Water shapes its course according to the nature of the ground over which it flows; the soldier works out his victory in relation to the foe whom he is facing.
━
The Art of War
Sun Tzu

≣

The trial for Korean National Oil v. Golden Oil Corp., Park Bogum, Kim Namjoon had lasted far longer than Taehyung initially anticipated.

Sure, his assumption that multiple criminal charges could be tried in just one day had probably been naive. His belief that years' worth of both legitimate and falsified evidence could be worked through in a single sitting had been a bit off-base. And his hope that multiple witness accounts and testimonies could be presented in a matter of hours had been a little illogical.

Clearly, Taehyung's inexperience with legal procedures had created highly unrealistic expectations for how things would unfold. He should have known a case this convoluted would take time; he should have known there wouldn't be an instant resolution.

But an unjaded part of his heart had hoped.

Taehyung had hoped for honest depositions and unquestionable proof. He had hoped for the instant recognition of Namjoon's innocence, for the acquittal of each one of his charges. He had hoped that this whole process would conclude sooner rather than later, allowing everyone to begin their long-awaited journey towards healing.

At no point had Taehyung expected to spend the better part of two weeks in the gallery of a courtroom. He hadn't expected to hear charge after charge after charge tied to Namjoon's name. He hadn't expected Korean National Oil's lawyers - representing the interest of the company rather than its CEO - to be so unyielding. He hadn't even expected Golden Oil's attorneys to fight as dirty as they had, to tamper with so many pieces of documentation and call it proof.

And Taehyung hadn't expected to continuously wonder which day would conclude the hearings, which day would dictate his brother's fate.

Most of the proceedings had been beyond Taehyung's comprehension; seriously, was he supposed to know what legal terms like subpoena or summons meant? It hadn't helped that the court strictly prohibited the use of phones, so most of the time, he had sat in a confused stupor. But he had understood two things without any hint of doubt:

First, Golden Oil had relied on the exclusive tactic of pinning the entire blame on Namjoon.

And second, Korean National Oil hadn't given two shits about the relation between its CEO and the former bodyguard. The company's lawyers had viewed Namjoon as an enemy to the whole organization - regardless of the protection he'd once offered Taehyung - and had chased complete retribution.

That first fact hadn't come as a surprise to Taehyung; everyone had known the competing company would attempt to free itself from all culpability. Golden Oil had brought in alleged witnesses, had destroyed any records that linked Bogum to his crimes, and had even claimed Namjoon brainwashed its trusting and unassuming heir. Apparently, all parties involved with that company had had no qualms about lying under oath.

While Taehyung had been somewhat prepared for those schemes, he hadn't really been ready for Korean National Oil's positioning. Over the course of the investigation, Chinhwa had openly stated that he didn't want to press charges against his son. But that hadn't been his call to make. No, the decision had been made by his company's Chief Legal Officer, who had chosen to pursue legal action against Namjoon without remorse.

And there had been no remorse. There had been no form of leniency or compassion as the company's lawyers worked to take down Namjoon. They had presented irrefutable arguments to the judge, advocating the urgent need to put the former bodyguard behind bars.

For a while, it had seemed like Namjoon would spend the rest of his life locked up and alone.

But then there had been a breakthrough . . . multiple breakthroughs.

In the early days of the trial, the private investigator hired by Chinhwa had presented indisputable evidence of Bogum incriminating himself. Videos threatening his inferiors, photos of him with the murder weapon, and voice recordings exposing his nefarious plans had all been included. Those submissions had proven Bogum's involvement; they proved that Namjoon had not acted alone as Golden Oil had claimed.

One week following that, an unforeseen turn of events had occurred when Jackson Wang testified. Taehyung had expected Bogum's crony to lie through his teeth, to insist he was also a victim to Namjoon's so-called manipulations. But he hadn't done that.

Instead of adhering to his employer's stance, Jackson had fearlessly explained his side of the story. He had detailed every mandate Bogum had given him, including the demand to dispose of the shooter who killed Taehyung's mother and the forensic scientist who performed her autopsy. To the surprise of everyone, Jackson had then revealed he'd never carried out those orders - those people were alive and could be brought in for questioning.

And that hadn't even been the biggest game-changer. No . . . The real saving grace had come from Namjoon's father.

When Chinhwa had taken the stand, he'd offered up evidence of his own. He had submitted footage from a hidden camera located in the orchard outside of the bunker. And that footage - which no one had actively monitored in the past - showed the day Namjoon apprehended his brothers. It had shown the exact moment when Bogum aimed a gun at Jungkook's head, undeniably forcing Namjoon to carry out his orders.

Taehyung hadn't recognized the significance of that development. Again, his lack of legal knowledge caused him to overlook the finer nuances of the court proceedings. And because he had been so focused on wishing for the best, he had completely missed Chinhwa's sigh of relief, Jin's silent nod of thanks, and Namjoon's lawyers' victorious smiles.

But everything had come together by the end of the second week, when the judge had finally reached a verdict for Namjoon, Bogum, and all other defendants from Golden Oil.

It had been the moment everyone had simultaneously looked forward to and dreaded. It had been the moment that had given Taehyung many sleepless nights, the moment that had him praying to anything and everything that would listen. It had been the moment with the power to change life as he and his family knew it.

It had been the culmination of three years' worth of anguish, longing, and misery.

And it had been the beginning of something entirely unknown.

In the end, the judge had found Namjoon guilty of orchestrating all non-violent, civil crimes against Korean National Oil. That had included three counts of petty theft, two counts of trespassing, one count of vandalism, and three counts of aggravated property damage.

And that was it.

That was it.

Namjoon had been found not guilty for the criminal offenses of the case; he would not be punished for aiding and abetting Bogum or conspiring as an accomplice. Under Korean law, any actions compelled by force or threat against the compelled person or his relatives would not be condemned. And since Namjoon had acted to protect his and his family's lives - since there had been proof depicting all of this - his punishment would only relate to his civil crimes.

Namjoon had only been sentenced to one year in jail with the possibility of parole after six months.

Bogum, on the other hand, had not gotten off as easily.

The socialite had been charged with destroying, concealing, and forging evidence. He had been found guilty of aggravated assault, public defamation, slander, malicious property damage, and the interference of another's business by threat and force. All of those crimes alone would have given him eight years of imprisonment with hard labor. But then - when the judge had found Bogum guilty of first-degree murder and several counts of attempted murder - he had been sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

For the first time in so fucking long, things had finally gone right.

After the hearings had concluded - after Namjoon's case had officially come to a close - the next couple of days had been a whirlwind. The judge had allowed Namjoon seventy-two hours of freedom before his period of incarceration began, and the former bodyguard had been determined to make the most of it. And he had made the most of that time; they all had.

There had been hours upon hours of laughing and talking. There had been home-cooked meals and rowdy card games. There had been periods of silence, periods of tears. There had been apologies for the past and vows for the road ahead. And while an underlying hint of uncertainty had clung to the air, something even stronger had prevailed:

Hope.

There had been an overwhelming, breathtaking, and beautiful abundance of hope.

Quite expectedly, Namjoon's final morning with his family had been emotional. No one had known what exactly to do - how to spend those last thirty minutes together - so they had quietly held onto one another. Jin had maintained a tight grip on Namjoon's hands, Jungkook had tucked himself under Taehyung's arms, and Taehyung had let tears freely roll down his cheeks. And Chinhwa, whom Namjoon himself had invited, had kept his eyes locked on his eldest son for as long as possible.

That budding relationship - the one between an estranged father and son - had been one positive change brought on by the trial. Since neither Chinhwa nor Namjoon had known what the future had in store, they both had committed to giving the other a chance. They both had set aside old wounds in an attempt to nurture what never had had the ability to bloom.

And right after Namjoon had given teary farewells to his husband and brothers, he had timidly asked if Chinhwa would visit him in jail.

Chinhwa's response had been a tight hug, a muffled sob, and the pledge to stop by each week.

After Namjoon's departure, there had been additional changes to their group's dynamic. Jin had moved out of the shared apartment first, returning to his home just outside of the city. Before leaving, however, he had graciously quit his job at Korean National Oil. The CEO had tried to convince him to stay, but Jin had revealed his need for a fresh start; he wanted a new role where he wouldn't constantly think of the past.

Hoseok and Jimin had left for Busan the following day, heading back to the bed and breakfast to prepare for its grand reopening. Jimin had thrown Taehyung a playful wink before demanding that he and Jungkook visit soon. Hoseok kindly declared that a room would always be ready for them, and then somewhat awkwardly extended that same courtesy to Yoongi. The Chief had looked like he'd wanted to say something in return - like he had wanted to go to Hoseok - but had remained still and silent.

And when the lodge owner had finally walked out of the apartment, Yoongi hadn't followed. No, he had gone into one of the spare bedrooms and slammed the door shut. He hadn't emerged for a very long time; he'd barely acknowledged Taehyung or Jungkook when they had checked in on him. But when he had eventually reappeared hours later, he had announced that he'd remain in the apartment until everyone else was ready to move out.

Taehyung had known better than to question that decision.

Yoongi hadn't been the only new addition to the apartment; Chinhwa had essentially moved in as well. He had been well aware of Taehyung's and Jungkook's plans to leave Seoul - something he supported wholeheartedly - and had wanted the opportunity to make up for lost time. So when he hadn't been fulfilling his duties as a CEO to a newly merged and extremely powerful company, he had been in the apartment with the boys.

During a relaxed moment one evening, Chinhwa had revealed some of his own plans for the future. Once he successfully merged Korean National Oil and Golden Oil into one of the world's largest oil syndicates, he would resign from his role as CEO. He had explained how the job had changed him, how it brought him to places he'd never wanted to go. He had also recognized that he wasn't the bloodthirsty boss the position demanded he be; he didn't possess the brutality needed to wipe out all threats without hesitation.

But he had also recognized that he could make things better.

While his mercy had cost him in the past, Chinhwa had realized he had the opportunity to set a better standard for the future. He could enact new policies and instill principles for improvement. He could do his best to transform a ruthless industry into one with a little more tolerance. And while that change wouldn't happen overnight, Chinhwa had expressed his determination to try. And then, once he felt ready, he would make a clean break and leave that business forever.

Chinhwa's thought process on all of that had been - and still was - so inspiring to Taehyung. It was yet another reason why his father was his hero.

In total, Taehyung had gotten to spend three or so days under one roof with his father. And honestly, it had been everything he'd needed and more. They had fallen back into their old patterns with ease; it had been so effortless and natural to confide their fears, share their lingering anguish, and then recount their individual experiences in detail. And when they had eventually grieved together, they had grieved openly and without restraint.

And - after Jungkook had suggested the idea - they had held a small, informal funeral for Haneul. The younger had helped make the event less somber and more celebratory, asking to hear stories about the beautiful wife and mother who had left the world too soon. He had even spoken to her directly in front of them all, trading jokes and making promises with her like they were old friends.

To the surprise of no one, Taehyung had fallen even further in love with Jungkook that night. His sweetheart had proven yet again that he'd stand beside Taehyung no matter what, that he'd be a support system in both the good times and the bad. Jungkook had proven that their relationship had what it took to survive in an environment without running and hiding; their love would continue to flourish in a safe, quiet, and peaceful world.

And before that night had concluded, Chinhwa had made a declaration that reduced both Taehyung and Jungkook to tears. He had proudly spoken on behalf of Haneul and said she would be honored to have Jungkook as a son-in-law one day, that they would both look forward to Jungkook becoming an official part of the Kim family.

Even Yoongi - who had also joined and paid his respects to his boss' wife - had sniffled at that announcement.

Following the makeshift and sentimental funeral, Taehyung and Jungkook had had one last discussion about their next steps together. The biggest consideration had always revolved around Namjoon's fate and what his sentence would entail. But since their brother received a far more reasonable sentence than expected, they had felt comfortable deciding to leave Seoul. And not only had they felt comfortable with that decision, but they had been ready as well.

They had been ready to create a new home together, one that would allow them to fully and truly heal . . .

To grow as individuals and as one team . . .

To discover their passions . . .

To chase their dreams . . .

And to love . . . always to love.

And while Taehyung had more or less mapped out the particulars for their impending move, he had consistently asked for Jungkook's input. He wanted them both to be happy wherever they ended up; he wanted the younger to have a say in everything as well. But Jungkook had remained adamant about going where Taehyung had planned, ensuring that any place would be perfect as long as they were together.

However, as they had started to fall asleep the night before the big move - or, more specifically, last night - Jungkook had asked for one final piece of reassurance. He had asked if their new home would have access to a therapist, either in person or virtually. The younger had sleepily explained that he wanted to seek professional assistance to learn how to cope healthily with his traumas. He had experienced so much over such a short period of time, and he wanted to properly unpack those events so he could emerge stronger than ever before.

Taehyung hadn't previously considered therapy, though as soon as Jungkook mentioned it, he had known it was something he needed as well. He had understood the importance of properly nurturing his mental wellbeing and accepted there was no shame in asking for help. So he had gently kissed his sweetheart on the forehead, promising they would both find a therapist once settled into their new home.

And then - just before they had drifted off - Taehyung had draped himself over Jungkook's chest and told him to sleep well. Because when they woke up in the morning, the next chapter of their lives together would officially begin.

And that next chapter . . . that fresh start . . . began right now.

It was just past eight in the morning, far too early for Taehyung to be fully awake. But an undercurrent of anticipation buzzed through his veins, fueling him like caffeine never could. He was so fucking excited to see Jungkook's face when they finally arrived at their destination.

All of their bags were packed and ready to go, which had been an easy feat considering their sparse belongings. The only thing left to do was say goodbye to Chinhwa and Yoongi, both of whom were currently talking off to the side. So while they waited, Taehyung looped his arms around Jungkook's neck and pulled him close.

"Alright, sweetheart," he murmured, running his fingers through the hair on the younger's nape. "What do you say? Ready?"

Jungkook's mouth pushed into an adorable pout, his bottom lip protruding slightly more than his top. "I'm ready. But I'd be even more ready if someone here told me where we're going."

A smile broke across Taehyung's face as he shook his head. "No matter how hard you try, I'm not going to ruin the surprise."

"But . . . But what if I forgot to pack something?" Jungkook countered, gripping Taehyung's hips in a steady hold. "If you at least give me a hint, I can make sure I have all of the essentials."

"The essentials, huh?" Taehyung repeated with a laugh, loving how easy it was to torment the younger on this topic. "We're not going off the grid, Kookie. If you need to get something, we'll go to a store. But I doubt that'll be necessary. I'm pretty positive that you'll have everything you need."

Clearly changing his tactic, Jungkook slid his hands further down Taehyung's body so they were settled on top of his ass. "Everything, everything? Does that include lube? Because I'm planning on making a lot of love to you, you know. We have weeks - no months - to make up for."

Taehyung's eyes flicked over to his father, praying he didn't overhear that particular exchange. While he wasn't embarrassed about his sex life, that didn't mean he wanted Chinhwa to know each and every detail. Luckily for him, however, the older man was still speaking with Yoongi. The nature of their conversation appeared serious, so they most likely weren't paying any attention to Taehyung and Jungkook.

So Taehyung took a step closer, close enough to nip at one of the tiny hoops in his boyfriend's earlobe. And lowering his voice, he whispered, "And I'm planning on making a lot of love to you. So yes, there will be plenty of lube waiting for us, you horn dog."

"Well, can you at least tell me how long it will take to get there?" Jungkook asked, his fingers possessively and intimately kneading Taehyung's flesh. "Because now I am getting horny and -"

"You'll just have to be patient," Taehyung said with a chuckle, the sound rumbling in his chest so effortlessly. It was a testament to how happy he was in this moment, how liberated he felt. After so much heartache and pain, this new lightness was positively euphoric.

"Tae," the younger whined, tossing back his head in what could only be described as a bratty manner. "We both know patience is not my specialty."

"Well, then. No time like the present to learn."

Jungkook gripped Taehyung's butt more firmly, though didn't have the chance to make a proper comeback. The distinct clearing of throats interrupted their lighthearted bantering and immediately drew their attention.

Chinhwa and Yoongi were heading towards them, both wearing a mixture of expressions. Taehyung's father displayed a slightly amused look, his eyes warm and his smile soft. The Chief, on the other hand, appeared to be deeply regretting something.

Quickly letting go of Taehyung's ass, Jungkook sheepishly grinned at the two eldest men. "I was just, uh -"

"I don't want to know," Chinhwa said as he clasped Yoongi's shoulder, the gesture apologetic in a way. "Though for the Chief's sake, you might want to tone it down for a bit."

"Why's that?" Taehyung questioned his father, searching his face for any clues. He didn't find any, though it didn't matter. He received a prompt answer from the Chief himself.

"Because I'm driving you," Yoongi explained through a sigh, his voice coming out as a dry drawl. "And I don't want to spend these next few hours watching you two act like frisky teenagers."

Taehyung sucked in a tiny breath. If Yoongi was driving them to their destination, did that mean . . .?

"Wait," Jungkook spoke up, eyebrows scrunched as he looked between Taehyung and the Chief. "Does everyone know where we're going except for me?"

"Essentially," Chinhwa confirmed, his eyes twinkling with delight. "But to be fair, we all needed to know for logistical purposes. And after everything, I wasn't about to let you two trapeze into the sunset and not know where you were headed."

"They wouldn't be that difficult to find, Mr. Kim. All we would need to do is look for the nearest sign of danger. My guess is that they'd be right in the middle of it," Yoongi quipped as he went to the door, lugging a heavy-looking bag over his shoulder. "Anyway, I'm going down to the car and -"

"Yoongi, hold on," Chinhwa called out, striding across the living area to join his employee by the door. "I . . . Thank you. For everything you've done for this company, but more importantly, for what you've done for my family. You will always have my appreciation."

The corners of the Chief's mouth twitched upward, slowly revealing the first smile Taehyung had seen in weeks. Hell, maybe it was the first smile he'd seen since the day he met Yoongi in an elevator. "You don't need to thank me, sir. Actually, you really shouldn't. If I'd been tougher, maybe I could've prevented half the things that occurred these past few months."

Chinhwa extended his hand, waiting for Yoongi to clasp it in a firm shake before he continued. "I could make the same argument for myself. But I'm trying to relinquish some of that regret . . . It's not healthy. I hope you can do that someday as well."

Yoongi bowed his head in a show of respect. "Thank you, sir. I mean it."

"Safe travels, Chief."

With that, Yoongi smiled again and turned on his heel. Before he stepped into the hallway, however, he narrowed his focus on the boys. "No dallying. Be down in five."

As Chinhwa waved him off, Jungkook brought his lips to Taehyung's ear. "The Chief didn't specify five minutes or five hours, you know."

"We both know he meant five minutes."

"Maybe . . But I have several ideas on how we could spend five hours, angel."

Heat instantly pooled in Taehyung's stomach as he envisioned the picture Jungkook not so subtly painted. "You're a tease."

"I didn't say anything," the younger giggled, planting a kiss on Taehyung's cheek. "You just have a dirty mind."

Taehyung tried to ignore the clenching of his insides as he fixed an accusatory look on his boyfriend. "This is some sick form of payback because I won't tell you where we're going, isn't it?"

Jungkook's small giggle transformed into a full-on laugh, the unadulterated joy of the sound causing Taehyung to join in with him. He didn't even really know why they were laughing, but he embraced the warmth radiating throughout his body and gave in to the weightlessness of his limbs. He nearly collapsed against Jungkook's chest, gasping for air as the laughter rendered him speechless.

He was just so fucking happy.

And yeah, he knew things wouldn't always be this way. There were bound to be more difficult times ahead, times that wouldn't be so easy and light. But that knowledge made Taehyung appreciate these small moments even more . . . it helped him to cherish what he had right now and to fully enjoy life as it was today.

"Alright, boys," Chinhwa said, effectively interrupting their budding hysterics. "Come give me a hug goodbye before Yoongi scolds us all for holding him up."

Jungkook's bright smile remained intact as he met Chinhwa halfway across the room, throwing open his arms to embrace the older man. "I'd say that we'd call whenever we arrive, but for all I know, we won't have any cell service."

"For the last time, we're not going off the grid!" Taehyung exclaimed as he joined the scene, his voice still slightly shaky with laughter. He had half a mind to smack the younger's ass, though he settled for softly pinching his side instead.

If they were both up for it, there'd be plenty of time for spanking later.

Chinhwa pulled back from the hug, though kept his hands clasped on Jungkook's shoulders as he said, "I know for a fact that you'll have cell service, so I'll wait for that call. And then there's one more thing I need you to do for me, Jungkook."

The younger nodded, his features instantly turning more serious. "Anything."

Taehyung looked to his father, unsure of where this was going. Perhaps Chinhwa was going to ask Jungkook to continue taking care of him? Or maybe he had a question about Namjoon?

It was neither of those things.

"I need you to hold onto something for me, alright? When you're alone next, you're welcome to take a look. But you have to promise not to show my son until you're both ready."

"How will I know when we're both ready?" Jungkook asked, his tone a bit panicky like he was afraid to mess up.

Chinhwa's answer was cryptic. "You'll know. Trust me."

"What? Dad," Taehyung grumbled, wanting to be let in on this secret item, "that's not fair."

"Patience is a virtue, son."

"Yeah, Taehyungie. You'll just have to be patient," the younger chuckled, repeating Taehyung's words from earlier. Turning his attention back to Chinhwa, he said, "I would be honored to safeguard whatever you ask of me."

"Great," Chinhwa grinned, squeezing Jungkook's shoulders before letting go. "I already placed it within one of your bags . . . You'll know it when you see it. Go hide it a bit better before my son gets any ideas."

Jungkook immediately did as he was told, winking at Taehyung as he went to hide Chinhwa's mysterious object. Unable to resist, Taehyung stuck his tongue out in a very childlike and impatient manner.

Now he understood how Jungkook felt about waiting for surprises.

"Taehyung," his father said a couple of seconds later, "I'm still waiting on my hug."

Fighting the urge to snoop on Jungkook, Taehyung wrapped his father in a tight embrace. No matter how old he got, he would always find comfort in Chinhwa's hugs. "Are you going to be okay on your own?"

"I will, Tae. I'm going to miss you like crazy, but I want you to be happy. I don't want you to worry about me."

"You're my dad," Taehyung stressed, feeling a small lump form in his throat. "Of course, I'm going to worry about you."

Chinhwa drew back so he could meet Taehyung's gaze. His eyes were bright, the sheen of unshed tears making them glitter. "You spent far too many years running and hiding because of me and this company . . . I'm not going to take any more of your time away. You deserve to live your life for you. Especially after how strong you've been for these past few months, no years . . . I want you to do something for yourself. I want you to put your own needs first."

Taehyung's throat burned more than before as he nodded his head. "You'll visit us soon, right?"

"Right," his father said, not bothering to wipe away the drops of tears rolling down his cheeks. "You'll only be a few hours away, after all. And besides, I've heard a lot of great things about this place. I definitely need to see it for myself."

The zipping of a bag indicated that Jungkook finished his task, and moments later, he was back by Taehyung's side. "Want me to meet you down at the car, angel? I can bring our bags."

Taehyung shared one last look with his father, finding a combination of affection and pride in his eyes. It wouldn't be completely painless leaving his father behind - he really was going to miss him - but things didn't feel so urgent or drastic this time. He would be able to call or visit without needing clearance and without anticipating multiple forms of danger.

They were safe now.

"I'm ready," Taehyung told his boyfriend, his heart starting to kick up in excitement, "though you can still carry our bags. We wouldn't want to upset my injury, right?"

In truth, Taehyung's wound was nearly healed at this point; it was a fact both he and Jungkook had realized just a few days ago. They were working through the post-op stretches when Taehyung noticed he could twist and turn his torso without pain or stiffness. He could even perform some of the strength-building exercises his doctor had prescribed as well. It had been another victory, another sign that they could rise above their hardships.

Jungkook playfully - yet still carefully - ran his fingertips over Taehyung's side. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say the only reason you're dating me is because I can lift heavy things."

"Well, it certainly is a perk," Taehyung pointed out, his smile spreading so wide he was certain all his teeth were showing. Another perk was how fucking sexy Jungkook looked putting his muscles to good use, but he decided to keep that revelation to himself.

"You boys better go downstairs before the Chief has a conniption," Chinhwa kindly suggested, leading the way to the door. "Text when you arrive, then call when you're all settled. And for the love that is good and holy, please stay out of trouble."

"We will," Jungkook assured the older man, looping both his and Taehyung's bags over his shoulders. "We've had enough trouble for a lifetime."

"I love you, Dad," Taehyung added, giving his father another hug before stepping into the hallway. "We'll talk to you soon!"

The two boys quickly headed down to the building's garage, with Jungkook continuing to guess their destination along the way. Each place he said got more and more ridiculous, and by the time they reached Yoongi's car, their laughter was uncontrollable. The Chief audibly groaned from the driver's seat, most likely regretting his generous offer to drive the boys on their four-hour trek.

As Jungkook loaded their luggage into the trunk, Taehyung reached for the outer zipper of his bag. He had a little something special in there for the younger, though if he revealed it too soon, he'd never hear the end of it.

Or have the opportunity to use it.

He deftly slipped the object into his pocket, slowly stretching his arms overhead one final time. It was going to be a long drive, though far more manageable than the last time he made it. Because this time, he wouldn't have to look over his shoulder or adjust their route every fifty kilometers. This time, he would get to enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Closing the car's trunk, Jungkook turned towards Taehyung. "Would it be a dick move if I called shotgun?"

"Debatable," Taehyung said, throwing open the door behind Yoongi. He unceremoniously started pushing the younger inside. "It doesn't matter, though. You're getting in the backseat with me."

"Someone wants to hold my hand, huh?" Jungkook supplied, not putting up any resistance as he slid into the car.

As Taehyung joined him in the back, Yoongi turned to glare at them. "That better be as handsy as you two get. Because if you even think -"

"Relax," Taehyung cut him off, clicking his seatbelt into place. "I promise, no kinky shenanigans back here. Well, at least not until I blindfold him."

Jungkook's mouth popped open, his dark eyes growing impossibly wide. "You're going to blindfold me?"

"Come on, sweetheart. You know the definition of a surprise." Taehyung reached across the seat, flicking his boyfriend underneath his chin. "You're not supposed to see what's coming."

"Yeah, well, you won't see what's coming when I blindfold you later," Jungkook said slowly, a dark and dangerous glimmer pooling in his gaze. He leaned closer as he said, "And I'm going to give you a surprise."

Taehyung instantly picked up on the thinly-veiled innuendo. "Is that a promise?"

A loud and drawn out groan came from the Chief, who finally put the car into drive and proceeded out of the garage. "Oh my god, why did I sign up for this?"

A mischievous grin tugged at the younger's lips as he took Taehyung's hand within his own. "Hey, Chief. Guess what?"

"I don't care."

Jungkook persisted anyway. "You're driving me and Tae to our happily ever after, you know."

Yoongi's eyes flicked upward, regarding the two boys through the rearview mirror. "Am I supposed to know what that means?"

"You once said, and I quote," Jungkook started, his thumb casually rubbing circles on Taehyung's skin, "I'm the Chief of Security at Korean National Oil. My job is not to help secure your happily ever after. But you're doing that right now, Chief. So I guess what you said isn't true, huh?"

Yoongi rolled his eyes as he turned on the radio, raising the volume so the music poured through the car. But Taehyung still heard what the Chief muttered under his breath, and it made him pause.

"None of it is true anymore."

Taehyung was relatively confident he understood what that meant. And he hoped - he really, truly hoped - that Yoongi's decision to drive them had something to do with it.

They would find out soon enough.

The first half of their journey passed in the blink of an eye, with two hours feeling more like two seconds. Jungkook correctly deduced that they weren't traveling outside of the country - or at least by plane - since they didn't go to Incheon International Airport. He surprisingly stopped guessing after that, choosing to sing along to the music and badger Yoongi with an endless litany of questions instead. And the entire time, he never let go of Taehyung's hand.

Except, of course, when Taehyung pulled out the gray silk tie from his pocket.

Jungkook instantly ducked for cover, protectively wrapping his head with his hands. He promised not to look - hell, he offered to bury his face in Taehyung's lap and keep himself occupied - but was quickly shot down. So wearing an exaggerated pout, he sat still as Taehyung fixed the smooth material over his eyes.

"You won't wear it for long," Taehyung assured him, his mouth twisting into a smirk Jungkook couldn't see. "Just two more hours."

"Kim Taehyung."

The rest of the ride was a bit on the quieter side, with Jungkook eventually falling asleep on Taehyung's shoulder. The tie would slip off every now and again, revealing his dark brows and full lashes. And each time Taehyung gently rearranged the fabric, he couldn't help but sweep his fingers across the younger's features.

His sweetheart was just so beautiful.

As they got closer and closer to their destination, Taehyung started to see some vaguely familiar landmarks. He didn't truly appreciate the serene surroundings when he and Jungkook had come here a few months back; he had been too focused on wearing the mask of a bodyguard and keeping both himself and the younger alive. He had been too on edge.

But now, he took everything in. He marveled at the rolling green hills, stared in awe at the imposing mountains reaching towards the sky, and gasped when he saw a far-off peek of the ocean. There would be so much to explore here, so many places that could offer activity and relaxation alike.

And most importantly, both Taehyung and Jungkook would be able to heal here.

When Yoongi eventually turned down a tree-lined driveway and a two-story building came into view, Taehyung gently shook Jungkook. "Hey, Kookie. Wake up. We're here."

A soft, intelligible murmuring pushed from the younger's lips as he slowly sat up. "Can I remove the blindfold now?"

"Not yet."

"Yoongi," Taehyung said, unbuckling both his and Jungkook's seatbelts as the Chief put the car into park, "are you planning on sticking around for a few minutes?"

It was a loaded question.

"Sure," Yoongi replied, not giving much away.

While Taehyung wanted to push the Chief on the subject, he let it drop. He was too eager to see Jungkook's reaction, too fucking ready to show him their new sanctuary.

So he tumbled out of the backseat of the car, stretching his tight muscles as he looked around. Everything was exactly as he remembered. The floor-to-ceiling windows were gleaming, the outdoor balconies sported plush seating arrangements, and the gorgeous landscaping appeared to be thriving despite the brutal August sun. The crisp air smelled fresh and fragrant, and a warm breeze combed its fingers through Taehyung's hair.

Home.

This place felt like home.

It took a couple of minutes to pull Jungkook from the car and lead him off to the side; the younger was still clearly sleepy and kept tripping over his feet. Taehyung didn't try to contain his giggles - both of uncontainable excitement and unabashed amusement - as they eventually reached the gardens, where he properly angled Jungkook so the first thing he'd see was the gazebo.

"Alright," Taehyung said, hugging his boyfriend from behind and hooking his chin over his shoulder. "Any last guesses? Or do you want a hint?"

Jungkook placed his hands over Taehyung's and hummed. "I'll take as many hints as I can get."

"Well, we have a lot of memories here," Taehyung started, looking from the gazebo to a sun-drenched balcony. "When you and I first came to this place, we were so different from who we are today. We were sad and angry. We felt alone and didn't know who to trust. But while we were here, we found something so unexpected in each other. We found mutual understanding and respect, undeniable desire and longing. And we realized . . . We realized that we were meant to be so much more."

"Tae . . ." Jungkook breathed, his heart beating so wildly that Taehyung could feel it through his back. "Are . . . Are we . . .?"

Taehyung kissed the younger's neck, relishing in the feel of his soft skin beneath his lips. "Take off your blindfold, sweetheart."

Jungkook raised his shaking fingertips to the tie, impatiently tugging it up and over his head so he could see. And when he took in his surroundings - his very familiar surroundings - he breathed out a stunned, "Angel."

"I thought this could be the place where we ease back into our lives, the place where we discover what it is we truly want to do. We obviously still have so much to work through, but being here . . . being with friends . . . I don't know how to explain it. Hoseok's bed and breakfast just felt right for us," Taehyung said, unsure if his words made any sense.

"Tae, this is perfect. I . . . All those weeks of guessing and I never even considered . . ." He broke off as he turned away from the gardens, fully facing Taehyung and reaching up to cup his neck. "This is our new home?"

Taehyung drew the boy closer to his body. "If you want it to be, yes."

Instead of immediately answering like Taehyung somewhat expected, Jungkook just stared at him. He kept his touch featherlight, his fingers dipping into Taehyung's hair as he scanned all over his face. And then, like he solved a riddle years in the making, his lips spread into one of the broadest and brightest smiles ever seen.

"What?" Taehyung whispered, feeling his own cheeks round out as he smiled back at the younger.

"This place is perfect," Jungkook repeated, his eyes turning into crescents. "And I want this to be our home. Or the place we call home. But I just realized . . . Where we ended up never really mattered to me. Because Tae . . . You are my home. You are my safe place. So as long as I'm with you, I'm going to be just fine. I'm always going to have everything I'll ever need."

Taehyung wasn't sure who leaned in first, but seconds later, they were kissing and laughing and one of them - or maybe both - had tears running down their cheeks. And as they stood there under the sun, completely safe and happy and alive, they knew this was it.

This was the start of the rest of their lives together.

A round of clapping and cheers was what finally broke the two apart, each sporting puffy and swollen lips. When they looked towards the lodge, they found Hoseok and Jimin rushing down the front steps.

"Get a room!" Jimin called out, his loud voice piercing the ambiance of the gardens. He headed straight for Yoongi's car, ordering the Chief to pop the trunk.

Jungkook flipped off his friend in a joking manner before intertwining his fingers with Taehyung's. As they headed towards the small group, he said, "Trust me. That's exactly what I plan on doing."

"I indefinitely reserved the room you guys were in last time. Feel free to make it your own," Hoseok offered, keeping his attention entirely on the boys and not sparing the Chief one glance. "And it's the farthest room from the other guests, so hopefully we won't receive any noise complaints."

Taehyung choked on a laugh. "Why is that one room the farthest away?"

"It is - was - the honeymoon suite."

Jungkook squeezed Taehyung's hand, his teeth on full display again. "How fitting. Because we're going to be having a lot of -"

"Wait, one of those is mine," Yoongi interrupted, pointing to one of the bags Jimin was about to bring inside.

"Right," Jimin chuckled, starting to bring the luggage back to the car. "When are you headed back to Seoul, Chief?"

Yoongi's eyes were fixated on one person alone as he said, "I'm not."

"Oh. Is Korean National Oil sending you somewhere else?" Jimin asked, eyebrows furrowed together.

"I was hoping there would be some vacancies here, actually," Yoongi replied, though he directed his answer to Hoseok. "I'd like to check in for a while."

Hoseok finally returned the Chief's stare, though he made no move to approach. He crossed his arms across his chest and said, "Well, how long do you plan on staying? If you're just passing through -"

"No. I'm not passing through." Yoongi stepped away from the car, slowly nearing where the lodge owner stood on the steps. "I'll stay . . . I'll stay as long as there's room for me."

"But what about your job? I can't imagine that a global company can go without its Chief of Security for long." Hoseok attempted to keep his jaw locked and his spine stiff, but there was a softening to his eyes. There was a brief look of hope.

Yoongi shook his head. "It can't. But that's not my problem anymore. I'm no longer the Chief."

Taehyung clutched onto Jungkook, his teeth sinking into his lip so he wouldn't smile like a fool. This was exactly what he had guessed back at the apartment.

Hoseok's arms limply fell to his sides as he descended one step. "You're not?"

"I quit," Yoongi declared, now only a meter or so away from the lodge owner. "What you said to me before . . . You were right. That job was my entire life. And that's not how I want to live. I don't want my job to be the only thing I wake up for. Because you showed me that there's so much more. You showed me that I want more. So if there's room for me here, I'd like to stick around. I want to be here with you and to find out if . . . I want to find out if you and I could be more."

Hoseok's posture lost all of its rigidness, and for the first time since Taehyung met him, he looked so young. "The reopening is in three days. All of the rooms are booked."

A small burst of air escaped from Yoongi's mouth, but he quickly covered up the sound with a cough. "Right. I shouldn't have assumed and -"

"But you can stay with me," Hoseok decided, his tone a mixture of conviction and pleading. "We can see if there's more."

And then the lodge owner closed that last bit of space between their bodies, pulling the now-former Chief into a tight embrace. Yoongi instantly reciprocated, burying his face into Hoseok's neck.

True to Jungkook's character, he was the first to disrupt the heartwarming scene. "What the hell happened when you were together?"

Refusing to move from Hoseok's arms, Yoongi laughed - a light and carefree release - and said, "That is definitely a story for another day."

Taehyung looked to Jungkook, a full and warm sensation expanding in his chest. Home. He felt silly, in a way, for not realizing it before . . . for not grasping that his love for Jungkook meant home was no longer a place but a person.

But that was okay; it was okay that he didn't previously understand. Because Jungkook was here with him - here to teach and learn and share all of life's revelations.

And they had the freedom to do those things, the safety.

And then, still observing every inch of his sweetheart's face, he responded to what Yoongi had said moments before.

"Lucky for us, we have all the time in the world."

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

There were so many parts I loved about this chapter! And so much happened in it, too - a lot of sub-plots/plots coming to a close. Tell me if you had a favorite part!

I think No Going Back is my first story to have so much plot. From the beginning, there have been so many moving pieces and several details I needed to keep straight. My head felt like it was going to explode writing most chapters, almost to the point where I wanted to give up/make things easier. But I pushed myself as much as possible - I stepped outside of my comfort zone - and tried to take on this new challenge. It was so, so, SO difficult to do. But looking back now, I'm so happy I tried my hand at this genre. I have learned so much.

We only have 2 chapters and the epilogue left now - I really cannot understand how we got to this point. Like how?! I know I've spent months and months writing this, but still, it all feels way too quick for me. I'm so appreciative of everyone's constant support for this story - seriously, when I say it's kept me going, that is a massive understatement. I love you all more than you know!