Archive of Our Own

Taehyung has known hardship since the day he was born, both because of his circumstances and the fact that he was a hybrid. Born just after the hybrid rights movement, the world didn’t seem to know how to process his existence. It was hard, but Taehyung was determined to be happy. He knows that life isn't rainbows and sunshine; he knows that the world isn't made to be perfect, there are too many people that hate him just because he has cat ears and tail, but there are those who make it all worth it.

After his dad died, his mother was left to raise him all on her own. It was hard, Taehyung did his best to make things easy for her, but it never was. Not for a hybrid, especially not for a female hybrid with a son.

He heard all of the mean things people said to her, all the nasty words thrown at her as if she was somehow deserving of less, as if she wasn't a person with feelings. He remembers the way his mother always did her best to protect him from it, from the ugliness of the world but it never really worked.

Instead, she showed him the beauty; the way that no matter what happens, the sun always shines, flowers bloom, and every situation is what you make of it. She taught him to find strength in people, in himself, and to push through the hard times.

“Taehyungie, when you meet the one, you’ll never need anyone else,” she once told him. He grew up listening to stories about his parents, how they met, how difficult it was for them, and even though his grandma didn’t approve, his mom knew she would never love anyone else.

He grew up watching her getting strength from the beautiful collar around her neck, touching it whenever she needed a reminder about the beautiful things in life, and he did his best to help. He did his best to be silly, put beautiful smiles on her face.

“It’s you and me, mom,” he would declare loudly, for the world to hear, “It’s you and me against the world!”

He didn’t say anything when he's five and just starting school. Eager to make friends, learn to read, but instead, he learns what it meant to be a hybrid, to constantly be worried about the stares of his classmates. The questions about his ears and tail, the tugs, as if they’re just toys to be touched and pulled at.

He didn’t say anything when a group of boys a year older than him, started to take his lunch. He didn’t even care that they were stealing, he cared that they ate the food his mother worked so hard on. He didn’t say anything when he got home, not the first time or the times after. He just smiles and thanks his mother before running out to catch the school bus. He didn’t say anything when his teachers turned a blind eye, awkward and unsure how to make it stop.

He knows that his mother loves how he smiles, how it makes those worry lines disappear, so he focuses on that. He’s quick to learn the best ways to navigate school, how to deal with his classmates. It’s in middleschool that he learns that beanies are the best way to hide his ears. He learns that kids are mean, that it’s easier to keep his head down and ignore them. He didn’t say anything when he learns that words hurt as much as their actions do, but he grows a thick skin.

It all gets better, though. With bright smiles and gentle touches, he learns that, just like his mother said, there are people who are kind. He learns that just because some people are mean, doesn't mean that everyone is.

—

It’s in his seventh year that things start to change.

“Hey, I’m talking to you,” Taehyung hears the loud voice yell, and he knows that it’s directed towards him, but it’s his first day, he just wants to blend in and ignore it.

“Hey, freak, don’t ignore me,” he doesn’t let himself be ignored as it seems, but Taehyung is little, he’s smaller than the older boy so he just keeps on walking to class.

Just as he hears the boy stomping closer another set of footsteps approach. He doesn’t have time to flinch, let alone move out of the way.

"Hi! I'm Jimin!" The new boy, Jimin, exclaims and throws the older boy a dirty look before holding out a small hand. Taehyung stares, looking at the outstretched hand before he takes it and shakes Jimin’s hand carefully.

The only word that Taehyung can really use to describe the boy is cute. Taehyung knows he doesn’t have big hands, but his hand is so much bigger that Jimin’s. Everything about Jimin is small and compact, but judging the dirty look that was just on his face, Taehyung feels like Jimin could be as mean as the others could.

He doesn't know what to do, he wants a friend so bad, but it seems that no one wants to be friends with a half-breed.

Taehyung tightens his lips and looks at his feet and mumbles, “I'm Taehyung." He doesn't want to be rude, he holds out the hope that this boy could be different, he could be his very first friend.

"Ignore them, they're just big bullies," Jimin's voice is soft and it's the first time that anyone has said that many words to him in a long time. Taehyung offers a shy smile, hoping it’s enough for Jimin.

No matter how hard Taehyung tries to keep his distance, Jimin doesn't back off. He's there when the group of older boys come back. He's there when a girl drops her ice cream on his shirt and sneers at him. Jimin’s there when Taehyung has to pair up with someone in his class and for the first time, he's not the odd man out that has to pair up with the teacher. It's a new feeling, but he feels his heart grow just a little.

He comes home excited, telling his mother about his friend. Eventually he invites Jimin over, and under his mother’s watchful eye, he takes his beanie off and lets Jimin touch his ears. He laughs at Jimin’s wide eyes, the fascination and hint of curiosity dancing across his face. Jimin starts talking about how cool it is, how soft his ears are, and Taehyung doesn’t think he has anything to worry about. There's a jump in his step after that, and his mother seems to relax just a little.

Maybe, just maybe, Jimin is here to stay.

—

"Adios, high school!" Taehyung yells as he runs up to Jimin as soon as he catches sight of the short red head. He doesn't calculate things quite right and collides with Jimin, falling to the ground in a tangle of limbs. He hears Jimin squawk indignantly, complaining about something but Taehyung can't bring himself to care. It's their last year before freedom.

"Oh god, you're never going to let me live that down," Jimin complains rather loudly but Taehyung just laughs as he rolls over onto the grass.

“Of course not.” He remembers Jimin’s loud lyrics like it was yesterday, even if Jimin would rather he not. It’s Taehyung’s job, as his best friend, to remind him of his embarrassing moments.

Jimin had, during one of their many sleepovers, managed to break into his father’s liquor cabinet. Naturally, one bottle divided by two fourteen year olds had them laughing uncontrollably and quite drunk. Taehyung isn’t too sure who’s idea it was to sing and dance, but at some point Jimin started ad-libbing his own lyrics to Wiz Khalifa’s Young, Wild & Free and Taehyung really wishes he could have videotaped it. But it was Taehyung that ended up hurling that night, so he’s glad that they don’t have any evidence of what happened.

Jimin kicks Taehyung's side, just enough to roll him over, before standing and brushing himself off just as the warning bell rings out, "Come on, Tae. We're going to be late to class."

"You're such a goody two-shoes," Taehyung teases, rolling his eyes, but he brushes himself off and follows Jimin anyway. He doesn't want to start off on a bad foot with his teachers.

They chat animatedly as they walk, comparing college choices. He knows that he shouldn't be making choices based off Jimin’s choices, but honestly, he can't imagine having to go through college without Jimin.

They’re loud as they enter their first period, horsing around as they tease each other, but the teacher is quick to send them a pointed look. Jimin offers her a meek smile while Taehyung gives her his signature boxy grin and the two of them head to their usual seats in the classroom.

Taehyung feels his ears twitch under his beanie due to the noise and he can’t keep himself from scratching. He looks up at the teacher as he rearranges himself but thankfully, she doesn’t say anything. He knows that the rules say that he shouldn’t have a hat on, but it’s just easier this way, for everyone. So far none of his teachers have made an issue of it, and for that, he’s grateful.

“Class,” he hears the teacher call out, “Settle down, everyone.”

The bell rings loud right after she speaks and a flock of students rush into the classroom, shoving past each other to make it to their seats on time. Taehyung’s eyes meet Jimin’s and they share a smile before looking ahead.

“There’s a new student today,” Taehyung turns to look at the door like everyone else as a dark haired boy walks in, “Ah, you’re just in time. Jeon Jeongguk, could you please introduce yourself to the class.”

Taehyung takes a deep breath and enjoys the smell of leather and soap he emits. Taehyung admires the student just like everyone else, taking in his black shirt and ripped black pants. He looks like the epitome of what mothers tell their children to stay away from. His blank face clearly demonstrates what he thinks of his situation. Taehyung is surprised how bored Jeongguk looks, standing in front of an entire classroom full of juniors and seniors, instead of nervous.

Jeongguk doesn’t say anything, just stares at the teacher, blank-faced. A thick and awkward silence blankets the room. Taehyung watches as Jeongguk and the teacher stare at each other, feeling the tension grow. It amazes him how the kid can manage to stay defiant and after a moment, it’s their teacher that breaks.

“Sit down, Jeongguk.” She sighs, resigned and her shoulders droop just a little. A part of Taehyung feels bad, but honestly, it’s kind of cruel to put a student up on the spot like that. What if he’s shy?

Taehyung’s eyes track Jeongguk’s movements. It may sound a little creepy, he must admit, but there’s something about the boy that draws him in. He rocks the ‘I-don’t-care-about-anything’ aura well, but there’s something there. Taehyung watches as Jeongguk calmly walks down the class and claims a desk in the back, dumping his stuff on the floor before facing forward.

Taehyung’s eyes meet Jimin’s and he shrugs. He opens his mouth to comment, but the teacher starts to introduce their class and talk about the syllabus.

—

Taehyung can’t seem to focus at all during the period. His ears twitch every time he hears movement from where Jeongguk sits and honestly, he’s glad that it’s just an introductory class because otherwise he would be fucked.

“Jimin, we should introduce ourselves to Jeongguk,” he mumbles as they pack up.

Jimin looks up, throwing his backpack over his shoulder and gives Taehyung a sceptical look, “What? The new kid? Why?”

Taehyung watches as Jeongguk leaves and shrugs, “I dunno, there’s something about him…” his voice trails of as he speaks. He can’t put his finger on what it is, but something draws him in about this new kid.

“Taehyung, I don’t think this is a good idea,” Jimin complains as he follows closely behind Taehyung, “I mean, what do you know about this kid? He looks like some punk.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes and laughs, “You know better than to judge a book by its cover.” He spots Jeongguk standing by some lockers, probably one of them is his, but he doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere.

“See? He looks lost,” Taehyung points out, “It’s our job, as seniors, to offer a helping hand to new students.”

Jimin rolls his eyes but follows him anyway.

It doesn’t take them long to reach Jeongguk, and the boy turns to look at them.

If Taehyung is completely honest with himself, he’s a little nervous. For some reason, he wants to make a good impression on this boy. He wants to be friends with Jeongguk, even if he scowls at the rest of the world.

He doesn't give himself a chance to hesitate and walks right up to Jeongguk, “Hi! I don’t think we had a chance to introduce ourselves. I’m Taehyung, Kim Taehyung, and this is Jimin. I just wanted to let you know that if you need anything: a friend to talk to, someone to eat lunch with— whatever, we can help you out!” His voice is cheery, loud and as confident as he can muster as he speaks. He can feel Jimin tense at his back but he powers through.

They stand around awkwardly for a moment in silence. Jeongguk doesn’t say anything, really, and it unnerves Taehyung. Jeongguk’s dark stare is intense but Taehyung is determined to stay strong. Granted, this could go badly, but he has a gut feeling that everything would be fine. There’s a long, and quite awkward pause, but eventually Jeongguk tilts his head forward in the smallest of nods. Taehyung beams at him, happy to get some sort of a response.

The warning bell rings out and he feels Jimin tugging at the back of his shirt to drag him towards their next class.

Unsurprisingly, the class is totally boring. Taehyung does his best to pay attention to the intricacies of modern literature, but he can barely keep his mouth from watering. He’s starving and lunch is up next, he can’t wait to finally eat something.

He watches the clock as it strikes twelve and the loud ring of the bell interrupts the class. He scrambles around, tossing his belongings into his backpack carelessly and practically runs out of the classroom with Jimin hot on his heels.

Understandably, the campus is incredibly loud. Everyone seems to be eager to talk about their summer, what they did, what they didn’t do, and Taehyung fights his way through the masses to get his food and escape to their lunch spot. He keeps a firm grip on his lunch tray and his eyes scan the lunch area. As per usual, the school is divided by groups of friends.

No matter how many times schools claim that high school isn’t like it is in the movies, it is. The cool kids sit in the middle, popular and always too loud. The smart kids sit off in a corner by the library, usually surrounded by books, and the jocks are always right next to the cheerleaders. It was like a bad cliche.

Jimin and Taehyung make their way over to their usual table away from everyone else. As per usual, no one has tried to lay claim to the table, no freshmen to fight off. The two boys sit and chat easily about their classes for few minutes when Taehyung notices movement out of the corner of his eye.

He stares as Jeongguk walks over, same blank look on his face. He feels happy as he watches Jeongguk join their table, even if he is sitting away from them. Clearly his attempt to make a friend are working. It’s a step in the right direction.  

“Hey! Glad you could join us!” He greets eagerly.

Jeongguk just nods once again though Taehyung thinks that he sees Jeongguk’s lips twitch up into a small smile before he looks down at his phone. Taehyung is strangely endeared by how small this boy seems to make himself, curling into his phone as if it’s the most interesting thing in the world.

Who knows, maybe to him it is, so he leaves him be. Jimin and Taehyung start talking about different anime they’re watching and games they’re excited to play, allowing Jeongguk his space as they eat.

Things continue along that note as the days pass. It becomes routine for them all to eat lunch together, and even though Jeongguk doesn’t say anything, they always make an effort to include him.

Eventually they learn that he’s a junior, having moved with his parents for work. He doesn’t seem like someone that tries hard, but he’s in some of their senior classes, so he must smart at the very least. As awkward as he is, Jeongguk manages to fit into their group well.

It feels right to Taehyung, sitting together like this. He watches and loves the way that Jimin and Jeongguk start to relax around each other. Taehyung watches as Jimin starts teasing Jeongguk and eventually, all three laugh together.

Well, they laugh. Jeongguk kinda just smiles in his corner of the bench, but Taehyung knows that he’s laughing on the inside.

—

Today isn’t his morning. Taehyung overslept through all of his alarms, which meant that he hadn’t had time to grab the lunch his mom made, and he had to run out the door.

He can smell the rain coming, probably later on today if not tomorrow, but the moisture feels gross on his ears. He can feel the fur moisten under his beanie and it feels incredibly uncomfortable. The day is barely beginning, he can only imagine how he’s going to feel at the end.

He runs to catch up to the bus but he’s forced to stand as it moves. He does his best to ignore all of the smells becoming so much stronger with the moisture in the air. One of the many reasons why he hates the rain, is how powerful it makes each scent. Taehyung wrinkles his nose in distaste but he manages to make it to school in one piece, so he calls it a success.

It’s not until he’s making his way to his first period that things really start to become an issue. He runs straight into someone rather wide and the collision makes him stumble. He’s about to apologize and move out of the way, but the irritated curse that he hears makes the hair at the back of his neck stand.

“Watch where you’re going, freak,” the booming voice startles Taehyung and he does his best to step back.

“Look, sorry man I—” but he doesn’t get a chance to apologize before he feels his beanie ripped from his head. His ears twitch as they’re exposed to the cold, damp air and he flinches back.

“God you’re such a fucking weirdo, look at his ears.” The boy snarls at his friends, nodding at them in disgust. The comment makes Taehyung overwhelmingly self conscious and he can feel his ears press against his head.

“Please, just give me my beanie back.” Taehyung does his best to sound confident in his words, but they end up as small as he feels.

The boy laughs, mocking and ugly. It makes Taehyung want to go inside and hide from the world. The boy opens his mouth to say something else, probably just as mean, but nothing comes out.

Taehyung feels someone walk up behind him and before he gets a chance to take a step away so that he’s not in anyone’s way, he feels their hand come up to his shoulder. He feels his shoulders tense for a second before he smells the familiar leather and soap scent.

“Is there a problem?” Taehyung instantly relaxes as he hears Jeongguk’s firm voice. Although he takes every opportunity he has to truly enjoy the smell, he’s amazed every time. It’s unlike anything Taehyung has ever encountered before. There’s the obvious soap scent that clings to him, but there’s also a smell of leather and strangely enough, a smell that reminds him of the ocean.

“We’re just having some fun,” Taehyung looks over to the boy and watches as he twirls his beanie around his finger. He just wants this to be over, to get his beanie back and go to class. He wishes Jeongguk didn’t have to get involved.

There’s a spike in Jeongguk’s scent before his hand tightens around Taehyung’s shoulder, “Why don’t you just give him back the beanie so we can all go to class?” There’s a sharp edge to his tone as he speaks, making it clear that he’s not asking.

Taehyung watches as the two stare each other down for a moment before the boy tightens his lips and throws the beanie at Taehyung.

“The freak isn’t worth it,” he grumbles and his friends all give Taehyung a dirty look before following.

His fast reflexes are the only thing that saves the hat from falling to the moist ground, barely catching it as it’s thrown. He quickly brushes it off before putting it back on and turning back to Jeongguk.

“Thanks, Gukkie!” He smiles brightly, hoping to look as grateful as he feels but he can’t help himself from wilting just a little when he sees the strange expression on the younger’s face. He hadn’t thought about it before, but it’s the first time that he sees Taehyung’s ears. Jeongguk probably didn’t even know that he was a hybrid.

He thinks about all the times that people have turned away from him, and he can feel insecurity eat at his mind.

He looks down at his feet and bites his bottom lip, “I-it’s okay if you don’t want to talk to me anymore, I—”

“Jimin’s waiting for us inside, hyung,” Jeongguk interrupts, grabbing Taehyung’s wrist and pulling him into the classroom.

Maybe he’s not upset after all.

—

“Kim Taehyung,” he hears Jimin’s voice call his name and he already knows that he’s angry. He turns his head around to face the redhead and does his best to smile brightly.

Jimin sets his lunch tray down, followed closely by Jeongguk, but he doesn’t even sit before ranting, “Why didn’t you tell me that asshole gave you problems, again?”

He ignores the pointed look Jeongguk sends him, clearly not knowing about the ‘again’ part, and rolls his eyes, “I had it all under control, Jimin. Seriously, it’s fine.”

“It’s not fine, you can’t just let them get away with this kind of shit. I’m gonna kick their ass the next time I see them,” Jimin huffs as he settles on the bench in front of him.

Taehyung laughs, “What? With your 5’2 height?”

“I’m 5’7, asshole.” Jimin complains, throwing his napkin at his face and tears into his lunch.

Taehyung just keeps on laughing. He knows that Jimin means well with his protective streak; he’s not diminishing Taehyung’s autonomy or anything, but sometimes Taehyung just needs to breathe and let him deal with his own issues. Taehyung doesn’t want to be a burden. He doesn’t want Jimin to feel like he’s responsible for his safety or something equally as ridiculous.

“Are we still on for this weekend?” He changes the subject easily.

Jimin nods, mouth full of food. His cheeks are puffed up as he chews and Taehyung doesn’t bother quelling the urge to poke his cute cheeks. After all the years Taehyung has known Jimin, he’s managed to keep his cheeks, and no matter how much Jimin denies it, it’s incredibly cute. He watches as Jimin’s eyebrows scrunch up and he swats at Taehyung’s hands.

“Yeah, we’re still on. I’ve been dying to try out some of the new games in multiplayer mode.” He says after he swallows his food, primly patting at his mouth.

Taehyung looks over at Jeongguk, absentmindedly playing with the food on his tray. They’ve never hung out before, not outside of school at least, but something tells him that he should invite the boy anyway.

“You should come with us, Jeonggukkie,” he says with a smile on his face, “We’re just going to hang out over at Jimin’s and probably play some video games.”

He whips his phone out and opens up his contacts, “Here, give me your number and I’ll text you.” He thrusts the phone into Jeongguk’s face and waits until he does as he’s told.

There’s an awkward moment where no one says anything before Jeongguk takes the offered phone and fiddles with it. He gives the phone back and Taehyung immediately taps on the number. It takes a second for the call to connect, but soon enough Jeongguk’s phone is vibrating and Taehyung smiles.

“There, you have my number now.”

—

“I gave him your address, he should be here soon,” Taehyung says as he paces around Jimin’s window.

He hears Jimin sigh, “Tae, you’re pacing a hole into the living room. Chill, he’ll be here.”

Taehyung knows he’s being particularly anxious. He knows it, but he can’t stop. It’s the first time they’re hanging out outside of school. He wants it to go well.

It has to go well.

“I—” he’s interrupted by the ringing of his phone and he immediately dives for it, “H-Hello?”

There’s a small quiver in his voice, but it’s definitely Jeongguk that speaks, “Hey, I think I’m outside?”

“Oh? I’ll go open the door!” Taehyung meets Jimin’s eyes and he ignores the way his friend rolls his eyes. Some friend he is.

He goes to the door anyway, swinging it open and smiling brightly when he sees Jeongguk’s hunched body.

“Hey! Glad you could make it,” he says as he opens the door further to let Jeongguk through, “We’re in the living room where everything is set up.” Taehyung speaks as he leads Jeongguk over, pointing to various doors in case he needed to know where they were.

Jimin nods over at Jeongguk in greeting and quickly tosses them each a controler, starting whatever game he had decided on first. Taehyung sits between his two friends and does his best to pay attention to the game, rather than the welcoming smell of leather.

They play in silence until Taehyung begs for Mario Kart.

“Listen,” Taehyung whines, “We’ve played everything already, let’s do a round of Mario Kart and have that decide who the real King of Videogames is.”

He knows that Mario Kart ruins friendships, but there’s only so much of Jimin’s goading that he can take. They’re equally as good at it and it’s always fun to play, no matter how competitive they are.

“But I beat you at the other ones!” Jimin retorts, “There’s no reason to bust out the Kart.”

Taehyung pouts over at Jeongguk, who until now, has been sitting quietly, “Tell him we need to play Mario Kart.” He does his best to jut out his bottom lip as much as he can and widen his eyes.

“Hey! That’s not—” Jimin complains but he’s not quick enough.

“I’m down to play Mario Kart,” Jeongguk says after a minute.

Taehyung grins and sticks his tongue out at Jimin, “Ha! See? Even Jeongguk agrees!”

“Whipped,” Jimin grumbles but sets up the console.

Taehyung ignores him and leans over to Jeongguk, “Thanks.” He takes the opportunity to sniff him, taking a deep gulp of the rich smell of leather. He feels his eyes closing, leaning in closer until his nose bumps Jeongguk’s shoulder. Taehyung doesn’t know what it is about Jeongguk’s smell that’s so enticing, but he can’t seem to get enough.

Jimin clears his throat and Taehyung’s eyes shoot open as he straightens.

“I’m going to grab some water,” Taehyung says as he stands, “Anyone else want some?” He doesn’t hear anything as he walks off to the kitchen but he takes his time to breathe. Jesus he needs to calm down and stop creeping on Jeongguk

He fills a glass with water and returns just in time for the game to start. Jimin shoots him a strange look but he just grabs the offered controller and settles on Jimin’s other side, away from Jeongguk and away from temptation.

—

Aside from his inability to keep himself from being creepy and sniffing Jeongguk, Taehyung counts the day as a success. Taehyung was a little worried that Jeongguk would have been weirded out, or at least a little more awkward, but he acted as if nothing weird had happened. Everything flowed pretty much the same as it always did. Clearly two months of knowing each other has solidified their awkward friendship.

“I can’t believe he actually came, Jiminie!” Taehyung exclaims happily as he rolls over on his bed and stares up at his ceiling.

He hears Jimin shift around through the phone, “It was almost as if he wasn’t even here, he didn’t say a word.”

“That’s not true! He greeted your mom very politely!” Taehyung defends. He’s convinced that Jeongguk is just quiet.

Jeongguk played with them, beating them both at Mario Kart. It had, of course, spiraled into another round and eventually the game had to be stopped before they got too competitive. Taehyung can still remember the happy smile on Jeongguk’s face as he beat Jimin, quite badly, and ignored the consistent flow of curses that flew out of Jimin’s mouth.

He hears Jimin grumble incoherently and watches his tail lazily flicking back and forth on his bed, “He’s pretty cute, isn’t he Jiminie?”

“Kim Taehyung, are you getting a crush on Mr. Silently-Broods-A-Lot?” He feels himself blush and he strokes his tail absentmindedly. He doesn’t know if he would call it a crush, he’s never really had one before, but he feels different with Jeongguk.

He remembers when he thought that he could maybe want something with Jimin, back in their freshman year. Jimin was comfortable; he was sweet, he always cared, but there was something that just didn’t fit. Jimin was his best friend, practically his brother.

Jeongguk is different.

He feels inexplicably happy whenever Jeongguk smiles. Taehyung swears his heart skips a beat when Jeongguk smiles so hard that his eyes crinkle, just a little bit, and he looks eerily similar to a bunny.

He’s never felt his heart skip a beat before, he didn’t even realize what it was until later. He’s never felt the itch to touch someone, to imprint their smell into his brain, and yet, he had to make himself sit next to Jimin while they played video games because he didn’t trust himself not to.

“Maybe?” He sighs, “I don’t know Jiminie, it’s just— He’s different? I don’t know how to describe it but I feel different when I’m with him?”

Jimin laughs, “Ah, that would be the big boner you’re sporting.”

Taehyung sits up and blushes, “Shut the fuck up, no I don’t.”

He ignores the way Jimin continues to laugh and pouts as he continues to stroke his tail.

“Yeah yeah, whatever you say Taehyungie.”

—

Taehyung’s crush dilemma doesn’t seem to calm, not after months. If anything, it get’s worse. He finds himself blushing and laughing at everything Jeongguk says. He’s going out of his way to be around the boy, to ask for his opinion, and, he doesn’t believe this himself, get Jeongguk’s compliments. He’s turning into one of those ridiculous stereotypes he sees on the television.

It doesn’t help that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.

“Hi, I’m a representative from the student body organization. Can I pass out Candygrams?” A voice interrupts their class and all heads turn to look at the stranger coming in the door.  

Taehyung turns to Jimin and they both smile, eagerly awaiting the distribution. It’s pretty basic, the student systematically pulls out the bags of candy and calls out the names written on the notecards.

“Park Jimin.” Taehyung looks over at Jimin and smiles. The red head stands up and goes to get his before sitting down and smiling back at him.

Taehyung’s practically vibrating in his seat as he waits his name to be called. Every year they buy each other candygrams ever since someone bought Taehyung one during their freshman year as a horrible joke. He remembers how surprised he was that he had gotten one, but when he opened the note inside, he cringed. He hadn’t eaten a single piece of candy and threw it all in the trash.

That next year, Jimin bought him one and it kinda just stuck.

“Kim Taehyung,” he looks over at Jimin and grins. He’s ridiculously excited for the candy, he knows, but he rarely gets it because everyone knows that he gets exceptionally hyper.

He briskly walks up to the student and holds his hands out to grab one but instead he’s handed two. He looks up at the student in question but he’s ignored in favor of calling out the next name. Dumbfounded, he mechanically goes back to his seat.

“Did you buy me two?” Taehyung asks, leaning over to Jimin. He’s met with a confused stare and Taehyung holds up both baggies, tagged with his name, with his hand.

Jimin shakes his head but motions for Taehyung to open it. He feels his heart stutter as he opens the one with the note inside. While it could be one from another asshole looking to fuck with him, he doesn’t believe that it is.

Gingerly, he peels the ribbon off the baggie and pulls out the slip of paper inside.

To: Kim Taehyung

I like to be alone.
            But I’d rather be alone with you.

He feels his face heat up and he can’t fight the smile that stretches across his lips. He feels his stomach twist up into knots and oh god, are his palms sweating?

“What does it say?”

He turns to look at Jimin but the bell rings and everyone jumps to life, eager to go to lunch. Taehyung looks around and quickly puts all of his stuff away. He sees Jimin stand and he quickly follows grabbing both baggies.

It’s particularly loud outside as everyone talks about the Candygrams. Jimin and Taehyung fight their way through the crowd, get their lunch, and quickly scurry off to their usual table. He hands Jimin the mysterious Candygram and rips the other one open. Picking out his favorite candies, he pops two chocolate kisses into his mouth and hums happily.

“Wow, that’s hilariously tsundere,” Jimin giggles, “Who do you think wrote it?”

Taehyung looks up and shrugs. He’s about to say something but he’s interrupted by Jeongguk.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many people out at once,” he complains as he sits. The both of them stay quiet and Jeongguk looks up at them both, looking quite confused.

“Nothing,” Taehyung laughs and takes the note from Jimin’s hands. He folds it up and and puts it in his pocket.

Jeongguk’s eyes fall to the two baggies in front of Taehyung and raises an eyebrow pointedly.

“One of them is from Jiminie,” he strangely feels the need to defend himself, “I don’t know who the other one is from though.”

Jimin looks at Jeongguk carefully before giggling, “It has a cute note actually. You should take some notes. This is how you properly woo someone.”

Jeongguk turns bright red, ears and all but doesn’t say anything. He’s just too cute and Taehyung has to contain the urge to reach out to pinch his cheeks and coo. He doesn’t want to add more fuel to the fire ever since he mentioned his ‘small’ crush to Jimin. He doesn’t need to know how much it’s grown.

Taehyung regularly finds himself thinking about Jeongguk. He catches himself staring at Jeongguk whenever he can, but even worse, he constantly catches himself breathing the boy in. It doesn’t help that Jeongguk has slowly opened up to them, like a flower under careful attention, blooming and showing just how beautiful it is.

Taehyung can remember the first time they hung out outside of school. He remembers how quiet Jeongguk was. It took him several rounds of Mario Kart to open up and start responding to their teasing. But now, although still relatively quiet, he’s no longer tense. He joins in on the teasing, and whenever they talk about anime he can’t seem to shut up. Taehyung loves seeing all the different sides to Jeongguk. How he manages to go from standoffish to an embarrassed child is beyond Taehyung, but he’s terribly fond of it.

“Ah,” Taehyung sighs overdramatically and grins at Jeongguk cheekily, “Don’t listen to him, I’m sure you’re great at wooing. If you, you know, actually say something.”  

Jeongguk just rolls his eyes at Taehyung and ignores the teasing jab and stares at his food.

That night is the very first time that Taehyung receives a text from Jeongguk first. He’s lazing around on his bed when his phone chimes and he reaches over to look at what it is. He squeals loudly when he sees who it’s from and rolls around excitedly before opening the message.

“My mom wants me to go buy a shirt tomorrow but I’m not supposed to go alone because I apparently only buy black.”

Taehyung laughs and sends three laughing and crying faces and texts, “You do though.”

A minute passes of him staring at his phone, chewing on his bottom lip. It feels like an hour passes before his phone pings again, “Whatever. Come with me?”

Taehyung screams and throws his phone before running after it. He stares at the message for some unknown reason before typing out a quick, “Yeah, sure,” and sends a bunch of smiley faces.

He tries to focus on his computer after that but fails rather miserably. That night, he gets some of the most fitful sleep in a while.

—

Taehyung stares at his closet intensely. He knows that they’re just going to the mall, but for some reason he can’t seem to decide on what to wear. He wants to look nice but he doesn’t want to look like he tried.

“You’re ridiculous, Kim Taehyung,” he whispers to himself before taking his favorite jeans and slipping them on. He makes sure to arrange his tail as comfortably as he can before throwing on a soft gray sweater. It’s warm enough to keep him comfortable but it also looks good on him. He likes the way it’s just a little bit too long around his hands.

Looking himself over, he runs his hand through his lilac hair and throws a gray beanie on. He looks good enough, he decides.

He hears his phone vibrate and lunges for it. He grins when he sees the caller ID and grins.

“Hello, you’ve reached Kim Taehyung. How may I be of service?” He chirps and gets comfortable on his bed.

“I’m in front of your house,” Jeongguk answers. He sits up and runs over to the window to check. Sure enough, he spots the familiar black old model mustang outside of his house.

“I’ll be down in a sec!” He calls out, probably much louder than he has to, before hanging up and throwing the phone onto his bed so that he could use both hands to put on his shoes. He almost falls down his stairs as he practically runs down his stairs, taking two at a time.

“Bye Mom!” He calls out before running out of his house, closing the door behind himself and skipping into Jeongguk’s car.

He struggles to buckle himself in but when he hears the satisfying click, he turns and greets Jeongguk, “Hey.” He gets a nod back and they drive off.

The two make small talk as they drive to the mall, Taehyung talking animatedly about his classes.

“Is Jimin meeting us here?” He asks as Jeongguk pulls into a parking spot and throws the car into park. Jeongguk takes the key out of the ignition and glances over at Taehyung a nervous air suddenly filling the car.

“Ah, I — uh — didn’t ask him.” He admits quietly and Taehyung’s eyes go a little wide. Sure, he had expecting that Jimin was meeting them there, but it wasn’t an issue either. Taehyung smiles brightly at Jeongguk and unbuckles his seatbelt.

“Oh,” He draws out the syllable teasingly, “trying to get me all to yourself? I see what you’re doing Jeonggukie!” He coos, reaching over to gently pinch Jeongguk’s cheek before getting out of the car, letting the subject drop. Taehyung chalks the slight blush he thinks he sees on the younger’s cheeks to wishful thinking and they head into the mall.

They wander around before Taehyung drags Jeongguk into his favorite store, “Oh, this store is the best! The material feels really soft and doesn’t smell like plastic.” He scrunches his nose up a little as he speaks before going directly to the back.

“So what kind of a shirt are we talking about, Gukkie? A button up? A polo?” Jeongguk stares at him blankly before shoving his hands in his pockets and shrugging, “A nice one?”

Taehyung rolls his eyes and looks around. Knowing Jeongguk, he’s got plenty of nice black shirts. The only color he likes more than black is probably white so that’s out of the question too.

“What’s your favorite color?” Taehyung asks, looking over to the colored button downs.

Jeongguk doesn’t even hesitate, “Purple.”

Taehyung turns his head and quirks an eyebrow at Jeongguk, “Oh?”

“What?” He defends, raising his own eyebrow.

Taehyung shakes his head and smiles, “It’s just not what I expected is all.”

Jeongguk just shrugs it off and starts thumbing through a rack of clothes with a small blush on his face.

Taehyung shakes his head fondly and huffs before eyeing some lighter shirts and walking over. He finds some nice button down shirts, as he looks but they all strike Taehyung as too thin. He tries to picture Jeongguk in one of them, but they just don’t feel right.

He wanders around the store aimlessly, touching the fabric as he goes. It takes him a good long while before a soft shirt catches his attention. It’s a beautiful light shade of purple, similar to his hair ironically, but what really gets his attention is the material. It’s incredibly soft to the touch, but when he rubs his face on the sleeve, it’s even better.

He opens his eyes and looks up to see none other than Jeongguk staring at him. He has a funny look in his eye that makes Taehyung breath catch in his throat.

“What?” He breathes before straightening and clearing his throat, “Ah— I mean, this shirt is really soft, you should try it on.”

Jeongguk looks down, searches through the rack and finds one in his size and heads to the registers.

“Aren’t you going to try it first?” Taehyung calls out after him, “Jeongguk!” But he’s ignored, leaving him no choice but to run after him and catch up. He pays for it quickly and shoves everything in the bag he’s given. As they step outside, Taehyung hears his stomach rumble. Embarrassed, he covers his tummy with his hands and looks up at Jeongguk sheepishly.

“Sorry,” he fumbles, chuckling meekly.

Jeongguk smiles, “Come on, I saw some food down that way.” Taehyung follows happily.

Eating is a relatively painless affair. Taehyung keeps the conversation going with minimal effort. It’s refreshing for Taehyung to be around someone who listens to everything he says with rapt attention. The whole time they eat, Jeongguk leans forward, nodding along to whatever story Taehyung gets stuck on. He even laughs once. Full on, bunny smile with crinkly eyes, and Taehyung swears he felt his heart leap in his chest.

Their waitress interrupts and looks straight at Taehyung, “I’ll leave this here. Take your time, no rush.” He smiles brightly and thanks her, “Please let me know if you need anything, anything at all.”

She lingers for a moment or two, looking at Taehyung imploringly. He doesn’t say anything and eventually she blushes, nodding her head before walking away. Taehyung shrugs the behavior off before looking at Jeongguk. The previously happy demeanor he had is wiped clean as he picks at the table with a small frown.

“You okay?” Taehyung asks, frowning at his sudden shift in behavior.

Jeongguk looks up and smiles, small and a little forced, before shaking his head and holding his hand out. Taehyung stares at the hand and raises his eyebrow, confused as to what he wants. They stare at each other, and Taehyung doesn’t want to break. He’s not going to be the first one to look away. Absolutely not.

“Hyung, just give me the check,” Jeongguk breaks the silence with a huff.

Taehyung pouts and sticks his tongue out, “No.”

Jeongguk rolls his eyes, a dangerous twinkle in his eye as he smiles. Before Taehyung knows what’s going on, he feels Jeongguk grab his wrist and pull him closer. Taehyung’s heart stops for a second at the touch, eyes widen as he feels Jeongguk’s skin on his own for the first time. He’s pulled forward rather easily in his dazed state and he sees Jeongguk’s other arm shoot out and grab the check right from his fingers. He’s released as soon as Jeongguk has the check.

Taehyung blinks, once, twice, and eventually he feels like his heart rate return to normal. He knows his face is probably bright red but he does his best to ignore it. Instead, he focuses on pouting, jutting out his bottom lip as far as he can, indignant.

Jeongguk’s mouth drops open just a little as he blushes a little before he fumbles around to get his wallet. Taehyung smiles, quite pleased with himself before he realizes that Jeongguk put his card into the check holder. It takes him a moment to process, but it’s a moment too long. In his confusion, Jeongguk flagged down a waiter and handed the holder over before Taehyung has the chance to protest.

“What are you doing, Jeon Jeongguk? You can’t pay for me!” He’s the one that’s older, if anything he should be treating Jeongguk.

Jeongguk shrugs nonchalantly, not looking the tiniest bit sorry, “Just did hyung, don’t worry about it. I dragged you out here anyway. My treat.”

Taehyung sits back and grumbles, “I’ll treat you next time then, make us even.”

He grumbles, complaining a little as Jeongguk signs the check and they leave. As they walk out of the mall, Taehyung gets distracted by a candy stand. He looks at the chocolate bars and licks his lips. He grabs one and debates whether or not he should get it. It’s entirely too expensive for how small it is, but it looks so good. Since he didn’t pay for his food, he should be able to afford it and not complain about it later.  

Just as he’s about to take it to the cashier, Jeongguk takes the candybar out of his hand. He expects Jeongguk to tease his love of chocolate and put it back, but instead he hands the cashier a bill and drags him away.

“Wh— Jeongguk!” Taehyung complains but lets himself get dragged off, “Yah! You need to stop paying for all of my stuff! I can buy my own candy.”

As he follows along, he feels his heart clench a little anyway. The fact that Jeongguk insists on paying for him, even for the chocolate bar that he knows he doesn’t need, makes this feel more and more like a date.

He doesn’t complain about the fact that Jeongguk doesn’t let go of his wrist. It’s rare, being so close to the boy, so he wants to enjoy it as much as he can before they go back to the way things usually are. After a short debate as to what to do, he just leans into Jeongguk and trots along happily.

The drive back is a rather short one. Taehyung munches on his chocolate and before he knows it, they’re in front of his house. It’s too soon. He fiddles around with the hem of his shirt, trying to think of a way to make the moment last longer.

“D-did you have fun today, hyung?” Jeongguk asks after a moment of silence. It’s interesting, the way he doesn’t look at Taehyung at all. Instead, he stares at the steering wheel. He looks strangely vulnerable, shy and hopeful at the same time and it triggers a thought.

Did they just go on a date?

It takes Taehyung a second, a couple of seconds before he puts all the pieces together, that Jeongguk just stealth took him on a date. Jeon Jeongguk took him on a date and he didn’t even realize it?

He quickly thinks as to what to say. His thoughts are scrambled, still in shock about the fact that he just went on his first date ever.

He can’t fight the blush that explodes on his face and nods before realizing that he’s going to have to say something or Jeongguk isn’t going to look at him, “Yeah.”

His confession sounds a lot softer than he had hoped but he’s too overwhelmed to really care. His heart feels like it’s going to burst in his chest. Never, not in his wildest dreams, had he considered that this would ever happen; that there would ever be a cute boy who seems to actually like him, maybe even date him. He’s certain his head won’t stop spinning for weeks.

Carefully, he leans over, his nose brushing Jeongguk’s cheek and Taehyung is suddenly overcome with the boy’s scent again. He wants to bathe in it, imprint it into his brain so it never leaves, and his breath catches in his throat. Before Jeongguk could get weirded out he presses his lips to the boy’s cheek.

He wants it to last longer, he does, but he’s pretty sure he’s about to go into cardiac arrest with how fast his heart is pumping in his chest. Before he dies on his first date, he ducks out of the car, mumbling a quick, “Bye, Jeonggukie” over his chest and fleeing.

He runs into his house, closes the door, and slides to the ground. Placing his hand on his chest, he feels the way his heart is hammering like he just ran a marathon.

He can’t believe he just did that. He just went on his first date.

He kissed his crush.

“Oh my god,” he squeals happily, jumping up and down before his mother peaks out of the living room and gives him the most judgmental look in the world.

—

“Park Jimin, you would not believe what just happened, oh my god I feel like I’m dreaming,” Taehyung rushed out as soon as he heard the phone pick up.

“What?” Jimin asks absentmindedly, “This better be good Tae, I was busy.”

Taehyung doesn’t even scowl, just pouts and continues, “I think I just went on a date. Me. Kim Taehyung. On an actual date. With a cute boy.”

He hears Jimin speak to someone before it gets quiet again, “With who? What about Jeongguk?”

“It was with Jeongguk,” Taehyung quips and blushes, biting his bottom lip. He hears Jimin scream just a little from the other line and he’s grinning again.

“What?! Oh my god, you have to tell me everything. Did he ask you out? What did you do? Oh my— Did you have your first kiss?!” Jimin bombards him with too many questions but he’s extremely pleased with himself. He gets to brag.

“His mom wanted him to buy a nice shirt? I dunno, point is he asked me to go to the mall so that he doesn’t buy another black shirt. Honestly Jimin, he’s hopeless,” he sprawls out across his bed, “You should have seen him, he goes for the same clothes and if it wasn’t for me I swear he would have bought another black or white shirt.”

Jimin giggles before clearing his throat and urging Taehyung to continue, “And then?”

Taehyung bites his lip and feels his tail swish happily, “I was hungry so we got food and uh, hepaidfordinner—”

“Oh god this is hilarious!” Jimin interrupts as he screeches, “He’s so whipped sweet jesus.”

Taehyung blushes and screams happily into his pillow, “Oh god, shut up Jiminie! You don’t know that! Anyway, we kinda walked around and then went home.”

Jimin huffs, “That can’t be it. Taehyung, I need details.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes affectionately but smiles anyway, “We kinda just sat in his car for a while and he asked me if I enjoyed myself and I kinda noticed that we went on a date then and oh god, you should have seen him Jimin. He was so cute, staring at the steering wheel and honestly I think it would have melted or something if he continued to stare at it like that. And I really wanted to kiss him? Like, kiss kiss him? But I got nervous and I chickened out so I kinda just kissed his cheek and ran away.” He chuckles sheepishly as he hears Jimin scream incoherently, though this time he sounds a bit more frustrated than anything else.

“Honestly, Taehyung, you’re hopeless,” he groans, “But at least you kissed him so there is that.”

Taehyung closes his eyes and inhales, “Jimin, I swear to god I’ve never smelled anything as good as Jeongguk, honestly. It’s leathery but soapy? It’s weird, I know, but it’s so Jeongguk and—”

“Tae, just don’t like, steal his clothes or something. That’s weird,” Jimin’s voice is teasing but Taehyung hears the warning anyway.

Taehyung pouts, “I don’t want to freak him out, Jimin come on.” They fall silent after that, breathing for a moment or two as they process everything.

“I think I like him,” he whispers as he picks at his tail, “like, like him.”

Jimin huffs on the other line, “I figured, you have the biggest case of heart eyes for the kid it’s kinda ridiculous.”

Taehyung groans and flops over onto his stomach, “I know,” he whines, “I can’t help it Jiminie, he’s just— just so— I dunno, I can’t explain it but there’s something there?”

He groans some more as he hears Jimin laugh at him but they fall into a comfortable silence.

“You have to promise not to act weird on Monday,” Taehyung says, “And make sure I don’t act weird.”

“Yeah yeah,” he hears Jimin sigh and he relaxes, “Listen, I gotta go, but this isn’t the last I hear about this. If I have to suffer through your awkwardness then I get to hear all the dirty details.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes but smiles anyway, “Yeah, whatever Jiminie. You’re just salty.”

There’s some rustling and some voices on the other end of the line but Taehyung doesn’t question it, mind elsewhere, so they say their goodbyes and hang up.

Taehyung lays in bed, staring at his ceiling.

Oh god, how is he supposed to act now? Are they dating? Is Jeongguk his boyfriend? Is everything going to change?

He finds himself grinning at the thought of calling Jeongguk his boyfriend. His boyfriend. Maybe.

Reaching over, he rustles through his night table and pulls out one of the last chocolate bars from his candygrams. Unwrapping the candy, he thinks back to the note—

“Oh my god!” He exclaims, sitting up and reaching for his phone.

He quickly types a “Did you send me the candygram?!” before throwing his phone to the floor and turning his light off. He’ll find out in the morning.

—

He wakes up to a simple, “Yes” text and promptly screams so loud his mom asks if he’s okay. He waves her off and tells her everything’s fine, but he can’t seem to calm his heart down.

He doesn’t think he’s ever been this nervous to walk onto campus. Ever. He changed his outfit three times, not happy with anything he wore before his mom kicked him out of the house. His palms are clammy as he steps onto campus and he resists the urge to wipe them on his pants.

There’s nothing to be nervous, he reminds himself. It’s just another school day.

He can feel his tail trying to wiggle more than it usually does, a true sign of his agitation, and he forces himself to take deep, hopefully calming, breaths.

It’s fine. He’s going to be fine.

“Tae!” He hears Jimin yell. He flinches before turning to face the figure running to him. He barely manages to plant his feet firmly onto the ground before Jimin is on him, fussing, brushing off the invisible dust off his shoulders and shifting the soft cardigan around his shoulders

“You look good! Casual, very school appropriate but still nicer than usual,” Jimin mumbles as he steps back and looks Taehyung up and down, “I would have gone with some glasses to play up the cute nerd look but that’s fine.”

It’s strange, but Jimin’s fussing makes Taehyung relax, “I don’t wear glasses, Jimin. It’s weird. Not all of us are as blind as you are”

Jimin just rolls his eyes, “Come on then, let’s go.”

They settle into their usual seats before Taehyung smells Jeongguk coming. He has just enough time to look up as the boy walks in, headphones over his ears and a blank expression on his face. Taehyung feels his heartbeat increase as they make eye contact. Jeongguk smiles, small and a little shy, but Taehyung beams back. He feels himself blush but he couldn't care less.

“Loverboy, you’re about to start drooling,” Jimin teases just low enough for Taehyung to hear but leaving everyone else unaware. He knows that Jimin’s just teasing, but his hand comes up to wipe at his face anyway.

Obviously there’s nothing there.

He looks over at his best friend and sticks his tongue out. He needs better friends.

—

Their dynamic doesn’t really change, something that Taehyung is quite happy about. They still eat lunch together, Jeongguk sitting next to Jimin and staying mainly silent as he listens to them bicker. They still hang out and play video games after school.

They start texting about silly things, sending each other memes and pictures whenever they can. It’s nothing radical but it feels a little different in the best way possible.

Jeongguk starts showing up earlier to school, walking Taehyung to his classes, carrying his bag even though Taehyung protests. If it wasn’t Jeongguk, he’d be a little weirded out how easy he finds him in the crowd. He can’t bring himself to complain when every time he leaves his classes, he finds Jeongguk leaning up against the wall looking too cool.

He just looks so good in all black, hands in his pockets, head leaned back against the wall, and looking overall untouchable. He knows better though, he’s allowed to see past the walls Jeongguk puts up. Every day, he feels himself falling more and more for this awkward boy and he doesn’t even know if he should question it.

He’s so endeared by how hard Jeongguk tries. Taehyung almost thinks it’s too good to be true, but in true Jeongguk fashion, it gets better. He randomly starts finding small chocolate bars in his bag, Jeongguk’s work he’s sure, but even better, Jeongguk’s become so much more tactile with him.

He finds their fingers brushing more often than not when they walk next to each other. They sometimes interlock pinkies if they hang out, or when Jeongguk is particularly brave, they hold hands. There's been a time or two when they hug and each time Taehyung is left reeling from the embrace. He loves how, even though they're around the same height, Jeongguk is broader and can practically envelop his entire body in the hug. Taehyung loves how it's always a good time to smell Jeongguk, sometimes even nuzzle in if he's feeling particularly brave. It never fails to put a smile on his face.

He catches Jeongguk staring quite often too, it makes him blush every time. It makes him feel like he’s burning up from the inside out. Jeongguk has a way of making him feel vulnerable and safe at the same time, and with the dark stare he receives, half the time he doesn't know what he should be feeling.

He could really get used to the feeling. There was a time where he would feel so small whenever anyone stared at him for any length of time, especially for longer periods. It was usually because he is a hybrid, he knows the disgusted stares and the sneers well. It’s nothing like how Jeongguk looks at him though. He looks at Taehyung like his smile makes dogs live forever and he puts stars in the sky or something equally as cheesy; it makes Taehyung’s heart clench in the best way possible.

With so many feelings tumbling and twisting inside, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when he wakes up one night, feeling terribly hot.

He gasps, sweating and tangled in his sheets, but the only thing he can focus on is how hard he is between his legs.

“Oh fuck,” he groans as he rolls over, onto his side, and whimpering at the feeling of his pyjamas tug at his sensitive cock. He vaguely remembers the horribly awkward talk his mom had with him a couple years back. He can’t remember all of the details, but he knows that he’s not going to be feeling any better any time soon.

Another wave of heat courses through his body and he rolls fully onto his tummy, whining as he lets his hips rock into his soft sheets. The heat coursing through his body leaves him breathless, fogging up his mind at an alarming rate. He should have known it was coming. He remembers his mom saying something about his feelings triggering his first heat once his body has matured. He should have known Jeongguk would make his whole world change.

Oh god, Jeongguk.

Taehyung’s hips stutter as he moans, much too loud than he probably should, but jesus fucking christ, Jeongguk’s hands would feel so good. He can just imagine what it would feel like, to have his strong hands all over his hot skin, how soothing it would be to feel him all over.

“Shit,” he curses and feels himself get close. It would be so good, his hands on him, caressing his skin, stroking him, stretching him out—

He feels his pyjamas stick to his skin, a hot substance dripping down his thigh and oh. Oh god he’s wet—

His mind whites out for a moment and he comes in his pants, whining Jeongguk’s name as he fucks his mattress shamelessly but it doesn’t get any better. His cock is still painfully hard and he’s soiled his pants but he just wants more. He feels itchy everywhere, dizzy with want, and the heat just gets more unbearable.

He kicks off his blankets, getting himself out of his clothes and properly strokes his dick. It feels good, it does, but he knows that it’s not going to be enough. He bites his bottom lip hard as he squeezes himself and fucks up into his hand. He allows his own come ease the glide and flicks his wrist just the way he likes, his other hand traces along his thigh and strokes his balls. He’s never been so sensitive, everything feels ten times better than it does normally, bordering on painful but he needs it. He strokes himself, learning his body well and his second orgasm feels better than the first, but still not enough. He’s still hard, frustrated, and tired.

He wants Jeongguk, he wants to be pinned down and wrecked. He wants Jeongguk to fuck the heat out of him, he wants to feel Jeongguk’s hands all over his body. He screws his eyes shut as he lets his hands trail a little lower and he feels the wetness between his thighs. He’s never felt this before, this liquid heat and he vaguely remembers that it doesn’t always happen. What would Jeongguk think? He could probably just slide right in and—

Taehyung feels his back arch as his finger brushes over his entrance. He can’t keep his loud keen in and his hips twitch down. The tip of his finger slips right in and the thought is just so hot. Jeongguk’s fingers could probably just slide right in, all the way in right where he wants them.

He fucks his finger in and out of himself, slowly but once he’s knuckles deep, he adds a second finger. It’s a little uncomfortable but he can’t bring himself to care, he just needs more, needs Jeongguk but he’s so fucking close.

“Oh fuck,” he sobs as his fingers brush past a spot that sends liquid fire down to his toes and he wiggles down the best he can to get it again. He cries out in frustration when he can’t find it. It’s not enough, it’s not fucking enough and he just wants Jeongguk’s fingers, his mouth, his dick in him. Claiming him for the world to know.

It would be so good to have him there, on top of him, pressing him into the mattress. Taehyung doesn't doubt that Jeongguk would tease him, touch him everywhere but where he wants. He would make Taehyung wait but oh, it would be worth it. He can practically smell Jeongguk’s addicting scent, the leather and soap smell that sticks to his skin. His mind whites out, going blissfully calm as he comes all over himself for the third time, covering the rest of his chest in come.

It takes him a moment, but he thinks that his dick might have actually flagged, just a little. He lays there, panting, covered in sweat and come but he can’t bring himself to care. He still feels like he’s going to burn through his skin, but he’s so tired.

The last thing he thinks about is Jeongguk, his smile and he relaxes enough to fall asleep.

His heat last three days, but he doesn’t find out about that until friday. It’s honestly a blur of lust, frustration, and loneliness. No one told him he’d hate waking up alone, that he’d hate the fact that it’s just his hand helping him out. No one told him that during the time that he was a lucid he’d be sad. He knows it’s just his hormones going a little crazy, but it doesn’t make it any easier.

He vaguely remembers when he finally, blessedly, got soft and finally felt like he could breathe. It’s a bit murky, but he passed out right after. According to his mom, he slept for a whole day, but he honestly feels like he could sleep more.

He groans as he sits up, he feels absolutely disgusting. He’s got come everywhere, he honestly doesn’t even want to look at himself. He’s pretty sure he has a thick coat of crusted over come, sweat, and slick all over. The musk that permeates the room reminds him just how he must smell. He makes a mental note to open the window to air the room out a bit as he showers.

“Okay, you can do this,” he tells himself before trying to swing his legs over the side of the bed. Pain shoots up his spine and he groans. Jesus he’s so sore, his thighs burn like nothing else but the shift in his weight put pressure on his ass.

He stands slowly, careful to not put too much weight on his legs too quickly. He manages to make it to the window and then to the shower. The hot water feels amazing on his skin as he washes away the crusted over filth off. He scrubs himself pink, desperate to feel clean and like himself again. He hisses when he goes to clean his dick rubbed raw and his ass to get whatever was left off.

He’s efficient, but the shower takes longer than he anticipates because he’s so damn sore. By the time he’s done his finger tips are wrinkled up and the mirror is completely fogged over. He puts on the softest pair of sweats he can find and the largest sweater he owns. He barely manages to strip his bed, equally as filthy if not more so than he was, and curls up at the center. Everything hurts and he’s so tired that as soon as his head lays down he’s out like a light.

The next time he wakes up, it’s to his mom knocking softly on the door. His eyes crack open as she pads in and sets a mug down on his coffee table.

“How are you feeling?” She keeps her voice low, her ears pointed in his direction as she softly runs her fingers through his hair. He loves the way her tail curls around his ankle and he closes his eyes, leaning into the attention before clearing his throat.

“I’ve been better,” he murmurs before opening his eyes, “I feel better though.”

She smiles down at him before scratching at one of his ears, “I’m glad to hear that. I made an appointment for you already so we can get you on suppressants. Do you feel up to it today?”

He lets himself enjoy the ear scratches before sighing and sitting up, “The sooner the better.”

He feels her palm up against his cheek and he smiles at her. There’s a strange look on her face, almost as if a little pained, but she smiles anyway.

“I’m sorry baby,” she says as she rubs her thumb on his cheek, “It gets better though, I promise.”

“It’s not your fault, I’ll be okay. Don’t worry so much,” he smiles, turns into her hand, and kisses her palm. He holds the hand in both of his own before squeezing it.

“Thank you,” he lets go of her hand and reaches for the tea. It feels amazing as he swallows, thick and sweet, just what he needs.

“The appointment is in an hour,” his mom says as she stands. She ruffles his hair before nodding at the window, “Keep it open to air your room out. I’ll throw your sheets into the wash later.”

The doctor is understanding, a hybrid himself so there’s not much he has to ask. The suppressants are fairly simple. He sticks on a patch once a week until the week of his heat and they’re supposed to make it easier. Of course, it isn’t as good as having a mated partner but it would do.

He can’t help the blush at the pharmacy though, not paired with the lube and condoms his mom forced him to get. Preventative, not reactive. He practically runs out of the pharmacy.

When he gets home he runs straight into his room, embarrassed to all hell. His mom says dinner will be ready at some point but he just shouts an acknowledgement before lunging to his bed. It takes him a moment of looking around, but he eventually finds his phone under his bed. He tries to turn it on, but it’s very clearly dead.

“Obviously,” he grumbles to himself before plugging it in. He waits rather impatiently for it to respond. It takes way too long for it to vibrate, but when it does, he immediately types in his password. His phone starts vibrating almost instantly, pinging over and over again as it receives over 100 missed calls and text messages. He laughs as he sees they’re all from Jimin but a pleased grin explodes on his face when he realizes Jeongguk reached out too.

He clicks on Jimin’s contact and waits for the call to launch.

“Kim Taehyung, where have you been!?” Is the first thing he hears after the first ring.

“Jimin I—” Taehyung sighs.

“No! Do you know how worried we’ve been? No calls? No texts? We didn’t know where you were or if you were dead or worse!” Taehyung smiles, fond and god, what would he do without Jimin? No matter how much they bicker and gripe at each other, he loves his best friend and clearly he loves him too.

“Jimin I—” he tries again.

“You better have a damn good excuse Kim Taehyung it’s literally been—”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, “Jimin!” His voice is loud enough to startle his friend, “Breathe Jimin, jeez, you’re working yourself to an early grave. Chill.”

He hears Jimin sputter but plows through, “I’m sorry it was a rough week but I’ll be back on Monday, relax.”

“What’s going on, Taehyung? You never miss school, let alone a whole week of school. Are you okay?”

Taehyung smiles before closing his eyes and sighing, “I’m fine now. I just, well—  I got my first heat.”

There’s a long pause and a part of Taehyung is a little worried but he mainly wants to let Jimin digest the information, “What does— Did you get suppressants?”

He rolls his eyes, “Of course I did. My mom made me get condoms and lube too, it was so embarrassing.” He shoves his face in his pillow as he feels the embarrassment return full force.

Jimin just laughs through Taehyung’s whining, “Proper care, Tae. We can’t have you getting preggers or something equally as horrifying.”

“Oh my god, shut the fuck up, jesus christ. Why are you my best friend?” He complains loudly.

Jimin giggles, “Because you love me.”

Taehyung grumbles something before rolling over and staring up at the ceiling, “You blew up my phone. You should have seen it, it was putting the best vibrators to shame.”

“Yah! I was worried okay! I know Jeongguk also texted you and shit so don’t just blame it on me,” Taehyung laughs and strokes his tail before biting his lip, “Was he worried too?”

He hears Jimin rustle around, probably getting comfortable, before he sighs, “I swear I’ve never seen him scowl so much, Tae.”

He blushes and smiles, “Really?” His voice is soft, almost hesitant, but he’s pleased to hear it. He doesn’t know what to think, that must mean that he was missed, right?

“Do you think he triggered it? You heat, I mean?”

Taehyung sighs before sitting up and caressing his tail, “Probably, I mean— I-I’ve never felt this way before. I don’t wanna say I’m in love with him or anything but it’s definitely not just a crush? And this is tmi so—”

“Oh my god, Tae, just tell me,” Jimin interrupts.

Taehyung rolls his eyes before he brings his knees up to his chest, “I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Like, the things that I do remember was heat, I felt so hot everywhere, but also Jeongguk. That has to mean something, right?”

It’s quiet for a beat or two before Jimin speaks, “I mean, from what I understand, if you remember something that much it means that you feel something for him for sure.”

Taehyung nods before pressing his forehead against his knees, “Yeah, I just hope that he’s not mad or something.”

Just as he speaks, he hears his mom call him for dinner, “Hey, Jimin, my mom just made dinner but I’ll text you later?”

“Yeah yeah, go eat, I’m sure you’re starving.”

Taehyung laughs, “Yes, mother,” he grumbles before smiling, “I’ll see you on Monday.”

—

He fiddles with his phone while he sits on the bus. Jeongguk had sent him a total of 54 text messages and even called him three times.Taehyung was sleeping most of the weekend so he barely had the energy to go through the messages let alone reply to them. He scrolls through the messages, ranging from tentative and curious to sounding downright hurt.

Taehyung felt awful about hurting Jeongguk’s feelings or making him think that he was upset for any reason. He doesn’t really know how to explain himself though, he can’t just show up and hope everything is okay or exactly the same. For crying out loud he spent all week fantasizing about Jeongguk fucking him into the mattress.

The bus ride is much too short and before he’s ready to face the day, he finds himself in front of the school. Hiking the backpack over his shoulder, he lifts his head and walks forward. He can see students hanging around already but he looks out for his two friends.

He spots Jeongguk first, leaning up against the wall of their first period looking bored out of his mind. The only thing that lets him know that he’s not as relaxed as it seems, is the fact that Taehyung can’t hear music coming from his headphones. His shoulders look tense and he’s staring at the ground angrily.

He cautiously walks closer, a little slower. He sees Jeongguk’s demeanor change as soon as he glances up, looking straight at him. Taehyung watches as Jeongguk does a double take, almost as if he can’t believe his eyes, before straightening his posture. Taehyung smiles tentatively as he approaches.

“Hey,” his voice is weary but he hopes that his face conveys how happy he is to see Jeongguk.

There’s an awkward moment where they kinda just stare at each other before he’s being pulled into a tight embrace. Taehyung squeaks in surprise but he relaxes into Jeongguk almost immediately, reciprocating the embrace, and fisting the material of his shirt in his hands. He feels Jeongguk’s arms tighten around his waist as he takes a deep breath, closing his eyes and humming happily. He lets the smell of leather and soap calm his mind as he nuzzles into Jeongguk’s neck and is immediately immersed in his scent. Again, Taehyung finds himself wanting to bathe in it until the only thing he can smell is Jeongguk all over himself.

Taehyung loses track how long they stay like that, hugging in front of their class, and it takes him a while to realize he’s purring softly against Jeongguk’s neck. He freezes, his purr getting caught in his throat, more than a little embarrassed. He doesn’t know for sure how long he’s been purring, but there’s no way Jeongguk didn’t notice it. He goes to lift his head, wanting to gauge Jeongguk’s reaction. Before he can pull away, he feels a hand rub at the back of his neck and a small kiss being pressed into his temple.

He feels the slow rumble of his purr start up again as he hides his pleased smile into Jeongguk’s shoulder. If he could stay where he is for the rest of his life, he’d be happy.

The loud ring of the bell goes off and causes them both to flinch just a little. Taehyung sighs and releases the shirt caught in his palms. He smoothes his hands down Jeongguk’s back, talking himself into separating before he finally gathers enough self control to pull away. They share a look, both blushing, but they smile as they gather their things and step into the classroom.

That is the first day that Jeongguk offers to drive him home. The drive itself is relatively quiet but eventually Jeongguk puts the car in park and looks over at Taehyung.

“Are you okay?” Jeongguk asks carefully, his eyebrows pulled together with concern.

Taehyung smiles his boxy smile, trying his best to reassure him, "I'm fine Gukkie, don't worry so much." He’s much too pleased that Jeongguk worried about him but he doesn’t really want to explain everything and scare him off.

Jeongguk looks at Taehyung carefully, looking for something in his face but eventually sighs, “Don't do it again, hyung.”

Taehyung blushes and nods, looking down at his hands before looking back up at Jeongguk. He wants to kiss him, feel Jeongguk’s lips up against his own. He licks his lips before making eye contact with the other and his heart starts to race as he smells the spike in Jeongguk’s scent. There are several reasons why someone’s scent would spike, but the most common is an elevated emotion; anger, sadness, arousal, etc and Taehyung is comfortable enough to bet he’s not angry.

Slowly, so very slowly, he leans forward over the console and closer to Jeongguk. His eyes dart down to Jeongguk’s lips and he watches as he licks his lips. He looks back up for a second, giving the other time to back out. The tension in the air feels heavy around Taehyung in the best way possible and he gives in. His eyes flutter shut as he leans in and feels Jeongguk’s lips against his own.

Taehyung feels his world melt away around him as they kiss, hesitant but soft. He can feel his heart pounding in his chest. It’s a little awkward with the center console between them and Taehyung wants nothing more than to curl up to Jeongguk, to feel his arms around him.

Their noses bump a little and they both huff a small laugh before pressing their lips together again. He feels Jeongguk’s hand come up to the back of his neck, running his fingers under his beanie the best he can and Taehyung has to swallow down a whimper.

His lips part as he pulls away just a little before pressing back in and brings up his hand to cup his cheek. He doesn’t really know what he’s doing, doesn’t know if he’s doing it right either, but he’s doing what feels right. Their lips meet, over and over in a gentle caress and Taehyung feels himself start to purr, softly but definitely audible in the silence of the car. Jeongguk nibbles on his bottom lip before kissing him once more and pulling back.

Taehyung keeps his eyes closed for a minute, savoring his first kiss, the taste of Jeongguk on his lips, before he opens them. He stares at Jeongguk and takes a sharp breath. His eyes are dark and intense, mouth pink and shiny, and Taehyung has to lean back to keep himself from jumping on the boys lap. He’s taking his time. He’s not going to rush this. He’s not going to scare him away.

“You should go in, your mom is probably worried,” he watches Jeongguk’s lip as he speaks but it takes him a minute to process the words. He stares at Jeongguk’s mouth and licks his lips, remembering the way they felt up against his own.

“Yeah,” he breathes before shaking his head, “Yeah okay, you’re probably right.”

He clears his throat before grabbing his backpack and opening the door. He quickly leans over, steals a quick kiss before throwing a quick, “Bye, Gukkie! Thanks for the ride!” over his shoulder and running into his house.

His face is bright red and his heart is beating a mile a minute, but he’s inexplicably happy.

He just had his first kiss.

—

The first time they go on a date, a real date that is framed as a date, Jimin freaks out with Taehyung.

“You can’t wear that! You always wear that!” Jimin insists before diving into what’s left of his closet. Taehyung looks down at his shirt and shrugs. Jimin’s not wrong, he’s pretty sure he wears the shirt quite often to school but it’s his favorite shirt.

“What’s his favorite color?” Jimin asks, voice muffled by the clothes he’s rummaging through.

Taehyung thinks back to their first non-official date, when Taehyung asked Jeongguk that very same question, and smiles.

“Purple,” Taehyung mumbles and just as he expects, Jimin’s head shoots up out of the closet and levels him a look.

“What?” he defends, looking around shyly.

Jimin just shakes his head laughing before he dives back in. He hears Jimin muttering something to himself before he makes a happy noise and finally gets out of the closet.

“Here,” he says, thrusting a white turtleneck at him with one hand and a large gray sweater with the other. He looks over at Jimin questioningly before shrugging and throwing the clothes on.

Jimin seems almost as nervous as he is as he looks Taehyung up and down, “I like it. The sweater is big enough to make it fall down and look super cute but the turtleneck puts it together. Plus, sweater paws, they’re weak for that. What do you think?”

Taehyung follows Jimin to the bathroom and looks at himself. Jimin’s right, the sweater is big enough that it makes him look cute, but the turtleneck makes it look classy. He never would have thought of it, but he likes it.

“Your hair looks really good with it too,”Jimin comments, running his hands through Taehyung’s bangs. His ear twitches and Jimin giggles before rubbing an ear. Taehyung leans down and into the motion, sighing happily.

“You’re so cute Taehyungie,” Jimin compliments, “Jeongguk won’t know what to do with himself.”

Taehyung blushes thinking of Jeongguk’s lips, and hands, on him. How good it would feel to curl up on his lap—

“Keep it PG,” Jimin interrupts, “or do you want me to give you some alone time?”

Taehyung shoves Jimin in retaliation just as his phone rings. He hears the familiar sound of Jeongguk’s car outside and he grins at his friend before they scramble to get his phone and shoes.

He’s about to run out of the house but he’s stopped by Jimin, “Here, don’t forget it.”

Taehyung grabs the white beanie from Jimin’s hand. They share a small, sympathetic smile, before Jimin opens the door and pushes Taehyung out. He stumbles a little before he finds his balance. He runs to Jeongguk’s car and tumbles in. He vaguely thinks that maybe he shouldn’t look as eager, but he doesn’t care. They haven’t had some time alone since Jeongguk drove him home a weeks ago.

“Hey,” he hears Jeongguk greet before revving the engine.

Taehyung smiles and greets him back before buckling himself in, “So where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” he teases. The drive is a short one, they stay relatively quiet but it gives Taehyung time to admire Jeongguk. He’s wearing his typical black skinny jeans, but the long sleeve white knit sweater looks super soft and his fingers are itching to touch and rub his face all over it. There’s something about the snapback that he’s got on that completes the look, makes it look a little more edgy, and Taehyung has to remind himself to breathe.

He follows Jeongguk out and to the street. The area is vaguely familiar but it’s getting dark and he doesn’t know what could be planned. There aren’t any restaurants but he vaguely remembers a park down the street.

“This way,” Jeongguk says, taking Taehyung by the wrist and pulling him gently to the left. He feels himself blush but he turns his hand so they’re holding hands. He’s nervous, he’s never held someone’s hand, at least anyone who’s not Jimin, and he prays his hand isn’t sweaty. He tenses when he feels Jeongguk’s hand shift but he interlaces their fingers and squeezes once, reassuring Taehyung. He looks down at their interlocked hands, biting his lip shyly before squeezing back.

They end up in front of an ice cream parlour and he looks at Jeongguk excitedly. He feels like his smile is trying to break his face in half, but he’s not going to keep his excitement in. Jeongguk knows him well enough to spoil him, take him to the place where he knows Taehyung will love no matter what. The two have spent so much time together that it makes sense that Jeongguk would know how to take Taehyung on a fun date, but it still makes him happy. Not that he wouldn’t like the stereotypical ‘dinner-and-a-movie’ type date but ice cream seems a little more relaxed? They’re not going to have to think about dinner conversation so that’s definitely a plus in his book.

Taehyung’s eyes scan the rows of different colors and flavors, in disbelief that he has to pick which one he wants. He’s a bit overwhelmed by all the flavors but he ends up deciding on strawberry while Jeongguk orders chocolate. The ice cream is incredibly creamy and he’s distracted, yet again, allowing Jeongguk time to pay without an issue. It’s not until they’re walking down towards the park that he realizes that it’s the second time Jeongguk paid.

“You paid, again!” He sputters, doing his best to pout.

Jeongguk laughs before digging into his ice cream, “I asked you on this date, might as well pay.”

Taehyung’s face warms up as he blushes. He said date. Jeongguk’s ears turn a little red as they walk, but they’re both smiling. He lets Jeongguk lead them wherever he wants as they eat. Taehyung can’t keep the happy sounds in as he eats his ice cream, humming and licking his spoon as he enjoys the creamy treat. He can feel Jeongguk’s eyes burning holes to the side of his head, he looks over and winks teasingly before taking another spoonful.

He hears Jeongguk groan loudly and quickly finish his single scoop of ice cream. Taehyung giggles, happy with the reaction, before finishing his own quickly and handing it over to Jeongguk to throw out.

They continue walking to the park and as soon as he sees the playground, the swings specifically, he grabs Jeongguk’s hand hand drags him over, “Push me on the swings!”

He hears Jeongguk trying to keep up with him, but there aren’t any complaints. He loves the swings more than anything. He loves how high he can go. He loves going up high and then jumping off. He feels like he’s flying.

He drags them all the way to the swings, through the sand and to the creaky wings. Taehyung runs right up and sits down excitedly.

“C’mon, hurry up!” He eagerly rushes and grins at Jeongguk’s endeared smile. Jeongguk sighs but he pushes Taehyung anyway. He’s gentle at first but when Taehyung squeals at a particularly hard push, he puts a little more force until he has to step back. Taehyung laughs happily as he feels the air brush through his face and enjoys the rush.

Leaning back, he closes his eyes and lets himself enjoy the feeling of being so high up. It’s dark, the moon up in the sky and the cool air nips at his nose, but he can’t bring himself to care. The fresh air feels amazing.

He sees Jeongguk sitting in the swing next to his own, watching him with such a fond look on his face that Taehyung feels his heart stutter. He stops moving his legs and lets himself slow down, naturally coming to a stop after a while.

“Thank you,” he breathes, facing Jeongguk, “I haven’t been on swings in… too long ago.”

Jeongguk smiles before standing, “You liked it?”

Taehyung stands but leans back into the swing, stepping back to lean up against it and holds his hand out for the other to take.

Jeongguk raises an eyebrow but takes the offered hand. Taehyung interlaces their fingers and pulls him closer, “So much.”

His words are practically whispered. He brings a hand up to cup Jeongguk’s jaw and bites his bottom lip. He wants to kiss this beautiful boy so much. His eyes look down at Jeongguk’s lips before looking back up to his eyes and he sees the hunger he feels reflected in the gaze.

This time it’s Jeongguk that connects their lips. The kiss is just as soft as their first, but there’s less hesitation. Taehyung breathes Jeongguk in and parts his lips, just enough to kiss Jeongguk’s bottom lip between both of his own. Jeongguk grabs Taehyung by the waist and takes a step closer. He groans as Jeongguk’s tongue tentatively traces his lip and he spreads his legs, just a little. It gives just enough space between his legs to that he can pull Jeongguk up closer and he can lean into the swing holding him up.

Taehyung’s fingers play with the hair at the nape of Jeongguk’s neck as the kiss deepens. If he thought Jeongguk smelled good, he tastes ten times better. It’s intoxicating, the sweet taste from the ice cream mixed with Jeongguk perfectly. He can’t keep the whimper down as he opens his mouth up for more, pulling Jeongguk down to him and tugging at his hair. He feels Jeongguk’s grip tighten around his waist and they end up pressed up against each other, from toes to their hips. Their clasped hands untangle and Taehyung finally lets both of his hands run through Jeongguk’s hair.

He feels Jeongguk’s hat fall off his head but he can’t be bothered to worry about it, not when he has Jeongguk’s soft strands between his fingers. He smoothes his hands through the black locks as he nibbles on Jeongguk’s bottom lip, purring happily. He feels fingers touch the bottom of his back, under his shirt, and they both exhale a light groan before diving back in fro more. Heat coils in his tummy as the kiss loses any pretense of innocence, turning into a hot press of lips, tongues, and occasional teeth.

His heart is racing in his chest, panting into Jeongguk’s mouth between kisses. When they separate to breathe, Jeongguk’s lips kiss their way down his neck.

“Jeongguk,” He groans, more of a breath than anything, when he feels the light press of teeth bite into the tender skin just above his turtleneck. His grip tightens on Jeongguk’s hair before he pulls Jeongguk back up for another kiss.

He doesn’t know how long they stay in the park, kissing and touching, but they eventually pull away. Jeongguk presses his forehead against Taehyung and they stand there, panting between soft, chaste kisses.

“God, you have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to do that,” Jeongguk whispers with his eyes still closed.

Taehyung giggles before pressing another chaste kiss to his lips, “Oh? I’m all ears.”

Jeongguk snorts at the pun before squeezing his hips once and taking a step back, “It’s getting late, I better get you home.”

Taehyung sighs, looking up at the moon. It must be past eight already and knowing his mom, she would want him home soon. He stops, grabbing Jeongguk’s forgotten hat from the floor before he follows Jeongguk’s lead. He brushes the hat off before brushing himself off and placing the hat back on Jeongguk’s head. They make their way back to the car in a comfortable silence. Their hands meet, fingers laced together, as they walk. The car ride is shorter than Taehyung would have wanted, he wishes it could have lasted together, but he has to go home.

Jeongguk walks Taehyung to his front door and presses a sweet kiss to Taehyung’s lips.

“Goodnight,” Taehyung whispers before pressing another kiss to Jeongguk’s lips and stepping inside. He listens to Jeongguk’s car rev and speed off before slumping up against the door, smiling widely.

His mom interrupts his internal screaming, “I better meet the boy that’s making you smile so much.”

Taehyung’s eyes widen in surprise before nodding a little and running off to his room.

—

“You should come over for dinner,” Taehyung blurts out a week later at lunch. Both Jimin and Jeongguk look up at him, startled before looking at each other and pointing to themselves in confusion.

Taehyung laughs nervously, “I just got my hands on the new Assassin's Creed and you said you like it so I thought we could play? Maybe?”

Jimin coughs with how hard he laughs and looks right at Jeongguk. The black haired boy swallows before nodding slowly, “When?”

Taehyung thinks about it for a second, but it really doesn't matter to him, “Whenever? Friday?”

Jeongguk nods slowly, a small smile on his face before he takes another bite of food. Taehyung grins, satisfied with his efforts, before looking over at Jimin. He looks terribly amused, almost as if he’s laughing at them but Taehyung can’t bring himself to care. He was admittedly worried about bringing it up without inviting Jimin, but it doesn’t seem like Jimin cares. It’s not like they don’t hang out anyway.

Taehyung glances over at Jeongguk and bites his lip. They’ve gotten so much more comfortable with each other it makes Taehyung so excited. Not just Jeongguk and himself, although they have, but the group as a trio. They’re constantly texting if they’re not together, sending each other meme after meme or complaining about homework. Taehyung loves how much Jeongguk has opened up, talking about himself and inserting himself in conversations whenever he wants.

He asks his mother that night just to make sure it’s okay for Jeongguk to come over, but they don’t have any plans, just as he had expected, and she smiles encouragingly. Friday comes too fast and not fast enough at the same time. They agree that they would just head over together but Taehyung feels strangely nervous.

He plasters a smile on his face and leads the way inside. He sees Jeongguk’s tense stance and giggles, attributing the nerves to the fact that he’s essentially meeting his mother for the first time. It serves to make him feel a little better, knowing that Jeongguk is probably just as nervous as he is. He hears his mom in the kitchen so he guides them both to say hi.

Jeongguk is painfully formal, bowing and looking at his feet but his mother is thankfully very relaxed. Her smile is warm and relaxed as she tells Jeongguk to make himself at home. He watches her ears and tail flick around happily, signaling her amusement.

He remembers when they’d talked about it; she had asked him if she should hide her ears or tail, and a part of his heart broke at the question. She should never have to hide them, and while he appreciated her consideration, he wishes she hadn’t thought it necessary.

“Dinner will be done soon,” she says with a smile, “Go change Taehyungie.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes but nods anyway. He leads Jeongguk to the living room and gestures for him to sit.

“I’m going to go change into something more comfortable real quick,” he points over to the stairs, “I’ll be right back.”

He runs up the stairs, taking two at a time and throws on the first pair of sweatpants he can find. They’re fairly clean but they let have a hole in the back to let his tail out and that’s all that really matters to him. He lets it swing freely for the first time all day and smiles happily. He never notices how uncomfortable it is to have it restrained until he’s home and letting it loose. He takes his beanie off and shoves it into his pocket.

He runs back down just in time to set up the table and eat. Dinner is pretty comfortable. Jeongguk is as quiet as normal but his shoulders don’t look as tense, so he counts that as a win. They laugh and tease each other as usual and Jeongguk joins in occasionally. He seems to be blushing a little more than usual but he’s too endeared to fix that.

Jeongguk offers to do the dishes, adorable as ever, but his mom fights them both off and tells them to have fun. Taehyung lingers in the kitchen a little, making sure everything was fine but he’s kicked out. Jeongguk trails behind him until they settle on the couch in the living room.

“Okay, so I’ve got the new Assassins Creed, some of the Call of Duty’s,” he turns as he speaks when he doesn’t hear a reply and notices the way Jeongguk’s eyes seem glued to his ears.

“Jeongguk?” He feels himself wilt a little, ears pressing into his head. Maybe he wasn’t comfortable with them? He knows that Jeongguk isn’t used to seeing his ears so it’s probably just too much too soon?

He looks around for a hat or something he can throw over his head and remembers he had shoved his beanie in his pocket. He quickly fishes it out and throws it on, rearranging his hair before turning back to Jeongguk.

He’s completely surprised by the look of disappointment that flashes past Jeongguk’s face and he sputters, confused, “Wha— Why did you cover them?”

Taehyung hunches forward and tugs at his sleeves, “I-I thought it bothered you? That’s why you were staring?”

He feels Jeongguk scoot forward and hold his fidgeting hands, “Hey hyung, no, no, that’s not it at all. It's just— they're like— cute?” He clears his throat, “Sorry about the staring though.”

Taehyung looks up at him, blushing up a storm but incredibly pleased. A part of him was willing to wait as long as needed, but most of Taehyung craves Jeongguk’s acceptance of all of him. Jeongguk blushes at his confession but he seems to be determined to make Taehyung believe him. Taehyung meets Jeongguk’s eyes, taking in as much of his expression and looking for any doubt. When he finds none, he hesitates for a second, but takes the beanie off and tosses it onto the couch.

His ears twitch a little as he gets accustomed to the air again but the pleased look on Jeongguk’s face makes his chest fill with happiness.

“You lured me in with Assassin’s Creed,” Jeongguk prompts and Taehyung shoots up before bending over and rusting with the console. He hears a choked sound coming from Jeongguk, but there’s not much else so he figures Jeongguk’s fine. He plugs everything in and boots the game up.

Sitting back up, he grabs the controllers before settling himself next to Jeongguk and hands over a controller. There’s a small blush on his face that intrigues Taehyung more than it probably should.

“What?” He asks a single eyebrow raised as he watches Jeongguk.

“Huh? What? Oh, nothing, just uh— I never noticed your tail before?” His face turns bright red as he stares at the controller in his hands.

Taehyung’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, “Yeah, of course I do, all hybrids do? I just tuck it in at school. It’s really sensitive so I don’t like it when people touch it.”

Jeongguk nods and hums understandingly before he starts the game up. It doesn’t take long before the two are screaming indiscriminately at the game. They both lose track of time, teasing and bickering as they play. It’s not until his mom comes out of her room and tells them to keep it down.

“Sorry mom!” Taehyung calls out to her, just loud enough so he knows she hears before looking over at Jeongguk, “Did you wanna watch a movie or something? So we’re not as loud?”

Jeongguk smiles and nods before saving the game and handing over his controler, “Don’t think this is over. I’ll beat your ass soon enough.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes and sighs, “Ah, Jeonggukkie, you never learn, do you? It’s okay, I’ll teach you eventually, young grasshopper.”

Jeongguk flicks his thigh in retaliation and Taehyung giggles before going over to the console and turning it off, “What did you wanna watch?”

Jeongguk shrugs his shoulders, “I dunno, what do you have?”

Neither of them feel particularly picky but somehow they end up choosing a horror movie and Taehyung doesn’t have it in him to complain. Jeongguk looks a little excited to see it, apparently he heard good things about it, but Taehyung can predict the fact that he’s most likely going to end up hiding his face for most of the film.

It’s not even that he doesn’t like scary movies, he does he really does, he’s just easy to scare and it’s always a good excuse to sneak in some cuddles.

“You have to turn off the lights though!” Jeongguk whines slightly as Taehyung settles into the couch.

“Uh-uh, I’m already comfortable. If you want them off so much, you go turn them off.” He wiggles down into the couch to make his point, curling his tail around his waist and looks pointedly at Jeongguk.

He juts out his bottom lip and grins when Jeongguk closes his eyes and groans. It takes him a moment to find the light switch, even after Taehyung guides him right to it, and then takes him another moment to find his way back to the couch, but eventually they settle in.

Jeongguk settles next to Taehyung, thighs pressed together comfortably. It doesn’t take long for Taehyung to get immersed in the movie, flinching throughout. It’s good, he’ll give it that, but there’s blood and guts everywhere.

He yelps in surprise and flinches into Jeongguk’s shoulder as one of the characters gets his arm cut off. His knees come up and he strokes his tail nervously, cracking an eye open as he continues to watch. It’s rather gross actually, but he wants to know what happens next.

It’s not much later before he jumps, yet again, but this time Jeongguk sighs. Taehyung is about to complain that Jeongguk doesn’t get to complain when he’s the one that chose the movie, but he stops himself as he feels an arm curl around his shoulders and bring him in closer to Jeongguk’s chest.

He grins all too pleased with the development before nuzzling into the embrace and relaxing, focusing back on the movie. He doesn’t know when exactly, Jeongguk starts to run his fingers through his hair, but it doesn’t take long for him to lean into the touch. He starts losing interest in the film the more comfortable he gets. Just as he feels Jeongguk’s fingers brush over one of his ears he freezes at how good it feels.

“Sorry,” he whispers but Taehyung shakes his head, “It's okay Gukkie, you can touch them. It feels nice.”

It takes Jeongguk a second, but he feels a soft touch to his right ear and he can’t help the pleased rumble that escapes his throat. It feels nice, better than nice, and he finds himself leaning his head fully into Jeongguk’s chest as curls into his lap. Jeongguk wraps his free arm around his middle and holds him in place as the other hand keeps rubbing lazy circles against his ears.

Taehyung doesn’t notice when the film ends, but he does notice the spike in Jeongguk’s scent. He nuzzles into his neck and takes a deep breath, whimpering just a little as he savors it. Heat courses through his body as Jeongguk tightens his hold and caresses the skin around his hips through the small slit his clothes provide.

He feels himself getting hard in his pants just from the soft touches and he’s more than a little embarrassed, but he just tightens his hold on his tail and clutches onto Jeongguk’s shirt. He doesn’t want it to end. The pleasure he feels from the way Jeongguk rubs at his ears is overpowering just about anything else he feels. He’s never had someone touch him like this, carefully and for so long.

His brain feels a little cloudy as Jeongguk continues to stroke his ears. Jeongguk gets more confident as time passes, his touches varying in intensity but as soon as he scratches at the base Taehyung keens loudly and buries his face further into Jeongguk.

“Oh fuck, Tae,” he hears Jeongguk whisper and sure enough, he can feel Jeongguk twitch in his pants. Taehyung’s mouth goes dry at the knowledge that he is the one that did that. Jeongguk is hard for him. He hasn’t even touched Jeongguk but he’s still hard.

He pants into Jeongguk’s shirt but he doesn’t stop the caresses, he’s needy for more. Jeongguk permeates every one of Taehyung’s senses. He can feel Jeongguk everywhere, and his smell is so potent he can practically taste him on his tongue. Carefully he brings one hand up the side Jeongguk’s neck and threads his fingers through Jeongguk’s hair. He buries his face in Jeongguk’s neck, licking at the skin as they sit there. Jeongguk’s hands stutter, just a little as Taehyung nips softly, but he doesn’t stop.

He vaguely thinks about the fact that his mother can probably hear them if she tries, but it doesn’t click into his fogged up brain until he hears her door open. He sits up quickly before scooting back and putting a respectable amount of distance between them by the time she enters the room. He clears his throat quickly, throwing a look over Jeongguk’s shoulder and it gives him just enough time to prepare.

He knows that she can probably smell them, embarrassing as that is, but at least she doesn’t catch them red handed.

“Boys, it’s getting late,” she interrupts, “Jeongguk, did you want to stay over since it’s so late?”

Jeongguk clears his throat before shaking his head, “No, thank you. I told my parents I’d be heading home.”

His mom smiles and nods before sending Taehyung a pointed look and walking away.

“That was a close call,” he groans, leaning his head back onto the couch, “Are you okay to be driving back this late though? Won’t you get in trouble?”

Jeongguk just shakes his head, “Nah, it’s fine.”

They sit there in silence before he hears his mom clear her throat softly and he sighs and stands, “Alright, I’ll walk you to the door then.”

Jeongguk acts like a bobble head, nodding at everything but stands anyway. Taehyung turns away, rustling around with the television to give Jeongguk some privacy to rearrange himself.

They linger around the door, Taehyung fussing with Jeongguk’s jacket and beanie, “Drive safe, okay?”

Jeongguk sighs and huffs a small laugh before hooking a finger under his chin and pressing a soft kiss to his lips, “Yeah, yeah. I can’t have my boyfriend worrying or anything.”

Taehyung freezes in surprise, a fact that Jeongguk takes advantage of as he steals one last kiss before saying a quick thank you to his mother and walking out the door.

Taehyung presses his fingers against his lips and grins.

“Boyfriend,” he whispers. He could get used to that.

—

That morning, he wakes up much too early.

Taehyung opens his eyes and grabs his phone to check the time. The bright screen tells him he’s up an hour early. He groans in complaint, rolling over and sighs into his pillow. He tries to count backwards from 100, he counts sheep, but nothing seems to work.

Rolling his eyes, he figures he might as well just wake up and call it a day. He scrolls through his phone inattentively until his bladder demands attention. He pushes it back as long as he can, enjoying the warmth of his bed but eventually, his bladder gives out. He makes his way to the bathroom quietly, relieving himself before he jumps into the shower, brushes his teeth and hair before looking at his closet.

“I have nothing to wear,” he complains. His eyes dart to his overflowing laundry basket mournfully before he grabs his go to jeans and throws on a plain white shirt. He looks out the window, eyeing the murky clouds and takes a jacket just in case.

“Morning, Teahyungie,” his mother greets, “You’re up early.”

He kisses her cheek in greeting and takes the offered breakfast before sitting at their table, “I couldn’t go back to sleep.”

Her tinkling laugh rings through the room and he joins in. She knows just how much he loves his sleep and he has no doubt that she’s laughing at him. Not that he cares, he still pouts for arguments sake as she sits.

They chat as they eat, taking the time to catch up with each other. He can’t keep himself from worrying that she’s overworking herself. They don’t have much time to relax together, so whenever he does, he does his best to make the most of it. He’s happy to see her smile.

“You like this, Jeongguk boy, don’t you?” She says after a moment of silence.

He looks down at his plate before looking back up at her, smiling, “Yeah.”

“I thought so, you remind me of me back in the day,” her voice is soft, wistful. He watches as her hand goes to her neck, a reflex, and she caresses the jewel that dangles.

The silence is a little awkward but after a moment she clears her throat and smiles over at him, “Is he treating you right?” The tightness in her voice eases and the smile looks genuine.

“Yes, mom,” he sighs dramatically.

She laughs and nudges his foot with hers, “Bet you’re happy I made you buy all that stuff now.”

“Mother!” He complains loudly and blushes furiously. He stands and washes his dishes, eager to get away from the probing questions. It doesn't matter that he hasn’t used them, just the thought that his mother thinks he has is embarrassing enough.

“What? With how things were going yest—”

The plate in his hands almost slips, “Mom.” He’s whining at this point, like a child, but the embarrassment is too much.

He hears her laughing and approach before pressing a kiss to his temple. He takes her plate and washes it along with everything else.

He cleans the rest of the kitchen, killing time before he has to go catch the bus, but he’s interrupted with the familiar rumbling of an engine. He straightens and leans over to the window. It must be quite the hilarious sight, seeing his head peek out through the window with his ears sticking straight up, but he’s not expecting to see the black mustang parked out front.

He grins as he sees Jeongguk step out, looking criminally good before seven in the morning, and hurries to finish up. He runs upstairs to grab his stuff and on his way he sees his mom leaning up against the way with her lip quirked up in a smile.

“Have a good day at school.”

He grins and nods, running up to her to kiss her cheek before going to the door.

He swings it open just as Jeongguk knocks, startling him, “Hey.” Taehyung is practically bouncing on his feet as he greets his boyfriend. It takes him a second before he’s shaking his head.

“Good morning!” Jeongguk tilts his head and greets Taehyung’s mother but the hybrid closes the door and drags him to the car.

Jeongguk laughs but follows along anyway. They drive off and Taehyung grins the entire drive over.

The school is, unsurprisingly, relatively empty. They’re almost half an hour early and most of their fellow students show up on time or hang out in their cars. The two sit on top of their usual lunch table, ass on the table and feet on the attached bench.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this early,” Taehyung breathes, leaning his shoulder into Jeongguk’s. He sweeps his eyes over the practically empty campus and laughs. He can see small clusters of students, hear them chatter, but it’s never been this low. Usually he has to block out the constant gossip and stream of voices from school but he’s happy he can relax.

Jeongguk bumps his shoulder teasingly, “Don’t get used to it.”

Taehyung laughs and bumps him back, “Ah, such a sweet talker you are.”

They settle down and Taehyung lets his head rest on Jeongguk’s shoulder. He sits there, enjoying the silence, and plays with the simple band on his index finger. It was his father’s ring, his mother gave it to him when his hands were big enough and he’s never taken it off since. It’s a way he can feel close to him, even though he has no memories together.

He’s taken out of his musings when Jeongguk grabs one of his hands. His large hand, much tanner than Jeongguk’s. Looking at them, he decides he likes the contrast, even through their differences, they fit together perfectly. He smiles as he watches Jeongguk play with his fingers, overly fond and content with his morning.

Taehyung is suddenly overwhelmed with the need to be closer to Jeongguk, he leans over and presses his lips to Jeongguk’s cheek, he wants more but he’s painfully aware of where they are. He closes his eyes and takes in the smell that is pure Jeongguk and sighs.

Jeongguk’s nose bumps his and Taehyung sighs happily as he feels their lips touch. The kiss is sweet, a soft press of lips that has Taehyung smiling more than kissing back. Jeongguk’s hand comes up and cups his cheek as they separate and his eyes flutter open. He nuzzles into his palm and kisses the skin.

“Hi,” he whispers and bites his bottom lip. Jeongguk’s scent is sharp, getting stronger as the seconds pass and Taehyung feels himself start to heat up under the intense gaze.  

They lean back in and Taehyung feels himself get lost in the kiss, the warm press of lips and he can’t resist licking and nibbling down on Jeongguk’s lip. He loves the way Jeongguk inhales sharply and Taehyung’s mind goes blank as he deepens the kiss.

His neck grows a little sore from the angle and he knows it would be better if they rearranged themselves. Gathering all of his courage, he throws his leg over Jeongguk’s lap and settles right over his thighs. He wraps his arms around his boyfriend’s neck for support just as he feels hands grab his hips.

Jeongguk huffs, amused and Taehyung nips at his lip playfully, “Shut up.”

His voice is nothing more than a breath, and a second later he dives back in. Jeongguk’s lips trail down Taehyung’s cheek and neck until he reaches a particularly sensitive patch of skin. Taehyung whimpers and holds Jeongguk close, fingers laced through his hair. His hips grind down as Jeongguk works the skin between his lips. He nips and sucks at his neck, turning Taehyung into putty in his lap.

“Jeongguk,” Taehyung breathes, at a particularly hard nip and pulls Jeongguk into a messy kiss. He’s getting a handle on this kissing thing, exploring new ways to draw groans from his boyfriend, tracing his tongue over all the nooks and crannies of his mouth, learning all he can. He rolls his hips down and the grip on his hips tighten, urging him on. He loses himself in the kiss, hot and heavy.

He doesn’t notice Jimin coming until he’s right next to them, “Yah! You’re in public, you pair of delinquents!” He feels a small hand come in between them and physically pull them apart. Taehyung doesn’t bother restraining his noise of complaint, unhappy about the separation.

Jimin gives them a second to breathe before he motions them to separate, “Dismount your boyfriend, Taehyung. Preferably before someone catches you and gives you detention.”

Taehyung blushes but moves back to where he was sitting before. He pulls his jacket down to hide the boner he knows he’s sporting and giggles when he sees Jeongguk do the same.

“You two are ridiculous, oh my god,” Jimin complains before laughing, “I can’t take you two anywhere!” He continues to lament and Taehyung shoots Jeongguk a mischievous grin.

—

“You start on the reading already?” Jimin asks as he packs his stuff up.

Taehyung winces and shakes his head, “I completely forgot about that.” He laughs at himself and looks through his backpack for the book.

“Oh fuck,” he frantically sifts through his stuff, “Jimin, do you have my book?”

He can’t find the book, he looks up into his locker and it’s not there either, “Dude, I can’t find it, what the fuck.”

Jimin zips his stuff up and leans over, “What? But you haven’t even used it? When’s the last time you saw it?”

Taehyung closes his eyes and tries to think. The day they went to the library to check out the textbook was the day he had forgotten his backpack, ironically. He remembers how much he complained and Jeongguk had laughed at him but helped him anyway he—

“Jeongguk!” He exclaims, “He carried some of my stuff for me.” He immediately looks around, trying to see if he can see the boy anywhere. The bell had just rung so the hallways were completely crowded and he couldn’t see anyone.

Frustrated, he closes his eyes and focuses on his nose. It’s a long shot, but if he can smell the other out things would be so much easier. He’s bombarded with fake smells, axe and perfumes, but under all of that Taehyung thinks he can smell the slight hint of leather mixed with Jeongguk as he turns toward the bathrooms.

“I think I can smell him,” he shoots over his shoulder before hoisting his backpack over his shoulder and taking off. He carefully weaves through the people as he makes it closer. The hallways are loud, but people are filing out and he can smell Jeongguk better. Jimin teases him all the time with how well attuned he is with the scent, but he takes pride in his nose. He doesn’t point it out, but he can do the same with Jimin, he just never needs to.

“Jeongguk?” He calls out as he enters the bathroom. It’s strange just how his nose picks up Jeongguk’s smell over everything else, even in the bathroom, but he shrugs it off. He hears some rustling and the toilet flush before his boyfriend steps out of the stall.

“Hey,” he greet but goes straight to the sink, washing his hands and splashing some water on his face before drying. Taehyung waits and steps outside, following Jeongguk.

“Do you have my literature book by any chance?” He looks over at Jeongguk hopefully. He lets his eyes roam Jeongguk’s face, the flushed skin and confused look.

Jeongguk clears his throat, wipes his palms on his thighs before his face scrunches up as he thinks about it, “Actually, I think it might be in my locker.”

“Oh my god, I hope so I’ve got a reading response due on Monday,” he rushes out and takes off to the lockers. He ignores the strange aura around the boy in favor of getting his textbook.

Thankfully he finds it and yells happily, hugging Jeongguk, “Thank you, oh god I owe you.” Jeongguk freezes for a second before hugging him back, laughing into Taehyung’s hair.

He’s engulfed by Jeongguk’s scent, sharp and clean. It’s stronger than usual, but he attributes it to Jeongguk sweating. Taehyung takes the opportunity to smell him a little; he smells so good, mouthwatering, quite literally.

He pulls away and shakes his head, doing his best to clear his mind before smiling and thanking Jeongguk once more. They walk to the bus stop together and Jeongguk stays until Taehyung is driven off by the bus.

Taehyung rearranges himself in his seat and whips out his phone to fiddle with it. Strangely, Jeongguk’s smell stays with him. He thought it was because Jeongguk was right next to him, but now that he’s on the bus and Jeongguk is obviously not, he finds it weird. He can still smell the sharp scent, as if it’s on him. It’s different than usual. He closes his eyes as he tries to focus on it.

He’s never smelled it quite like this before; it’s sweet and inviting as usual, but it makes his mouth water and toes curl. For a second he thinks that he may be going into heat, but he knows that it’s not it. Even if he wasn’t on suppressants, he doesn’t feel himself becoming sensitive to everyone’s scent, it’s just Jeongguk.

It’s almost as if he’s wearing his essence, as if—

“Oh my god,” he shoots up in his seat as he pieces everything together. Jeongguk being twitchy, hiding in the bathroom stall, his flushed cheeks, oh god— He must have touched himself.

Taehyung feels himself twitch in his pants as his mind conjures what he must have looked like, how the bathroom must have smelled as Jeongguk was inside. He quickly moves his backpack to his lap, hiding his growing hardness but thankfully he gets off at the next stop and runs home.

Taehyung is eternally grateful that his mother isn’t home yet and runs upstairs. He’s itching to get a hand on himself. He knows that he could wait, that he could just let it go away, but he doesn’t want to. He knows that Jeongguk, shy and observant Jeongguk, touched himself in the boys bathroom at school.

He gets comfortable on his bed, taking his pants off and reaching into his underwear, he takes himself out and gives himself a stroke. It’s a bit too dry but the friction is delightful nonetheless. He grabs the lube from his drawer, brand new, and places a quarter size on his palm.

“Shit,” he groans as he touches himself again. He can’t think of why he’s never done this before, why he’s only ever touched himself in the shower. The lube eases the glide so well that he’s fully hard after a couple of strokes.

He trails his clean hand up and under his shirt, raking his nails under his navel and his back arches into the touch. He can just imagine the way Jeongguk could have bitten his lip to keep quiet, the way he probably shoved a hand down his pants because he just couldn’t wait. Something got him so hot and bothered that he touched himself and Taehyung, selfishly, can’t help but wonder if it was him.

He had a lollipop that he’d won from the review session, but that had been the period before last. Had Jeongguk been so turned on by the way he sucked at the candy that he ran to the bathroom? Could it be possible that he led his boyfriend to touch himself in school?

“Oh god,” he breathes as he twists his hand the way he likes. He can just imagine the way Jeongguk’s cock looked, flushed and drooling as he pumped himself while trying so hard to stay quiet. Had Taehyung been any faster, he might have caught him in the act. Maybe he could have gotten to touch, to taste.

Heat shoots down his spine, making his toes curl and a sharp whine escape his lips. He’s not going to last much longer.

The silence of the room is interrupted by the shrill ringing of his phone and he groans in frustration. He debates not answering for a second, his dick hard and leaking is definitely persuading him to ignore the call, but the slight possibility of it being Jeongguk sends a wave of arousal through his body. God, his brain must be cooking in his head if he’s debating answering Jeongguk’s phone call while touching himself

“H-Hello,” he does his best to sound normal at best, but he can hear how out of breath he is.

“Taehyung?” The moment he hears Jeongguk’s voice his nerves sing to life, craving his touch and his cock throb in his hand, “Hyung?”

He takes a minute to take a breath, “Hey, sorry. What’s up?” He sounds passible. He doesn’t think that it sounds like he has his hand on his dick, listening to the sound of his voice, and getting off on it.

Perfectly innocent.

“Are you in the middle of something?” Taehyung closes his eyes and mutters a quick no before putting the call on speaker and letting his clean hand softly touch his ears, trying his best to emulate Jeongguk’s touch. He remembers how good it felt when Jeongguk touched them, how good he felt to sit on his lap and let him do as he pleased. He traces his finger around his ear, letting his nail scratch just a little. He huffs when it doesn’t feel the way he remembers. No matter how he touches, it’s not the same.

Sound natural. Sound natural, he reminds himself.

“No, sorry, I just, uh, ran up the stairs.”  

Nailed it.

Jeongguk laughs on the other end and Taehyung has to bite his lip to keep the keen from escaping his lips. His heart is racing, feeling more naughty as the moments pass but it’s so hot. He’s pretty sure he’s panting into the phone, but he doesn’t care. Jeongguk is talking in his ear, he has no idea what the boy is saying but it really doesn’t matter. All he needs is Jeongguk’s voice in his ear as he touches himself.

His cock is so hard it’s drooling, getting him all messy and he can only imagine what Jeongguk would think. He wants to feel Jeongguk everywhere, sucking hickeys into his neck, playing with his ears, stroking his tail, filling him up so good.

“—so full I think you’d love it.” Jeongguk’s words trail into his consciousness and he’s pretty sure he’s breathing so loudly that Jeongguk must notice something different. Taehyung can’t keep himself from wondering what it would feel like to have Jeongguk inside. He’s never touched himself there, not without his heat at least, not completely lucid. He barely even remembers it now, but oh god he’d be lying if he said the thought didn’t light a fire in his veins now.

Screwing his eyes shut and biting down on his lip, he releases his aching cock and lets his messy hand trail down his balls and trace over his entrance.  

“Oh,” he whispers as he teases himself. He completely loses track of what Jeongguk is saying, simply listening to his voice as he teases his entrance. He can just imagine Jeongguk’s expression, what he’d look like if he knew he was fingering himself while talking to him. It feels surprisingly good too. The angle is a little weird on his wrist, but his tail caresses his thighs as the tip of his finger presses in, just a little, and it feels so good.

His finger feels good, but he can imagine how good Jeongguk would feel. Jeongguk lying above him, fucking into him, sweating and so horny he can’t control himself and—

“Are you coming, hyung?”

Taehyung has no idea what Jeongguk said before, but it’s like a switch was flicked and he comes. He squeezes his eyes shut tightly, getting his hand on his dick, and strokes himself through his orgasm. He’s pretty sure he has Jeongguk’s name on his lips, but he can’t think of much, just the heat and pleasure that’s coursing through his body

He grabs his phone with a shaky clean hand and presses the screen until he’s pretty sure he ends the call. It takes him a second, but the gravity of his actions sink in.

Holy shit, he just got off while on the phone with Jeongguk.

Throwing an arm over his eyes, he groans and lays there, shirt covered in come and hand messy. When he can muster enough energy, he takes the shirt off and using it to clean himself up. There’s no use in dirtying something else when he can use his shirt.

Eventually he gathers the will to go shower and change into clean clothes. He checks his phone, just in case Jeongguk said something, but there’s nothing.

He types out several messages before deleting them all. He decides on a simple ‘Sorry, my phone died’ and sends it before he can second guess himself.

He receives a smiley face back, so it can’t be too bad.

—

Taehyung feels a little awkward when he sees Jeongguk the next day. He doesn’t know how to act, knowing what he did but it seems that Jeongguk feels the same. Jeongguk meets him in front of class the way he always does, Jimin at his side, but he doesn’t look at Taehyung once. He can’t stop the disappointment or the way his shoulders hunch forward as Jeongguk avoids looking at him. Although he doesn’t want to think that Jeongguk heard him on the phone, he has to accept that he must have with the way he avoids Taehyung all day, staring at the ground or his shoes instead.

Clearly he crossed a line and overstepped their boundary.

It was the first time in such a very long time that Jeongguk stays completely silent and to himself. Not knowing what else to do, Taehyung goes to Jimin’s house after school.

“It’ll be okay, Tae,” Jimin comforts as he holds Taehyung, curled up on his lap, “Whatever it is, you two will work it out.”

He nods and just sits there, thinking about what they have, “What if he doesn't want to be my boyfriend anymore?” He knows he’s being dramatic, but the thought is just eating him up.

Jimin sighs and presses a kiss to Taehyung’s temple, “Then he’s an idiot.”

“But I don’t wanna break up,” Taehyung whines, pouting and staring at his feet. He feels like a child, like a middle schooler going through their first relationship, and in a way, he is. He’s never felt this way about anyone. He’s never felt his heart skip a beat because someone holds his hand. He’s never worried about what he smells like, if he’s brushed his teeth, yet Jeongguk makes him so paranoid yet comfortable all at once.

Jimin just holds him, comforting him through it but Taehyung knows he did wrong. If he could take it back, he would, if only to avoid making Jeongguk uncomfortable. It’s the last thing he wanted, he wasn’t thinking straight, but his horny brain should have known better.

They agree to give Jeongguk space.

A week passes by and Taehyung does his best to leave Jeongguk alone. He smiles and greets him in the morning, but doesn’t try to hold his hand. Half way through the week Jeongguk stops showing up outside of his classrooms and Taehyung feels his shoulders drooping just a little more. It get’s bad enough that he can’t hide it from his mother, but he does his best anyway. His mother asks what happened, if he was fine, but he just does his best to smile and stays in bed.

He doesn’t realize how he’s gotten used to Jeongguk until he no longer has him.

Taehyung lasts until Friday. He manages to last the weekend and the week, but when Friday rolls around, he feels like he’s about to cry. He hates the stilted silence, he hates the fact that they’re both tense around each other.

When the last bell of the day rings, he waves Jimin off and instead of heading to the bus stop, he goes to Jeongguk’s car. It’s parked where Taehyung knows Jeongguk likes and he waits. He wants to talk, clear the air. One way or another, he’ll know for sure where they stand.

He stands next to it, not wanting to even touch it without Jeongguk, and stares at the asphalt. He’s not sure how much time passes. It feels like forever, but it’s probably only been a few minutes. He can feel his ears twitching with how nervous he is, under his beanie, but he stands his ground.

He doesn’t look up, even after he smells Jeongguk coming, until he’s right in front of Taehyung.

“Can we talk?” Taehyung wishes his voice was stronger, but he’s so tired. He’s tired of the tension, of not knowing where he stands.

Jeongguk stares at him, an indecipherable look on his face, before nodding. He opens the passenger door for Taehyung before going around. He fiddles with his fingers the entire ride, eyes glued to the floor as he tries to figure out what he’s going to say. They end up in an empty parking lot, but Taehyung doesn’t really care where they are.

He unbuckles himself and turns his body to face Jeongguk. He doesn’t know where to start and the silence in the car is overwhelming. He presses his sweaty palms to his thighs and gathers his thoughts.

“I’m sorry,” he blurts out, too quiet and too loud at the same time, “I’m sorry, please don’t hate me.” His hands clench as he speaks, beyond nervous.

He doesn’t look up at Jeongguk, but he listens, “Wait, what? Why are you sorry?”

Taehyung looks up surprised, “Why wouldn’t I? I made you uncomfortable? Crossed a line?”

He’s even more surprised by how hard Jeongguk blushes, looking down at the steering wheel and chews on his bottom lip.

“Yeah, uh, uncomfortable is not the word I would, uh, use,” his eyebrows scrunch up, “It, uh, I— Um, I kinda can’t stop, um, thinking about it? I’m the one who should be sorry because I don’t want to pressure you or anything? And you probably want space?”

Taehyung can’t speak fast enough as he realises what happened, “What? N-no! I thought you were the one needed space? I totally like, violated your ears and trust? And I’m sorry? I swear I didn’t mean to? It kinda just happened? And your voice is just, um, yeah and like, I couldn’t stop and then you just, I don’t even remember what you said specifically but like— oh my god this is so embarrassing, I’m sorry.”

Jeongguk laughs, a little tighter than usual but it’s still a laugh so he counts that as a win. Taehyung doesn’t miss the spike in his scent, and strangely enough it eases his anxiety, if only just a little. He doesn’t want to make any assumptions as to why, but he really hopes Jeongguk isn’t mad. He waits to see what Jeongguk does next.

Taehyung is completely surprised by the fact that Jeongguk holds his hand out and beckons him in, “Come here.” His tone is so sweet, expression so open, that Taehyung can’t keep himself away. He struggles a little, loses his beanie along the way, but they manage to move around so that Taehyung is straddling Jeongguk’s lap as comfortably as possible in the small seat.

He nuzzles into Jeongguk’s neck as he’s pulled into a hug, warm and welcoming in a way that he hasn’t felt in too long. It’s ridiculous, but there’s no way he can deny it anymore. He’s falling for this painfully awkward boy. They sit there, holding each other. Taehyung can’t seem to get enough of Jeongguk, his warmth or his scent.

“If you think I sound good, you have no idea how good your voice sounds,” he hears Jeongguk whisper in and wow, does it wake up any lingering arousal he felt.

Taehyung pulls back and presses a hesitant kiss to Jeongguk’s lips. It’s chaste and sweet as they get reacquainted with each other. Taehyung hums into the kiss but it turns into a groan as Jeongguk rubs his ear.

“I didn’t realize what you were doing until the end,” Jeongguk confesses between desperate kisses, “God, the way you said my name.”

He grinds up into Taehyung, punctuating his words and pushes out a loud “Jeongguk,” past his lips before diving in and deepening the kiss. It turns frantic quickly, biting lips, wandering hands, and a steady rhythm that has him hard in his pants.

“I smelled it on you,” Taehyung breathes as Jeongguk trails kisses down his neck and leaves hickeys in his wake, “You jerked off, oh fuck, earlier that day and the smell clung to you, oh right there, and I couldn’t wait to get home. But then you called and, fucking shit, I couldn’t—”

His words die in his mouth as Jeongguk scratches his ears perfectly, bites down on his neck, and grinds them together hard. His mind whites out and he’s so fucking close it’s embarrassing.

“Fuck, you’re so goddamn beautiful,” Jeongguk groans, “such a pretty kitten.”

Taehyung’s mouth falls open, a silent sob as he hears it.

Kitten.

He feels Jeongguk freeze but Taehyung is dizzy with how hard he is, “Shit I-I’m sorry I—”

“Jeongguk,” Taehyung pants into his neck, grinding down and too needy to care about anything, “A-again, s-say it again please.”

He vaguely notices Jeongguk’s blush before he hides his face in Taehyung’s neck whispering, “Kitten.”

Taehyung keens, bucking into Jeongguk’s lap, “O-oh god, again. Please Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk says it again, biting into his neck as he does, “P-pretty kitten.”

He spasms as he comes in his pants and grips Jeongguk’s hair tightly. Taehyung’s high pitched whining fills the car as he rocks his hips back and forth and rides his orgasm. Jeongguk strokes his ears and makes encouraging noises, helping him through until Taehyung thinks it’s too much. Taehyung pants as he gives himself a minute to feel like a person again before kissing Jeongguk.

Taehyung feels Jeongguk still hard in his pants, an uncomfortable predicament he’s sure, and he wants nothing more than to reach in and touch. He trails his hands down, rubbing Jeongguk’s nipples as his thumbs pass over them, and pops his jeans open.

Taehyung breaks the kiss as he gets his hand on Jeongguk, hard and heavy on his palm. It’s a heady feeling, knowing that he did this; Jeongguk is hard and leaking in his pants because of him, because of what he did.

He’s assaulted with Jeongguk’s scent, the same one he smelled a while back, thickening the air he breathes and it clouds his brain, “Oh god, Jeongguk, you smell so fucking good.”

They both groan as he strokes him once. It’s strange, holding a cock that isn’t his own, but it’s not entirely different. The mechanics are still the same. He’s a little bigger, thicker that Taehyung, but he fits in Taehyung’s hand nicely. He never thought he’d think it, but Jeongguk has a surprisingly pretty cock.

He brings his hand up, licks his palm, and goes back to stroking his boyfriend.

“Fuck, this is going to be over embarrassingly fast,” Jeongguk groans, whimpering when Taehyung twists his hand just right. He buries his face into Taehyung’s neck as his arms come around hugging him closer.

He’s completely content, sitting on Jeongguk’s lap, mouthing at his neck and stroking him. He feels a low purr rumble in his chest, getting louder until he’s purring happily.

Jeongguk chokes out something that sounds vaguely like his name and comes, covering his hand in his come. Taehyung jerks him through his high, prolonging it as much as he can before releasing him. He carefully tucks him back into his pants before bringing his messy hand up to his face.

The smell isn’t sweet but he craves it anyway. It’s salty at best, but when his tongue peeks out for a taste, the consistency is surprisingly thick and the flavor is good. It was like he was drinking a concentrated version of Jeongguk’s scent, salty and thicker but completely Jeongguk.

He sits there, on Jeongguk’s lap, and licks his hand clean, purring in contentment. It’s not until he opens his eyes that he sees the fucked out look on his boyfriend’s face.

“Oh my god, hyung,” he groans and lays his head back against the headrest and squeezes his eyes shut, “If I hadn’t just come—”

Taehyung giggles before wiping his hand on his jeans. He presses a final kiss to Jeongguk’s lips before settling back into his own seat. His knees ache from the strain and his come is drying in his pants rather uncomfortably, but he couldn’t be happier.

Taehyung looks over at Jeongguk, panting into his arm, looking all too satisfied and flushed. He’s sure he looks the same. He had a dick in his hand, a dick that wasn’t his, and it’s surprisingly a mind blowing thought. He’s no longer a virgin, he thinks excitedly.

What’s most important though, is that it was with Jeongguk.  

—

“So...”Jimin’s voice trails off as he plays with his food, a teasing smile on his face, “any plans in three weeks?”

Taehyung chews slowly and looks at Jimin. He has no idea what his friend could possibly be talking about, but with the specificity, there’s no way that it’s not something important. He looks over at Jeongguk but his boyfriend just shrugs and looks just as confused as Taehyung feels.

“Uh, no?” He says after swallowing, “Should I?”

Jimin widens his eyes meaningfully and looks between Taehyung and Jeongguk, “Wh— Seriously?”

“What?” Taehyung retorts defensively. It’s not an anniversary, they’ve only been together for four months, he knows it’s not a birthday.

Jimin stares at them, waiting for them to understand what he’s talking about. The other two just stare at him back.

“Oh god, you two are hopeless,” he groans loudly before raking a hand through his hair, “Prom?”

Taehyung’s eyes widen. Of course, he’s been ignoring the chatter for a while, but it never occurred to him that he was supposed to be listening. Or that he was going.

Were they going?

“Don’t look at me, I’ve got a date.” Jimin’s clearly proud of that, even though Taehyung has literally heard nothing about it and that’s just rude, but Taehyung sees the blush that covers his cheeks nonetheless.

Taehyung looks over Jeongguk but he just looks shocked. They hadn’t talked about it, but he can’t ignore the voice that reminds him that it means he’s graduating. Jeongguk still has another year, even if he is in some senior classes. Taehyung is going to college, he’s already accepted and everything.

“Right,” he mumbles but for the rest of the day, he can’t seem to get the thought out of his head. Would Jeongguk even want to keep on dating him? He feels a little ridiculous, but it’s what everyone is talking about. He can hear it, everywhere he goes, that couples usually don’t make it through to college. That the distance creates tension and space.

“Tae?” He shakes himself off and looks over at Jeongguk, still sitting in the car next to him.

He smiles the best he can, “What’s up?”

Jeongguk sighs, a fond smile gracing his face before he looks concerned all over again, “I should be asking you that. What have you been thinking so hard about?”

Silence blankets the cabin as Taehyung tries to gather his thoughts. He doesn't want to break up, not in the slightest, but he also doesn’t want to trap Jeongguk either.

“I’m graduating in June,” he whispers, looking at his fingers, “I’m going to college.”

Jeongguk clears his throat before pulling one of Taehyung’s hands between his and squeezing comfortingly, “I know.”

“Did you— I mean, I don’t want to— It’s just that—”

“Hyung, breathe,” Jeongguk’s voice is surprisingly calm and soothing, “I don’t know what you’re thinking but if you think you’re getting rid of me that easily you’re wrong.”

Taehyung squeezes Jeongguk’s hand back before looking him in the eye. Their eyes lock and Taehyung searches for the slightest inclination of uncertainty.

“Yeah?” His voice is hopeful.

Jeongguk laughs, “Yes.” He leans over, pressing a kiss to Taehyung’s lips before reaching over and opening his door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”

—

He forgets about prom, he’s stressed about school with all of his teachers piling on the work before their last month, that he barely spends time with Jeongguk or Jimin outside of school.

So it comes as a surprise when he finds a note taped to his locker.

“You forgot your water bottle in class.” It’s written in all caps but the handwriting is unmistakably Jeongguk’s. He’s confused, he doesn’t even think he brought his water bottle to school, but he shrugs and listens anyway.

He retraces his steps easily but when he reaches the classroom he finds another sticky note.

“Getting warmer, but it's in the art room."

Taehyung laughs and shakes his head. He has no reason to go to the art room, that’s all Jeongguk’s space, but he listens anyway. He has no idea what is going on, but this is clearly thought out. Knowing that Jeongguk put in so much effort makes him want to see it through.

On the door he finds another note.

“Oh sorry, it’s where I first saw you.”

The words make Taehyung flush bright red and he looks around, making sure he’s alone, before squealing into his hands. He can’t believe Jeongguk would write something cheesy, but he can’t deny the fact that it makes his heart skip a beat.

He takes a moment to calm down, slapping his cheeks so he can stop smiling so damn much, he walks back to their first period class. He doesn’t know what to expect, but it sure as hell wasn’t Jimin standing there looking all too pleased with himself.

“Follow me,” Jimin turns and walks toward the parking lot. Taehyung is beyond confused, but he follows anyway. He gets even more confused when Jimin unlocks Jeongguk’s car and motions for him to sit.

“Wh— Where are we going?” Taehyung asks as he sits down and looks around, “He let you drive his car?” Jeongguk treats his car like an extension of himself, cleaning it, waxing it, and doing all kinds of things Taehyung doesn’t really care to understand. It means quite a bit that he let anyone else touch his car, let alone drive it.

Jimin rolls his eyes and pulls out an eye mask, “Come here, I’m supposed to cover your eyes.”

Taehyung groans but does so anyway. Just as he’s about to take his beanie off, both so that he can hear where they’re going and for comfort, Jimin interrupts, “Don’t even think about cheating. That beanie stays where it is.”

Taehyung grumbles but listens. At first he tries to follow along with what he remembers, trying to figure out at least where they’re going, but he gets turned around halfway through and gives up. He spends the rest of the car ride trying to think of what’s going on.

He doesn’t have enough time to make his mind up, aside that it’s clearly a surprise, before they’re parking and Jimin is pulling him out of the car. He follows Jimin easily, stumbling around a little, but his nose tells him he’s in a grass area. He can feel his ears straining to hear what’s around but there’s nothing particularly distinct. He thinks he can hear children playing off in the distance but that does nothing besides confuse him even more. Why are they around kids?

“Almost there,” he hears Jimin mumble and sure enough, he can smell Jeongguk as the breeze hits his face. He takes a deep breath and smiles as he exhales.

“Alright,” Jimin mumbles, more to himself than anything before releasing Taehyung. He closes his eyes as he waits for the mask to come off and smiles as he feels Jimin’s small hand blocking the light from bothering his sensitive eyes.

“Ready?”

Taehyung nods and slowly opens his eyes as Jimin steps away. It takes his eyes a second to get accustomed to the sunlight again, but he can’t stop smiling as he sees Jeongguk standing behind a swing holding a banner that reads ‘Prom?’ in a messy scrawl.

There’s a litany of obnoxious balloons tied all over the swing and he’s so taken aback he just stares. He stares at Jeongguk in his usual all black out fit, looking all together out of place amongst the bright balloons holding the banner.

“Well?” Jeongguk prompts after a moment, looking embarrassed. Taehyung grins brightly and runs over, jumping on Jeongguk. The boy barely has time to catch him, exhaling at the impact, but wraps his arms under Taehyung’s thighs anyway.

Taehyung kisses Jeongguk, too happy for words and hopes that Jeongguk gets what he’s feeling. He’s so in love with this boy it scares him a little. It’s things like this that take his breath away. It’s the fact that Jeongguk, quiet and awkward Jeongguk, makes gestures, both small and large, to make Taehyung feel special and wanted.

—

It’s not until the day of Prom that he starts freaking out, too nervous for words. He doesn’t even really understand why. It’s just a dance. Most of the seniors will be there. There will probably be dancing, most of it inappropriate, and probably a punch that will inevitably end up spiked half way through the night. He’s excited, he reminds himself, he is.

“I’ll meet you there, Tae, don’t worry so much.” Taehyung through his room. Jeongguk had dropped off a box earlier with him, kissed him on the cheek, and ran out of the house. The box is currently sitting on his bed but he can’t bring himself to open it.

He had argued with Jeongguk that he could have gotten himself a tux, but Jeongguk had insisted on doing it himself. Something about a surprise or whatever, but looking at the unopened box he wants to see what’s in it and leave it alone.

“Tae, just open the damn box or you’re not going to have enough time to get ready. You’ve got less than two hours before Jeongguk is supposed to be at your place. Just open it.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he groans back but unties the ribbon and opens the box carefully.

He hears himself gasp as he sees the color, almost identical to his hair, and he’s almost scared to touch it. The shirt looks so soft, and as his shaky hand touches it, he confirms it. Taehyung doesn’t know how Jeongguk got his hands on it, but it’s perfect.

He pulls the tuxedo out carefully and lays it out on his bed, “I don’t know how he did it, but the shirt matches my hair.”

He hears Jimin cackle, “What? Oh man, he’s so whipped.”

Taehyung grumbles back, defending Jeongguk but they end up hanging up so they could get ready. He can hear his mother fussing around down stairs as he gets ready but he ignores it in favor of getting changed. It’s easier than he had thought, even the black vest that came along with the ensemble was easy to put on.

He heads down stairs once he’s ready, shoes shined and hair artfully fluffed. He holds one of his only beret’s in his hand and flinches back at how loud his mom squeals.

“Oh look at my baby,” she coos as her hands flutter around, “I’m so proud of you, Taehyungie.”

Taehyung spies a suspicious wetness in her yes, the way her voice quivers with emotion, but he doesn’t call her out on it. Instead, he holds out his wrists so that she can fasten the cufflinks. She does so with relative ease, but the bowtie fights her a little.

“Ah, there it goes,” she declares triumphantly as he feels it tighten around his throat. Her tail flicks back and forth happily as she takes a step back and admires him. He can feel himself blush rather hard but he’s saved from any more fussing by the doorbell ringing.

He grins excitedly before rushing over and swinging the door open in one go. His jaw drops as he takes in Jeongguk.

“Holy shit,” he murmurs as his eyes rake up and down his body. His hair swoops off the side, showing off his forehead, but the tuxedo itself blows Taehyung away. The lines are crisp, following his build almost perfectly and accentuating his muscular chest. He knows that Jeongguk looks good, but this is particularly sinful.

What makes his hands itch to reach out however, is his shirt. He recognizes it almost immediately. It’s the shirt he had picked out during their first unofficial date. They’re turning into that couple that everyone hates, but he doesn’t care.

“That’s my line,” Jeongguk retorts as his scent spikes up, “You look amazing.”

Taehyung blushes all too pleased with himself, but holds out his arms for a hug. He’s surprised, yet again, by a small plastic box.

“You’re full of surprises. Are you trying to go broke, Jeon Jeongguk?” Taehyung mutters but takes the box anyway. He opens the door wider and pulls Jeongguk through and leads them to the living room. He’s unsurprised to find that there’s an area that has been arranged and his mother stands off to the side with a small smile and camera at the ready

Jeongguk greets his mother with a bow before his mom drags him into a hug and pats his shoulder.

“You clean up well, Jeonggukkie,” she compliments, pinching his cheek and laughing when he rubs it out. Taehyung joins in, laughing and patting his back comfortably before looking down at the boutonnieres in his hand

Jeongguk blushes as Taehyung giggles and takes one of the boutineers out of its case. He admires it; the white ribbon that it’s held together with, the white flowers surrounded by a few green leaves, and the crystal pins. It’s surprisingly simple in comparison to some of the ones he’s seen, but the small rhinestones at the center of the flowers make it look a little more fancy. There’s a thin wire coiling around the stem that makes it look strangely modern but it fits them.

Taehyung looks at Jeongguk and steps closer to pin it onto his chest. He hears the shutter of the camera going off but he ignores it, he focuses on pinning the flower onto Jeongguk’s chest and he’s particularly careful not to stab him in the process. It takes him a minute, struggling to get it through the clothes but he grins happily when he wrangles it into submission. He stands back, admiring his work, and hands Jeongguk the remaining one.

His mom takes more pictures than Taehyung thought possible, all the classic poses as well as some weird ones they find themselves in, but eventually she releases them.

“I’ll text you if there are any plans mom, don’t worry,” he promises as she fusses after them. He pats himself down, checking that he has keys and phone before he leaves. He almost forgets his hat but he grabs it last minute.

Jeongguk stops in his tracks and looks at him curiously, “What’s with the hat?”

Taehyung’s hand fiddles with the beret embarrassed, “Oh, I just— You know the—,” he gestures up to his head feeling all too awkward and guilty, “I just don’t want to ruin your night or anything and—”

“Hey, hey, hyung,” Jeongguk interrupts him, pulling his chin up so that they’re looking at each other, “Wear it if it makes you comfortable, but you don’t need to. Your ears are super cute. You’re super cute and I swear if anyone gives you a hard time I’ll shove my foot up their ass.”

Taehyung feels himself blush and look away but Jeongguk follows, “Hey, I’m not kidding.”

Jeongguk caresses his cheek and Taehyung nuzzles in closer, “You’re beautiful, hyung.”

Taehyung blushes even more and hides his face in his hands, groaning in complaint at the compliments but happy nonetheless, “You’re so cheesy.” If he’s perfectly honest, he’d much rather not wear it but he really doesn’t want to deal with assholes either.

He looks at Jeongguk as he decides but his confidence is infectious. He takes the hat off and throws it onto the couch. He feels himself brighten at how beautiful Jeongguk looks, smiling at him with so much affection on his face. Jeongguk runs his hands through Taehyung’s hair, fixing it and rubbing at his ears gently before kissing him sweetly.

“Perfect.”

—

Prom goes as he had expected. The music is much too loud, the floor is too crowded, but he has the time of his life. He drags Jeongguk to dance as soon as they step foot into the venue. They’re awkward and fumble around, but eventually they figure it out.

Jimin brings a date, just like he said he would, but Taehyung laughs so hard when he sees the look on the man’s face. Yoongi, as he was introduced, looks older by a good amount but Taehyung doesn’t comment on it. He just watches the way Jimin glows under his careful attention, silent but steady as Jimin’s enthusiasm gets the best of him. Taehyung is so happy to see his best friend smile in a way he’s never seen, he makes a note to himself to ask about it. He feels like a shitty friend. How could he have not noticed?

He shakes himself out of his funk before kissing Jeongguk on the cheek and dragging him back out on the dance floor. They dance together as a group for a while, playing around while Yoongi and Jeongguk look on but Taehyung has too much fun. There’s a wave of slower songs and Taehyung manages to drag Jeongguk out one last time.

“Please?” He busts out all the stops, the eyes, droopy ears, and pouty lips and Jeongguk folds like a house of cards.

They mainly sway back and forth, Jeongguk’s hands on Taehyung’s lower back while he rests his on Jeongguk’s shoulders.

“Don’t need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo,” Taehyung sings along, nosing into Jeongguk’s temple. He loves the song, but the stripped version that plays seems to light a fire in his belly.

Jeongguk pulls him in closer and they’re practically just standing there, but Taehyung feels incredibly special. He feels like they’re the only ones in the room. He lays his head comfortably against Jeongguk’s, closing his eyes and lets himself enjoy the moment.

This is what prom is all about.

“The more that I know you, the more I want to, something inside me has changed.”

—

Later on that night, Jimin claims he needs the bathroom and drags Taehyung with him. They watch in awe how long the lines to the girls bathroom is before slipping into the mens. Taehyung takes the chance to relieve himself and washes his hands quickly.

“Here,” Jimin stops Taehyung from leaving the bathroom and hands him a hotel key card. Taehyung looks up, confused as ever.

“Yoongi got a room at my insistence,” he explains, “but we don’t need it since we usually hang out at his place and his roommate is gone and well—” he coughs, “you two could use some alone time.”

Taehyung looks down at the card in his hand and blushes. He hadn’t thought about it, the fact that everyone knows what happens after prom, hadn’t considered it, sex, but now that he has the possibility, that he has the opportunity—

“Oh,” is all he can say, overwhelmed and not quite sure what to think.

Jimin rolls his eyes, “Don’t thank me,” Taehyung can tell that he’s trying his best to be nonchalant, but he’s blushing nonetheless, “Just, uh, you know, be safe and all that.” He sticks his hands into his pockets and takes a couple of condoms out before handing them over.

Taehyung’s eyes widen in surprise, pocketing the offered packets. He can’t believe he’s in this situation. Of course he would get an attempted sex talk from Jimin. His best friend, who he didn’t even realize was — dating? — someone until a few weeks ago. Was he a shitty friend?

He jerks his head in a quick nod before exiting the bathroom but he can’t do anything to force down his blush. Oh god, would Jeongguk even want to?

Jimin laughs lightly and bumps his shoulder lightly, “Hey, you don’t have to if you don’t want to? You two can just go home or whatever.” He sounds supportive, understanding whatever Taehyung could be thinking of, but honestly he wants to. He really, really wants to.

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” he says, shaking his head, “I just don’t— Uh, I want to and stuff, but does he? I don’t wanna like, push him or something.”

“With the way he’s been looking at you, I don’t think that’s something you need to worry about,” Jimin scoffs and ruffles his hair, “Stop worrying so much.”

Taehyung whines in complaint, patting his hair down, and sticks his tongue out.

There’s a moment there, where he looks at Jimin.

“I don’t say it nearly enough but you know I love you right, Jiminie?” Taehyung drags Jimin into a hug, “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“Ah, Tae you’d be fine I’m just—”

Taehyung shakes his head and squeezes his best friend tighter, “I’m not kidding. You were the first person to talk to me and smile at me. You were my first friend. My best friend,” he feels a lump in his throat but he pushes through, “I wouldn’t have half what I have now without you. Never forget that, Jiminie.”

He feels Jimin hold him a little tighter and his familiar scent spikes a little along with the salty smell of tears, “You fucker, you weren’t supposed to get emotional on me.” Jimin’s voice is suspiciously tight as he speaks.

“Yeah well,” he sniffs, “I am, so deal with it.”

That’s how Jeongguk and Yoongi find them, holding each other and trying to control their crying.

Jeongguk raises an eyebrow at Taehyung, but he just wipes his eyes and curls into his side. He loves the way Jeongguk doesn’t hesitate to wrap his arm around Taehyung and pulls him in closer.

“I think we’re going to head out,” Jimin declares after wiping his eyes, pushing Yoongi out the large double doors, “This grandpa is getting grumpy.” He can hear Yoongi complaining, grumbling about his age and kids these days, but he lets himself get pushed anyway.

“Have fun kids!” Jimin yells back at them just before they turn into the stairs.

Jeongguk laughs, shaking his head, before looking at Taehyung, “You okay? Did you wanna head back too?”

He feels the hotel key card burning his hand, impossible to forget.

“We don’t have to?” He hears himself speak hesitantly, but he holds up the card anyway, “But Jimin uh, gave me their room?”

He hears Jeongguk take a sharp breath and Taehyung feels heat curl in his gut.

“Are you sure?” Jeongguk asks and Taehyung looks at him meaningfully. The look in his eyes is dark and so intense Taehyung licks his lips. There’s no universe where he wouldn’t be sure about it.

“Yeah,” he breathes after a moment and leads them to the elevator. They get a little lost but eventually, they find the door with the matching number on the key.

1230.

Taehyung takes a deep breath and enters it into the slot with trembling hands. He’s a mixture of nerves, anticipation, and he’s doing his best to keep it contained, keep the buzzing under his skin from showing.

He barely waits for the ‘click’ of the mechanism before shoving the door open and dragging Jeongguk in with him. He loses track of things for a second, feeling Jeongguk’s hands everywhere, in his hair, on his chest, under his shirt, but most importantly, he feels Jeongguk on his lips.

“Jesus fuck, Taehyung,” he groans, “It should be illegal to look as good as you do, fuck.” His voice sounds completely wrecked, out of breath, and low. They’re pressed against each other, Taehyung’s back to the wall and he smells good he takes a deep breath and shudders.

His hips buck up into Jeongguk as he traces his nose down the column of Jeongguk’s neck, licking and sucking as he goes. His hands trail under the lapels of Jeongguk’s tuxedo and push it off his shoulders.

It’s harder to take strip each other than Taehyung could have imagined. It’s incredibly soft against his fingertips, but he just wants it off. He wants to touch Jeongguk, taste his skin and learn his body. He fumbles with the waistcoat, tugging and whining in frustration until Jeongguk laughs and helps him out.

He watches Jeongguk toss it onto the floor and the next thing he knows Jeongguk is on him, stripping him slowly, unbuttoning his vest, and running his hands over Taehyung’s clothed chest. Jeongguk’s scent is fogging up his mind with leather and soap and something distinctly Jeongguk leaving Taehyung a whimpering mess in his hands. He does his best to unbutton Jeongguk’s shirt, careful not to rip it, just as Jeongguk does the same.

There’s a lot of awkward fumbling, cursing at clothing, and they end up on the bed. Jeongguk’s head lays in the middle, shirt splayed open and his dark eyes are trained on Taehyung, sitting on his lap. Taehyung is panting, hard in his pants, as he admires the sight. Jeongguk’s blush travels down his neck to the top of his neck and Taehyung is fascinated by the smooth skin he doesn’t know where he wants to start.

Taehyung traces his hands up Jeongguk’s abs, pressing kisses to the grooves and ridges as he goes, over his nipples, and kissing his way up Jeongguk’s pink neck. He takes his time around Jeongguk’s neck, tracing his nose up and down, purring happily as he lets himself enjoy it. Jeongguk shivers under him, hands clutching his hips, but he bares his neck for more.

“God you smell so good, Gukkie,” he whispers, kissing a trail up behind his ear and sucks at a the skin, “I could just eat you up.” The skin turns red just the way he wants it to, marking his place into Jeongguk’s skin, claiming him for the world to know.

“Fuck,” he whimpers as he grinds down onto Jeongguk’s stomach. He’s so hard, even though they’ve done close to nothing yet, but his body doesn’t seem to care. He’s every bit the impatient teenage boy but for the first time ever, he knows it’s going to end differently.

Jeongguk bucks up into Taehyung, punching out a groan from them both, and he flips them over. Taehyung arches up into the boy above him, breathing him in and giving into the heat. He loves it, love the way Jeongguk’s hot palms feel against his skin, the way they trace a fire wherever they go.

It’s a struggle, stripping while trying to kiss and hold onto each other, but they manage it. Taehyung does his best to fight off the furious blush that he feels on his face, but Jeongguk just kisses his cheeks and down his neck. His body does a full body shudder, toes curling into the sheets, as Jeongguk mouths at the sensitive skin at his neck.

“You’re so beautiful,” he mumbles against Taehyung’s skin, “so fucking beautiful.”

Taehyung pulls Jeongguk closer and mewls, “J-Jeongguk.”

“Fuck, Tae,” Jeongguk growls as he bites into his neck and reaches a hand to play with his ears “so pretty. So soft. My soft kitten.”

He doesn’t know when, or why, but the world sends his body into overdrive. His back arches up, pressing them together completely, and practically sobs, “Please Jeongguk.”

He feels himself dripping, the slick pooling out of him, but he can barely think of it. He’s so fucking turned on he might actually come from just this, but he wants more. He wants Jeongguk inside.

“Jeongguk,” he pleads, “Please, c’mon, please just— fuck.”

He feels exposed, vulnerable, as Jeongguk sits up, but the look on his face sends a new wave of heat down his spine. He looks like he wants to devour him.

“How do you want to do this?” Jeongguk breathes after a moment, looking a little frazzled, “I don’t have anything but I think—”

“I have—” Taehyung shoves his hand into his pocket and pulls out a condom, “Jimin,” he says as a way of explanation. His best friend was better prepared that Taehyung would have thought. He presses the condom into Jeongguk’s palm as a way of answering his other question, unable to say the words but hoping that he understands anyway.

Jeongguk takes a long, shuddering breath, but nods anyway. Jeongguk’s hands unbutton his pants easily but he struggles a little to take his pants and underwear off. Taehyung giggles a little before he does an awkward shimmy to help. His overheated skin chills at the exposure but it’s not long before Jeongguk is back on him.

They kiss, hot and open mouthed, but Taehyung focuses on unbuttoning Jeongguk’s pants, getting him naked so that their skin can touch. He shoves impatiently at the material until Jeongguk rolls over and shoves the offending articles of clothes off.

When they touch again, it’s everywhere. Taehyung feels their skin touch every inch of his own and he feels like he’s drowning in Jeongguk.

“Oh fuck,” Jeongguk whines as he grinds down and into Taehyung. His hands shoot up into Jeongguk’s hair, pulling him down so their mouths can meet. The kiss is more teeth and tongue than anything else, but Taehyung can’t focus and make it any better. He wants everything all at once, it’s not enough and too much all at once. He feels his tail flicking around, brushing against both of their legs and he sighs at the sensation.

“C-can I?” He hears Jeongguk ask. He forces his eyes to open and he looks at Jeongguk. The look that Jeongguk gives him sends heat down his spine, pupils blown out and bright red lips as he looks at Taehyung’s tail.  

He knows his tail is sensitive, but he can only imagine what it would be like if he was touched there. He quickly gives a nod, panting out a quick encouragement just before he feels Jeongguk’s hand stroke his fur.

Pleasure shoots out and he feels his tail tighten around Jeongguk’s hand, “Fuck.” He doesn’t know who said it, but it doesn’t really matter at this point. He’s overwhelmed with how good everything feels but it’s not what he wants. Not necessarily.

He spreads his legs out, giving Jeongguk room to get closer to where he wants. He feels Jeongguk release his tail as he gets comfortable and trace down Taehyung’s side, up his thigh and then back down. His hot palm strokes his aching cock and Taehyung cries out at the contact.

“Oh god,” he breathes, “I’m going to come if you keep on doing that.”

Jeongguk breathes what could have been a laugh but he slowly, so slowly, traces a finger down.

“Holy shit,” he moans, finger paused right outside of his entrance, “Fuck, you’re so wet.”

The thing is, he is. He’s pretty sure he’s dripping at this point.

“Does—” Jeongguk almost chokes as he feels Taehyung leak some more, “Does this always happen?”

Taehyung tries to clear the fog in his brain to answer the question, but it’s hard, “N-no, some lubricate more than, oh fuck, others. I-I don’t when I t-touch myself.”

Jeongguk bites into Taehyung’s shoulder as he listens, “Fuck, kitten.”

Taehyung grinds down on Jeongguk’s finger, trying to get him in.

“You’ve touched yourself like this?” Jeongguk’s voice is a strange blend of awed and aroused and Taehyung, he just wants him closer. He wants Jeongguk inside, so deep that he’ll feel it for days, that he’ll smell Jeongguk on himself after.

“Yeah,” he gasps, no longer shy, “god Jeongguk, please.”

Jeongguk presses soothing kisses to whatever skin he can reach, “Okay but— just— help me out hyung. I-I don’t really know what I’m doing. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Taehyung can’t say a damn word, just nods his head quickly. Jeongguk takes a deep calming breath and pushes his finger in slowly. It’s a slow process, the way he pushes in and out, slow and a little awkward as they figure out how it goes. It’s different, having Jeongguk’s fingers instead of his own, they feel different but so much better.

“You’re doing well, Gukkie,” he mumbles, “Just like that.”

The second finger is a little uncomfortable. He’s so wet that the glide is pretty easy, but Taehyung has to remind himself to relax.

“It’s different—” he breathes, “Your fingers feel so different. So good.” He doesn’t think before he speaks, just saying what feels right, and hoping that it encourages Jeongguk for more.

Jeongguk’s fingers twitch, pressing up against him and he bucks up, “Oh god, right there.” Jeongguk freezes for a second before starting up again. His face screws up in concentration and he manages to touch him there often enough, sending sparks of pleasure throughout his body.

Trust Jeongguk to be good at sex.

“A-another one,” he urges, fucking himself down on his fingers.

The third one sides right in and Taehyung whimpers as he feels the stretch, “Look at you, so wet for me. Love how wet you are, jesus christ.”

“Fuck Jeongguk, you can’t keep saying things like that,” Taehyung bites out as he fights his orgasm down. He knew it would be better to have Jeongguk in him. He already feels so good, so full, he can almost imagine what his cock is going to feel like—

“Okay, okay, please Jeongguk. C’mon I’m about to come—” he pulls at Jeongguk, “C’mon I need more.”

Jeongguk groans, loud and long but he pulls away anyway. He rips the condom open, careful not to to tear it, and rolls it on gingerly. Taehyung loves the sight of his aching dick, but he’s too impatient now. He’ll explore it at a later date.

“C’mon” he repeats, over and over until Jeongguk crawls up his body and he can feel the tip of his cock against his entrance.

“You’re sure?” Jeongguk whispers, looking Taehyung straight in the eyes.

Taehyung nods his head, unwilling to speak, and his mouth drops open as he feels Jeongguk push in. It’s a little uncomfortable, his cock thicker than three fingers, but it’s so good. Jeongguk’s mouth drops as he fucks into Taehyung, slow strokes. Taehyung wraps his legs around Jeongguk’s waist and pushes him in deeper.

“Oh, god,” Jeongguk groans, eyes pinched shut in pleasure and forehead beaded with sweat, “You’re so fucking tight.”

Taehyung wants to tattoo the look on Jeongguk’s face onto the back of his eyelids, so he sees it every time he closes them.

His rhythm is a bit uneven, too rough in some places and too slow in others, but they get the hang of it eventually. It’s not long before Taehyung feels himself come undone, getting lost in Jeongguk above him, inside him, in the noises that escape his lips.

“Good?” he asks, more of a groan than anything.

Taehyung bobs his head and he can feel his tail curl around Jeongguk’s thigh, “God, yes.”

“Oh thank god,” he groans before speeding up his thrusts, “fuck you feel so damn good.”

Taehyung whines, digging his nails into Jeongguk’s back and lets Jeongguk fuck into him. His hips snap at a nearly brutal pace and Taehyung just hangs on and takes it, lets Jeongguk take everything he could possibly have.

“Jeongguk!” He sobs as his cock hits that spot again, sending a shiver down his body and heat curl in his gut, “Right there, please, please, fuck, I’m—”

Jeongguk catches Taehyung’s hands and interlaces their fingers. Their mouths meet in a messy kiss, breathing each other in as Jeongguk keeps fucking into him. They’re pressed together so tightly, his leaking cock pressed right between them that the friction is enough. It’s enough stimulation to get him through and over the edge. He feels himself breaking in two, eyes squeezing shut as he comes.

Jeongguk’s rhythm falters not long after, barely managing two thrusts before whining Taehyung’s name and squeezing their clasped hands. They lay there, panting and Taehyung’s convinced he’s never felt so content in his life.

Jeongguk squirms making them both wince as he pulls out. He tosses the condom somewhere, cleans them with some tissues, and Taehyung doesn’t waste a second once he’s done to curl into him.

“You’re so warm,” he murmurs as he nuzzles under Jeongguk’s neck and he feels arms wrap around him. His tail curls around Jeongguk’s waist as he tangles their legs together.

A part of Taehyung worries about how strong his feelings are, just how much his heart is pounding in his chest, but he just needs to breathe Jeongguk in to calm down.

“I love you, hyung,” Jeongguk mumbles into his hair. It’s so quiet that he barely makes out the words whispered into his hair, but he does.

He pulls back, just enough to look Jeongguk in the face, blushing and looking quite embarrassed, before smiling so hard he thinks his face might break in half, “I love you too.”

They share a tender kiss, a little awkward but strangely perfect, before cuddling in and falling asleep.

Nothing beats waking up surrounded by Jeongguk, Taehyung decides. He takes the warm scent in gulps, groaning as he stretches, and sighs happily as he settles.

“Good morning,” Jeongguk mutters and Taehyung didn’t even know he was awake, not with the way he seems to be playing dead perfectly. His eyes remain stubbornly closed, even after Taehyung presses a kiss to his lips.

“C’mon lazy,” he coaxes, “We should get going.”

Jeongguk blindly feels around for his phone, pulls it up to his face, and cracks an eye open. It’s quite comical, the way his eyes widen and he pouts when he sees the time. His hair sticking out and eyes puffy with sleep, it’s easily the cutest thing he’s ever seen.

“Hyung,” he whines, “it’s not even nine. Just sleep a little more, then we can do whatever you want.” He pulls Taehyung back into his chest and settles.

Taehyung can’t keep himself from giggling, but he lets it slide anyway. He learns quite quickly, that he can’t deny sleepy Jeongguk anything.

—

The rest of the school year passes by much too quickly. Taehyung’s teachers pile on work, one project after another, and he doesn’t realize it but before long, his mom is reminding him to take his cap and gown onto the bus.

“Ah, I’ll see you at the ceremony,” she bids him goodbye with a kiss and closes the door after him. It’s one of the few times he goes out without his trusted beanie. Instead, he holds his graduation cap in his hand, his robe carefully folded in his backpack.

The venue itself isn’t too far from the school itself, two blocks down, so he walks. It’s not long before he finds Jimin in the sea of eager soon to be high school graduates.

“Oh god,” Jimin sighs sentimentally, “I feel like it’s not real. I can’t believe we’re going off to college.”

Taehyung looks over at his best friend and he can feel emotion bubbling up, catching in his throat. He watches as Jimin blinks away what looks like tears and they both laugh as their eyes meet.

“Okay come on, put on your robe.”

Jimin helps him, getting it over his head and arms through the correct holes. The cap proves to be a problem, flattening his ears a little but Jimin pins it down onto his head with some girls bobby pins. It takes them a while, figuring out their order amongst the class of 300 graduating seniors but the ceremony doesn’t last nearly as long as he had thought.

Taehyung’s so overwhelmed he just goes through the motions, walking up the stage, taking his diploma, and posing for the picture. He vaguely hears loud cheering from the stands, he sees Jimin standing and yelling obnoxiously as he walks back to his seat and he grins happily.

He stands and whoops loudly when Jimin walks, joining in with his family, and before he knows it, they’re walking out of the huge auditorium. They’re surrounded by their their classmates, loud and excitable, which makes it a bit difficult to find everyone but they do. They find Jimin’s family first, along with Yoongi standing awkwardly among the happy group, but Taehyung’s mother is right next to them, a watery smile on her face.

Taehyung runs straight to her and they blubber at each other, overwhelmed and proud but no one judges them. He’s surprised to see Jeongguk right next to her, a large bouquet of flowers in his hands and he cries just a little bit harder.

“I’m so proud of you hyung,” Jeongguk whispers into his cheek and they hug for a long moment.

There’s a lot of pictures, with Jimin, with his mom, a group photo of them all and Taehyung smiles brightly in each one. They grab dinner, a huge party at a small restaurant but it doesn’t bother anyone.

The whole day seems like a rollercoaster ride, emotionally and physically exhausting. He’s happy to finally lay on his couch curled into Jeongguk and relax. He’s excited for the summer, for the time they’ll be able to spend together, he’s even excited to move into the dorms for college, but he’s dreading the separation.

Jeongguk clears his throat and sits up, muting the television and looking at Taehyung seriously, “I have something for you, hyung.”

Taehyung looks Jeongguk over, taking in his tense posture and the way his eyes nervously dart around. He does his best to smile encouragingly and puts a palm on Jeongguk’s thigh, hoping to calm whatever nerves he has. Jeongguk watches Jeongguk pull a small box out of his pocket and fiddle with it a little before he hands it over.

Taehyung looks up at Jeongguk curiously, but he opens it anyway. His eyes widen, breath stuck in his throat, as he looks at the small plain bands.

“I-I know it’s not much but I—,” the words come out rushed and clearly nervous, “I wanted to give you something special? To remember me by?”

Taehyung blinks back tears, caressing the couple rings gently before picking one up. A small inscription along the inside catches his eye. As he brings the ring up to his face, he reads it.

JJK.

“Jeongguk,” he breathes, overwhelmed and blinking back tears. Jeongguk relaxes, just a little, but he still looks nervous.

He holds his hand out and the ring, “Can you put it on for me?”

Its spurs Jeongguk on, slowly sliding the ring onto his ring finger. Taehyung holds his hand out for Jeongguk to take, and just as carefully, slides the ring onto Jeongguk’s ring finger.

He throws himself at his boyfriend, kissing all over his face and chanting, “Thank you” over and over again until Jeongguk is giggling and kissing him back.

“I love you, Jeon Jeongguk,” he whispers before kissing his lips, “I don’t need anything to remember you, but I’ll never take it off.”

Jeongguk sighs and pulls Taehyung in closer, “I love you too.”

Laying there, on his mother’s couch, he promises himself to work as hard as possible to keep this beautiful boy at his side. He doesn’t want to make empty promises, he wants to be with this boy for the rest of his life, but it’s too soon to tell. He’ll hold on to the hope, and work hard to keep that beautiful smile on his lips.

— End.