Chapter Text
“Holy shit, Jeongguk?” A vaguely familiar voice cuts through Jeongguk’s slightly intoxicated haze.
Looking up from his colorful drink, Jeongguk meets eyes with someone he never thought he’d see again. “Hobi?”
Hoseok breaks out into a grin, his lips forming a heart just as they did back in college. “It is you! Holy shit! I haven’t seen you in years !”
“Yeah, like eight,” Jeongguk agrees, clumsily getting off the barstool and walking over to Hobi to hug him. “What are you doing on the East Coast?”
“I’m getting married,” Hoseok exclaims to which the entire bar quiets down before exploding into applause and congratulations. Jeongguk joins in, his eyes bulging as he hugs Hobi once more.
“Married? Holy shit! Congrats!”
Hoseok grins even wider somehow, his cheeks flushed. If he’s anything like he was in college he still can’t handle his liquor. “Yeah, her family is from the east coast. We actually plan to move here after the honeymoon. Did you move back here?”
“Yeah. Shortly after I graduated.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised. That was always your plan, right?”
Jeongguk nods and then he remembers his friends are literally right behind him being very left out. “I forgot, these are my friends.” He gestures to his two friends and colleagues, “Audrey and Roman. We work together.”
His friends wave and greet Hoseok, congratulating him. Hobi has always been personable and easy to talk to, even more so now than in college, which didn’t seem possible at the time. “Me and Jeonggukie went to the same undergrad.”
“Did you major in history too?” Roman asks.
Hoseok shakes his head. “Oh no. I was a dance major! We met through my friend, Tae. They dated for a while. Like… whew three years?”
Jeongguk clears his throat. “Yeah, something like that.”
“Speaking of Tae, he should be around here somewhere. I think he went to use the bathroom—oh! There he is! Tae! Over here, look at who I found!” Hoseok waves to get his friend’s attention while grabbing Jeongguk and pulling him close. Jeongguk swallows down his protest as Hoseok points to him.
Following Hobi’s line of sight, Jeongguk meets eyes with Taehyung across the room. Oh fuck. Time has done wonders to him. He’s always been handsome—unfairly so—but that handsomeness has turned from boyish to mature.
He’s wearing all black, black loose jeans with a black turtleneck and boots. He has glasses now, oversized tortoiseshell frames and his hair is black, longer than Jeongguk has ever seen it, parted to the side in tussle waves. All previous baby fat is gone from his face, instead, now he has high cheekbones with a sharp jawline.
It’s been eight years since Jeongguk has last seen him and the last time had been during their break up. It was amicable, a very anticlimactic end to the first real relationship he had ever been in. Back then, he could never imagine him and Taehyung breaking up but once it happened he couldn’t believe how calm it had been. He expected them to fight for their relationship and for each other. But neither of them had.
One day they were Taehyung and Jeongguk and the next they were just themselves. Nothing keeping them together as a unit anymore. And Jeongguk did what he does best, he threw himself into his school work and ignored how the breakup really made him feel.
And he assumed Taehyung did the same. They never ran into each other again after their breakup, their campus was big enough to allow that. And while Taehyung was all for the campus parties and events Jeongguk was not, he only ever attended because Taehyung wanted him there. Without Taehyung there was no one forcing him out of his shell. And quite frankly he didn’t want to venture out anymore. It helped that Taehyung was a class above him, so they had graduated a year apart.
He watches as Taehyung’s eyes widen when they meet his before he breaks out into a grin—that rectangular grin of his that Jeongguk has never seen anyone else have.
“Ggukie!” His voice is even deeper now and it stands out amongst the sea of noise. Jeongguk smiles hesitantly as Taehyung maneuvers through the crowd to get to him.
Taehyung grabs onto Jeongguk’s shoulders once they’re face to face. He’s still only slightly taller than Jeongguk, but where Jeongguk once had the advantage of muscle mass Taehyung seems to have caught up in the years they’ve gone without seeing each other.
“It’s been so long,” Taehyung exclaims as he holds Jeongguk at arm's length taking in how he’s changed in the last few years.
“Yeah,” Jeongguk agrees easily, shuffling self consciously on his feet. “Hobi’s getting married huh?”
“Yeah, who would have thought?”
“Hey,” Hobi protests from beside them.
“Oh come off it, for most of the time I’ve known you you never took relationships seriously.”
“Ugh, you make me sound like such an asshole.”
“Not an asshole, just a free spirit.”
“Yeah yeah.”
Jeongguk cuts in before the two can keep bickering. “Are you—um—just here for the wedding?”
“Something like that.”
Jeongguk tilts his head to the side, “What do you mean—?”
“Let’s have celebratory shots!” Hobi interrupts, throwing his arms over both of their shoulders and tugging them close so all three are pressed together.
“Hobi we’ve had two, and considering how much of a lightweight you are I’m shocked you’re still standing.”
“Not for me for this sweet reunion!” Hoseok justles them, rubbing their shoulders with his hands while he bounces on the tips of his toes.
“I don’t know,” Jeongguk says. “I’ve already had quite a few drinks myself—”
“Aw, c’mon Jeongguk just one more! For me!”
Hobi hits him with the puppy dog eyes and that really shouldn’t work on him, Hobi is like 32 now and Jeongguk himself is not that far behind and yet he finds himself folding under pressure. Ha, all those times he’d spent telling his students not to fall into peer pressure yet look at him now. Pathetic.
“… Fine.”
Hobi whoops and releases Jeongguk and Taehyung to throw his arms over Audrey and Roman’s shoulders. “You guys too! I just met you but the more the merrier!”
Audrey whoops with Hoseok, she herself is never one to turn down a drink while Roman sighs but doesn’t object. He already knows he’ll have to carry Audrey home with Jeongguk’s help.
“Friends of yours?” Taehyung asks quietly while Hobi asks them for their drinks of preference.
Jeongguk nods. “Colleagues as well. We work at the same school.”
“Finally figured out what to do with that history degree, huh?”
“Yeah,” Jeongguk snorts. “I’m teaching now.”
Taehyung hums and runs his eyes over Jeongguk’s form. “You must be one of the student body's favorite teachers.”
Ignoring the heat that Taehyung’s gaze still ignites in him, even all these years later, Jeongguk clears his throat. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“Sure,” Taehyung teases before running his thumb over Jeongguk’s lip piercing. “These are new,” he observes, eyes locked on the piercing on his eyebrow as well.
It takes everything in him to appear as unaffected as possible by Taehyung’s touch. He’s not in college anymore, his knees shouldn’t be on the verge of bucking from a single touch. “It’s been eight years, you can hardly expect me to be exactly as I was in college.”
“No, it’s just unexpected is all.”
Before Jeongguk can respond, Hoseok pops up between them with a shot in each hand. “Stop flirting! Drink drink drink!”
“He’s gone,” Jeongguk laughs with his glass in hand, now refusing to meet Taehyung’s eyes as he watches Hobi go back to his friends. He already looks like he’s been friends with them for years despite just meeting them.
“Yeah, I’m definitely calling an Uber for him soon.”
“Good luck with him.”
Taehyung laughs and then clicks their glasses together. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” Jeongguk mimics and then throws back the shot. His face screws up at the strong taste that washes over his tongue. Taehyung looks no better, exhaling through his mouth after taking his own shot.
“I gotta get back to the rest of my friends,” Hoseok yells and disappears into the crowd before any of them can respond.
Taehyung notably stays behind, placing his shot back on the bar table. Jeongguk eyes him before asking, “Shouldn’t you make sure he’s okay?”
“Nah,” Taehyung shrugs nonchalantly. “Our other friends can handle him for the time being.”
“A bit irresponsible, no?”
“Nah. They’ll let me know if they need my help.”
Jeongguk hums and then gestures to his friends. “This is Audrey and Roman. Guys, this is Taehyung.”
Audrey points at Taehyung with a contemplative expression for a long moment to which Taehyung looks between her and Jeongguk in question. “That name sounds familiar,” she slurs before throwing back her bottle of beer and taking a gulp. She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand before nudging Roman.
“Help me out here, Ro, where have we heard his name?”
“Jeongguk’s college ex.”
Jeongguk just barely keeps himself from facepalming.
Audrey’s face lights up like she won the lottery. “Yes! Him! Well damn, you’re hotter than Jeongguk described! He’d never show us pictures of you so we figured you were ugly!”
“ You figured he was ugly I did not.”
Audrey goes on as if Roman never spoke. “It’s nice to know I was wrong!”
Taehyung gives Jeongguk an amused look to which Jeongguk resolutely ignores. He’s not entertaining this at all.
“Well, this must be awkward for both of you, huh? Being each other’s first loves and all—”
“Audrey please shut up.”
“No, I don’t think I will, actually.”
Somehow Roman gets a shot without them noticing and hands it over to Audrey and just like that she shuts up.
“I’ll handle her, you handle… whatever this is,” Roman says, gesturing between Jeongguk and Taehyung with a grimace.
“Your friends are charming,” Taehyung muses as he watches them disappear into the crowd.
Jeongguk rolls his eyes and sits back on his barstool. “Are you just going to stand there or are you going to take a seat?”
“What a sweet invitation Ggukie. You still know how to make a guy feel special.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Jeongguk snorts and sips on his glass of water as Taehyung takes a seat. The both of them face the bar and purposely do not meet eyes.
“So… Roman. Is he your boyfriend?”
“Real subtle,” Jeongguk drawls.
Taehyung shrugs nonchalantly. “It’s a simple question.”
“He’s not my boyfriend, no. Just a friend.”
“Have you two ever slept together?”
“That’s none of your business.
“That’s a yes.”
“No. It means it’s none of your business.”
“Okay, so no.”
“God, you are so infuriating.”
Taehyung chuckles and gives the bartender a casual two-finger salute when a glass of water is placed before him. “One of my many charms.” He sips his glass and then peers at Jeongguk. “I’m single myself, not that you asked.”
“Good for you.”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Single.”
Jeongguk sighs. “If you must know, yes I am.”
Taehyung hums and waves down the bartender who tells him he’ll be there in a minute. “Well look at that.”
“What?”
“Just a nice coincidence I think.”
“Don’t think too hard you might hurt yourself.”
Taehyung laughs and flicks Jeongguk’s earlobe as he used to do so much in the past. “You’re still as cute as ever.”
“I’m pushing 30, I’m hoping I’m past the cute phase.”
“Are you fishing for compliments, Jeongguk?”
Jeongguk’s cheeks heat up and he looks back down at his water. “No.”
Taehyung laughs like he thinks Jeongguk is the funniest thing in the world. “You’re still cute but… well you’ve certainly filled out.”
Thankfully the bartender comes back and asks what they would like. Taehyung orders a tequila shot and before he can think of the consequences Jeongguk asks for the same.
He and Taehyung end up taking two more shots together and that’s where Jeongguk fucks up. His alcohol tolerance is pretty good but three shots on top of the few other drinks he had before seeing Taehyung again are clearly too much.
Another hour or two later Taehyung’s body is turned completely towards him giving his undivided attention. It reminds him of their college days when Taehyung would take him to parties and not leave his side for his comfort.
“So, how have you been?” Taehyung asks as he leans his temple against his fist.
Jeongguk runs his finger over the rim of his empty shot glass and shrugs. “Pretty good,” he says honestly. “I put my degree to good use so that’s nice. How about you?”
“Same. I work in a museum and help curate exhibits and new artifacts.”
Jeongguk smiles, “Remember all those nights when we’d stress about majoring in useless subjects that will get us nowhere? Looks like we were wrong.”
He remembers those days, late at night in Taehyung’s dorm room. He had a single room, unlike Jeongguk who was roomed with the most insufferable person he’s ever had the displeasure of knowing. Their books would be scattered on the floor while they’d lay on Taehyung's bed, cuddled up with virtually any space between them.
It would usually start with Jeongguk voicing his anxieties and Taehyung echoing his own while reassuring him that somehow it will all work out, especially if they had one another. He was right, but only about one of those things.
Chuckling, Taehyung nods while drinking some of his water. “We’d joke about being jobless until we were 30 and how we’d still be living with our parents.”
“Look at us now. With steady jobs before 30.”
“Did you ever manage to get your own place? I remember how stressed you were about living in an affordable apartment that wasn’t a hole in the wall.”
“A couple of years ago, actually. I was with roommates before that but I finally found a nice place.”
Taehyung hums. “If you had stayed in Cali, you could have found a nice place to live sooner.”
We’d also probably still be together , goes unsaid.
“I couldn’t. You know—”
“I know, I know.”
“Do you?”
Taehyung sighs and downs the rest of his water. “I don’t want to argue,” he says calmly.
“Right.”
“Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re still a bad liar, that much hasn’t changed.”
Jeongguk rolls his eyes and makes to stand up, grabbing his jacket. “I think you should go look for Hobi.”
“Hey,” Taehyung calls out and grabs his wrist before he can walk away. “I’m sorry. Just. Sit. It’s been forever and—well I missed you.”
“That’s a line if I’ve ever heard one.”
“Please, you should know how my lines usually go.”
He does, he was the receiving end of them for years.
Jeongguk sits back down.
“I’m sorry, I just don’t know how to act around you,” Taehyung confesses quietly. “The last time I saw you there was so much left unsaid—”
“We were barely adults, Tae. Don’t lose sleep over it. I know I haven’t.” It’s mean and cruel and not entirely true. Taehyung was Jeongguuk’s first serious relationship along with a number of other firsts. He pretended to be unaffected when they’d finally called it quits but, in reality, it tore him apart. He never spoke with Taehyung about it, mainly because once they’d broken up Jeongguk had cut all contact from him. It was easier that way.
The two of them didn’t start off with intentions of only being friends. The attraction was instant, Taehyung was never one to ignore his instincts and Jeongguk didn’t see why he should either. Their relationship was bound to be romantic from the beginning. That’s not to say they weren’t friends either. Jeongguk did truly consider Taehyung to be one of his best friends.
But they’d only ever tacked on friendship after relationship and so once the relationship aspect was gone Jeongguk didn’t know how he could only ever be Taehyung’s friend. Not when the line between friendship and relationship was always blurred from the start. Friends didn’t hold hands down the street or kiss each other the way they did. Friends didn’t know each other as intimately as Jeongguk and Taehyung did.
Yet, Jeongguk eventually got over his first love. Eventually, the ache in his chest lessened. The loneliness went away and he put himself out there. Fell in and out of love many times. In the end, he’d always managed to pick himself up again and move on with his life.
His relationship with Taehyung was no different, they were together, they loved each other, Jeongguk thought he may even have found the one but he was wrong. He told himself the only reason it took him so much longer to get over their relationship was because it was his first. The growing pains of experiencing his first heartache naturally took more time to get used to and eventually heal.
Taehyung scoffs and shakes his head. “I forgot how cruel you can be. The ever aloof Jeongguk.”
“That’s not fair,” Jeongguk protests. “I’m not saying our relationship never mattered, what I’m saying is we broke up eight years again. I’m 28 now, life went on and I don’t think about us the way I used to.” He clamps his mouth shut immediately, he didn’t mean to say the last part and from the tick of Taehyung’s brow, the last bit didn’t go unnoticed by him either.
“Fine,” Taehyung says. “You’re right it has been eight years. We can’t cling to the past; it's already gone and nothing I say will change that.”
Hypocritically, Jeongguk feels his chest sink but still nods. “Exactly.”
“I’ll see you around, Ggukie.”
“Sure,” he says easily and doesn’t watch as Taehyung walks away. Not even five seconds later Audrey barrels into him, spilling some vodka on his sleeve.
“Shit,” she slurs, leaning into him and clearly intoxicated. “I was so sure you’d take him back home and relive your college days.”
Jeongguk sighs and dabs his sleeve with a napkin. “Where’s Roman?”
“Shooting his shot,” she exclaims and points in the general direction of the dance floor. “This hot girl was giving him the eyes . He’s doing his whole— hic — ‘I’m mysterious and aloof’ act. She’s totally falling for him.”
“At least one of us is getting laid tonight.”
“Oh no, don’t put us in the same category, you fake . You could to— hic —totally be getting laid right now if you took that stick out your ass.”
“What are you talking about?”
“ Taehyung ,” she sing songs his name. “He was giving you the eyes all night.”
“I can’t sleep with him, we have history. It’ll be awkward.”
“No, it really won’t. He lives across the country! He’s literally top tier one night stand material. You two can fuck and then not see each other for another eight years minimum .”
The alcohol is kicking in because the more Audrey speaks the more it makes sense.
Why shouldn’t Jeongguk go for it? Even after all these years, Taehyung was still one of the best he’s ever slept with. And it’s like Audrey said, it’s not like they’ll see each other again any time soon. A one night stand. He can do that. He can totally do that.
“You’re right,” he says, squaring up his shoulders.
“Hell yeah I am!” Audrey hands him another shot to match hers and they throw theirs back in unison. “Go get your ex-man!”
Jeongguk bites into his lemon and gives himself a good shake before looking for Taehyung in the crowd. He finds him and his friends all laughing and chatting in the booth. Blindly, he grabs his puffer jacket.
He can do this, there was a time when Taehyung couldn’t keep his eyes or hands off of Jeongguk. He just has to channel that same energy he had back then. He hears Audrey cheer him on as he makes a beeline for his ex. Taehyung spots him a few feet from the booth, his brow arches, and a smirk is playing on his lips.
God, he’s really gotten even hotter. It’s unfair.
Taehyung stands and meets him halfway. “Jeongguk,” he smirks, arms crossed over his chest.
“Taehyung,” Jeongguk replies, tilting his head only slightly to make up for their small height difference.
“Can I help you?”
“Yeah, actually you can.”
“Oh?”
Without thinking he grabs Taehyung by the collar and closes the distance between them.
Taehyung kisses even better than he did in college. He’s surprised no doubt and because of that, he stays stock still for a moment. But his brain seems to catch up with what's happening and he uncrosses his arms to pull Jeongguk in closer by the waist, his lips working against Jeongguk’s as if they’d never gone years without each other.
His knees feel weak, his heart is beating so hard against his chest he wonders if Taehyung can feel it.
Jeongguk pulls away to breathe, his forehead resting against Taehyung’s cheek. “Take me home,” he murmurs.
Somehow, over the noise, Taehyung hears him. He looks back towards his friends, only a few feet away, and announces, “I’m leaving.”
Hobi whoops and starts singing a bad rendition of Can You Feel the Love Tonight. Jeongguk’s cheeks heat up but Taehyung only chuckles as he catches the coat his friend throws at him and maneuvers Jeongguk out of the bar.
He hears Audrey yell something unintelligible as he leaves to which he snorts.
The door to Jeongguk’s apartment slams closed behind him as Taehyung presses him against the door and blindly locks it. Jeongguk’s back digs uncomfortably into the doorknob so he presses forward, wrapping his arms around Taehyung’s neck and urges him to walk backward. He should probably be ashamed that he knows exactly how to get to his bedroom in this exact predicament but he’s a single man in his 20s living alone. He’s allowed to sleep around.
Their shoes and jackets are the first to go, lost somewhere near the doorway along with their scarves. Taehyung’s hands are cold from the winter air and as they make their way underneath Jeongguk’s turtleneck sweater to feel his skin, Jeongguk shivers. He tells himself it’s from the cold touch and not because he’s missed his hands on his skin.
Taehyung mouths what little he can reach of Jeongguk’s neck as his hands skirt over his sides up to his ribs. “Take this off,” he groans.
Jeongguk’s knees practically buckle at the sound of his deep voice. It always reached a deeper, richer sound when they were like this.
Raising his arms above his head, Jeongguk helps Taehyung lift his sweater off, his hair getting awfully tussled by the time he reemerges. He shivers as the lingering cold air in his apartment hits his exposed skin. Taehyung chuckles, smoothing down his hair before pressing a kiss to his forehead. It’s too intimate. That’s not what tonight is about.
Taehyung makes a surprised sound when he sees Jeongguk’s array of tattoos. Over the years he’s accumulated a nice sleeve, admittedly his slight tattoo addiction is why it took him a little longer to find his own place than he would have liked. But they’re well worth it.
“Shit,” Taehyung breathes out.
“I think the hand tattoos should have clued you in,” Jeongguk laughs.
Taehyung takes hold of Jeongguk’s hand and kisses his knuckles. Jeongguk’s stomach swoops at the act. He needs to stop. “The piercings distracted me,” Taehyung admits.
Jeongguk cups the back of his neck and coaxes him into another kiss, one that’s less gentle and more intense, filled with all of his desires. Taehyung takes the hint and kisses him back with equal vigor as he unbuttons his own shirt. Jeongguk has half a mind to just rip it open and pop the buttons free but reminds himself that doing that will make the following morning all the more complicated.
As soon as the first few buttons are undone, Jeongguk hungrily slides the shirt off of Taehyung’s shoulders.
“You’re eager,” Taehyung murmurs against his lips.
“I wouldn’t be if you weren’t taking so long,” Jeongguk goads, sighing when the shirt finally comes off and falls to the floor.
“Where’s your bedroom?”
Jeongguk kisses him again as he tugs him by the wrist down the dark hall to his bedroom.
The only light filtering into the room is coming from his window facing the street. It’s just enough light to see one another while not exposing very much to the naked eye.
“Light switch?”
“Keep it off,” Jeongguk orders while he flicks the button of Taehyung’s jeans open.
“You’ve gotten bossy.”
Jeongguk runs his finger over the bulge in front of Taehyung’s jeans. “You seem to like it.”
“Yeah,” Taehyung sighs, sitting back on the bed and bringing Jeongguk down with him until Jeongguk is straddling his lap. “Yeah I do,” cupping Jeongguk’s jaw, Taehyung pulls him into a kiss, biting his bottom lip while he’s at it.
Jeongguk grips the hair on the nape of his neck and gazes at him. “Then do something about it.”
He does.
Taehyung kisses his collarbones as he peers up at Jeongguk, his fingers stretching him open while Jeongguk rides them. Jeongguk meets his gaze for only a moment before his eyes flutter shut with a moan and his head rolls back.
“God, look at you,” Taehyung murmurs as he spreads his fingers inside. Jeongguk’s hips buck, his cock rubbing against Taehyung’s stomach. Jeongguk was right, Taehyung did eventually pick up working out. His stomach is more toned than it was in college. “You still look like a dream.”
Jeongguk groans, biting his lip as he concentrates on working his hips just right. Taehyung’s hands, his fingers have always been borderline magical. Long and deft, he could always make Jeongguk come at least once on his fingers alone.
“Hurry,” Jeongguk breathes out, clenching his eyes closed as the heat in his stomach builds.
Taehyung licks his collar bone, his other hand splayed out in the space between Jeongguk’s shoulder blades to keep him close. “Come on my fingers first. You were always good at that.”
Jeongguk’s toes curl as he rolls his hips down slowly. “I’d usually be coming by now, maybe you’ve lost your touch.”
Taehyung snorts and curls his fingers, cruelly pressing against that spot inside of him with no mercy.
Jeongguk’s entire body jerks along with his cock. “ Fuck ,” he moans out loud. His hands grip Taehyung’s shoulders hard as he ducks his head.
“There you go,” Taehyung praises him as he uncurls his fingers, giving Jeongguk time to breathe. “Can’t wait to be inside of you.”
“Then do it— ah —” He trembles, the heat burning inside of him spreads, washing over his entire body.
Biting down hard on his collarbone, Taehyung teases curling his fingers once more but this time not letting up. “Not until you come.”
Jeongguk’s back locks and his grip on Taehyung’s shoulders tighten as he climaxes, shooting come between them as stars explode behind his eyes. He’s rigid, straight as a bow until he’s not and Taehyung is the only thing holding him up. He kisses Jeongguk down from his orgasm, pressing gentle kisses to his lips until Jeongguk reciprocates. Just like when they were young.
Jeongguk doesn’t think about it, instead, he kisses back, languidly, the tiredness starting to settle in his bones. When his kisses slow, Taehyung flips them over so Jeongguk is on his back, hair fanned out against his cool sheets.
“Stay with me,” Taehyung whispers into his earlobe before pressing a kiss there. “We’re not done yet, Ggukie.”
“’m here,” Jeongguk promises, wrapping a tired arm around Taehyung’s neck and bringing him in for another kiss.
Taehyung kisses him back, blindly looking for the box of condoms Jeongguk had thrown his way earlier while he had been looking for his lube. Jeongguk hears the box crinkle in his grip and then Taehyung pulls away to take out a foil and open it. As he slides the condom on, Jeongguk regrets keeping the light off, who knows when he'll see Taehyung again, and like this . Taehyung catches him watching and smirks as he strokes himself a few times.
“Like what you see?”
“Eh,” Jeongguk shrugs. “It’s nothing I’ve never seen before.”
Taehyung snorts and gently pries Jeongguk’s legs open, staring down at his entrance. Jeongguk feels himself flush all over and wants to snap at him to get on with it just to save himself from the embarrassment he feels. Taehyung has always had a fascination with watching Jeongguk open up around his width.
Taehyung grabs Jeongguk’s ankle with his left hand and grips the base of his own cock with his right to feed it into Jeongguk’s entrance. Slowly, he slides in, making Jeongguk feel every inch of him as he accommodates to Taehyung's size.
“Fuck,” Jeongguk moans, the crown of his head pressing against the bed sheets as his back bows. It’s been months since he’s last had anyone inside of him, even longer since he’s been with anyone as skilled as Taehyung. His body feels hot all over, skin breaking out into sweat as Taehyung slides home, their hips meeting. “Fuck,” Jeongguk repeats breathlessly.
“You’re repeating yourself,” Taehyung groans through clenched teeth. He always has something smart to say.
“Fuck you,” Jeongguk groans, toes curling as Taehyung slowly pulls out, drawing out the drag.
“I’m a little busy fucking you right now. I’m up for it later, though.”
“You’re infuriating.”
“Thank you, darling,” Taehyung hums and then thrusts back in, angling his hip in a way that has Jeongguk moaning loudly. Grinning, Taehyung presses both hands down on Jeongguk’s thighs to spread him out wide and make space for himself. “You’ve gotten more flexible.”
“Yoga,” Jeongguk grunts as he works to meet Taehyung’s thrusts.
“God bless yoga.”
“Shut up and fuck me,” Jeongguk orders impatiently.
Taehyung grins before licking his lips and leaning down so they’re pressed flush against each other, Jeongguk’s cock blanketed by both their bodies. Taehyung licks into his mouth, immediately seeking his tongue to coax it into his own mouth and suck on it.
Jeongguk’s hands grip his shoulders, and he doesn’t keep himself from scratching down the expanse of Taehyung’s shoulder blades.
It’s still as good as Jeongguk remembers. If not better. Definitely better. Even with his first orgasm wrung out of him he still feels so close to the edge. His body is alive with nerves like a hotwire. Each touch sends a shock throughout his body, each slow thrust makes his toes curl up.
Taehyung is going slow on purpose, he knows how much Jeongguk likes to feel every inch of him. He knows how much harder it is for Jeongguk to control himself when his cock drags out of him just right and slow enough to feel everything.
His fingers dig into Taehyung’s skin in an attempt to keep himself from stroking his leaking cock. He wants this to last. Who knows how long it’ll be before he gets a good fuck again? It’s frustrating that Taehyung has gotten even better at this. Now he has even more to miss once he leaves.
Taehyung released his tongue and Jeongguk can finally breathe again. His chest heaves as he takes a gulp of air only to be cut off with a moan when Taehyung grabs hold of his ankle and lifts Jeongguk’s leg over his shoulder. Jeongguk’s arms fall uselessly to his side only to grip the sheets tight when Taehyung thrusts into him hard. He moans as he melts into the sheets.
“Can you come untouched?” He asks as he licks Jeongguk’s ankle, looking like sin and desire all wrapped into one.
“I don’t know,” Jeongguk whines. It’s been a while since anyone has tried or since he’s been with anyone who was good enough to get that reaction out of him. There was one girlfriend he had a few years back. Her ways with a strap were heavenly.
Taehyung chuckles and runs a finger up Jeongguk’s cock, thumbing the head to spread the bead of precome. “We’ll find out together then.”
And with that Taehyung abandons all talk and instead gazes down at Jeongguk’s entrance as he jackhammers into him. Jeongguk can only watch as Taehyung fucks into him without mercy, his face set in concentration as a bead of sweat trails down his face and drops done to Jeongguk’s hip.
Jeongguk can do nothing, he lays there and takes it as his eyes roll back into his head and he makes these desperate little sounds. When was the last time he was fucked so thoroughly? Fucked speechless?
Taehyung presses Jeongguk’s lifted leg forward until it’s pressed against Jeongguk’s chest. And the change in angle is everything. Taehyung is hitting him in that spot at every thrust and it makes Jeongguk jerk in pleasure. “Oh,” he moans, reaching out for Taehyung. He doesn’t even know what he’s asking for but Taehyung does. He leans forward and interlocks their fingers, squeezing Jeongguk’s hand tight.
It grounds him, gives him something to focus on besides the intense pleasure.
Taehyung smirks down at him and then presses forward until their hips are flush against each other and then rolls them in circular motions.
“Oh my god,” Jeongguk moans as his back bows. “Don’t stop. I’m close. Tae—”
Leaning down, Taehyung’s breath fans against his cheek as he whispers. “Then come for me, baby.”
Jeongguk sobs, his free hand coming up to grip his own hair. His cock is leaking all over his stomach begging to be touched but Taehyung is mindful. He wants to see Jeongguk come untouched so he’s making sure his own body isn’t pressing against his cock at all.
“I can’t,” he sobs and to his horror finds tears collecting in his eyes. “Tae—I need more. Please.”
Taehyung hums and for a cruel second Jeongguk thinks Taehyung is going to ignore him, to keep him withering there just on the verge of coming, yet not enough. But then his mouth wraps around Jeongguk’s nipple, his tongue running over it until it beads up.
Electricity shoots up Jeongguk’s spine and he can’t clamp down the moan bubbling inside of him.
Taehyung hums, nipple still caught between his teeth before he lets off. “That’s it. My baby is still as needy as ever.”
If Jeongguk weren’t currently losing his mind he’d tell Taehyung to fuck off. As it is, he can only moan and with an unyielding grip brings Taehyung’s mouth back on his chest.
“Bossy too,” Taehyung chuckles and sucks the other nipple into his mouth.
It’s too much, between Taehyung’s unrelenting hips moving in a way that allows Jeongguk to feel every inch of him and the way his tongue and mouth work over his chest, Jeongguk never stood a chance.
With a perfectly timed roll of his hips, Taehyung has Jeongguk coming harder than he has in recent memory. The crown of his head pressing against his sheets as he back bows. Taehyung holds him with a tight grip on his ribs and doesn’t let up. He lets him ride out his orgasm as come spurts all over his stomach and chest.
“Fuck,” Jeongguk moans almost incoherently. Taehyung kisses up his neck, settling on his lips while his hand rests on the side of his neck. The kiss is slow, just the right tempo for Jeongguk’s sluggish brain.
Once Jeongguk’s body relaxes, melting into his sheets in an exhausted heap Taehyung pulls away, their lips making a wet sound as they detach. Jeongguk tilts his head to the side and watches as Taehyung grabs hold of his own erection and gently slides out of Jeongguk.
“You didn’t finish,” he croaks, mouth suddenly feeling dry as Taehyung slides the condom off.
“Hard to focus on myself with such a bossy bottom,” Taehyung chuckles, looking undeterred. He bends Jeongguk’s legs back, his limbs are starting to hurt now. “Hold yourself open for me.”
Jeongguk feels a blush make its way to his chest but he grabs the back of his thighs anyways and gives Taehyung a view of everything.
“Perfect,” Taehyung murmurs as he strokes his erection.
Jeongguk finds his eyes focused on the blurred movements of Taehyung’s hand. “I can blow you.”
“Tempting but I can’t give up on this view,” Taehyung accents his point by running his free hand over the back of Jeongguk’s thigh.
Jeongguk swallows before softly saying, “You can fuck my thighs.”
Before Taehyung can answer he comes with a deep groan, neck thrown back, showing off that delicious plane of skin.
“Or not,” Jeongguk deadpans as come shoots all over him. He’s shocked Taehyung didn’t aim for his face. He’s filthy. They both are. Jeongguk in a very literal sense with come all over his stomach and chest and Taehyung in a more figurative way.
Jeongguk’s gaze flicks to Taehyung’s face, watching as it contorts in pleasure. Fuck him and his perfect O face. It should be illegal to be that hot even in the middle of an orgasm.
Jeongguk wraps his legs around Taehyung’s waist and tugs him down once he’s done. Taehyung has enough sense to catch himself on the mattress so he’s not crushing him.
“And if I hadn’t caught myself you would have been bitching,” Taehyung huffs.
“Except you did so you have nothing to worry about.”
Taehyung snorts and mouths Jeongguk’s neck. “Am I still as good as you remember?”
“No comment.”
“So harsh,” Taehyung whines petulantly. “I guess you coming twice untouched says more than you ever will.”
“Fuck off, don’t get cocky I’ve just been pent up.”
“Clearly.”
Jeongguk grabs his pillow beside him and smacks Taehyung right in the face with it. Taehyung sputters before giving Jeongguk a scandalized look and then launching himself at him. Jeongguk yells while Taehyung attempts to pin him down.
“God, you’re still strong as shit,” Taehyung grunts as he tries to dodge Jeongguk’s feet.
Jeongguk grins. “Yeah, does that still turn you?”
“Fuck yeah,” Taehyung admits unabashedly his hair framing his face in a pretty way as he leans over Jeongguk. “Even back in college, you were like a wet dream on legs for me.”
Jeongguk feels himself grow shy. “Okay,” is all he says.
Taehyung chuckles. “How about me, huh? Be honest.”
“You don’t need to be told you're hot. You’re very aware.”
“It’s still nice to hear every once in a while,” Taehyung pouts. He looks so much like his college self like this it makes Jeongguk’s heart skip a beat.
“Vain,” Jeongguk sniffs as Taehyung drops himself down beside him.
“Tsundere,” Taehyung shoots back, his face serious only for a moment before he breaks out into a grin and leans over to kiss him again. “Where’s your bathroom? We gotta clean you up, you’re a mess.”
“I wonder who’s fault that is,” Jeongguk asks with a raised brow.
Taehyung stares at him a second too long. “God that’s so hot with the piercing,” he groans and mushes Jeongguk’s face with his hand. “Put your face away.”
Jeongguk makes an affronted sound and swats his hand away. His face feels sticky. “You first. And I know you didn’t just put your hand full of lube all over my face, you asshole .”
Taehyung looks down at his hand and makes an apologetic sound when he realizes he did very much touch him with his lube slicked hand. “Whoops.”
“I’m going to kill you.”
“You can’t,” Taehyung whines. “I’m the best man at Hobi’s wedding and everyone saw me leave with you. If I go missing you’ll be the first suspect.”
“Ugh,” Jeongguk groans and attempts to sit up. His body aches in a good way but his ass feels sore beyond belief. “Jesus,” he groans as he presses a hand on his lower back. “Did you really have to plow into me like that?”
“You were quite literally begging for it. If I remember correctly you practically started crying actually.”
That is entirely beside the point.
“Carry me,” Jeongguk orders.
“The last time I tried to carry you I dropped you.”
“That was years ago, you’ve buffed up.”
Taehyung flexes his arm and wags his brows. “You like?”
“They’re pretty useless if they can’t carry me,” Jeongguk deadpans.
“You really know how to make a guy feel special.”
“I try.”
Somehow they get clean and manage to fall back into the bed without bickering. Much. They even change the bed sheets because Jeongguk absolutely refuses to sleep in his dirty sheets. Taehyung actually does most of the work. He orders Jeongguk to sit on his lounge chair bundled up in his towel while he gets to work changing the sheets. It’s sweet. But then again Taehyung has always been sweet. It’s nice to know that much hasn’t changed.
By the time the sheets are changed and they’re both in sleeping clothes, Jeongguk feels ready to drop. As soon as his head hits his pillow his eyes start to droop.
“You gonna hate me in the morning?” Taehyung whispers beside him.
“Never hated you,” Jeongguk mumbles honestly and shuffles into his space, tangling their legs together as he rests his head on Taehyung’s chest. “Probably never will.”
Taehyung wraps his arms around Jeongguk’s shoulders and kisses his forehead. “Okay.”
Jeongguk hums and sleep overcomes him.
He wakes up twice, the first time he’s barely even conscious and he only wakes because he feels a kiss pressed to his forehead.
“Hmm?” He groans, forcing his eyes open.
“Shh, go back to bed,” a familiar voice whispers softly. “I have to go, I can't be late for the wedding. I just wanted to say goodbye.”
Jeongguk makes an incoherent sound as he holds his arms out for a hug. He hears Taehyung’s intake of breath before he leans down and envelopes Jeongguk in a hug. The smell of his lingering cologne is pleasant to his nose.
“I missed you Ggukie,” he confesses softly.
“Me too,” Jeongguk admits, sleepily, convinced it’s a dream.
Taehyung gives him a chaste kiss and then leaves. Jeongguk is asleep before he hears the sound of his door closing.
The second time, he wakes up alone. It takes a while for him to even remember last night. His head hurts but he’s not hungover like he thought he would be. It’s not until he sits up and he registers the ache in his lower back that the memories hit him like a train.
Seeing Hobi again, leading to seeing Taehyung again, which led to them drinking together and finally to them coming back to Jeongguk’s apartment and having sex.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Fuck.
“There’s my little slut,” Audrey exclaims when he opens the door to his apartment. “How was your reunion with your first love huh? Did he blow your back out?”
“Shut up,” Jeongguk grunts. “How are you not hungover? You drank your weight in liquor.”
“Threw up last night,” she says simply with a shrug. “I never have a hangover as long as I throw it all back up before going to bed. You know that.”
“Fuck off,” he sneers.
“It was that bad, huh? Guess he’s all looks but no technique. Bummer.”
He wishes it sucked, then maybe then he wouldn’t be dealing with all this angst . “No, he was even better than I remember.”
Audrey gives him a funny look as she makes herself comfortable on his couch. “So what’s the problem? You look like someone killed your puppy or something.”
“I don’t have a puppy.”
“That’s beside the point.”
“I just… I guess I didn’t realize how much I missed him until he came back. It's dumb,” Jeongguk says and he drops into the seat next to Audrey. “I’m just being dumb.”
Audrey wraps a comforting arm around Jeongguk’s shoulders and tugs him in until his head is resting on her shoulder. “Hey, it’s probably just the post-sex haze talking. Give it a few days and you’ll be back to normal. Besides, you probably won’t see him again for a long time if at all. Just treat it like all your other one night stands. No biggie.”
“No biggie,” Jeongguk repeats, but he knows it’s not that simple. He and Taehyung have a history. And if last night's memories serve to be correct, both of them still have lingering attachments to each other. No matter how hard Jeongguk tried to make the sex as emotionless as possible Taehyuung wouldn’t let up. You don’t kiss your one night stand on the forehead or have post-sex pillow talk that leads to cuddling. You just don’t. But one thing is true, Taehyung is gone and he left Jeongguk with no way to contact him or vice versa.
He’s picked himself back up because of Taehyung before and he will do it again. He doesn’t really have a choice.
And pick himself up he does. It’s like Audrey said the first few days are the hardest and he blames it on his post-sex haze entirely. But a week in he feels like himself again, he’s not reminiscing on college or their relationship. He’s not thinking about all the things they could have and should have said to one another in order to stay together. The only thing his mind lingers on is the amazing sex, and he can hardly be blamed for that.
Work is a good distraction too, he’s always enjoyed his job. He never thought teaching would be his calling but once he started doing it he couldn’t see himself doing anything else.
When the school principal walks into the teachers’ lounge she calls out to Jeongguk and waves him over. She’s an older woman with graying hair but she’s tall and is about as unmoving as a mountain. Despite all this, she’s very kind, even the students like her.
“Ms. Brown, how are you?”
“How many times have I told you to call me Rose?”
Jeongguk shrugs sheepishly.
She glares at him goodnaturedly before smiling. “I actually came to talk to you about that proposal you made, about having your classes attend the MET once a week for more in-depth learning.”
Jeongguk’s eyes widened, he’d proposed that months ago before the school year started, it’s almost the end of the semester now. “Really?”
“Yes, sorry for taking so long to get back to you, it took me a while to finally find the right person to speak about this with on the museum’s end.”
“What did they say?” He asks, barely containing his excitement.
“They were delighted by the idea. If you’re still up for it, we can have the program up and running just in time for the second semester.”
Jeongguk just barely keeps himself from barrelling her into a hug. “That’ll be perfect! I already had some lesson plans drafted up. I just have to tweak them a bit to match the second semester’s curriculum.”
“Fantastic. Do you have some time this week? The museum has a new curator who is willing to work with us one on one. We can meet him and you two can work on the curriculum together.”
“I’m free all week,” he says perhaps a little too eagerly.
“Great, we can go as soon as today if you’re willing.”
“Of course!”
She smiles at him softly, a lot like his mom smiles at him and pats him on the shoulder. “Come to my office once you’re done for the day. I’ll speak with my point of contact and see if they’ll be available around 4.”
“I’ll see you then,” he says with a nod.
When she leaves he turns back to Audrey and Roman, finally allowing himself to grin.
“Did you get a raise?” Roman asks.
“ No ,” Jeongguk sing-songs as he plants himself between them.
“Then why are you smiling like that? It’s creepy my dude,” Audrey says as she chews her bagel.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Jeongguk admonishes.
“Bite me.”
Jeongguk ignores her. “Remember that idea I had about having some classes take place at the MET?”
“Yeah,” Roman says. “It was actually a pretty cool idea.”
“I agree, and apparently so does Ms. Brown and the museum executives. They agreed to it for next semester!”
“Sick,” Audrey cheers, this time with no food in her mouth.
“I wonder if they’d do that for my art class too,” Roman muses.
“I don’t see why not. It might even be easier, mine involves a curator assisting in teaching. I don't think you’d need that for yours.”
“Nah but taking my AP art class to the museum weekly or even monthly can help them strengthen their understanding of the fundamentals and expose them to different eras of art from all over the world.”
“You should run it by Ms. Brown,” Audrey suggests. “I on the other hand will have my ass firmly planted at my desk. Thank god English barely requires any trips.”
“Your devotion to teaching is so inspiring,” Roman says sarcastically.
“I know I should have a movie made about me.”
Jeongguk laughs while Roman rolls his eyes before focusing back on Jeongguk. “When are you meeting with the curator?”
“This afternoon around 4.”
“Nice.”
“Hey, if he’s got you can get yourself a new man.”
“I’m good,” Jeongguk chuckles.
“You only live once, babe. Might as well take all the hot people you can.”
“We are at work . Keep it down.”
“In the teachers’ lounge . Relax.”
“How do you still have a job,” Roman sighs.
“I’m charming, obviously.”
Jeongguk peels his mandarin and watches his friends bicker back and forth for the remainder of their breakfast with a smile.
Jeongguk and Ms. Brown meet in her office fifteen minutes before 4. The museum is literally only a few blocks away from their school and should take no more than ten minutes to get there if even that. Jeongguk is already bundled up in his jacket and scarf, his beanie and gloves are in his bag for later.
“Ah, Jeongguk. Are you ready?”
He nods excitedly as Ms. Brown locks her office.
“Fantastic let's get going.”
The short walk over is filled with small talk. Ms. Brown asks him how his students are doing to which he proudly relays that they’re all going great and none of them are failing. Some teachers pride themselves in the fact that students have a hard time passing their classes or getting A’s. Jeongguk is not one of them, his opinion is that if his students fail it's reflective of his teaching, not the other way around. And as the years went on, he’s learned that every student is bright, they just don’t all learn the same. He’s made it easy for students to come to him if they are ever having a problem grasping any of the content.
Thankfully, his students like him as much as he likes them. His classroom is usually filled with a few students during lunch or after school for extra tutoring or even just to have a place to hang out with their friends that isn’t outside or the school cafeteria. He never thought he’d be that teacher. The cool teacher and yet somehow he is according to his students.
When they arrive to the museum, Ms. Brown makes a beeline to the service desk and gives the clerk their name.
“Ah, right. I’ll get a hold of Jackie for you. If you don’t mind waiting here she should be down shortly.”
“Thank you,” they both say and step to the side.
“The new curator,” Jeongguk starts. “Are they new new or just new to the museum?”
“New to the museum. They were working at The Getty Center in California for about five years before coming here.”
“Oh,” Jeongguk says. There's a nagging in his brain. Something telling him that’s an important detail but he can’t quite place it. He ignores it for now.
“Rose,” an unfamiliar voice calls out.
Jeongguk and Ms. Brown both turn to the voice. It's a woman around Ms. Brown’s age, Jackie he assumes, and from the familiar way they embrace one another Jeongguk assumes their old friends. He smiles as they greet one another until Ms. Brown introduces him.
“Ah right, Jackie this is Mr. Jeon, he teaches history to our Juniors and Seniors.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” he says as they shake hands.
“Follow me, I’ll show you both to the basement. It’s where all the offices are amongst other things.”
Jeongguk and his boss follow behind Jackie as she gives a short tour of whatever they happen to pass by as they make it to the offices.
Most of the office doors are closed and the ones that are open are quite frankly a bit of a mess. Paper and books are scattered everywhere.
“Working at a museum isn’t as glamorous as people assume,” Jackie jokes.
“My office is no better,” Ms. Brown assures.
Jeongguk can’t quite say the same but he doesn’t blame them either.
They turn a corner and there lies a loan room with the door shut.
“Our new curator just arrived a few days ago so he’s still unpacking. Don’t mind the mess.” Jackie opens the door and, yeah, it’s a mess. There are boxes everywhere and books lying around. But the room is huge, he’s assuming it was used as a classroom in the past. Convenient, really.
There’s another door at the end of the room near the whiteboard that’s open and soft RnB is playing from inside. He’s pretty sure it’s Majid Jordan’s new album. Huh.
Jackie gestures for them to follow her into the office. Inside, there’s a man with his back to them as he kneels over and rummages through a box on the floor, softly singing along to the music.
The nagging in his head gets louder.
“Mr. Kim, our guests are here,” Jackie says.
No. No way. No fucking way.
The man turns around and this must be a joke, the universe has to be fucking with him.
He and Taehyung lock eyes immediately and it takes everything in him not to drop his polite smile and just scream . Taehyung looks just as surprised to see him, taking him in as if they hadn’t just seen each other a little over a month ago.
“Mr. Kim this is my old friend Rose and her colleague Mr. Jeon. You two will be working together in a few weeks.”
They’re too busy gaping at each other to really say anything.
Ms. Brown looks between them with a raised brow. “Do you two know each other?”
“No,” Jeongguk lies at the same time Taehyung says, “We went to college together.”
Ms. Brown and her friend share a look.
“Well, which is it then?” Jackie asks, sounding a bit amused.
“We went to college together,” Taehyung repeats.
“But we haven’t seen each other in years so—um—we don’t really know each other very well. Anymore.” Jeongguk ends lamely, he hears Taehyung snort quietly and wills himself not to hit him. He likes his job. He’d like to very much keep his job. Attacking a museum curator isn’t a wise choice. No matter how infuriating he is.
“Right,” Jackie says, clearly not buying it.
Ms. Brown, bless her heart, is either oblivious to the awkwardness between them or very good at ignoring it. “That’s good, you two already know each other! In that case, we’ll leave you two to get reacquainted. I’ll see you tomorrow, Jeongguk.”
He wants to tell her no. To stay. He doesn’t know what’ll happen if they’re alone together. Jeongguk doesn’t know if he’ll wring his neck or kiss him. The only positive thing is that there are no drinks around to blur Jeongguk’s judgment. He curses Audrey to hell in his head, if she had never convinced him to sleep with Taehyung he wouldn’t be freaking out right now.
“See you tomorrow,” he replies mechanically.
Taehyung and his boss exchange goodbyes as well and soon enough they are alone.
Jeongguk watches them go and as soon as he hears their second door shut behind them he whirls around and seethes, “What the fuck ?”