Taehyung had decided to follow Namjoon's advice and talk to Jungkook directly. But by the time he finally caught his boyfriend alone, someone had spread the talk about Gina's nasty rumors about him that weren't true at all. Jungkook had already caught up to it and found out himself that it had been Gina who had talked Beomseok into approaching Taehyung.

So when Taehyung pulled him into the book club's meeting room, deserted in the lunch period, he was already aware of what Taehyung wanted to talk about with him.

"I heard it was Gina who pushed Beomseok to do what he did to you," Jungkook started immediately after the door closed. Taehyung was caught by surprise and worry by the blue-haired's statement.

The jock had crossed his big arms in front of his chest as he leaned against a desk and looked at Taehyung in thought. His eyes were guarded, Taehyung then realized.

"You knew?" Taehyung nodded slowly, hoping Jungkook wasn't upset. He had wanted to talk to his boyfriend directly but unfortunately, the whispers had already spread and taken away the opportunity for Taehyung to talk to Jungkook privately.

"I know since morning," Jungkook replied swiftly, voice clipped and on edge. Taehyung shuffled nervously in his spot, fiddling with his sweater.

"Why haven't you talked with me first?" There was audible hurt in Jungkook's voice when he spoke again after a longer pause and Taehyung closed his eyes pained for the split of a second. This was the worst-case scenario he could have thought of and he hoped he didn't unknowingly hurt Jungkook. Although it appeared that he already did.

"Because I wasn't sure myself and I didn't want you to do something you might regret later." Taehyung answered honestly because there was no reason for him to lie to Jungkook.

"Always worrying about anyone but yourself huh..." Jungkook mumbled, visibly frustrated as he carded his fingers through his hair. They have only talked over messages since yesterday, arriving separately at school and now that they stood in front of each other, Taehyung suddenly felt distant from Jungkook. He had never seen Jungkook get angry at him and this new sensation wasn't something he liked. At all.

"I wanted to talk to you about my assumption but guess you already heard... I'm sorry, Jungkook. I didn't mean to keep it from you, I was about to tell you," Taehyung said unsure, not knowing how to interact with the obvious anger radiating from Jungkook. Or maybe it was more frustration that his boyfriend was feeling.

Jungkook let out a frustrated sigh as he finally turned towards the other. "Tae, I care for you. I want to keep you safe. Why would you try to protect her? She doesn't fucking deserve it! She deserves a punch!" His voice had grown frantic in the end, tinted with irritation.

Feeling like he was treated unfairly, Taehyung responded to the irritation with a huff of frustration of his own. Jungkook was clearly misunderstanding his intentions. Both were riled up, by everything that happened and things that were left unspoken between them. Things that were on the urge of being revealed as a heated argument slowly unfolded in between the two lovers.

"I wasn't trying to protect her! I was trying to protect you! I don't want you to do something you might regret!" Taehyung defended himself, trying to reason with Jungkook. Why was it so hard for him to understand that Taehyung didn't need him to fight his battles? That he wanted to protect him too, just like Jungkook has done again and again? This relationship consisted of two sides and Taehyung for once had wanted to take care of Jungkook instead of vice versa.

"Protecting you is something I will never regret, Taehyung. Don't you get it? You're literally one of the most important people in my life. I'm quite sure I'll spend the rest of my life with you. Your business is my business." They weren't shouting at each other but they weren't calm either.

Jungkook felt... betrayed. Or hurt. Fuck, he himself didn't know the feeling inside his chest but what he knew was that he was upset. Upset over the fact that Taehyung didn't talk to him first. Instead, he had to find out about Gina's involvement from others. Jungkook wanted to strangle that nasty cheerleader, how dare she bribe Beomseok and then act all innocent?! How dare she be jealous of Taehyung when she wasn't even important to Jungkook at all.

To Jungkook, it felt like Taehyung wanted to keep him away, didn't want him to know because he feared he would go and do something stupid, get himself into trouble. But Taehyung didn't understand that Jungkook would set the world on fire for him if he asked him to. There was nothing Jungkook wouldn't do for him.

"Exactly. You want to protect me, why can't I protect you?" Taehyung asked heatedly, voicing out exactly what had been troubling him.

"You always do so much, cheering me up after she insulted and slapped me, after I've had flashbacks and was so scared out of my mind, I wanted to show you that these feelings of protectiveness are mutual! I for once wanted to be useful to you and return the favor!" Tears of frustration brimmed in Taehyung's eyes. Why were they yelling at each other? Why couldn't Jungkook understand that he had wanted to protect him, because Taehyung loved–

"Wait, full stop. What the fuck. She slapped you?! Why haven't you told me?!" Jungkook interrupted Taehyung's thoughts with a shocked exclaim that transformed into fury. The jock balled his fists. When did that happen?

"I'm sorry, it completely slipped my mind... I didn't mean to upset you, Jungkook." Taehyung exhaled heavily, he suddenly felt exhausted. He didn't want to fight with his boyfriend, not when it seemed to be a huge misunderstanding.

"I forgot because it wasn't the worst part of what she did to me... I just want peace. I'm sorry, Jungkook," Taehyung apologized in such a tiny voice, leaving him sad and confused. Jungkook seemed to be calmed by the apology but there was still an angry fire burning inside his eyes.

He let out an upset huff. "God– Fuck Baby, you don't have to apologize for that. I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at her. I gave her a warning and she still continued to mess with you! Fuck, I could punch her right now!"

And Taehyung realized that this was exactly what was bothering him: Jungkook's willingness to get hurt, get into trouble on his behalf without thinking of the consequences. It was sweet of him, somehow, for trying to defend his honor but it was also a problematic approach to handling issues. In the adult world, that would come to bite Jungkook in the ass and Taehyung didn't want that for his beloved boyfriend. Not when he was the reason Jungkook got into trouble in the first place.

"Violence to violence is not the solution. I don't want you to get hurt. You nearly got expelled because of me! The guys too!"

"Because this fucker tried hurting you!! And let me tell you something, I would do it again. Anyone who hurts you Sweetheart is met with me and my wrath." Jungkook seethed, he was persistent and wouldn't back away from his point of view. Taehyung sighed softly, looking at Jungkook with sad eyes.

"Jungkook..." The blonde whispered his name, shoulders dropping. He liked Jungkook's protectiveness but he couldn't sit still and watch him get hurt. Taehyung couldn't. But Jungkook wasn't done yet, feeling the need to explain his point of view, why he was so persistent on protecting Taehyung.

"When will you understand that I would set the world on fire if you asked me to? You're everything for me, the one I live for and I'll do anything to protect you, to take care of you and I'll continue to do so until I take my last breath and–"

"Jungkook, I love you."

"What?" The interruption shut Jungkook up, feeling suddenly out of space, like he was glitching because he for sure must've misheard, these wonderful words weren't just spoken from these wonderful plump lips now stretching into a shy smile, he must be dreaming.

"Isn't it obvious?" Taehyung asked and bit his lip. "I love you. I love you more than anything, Jeon Jungkook. You're my world and the love of my life since I was in middle school. I've always loved you, from the moment I first met you and to the moment I saw you again with that beautiful blue hair, I love you, I love–"

Jungkook shut him up with a fierce, passionate kiss, pulling Taehyung into his arms roughly and he kissed the blonde like he was a starved man and Taehyung was pure salvation.

Their argument was forgotten. Seconds ago, Jungkook had been so desperately angry, frustrated with himself and with the miscommunication, desperate because he wanted to make Taehyung understand that he was so in love with the gorgeous, kind blonde that he couldn't let anything hurt his amazing, loving Sweetheart.

But now, nothing of it mattered. Because Taehyung loved him back just as much.

"I love you, Kim Taehyung. My heart has always been yours. I've never wanted anything more than to be loved by you. I'm the luckiest man because you chose to love me," Jungkook whispered touched, kissing a crying Taehyung again.

"I love you," they whispered against each other's lips, forgetting what they were mad about, what they were arguing about just seconds about because their love confessions took all air with them, leaving them breathless and only their lips moving against each other could give them peace.

As they came to realize, their argument had begun from the same reasons: they loved each other so much, they wanted to protect each other. This unspoken understanding of the respective other was enough to forgive.

All was forgotten, because the only thing relevant right now in this moment, was the feeling of love in between them.

~

I'm trying to showcase a good relationship but of course, communication is hard but they're trying

Elaboratae