Jungkook: u guys wont believe what happened today

Taehyung placed his apple pen down and relaxed into his swivel chair. He could totally use a break after having designed three winter coats very intricately. His wrist felt like shit and his back could really use an hour-long massage. Maybe he should fix an appointment at the spa with his friends that weekend.

Taehyung: Aren't you supposed to be at work right now?

Jungkook: yea we're almost closing 

Jungkook: also that bitch of a manager didn't show up today either

Taehyung: Oh, she got fired.

Jungkook: wait fr???

Taehyung: For real.

Taehyung smirked a little but his bread cheeks puffed up at the same time. 

Jungkook: OMG

Jungkook: @/Jimin DO YOU HEAR THAT???

Taehyung: Okay but tell us what happened.

Jungkook: okay okay LISTEN

Jungkook: so like i'm doing extra shifts right. so seokjin-sshi arrives and he has this cool scarf on him so I'm like 

Jungkook: cool scarf

Taehyung: Literary genius.

Jungkook: stfu then he smiles, like a SHY smile and guess what he says

Taehyung giggled a little too loudly and looked around to see if anyone heard him and to his embarrassment, a few of his colleagues were staring dead into his soul- some nosey and some wanting to wipe out his extended family for disrupting their focus.

Jungkook: "Oh, actually it's Tae's."

Jungkook: what does that mean hyung

Jungkook: why does he have your scarf

Jungkook: did u guys fuck already

Jimin: Wait who's fucking who

Taehyung: Welcome back.

Jungkook: ANSWER ME???

Taehyung: 💅.

Taehyung stretched his arms and muted his phone as it burst with his best friends' hysteric text notifications. He rubbed his cheeks as it hurt from all that smiling and heating up; he didn't even realize that he was beaming from ear to ear like the biggest gone case. Checking the time, he decided not to overwork himself that evening even though he would receive accusing stares from his colleagues for being the first one to leave. He decided not to feel guilty for once at least.

As he stood up from his desk and began to pack his things, a few intrusive thoughts crawled into his mind and began to dim the happy little light, making his uplifted demeanour start to fall piece by piece until he sat back down and stared at his empty desk. It was alright to leave, right? It's not like he was obligated to finish all of his work in one day because the deadline wasn't knocking at the door yet. However, he would end up staying awake all night thinking about the pending work.

Heaving a exhausted sigh, Taehyung unpacked his bag and went back to work. One day, he would get over this feeling of constant guilt but what if he fell from his well-earned position? 

He decided to check Jungkook and Jimin's messages to help with his sudden mood fluctuation and to his immense pleasure, he found his favoruite name glowing on the screen. Biting his lips, Taehyung swiped on his phone.

Jin-ah: tae

Jin-ah: help

Jin-ah: it's raining (＃＞＜) 

Taehyung jumped to his feet and shouldered his bag, bidding his colleagues goodbye on his way out of the work room. He didn't even wait for the elevator and instead flew down the stairs at the speed of light before practically throwing himself inside his car. He slapped himself to calm down, and unfortunately one of the night guards saw him, so Taehyung cleared his throat, even though the guy couldn't hear him, and started the engine, avoiding the weirded out energy that was radiating from the guard.

The world was on his side today, or maybe it was on Seokjin's side, because thankfully he didn't have to face the headache of waiting impatiently in traffic. He felt so giddy at the fact that Seokjin had asked him for a ride back home. Maybe Taehyung wasn't the first person Seokjin reached out to but he was still on the list so that itself made him want to dance in his seat.

Taehyung parked the car next to the coffee shop and brought out his umbrella before jogging around the building to reach the front of the cafe where he found Seokjin leaning next to the door which said "Closed". Seokjin pushed himself off the wall as soon as he saw Taehyung and very obviously suppressed a laugh.

"What?" Taehyung beamed, heart pounding just a little bit.

"Tae," Seokjin said with abarely contained smile and crossed arms.

"Yes, hyung?" Taehyung had no idea what was up but he liked the tone Seokjin was using.

"Why do you have an umbrella?" A little squeak slipped out afterwards.

Taehyung blinked in confusion before the realization hit him like a truck.

It wasn't raining.

"Oh-" Taehyung lowered his umbrella and closed it, face buning up slowly.

"Tae, you didn't even check if it was raining?" Seokjin teased him.

"Um, well- well, you said it was raining so- like, I wasn't really thinking, um, like..." Taehyung found himself drowning under his jumbled words but he had such a ridiculous grin painted across his face.

Was he really down that bad?

Seokjin chuckled without covering his mouth before giving Taehyung such an endearing eye-smile that could melt glaciers and taking one step towards the younger. Seokjin pinched his cheeks and called him a few sweet names which flew over Taehyung's head because he was focused on Seokjin who was standing really, really close to him- so close that if Taehyung leaned down just a little...

The sky roared with sudden thunder and the pair jolted away from each other.

"Huh, so I guess I wasn't lying after all," Seokjin muttered as he looked at the approaching dark clouds.

"Um, let's get you home before the storm," Taehyung said before leading the way to his car.

When they were inside, Taehyung murmured, "You look good in my scarf, by the way."

Seokjin turned impossibly pink as he averted his eyes to the moving city lights outside the window and bit his pillowy lip, rolling it shyly between his teeth until it turned swollen and red; Taehyung tried to stay focused on the road.

"Did you know I made it?" 

"Really?!" Seokjin felt the silky material between his fingers for mumbling very quietly, "That makes it even more special."

"I can make you more," Taehyung offered bashfully before adding, "For free."

"Of course you have to do it for free," Seokjin huffed.

Taehyung chuckled and made a silent resolution to come up with something for Seokjin before Christmas. Comfortable silence enveloped them as the rain began to pitter-patter in a serene melody against the windows. Seokjin cleared his throat lightly.

"So, does that mean I get to keep it?" Seokjin swiftly glanced at Taehyung before dropping his eyes to his lap.

"Hyung," Taehyung breathed out softly, reaching out his hand to fiddle with Seokjin's reddened ear in a teasing manner. "Do you think I'll say no?"

Seokjin swatted his hand away but his bundled up cheeks and gleaming eyes were evidence that he liked it.

"Oh?" Seokjin sat forwards as a policeman signalled them to turn the car around.

Taehyung lowered his window pane and they heard the police yelling, "Road accident! Route closed!"

"Shit," Taehyung muttered under his breath as he turned the car around, joining the small traffic ahead.

"Fuck me if I'm wrong but isn't the other route like a few hours away?" Seokjin asked as Taehyung turned on the GPS on his phone.

"You're wro- I mean- I mean, yes, you're right." Taehyung cursed at himself before continuing, "And with everyone else taking the same road, plus the rain, it's gonna be a long ride."

"You'll have to drive twice the distance," Seokjin added with a hint of guilt. 

"Hey, it's fi-" Taehyung stopped his tongue as a lightbulb went out in his head. "I mean, yeah, you're right, like, I'm kinda tired and stuff..."

"Yeah..." Seokjin began to fumble with the hem of his scarf. "I can wait for an Uber or maybe call Yoongi or..."

"No! I mean, um-" Taehyung cleared his throat. "You can, um, you know- you can stay at my place for the night."

"Oh!" Seokjin looked at a loss for words. "Is it... is it really okay?"

"Of course!" Taehyung had already begun driving towards home.

"Will Aunty and your sister be okay with me staying over? They don't really know me much so..."

"Hyung, it's my house. They can't say no," Taehyung said firmly before assuring more softly, "Besides, Eommoni loves you, so don't worry about it."

Seokjin nodded, still looking unsure so Taehyung asked hesitantly, "Um, are you, like, uncomfortable with it? I mean, I'd totally get it..."

"No! No, it's not that. I just don't want to make you uncomfortable..." Seokjin reasoned in pout.

"If I was uncomfortable, I wouldn't have asked you in the first place," Taehyung reassured, catiously covering the back of Seokjin's hand with his palm and giving it a comforting squeeze as his heart roared in his ears.

The drive to Taehyung's home didn't take too long and the entire time, Taehyung prayed that his mother didn't make things hard for him. He was pretty sure that Oksun would stay in her room like the vampire she was, so he wasn't too worried about her. Besides, the world really was in Taehyung's favour that day because when they made it to the front door, they found Mrs. Kim and Oksun just walking out of the house.

"Oh!" Taehyung's mom and Oksun were dressed for going out- well, at least Mrs. Kim was, with her hair let down in pretty curls and her prized green shawl drapped over her shoulders; Oksun was again covered in black from head to toe. Taehyung wondered if she had rubbed her eyes after applying eyeliner.

"Seokjin, I didn't know you were coming, son," Mrs. Kim said but her eyes were fixed on Taehyung like a hawk.

"I'm sorry for coming unannounced, Aunty," Seokjin replied uneasily.

"Why are you sorry? I'm the one who brought you here." Taehyung didn't register the intensity of his tone until he saw Oksun's raised brows.

"I mean, um- uh, come inside..." Taehyung escorted Seokjin inside as his mom and sister parted for them.

"Seokjin-ah, I would've cooked for you beforehand if someone let me know that you were coming. I'm so sorry, dear!" Mrs. Kim said with genuine distress.

"Aunty, don't worry-"

"Yeah, don't worry, I'll cook."

Oksun, for the first time since she arrived there, showed a hint of emotion as the corners of her lips curved upwards, followed by an amused snort. 

"Um..." The concern in Mrs. Kim's eyes increased in tenfolds but she deepened her smile and said, "Takeout is always an option, okay TaeTae?"

"Yeah," Taehyung replied, cheeks on fire. "Drive safe, Eommoni."

After throwing one last worried glance at the pair, Mrs. Kim disappeared out of their sight with Oksun. Taehyung sighed in relief as he closed the door behind him and stretched out loudly before realizing that Seokjin was there too so he stopped immediately, making himself look even more clown-like.

"So, um, you can wash up and uh- um, I'll... cook," Taehyung suggested, scartching his nape. The fact that he was alone with Seokjin in his house was slowly creeping into him and he was trying not to panic. Currently, the older was intently observing the paintings at the narrow foyer.

"Mhmm, did you paint them?" Seokjin asked as he squinted his eyes which were level with the tiny kth in the corner of Taehyung's least favourite artwork. 

"Um, I'm too embarrassed to say yes," Taehyung admitted, chuckling awkwardly.

"Tae, I don't know anything about art," Seokjin assured him as he moved to the next painting. 

"Except you," Seokjin added with a little smirk, making Taehyung just want to roll on the floor and shriek like a banshee.

"Yeah, I'll- I'll see if my room's a mess or..." Taehyung fled the scene and fortunately, his bedroom was not a total wasteland of work paper, stray pieces of fabric, crumpled sketches,  bobby pins... yeah, you get the deal. He opened his closet, mentally patting himself on the back for keeping it organized to every last thread, before opening the door to invite Seokjin inside.

"I think most of my clothes will fit you," Taehyung said as he sized up Seokjin in a professional stance even though his sole purpose was to check him out. 

"Woah, are these- are these colour-coded?" Seokjin's voice heightened with awe.

"Yeah!" Taehyung felt giddy with excitement. "And sorted according to season too! See the ones on the top? They're for spring and the cabinet underneath it has my summer clothes. The autumn and winter ones are a little confusing because I style a lot of those pieces interchangeably so I still haven't decided which ones are specifically..."

Taehyung felt like he could go on and on because Seokjin had this glow of innocent wonder and curiosity in his gentle eyes. He was very much aware that Seokjin probably wasn't quite on the same track with him but the older kept encouraging him with little nods and hums.

When he was done, Taehyung smiled shyly and said, "Was that annoying? Sorry, hyung."

Seokjin shook his head, eyes smiling so brightly. "No, I want to hear more when we're eating."

Taehyung just wanted to kiss the man already. He quietly went through his phone, snickering at Jimin and Jungkook's texts, while Seokjin went through his closet. 

"Tae, these will fit me, right?" Now that was a question asked with every drop of evil intention because what Seokjin was holding were Taehyung's largest white t-shirt and his smallest pair of mint shorts.

Taehyung's throat felt impossibly dry but he managed to breath out a single word.

"Yes."