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“Are you sure about this?” Taehyung hears Namjoon ask. The former takes a deep inhale— violent in a certain respect. Before Taehyung has the chance to voice his musing, a familiar voice cuts in.
“Yeah.” Jeongguk walks and stands next to the pair. A timid smile graces him as he reaches out to hold Taehyung’s hand; Providing silent bouts of comfort amidst the sustained mayhem in moments like so has been an integral part of the relationship that they share.
A part they refuse to let go of even after five years.
“Right?” Jeongguk asks, fishing for mere specks of discomfort on the other’s face. Appearance of it in the slightest and Jeongguk would catch sight of it. He knows it. And so, with gentle and willing eyes he searches but finds only a smile.
“Yeah.” Taehyung leans into the younger, eyes tender, “I am sure.”
Jeongguk embraces the warmth of the other before he looks at Namjoon, “We are sure.” He reiterates.
“Alright.” Namjoon fixes the black baseball cap he’s wearing, “I’ll go in and start the discussion then.” He turns around, “I’ll come get you two after I break the news to them. Till then, stay here, okay?”
Taehyung and Jeongguk nod in a retort with an affirmative reply on their lips.
When Namjoon disappears into the office Jeongguk turns to the other. “Tae..” He starts combing Taehyung’s brown hair in gentle sweeps, “I know all this was my idea but there’s still time to back out. You know that, right? We don’t have to go ahead with it.”
Taehyung’s heart skips a beat, then another two.
The tension Taehyung has been feeling— one that has been making its place known incessantly for days ceases to exist with a single flutter of Jeongguk’s eyelashes mingled with subtle reassurances.
His boyfriend’s smile directed to him and Taehyung is done for.
“Guk-ah,” Taehyung places his hands on his shoulder, “You may have spoken about the idea before me but it’s what I want, too. Everyone around us knows, it’s time the rest of the world knows too.”
A sigh escapes from Jeongguk’s mouth.
Relief, perhaps. Tingers of subtle excitement peeking through. Tepid waters rising within, filling with enthusiasm that reigns galactically.
“Good.” He grins, “I can’t wait to show you off to the world.”
Outright, sheer honesty. And then some more.
Taehyung smiles— gently and in an abundance of awe. He leans in front and his lips touch Jeongguk’s shyly. “And, I can’t wait to tell the world that you’re my boyfriend. Having that ass on lock is an achievement and a half.”
Jeongguk lets out a throaty laugh. “You’re stupid.” Leaning ahead, eyes on Taehyung in the most tender way fathomable.
Their lips then finally meet.
Taehyung’s lips are soft as Jeongguk remembers from the morning they shared in bed together. As toe-curling as they were five years ago. Inducing more love than he’s ever known.
Jeongguk looks at Taehyung whose eyelids remain closed. And, god, he’s so fucking beautiful.
Gorgeous and it streams down in profusion.
Much like the first time Jeongguk ever saw him. Walking in with reserved steps; His smile juxtaposing— comforting and warm.
Jeongguk closes his eyes, memories gleaming under the closed eyelids. His lips don’t stay numb anymore. They now move in tandem with the elder's.
Slowly, softly, reaching.
A cough reaches their ears and instinctively they pull away. Shy grins grace them as they look at Namjoon’s amused face. “Seriously?”
Jeongguk rubs the back of his nape, “Sorry, Hyung.”
“I can’t even leave you two for a minute.” Namjoon chuckles, “Anyway, so… I told them about it.” He continues.
The other two stiffen. The fervor shared in the previous moment falls lackluster in mere seconds. Their eyes widen with bodies rigid in anticipation— or perhaps, lack thereof.
Namjoon smiles, it translates to support. “Don’t look so scared. It went way better than I expected.”
“Huh?” Jeongguk raises his eyebrows.
“I told them that you want to discuss taking your relationship further, and making it public, and seemed pretty okay about it, actually.” Namjoon says, “Honestly, I think they are mostly relieved.”
“What do you mean?” Taehyung steps into the conversation.
“Relieved that they don’t have to put in more work to hide your relationship anymore.” Namjoon steps closer to the pair, “I mean, we have to admit; It is a lot of work.”
The two laugh instantly. Jeongguk's shoulders sag in ease, “So, they’re okay with it?”
“You two have to talk to them and convince them a little more because it is a big decision for everybody,” He speaks tenderly, “But, yeah… for the most part, they seem to be okay with it.”
A sigh of utmost relief escapes Jeongguk’s mouth. He looks to his side and notices his boyfriend carrying an expression of a similar resolve.
They smile looking at each other.
Tension dissipating, their tightened fists easing themselves into holding each other’s hands again.
“That’s good news,” Taehyung says. Honesty lacing his expression. “That’s really good news,” Jeongguk adds.
“Well then let’s not waste any more time and face the tigers.” Namjoon turns and walks towards the office. Before they can go in, however, Jeongguk nudges Taehyung, “I’m not worried, by the way, I got a tiger here of my own, here.”
Taehyung laughs— smiles wide with a blush lacing his cheeks. He bumps into Jeongguk in retaliation from the side. "Shut up." He grumbles, before all three of them eventually walk in.
This time, carrying faces that force and bare semblance of the consequential conversation that is to take place.
-----
Five years.
Five years of concealed exclusions. Five years of a tamed perception of the truth. Five years of hiding. Five years of seclusion— of tears and yearning. Of questions that remained unanswered by the majority.
But, even so, they have a ton to show for it.
Five years of secret excursions— in their sacred lonesome with each other. Five years of the preservation of the relationship they crafted so delicately. Five years of togetherness— of love, of laughter, of absolute happiness.
"I can't believe this is happening." Jeongguk lays his head on Taehyung's shoulder. Eyes closed, elongated breaths, relaxed fists.
Holding on, just holding on to the bare edges of their reality— worried that it may fall untrue.
But, it doesn't.
They wait for it. It doesn’t happen.
Jeongguk feels a kiss on his forehead. So soft. With his eyes closed, he can feel the heightened intensity of Taehyung's smile over his skin. "It's happening." He says. He commands out loud.
The intensity of his words doesn't skim. They remain as potent as they can be.
And so, Jeongguk doesn't question it anymore. He accepts all the fragmented pieces. They smell like Taehyung.
Jeongguk basks in the warmth of his boyfriend’s body and the comfort that seeps in. He smiles wide, eyes still closed. Happiness molds itself into something foreign that neither of them has ever experienced.
Relief. A sense of eventuality.
"I'm so happy, Guk-ah." Taehyung says, wrapping his hands around Jeongguk's arm. "Me too, baby." Jeongguk shifts closer.
They remain there. On the couch, in the living room of their dorm.
There is music playing from the TV, and their ears lazily catch onto the lyrics. Primarily, they focus on each other's breaths. Their smiles don't fade, neither do the emotions. They fall onto them like raindrops— denser, louder as time goes.
After a while, Jeongguk speaks, "Do you have any idea how you want to break the news?"
"I do, actually." Taehyung starts grinning almost comically, "And, I think you'll love it."
"Would I?" He raises his eyebrow.
"Uh-hun."
"Go on, then."
Taehyung moves enthusiastically, sitting with his legs closed. He faces Jeongguk on the couch, "So.."
"Why do you look so devious?" He sits straight, himself.
Taehyung wiggles his brows, "You know how we used to get super frustrated after lives because we had to sit away from each other, and you couldn't hold hands or kiss in the beginning?"
"...yeah?"
"What if we go on live with the rest of the boys but this time, we do everything we've been wanting to do?"
"Well, I'm not sure if we can do everything."
"Shut up," He slaps Jeongguk's shoulders, "You know what I mean."
"I know, I know" The younger laughs and raises his hands, "You think the others will agree?"
"I think they'll be down to tease the fans a little. Besides, it'll be fun. It could be almost liberating, for us, don't you think?" Taehyung hums, "Breaking the rules and rebelling, and all."
"Technically, we haven't broken shit yet. And, we won't be breaking any rules since we already have the permission..."
"Dude, why do you have to suck the fun out of everything?" Taehyung raises his eyebrows. Jeongguk chuckles, "I am sorry. You're right, though. It could be fun." He replies after a moment, "Besides, there’s a lot of people that have been waiting for this for so long.."
"Yeah." Taehyung rests his head back on the couch, "So, should we do it then?"
"Yeah." Jeongguk nods, "We still have to confirm with Namjoon Hyung, though."
"We can do it right now," Taehyung replies and points to the door from where their friends start walking in. An immediate sense of ruckus takes over the room.
"There you are!" Jimin shouts, dropping the bag on the floor as he runs towards the couple. "I'm so happy for you guys." Jimin jumps over them— engulfing the two in a hug, making it difficult for the two to breathe, going by the way they start coughing under him.
"At least let us live for it to officially happen, Jim." Taehyung tries to speak. Jimin pushes himself off with a laugh on his lips.
"Okay, my turn," Hoseok says and throws his arms over them both. "Hobi Hyung." Jeongguk whines as the elder kisses the two, before eventually standing with a satisfied look on his face. "This is a big step and I'm so proud of you both." Yoongi ruffles their hair with a timid smile that pivots into a grin, "I don't think the world is ready for you two idiots to be officially together."
"That's true." Seokjin walks over, and sits beside them, "You both are chaotic enough as it is."
Taehyung and Jeongguk share a look of visibly vibrant mischief that is notable across the room. Namjoon settles down, and raises his eyebrows at the couple, "What are you two thinking about now?"
"So.." Taehyung giggles, "We need to talk to you about something.."
“That’s never good." Namjoon sighs.
"...It’s about how we're going to be disclosing to the world that we're dating."
"I thought you’d do it with a press release." Yoongi leans against the armrest, "No?"
"We will do that later." Jeongguk continues, "But, before that, we were thinking of something else."
"What's that?" There's a glint in Jimin's eyes as he inquires. The uncanny look in the couple's eyes - which he can recognize in an instant - deepens his curiosity. "Come on, tell us."
Taehyung smiles, "Okay, so.." He begins. Jeongguk observes his boyfriend discussing the plan they devised, occasionally chiming in with anecdotes that he deems important.
After they finish narrating, and look at the others with tainted curiosity until Namjoon speaks... "Honestly, it sounds fun and entertaining. I don't see why you can't do it."
“The company?” Taehyung inquires.
“Screw the company.” Seokjin smirks. “Yep,” Namjoon adds.
Taehyung shrieks. Jumping out of his seat to hug Namjoon and the rest who chuckle loudly. "You're all the best."
"We try." Yoongi winks.
"So, next week?" Jeongguk asks.
"Next week." Namjoon answers with a smile.
"This is going to be fun." Yoongi laughs, "You wanna order some food, now? I’m pretty sure both of you owe us a party."
Jimin makes a sound of agreement, "Yep. Besides, you have to tell us what happened in the meeting. Something tells me that Yoongi and I should know about it soon..." He looks at the said boy with a distinguishable glint in his eyes.
-----
"All of you ready?" Namjoon asks, glancing behind him. There is a unison of affirmative agreement that is heard throughout the room. "What about you two?"
Taehyung and Jeongguk sit together and nod. Their eyes are glinting, hands a tad bit sweaty.
In pursuit of calm, lips hook onto each other in the subsequent moment. A second stretches into another, and their foreheads connect— they breathe each other's breaths.
Warm and comforting.
Precisely what they wanted, and needed.
Forgetting the prudence of the situation that customarily settles around them - daunting and alarming at best - they focus lingers solely on each other.
Coursing in is the thorough awareness that they are spending time like so - private in larger regard, for the last time they ever would. In secret.
It wouldn't be a secret anymore.
It would be out for the world to catch sight of. Frightening as it—
"We're ready." Jeongguk sits straight, holding tighter onto his boyfriend. "We've been ready for a while now.”
—Because, surrounded by love that rivals that of the epics and stars, nothing could harm them.
Yoongi places a hand over Taehyung's knees, "Time to have some fun, boys." He smirks.
Jeongguk and Taehyung sit on the small sofa in the corner of the room. The rest of the boys settle near them, Seokjin and Jimin sit directly in front, with Namjoon and Yoongi hanging behind them.
There’s a camera in front of them all, Hoseok stands beside it as he turns it on, "Good luck, boys."
"I don't think we'd be doing anything we wouldn't do otherwise." Jimin chuckles, “Guk and Tae would be doing exactly what they normally do.”
Yoongi hums, “And, we’d be doing what we do— ignore them.”
Taehyung grumbles, “Shut up, you guys.” He leans into Jeongguk’s side, who has a tablet sitting on his lap.
“Let’s do it.” Jeongguk looks at Taehyung, seeking a final confirmation.
One last affirmation.
“Let’s do this, yeah,” Taehyung says, and Jeongguk looks at Hoseok and nods.
“One..” Hoseok starts, “…two, three.” He pushes the button and runs to sit on the floor.
A few moments give and they notice the people coming in. Reactions are instantaneous. On the tablets that they have with them, there is an influx of comments.“Hey everyone! We missed you a lot and we had some time, so we thought we’d come in and meet you guys.” Namjoon smiles at the camera.
Jeongguk’s mind doesn’t linger on the words that are being said out loud by the rest of the members. He can sense their smiles, talking to the fans— reading their messages.
They diminish mostly in the rear.
In any other case, he’d be joining in. But, today, the intentions he set in are different.
Directed towards one person, and him only.
“Tae,” Jeongguk whispers into his ears. In the proximity, the red creeping onto the elder is easily detectable. “Guk.” Taehyung breathes out, the sense of caution that prevailed slowly slips away.
“Hyung-ah.” Jeongguk moves closer. He puts his hands over Taehyung’s thigh— wrapping it around.
He’s doing everything he’s wanted to.
“You know what I am excited about? Hm?” He says against Taehyung’s earlobe. His nerves dribble down slowly. Translating into feelings that graze danger.
The latter makes a sound of retrieval. Jeongguk doesn’t listen, “Going to tell everyone you’re mine.” He says, intervening their fingers together, “Going to tell the whole fucking world, Hyung."
Taehyung looks at him and perceives sheer, blunt— raw, honesty.
Honesty that drips so low, it has the capabilities to wreak havoc.
And, Havoc it creates.
Their prolonged glances, bodies together with sparse distance between them, instances that haven’t been open for others to see— all surprising to the viewers, surely. Creating destruction in the ways their fans are putting it.
Taehyung combs Jeongguk’s hair with his fingers, scraping his nape. “Wanna read the comments?” He smirks.
Jeongguk nods, picking up the tablet.
Both their eyes scan through the comments and they can’t help but let out a laugh. “Wow.” Jeongguk says, stopping the constant influx to read through some properly. “What the fuck are Taehyung and Jeongguk doing?” Taehyung slowly reads out, a laugh on his lips as he does.
“Oh, this one is nice..” Jeongguk’s finger falls over, “You know how they say when you’re about to die you see your dream come true? I think I am dying right now.”
Taehyung barks out a loud laugh, making Jimin turn to them. “What are you laughing at?”
Jeongguk passes him the tablet, and it's only when Jimin directly addresses them do they realize the presence of the other members.
Taehyung caught them briefly glancing towards them— gazing at them with blank expressions as they swallow their laughter.
Jimin joins them in laughing, "Man, both of you are becoming the people's messiahs right now." He pulls out his phone and shows them Twitter on his phone."Taekook is real." He reads out the trending tag to the younger boys.
Jeongguk chuckles, "Taekook has always been real, Jim." He leans to kiss Taehyung's cheek, making him stiffen. "Don't worry, now we can do all this now."
Taehyung replies with a kiss of his own. “Yeah, we can.”
They continue like so— dropping shy kisses onto each other’s face, giggling as they read the people’s reaction, the majority of whom think it's a dream.
Taehyung is reading out another comment when Jeongguk abruptly stands up, “Tae, come on.”
The elder looks up, “Hm?”
“Come with me for a second.” He takes Taehyung’s hands and leads them to the corner of the room— where the camera doesn’t span.
Before Taehyung has the chance to voice his confusion, Jeongguk gently pushes him back on the wall, and trails his lips start down his neck. “What are you doing?” Taehyung whispers, alarmed.
“Shh.” Jeongguk leaves soft kisses on the elder’s collarbone. He eases his way onto Taehyung’s skin like he’s done many times before.
This time, however, transpires differently.
Jeongguk starts sucking onto a spot, right over Taehyung’s collarbones. Visible to him, to the world, too. The mark is scarlet and shining. He elicits a weak moan from the elder. “Guk.” Taehyung breathes out, and Jeongguk swallows it down with a kiss. Their lips move together, hands holding onto each other and they kiss almost feverishly.
It deeps, and it deeps.
Taehyung bites on Jeongguk’s lower lip with his hands traveling down his shoulder. The need to connect perches onto them and they kiss.
Letting go of the pent-up frustration, settling into the new reality.
All of it translates through.
They hear a cough from behind them after which they tear apart. “You’re— God. You’re going to get us into trouble.” Taehyung shakes his head.
“I don’t care.” He drops another peck. One last, for now.
They ignore the stares from the rest of the members, ducking their head low. With sheepish smiles, they walk back and settle into their previous positions, “By the way, don’t worry. We won't get into any trouble.” Jeongguk winks.
Yoongi leans in towards them, “They knew you were kissing, by the way.” He points towards the tablet on the seat.
Jeongguk smirks, “Good.”
Taehyung shoves the other, groaning. “Stop.”
And, as Taehyung scrolls down the comments, his embarrassment increases tenfold.
Because yeah.
They really just did that.
“I am going to go get some water,” Taehyung announces, lightly coughing, and gets up. He reaches for a bottle of water that is kept on the table. He opens the cap and swallows the water down.
After which, he walks back. He is almost sitting down in his place when Jeongguk grabs his wrists and settles him over his lap. There’s a coy expression on the younger’s face as his hands wrap around Taehyung’s waist, who huffs out.
“If you don’t stop smirking, I will punch you in the face.” Taehyung says.
Jeongguk pouts, “Not fair, Hyungie.” His fingers graze down the mark he left on Taehyung’s neck. “You’re such a little shit.” Taehyung rolls his eyes before settling over his boyfriend’s lap properly and dropping a kiss on his nose. “Ass.”
Jeongguk smiles— content and satisfied.
“Guys, if you don’t stop, I am 100% sure somebody somewhere is going to get a heart attack.” Hoseok comes to sit beside them on the floor.
“Yeah, at least go a little easy on them.” Seokjin giggles.
“Alright, alright. I guess we’ll stop.” Taehyung says, getting up from Jeongguk’s lap and pulling the latter up to stand with him.
“Should we do it?” Jeongguk asks. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
“When we go and say it, Hobi Hyung, end the live okay?” Taehyung says. “You guys are devils.” Hoseok laughs, before walking behind the camera.
Taehyung takes Jeongguk’s hand and weaves their fingers together. “You ready?”
“Been waiting for this all my life.”
Taehyung smiles. His heartbeat increasing. “Let’s go, tiger.” Jeongguk says as they walk closer to the camera.
The reciprocation of the excitement calms Taehyung down a tad bit. His body is riding down thrills when they both reach right in front of the camera.
“Go for it.” The elder says.
“Together.” He replies. “Together.” Jeongguk repeats.
They take a breath in—
“By the way guys,” Jeongguk starts, “We’re dating.” They say it together.
Hoseok ends the live.
— they release their breath.
As soon as they say it, Jeongguk turns to Taehyung and wraps his hands around the elder’s waist— breathing in his scent. Timid tears fall down his cheeks. It’s emotional.
It’s really fucking emotional.
He knows Taehyung is crying too, he can hear it.
“I love you, Hyung.”
“I love you.” He hears Taehyung reply.
Suddenly they’re engulfed by the warmth of the other members. All smiling, crying, laughing in ways that are complementary to the two.
And, in multiple ways, that day, Taehyung and Jeongguk feel loved.
Loved in every intensity and depth of the word. No matter how their actions bear repercussions. What may come their way, the cloud that shines above is smiling— painted in vivid colors of the rainbow.
And, surrounded by the people they love the most— there doesn’t seem to be a battle ahead.