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sunshinehobi saying bye to the best boy🥺 have fun with your dads tannie💛💛💛

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view all 1,583,721 comments

wwh_youknow✔️ stop. idk who's cuter.
sunshinehobi✔️ @wwh_youknow tannie takes that award😩

agust_dboy✔️ you guys match😌😌
sunshinehobi✔️ @agust_dboy i-

v_95✔️ awwww I love this 😭😭
sunshinehobi✔️ @v_95 making it my wallpaper 😔😔

strawberryjh his dadS??????? 👁👁 hobi you are so PRETTY

_hOEsuck tannie and hobi best boys :( CUTECUTECUTE

mingenius_ the caption— ARE THEY TOGETHER

bhbabies TANNIE AND HOBIII also tannie's dads help. HELP.

bookmonnie oh my goodness 🥺🥺 tannie is too cute
sunshinehobi✔️ @bookmonnie fully agree I think I'm going to steal him

parkthatjiminshi you just dropped a bomb in that caption and all our friends are oblivious bye #fansaresmarterthanus
sunshinehobi✔️ @parkthatjiminshi huh wHATREYOUTALKINGABOUT

jjungkookie✔️ hes gonna miss you too :(
sunshinehobi✔️ @jjungkookie 😭😭😭😭💛💛💛💛

—

"I'm really happy you're going, Tae." Jin placed the cup of tea in front of him at sat adjacent at the table. "You'll definitely be glad you made this choice."

"Not having security's risky," Taehyung sighed, the heat of the steaming tea on his skin warm and pleasant as he sipped it. "But I really don't want any. Besides, the flight's full, they can't get seats."

"I think you'll be okay. Jungkook knows taekwondo if you need it." The senior model laughed, voice squeaking and Taehyung grinned behind his cup. "You still going out for lunch?"

"Wanted to hang out with my stylist and manager one more time. Treating them with lunch seems like the only fitting thing to do." Taehyung shrugged and set the porcelain back onto the table. "I think we'll be back in a week tops, but you'll be okay here alone?"

"You kidding? I'm going to sing my lungs out without worrying if I'm bothering you."

"You do that anyway." The younger scoffed, to which Jin just winked at him.

"Don't worry about me at all, Taehyung." Jin flicked a stray string from his shoulder. "The four of us will keep each other company while you two enjoy."

"Okay," he smiled. "We haven't done a shoot together in a while, when I come back to working, let's plan one."

"I love that idea." Jin's brow lifted. "You know, my contract technically ends middle of this year."

"What?" Taehyung's eyes widened. "Already? You're going to renew it, right?"

"Of course I'm going to." His worry slipped away. "Gifted this beautiful face and you don't think I'll use it 'til the day I die."

"Yeah, I can definitely see you modeling at the ripe age of seventy, Hyung." He gulped back another sip of his green tea. "You scared me for a moment there."

"I'm honored." Jin continued to joke, but Taehyung's concern was genuine. "Hey, I'm going to renew, alright? I've been doing well, and I've already suggested renewing to Sunmi-shi in meetings. Don't be worried."

"I know, I know, I just— we can't do this forever and... one day it'll come to that." Taehyung let out a shaky breath. "One contract will be our last, one shoot will be our last, one social gala, one day will be our last one working this job. We can't do this forever and upsetting."

"You're a workaholic, Kim Taehyung." Jin huffed, reaching for his hand. "This break is going to give you a taste of the life you sacrificed for this job. It's an incredible job, yes, and all good things come to an end one day. Learning to be happy with just yourself is a challenge in itself."

"Have you all seen me like that? Someone who works too much?"

"It's something bittersweet, but yeah. On one end, it's amazing to be motivated seeing you do so much, but it's been heartbreaking for the same reason." Taehyung nodded understandingly. "You've worked on it. And you've gotten a lot healthier."

"Agreed." He squeezed Jin's hand and felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Retrieving it, Taehyung glanced at the message from the company car downstairs, waiting for him. "That's the driver. I'll be back in the afternoon before we head to the airport."

"Sounds good," Jin helped him put his coat on and opened the door for him. "Enjoy lunch and tell your manager I'm sorry for being an ass to him sometimes."

"Nah, he understands. I think."

"Just say it anyway, I don't want him to be annoyed with me in your absence, ugh."

Taehyung laughed and shook his head. "Alright, whatever you say. And thanks, Jin Hyung."

"What now?"

"For everything, but especially at the Variety Gala. If it was anyone else, I don't think they'd listen to me about staying instead of getting out."

"That was all you, Taehyung." Jin fixed his coat collar. "Strongest man I know and I'm just glad I was there before someone else found you."

He knew what the older meant. The catastrophe that was avoiding in keeping the whole assault a secret. They had been lucky and in the long run, it had resolved in its own beneficial way.

"I'll see you later." He hugged the older and turned to leave through the opened doorway. Then he stopped and turned around again. "Also, you're wrong, Jin Hyung."

"The hell you mean I'm wrong, you peasant—"

He chuckled and waved the response away. "Not all good things come to an end. Some last a lifetime."

—

"Technically, today is your last day, so I can still nitpick at your appearance." His stylist sniffed, unceremoniously shoving meat in her mouth, freshly cooked on the grill before them. "Those shades of green are not matching, and it's been bothering me since the moment I saw you."

"Sorry, Noona," Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Forgive me this once."

"Just this once, dear." Her eyes cast upward and Taehyung almost burst out laughing at the incredulous look his manager sent her.

"You are not crying over lunch," he said to her from across the table and she was quick to smile at him and let a tear slip on cue. "Absurd."

"Sue me, Manager-nim." She scoffed. "You're lying to yourself if you say you won't miss him."

"I will not, and I am not lying to anyone." He refused to look over at Taehyung, and that alone made the model reach over for the bottle of soju and his shot glass. "Who are you pouring that for, Taehyung?"

"You, of course, Manager-nim." The model bit back a smile as both his hands were used in pouring the shot glass full.

"I will not be drinking, thank you."

"Oh, please. It's a special occasion and he's pouring it for you." His stylist sipped some water she had on the side. "Pour me some, too, Tae."

"Of course." He nodded, doing the same for her glass before she took the bottle and poured his. His manager simply eyed the short stubby glass like it was some pitiful booking request he couldn't delete. "Please, Manager-nim. Only one."

"Drinking during work hours—"

"Don't even attempt to pull that card." His stylist took the shot glass and slid it across the table in his direction. "Come on, Manager-nim. One round for Taehyung."

"You both are despicable." He grit out, before his wrinkled hands picked up the glass and he begrudgingly clinked it against theirs.

"You're the best!" Taehyung cheered before turning his head and knocking the glass back. He hadn't have the inexpensive drink in some time and it burned down his throat, face cringing as he attempted to subtly hold it down. "Ugh."

The three of them groaned and set the glasses down, his manager cursing at the sting it elicited inside him. They set the glasses aside, not keen on getting drunk in their current setting. Or drunk together ever.

Taehyung chewed slowly on the piece of meat in his mouth, the table quiet as his manager received a call and leaned back in his chair. He swallowed his bite and turned to the woman by him.

"Have they told you where you'll be reassigned, Noona?" He set his chopsticks down and scooted his chair closer to her.

She nodded and set down the kimchi she'd just picked up to eat. "In Pledis, their idol group is touring and could use an extra stylist."

"Seventeen?" He recalled the label under BigHit's name. He was familiar with the members, but hardly had any lengthy interaction. "That's great! You'll be busy."

"That is true. Their styling is different, though, so they want me to be a backup and learn before becoming a main one for later in the tour."

"Makes sense."

"Mhm," she sipped her water again. "I'll miss your dressing room. It's come to be my place as much as yours."

"I'm only gone for a few months, Noona." Taehyung chuckled. "We'll be back in business soon."

"Have you and Jungkook-shi planned out the months?" His manager cut in, pocketing his cellphone and Taehyung turned to him with a shake of his head.

"Only Daegu for now. I think we'll plan for Busan not long after we come back from that, though." Taehyung's tapped his toe on the concrete floors, brushing his hair away from his face. "We've decided to just plan as we go."

"That's not efficient."

"It's not about efficiency, Manager-nim." His stylist chided and Taehyung laughed aloud. "It's called going with the flow."

"I do want to take him to Paris." The model bit the inside of his cheek and stared at the table shyly. "He says it as a joke, but he's always wanted to see the Montmartre District and I've never been either. Only seen it in pictures."

"Oh my god," the woman gushed, "I'm going to cry again, that's so sweet!"

"It's..." the stoic man to his left was staring with narrowed eyes, calculating some empathetic response. "Thoughtful."

"Thank you," Taehyung ate a piece of meat and kept to himself. The two older people, almost like guardians to him through his prime years, engaged in work talk. He drowned them out. Ate in silence that simply felt comfortable to sit in.

"—you do agree with me on the green?" Taehyung's gaze shot up, a complaint on the top of his tongue. "One's more yellow than the other."

"I suppose." His manager flicked his gaze over at Taehyung and the model smiled back at them both. "What is with that look, Taehyung?"

"I'm going to miss you, Noona and Manager-nim." He said quietly. "And since I won't be in the building, I'm asking for you both to use my number to talk about anything. Noona, when you're touring, Manager-nim— whenever you find time with your next management job. I really hope you'll still contact me."

"Kim Taehyung," his stylist laughed. "I'm expecting pictures and updates of all your fun! I have to make sure the prince is looking well wherever he is." She leaned in close to him. "And Jungkook updates."

He poked her arm and scoffed.

"You're so ridiculously sappy," the older man sighed. "No news is generally a great thing, so you should be glad if I don't say a word to you."

"I'll make sure to remind him to say hello." She whispered to him and Taehyung grinned.

"Small talk is a waste of time." He shot back, checking the time on his watch and then sitting straight. "We've to go back soon."

"When's your flight, dear?"

"Around six. We'll leave for the airport at four." Taehyung raised a hand to call their server over, handing his card to the man and letting the bill get paid. "I'll keep you updated."

"Good." His manager gave in and the other two laughed at his small slip.

"I'll tell the driver to drop you off at work first, Manager-nim, Noona." Taehyung followed them out of the restaurant once their meal was paid for, both thanking him for the treat.

He shook the elder man's hand firmly, a small exchange of smiles contrasting the dramatic bittersweet one of his stylist soon after.

"Take care of yourself and never mismatch shades of green again." She picked at his hair and Taehyung chuckled, waving at her from the car window.

"Okay, Noona, just for you."

—

"You just got him! Why does he have to be leaving?" Hoseok balled Yeontan up tighter into his arms, protective in every way and Jeongguk tried to attach the leash to his collar.

"Hobi Hyung, I need to put this on him."

"Just a couple more minutes." The older pleaded.

"Who knew he'd miss that fluff ball more than us?" Taehyung's chin hooked over Jungkook's shoulder hands on the younger's biceps as they stood by the couch. "Everything okay at the apartment?"

While Taehyung had been spending the morning with Jin and then lunch with his work partners, Jungkook had taken Yeontan to grab some things from the other apartment. Jimin snored his way through it until their dog startled the dancer with a jump straight on his stomach.

"Mhm, grabbed a pair of boots. It's apparently cold in Daegu." Jungkook leaned back into him for a moment before peeling away. He turned to walk over to Yoongi, handing the leash to Taehyung. "Yoongi Hyung."

"Hey, kid, what's up?" The producer stood from the chair.

"Were you able to talk to Taehyung's parents?"

Yoongi nodded. "Yeah, I've told them a couple good friends of mine are visiting and said my parents weren't in town— hoping that they could get a home cooked meal. Hopefully it's enough for them to prepare for guests."

The older had met Taehyung's family in his own personal trips back home, the Kim household fairly popular with Taehyung's status. Jungkook wasn't sure whether Taehyung knew Yoongi had visited his parents before, sharing minimal current news on their son, bridging the divide between them enough for it to not be strange to ask such a favor.

"They're gonna be shocked." Jungkook murmured, half excited, but also half nervous. Not for Taehyung, no. He was sure Taeyung would be accepted with warm, open arms. Himself, however? There was no way to miss the media attachment on Jungkook's name— or Bogum's for that matter— and thus, he mildly worried that Taehyung's parents had some assumptions about him.

"Just stay with him in case he gets cold feet. He'll want you there, Kook." Yoongi heard his name from being called from the kitchen and groaned, patting Jungkook's shoulder before leaving to help their oldest hyung.

And then it wasn't long before they were hugging each other in the doorway, winter coats on the youngest two as suitcases stood idle by their feet.

"The carrier is fucking adorable." Hoseok gushed, playing around with Yeontan, who's head stuck out of the opened mesh cutout. "You good boy, sleep on the flight."

"It's an hour long," Jungkook snorted, raising the bag of snacks. "This is really unnecessary."

"Don't be an ungrateful brat." Jin swatted his arm and then Taehyung was slinging the dog carrier on his shoulder and pulling his suitcase towards the elevator.

"Enjoy yourselves!" Hoseok wished and Yoongi snickered some 'not too much, though' that made Jungkook and Taehyung roll their eyes as they waited for the elevator. There was one more round of hugs before they were heading down the elevator to meet Jimin in the lobby. They took Taehyung's car, the dancer driving them to the airport.

"I'm calling into the airport to make sure we get some security there, or private screening, because I'll be damned if I let fans ask my autograph while I'm taking my shoes off in the screening." Jimin laughed from the driver's seat, glancing in the rear view mirror at the younger. Jungkook sat in the back row as Taehyung shuffled through songs from the passenger seat during the reasonable length of a drive to the airport.

"And not even because its fans, but it holds everything up for everyone." Taehyung continued. "The airport staff can't do their job if there's fans crowding."

"That sounds miserable." Jimin switched gears as they diverged off the highway. "Private screening must be a blessing."

"It really is." The model sighed, looking over his shoulder and catching Jungkook's eyes. The younger smiled and reached forward to poke his cheek and Taeyung grinned at him before turning back around. "Good thing this is off schedule, and the middle of the week, so not many people should be around."

"How much longer?" He ended up huffing with a tired lean against the window. Jimin answered with some remark of his lack of patience and Taehyung simply reached behind to hold his hand. "Shut up, Hyung."

"Who peed in your breakfast, goddamn." The dancer said absentmindedly. "How's Tannie?"

"Sleeping." He laughed before glancing into the carrier and reaching in to scratch the Pomeranian's ears. Taehyung squeezed his hand and then let go, probably just from the strain it caused at the awkward angle. When they approached the terminal of their airline, Jungkook put his mask on, throwing a hood up to hide most of his face as Taehyung called the number he'd been given from his manager.

In perfect time with their vehicle slowing, were there a couple security bodies recognizing the vehicle and standing close by.

"All good to go?" Jimin asked as he turned the hazard lights on and got out of the driver's seat. He took Yeontan's carrier as Taehyung and Jungkook grabbed their suitcases from the trunk. The younger took Yeontan and saw the small guy resting soundly inside. "Take care of yourselves."

"Thanks for driving us, Jiminie." Taehyung hugged the older and Jungkook took his turn after.

"Stay safe." Jimin said into his ear, hug lingering a bit longer that necessary and Jungkook figured he was slightly worried for him. "Text me when you board and call when you land."

"You'll be the first to know." Jungkook whispered, the worry contagious, before pulling away and heading inside with Taehyung.

—

They'd made minimal interaction with anyone, their flight time and chosen day making it less convenient for anyone of the obsessive fan-kind to be hurling themselves at the supermodel. Or at Jungkook for that matter.

Jungkook ended up taking a short power nap once they took off, Taehyung shifting his body over the center plate so he had a shoulder to lean against. The elder was flipping through a magazine from the seat pocket, mumbling small notes or acknowledgments as they let the hour pass by.

He checked in on Yeontan who seemed to me in his own world, peeking out of the gap and then laying back down in the carrier. Taehyung played with him while Jungkook slept and the younger was sure he felt a lick on his nose at least once.

"Hey, Hyung," Jungkook spoke on the phone as they headed towards baggage claim for their luggage. "We just got off the plane."

"Good. You had a safe flight, I hope?" Jimin spoke tiredly, yawning. It wasn't even seven in the evening and Jungkook refrained from teasing him.

"Flight was quick. We're gonna get a cab to Taehyung's place."

"Okay, Kook, enjoy."

"I will. You sound like you need a nap. Get some sleep, Jiminie Hyung."

"Mhm." A buzz of a goodbye accompanied the line cutting and Jungkook caught up to Taehyung. The airport was fairly empty at that hour, though a couple security guards was provided. Their bags came in the first batch at the belt and a taxi was waiting outside.

It was seamless and after asking the driver, they let Yeontan out of the carrier and let him scurry around their laps.

"The drive's a half hour." Taehyung said to him and Jungkook could feel his nervousness waving off. "You said they know someone's coming?"

"Yup, Yoongi Hyung told them but they don't know it's us."

The older shifted in his seat and ran his fingers down Yeontan's furry body, the dog keening under the touch. "You just love attention, don't you, Tannie? My parents will literally play with you twenty four seven."

"They like dogs?" Jungkook grinned. "Tell me about them, Tae."

"I look a lot like my dad." He mumbled, smiling at the course of memories playing through his mind. "My mom had a dog when she grew up so she's going to be all over Tannie. My dad's a fan of card games and eating my mom's food. They're just good people."

"We should play card games together." Jungkook nodded. "And I also want to try her food."

"They'll love you."

"I hope so." He chuckled. Yeontan climbed off Taehyung to huddle into Jungkook's stomach, stuffing his head in the hoodie pocket until he was dragged out by human hands. "Don't do that, silly." Jungkook hugged the dog and smiled over at Taehyung. "Are you excited?"

"I feel more nervous than I was about singing Sweet Night." Taehyung murmured and Jungkook pouted.

"It'll be good."

"How would you know, Koo?"

"I can feel it in my bones." He picked Yeontan up and kissed the dog's nose. "Isn't that right, Tannie? We can tell it's going to be great— atta boy!"

The small encouraging yap from the Pomeranian made Taehyung laugh, tone lightening just as Jungkook hoped.

"Okay, if you say so, Tannie." The model cooed.

The rest of the drive was heavily left upon Taehyung pointing out certain landmarks they passed by. They passed a school, the one he said was his rival one in high school. Then it was the town's library, decently sized and Taehyung told him how he hardly spent time there.

Jungkook had never been to Daegu, so he felt like he was being given a treat with the unexpected guide to different parts of Taehyung's childhood.

"That park," Jungkook leaned over to see where his boyfriend's long finger pointed to. "I used to play there with my parents all the time— oh, shit, this park— that means we're close."

The sun had set during the drive such that everything was a murky blue that reminded him of Andong. Andong was months ago, Jungkook smiled at the thought, feeling a bit of the normalcy they'd loved in that small town.

Jungkook hooked Yeontan's leash onto his collar and began to fix his belongings. Taehyung held his hand tightly like it was his stress ball, easing off the tension that had his muscles strained.

When they pulled up to the townhome, taxi pulling over to the shoulder of the road, Taehyung lingered in the seat, staring at the house, stunned.

Jungkook thanked the driver and grabbed the suitcases as Yeontan's leash tugged on his wrist. The dog was running back and forth curiously, testing the concrete of the sidewalk.

He knocked on the window and helped Taehyung out of the car so the cab driver could leave, holding the older when there was a seat in his stance.

"Tae, take a deep breath," he handed him a water bottle they'd picked up at the airport. "Drink this. It's okay."

Taehyung did as he was told, breaths shaky and smile weak as Jungkook soothed a hand on his back. Yeontan seemed to sense the discomfort, as well, as he rubbed against Taehyung's leg, helping him feel grounded.

"I'm good." The model whispered, handing him the bottle and kissing his forehead. "Thanks, angel."

Seven years was a long time. Especially when more had happened in seven years than all of Taehyung's other years alive combined. Jungkook wasn't surprised by his dazed state as his eyes trailed around the side garden, dreary and dead in winter, the orange of the roof plates and then to the front door. The lamp on the side of it illuminating at the dark hour.

"Let's go." Taehyung took his suitcase and set it by the door, Jungkook right behind and having picked Yeontan up into his arms. The younger ended up hitting the doorbell when Taehyung stared at it for too long.

It was a moment Jungkook didn't think he'd ever forget. Taehyung's mother opening the door mid-sentence, her words catching as the phone in her hand fell to the ground. She stared at the man before her blankly, stunned like she was hallucinating.

He wouldn't forget the croak in Taehyung's voice as he softly called out to his mother, crouching to grab her fallen phone and holding her arm when she stumbled— stumbled because Taehyung was real.

"Taehyung," she whispered, a wrinkled, nimble hand reaching up to touch the side of his face. Her son was crying, shoulders shaking with each sob wrenched past his smiling lips. He was consuming the smaller woman's body in a hug, arms shaking as they buried her into his chest.

Taehyung repeatedly called for her, kissing her head and leaning away only to be pulled back into a loving embrace again.

Jungkook saw a third body appear in the foyer past the embracing pair. His father. Of course it was his father when a slightly more formal (out of respect) kind of response was emitted from Taehyung, who's back straightened up and his arms loosened around his mother.

"Taehyung?" The man shuffled up to the door way. "You're... you're home."

"Appa," his voice shook with the unrestrained freedom of childhood memories and longing. His mother turned to hug him from the side and Taehyung bowed deeply to the man. The elder had a palm on his back, tapping him to stand and Taehyung was pulled into another embrace by his father.

Jungkook smiled as Yeontan hid between his feet, blinking away the hint of tears from his eyes from watching the anticipated scene.

"I'm sorry," Taehyung was desperately trying to control himself, breaths ragged but deep in attempts. His mother was hugging his hand, pressing it to her cheek as his father stepped away with some shimmer of tears along his waterline.

Taehyung kept apologizing and they simply shook their heads and loved him. Showed them they loved him with soft shushing and tender words.

"Look how handsome you've become." His mother kissed his forehead, Taehyung leaning down for her to reach. "So grown up, my precious Taehyung."

Yeontan, being the brat he was, barked rather abruptly, Jungkook scooping him up and scolding him quietly. But the attention had already shifted to them.

His ears burned when he looked back up to find all three pairs of eyes on him, Taehyung's parents staring at him in confusion, Taehyung chuckling softly under his breath.

"My apologies," Jungkook smiled sheepishly, bowing his head and holding Yeontan still.

"Oh, hello," his mother turned to Taehyung. "Who is this?"

Taehyung swiftly stepped away from them to place a hand on the small of Jungkook's back, the warmth of it hidden from the layers of their coats.

"Eomma, Appa," he met Jungkook's gaze. "This is Jungkook."

They looked at each other like the name struck familiarity to them and Jungkook feared the worst. The only way they could know of him was through his appearance in the media, which wasn't the most pleasant.

"Jeon Jungkook?" His father repeated, then held out his hand. "It's great to meet you, Jungkook-shi."

He fumbled with Yeontan to free a hand, eventually handing the dog to Taehyung when the model laughed. His hand was cold when it met the warmer one, shake firm and inviting. Jungkook smiled and bowed to them both properly.

"And this must be Tannie." His mother rushed forward to give her love to the small dog and Taehyung seemed surprised by her recognition.

"Eomma, you know about him?" Yeontan keened with the flurry of petting and babied words spoken to him.

"Your father and I saw your Instagram. You should ask him how excited I got seeing you got him." She laughed, then glanced at them both. "Oh, dear, it's cold out. Come in the both of you."

Taehyung let her take Yeontan, who went to her without hesitation, perhaps sensing Taehyung in her, or sensing her fondness for his kind.

"We'll be right inside with the bags." Taehyung nudged them to escape the cold, his father offering to help until Jungkook assured him it was alright.

They got a few seconds alone outside the doorway, collecting the bags and hauling them inside the house. After setting them down, Taehyung was closing the front door and locking it. The quietness of the foyer with his parents deeper inside gave them both a chance to breathe.

"See?" Jungkook said softly as Taehyung wrapped his arms around him. They'd take their coats and shoes off somewhere in the process of luggage hauling.

"Your bones are psychics." The older kissed Jungkook's palm when the smaller hands wiped away his tears. "Thank you, Jungkook."

"I'm glad I'm stubborn. They know about me, too?" He flushed, remembering the mention of social media. "Shit, their impression of me is from your Instagram. Oh, shit."

Taehyung bit back a sharp laugh, pulling Jungkook in closer. "I'm not gonna hide our relationship from them, angel. It's okay. And if they've seen how I talk about you on my Instagram, they probably know."

"That's..." he breathed out. "That's terrifying, Tae."

"You trust me?"

"Always, but—"

Taehyung rubbed his thumb along his lips, Jungkook halting his words at the action. "Don't worry. I love you and so will they."

"Okay." He whispered, kissing the finger and then stepping away from the older. "You were right about your mom loving Yeontan."

"Mhm, they're... they haven't changed."

"Home doesn't change with time." Jungkook assured him again. "You're still you, too."

Taehyung gazed around the house as they walked through, like he almost disagreed and maybe Jungkook would have believed that if it hadn't been for the way Taehyung admired the place and greet his parents so warmly in seconds. They walked through the hall to find both elders getting tea and food prepared for them.

"I'm grateful Yoongi-shi asked me to prepare for guests." His mother said absentmindedly to her husband before noticing them. "Come in, come in. Take a seat, please."

"Eomma," Taehyung went to her side and hugged her from behind, pressing his cheek to her shoulder and closing his eyes. "That smells delicious."

"Go sit, Taehyung, you'll get food soon." She laughed, poking him with her elbow and it was amazing how quickly they clicked together like a lock and key. Like seven years hadn't separated their time of interaction.

The two young men washed their hands before Jungkook sat on the floor by the low table, shifting to get comfortable on the cushion. Taehyung's father placed plates and Jungkook offered his help with a quick outreach of his hand.

"No, no, it's alright, Jungkook-shi." The man patted his hand and continued to place the plates around. Yeontan's leash had been removed, his short legs bolting over to Jungkook and climbing into his lap.

"Jungkook is fine, Ahjussi." He smiled up at the man and stroked Yeontan's side. Taehyung's father sat across from him after retrieving a tray of tea and glasses, pouring him some. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me, Jungkook." The man surely looked aged, but Jungkook could see the uncanny resemblance between him and Taehyung. "You gifted him Yeontan?"

"Ah, yes, how did— oh, Instagram. But yeah, I did." He finished quietly, the dog running off to run to his second dad carrying some bowls of food. "For his birthday."

"That's very kind of you." He nodded. "Tae-ah, you flew here?"

"Yes, Appa." Taehyung leaned over Jungkook to put the bowls of side dishes down. "It was quick and unproblematic."

"That's good." His mother said by the stove. Taehyung went back and forth to retrieve more dishes, pushing Jungkook down to sit when the young attempted to get up and help. "Did you not get rushed by fans?"

"I actually announced a break this morning, Eomma, so there's no public schedules for fans to follow." Taehyung came back with bowls one last time before sitting beside Jungkook. Yeontan laid down on the space in the floor cushions between them. Jungkook fed him some of the meat and Taehyung's mother returned a bowl of water to make sure Yeontan was well cared for.

"A break?" His father was serving himself food as a large stew was brought over by the elder woman, steaming in the pot to be placed on a table mat.

"I won't be returning to work until May. I've been given three months to take a break and give myself some time."

"Three months!" His mother sat cross legged beside her husband, filling bowls of stew for each of them. "How long are you here?"

"A week." Jungkook answered, which pleased the both of them greatly. "We can definitely come back more in the next three months, depending on how the travel plans work out." He paused before timidly continuing on. "I wanted to take Taehyung to Busan— that's my hometown— and show him around. Have him visit my home as well—"

"You both are taking this break together?" His father asked, surprised to say the least. "Jungkook, you're a photographer if I'm not wrong?"

"Yes, Ahjussi. Freelancing. I— uh, Taehyung asked me to travel with him. A break for us both, in a way."

"That's very good, you can keep each other company." His mother hummed. "Enough, talking, eat now. Then, you both should rest. There's a guest bedroom upstairs, Jungkook-ah."

"Oh, thank you." He bowed his head and the table went to smaller talk as Taehyung asked his parents about their jobs and family friends— most of which hadn't changed. They were humble people and Jungkook could see they were happy with the way they lived.

"You must have had your own room." Jungkook nudged the model discreetly, whispering to him. "You think it's still yours?"

"I'm positive they haven't done much to change it. Or at all, to be honest." Taehyung frowned. "Why?"

"We should see it. Kim Taehyung's childhood bedroom."

"Okay, Koo." Taehyung laughed. "We can do that. It's nothing special."

"It's where you spent a lot of your time as a kid, of course it's special."

And when they finished dinner, helping to clear the table and clean the dishes, Taehyung brought it up to his parents. They told them to go ahead and resolve Jungkook's curiosity.

"Tannie," Jungkook said softly to the sluggish dog. "You tired, Tannie?"

Taehyung was already bringing his carrier into the living room, expanding it out into its second form of a bed. The small Pomeranian flopped atop the thin cushion and curled up into it to sleep. Jungkook scratched his furry ears and the dog closed his eyes, whining softly at the loving touch.

"Such a good boy, Tannie." Taehyung whispered to him before taking Jungkook's hand and leading Jungkook towards the staircase at the front of the house.

Taehyung went awfully quiet as they stood at the base of the steps, letting go of Jungkook's hand. Jungkook watched him carefully as his mood shifted ever so slightly into something nostalgic.

The steps creaked as they went up, wood hard under his socked toes and Jungkook's fingers brushed the railing that trailed up along his hip. Taehyung's hands were buried in his pockets, eyes dazed like his muscle memory hadn't forgotten the depth and height of each step, how many before they reached the landing at the top.

He hadn't forgotten his home.

Jungkook smiled when the older gazed down the left hall and then to the right, turning without hesitation in the supposed direction of his childhood bedroom.

"This place feels smaller than I remember." He said softly, though the words were muddled with the sound of the kitchen from downstairs. Jungkook wondered how much Taehyung may have physically grown since the age of nineteen when he left for Seoul. Surely it must have been a great change when his body matured a couple years into modeling.

Jungkook stayed close enough to Taehyung such that their body warmth mingled between one another, the occasional brush of his hand on Taehyung's back intentional to reassure him he was right there.

"Yeah?" He replied. "Maybe you've just gotten bigger."

The model looked back at him, a gentle smile gracing his lips, and Jungkook felt his breath leave his chest as his hand was taken back into an even gentler hold.

It was only a few steps to reach one of the two doors on the side of the stairs Taehyung had picked. Considering the second level hallway being just about ten feet long, there wasn't much distance to cover.

"That's the guest room," Taehyung looked over his shoulder at the other door. "My parents haven't figured it out, but don't worry, I'll come sleep with you in there."

"I wasn't worrying, Hyung," he mumbled with reddened cheeks. "I'm okay with sleeping apart, too, I don't know what they'd prefer."

"They won't mind at all." Taehyung directed his attention back to the door before them.

Jungkook blinked in surprise at wall they stood in front of, a very familiar style of greeting on the white paint of the door.

"Your dressing room," he mumbled. "It's the same font with your name...?"

"I didn't have the pretty gold paint when I was in high school." Taehyung chuckled. "But I thought I was so artsy to paint my name like this on my bedroom door."

"So at BigHit— you painted your name on the dressing room, too?"

"Yeah, it was the first thing I asked if I could do when they said I was getting a permanent room." Taehyung's gaze flicked over to meet his, smile turning shy. "I wanted to take something from here with me."

"I love that." The younger reached up to touch the blue chipping paint, faded and cracking in the grains of the wood door.

"I have no idea if they've done anything, but I remember leaving my room a train wreck in the mess of packing. So... if it looks like a tornado hit—"

"—please, Taehyung, I couldn't give a damn. You've see my closet at Jimin's place."

The model shook his head before turning the door knob and pushing into the room.

It did not, in fact, look like a tornado had blown through the room when Taehyung flicked the light switch on, so Jungkook figured his parents had tidied it up after his leave. Instead, it resembled something quite ordinary. Really just like any expected teenage boy's room. The desk against one wall was littered with a pencil holder and old textbooks lined up, a lamp on one corner of the table. The chair was a wooden one that looked like it would ache to sit in after hours and Jungkook almost winced imagining studying on it. He saw a twin bed pushed against the wall, single pillow at the head of the made bed.

Jungkook stood in the doorway as there was nothing to fill the gaping silence of the two taking in the normal, boyish scene.

He watched Taehyung's expression. He'd seen it start with disbelief, shift to something rather pained, and lastly settle with relief.

"Is it how you imagined it?" Jungkook asked.

"It's exactly how I used to keep it."

He stepped further into the room, brushing past Taehyung's shoulder and spinning on the wood, taking in every inch of the space.

"This is exactly the kind of room I've had for my whole life!" Jungkook giggled. "Wow, Tae, can't believe I have something in common with you."

The model snorted at his words, taking the hand Jungkook offered to meet him in the empty space between the desk and bed. "Shut up, stupid."

"Mhm." The younger pointed at the doors on the wall, clearly a closet and dragged Taehyung over to it. "Let's see your teenage fashion."

"Oh, no," Taehyung sounded genuinely horrified. "It's horrendous. Let's not."

"Come on," Jungkook teased, reaching for the handle when Taehyung spun him around and pulled him away from it, their chest colliding almost painfully. "Ow."

"Sorry, angel." A hand pressed against his chest, soothing away the pain in the point of contact, and Jungkook pouted. "Don't give me that look."

"It's just clothes, Tae."

"Yeah? Well, my dignity is gonna be absolutely crushed if you open it."

"So dramatic." Jungkook pried his way out of Taehyung's hold, amused by the curse he let out under his breath.

"I'm not looking in there." Taehyung groaned, stubbornly turning and deciding to admire his desk. Jungkook rolled his eyes and pulled open the double folding doors to see a closet resembling the exact opposite of what Taehyung had now.

Bright and colorful, shirts of different prints were hung alongside a couple sweaters and jackets. Two pairs of jeans, some sweatpants and Jungkook didn't see anything wrong.

"You think this is embarrassing?" He frowned, sifting through the hangers, pulling off one that wouldn't fit either of their broader shoulders. "This is a normal closet."

"It's literally terrible."

"Designer has rubbed off on you too much." Jungkook scoffed, placing the shirt back in place and grabbing one of the seemingly oversized sweaters. "This is nice."

"Oh, that was my favorite sweater to wear in my last year." Taehyung hummed, hardly giving it a glance. "It's comfy, throw it on if you want."

Jungkook did. And it was strange knowing it was Taehyung's when it wasn't like any of Taehyung's clothing he was used to stealing. It didn't smell like the faint floral of his daily perfume, rather smelled woodsy, like old paint and books— maybe a hint of homemade food from downstairs.

"I'm stealing this." He grinned. "If you just left it here to rot, I am taking it."

"Clothing doesn't rot, Koo." Taehyung suddenly sat down in the desk chair and Jungkook curiously watched him reach under the surface to undo a latch. Then, he was sliding out a notebook, a heavy breath leaving his lips when it weighed down his hands.

"What's that?"

Taehyung set the thin notebook, cover black and plain, onto the table and stared harshly at it, like it was challenging him, taunting him to open it.

"Tae?"

The model's head jerked up, admiring the sweater on him before hooking his finger into the pocket and tugging Jungkook closer. "They never found this."

"Your parents?"

Taehyung nodded.

"What is it?" Jungkook leaned against the desk and traced the edge of the notebook, spirals dulled of shine on the other side. "A diary?"

"More like a plan."

"What? Was high school Kim Taehyung planning world domination?"

"Kinda. In a way, I achieved that, didn't I?" Taehyung chuckled, but the words were rhetorical and directed to himself. Like a answer after so many years of wishing that he'd drilled into paper and graphite, hidden from the world until he made it a reality.

"Come sit with me on the bed, Jungkook." Taehyung lead him over there, clutching the notebook to his chest as he sat and shifted back to lean against the wall, legs up and feet dangling off the side.

Jungkook crossed his legs and sat beside the model, like he was a child preparing for a story time.

"Have I ever told you when my dream to become a model started?"

"No," the younger's brows raised. "You've never mentioned it."

"Do you..." Taehyung adjusted his question. "Do you want to know?"

"Of course."

No hesitation and Taehyung stared down at the black notebook on his thighs. "I grew up normal. I grew up like you, probably. If you grew up the way I think you did. School was a priority, excelling with my grades and spending time with my family as much as I did friends."

"Sounds just like mine." Jungkook admitted.

"I took this one time job when I was fifteen. They needed another program distributor for this fashion show held in Daegu— what they were doing here? I will never know. But regardless, I was indifferent and decided I could use the money and I had a free night."

"You were indifferent? Did you never like fashion before?"

"I thought it was stupid. Have you seen my wardrobe?" Taehyung chuckled and Jungkook hugged the sweater closer around him. The model reached forward to rub his knee and let his hand relax there. "I snuck in out of curiosity after I finished handing out programs to the attendees. I remember I wore my dad's work clothes because they required some formal attire. I probably looked like an idiot."

Jungkook could imagine it. He laughed at the picture in his head.

"I fell in love with the art." Taehyung finally said. "It was only a collection reveal, runways and nonstop displays of attire for an hour. There was a male model in the show, too, and somehow I just knew I wanted to do that."

Taehyung paused.

"I only told one friend of mine. He told me I fell in love with walking. It was so frustrating, Jungkook." He felt Taehyung's hand squeeze his knee. "I'd watch videos online of supermodels and behind the scenes of shoots. Vloggers at Paris Fashion Week. I suddenly wanted it, so badly. Maybe it was fame at first, bringing in an income that could give my parents a life they never imagined, but there was confidence and strength in the models that I wanted, too."

"So you wrote in this notebook?"

"I was worried about telling my parents so I put it all here. They wanted me to go into finance, which is what I did for my first year of university. But I had a friend in an art program who needed a muse."

"Your first gig was a painting muse?" Jungkook gaped.

"The confidence I got from her just telling me I saved her entire college career." Taehyung snorted. "There was a casting call in the next town over from here. She asked me to go, literally drove me there after classes."

"Oh, wow. And then you got signed."

"Hell, no." Taehyung laughed and Jungkook smiled apologetically. "I was one of the first kicked out. Actually... Bang PD-nim was there outside of the casting auditions and saw something in me that I'll never understand."

"No way. He just picked you up after getting rejected? Wasn't BigHit so small back then?"

"That's right. He offered me a place with them. Told me that it wasn't going to be easy, and that they had almost nothing at the time, but..."

"You went for it."

"Because of this notebook." Taehyung held up the book. "He gave me his number, I literally had a biology exam the next day, and told me to sleep on it. I came back to Daegu and my friend told me it probably wasn't worth it. I thought so, too."

"I think that's reasonable. It's hard to trust a place without any name."

"And it was a miracle he trusted me when I didn't have a name either."

Jungkook snapped his gaze up from the bedding as Taehyung held the notebook out. He took it tentatively, frightened it'd crumble to dust in his hands if he handled it roughly.

"You can see, angel."

He opened it. There were sketches of small encouraging cartoons, doodled along the sides of rants, scribbled and smudged with time.

And what Jungkook saw in the words was passion. So much of it. Dripping in Taehyung's desire to give himself a name, make his parents proud. Do what he wanted to do after seeing that fashion show at fifteen. His plan to conquer the fashion industry.

Jungkook had said Taehyung's success was a deserved miracle months ago and he would stand by that forever.

"This is incredible." He whispered, flipping through pages, some of clothing drawings, stick figures of different poses. "This is— this is you, Taehyung."

"It's the heart of why I ever said yes to Bang PD-nim. Called him the next day and dropped out after my first year of college." Taehyung smiled fondly. "I'll never forget the look of shock on my parents' faces. Ironic that my central goal was to give them a life they'd only dreamed of and they feared I was throwing my life away."

"You know—"

"They never accepted any money I sent home. I always got the checks returned back to me. They just seemed to be happy I was thriving."

"Look how far you've come, though." Jungkook closed the notebook and took Taehyung's hand, stroked his thumb over the back. "You did made them proud. Hell, you accomplished all the feats you wished for in that notebook. That's insane."

"I didn't accomplish everything." Taehyung cringed like he was going to spill some embarrassing secret. "I was a teenager with hormones, of course I thought this, but I told myself I wanted to find another celebrity to be my life partner and we would absolutely rule every magazine and media channel. That's honestly horrifying, now that I think about it. And terribly materialistic."

Jungkook didn't know what to say.

"I did achieve it, actually." Taehyung thought aloud. "With... Bogum. Bogum was a force to be reckoned with at the time and maybe that's why I fell in love so quickly."

"It must be tempting." Jungkook caved in subtly, tucking trembling hands under his leg. "And why it was even more heartbreaking."

"I had gotten I wanted, everything I'd dreamed of from this black notebook and then it suddenly fell apart because of one man." The older sighed, leaning against the wall and drawing his knees to his chest. Jungkook thought the action made Taehyung seem small, like a teenager worrying about smaller things like an exam the next day.

"I don't like that notebook anymore, you know." Taehyung's voice was almost inaudible. "I always told myself I'd burn it if I ever got my hands on it again."

"I get why you wouldn't like it after Bogum, but why not now?" Jungkook sounded unintentionally defensive. Almost hurt that Taehyung had been claiming he was happy when he possibly wasn't?

The model's head turned at the tone of his voice, lighting up in admiration at the frustration on Jungkook's face. One side of Taehyung's lips quirked up and he took Jungkook's face in his large hands, the shift in his weight causing the bed to dip and naturally incline Jungkook towards him.

"Jeon Jungkook," he tucked a strand of Jungkook's hair behind his ear. "I don't like it anymore only for the reason that it's limiting. I thought it was the only plan of success I wanted to have. I don't like the notebook anymore because life proved it so wonderfully wrong."

"It... oh." He flushed, slightly embarrassed he'd thought otherwise. "That's true. But you shouldn't burn it. Keep it as a reminder of where you started— with a crazy plan."

Taehyung nodded after a few moments of silent thought. "I guess you're right. It's our secret. Nobody else knows it even exists."

"I think it's amazing." Jungkook moved to lean against the wall with Taehyung again, splaying his legs out to mimic the older. "You verbalized your dreams."

"You want to know what's more amazing?"

The younger turned to look at the model, grown and mature, too big for the dreams of that room. His nose brushed Taehyung's their small laughter hitting each other's skin.

"What's more amazing, Taehyung?"

The answer was so clear in Taehyung's eyes. The way his gaze hugged him with warmth that he couldn't describe even if he tried.

"I achieved the dreams I've wanted since I was fifteen, and yet the best thing to happen to me, the one and only Jeon Jungkook, wasn't mentioned even once."

—

holy guacamole that was long and honestly messy wtf 😭😭
ILY GUYS THANK YOU FOR 7K VOTES AHHH💙💙

that hobi and tannie pic is one of my all time favorites