okay that's enough fluff for y'all

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jjungkookie staying up all night to video call this guy in paris >>>

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bookmonnie my heart 😭😭
jjungkookie✔️ @bookmonnie 🥺🥺🥺

parkthatjiminshi yeah keep it down im just trynna sleep bitch😐😐 TAE COME BACK SOONER SO I CAN SLEEP
jjungkookie✔️ @parkthatjiminshi loser hang in there for three more days

sunshinehobi✔️ SHUT UP THIS IS SO CUTE
jjungkookie✔️ @sunshinehobi SCREAMS

wwh_youknow✔️ fuck it y'all won
jjungkookie✔️ @wwh_youknow 🥰🥰🥰

agust_dboy✔️ and he hardly texts us back
jjungkookie✔️ @agust_dboy what. he IGNORES you guys????
agust_dboy✔️ @jjungkookie probably just gets too tired after talking to you kid

kookieboi_ NO WAY WHAT WJDJCIDJWKF they call every night no way no way W H A T

taesty_ wtf thEY VIDEO CALL. they v i d e o c a l l

taekOokIe they know how to make distance work😭😭😭 this is so cute

bh_babies HIS SMILE🥺🥺 i love them

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Jungkook woke up feeling relaxed. He didn't have any morning plans so he'd made extra efforts to stay up on the call with Taehyung the night before.

He was pretty sure he had seen the sunrise by the time he crashed into bed.

Maybe it wasn't the healthiest thing physically, but Jungkook found himself mentally comforted knowing he was able to make Taehyung smile at the end of the day or hear him talk in a more freely manner.

Sleep meant nothing to him when he caught that deep laugh roll through the phone, when he got to watch the Paris sunset on some nights with the love of his life— even if it was through a screen.

Jimin wasn't home.

He checked the time, hardly phased by the clock reading noon. With a bedtime of six in the morning and no alarm, that was bound to happen.

Throwing on a hoodie and some socks, Jungkook went to the small kitchen of the apartment and poured himself coffee. Steps sluggish while the warm drink slowly cleared his head.

He shuffled over to his desk where his phone generally charged, unsurprised by the lack of messages from Taehyung.

They slept at about the same time and the model didn't have free time in the mornings, getting to work right away and coming back with all his attention for Jungkook at night.

There were messages from Jimin, though. And Hoseok. Yoongi and Jin, too.

Jungkook frowned, eased state gradually growing with nervousness as he scrolled through the notifications.

His entire screen changed with Jimin's picture popping in, a call that he accepted without hesitation.

"Kook, you're finally up!"

"Hyung? What's going on? Why did you guys spam me?" He pulled the device from his ear and looked through the notifications again.

"Listen to me. Don't look at your phone and get to BigHit." The seriousness of his voice wasn't helping Jungkook's panic.

"Jimin Hyung, you're scaring me. What happened?"

"Just wear a mask, conceal your face extra well, Jungkook."

What?

He was absolutely beyond confused.

"Park Jimin, will you tell me why you're being cryptic as hell? Is Taehyung okay? Did something happen to you guys? Fuck, say something more."

"None of us are hurt. Just... Just get here." Jimin's voice had softened. "Trust me, please."

And he did because what choice did he have? Not only was Jimin unlikely to play around with something serious sounding like that, but he did trust the elder. If it was an emergency— he was out the door in five minutes.

With the housing close to the building, he reached in no time, heading straight towards the back where security let him by with his identification.

Jungkook was clueless. He was frantic and extremely worried above it all. The first thing he'd thought was that something had happened to Taehyung and the news found out before him because he was sleeping.

But Jimin had said none of them were hurt.

None of us are hurt.

Then why was Jimin sounding so antsy?

Jin was at the door to greet him, looking ever desperate for him to get inside.

None of us are hurt.

And they weren't.

But Jungkook's gut had usually been right and that time it screamed at him that he might have been jeopardized.

"You sleep alright?" Jin asked, throwing a protective arm over his shoulder as they walked down the hall. There weren't many looks from any staff, everyone minding their own business. "How's Taehyung?"

The casual questions threw him off.

"Slept good and he's good," he mumbled. "You?"

"Bright and early start today." The smile on the eldest's face was relieved. "I got a break right now, but everyone's going to be meeting soon."

Everyone?

"Everyone? Jin Hyung, what's going on?" He addressed the elephant in the room, unsure of why Jin was evading it in the first place.

They paused in the hallway, people swerving around them like a barrier in their path. Jungkook looked around, noticing that general employees looked fine, so whatever this was must have been under wraps. Or they'd been instructed to ignore it.

There wasn't a response.

That certainly did not make Jungkook any happier. He didn't like being left in the dark. He'd been left in the dark so many times already with all these people. During the month that he was back home in Busan, during Taehyung's peak of pain.

It was aggravating to say the least.

They continued through the building, Jin pulling him along to some bland walled hallway. He hadn't been in that area before. He'd been to meeting rooms, the executives meeting room with Taehyung's management, some random one with Taehyung himself when they'd met after that month.

The one they went to was empty besides one person who was behind a screen that was broadcasted up to large monitors on the walls.

Looked like security. A makeshift security station.

They sat in silence, Jin glancing at him countless times and he stayed incredibly still, head down to stare at his lap. His hood was pulled over his head, mask gone, but he still felt like he was under a spotlight.

The uncomfortable energy heightened as the door opened to Jimin rushing around the table and hugging him tightly, asking him how he was doing.

"I'm fine. I'm seriously fine," he pushed his best friend away, watching him fall tiredly into his seat. Hoseok and Yoongi came not long after, the dancer sitting beside Jin while Yoongi took one at the end of the meeting table.

They greeted him briefly, but everything was tense like the calm was strained to a thin thread about to snap.

There were still a few seats still open, but Jungkook was also confused by the formality of a meeting room and a makeshift security doing (what appeared to be) normal rounds at the far end of the table.

He nearly fell from his chair, however, as the door opened, the quiet movement of employees outside the room cutting in with the barrier broken, and the high management stepped into the room.

Bang Si-Hyuk was accompanied by someone new, Lee Sunmi not by his side that time. She was likely busy with her own work, being in charge of the modeling department.

Jungkook didn't recognize the assistant to the CEO, but he was entirely baffled by the crowd of 'everyone' that had been gathered.

His friends, security, and the CEO of BigHit.

What the hell was going on?

"Ah, you've all made it. I hope the quick change in your schedules wasn't so bothersome." Si-Hyuk took a seat at the far end opposite of Yoongi. "Thank you for making it in, Jungkook."

The special acknowledgment. It made sense. He wasn't technically bound to BigHit, he was a guest there.

"Y-Yes, of course, Sir, but why am I here?" He asked, cutting straight to the point. His voice was dumbfounded without any surprise, to which the CEO nodded.

"He hasn't seen anything, has he?"

What?

"Kook," Jimin addressed softly, a hand on his arm so that the youngest turned to him. "They're going to help get it under control."

He blinked, once, then twice. A third time before the BigHit CEO motioned for the makeshift technician to proceed and the large monitors of the meeting room were suddenly flickering with images.

One image actually.

Of him.

It was all over the news. All over social media.

"Shit." He heard someone say. He couldn't make out who. Not when his body froze and his stomach fell into the tiled floor. His ears were roaring with the rush of blood that spiked with his pulse.

His face wasn't clear, but it was him. Anyone who knew him would have been able to recognize his features regardless of the mask and angle.

But even if it wasn't clearly defining his face, the concept of it absolutely crushed him.

The hand that came up to his mouth clenched tightly, muffling his strangled sound of dread, his wide eyes watching horrifically as the image flashed repeatedly before him. Showing different posts or sites, gossip articles where the picture was making top news.

It hit him like a smack to the face.

He was all over the Internet.

That was everything he didn't want.

Jungkook could hardly breathe as he stared on and on at the numerous pages spreading the picture.

Someone knew what he looked like. Someone had spread the photo claiming it was him. Correctly.

But how? Who? There was no way anyone in the room had done it, and he hadn't encountered anyone publicly like that.

Jimin was holding his arm, trying to ease his distraught state.

It wasn't working very well.

"We are still trying to find the original post of this, Jungkook." The CEO seemed calm. It wasn't common for him to deal with panic regarding casual photos being spread, especially when he had huge celebrities employed. "This is likely too much to contain."

"W-When did— what? I don't—"

He didn't give the apologetic stares any attention. He wanted to cower in a hole and stay there, remain hidden behind his faceless work.

Why was he at BigHit in the first place? Were they involving themselves because of Taehyung? Because he was associated with Taehyung? They'd stopped watching him weeks ago, though. And their relationship wasn't public. It didn't make sense.

Jungkook felt sick from the overwhelming news.

He jolted out of his chair and clambered around the table, catching Jimin standing up to race after him. Shoving the door open, Jungkook gasped back his rising sobs as he wavered in the now empty hallway. He search for the bathroom sign, any place where he could just hide.

He staggered to the bathroom when he found it, shoving harshly on the swinging door, stumbling inside and crying out in relief to see it empty.

His hands gripped the sink counter as he stared into the mirror and saw how messed up he looked.

It struck him.

Someone had been watching him.

Someone must have been watching him for longer than he had even realized.

There was no other way for them to know that it was him.

He felt eyes on him so often. He should have trusted that. Why hadn't he? Why hadn't he been more careful?

Jungkook's knees gave out as he fell to the floor, body crumpling as his knuckles went white in the unrelenting grip he held onto the counter with.

There were hands grabbing his arms, pulling him away from the counter. He lashed out with simple distrust, the grip tightening as a low grunt sounded.

"Jungkook," the voice was quiet, deeper, gentler than his firm hands keeping him from hurting himself. "It's just me."

Yoongi.

He fell limp again with the trusted voice, seeing the familiar hands and face cautiously staring down at him. Jungkook may have paused to think about pushing boundaries in normal circumstances, but he didn't even wait before rushing into the smaller man's arms.

Yoongi stumbled at the added weight, holding him securely after the unstable hesitation nonetheless.

"H-Hyung— Hyung—"

"Kid, you're safe, okay?" The producer's arms were relaxed around him. He willed himself to match that. He thought about what he usually did when he freaked out, what he helped Taehyung do. Just breath, just find a grounding.

He willed himself to match Yoongi's calm demeanor.

"You're safe here, Jungkook."

His shoulders trembled as his chin jerked in denial. "No— someone— someone knew— Yoongi Hyung, someone's been watching—"

"There's no one that's dangerous here, right?" Yoongi attempted to assure. "So breathe, kid. You need to calm down."

"I-I'm scared." He admitted. "Fuck, that's me— I'm all over and— and the— so many, so so many..."

"I know. I know." Yoongi mumbled, patting his back with care. "Crying won't do anything, though. Trust me, Jungkook. You need to breathe so we can think it through."

The elder's voice was soothing. Warm in his ears and it made him grow small in the arms around him, despite being bigger.

"J-Jimin— where—"

"I made him stay back." The elder hummed, glad to hear some sense past his jumbled state. "He's in no state to help you either."

The photographer's heart hurt at that. Jimin was protective of him. After years of being each other's best friend, there was no doubt that Jimin was as worried as he was. He'd always treaded carefully with Jungkook's faceless wish, being the one who helped him the most.

It was a hit to both the Busan boys.

"Is he okay? Yoongi Hyung— is Jimin—"

"Focus on yourself. You know he's upset, but you need to calm down first." Yoongi sighed and Jungkook found the elder's steady breathing a mark to slow his down to. "Once they find the original post, we will know what to do."

That didn't sound true, but he believed it anyway.

"Thank you, Yoongi Hyung." He whispered, voice cracking with the shudders of air he managed to intake.

"I'm only taking Taehyung's place." The man chuckled, the joke making Jungkook tense again. "What?"

"Taehyung doesn't know, right?"

"You sound hopeful."

"He doesn't need this. He's traveling, he shouldn't be worrying about me half way across the world."

Yoongi smiled at him when the younger lifted his head and stepped away, feeling some control in his hands again. "You're a miracle for him, Jungkook. I knew you were good the day I met you."

He thought back to that. Yoongi was the first of the four BigHit friends he had met. While waiting for Taehyung to meet him.

They'd talked in that brief time. It had subtlety been an interrogation, which he smiled thinking about. Yoongi grabbed a tissue from the napkin dispenser and held it out for him. Jungkook took it and wiped his sore skin.

"Thanks." He murmured.

"Don't be too selfless." Yoongi suddenly said, leaning against the counter. "Don't become what Taehyung has evolved from."

"But he shouldn't know—"

"I mean in general. I know you want to be with him as much as you can, be there for him. But you've got limits, too, Jungkook." Yoongi sighed. "That picture? It's from the coffee shop by his apartment. You need to be careful around his place."

The coffee shop? Where he'd gone with Jin?

Jungkook nodded numbly.

"Okay." His voice was nearly inaudible as Yoongi led him out of the bathroom. There was a reassuring touch on his shoulder as they made their way back. "Hyung, wait."

"Hmm?"

"Tae doesn't know, right?"

"He doesn't even talk to anyone except you," the elder chuckled, rolling his eyes. "He doesn't have the time to go online."

"Then why is BigHit dealing with this?"

Yoongi's smile fell, brows furrowing. "We asked them. We saw it this morning, the extent of it. Hoseok saw first and came rushing to find us. Then, I called management seeing if there was anything we could do."

"Why would they even agree? I'm not contracted. I don't work here, you know that."

"You're helping the company by helping Taehyung. You're our friend." Yoongi shrugged. "Not the first time they've pulled a few strings."

Jungkook didn't know if he liked that. He hadn't liked it the first time Taehyung had gotten them to keep a close watch on his life. Bigger, powerful people pulling strings for him. Call him stubborn, but it wasn't what he was used to.

To be fair, he also wasn't used to this kind of publicity.

Welcome to their world, Jeon.

He headed back inside with Yoongi. Jimin tackled him with a hug, scrambling from his seat and their small exchange was cut short by the youngest remembering where they stood.

"That's definitely the coffee shop near Taehyung's and my place." Jin told the CEO.

The man behind the security computer was on the phone, clicking away with instructions— likely from the main media room.

"So, it's obvious that it's Jungkook."

"Too much of a coincidence." Hoseok winced at the realization.

Jungkook didn't like how worried he'd made everyone in the room. But it meant that they all cared. He wasn't used to having so many people supporting him.

It'd only every been Jimin and Namjoon. He had other friends back home, but no one who went so far out of their way to ensure his safety besides those two.

His life really had changed.

Was it better?

Was it worth it?

Jimin dancing in the BigHit practice room flashed through his mind. Being on Jin's silly list of favorite people, getting treated like a younger brother and appreciated for a thoughtful birthday gift. It all flashed through his head— Hoseok and Yoongi making him feel comfortable in the producing studio and telling him about Taehyung.

Taehyung.

That smile. Those hands holding his, those lips on his, calling him beautiful, making him feel like he was growing in life. Like he was useful.

His doubts were buried.

His job wasn't done. Taehyung needed him, he loved Taehyung, he had friends who loved his presence, too.

He couldn't just give up. He was stronger than that. He had to be.

"Send it over now."

The words jerked him out of his thoughts.

"Find something?" Bang Si-Hyuk asked the employee to his left.

"Yes, Sir," the man clicked away and a file began uploading onto the monitor for them to see. "Tracked down the original post."

Jungkook was on the edge of the seat as the downloaded file opened, eyes wide as everyone stared up at the screen.

The room chilled.

Someone slammed a fist on the table. Another cursed.

Jungkook? His heart just shattered.

The coffee shop.

Not when he and Jin had gone. But the day before. When he'd gone alone.

He'd run into that man.

No wonder the man seemed familiar.

A stranger? The person was far from that.

The eyes on him, every itch of someone watching him.

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6,337,617 likes
parkbogum Jeon Jungkook.

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Bogum had been watching him for weeks. He knew exactly what the photographer looked like. He knew who Jungkook was.

Jungkook didn't feel strong anymore.

He felt like the hull of his ship had been pierced and he was sinking.