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Taehyung was feeling unloved.
Which was melodramatic of him, he knew. If anything, he considered himself the luckiest person in the world because of just how loved he truly was.
But, still.
It was no secret he was weak for Jeongguk. Weak for his touches, weak for his whispered sweet nothings, weak for that wicked look in his eyes that always made Taehyung’s knees buckle.
He sighed. Was this what it meant to have an addiction? Because if so, then he was hopeless.
Especially in light of the fact that Jeongguk was a busy man.
Just earlier today, Taehyung had breezed into Jeongguk’s office, needy for affection. Without a word, he’d climbed onto Jeongguk’s lap and had proceeded to kiss the other like his life depended on it, crushing their lips together. And when Jeongguk had responded within an instant, meeting Taehyung’s heated kiss measure for measure, his strong hands gripping Taehyung’s hips and pulling him closer until their bodies were flush against each other, it had ignited something low in Taehyung’s stomach, making him crave even more.
Unfortunately, Jeongguk only indulged him for a few moments more before breaking the kiss, the corner of his mouth upturned just slightly as he smoothed a thumb across Taehyung’s cheekbone.
“As much as I want to keep this going,” he said, “I’ve got an important call in five minutes. Can we continue this later, beautiful?”
Back in his room, Taehyung sank in his chair and pouted. He knew Jeongguk’s time was well occupied with all of the business-related tasks he managed...whatever they were. Honestly, to this day, Taehyung had no idea exactly what it was Jeongguk did.
That was more on him, though. He preferred not knowing. What he did know was that the ‘Jeon organization’ didn’t hurt innocent people, nor did it destroy lives by trafficking in commodities like weapons or drugs. Taehyung’s understanding, acquired through a conversation with Jin one day, was that Jeongguk, among other things, mainly provided ‘protection’ to privately-owned businesses across Seoul.
However, shortly before Taehyung had entered Jeongguk’s life, the other had started to invest in properties throughout the city as well, and now Jeongguk was considered nothing short of a business magnate and one of South Korea’s most influential and wealthiest men.
And probably one of its busiest men too.
It’s not like Taehyung expected Jeongguk to be able to spend every waking hour with him seven days a week. Although, Taehyung genuinely wouldn’t have minded that at all.
Paris had been like that. Jeongguk had surprised Taehyung with a trip to the City of Lights for Taehyung’s birthday last year, as it was their first time celebrating it together. For a little over a week, it had been just the two of them every single day: slow, sweet lovemaking in the mornings, a delicious breakfast at a nearby patisserie (Taehyung found he absolutely adored pain au chocolat), a day’s worth of exploring museums and art galleries (it took two whole days to see everything in the Louvre), authentic French cuisine for dinner at any number of fancy restaurants Jeongguk had made reservations for in advance, and then a romantic evening doing any number of things: strolling along the Seine hand-in-hand, or listening to musicians busking on the tree-lined walkways of the Tuileries Garden, or people-watching at Sacré-Coeur as adults and children alike enjoyed the famous, double-decker carousel there, their faces aglow in its carnival lights.
That had been one of the best weeks of Taehyung’s life. He held the memories from it close to his heart like a keepsake.
Maybe it was naive of him, but he wished every day could be like their time in Paris.
He knew Tahiti would be. Jeongguk had promised they would vacation there sometime this year at Taehyung’s request, and Taehyung could hardly wait. He was already compiling a list of all the sights they’d have to see and all the activities they couldn’t miss.
He just loved spending time with Jeongguk, and he loved that he had someone in his life with whom he could share such beautiful and memorable moments. Was it so crazy if he simply wanted to live in total bliss with the love of his life all day, every day?
He huffed and leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his desk and chin resting atop his fists.
His eyes flitted up to the Park Seojoon poster on the wall in front of him. When Taehyung had first come to Seoul, it had been a heart-wrenchingly lonely experience trying to find his place in the city. He’d never imagined it could be so difficult to make new friends.
Back in those days, when he only had his evening dramas for company, he would often daydream about dating Seojoon as a way to nurse his hurting heart. In his mind, he contrived all sorts of ways that they could possibly meet, but one of his favorites took place on a strawberry farm. Essentially, Taehyung would have moved back to the country, deciding he was ill-fitted for the city. Months later, Seojoon would just so happen to be taking a break from fame, renting a homey cottage just across from the strawberry farm where Taehyung would be working. Seojoon would visit the farm one day, happen upon Taehyung, and the rest was history.
Taehyung giggled to himself thinking about it now. The truth was, given all his movies and dramas, Seojoon would probably be a fairly absent partner, though by no fault of his own of course, and only physically speaking. Taehyung was sure he would still be attentive with his significant other and would call them every day to stay in touch, but his filming schedule would probably take him away from home for several months at a time if it took place in other cities.
Taehyung couldn’t even imagine such an arrangement. In fact, Jeongguk was going on a five-day business trip to Japan later this month, and Taehyung didn’t know how he was supposed to endure it when he was so used to being around Jeongguk daily.
“Can’t I go with you?” he’d whined when Jeongguk had first told him.
“You know that’s not possible, sweetheart,” Jeongguk had said, softening the blow with a kiss to Taehyung’s knuckles. “But I’ll be back before you know it.”
Not likely, Taehyung thought. Time had a way of passing with such agonizing slowness whenever Jeongguk was away on business trips.
If Taehyung could have his way, he’d just cancel all of Jeongguk’s out-of-town obligations. And all those phone calls too. Taehyung sometimes fantasized about just tossing Jeongguk’s phone out the window. Or at least silencing it for a few hours.
Yesterday, he’d been showing Jeongguk all of the cute bowties he’d purchased for Yeontan recently, letting the pomeranian model them one-by-one. In the middle of it all, Jeongguk’s cell vibrated. Seeing the screen, he rose from the edge of the bed, telling Taehyung he needed to take the call. He didn’t return for a whole forty minutes, by which point, Taehyung’s enthusiasm over the bowties had already waned.
And the day before that, they were in the middle of watching a Seojoon drama in the family room, Taehyung’s head on Jeongguk’s shoulder, Jeongguk’s arm around Taehyung’s waist, when again--the stupid cell had to interrupt them. And again, Jeongguk insisted he had to take the call.
When he returned, asking “What did I miss?,” Taehyung only crossed his arms, frowning at the screen.
His non-response had an adverse reaction, because Jeongguk only chuckled.
“Gukkie!” Taehyung protested, taking objection to the fact that Jeongguk wasn’t taking him seriously. He gently hit Jeongguk’s arm with a couch pillow.
Jeongguk easily pulled him onto his lap, dropping kisses on his neck and then pulling at the collar of his shirt to cover his shoulder with kisses as well. “Let me make it up to you.”
Taehyung tried, and failed, to keep from shivering at Jeongguk’s touch. He knew Jeongguk was aware too because he could feel him smirk into each kiss.
Taehyung crossed his arms even tighter. “No,” he decided. “You don’t get to make it up to me. You abandoned me.”
“Oh, I abandoned you now, hm?” His smirk grew.
“Yes. And Seojoon was the only one who was here for me. Plus, he didn’t take any calls during our time together, unlike some people. So I’m just going to spend the rest of the night watching his movies.”
Jeongguk’s hands moved up and down his thighs, and suddenly, his lips were pressed against the shell of Taehyung’s ear. “Is that right?” he asked. His hot breath sent a tingling sensation down Taehyung’s spine. “And does Seojoon make you feel good the way I do? Does he take care of you in all the ways I do?” His hand cupped the front of Taehyung’s pajama pants, and...well, needless to say, Taehyung did not end up spending the rest of the night watching Seojoon movies.
It’s not as if he’d actually been angry with Jeongguk anyway. A little put out maybe, but he understood there were demands on Jeongguk’s time, necessary evils that they had to co-exist with. At most, he’d pout and whine for all of a few minutes, but that was the extent of any ‘anger’ over the situation.
Especially considering he had a solution.
Whenever Jeongguk was caught up in the whirlwind of an especially busy week, and Taehyung went days without getting as much Jeongguk time as he’d like, he’d institute something he liked to call ‘House Arrest.’
Essentially, for twenty-four hours, Jeongguk was not allowed to take any business calls. For twenty-four hours, it was meant to be just the two of them, enjoying each other in their own little world where the usual day-to-day obligations couldn’t steal them away.
In truth, the idea had originated with Jeongguk. Not long after Taehyung had moved in with him, there had been a business-related incident that required Jeongguk’s immediate attention. As it happened, he and Taehyung had had a date already planned for the evening--fine dining at a new, Michelin-starred restaurant that had recently opened in Seoul and then a show at the Seoul Arts Center to enjoy the Korean Symphony Orchestra.
In fact, Taehyung had been in the middle of getting ready when the knock had come at his bedroom door.
“Gukkie, I’m not ready yet!”
Though he shared a master suite with Jeongguk, he hadn’t wanted the other to see him preparing for their night together so had opted to use his private bedroom instead. He had purchased a brand new outfit for the evening, all in white. White shoes, white pants, a white button-up shirt, and on top of that, a beautiful white blazer with silver beading on the shoulders and front in patterns that looked like vines. It was the most expensive article of clothing he’d ever purchased (he’d agonized for an hour at the department store over whether or not to buy it), but he’d wanted everything to be perfect. It was, after all, their six month anniversary.
“Are you sure it looks okay on me?” he’d asked Jimin days earlier as he stood in the middle of his best friend’s living room, where the blond was executing a perfect arabesque.
Jimin groaned. “Oh my God. If you ask me one more time--”
“I just don’t know if it’s too much.” Taehyung tugged at the blazer, looking down at himself.
Taehyung hardly ever dressed up. Jeongguk was always buying him designer clothes and accessories, and as much as Taehyung appreciated it and felt touched that Jeongguk loved to dote on him with gifts, Taehyung had just never really been one for name brands. He loved and much preferred the eclectic pieces he happened upon in thrift stores. He felt they were rich in history. There was also just a sort of warmth and security in the worn cardigans he adopted as his own.
“TaeTae, you look like a prince who just stepped out of a fairytale, okay? So if that’s what you’re going for, given that you’re celebrating an anniversary, then no, it’s not too much.”
“Jimin-ah...” Taehyung’s chest warmed, the knot of tension in his stomach unspooling a little. He loved his best friend so much. “So you think Jeongguk will like it?”
“He’ll like it,” Jimin said. “And he’ll like taking it off even more.”
Taehyung’s face flushed and he hurled a couch pillow at the blond, who let himself topple over and roll across the ground laughing.
Back in his bedroom, preparing for his date with Jeongguk, Taehyung flattened his palms down the front of the blazer, dragging his eyes from his shoes all the way up to his face for one final inspection.
“Can I come in, sweetheart?” Jeongguk asked from the other side of the door.
His voice sent a flutter through Taehyung’s chest. He loved that despite being together for half a year already, he could still feel a thrilling spark whenever he and Jeongguk were about to enjoy a date night together.
He rushed to a bureau, sure he was forgetting something. Of course! Lip balm. He applied some, rubbing his lips together to even out the balm. He wanted his mouth to look perfectly kissable. And how could he forget a spray of fragrance? His hand hovered over a selection of bottles as he tried to decide which to pick.
He had never been into colognes. He found the scents in the majority of them to be too overbearing. He loved how they smelled on Jeongguk, but for him, he felt they simply didn’t complement him as a person. Instead, he far preferred fragrances like vanilla and honey and powdered sugar. In the summer months, he opted for notes of orange, pear, or magnolia. In that regard, Taehyung didn’t mind the bottles of fragrances Jeongguk regularly gifted him from names like Armani, Dior, Versace, and others.
“Angel?”
Taehyung quickly sprayed a vanilla scent onto his neck and wrists. Giving himself one last once-over in the mirror, he tamped down the anxiety bubbling in his stomach over how Jeongguk would react to his look and finally opened the bedroom door.
His heart somersaulted at the sight of Jeongguk in his suit. Taehyung’s first instinct, which he somehow managed to suppress, was to kiss him. He looked so impossibly handsome, like a movie star about to walk the red carpet.
Taehyung had no idea how he’d gotten so fortunate as to capture Jeongguk’s attention and love. He could have anyone he desired, anyone in the world, and yet he’d chosen Taehyung. He’d chosen Taehyung and he’d pulled him into a world that often felt like a fantasy, filled with romantic dinners and expensive gifts, but more important than all that: real, boundless love that kindled the fire in the hearth that was Taehyung’s heart.
Jeongguk wasn’t just Taehyung’s partner. He was Taehyung’s home. And every time Taehyung looked at him, he saw a future filled with radiant happiness. He saw trust and loyalty and security and warmth.
Jeongguk took in Taehyung’s appearance, momentarily taken aback by the atypical glamor. His eyes lit up, and a gentle smile slowly stretched across his mouth.
“Wow,” Jeongguk murmured, stepping further into the room, his eyes still raking him up and down.
Taehyung’s face heated even as his chest glowed with happiness.
Jeongguk took his face between his warm palms, smoothing his thumbs across Taehyung’s cheekbones. “You look beautiful, angel,” he said, before pressing a gentle kiss to Taehyung’s forehead.
Taehyung felt about as combustible as a set of fireworks. He could’ve exploded with happiness in that very moment.
When Jeongguk pulled back, however, there seemed to be a certain sadness in his gaze. In fact, the more Taehyung came back down to earth, he noticed how Jeongguk’s airs didn’t quite match with the buzz of anticipation that had fizzled in Taehyung’s veins all day long. Taehyung’s stomach hardened, but he forced on a smile, wanting to recapture his excitement for their date.
“Inhee-ssi posted a picture on social media just an hour ago,” he said. “She’s the one who I told you won second prize at the Mozart International Competition, remember? Do you think maybe we’ll get to meet the musicians after the performance? Maybe they’ll come out to the lobby afterward? If they do, I’m going to ask for their autographs. Maybe they can sign the playbill for me. Or, I guess it’s called a program for symphony performances.”
Jeongguk was still holding his face in his hands. The sadness in his eyes only deepened, and Taehyung suddenly felt as if he were going to be sick. “Sweetheart, I’m so, so sorry, but something’s come up that I need to address right now. So I won’t be able to take you out tonight, as much as I want nothing more than to do just that.”
Taehyung could only stare at him, feeling unmoored, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach. He blinked, not even sure how to respond. “Oh,” he finally managed. His chest ached as if he’d been struck there.
“I’m so sorry,” Jeongguk repeated. “I know how much you were looking forward to tonight. I was looking forward to it too. But I’m going to make it up to you, all right? Tomorrow, I’m all yours. We’ll go wherever you want to go, see whatever you want to see, do whatever you want to do. All right?”
Taehyung absently nodded, looking down. He was still processing the fact that his night with Jeongguk had so effortlessly been snatched away from him in a single moment. All of his earlier excitement now felt like cold gruel in his stomach. Face and neck hot, all he wanted to do was climb under the covers of his bed where no one else could see how pathetically embarrassed he felt.
“Hey,” Jeongguk said softly, tilting his chin up so their eyes met. “You know there’s nowhere I’d rather be tonight than with you, right?”
Taehyung let his chin dip back down. He knew he probably looked heartbroken, and he didn’t want to make Jeongguk feel any worse than he already did. “I know,” he answered just above a whisper.
Jeongguk stepped closer, pulling Taehyung into him and kissing the top of his head. “I hope you know how sorry I am,” he said. “But tomorrow, I’m going to do everything I can to put the smile back on your face, all right?”
And thus, House Arrest had been born.
Taehyung opened his laptop, smiling at the thought. He didn’t know if this had been Jeongguk’s plan all along, some sort of reverse psychology he applied to their relationship, but whenever Taehyung was feeling upset about Jeongguk’s busy schedule or the occasional times it resulted in a cancelled date or activity, he was always able to self-soothe with the reminder that Jeongguk would make it up to him. And once he remembered that, he’d start to secretly love it the busier Jeongguk became. In his mind, he’d mentally tally all the twenty-four-hour blocks he’d be able to get out of it.
Things hadn’t been too busy lately, but Taehyung felt he was owed at least one whole day of House Arrest. He navigated to a folder on his computer and clicked open the file where he kept his template for the arrest warrant he served to Jeongguk at times like these. It was something cute he liked to do. The template even bore the seal of South Korea’s National Police Agency, and Taehyung always had one of the hyungs sign the bottom as a stand-in issuing officer.
Taehyung typed in the details, including the date and length of Jeongguk’s upcoming sentence, and then printed out the warrant. Grinning to himself as he held it in his hands, he strode off to find Yoongi, a bounce in his steps.
Yoongi was stationed in his bedroom, the door ajar. He sat before a complex setup of computers, wearing headphones. Taehyung smiled, feeling only a little guilty that he was watching his hyung without the other knowing. Yoongi enjoyed ‘making beats,’ as he called it, but he never let anyone actually listen to the music.
“Hi, hyung!” Taehyung called out, finally announcing his presence.
Yoongi looked over his shoulder, surprised to see Taehyung in his room. He paused the program on his computer and removed his headphones. “Hey, Tae,” he said. “Everything all right?”
“Mmhmm. I just need you to sign this.” He extended the arrest warrant to the other.
Yoongi took it, glimpsed it, and then permitted the faintest smile to grace his lips. He grabbed a pen from his desk and obliged Taehyung before handing the warrant back over. He’d signed half a dozen of these already and knew the drill.
“Do you want some company later?” Yoongi asked. He no doubt had reasoned that Taehyung was feeling a little lonely at the moment.
Taehyung’s heart warmed. This life he now lived--it was already perfect simply because Jeongguk was a part of it, but on top of that, Taehyung had gotten four hyungs who were always taking care of him, supporting him, and making time for him. He adored them all so much.
There had been a time in his life when he’d felt so insignificant, as if it didn’t even matter to anyone that he existed, as if no one even saw him standing right there. He never felt that way as a member of Jeongguk’s family. He truly wished everyone could experience the type of love he received on a daily basis. He knew if they could, there would probably be a lot less hurting in the world.
“Aw, hyung,” Taehyung said. “Maybe you, me, and Hoseok-hyung can watch a movie this weekend?” His eyes slid to Yoongi’s computer. “Or...you can let me listen to one of your songs? That would really make this the best day ever!”
“So just let me know the day and time for the movie.”
Taehyung whined but knew protesting any further would be fruitless. Laughing, he wished Yoongi a goodnight and headed off on his way.
Within a few moments, he had another idea. What if he paired the arrest warrant with actual handcuffs? He wouldn’t use them, of course. It’d just be for show, like a prop. Maybe Jeongguk would get a laugh out of it. Not wanting to bother Yoongi again, Taehyung explored the downstairs rooms to see who was out and about.
“Namjoon-hyung!” Taehyung exclaimed happily, making Namjoon’s shoulders jump from where he sat in the family room, a book in hand.
Seeing who it was, Namjoon adjusted his glasses and smiled gently at him. “You seem to be excited about something. Oh, is it time for one of your dramas?” He motioned to the television.
Everyone knew Taehyung faithfully watched any number of dramas nearly every evening. Taehyung remembered a particular incident when he’d rushed through the house after arriving home late from a theatre rehearsal, only to find the family room overrun with dozens of Jeongguk’s men, eyes riveted to the TV as they watched an MMA fight while devouring delivery.
Taehyung stood on the outskirts of the room, heart pounding because he had exactly five minutes before the season finale of his drama aired and he didn’t see a plausible way the room would clear out in that amount of time. He bit his bottom lip, twisting a lock of hair around his finger as he tried to decide what to do.
There was no way the others would trade in ‘Fight Night’ for an hour of romantic comedy, and there was no way Taehyung would be able to muster the courage to put forth the question to begin with. The majority of Jeongguk’s men intimidated him with their hardened looks and unfriendly demeanors. Thankfully, only the security detail and some important key members within the organization actually lived on-site, but gatherings like these still occurred once or twice a month.
Deciding it wasn’t worth earning the others’ scorn, Taehyung turned away from the group without a word and tried to remember what other rooms were equipped with a TV. Unfortunately, his private bedroom wasn’t among the list, as he hadn’t felt there was a need for a TV there, but apparently he’d have to do something about that soon.
He hurried around a corner--and nearly slammed right into Jeongguk.
“Gukkie!”
Jeongguk frowned, quickly reading his expression. “Sweetheart, what’s the matter? Did something happen?” Jeongguk closed the space between them and cupped one hand around Taehyung’s elbow while the other pressed against his cheek.
“I’m going to miss the season finale!” Taehyung exclaimed. “I didn’t know there was a fight tonight.” Taehyung genuinely didn’t understand why people enjoyed that sort of thing. Just the sight of one MMA fighter punching another made Taehyung’s stomach churn. “I always watch my drama at this time, but everyone just completely took over the family room.”
Despite Taehyung’s pouting, the corner of Jeongguk’s mouth tilted up slightly. “Which drama is this again?”
Taehyung quickly explained the show in question, summarizing all of the most recent plot points and the big twist that was meant to be resolved tonight.
Jeongguk hummed. “And we can’t leave your burning questions unanswered, can we? Do you want me to clear out the room for you, angel?”
Taehyung knew Jeongguk would do it in a heartbeat if he but asked. He also knew the men would despise Taehyung for it if they discovered their gathering had been shut down for a rom-com of all things. He didn’t want to be the cause of any conflict or tension among the people who worked for Jeongguk.
He sighed, shoulders wilting. “It’s okay. I’ll just watch it somewhere else.”
“Are you sure?” Jeongguk combed his fingers through Taehyung’s hair, the fondness in his eyes enough to make Taehyung’s chest feel light. “Do you want me to watch the season finale with you then?”
This time, Taehyung had to smile. Jeongguk regularly made time to join Taehyung for at least one or two dramas during the week, not necessarily because he himself was a fan but because he knew Taehyung loved the shows as well as the company.
Still, Taehyung knew that Jeongguk enjoyed watching the MMA fights with his men. It was almost like a bonding experience among them. So Taehyung didn’t want to take that away.
“I’ll be fine,” he said to Jeongguk. “Enjoy the fight. I’ll let you know what happened in the season finale later tonight.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Jeongguk said, kissing his knuckles with a playful wink that made Taehyung’s stomach spin.
Thinking back on it, Taehyung smiled and plopped down on the couch beside Namjoon. “No, no dramas today,” he said with a bright smile. “Actually, I was just wondering if you knew if there were maybe any handcuffs around that I could borrow?’
Namjoon’s eyebrows rose over the frame of his glasses. “What do you need handcuffs for?”
“It’s just for something I’m doing with Gukkie.”
For some reason, Namjoon’s face turned completely red. “Ah,” he managed after a moment, pulling at the collar of his shirt. “You don’t--you didn’t have to answer that if you didn’t want to, Tae. You can always keep things like that private if you prefer.”
Taehyung furrowed his brow, not entirely sure why he’d need to keep it private.
“But I think I know of a place where we might keep things like that,” Namjoon continued. “Wait here. I’ll get it for you.”
Sure enough, within minutes, Namjoon returned with a shiny pair of silver handcuffs, the chain adjoining them hanging from his index finger.
“Thanks, hyung!” Taehyung popped up from his seat and took them, the metal cold in his palms. “I’ll be sure to return them to you as soon as I’m done using them.”
Red returned to Namjoon’s face, darker this time. “That’s--” He cleared his throat. “That’s all right. You can keep those, okay?”
Taehyung didn’t think he had any permanent use for handcuffs, but Namjoon seemed so uncomfortable for some reason, so he didn’t want to press the matter. With a shrug, he relented, and left the elder to his book.
All that was left to do now was to make final preparations. When passing Jeongguk’s office, Taehyung had noted the door was still closed, so it would probably be another half hour to an hour before he was free. Taehyung decided to make the best use of that time by deciding on a wardrobe change.
He wanted to wear something that would make Jeongguk forget about all other obligations the moment his eyes were on Taehyung, something that would make Jeongguk want nothing more than to gladly serve his sentence (although there had never been a time when Jeongguk did so grudgingly).
Taehyung wandered through the walk-in closet in the master suite he shared with Jeongguk, trying to decide on a look.
He wasn’t exactly a homme fatale when it came to seduction. He still remembered the first time Jeongguk had gently turned him over on his stomach and then proceeded to press a trail of kisses down the column of his spine, past his waistline, and over the curve of his bottom--before starting to kiss him there.
Jeongguk had asked for consent beforehand, of course. In light of Taehyung being completely new to relationships, and physical relationships at that, Jeongguk had always been gentle and patient and kind every step of the way as their growing attraction toward one another started to take physical manifestation, one milestone after another. He never once pressured Taehyung or made him feel as if he owed Jeongguk anything. Things had only ever progressed at a pace that Taehyung was comfortable with, which, looking back on it, only made Taehyung love Jeongguk even more.
But yes, the first time Jeongguk had done that, despite Taehyung knowing it was coming, had shocked him. He couldn’t remember if he’d yelped or gasped when he’d felt the first swipe of Jeongguk’s tongue (maybe both!), every nerve ending in his body sparking with a jolt of pleasure. He guessed he shouldn’t have been too surprised, though. Jeongguk’s tongue always had a way of doing wicked things with such mastery.
Taehyung ultimately decided on wearing nothing more than one of Jeongguk’s dress shirts. Jeongguk’s clothes had a way of dwarfing Taehyung’s frame, and he liked the way they made him feel protected and warm, the lingering remnants of Jeongguk’s cologne always clinging to the fabric. More importantly, he knew Jeongguk liked the sight of his legs, and this particular dress shirt stopped just above mid-thigh, meaning there’d be plenty for Jeongguk’s eyes to feast on.
Grinning to himself, he hurried into the bathroom to take a shower so that he could smell nice and fresh. Then he spent time drying his hair and applying silky lotion to his arms and legs before donning the dress shirt. Once he was pleased with his appearance, he headed back down the hallway to Jeongguk’s office. He kept his hands behind his back. In them, he held the arrest warrant, which was folded in thirds, along with the handcuffs.
He was relieved to find that the office door was now open. He positioned himself in the doorway, leaning slightly against the frame, as if he was simply casually visiting Jeongguk and hadn’t been plotting for this very moment for the past two hours.
“Hi, Gukkie.”
Jeongguk briefly glanced up from whatever he was writing before his eyes dropped back down to his desk. “Hey, ang--” He stopped abruptly and did a double take.
Taehyung pretended not to notice, pretended to scratch at the wood of the door frame as if it’d suddenly become so fascinating to him. In his peripheral vision, however, he saw Jeongguk rise to his feet and come around the desk toward Taehyung.
“Sweetheart? You wanna tell me why you’re not wearing any pants?”
“Huh?” Taehyung asked, like he hadn’t even noticed, like he’d simply strolled out of the bedroom without the slightest notion that his selection of wardrobe would have such an effect on Jeongguk.
Jeongguk’s eyes combed over Taehyung’s legs as he approached, making Taehyung’s stomach dance. He stepped past Taehyung, glancing down the hallway, presumably to ensure no one had spotted Taehyung in such a state. Then he reached for the door and clicked it shut, gently pulling Taehyung into the room as he did so.
“I know you weren’t going to go downstairs like that.” Though it was a statement, there was a question in it too. Jeongguk adjusted the dress shirt so it sat more fully on Taehyung’s shoulders. He buttoned up one of the top buttons as well, apparently deciding Taehyung was showing far too much skin. Taehyung bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling at Jeongguk’s protectiveness, which he absolutely adored. It made him feel so loved.
“No,” Taehyung said, pouting. “I was just coming to see you.”
Jeongguk reached down, fingers grazing the skin of Taehyung’s thigh, just under the hem of the dress shirt. They ghosted over the smooth, honey golden terrain until they reached the beginning of Taehyung’s boxer briefs. Jeongguk hummed. “I don’t know whether to be relieved those are there, or disappointed.”
Taehyung giggled. He produced the folded warrant from behind his back. “You’re under arrest,” he announced unceremoniously. He set the handcuffs on top of the paper and extended both Jeongguk’s way.
Jeongguk picked up the handcuffs first, the edge of his mouth twitching. “I never knew you were into roleplay, sweetheart.”
Taehyung’s face flushed, his heart skipping a beat. “I’m not!”
“It’s okay if you are. I’m more than happy to explore that interest with you.”
Taehyung opened his mouth, but no words came out. His face only reddened further, causing Jeongguk to chuckle.
“Gukkie!” He playfully smacked the other’s arm with a pout and then pointed at the arrest warrant in an attempt to redirect Jeongguk’s attention.
Jeongguk shook his head with a smile and opened the paper. He was used to reading these, so his eyes simply glossed over the usual words, the ones that were employed more so for filler in the template.
He did, however, read aloud his offense. “For failure to provide Kim Taehyung with a sufficient amount of cuddles and kisses.” With a smirk, he quirked an eyebrow, looking over the paper at Taehyung. “Funny. I seem to recall tasting your mouth just hours ago.”
“That didn’t count,” Taehyung insisted. “You rejected me!”
“Making those beautiful sounds fly past your lips was me rejecting you?”
“I did not make any sounds!” Taehyung was a hundred percent confident he’d made every sound imaginable.
Jeongguk chuckled again, referring back to the warrant. “It looks like my sentence begins tomorrow. Is there any flexibility with the scheduling there, angel?”
Taehyung’s heart sank a little. He knew he hadn’t necessarily given reasonable advanced warning, but Jeongguk rarely pushed back these types of dates since he knew how much they meant to Taehyung. “Oh. Do you need it to be later in the week?”
“Actually,” Jeongguk said, closing the sliver of space between them. His hands smoothed down Taehyung’s backside, over his bottom, to the top of his thighs. In one quick movement, he hoisted Taehyung up into the air.
Taehyung gasped at the suddenness of it all, his legs instantly locking around Jeongguk’s waist, arms tightly wound around his neck.
“...I was kind of hoping we could start early,” Jeongguk finished, already kissing up Taehyung’s neck.
“We can start early,” Taehyung squeaked, and he could feel Jeongguk smirk against his ear in amusement, but that was okay, because in about five minutes, he was going to be ascending into heaven with all the other things Jeongguk would do with those lips of his.
---
House Arrest had been absolute bliss so far.
Taehyung had woken up a little sore from all the marvelous things Jeongguk had done to him last night, but that hadn’t stopped him from climbing on top of Jeongguk first thing in the morning and straddling his lap.
He planted sweet kisses along the other’s bare chest, over all those tattoos that Taehyung so loved, and over Jeongguk’s collarbone. He mouthed at his jawline, gently nipped at his neck, whined for him to fully awake so they could begin their day. And once Jeongguk obliged him, stirring under the sheets and wearing a smile as he moaned, his hands resting on Taehyung’s hips, Taehyung couldn’t help but start to rock back and forth against him. Once he could feel Jeongguk’s interest swell beneath his weight, of course he had to ride him as well.
After that, they showered. That was the intention, at least. Taehyung couldn’t help it. Jeongguk was built like a god. That, and Taehyung always wanted Jeongguk to enjoy House Arrest just as much as Taehyung did. So it was only natural that he sank to his knees in front of Jeongguk to make him feel good.
Breakfast was laidback and relaxed. Taehyung prepared a fruit salad while Jeongguk brewed coffee for himself. At one point, Jeongguk brought up an app on his phone, and Taehyung immediately knew he was checking his stocks.
“Gukkie!” He swapped at the other’s hand. “No work today.”
“I only did it out of habit,” Jeongguk assured him, chuckling. “You know I’m all yours today, beautiful.” He tilted Taehyung’s chin up to press a sweet kiss to his mouth.
Back in their bedroom, Taehyung had mandated that their next order of business entail hammering out the specifics for their vacation to Tahiti.
“I read that the best time of year to go to Tahiti is between May and October,” Taehyung explained, adjusting the headband that pushed back his curls as he sat with legs criss-crossed on the bed, computer on his lap. “What if we went on your birthday?”
“We could do that.” Jeongguk was stretched out on the bed beside him on his back, arms crossed behind his head, making his biceps bulge. Taehyung tried not to stare at them. He tried not to stare at Jeongguk’s bare upper body in general, but he never professed to be perfect.
“But is it what you want to do? It’s your birthday.”
“I want whatever you want. That’s enough for me.”
Taehyung huffed a little at the response. He liked hearing that Jeongguk cared so much about his happiness, but he didn’t want to commandeer Jeongguk’s own birthday and make decisions as to how they’d celebrate it.
But Jeongguk had always been like that. He wasn’t the celebratory type when it came to his birthday or even major holidays.
Taehyung still remembered asking last year when the Christmas decorations would go up. It had been his first time celebrating with the others, and his first time celebrating as a member of Jeongguk’s household.
“Christmas decorations?” Jeongguk had asked with a furrowed brow.
“Yeah, like a tree? You must get the biggest trees ever as high as the ceilings here are. And garlands for the stairway bannisters, stockings for the chimney mantle, and fairy lights everywhere. The house must look so pretty once all the decorations are out, like a winter wonderland, both inside and out.”
Jeongguk had only stared at him, as if trying to process something.
Taehyung frowned. “What is it?”
“Angel, we don’t really put up Christmas decorations.”
It was Taehyung’s turn to stare.
No Christmas decorations? It was inconceivable. Granted, it made sense that Jeongguk and his men didn’t exactly cavort about the house every December, hanging glittery ornaments on a tree as they listened to upbeat Christmas carols, but now that Taehyung was a member of the family, the Jeon household definitely had to make celebrating the Yuletide season a priority. Taehyung had spearheaded the entire endeavor, and at the end of it all, it had turned into the most wonderful Christmas of his life--made even more special by the fact that Jeongguk had surprised him on Christmas eve with tickets to Paris for his birthday.
Taehyung thought it only appropriate they do something just as special for Jeongguk’s birthday too. He chewed on his bottom lip as he clicked through a travel website on his laptop. “Is there somewhere else you’d want to go instead of Tahiti? It’s your birthday, so you should pick.”
“Angel,” Jeongguk said, reaching out to rest a palm on Taehyung’s knee. “It doesn’t matter where we are. If we’re there together and we’re enjoying ourselves, then that’s all that matters to me. If you think Tahiti sounds like the perfect place for that, then that’s where we’ll go.”
Taehyung continued navigating through the website as Jeongguk’s words settled in his mind. He knew traveling probably wasn’t as exciting to Jeongguk as it was to him. Jeongguk had already traveled to so many different cities around the world for his business trips, whereas their trip to Paris last year had been Taehyung’s first time ever leaving the country.
Even if it was business-as-usual for Jeongguk, though, he’d still made every second in Paris memorable and breathtaking. He’d still been present, had still ensured Taehyung got everything out of it that he’d desired. His words made sense now. It truly wasn’t the destination that mattered. As long as they were happy, that’s what ultimately made the trip worthwhile.
“If we’re going there for your birthday,” Taehyung said, “then all of the planning should be a surprise. All you’ll have to do is pack a bag and be ready on the day of departure. But I’ll plan everything--where we stay and the activities we do and more. Okay?”
Jeongguk gave his knee a squeeze. “Just make sure you use my card for everything.”
Taehyung appreciated how Jeongguk suggested it as if Taehyung had any other choice. It’s not as if he had a job, and he definitely didn’t get paid to act at the community theatre. He hoped that one day, maybe he’d make a career out of something. Ideally, he’d love to act in the very dramas he enjoyed watching, but he knew the TV and film business was a hard industry to break into, so he wasn’t holding his breath on that possibility.
“Oh, Gukkie, that reminds me. Will you buy one of these bracelets for me?” He opened the website of an independent artist he’d happened upon while browsing the internet one day and then scooted up the bed to show Jeongguk. “Aren’t they so pretty? They’re a hundred percent handwoven. And the best part is that the lady gives a portion of her profits to charities that help animals and children.”
Jeongguk hummed. “This is the only one you want?”
“This one’s my favorite. I like the color of the threads and all the gemstones. I liked others too, but this one’s my favorite.”
“Get whichever ones you like, angel. You know I’ve told you a million times that you can use the card I gave you to buy yourself whatever you want.”
“But it wouldn’t be the same if I bought it. I want you to buy it for me. As a gift.” Taehyung pouted.
Jeongguk smiled, shaking his head. “Give me my wallet. It should be on the bureau over there.” For the next few minutes, they went through Taehyung’s favorites list and added items to the page’s virtual shopping cart.
“Is it okay if I get a ring too?” Taehyung asked. “Just one?”
“Sweetheart, you can have the entire store if you want.”
Taehyung beamed and moved closer to Jeongguk, resting his head on the other’s shoulder. Even though he knew Jeongguk would always give him whatever he asked for, it still made his heart overflow with love when he said things like that.
Once Taehyung was happy with the contents of the shopping cart, Jeongguk checked out using his card and then planted a kiss to the top of Taehyung’s head. “There. You now have a nice little package of gifts coming in the next few days.”
Taehyung hugged his arm. “Thank you, Gukkie.”
“You’re welcome, angel. Always. Now what’s next on your agenda for the day, hm?”
Next up was photography.
Taehyung had recently signed up for a new photography class called, Photographing the Human Body. It was all about how the human body could be used in photography to make a statement about identity, self expression, belief, intimacy, and more. The class also touched upon techniques one should be mindful of when photographing the body, such as the color temperature differences between artificial and natural light and how these variables interacted with a human canvas, and how focusing on the natural lines of the body could help convey a sense of rest, balance, movement, or depth.
All students were expected to build a portfolio over the course of the class, and though Taehyung had turned all of his hyungs into his subjects at one point or another, his favorite subject for this particular course was, without question, Jeongguk.
Which is how he found himself snapping shots of Jeongguk for the next hour.
His focus was on Jeongguk’s tattoos specifically, the ones on his torso. He loved the stories behind them, loved how they catalogued years’ worth of experiences that Jeongguk had lived through. In a way, his body was like a museum, showcasing moments in his life that had had a significant and profound impact on him.
There were other markings on his body too besides the tattoos, scars that also told stories of their own. Darker stories. Taehyung hadn’t yet mustered the courage to inquire into these markings, at least one of which he was pretty sure had to be an old bullet wound.
His stomach churned just thinking about the situations Jeongguk must’ve found himself in to walk away with such battle scars. The bullet wound, in particular, made Taehyung’s heart tremble every time his gaze snagged on it. It was on Jeongguk’s chest, much too close to his heart for Taehyung’s liking.
He pushed those thoughts aside and continued focusing on the tattoos themselves. He was liberal when it came to the number of shots he took of his favorite tattoo, which was simply his name, emblazoned on Jeongguk’s left pec. Taehyung liked to think he’d chosen that location because it was directly over his beating heart.
It wasn’t long before Taehyung’s focus shifted to simply admiring the glorious perfection of Jeongguk’s body in general. His flawlessly defined chest, abs that looked like they’d been carved from stone, and that abdominal V-line that practically taunted Taehyung whenever it was in view.
His thoughts now sufficiently clouded, he took a few more photographs before finally setting his camera down. Kneeling on the bed beside Jeongguk, he sat back on his heels. “Do you think maybe we could get matching tattoos one day?” he asked, tracing a fingertip over a tattoo that stretched along Jeongguk’s ribs.
Jeongguk arched a brow. “You want to get a tattoo?”
“Nothing big,” Taehyung said. “I was thinking maybe just a tiny, little heart on my ring finger. And you could get one on yours so they match. Or, if you don’t like that idea, yours could be an arrow--like the arrow that shot through my heart and made me fall in love with you.”
“Pretty sure that arrow went both ways, beautiful.”
Taehyung smiled and leaned over to give him a quick kiss. “I also saw some other ideas that I thought were cute. One was the coordinates for where we met. So for us, we could get the coordinates of the coffee shop. Another was the sun and the moon, or a lock and key, or just an X for you and an O for me, like hugs and kisses.”
“Whichever one you like the most, we’ll get it. Consider it a done deal.” He grasped the front of Taehyung’s shirt and pulled him in for another kiss, this one lasting a little bit longer and turning into a series of sweet, lazy kisses.
Taehyung felt like a balloon freed from its string, floating higher and higher until it was in the clouds. He pulled away, chest tingling, smiling so wide he knew his cheeks would eventually start hurting. “Now you have to pick something that you want to do,” he said, walking two fingers across Jeongguk’s chest. “Everything we’ve done so far has been something I picked. But today’s not just for me, it’s for both of us.”
“You know I’m good with anything, sweetheart. I’m fine with whatever you have planned.”
“Do you want to maybe work out for a little bit?”
Jeongguk’s eyes were closed as he continued relaxing on the bed, but his lips twitched at the question. “Why do I get the feeling that’s more a ‘you’ activity?” When Taehyung didn’t answer immediately, Jeongguk gave his hip bone a squeeze. “Hm?”
“It’s not!” But Taehyung smiled sheepishly, because it definitely was.
They both knew Taehyung himself had no intention of working out. He just wanted to watch as Jeongguk did. It was, quite possibly, one of his favorite pastimes, simply sitting there in the home gym as Jeongguk bench-pressed, boxed, performed pull-ups, and more. The way his muscles strained and rippled with each activity was like poetry in motion.
“How about this?” Jeongguk proposed. “A nice long car ride, just the two of us. We’ll stop and pick up some takeaway wherever you want, and then we’ll find a spot with a nice view, park, and eat dinner there together.”
Taehyung’s face lit up. He loved how Jeongguk had proposed the idea so casually, and yet it was probably the most romantic thing they’d do today. “That sounds perfect,” he said.
---
The sun had set, painting the sky with broad strokes of apricot and lavender, the rippling lake below stained with a bright and brilliant gold.
Taehyung and Jeongguk sat on a blanket on the still-warm hood of Jeongguk’s car, overlooking a stunning mountain and lake view they’d come across on their scenic drive. Having just finished their takeaway dinner minutes ago, they were enveloped in an appreciative silence as they simply savored the stillness of the surrounding nature.
City life, expressways, and the loud thrum of fast-moving cars seemed to be worlds away. As did schedules and business meetings and endless phone calls.
In this moment, it was just the two of them, Taehyung’s head at rest on Jeongguk’s shoulder, Jeongguk’s arm locking snugly around his waist.
It was paradise.
It was everything Taehyung ever wanted intimate moments like this to be.
Even the car ride over had been perfect. They had spent most of it quietly enjoying the scenery that scrolled past their windows, fingers interlaced atop the center console between them. Occasionally, they filled the comfortable silence with light conversation, Taehyung expressing his excitement for the lineup of plays the community theatre had announced for its summer season, Jeongguk sharing anecdotes about Jin, Namjoon, Hoseok, and Yoongi upon request, all of which made Taehyung laugh.
Eventually, the sky darkened into an indigo canvas, the first stars sparkling into view. Taehyung watched them, moving closer into Jeongguk as they remained on the hood of the car.
“In Daegu, when I was little, I used to look at the stars all the time.”
Jeongguk unfolded a second blanket he’d brought out with the first, and focused on wrapping it around Taehyung to keep him warm. “Did you?”
Taehyung nodded, touched by Jeongguk’s thoughtfulness. He pulled the blanket closer around himself, but that didn’t keep him from still pressing himself as closely as he could into Jeongguk’s body, seeking his warmth. “In the countryside, you can see the stars better. Sometimes, it feels like they’re so close, you can touch them.”
“I can imagine.”
“On nights when I felt really lonely, I would look up at the stars. I would wonder if there was anyone else in the world who was looking up at them at that exact moment. I thought that there had to be. There had to be at least one person, you know? And it made me feel better because I felt like I was connected to them in that moment, like we were already friends. And I used to hope so badly that I could meet them in real life. I’d even daydream about what their name would be, and all the fun things we’d do together. Every day at school, I’d hope they’d appear as a new student. I expected them to, with the same name I’d imagined and everything. They never did, of course, but I don’t think I ever gave up hope that it would happen one day.”
Jeongguk leaned over and pressed a lingering kiss to the top of his head. “You don’t talk much about your childhood.”
Taehyung looked down at his hands and shrugged a little. “I guess sometimes it makes me a little sad.” Or, a lot sad, but he didn’t want to say that and bring down the mood of the moment.
Jeongguk hummed, as if in understanding. “Just know that I’m always here when you need or want to talk about it.”
“I know,” Taehyung said quietly, a soft smile on his lips.
“And know that I appreciate you sharing those glimpses into your past, whether they’re the bright moments or the more difficult ones. Although it hurts to know how lonely you felt back then. I wish I could’ve been there for you.”
“But the story has a happy ending,” Taehyung said, his smile growing. “Little me didn’t know it at the time, but one day, I’d move to Seoul, and though it would take a while, I’d end up meeting someone named Jimin, who’d turn out to be my soulmate. And then a little while after that, I’d meet the love of my life. I would suddenly have a whole bunch of hyungs who loved me so much, and I’d even have the most adorable and loving puppy in the world.”
Even saying it now, even living it now, Taehyung could hardly wrap his mind around it. It felt like the ultimate rags-to-riches story, but in this case, the riches came in the form of love, the greatest treasure of them all.
The corner of Jeongguk’s mouth upturned slightly. “Something tells me Yeontan is the part in that happily-ever-after that you’re most excited about.”
Laughter sang out of Taehyung. “Don’t be jealous of Tannie! You and him are supposed to be best friends now.”
“It’s easier to be best friends when he’s no longer using my shoes as his personal outhouse.”
Taehyung laughed again. “Anyway, the point is that even though I was so, so lonely when I was little, things turned around completely for me. I have so many people in my life now who I love and who love me back. And you’re one of them. That’s why I miss you so much when we can’t spend as much time together some days. But then, when we get to have days like this, it means the world to me.”
Jeongguk tucked a curl behind Taehyung’s ear and leaned in to press a kiss to his forehead. “It means a lot to me too, angel,” he murmured quietly, cupping Taehyung’s cheek. “You mean a lot to me. You mean everything.”
Taehyung felt warm all over, as if he’d been soaking up the sunrays all day long. Jeongguk just had that effect on him. Always. He supposed that’s what it meant to be in love, to feel someone value you in such a way that sometimes, it felt like you were the very center of their universe.
He closed his eyes and rested his head back onto Jeongguk’s shoulder. “Thank you for today,” he said softly, hugging Jeongguk’s arm.
Jeongguk replied with a simple kiss to the top of his head, pulling Taehyung even closer against him.
Taehyung gazed up at the stars and smiled. He couldn’t help but feel like they recognized him from his childhood, and that they’d played a large part in helping him come a long way out of his loneliness and into a life filled with beautiful, gentle, immeasurable love.
Thank you, he said to them in his mind, and by the way that they twinkled in response, he knew that they’d heard him.