A distant ringing seeped into Jungkook’s half consciousness, and his eyes unfolded when he recognized it as the ringing of his phone, which he had forgotten in the living room.

He was still cuddled up next to Taehyung, he observed, with their hands joined. It surprised him how he managed to stay in the same position throughout the night, but he didn’t have time to mull over it.

He carefully retracted his hand, as Taehyung was still asleep, and rolled out of bed. He pattered to the living room and located his phone that was still ringing. “Hyung.”

“Hey. Were you sleeping at this hour?” Namjoon asked with a frown at his hoarse voice.

Jungkook quickly glanced at the time. It was still noon, and thank God for Namjoon calling him because he was sure he wouldn’t wake up on his own anytime soon. “Um, yeah. It’s a long story. I’ll come late to work today, but if something comes up, call me right away.”

“Is everything okay?”

“I’m okay, but Taehyung isn’t. Someone stabbed him yesterday, and he came to my house.”

“What? How is he?”

“He was in a lot of pain yesterday. But he’ll be fine. I just want to make sure he’s okay. I’ll come to the station when I drive him home.”

“Yes, of course. Take care of him.”

“I will. How are things there?”

“We have nothing new. Jeosun left early in the morning for Daegu. He told us the detective’s house was empty, and it seemed abandoned for years. The chief told him to stay there for a few days and track him down. He’ll call us when he has news.”

“Okay. We’ll talk later, then.” 

“Yes, Kook. Bye.”

Jungkook said his goodbye as well and ended the call. He trod back to his room, only to find Taehyung trying to pull himself to a straighter position. His eyes popped, and he hastened to help him. “What are you doing?” He threw his phone onto the nightstand and adjusted the pillow for him, pulling it upwards. 

“It hurts. I need to take a pill. It’s not that bad as yesterday, though.”

“Sorry,” Jungkook mumbled as he took a tablet in his hand and passed it to him, along with a bottle of water. “I thought you were still sleeping when I went to the living room. Namjoon hyung called.” 

“Why are you sorry?” Taehyung asked, puzzled, after he swallowed the tablet. 

“Because you needed your medication, and I wasn’t here.”

Taehyung broke into a delicate smile. “Relax. The pain is a little better, so I can take my medication on my own now.”

“That’s good,” Jungkook said with obvious relief, matching his smile. “I woke you up, didn’t I?”

Taehyung nodded cutely. “I woke up as soon as I couldn’t feel you anymore.”

“Sorry.” Jungkook scratched his nape, and his eyes fell on his own body, only then remembering he was half naked. He scuttled around the bed in search of his sweater, hearing husky giggles behind him, and found it fast enough, then drew it on. 

“Why are you in such a rush to dress? Are you shy?”

Jungkook playfully rolled his eyes at his sly tone, forcing out his unreasonable embarrassment. “Shut it. And dress too.” He threw the sweater close to him. 

But Taehyung seemed rather uninterested in it. “Don’t wanna. I’m hot.” He held his cunning gaze riveted on him and flung the blanket off him. 

Jungkook’s eyes darted to his naked upper body, giving it an unintentional once-over, and then flew away from him throughout. “It’s not even that hot in here,” he muttered. 

It was true. Taehyung was actually a bit cold now that he removed the thick blanket, but it was all worth it. He got Jungkook all fidgety — even slightly blushed. “It is for me. Now, can you help me get out of bed?”

“Can you dress?”

“No.”

“Then no,” he said, but his small, uncertain voice didn’t even sound believable to him. He noted his faint shrug. Then, he caught him pulling himself up and sighed as he scurried to his side. “You’re so stubborn.”

A grin sprawled on Taehyung’s features with a notion of satisfaction. “I knew you wouldn’t let me get up on my own.”

Jungkook snorted in response. He supported his back and gently pushed him to a sitting position, as the other brought his feet to the floor. He removed the tubing since the IV had finished by now and heaved him off the bed. 

“I feel so weak,” Taehyung mumbled the moment he stood up, clutching at his shoulder to balance himself. 

“You went through a lot. And you have to eat something,” Jungkook said, giving him a tight-lipped smile. “Can you walk?”

“Yeah, I think.” Taehyung took his first small step and didn’t find it as painful as he thought. He loosened his grip and shuffled out of the room, with Jungkook beside him in case he needed help. “I know you have work, so I’ll get ready as soon as possible and leave.”

Jungkook’s forehead puckered in bafflement as his eyes jumped to his face from the floor, studying his reserved expression. “You’re in a hurry to leave because I have to go to work?”

“Well, yeah. Won’t you get in trouble if you’re late?”

Jungkook smiled as he opened the door to the bathroom. “No, don’t worry. I talked to Namjoon hyung and told him I’ll be late. If something urgent doesn’t come up, I don’t have to go anytime soon. And I want to make sure you’re okay first.”

Taehyung bit his lower lip, concealing a timid smile. “Thank you.”

Jungkook grabbed a spare toothbrush from the drawer and handed it over. “You can take all the time you need. Be careful not to wet your sutures. If you do, dry them right away. And if you need something, call me, okay?”

“Th—” 

“Don’t thank me,” Jungkook cut him off rashly. “I know I’m awesome for taking such good care of you.” His brows quirked in a teasing sort of smugness. 

A honeyed giggle fell from Taehyung’s lips. “You are.” His smile turned into a bashful one with the remembrance of the mental note he made to himself yesterday. He neared him with three little steps and held his forearms, peering into his eyes fondly. He identified a twinkle of nervousness dancing all over them, though Jungkook remained stock still despite it. He bridged the gap between them, and his lips touched the crown of his left cheek in a quick but feathery kiss. 

Each one of Jungkook’s heartbeats became stronger and more violent at the angelic touch. His stomach lurched, then contracted into a convoluted ball. Something was happening to him, utterly new and inexplicable. It effectuated a heady mist in his mind. It held him frozen stiff, and his eyes, which were wider than usual, trained on him in hazy scrutiny. 

“Yah, don’t be so shocked,” Taehyung said with an anxious tension. “It was just for a thank you.”

His words wrenched him out of his overwhelming daze, stirring him to toss his head down and retreat with clumsy, hurried steps. “I, um—” He ended his stammer with a clearing of his throat, followed by a titter. “Anyway, take your time.”

Taehyung extended his hand to grab his forearm and stop him, but a spasm of mystification mixed with surprise crossed his face when Jungkook jerked away from his grip. “Why are you so jumpy suddenly?”

“Just... shut up,” Jungkook breathed out and marched off to the door. He halted when he closed it, staring at the floor and feeling his heart rampage in his chest. He slapped a hand over his face in sheer frustration and embarrassment at the way he acted over a little peck on his cheek. 

Taehyung was at a loss for words at his bizarre behavior, but his bemusement soon approached a suspicion for its cause, making his eyes swell unnaturally. Was he... flustered? By my kiss? A short chuckle burst out of his mouth at the absurdity of his thoughts, which died rather fast, and his face wore the previous mask of surprise threaded with incomprehension in seconds. No way, right? He just found it uncomfortable. 

Pushing his ridiculous thoughts aside, Taehyung freshened up with sluggish moves. The medication veiled the pain, but an annoying discomfort was still there, which slowed the process. 

He trudged towards the door a while later and glanced at the living room, finding Jungkook sitting there. 

Jungkook pitched forward at the sight of him, ready to rush to his side to help him, but the other seemed more than capable of walking by himself. His vigilance diminished until he mellowed and sank back into his seat. 

Taehyung carefully took his seat across from him. The enveloping air was charged with an awkward sense that prevented both from glancing at each other. The strained silence lasted longer than they thought until Taehyung gathered his courage enough to look at him. 

“Um, I need to take this off too.” He pointed at his arm where the IV cannula was placed. “Do you have gauze and stuff?”

“Yes, uh, I’ll go freshen up and bring you what you need.” Jungkook slithered out of his seat and scuttled to the bathroom right away. 

God, he was stupid. What happened to him? Why did he feel so daunted by Taehyung’s affection? The only person who had kissed his cheek was his mother, and he was often mildly annoyed at the gesture. He wasn’t a fan of skinship in general. But each one of Taehyung’s touches — and especially that kiss — only sent flutters throughout his system. Were they flutters of fear? Discomfort? Vulnerability? Whatever it was, it was all unprecedented, unfamiliar, and just... dreadful. 

After washing his face and brushing his teeth, mentally scolding himself and trying to craft a way to fix the awkward mess with Taehyung all the while, he grabbed his first-aid kit from the bathroom, stopped by his bedroom to take Taehyung’s sweater, and returned to him. 

He sat next to him, keeping his head down as his embarrassment about his freakout hadn’t receded in the slightest. He sanitized his hands, then loosened the tape and tegaderm surrounding the IV insertion site. He took a gauze, placed it over the insertion spot, and removed the IV cannula with a smooth pull. 

“Can you hold the gauze?”

A lump of saddened discomfort grew at the back of Taehyung’s throat at the lack of Jungkook’s eye contact and hushed tone. He followed his instructions nonetheless. 

Jungkook taped the gauze and gathered his supplies. Once everything was in the kit, he took it in his hands and returned it to the bathroom without a word. He fetched his phone from his bedroom in case someone from work would call and went back to the frosty atmosphere of the living room. 

Taehyung, already wearing the sweater Jungkook brought for him, couldn’t take it anymore. Not only Jungkook avoided his eyes with a vengeance, he even sat on the other couch across from him this time. He swallowed the lump, willing feigned nonchalance into his veins. “So, what are we gonna eat?”

Jungkook’s gaze locked on him for a full second, betraying his startle at the casual question, then dropped again. “Whatever you want. I’ll order. I don’t cook at home.” 

A glimpse of mellowness washed over Taehyung’s expression. At least he got him talking. It was a good start. “Why? Too bored to cook? Or you don’t have time?” 

“Actually, I used to cook with my hyung.” The words flowed out of his mouth quietly but with ease, even though he just shared a personal piece of him with Taehyung. “It feels weird at the thought of cooking alone now.”

Just as that mellowness surfaced and a ray of coziness began to flower, they died instantly. “Oh God, I’m so sorry,” Taehyung breathed out as he dipped his face into his hands. “I’m so insensitive.”

“No, it’s okay,” Jungkook hastened to reassure. “You didn’t know.”

But Taehyung wasn’t appeased at all. The awkward ambiance amplified even more with his insensitive blunder, feeling it prickle his skin and flay his chest. 

“Tae. It’s okay,” he uttered worriedly, not wanting him to feel bad about it. “Let’s pick what we want to eat.” Jungkook grabbed his phone and shifted next to him so they could scan the menu together. 

Taehyung peeked through his fingers at the dip of the couch beside him. His face still screamed remorse, just like his insides. He chewed on his lower lip and glanced at the screen, but the menu disappeared by an incoming call. He recognized the number right away. “Oh. It’s Jimin. Do you mind...”

“Here.” He handed him the phone.

“Hey, Chim.”

“Are you okay?” 

“Yes.”

“Good. Listen carefully. He found out I left yesterday with one of his men.”

Taehyung angled his head away from Jungkook at the sound of these words, trying to obscure his nervousness. 

“He confronted me, and I couldn’t lie to him. He’s really furious. I haven’t seen him like this in a while. He demands to talk to you. When will you go home? He told me to come get you like right now.”

Taehyung shut his eyes in burning frustration. Then, he wore a pretended smile as he forced a chuckle. “You missed me already, huh? Don’t worry, I’m really fine. I’ll go home in about thirty minutes since you want to see me. And get me a new phone, please.”

“Okay. I’ll deactivate your previous sim card so you can use the same number again. See you later.”

“Bye, Chim.” Taehyung hung up and gave the phone back to Jungkook. “Can you drive me home?”

Jungkook’s features gloomed at his request rather profoundly. “You’re already leaving?”

“Well, there’s no reason to stay. And Jimin wants to see me. It’s too awkward around here now, anyway.”

His last murmuring remark caused Jungkook to hang his head. Of course it was too awkward since he freaked out over a mere peck. Taehyung was kind enough to pretend like nothing happened. But both could feel the awkwardness crowd them. “Listen, I’m sorry about—”

“No, I’m sorry,” he spat out, a thread of a vexed sort of irony hardening his voice. Was it because of the phone call that he suddenly became so peevish? Or the remnants of hurt at the thought of Jungkook being uncomfortable over a peck? “I obviously shouldn’t have done that, since it bothered you so much. And I don’t get it, Jungkook. We slept cuddled up, half naked, and you get so shocked over a kiss?”

Taehyung studied the other as his flareup quieted down. It wasn’t because of the phone call, he realized. Jungkook’s head was lowered, his features drawn down, sulking, and his hands tamely held together. It stung to think that Jungkook was bothered by his kiss, but it saddened him to see him in that state more. “Okay, I’m sorry for snapping at you. And for kissing you. I thought it was okay after everything. Now I know it’s off limits. Can we move on?”

Jungkook tinkered with his hands, his pout unyielding. It didn’t bother me. It confused me. It felt weird. It’s not off limits. He squeezed his eyes shut at his thoughts. How crazy would he sound if he vocalized them? How much of a weirdo would Taehyung think he was if he expressed them? He dreaded to find out. 

“It just... caught me off guard,” he settled on saying. “I didn’t expect it.” His voice was nothing more than a mumble and it didn’t seem it would gain volume anytime soon. “Only my mother has kissed my cheek sometimes when she greets me. It was out of the blue. I’m not familiar with it.”

Taehyung’s eyes grew a tad with a softness like no other. “So it wasn’t that... you hated it?”

Jungkook met that soft gaze on instinct. I can’t hate anything when it’s from you. His unexplained desire to voice this thought was so consuming he gave in. There was a diffident heaviness on his tongue that confused him about if he said it out loud or not. But the focused examination of Taehyung’s look confirmed that he did. Surprise enlarged Taehyung's eyes and sprawled all over, leaving his mouth hanging open. He definitely said it aloud. And he wanted to take it back so much. Taehyung would muse over it more than he should. It didn’t mean anything. Right? How could he explain that to him without being an ass again?

A warm touch on his hand ceased his turmoil of thoughts. He glanced down at it, spectating as Taehyung tangled their hands together. 

“I’m sorry,” Taehyung said, subduing the surprise by his heart-melting remark and smiling sweetly instead. “It was wrong of me to kiss you without asking first. For me, it seemed too innocent and natural. I didn’t think you were unfamiliar with it. It was my bad.”

Jungkook gulped. He wouldn’t question him about what he said? Why? Was it because he knew it didn’t mean anything? Or because he knew it meant something Jungkook didn’t want to acknowledge? 

“I should have explained myself right away. I’m sorry about the way I acted too.”

Taehyung’s smile widened to a goofy grin, crinkling the edges of his eyes. “It’s okay. I understand.”

“You do,” Jungkook said under his breath, his eyes sparkling at the adorable sight of his face, wandering all around to assimilate every inch. “You always seem... to understand.”

Taehyung interpreted a change in his look and the way he spoke, but he couldn’t pinpoint it. The underlying intensity, though, and his searching stare caused his smile to falter. There it was again. Those eyes became veiled, obstructing him from reading them. They projected a frightening impression that they might see straight into his scarred soul one day. 

“Jungkook...”

His hand came to cradle the back of Taehyung’s head at the call of his name. His fingers knotted in his silky strands. The muscles in his arm strained at the physical effort to blot out his want to tug him closer. What the fuck was happening to him?

The fog cloaking his gaze dissolved, like clouds clearing after a storm. His rationality swung back to him before he did something he would probably regret. His hold weakened until his hand withered to his side.

But Taehyung caught it midair. 

“If I could bend, I would be hugging you right now.” Not to say kissing you, Taehyung thought. “So how about you hug me instead? I can’t look into your eyes anymore. They scare me.”

Jungkook erased the tiny gap between their bodies and curled an arm around his shoulders. He guided his head to rest against him and carefully leaned him back in his seat. “Why do they scare you? Are they creepy?”

Taehyung puffed a muted laugh. “Your eyes are beautiful.” The confession came out glibly through smiling lips. “But they don’t tell me anything. That’s why they scare me. I couldn’t read them again. I hate that.”

Jungkook’s mouth hovered over the top of his head. His rosy aroma had diminished because of the rough night he had, but he still delighted in Taehyung’s natural scent. It was even more addictive, he thought absently. “Your eyes don’t tell me anything either, so we’re even.”

“If I give you the chance to ask me anything you want to know, would you tell me what were you thinking before?”

The proposal was highly tempting. There were so many things he wanted to know about Taehyung. From the silliest ones, like what was his favorite drink or food, what did he want to be when he was a kid, to deeper ones, like if he had ever been in love, why he disappeared every day for a while, what had happened the night his parents were murdered. 

But getting an answer to one of those gnawing questions would only induce his curiosity further, and he wouldn’t be able to stop there. So he quickly conjured a scheme. “What I was thinking before is worth at least five questions. Are you sure you want to take the risk? You have to answer truthfully to whatever I ask you.”

“Five questions?” Taehyung echoed in surprise. “Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“You can judge for yourself. Just accept my deal.” Eagerness suddenly thrummed through Jungkook’s system. While he dreaded the idea of sharing his previous thoughts, it was all worth it if he could know Taehyung better. And that fact startled even himself. Since when was he so desperate to know more about him?

The shakes of Taehyung’s head against him dissipated his hidden eagerness and pale hopes. 

“Five questions seem too much for me. Can’t you just tell me, though? I’m dying to know now.” 

Jungkook smiled with a mouth buried in ebony, tousled, but smooth at the same time hair. Then, his cheek snuggled up to his head. “Maybe it’s better not to know,” he let out in an exhalation. “Come on. Let’s get ready to drive you home.”

Although Taehyung didn’t want to part from him, especially now, he had an involuntary rebuke to go through, and so he sighed and withdrew. He shored himself up the mighty arm that slid around him and lifted to his feet. “I was bleeding when I came here, so your yard is probably a mess. Do you have someone to clean it? I’ll pay for it, don’t worry.”

Jungkook snorted as he grabbed Taehyung’s scattered shoes and shuffled towards the bedroom, with Taehyung following him. “You shouldn’t worry about it. I’ll call Miral. She’s my cleaning lady.”

“No wonder this place is spotless,” Taehyung uttered, a hint of teasing in his tone. 

“Yeah, like you don’t have a cleaner.”

“For your information, I don’t.” Because I’m rarely home, he wanted to add, but he knew it would raise too many questions. “I should have known you didn’t clean yourself. I remember how you had changed the bedsheets that night.”

A throaty chuckle seeped through Jungkook’s lips as he helped him sit on the edge of the bed, then crouched in front of him. “I wanted to fuck you like there was no tomorrow at that moment, not flaunt my excellent cleaning skills.”

Taehyung giggled so hard his injury ached. God, he loved it. Seeing him so comfortable while talking about that night. Joking about that night instead of getting awkward. You did, though, and I loved every minute of it. Would Jungkook get all fidgety and reserved again if he offloaded his thoughts? 

“I know you want to say something,” Jungkook uttered after scrutinizing the vestiges of uncertainty in his once gleaming eyes. He arose and trod to the closet, feeling Taehyung’s eyes drill holes in his back. He opened the second drawer, grabbed a pair of socks, and returned to his previous position. “You can say whatever, Tae,” he whispered, grabbing one sock and slipping it on Taehyung’s foot. “I want you to be comfortable enough with me to say whatever.”

“What if it makes you uncomfortable?” Taehyung drawled falteringly. 

“It won’t. Maybe I won’t know what to answer. But it won’t be because I’m uncomfortable. That’s just me.” With both socks now in place, Jungkook helped Taehyung put on his sneakers. “I don’t know what to answer to most of the things you say.”

Taehyung held onto his hand when Jungkook stood up, preventing him from leaving. “You don’t know, or you hold yourself back?”

Jungkook maintained his back turned to him as he stared at the floor, each one of his words echoing in his head. The silence stretched longer around them, but the uproar in his head only intensified. “See? You proved my point.” He gently tugged his hand to free himself, and he sensed Taehyung clutch it harder in his attempt to rise to his feet. Worry rapidly swept him as he whirled around and fastened a supportive arm about his waist. 

Taehyung’s arms were cramped between their bodies when he stood up, his palms resting on Jungkook’s shoulders. “You hold yourself back.”

Jungkook’s airways felt as if they were being squeezed shut by a stranglehold at the proximity. He couldn’t breathe anymore with him so close, let alone think. So he released him and stepped back, immediately finding his breath coming back to him. “Yes.”

“Don’t,” Taehyung said in a whisper, his body closing in on him, seeking his warmth, as though it couldn’t last through even a second without it. “Don’t hold yourself back.” His hands embraced the sides of Jungkook’s neck and ventured lower, ghosting over his collarbones. “Just be yourself.”

Jungkook’s heart malfunctioned so many times around Taehyung it made him think something was definitely wrong with it. It was as if it had become just a stupid organ that pounded harshly for no reason. 

Jungkook ringed his wrists once he felt his hands travel further down his chest. His eyes anchored on Taehyung, meeting his hooded ones. “Don’t do that.”

“What?” Taehyung fought back the twitch of his lips, struggling to keep a straight face. “I’m not doing anything.”

“You know what you’re doing. What you’re trying to do.” Jungkook’s voice was deeper than he expected, like a heated pressure constricted his throat. “It won’t work on me.”

“Really?” Taehyung couldn’t conceal the pale twinkle that flared to life in his eyes. “Because I think... it already did.” His head lowered, expecting to see the outline of Jungkook’s erect cock in his sweatpants, but a hasty hand grabbed his chin and positioned his head back where it was before he could certify it. 

Jungkook filtered out the smug smirk on his face. “We’re friends now. Friends don’t fuck. So don’t even dream about it.”

“Oh, I can disagree with that.”

“Shut up,” he breathed, unclasping his hold on his chin and wrist, and sought for his shoes in a hurry. 

Taehyung smothered a giggle. “At least you admitted we’re friends now. We’re one step closer.”

Jungkook hunched to put on his shoes. “To what?” 

“To friends with benefits.”

A sharp snort erupted from Jungkook. “Forget it. It’s not my thing. I want new flesh to keep it interesting.”

“I can make it interesting, trust me. It’d be like the first time all over again.”

His persistent attempts were cute, Jungkook had to admit. He knew better, though, to take them in jest than actually considering them. He straightened his back and faced him. “New one-night stands excite me. That’s where all the fun is. In the ‘new’ part.”

“You seem pretty excited right now, though.” Taehyung's brows set in two high curves of mischief as he pointed with his eyes at his prominent bulge. 

Jungkook playfully rolled his eyes at him as his chest quivered with a contained chuckle. “Just because I’m attracted to you doesn’t mean I want to fuck you again.”

“Not even if I begged?” 

The image of a needy Taehyung begging him to fuck him invaded Jungkook’s mind, making it reel. Invigorated heat rushed through his veins and seared his skin. But no matter how hard it was, he forced it to tone down until it got under his control. He approached him slowly and steadily, his gaze darkening upon seeing expectations simmer in Taehyung’s eyes.

He halted right in front of him. He carded his fingers through his hair, untangling a couple of loose knots, and held his nape. “Don’t beg anyone for that, okay? Especially me. You're worth so much more. Not just a fuck from an asshole like me.”

“You’re not an asshole,” Taehyung drawled, fisting his sweater. 

“I’ll be one if you continue to try to get into my pants. And I don’t want to be an asshole to you anymore.”

“But I don’t get it.” Taehyung clung to him tighter when he was about to withdraw. “You want me to get into your pants, don’t you?”

“Yes and no.”

“Yah. Choose one. You can’t just say that.”

“Hmm...” Jungkook brought their lower bodies in full contact, careful not to press on his stomach. His heartbeat sped up again, making him wonder why on earth he was doing this to himself. He buried his face in his neck and nosed his way up to his ear. His desire to suck the temping earlobe was intoxicating, but he constricted it and instead whispered, “Then no.”

Taehyung felt shudders ripple down his spine at his hot breath and a boost of heat stampeded to his crotch. God, he was so weak for him. “Liar,” he let out in a trembling mumble as his body slanted towards him, wanting to feel more of him. 

Jungkook laid his hands on his shoulders and poised him, creating a safe distance between them. He smirked, ignoring his raging heart. “Enjoy your boner. Now let’s go.”

Taehyung huffed a noise in disbelief at his teasing behavior. He followed him with his eyes as Jungkook went off to the nightstand to grab his medication. “Next time, you’ll take care of it. Deal?”

Jungkook chortled. “There won’t be a next time. I’m not coming so close to you again, and you better stay a meter away from me.” Because I might fucking devour you the next time. 

“You’re joking.”

Jungkook pocketed the meds and turned to aim a look at him — a cross between amusement and seriousness. “Am I?” Then, he headed to the closet and pulled out two coats. 

“You better be.”

“Why? So you can make me hard again by touching me in a way you shouldn’t?”

“Because I want your hugs.”

A sudden heaviness bore down on Jungkook’s shoulders, rendering him motionless. His muted voice lacked its usual mischievous lilt. And he was sure any semblance of a smile had drained out of his gorgeous traits by now. He didn’t dare to confirm it, though. 

“I know you’re not a touchy-feely type of guy. But now I got a taste of your comfort. And I don’t think I can live without it.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” Jungkook muttered, impelling himself to snap off his standstill. He beckoned Taehyung to follow him out of the room. “You just want an excuse to touch me.”

“Well, yeah, but I’m serious.”

Jungkook didn’t answer. He passed him a coat, wore his own, and then his strides brisked, causing Taehyung to straggle. Once in the living room, he picked up his phone and sent a quick text to Miral, asking her to clean his yard within the day. He glanced behind him to check if Taehyung had caught up with him, and saw him stand at the hallway. 

“I don’t like your silence,” Taehyung announced when he finally got his attention. 

Jungkook resumed his way to the door and reached for his car and house keys from the bowl on the entryway table. “I can’t do anything about that.”

“You can tell me we’re okay and not awkward again.”

Jungkook twisted to face him, his features softening as he neared him. “Of course we’re okay. I just didn’t know what to answer you, Tae.” He circled Taehyung’s body with a secure arm and led him towards the exit. “Do you have your keys?”

“In my jeans’ pocket.”

Jungkook located the said jeans thrown on the living room floor and fished the keys from the pocket. “I'll wash your clothes and return them, okay?” He noticed Taehyung nod as he returned to him. Jungkook wrapped his arm around him once more and slipped the keys into Taehyung’s pocket. 

“You’re hugging me.”

“I’m helping you walk.”

“Still, you defied what you said.”

Jungkook smiled. “It’ll apply from tomorrow.”

“Then screw work and stay with me all day.”

“You’re the one who wanted to leave.” Jungkook opened the door and closed it on their way out, then held him again to help him descend the single stair. 

“You can work for an hour. Then, screw work and come take care of me again.” Taehyung’s lips stretched with a warm smile at the chuckle he evoked from him. But he frowned as Jungkook released him. 

“Look, you can walk on your own. You’re good as new now,” he teased. “Jimin will take care of you, anyway.”

Taehyung stayed silent until they reached his car. A thin layer of snow still covered the greenery around the house, though thankfully it didn’t seem like it would snow soon again. “Jimin can’t stay for long. What if I get worse suddenly? Who do I call?”

“I’ll give you Hae Soo’s number. Call him if you don’t feel good.” He opened the door for him, his eyes wandering all around the ground. “And then you call me. Definitely.”

Warmth exploded right in the center of Taehyung’s chest, despite the chilly weather. “Thank you for caring.”

A crooked smile tugged at Jungkook’s lips. “Come on.” He aided him in getting into the car, closed the door softly, and soon joined him. 

The ride was quieter than they expected. Maybe the looming separation struck them both hard enough to pull them into a mire of melancholy. And only twenty minutes later, Jungkook was ushering Taehyung into his apartment.

After making sure he was comfortably laid on the couch and had everything he needed close to him, he reminded him to call him if something happened. With a goodbye caress on his head and suppressing an urge to peck his forehead, Jungkook left, hoping the annoying itch in his chest to spend more time with him would abate at some point. 

Not even three minutes later, the bell reverberated through the apartment. Taehyung unburied himself from the nest of coziness and trudged to the intercom. He buzzed Jimin and Yoongi in and opened the door a mite, then crawled back into his nest. 

His two friends soon slid into view, and Yoongi shut the door as Jimin made haste to sit next to him. “Tae! Are you okay?” He took his hand in his, his worry shining through his expression. 

“I’m okay.”

Yoongi neared them and ruffled his hair. “That’s good to hear. You got us really worried this time.”

“I know. I didn’t think Soo Gun would do something like this. I was unprepared.”

“At least you’re okay now,” Jimin said, sighing in relief. “I’m sorry, Tae. Jin Mo confronted us, and I couldn’t lie. He wants us to take you to the mansion.”

“There’s no way I’m going there.” I won’t be able to see Jungkook if I do. This thought floated in his mind, but he didn’t dare to voice it. “Did you bring me a new phone?”

“Yes.” Jimin pulled the item from his pocket and passed it to him. “I had a backup of your contacts, so everything is like it was.”

“Thanks.” Taehyung found Jin Mo’s number and called him. He picked up at the first beep, and Taehyung braced himself, since that only meant he was truly outraged because of him. 

“Taehyung?”

His voice startled him. It was low, maybe a tad sharp, but not even close to angry. “Jin Mo-ssi.” 

“How are you?”

Mystification ripped across Taehyung’s countenance as his consideration was the last thing he expected at that moment. “I’m a little better,” he mumbled, feeling a dreadful uncertainty creep into his system. “Why aren’t you yelling at me?”

“I was planning to.” There was a pause. “But once I heard your voice, I couldn’t do it anymore. I was worried you would die. I’m glad you didn’t.”

“Were you... really worried?”

“Of course, Tae, what do you think? I spent the last seven years of my life with you as my best man. Whoever tries to kill you dies. But that doesn’t mean I’m not mad about what you did. I know what you did. And I know what our dear detective Jeon Jungkook did.”

Taehyung’s eyes bristled with apprehension. He put it on speaker to share the reason for his foreboding with his friends. “What do you mean? What did Jungkook do?”

“He protected you from Soo Gun. He became your hero. Wasn’t that what pissed off Soo Gun and impelled him to kill you?”

No, that wasn’t exactly it. But how could he come clean about it? Fucking Jin Mo always knew everything. How was that possible? He still didn’t know. “Yes.”

A sigh pushed out of Jin Mo’s mouth. “No matter what happened, you screwed up big this time. There will be consequences.”

“What consequences?”

“You won’t get any money for the times you met Soo Gun.”

“Are you serious?” Taehyung snapped. “He stabbed me! Isn’t that punishment enough?”

“You did a poor job on this one, Tae. It’s your fault, so don’t push me. Soo Gun won’t leave you alone if he doesn’t kill you, so I’ll handle him. I won’t give you another mission until you heal. But forget the break I promised you. I gave you too much freedom, apparently. You keep screwing up. This has to stop, so you better get your shit together during the ten days you’ll rest. You won’t have another chance.”

The line went dead at once, and Taehyung could only stare at his friends in a daze. 

“What an asshole,” Jimin grumbled. He took the phone from his hand and left it on the table. “How is it your fault if Soo Gun groped you like the monster he is and Jungkook just protected you?”

“Well,” Taehyung mumbled as he averted his eyes. “It is my fault because that’s not why Soo Gun got so pissed. I... told him I’ll never be his and that I’m done with him.”

“Tae,” Yoongi released with a sigh as he moved to the armchair next to them. “You know you shouldn’t talk like that to the targets. You don’t know what they’re capable of. Look at what Soo Gun did now.”

“I know, okay? I know. I couldn’t help myself. I was planning to tell Jungkook about him so he could lock him up. But that fucker moved faster than me.”

“That’s even more dangerous!” Jimin hissed. “What if Jin Mo found out? He got eyes and ears fucking everywhere.”

“Ugh, whatever!” Taehyung pouted. “It doesn’t matter now. Whatever happened, happened.”

Jimin gave him a tight-lipped smile as he rubbed comforting circles on his hand with his thumb. “Never take off your ring again, even if you’re going to the supermarket. Okay?”

Taehyung glanced at him at his soothing voice and nodded. “Okay.”

“Now, to the interesting part.” Yoongi curved forward to fix Taehyung with a probing stare. “Did something happen between you and Jungkook?”

“Yah,” Jimin gritted out as he smacked his shoulder. “He was injured! Jungkook better didn’t do anything to you while you were in this condition.”

Taehyung smiled at the irony of the situation. “I wanted to do things to him, even though I was in this condition.”

“Like what? Jump him?”

Yoongi’s question wrenched a giggle out of him. “Fucking devour him,” Taehyung sighed. “He took such good care of me. I already miss him.”

Jimin and Yoongi traded a look. Then Jimin studied Taehyung’s smilingly wistful expression. “What are you saying, Tae? Do you... You don’t like him, right? You can’t like him.”

It was the first time he truly took a moment to cogitate his feelings about Jungkook. Sure, he was attracted to him. Sure, he wanted to have sex with him again. But after the way he nursed him and cared for him, something else blossomed within him. It wasn’t only lust that vibrated through his veins for Jungkook anymore. It was also something soul-deep warm, inexplicably fond, and new. 

He liked Jungkook. In a way he hadn’t experienced before. And he didn’t know what to do with himself because Jimin was right. He couldn’t like Jungkook. Jungkook was a target. He would never forgive him if he found out who he truly was. 

As if he needed confirmation, his mouth unfolded. “Jungkook won’t forgive me if he finds out who I am, right?”

His two friends shared another look before Yoongi leveled his eyes at Taehyung. “No, Tae. He won’t.”

“Then...” His vision blurred with an unaccountable stinging moisture. “What do I do? I think... I really like him now.”

Jimin slid a hand down his face at the unnerving turn of events. “You have to finish your mission as soon as possible. Before your feelings grow more. Then, you’ll never have to see him again, and you’ll forget him. Don’t let yourself get closer to him. It’ll hurt more in the end.”

The turbidity around Taehyung’s vision deepened, then it mildly cleared. He registered his tears eventually leaked out only when Jimin collected them with a tender knuckle. 

“I’m a horrible person.” Taehyung’s heavy voice barely came out as the aftermath of his actions gained more mastery over his being. “I don’t have the right to like him. I’m playing him. I’m lying to him.”

“You’re in no way a horrible person,” Yoongi said firmly. “You’re just doing your job. Stop this nonsense.”

But Taehyung’s tears poured faster down his face. Was it because of the physical exhaustion that danced around his muscles? Because of his helpless, injured condition, which he always hated to be in? Because his guilt finally took the best of him? Or because he was so drained by the continuous facade he wore for the sake of his missions? He wanted to be real with someone for once. 

He wanted to be real with Jungkook. And, at that very moment, it broke him that he couldn’t. 

───⭒───༺🌑༻───⭒───

Taehyung admitted his feelings for Jungkook! 🎉🥂 A lot exciting chapters are coming. I hope you'll stay till the end💜