All is fair in love and war.
━
Sun Tzu

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Taehyung's biggest mistake of the morning was underestimating his attraction to Jeon Jungkook. And because of that error - because he couldn't focus on anything but the younger's bare, sculpted legs - he was about to lose a game that required every single ounce of his concentration.

Chess.

Fuck. How was Taehyung supposed to focus when he had an almost naked Jungkook sitting just out of reach, biting on his lower lip as he lazily traced over a chess piece with a finger? Was focusing even possible?

No, and Taehyung had no one to blame for this distraction but himself.

Following the boys' post-coital shower, Jungkook suggested that they play a round or two of chess. Both had learned the game from Namjoon, and they wanted to put their skills - and competitive natures - head to head. To make things a little more interesting, the younger declared that the winner could request anything he wanted of the loser, as long as it was within reason. Taehyung wholeheartedly agreed under one condition: only minimal clothing was allowed.

He thought the whole no clothing idea was a strategical move aimed to outmanuever his opponent. By wearing nothing but his underwear, Taehyung assumed Jungkook would be too distracted by his body to properly focus on the game. And if that was the case, he could pull out an easy win and endlessly tease the younger about his superior chess abilities. 

It was a dirty play that backfired completely. 

In his eagerness to secure a premature win, Taehyung failed to consider his own obsession with Jungkook and his body. He failed to remember how the slightest flexing of the younger's muscles could reduce him to a puddle of drool, or how the absentminded widening of legs could make heat pool in his stomach. He failed to recall that he was nothing but a horny and lovesick man around his sweetheart.

So that's how they ended up on the floor of his mother's sitting room, lounging in nothing but briefs. And with the rich reds and glowing oranges of the faux LED sunrise painting everything in a radiant brilliance, Taehyung couldn't keep his eyes off Jungkook.

Fuck, he was going to lose this game.

And to reiterate that thought, Jungkook slid his queen in the direct path of Taehyung's king. "Check."

A disgruntled sigh pushed out of Taehyung's mouth as he studied the chessboard. He needed to make a defensive play, otherwise his loss would occur sooner than expected. Though with few pieces left to work with and a further weakening resolve, there wasn't much else he could do. However, as Namjoon taught him years before, miraculous plays were often the result of the most challenging circumstances. All one needed was a bit of determination and a heavy dose of concentration to turn around a game.

"You better think carefully, Taehyungie," Jungkook warned as he smoothed a hand over his muscular thigh. "One wrong move and it's all over."

Taehyung's eyes immediately followed the movement, the chessboard temporarily forgotten as he lustfully watched the scene before him. His gaze lifted higher and higher, finding a faint path of hickeys decorating the exposed skin. Though he knew there were deeper, more intense marks hidden just underneath the younger's tight briefs, and he had the blinding desire to see them and leave more. 

As Jungkook's finger dared to dip underneath the fabric, Taehyung shook his head and forcefully looked back down at the board. "Quit distracting me."

A chuckle rumbled in the younger's throat, fully aware of the diversion he created. "I'm just sitting here, angel. It's not my fault you're captivated by my mere presence."

"You were supposed to be captivated by me," Taehyung countered under his breath, wrapping his fingers tightly around his king. "This was supposed to be an easy victory for me."

"At least you admit you tried to play me," Jungkook laughed more freely, the airy sound just as much of a diversion as his almost naked body. "But you did succeed, you know. I should share what I've been thinking about this whole time."

"No, you should not," Taehyung said firmly, knowing he'd lose all remaining concentration. "Not until I beat your ass anyway."

Though Jungkook wasn't deterred. "I've been thinking about how much I want to pull your hair again, about how prettily you'll moan just for me. And I've wondered how many tugs it'd take to get you hard, and whether or not you could come from that alone. It's a kink of yours I want to explore further, angel."

Taehyung tried to make a clever retort, though the memory of Jungkook's fingers knotting in his hair overpowered his mind. He could remember the sharp - yet bearable - bite of pain, the instantaneous flood of pleasure, the heat that warmed his core . . . His hand inadvertently flinched across the board just recalling those delicious feelings.

He let go of the chess piece, attempting to regain his composure and concentrate on the game. If he won - no, when he won - he could make good on his winner's request and have Jungkook play with his hair to his heart's content. But until then, he had to push all provocative thoughts from his head and make the best play possible.

And as he rubbed over his eyes, thinking of the game and the game alone, the winning play came to mind. If he positioned his king one square over, he could lure Jungkook's queen into the direct line of attack of his bishop. Then he'd take the piece and have minimal interferences when threatening the opposing king.

If all that went to plan, Taehyung could actually end this game victorious.

But just as he went to take hold of his piece again, a triumphant smile spread across Jungkook's face. "Checkmate."

"Not so fast, sweetheart. I didn't make my play yet," Taehyung lectured, glancing down at the chessboard. He reached out for his king, hand gliding through the air, and then froze. "Hey, my king wasn't in that spot."

"Not until you moved it there a moment ago," the younger said, his eyes turning into crescents as his nose scrunched up. "Were you a little preoccupied thinking over everything I just said?"

A frown pulled at Taehyung's lips as he took in the layout of the board. He had accidentally dragged his king to the middle of the last row, locked into place by Jungkook's rook and queen. No matter which direction he slid his piece, the game was over.

Jungkook stretched his arms overhead, his abdominal muscles contracting under the warm overhead lights. "You know the rules of the game, Tae. Once you let go of your piece, your move is final."

Taehyung pouted, a little shocked at how easy it was to throw him off his game. But who was he trying to fool? When it came to Jungkook, his mind would always end up captivated. "That's not fair. I would've won if you didn't open up that mouth of yours."

"You lost the moment you decided to keep me in nothing but underwear, angel," Jungkook said as he took hold of his queen and dramatically knocked Taehyung's king off the board. "As Namjoon once taught me, chess demands total concentration. You have to ignore even the most taunting distractions." 

"Well, Namjoon taught me something very valuable as well," Taehyung grinned, getting excited about his next idea. "Do you want to hear?"

"I'm sure I've heard it before as well, but go ahead. I'm all ears," the younger said as he leaned back onto his elbows, a cocky glint still residing in his eyes.

"He taught me how similar life is to a game of chess," Taehyung responded, rising onto his knees so he hovered just above the boy. "We can't undo the moves we've made, but we can make our next ones even better."

"And what's your next move, angel?"

With a smirk, Taehyung pushed the chessboard to the side, the movement so brash that the remaining chess pieces scattered all over the floor. He crawled on top of the younger, wedging a knee between his thighs and pinning his hands overhead. "I'm no pawn, sweetheart. You think you can play me and get away with it?"

"Oh, are we doing chess-related humor now?" Jungkook teased, looking absolutely gorgeous with his hair fanned out around his head. "Well, how about this? I got the king in the exact position I wanted. And now, I'll kindly request that he put his hands on my massive -"

Taehyung cut him off with a kiss, though he had trouble keeping their mouths connected as laughter tugged his lips upwards. "I should've never said that to you. It was a heat of the moment thing."

"Come on, Tae. We both know you spoke the truth," Jungkook laughed along with him, intertwining their fingers and grinning from ear to ear. "You had to take like three pain killers."

"Two," Taehyung corrected, pressing a gentle peck to the younger's nose before rolling onto his side. "I had to take two thanks to you and your massive dick."

They talked for a while after that, with Taehyung tracing random patterns over Jungkook's stomach the entire time. With the rare opportunity to let down their guards and truly relax, both boys finally opened up about some previously uncovered topics. They shared their favorite childhood memories and laughed over the most embarrassing moments of their teenage years. They even talked through some of their biggest regrets in school, their strangest hobbies, and their most valued friendships.

And as they continued to learn more about each other, a calming warmth seeped out from the center of Taehyung's chest and traveled throughout the rest of his body. In a word, he could amount it to feeling so safe. He harbored that sense of knowledge that he was respected and valued, that he could be his authentic self without fearing disapproval. He could make bad jokes and weird facial expressions; he could be overly chatty or a bit more reserved. Every single flaw, stigma, and quirk was accepted without pause.

His singularity - that eccentricity that made Taehyung the person he was today - was fully embraced by Jungkook.

And because of all that and so much more, Taehyung was ready to tell Jungkook that he was in love with him.

In love.

He was in love with his sweetheart, his former imposter, his brat, and the boy who owned his heart.

Taehyung loved Jungkook so fucking much that he could barely comprehend the searing emotions rushing through his mind, heart, body, and soul. And it didn't matter that their time together had been short, it didn't matter that they still had so much to learn.

All that mattered was that Taehyung knew. And he'd not only prove his love with words, but he'd work hard every day to demonstrate his love through his actions.

And while it was enticing to profess his love here and now, Taehyung also wanted to give Jungkook a declaration he could remember. Their whirlwind romance had left little room for normalcy, and many typical components of a relationship - like the first date, the first time meeting friends, and the first time traveling together - had happened in a very atypical sort of way. And even though Taehyung didn't crave a normal relationship, per se, he still wanted to treat the younger right. He wanted to give Jungkook some of the experiences that normal couples looked forward to and bonded over.

So he held onto his profession of love for the time being, opting to plan a grand reveal instead.

And because he had nothing more pressing to do, he decided to set that plan into action now. 

"Sweetheart?"

Jungkook rolled over to face Taehyung directly, reaching out to hold his hand once he settled. "You were quiet there for a few moments."

Taehyung smoothed his thumb over the back of the younger's palm, his heart racing as he tried to quickly collect his thoughts. "I was thinking about you. Us."

A new vulnerability settled into the younger's eyes, along with a subtle reddening of his cheeks. "I was, too."

"I can't help but feel lucky, you know. Having you in my life and by my side . . . I'm so grateful."

That brought a smile to Jungkook's face, his lips stretching wide until all of his teeth were on full display. "Coming from the man who used to beg me to leave him alone, that means a lot."

"People change." Taehyung's own lips twitched upwards, a normal reaction anytime he was on the receiving end of such a brilliant expression. "The more I got to know you, the more I liked having you around."

"You're such a sap," the younger giggled, lifting their joined hands to press kisses against Taehyung's knuckles. "But seriously, Tae. I feel the same way. Every day with you has been unforgettable and special."

Giddiness erupted through Taehyung's system and he couldn't hold back his smile. He scooted closer, needing to eliminate all unnecessary space between their bodies. "You should add in dangerous and life-threatening as well."

Jungkook welcomed him into his arms, his expression gentling as he scanned over Taehyung's face. "Yeah, well, it hasn't been that scary. I've had my bodyguard and angel to look out for me."

"Who's the sap now?"

"We're both saps," Jungkook explained in a soft tone. "And on the topic of being sappy . . . Angel . . ."

"Yeah?" Taehyung prompted as the younger's words drifted off. 

Jungkook cleared his throat, clearly trying to get a grip on himself. "I . . . Shit. I should've prepared for this more. I wanted to do this right, but . . . Okay. I'll just come out with it."

Taehyung chuckled softly, loving this cute and flustered side of Jungkook. He didn't know what the boy was attempting to say, but as he continued to ramble, Taehyung couldn't keep his excitement down any longer.

"What I'm trying to say," Jungkook smiled shyly, "is that Tae, I -"

"I want to take you out on a date," Taehyung interrupted, his words strung together as he rushed to get them out. "Tonight. And I know I can't take you anywhere fancy, but I'll make you dinner and we can dance. And talk. And cuddle."

And profess my love to you, Taehyung thought but didn't add out loud just yet.

Jungkook paused for a moment, seeming a little caught off guard as he just stared back at Taehyung. But then his face smoothed over and lit up with excitement and anticipation. "You want to take me out on a date?"

Taehyung's smile was so big and ridiculous that his cheeks hurt. "Do you remember what I told you back at Hoseok's place? That I wanted to date you whenever we were together again? Well, we're together now, and I still want to date you. If you want, of course."

"Of course I want to, stupid," the younger scoffed as he nuzzled into Taehyung's neck. "You're not just my friend or my fuck buddy. You're so much more. So, yes, I want to go on a date with you, Tae."

They really were so much more, though Taehyung wasn't sure what word best fit. Lovers sounded too . . . unofficial. He wanted something more permanent, more definite. Boyfriends would be the next logical step, though that term seemed a little weak considering all they had been through together. He needed something more to properly describe what Jungkook was to him.

Luckily he had until tonight to figure out the best wording possible.

"I'll pick you up at seven?" Taehyung suggested with a giggle, tightening his grip around the younger's waist. "Does that work for you?"

"That's perfect," Jungkook murmured, running a hand along Taehyung's arm. "And in the meantime . . . I'm going to claim my winner's request."

Taehyung's overjoyed smile relaxed into one more flirtatious. He slowly started to drag his hand down the exposed skin of the younger's stomach and to the top of his briefs. "Ah, that's right. You want me to put my hands on your -"

Jungkook made a sound that was half-laugh, half-moan as he swatted Taehyung's hand away from his dick. "You think I'd make my winner's request as something as basic as a handjob? No way, Tae. You don't get off that easily."

"No, but I would've gotten you off easily," Taehyung joked, returning his hand to the younger's waist. "So, if you don't want me to tickle your pickle, how can I be of service?"

"I can't believe I ever thought you were uptight," Jungkook remarked as he sat up, crossing his legs underneath himself. "But anyway, what I want you to do for me is a lot more dignified than a handjob."

Taehyung tilted his head to the side as he rose from the floor, mirroring the younger's positioning. And while his curiosity begged him to ask an endless stream of questions, he attempted to appear patient as he waited. "Okay, shoot. What can I do?"

Jungkook's breath hitched and his eyes widened imperceptibly. "That's what I want you to do. I want you to teach me how to shoot . . . how to use a gun."

Taehyung paused for a moment, not at all expecting that to be the boy's request. He thought the ask would be something sexual in nature, or at least something romantic or fluffy. Not . . . self-defense. 

Leave it to Jungkook to keep on surprising him.

And Taehyung really didn't need to think it over; his decision was rather obvious. "Okay."

Jungkook, who had his lower lip between his teeth and a hand rubbing the back of his neck, narrowed his gaze in speculation. "Okay? You'll actually teach me?"

"Yeah, of course," Taehyung said, somewhat confused over the younger's shocked reaction. "Did you think I'd say no?"

"Kind of," Jungkook mumbled, lowering his hand from his neck. "Namjoon never agreed to teach me, so I assumed you wouldn't want to either."

An understanding hum pushed out between Taehyung's lips as he shifted closer. "Kook . . . Two things. One, I hope you know you can come to me with anything. Even if you think I won't like it, even if you think I'll get angry, I want you to feel safe and comfortable enough to open up. Because no matter what, I promise I'll always hear you out."

Taehyung meant that wholeheartedly. He had too many relationships and friendships in the past that lacked solid communication, that favored walking on eggshells rather than discussing difficult topics. What he wanted now - what he wanted with Jungkook - was a partnership built on honesty and trust.

Jungkook's hands intertwined with Taehyung's, a look of appreciation warming his eyes. "I'll do the same, too."

"Good," Taehyung said gently, pulling their conjoined hands into his lap. "Now, for my second point . . . Look. Do I like the idea of you handling a gun? To be honest, no. But I'd rather teach you how to use one safely than watch you get hurt trying. And if I'm the one to show you, at least I know you'll learn the right way."

"Wow," the younger let out, a note of awe coloring his tone. "I didn't think it'd be this easy. I had arguments lined up and everything."

Taehyung's lips stretched into a smile, and he kissed Jungkook's hand before standing up. "While I know just how much you love to argue, you can save your breath, sweetheart. Wait here."

He trotted down the hall to their bedroom, where he pulled open the armoire drawer he stashed the guns and ammo. After a moment of deliberation, he selected one of the firearms and removed the cartridge. They'd work up to firing live rounds when they weren't hiding in an underground bunker.

"Alright," he announced once he rejoined Jungkook in his mother's sitting room, "we'll start the lessons now."

The younger scrambled to his feet and eyed the gun, with tangible apprehension radiating off of his body. "Wow . . . Okay. This is happening."

"You don't have to be nervous, Kook. We're just going to go through the basics today, and we won't use any ammunition. When we have a better place to practice, we'll cover how to load the cartridge and then how to properly fire."

"I'm not nervous," Jungkook defended, rolling his shoulders back and cracking his neck. "I'm ready. Super ready. I've never been more ready."

Taehyung extended his arm, presenting the gun to the younger. "Okay, Mr. Ready. This is a Sig Sauer P226. Go ahead, take it."

After another few seconds of warily eyeing the gun, the younger wrapped his fingers around the grip and held it away from his body. "It's . . . uh . . . nice."

"It's not loaded," Taehyung reminded him with a chuckle. "And there's something you should know about this gun . . . It used to be Namjoon's."

"You're letting me use his gun?"

"I'm giving you his gun, sweetheart. As long as you're safe with it, it's yours."

This decision felt right to Taehyung. Regardless of Namjoon's reasons for not teaching Jungkook self-defense or gun safety, it made sense to start now. Both boys were faced with unprecedented levels of danger, and if something ever went wrong, Taehyung wanted to ensure the younger knew how to protect himself. And even though the mere thought of Jungkook operating the lethal weapon scared the shit out of him, that wasn't a good enough excuse not to teach the boy.

But before he began, he needed to impart one crucial warning. "I know you already know this, but I want to reiterate it anyway. Once a bullet leaves your gun, there's no taking it back. Anything you target, either deliberately or accidentally, will be in harm's way. So it's important to always aim purposely and shoot intentionally." 

After the younger nodded in understanding, Taehyung began detailing many of the lessons Namjoon once covered with him. They talked through the core components of the gun, where to point the muzzle when not actively aiming, how to engage the safety feature, and what to do if a loaded gun didn't fire as anticipated. They then moved onto proper hand grips before determining the younger's dominant hand and eye. It was a lot of material to review, though by the end of it, the younger appeared much more confident around the gun.

"Now what?" Jungkook asked as he practiced his hand grip. "Or is that it for today?"

"Let's go over how to aim," Taehyung suggested, leading them out into the hallway. "First, find your target."

Jungkook scanned the area, lips pursed as he considered where to face. "Is the door to the tunnel okay?"

"You don't want to aim at anything that could ricochet. Hardened metals, rocks, concrete, and even water all pose the risk of a bullet bouncing back if you hit them at the wrong angle."

"Got it," the younger intoned, slowly twisting his body so he now faced one of the bedroom doors.

"Perfect, now keep your feet hip-width apart and extend the gun in front of you," Taehyung instructed as he watched the younger assume the stance. "Your arms should be straight but not locked. Keep your elbows slightly bent, and square your shoulders to your target."

As professional as Taehyung was trying to be right now, he had to admit that Jungkook looked sexy as fuck like this. With his hair pushed back, his posture tall, and his eyes focused . . . Damn. And it didn't help that he was still in nothing but underwear either.

"Are you observing my stance or eye-fucking me?" Jungkook chuckled as he glanced in Taehyung's direction, his eyebrows raised in amusement and a knowing gleam in his gaze.

"I'm doing both, obviously," Taehyung grinned, coming up behind his body to adjust his positioning. "So when you actually fire a gun, you'll engage the trigger. But I don't want you to think of that as pulling; it's more of a controlled push. And one of the most important things to keep in mind is after you fire, don't anticipate the shot."

"What does that mean?"

Pursing his lips together, Taehyung tried to find the best way to explain it. "You can think of it like golf. After a player swings, she doesn't raise her head to see where the ball lands until after completing the motion. That same concept goes for firing a gun. Keep your aim and focus for a couple of seconds after you fire; if you look elsewhere too soon, you could inadvertently change your target."

Jungkook exhaled deeply through his mouth. "Got it . . . Tae? How am I supposed to remember all of this? It's kind of a lot."

"We'll practice every day. And whenever we get the chance, we'll have you try firing with ammunition. How does that sound?"

"Good," Jungkook agreed, slowly and deliberately lowering his arms until he had the gun pointed at the ground. "Can I put this down now? I've had enough gunplay for the morning."

Taehyung choked on air as he took the Sig from the younger's hands. "You know gunplay means something else entirely, right?"

A devilish glint resided in the younger's eyes as he tried to shake his head in denial. "What do you mean, Taehyungie? Are you saying it's something sexual?"

"You're impossible," Taehyung laughed, leading them back into the bedroom. He carefully reloaded the cartridge before safely stowing the firearm back in its drawer. "You know exactly what gunplay means."

"Nope!" The younger chirped, turning away to head out of the room. "I think you need to enlighten me, angel."

Before the boy could set foot outside of the room, Taehyung had an arm snaked around his waist. He pulled him backward until his back pressed against his chest. "You have a dirty mind, sweetheart. I'm sure you can put two and two together."

Jungkook chuckled dryly, leaning back into the embrace. "Want to know what me and my dirty mind are thinking about right now?"

"It better not be about gunplay."

"It's not."

Taehyung leaned in towards the boy's head, letting his lips tickle the sensitive shell of his ear. "Alright, sweetheart. Tell me."

Slowly and provocatively, the younger ground his ass against Taehyung. "See how we're standing right now, with you behind me? This is technically a sex position. Can you guess which one?"

Heat flushed through Taehyung's system as the younger continued to move, and he had difficulties concentrating on the question. "I . . . I, um . . . I don't remember any of the names you said before."

"Well, this one should be your go-to. It's the bodyguard."

"This is the bodyguard? Seriously?" Taehyung laughed, unable to comprehend how something so basic could be given such a fancy name. "How am I supposed to be a bodyguard right now?"

"You're protecting my ass from intruders," Jungkook giggled, the light and innocent sound heavily contrasting against the suggestive sway of his hips.

Taehyung tried not to groan, he really did. But after seeing the younger in nothing but briefs all morning, then watching him handle a gun, and now this . . . His hormones were quickly overtaking his mind. So sure enough, as he pressed himself up against the muscular cushion of the younger's ass, a needy sound got caught in his throat.

"Show me the others," he ordered lowly, his voice coming out more deep and husky than usual. "I taught you about guns, so you can teach me all about your kinky sex positions."

"Was that going to be your request if you won the chess game?" Jungkook asked, rolling his hips once more before stepping away.

Taehyung watched him flop onto the bed and fall against the plush pillows. "No. I was going to have you give me a foot massage."

"I'll do that for you later anyway," the younger grinned, folding his hands behind his head.

Jungkook looked so cocky like this, with his legs slightly spread and a haughty smirk twisting up his lips. But unlike how Taehyung felt when the two first met, it didn't annoy him anymore. No, he welcomed the reminder of how bratty the younger used to be, of how often they were at each other's throats. And while Taehyung preferred their relationship this way - supportive, caring, and loving - it wouldn't hurt to role play as the brat and the bodyguard at some point in the future.

"Alright, sweetheart," Taehyung said, keeping his gaze locked on the younger as he stalked closer. "Teach me."

"I'll teach you anything you want, angel. But first, a pop quiz. I want to see how much you know before we begin," Jungkook said before purposely nodding towards the bed. "Come here. Show me missionary."

"Easy," Taehyung declared, crawling onto the bed and settling between the younger's legs. He took his time lowering his body, wanting to draw out his actions and be as teasing as possible.

When he finally pressed his full weight on top of Jungkook - with each one of their body parts perfectly aligned - he smiled tenderly. "Call me vanilla, but I love this position. We get to watch each other and it feels really intimate."

Jungkook flung his arms around Taehyung's neck and kissed him softly, their lips just barely touching. "My angel is such a romantic."

The sweet and simple caressing of mouths soon turned into a heated tangling of lips and a passionate clashing of tongues. Hands buried into the other's hair and whimpers filled the space around them. And their hips, which started off respectfully still, were gently rolling together to create a bit of friction.

"Kook," Taehyung mumbled against his mouth. "If we keep this up, I'm going to get hard."

"You're halfway there already," Jungkook informed him, tilting his pelvis up for emphasis. "Who knew grinding and kissing could get you worked up so quickly."

"You knew. Now continue quizzing me before I decide to rut myself against your leg. And give me a more challenging position."

"You want a challenge?" Jungkook taunted, running his hands down to cup Taehyung's ass. He squeezed roughly, knowing the subtle sting of pain was welcomed. "Show me . . . pirate's bounty."

"Who the hell comes up with these names?" Taehyung laughed, choosing to plant tiny kisses just below Jungkook's ear rather than figure out the position. "Seriously, what the hell is pirate's bounty?"

Jungkook hooked a hand underneath one of his thighs, pulling it up towards his chest. "Here. Put my leg up on your shoulder."

"Are you flexible enough for that?"

"See for yourself."

Taehyung wrapped his fingers around the younger's ankle, carefully bringing it up towards his shoulder. He watched for any signs of discomfort or pain, ready to lower the boy's leg if need be, but there was none.

No, Jungkook was loving this.

"Bury your treasure deep inside of my cave, Tae!" The younger shouted gleefully, bringing his hands to Taehyung's shoulders and tugging him down. "Now, plunder my booty!"

Taehyung intimately pressed himself against the boy, a blissful shiver running down his spine at the contact. "Promise me you'll never use pirate puns when we're actually having sex."

"Aye, aye, captain. No pirate puns when we're rocking the boat."

Taehyung groaned internally, though more from his growing arousal than the innuendoes. It took all of his efforts not to buck his hips right here and now, though he feared he was on the losing end of this battle. Especially with the heat rolling off of the younger, it was somewhat difficult to continue thinking with his mind and not his dick.

"Another position," he murmured at last. "Quiz me on another."

Jungkook smirked, knowing exactly what his current predicament was. "Since you're having such a hard time, I'll give you an easy one. Cowboy."

A couple of seconds later and Taehyung was in position, straddling the younger with his hands resting on his chest. He was careful not to sit directly on the boy's arousal, though he occasionally swayed back so his ass brushed up against him.

"I love when you're on top of me like this," Jungkook breathed, swiveling his hips in an attempt to get some relief. He ran his hands up and down Taehyung's thighs, the touch soothing yet possessive at the same time. "I like that you have control."

"Does that mean you like it when I'm more dominant?" Taehyung asked, truly curious to hear the answer.

From their experiences together thus far, it seemed like they switched roles quite effortlessly. Taehyung never had the opportunity to explore his dominant or submissive sides with previous relationships, so he wasn't quite sure if he naturally leaned one way more than the other. But honestly, he had a feeling he wouldn't mind being both depending on the circumstances.

"I fucking loved it when you took charge, Tae. When you wouldn't let me come . . . Fuck. I liked that a lot," Jungkook shared, his nails slightly digging into Taehyung's skin. "Though I also really liked when you let me take the lead earlier. Seeing you so affected by me . . . You were needy and it was hot."

"Is that why you want to tie me up so badly? Because I'll be needy?"

Jungkook cocked his head to the side, considering the question for a moment. "No, I think it's more than that. I think it's knowing that you'd have to rely on me to take care of you. And the part that really turns me on is that you'd trust me enough to take care of your needs. Even if I restrained you, even if I teased and edged you, you'd trust me to make you feel so fucking good. And that's why I want to tie you up. For the emotional and mental part of it. Not so much the physical."

Leave it to Jungkook to make bondage sound so philosophical. "You know I trust you to do all of that, right? I do. And honestly, it turns me on just thinking about giving you that control. It turns me on that I'm the one giving you control over me."

"Good, I'm glad. And while we're talking about all of this, is there anything else you want to try?" The younger probed, sliding his hands underneath Taehyung's thighs. "Or anything else we should discuss?"

"In general, I want us to have more talks like this, about intimacy and our wants and needs. I never used to discuss this sort of stuff with my ex, but with you . . . I want to share it all."

Jungkook continued tracing over his skin, the touch light and tender. "I do, too, Tae. This is all new for me as well, but I feel safe talking about this sort of stuff with you. I know you won't judge me."

And Taehyung remembered yet again why he loved Jungkook so much - there was no judgment, no scrutiny over their most vulnerable thoughts and desires. They felt comfortable opening up and didn't fear repercussions. They trusted each other fully.

"Anything else you want to share?" He asked the younger, looking down into his big, dark eyes.

Jungkook hummed in consideration. "I like when you pay attention to my legs. Kissing them, sucking on them . . . that's a really sensitive part of my body. I'll let you know if there's anything else as it comes up, but for now, that's it. You?"

"I think you know by now that my scalp is an erogenous zone for me," Taehyung started, unconsciously running a hand through his hair. "So you have full permission to pull my hair anytime you want. Other than that . . . I really like it when you're vocal. Like how when you're sweet one minute, then dirty the next."

"You love my mouth," Jungkook added with a smirk. "Both the things it does and the things it says."

"Pretty much," Taehyung agreed, bending down so he hovered centimeters above the boy's parted lips. "I've been addicted to your mouth since the beginning."

One of Jungkook's hands trailed up Taehyung's side, skimming over his skin before sliding through his hair. "The quiz is over. Come here, angel."

Three seconds later and Taehyung's lips opened over Jungkook's, a carnal and heated gesture that promised so much more to come. He couldn't keep in his strangled moans as he tasted every part of the younger's mouth, completely and utterly consumed by the feel and taste. And as he ground himself down - rocking his hips and sliding their arousals together - all he could think of was how in love he was with this man.

"Tae," Jungkook moaned as he knotted his hands in Taehyung's hair. "Can I suck you off? My ass is still sore, and I'm sure yours is, too, and I don't want us to hurt ourselves."

"Yes," Taehyung breathed, wedging his hand between their bodies and palming the younger through his briefs. "We can -"

A beeping sound interrupted his proposition.

"What's that?" Jungkook asked, ripping his mouth away and glancing around the room. "Is that the security system?"

Reluctantly sitting back, Taehyung strained his ears to find where the noise was coming from. "No . . . It's not loud enough to be the alarm."

He got up - uncomfortably hard in his briefs - and traced the sound to the nightstand. His muscles tensed as he opened the drawer, his breathing slowing as he tried to discern any potential danger. But when he saw what was making the noise, that wariness quickly diffused.

"It's the phone," he explained as he picked up the device, trying to determine why it was making such a noise. He flipped it open, reading a message that came up on the screen. "Shit."

"What?" Jungkook asked, sitting up and drawing his knees to his chest.

This wasn't good. Fuck, this really wasn't good.

"Low battery. The phone's going to die," Taehyung said, walking over to his backpack and rummaging through its contents.

"Can't you just charge it?"

That would be the logical move, yes, but Taehyung quickly realized he had no charger with him. After checking his bag and then all of the drawers in the bedroom, he let out an aggravated sigh. "I didn't take one. When I stole this phone from Yoongi, I didn't think about needing to charge it. And this model is old, so any other chargers that might be in the bunker won't work."

Jungkook came up by his side, running a comforting hand up and down his back. "Okay . . . So what does that mean? Do we even need a phone?"

"Yeah. We need to keep in contact with Yoongi in case he has instructions for us. Fuck . . . I need to go out."

"Alright," the younger said calmly, pressing a small kiss against Taehyung's shoulder. "We'll go out and get a new phone. It'll be okay, Tae."

A suffocating anxiety blanketed Taehyung as those words repeated in his mind: we'll go out. No . . . Taehyung didn't want Jungkook exposed to the dangerous world above, that world with shooters and bloodshed and murder. He wanted to do anything possible to keep his love safe, and for right now, that meant keeping him behind.

"I need you to stay here, Kook," Taehyung orderly softly as he pulled out a pair of pants. "It'll be safest for you to remain hidden."

"I don't care about what's safest for me," Jungkook said, stepping back and searching for his own clothing. "People aren't hunting me. They're hunting you. And if I'm with you -"

"What? You'll protect me?" Taehyung snapped, a burning sensation settling in the back of his throat as his hands fisted in a shirt. "What if someone's shooting at me? What will you do?"

"I'll jump in front of the fucking bullet! Fuck. I just don't want you going alone," the younger shouted right back at him, grabbing the shirt out of his hands. "I'm not going to sit here and wonder if you're going to come back. I'm not doing that, Tae."

Taehyung's body pulsed with anger and panic as he stared at the boy. Why couldn't Jungkook understand how absolutely terrified he was right now? Why didn't he get that Taehyung just wanted to keep him out of harm's way?

"You're staying here," Taehyung declared resolutely. "I'll feel better knowing -"

"What about how I feel?" Jungkook cut him off, eyes blazing as he rounded on Taehyung. "Do you not get how unbearable it is for me when you're out of my sight? Not knowing if you're okay or if you're going to come back tears me apart. I can't handle it. So you don't get to do this. You don't get to make this decision for me."

"Kook -"

"What happened to what you said before? What happened to always hearing me out no matter what?" Jungkook grilled him, stepping closer so they were just a few centimeters apart. "You promised. Did that not apply to everything? Did you already change your mind?"

"No!" Taehyung exclaimed as his hands reached out for the younger. "No, I meant that. But you don't get it. This is different -"

"How is this different?"

"Because I'm in love with you!" He breathed, fingers shaking as he gripped the younger's shoulders. "I am so fucking in love with you and I can't breathe. I can't breathe when I think of you potentially getting hurt. I can't . . . I can't do that to you. I'm not going to be the reason you get hurt."

Tears finally fell from Taehyung's eyes as he stared at the boy, his heart out in the open and all of his fears known. This wasn't how he wanted to confess his love. Though, dizzy with fear, he couldn't suppress it any longer.

Jungkook had moisture pooling in his own eyes, which threatened to spill over at any moment. "And you don't think that I love you? Tae . . . I'm so in love with you. You are my world. My everything. And when I think of you out there . . . Angel, I can't stand it. I can't."

Taehyung pulled him into his arms and let out a broken sob. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I should've listened to you instead of shutting down. I promised and then I -"

"It's okay," Jungkook shushed him, securing his arms around his waist. "We're okay."

"I love you," Taehyung murmured, burying his face in the younger's neck and squeezing him tighter to his body. "I love you."

Jungkook held him for a while, whispering those same words over and over and over again. And once they finally calmed down, he led them back to the bed where they curled up in each other's arms.

"If you need to go out, I want to come with you," he said while pushing back Taehyung's hair. "I want to look after you in any way that I can. But we can make compromises, okay? We can figure out how to do things safely."

Taehyung closed his eyes as the younger's fingers continued to brush through his hair. "Okay."

"And you know," Jungkook continued, a slight hint of amusement lightening his tone, "I was trying to tell you earlier that I loved you. Right after our chess game. But then someone interrupted my confession and asked me out on a date instead."

Taehyung's eyes opened at that. "When you were rambling . . . That's what that was all about?"

"Yup."

A small laugh pushed from Taehyung's lips. "I asked you on a date for the same reason. I wanted to give you something you could remember when I finally told you how I felt. I was going to make it really romantic and everything."

Jungkook smiled gently, a gesture that warmed his eyes and displayed all of the love he held for Taehyung. "Well, I certainly won't forget this declaration. Yelling and arguing over each other's safety . . . It's certainly unforgettable."

A slight frown tugged at Taehyung's lips as he thought over his previous plan to do this the right way. "That's not how I envisioned things going. I just . . . I wanted to show you how much you meant to me. I wanted to ask you to be mine . . . To be my other half."

"You've always shown me how you felt, angel," the younger said, bringing a finger to Taehyung's lips and pushing them up into a smile. "You make it really obvious that you love me. I've felt it for a while now."

At that, Taehyung truly did smile. "Really?"

"Really," Jungkook affirmed, bringing his hands down to intertwine with Taehyung's. "And I don't know if there was a proper question in there, but I'll answer anyway. Yes. I want to be yours, Tae, and I want you to be mine. I want you to be my boyfriend, or as you put it, my other half. I love you so much and I want to continue showing you that love every single second of the day. Because you own my heart, angel. No matter what, you always will."

For the first time in weeks - and maybe even years - Taehyung knew true happiness. This blinding joy, the radiating love and gratitude and appreciation, was like nothing he ever experienced. And he had one person to thank for it all.

"Jeon Jungkook, I love you. Never forget that."

"I never will."

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

Nothing like a heated and unconventional love admission, am I right?! Given the circumstances of Tae and JK's high-stress environment, this made the most sense to me. What did you guys think?

And I'm sure you've all seen this a lot from me over the last week, but once again, make sure you check out the YouTube trailer InfiniteVision_Meg made for No Going Back!! I included it at the top of the chapter if you haven't seen it yet. It's incredible and I'm in love.

Finally ... DYNAMITE. Holy crap that song and MV makes me so happy!! And our boys look so happy in it, which just makes me even happier haha. I'm so proud of them!

Love you all!