

“You are…” Jimin trailed off, hand coming to Taehyung’s chin, fingers gripping to hold him in place as he looked at Taehyung. His voice dipped lower as he finished with, “Beautiful.”

The word was like a magnet, pulling Taehyung in and in until his mouth found Jimin’s, plump bottom lip captured between his own. This kiss was different from the last, wetter and hotter, lighting a fire beneath Taehyung’s skin that popped and sizzled with each slow slide.

He felt like he’d just finished running a marathon when Jimin broke away, chest heaving and sweat gathering on his brow.

Jimin didn’t say anything at first and it was with a jolt of heat through him that Taehyung realized why. From the weight of his gaze to the press of his erection against Taehyung’s hip, it was obvious that Jimin was just as affected by Taehyung as Taehyung was by him. Of course, Taehyung knew that Jimin was attracted to him but he maybe hadn’t realized exactly how much until that moment.

Taehyung watched in awe as Jimin swallowed roughly, throat bobbing and tongue darting out to lick his lips, before he spoke.

“I’m going to walk you through everything before we start, okay?” His voice was thick, sending a shiver down Taehyung’s spine. He swallowed again as Taehyung leaned into him, nodded his head slowly. Hesitated just a moment before pressing a quick kiss to Taehyung’s waiting mouth.

When he pulled away again, Jimin started explaining what he had in mind. Basically, Taehyung would stand out of frame while he talked to his audience, something that he rarely ever did. His videos and live streams were mostly quiet, he told Taehyung and all Taehyung could think about was the soft sounds that escaped Jimin while he fingered himself open. He quickly jumped into how he would bring Taehyung in, push him on the bed and undress him.

“I think I’ll ride you first,” Jimin said as if his very words weren’t making Taehyung short-circuit (something that Taehyung was quickly realizing was his default mode where Jimin was involved). “And then we can just let it flow naturally from there. How does that sound?”

Taehyung blinked, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. His eyes met Jimin’s then, finding his eyes crinkled and a smirk on his lips, and Taehyung realized that Jimin knew exactly what he was doing.

“Now, do you want to prep me before we start?”

This time, Taehyung’s brain needed a full reboot.

Eventually, he managed to choke out, “Fuck yes.”

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

“I have a special surprise planned for tonight,” Jimin told the camera from his perch on the edge of the bed, lips twisting into a coy smile as his lashes fluttered behind his mask. He leaned back, letting his robe slip open further, exposing the dusky brown of his nipples and his soft stomach to the camera.

Taehyung stood to the side, out of the view of the camera but close enough to see the laptop. He focused on the screen, eyes slipping from the messages that were coming in to the viewer count that continued to rise. The stream had just started and already there were over two thousand people watching, waiting. Commenting, Taehyung thought as another slew of messages came in. He hesitated only for a second before reading them.

@hot4yew: take your clothes off

@b!gd!ckb!lly: i could fuck u so good with my big dick

@b!gd!ckb!lly: 🍆🍆🍆💦💦💦

@user696969: whats the surprise, lynxie? a new toy?

@letjungcook: lynx keeps looking off camera 👀

@lynxluvr: maybe that’s where the surprise is 👀

“I brought a friend,” Jimin said, sitting up and leaning forward. The robe slid from his shoulder but he didn’t move to fix it. “And he really wants to fuck me for all of you to see. How does that sound, hmm?”

@b!gd!ckb!lly: he can’t fuck you as good as me

@user696969: shut up billy 🙄

@reversecowboy: that sounds hot af

@hot4yew: take your clothes off!!!

@balls2thewall: oooh, does lynxie have a boyfriend? 😏

Distracted by the new messages, Taehyung didn’t notice that Jimin was no longer visible on the screen until there was a hand curling around his elbow. He turned his head to find Jimin standing close, leaning forward so that he could hold Taehyung’s gaze as his thumb rubbed gentle circles into the soft skin of Taehyung’s inner arm.

“Are you ready, baby?” Jimin asked him, keeping his voice low and quiet.

And even though Taehyung had already decided that this was what he wanted, it was that moment that really solidified it for him. The fact that Jimin checking in on him, making sure he was ready, that he still wanted this and the knowledge that if Taehyung decided right then and there that he had changed his mind, it wouldn’t change anything between them.

Licking his lips, Taehyung nodded.

Jimin rewarded him with a bright smile and a soft kiss. Then he grabbed Taehyung’s hand, threaded their fingers together and led Taehyung to the bed.

From this side of the camera, Taehyung could see the red dot on the camera that indicated it was recording and this was all being streamed directly to Jimin’s account on the cam site. It was hard to miss, the light vibrant in the dimness of the room. He was sure there was no way he would be able to focus with it staring back at him.

That is until Jimin was pushing him back onto the bed. Until he was easing the robe from his shoulders, letting it drop to the floor to soon be joined by his boxers. And then he couldn’t think of anything else. His mind was only this, only Jimin with all of his honey skin dotted with moles, the lines of ink curling around his ribs.

Only Jimin, opening Taehyung’s legs with a hand on either knee.

Those same hands were making their way up his thighs, past the very noticeable tent in his pants, until they found the hem of Taehyung’s shirt. His fingers slipped beneath, cool against Taehyung’s overhot skin.

“Look at me, baby.”

Taehyung lifted his chin without thought.

Without hesitation.

“You’re already so hard, aren’t you?” Jimin’s fingers skimmed over the bulge of Taehyung’s cock, the briefest of touches that nearly had Taehyung whimpering. “I bet you’re all wet too. You’re always so wet for me, baby.”

Taehyung nodded. He wasn’t sure why but it felt like the right thing to do. It wasn’t like Jimin was wrong. Taehyung had been hard for a while now. Since before he’d spent a good twenty minutes fingering Jimin, watching in awe as his fingers disappeared into Jimin’s tight little hole. It had flagged a bit when he’d been waiting on the sidelines but his cock had already started to fatten up again, pressing tight against his boxers, smearing precome all over the fabric.

Jimin made a pleased sound then, a soft hum in the back of his throat and then fell silent. He focused instead on helping Taehyung out of his shirt, on trailing his fingers down Taehyung’s chest. He moved so slowly, as if he didn’t care at all that there was a camera behind him, that there were thousands of people watching them. As if he had all the time in the world to do with Taehyung what he wanted.

By the time he found the waistband of Taehyung’s pants again, Taehyung felt like he was seconds away from coming. In his pants. Without being touched. It had been a long time since he’d felt like this. Like a livewire, frayed and hot. Not just from the gentle caress of Jimin’s hands but from the weight of knowing that they were being watched. His chest was heaving, teeth digging into his bottom lip as Jimin eased his pants and boxers down his hips, over the swell of his ass when Taehyung lifted from the mattress, down his thighs and tossed them aside.

And then Jimin was dropping to his knees and Taehyung was sure he stopped breathing. Could feel his chest aching when he stopped inhaling but he ignored it, eyes glued to Jimin as he leaned forward, hands on Taehyung’s knees, and wrapped his pretty pink lips around the head of Taehyung’s cock.

The tight heat had Taehyung tipping his head back and back until his elbows slipped out from under him and his back hit the mattress.

Eyes screwed shut, lips parting around a gasp, all Taehyung could do was take. Take and take and listen to the pings on the computer as more people joined the stream, the chimes as people paid Jimin for this. For sucking Taehyung’s cock, taking him in so deep he was hitting the back of Jimin’s throat each time.

The thought was enough to make Taehyung’s head spin. To have him whining, hips shifting on the bed like they always did when he was close.

So close, he lamented as Jimin released him with a wet pop.

“Not yet, baby.” Jimin gave his thighs a squeeze, fingers digging into soft flesh. He chased the sting with a press of lips before he pushed himself up. He gestured for Taehyung to scoot further onto the bed and once he had, Jimin joined him, straddling his hips and wrapping his fist around Taehyung.

His back was to the camera, the line of shaded moons down his spine on display for their audience. The tattoos weren’t the only thing on display though. Taehyung couldn’t see it when Jimin lined the head of Taehyung’s cock up with his hole but he knew that those watching could. And clearly. He had seen Jimin in a similar position, alone on this bed with a silicone cock in him, enough to know this.

Jimin started to sink down and Taehyung’s thoughts ceased, heart beating staccato in his chest as he was enveloped in tight, wet heat.

Down and down. So slowly.

It felt like hours had passed before Jimin was fully seated on Taehyung’s cock, ass against Taehyung’s thighs.

“Ah, baby,” Jimin circled his hip, a slow figure eight as he rested his weight on the palm of his hands, flat against Taehyung’s chest. “M’so full. Feels so good.”

With that, he lifted carefully and dropped back down with one swift twist of his hips. The movement shocked Taehyung out of his silence, a low groan in his throat as his hands found Jimin’s ass, fingers digging into flesh and pulling. He did it again and again, setting a pace so slow that Taehyung felt like crying. Could feel tears lining his lashes as he tipped his head back and screwed his eyes shut.

The sounds from the laptop hadn’t stopped. In fact, Taehyung was sure they had increased in frequency, soft pings and chimes that filled the room with the sound of skin against skin, the sound of Jimin whispering absolute filth as he worked himself up and down on Taehyung’s cock. He wondered how high the viewer count was now. Had they reached three thousand? Four? He had no idea what the highest count Jimin had ever reached was but he felt sure that tonight would top that.

Not because of him. No, it was all Jimin.

There was something different about him now. Different from his past videos and livestreams. He was less subdued and far more vocal. And his voice was something that Taehyung loved, sweet like honey as it vibrated through him. As Taehyung shifted his hips, planted his feet on the mattress to fuck up into him.

“Fuck,” Jimin hissed, hips stuttering and nails clawing at Taehyung’s skin. “Just like that, baby. Just like that.”

Taehyung did it again, grinding into Jimin when they met again with a smacking sound.

“Yes, baby, yes.” Jimin was panting, words escaping him between huffs of breath. Taehyung opened his eyes as he fucked up into Jimin again. “Fuck, you feel so good. So fuckin’ good. I can feel you in my stomach, baby. Right here.”

He sat up then and grabbed Taehyung’s hand, placing it low on his abdomen, right above where his cock jutted out, angry and red and dripping.

“God, you’re so big.” Jimin lifted himself up only to drop down on Taehyung’s cock again.

Taehyung felt it then, against the palm of his hand. The way Jimin’s stomach bulged as Taehyung filled him up.

He grasped Jimin’s hips again, tighter, nails catching on skin. Threw his head back and tried to catch his breath. It was nearly impossible with Jimin still moving, bouncing up and down on his lap, moaning loudly each time Taehyung’s cock bottomed out. It was too much. He could feel his orgasm, twisting and turning in his stomach like a funnel cloud forming in a storm darkened sky.

And he wasn’t ready yet. Wasn’t ready for this to end.

Taehyung sat up, the sudden movement jostling Jimin until his cock was sliding out. The relief was almost instant, his orgasm fading back to a dull ache as he wrapped his arms around Jimin’s waist. He held him close, tight against his chest, as he smashed their mouths together.

He could have kissed Jimin all night, wet slide of lips as soft sighs and quiet moans escaped him, and been perfectly happy. Even with the edges of the mask digging into his cheeks, the tie rubbing the backs of his ears. But that wasn’t what they were here for.

Once Taehyung was sure he wasn’t teetering on the edge, he broke the kiss and flipped them over until Jimin was beneath him, back against the sheets and dark eyes blinking up at him from beneath his own mask. And then he kissed him again, tongue dipping between his lips to taste the moan from its source, as his hands found Jimin’s thighs, already open and waiting for Taehyung to settle between them. So he did, curling his fingers around the back of his knees and pushing his legs up.

That was all it took, his cock catching on puffy pink rim before sliding home.

It was Jimin’s turn to throw his head back against the pillows, hair a dark halo around him. The stars adorning his mask reflected the lights hanging from the wall, silver and bright. His lips were parted, pink and kiss-swollen, teeth barely visible between them, as Taehyung began to fuck him in earnest.

And he was fucking ethereal. Unreal. So beautiful it made Taehyung’s chest hurt.

Even more so when he began to tremble, thighs shaking as Taehyung held him in place. When he lifted his arms above his head, fingers threading through his own hair and tugging. When he gasped and his fingers slid between his lips, tongue darting around the tips until they were shiny with spit. Fucking beautiful, pulled straight out of Taehyung’s filthest wet dreams, as his fingers brushed the dark buds of his own nipples.

Taehyung was dizzy. Dizzy with want. Dizzy from the heat. Could feel his orgasm unfurling again, low in his stomach as he ground his hips against Jimin.

And yet, it was Jimin who came first.

Back arching off the mattress as his cock spurted between them, thick stripes painting his own stomach.

He wasted no time at all letting his fingers trail from his chest to his stomach, smearing the come around on his skin and gathering it on his fingertips. This was something that Taehyung had seen him do countless times, on camera and off. At this point, he expected it.

What he didn’t expect was for Jimin to raise his hand to Taehyung’s face. To prod with his fingers until Taehyung was parting his lips, until there was room for his come-coated fingers to slip in and press against the bitter salt of it against his tongue.

His orgasm was like a tidal wave crashing through him. Heart roaring in his ears like the ocean against rock as he spilled inside of Jimin, grinding into him again and again. Even after he had gone sensitive, could feel the come start to leak from where they were still joined. None of that mattered as his lips found Jimin’s again, licking each soft whine and sigh from between his teeth.

That was how the livestream ended, screen fading to black as Jimin pressed a button on the remote he’d hidden beneath the pillows before they started.

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

There were clean sheets on the bed when Taehyung wandered out of the bathroom, soft cotton beneath his skin as he climbed onto the mattress and rested his back against the headboard. His hair was still damp from his shower, skin pink from the too hot water. The pajamas he wore were borrowed, shorts riding high on his thighs and shirt hanging from his shoulders, but comfortable.

Taehyung felt good.

He and Jimin had kissed for a long time. Long enough that Taehyung’s soft cock had slid out, the first dribble of come making Jimin cringe.

“I think we both need a shower,” Jimin had said, fingers scratching at Taehyung’s scalp. “Do you want to go first while I put everything away and clean up? You can borrow some clothes and then, maybe…” He had trailed off then, lips twisting a little before he continued. “Maybe you could spend the night. Here, I mean. With me.”

Like Taehyung could have ever dragged himself from this apartment.

There had been clothes on the counter when Taehyung finished showering. And Jimin had been waiting outside the bathroom when he’d finished getting dressed. There were clothes and a towel in his arm but he stopped to give Taehyung a kiss before he headed in for his own shower.

Even from the bedroom, Taehyung could hear the rumble of the washer. He let the sound of it wash over him, the steady, familiar thrum helping relax his limbs. He hadn’t even realized he’d dozed off until Jimin was climbing into bed with him, curling around him with the scent of jasmine wafting from his clean skin and hair.

“How are you feeling?” Jimin asked, lips brushing against the nape of Taehyung’s neck.

“M’good,” Taehyung’s voice was heavy with sleep, words slurring together. “M’sleepy but good.”

“Sleepy and good and unbearably cute.” Jimin’s laugh was a huff of breath that ruffled Taehyung’s hair. “Did you like it?”

“So much,” Taehyung answered as he nuzzled deeper into the pillows, slipping his feet between Jimin’s legs to warm his toes.

“You should read some of the comments we got,” Jimin told him and the weight of his voice had heat twirling weakly in Taehyung’s stomach. “Everyone loved you.”

“Tomorrow.” Taehyung patted Jimin’s arm where it rested around his waist and closed his eyes.

“Sure, tomorrow,” Jimin agreed and his voice was so incredibly fond.

Taehyung was going to store that away for tomorrow too, when he had more space in his brain to dissect the meaning behind it, but then Jimin kept going.

“Do you think you’d want to do it again?” His hand splayed flat on Taehyung’s stomach, pulling him closer until Taehyung couldn’t tell where he ended and Jimin began.

Taehyung nodded, sleep tugging at the edges of his consciousness.

“Maybe as my boyfriend, next time.”

The word boyfriend cleared any thoughts of sleep from his mind as his eyes popped open.

“Boyfriend?” Taehyung echoed.

“We’ve basically been dating for like a month, Taehyung-ah.” Jimin laughed again, happy and bright in the quiet of the room.

“We have?” Taehyung was struggling to catch up, exhaustion clinging to his brain and slowing his thoughts.

“We have,” Jimin repeated, nodding his head. He pulled at Taehyung until he was rolling over. And it was like he was seeing Jimin for the first time all over again, breath stolen straight from his lungs as their eyes met.

“I think we should make it official now. Don’t you?”

The swell of emotion in his chest felt hotter than the sun, nearly consuming him from the inside out as Jimin leaned down to capture Taehyung’s mouth in a sweet kiss.

10.

It was the last day the pool was opened for the year. Well, technically, yesterday had been the last day but Jimin had pulled some strings and gotten permission for them to use it, just this once. (“The owners love me,” Jimin had told him when they planned everything out. His grin had been a very self-satisfied one that made Taehyung roll his eyes before kissing him.) The sun had started to dip below the horizon, casting shadows that Jimin chased away by plugging in the lights strung along the gate around the pool. And their friends had started to arrive.

Seokjin and Jungkook came together with clean towels and a change of clothes. Namjoon and Yoongi came soon after, so busy talking to one another that they didn’t see the way Jungkook was looking at them with what Taehyung could only describe as yearning on his face. Hoseok was the last of them to arrive, carrying bags loaded with food and beer.

More beer than food, honestly. Taehyung pointed this out with a laugh as Jungkook and Namjoon helped him with the bags.

“I need a drink,” Hoseok said with a sigh. He glanced between Namjoon and Jungkook before his eyes darted to where Yoongi waited on one of the poolside chairs and sighed again. “Maybe two or three.”

“Long day?”

Taehyung reached into one of the bags and grabbed a bottle of beer. He popped the lid off and passed it to Hoseok who held it to his lips and took a long drink, the golden liquid swirling in the bottle as his throat bobbed.

Hoseok nodded, licking his lips. “A lot of surgeries today. To say I’m exhausted would be an understatement.”

There was a hand at the small of his back, drawing his focus from Hoseok to where Jimin had joined them, pressing close to Taehyung. They shared a soft smile that was interrupted with a happy laugh.

“So cute. I’m glad at least you two got your shit together,” Hoseok said, raising his bottle in their direction before taking another sip. He turned his head to where Seokjin was directing the others on what to do with the food and his lips curled into a smile. Although a very brief one as it was quickly replaced by a frown when his eyes moved to the others. “If I have to watch these three pine all night, I might actually scream.”

“Oh, are they the only ones who need to get it together?” Taehyung asked, raising a brow.

The smile came back in full force, heart-shaped lips parting to show perfect teeth as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively and said, “You don’t have to worry about Seokjinnie and I.”

Taehyung regretted asking.

Jimin rubbed his back consolingly as he and Hoseok talked. Soothing circles in the middle of his back. It was a simple gesture and yet something about it had Taehyung feeling warm from head to toe. Warm like a fresh out of the dryer blanket on a cold night. It buzzed beneath his skin, curled in his stomach and chest.

He was happy, he realized suddenly. And it wasn’t that he had been unhappy before but there was something so vibrant about this particular moment. About leaning into Jimin, about the weight of his hand on Taehyung’s back. About seeing their friends together, laughing and drinking and taking dips in the pool as the sun continued its descent.

The most memorable part of the night however, in Taehyung’s opinion, was the show.

It had all started when Namjoon had first climbed out of the pool, water dripping from his skin and pooling on the concrete beneath his feet. Even from where Taehyung was perched on the float he’d stolen from Seokjin, it was obvious that Jungkook was blushing, that he couldn’t take his eyes off of Namjoon. Actually, he was pretty certain that Jungkook hadn’t blinked in a while.

“Jungkook-ah, what are you doing?” Seokjin called, snapping Jungkook back to reality.

Jungkook had turned away from Namjoon only to nearly stumble into Yoongi. Taehyung watched with interest, sucking on his cherry limeade popsicle as Yoongi handed Jungkook a bottle of beer, condensation dripping down the side of the glass. He couldn’t make out exactly what they were saying but Jungkook took the bottle and turned away to drink it, face even more pink than it had been before.

In fact, with each passing hour, the pink shading on Jungkook’s face only grew more and more vibrant. This was the part that Taehyung really enjoyed, watching his best friend become more and more flustered with each thing that Namjoon and Yoongi did for him. With each beer and plate of food they brought him. But he became especially pink when Yoongi, who had been talking to Jungkook, stopped abruptly and grasped his chin, thumb brushing gently against the swell of Jungkook’s bottom lip.

“Huh, look at that.” Yoongi said, tapping at a spot just beneath Jungkook’s lip. “You have the same beauty mark here as Namjoon. Namjoon-ah, look at this.”

It was almost funny how carefully the rest of them were watching as Namjoon approached. He wondered if they were all holding their breath, waiting for this whole thing to come to a head, or if it was just him. Maybe he was a little too invested.

Namjoon had dropped into a squat next to Yoongi, one hand on Yoongi’s knee and the other raising to brush soft fingertips against the spot above Yoongi’s thumb.

“Wow, Jungkook-ah.” Namjoon laughed, dimples popping in his cheeks. “Maybe we’re soulmates.”

That seemed to be all that Jungkook could handle, twisting his head until their hands were falling away.

“Please stop,” He pleaded, voice strained. “I can’t do this.”

“Can’t do what?” Yoongi asked, tilting his head. His hand had fallen to his knee, resting atop Namjoon’s, squeezing softly.

Jungkook’s chin dimpled as he pouted. “This,” he gestured between Namjoon and Yoongi and then at himself. “I don’t want to come between you and I really don’t want you competing for me. I care about you. Both of you. But I just-”

Namjoon interrupted him, shaking his head. “We aren’t competing against each other, Jungkook-ah.” He flipped his hand over, threading his fingers through Yoongi’s and letting them rest on his knee intertwined like that. “Yoongi-hyung and I… We realized we had both been pining for each other secretly. For years. Right around the same time we both realized we liked you.”

“What?” Jungkook asked, just as Jimin called out, “It’s about damn time.”

Quiet laughter came from everyone, including those who had been watching everything unfold. Except Jungkook who looked like he was struggling to catch up. And Yoongi, who was frowning as he reached for Jungkook.

“I’m sorry, Jungkook-ah,” He said as he squeezed Jungkook’s hand. “I never would have suggested this if I had known you thought we were competing for your attention.”

It was quiet for a moment.

“What?” Jungkook asked again, voice pitched higher than it had been before. “I don’t…I don’t understand.”

“Do you like us, Jungkook-ah?” Namjoon asked, folding his hand over where Yoongi and Jungkook’s hands were still together. His hand was huge compared to theirs, enveloping them both easily. “Both of us?”

Jungkook answered without hesitation. “Yes.”

Namjoon smiled again, lips curling as his eyes softened. “Good because we like you too. We haven’t been competing for you. We’ve been…”

Seokjin interrupted this time. “They’ve been wooing you, Jungkookie!”

Jungkook turned to look at Seokjin and Hoseok, then at Taehyung and Jimin, blinking rapidly like he hadn’t realized they were all still there.

“Maybe we should find somewhere to talk alone?” Yoongi suggested as he stood up and pulled Jungkook with him. “Our apartment, maybe?”

Jungkook nodded and let himself be led across the pool to the gate. He threw a quiet Goodnight over his shoulder before the three of them disappeared into the night.

(Taehyung noticed he hadn’t dropped Yoongi’s hand.)

“Thank fuck,” Hoseok muttered but he was smiling fondly, leaning into Seokjin as he nursed his beer.

A full minute passed in silence before Seokjin said, “Speaking of fucking…”

Taehyung grabbed the closest thing he could find (a forgotten sandal that probably belonged to Namjoon considering how big it was) and chucked it at his brother.

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

It was much colder once the sun was gone. Still warm but there was a coolness to the air that reminded Taehyung of autumn. It seemed the weather was finally getting it together, much like the seven of them. He had just grabbed a towel to wrap around his shoulders, hoping to fend off the cold, when Hoseok and Seokjin reappeared. It had been an entire hour since they’d wandered off together and Taehyung very decidedly didn’t want to know what they’d been up to. (Not that it would have been hard to guess considering their red-faced, disheveled state.)

Jimin cackled at the look Taehyung shot his way.

“We’re heading out,” Hoseok said as he grabbed his shirt from the table where he’d left it before jumping into the pool earlier. He tugged it on over his head and shook his hair out, golden strands in complete disarray.

Seokjin waggled his eyebrows at Taehyung again.

He was lucky that Taehyung couldn’t find Namjoon’s other sandal.

Once they were gone, Taehyung huffed and sat back in his seat. He tipped his head back until it hit the back of the chair, letting his eyes wander across the dark night sky. If he squinted his eyes just right, he could almost make out a cluster of winking stars.

That was the moment Jimin decided to speak through the hush of quiet that had fallen over them, pulling Taehyung’s attention from the sky.

“Have you ever fucked someone in a pool before?” Jimin asked, leaning forward with his elbows on the table.

Taehyung blinked, felt like he had missed something as he shook his head.

“No, I haven’t,” He answered, thoroughly confused.

Even in the dim light, Taehyung could see perfectly the way Jimin’s pink lips curled into a smirk. Could see when his lips parted, his teeth a flash of white between them, as he asked, “Do you want to?”

★・・・●・○・●・○・●・・・★

This was definitely a night Taehyung wasn’t going to forget anytime soon.

In fact, he was sure he would look back on it often and fondly.

And maybe a little hornily.