Chapter Text
“Ah, for fucksak-“
Jungkook internally screamed as he dug through his backpack, leaned up against the entryway of his apartment complex and digging out his belongings.
See, he wasn’t exactly the most organized person, in fact, he was a bit of a mess, but he wasn’t a dumbass who forgot his lab homework at work.
Well, he wasn’t normally that dumbass, but it seemed he was today, because no matter how far he dug into the backpack there was no bright blue lab book to be seen.
Damn. For a college senior graduating in six months he needed to get his shit quickly.
That was hard to do considering he had no motivation to do so. Well, other than the future looming over his head and the fact that he knew talking pre-med was a mistake, because it was so hard to find a job in the field fresh out of college.
So maybe Jungkook was an idiot. A mistake-making, messy, idiot.
But at least he was a happy mistake-making, messy, idiot.
Jungkook wasn’t the happiest person, but his friends considered him a ball of energy, and he tried his best to stay positive about most things in life because he understood that happy moments weren’t given to everyone.
That wasn’t to say Jungkook was always happy, of course not, not when he had the real world slowly approaching and knew he couldn’t rely on things as he knew them to stay as they were forever.
The truth was Jungkook was exhausted. He had long days at school, taking seventeen units so he could graduate on time, and then shifts for hours on end at any chance he could get, on top of that he came home and and barely had time to eat or do schoolwork.
Then, he picked himself up and did the same exact thing the next day.
Jungkook was not content, but he was content enough.
It was a shame that a missing lab book was going to be what made him explode, because he felt like bursting into a fit of tears as he slumped up the metal stairwell towards his apartment.
The fact that his routine was altered put him on edge, because he knew tomorrow he’d have to wake up earlier than normal to collect his lab book or else his life was screwed.
Jungkook sighed, internally promising that he’d pass out as soon as he hit his bed because he’d need an extra hour to get to work before classes began, and he couldn’t stand the thought of skipping again.
Namjoon has already convinced him to skip class once and he’d missed an entire lesson on pathogenic diseases.
It took him two weeks to self teach himself that chapter. (Mostly because he kept falling asleep.)
He rubbed at his eye as he fished his keys out of his pocket, knowing it was well past his usual ten o’ clock arrival home due to a five minute delay realizing he’d forgotten his booklet, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
Jungkook gathered himself with a heavy sigh and climbed the last step to the third floor before raising his head and immediately being alarmed.
Seemed today was a day of surprises because the person sitting outside of his apartment certainly wasn’t normal.
“Uh,” Jungkook scanned the man who was looking down at his phone, eying the dyed white hair on his head before clearing his throat. “Hey, do I know you? Can I help you?”
In an instant the man was shifting to look up at him, revealing soft, chocolate eyes rimmed with red. He had a button nose and small, nearly heart shaped lips.
Jungkook's lips parted in confusion when the man began to get up, shocked and confused as to why someone so… cute was outside of his door.
“I… do you need help?” Jungkook worried, tilting his head, “Are you in some kind of trouble? Do you need somewhere to go-“
“Um..” The man stood fully to his feet, clutching his phone in both hands over his large, dark green sweatshirt, “Hi.. I.. I take it you don’t remember me?”
Jungkook immediately blanched, he’d be a liar if he said he didn’t feel like an idiot in front of someone so handsome and having to say no, I don’t know you. “…I…” He murmured and reached up to scratch the back of his neck, “I take it you know me? I’m sorry… I-“
“No, no..” The other whispered, shifting on his feet a few times before he pointed towards the door, “I’m sorry, I can explain, it’s just that I’ve been here for a while and.. sorry, could I ask you for some water? I’m- I’m a bit nervous..”
That seemed like an understatement, because when the man held his pointed finger out for more than a second Jungkook saw his hands shaking with nerves, it looked as if he was freezing, which wasn’t true considering the heaters in the halls.
“I’m so, so sorry.” Jungkook whispered, unsure if he was apologizing for not knowing him or if it was about him having to wait as he hurried to the door.
“No, it’s..”
Jungkook didn’t hear him continue, but when he looked over his shoulder saw him shake his head towards himself and felt a rush of disappointment fill his chest despite the fact he had no idea why.
Letting a stranger into his home was definitely a stupid idea, but with just one look at the other Jungkook didn’t feel any sort of threat. In fact, he felt anxious, as if he’d done something wrong.
“Come on in, sorry for the mess, I’ve been busy…” Jungkook whispered, flicking on the living room light and tossing his backpack to the side to immediately use both hands and comb his hair out of his face properly.
There was no reason why he cared that his hair was a mess, or his house, but it only occurred to him now that he probably should when inviting such a pretty person inside.
The man looked at him for a second, pressing his lips together nervously before looking at the kitchen and Jungkook startled with a jump to quickly rush in, “Fuck, sorry. Water - it’s been a long day, I’m sorry.”
Smiling tensely, the other walked nearly silently towards his couch, making Jungkook groan under his breath when he had to move papers out of the way just to find a seat.
“My name is Kim Taehyung… I-I assume you don’t remember that…”
“I’m really so sorry,” Jungkook groaned and yanked a water bottle out of the fridge, “How long were you waiting?”
“Since three or four.”
Holy shit, Jungkook's eyes flickered to the oven time and read 10:46.
“Fuck, let me get you something to eat.” He muttered, yanking open the fridge and pulling out his leftover pizza from the night before, quickly turning the oven on to warm it up.
While the pizza warmed up he quickly came around the counter to give the other his water, cleaning off the couch while the smaller practically drank his entire bottle.
Fuck, if that didn’t make Jungkook feel bad then Taehyung shifting to lean over his lap and cup his head as if he had a headache certainly did.
“.. do you need some medicine?” Jungkook asked awkwardly.
Taehyung jolted to sit back, wrapping arms around his middle and shaking his head, “Sorry, no, I’m okay.. just…. You really don’t remember anything?”
Jungkook pressed his lips together and shook his head, “I’m so sorry.”
“Oh god..” Taehyung pressed his forehead into his hands and took a large breath, making Jungkook wince in apology, but the truth was he hadn’t a clue who he was.
“I take it… you remember though?” He asked, sounding falsely calm, “You can fill in the blanks for me- wait, I didn’t do anything bad right? Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.” Taehyung muttered, sitting back with a huge breath and adding, “You certainly didn’t do anything bad to me.”
Jungkook's brows shot up high.
“I.. well,” Taehyung continued, looking more unsure by the second as he pressed his shoes together and closed up on himself, “Nearly four months ago… there was this gathering at a hotel, I don’t know, some sort of college summer party - I was just staying there for a bit while my place was getting renovated but.. I don’t know, my friend told me to get out more, so I did.. and you..” Taehyung laughed under his breath, ears turning red as he ran his palms nervously over his thighs, “You were really nice to me, like.. I’ve never heard things you said before, and I was a little drunk.. apparently you were a lot drunk… I didn’t realize it at the time so..”
For a moment, Jungkook sat still, looking over the others' form and taking it all in, but something was not clicking with him. Something was way off. “Wait you with me? Wait, wait. We…? Really? Me and you?”
Taehyung frowned, shrinking into the arm of the couch, “Um… yeah? We had sex, I mean.. I mean..” He blushed and pressed his lips together, “I’m sorry if that’s not something.. well, if I’m not someone you woul-“
“Pfff, what?” Jungkook outright scoffed and began to shake his head, “No, no - you’re like.. really gorgeous is all! I just didn’t expect that! I mean, not that I sleep around at all - I don’t! I swear! But like damn, I wouldn’t have expect-“
The oven timer began to go off and Jungkook practically jumped to his feet, face ablaze but not dissimilar to Taehyung's own.
He probably could have said that a million times better, or not at all, but it wasn’t a lie. Taehyung was way out of his league.
He was gorgeous, looked a few years older, and he certainly looked more kept than Jungkook himself.
Jungkook blamed it on being late for him acting like an idiot like that - even if he knew he was just an idiot - and quickly yanked the food out to plate up when he heard Taehyung get up from the couch and the floor creak.
Taehyung looked as still as a stick as he stood between the kitchen and living room, fiddling with the end of his sweatshirt as he said, “I- uh asked around- I asked around a lot until I found you, I… didn’t know you’re a college student..”
“I’m twenty three.” Jungkook said immediately, unsure if him being slightly younger would put Taehyung off, “I study pre-med, I want to apply to medical school and be a family doctor.”
He wasn’t sure what about his statement settled Taehyung down a bit, but it seemed something about it did, because the smaller’s shoulders lowered a bit and he didn’t look as uncomfortably stiff. “You like kids?”
“Of course.” He shrugged, “My niece thinks I’m awesome at least.”
Taehyung laughed, an actual laugh that made Jungkook feel like he’d accomplished something amazing.
He grinned back and chuckled under his breath in a rather excited way and turned to offer Taehyung a plate full of pizza, confused when the smaller didn’t take it, but instead Taehyung half smiled and asked, “Do you have any pickles?”
Jungkook snorted, surprised and slightly confused, “That's a new one, I’ve never met anyone who likes pickles on pizza,” He mused as he turned towards the fridge.
“It’s new for me too, but pregnancy cravings are a handful.”
For a moment, Jungkook froze, he held the sliced pickle jar in his hand and felt his eyes widen as he turned to look at him.
Taehyung wasn’t looking at him, but instead he was chewing on his lip and gathering his hair behind both ears nervously.
“W-you- we- I mean.. mine?” Jungkook spluttered, gawking as he leaned over the kitchen counter, “But.. you’re tiny, I mean… you can’t possibly-“
Silently, Taehyung flattened out the front of his sweatshirt down to reveal his pouch of tummy that stuck out more, not a large amount, but a nice sized little bump, perhaps still small enough for Jungkook to fit a single palm over.
“I couldn’t believe it either,” Taehyung admitted quietly, looking down at himself, “I work from home, so… I don’t know, I thought I was putting on weight, but then I got some pains… and I haven’t slept with anyone else in a year..”
Jungkook's eyes filled with sympathy, running a hand over his face and sighing, “God, I am so, so fucking sorry, I’m so so-“
“No, it’s not like that.” Taehyung cut him off softly, crossing his arms over his chest, “I just.. I don’t know, I wanted to let you know. I’m not here to.. ask for child support or anything like that; I’m here to just tell you, to let it out there. I really don’t expect you to just drop your entire life due to a drunken accident, but my morals wouldn’t let me not tell you..”
That.. was hard to process.
Jungkook wasn’t offended, he wasn’t, but it did… sting for Taehyung to imply that he didn’t have to have anything to do with it.
Taehyung was a stranger, he knew that, and he didn’t know anything about him, but in his eyes it was his doing.
It was his baby. Or.. it could be, because otherwise Taehyung was implying it wouldn’t be, and that made something raw and emotional fill Jungkook’s chest, almost like anger.
Jungkook didn’t live his entire life up to this point filled with guilt or regrets, but he knew that his decision now would determine whether he would begin to from now on.
“Can.. can we sit down? I need to think.” Jungkook muttered, grabbing Taehyung's plate and his pickles and moving over towards the living room, silently placing them down for the smaller and taking up a spot on the corner.
Taehyung didn’t say a word, as if he knew him talking anymore wouldn’t help at all; Jungkook appreciated that.
He just watched Taehyung lay pickles on his pizza, he watched him devour an entire slice like a starved man and couldn’t help that rush of guilt seep into his bones.
For all he knew, he’d ruined Taehyung's life with this, and yet the smaller was here to tell him that he would take full responsibility for a baby - their baby - as if it was the easiest thing he could decide.
Perhaps maybe it was because Taehyung was well off; he’d guessed that from the beginning with all his name brand clothes, or perhaps it was just because he took responsibility for his mistakes, but Jungkook didn’t know Taehyung, so he couldn’t reason how or why this seemed so easy for him.
Jungkook knew he looked odd just staring at him, but he was processing.
He was wondering about the curve of Taehyung's nose and how that would look on a child with his own face shape, he was wondering how the smaller had looked with a tummy that wasn’t pushing out at his jeans, and he was wondering why the fuck he got so drunk that day that he couldn’t remember a single thing.
After about ten minutes, Taehyung finished his water. He chugged it and Jungkook leaned over to hand him his own, barely touched, water bottle only for the smaller to accept it and ask, “You’re not eating?”
Jungkook could have laughed, because it wasn’t exactly his priority right now, all things considered.
Instead, he leaned onto his knees and replied, “I want to help raise the baby.”
And just like that, as if he found that such an easy answer, Taehyung smiled, lips pressed together and a pizza slice in hand, “I was hoping you’d say that.”
Jungkook actually laughed, he laughed because he was so utterly astonished and confused. Taehyung seemed so strange yet completely put together.
Taehyung was very beautiful, it was a fact and anyone who saw him would agree, but in the past forty minutes - despite it mostly being filled with silence - Jungkook wondered if he could find as much beauty in Taehyung as a person too, because certainly the attraction he had towards him helped, but he’d much prefer to at least feel fond towards Taehyung.
It was hard to tell exactly how he felt about the situation, because he’d be raising a baby with a mere stranger and had only months to learn all about the other, but time would tell, and they would learn.
“You should stay the night.” Jungkook suggested quietly as Taehyung shoved away his plate, “Come on, I’ll show you to my room, it’s too dangerous to get a taxi this late.”
“Oh, but-“
“I have extras of everything you’ll need,” Jungkook said, “And I have to get up early, so if you need to leave early, that’s okay too, but just stay for the night.. I really don’t think it’s safe.”
Taehyung looked up at him as he hovered by the coffee table before he smiled, cheeks round and eyes tired, “I don’t need to leave early, Jungkook.”
There was absolutely no reason why that should be relieving, but Jungkook felt relieved.
It was utterly silent as he showed Taehyung down the hall to the bathroom to give him a toothbrush, then pointed out his bedroom straight at the end of the hallway.
Jungkook didn’t grab clothes for himself, but told Taehyung he was free to anything before wandering into the living room and yanking the spare blankets out of the closet.
Perhaps it was because he was so anxious, but Jungkook couldn’t sleep even though he laid down on the couch a good ten minutes before Taehyung, but it could also have to do with the fact that his feet hung over the arm uncomfortably and his back was already aching.
He watched Taehyung go back and forth from the bathroom a few times, he came out wearing one of his Coldplay shirts, something that made Jungkook’s lip quirk up seeing as it was his favorite one.
It looked really nice on Taehyung.
Then, he learned another thing about Taehyung.
Jungkook didn’t know if he’d purposely forgotten to close the bedroom door, for him it was a habit to do, so he got up, telling himself it was simply to close the door, and not because he wanted to check on Taehyung again.
That went downhill fast when he wavered with his hand on the handle for a minute, watching his computer light glare off of Taehyung's cheek.
Taehyung liked to sleep on his side, curled up with a hand nuzzled under his cheek, but one leg tossed over the blankets and the other beneath the covers.
Taehyung was really beautiful.
Jungkook walked back to the couch, leaving the bedroom door open just in case Taehyung needed something. Or so he told himself that was the reason.
***
Jungkook ended up skipping class, despite everything in himself saying he really shouldn’t do that.
Instead, he accepted an extra shift at the bakery, because he really needed the money now. Or… he would need it.
It wasn’t like he was made of money, he was a barely surviving college student who still had more school after graduation; if he was lucky then he’d find a paid internship at a clinic which would help fund his way towards his medical license, but now with a baby in the mix that was going to be a struggle.
Plus, he needed a day just to think without all the added stress and without watching teachers drone on.
At the bakery he could just think.
Well, he had been thinking for a good four hours before Taehyung came walking in. He was still wearing the same Coldplay shirt he’d borrowed the night before only with some tight jeans and a bucket hat that looked adorable on him.
That was when Jungkook realized he hadn’t been keeping track of the time and had forgotten he’d invited the smaller to have lunch with him. Well, not really to have lunch, but to stop by for a bit to talk.
This morning they’d exchanged some numbers and he’d left early to get to work, leaving Taehyung at his place, but it seemed the other had helped himself around because when Jungkook went to greet him he noticed he smelled vaguely of his cologne.
Cute.
“Hey, I’m sorry, just let me finish up and I’ll be over.”
“No problem,” Taehyung smiled this bright, twinkly smile and Jungkook had a brief thought of is a pregnancy glow real, or is he always this pretty?
Jungkook smiled back, pointing him to a table before practically running into the back kitchen with an audible groan when he leaned into the table.
“What’s going on?”
“I forgot I was meeting Taehyung for lunch.”
“Taehyung? That’s your baby mama?”
Jungkook groaned and shifted to send Seokjin a glare, something the baker grinned back to, before he huffed, “Don’t call him that, it’s not like that. I told you, I barely know him.”
Seokjin whistled under his breath, snickering as he tossed a freshly cut plate of brownies onto a round metal serving tray, “You don’t need to know someone to knock ‘em up, now do yourself a favor and get on his good side. My sister loved brownies when she was pregnant.”
Jungkook went to whine only for his eyes to widen because hey, not a bad idea, and he twisted to quickly grab his serving tray.
He knew he looked crazy as he flew down the rows of tables, ignoring other customers to get to Taehyung who was pulling something out of his satchel.
Jungkook startled the smaller, making him whisper an apology as he placed the plate down, “I’ll be fast.”
Taehyung, again, made him swallow hard when he pulled a pair of glasses out of a case and smiled as he slipped them on, “Okay, Jungkook.”
Taehyung should be a criminal, because Jungkook felt like this was attempted murder.
Faster than he had in the past two years of working here, Jungkook ran off to serve the rest of the tables, only pausing to clock in for lunch and to grab his food from the fridge in the back.
By the time he got back to the table, he nearly burst into chuckles when he saw that Taehyung had gone through at least two brownies already, and had his cheeks rounded out to chew like a hamster.
Now that, that was really cute.
“I take it you like them.”
Taehyung's eyes widened behind his glasses, sheepishly covering his mouth and shoulders lifting up as if to laugh but his mouth was stuffed full.
“Oh god, you need a drink?” Jungkook chuckled and pulled his thermos out of his lunch pail, “You look like a squirrel, really. It’s cute.”
Almost immediately after saying that Jungkook’s eyes widened and he leaned down with a sigh onto his hand, “I swear I’m not usually like this, okay? It was just an observation, I’m not like flirting to get my way - not that there is a way! I mean like-“
“It’s okay,” Taehyung whispered, covering his mouth with a laugh before taking another quick drink and setting the thermos down and playing with the cap, “I mean… I-uh, you were like that before.. I mean, when I said that you said nice things to me. It’s just.. sorry, you probably don’t want to talk about it…”
“No. What did I say?” Jungkook asked immediately, sitting back in his seat and reaching up to mess with his hair, something he was growing to learn was because he was a nervous wreck about how he was looking when Taehyung was around.
Taehyung blushed, Jungkook noticed in an instant and leaned forward a bit, because surely that was a sign of interest, right? A light pink to his cheeks suggested he was flustered at least.
“Well,” The other cleared his throat and leeched into the thermos, not even drinking it, but just holding it and looking at all of the stickers on the outside. “You were really drunk, I should have noticed. I didn’t really think about it much, because I was a bit wasted too, but I mean.. your friends were trying to force water down your throat, you were so wasted, but you held yourself so well that I just didn’t think about it…”
“Hey..” Jungkook frowned and placed elbows on the table, leaning closer, “You don’t need to feel bad, I’m positive that it was mutual - trust me - more than positive. I’m sure I was just as interested as you were.”
That was probably overkill, and Taehyung giggling as he looked down at the table probably suggested Jungkook sounded like he was just as interested now - which was true - but Taehyung looked pretty when he laughed, so Jungkook didn’t really feel like taking it back or correcting himself.
“It was cute.” Taehyung said, finally looking up from the table and meeting his eyes, “You told me that I was the most attractive person you’ve ever seen, which at the time I thought was really cheesy, but I don’t… usually get attention like that, so I was flattered, I mean I don’t go out much - and I told you that and you were so nice about it. I mean, no offense, but for a college boy… you’re really nice. I mean..” He shifted in his spot, “Nice enough that I thought we should have sex, apparently.”
Jungkook felt a frown pull down the corner of his lips, “You don’t sound like you’re too happy about that? Are you sure I didn’t do something?”
“No, no..” Taehyung quickly shook his head, brows furrowing together as he picked at the corner of a brownie, “I was really naive is all. Just.. I just thought you were really nice.”
It wasn’t that Jungkook was being defensive, he wasn’t, but Taehyung's reaction to him being nice wasn’t exactly as one would expect.
He wasn’t saying it as if it was praise, but rather just a fact.
“Is there… something wrong with being nice?”
Taehyung's eyes darted up, “No, of course not.”
“You.. sort of sound like there was a problem.”
Taehyung released a quiet laugh, licking his lips and scooting until his back was pressed all the way against the booth and he crossed his arms around his stomach. “I guess I just expected the cute, really nice boy who flirted with me for hours to at least remember me in the morning, it’s a petty thought though…”
First of all, Jungkook internally inflated at the cute, despite it being clear that they’d at least had some attraction to each other before.
But quickly he deflated, because he couldn't lie and say he did remember Taehyung, it would hurt his feelings even more.
If this wasn’t confirmation that Taehyung was attracted to him still, then Jungkook was sure the other would need to spell it out, because Taehyung's reaction - his shying away and avoiding the subject - it pointed to him still harboring some emotions towards the last time they’d met.
Jungkook wished he could remember exactly what had happened, but a bottle of vodka and whatever he was handed throughout the night left him with zero memories of much more than Hoseok puking on his shirt the next morning.
“For the record…” Jungkook whispered, tapping his fingers on the table, “I would still flirt with you for hours.”
Releasing a quiet noise of surprise, Taehyung covered his cheeks and began to yank his bucket hat down and hide.
Jungkook felt accomplished, but his ears still turned pink because he just wasn’t used to flirting so blatantly while sober. Apparently drunk him had way more moves though, because Taehyung was one gorgeous man.
Taehyung was shy though, he didn’t seem to go out much, nor like he had much to say, so Jungkook was sure they were probably equal parts awkward and inexperienced.
“Anyway,” Jungkook laughed, taking pity on him - definitely not because he felt a bit embarrassed too - “How old are you? You looked sort of.. disappointed when I said I was in college.”
“But you’re twenty-three, I remember.” Taehyung murmured as he slowly pulled his bucket hat out of his face.
Jungkook smiled, watching him reach for another brownie. There was no real reason for him to jump in to chirp that, but he found it adorable all the same, it was as if Taehyung wanted to brag that he’d recalled as much.
“I am, and - as you can see…” Jungkook waved a hand around, “I work at a bakery, one where you obviously love the brownies from, so I will remember that too.”
Taehyung tittered, eye smiling as he nodded and shifted up into his side of the booth, placing his feet beside himself in the seat and curling up in a way that made his stomach press more into his shirt. “I’m twenty-six. I.. don’t go out much, but I work online, I do some writing.”
“Oh? Of what? What do you write?” Jungkook wondered.
“Oh,” He smiled sheepishly, “Children's stories, it explains a lot, right?”
Jungkook raised a brow, leaning onto his palm before using the opposite hand to gently push the water closer to Taehyung, seeing as he’d likely need it more than him. “Explains what?”
“Well, I’m not the best when talking with adults,” Taehyung said quietly, “As you probably learned.. but.. I’m really good with kids, I volunteered at a youth center in school and I just.. I fell in love. I love kids.”
That explained a lot, but not about him being hard to talk to, because Jungkook truthfully had no idea where he’d gotten that idea, but it explained how… simple he was about their situation.
He didn’t seem to have any qualms with it, nor did he seem like he had to come to terms with it, Taehyung just seemed happy.
Maybe Jungkook had finally met someone who radiated just as much energy as his friends claimed he did; that would be nice to experience for a change.
“I don’t think you’re bad with adults,” Jungkook argued, “You’re doing fine with me, I mean.. I really haven’t thought you were bad at talking, I just thought you were a bit shy.”
Taehyung smiled and pulled the water closer to block his face, “Well, I mean… we.. you know, had sex, so.. I guess I’m a bit more relaxed. I’m not that nervous..”
His actions said otherwise when he claimed he wasn’t nervous but hid behind his hat or the thermos, but that was likely just shyness, Jungkook would take his word about not being nervous purely because it felt good to know Taehyung wasn’t uncomfortable with him.
“Okay, I have to ask.” Jungkook began, acting dramatic as he added a sigh in, “You have to be honest, okay? A hundred percent.”
Taehyung's eyes sparkled with interest as he nodded and peered around the thermos. “Okay…”
“Was it good?”
Within an instant Taehyung was turning bright red and releasing a squeak as he fell back into his seat to cover his cheeks, fingertips yanking at his bucket hat to hide behind.
“Hey!” Jungkook burst into chuckles and playfully pointed across the table, “You said okay! You said-“
“Jeon! Time's up!”
Jungkook would normally whine to Seokjin to give him an extra ten minutes lunch since the bakery was never too busy, and he always would, but he figured Taehyung could use a break.
The poor thing was just hiding away like a snail inside of its shell, so Jungkook laughed to himself and ended up pushing his food across the table for Taehyung, making it known it was for him by laying out the chopsticks by him before he got up.
He figured Taehyung didn’t mind not getting a goodbye, because as he walked around to check on other tables he felt eyes staring at him, and when he’d look Taehyung would laugh and quickly pull his hat over his eyes as if he hadn’t been caught.
Taehyung ended up staying another half hour, sitting there to eat the japchae and brownies, never once moving except to twist around and watch him when he went into the other side of the bakery.
Even then, Taehyung laughed so much when they looked at each other that Jungkook was finding it hard not to look at him and see the cute little crinkles beside his eyes.
When looking at Taehyung, Jungkook really was happy.
***
“Wait… you’re telling us you got someone knocked up?”
Jungkook knew this was going to be a big deal, but he hadn’t expected it to be this big of a deal.
His friends were staring at him as if he’d utterly betrayed them.
Screw Jin for calling them.
“Come on guys,” Hoseok began, hands up as if to placate, “This isn’t that big of a deal-“
“What the fuck do you mean it’s not a big deal?” Yoongi yelled, drawing attention as he pointed a finger at Jungkook, “We’ve been fucking planning this trip for months and he’s leaving now for who? Some guy he met a week ago?”
Jungkook felt his lip raise, and not in a good way as he shoved Yoongi's hand out of his face, irritated, “I just fucking said I’m going to be a dad and that’s what you got out of it? At least Namjoon is pissed off at me for a reason other than a fucking trip. Goddamn it man, this is a baby! I’m having a baby!”
Yoongi hissed, grabbing ahold of his own hair and growling, “A trip I literally almost lost my mind over! Do you know how hard it is to get my dad to-“
“Yeah yeah,” Jungkook scoffed and began to collect his books off the table, “Because it’s so hard for spoiled rich boys to get their daddy’s to pay their tuition and let them rent out a yacht. Boo-hoo. Some of us have priorities, like actually working for our degrees.”
Jungkook rolled his eyes and spun on his heels, pretending he didn’t give a fuck about what they said.
The truth was.. he did.
The five of them - Jin included, although he was extremely pissed with the baker now -had been friends since they were children, but as they got older their differences became more and more apparent.
Yoongi was a spoiled brat. It was something Jungkook often was reminded of, but it always worked in his favor so he’d never once called him out on his bullshit when he too was snuck into underground clubs or taken in limos to school dances.
Then there was Namjoon, the not so nice playboy. Jungkook couldn’t judge him too much, but he wasn’t one to ever vouch for his friend when he made people cry, dumping them left and right, but truthfully… he’d thought Namjoon would have a bit more heart in this situation.
And Hoseok.. he was well, Hoseok, and Jungkook wasn’t really mad with him. He was mad at the other two who had immediately gotten on his ass for two completely different reasons, but Hoseok was always the most collected out of all of them.
That was why Jungkook liked to stick with him more, because he trusted him with his life, but to say he wasn’t betrayed by him right now for not really offering much more than a few calm down comments, was an understatement.
It was a baby after all, just a baby, and maybe it was an accident, but Jungkook couldn’t blame Taehyung nor an unborn child for his own actions.
Hell, even if he weren’t drunk he knew he’d sleep with Taehyung ten times over, and the past week and a half had only confirmed that thought.
Taehyung was adorable. He was sweet and kind and he always fell asleep with his feet half in and half out of the covers.
He ate ramen with two eggs, because he didn’t think one was enough for him and the baby.
Taehyung liked to read, but only when his feet were propped up against the arm of the couch and he could lay at an angle, and he had a habit of forgetting to close the bedroom door when he came over to talk, which almost always ended up with him staying the night or taking a nap.
Taehyung was just, as per what he himself would say, “really nice.” There had been absolutely no reason for Jungkook to not want this relationship to work.
“And you know what.” Jungkook scoffed in outrage and spun on his heels just to look at his friends sitting at a campus picnic table, “You're all going to be fucking begging to apologize to Taehyung, because he really wanted to meet you guys today, but you’re fucking assholes!”
And then he scoffed in disgust and took off towards the bus stop, he knew Taehyung had taken the two o'clock bus, or so he'd thought, but when he walked into the parking lot to near the bus stop he saw none other than the white head of hair bundled up in a coat and scarf stepping out of an Audi.
It wasn’t quite winter yet, so it was just an overall cute outfit considering Taehyung must be hot in it.
“Hey, I didn’t know you had a car?” Jungkook laughed, quickly strolling over, “Look at you, Taehyung, by any chance did you get a carseat too?” He teased as he noticed the plastic shopping bags through the window, a package of binkies sitting on top.
In response, Taehyung began to fluster, twirling the end of his scarf around, “It was my friends, they keep buying the baby stuff… but.. anyway, are we still on to-“
“Actually,” Jungkook sighed and leaned his hip against the car on the passenger side, “I’m really sorry, they didn’t take it all that well.. I’m.. I’m really embarrassed of them, I don’t think it’s a good time.”
“..oh.”
Jungkook watched Taehyung's expression shift a bit and the way he adjusted the front of his sweater over his belly before he frowned, “Hey… we’re still on to see your place, right? I’m dying to see those kids books, Tae.”
Taehyung looked a little down now, but he smiled a little brighter and nodded, “Come on, it’s just around the corner.”
That wasn’t exactly a win, nor was it a loss, so Jungkook chalked it up internally with a you can cheer him up better than that, and jumped into the car.
“God, you so have to let me drive this thing.” Jungkook requested, sending him a grin, “How come you didn’t bring it over?”
Taehyung chewed his lip, fixing his hair behind his ear as he pulled out of the parking lot before commenting, “You can see what my friends got if you want.”
“I will, but I want to know why you didn’t say you had a car.”
“I…” Taehyung leaned more towards the drivers window and whispered, as if Jungkook couldn’t hear, “I didn’t think you’d ask me to stay.”
Now that.. that was ridiculous. Jungkook would have asked him to stay the night at his place all last week even if he only lived next door.
But it was an overwhelmingly good feeling to know that Taehyung actively wanted to, whether that be because he was home or not to keep him company didn't matter, Jungkook was just glad to know he was comfortable at his place.
“Hey,” Jungkook murmured, shifting to lean over the center console and eye Taehyung's profile, “You’re welcome to stay with me anytime. Okay?”
Taehyung pressed his lips together to suppress his smile, nodding and spearing a small glance, “It’s just that..” He clicked his tongue and shook his head a tiny bit, “Ever since I got pregnant I’ve just been a little paranoid; it was so bad that my friend Jimin stayed the night with me for weeks, and even then I was still having trouble sleeping…”
That didn’t seem to be an issue when he was sleeping at his house though, Jungkook mused, although he didn’t say it aloud.
Instead he felt this warmth settle in his chest and smiled this lopsided, dimpled grin as he settled back against the seat.
It certainly felt really nice to make someone else feel safer than anyone else could make them feel; Jungkook partially wondered if part of it was because Taehyung had been paranoid before telling him, he’d likely been restless and scared of his reaction.
He was curious now, he wondered what Taehyung had expected of him.
“So,” Taehyung said quietly, tapping fingers on the wheel, “Your friends… I take it they.. don't like this..”
“No. No.” Jungkook said firmly, “They’re idiots, it’s not like that - it has nothing to do with you, I swear. Really, they’re just selfish; they know that it means it’s less time I can spend cleaning up after their asses and going out with them, I’m sure they just feel like they got knocked down a few pegs, because they did.”
Taehyung's shoulders pulled together nervously, he tilted his head to the side, “Jungkook, I understand if you don’t take full responsibility right away, really. You can still go out, see your friends, you know.. it doesn’t have to be like that at all, I’m not.. controlling or dictating what you’re doing or what you want..”
Jungkook could have laughed at such an outrageous comment, because all he had been trying to do this entire time was take responsibility for his actions, and Taehyung certainly didn’t deserve to have to deal with it alone.
Plus, he genuinely enjoyed his company. He found that with Taehyung… things moved so smoothly, even when it was silent he didn’t feel uncomfortable with him, not even during their first encounter.
The same couldn’t be said about anyone else, because it would be a lie if Jungkook claimed he hadn’t felt left out, uncomfortable, or straight up angry at some of the events his friends dragged him out to.
Partying every night wasn't for everyone, but they made him feel like he should be doing it purely because he was young and in the future he couldn’t do so.
That wasn’t to say Jungkook was perfect, he wasn’t.
Jungkook had some pretty bad habits.
One of which was getting so drunk that he couldn’t recall an entire night, as was apparent now, but he never found fun in it. He never considered partying the ideal way to spend his time.
“Taehyung, I’m here because I’m ready to be here. I want to take care of the baby and I want to take care of you, honestly. I genuinely haven’t found someone so easy to get along with before, and I’m comfortable with you. I’m going to be a part of the baby’s life, I want to.”
Taehyung began to smile, it was a rectangular, toothy grin that dared Jungkook to lean over there and press a kiss onto his cheek, despite how inappropriate it was.
The feeling he got when Taehyung smiled or laughed felt so familiar and Jungkook was relieved to know that whatever he’d felt when looking at Taehyung then hadn’t changed a bit, although drunken him likely would have had the confidence to act on such a daring move.
Sober Jungkook, on the other hand, not so much.
“Come on,” Taehyung muttered, “Let me show you around.”
Jungkook had previously figured Taehyung was well off multiple times, but not this well off.
Who knew making baby books would afford him an Audi, designer clothes, and a decently sized little house.
“Wha- why the hell have you kept coming to mine when you live here?” Jungkook complained, although laughing in surprise as he climbed out of the car and followed after Taehyung.
It was a valid question considering his apartment was crowded and tiny, he and Taehyung hadn’t been uncomfortable the past few days, but it had been a journey to tiptoe around each other.
Taehyung laughed and pushed the door open for him, “I like your place.”
“Yeah, if you like living in an apartment for dwarfs.”
Jungkook was momentarily distracted by Taehyung giggling at his comment, but quickly overcame it to admire the linoleum floors and light blue walls. It was so pretty and simple.
Like Taehyung.
“Come here, look, I just want to show you upstairs.” The elder mumbled, gripping loosely onto Jungkook’s sleeve to tug him over. “You can look around in a bit, but I don’t think the kitchen and living room are that interesting.”
“It is for me- have you seen my apartment?”
“Oh shush,” Taehyung snickered and pulled him up the stairs, “Your place is not bad, Jungkook. You’re a college student, not a doctor yet.”
Jungkook couldn’t recall a single moment in his life where someone had recognized his future, even he forgot why the hell he was putting himself through such shit sometimes.
Although Taehyung had only been making a comment, it felt nice to think that he could, and would, potentially be a doctor.
Perhaps he was jsut a bit flustered, but Jungkook couldn’t bring himself to reply to that, because he knew it would likely be something stupid.
“I have it painted purple now,” Taehyung mumbled as he passed two doors and went for one furthest down the hall, “But if you don’t like that, we can choose differently, I just thought it was a nice, gender neutral-“
“I love it.”
Jungkook was only partially referring to the color, it was hard to focus when his mind was trying to process that this was a baby’s room.
His baby’s room.
Taehyung had a white crib already set up against the wall and matching white, sheep printed bookshelves full with children’s books.
Perhaps if they added a chair, it would work out better, because Jungkook wasn’t exactly the best with newborns; he got nervous, he’d been so nervous to hold his niece for the first time because he’d been scared to hurt her that he could only sit still as someone placed her in his arms.
“The.. the floors are hard.”
“Huh?” Taehyung wondered, raising his eyebrows in confusion.
Jungkook cleared his throat and crossed his arms as his eyes ran over book covers. Other than the books and the furniture, it was all pretty bare, and it further proved that this was all a new thing to Taehyung too.
There was something reassuring about that.
“The floors…” Jungkook whispered, motioning vaguely to the wood as he turned around to look at Taehyung, “I’m sorry, that sounds weird, I just mean that… you know, when the baby gets to walking.. they could get hurt. Did you know that head injuries are the number one reason for walking children to -“
“Jungkook.” Taehyung began to laugh, laying a hand over his mouth, and although he’d interrupted, he had a very fond look on his face. “You’re doing that rambling thing again..”
Jungkook sucked in a breath and nodded a few times before he felt a rush to his head and his knees began to feel weak. “God, I’m sorry, it’s a lot-“
He abruptly shifted his weight onto his knees and knelt down, placing his hands on his head and combing through his hair with a few breaths.
This was so embarrassing.
Jungkook had been coming to terms with this for over a week, and he wasn’t backing out now - not at all - but it was all.. so real now.
The baby supplies in the car, the baby’s room, Taehyung… it was all like small pieces of a bigger picture coming together and hitting him like a freight train.
“Is… is this because you spoke to your friends? You.. you said your parents took it well, didn’t you?”
Jungkook immediately shifted to look up at Taehyung, his tone was just so hesitant and concerned, as if he was worried this was the moment he’d back out.
It wasn’t. It was just the moment he realized he really needed to get his shit together.
“What? No, Tae- I mean, my parents are excited, and I don’t give a fuck about what those other assholes think,” He sighed, “Really, I don’t.”
Taehyung half smiled, he pressed his lips together in a cute closed lip grin and then began to unravel his scarf quietly. Truthfully, anything Taehyung did was absolutely silent.
The only time Jungkook actively even heard him around his place was when he stepped on a creaky floorboard or when they were speaking.
“I was also thinking,” Taehyung whispered as he laid his scarf down onto the side of the crib, “That we could- oh, why are you looking at me like that? What’s wrong?”
Jungkook hadn’t actually been looking at him in a certain way, only at his stomach, because when Taehyung lifted his arms it showed the bottom curve of his belly.
Taehyung was showing a lot more than it seemed through a shirt, he must have been absolutely tiny prior to the pregnancy which didn’t surprise Jungkook considering he always had a thing for bright eyed, pretty men.
Taehyung, though, wasn’t just any person that Jungkook had been attracted to. He was smart, straightforward, cute, and funny - although he didn’t usually mean to be funny - and he had a bright and understanding personality, something Jungkook felt like his old partners had lacked.
“I wasn’t… I was just looking at… the baby.”
“… oh.” Taehyung's hands flew to his stomach, “Well, you.. you’re welcome to..” He ducked his head and released an embarrassed laugh before asking, “Want to feel it?”
By then he was already walking over, his belly right in Jungkook’s face, like he’d already known he would say yes.
Jungkook didn’t react right away, so Taehyung blushed and shifted to kneel down on the floor, surprising Jungkook with all of his touching today when the smaller used his shoulder as support to get down onto the floor.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Taehyung seemed much more confident in touching him than Jungkook felt he could do to the smaller, but that also probably had to do with the fact that Taehyung remembered a lot more than innocent touching between them.
“Come on, it’s okay.” Taehyung urged, reaching over for one of Jungkook’s hands.
Jungkook wasn’t sure what he’d expected, he’d felt pregnant stomachs before, but… it was his own child that was inside, and that changed things.
And it changed the way he looked at the situation as Taehyung held his palm flat over his top, looking so happy despite so much confusion between them.
He shifted to sit up on his knees and brought his other hand to his stomach all on his own, although Taehyung didn’t remove his own hand from holding the back of his left hand.
“What.. what are you thinking?” Taehyung asked under his breath, eyes shining with curiosity and a hint of nerves beneath it.
Jungkook swallowed down his emotions and whispered, “I think… I think you’re amazing.”
***
Yoongi: didn’t mean it like that
Yoongi: we’re just worried, who knows if it’s even your kid
Yoongi: could just be some guy looking for money, I mean he said you fucked at a party he’s probably just tricking you
Jungkook: funny. Taehyung doesn’t ask for anything.
Hoseok: Yoongi, leave him alone
Namjoon: I just want to know why the hell he waited so long to tell you?!?!!?!
Jungkook: bye
Yoongi: what the fuck? We’re trying to say sorry dude
Jungkook: gtg. I’m cooking
Yoongi: now you’re a fucking housewife????
Jungkook rolled his eyes, turning to toss his phone onto the counter and reaching up to grab plates.
He did know that this was the closest he’d get to apologies, but it was still bullshit.
Either way, he hadn’t been lying. Taehyung was over for dinner and he had much better things to do than sit here and argue with his friends.
He didn’t have much time to spare in general, so when Taehyung asked to come by he tried to be as helpful as possible, so he’d quickly finished up his homework and got on making him a meal.
Taehyung was a little bit strange, because as soon as he walked in he’d promptly asked if he could shower, to which Jungkook laughed and shooed him off to the bathroom to start the food, but was pleasantly surprised for loud humming to start from the bathroom.
The elder wasn't exactly the most outspoken person, so it was strange to hear him be anything more than silent, but very welcomed.
Jungkook heard the water shut off from the kitchen and quickly gathered their food to place on the coffee table.
Taehyung had this little backpack that he always brought over and rarely touched, and it was plopped over the side of the table, partially opened to reveal papers labeled Patient Agreement and Responsibility.
It made Jungkook frown, because he hadn’t even thought about those things yet - hospital trips, bills, the birth.
It all felt so far away, even though Taehyung was pushing five months already.
God, he was an idiot.
“I forgot to bring my sweat pants…” Taehyung called from down the hall, releasing a laugh, “I just knew I was forgetting! And yours are too big still, maybe in a few months I could fit them…”
Jungkook immediately backed away from eying the papers in order to greet Taehyung with a chuckle and watch him dispose of his dirty clothes outside of the bathroom door.
It was cute how easily Taehyung took it upon himself to make himself at home, and even if he didn’t stay the night every night anymore, Jungkook felt best when he did - even if his body was in pain from lying on the couch.
“Made kimchi fried rice, just like you requested.” Jungkook hummed, leaning back into the couch and motioning beside him.
Taehyung's smile got twice as big as he gathered himself, wearing only a large shirt and shuffling over, but about halfway Jungkook saw this quirk in his brow, and a hand flew beneath his stomach as if uncomfortable.
It set him on edge in an instant.
“Hey, you okay? Tae?” Jungkook worried and climbed to his feet to walk over and lay a hand on his back, and grabbing his waist for support, “Are you in pain?”
Taehyung groaned a soft noise, shaking his head, “No, it’s just.. I’ve been getting these uncomfortable bursts of pressure, when I’m relaxed like in the shower or in bed, they don’t hurt, but sometimes when I’m upright…”
“Oh god, Tae.” Jungkook whispered, helping him into the couch, “Why didn’t you say anything? Let me check, hold on - I have my things..”
He jumped up to grab his own backpack, yanking out his medical bag.
“I.. I mean, I don’t feel like it’s a big deal, plus.. I went to the doctor not too long ago.”
“Still.” Jungkook mumbled, stethoscope in hand as he crouched down in front of the couch. “I want you both to be okay, so I’m going to check, is that okay?”
Taehyung shifted shyly and curled his legs underneath himself as he leaned into the arm of the couch before he was rolling up his shirt to above his tummy.
“I’m just going to feel around, let me know if it hurts.” He began, curling his fingers gently around his hard stomach, feeling eyes staring into him. “Sometimes, especially in male pregnancies, the organs become swollen and enlarged due to the uterus pressing on them - here, feel right here,” Jungkook instructed, grasping Taehyung's hand to press three of his fingers into the top of his rounded stomach. “Here’s the top of the uterus, you can feel it clearly, that’s good.”
When Jungkook moved his hand away, Taehyung nearly immediately reached for it back, pressing his fingers softly into his own stomach. “Wait. Again. I couldn’t feel it…”
Taehyung was terrible at lying, his cheeks tinted pink and he looked at their fingers rather than at Jungkook, but the other didn’t call him out.
He just took Taehyung's three fingers into his hand and lined them up with his own to push gently into his stomach.
“Feel that? It’s hard, so you have to push firmly, but it’s good, because it protects the baby.”
Taehyung shyly looked at him through his hair before nodding and taking his lip between his teeth, shifting his knees more to the side in a way that reminded Jungkook that he was merely in boxers right now.
“.. I guess I have my own doctor, I don’t really need to go to the hospital.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Jungkook’s ears reddened as he sat back on his heels to pull his stethoscope on. “I’m not a doctor yet, I’m barely pre-med.”
Taehyung giggled and lifted a hand up to his temple to toy with his hair, “Doctor Jeon, that sounds nice. And at least your hands aren’t freezing cold like all the other doctors. I’m getting sick of cold hands on the baby.”
Jungkook smiled ear to ear, “Do you want to listen to the heartbeat?”
“I… I can do that?” Taehyung gasped.
“Of course, just let me find it for you and we can have a listen.”
Taehyung's smile truthfully rivaled the sun.
Jungkook wanted to see it everyday of his life.