"Well, well. Look at you, dressed up all fancy."

Jeongguk's fingers still on the empty dish he was in the middle of stacking, staring down at the mustard stained napkin. He glances over his shoulder and almost drops every dish in his hand at the sight of  standing there like he's ready for a photo shoot, leather jacket pooled around the joints of his elbows.

"Hyung," he yelps, steadying the plates in his arms before they spill onto the floor. "What are you doing here?"

Taehyung drags his sunglasses down his nose, exposing a row of  beneath each of his eyes. "You told me you worked here. I wanted to come see it for myself. See if this place deserves to have my boy working here."

This is no time for Jeongguk to swoon and keel over. He's working.

Jeongguk spares a glance to the rest of the restaurant, people looking their way, some taking pictures of Taehyung. His boss looks like he may faint, clutching his chest as he stands in the corner.

"Besides. You said you couldn't hang out with me tonight. And I missed you," Taehyung adds and Jeongguk wonders how he can say things like that so easily.

A steak knife slips off the plate and before Jeongguk can think about how to manoeuvre to pick it up, Taehyung's already bending down to pick it up for him. "Thanks," he chokes out.

"You have anywhere you can squeeze me in?"

Jeongguk sets the plates on the trolley with the rest of them, eyes sweeping the tables. "You really want to eat here?"

Taehyung takes his sunglasses off and slips them on the inside of his jacket. "Why? You got a rat problem or something?"

"No, no!" He's quick to assure, checking that his boss hadn't heard that. "It's just that, uh. You know. It's not really your usual style?"

"I'm not a prig, Guk. Show me to a table."

Jeongguk quickly grabs one of the menus from behind the pedestal before gesturing Taehyung to follow him. He's not entirely sure where to put him, if he should put him in one of their smallest tables or on the family sized table, just to give him space. He eventually settles for a booth. A booth seems safe.

Once Taehyung's seated, he shrugs out of his leather jacket to reveal so much skin that Jeongguk's knees wobble. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"Look at you, my little boy being all professional. Getting me all hot, Jeon," Taehyung teases, shooting him a wink as he opens his menu.

Jeongguk only internally screams for about twenty seconds rather than the usual thirty. He's definitely getting better.

Taehyung hums, looking over the wine list. "I'll take the '98 Merlot. Been a while since I've had anything that young." And then he proceeds to look Jeongguk over, head tilting to the side.

Jeongguk stills, pen on the paper digging in so hard that it tears a hole through at least three pages. He laughs too loudly and quickly rushes off to go and get the wine. This will be a test of strength for him. To see if he can keep his professional work place composure, even in the face of Kim Taehyung. It'll be a stress test of sorts. He can't imagine anything tougher, though. Because when he's not working, he's out back texting Taehyung, or thinking about Taehyung. So how is he supposed to focus when the man himself is sitting at one of the tables?

His bow tie feels a little tight around his neck, tugging it away a few inches, only to drop his hand quickly as his boss, Mr. Jung dashes over to him.

"Are my eyes deceiving me, or is that really Kim Taehyung at table fifteen?"

Jeongguk lets out a shaky laugh, grabbing the cork screw and sticking the prong into the softness at the top of the bottle. "No, that's definitely him."

"Do you know him?" Mr. Jung demands.

"Yeah, we're friends." Once again, friends definitely doesn't feel like the right word.

Mr. Jung looks over his shoulder at the small window on one of the double doors separating the kitchen from the dining area. "Here. Let me." He takes the bottle from Jeongguk just as he gets the cork out, picking one of the wine glasses and inspecting it closely, looking for stains. "I'll handle this one."

Jeongguk frowns, but he can't really say anything, just watches as Jung heads out through the dining area and straight over to Taehyung. He bites at the tip of his tongue, stepping out of the kitchen to continue busying himself and trying his hardest not to look over to where Taehyung's sitting. But it's hard when he swears he can feel eyes on him, burning into his back as he checks in with other guests, refills water and brings more baskets of breadsticks.

He's just about to go and check in on table ten's chicken alfredo when Jung suddenly comes back, looking a little flustered as he passes him, pressing the bottle of wine back into his hand.

"He insists on you serving him," he sniffs, tilting his chin up a little higher and smoothing the invisible creases out of his vest. "I'm too busy anyway." And then he steps back into the kitchen, presumably to go attend to that work he's so busy with.

Jeongguk's eyebrows raise as he looks over to Taehyung, who's already staring his way, chin propped up on his fist. He gives a little wave of his fingers when their eyes meet.

He clears his throat and heads over on shaky legs. "Have you decided on what you'd like to order?"

Taehyung smiles up at him, nude painted lips pulling back to reveal teeth. "Are you on the menu?"

God fucking yes he is. "Taehyung," he tries not to whine. He fails.

"Okay, okay. I'll stop," Taehyung laughs, finally freeing Jeongguk from his relentless stare. "What would you suggest?"

He inhales deeply. Treat this like any other shift. He's just a customer. A fucking beautiful customer that has Jeongguk's entire heart. "The chicken piccata is excellent. Comes with a side of chorizo gnocchi and a salad."

Taehyung hums, folding the menu and passing it back to Jeongguk. "I'll have that, then."

Jeongguk bows his head before filling Taehyung's half empty glass and setting the bottle down.

"When're you off?"

Jeongguk makes sure not to spill a drop. "Ten."

"Sleepover at mine?"

Jeongguk spills a drop. "Sleepover?"

Taehyung nods, wiping the side of the wine glass with his finger and sucking it clean, much to Jeongguk's disintegrating sanity. "You don't have class tomorrow and practice isn't until afternoon. You're free to spend all your time with me, Gukkie."

He's got a point. "Okay. But you don't have to wait for me, I can't imagine it'll be much fun sitting here while I work."

"Oh, I'll be fine. I've got a nice view."

Fucking shit fuck fuck fuckity fuck.

"Okay, cool."

As if it wasn't obvious, Jeongguk has a hard time trying to work when he knows he's got the attention of Taehyung on him, feels his gaze as he talks to other customers and takes orders. But every time he looks up, Taehyung's either on his phone or sampling food that he decides to order on a whim. He notices that he's not the only one wound up tight, the chefs scrapping whatever food they had left to start again, prepping whole new meals, just for Taehyung and waiting eagerly for the verdict. Jeongguk supposes he'd be nervous too, a wealthy man with a lot of power, tasting their food. He has the ability to tear this place apart with one negative comment. The guests also seem to be focused on Taehyung, some people calling Jeongguk over, just to ask what Kim Taehyung is having and then switching their meals to that.

At one point, Jeongguk overhears some lady say something disrespectful, along the lines of if only he didn't dress like one of those queers, he'd be such a handsome young man.

She may accidentally get marinara sauce spilled all over her lovely white dress.

"Uh oh. What happened there?" Taehyung asks when Jeongguk brings him over some porchetta, staring across at the woman who's trying to wipe as much sauce out of her dress as possible.

"Fingers slipped," he shrugs, grinding some pepper onto the pork joint.

Taehyung eyes him briefly before he takes a sip of his water, having switched out from wine. "Thank you, sweet cheeks."

Jeongguk bows his head and returns back to the kitchen, giving a halfhearted apology to the woman as he passes.

He has a small break at seven, to which he goes and spends it with Taehyung, bringing out a bowl of carbonara for himself and a espresso for Taehyung.

"I don't know how I feel seeing you like this," Taehyung says, taking a bite of his biscotti. "You're all hidden away. You're too neat looking. I can't see any of your tattoos." He suddenly frowns. "I don't like it."

Jeongguk's not a fan either, really. He has to take out all his piercings, has to tame his hair and has to put foundation over his hands and neck every few hours to keep his tattoos hidden.

Taehyung pouts, reaching over and thumbing at Jeongguk's ear. "They're so empty. Do you have anything in right now?"

"Just retainers."

"I don't like it," he repeats.

Jeongguk thinks it's cute, Taehyung sulking. "It's okay. They're a commitment, so you have to adapt. I don't mind too much. Though the make up is a bitch to keep putting on."

Taehyung runs a finger down his neck, nail lightly dragging through one of the intricate patterns inked beneath the caked layer of foundation. He'd marvelled when he took Jeongguk to get his haircut, had the undercut shaved in and all but gasped when he saw the  hidden by his hair, the one that only reveals itself when he gets a major cut.

"Is this the right job for you, Jeongguk? You're having to cover up who you are."

His eyes briefly shut when Taehyung's fingers find his ear again, playing with the soft skin usually occupied with jewellery. "Can't afford to be picky. Plus it's just for a few hours, it's not a long lasting thing."

Taehyung hums. "Still. I'd much prefer you worked somewhere that let you express yourself."

"It's really okay, hyung. I wouldn't work here if I had a serious problem with it," Jeongguk assures, but Taehyung doesn't look entirely convinced.

"Here. Have some water. I haven't seen you drink anything," Taehyung orders gently, refilling his glass and sliding it over to Jeongguk, who complies because he is pretty thirsty after neglecting to stop and have a drink every now and then.

"Thank you."

"Thank you, what?"

Jeongguk's ears burn, fork scrapping along the bottom of his plate. "I can't say that here."

It's become more of a regular thing now, for Jeongguk just to call Taehyung daddy without being prompted to do so. He'll say it when Taehyung hands him a bottle of water or picks an eyelash off his cheek. It still sends burning hot embers pooling in his stomach, because he's calling another man daddy for christ's sake. He doesn't even call his own father daddy.

"Why not? No one can hear you but me. Shoulders back," Taehyung adds.

Jeongguk sits up straight, fork idly swirling around his pasta as he looks over his shoulder then back to Taehyung. Even his nose feels hot. "Thank you, daddy."

Taehyung smiles, taking another sip of his espresso.

He eventually goes back to his phone when Jeongguk has to go back to work, and the sight of Taehyung just sat in some two star, unauthentic Italian restaurant, waiting for Jeongguk to finish work is something he thinks he'll treasure forever. Taehyung doesn't have to wait, he doesn't have to invite Jeongguk back to his for the night, doesn't even have to talk to him. But there he is. Willing to wait for almost six hours, just for Jeongguk to finish his shift because he wants to spend time with him. He still can't wrap his head around it.

Finally—after a mild scolding from his boss for the marinara incident—Jeongguk's shift comes to an end, and he's ready to get out of the damn penguin suit and make up. But what he's most ready for is spending time with Taehyung. Jeongguk gave him his phone when his own died and he's been sat there for the last hour and a half discovering the addiction that is Piano Tiles.

("Beat your score, Jeonggukkie!")

And now thankfully they can both go home—or more so back to Taehyung's home.

"Do we need to stop at mine first? I don't have any clothes on me," Jeongguk realises once they're in the car, unfastening the clasp of his waistcoat.

"It's fine, you can borrow something of mine."

His heart jumps at that.

Jeongguk's been around Taehyung's place a few times by now and it's almost unreal how used to the place he is, how he can navigate himself around the house with only minor mistakes of stepping into the wrong room. He never thought he could get used to a place that big, but here he is, leaning out of the open window to punch in the code for the gates without a second thought.

They're greeted by Crystal and Cash as they step in, and they seem to recognise him now. Cash had been a little wary of him at first, clearly doesn't take kindly to strangers. But since he's seen Jeongguk around more and more, he's actually started to come up to him and insist on being pet. Somewhere in the back of his mind he imagines Crystal barking at his brother to stop being so shy, to go properly introduce himself to Taehyung's new friend.

There's that word again.

"Let's get you out of those clothes."

Taehyung takes his hand, threading their fingers together as he leads him upstairs, and the whole scene has Jeongguk sweating. He doesn't need to think too hard to imagine a different scenario in which Taehyung says those words and takes him up to his bedroom. But it's a dangerous thought, one that he can't afford to have when he's in the same proximity of all his recent thirteen-year-old like wet dreams.

He's led straight through to Taehyung's room, but they don't stop, just continuing through until they reach the en-suite bathroom, one that Jeongguk's never actually stepped foot in. The sink is lined with skin care products, all expensive looking and Jeongguk has no idea what half of the stuff is. His skin care routine doesn't stray far from some body wash being rubbed briskly over his face when he's in the shower.

Taehyung shows him how to start the shower, tells himself to help himself to anything he wants, and that there's spare toothbrushes in one of the many drawers beneath the sink. Jeongguk's expects him to leave then, but of course, he really should stop trying to predict what Taehyung's next move is, because he's always way off the mark.

"Here, let me help you," Taehyung says, reaching up to untug Jeongguk's tie, which brings immediately relief, feeling as if he can finally take a proper breath of air. "That better, baby?"

Jeongguk laughs softly, Taehyung's fingers now working on his shirt once he's shrugged out of his waistcoat. "Much. Always feel like I'm slowly suffocating whenever I wear a tie."

"I hear that."

His smile drops slowly when he realises that Taehyung's unbuttoning his shirt all the way, eyes following the slowly revealing skin, watching tattoos start to appear beneath the cotton shirt. With all the times they've hung out, this is the first time Jeongguk's had this much skin showing, close to naked aside from his slacks once Taehyung pushes his shirt over his shoulders.

"Wow," Taehyung breathes, warm hands running along Jeongguk's sides, palms smoothing over detailed lines and patches of shading, taking it all in. "Your body's like a beautiful canvas."

Jeongguk's cheeks pink once more. It's a high compliment, having his tattoos appreciated in such an intimate way, rather than a random person saying whoa, dude, your tattoos are sick and holy shit, you've got a lot of ink. They're appreciated all the same, but being told that his body's a beautiful canvas trumps them easily. Especially coming from Taehyung.

Everything is in last place when it comes to rivalling Taehyung.

He happily stands there, staring at Taehyung while Taehyung stares at his body, lifting his arms and turning when directed to do so, letting the man see everything. Tattoos are intimate, they're on his skin, but he has no problem sharing them with Taehyung.

Taehyung eventually strokes at the sides of his neck, whispers a soft this just won't do and guides Jeongguk to climb up on the counter. He grabs one of his many bottles, a soft looking cotton pad and proceeds to start wiping the make up off Jeongguk's neck and hands, making sure to get every last bit, turning colour corrected skin back to hues of blue and green. He's still through the whole thing, eyes trained on Taehyung as he focuses on wiping the poor make up job away, lips parted in concentrated.

Jeongguk can't resist but to reach out and gently peel the diamonds away from Taehyung's eyes.

And Taehyung lets him. He stills, smiles and tilts his head up for Jeongguk to remove the gems away until they're all gone. Taehyung goes above and beyond and hands Jeongguk a clean pad and make up remover, pressing them into his palms before clipping his bangs back.

"Go ahead," he sighs, fingers wrapping around Jeongguk's thighs. "Take it off."

Jeongguk blinks, certain he can taste his heartbeat. He's never seen Taehyung without make up on before, even if it's just a dusting. But here he is, letting Jeongguk take it off for him, willing to bear a naked face. It makes something twitch in his chest.

He's gentle as he wipes it off, to the point where Taehyung laughs and gently encourages him to give a little more pressure, or he's not going to get anything off. It's amazing, watching all that hard work disappear, Taehyung's skin soon breaking through the foundation and concealer and eye shadow and exposing skin that's a little oily, patches of pink skin and even a blemish on one of his cheeks.

He's so beautiful.

"Not so pretty without the make up, huh?" Taehyung smirks, hands rubbing up and down Jeongguk's thighs as his lipstick is wiped off.

"I think you're pretty no matter what." It's maybe the most honest thing Jeongguk's ever said. He would never say Taehyung looks better with or without make up. Because it's all about what Taehyung wants to wear, what he feels the most beautiful with. But he should know that Jeongguk thinks he's fucking gorgeous regardless.

Taehyung just stares at him, eyes looking less intimidating without a sharp eyeliner, but no less striking. Jeongguk loves the natural brown of his eyes, thinks they look like deep, inviting pools of warmth that he would willingly drown in.

He sets down the last make up covered cotton pad, certain he's gotten the most off he can manage, startling slightly when his face is suddenly held between Taehyung's hands, nails curled around the back of his ears, forced to face him head on.

"I adore you, Jeongguk," Taehyung tells him with a airy laugh, voice quiet and deep, like he needs Jeongguk to know that he means it. "You're special to me."

I'm falling for you, Taehyung.

"You're special to me too, hyung," he tacks on to his own unsaid thoughts, nothing above a whisper, leaning into one of Taehyung's hands. God, he wants nothing more than for Taehyung to kiss him. Kiss him right here, sat on the counter, take everything from him, because Jeongguk's starting to think that he could do that. Give everything he has to Taehyung, wants him to own the keys to his entire being, his entity, his soul.

Jeongguk's had relationships and decade long friendships, but none of them touch close to what he has with Taehyung. He doesn't know what they are, where their friendship stops and starts, but he likes it a lot. He's willing to harbour his increasingly growing crush for Taehyung if it means he gets to just be around him. It's not worth losing for anything. Their entire relationship is strange, a strange dynamic that Jeongguk never thought he'd have with someone. Didn't even know a type of dynamic existed, because it stretches so much further than Taehyung just buying him things and Jeongguk accepting. They text each other constantly, FaceTime late at night and eat together more often than not. It's confusing, but he finds he loves every single second of it.

Taehyung pulls him in and presses a kiss to his lips, gentle and firm all rolled into one. It's not heated, but not chaste. Jeongguk surprises himself by not reacting like a man starved, his heart beating right out of his throat, passing out. It's actually nice. It's like communicating everything without words. It makes him burn, of course, but he knows the kiss isn't an invitation. And he thinks he's okay with that.

He smiles as Taehyung tells him to take as long as he wants and to call him when he's done, pressing another kiss to Jeongguk's forehead before he leaves him to it and Jeongguk watches him go until the door clicks softly shut behind him. He rubs his tingling lips together, tasting chemically from the make up remover, but if he concentrates hard enough, he can imagine the way Taehyung tastes through it. Crisp and sharp, but soft with sweetness. Like a freshly baked apple pie, just on the right side of tart.

Showering proves to be a little confusing, with how many body washes and shampoos and skin milks? there are—picking anything out at random and hoping for the best. It's one hell of a good shower, though, the pressure of the water having his shoulders relaxing, unravelling the knots in his back. Everything smells good too, Jeongguk smells good. He doesn't smell like basic men's shower gel. He smells clean and kind of like spring.

"I'm done!" He calls as he shakes his hair free of water, rubbing the back of his neck dry. The towel quickly moves to his waist with a panicked yelp when the door suddenly opens, Jeongguk quick to try and cover himself up. "I-I—" He starts, but his words die in his throat as the other man walks in.

Taehyung eyes him over as he heads to the sink, no longer wearing the shirt and bra, no longer wearing pants, leaving him in just a pair of white, lacy panties—he fucking does wear panties, holy shit—that hug his hips so nicely.

It's a staring match. The pair of them looking each other over, taking in lots of bare skin. The air feels thick from the heat of the shower and the heat of this moment.

Jeongguk swallows the dryness in his throat, eyes running over Taehyung's body. It's all tanned, smooth looking skin, softly toned and almost glowing. His throat runs drier when he sees the familiar belly bar, the pink gemstones reflecting the light. But his throat fucking shrills up and dieswhen he sees—

"You've got your—your nipple pierced?"

Taehyung lifts his gaze from where they were definitely on Jeongguk's thighs, exposed by the towel just barely covering his crotch. He looks down at himself, reaching up to finger over the bar in his nipple, two little wings on either side.

Jeongguk may go into cardiac arrest.

"This? Had it since I was about sixteen. Cute, right?" Taehyung asks, thumbing over one of the wings.

"Really cute." And boy, does his voice break.

Taehyung lifts his eyes to look up at him through his natural lashes, fake ones no longer on. He stares at him as he continues to play with the jewellery in his chest, eyes once again appreciating Jeongguk's body. It's a tense moment of silence, the pair of them just looking at each other and Jeongguk willing away the hard on he's about to get. It's only broken when Taehyung drops his hand and beckons him over.

"Need to take care of your skin."

He gets a full lesson on skin care, shown how to exfoliate, cleanse, tone and moisturise. He learns he has combination skin and big pores around his nose. Jeongguk pays attention as if he were taking a class in Beauty 101, knowing he'll soon be gifted a bunch of new washes, creams and products for his face that Taehyung will insist that he use.

By the end of it, they're both standing there in a couple of navy green face masks and brushing their teeth. Taehyung's still standing there in just his panties and Jeongguk's stood beside him with his towel now wrapped secure around his waist. They look funny, standing next to each other, and they must know it, because they giggle as they catch each others eyes in the mirror, taking turns in who spits and rinses in the sink.

They go and get dressed in some comfortable clothes, Taehyung lending him some silky looking pink pajama bottoms, which are like pure heaven. Taehyung wears a matching pink set of silk pajamas, shorts and a camisole.

"Look at us. We look so cute."

They do. Standing side by side, they look cute. They're fucking matching.

Once they're dressed, they head downstairs, laying down across one of the couches and Taehyung encourages Jeongguk to lay his head down on his lap. He complies easily, laying on his back with his head propped up on Taehyung's soft thighs, fingers soon threading through his hair. Jeongguk doesn't even mind when Taehyung takes a picture of him, too relaxed and sleepy to care that he probably looks terrible with this cracking mask on his face.

They put on a movie, but neither of them pay much attention to it, quietly talking over it the whole time, Jeongguk dozing in and out of peaceful sleep. Eventually, though, Taehyung makes him get up so they can wash their faces, and holy shit does his skin feel just as soft as his pajamas.

When Taehyung yawns and announces that they should get some sleep, he doesn't expect for the man to pat the space beside him. He knows that there's at least four other bedrooms with perfectly good beds, but Taehyung wants him to sleep with him. Sleep next to him.

"Are you sure, Tae? I don't want to make sleeping uncomfortable for you," Jeongguk murmurs, standing at the end of the bed, fiddling with the drawstring on his pants.

"Don't be silly. Come sleep with hyung. I insist."

And who's Jeongguk to say no to that?

Climbing into Taehyung's bed is like climbing into heaven, the mattress soft and malleable beneath him, the covers thick and pillows thicker. He almost falls asleep as soon as soon as he lays down, but jolted back to consciousness when Taehyung shuffles up beside him, urging him to lay on his side so that he can press himself against Jeongguk's back.

Taehyung is spooning him. Jeongguk is currently being spooned by Kim Taehyung.

"G'night, petal. Sleep well."

Jeongguk swallows, belly tensing beneath the hand sliding against it. "Goodnight, daddy."

As tense as he is, Jeongguk expects to get zero amount of sleep, not with Taehyung curled up behind him, face pressed into the back of his neck. So he surprises himself with dropping off quickly and comfortably, fingers curled around the softness of the back of Taehyung's knee, holding him secure against him through the night.

                                                                                                          -- -- --

Jeongguk is gutted.

As the buzzer goes, he stares up at the scoreboard, fingers tangled in his sweaty hair as realisation sets in.

They lost.

It wasn't anyone's fault, these things happen, the team has crushed them before. But it doesn't take the sting away. He's disappointed and immediately running through the plays he made, faulting himself for not being quick enough, now reacting fast enough, not being more alert. It doesn't effect them going to nationals, but another win under their belt would have been good.

The locker room feels tense as they all shower and get dressed, the coach slinking around, clearly wanting to encourage, but the team can tell he's just as bummed as the rest of them are.

No one likes losing.

Hoseok claps him on the back as they walk out of the gymnasium, splitting off with weak encouraging goodbyes to each other. "Text me later, yeah?" He calls and Jeongguk nods, giving a little wave of his fingers.

He looks up and spots Taehyung leaning back against his car, hands shoved into his pockets and eyes soft, even from across the car park. Jeongguk slinks over to him slowly, frown on his face, because he doesn't feel the need to hide how he really feels in front of Taehyung. He walks straight up to him and into him, gym bag slipping from his shoulder as he presses his face into Taehyung's neck, warm arms immediately wrapping around his shoulders and lips pressing into his hair.

"I suck," he mumbles into soft, perfume scented skin.

"You do not," Taehyung argues gently, rubbing up and down between Jeongguk's shoulder blades, other hand stroking through the back of his hair. "You may have lost, but you played well, babe. Give yourself more credit."

Jeongguk pouts, knowing Taehyung's right, but after a loss, he's feeling a little bitter. "I suck."

Taehyung gives his hair a gentle tug, tutting against Jeongguk's temple. "Stop that. You do not. You can't win every game."

They don't say anything for a little while, leaning up against Taehyung's car while Jeongguk has his self pitying moment, letting himself be babied and enjoying every last second of it.

"Can we get ice cream?" He eventually asks, cheek creased against Taehyung's denim jacket, feeling the vibrations through his jaw when the other man coos.

"Of course, sweetheart. Let's get you some ice cream and go back to mine and watch Coach Carter. How's that sound?"

Jeongguk gives a fake sniff. "Sounds good," he sulks.

He feels better when Taehyung lets him drive.

                                                                                                          -- -- --

"Put this on."

Jeongguk looks up from where he's bent over his textbook, eyeing the suit draped on the end of the bed. He raises an eyebrow, reaching out to touch the black shirt. "What's this?"

"It's a suit. I need you to put it on," Taehyung explains as he heads towards his walk in closet, which Jeongguk marvels at the fact it's bigger than his entire apartment. "We're going out."

"We are?" He blinks down at the suit, pushing himself up to sit straight. "Where are we going?"

Taehyung rummages through one of his many racks, shifting through a line of dresses. "Charity event. I completely forgot about it."

Jeongguk stares back down at the suit, a suede material, all chic and expensive looking. "Tae, I've never been to one of those before. I won't know how to act."

"You just need to look pretty," Taehyung calls back, sounding further away. "We don't need to be there for long. Just enough to make an appearance, pledge a donation and have some pictures taken." There's a muted thud, the sound of something rolling on the floor and a, "Where's that fucking Chanel purse?"

"I don't know," Jeongguk murmurs, feeling his face give a little nervous tick at the thought, rubbing the side of his neck. Someone like him doesn't belong in a place like that, packed with elites and thousand dollar suits. "I'll be awkward."

Taehyung steps out of his wardrobe with a look of distress on his face, a dress in one hand and a suit in the other. "Please, Jeongguk. The last thing I wanna do right now is go, but it might actually be somewhat bearable if you come with me." He pauses to lick his lips, taking a tentative step closer. "I'll give you your new Yeezy's if you come with me. I won't make you wait until after you've finished your paper."

Jeongguk purses his lips at that, eyes once again dropping to the suit. "Promise?"

Taehyung groans, chucking his clothes on the bed before disappearing into his closet again. Another brief rustling before he steps out with a shoe box in hand, the unmistakable brand staring back at him. "Do we have a deal?"

Honestly, it wouldn't have taken much persuading to get Jeongguk to agree to go—shoes or not. He thinks Taehyung might know that too, knows that he'd relent pretty easily. But it's a game they've started to toy with, a little bargaining and something to sweeten the pot. "Let me see the goods."

Taehyung rolls his eyes but hands him the box, and Jeongguk's careful as he pops the lid open. He audibly sighs at the sight of the Yeezy Boosts staring back up at him in all their perfect glory. He knows they're not even available in South Korea yet, so Taehyung must have gotten them imported from another country. They're a piece of art.

"Do we have a deal, angel," Taehyung repeats, and Jeongguk can hear that he's losing his patience, hands resting on his hips.

Jeongguk lifts his head, snapping the lid closed. "Pleasure doing business with you, daddy," he nods, sending a grin up to Taehyung who just narrows his eyes at him.

"You're lucky I like you," Taehyung mutters, sounding mildly threatening as he steps over to him and tilts Jeongguk's chin up, leaning down to press a kiss against his lips.

Lucky doesn't even come close.

As Taehyung heads back into his endless closet, Jeongguk tries to slow down the beating of his heart. They've started doing this little things with kisses, never escalating past a peck, but Jeongguk is starting to look forward to the moment he gets to feel Taehyung's lips against his own. Honestly strives hard to be good, just so he can get a kiss. He'll get them when he's well behaved, when he's done good in a paper or a basketball game. He'll get them when he helps wipe the lipstick from Taehyung's teeth, when he helps him take his shoes off after a long day, when he brings him a cup of coffee.

Jeongguk feels his heart pound every single time, always wanting to chase Taehyung's lips with his own, wants to get a proper taste of him. They're soft and sweet and they make Jeongguk feel good about himself, even with such a simple gesture.

It's dangerous.

"I look weird."

They're dressed and ready to go, Taehyung just finishing up the final touches on Jeongguk's hair, enhancing his natural messiness. He's wearing this  with a paisley print, and he's certain he can't pull it off. Meanwhile, Taehyung's standing there, looking absolutely beautiful—what's new—wearing this  that shows off the majority of his chest and stomach and Jeongguk's mouth long ago went dry.

"I wouldn't put you in something that made you look weird, Jeongguk," Taehyung tsks, hands dropping from his hair to straighten his collar. "You look beautiful."

Maybe it'd be easier for his blood supply if he just had a permanent blush.

"You look beautiful," he's quick to correct. "But when don't you."

Taehyung's fingers still on his tie, meeting his gaze and just stares at him for a few long seconds. "And you say you're not smooth, Mr. Jeon."

Definitely not smooth. Definitely honest.

Taehyung's chauffeur—a fucking chauffeur, dude—is waiting for them outside, and Jeongguk's never had anyone drive him that weren't related by blood or being paid by the minute. It's another one of those new experiences that he feels like he won't be able to get used to. But who is he to say that anymore, really.

"So what's this charity event about?"

Taehyung checks himself over in the reflection of his phone, making sure his lipstick hasn't smudged. "Helping the homeless? I think."

Jeongguk nods, staring down at his heavily inked hands, a contrast to the white of his shirt. It's weird being in a dress shirt and not having his ink covered by drugstore foundation. "And the best way to help is by throwing a party?"

Taehyung snorts, pocketing his phone in his handbag. "In their eyes, yeah. They probably waste half the food that's leftover. Hypocrites."

This is the side of Taehyung's lifestyle that he's been cautious about. Meeting snobby rich people who like to think they're making a difference in the world, but are really just trying to boost themselves. They don't know the struggles of modern day life, let alone what it could possibly be like to be homeless. Jeongguk can already tell that they don't come for the cause, they come for the publicity.

"I already don't like them," he says honestly.

"That makes two of us, sweetheart."

Jeongguk knows that Taehyung has plenty of friends, a natural socialite in his community. But he also knows that the majority of his friends are more down to earth people, actors who have been known to put their own sweat and blood into going across countries to help rundown schools. Friends with singers who spend a lot of their time advocating about mental health and open mindness. Jeongguk's still learning about Taehyung, but he knows that the man wouldn't really associate himself with people who are rude and selfish.

Taehyung didn't explain just how big of a deal this charity event was, because as they pull up to the event, there's hundreds of people scattered around the entrance, a full on red-mother-fucking-carpet laid out and crowds of paparazzi and news reporters held behind velvet ropes.

"Holy shit."

"It's okay, we won't stop and talk. Just pose for a few pictures and then go in, okay? You look like you need a drink."

Jeongguk needs ten drinks.

It's the first red carpet he's ever walked on that isn't a faded, overly fluffy one in his great-aunt's house, and it's immediately intimidating. Taehyung steps out beside him with assistance from Jeongguk, and loops his hand through Jeongguk's arm, holding onto his bicep as they head up the daunting looking path.

"Oh my god. That's Choi Siwon."

Taehyung presses his side up against Jeongguk's arm as he poses for pictures, lights flashing so bright that Jeongguk sees stars. "He's a good friend of mine. You like him?"

Jeongguk tries not to look too much like a deer caught in literal headlights as he too poses. "Dude's majorly talented."

"I can introduce you, if you want."

Jeongguk may see the upside to this charity event.

They stand there for another couple of minutes, Taehyung ignoring the news reporters, giving little greetings to other celebrities on the carpet.

("Oh my god, that's Suzy. And Kim Woobin? They're friends in real life?!")

("Taehyung, that's the Eddy Kim.)

("If G-Dragon's here, I will pass out."

"Okay, don't pass out, but I just heard that G-Dragon is here.")

His retinas are burning by the time they actually make it inside, away from all the flashing and chants of their names—they knew Jeongguk's, it was crazy. He's ready for a drink and a place to sit down, overwhelmed by all the faces that he's only seen through screens and heard through his earphones. Taehyung must sense it, because he quickly grabs two flutes of champagne from one of the passing waiters and presses one into Jeongguk's sweaty hand, and he all but downs it in one go.

"What do we do now?"

Taehyung sips his own champagne a little more elegantly while Jeongguk's already grabbing a second from another waiter. "Now we mingle."

"Mingle. Right. Okay. I can mingle."

For the most part, Taehyung does all of the mingling while Jeongguk stands there and drinks, smiling and nodding and trying not to freak out over the fact that he's standing a few feet away from some of the most famous people in South Korea.

But he almost fails that task when Taehyung introduces him to the next person.

"Good to meet you, Jeongguk. I'm Baekhyun."

Jeongguk just laughs before he mumbles something about food and writing a novel before he slinks off quickly to the assortment of food.

He's in the middle of stuffing his face full of pajeon when Taehyung sidles up beside him, amused look on his face.

Jeongguk just whines and eats another pancake. "Listen, I was unprepared and he said my name—"

Taehyung just laughs and wipes at his mouth. "It's okay, baby. He thought you were funny."

Funny. What a good first impression.

Taehyung luckily doesn't make him mingle anymore for a while, just lets him stress eat while he stands there and look pretty, cleaning Jeongguk up whenever he gets messy.

"About time you showed up. I'm dying out here. I just had a conversation with Jung Woo about how she'd given a homeless woman money only after making sure she wasn't going to use it for drugs."

Jeongguk looks up to see the dimpled bitch—Kim Namjoon—tug at his tie, sighing as he spares a look over his shoulder before his sights settle on Jeongguk.

"Who's the kid?"

"This is Jeongguk. I've told you about him. Gukkie, this is my brother, Kim Namjoon," Taehyung introduces, giving Jeongguk a look too knowing.

Namjoon raises his eyebrows, looking Jeongguk over. "Ah, the basketball playing tattoo junkie. Yeah, I've heard a lot about you. Nice to meet you," Namjoon says, offering out his hand, and Jeongguk's quick to wipe his own on a handful of napkins before taking it.

"You too."

When someone starts calling Namjoon's name, the guy looks over his shoulder before quickly ducking back and giving Taehyung a desperate look. "Please. I will literally kiss your feet if you make her stop talking to me."

Taehyung is pressing another drink into Jeongguk's hand, which he takes gratefully, getting the grated onion out of his teeth. "Fine. Keep Jeongguk company, don't leave him alone, or I'll shove my heel down your throat."

Namjoon doesn't even bat an eyelash, just nods and Taehyung stands up straighter with a sigh, fixes his hair, checks his blouse before rounding on the woman approaching them, quickly steering her away with quick conversation. It's amazing to watch just how fast the woman's attention shifts away onto the other Kim brother, happily letting Taehyung guide her away.

"He's good at that," Jeongguk comments as Taehyung disappears further into the crowd, only realising then that he's just left alone with one of the older brother's.

Namjoon snorts. "Scarily so." He turns to Jeongguk then, grabbing himself a piece of chicken. "How you dealing with all this? Don't look the most comfortable," he laughs.

"That obvious?"

"Just a little bit. But it's okay. No one really knows how to act at these things. Me included. You're not alone," Namjoon assures with a nudge and Jeongguk remembers how he immediately disliked him when he didn't know he was actually a brother and not a love interest. Namjoon seems nice, doesn't make Jeongguk feel anxious or overly self conscious like everyone else here does.

"Give me that," comes another voice, some flushed looking guy—Kim Seokjin, the other brother—says as he snatches the glass out of Namjoon's hand and all but downs it in one go.

Jeongguk nods. "Same."

Namjoon laughs and Seokjin snorts around a mouthful of champagne. "This Jeongguk?" He asks as he wipes the back of his mouth with his hand. When Namjoon nods, Seokjin and Jeongguk shake hands.

Jeongguk's meeting the whole fucking family tonight, it seems.

"Where's Tae?"

Namjoon doesn't answer, just pretends to be suddenly interested in the coating of his chicken. So Jeongguk gestures over to Taehyung with his glass, where he's still talking to the same woman as before, both wrapped up in some conversation involving the woman's dress, going off the hand gestures.

Seokjin turns on Namjoon, eyebrows raised. "Did you make him talk to her again? Namjoon, stop making us distract her. You need to tell her you're not interested."

"You don't think I have? She's persistent. Like a fly."

Jeongguk ends up standing there talking to the other two Kim's, and he's strangely relaxed. He didn't expect to be, honestly, having come to terms with the fact that he'd be out of his depth for the whole night. But Seokjin and Namjoon are cool, laid back and very much like Taehyung.

Speaking of, despite being across the room, Jeongguk's eyes never stray far from him, watching him socialise and chat with groups of people as if it were as easy as breathing. Maybe it is in his case, probably having grown up on events like this. But what captures Jeongguk's attention the most is just how beautiful he looks. He exudes confidence, demands attention without asking for it, standing tall in his heels and his self assurance.

It's a huge turn on.

When an announcer steps on stage, Namjoon and Seokjin guide him over to a table, leaving a space open for Taehyung to join, which he soon does, much to Jeongguk's relief. His brother are great, but nothing calms him down more than Taehyung being there, petting his hair in greeting and asking if he's okay. Jeongguk feels relaxed in a way that has nothing to do with the copious amounts of champagne in his system.

Jeongguk pays attention to what's being said by the announcer on stage, but doesn't appreciate how he's delivering his speech. He's talking about children being born into street life and turning to lives of self destruction, so he really shouldn't be wearing a shit eating smile. The speech is good, but the delivery is poor.

"How do I contribute?" Jeongguk whispers halfway through, leaning into Taehyung's space.

"What? You don't need to pay anything, sweetheart."

"I want to. I want to help." Taehyung doesn't say anything, so Jeongguk takes his eyes off the stage to look at him instead and meets his gaze. "What?"

"Baby, you struggle with money yourself," he says softly, reaching up to tuck a piece of hair behind Jeongguk's ear.

Jeongguk gives a little shrug. "I don't struggle nearly as much as others. I want to be able to help."

Taehyung smiles, eyes unbelievably soft. "You have to write a cheque. So if you give me the money, I'll write the check for the both of us."

Jeongguk nods and pulls out his wallet, counting through the money he's got and hands over the majority of it to Taehyung, leaving himself enough for the sink he's got to pay the landlord for fixing.

Before Taehyung takes the money, he plants a kiss on Jeongguk's lips, a little firmer than he's used to, leaving behind a smear of pink on his mouth. Jeongguk can only sit there and blink, eyes a fraction wider as Taehyung takes the money and pulls out his chequebook to write a bill out, even going so far as to signing Jeongguk's name on it too.

He's still thinking about that kiss for the rest of the event, rubbing his lips together and remembering how soft Taehyung's lips felt against his own. No matter how many kisses he gets, they never fail to shake him a little. Platonic or not, they don't just hit Jeongguk's lips, but also his heart, stained with various colours of lipstick by now.

"You still with me? Did you make it through the night?" Taehyung laughs once they're back in the car and heading back for home.

"You didn't tell me your brothers would be there. I would have—I would have—"

"You would have what?"

Jeongguk swallows, not really sure where he was going with that, not really should what he would have done if he had been more prepared. What would he have needed to prepare for? "I just wanted to make a good first impression. I could have come across better."

Taehyung settles one of those heavy looks on him, one that never fails to make Jeongguk feel like he's been turned inside out, all his secrets laid bare. "You did fine. They like you."

He honestly shouldn't care too much what Taehyung's family think of him. Why does it matter? He's not friends with them, he's friends with Taehyung. It doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter. He's not Taehyung's boyfriend. He doesn't need to be on good terms with his brothers. So, yeah. It doesn't matter.

But it definitely does.