❧ Blurred Lines ❧

Taehyung awoke before his eyes opened, leaving them closed as his consciousness absorbed every form of the senses except sight.

The room was quiet. A distant hum of some machine, a constant stream of breaths somewhere near. His absentminded shift brought the tiniest of rustles from the sheets he was under.

Warmth. He was surrounded in it. There was warmth wrapped around his midsection, warmth blowing softly against the crown of his head, brushing his hair. Warmth in his legs that were entangled with another pair. Warmth in his whole body pressed against another's.

He smelled the faint linger of grease, the sharp scent of exhaust dulled in his slow inhale. The salty ocean was somewhere mixed in. The smile on his face bloomed on his lips as he recognized the person he was by without a single glance.

His eyes finally peeled open, slow to adjust to the morning sun filling the bedroom in clear beams of light.

Taehyung had never woken up to a more beautiful sight in his life. He was sure that not even the prettiest sunrise could compare to the view before him.

Jeongguk looked so fragile in the wave of light washing over his features, warming his skin and making it glow. The younger's lips were slightly parted, color deep in them. His forehead was smooth and uncreased, eyes hidden behind glowing lids.

Their chests pushed against each other with every expand of Jeongguk's lungs and Taehyung laid his head still on the arm under him, cushioning his skull.

He just stared. As creepy as it sounded, it really wasn't. He loved art, loved to make it, admire it, and most importantly live it. So here he was, breathing the same air as the most beautiful piece of art he'd seen in his life.

Eventually, he lifted his hand from its spot against Jeongguk's chest, the pulse fading away as the distance grew.

His finger hovered at the corner of the younger's lips. Moving a hair closer, he ghosted over the corner, as if asking for a smile even though the boy was asleep.

The smile on his own face grew at the time passing antics he was practicing, waiting for the biker to wake up.

The quietest of sighs left his mouth as he shifted (subtle enough to not crack the other's sleep) so their faces were parallel, noses grazing and eyes watching eyelashes graze over the dewy skin.

"My sweet, sweet biker." He whispered.

His hand returned to the bare chest, feeling the pulse strong on his palm. It was calm like his, the gentle rhythm of midnight tides, making his head sway in longing.

Taehyung suddenly stilled, rolling his eyes and patting the bare chest before him.

"How long have you been up, Gguk?"

The younger cracked an eye open, distorting the peaceful expression on his face and their gazes met with a fit of laughter sparking the limited space between them.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." Jeongguk rasped, voice chilling Taehyung's skin with its gravelly tone. "What gave it away?"

"Ears. They turned red." Taehyung tangled his fingers into Jeongguk's bed hair and ruffled it further, the biker's nose scrunching upon contact. "Were you up before me?"

The biker hummed with the tiniest of nods before moving his head up to tuck Taehyung's into his neck. "Your breath stinks."

Taehyung kicked the younger's sweatpants clad legs, earning a laughing yelp from Jeongguk. "Says you."

"Keep talking, please." Jeongguk hummed and Taehyung raised a brow as he leaned away to look at him. Jeongguk shrugged. "Your morning voice is sexy as hell."

He fought the warmth that flooded his cheeks, scoffing and poking Jeongguk's arm. "You're an idiot. Thanks for not waking me up, though. That was nice of you."

"It was so hard," the younger complained. "You look so fucking good."

"Not this again."

"I'm serious." Jeongguk relaxed further, arms going slack. "Anyway, I feel like I slept for ten years."

"All you did was actually sleep through one night." Taehyung smiled, kissing the underside of his jaw. "Slept like a rock and finally rested, Gguk."

Fingers slipped under his shirt, cold as they ran along the ridges of his spine, but Taehyung didn't express that aloud like last night. He pulled Jeongguk closer and soaked in his warmth.

"How did you sleep?" Jeongguk asked.

"Really good." Taehyung mumbled, voice dropping to some volume almost inaudible. "It's so nice waking up like this. Only ever dreamed of it."

"Oh, yeah? And who was the person in your dreams with you?"

"Jealous much?" He chuckled, liking how Jeongguk's voice sounded throaty and rough in the morning, too. Taehyung shook his head. "I don't know, actually. Never really saw the face in my dreams. Just felt safe."

"Okay, next time look at the face and it better be me." He could hear the playful annoyance in Jeongguk's voice making him roll onto his back with another laugh and stare up at the ceiling. Jeongguk propped his head up on one hand, staring down at him.

"Need I remind you that you've been in bed with more people than you can remember?" Taehyung looked at him pointedly, flicking his chin. "You've got no right to be bossing me around."

"That card's off limits," Jeongguk huffed, waving a finger between them. "That was before this."

"This?" Taehyung mimicked him. "Have you ever had a this before?"

"Once." The biker's waving finger fell down to trace circles along his forearm. "I was almost sixteen and basically the shittiest person to date. She was really nice but also the first and last person I dated before you."

"I feel bad for her." Taehyung winced, Jeongguk's agreeing nod and jump of his brows following. "It's okay, you're great to date now. Very sweet and caring."

"Gross."

He laughed, Jeongguk grunting in response while simultaneously flopping down so his head was on Taehyung's shoulder. A hand was hugging Taehyung's waist, like it was worried he'd get too far.

"What about you, Saltine?"

"I already told you I've never dated anyone before."

"You just go for guys?"

"Just guys." Taehyung answered, playing with the guy's hair. It was all drastically different to the night before, gentle touches and hugging, just holding onto the way everything else became irrelevant and the world shrunk to that bed.

No art project, no ocean, no beach, no motorcycles or cliffs, just them. In each other's arms.

"Nice, my competition is cut in half." Taehyung scoffed at the comment, slapping his boyfriend's head with minimal force.

"There is no competition." His fingers shifted down to play with the dangling earring, sunlight making it reflect streaks of light on the ceiling. "I'm only yours, Jeon Jeongguk."

"Cheesy fucking romantic." Jeongguk hid his face but his ears were a dead giveaway.

"Make my heart grow to the size of balloons, you're so sweet to kiss, your hair's so fluffy. I love that greasy engine smell on you and I just want to hold you forever—"

"I'm going to kick you out and never speak to you again if you keep blabbering."

Taehyung chuckled, throwing arms around Jeongguk and hugging him close. "I'm in a good mood. Sue me."

"Okay, fine. Say whatever you want," Jeongguk squeezed him comfortably. "Just so we're clear, only I get to touch you like this."

"Well, Jimin and I cuddle all the time, so— oh, shit." Taehyung shoved Jeongguk off of him and scrambled about looking for his phone. "Shit."

"Hey, hey," Jeongguk was grabbing his arms and holding him steady. "What's wrong?"

"I didn't tell them I was staying here— shit, where's my stupid phone—" he saw the device somewhere in the sheets and snatched it up, throwing the covers off to stand and cursing when he saw the missed calls and messages. He began pacing along the space next to the bed. "Shit, I'm so fucked— they must have been worried sick—"

"Tae," Jeongguk's hands found his waist, tugging him closer to the end of the bed to halt his pacing as Jeongguk sat up and on the edge of the mattress. "Just call them. It's okay."

"I know, I know." He slammed the call button and put a hand on Jeongguk's shoulder as the younger tugged him closer, murmuring something along the lines of 'relax, baby.'

The call was almost immediately answered.

"Taehyung? Oh, thank fuck. Where are you? You didn't come home last night— are you safe—"

"Jimin, hey, sorry," he cut in, knees brushing the side of the mattress. "I'm perfectly fine. Sorry, I didn't message you earlier."

"I'm going to kill you, dumbass. Where are you?"

"At Jeongguk's place." Taehyung froze for a second when lips grazed over the bruises along his neck. He'd forgotten about those and every small press on the darkened skin made his breath hitch. "I slept— uh, slept over."

"You what? Don't tell me you already had sex with this man."

"Jimin!" He scowled, feeling the grin widen against his skin as his fingers dug into Jeongguk's shoulder. Taehyung nudged Jeongguk's knee with his own, asking him to cut it out, though the younger ignore him. "No, I didn't. We just slept— we were just sleeping in each other's... ah, arms."

"Uh... you sure you're okay?" Jimin suddenly sighed. "What're you doing right now?"

"Just got out of bed— why?"

"Someone's sounding a little breathless— Jeongguk's not sucking your dick as we speak, right?"

"Is he what?!" He didn't realize Jimin's voice was audible even off speaker until Jeongguk started laughing, face burrowing into his neck and embarrassing the soul out of Taehyung. Taehyung cursed Jimin out and glared at the top of the biker's head. "I'm going to cut yours off if you say more stupid shit like that."

"Well, ouch. I was just wondering if you guys were playing the morning sex card—"

"Okay, goodbye and good riddance, Park Jimin."

He ended the call and tossed his phone to the side, Jeongguk pulling away from his body to look at him. "You're so fucking red, Kim."

"Piss off." Taehyung hissed, slapping the side of his head. "Did you really have to start with all the touching?"

"What? I'm in a mood."

"Well, get out of the mood."

"I can't control the morning wood."

"You did not just— oh my god, ugh."

"We should try it sometime. Me sucking your dick while you call your best friend— sounds hella fun." The biker leaned back on his hands and Taehyung crossed his arms over his chest.

"Sounds traumatizing for Jimin— and me— basically everyone involved except you."

"Exactly. It's perfect. I'd be down."

"Unbelievable— I hate everyone on this goddamn planet and especially you." Taehyung threw his hands up before spinning on his heel and flipping back onto the bed. Jeongguk jumped with the sudden dump of his body, rolling his eyes at Taehyung's theatrical whining. "Could my life get anymore embarrassing?"

Jeongguk tensed.

"Uh... yeah, it could actually."

"What?" He shot up to sit upright, eyes wide in horror. "What does that mean?"

"Well, Yoongi or Namjoon were in here sometime in the night."

"They were what?"

"Blinds was drawn last night. Now they're open." Jeongguk groaned, falling back into the sheets and Taehyung's felt pale as he noticed the light spilling into the room, warming every surface of the place. "Probably Yoongi so the fucking sun would wake us up bright and early. He has the rudest forms of payback, I swear."

"Please say sike, Jeongguk."

"I mean, you did steal his bed."

"You told me to sleep here last night!" Taehyung shoved him. "The first impression I have with them after all the shit that's happened is me in your bed— this is so bad."

"Yeah," Jeongguk sighed, eyes closing with a hand running down his face. "And I'm probably going to get an earful for making him walk in on that."

~•४•~

"I'm going to kill you for making me walk in on you two cuddling in the bed and burning that nightmare into my brain."

Taehyung heard the words clearly from his spot hidden in the hallway, playing with the hem of the dark shirt with a high collar (to hide his neck). He'd borrowed some of Jeongguk's clothes to change into so that he wasn't wearing the same ones as yesterday— though, he wasn't sure if it made the situation any better.

They hadn't done anything. They'd just kissed for a while and then slept. But it definitely wouldn't have looked like that from an outsider's point of view. At the same time, the situation was almost amusing. Like he was half glad this was the petty issue between them.

His cheeks were on fire as he leaned against the wall and stared at Jeongguk and Yoongi. Namjoon was in the kitchen, filling up a glass of water and watching from there, but he didn't think either of the two older bikers had seen him yet.

"Where did you two even go last night?" Jeongguk asked. "We were planning to come here, sit down and talk with you guys, but no one was anywhere to be seen."

"Went on a drive." Namjoon put his glass in the sink and hovered in the open space between the kitchen and the living room. Jeongguk sent him a look and the older's hands went up in defense. "Just a drive. Promise. The weather was nice last night after the rain."

Taehyung felt awkward just standing there and eavesdropping, but he didn't exactly know how to make his entrance.

"How was your day?" Yoongi leaned back into the couch and Jeongguk was sitting down on the floor. "Didn't even see you leave in the morning."

"It was fun." Jeongguk was shrugging. "Relaxing and nice. I was with Tae all day, so it was good."

Such a simple answer and it made Taehyung warm inside. He smiled and glanced at Namjoon, who gazed around the room. Searching for him.

That was his cue.

He slowly stepped out from the darkened hallway and raised his hand, drawing all eyes to him, the smile on his face turning shy and nervous. "Hi, uh, good morning. Sorry, I was just about to come in, but, um... yeah, anyway. Sorry about the whole bed thing, Yoongi."

The eldest biker sighed and shook his head, gesturing to one of the empty couch spaces. "It's fine, Kim. Whatever. I blame his coconut-ass, not you."

"Hey!" Jeongguk cut in.

"Morning, Taehyung." The pink haired biker greeted.

"Morning." He said back, smiling a little more with the kind eyes Namjoon expressed.

"You both wanted to talk, right?" Namjoon nodded his head with a small smile. "Sit down and we can talk."

Taehyung listened to him as they both took a seat, Taehyung much more reluctant and slow than the pink haired biker. He sat on the sofa nearest to Jeongguk, legs pulled up to his chest as he trailed his eyes around the room.

Swallowing felt thicker and more uncomfortable and Taehyung didn't realize he was zoning out until Jeongguk's back was up against the couch where he sat, head just by his knee when he let his legs down to the side of the biker's body. Jeongguk was wrapping a hand around his calf and squeezing the limb to assure him it was alright. Then the hand left and all their contact was gone with it.

"I think Yoongi has something to say." The youngest spoke up and Taehyung tensed seeing Yoongi whip his pointed stare to the far wall with a heavy rise and fall of his chest.

"Yeah," Yoongi grunted. "How was your sleep? And yesterday— did you have fun, too, or was Jeongguk just a pain in the ass?"

Taehyung bit the inside of his cheek as Jeongguk scoffed and flipped him off. "That was not what you were supposed to say."

"I had fun," Taehyung interrupted the seemingly lighthearted annoyance spewing between them. "He drove me around like a chauffeur so it made up for how annoying he is."

"Really?" Jeongguk gaped up at him. "You, too? This was supposed to be a 'let's apologize and make up and be friends' sesh, not a 'slander Jeongguk' one."

"I think us being friends includes slandering you." Taehyung patted his shoulder, relaxing a bit when he saw the corner of Yoongi's lip quirk up. "But yeah, I guess with more serious matters... there's been a lot of misunderstandings."

"And shitty behavior on the leather side." The younger mumbled and only Taehyung caught a syllable of it.

"Yoongi," Taehyung started, knowing it would make the return that much easier should he start it. He was prepared to take ownership anyway. "I'm sorry for blowing up on you that morning you came looking for Jeongguk. You three have a great thing going and I don't blame you for doing everything you can to keep it that way."

He really couldn't blame Yoongi because Taehyung understood how it felt. He had worked so hard, for years, just to keep painting and doing what he loved because he wasn't ready to let it fall through his hands like sand.

They'd do whatever it took to keep something good the same, scared of seeing anything past it when it would fall apart into nothing.

But he'd learned to open up to new options. Taehyung learned that when he'd drowned, when he'd approached Jeongguk that night and they worked on his fear. When he'd trusted himself in the hands of someone he'd always been told was bad news.

And Yoongi was at the crossroads, too, change undoing the stability of the ground under him, and he needed to make a choice to keep himself up.

"Honestly, I deserved that, Kim."

"I overstepped—"

"Nah," Yoongi suddenly snorted. "I was being a bitch, Taehyung. Don't give me credit I don't deserve."

"I..." he frowned, gazing down at his hands for a second of hesitation. He didn't exactly know what to say. Refusing to look at Jeongguk, because he knew that the younger just wanted Yoongi to spill his guts out into words and apologize, Taehyung hoped something would come to him.

"Hey, Jeongguk," Namjoon spoke, standing up. "Let's go fix up some breakfast?"

"You and making breakfast? Hyung, that's definitely the worst idea on the pla—"

"Jeongguk."

Jeongguk's eyes narrowed in the pink haired man's direction, brows furrowing as he doubtfully stood and left Taehyung's side. "Sure." He turned to Taehyung and the surfer smiled meekly. "I'll be right in the kitchen."

"M'kay," Taehyung nodded, watching the two leave the living room with slow eyes, knowing what Namjoon was doing and hoping it helped. Yoongi was staring at his clasped hands, leather jacket strained across his back and the surfer licked his lips as he gestured a hand. "Um, I'll say something if you don't mind."

Yoongi nodded silently.

"I know Jeongguk would object to me asking about this— the whole personal matters being personal thing," Taehyung kept his voice low from eavesdropping in the kitchen. "But I still care about what you think about us. About me, honestly. I don't really know what to do if you end up saying you hate me Yoongi, but all I can say is that I really like Jeongguk and... I think he likes me a lot, too."

"You think?" Yoongi rolled his eyes, glancing up to meet his gaze before it moved across to stare at the far wall. "You really must not know your boyfriend if it's a 'I think he likes me' thing."

"Well, how am I supposed to know?" He pouted almost playfully, hoping that the words were Yoongi's signs of defenses going down and showing more openness. Taehyung knew Jeongguk liked him. Jeongguk didn't really do dating and then asked him to be his boyfriend. Well, he didn't ask ask, but same difference.

"The whole leather jacket thing? You're out of your mind if you think he doesn't like you even after letting you wear it."

"Is that why... is that why you hated me before?" He finally cracked into the root of the issue. "When you and Hoseok Hyung saw us— were you upset about the jacket?"

"Kim, look, it's not really because of anything you did," Yoongi replied honestly and he was happy about that. "It was just a taste of reality that was really fucking bitter on my tongue. That Jeongguk trusted someone else with his most valuable possession before either Namjoon or me."

"But if it was Namjoon, it wouldn't hurt as much?"

"Well, yeah. Namjoon's a biker, too."

"So, I am apart of the reason that you were pissed."

"Taehyung, don't twist my words. I'm trying, okay?" Yoongi grit out, frustrated with the countering. "Bottom line, I was worried. Jeongguk felt like he was drifting away more and more every week and it was more change than I could handle after he's been under my wing for five years."

"Yoongi, I know it's hard to accept change, but also think of how hard it's been for Jeongguk not to change." Taehyung rubbed the back of his neck with slow fingers. "I already told you he hated all the fighting and blood and put up with it—"

"And he was already honest with us about it. I know, now, that it was a selfish thing to think."

"It's okay to be selfish," The surfer nodded, letting a sound of relief bubble in his throat. "I'm selfish, too, ya'know."

"Really."

"Yeah, I am! The list of reasons is kinda long, but I promise that it's normal and change is hard and it's even more normal to hate change."

Yoongi's eyes feigned an expression he couldn't exactly pinpoint. "I guess."

"Well, what do you think about now?"

"Hm?"

"Is it... easier to grasp everything and understand him? How are you feeling about things now and letting him— oh, I don't know, do his own thing?"

"Do you, you mean."

His jaw fell in embarrassment, cheeks resending. "The hell— you and Hobi Hyung both! I swear, you guys are the worst when I'm trying to be serious!"

Yoongi chuckled for a second, voice rolling out of his chest like deep engines. Taehyung wondered if that was a sign of melting some ice. Yoongi didn't seem the type to be playful with people he wasn't comfortable with. Not without ill intentions at least.

"I did hate you then." Yoongi finally answered and a bit of weight lifted off his shoulders while new ones came about. For finally hearing the truth and for the reality of that truth. "And now I hate you a less."

"And what about the whole me and Jeongguk thing?"

"That's not my decision to make."

"I'm not asking for a decision," Taehyung shook his head. "I'm not asking for your blessing, Yoongi— that's just blegh. I'm asking for your opinion."

"Opinion?" Yoongi shrugged lamely, sitting back on the couch and tracing the curves of the overhead fan with his eyes. "You make Jeongguk happier. You make him smile. I haven't seen him smile so much in a long time, Kim."

"Since that day."

"Since that grand fucking catastrophe of a day."

"You can say that again." Taehyung sighed, heart filling with warmth as he registered Yoongi's words. "I haven't been this happy in a long time, too, you know."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Mhm! I've always been stressed and felt like I had to prove my whole painting career to my parents, but with Jeongguk's whole tattoo inspiring my whole summer project, I honestly feel passionate about it. Not that it's a burden and I'm justifying something stupid—"

"I don't really think I understand that or care enough for you to explain it in my language."

"What—" Taehyung glared at him and Yoongi's lips curved from one corner. The surfer exhaled through his nose and looked over at the kitchen where Namjoon hurriedly capped a bottle of juice and Jeongguk was wiping the counter down behind him. "Yeah, I guess you don't. That's okay, though."

Because it didn't matter. Yoongi didn't hate him and he didn't hate the idea of them.

"Let's go help them with breakfast," he suggested, thinking that the conversation was good enough.

He stood and fixed his shirt, moving past Yoongi's spot on the couch and towards the kitchen.

The eldest biker grabbed his forearm and held him still as he used the hand to pull himself up.

"Are you okay?" He asked Yoongi, who gazed past him and at the kitchen.

Then, their eyes met and Yoongi's head tilted with a frown. His face of something serious or genuine.

"Thanks," Yoongi mumbled, so quiet Taehyung almost missed it and his eyes widened in surprise. "For taking care of Jeongguk when we didn't. Sorry about everything, too."

Yoongi thanking him? And apologizing? Taehyung had never thought he'd see the day. Especially not Yoongi doing it so willingly and without much of a push.

"I— uh, yeah, of course, and it's okay—"

But Yoongi was already gone, leaving the living room and Taehyung stood a little disappointed and a lot happier than before.

He didn't expect anything less from Yoongi to finally give in and say that at the very end so he didn't have to wait and hear more from Taehyung— because he probably would have hugged the eldest biker if Yoongi was still standing next to him.

Instead he had a stupid smile on his face as he stood near the counter and helped with breakfast however he could.

Things felt a lot more right.

~•४•~

Things weren't going as bad as he thought they would.

They'd pulled up a couple chairs to the booth and gotten cozy in each other's space, the four surfers and Jeongguk on the booth cushions while Yoongi and Namjoon sat on chairs at the end of the table.

They had a few baskets of fries and sandwiches around the table, conversation calm and fairly casual.

No one had thrown a punch yet, and for that, Taehyung was relieved.

Jeongguk was tapping on his foot under the table, either to annoy him or just because he didn't even realize his foot was tapping. Either way, it didn't bother him.

They sat next to each other with Hoseok on the other side of Taehyung— closest to Yoongi— and for that reason, Taehyung's eyes shifted over to the two of them repeatedly.

He didn't know what was between Yoongi and Hoseok, but it was different than any of the other connections with the bikers. They clearly hated each other, but it was almost like it only seemed that way.

They seemed to like being around each other just for the stupid bickering and glares— but they liked it all the same.

That was what Taehyung decided, at least, and he contemplated teased Hoseok about it later. Probably worth it even if the older told him to drop it.

"Another surfing competition?" Hoseok scoffed, looking past at Jeongguk. "No way you want to relive that loss."

"It wasn't a loss," Jeongguk countered, using a fry as a pointer before eating it. "I shredded the waves in my first time."

"You didn't shred shit." Taehyung rolled his eyes, earning a poke to his side and he grinned. "All you did was catch the wave. It was Hoseok Hyung who shredded it."

"Fuck off." The biker grumbled. "I wanna try surfing again, though."

"I'm down." Jimin added. "We leave in two days so we gotta make the most of it."

"You can borrow my board." Taehyung whispered to the biker when the others talked amongst themselves.

"No, I'm not doing that." Jeongguk shook his head. "You better be out there with me."

He froze. "Jeongguk— what? I'm not ready for my board. I've only just tried swimming."

"And you did great. We can practice dry land and then you're ready—"

"This is your worst idea yet, Gguk."

"It's my best one, actually." The younger pressed some fries in Taehyung's hand. "You're surfing with us tomorrow. I know you can do it."

There was no way.

And the nervous gulp dragging in his throat made his breath heavy. Surfing was the real deal. He'd spent so much of the summer just working with the water and getting his body accustomed to it. Adding his board made everything too real.

"Hey," Jeongguk had a hand on his shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. "When have I ever let you get hurt when we're dealing with the ocean?"

"Never."

"So, trust me and try. I think you're ready."

"Or you just want me to give it a shot before the summer is over."

"Both." Jeongguk pursed his lips and shook his head. "If you want to back out later, you can, okay? But for now, let's decide that you're doing it."

"No dragging me in when I say no tomorrow."

"I'll try not to, Saltine."

"Jeongguk." He glared and the biker chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah, when you're standing at the edge of the tide line with your board under your arm, gazing out at the horizon, you can really decide if you want to do it or not."

And the way Jeongguk put it was so unfair. Because then the surfer was imagining the feeling, the rush of adrenaline as they swam out to ample deepness and sat on their boards, pushing under or over the smaller waves. Hoseok scouting out the one and turning to chase it to the shore and catch a ride on the wave.

It felt like a memory he wanted to relive.

And he could.

But that was tomorrow's problem, Taehyung decided. He nodded and Jeongguk flicked his ear with the fingers on his shoulder before turning back to the table.

"What're you studying?" Jin asked Namjoon and Taehyung's eyes widened a little. He hadn't thought about college for Namjoon. He knew Yoongi wasn't anymore, but it wasn't surprising that the pink haired biker was.

Namjoon sipped at his cola and stared around the table at the eyes in him. "I just transferred to the state university from community college. Communications."

"You want to do journalism?" Jimin asked.

"I dunno. I just like the analysis part of it."

"He's actually smart." Jeongguk leaned against the wall, one arm thrown over the booth's back and Taehyung let his eyes run over the biker's figure before returning to the table. The action didn't go unnoticed as a small grin played on Jeongguk's lips.

"Nice," Jin shrugged. "Communications is cool."

Yoongi's face became disgusted. "Aren't you trying to be some big court guy?"

"A lawyer, yes." The eldest shot a look to Yoongi. "Or a judge so I can put your ass behind bars."

"For what?" Yoongi raised a brow. "What dirt have you got on me, Jin?"

"That you've always got some stick shoved up your ass," Hoseok added his own input. "Always the little bitch."

"Damn, sunshine, is that stick taking an opportunity away from you?" The biker glowered. "Shouldn't even call you sunshine anymore."

"Just when I thought things were tame over here," Mr.Tuan was leaning his hip on the side of the booth and staring down at them.

"Oh," Taehyung chuckled lightly. "This is tame, Mr.Tuan."

Jeongguk snorted, gesturing to the man. "Watched us interact all summer and couldn't even call the outcome of this."

"How did this," the diner owner waved a finger around the table. "Even happen?"

"Ask our youngest two." Namjoon gazed up at Mr.Tuan, who was standing right beside him. "Set it all up like the peacemakers they are."

"Well, I trust those two have it all figured out. You kids need anything else?" Mr.Tuan patted Namjoon's and Jin's shoulders when they shook their heads and thanked him, taking his leave to address a customer at the register.

"We definitely don't have it all figured out." Taehyung whispered to the guy next to him.

Jeongguk smile cracked wider. "Well, it's going better than I thought it would."

"Not wrong there." He leaned onto the leg Jeongguk had pulled up onto the seat, using it as an armrest. "Hey, Namjoon, when's your trial?"

"A week or two out." He shrugged. "I don't really remember."

"Of course you don't," Jin half scolded. "You have to show up there so don't just forget."

"Wow, like I didn't know that already, Jin, thanks."

"You're not worried about it at all?" Jimin asked and the questioned biker shook his head. "Why? They could find you guilty."

"It's the officer's word against mine and he's going to look really damn desperate to pin it on me when I have a solid alibi."

"Which is...?"

"Something I'll figure out."

Jin winced. "Thank god I haven't taken that oath yet."

"You are way too relaxed about this," Taehyung's nose scrunched, worried for Namjoon to say the least.

"You all are so uptight." Yoongi rolled his eyes. "Namjoon will be fine."

"You said that about Jeongguk and look what happened," Hoseok jeered.

"Yeah," Yoongi retaliated. "Everyone's happy and things are good. It all worked out fine."

Taehyung watched as Namjoon leaned in towards Jin. "You still owe me a drink, Kim."

Jin was staring at him like he had a third ear on the top of his head, crazy and absurd. "Why the hell would I be buying you a drink?"

"For that day at the diner?"

"Buy it yourself," Jin smiled sarcastically.

Namjoon sighed dramatically. "But I'm a broke college kid, Jin."

"The fuck am I then?" His brother retorted and Taehyung chuckled at the interaction.

"A future lawyer. You can spare the money for a drink."

"I can spare my money for law school, asshat." Jin rolled his eyes, giving Taehyung a 'who does he think he is' look that made his smile last. He heard Jimin and Hoseok say something about the whole legal situation and Jeongguk was cutting in.

"Okay, whatever," Jeongguk sighed. "Namjoon will be fine so let's leave it there. We've only got a few days here so we just need to enjoy it."

Because this was their escape. From reality and the harshness of real life.

Taehyung felt Jeongguk's hand find his, intertwining their fingers and he saw the hold find a place on his thigh.

That much of his escape was coming with him to his reality and blurring the separate lines of summer and real life.

"Hobi Hyung," Taehyung nudged his shoulder. "You should ask to take a look at their bikes. You wanted to right?"

"You have a thing for motorcycles?" Yoongi overhead.

"Cars." The dancer corrected, swatting Taehyung away. "I like them."

"Huh," Yoongi's tongue darted out to lick his lips. "Jeongguk and I are pretty good with auto maintenance."

"You guys have a garage?"

"My dad does," Jeongguk answered. "Yoongi works at one."

"You work at different garages." Hoseok looked between them. "Never get mad at that competition?"

"As long as I have a roof over my head, I don't give a shit about who goes to Jeon's and who comes to mine." Yoongi was looking at Jeongguk. "We're in different neighborhoods anyway."

"Same with us." Taehyung gestured to the four surfers. "Different neighborhoods, I mean. Jimin lives half an hour north of us and Hoseok Hyung's...?"

"West of you? Kinda, I don't know. But we don't usually live close." Hoseok nodded.

"I didn't know that," Jeongguk cocked his head. "How do you guys stay so close if you're that far? The three of us get to meet basically everyday."

Taehyung felt that small tinge of fear pour from slits in his chest. Distance was still going to be another big change. He was determined about them being able to do it, but communicating was going to be so important. Part of him wondered if Jeongguk's communication skills would change when his actions generally spoke more than his words. And actions would be at an all time low hours away from each other.

"Just trusting each other," Jimin shrugged. "If something happens, we tell each other. Dropping a message in when we can in our clashing schedules. It's not hard once you get the hang of just trusting that everyone's doing alright. Picking up the phone and calling helps."

"We meet a couple times a month, optimistically." Hoseok hummed. "Around exams and deadlines it's hard, though."

"So summer is really your only time together like this." Namjoon concluded, leather arms up on the table.

Taehyung had gone a little quiet and he felt Jin's eyes on him. He looked up, holding onto Jeongguk's hand tighter when he felt it almost slip away, and met his brother's eyes.

You okay? Jin was asked wordlessly.

Taehyung nodded subtly, smiling genuinely as a thumb stroked over his knuckles. He felt fine. He just liked what was going and it was all going to change again.

It was more upsetting than anything.

Like right when things felt normal, he was reminded that it wouldn't last forever.

"But we get to come back every year," Jimin was saying. "So we never really have to worry about losing all these memories."

And Taehyung felt better hearing that.

It wasn't that he hated his life at home. He loved it, actually. University and painting and his college friends. It was just so different.

Summer were his childhood best friends, no parents, the ocean and surfing... Jeongguk.

But it was just like if he was picking up the phone to call Jimin in the studio. Some distance didn't mean their connection didn't exist.

And he'd be back at the diner. At the beach. He could make his summer boyfriend an all-year thing. Meet him during winter break and spend holidays together.

Because the summer and real life were two separate things anymore. He had blurred the lines.

And he never wanted them to have a clear distinction ever again.

~•४•~

Taehyung let his chin rest on his hands, straining the leather on his arms as he stared at the smoothie glass, filled with orange slush, in front of him. The straw was leaning against the brim of the glass, his eyes following it down to the condensation of droplets around the outside, trickling down to the base and curling under to stain the countertop below.

The run of the sink made his gaze shift over to the older man with his back facing him. Mr.Tuan had banned him from helping that night, happier than ever with the turnabouts of the past few days and how friendly everyone was being. He said it was because of Taehyung and thanked him with a smoothie.

Not that Taehyung necessarily agreed with that. A lot of people were involved. Seven. Everyone had to put in some effort to stand one another and actually intermix.

The door to the kitchen swung open and Taehyung sat upright seeing a certain son walk in.

"Mark Hyung!" It'd been a while since he had last seen the dancer, mostly here and there, but not at a time when he wasn't doing anything.

Mark tripped over his feet when he caught sight of Taehyung over the large box in his hands. The surfer watched him set it down on the counter and say hello to his dad before looking him up and down.

"Well, that's new."

Right. He was wearing Jeongguk's jacket. The younger had left it with him in a hurry and told Taehyung he'd just take it back later that night when he planned to come by the diner for some banana milk. The surfer decided the safest place for it was on him (not to mention it helped conceal his neck), so that was why he was sitting at the diner's drink counter in a biker's leather jacket.

"Oh, yeah," he flushed a little and looked back up from the leather sleeve he'd been admiring. "It's, uh... it's leather."

"I can see that." Mark raised a brow, sending his father a look, to which Mr.Tuan just laughed and shook his head— a wordless signal for his son to figure it out. "Care to tell me why the hell you've got a biker's jacket on?"

He may have forgotten that along with not seeing Mark in a while, it meant that the older didn't even know about him and Jeongguk yet. Mr.Tuan probably hadn't said a word about it, either, considering he'd be kind enough to leave it on Taehyung to break the news.

His face was blazing, though, as he fiddled with the straw in his smoothie, finding the mango pulp much more interesting that the man on the other side of the counter.

"It's Jeongguk's." He eventually said, wanting to slam a hand on the forehead for how pathetic the answer sounded.

"Ah, okay," Mark nodded, almost mockingly, while putting the delivery box under the counter for the night, to be opened tomorrow. "And what encourages Jeon Jeongguk to leave his jacket in the hands of you?"

Mr.Tuan had shut off the faucet, turning and leaning against the counter as he dried the drink glasses with a dry rag. Taehyung looked at him desperately, but the man shot his eyes away, like he was oblivious to the interrogation happening before him.

Great. Thanks for nothing, Mr.Tuan.

"I mean..." Taehyung bit his tongue, hard, before speaking again. "Being a biker's boyfriend would kinda do it."

Mark stood upright after shutting the cabinet below, a grin on his face as he gestured wildly at Taehyung. "Kinda? Absolute menace, aren't you, Tae? Fraternizing with the enemy."

He groaned in relief, head falling into his hands as both Tuan's started laughing. "You're both terrible. I was scared Mark Hyung was going to be pissed at me! Give me a lecture on all the things that could go wrong!"

"Oh, I am absolutely still doing that." Mark patted his shoulder, having walked around the counter to wipe off the counter. "Never thought I'd see the day where I walk in and Kim Taehyung is wearing a leather jacket, Dad."

"Beats me, son." The older man chuckled, stacking the glasses on the corner of the back counter and Taehyung lifted his glass so Mark could wipe underneath. "All seven of them had lunch together today."

"They what?" Mark gazed around the diner. "And everything's still intact? What spell did you cast on these bikers, Tae?"

"I didn't do anything special!" He argued. "I just... yeah. We all made amends and things seem like they'll be fine."

"Better than fine." The dancer raised a brow. "You've got a whole boyfriend! And you were telling me you've got too much going on to think about relationships."

"Well, the big problem at the time was Jeongguk, so I guess I didn't completely lie?"

"Yeah, hard to forget what he did."

Taehyung froze. "You knew?" He looked over at Mr.Tuan in shock. "You told Mark?"

"No," his friend cut in. "I only know bits and pieces. Like how Jeongguk fucked up and there's been a hell of a lot going on around here. You two have been friends for a while, so you reached into your heart of gold and forgave the son of a bitch."

"That's..." Taehyung pursed his lips, shaking his head and staring into his lap. "Mr.Tuan, you really glorified it, didn't you."

The old man smiled at the both of them and sighed. "I told Mark what he wanted to hear so he didn't go have a word with Jeongguk himself. I think we both would know that wouldn't have ended well."

"Better Jeongguk than Yoongi." Taehyung rolled his eyes.

Mark frowned, standing next to his dad. "If you told me what I wanted to hear, what's the truth?"

The tension in the room spiked a bit and Taehyung was beginning to realize how uninformed the older guy really was. Mark was honestly taking whatever he could get and Taehyung sighed, shoulders sinking a bit and sipping at his drink again.

"You know about the police thing that happened here and then Jimin getting hurt. You also know Jeongguk and I have been— well, he's been helping me with my fear for a while and we became friends. We had an argument that night after the fight and it kinda tore things apart."

Mark blinked, looking at his father, and then back at Taehyung. "That's a lot to take in. The fraternizing with the enemy thing was legit, then."

Taehyung snorted. "I guess, yeah. A lots happened, Mark Hyung, but just know that things have been resolved, we're all good and my fear is getting pummeled into nothing quickly."

"That's... relieving for sure." Mark nodded, running the rag under the stream of sink water to clean it off after wiping the counter. "How'd you get Jeongguk to even help you with your fear?"

"Well, he was the one who saved me, so..."

"He— what?"

"Yeah, I've gotten that reaction across the board." Taehyung's smile was small but existent.

Mr.Tuan stood idly by his son as Mark shut off the faucet and let the rag hang over it, dragging a hand down his face. "How do you feel about all this, Dad?"

"I'm more relieved than anything. Both Jeongguk and you, Taehyung, deserve something good. I'm just glad you've found it."

His smile became grateful. The man was like his father figure out at the shore, a man he went to for anything, and he was glad to not cross him.

But he did need to apologize to the elder and he met Mr.Tuan's eyes timidly. Almost worried to bring it up again even if he knew it had to be said.

"Hey, Hyung, can I talk to Mr.Tuan for a sec'?"

"Uh..." Mark glanced between them. "Sure? Didn't know you kept secrets with my dad, Tae."

"He doesn't," Mr.Tuan patted Mark's arm as he passed towards the kitchen. "I've just been conveniently there to hear them."

"Strategic placement." His son joked and Taehyung hid a smile behind his hand. "I'll just be cleaning something in the back. Take your time."

"Thanks." Taehyung said softly as the door swung back and forth like a dying pendulum until it stopped after Mark walked through.

Mr.Tuan curved around the counter and pushed himself into one of the diner seats. Taehyung hastily finished the last of his smoothie before turning on the stool to face him.

"You alright, son?"

"I just wanted to apologize." Taehyung mumbled, eyes cast at the tiled floor. "For getting angry at you that day Jeongguk was working here."

"Ah," Mr.Tuan's memory sped up to recall the day and the surfer winced. "You don't get mad without reason, Taehyung. Care to tell me why you did?"

"I guess... I don't know, it just felt like you were taking his side. I mean, I know now that it wasn't like that, but... right after our argument and he said said those words to me? He was suddenly working the cashier like I had all summer and that sucked really bad." Taehyung licked his lips, the remnants of the mango flavor staining his tongue. "And I thought you were being unreasonable and choosing him over me even after he'd hurt me."

"Taehyung," Mr.Tuan leaned forward and put a hand on his shoulder, making his gaze lift. "There are no sides. I know you all think that with this whole bikers and surfers thing, but I care about you and Jeongguk equally. And I hope he told you why I actually had him working here."

"He did."

"Good. So you know that I saw what wrong he did and I understood you were in pain. But I was also the only one who knew what pain he was in, too."

"Mr.Tuan," Taehyung smiled meekly and took his hand. "I know everything. About Jeongguk, I mean. About Hwan and Jeongguk's family— he told me."

The man's breath hitched, a squeeze of their gripped hands sending a rush of relief through Taehyung. "He told you? Wow, I'm really glad that he opened up, honestly."

"He must trust us a lot, huh."

Mr.Tuan smiled, nodding once. "He sure does, son."

He took a deep breath.

"Hey, Mr.Tuan?"

"Yes, Taehyung?"

"Thank you," the surfer's vision began to blur with welling tears in his waterline, but he had one more thing to say to the older man. "Thank you for always being there for us. For me and especially for Jeongguk. What you did for him that day made this place one of his favorite spots on the planet. And another home for him. It's going to stick with him forever."

Mr.Tuan's smile poured out immense pride into the air, the hand holding his leaving to rest in the man's lap as he leaned away to take all of Taehyung in. "You and Jeongguk are both very welcome. And I'm proud of you, too, Taehyung. This summer was nothing short of difficult for you and yet you offered your time and patience to someone who needed it even when they didn't realize."

"He really put in so many nights for me, not the other way around."

"Trust me," Mr.Tuan shook his head. "I know how much you've done for him, too. That leather jacket on your shoulders says a lot in itself."

Taehyung looked down to his arms, smiling at the leather sleeves and playing with the cuff of one. He swiped away the tears hanging for dear life in his eyes, clearing his vision and hugging the elder in front of him.

"Wow, you really are desperate to be Tuan's favorite, Kim."

The surfer jerked out of Mr.Tuan's hug, grinning for a moment as he turned on his stool and saw Jeongguk leaning against the wall of the entry way. "Hey, Mr.Tuan doesn't have favorites."

Jeongguk's hands were buried in his pockets, cap sleeve accentuating the built body underneath and Taehyung raised a brow as Jeongguk stepped into the diner with his usual casualness.

"When did you get in?" He asked.

Mr.Tuan hummed in agreement. "I didn't hear the bell ring."

"You both were being too sappy to hear it." Jeongguk raised an arm and used Taehyung's shoulder as an arm rest. The surfer rolled his eyes, but let the weight push on his one side, liking the warmth it spread across his limb. "I'm still the favorite, Mr.Tuan, aren't I?"

"You're still obnoxious." The elder corrected and Taehyung chuckled victoriously as Jeongguk's arm slipped away and he stalked around the counter with a protest on his tongue. "Where have you been, Jeongguk?"

"I spent the evening with my hyungs." Jeongguk's voice came partly muffle as he crouched behind the counter and dug out a carton of his precious banana milk. "Spent too much time with this surfer and got sick of him."

"Oh, yeah, I can see that so clearly." Taehyung scoffed, gesturing to the leather jacket on his upper body— one he didn't even want to give back right away anymore.

Jeongguk stood back up with his eyes on Mr.Tuan. "I saw Mark's car in the lot. He's here?"

"In the back." The old man nodded. "You know, to escape Taehyung's and my sappy conversation."

"Wish I'd done that, too." The biker strolled back around and stopped by the diner owner's side. He'd pierced his carton with a straw on the way and slinked his free arm around Mr.Tuan's shoulders, sipping freely and Taehyung thought the younger winked at him.

"What'd you guys do?" Taehyung asked, both out of curiosity and to fill the empty space. He toyed with the straw in the empty glass sitting in his lap— not wanting to get a ring of water on the counter just after Mark had wiped it clean.

"We got takeout and drove out to some park in the city, crashed there and had an evening picnic." Jeongguk shrugged. "Yoongi complained about the outdoors, but Namjoon convinced him."

"Mr.Tuan, he can't be your favorite after getting takeout from another restaurant!" Taehyung called out.

"Hey, Tuan doesn't sell noodles!" Jeongguk stepped away from the older man and towards him. "It's as simple as that."

The surfer chuckled, raising a brow as the passionate denial from Jeongguk. "Now look who's so desperate to be Tuan's favorite."

"Goodness, you two make me wish my hearing would die faster." Mr.Tuan slid off his stool and they watched him head for the kitchen. "I'm going to help Mark finish cleaning up in the back." He paused halfway through the doorway and looked back at them. "And don't make a mess, for crying out loud."

He disappeared behind the swinging door and Taehyung flushed a little as muffled voices from the kitchen clearly expressed a lighthearted complaint or two— laughter following.

Jeongguk leaned one side against the counter as he stared over at the surfer and Taehyung felt a wave of deja vu overcome his present. They'd been in that position before, where Mr.Tuan had seen them together in the diner for the first time and Jeongguk had decided to put on a traumatizing show.

"Never gonna get used to seeing you in my leather." Jeongguk mumbled absentmindedly, tearing Taehyung out of his thoughts. He stared at the hand sweeping up to brush at the zipper lining.

"Were you not cold?" Taehyung asked with a split second of worry. "You guys must've driven quite a bit today."

"I was fine," Jeongguk assured, tongue slipping out of his mouth to catch the straw and get his lips around it. Taehyung forced his eyes to the main floor, chairs up on the tables, when he realized he was staring. "Oh, don't try to hide it, Saltine."

"Hide what?"

"If you want some of my drink, just say so." The younger hummed, leaned in closer with the hand holding the carton rising between their faces.

"I'm good," he nudged the hand away.

"Still don't want to touch anything my mouth's been on?"

"Jeongguk." Taehyung warned, stifling a small, sharp inhale when the biker moved to the stand behind his stool, forcing his back into the countertop as he stepped between Taehyung's spread legs. "The hell do you think you're doing?"

A hand sneaked up, pointer finger extended and Taehyung followed it with his eyes as it drew a broad neckline across his shoulders, just under his collarbones and creating some form of imaginary wall.

"If that mindset still exists, then you're not allowed to touch anything above this line." Jeongguk grinned, pressing his finger into the space between his collarbones, pad of his fingers cold against warm skin. "Or do you not remember making out last night?"

Jeongguk was cold. Probably because he hadn't taken his stupid jacket that Taehyjng was still wearing.

Taehyung hooked his foot around the back of Jeongguk's knee and kicked it in, making Jeongguk stumble away and give him some space.

The biker cursed as he found his footing again, glaring at the innocent smile on Taehyung's face. "Son of a bitch— I liked that a lot better last time." His voice fell into some grumble of "not even a bit of a blush this time."

Taehyung felt giddy like he'd won. Won what? Nothing but glory because he was a quick learner and getting good at parrying Jeongguk. "C'mere, Greased Lightning."

"Oh, so now you want me close, smartass—" Taehyung grabbed the collar of his shirt, fingers hooking over the hem, so the biker moved with his pull. Jeongguk caught himself with hands braced on the edge of the counter, just brushing Taehyung's sides as their noses almost kissed. "Damn, give me a heads up next time you're going to play tug of war with my shirt."

"When did you start talking so much?" Taehyung smiled sweetly, sickeningly so just to annoy Jeongguk, as the hand hooked on his shirt dragged down and up his firm chest. Jeongguk's jaw clenched and Taehyung was thrumming as he kept winning. "Very much unlike you, Jeon."

"Who do you think's to blame for that?" The younger deadpanned.

He frowned, fingers still dancing back up Jeongguk's chest and moving to trace the bird wing on his neck.

"Only myself, I guess. You did say I make you want to talk more than touch." Taehyung feigned an impressed chuckle. "And would you look at that? You really aren't touching me.
Impressive self control, Jeongguk."

"Which we established that you lack." The biker's breath was coming out more harsh and quick, hastened pulse measurable with Taehyung's fingers against his neck. Jeongguk was, in fact, not touching him, arms still braced on the counter and a few inches between the biker's body and Taehyung's encompassing legs as they meshed space around the bar stool.

"Do you like my leather jacket, Jeongguk?"

His leather jacket. Taehyung internally snickered at the twitch of the younger's brow, noticing the word choice with his ever observant attention.

"I leave you for hours and you start pulling one-eighties on me, Kim." Jeongguk's voice was low, warning tone alight like Taehyung's had been a bit ago.

"And you won't do anything about it, will you?" He teased. He teased because he could. Because he was comfortable reaching under Jeongguk's skin and knew exactly which strings to pull.

"I won't do anything—" Jeongguk scoffed, hand finally leaving the counter as he cracked, and shoving one shoulder of his jacket off. "I could just take it off, Taehyung. Among other things."

Taehyung didn't let him make another move as he closed the small gap between their heads and left a sweeter peck of a kiss on Jeongguk's mouth. Jeongguk seemed to relax, going gentler and softer with the small touches on each other's lips before Taehyung pulled away with a laugh escaping.

"You're so fucking confusing, you know that?" Jeongguk murmured, forehead brushing against his and Taehyung had pushed himself as far back against the counter as he could.

"Mm, yeah. That applies to us both." His hand rested on Jeongguk's shoulders, fingers fiddling with the strands of hair at the nape of his neck. "Let's not make a mess, though? I don't need to make Tuan upset."

"Not after that sappy conversation." Jeongguk agreed, pulling back a few inches so the could maintain a steady eye contact. "I heard what you said. About me."

"You'll have to be more specific than that, Greased—"

"I'm serious, Taehyung. The stuff about Mr.Tuan helping me and thanking him for it." The younger's lips dipped at the corners. "You didn't have to do that. I should be telling him that myself."

"Well, have you?"

"I— well, not explicitly..."

Taehyung shook his head with a knowing smile and put his elbows up on the counter, broadening the expanse of his chest. "I'm kidding, Jeongguk. I wasn't doing it for you, I was doing it for us."

"Thank you, then," the younger mumbled and Taehyung raised a hand to lift his chin up slightly. "It was nice of you."

"Had Mr.Tuan not helped you that day, given you shelter in a storm, I don't know where you'd be today." He smiled softly, shoulder caving in as Jeongguk blinked wearily at him. "I don't know where I'd be. Probably dead, so..."

Jeongguk let out a surprised, amused sound. "That was a godawful joke, Tae."

"It's true." He chuckled. "Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed your evening."

"How was yours?"

"Uneventful for the most part. Mark Hyung was in here before you came in and I caught him up." Taehyung rolled his eyes and looked down at the leather. "That conversation came up because of the jacket."

"See?" Jeongguk grinned and pressed his lips to the corner of his mouth before hugging him close. "Everyone knows you're mine just by a piece of clothing. Makes my life so much easier."

Taehyung tased his side, both of them laughing. "Why was it even difficult, douchebag?"

"Plenty of people to go around. And you're hot, Saltine, so I can't let you stray too far."

"Shut up." His ears were red. "I don't just pounce on anyone I see like you."

"Hey, I don't have to worry about Mark anymore, right?" Jeongguk pulled away to sit on the stool next to his, sipping at his drink and Taehyung watched him slurp at the banana milk.

"Uh... no. I cleared all that up with him already."

"Oh, what? Really?"

"Yeah. I came clean to him about the whole crush situation and... it was pretty easy, to be honest. Not a big deal."

"Damn, what was his reaction?" Jeongguk chuckled and held his drink out. "You sure you don't want any? You keep staring."

"Maybe a small sip." Taehyung mumbled, eager to try it after years and smiling when Jeongguk handed it over without hesitation. "Mark Hyung laughed it off with me. Said he was flattered. Bam, capeesh, off my chest and I felt so much better."

"Nice. My biggest competitor got whooshed away." Jeongguk took the carton back when Taehyung held it to him. "Like it?"

"I haven't had that drink since I was a kid. Just as good as I remember." He chuckled.

"Mhm, thought so. When did this conversation between you guys happen?"

"When you two weren't on speaking terms," Mark's voice suddenly cut in, one hand holding the door open and yelling something back to his dad. "Sorry, I couldn't help but eavesdrop when I heard my name."

"Hey, Tuan." Jeongguk greeted, head jerking with a grin on his lips.

"Jeongguk," Mark called out, stepping away from the door and towards them. "How's it going?"

"I think this is the most civil conversation we've ever had." The biker spun on his seat as Mark sat at the edge of a nearby table. "I'm doing great."

"Nice, nice," Mark met Taehyung's eyes and the surfer shrugged, mouthing a what do you want me to say? when he got a drifting group of emotions in Mark's gaze.

"Um... how's clean up?" Taehyung asked eventually.

"We're finished. I'm actually heading home to sleep and Dad's in the back, hanging out." Mark walked up to them and patted Taehyung's shoulder. "Night, Tae."

"Night, Hyung. Sleep well." His eyes widened as Mark leaned close in Jeongguk's face, distaste in his eyes with furrowed brows signing off the look.

"You know, Jeon, I've never liked you." Mark glanced over his shoulder at the artist. "But he does so I'll try."

"Wow, I'm so scared."

"I'm serious," Mark continued, voice softening and Taehyung couldn't make out the rest of the words. He figured it was something big brother like, along the lines of 'hurt him again and I'll kill you.' He really wouldn't have expected anything else from the older.

Jeongguk just draped an arm over the counter and lolled his head with a etch of boredom. "You don't need to worry about that, Tuan. Taehyung knows how to kick my ass if I fuck up."

Taehyung couldn't help but smile as Mark nodded and pulled away, hugging Taehyung once before before yelling goodnight and heading out the door.

"Kick your ass?" Taehyung shook his head with a chuckle. "Is this some pain kink of yours—"

"Nah, I meant it," Jeongguk hardly looked at him, staring at the ringed fingers fiddling with his drink straw. If someone couldn't hear his words, they would've thought he was the most unbothered man in the world. "You promised me honesty and I'm holding you to that, Kim. I want you to be straightforward and very real with me."

His smile softened into something much less comedic, meeting Jeongguk's gaze and seeing the younger's lip quirk up before shying away to stare at the countertop.

"Okay," Taehyung nodded, eyes falling to catch the hand patting his knee. "I'll kick your ass. If I need to."

"There he is." Jeongguk laughed, that genuine smile on his lips as they settled into the place that had brought them together.

Where their nightly escapades became recurring and their hopes for the summer changed completely.

Summer hopes that blurred the lines between escapes and realities.

❧ ❧ ❧

being the same height as the members makes writing their character's spatial awareness and comparison to objects so much easier LMAO

never getting over the fact that biker jk happened in seasons greeting :')

180k THANK YOU!!
my college exams are over and i'm
on break for a bit so i'll be writing :D ♡

✵ NEETO ✵