Archive of Our Own

Taehyung knows something is wrong the moment Jungkook walks through his apartment door.

It's not that Jungkook looks different, actually, he's wearing his usual oversized black hoodie and jeans that somehow manage to be both baggy and tight in all the wrong-right places, his hair unstyled and falling into his eyes. It's not his appearance, it's the energy. Jungkook has energy tonight, the kind that makes him fidget with the hem of his hoodie and glance around Taehyung's apartment like he's never seen it before, even though he's been coming here at least three times a week for the past five years.

"You're being weird," Taehyung announces from his position on the couch, where he's been sprawled for the past hour watching some reality show he doesn't care about. "Stop it."

"I'm not being weird," Jungkook says, which is exactly what someone being weird would say.

"You are. You have your weird face on."

"I don't have a weird face."

"You absolutely do. It's the face you make when you're about to tell me something you think I'm going to make fun of you for." Taehyung pauses the show and sits up, genuinely curious now. "Which, to be fair, I probably will. But tell me anyway."

Jungkook hovers near the door for another second before finally toeing off his shoes and padding into the living room. He sits on the opposite end of the couch, as far from Taehyung as physically possible while still being on the same piece of furniture, and Taehyung has to suppress a grin.

Oh, this is going to be good.

"So," Jungkook starts, then stops. His fingers find the strings of his hoodie and begin twisting them into knots. It's adorable, honestly. Jungkook is twenty-three years old, built like he was personally designed by someone with a gym membership and a very specific fantasy, and yet he still has the nervous habits of the gap-toothed kid who used to ask Taehyung if he could borrow his crayons when they were five.

"So," Taehyung echoes, drawing out the word. "Are you going to finish that sentence, or should I just guess? You joined a cult. You're moving to Alaska. Wait no, you've decided to become a monk."

"There's a guy," Jungkook blurts out.

Taehyung blinks. "A guy."

"At my gym."

"At your gym," Taehyung repeats slowly, and okay, he wasn't expecting that.

Because Jungkook doesn't talk about guys. Or girls. Or anyone, really. In all the years Taehyung has known him, Jungkook has been remarkably, almost impressively uninterested in dating. Which Taehyung always assumed was just Jungkook being Jungkook. Focused on his job, his workouts, his weirdly extensive collection of Iron Man figurines.

Not everyone is obsessed with sex and dating like Taehyung. Some people do have other hobbies.

But now there's a guy at the gym, and Jungkook is doing his fidgety thing, and his ears are turning red.  So Taehyung can’t help being curious.

"Tell me everything," Taehyung says, because sadly, this is the most interesting thing that's happened all week. "Is he hot? Please tell me he's hot. I can't handle it if you're into someone ugly."

"He's…" Jungkook's flush spreads from his ears to his cheeks. "He's really attractive."

"Okay, good start. What else?"

"He's tall. Like, taller than me."

"So he's a giant. Got it. What else?"

"He has nice arms. And he's always really focused when he works out, like he takes it seriously, but he's also friendly? We talk sometimes between sets." Jungkook is speaking faster now, the words tumbling out like he's been holding them in for too long. "He's funny. And smart. Also he mentioned he works in graphic design. And I think... I think he might be into guys."

Taehyung leans forward, elbows on his knees. "You think?"

"He mentioned an ex-boyfriend once. So. Yeah."

"And you want to ask him out."

It's not a question, but Jungkook nods anyway, and the look on his face is so earnest and hopeful that Taehyung feels something warm and annoying lodge itself in his chest.

Jungkook has been his best friend since they were five years old. Taehyung has seen him through every awkward phase. The bowl cut years, the braces, the time he tried to grow a mustache in high school and ended up looking like a confused caterpillar. He's seen Jungkook cry over failed exams and laugh until he couldn't breathe and fall asleep during movies with his mouth open and drool on his chin.

And in all that time, Taehyung has never seen him like this. Nervous and hopeful and interested in someone.

It's cute.

It's also deeply, deeply amusing.

"Okay," Taehyung says, settling back into the couch. "So ask him out."

Jungkook's face does something complicated. "I can't."

"Why not? You just said he's into guys. You talk to him. You clearly have some kind of rapport. Just ask him if he wants to get coffee."

"I can't," Jungkook repeats, and now he's not meeting Taehyung's eyes. He's staring at his hands, at the twisted hoodie strings, at literally anything else. "Because I don't... I don't know how."

Taehyung waits for the punchline. When it doesn't come, he says, "You don't know how to ask someone out?"

"I don't know how to do any of it."

"Any of... what, exactly?"

Jungkook finally looks up, and his expression is so mortified that Taehyung almost feels bad for what he's about to make him say. Almost. "Flirting. Dating. Any of it. I don't have any experience."

"Okay, so you're rusty. That's fine. It's like riding a bike you jus…"

"No, Tae." Jungkook cuts him off, and his voice is quiet but firm. "I mean I don't have any experience. Like, zero. None."

Taehyung stares at him. "You've never been on a date."

"No."

"Never kissed anyone."

"No."

"Never…" Taehyung stops himself, because the list of things he's about to run through is extensive and increasingly explicit, and Jungkook's face is already the color of a tomato. "Jungkook. You're twenty-three years old."

"I'm aware."

"You look like…" Taehyung gestures vaguely at all of Jungkook. "Like that. And you're telling me no one has ever…"

"I know, okay?" Jungkook's voice cracks slightly, and he slumps back against the couch cushions like his spine has given up. "I know it's weird. I just... I never really thought about it that much? And then when I did start thinking about it, it felt like it had been too long and everyone else knew what they were doing and I didn't, and it just seemed easier to not deal with it."

Taehyung opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it again. "You're telling me you've been walking around looking like a whole meal for twenty-three damn years and you've never even kissed anyone?"

"Can you not make fun of me right now?"

"I'm not making fun of you. I'm just…" Taehyung stops, because he is making fun of him, a little bit. But also he's genuinely shocked. He knew Jungkook wasn't exactly a romantic, but he assumed there had been something. A drunken kiss at a party. An awkward hookup in college. Something. "Okay. Okay, I'm sorry. I'm processing."

Jungkook pulls his knees up to his chest, and god, he looks about twelve years old right now. "This is why I can't ask him out. What if he says yes? What am I supposed to do then? I don't know how to flirt. I don't know how to kiss. I don't know how to do anything, and he's going to realize I'm completely clueless and it's going to be humiliating."

The thing is, Jungkook has a point. Taehyung has been casually hooking up with people since he was seventeen. He knows how to read signals, how to flirt, how to make someone want him. It's not something he thinks about anymore, it's just second nature. But for Jungkook, who apparently has the romantic experience of a Victorian maiden, the idea of asking someone out probably feels like being asked to perform surgery. Possible in theory, but absolutely terrifying in practice.

"Alright," Taehyung says, decision made. "I'll help you."

Jungkook's head snaps up. "What?"

"I'll help you. Teach you how to flirt, how to talk to this guy, all of it." Taehyung grins, because this is actually perfect. He's good at this stuff. And helping Jungkook means he gets a front-row seat to what will undoubtedly be an adorable disaster. "By the time I'm done with you, gym guy won't know what hit him."

"Really?" The hope in Jungkook's voice is almost painful.

"Really. What are best friends for?" Taehyung reaches over and shoves Jungkook's shoulder. "Besides, I can't let you go out there and embarrass yourself. It would reflect poorly on me."

"How would it reflect poorly on you?"

"Because everyone knows we're a package deal. If you're out there being awkward, people will think I taught you nothing." Taehyung is fully grinning now, enjoying the way Jungkook's expression shifts from mortified to reluctantly amused. "Can't have that. My reputation is on the line."

"Your reputation as what, exactly?"

"As someone who knows what he's doing." Taehyung winks, and Jungkook rolls his eyes, but he's smiling now. That soft, bunny-like smile that makes his nose scrunch up and his eyes disappear into crescents.

"Thank you," Jungkook says quietly. "Seriously. I know this is probably weird."

"It's not weird. It's hilarious." Taehyung stands and stretches, his shirt riding up slightly. When he glances at Jungkook, he catches him looking away quickly, and, huh. Interesting. "Okay, so tell me more about this guy. What's his name?"

"Minjun."

"Minjun," Taehyung repeats, testing it out. "And he's tall, hot, works in graphic design. What else?"

"What do you mean, what else?"

"I mean, what else do you know about him? What's his personality like? What do you guys talk about?" Taehyung sits back down, closer to Jungkook this time. Not crowding him, but near enough that their knees almost touch. "If you're going to ask him out, you need to know what you're working with."

Jungkook thinks for a moment, his brow furrowing in that way it does when he's concentrating. "He's... confident? Like, he knows he's attractive, but he's not an asshole about it. And he's easy to talk to. We mostly talk about workouts and music. He's really into indie rock."

"Indie rock," Taehyung says, and he's not sure why he's filing that information away. "Cool. What else?"

"I don't know, Tae. We don't have long conversations. It's just small talk between sets."

"But you want to have long conversations with him."

Jungkook's ears go red again. "I mean... yeah. I guess."

"You guess," Taehyung echoes, grinning. "Kook, you came here to ask me to teach you how to flirt with this guy. I think we're past 'I guess.'"

"Fine. Yes. I want to have long conversations with him. I want to ask him out. I want…" Jungkook stops, seeming to realize he's about to say something revealing. "I just think he's really interesting."

"Interesting," Taehyung repeats, and there's something about the way Jungkook won't meet his eyes that makes Taehyung want to push. "Is that code for something?"

"No. He's just interesting."

"Uh-huh." Taehyung leans back, studying Jungkook. "So when you see him at the gym, what do you do?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, do you go up to him? Does he come to you? Do you make eye contact? Do you smile? Give me the play-by-play."

Jungkook shifts uncomfortably. "Usually he's already there when I arrive. And we're often near each other because we use similar equipment. So we just... end up talking."

"Okay, so proximity. That's good. And then what?"

"Then we talk. Like I said, just small talk."

"And do you flirt with him?"

"I told you Idon't know how to flirt. That's why I'm here."

"Right, but do you do anything that could be interpreted as flirting? Compliments, teasing, anything?"

Jungkook looks genuinely panicked. "I don't think so? I just talk to him like a normal person."

"Okay, we're going to need to work on that." Taehyung is already mentally cataloging everything Jungkook needs to learn. "But first, I need to know, does he flirt with you?"

"I don't know. Maybe? How would I know?"

"Does he touch you? Like, casual touches on the arm, on the shoulder?"

Jungkook thinks about it. "Sometimes. Like if he's showing me a different grip for an exercise or something."

"Does he stand close to you?"

"I mean, the gym is crowded, so…"

"Jungkook."

"I don't know, Tae! I don't know what counts as flirting and what's just being friendly." Jungkook runs a hand through his hair, frustrated. "That's the whole problem."

Taehyung feels that annoying warm thing in his chest again. Jungkook is so earnest, so genuinely confused that it makes Taehyung want to both hug him and mock him relentlessly. He settles for the latter. "You're kind of hopeless, you know that?"

"I'm aware."

"Lucky for you, I'm an excellent teacher." Taehyung grins. "Okay, so here's what we're going to do. I'm going to teach you the basics. How to flirt, how to read signals, how to make a move. And then you're going to practice on me."

Jungkook's eyes widen. "Practice on you?"

"Yeah. How else are you going to learn? You need to actually do it, not just hear about it." Taehyung shifts so he's facing Jungkook fully. "Don't worry, I'll be gentle. Mostly."

"This is so embarrassing."

"It's only embarrassing if you make it embarrassing. Think of me as... a very attractive training dummy."

"You're not helping."

"I'm absolutely helping. You're just too mortified to appreciate it yet." Taehyung reaches over and pokes Jungkook's cheek, which makes Jungkook swat his hand away. "Come on. Don't you want to impress Minjun?"

The name feels weird in Taehyung's mouth. He's not sure why. It's just a name. A perfectly normal name for a perfectly normal guy who Jungkook is interested in. There's no reason for Taehyung to feel... whatever this feeling is. Annoyance? No, that's not quite right. It's more like…

Curiosity. That's it. He's curious about this Minjun guy. Wants to know if he's actually good enough for Jungkook. That's what friends do. They vet each other's potential partners.

"I do want to impress him," Jungkook says quietly, and the vulnerability in his voice makes Taehyung's chest do something weird.

"Then let's get started."

Three days later, Jungkook shows up at Taehyung's apartment with coffee and pastries, and Taehyung knows he's serious about this.

"You brought bribes," Taehyung observes, taking the iced americano Jungkook offers him. "Should I be concerned?"

"I'm just saying thank you," Jungkook says, but he won't meet Taehyung's eyes, which means there's more to it.

"Uh-huh. And the pastries?"

"I was hungry."

"You bought my favorite."

"I was being nice."

"You want something." Taehyung takes a sip of his perfect coffee because, as always, Jungkook has his order memorized. And then, he grins. "What is it? Did you already ask out Minjun and it went horribly wrong? Do I need to go beat him up?"

"I haven't asked him out yet," Jungkook says, and he's doing the thing where he shifts his weight from foot to foot. "I wanted to do the lessons first."

"Smart. Very smart." Taehyung gestures for Jungkook to come inside, and when he does, Taehyung notices he's put in effort today. His hair is actually styled, swept back from his forehead in a way that shows off his features. He's wearing a fitted black t-shirt that clings to his chest and arms, and jeans that are definitely tighter than his usual style. He looks good. Really good. "Did you dress up for me, Jeon?"

Jungkook's ears turn red. "I'm going to the gym after this."

"Sure you are." Taehyung is grinning now, because flustered Jungkook is his favorite type of Jungkook. "Okay, so what do you want to work on today?"

"Everything?"

"Everything is a lot. Let's start with the basics." Taehyung sets his coffee down and turns to face Jungkook fully. "First rule of flirting: confidence. You need to act like you're god's gift to humanity, even if you're secretly dying inside."

"I can't do that."

"You can and you will. Fake it till you make it as they say." Taehyung steps closer, and he notices the way Jungkook's breath catches slightly. Interesting. "Stand up straight. Shoulders back."

Jungkook adjusts his posture, and… Yeah, okay, that's better. He's tall, broad-shouldered, and when he's not hunching in on himself like he's trying to disappear, he's actually kind of imposing. In a hot way. Not that Taehyung is thinking about Jungkook being hot. That would be weird. This is his best friend. His innocent, pure, adorable doe-eyed best friend who he's known since far too long.

"Good," Taehyung says, and his voice comes out slightly rougher than intended. He clears his throat. "Now, eye contact. This is crucial. When you're talking to someone you're interested in, you need to hold their gaze. Not in a creepy way, you're not trying to hypnotize them. But enough that they know you're focused on them."

"Like this?" Jungkook looks at him, and…

Oh.

Okay.

Taehyung wasn't prepared for that.

Jungkook's eyes are dark and wide and so intensely focused on him that Taehyung feels something flutter in his stomach. Which is ridiculous. This is Jungkook. But the way he's looking at Taehyung right now, like he's the only person in the world, like nothing else matters.

It's effective. Really effective.

"Yeah," Taehyung manages. "Like that. That's... that's good."

Jungkook's face breaks into a smile, pleased with himself, and the moment passes. See? Nothing. Just Taehyung's brain being weird because he hasn't gotten laid in a week and his body doesn't know the difference between his best friend and an actual prospect.

"What else?" Jungkook asks, and he's closer now. Wait. When did he get closer?

"Um." Taehyung takes a step back, suddenly needing space. "Teasing. Playful banter. You want to make him laugh, but also keep him a little off-balance."

"Off-balance how?"

"Like... okay, let's say Minjun mentions he had a rough workout. You could say something like, 'Yeah, I noticed you struggling with those weights. I was going to offer to help, but I didn't want to embarrass you.'"

Jungkook's brow furrows. "That sounds mean."

"It's not mean, it's teasing. There's a difference." Taehyung grins. "You say it with a smile. Your tone is playful. And then you follow it up with a compliment, like, 'But seriously, your form is really good. I've been watching.'"

"I've been watching," Jungkook repeats slowly. "Doesn't that sound creepy?"

"Not if you say it right. Context and delivery are everything." Taehyung crosses his arms, studying Jungkook. "Here, let's practice. Pretend I'm Minjun."

"Tae…"

"Come on. It's just practice. I'm Minjun. I just finished a set of deadlifts and I'm wiping down my equipment. Go."

Jungkook stares at him for a long moment, looking like he'd rather be literally anywhere else. Then he takes a breath and says, "Your form is really good."

Taehyung snorts. "That's it? That's not flirting, that's just an observation. You sound like a personal trainer."

"I don't know what to say!"

"Add something that makes it personal. Like, 'Your form is really good. I've been trying to figure out if I should ask you for tips or just keep enjoying the view.'" Taehyung winks. "See? Compliment plus subtle implication that you think he's hot."

Jungkook looks horrified. "I can't say that."

"Why not?"

"Because it's too much."

"It's flirting, Kook. It's supposed to be a little too much. That's how the other person knows you're interested." Taehyung steps closer again, and he can see the nervous energy radiating off Jungkook. "If he's into you, he'll flirt back. If he's not, he'll laugh it off and you can pivot to something else. But you have to actually make a move."

Jungkook worries his bottom lip between his teeth, and Taehyung tries very hard not to notice how distracting that is. It's a habit Jungkook has had since childhood whenever he's thinking or nervous, he bites his lip. Taehyung has seen him do it a thousand times. It shouldn't be distracting now.

But it is.

"Okay," Jungkook says finally. "Let me try again."

"Go for it."

Jungkook squares his shoulders, and Taehyung watches him visibly pull confidence out of thin air. Then he looks at Taehyung, really looks at him, with that same intense focus from before and says, "Your form is really good. I've been trying to figure out if I should ask you for tips or just keep enjoying the view."

His voice is lower this time. Rougher. And the way he's looking at Taehyung, the slight curve of his lips, the way he holds eye contact.

Taehyung's brain short-circuits for half a second.

"That's…" Taehyung clears his throat. "That's perfect. Do exactly that."

"Really?" Jungkook's face lights up, and just like that, he's back to being adorable instead of dangerously attractive. "It worked?"

"It worked. You're a natural." Taehyung needs to move. He needs to put distance between them. He grabs his coffee and takes a long sip, using it as an excuse to look away. "Okay, what else do you want to know?"

"Everything," Jungkook says again, and he sounds so earnest that Taehyung can't help but smile.

They spend the next hour going over everything Taehyung can think of. Body language and how to angle yourself toward someone, how to find excuses to touch without being creepy. How to read signals, how to know when someone's interested versus just being polite. How to ask for a number without making it weird.

Jungkook absorbs it all like he's studying for an exam, asking questions and taking mental notes. And Taehyung finds himself enjoying this more than he expected. There's something satisfying about teaching Jungkook, about watching him slowly gain confidence.

"Okay, so let's say Minjun touches your arm while you're talking," Taehyung says, demonstrating by reaching out and wrapping his fingers around Jungkook's bicep. Which is okay, but when did Jungkook's arms get this big? Taehyung knows he works out, obviously, but feeling the muscle under his palm is different from just seeing it. "That's a pretty clear signal that he's interested. So you want to reciprocate. Maybe touch his arm back, or his shoulder. Something that says, 'I'm picking up what you're putting down.'"

"I'm picking up what you're putting down," Jungkook repeats, and he's trying not to smile. "Does anyone actually say that?"

"No, but you get the idea." Taehyung realizes he's still holding Jungkook's arm and drops his hand. "The point is, touch is important. It creates intimacy. But it has to be natural. You can't just grab him randomly."

"So how do I make it natural?"

"You find excuses. Like if you're laughing at something he said, you can touch his arm while you laugh. Or if you're walking somewhere together, you can guide him with a hand on his back. Small things that don't feel forced."

Jungkook nods, processing this. Then he says, "Can we practice that?"

"Practice touching?"

"Yeah. I want to make sure I'm doing it right."

Taehyung should say no. This is already weird enough without adding more physical contact. But Jungkook is looking at him with those big, earnest eyes, and Taehyung has never been able to say no to him, especially not now.

"Fine," Taehyung says. "Okay, so pretend we're having a conversation and I say something funny. You laugh, and then you touch my arm. Go."

Jungkook just stares at him.

"I'm not actually going to say something funny, Kook. Just pretend."

"Right." Jungkook lets out a fake laugh that sounds absolutely ridiculous, and then he reaches out and pats Taehyung's arm like he's a dog. "Like that?"

Taehyung can't help it but to bursts out laughing. "Oh my god, no. Not like that. You're not trying to comfort me after a loss. You're flirting."

"I don't know the difference!"

"Okay, okay." Taehyung is still grinning. "Here, I'll show you. Say something."

"Like what?"

"Anything. Just talk."

Jungkook looks panicked for a second, then says, "I had a really good workout today."

"Oh yeah?" Taehyung steps closer, and he lets his hand rest on Jungkook's forearm. Not grabbing, just touching. His fingers are light, almost teasing. "What did you do?"

He can feel Jungkook's pulse under his fingertips. It's faster than it should be.

"Um." Jungkook is staring at where Taehyung's hand is touching him. "Chest and back."

"Nice." Taehyung lets his thumb brush against Jungkook's skin, just once, before dropping his hand. "See? It's subtle. You're not making a big deal out of it. You're just... touching him because you want to."

"Because I want to," Jungkook echoes, and his voice sounds slightly strangled.

"Exactly. Now you try."

Jungkook takes a breath, and Taehyung can see him gathering his courage. Then he reaches out and touches Taehyung's arm, his fingers warm and slightly hesitant. "Like this?"

"Yeah. That's good." Taehyung's skin feels hot where Jungkook is touching him. "You can be a little more confident with it, though. You're not going to break him."

Jungkook's grip firms slightly, and… okay, that's better. That's actually really good. His hand is big enough to wrap around Taehyung's forearm, and there's something about the way he's touching him, confident but still careful, that makes Taehyung's pulse kick up.

Which is weird. This is Jungkook. This shouldn't be affecting him.

"Perfect," Taehyung says, and he steps back, breaking the contact. "You're getting the hang of it."

They practice for another thirty minutes with different scenarios, different types of touches, different ways to flirt. And the whole time, Taehyung is acutely aware of every point of contact between them. Every time Jungkook touches his arm or his shoulder or stands just a little too close. Every time Jungkook looks at him with that intense focus, like Taehyung is the only thing that matters.

It's just practice. That's all this is. Taehyung is helping his best friend learn how to flirt with someone else. There's nothing weird about it.

Except it feels weird. It feels like something has shifted between them, something Taehyung can't quite name.

"Okay," Taehyung says finally, flopping onto the couch. "I think that's enough for today. Your brain is probably full."

Jungkook sits next to him, closer than necessary. "Thank you, Tae. Seriously. I know this is probably weird for you."

"It's not weird," Taehyung lies. "I'm happy to help. That's what friends do."

"Still. I appreciate it." Jungkook is quiet for a moment, then asks, "Do you think it'll work? Do you think he'll say yes if I ask him out?"

And there it is again, that weird feeling in Taehyung's chest. He tells himself it's just concern. He wants Jungkook to be happy. He wants this Minjun guy to say yes, because Jungkook deserves someone who'll appreciate him.

But there's something else there too. Something that feels uncomfortably like…

No. Not going there.

"He'll say yes," Taehyung says firmly. "You're a catch, Kook. Anyone would be lucky to date you."

Jungkook smiles, soft and genuine. "You have to say that. You're my best friend."

"I'm saying it because it's true." Taehyung reaches over and ruffles Jungkook's hair, which makes Jungkook scrunch his nose in protest. "Now go home and practice your flirting in the mirror or whatever. And let me know how it goes with Minjun."

"I will." Jungkook stands, and Taehyung walks him to the door. Before he leaves, Jungkook turns back and says, "Hey, Tae?"

"Yeah?"

"You're a really good friend."

Taehyung grins. "I know."

After Jungkook leaves, Taehyung stands in his empty apartment for a long moment. Then he goes back to the couch, picks up his phone, and opens his dating app. He has three new messages from guys who are definitely interested, definitely available, and definitely not his best friend.

He should respond to them. He should set up a date, get laid, remind himself what normal attraction feels like.

Instead, he finds himself thinking about the way Jungkook looked at him during their practice. The way his hand felt on Taehyung's arm. The way his voice dropped when he was trying to be confident.

"This is fine," Taehyung says out loud to his empty apartment. "Everything is fine."

It doesn't sound convincing, even to himself.

The next few days pass normally. Taehyung goes to work, hangs out with friends, scrolls through his dating apps without actually messaging anyone back. He doesn't hear from Jungkook, which is unusual but not concerning. Jungkook is probably just busy. Or working up the courage to talk to Minjun. Or…

Taehyung's phone buzzes with a call, and Jungkook's name lights up the screen.

He answers immediately. "Did you do it?"

There's a pause, and then Jungkook's voice, slightly breathles, "I did it."

"You asked him out?"

"I asked him out."

"And?" Taehyung is sitting up now, phone pressed to his ear.

"He said yes." Jungkook sounds stunned, like he can't quite believe it. "We're getting coffee on Saturday."

"Kook, that's amazing!" Taehyung says, and he means it. He does. The weird feeling in his chest is just… it's just surprise. Happiness for his friend. "See? I told you. You're a natural."

"I'm really not. I almost chickened out like five times. But I just kept thinking about what you said. Confidence, eye contact, all of it. And it worked." Jungkook laughs, giddy and disbelieving. "Holy shit, Tae. I have a date."

"You have a date," Taehyung confirms. "I'm proud of you."

They talk for a few more minutes, Jungkook recounting every detail of the conversation. How Minjun smiled when Jungkook asked him out. How he suggested the coffee shop near the gym. How he touched Jungkook's arm when he said yes.

Taehyung listens and makes appropriate encouraging noises, and the whole time, that weird feeling in his chest gets heavier.

When they hang up, Taehyung stares at his phone for a long moment.

Jungkook has a date. With Minjun. The tall, hot, graphic designer who works out at Jungkook's gym and apparently has nice arms and likes indie rock.

This is good. This is what Taehyung wanted. He helped Jungkook, and now Jungkook is going on a date with someone who seems decent. This is a good thing.

So why does Taehyung feel like he just lost something?

"You're being ridiculous," he tells himself. "This is Jungkook. Your best friend. You're happy for him."

He is happy for him.

He truly is.

Saturday comes, and Taehyung spends the entire day trying not to think about Jungkook's date. He goes to the gym (not Jungkook's gym, his own gym, because he's not a psycho). He gets lunch with Jimin, who spends the entire time talking about some guy he's seeing. He goes home and tries to watch a movie, but he can't focus.

Taehyung's phone rings just as he's settling onto his couch. Jungkook's name flashes across the screen. He answers on the second ring.

"Hey," Taehyung says, keeping his voice casual.

"Tae!" Jungkook's voice comes through bright, almost breathless with excitement. "Oh my god, I had to call you. I couldn't just text about this."

Taehyung sits up a little straighter, something in his chest tightening at the sound of Jungkook's enthusiasm. "Yeah? What's up?"

"It went really well. Like, really well." Jungkook laughs, and Taehyung can practically hear the smile in his voice. "We talked for like three hours straight. I didn't even realize how much time had passed."

"Three hours?" Taehyung echoes, his fingers absently picking at a thread on his sweatpants. "That's... that's great, Kook."

"He's so cool, Tae. Like, I don't even know how to explain it. You were right about everything you told me. Thank you for helping me with this. Seriously, I don't know what I would've done without you."

There's a pause. Taehyung stares at the wall across from him, feeling something uncomfortable settle in his stomach, something he can't quite name and doesn't particularly want to examine.

"I told you it would work," Taehyung says finally, his voice coming out a bit more measured than he intended. "I'm happy for you, Kook."

And he is. He really is. The words are true.

But there's something else underneath them, something that makes his jaw feel tight.

"You don't sound that happy," Jungkook says, and there's a note of concern creeping into his voice now. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Taehyung says quickly, maybe too quickly. "Just tired. It's been a long day."

"Oh." Jungkook sounds slightly deflated. "Well, hey, can I come over tomorrow? I want to tell you about it in person. Like, all the details. I feel like I'm gonna explode if I don't tell someone."

Taehyung closes his eyes for a moment, that uncomfortable feeling intensifying.

"Sure," he says. "Come over tomorrow."

"Really? You're sure?"

"Yeah. I'm sure."

"Awesome! Okay, I'll let you get some rest then. Thanks again. For everything."

"No problem," Taehyung says quietly. "See you tomorrow."

He hangs up and sits in the silence of his apartment, phone still in his hand, trying very, very hard not to think about what that feeling in his chest actually means.

The next day, Jungkook shows up at Taehyung's apartment with that same giddy energy from before. He's smiling, his eyes bright, and he looks happy in a way that Taehyung hasn't seen before.

"Tell me everything," Taehyung says, because that's what a good friend should do. Right?

And Jungkook does. He tells Taehyung about the coffee shop, about how nervous he was, about how Minjun made him laugh. He tells him about how they talked about music and movies and their jobs. How Minjun paid for the coffee. How he walked Jungkook to his car.

"And then," Jungkook says, and his cheeks are pink now, "he kissed me."

Taehyung's stomach drops. "He kissed you."

"Yeah. Just…it was quick. Just a peck. But it was…" Jungkook touches his lips, like he's still feeling it. "It was really nice."

"That's great," Taehyung says, and his voice sounds normal. Supportive. "I'm happy for you, Kook."

"There's just one problem," Jungkook says, and now he looks nervous again.

"What?"

"He wants to see me again. Like, soon. And I think things might... progress." Jungkook won't meet Taehyung's eyes. "And I still don't know what I'm doing."

"You seemed to do fine on your date."

"The date was just talking. But what if…what if he wants to do more than just kiss? What if he wants to actually kiss, like really kiss, and I'm terrible at it?" Jungkook is spiraling now, his words coming faster. "I don't know what I'm doing, Tae. I've never done any of this before."

Taehyung should tell him it's fine. That he'll figure it out. That Minjun will understand if he's inexperienced.

Instead, he hears himself say, "What do you want me to do about it?"

Jungkook finally looks at him, and there's something in his expression that makes Taehyung's pulse kick up. Determination. Nervousness. Something else he can't quite name.

"I want you to teach me how to kiss."

The words hang in the air between them like a physical thing. Taehyung stares at Jungkook, waiting for the punchline, for the laugh, for literally anything that indicates this is a joke.

It doesn't come.

"You want me to teach you how to kiss," Taehyung says slowly, because maybe if he says it out loud, the absurdity of it will become apparent to both of them.

"Yes." Jungkook's jaw is set in that stubborn way that means he's made up his mind about something. "You said you'd help me. You said you'd teach me everything."

"I meant flirting. Body language. How to ask someone out." Taehyung stands up from the couch, needing to move, needing space. "I didn't mean… Kook, that's different."

"How is it different?"

"Because," Taehyung runs a hand through his hair. "Because it just is. You can't practice kissing on your best friend."

"Why not?" Jungkook stands too, following him. "We practiced everything else. This is just one more thing."

"It's not just one more thing." Taehyung turns to face him, and Jungkook is closer than he expected. Close enough that Taehyung can see the determination in his eyes, the slight flush on his cheeks. "Kissing is… it's intimate. It's not the same as teaching you how to make eye contact."

"I know it's intimate. That's why I need to practice." Jungkook takes a step closer, and Taehyung takes a step back. "Tae, please. I don't want to mess this up with Minjun. What if he tries to kiss me again and I'm terrible at it? What if I do something wrong and he realizes I have no idea what I'm doing?"

"He already kissed you once. He clearly didn't mind."

"That was just a peck. That's different from actual kissing." Jungkook is once again doing that damn thing where he worries his bottom lip between his teeth, and Taehyung really needs him to stop doing that. "I need to know what I'm doing. And you're the only person I trust enough to ask."

And there it is. The thing that makes Taehyung's resolve crumble. Because Jungkook trusts him. Jungkook, who has been his best friend for eighteen years, who knows all his secrets and flaws and still chooses to be around him. Jungkook, who is looking at him right now with his big beautiful twinkly eyes like Taehyung is the only person in the world who can help him.

"This is a terrible idea," Taehyung says, but his voice lacks conviction.

"It's just practice," Jungkook says quickly, sensing weakness. "It doesn't mean anything. It's like… like a training exercise. You're just showing me what to do."

Just practice. Just a training exercise. Taehyung can do that. He's kissed plenty of people. This is just one more kiss, except it's with his best friend, which is…

Fine. It's fine. People kiss their friends all the time. It's not weird. Taehyung is making it weird by overthinking it.

"Fine," Taehyung hears himself say. "Fine. But we're setting some ground rules first."

Jungkook's face lights up. "Okay. What rules?"

"First, this is purely educational. We're not… this isn't…" Taehyung gestures vaguely between them. "This is just me teaching you a skill. Like teaching you how to ride a bike."

"Okay."

"Second, we do this once. One kiss. That's it. You learn what you need to learn, and then you go practice on Minjun."

"Okay."

"Third," Taehyung pauses, trying to think of a third rule that will make this feel less insane. "Third, we never talk about this again. Once it's done, it's done. We forget it happened."

"Deal." Jungkook is nodding eagerly, and the enthusiasm on his face would be endearing if Taehyung's heart wasn't currently trying to beat its way out of his chest.

"Okay." Taehyung takes a breath. "Okay. So. Kissing."

They're standing in the middle of Taehyung's living room, facing each other like they're about to duel. This is ridiculous. Taehyung has kissed dozens of people. He's good at kissing. He knows what he's doing. There's no reason for him to be nervous.

Except he is nervous. His palms are sweating. His heart is racing. And Jungkook is looking at him with an expression that's half anticipation, half terror, and Taehyung realizes that Jungkook is nervous too.

"Come here," Taehyung says, and his voice comes out rougher than intended.

Jungkook steps closer. Then closer again. Until there's barely a foot of space between them.

"Okay, so first thing," Taehyung says, slipping into teacher mode because that feels safer than acknowledging what they're about to do. "Kissing is all about reading the other person. You need to pay attention to their body language, their breathing, how they respond to you."

"Okay." Jungkook's voice is quiet.

"And you need to start slow. Don't just… don't go in for it immediately. Build up to it." Taehyung reaches out and puts his hands on Jungkook's shoulders, and he can feel the tension in them. "Relax. You're not going into battle."

"I feel like I am."

"You're not. It's just a kiss." Taehyung's hands slide down slightly, and he tells himself he's just trying to help Jungkook relax. That's all. "Breathe."

Jungkook takes a breath, and Taehyung can feel his shoulders drop slightly under his hands.

"Good. Now, when you're about to kiss someone, you want to create anticipation. Get close, but don't close the distance right away. Let them feel it coming." Taehyung demonstrates by leaning in slightly as he watches Jungkook's eyes widen. "See? You're already thinking about it. That's what you want."

"I'm definitely thinking about it," Jungkook says, and there's something in his voice that makes Taehyung's stomach flip.

"Right. So you get close, and then you…" Taehyung pauses, because he's close enough now that he can feel Jungkook's breath on his face. Close enough to see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes. Close enough that if he just leaned forward a few more inches…

This is insane. This is his best friend. He shouldn't be noticing the way Jungkook's lips are slightly parted, or the way his pupils are dilated, or the fact that he smells really good, like clean laundry and something else that's distinctly Jungkook.

"Then you what?" Jungkook prompts, and his voice is barely above a whisper.

"Then you kiss them," Taehyung says, and before he can overthink it, before he can talk himself out of it, he closes the distance between them.

The first touch of their lips is soft. Gentle. Almost tentative. Taehyung keeps it light and simple, because this is supposed to be instructional. He's just showing Jungkook what to do. That's all this is.

Except Jungkook makes a small sound, a barely audible sound, just a tiny intake of breath, and something in Taehyung's brain short-circuits.

He pulls back slightly, just enough to murmur, "You okay?"

"Yeah." Jungkook's eyes are still closed. "Keep going."

So Taehyung does. He kisses Jungkook again, a little firmer this time, and Jungkook responds immediately. His lips move against Taehyung's, tentative at first but gaining confidence. His hands come up to rest on Taehyung's waist, and the touch sends electricity through Taehyung's entire body.

This is just practice, Taehyung reminds himself. This doesn't mean anything.

But then Jungkook's fingers tighten slightly on his waist, pulling him closer, and Taehyung's hands slide from Jungkook's shoulders to the back of his neck. And suddenly they're not just kissing, they're kissing. Taehyung tilts his head, deepening the kiss, and Jungkook follows his lead perfectly. His lips are soft and warm and he tastes like the coffee he brought earlier, and Taehyung can't remember the last time a kiss felt like this.

Felt like something.

Jungkook's hand moves from Taehyung's waist to his lower back, and the touch is confident now, sure. Like he knows exactly what he's doing. Like he's done this a thousand times before instead of never.

Is it really his first time?

Taehyung should pull back, he should stop this. This was supposed to be a quick demonstration, a simple lesson, and instead it's turning into something else entirely. Something that makes his heart race and his skin feel too hot and his brain go fuzzy around the edges.

But he doesn't pull back. Instead, he presses closer, and Jungkook makes that sound again. That small, breathy sound that goes straight to Taehyung's gut. His fingers thread through the hair at the nape of Jungkook's neck, and Jungkook's grip on him tightens in response.

They're not teaching and learning anymore. They're just kissing. Really kissing. The kind of kissing that makes Taehyung forget where he is, forget why this is a bad idea, forget everything except the feeling of Jungkook's mouth on his and the way their bodies fit perfectly together as the heat builds up between them.

Jungkook's tongue brushes against Taehyung's bottom lip in a tentative, almost questioning, and Taehyung opens for him without thinking. The kiss deepens further, and Taehyung can feel Jungkook's heartbeat against his chest, racing just as fast as his own.

This is wrong. This is his best friend. This is Jungkook, who he's known since they were five years old, who he's seen cry and laugh and grow up. This isn't supposed to feel like this. It's not supposed to make Taehyung want to pull him closer, to kiss him harder, to forget about everything else.

But it does.

Taehyung's back hits the wall and he doesn't even remember moving, he doesn't remember Jungkook walking them backward, and suddenly Jungkook is pressed against him, solid and warm and there. One of Jungkook's hands is still on his lower back, the other has moved to cup his jaw, tilting his head to get a better angle. And Taehyung lets him, follows his lead, kisses him back with an intensity that should probably scare him.

Jungkook pulls back slightly, just enough to breathe, and his forehead rests against Taehyung's. His eyes are still closed, his breathing ragged. "Like that?" he whispers.

And the question - the innocent, earnest question - is like a bucket of cold water.

This is a lesson. This is practice. Jungkook is learning how to kiss so he can kiss someone else. Someone named Minjun who works out at his gym and has nice arms and likes indie rock.

This isn't real. This doesn't mean anything.

Taehyung's hands drop from Jungkook's neck like he's been burned. "Yeah," he manages, and his voice sounds wrecked. "Like that."

Jungkook's eyes open, and there's something in them that Taehyung can't read. Confusion, maybe. Or surprise. Or something else entirely.

"That was…" Jungkook starts, then stops. His hand is still on Taehyung's jaw, his thumb brushing against Taehyung's cheekbone. "Wow."

"Yeah." Taehyung needs space. He needs to think. He needs Jungkook to stop touching him like that, stop looking at him like that, stop making Taehyung feel things he absolutely should not be feeling. "So. Now you know."

"Now I know," Jungkook echoes, but he doesn't move. He's still pressed against Taehyung, still close enough that Taehyung can feel his breath, still looking at him with that unreadable expression.

"You should…" Taehyung clears his throat. "You should probably practice that on Minjun. I’m sure he'll love it."

The mention of Minjun's name seems to break whatever spell has fallen over them. Jungkook steps back, and the loss of contact feels like a physical thing. Cold air rushes in where Jungkook's body was, and Taehyung immediately misses the warmth.

Which is insane. He doesn't miss it. He's relieved. This was a mistake, and now it's over, and they can go back to normal.

"Right," Jungkook says, and he's not meeting Taehyung's eyes now. "Minjun. Yeah."

They stand there in awkward silence for a moment. Taehyung can still feel the ghost of Jungkook's lips on his, he can still feel the weight of his hands. His heart is still racing, his skin still feels too hot, and he needs Jungkook to leave so he can process what just happened.

"I should go," Jungkook says finally, and he sounds as shaken as Taehyung feels.

"Yeah. Okay." Taehyung pushes off the wall, trying to act normal. Casual. As if they didn't just kiss each other senseless in his living room two minutes ago. "Let me know how it goes with Minjun."

"I will." Jungkook heads toward the door, and Taehyung follows him. At the threshold, Jungkook pauses and turns back. "Tae?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For… for helping me." Jungkook's ears are red, and he still won't quite meet Taehyung's eyes. "I know that was probably weird for you."

"It wasn't weird," Taehyung lies, once again. "That's what friends do."

"Right. Friends." Jungkook nods, and there's something in his expression that Taehyung can't decipher. "I'll see you later."

"See you."

Jungkook leaves, and Taehyung closes the door behind him. Then he stands there, forehead pressed against the wood, trying to get his breathing under control.

That was just practice. Just a lesson. It didn't mean anything.

Except it felt like it meant something. It felt like everything.

Taehyung pushes away from the door and goes to the bathroom. He splashes cold water on his face, stares at himself in the mirror. His lips are slightly swollen, his cheeks flushed. He looks like he's been thoroughly kissed.

Because he has been.

By his best friend.

Who he just taught how to kiss so he could kiss someone else.

"This is fine," Taehyung tells his reflection. "Everything is fine. It was just a kiss. It didn't mean anything. You're helping your best friend. That's all."

His reflection doesn't look convinced.

Taehyung goes back to the living room and sits on the couch. He picks up his phone, opens his dating app. He has five new messages. He should respond to them. Should set up a date. Should remind himself what normal attraction feels like, what kissing someone who isn't his best friend feels like.

Instead, he finds himself touching his lips, remembering the way Jungkook kissed him. The way he tasted. The way his hands felt. The small sounds he made.

"Stop it," Taehyung says out loud. "Stop thinking about it."

But he can't stop thinking about it. Can't stop replaying the kiss in his mind. The way it started soft and tentative and then turned into something else. Something intense and real and…

No. It wasn't real. It was practice. Jungkook was learning. That's all it was.

Taehyung's phone buzzes with a text.

Jungkook:
thank you again
i feel a lot more confident now

Taehyung:
good
go get him now !

There's a pause in their exchange before Jungkook answers.

Jungkook:
yeah

Taehyung stares at the message. There's something off about it. Something in the single word that feels weighted. But he's probably just projecting and reading into things that aren't there.

He tosses his phone aside and turns on the TV, determined to distract himself. He makes it through half an episode of some show before his mind wanders back to the kiss. To the way Jungkook's hand felt on his jaw. To the way their bodies fit together. To the way Jungkook looked at him afterward, like he was seeing Taehyung for the first time.

"This is ridiculous," Taehyung mutters. "You're being ridiculous."

But he can't shake the feeling that something has changed. That invisible line between them, the one that separated best friends from something more, feels blurred now. Smudged. Like they crossed it without meaning to and now Taehyung doesn't know how to get back to the other side.

His phone buzzes again. For a second, his heart jumps, thinking it's Jungkook but it's just Jimi  asking if he wants to get drinks tomorrow.

Taehyung types back a yes, because he needs to get out of his own head. Needs to be around other people. Needs to stop thinking about Jungkook and that kiss and the way it made him feel.

He goes to bed early, but he can't sleep. He lies there in the dark, staring at the ceiling, and all he can think about is Jungkook. The way he looked standing in Taehyung's living room, nervous and hopeful. The way his voice sounded when he asked Taehyung to teach him. The way he kissed, like he was trying to memorize every second of it.

Taehyung rolls over, punches his pillow, tries to get comfortable. But comfort feels impossible right now. Everything feels wrong as if the world had tilted slightly on its axis and now, Taehyung is struggling to find his balance.

"It was just a kiss," he whispers into the darkness. "It didn't mean anything."

But even as he says it, he knows it's a lie.

Because that kiss meant something. At least to him.

And that's the problem.

The next few days are weird. Not obviously weird, Taehyung and Jungkook still text, still make plans to hang out. But there's something different in their messages. A carefulness that wasn't there before. Like they're both trying very hard to act normal and in doing so, making everything feel abnormal.

Taehyung throws himself into work, into his social life, into anything that will keep him from thinking about the kiss. He goes out with Jimin and gets drunk enough that the world goes pleasantly fuzzy around the edges. He responds to messages on his dating app and sets up a date with a guy named Jaehyuk who seems nice and normal and who's definitely not his best friend.

The date is fine. Jaehyuk is attractive and funny and easy to talk to. They get dinner, and he makes him laugh, and when Jaehyuk suggests they could go back to his place, Taehyung says yes.

They kiss in his apartment, and it's good. Jaehyuk knows what he's doing. He's confident and skilled and everything Taehyung usually likes.

But it doesn't feel like how kissing Jungkook felt.

Taehyung pushes the thought away, focuses on Jaehyuk, on the way his hands feel, on the heat building between them. This is what he needs. This is normal. This is what attraction is supposed to feel like.

Except it doesn't feel right. Something is missing. Something that Taehyung can't name but can feel the absence of.

He makes an excuse, something about early morning and work thing, then leaves. His date seems disappointed but understanding, and Taehyung promises to text him knowing damn well he probably won't.

On the way home, his phone buzzes.

Jungkook:
you awake?

Taehyung stares at the message. It's past midnight. Jungkook never texts this late unless something is wrong.

Taehyung:
yeah
you ok?

Jungkook:
can i call you?

Taehyung's heart does something complicated. "Yeah," he types, and a second later, his phone rings.

"Hey," Jungkook's voice is quiet, almost hesitant.

"Hey. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just…" Jungkook pauses. "I saw Minjun today."

"Oh." Taehyung's stomach drops more then he wants to admit it. "How did it go?"

"It was good. We went to dinner. And then we… we kissed. Like, really kissed."

"That's great, Kook." Taehyung's voice sounds hollow even to his own ears. "I'm happy for you."

"Yeah." There's another pause, longer this time. "It was good. He's a really good kisser."

"Good."

"But it was…" Jungkook stops, and Taehyung can hear him take a breath. "It was different. From when we… from the practice."

Taehyung's heart is pounding now. "Different how?"

"I don't know. Just different." Jungkook sounds confused, maybe even frustrated. "I thought it would be the same, but it wasn't."

Taehyung doesn't know what to say to that. Doesn't know how to respond without revealing too much. "Well, everyone kisses differently. That's normal."

"I guess." Jungkook is quiet for a moment. "Tae, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"When we… when you were teaching me, did it feel…" Jungkook stops again, and Taehyung can practically hear him trying to find the right words. "Did it feel like just practice to you?"

The question hangs in the air between them, heavy and dangerous. Taehyung could lie. Should lie. Should say yes, of course it was just practice, what else would it be?

But he can't make himself say it.

"I don't know," he says finally, and it's the most honest thing he's said in days.

"Oh." Jungkook's voice is small. "Okay."

"Kook…"

"I should go. It's late. I'll talk to you later."

"Wait…"

But Jungkook has already hung up.

Taehyung stares at his phone, at Jungkook's name on the screen. He should call him back to explain. He should say something.

But what is there to say? That the kiss felt like more than practice? That Taehyung can't stop thinking about it? That kissing someone else tonight only made him realize how much he wants to kiss Jungkook again?

He can't say any of that. Because Jungkook is dating Minjun. Because they're best friends. Because admitting any of this would change everything between them, and Taehyung can't risk losing Jungkook over something as stupid as a kiss that was supposed to mean nothing.

So he doesn't call back and instead goes home, lies in bed, and he tries not to think about the way Jungkook sounded on the phone. Confused and uncertain and maybe, just maybe, feeling the same things Taehyung is feeling.

But that's impossible. Jungkook is into Minjun. He asked Taehyung to teach him how to kiss so he could kiss Minjun. The practice kiss was just that, practice. It didn't mean anything more to Jungkook.

Even if it meant everything to Taehyung.

The call comes three days later, while Taehyung is in a meeting he's barely paying attention to.

His phone vibrates against the table. Jungkook's name flashes on the screen. Taehyung stares at it for two rings before excusing himself and stepping into the hallway.

"Hey," he says, and his voice sounds normal. Steady. Like his heart isn't suddenly racing.

"Tae." Jungkook sounds breathless and definitely excited. "I have great news."

Taehyung leans against the wall, already knowing what's coming. Already bracing for it. "Yeah?"

"Minjun asked me to be his boyfriend." There's a pause, and then Jungkook adds, softer, "I said yes."

The words hit Taehyung like a physical blow. The fluorescent lights overhead are too bright. The hallway feels too narrow. Someone walks past him, and Taehyung has to step aside, has to keep his expression neutral even though something is cracking apart in his chest.

"That's great, Kook," he manages. "Really great. I'm happy for you."

"You are?" Jungkook sounds relieved. "I wasn't sure… after the other night, when we talked, you seemed kind of… I don't know. Off."

"I wasn't off. I was just tired." Taehyung closes his eyes. "This is what you wanted, right? You like him."

"I do. He's… god, Tae, he's so sweet. And patient. And he makes me feel like I'm not completely hopeless at this whole dating thing."

"You were never hopeless."

"I felt hopeless. But you helped me. And now…" Jungkook laughs, and it's the happiest sound Taehyung has heard from him in weeks. "Now I have a boyfriend. An actual boyfriend. Can you believe it?"

"I can believe it." Taehyung's throat feels tight. "You deserve this."

"Thanks. That means a lot." There's a pause, and then Jungkook says, "He's taking me to this gallery opening tonight. Apparently he knows the artist. I'm kind of nervous, I don't know anything about art."

"You'll be fine. Just be yourself."

"That's what Minjun said." Jungkook's voice goes soft, fond. "He's really good at making me feel comfortable. Like I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not."

Taehyung's jaw clenches. He forces it to relax. "That's good. That's really good."

"I should go! I need to figure out what to wear. But I wanted to tell you first. You're the reason any of this is happening."

"Don't give me too much credit."

"I'm serious. Thank you, Tae."

After Jungkook hangs up, Taehyung stands in the hallway for a long moment. Someone from his team pokes their head out of the conference room, asking if he's coming back. Taehyung nods and follows them inside, sits down at the table, pretends to pay attention to the presentation on the screen.

But all he can think about is Jungkook at that gallery opening. Jungkook holding Minjun's hand. Jungkook smiling at Minjun the way he used to smile at Taehyung as if he was the most important person in the world.

Except now Taehyung isn't the most important person anymore.

Now there's someone else.

The next two weeks are a special kind of torture for Taehyung.

Because Jungkook calls him after every date. Every. Single. One. And Taehyung answers every time, because that's what best friends do. That's what he's supposed to do.

"The gallery was amazing," Jungkook says after the first date. "Minjun knows so much about art. He was explaining all these pieces to me, and I actually understood what he was saying. Or at least I think I did."

"Sounds great," Taehyung says. He's lying on his couch, staring at the ceiling, trying not to picture it.

"And afterwards we got coffee, and we just talked for hours, Tae. About everything. He's so easy to talk to."

"That's good."

"And then when he walked me home," Jungkook's voice drops and suddenly goes shy. "He kissed me goodnight. Just this soft, sweet kiss. Nothing like…" He stops himself.

"Nothing like what?"

"Nothing. Never mind." But Taehyung knows what Jungkook was going to say. Nothing like when we kissed. "Anyway, it was perfect. He's perfect."

"I'm happy for you," Taehyung says, and the lie tastes like ash in his mouth.

The second date is a movie. Jungkook calls him after, talking about how Minjun held his hand the entire time, how they shared popcorn, how Minjun kissed him in the parking lot afterwards and it was "so romantic, Tae, like something out of a movie."

The third date is dinner at some fancy restaurant Taehyung has never heard of. Jungkook describes every course in detail, talks about how Minjun ordered wine and knew exactly what to pick, how he made Jungkook laugh so hard he almost choked on his pasta.

"He's just so… he's so confident, you know?" Jungkook says. "Like he knows exactly what he's doing. It makes me feel safe."

Taehyung has taken Jungkook to restaurants. Multiple times. Jungkook always ordered the same thing which is whatever had chicken in it and complained that the portions were too small. But apparently when Minjun does it, it's romantic and impressive.

"That's great, Kook," Taehyung says once again, because what else is he supposed to say?

By the fourth date, Taehyung has stopped listening to the details. He makes appropriate noises at appropriate times punctuated with "mm-hmm" and "that's nice" and "sounds fun" but his mind is elsewhere. Anywhere else.

"Are you okay?" Jungkook asks during one of these calls. "You sound distracted."

"Just tired. Work has been crazy."

"You're always tired lately. Are you sleeping enough?"

"I'm fine."

"You don't sound fine."

"I said I'm fine, Jungkook." The words come out sharper than intended.

There's a pause. "Okay. Sorry for asking."

"No, I'm…" Taehyung takes a breath. "Sorry. I didn't mean to snap. I'm just stressed."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"There's nothing to talk about. Tell me more about your date."

But the conversation feels strained after that. They hang up sooner than usual, and Taehyung lies in bed feeling like the worst person in the world.

Taehyung starts suggesting group hangouts instead of one-on-one time. When Jungkook asks if he wants to grab lunch, Taehyung says, "Why don't we get Jimin and Yoongi to come too?" When Jungkook suggests a movie night, Taehyung invites half their friend group.

It's easier in groups. Taehyung can fade into the background, let other people ask Jungkook about Minjun, let other people ooh and ahh over the relationship updates. He can nurse his drink and make occasional sarcastic comments and pretend everything is normal.

Except Jungkook keeps looking at him. Keeps trying to catch his eye across the table. Keeps asking if he's okay.

"I'm fine," Taehyung says every time. "Stop asking."

"You don't seem fine."

"Well, I am. Drop it."

The conversations are getting shorter. More tense. Taehyung knows he's being an asshole but he just can't seem to stop himself. Every mention of Minjun sets his teeth on edge. Every story about their dates makes his hands curl into fists under the table.

He starts working late deliberately. When Jungkook texts asking if he wants to hang out, Taehyung says he's stuck at the office. Sometimes it's true. Sometimes it's not. Sometimes he's just sitting at his desk, staring at his computer screen just because he’s trying to avoid going home to an empty apartment where he'll have nothing to do but think about Jungkook with someone else.

He goes on dates too. Three in two weeks. The first is with a guy named Keeho who works in marketing and has a nice smile. They go to dinner, and Keeho talks about his job and his hobbies and his favorite TV shows, and Taehyung nods along and tries to care.

But he really doesn't care.

At the end of the night, Keeho kisses him. It's a perfectly fine kiss that’s technically proficient and appropriately passionate. Yet, Taehyung feels nothing.

"Want to come up?" Keeho asks, nodding toward his apartment building.

"I can't. Early morning tomorrow."

"Another time then?"

"Sure," Taehyung says, knowing there won't be another time.

The second date with Keeho is at a coffee shop. Taehyung suggests it because coffee is short, easy to escape from. Keeho talks about a project he's working on, and Taehyung's mind wanders. He wonders what Jungkook is doing right now. Probably with Minjun. Probably happy.

"You seem distracted," Keeho observes.

"Sorry. Just thinking about work."

"You think about work a lot."

"Occupational hazard."

They don't make plans for a third date.

Taehyung tries one more time with a guy named Dohyun who Jimin sets him up with. Dohyun is attractive and funny and clearly interested. They go to a bar, have a few drinks, and Dohyun's hand finds Taehyung's knee under the table.

"Want to get out of here?" Dohyun asks, and his intentions are clear.

Taehyung almost says yes. Almost lets himself get lost in someone else, just to stop thinking about Jungkook for five goddamn minutes. But when Dohyun leans in to kiss him, Taehyung turns his head.

"I can't. I'm sorry."

"Is there someone else?"

Yes, Taehyung thinks. There's someone else, and he's dating someone else, and I'm completely fucked.

"It's complicated," he says instead.

After Dohyun leaves, Taehyung yet another drink. He is nursing his third drink at the bar, alone at the counter, when his phone buzzes. He ignores it at first, but it buzzes again. And again. Finally, he sighs and answers.

"Hello?"

"Tae! Hey, are you free this weekend?" Jungkook's voice comes through bright and eager.

Taehyung takes a sip of his drink. "Why?"

"Minjun wants to take me hiking," Jungkook says, and there's an unmistakable excitement in his tone. "But I've never been hiking before, and I was wondering if you had any tips? You know, since you've done it before."

There's a pause. Taehyung stares at his glass, watching the ice melt slowly.

"Wear good shoes," he says flatly. "Bring water."

"That's it?" Jungkook sounds surprised, maybe even a little disappointed. "I thought you'd have more advice. Didn't you go hiking with that guy you dated last year?"

"Yeah."

"And?"

"It was fine."

"Just fine?" Jungkook's voice shifts, becomes more cautious. "Tae, you're being weird again."

"I'm not being weird," Taehyung says, his grip tightening on his phone. "I'm just busy."

"You're always busy lately," Jungkook says quietly, and there's hurt underneath the words now. "Like, you're never around anymore. And when you are, it's like you don't even want to be talking to me."

Taehyung doesn't respond. He can hear Jungkook breathing on the other end of the line, waiting for him to say something, anything.

"Taehyung?" Jungkook prompts softly.

But Taehyung just can't do this right now. Not tonight.

"I have to go," he says abruptly. "Enjoy your hike."

He hangs up before Jungkook can respond, before he can hear the hurt in his voice anymore. He finishes his drink in one long gulp, pays his tab, and leaves the bar without looking back.

The drive home is quiet. Too quiet. And when he finally gets there, he sits on his couch in the dark, phone dark beside him, and tries very hard not to think about what he's doing to Jungkook. Or why.

"You look like shit," Jimin observes when they meet for lunch the following week.

"Thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear."

"Seriously, what's going on with you?" Jimin leans forward, studying Taehyung's face. "You've lost weight. You have dark circles under your eyes. And you've been in a terrible mood for weeks."

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine. You're the opposite of fine." Jimin pauses. "Is this about a guy?"

"No."

"It's about a guy. Who is he?"

"There's no guy."

"Taehyung…"

"I said there's no guy." Taehyung's voice is too loud. A couple at the next table glances over. He lowers it. "Can we drop this?"

"No. Because you're clearly miserable, and I'm worried about you." Jimin's expression softens. "Talk to me. What's going on?"

Taehyung wants to tell him. God, he wants to tell someone. The secret is eating him alive, making him irritable and exhausted and unable to function like a normal human being. But saying it out loud would make it real, into something he can't take back.

"I'm just stressed about work," he says finally.

"Bullshit. This isn't about work." Jimin tilts his head. "When's the last time you hung out with Jungkook? Just the two of you?"

Taehyung's jaw tightens. "I don't know. A few weeks?"

"A few weeks? You two used to be inseparable. What happened?"

"Nothing happened. He has a boyfriend now. He's busy."

"So are you avoiding him, or is he avoiding you?"

"Neither. We're both just… we have our own lives."

"That's not how it works with you two. You've been best friends since like forever. You don't just suddenly drift apart because one of you gets a boyfriend." Jimin's eyes narrow. "Unless…"

"Unless what?"

"Unless you have a problem with the boyfriend."

"I don't have a problem with that Minjun guy. I don't even know him."

"Exactly. You don't know him and you haven't tried to get to know him either. Every time Jungkook brings him up, you change the subject or make some sarcastic comment." Jimin pauses. "You're jealous."

"I'm not jealous."

"You are absolutely jealous. Holy shit." Jimin sits back, realization dawning on his face. "You have feelings for Jungkook."

"I don't…"

"You're in love with him."

The words hang in the air between them. Taehyung's heart is pounding. His hands are shaking. He wants to deny it, he wants to laugh it off, je wants to do anything except sit here while Jimin looks at him with that knowing expression.

"I'm not in love with him," Taehyung says, but his voice cracks on the words.

"Tae…"

"He's my best friend. That's all."

"Is it? Because from where I'm sitting, you've been a miserable bastard ever since he started dating Minjun. You can barely stand to be in the same room with him. You flinch every time someone mentions his boyfriend's name."

"I don't flinch."

"You flinch. And you're not sleeping. And you're going on all these dates with guys you're clearly not interested in. You're trying to distract yourself, but it's not working." Jimin's voice softens. "It's okay to admit it."

"There's nothing to admit."

"Taehyung…"

"I said there's nothing to admit!" The words come out too loud again. Taehyung takes a breath, tries to calm down. "Jungkook is happy and that's all that matters."

"What about what you want?"

"What I want doesn't matter. He's with someone else. End of story."

"But…"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore." Taehyung stands up, throwing money on the table. "I have to get back to work."

"Tae, wait…"

But Taehyung is already leaving, pushing through the crowded restaurant toward the exit. The afternoon air is cold against his face, and he welcomes it because right now, he really needs it.

He's not in love with Jungkook. That's ridiculous. You don't just suddenly fall in love with your best friend because of one kiss that was supposed to be practice.

Except it wasn't just the kiss. If Taehyung is being honest with himself? which he's trying very hard not to be, it's been longer than that. It's been the way Jungkook looks at him sometimes, like Taehyung is the most important person in the world. It's been the way Jungkook laughs at his jokes, even the bad ones. It's been the way Jungkook trusts him completely, without question.

It's been eighteen years of Jungkook being the one constant in Taehyung's life, and Taehyung never realized what that meant until someone else came along and took Jungkook's attention away.

"Fuck," Taehyung mutters to the empty street.

The confrontation comes two days later.

Taehyung is at home, trying to work on a presentation that's due Monday, when his phone rings. Jungkook's name flashes on the screen. Taehyung almost doesn't answer because he's been avoiding Jungkook's calls for days now but something makes him pick up.

"Hey," he says.

"We need to talk." Jungkook's voice is tight, and… Angry?

"About what?"

"About whatever the hell is going on with you. About why you've been avoiding me for weeks. About why you're acting like I did something wrong."

"I'm not avoiding you."

"Yes, you are. Every time I try to make plans, you have an excuse. Every time I call, you barely talk to me. Every time I mention Minjun, you shut down." Jungkook takes a breath. "What did I do, Tae? Just tell me what I did so I can fix it."

"You didn't do anything."

"Then why are you shutting me out?"

"I'm not…" Taehyung stops, because the lie won't come. "I'm just busy."

"Bullshit. You're not busy, you're avoiding me. And I want to know why."

"Maybe I'm just tired of hearing about how perfect Minjun is." The words slip out before Taehyung can stop them. "Maybe I'm tired of every conversation being about your boyfriend and your dates and how happy you are."

There's silence on the other end of the line. When Jungkook speaks again, his voice is small. "I thought you wanted to help me. You said you'd teach me everything."

"I did help you. I taught you how to flirt, how to kiss, how to be confident. Mission accomplished. You got the guy. Congrats."

"So what, now that I don't need your help anymore, you're done with me?"

"That's not what I said."

"It's what it sounds like. It sounds like you only cared about me when I was your project. Now that I'm actually happy, you can't be bothered."

"That's not fair."

"Isn't it? Because from where I'm standing, you've been acting like an asshole ever since I started dating Minjun. And I don't understand why." Jungkook's voice cracks. "I miss you, Tae. I miss my best friend. But you won't even talk to me anymore."

The words hit Taehyung like a physical blow. Jungkook misses him. Of course he does. Because despite everything, despite Minjun and the relationship and all of it, they're still best friends. They're still the most important people in each other's lives.

Or they were, before Taehyung ruined it by catching feelings he shouldn’t have.

"I'm sorry," Taehyung says quietly. "You're right. I've been an asshole."

"Why? Just tell me why."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because it's complicated."

"Everything is complicated with you lately. I just want my friend back. I want the person who used to actually want to spend time with me. Who didn't act like being around me was a chore." Jungkook's voice is thick now, like he's trying not to cry. "I don't know what I did to make you hate me, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry for whatever it is."

"I don't hate you." Taehyung's chest feels tight. "Kook, I could never hate you."

"Then what is it? Because I can't keep doing this. I can't keep wondering what I did wrong. I can't keep feeling like I'm losing my best friend and not knowing why."

Taehyung closes his eyes. He could tell him, explain everything, the kiss, the feelings, the jealousy that's been eating him alive. But what would that accomplish? Jungkook is happy. Jungkook is in a relationship. Telling him would be selfish and unfair and would probably ruin their friendship forever.

"I've been dealing with some stuff," Taehyung says finally. "Personal stuff. And I took it out on you. That wasn't fair."

"What stuff?"

"Just… work stress. Life stress. Nothing you need to worry about."

"Tae, you’re my best friend. If something is bothering you, I want to know about it. I want to help."

"You can't help with this one."

"Why not?"

"Because you're…" Taehyung stops himself. "It's complicated."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's true."

There's a long pause. Taehyung can hear Jungkook breathing on the other end of the line, he can picture him sitting somewhere with that adorable expression he gets when he's trying to figure something out.

"Okay," Jungkook says finally. "Okay. You don't have to tell me but I need you to promise me something."

"What?"

"Promise me you'll stop shutting me out. Promise me that even if you can't tell me what's wrong, you'll still let me be your friend. Because I can't…" His voice wavers. "I can't lose you. You're too important to me."

The words make Taehyung's chest ache. "You're not going to lose me."

"It feels like I already am."

"You're not. I promise." Taehyung takes a breath. "I'll do better. I'll stop avoiding you. I'll stop being weird about Minjun. I'll be the friend you deserve."

"I don't want the friend I deserve. I just want you. The real you." Jungkook pauses. "Can we try? Can we try to go back to normal?"

"Yeah. We can try."

"Okay. Good." There's relief in Jungkook's voice. "I miss you, Tae."

"I miss you too."

And it's true. Taehyung misses Jungkook desperately. He misses their easy conversations, their comfortable silences, the way they used to be able to tell each other everything. He simply misses his best friend.

Even if being around him hurts.

"Hey, Tae?" Jungkook says, and his voice has shifted to something lighter. "Minjun wants to meet you. Properly. He knows you're important to me, and he wants to get to know you."

The thought of meeting Minjun and having to put a face to the name that's been tormenting Taehyung for weeks, makes his stomach turn. But he forces himself to say, "Sure. That would be great."

"Really?"

"Really." The lie tastes bitter on Taehyung's tongue.

"Okay. I'll set something up. Maybe we can all get dinner or something?"

"Sounds perfect."

After they hang up, Taehyung sits on his couch and puts his head in his hands. He promised to do better, to be a better friend. And he will. He'll smile when Jungkook talks about Minjun. He'll ask appropriate questions. He'll meet Minjun and be polite and supportive.

He'll do all of it, even if it kills him.

Because that's what you do when you love someone. You want them to be happy, even if their happiness destroys you.

Even if you're dying inside.

The restaurant Jungkook picks is nice, way too nice. It’s the kind of place with cloth napkins, a wine list and soft lighting that's meant to be romantic.

Taehyung arrives exactly on time, because being early would make him look desperate and being late would be rude. He spots them immediately, Jungkook and Minjun are at a corner table, already seated, already laughing about something.

Already existing in their own little world where Taehyung doesn't belong.

He watches them for a moment before approaching. Jungkook's hand is on the table, and Minjun's fingers are tracing idle patterns on his knuckles. It's such a small gesture, so casual, but it makes Taehyung's chest constrict.

That should be me.

"Tae!" Jungkook spots him and waves, his face lighting up. "You made it!"

Minjun stands to greet him, and fuck. Of course he's attractive. Tall, broad-shouldered, with an easy smile and confident posture. The kind of guy who looks like he belongs in a nice restaurant and who probably knows which fork to use for which course.

"Taehyung, right?" Minjun extends his hand. "I've heard so much about you. Jungkook talks about you constantly."

His handshake is firm, his smile genuine. Taehyung wants to hate him, he wants to find something, anything really, to justify the jealousy that’s burning in his gut.

But Minjun seems... nice. Genuinely nice.

Which somehow makes it worse.

"Good things, I hope," Taehyung says as he slides into his seat across from them.

"The best things." Minjun sits back down, and his hand immediately finds Jungkook's again. Like it's magnetic. Like he can't not touch him. "He says you two have been friends since you were kids?"

"Eighteen years," Taehyung confirms, and he tries not to look at their joined hands. Tries not to think about how Jungkook's thumb is rubbing small circles on Minjun's palm the same way Taehyung taught him during their first lesson.

The waiter comes by for drink orders. Minjun orders wine, something French that Taehyung's never heard of and Jungkook just says, "I'll have whatever he's having," with this soft, trusting smile.

Taehyung orders a beer.

"So are you a personal trainer too?" Minjun asks, and he seems genuinely interested. Leaning forward, making eye contact, all the things that show he's engaged in the conversation.

All the things Taehyung taught Jungkook to do.

"Oh, no. I work in an office. And I go to a different gym, actually."

Taehyung takes a sip of his beer. "What about you? What do you do?"

"I'm a graphic designer but I’m also a personal trainer on the weekend, actually. That's how we met." Minjun glances at Jungkook with this fond expression. "I started helping him because he wanted to work on his form and this one..." He squeezes Jungkook's hand. "...was so naturally good at flirting that I didn't stand a chance."

Jungkook laughs, ducking his head. "You're exaggerating."

"I'm really not." Minjun's voice drops, intimate. "The eye contact, the way you'd lean in when I was explaining something, how engaged you were in every conversation. You knew exactly what you were doing."

"I didn't."

"You did." Minjun grins. "You're a natural seducer, Jungkook. Own it."

And Jungkook, well, Jungkook blushes. That pretty pink that spreads across his cheeks and down his neck. The same blush Taehyung has seen a thousand times but never directed at him. Not like this.

Taehyung takes a long drink of his beer.

Natural. He thinks Jungkook is naturally good at this.

The dark irony of it sits heavy in Taehyung's chest. Every single thing Minjun just listed, the eye contact, the leaning in, the engagement, those were Taehyung's lessons. Taehyung's instructions. Taehyung spent hours teaching Jungkook exactly how to do those things.

And now Jungkook is using them on someone else. So well that Minjun thinks it's natural talent.

The conversation continues. Minjun asks about Taehyung's work, his hobbies, his life. He's charming and attentive and says all the right things. He laughs at Taehyung's jokes. He includes him in the conversation.

But.

But every few minutes, Jungkook and Minjun will share a look. A private smile. A touch. Little moments that exclude Taehyung completely and that remind him he's the outsider here.

At one point, Minjun leans over and whispers something in Jungkook's ear. Jungkook's eyes go wide, and he smacks Minjun's arm playfully. "Stop it," he says, but he's grinning. "Not in public."

Taehyung stares at his plate.

What did he say? What inside joke do they have that I'm not part of?

The food arrives. Minjun has ordered for both of them, "Jungkook mentioned he likes trying new things" and Jungkook looks delighted by the surprise. They feed each other bites across the table, laughing when Minjun gets sauce on his chin.

Taehyung might as well not be there.

"Oh!" Jungkook suddenly turns to him, like he's just remembered Taehyung exists. "Minjun got tickets to that art exhibit next weekend. The one with the interactive installations? Want to come with us?"

No. Absolutely not. I would rather die.

"I think I'm busy unfortunately," Taehyung says.

"You don't even know what day yet," Jungkook points out.

"I'm busy all weekend."

Something flickers across Jungkook's facen he seems hurt, maybe, or maybe it’s confusion, but then Minjun is pulling his attention back, asking about dessert, and Jungkook forgets about Taehyung entirely.

They order dessert to share. One plate, two forks. Minjun feeds Jungkook a bite of chocolate cake, and Jungkook closes his eyes in pleasure, and Taehyung…

Taehyung can't do this anymore.

"I should go," he says abruptly, standing up. "Early shift tomorrow."

"Already?" Jungkook looks disappointed. "We haven't even…"

"It was great meeting you, Minjun." Taehyung throws cash on the table, too much, probably, but he doesn't care. "Jungkook, I'll see you around."

He's out the door before either of them can protest.

Outside, the night air is cold against his flushed face. Taehyung walks to his car on autopilot, gets in, grips the steering wheel with shaking hands.

This is fine. You're fine. He's happy. That's what matters.

But it doesn't feel fine. It feels like he’s drowning because he’s watching the person he loves fall in love with someone else, and he can't do anything about it except smile and pretend it doesn't hurt.

His phone buzzes.

Jungkook:
are you okay?
you left so fast
did we do something wrong?

Taehyung stares at the messages. We. Not I. We.

When did Jungkook become a we with someone else?

He doesn't respond. Just drives home and tries not to think about Jungkook's hand in Minjun's. He tries not to think about the private jokes and shared desserts and the way Jungkook looked at Minjun like he hung the moon.

He tries not to think about how he's lost his best friend to someone better.

Someone who deserves him.

Someone who isn't Taehyung.

One unfortunate day, Taehyung sees them at the gym.

He's just walking past, taking his usual route home from the office when he glances through the floor-to-ceiling windows and sees them.

Jungkook and Minjun. By the free weights.

And they're touching.

Not just casual touching. Minjun's hand is on Jungkook's lower back as Jungkook does a set of deadlifts. His other hand slides to Jungkook's hip, casual and possessive. And Jungkook is laughing with that bright, genuine laugh that makes his nose scrunch up while he’s leaning back into Minjun's touch like it's the most natural thing in the world.

Taehyung freezes on the sidewalk.

He should keep walking and just look away before they see him. But he can't move and he can’t he look away either.

Minjun says something that makes Jungkook laugh again, and then, then, Minjun leans in and presses a kiss to Jungkook's temple. Casual. Affectionate. Like he has every right to touch Jungkook that way.

Which he does. Because he's Jungkook's boyfriend.

And Taehyung is just the friend who taught Jungkook how to kiss so he could kiss someone else.

Walk away. Just walk away.

Except Taehyung's feet won't move. He stands there like an idiot, watching Minjun's hands on Jungkook's body, watching Jungkook smile up at him with that soft expression, watching them exist in their perfect little bubble where Taehyung doesn't exist.

"Tae?"

No.

Taehyung's head snaps up. Through the glass, Jungkook has spotted him, eyes widening in recognition. He's saying something to Minjun, already heading toward the door.

Run. Just run.

But Taehyung's body betrays him, standing frozen on the sidewalk as Jungkook pushes through the gym entrance and jogs over to him.

"Tae! What are you doing here?" Jungkook is slightly breathless, cheeks flushed from his workout, hair damp with sweat. He looks happy. Radiant. "I didn't know you came to this gym!"

"I don't. I was just… walking past."

"Oh!" Jungkook's face lights up even more. "Perfect timing then. Come say hi to Minjun properly!"

No. Absolutely not. I would rather die.

"I can't, I have…"

But Minjun is already coming out, wiping his hands on a towel, that perfect confident smile on his face. "Taehyung, right? From dinner?"

Taehyung nods mutely.

Minjun's hand finds Jungkook's waist, fingers splaying possessively across his skin where his shirt has ridden up. "This one's been killing it in his sessions. Natural talent." He pulls Jungkook closer, a subtle claim. "I've been training him personally."

This one. Like Jungkook is something Minjun owns. Something precious he's claiming in front of Taehyung.

And he has every right to. He's Jungkook's boyfriend. Of course he's possessive. Of course he pulls Jungkook close and touches him like that, casual and claiming. Jungkook is so fucking precious with those doe eyes, that shy smile, the way he blushes at compliments. Who wouldn't want to hold onto him? Who wouldn't want to make sure everyone knows he's taken?

Jungkook deserves that. He deserves someone who's proud to show him off, who touches him in public without hesitation, who looks at him like he's the most valuable thing in the world.

Someone like Minjun.

Not someone like Taehyung, who's been hiding his feelings – even to himself –  for years. Who taught Jungkook how to seduce someone else. Who can't even be angry at Minjun for being possessive because Jungkook deserves that kind of devotion.

"Great," Taehyung says, and his voice sounds hollow even to his own ears. "I should… I need to go."

"Wait, do you want to grab lunch with us?" Jungkook asks. "We're almost done, just need to shower and…"

"Can't. I have plans."

"Oh." Jungkook's face falls slightly. "Okay. Maybe next time?"

"Yeah. Maybe."

Taehyung forces himself to walk away, feeling their eyes on his back. He makes it around the corner before he has to stop, leaning against a building, trying to breathe through the tightness in his chest.

This is what you wanted. You wanted him to be confident. You wanted him to find someone. This is exactly what you wanted.

Except it's not. It's the opposite of what Taehyung wants.

He walks home and once again doesn't answer when Jungkook texts him later asking if he's okay.

Three days pass before Jungkook shows up at his apartment unannounced.

Taehyung opens the door to find Jungkook standing in the hallway, hands shoved in his pockets, looking uncertain. He's wearing a hoodie and jeans, hair slightly messy like he's been running his hands through it too much.

"Can I come in?" Jungkook asks.

Taehyung should say no. Should tell him to leave. Should protect himself from whatever fresh hell this is going to be.

But he steps aside, letting Jungkook in.

They settle on the couch in silence. Jungkook is fidgeting with the hem of his hoodie, not quite meeting Taehyung's eyes.

"You've been avoiding me," Jungkook says finally.

"I've been busy."

"You've been avoiding me," Jungkook repeats, and there's something in his voice that sounds hurt, maybe. "Ever since you saw me and Minjun at the gym."

"I'm not avoiding you."

"Tae…"

"What do you want me to say, Kook?" Taehyung's voice comes out sharper than intended. "That I'm thrilled to watch you and your perfect boyfriend be all over each other? That it's great seeing him touch you like that?"

Jungkook blinks. "Like what?"

"Like he has every right to. Like you're his."

"He's my boyfriend. He does have the right to touch me."

"I know that." Taehyung stands up, needing to move, needing space. "Fuck, I know that, okay? I know you're with him. I know you're happy. I know all of it."

"Then why are you acting like this?"

"Because…" Taehyung stops himself. Takes a breath. "Because it's hard, okay? Watching you with someone else. Watching you be happy with him when I…"

He cuts himself off before he says too much.

"When you what?" Jungkook's voice is soft.

When I'm in love with you. When I want to be the one touching you like that. When I can't stop thinking about you even though you're with someone else.

"Nothing. Forget it."

"Tae, please." Jungkook stands, moving closer. "Talk to me. Tell me what's going on."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because you're with Minjun. And saying what I want to say would be…it would be selfish."

Jungkook is quiet for a long moment. Then, "You're jealous."

Taehyung's stomach drops. "What?"

"You're jealous. Of Minjun. Of me being with him." Jungkook's voice is careful, like he's testing the words. "That's what this is about."

Deny it. Lie. Protect yourself.

But Taehyung is so tired of lying.

"Yeah," he says quietly. "I'm jealous."

"Why?"

"Because…" Taehyung closes his eyes. "Because I'm being replaced. Because suddenly you have this perfect boyfriend and I'm just… I feel like I'm the friend who gets pushed aside."

The words hang in the air between them. Taehyung realizes how pathetic he sounds, but he can't take it back now.

"You're not being replaced…"

"Aren't I?" Taehyung opens his eyes. "When's the last time we hung out? Just us? When's the last time you called me first instead of texting about Minjun? I've been your best friend for eighteen years, Kook. Eighteen years. And now it's like…like I don't matter anymore."

"That's not true."

"It feels true. Every time I see you with him, every time you talk about him, it feels like you're slipping away. Like I'm losing you." Taehyung's voice cracks slightly. "And I know that's selfish. I know I should be happy for you. But I can't watch you replace me and pretend it doesn't hurt."

Jungkook is quiet for a long moment. Then he steps closer, and his hand finds Taehyung's arm.

"I'm sorry," Jungkook says, and his voice is so soft, so genuine. "I didn't know. I didn't realize…"

"It's not your fault."

"But I hurt you. I've been hurting you this whole time and I didn't even know." Jungkook's hand slides down to Taehyung's wrist, fingers wrapping around it gently. "I'm so sorry, Tae."

And then, then, Jungkook does the thing that destroys Taehyung completely.

He looks up at Taehyung with those wide, doe eyes. The ones that have always been Taehyung's weakness. The ones that make Taehyung want to give him anything, everything, the entire world if he asked for it.

"Please don't shut me out," Jungkook says, and his voice is small, vulnerable. "I know I messed up. I know I hurt you. But please…please don't push me away. I can't lose you."

He's manipulating you. He knows exactly what he's doing. Those eyes, that voice, he's playing you.

But Taehyung doesn't care. Can't care. Because Jungkook is looking at him like that, touching him like that, and Taehyung has never been able to resist him.

"I'm not pushing you away," Taehyung says, even though he should. Even though he knows this is a bad idea.

"Promise?" Jungkook's thumb brushes against Taehyung's pulse point. "Promise you won't shut me out again?"

"I promise."

"Thank you." Jungkook's other hand comes up to Taehyung's face, cupping his cheek. "I'll do better. I'll be more careful. I won't… I won't make you watch me with him anymore."

"Kook, you don't have to…"

"I want to. You're my best friend, Tae. You've been my best friend for eighteen years. That doesn't go away because I have a boyfriend now." He squeezes Taehyung's wrist gently. "You're important to me. And I don't want to lose you."

The words make Taehyung's chest tight. He knows he's being played. Because Jungkook is using those eyes, that voice, that touch to manipulate him into forgiving him and he knows he should be stronger than this.

But he's not. He's weak and pathetic and completely incapable of resisting Jungkook.

"Okay," Taehyung says quietly. "Okay."

Jungkook smiles with that soft, genuine smile that makes Taehyung's heart do complicated things in his chest. "Thank you."

After Jungkook leaves, Taehyung sits on his couch and puts his head in his hands.

You're an idiot. You know that, right? A complete idiot.

But he can't bring himself to regret it. Can't bring himself to wish he'd said no.

Because Jungkook looked at him with those eyes, and Taehyung gave in.

Like he always does.

Because Jungkook needs him. As a friend, as someone who's been there for eighteen years. And Taehyung can't and won't let him down.

Even if it slowly kills him.

A few days later, Jungkook shows up at Taehyung's apartment again.

This time, he’s nervous. Taehyung can tell by the way he's fidgeting with his phone and the way he won't quite meet Taehyung's eyes when he walks in.

"What's wrong?" Taehyung asks as they settle on the couch.

"Nothing's wrong. I just…" Jungkook takes a breath. "I need to ask you something. And I need you to not freak out."

Oh god. What now.

"Okay."

"So things with Minjun are going really well," Jungkook starts, and Taehyung's stomach immediately drops. "Like, really well. And I think… I think we're going to take things to the next level soon."

"Next level?"

"Yeah. Like…" Jungkook's ears turn red. "Like sex."

Taehyung stares at him. "You want to talk to me about having sex with your boyfriend."

"I want you to teach me about it."

The words hit Taehyung like a physical blow. "What?"

"I don't know what I'm doing, Tae. I've never… I don't have any experience with this stuff. And I'm scared I'm going to mess it up." Jungkook finally looks at him, and those eyes are back. Wide and vulnerable and pleading. "I know what I told you the other day but I really need your help. Please."

No. Absolutely not. This is where you draw the line.

"Kook, I can't…"

"Please." Jungkook shifts closer on the couch, and his hand finds Taehyung's knee. "I know it's a lot to ask. I know it's weird. But you've helped me with everything else. You taught me how to flirt, how to kiss, how to be confident. And now I need you to teach me this."

"There are resources for that. Articles. Videos."

"I've looked at those. They're not helpful. They're too clinical or too… I don't know. Fake." Jungkook's hand tightens on Taehyung's knee. "I need someone who knows me. Someone who can actually explain it in a way that makes sense. Someone I trust."

"Jungkook…"

"I'm really scared, Tae." Jungkook's voice cracks slightly. "I'm terrified I'm going to do something wrong and ruin everything with Minjun. He's been so patient with me, and I don't want to disappoint him. I don't want to be bad at this."

He's asking you to help him get ready to sleep with someone else. He's asking you to teach him how to have sex so he can have sex with Minjun. This is actually happening.

"I can't do this," Taehyung says.

"Why not?"

Because I'm in love with you. Because the thought of you having sex with someone else makes me want to break things. Because I can barely handle the kissing lessons, and this would definitely destroy me.

"Because it's too personal."

"But you're my best friend. Who else am I supposed to ask?"

"Literally anyone else."

"There is no one else." Jungkook's eyes are getting shinier now, like he might actually cry. "Please, Tae. I'm begging you. I really need your help."

And there it is. The begging. The tears threatening to spill over. The desperate, vulnerable expression that Taehyung has never been able to resist.

You're going to regret this. You know you're going to regret this.

"Just talking," Taehyung says finally. "That's it. No demonstrations. No physical stuff. Just talking."

"Just talking," Jungkook agrees immediately, and the relief on his face makes Taehyung's chest tight. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"I'm going to regret this."

"You won't. I promise." Jungkook's hand is still on Taehyung's knee, warm and solid. "You're the best, Tae. Seriously."

After Jungkook leaves, promising to come back in a few days so they can "talk about it properly", Taehyung sits on his couch and stares at the ceiling.

"This is a bad idea," he says to his empty apartment. "This is the worst idea in the history of bad ideas."

But he's never been able to say no to Jungkook.

Especially not when Jungkook looks at him with those eyes.

Jungkook shows up three days later with coffee and that nervous energy that Taehyung recognizes from their first kissing lesson.

Except this time, it feels different. More charged, more dangerous.

They settle on the couch, and Taehyung tries to keep his voice clinical as he explains the basics. Foreplay. Communication. The importance of making sure both people are comfortable and enjoying themselves.

Jungkook listens intently, nodding along, asking questions. And the whole time, Taehyung is hyperaware of how close they're sitting. How Jungkook's knee keeps brushing against his. How Jungkook is leaning in when Taehyung talks, like he doesn't want to miss a single word.

"So it's all about building anticipation?" Jungkook asks.

"Yeah. You don't just… you don't just jump straight into it. You take your time. Make them want it."

"How do you do that?"

"You touch them. Kiss them. You pay attention to what they respond to." Taehyung is trying so hard to keep this educational, detached. "Everyone is different. You have to learn what they like."

"Can you show me?"

Taehyung's brain suddenly shuts down. "What?"

"Show me. Like you did with the kissing." Jungkook shifts closer, and his hand finds Taehyung's arm. "I learn better with examples. You know that."

"Kook, we said just talking…"

"I know. But I don't understand what you mean. How am I supposed to build anticipation if I don't know what that looks like?" Jungkook's eyes are wide, earnest. "Please? Just a little demonstration. So I understand."

This is a bad idea. This is such a bad idea.

But Taehyung finds himself nodding. "Fine. But we're keeping this clinical. Educational."

"Educational," Jungkook agrees.

Except the moment Taehyung leans in to demonstrate, to show Jungkook how to kiss slowly, teasingly, building tension, everything changes.

Because Jungkook doesn't kiss like someone who's nervous or uncertain. He kisses like someone who knows exactly what he's doing.

His hand slides into Taehyung's hair, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. His other hand finds Taehyung's waist, pulling him closer. And when Taehyung tries to pull back, to maintain some semblance of control, Jungkook follows him, pressing him back against the couch cushions.

"Kook…" Taehyung manages between kisses.

"Is this right?" Jungkook asks, but his voice doesn't sound uncertain. It sounds confident. Too sure. "Am I building anticipation?"

"Yeah. You're…" Taehyung's breath catches when Jungkook's mouth moves to his jaw. "You're doing fine."

"Just fine?" Jungkook's teeth graze Taehyung's earlobe, and Taehyung's hands grip Jungkook's shoulders involuntarily. "I want to do better than fine."

"Kook, we should…"

"Should what?" Jungkook pulls back slightly, looking at Taehyung with an expression that makes Taehyung's stomach flip. His eyes are dark and focused. Not nervous at all. "Should stop? Is that what you want?"

Yes. No. I don't know.

"We said we'd keep this educational."

"This is educational. You're teaching me." Jungkook's hand slides under Taehyung's shirt, fingers splaying against his ribs. "Aren't you?"

Taehyung's brain is short-circuiting. Because Jungkook's hand is on his bare skin, warm and solid, and Jungkook is looking at him with that confident expression, and nothing about this feels like a lesson anymore.

"Yeah," Taehyung manages. "I'm teaching you."

"Good." Jungkook leans in again, and this time when he kisses Taehyung, it's deeper. More intense. His hand moves up Taehyung's ribs, thumb brushing against sensitive skin, and Taehyung makes a sound he immediately wants to take back.

"Like that?" Jungkook asks against Taehyung's mouth. "Did I do that right?"

"Yeah. That's…that's good."

"What else should I know?"

You should know that you're destroying me. You should know that this isn't just a lesson for me. You should know that I'm in love with you and this is torture.

"Touch," Taehyung says, and his voice is rougher than he intended. "Pay attention to how they respond to your touch. If they lean into it, if they make sounds, if their breathing changes."

"Like yours is right now?" Jungkook's hand moves higher, and Taehyung's breath catches. "Your breathing changed. Does that mean you like this?"

"Kook…"

"Does it?" Jungkook's voice is soft but insistent. "Tell me. I need to know if I'm doing this right or not."

"You're doing it right."

"Show me more." Jungkook's mouth finds Taehyung's neck, and Taehyung's hands tighten on Jungkook's shoulders. "Teach me what else I should do."

They stay like that for another hour with Jungkook's hands exploring, learning, testing boundaries. And the whole time, Taehyung tries to maintain the fiction that this is just a lesson. Just education.

But he knows it's bullshit. They probably both know it's bullshit.

When Jungkook finally leaves, shirt rumpled, lips swollen and looking thoroughly satisfied, Taehyung sits on his couch and tries to process what just happened.

He wasn't nervous. He wasn't uncertain. He knew exactly what he was doing.

The realization makes Taehyung's stomach flip.

Because if Jungkook knew what he was doing, if he was that confident, that controlled, then this wasn't just about learning.

This was about something else entirely.

A week passes before Jungkook shows up again.

Taehyung spends that week trying not to think about the last session. He really tries with all is might to not remember the feeling of Jungkook's hands on his skin, the sound of Jungkook's voice in his ear, the way Jungkook looked at him with that confident expression.

He fails spectacularly.

When Jungkook texts asking if he can come over, Taehyung's heart starts racing before he even reads the full message.

This is pathetic. You're pathetic.

But he still texts back.

Taehyung then spends the rest of the day in a state of anxious anticipation. He showers. Changes his shirt three times. Cleans his apartment even though it's already clean. Checks his phone every five minutes.

You're acting like this is a date. It's not a date. It's a lesson. An educational session. Nothing more.

Except when Jungkook shows up at 8 PM, he's not dressed like someone coming over for a casual lesson.

He's wearing tight jeans that hug his thighs in a way that should be illegal. A black t-shirt that shows off his arms. His hair is styled, not messy like usual but deliberately tousled. And he's wearing cologne. Something subtle but noticeable.

He looks hot. Deliberately, intentionally hot.

"Hey," Jungkook says, and his smile is confident. Not nervous. Not uncertain. Just confident.

"Hey." Taehyung steps aside to let him in, trying not to stare. "You look…"

"Good?" Jungkook finishes, and there's something in his tone. Something teasing. "I wanted to look nice."

"For a lesson?"

"For you." Jungkook's eyes meet his, and Taehyung's breath catches. "I always want to look nice for you."

Oh.

Oh no.

They settle on the couch, and Taehyung tries to ignore the way his heart is racing. Tries to ignore how good Jungkook smells. Tries to ignore the way Jungkook is sitting so close their thighs are touching.

"So," Jungkook says. "I wanted to ask you about something specific."

"Okay."

"Oral sex." Jungkook says it so casually, like he's asking about the weather. "I want to know how to do it. What feels good. What I should be doing."

Taehyung's mouth goes dry. "Kook…"

"I know it's personal. But you said you'd help me." Jungkook shifts closer, and his hand finds Taehyung's knee. "Please? I really want to make sure I do this right."

This is a bad idea. This is such a monumentally bad idea.

And as much as he keeps repeating this over and over again, Taehyung still finds himself explaining, still trying to keep it clinical and detached, even though his heart is pounding and his hands are visibly shaking.

Jungkook listens intently, asking questions, occasionally touching Taehyung's arm or knee for emphasis. And the whole time, Taehyung is aware of how Jungkook is looking at him. Not with curiosity or with uncertainty.

With intent.

"Can I try?" Jungkook asks eventually.

And the hundredth time these past few weeks, Taehyung's brain short-circuits. "What?"

"Can I try? What you just explained?" Jungkook's hand slides up Taehyung's thigh. "I want to make sure I understand."

"Kook, we can't…"

"Why not?" Jungkook's voice is soft but insistent. "You said the best way to learn is through practice. And I trust you. I want to practice with you."

"Because you have a boyfriend. Because this is…this is crossing a line."

"We're just practicing so that I can learn." Jungkook's hand moves higher, and Taehyung's breath catches. "There's nothing wrong with that, right?"

Everything is wrong with that. Everything.

But Taehyung doesn't say that, he doesn't push Jungkook away either and instead just sits there, frozen, as Jungkook leans in and presses a kiss to his jaw.

"Let me try," Jungkook whispers against his skin. "Please. I want to make you feel good."

And Taehyung, weak, pathetic and completely incapable of resisting, simply nods.

Jungkook's hands move to Taehyung's belt, and he fumbles with the buckle. His fingers are shaking slightly, and he has to try twice before he gets it undone.

"I don't…" Jungkook's voice is uncertain. "I don't really know what I'm doing."

"It's okay." Taehyung's voice comes out rougher than intended. "I'll tell you. Just… just go slow."

Jungkook nods and works on the button of Taehyung's jeans, then the zipper. His movements are careful and hesitant. When he finally gets Taehyung's jeans open, he pauses, looking up with those wide eyes that kills Taehyung every single time he looks at them.

"What do I do first?"

This is insane. This is completely insane and you should stop this right now.

But Taehyung doesn't stop it. Instead, he lifts his hips so Jungkook can pull his jeans and boxers down enough to free him. The cool air makes him shiver, or maybe it's the way Jungkook is staring at him with a mixture of nervousness and fascination.

"Just…" Taehyung has to clear his throat. "Start with your hand. Get a feel for it. Don't grip too tight."

Jungkook's hand wraps around him tentatively, and Taehyung's breath catches. Jungkook's touch is uncertain, exploratory, like he's trying to figure out what to do.

"Like this?" Jungkook asks.

"Yeah. That's… that's good. You can move your hand. Slow strokes."

Jungkook does, and his movements are clumsy at first, not quite the right rhythm or pressure. But he's watching Taehyung's face intently, learning from every reaction.

"Tighter?" Jungkook asks when Taehyung's breath hitches.

"A little. Not too much. Yeah… yeah, like that."

Jungkook's confidence grows slightly as he finds a rhythm. His hand moves with more purpose now, and Taehyung can feel himself responding despite how wrong this is.

"Okay," Taehyung says, and his voice is strained. "If you want to use your mouth, start slow. Just the tip at first. Use your tongue."

Jungkook shifts position, settling between Taehyung's legs. He leans in hesitantly, and Taehyung can feel his breath against his sensitive skin.

"I don't want to do it wrong," Jungkook says nervously.

"You won't. Just, communication is important, remember? I'll tell you what feels good."

Jungkook nods and leans in. His first touch is tentative with just his tongue, a soft lick that makes Taehyung's hands grip the couch cushions.

"Like that?" Jungkook asks.

"Yeah. That's… that's good. You can do more."

Jungkook tries again, this time with more confidence. His tongue traces along the length, experimental and curious. When Taehyung makes a soft sound, Jungkook does it again.

"Use your lips too," Taehyung manages. "Take it in your mouth. Not too much at first. Just  what's comfortable."

Jungkook does, and the wet heat of his mouth makes Taehyung's head fall back against the couch. Jungkook's movements are uncertain, awkward even, but there's something about the inexperience that makes it more intense.

"Move your tongue while you…" Taehyung's words cut off when Jungkook does exactly that. "Fuck. Yeah. Like that."

Jungkook makes a sound, of satisfaction maybe, and takes him deeper. Too deep, because he immediately pulls back, coughing slightly.

"Sorry," Jungkook says, his voice rough. "I didn't…"

"It's okay. Don't try to take too much. Just do what feels comfortable and… Use your hand for the rest."

Jungkook nods and tries again, this time with his hand wrapped around the base while his mouth works the top. The combination makes Taehyung's breath come faster.

"That's good. That's really good." Taehyung's hand finds Jungkook's hair without thinking. "You can move your head. Bob up and down. Yeah, fuck… just like that."

Jungkook finds a rhythm, and with each movement he gets more confident. His tongue does things that make Taehyung's grip tighten in his hair, and Jungkook seems to notice because he does it again.

"You're a fast learner," Taehyung breathes, and Jungkook makes a pleased sound that vibrates through him.

Jungkook experiments by trying different movements with his tongue, different amounts of suction, different speeds. He's learning what makes Taehyung's breathing change, what makes his hips shift, what makes him grip Jungkook's hair tighter.

"Hollow your cheeks," Taehyung says, and his voice is getting desperate now. "Create suction. Yeah… fuck, yeah, exactly like that."

Jungkook does, and the increased pressure makes Taehyung's control start to slip. His hips move involuntarily, and Jungkook adjusts, taking him deeper without choking this time.

"Kook, I'm…" Taehyung tries to warn him, tries to pull back, but Jungkook's hand on his hip holds him in place.

Jungkook looks up at him, his eyes are now dark and focused, and he doesn't fucking pull away. Instead, he moves faster, more purposefully, like he wants this.

"You don't have to…" Taehyung's words dissolve into a groan as Jungkook does something with his tongue that makes his vision blur. "Fuck, Kook, I'm close."

Jungkook's response is to take him deeper, to move faster, and Taehyung loses the ability to form words. His hand tightens in Jungkook's hair, his breathing becomes ragged, and then he comes with a broken sound, his whole body tensing. Jungkook stays with him through it, swallowing, and the realization of what just happened makes Taehyung's head spin.

When Taehyung can finally breathe again, Jungkook pulls back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His lips are swollen, his eyes are bright, and he looks Proud. Satisfied. Not embarrassed or uncertain at all.

Jungkook shifts to sit beside him on the couch, and there's something in his expression, confidence, maybe. Satisfaction at having learned something new.

"You're a good teacher," Jungkook says, and his hand casually finds Taehyung's thigh, it almost feels possessive.

Taehyung stares at the ceiling, trying to process what just happened. Trying to reconcile the uncertain, fumbling Jungkook from the beginning with the confident, purposeful one at the end.

He learned fast. Too fast. Like he wanted to be good at it. Like he wanted to make you fall apart.

When Taehyung can think again, when his breathing has returned to something resembling normal, Jungkook is sitting next to him on the couch, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

"Was that okay?" Jungkook asks, but his tone suggests he already knows the answer.

"Yeah." Taehyung's voice is wrecked. "That was… yeah."

"Good." Jungkook leans in, pressing a soft kiss to Taehyung's jaw. "I've been thinking about doing that all week."

All week. He's been thinking about this all week.

"Kook…"

"I should go. Minjun is probably wondering where I am." Jungkook stands, stretching, and Taehyung can see the satisfaction in his expression. "Thanks for the lesson, Tae."

After he leaves, Taehyung sits on his couch in a daze.

He wasn't practicing. He wasn't learning. He knew exactly what he was doing.

And the worst part, the absolute worst fucking part is that Taehyung is already anticipating the next visit.

Already counting down the days until Jungkook shows up again.

Four days later, Jungkook shows up at Taehyung's apartment again.

This time, there's no pretense of talking first. Jungkook walks in, closes the door behind him, and immediately pulls Taehyung into a kiss that makes his knees weak.

"Bedroom," Jungkook murmurs against his lips, and Taehyung doesn't even question it. He just lets Jungkook guide him down the hallway, their mouths never separating.

They fall onto the bed together, and Jungkook's hands are everywhere, sliding under Taehyung's shirt, tracing the lines of his body with a confidence that wasn't there two weeks ago.

"I've been thinking," Jungkook says between kisses. "About what comes next."

"Next?" Taehyung's brain is already foggy from the way Jungkook is kissing down his neck.

"After oral. What do I need to learn before…" Jungkook pauses, his breath hot against Taehyung's collarbone. "Before we actually have sex."

We. He said we.

"Preparation," Taehyung manages. "You need to learn how to prepare someone. How to use your fingers."

Jungkook pulls back to look at him, and there's heat in his eyes. "Show me."

" I don’t…"

"Please, Tae. I want to learn. I want to know how to make it good." Jungkook's hand slides down Taehyung's stomach. "Teach me."

And Taehyung still being weak, pathetic and completely gone for this boy, once again nods to something he knows he should say no to.

They strip down to their boxers, and Taehyung retrieves the lube from his nightstand with shaking hands. When he turns back, Jungkook is watching him with an intensity that makes his breath catch.

"Okay," Taehyung says, settling back against the pillows. "First lesson… you need to go slow. Really slow. It's not like in porn where they just…"

"I know." Jungkook moves between his legs, and his hands are gentle as they slide up Taehyung's thighs. "I want to do this right."

Taehyung helps him remove his boxers, and the vulnerability of being completely exposed while Jungkook is still partially clothed makes his heart race.

"Start with one finger," Taehyung instructs, trying to keep his voice steady. "Coat it with lube. Generous amount."

Jungkook does, his movements careful and deliberate. When his finger presses against Taehyung's entrance, they both freeze.

"Like this?" Jungkook asks softly.

"Yeah. Now, slow. Press in slowly. Let me adjust."

The initial breach is always intense, and Taehyung has to breathe through it as Jungkook's finger slides inside. Jungkook's eyes are wide, fascinated, watching Taehyung's face for every reaction.

"You okay?" Jungkook asks.

"Yeah. Just… just stay still for a second." Taehyung breathes deeply, willing his body to relax. "Okay. You can move it. Slow circles. Get me used to the feeling."

Jungkook does as told, his finger moving carefully inside Taehyung. The sensation is strange at first, not quite pleasure, not quite discomfort, but as Jungkook continues, Taehyung's body begins to respond.

"Like this?" Jungkook asks, and he's watching Taehyung so intently, learning from every breath, every small sound.

"Yeah. That's good. You can… you can move it in and out a little. Slow strokes."

Jungkook follows his guidance, and with each movement, Taehyung feels himself relaxing more. The initial tension fades and gets replaced by a warmth that spreads through his body.

"Can I add another?" Jungkook asks after a few minutes.

"Yeah. Two fingers. More lube first."

Jungkook withdraws his finger, adds more lube, and then presses back in with two. The stretch is more intense, and Taehyung's hands grip the sheets.

"Too much?" Jungkook freezes immediately.

"No… Just give me a moment." Taehyung breathes through it, and gradually the discomfort fades. "Okay. Move them. Scissor them apart gently. You're stretching me, preparing me."

Jungkook does, his movements careful and exploratory. He's learning quickly, too quickly even, as he is figuring out what makes Taehyung's breathing change, what makes his hips shift involuntarily.

"There's a spot," Taehyung says, his voice getting rougher. "Inside. If you curl your fingers up, toward my stomach…"

Jungkook does, and when his fingertips brush against Taehyung's prostate, Taehyung's back arches off the bed with a gasp.

"There?" Jungkook's voice is filled with satisfaction. "That's it?"

"Yes. Fuck, yes, right there."

Jungkook does it again, deliberately this time, and the pleasure that shoots through Taehyung makes him moan. Jungkook's eyes darken at the sound.

"You like that," Jungkook says, and it's not a question. He does it again, watching as Taehyung falls apart. "You really like that."

"Kook…" Taehyung's voice is already desperate. "You're supposed to be learning…"

"I am learning." Jungkook's fingers move with more purpose now, hitting that spot repeatedly. "I'm learning what makes you lose control."

When did he get so confident? When did the power shift?

"Add another finger," Taehyung breathes. "Three. I need…"

Jungkook withdraws, adds more lube, and presses back in with three fingers. The stretch is intense, almost too much, and Taehyung has to focus on his breathing.

"Relax," Jungkook murmurs, and his free hand slides up Taehyung's thigh, soothing. "Breathe, Tae. Let me in."

Taehyung does, and gradually his body accepts the intrusion. Jungkook moves slowly at first, letting him adjust but then, then he finds that spot again, and Taehyung's control shatters completely.

"Fuck!" Taehyung's hips buck involuntarily. "Kook, that's…"

"I know." Jungkook's voice is low, almost smug. "I can feel you clenching around my fingers. You're so tight, Tae."

He's not hesitant anymore. Not uncertain. His fingers move with confidence, curling and stroking, finding every sensitive spot and exploiting it mercilessly.

"Faster," Taehyung gasps, and he can't believe he's begging. "Please, Kook, faster…"

Jungkook obliges, his fingers moving faster and harder. The wet sounds fill the room, obscene and overwhelming, and Taehyung is completely lost in it.

"Look at you," Jungkook breathes. "Falling apart for me. Is this what it'll be like? When I'm inside you?"

Oh god. Oh god, he's thinking about it. He's imagining it.

"Yes," Taehyung moans. "Yes, just like this, but more…"

"More?" Jungkook's fingers press deeper, and Taehyung sees stars. "Like this?"

"Yes! Oh fuck, yes…"

Jungkook leans down, his mouth finding Taehyung's neck, and the combination of his fingers inside and his teeth on Taehyung's skin is too much. Taehyung is trembling, his whole body wound tight, and he's so damn close.

"You're beautiful like this," Jungkook murmurs against his skin. "Completely wrecked. All because of me."

The possessiveness in his voice, the confidence, the way he's taken complete control, it pushes Taehyung over the edge. He comes untouched, his body clenching around Jungkook's fingers as a broken sound escapes from his throat.

Jungkook works him through it, his fingers never stopping, drawing out every last wave of pleasure until Taehyung is boneless and gasping.

When Taehyung can finally breathe again, Jungkook slowly withdraws his fingers. Taehyung immediately misses the fullness, the connection.

Jungkook stares at his hand, then at Taehyung. "You came just from that?"

"Yeah." Taehyung's voice is completely wrecked. "You're a fast learner."

"I had a good teacher." Jungkook leans down to kiss him, soft and sweet, completely at odds with what just happened. "But I think I'm ready for the next lesson."

Taehyung's heart stops. "Next lesson?"

"The real thing." Jungkook's eyes are dark with want. "I want to know what it feels like. To be inside you."

This is it. This is where you should stop. This is where you should tell him no.

But Taehyung doesn't. Instead, he pulls Jungkook down for another kiss and whispers against his lips.

"Next time."

Five days later, there's a knock at Taehyung's door. When he opens it, Jungkook is standing there, and the first thing Taehyung notices is how nervous he looks. His hands are shoved deep in his pockets, his shoulders are tense, and he's worrying his bottom lip between his teeth, the same tell he's had since they were kids.

"Hey," Jungkook says quietly.

"Hey." Taehyung steps aside to let him in. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Just…" Jungkook runs a hand through his hair, not meeting Taehyung's eyes. "Nervous, I guess."

He's nervous. Good. That's normal. That's how this should be.

Taehyung's lips quirk into a smirk. "Nervous? What happened to Mr. Confident from last time? You were so sure of yourself then."

Jungkook's ears flush red. "That was different."

"Was it?" Taehyung tilts his head, enjoying the way Jungkook squirms under his gaze. "Because I remember someone who was very... assured. Very in control."

"Tae…"

"I'm just saying, you went from cocky to nervous pretty fast." Taehyung's tone is light, teasing, but there's an edge underneath, something almost possessive in the way he's calling out the shift. "What changed?"

Jungkook finally looks at him, and there's something vulnerable in his eyes. "This is different. This is... more."

Taehyung's expression softens slightly, the mockery fading. "Hey." He steps closer and he takes Jungkook's hand, leading him to the couch. "We don't have to do anything you're not ready for."

"No, I want to." Jungkook finally looks at him, and there's determination mixed with the uncertainty in his eyes. "I just… I’m scared of messing it up."

"You won't." Taehyung cups his face, thumb brushing along his cheekbone. "We'll take it slow. I'll guide you through everything, just like before."

Jungkook nods, and some of the tension leaves his shoulders. "Okay."

"Come here," Taehyung says again, and this time he pulls Jungkook into a kiss.

It starts gentle, reassuring, but it doesn't take long for the heat to build between them. Jungkook's hands find Taehyung's waist, pulling him closer, and Taehyung can feel the nervous energy in his touch, the slight tremor in his fingers, the way he's holding back.

"Relax," Taehyung murmurs against his lips. "Just feel. Don't think so much."

Jungkook takes a shaky breath and kisses him again, and this time there's less hesitation. His tongue slides against Taehyung's, and Taehyung makes an encouraging sound, his hands sliding into Jungkook's hair.

"That's it," Taehyung says when they break apart. "See? You remember."

"Yeah." Jungkook's voice is rough. "Can we… bedroom?"

"Yeah. Come on."

They make their way to the bedroom, and Taehyung can feel Jungkook's nervousness returning with each step. When they reach the bed, Jungkook just stands there, uncertain.

"What do I… how should we… "

"Hey." Taehyung takes his hands. "It's just me, okay?"

Jungkook nods, and Taehyung starts undressing him slowly, giving him time to adjust. When they're both naked, Taehyung guides him onto the bed, settling between his legs.

"Let's start with what you know," Taehyung says. "Show me what you remember from our other lessons."

Jungkook leans up to kiss him, and it's sweet at first but as Taehyung responds, as he makes those small sounds of pleasure, Jungkook grows bolder. His hands explore Taehyung's body, not with the confidence from before, but with careful attention, visibly trying to remember what Taehyung taught him.

"Good," Taehyung breathes when Jungkook's mouth moves to his neck. "Just like that."

Jungkook's lips trail down his chest, and when he reaches Taehyung's cock, he pauses, looking up uncertainly.

"Do you want me to…"

"Only if you want to," Taehyung says. "No pressure."

Jungkook takes a breath and leans down, his tongue tracing along Taehyung's length. It's tentative at first, exploratory, but as Taehyung's breathing changes, as his fingers thread through Jungkook's hair, Jungkook becomes more confident.

He takes Taehyung into his mouth, and the heat and wetness make Taehyung's hips jerk involuntarily.

"Sorry," Taehyung gasps. "You're just… that feels really good."

Jungkook makes a pleased sound and continues, using the techniques Taehyung taught him. He's not perfect, there are moments where he has to adjust, where he pulls back to catch his breath, but he's trying, and that makes it even more affecting.

"Okay, okay," Taehyung says after a few minutes, tugging gently on Jungkook's hair. "Come here. I don't want to come yet."

Jungkook pulls off and crawls up Taehyung's body, kissing him. Taehyung can taste himself on Jungkook's tongue, and it sends a fresh wave of arousal through him.

"You're doing so well," Taehyung murmurs. "So good for me."

"What's next?" Jungkook asks, and there's nervousness in his voice again. "Do we… should I…"

"Fingers first," Taehyung says. "Remember? You need to prepare me."

"Right." Jungkook reaches for the lube on the nightstand, his hands shaking slightly as he coats his fingers. "Like before?"

"Just like before. Take your time."

Jungkook's finger circles Taehyung's entrance, and when he presses inside, it's slow and careful. Taehyung's body accepts it easily, because he's been thinking about this for days, preparing himself. But Jungkook doesn't need to know that.

"Is this okay?" Jungkook asks, his voice uncertain.

"Perfect. Add another."

Jungkook does, and his fingers move with the same careful attention from their last lesson. He's trying to remember everything, the angle, the pressure, the way Taehyung's body responds.

"Curl your fingers," Taehyung instructs. "Find that spot and… yeah, right there."

When Jungkook's fingers brush against his prostate, Taehyung's back arches, a moan escaping his lips. Jungkook's eyes widen.

"Did I… is that good?"

"So good. Keep doing that."

Jungkook does, and gradually his movements become more assured. He's learning Taehyung's body, learning what makes him gasp, what makes him push back against Jungkook's fingers.

"Add another," Taehyung says after a while. "I'm ready."

Jungkook adds a third finger, and the stretch makes Taehyung groan. Jungkook works him open with increasing confidence, and by the time Taehyung is begging for more, Jungkook's nervousness has faded into focus.

"I think…" Jungkook's voice is rough. "I think you're ready."

"Yeah." Taehyung's breathing is ragged. "Condom. Nightstand."

Jungkook withdraws his fingers and reaches for the condom. His hands are still shaking slightly as he tears it open, and when he pulls back to reveal himself, Taehyung's breath catches.

Oh.

Oh no.

Jungkook is huge. Not just big, huge. Thick and hard and absolutely perfect, and Taehyung can feel his mouth go dry. He's been preparing for this, but seeing it is different. Knowing it's going to be inside him is…

God, I can't wait.

The thought comes unbidden, desperate, and Taehyung has to grip the sheets to keep himself from reaching out and touching.

"Here." Taehyung sits up, his voice strained. He takes the condom from Jungkook's trembling hands, trying to focus on the task and not on the fact that Jungkook is right there, hard and ready and when Taehyung's fingers wrap around Jungkook's length to roll the condom on, Jungkook makes a soft, needy sound, almost a whimper, as his hips jerk forward involuntarily.

"Oh sorry, I…" Jungkook's voice is breathless, embarrassed.

That sound. That whimper. Combined with the way Jungkook's face flushes, the way his eyes squeeze shut like he's barely holding on.

How is he this cute and this hot at the same time?

Taehyung's hands shake as he finishes rolling the condom down Jungkook's length. The contradiction is absolutely destroying him. One moment Jungkook is this precious, vulnerable thing with soft eyes and trembling hands, making that embarrassed little sound, and the next he's this overwhelming force of raw sexuality.

How does a person exist like this? How is Taehyung supposed to survive this?

"It's okay. You're doing okay," Taehyung manages, his voice rough with barely contained need. He cups Jungkook's face, making Jungkook look at him, trying to ground himself. "I trust you completely. Just go slow, and I'll tell you if anything's wrong."

Jungkook nods, and Taehyung lies back down, spreading his legs. Jungkook positions himself between them, and his hand shakes as he guides his cock to Taehyung's entrance.

"Okay," Jungkook breathes. "Okay. I'm…"

"Slow," Taehyung reminds him. "Push in slow."

Jungkook does, and the initial breach makes them both gasp. It's different from fingers, so much thicker and more intense. Taehyung's hands grip Jungkook's shoulders, and he has to focus on breathing, on relaxing.

"Oh god," Jungkook's whole body is trembling. "Tae, you're so…I can't… fuck, why does this feel so…"

He pulls back slightly, then pushes in again, and the sensation makes him gasp like he's been punched. His eyes go wide with panic.

"I'm going to…" Jungkook's voice cracks. "I can't…it feels too good, I'm going to come, I'm going to embarrass myself, I…"

"Hey, hey." Taehyung's hands immediately move to cup Jungkook's face, forcing him to look down at him. "Look at me. Look at me, Kook."

Jungkook's eyes are wild, panicked, and Taehyung can feel him trembling above him, barely holding on.

"Breathe," Taehyung says softly, running his thumbs across Jungkook's cheekbones. "Just breathe. We have time. There's no rush."

"But I…" Jungkook's voice is desperate. "I can feel everything and it's too much and…"

"I know." Taehyung's hands slide down Jungkook's back, soothing, grounding. "I know it feels intense. That's okay. That's normal. You're doing so good."

"I'm not going to last," Jungkook says, and there's shame in his voice. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I…"

"Don't apologize." Taehyung pulls him down, pressing their foreheads together. His hands continue their slow, deliberate path down Jungkook's spine, over and over. "This is your first time. It's supposed to feel overwhelming. That's not a bad thing."

Jungkook's breathing is still ragged, but it's starting to slow. Taehyung keeps talking, his voice low and steady, an anchor in the storm of sensation.

"Just stay still for a second," Taehyung murmurs. "Let me adjust. Let your body calm down. I've got you."

Jungkook freezes, and Taehyung can feel him shaking with the effort of holding back. The stretch burns, but it's not unbearable. Taehyung's hands never stop moving to sooth him and gradually, Jungkook's breathing evens out. His panic starts to fade, replaced by focus.

"Okay," Taehyung says after a moment. "You can move. Just slow. Nice and easy."

Jungkook pulls back slightly, then pushes in again, and the sensation makes Taehyung's breath catch. It's intense, the drag of Jungkook's cock against his walls, the overwhelming fullness.

"Like this?" Jungkook's voice is strained, uncertain.

"Yeah. Just like that. Slow and steady."

Jungkook carefully establishes a rhythm with controlled thrusts. His face is scrunched in concentration, like he's trying to remember everything Taehyung taught him about reading someone's body, about paying attention to their reactions.

"You're doing so good," Taehyung breathes. "So good, Kook."

With each thrust, Jungkook's movements become slightly more confident. The initial nervousness is fading, replaced by focus. His hands grip Taehyung's hips, and his thrusts become more purposeful.

"God, Tae," Jungkook breathes. "You feel…I can't even…"

"You can go faster," Taehyung says. "I'm ready."

Jungkook does, his hips snapping forward with more purpose. And that's when something shifts. The angle changes slightly, and suddenly he's hitting that spot inside that makes Taehyung see stars.

"There!" Taehyung's nails dig into Jungkook's back. "Right there, Kook…"

Jungkook's eyes darken, and he adjusts his angle deliberately, making sure every thrust hits that perfect spot. The uncertainty is gone now, replaced by something more primal. He's learning in real-time, reading Taehyung's body, and using that knowledge.

"Like this?" Jungkook asks, but his voice has changed. It's not uncertain anymore. It's focused. Hungry.

"Yes," Taehyung gasps. "Just like that, don't stop…"

Jungkook doesn't. His thrusts become harder, deeper, and Taehyung can feel the shift happening, the way Jungkook is taking control, the way his initial nervousness is transforming into confidence.

"Look at me," Jungkook says, and when Taehyung opens his eyes, Jungkook's gaze is dark and intense. "I want to see you."

When did he…how did he…fuck.

Then Jungkook's hand moves to Taehyung's throat in a tentative at first, just resting there. He's watching Taehyung's face carefully, checking for permission.

Taehyung's eyes widen in surprise, but he doesn't protest. If anything, his body responds immediately by clenching around Jungkook's cock.

"You like that," Jungkook observes, and there's wonder in his voice. His fingers apply gentle pressure, not enough to restrict breathing but enough to make Taehyung feel owned. "You really like that."

"Yes," Taehyung gasps, and he's shocked by how much he means it. "Kook…"

"I can feel it," Jungkook says, his thrusts becoming more assured. "Every time I touch you here, you get tighter. Your breathing changes."

He's learning. He's learning me. When did he become like this?

Jungkook applies slightly more pressure, and Taehyung's eyes roll back. His hand moves to his own cock without thinking and he starts stroking himself in time with Jungkook's thrusts.

"That's it," Jungkook breathes, and the confidence in his voice is startling. "Touch yourself. Show me how good I'm making you feel."

The transformation is shocking. This isn't the nervous boy who arrived at Taehyung's door. This is someone who's discovering his own power, his own dominance, and it's intoxicating.

"You're so beautiful like this," Jungkook says, his thrusts becoming harder, deeper. "Completely wrecked. All because of me."

"Kook," Taehyung gasps, his hand moving faster on his cock. "I'm close, I'm so close…"

"Not yet." Jungkook suddenly pulls out, and Taehyung whimpers at the loss. "Turn over."

It's not a question. It's a command. And Taehyung who has been the teacher this whole time, who has been in control, finds himself obeying without hesitation.

He positions himself on all fours, and Jungkook's hands grip his hips. There's no uncertainty in his touch now. He knows what he wants.

"Is this okay?" Jungkook asks, but even his question sounds different now. More confident.

"Yes," Taehyung breathes. "God, yes."

Jungkook pushes in, and from this angle, he goes even deeper. Taehyung's arms nearly give out from the intensity of it, and a broken moan escapes his throat.

"Fuck," Jungkook groans, and his hand tangles in Taehyung's hair, pulling gently. "You feel even better like this."

He's using Taehyung's hair as leverage, and the sensation makes Taehyung's vision blur. When did Jungkook learn to do this? When did he become so naturally dominant?

"Kook…" Taehyung's voice breaks. "How are you…"

"What happened to Mr. Confident?" Jungkook asks, and his voice is dark, dripping with amusement. His thrusts become deliberately harder, making Taehyung gasp. "You were teasing me about being nervous, but look at you now. Completely wrecked. All because of me."

He pulls Taehyung's hair tighter, and there's possession in every movement. "I'm just paying attention," Jungkook continues, his tone sharp and confident. "Like you taught me. Reading your body. Learning what you like. Turns out I'm a very good student."

His free hand wraps around to Taehyung's throat again, pulling him up slightly so his back is arched. The pressure on his throat combined with the relentless thrusts makes everything narrow down to just sensation.

"You're taking me so well," Jungkook murmurs against his ear. "So perfect."

This can't be his first time.

But it is. Taehyung can feel it in the way Jungkook's breathing is ragged, in the way his thrusts are becoming less controlled. He's close, losing the rhythm, but even in his desperation, he's still focused on Taehyung's pleasure.

Taehyung's hand instinctively moves down to touch himself, but before his fingers can wrap around his cock, Jungkook's hand shoots out and grabs his wrist, stopping him.

"No," Jungkook says, his voice low and commanding. "That's mine."

Before Taehyung can even process what's happening, Jungkook replaces his hand with his own, gripping Taehyung's cock firmly and stroking with possessive control. The move is so unexpected, so confident, that Taehyung gasps with a sound caught between shock and pleasure.

"Fuck…" Taehyung's breath catches. He wasn't expecting this and he definitely wasn't prepared for Jungkook to take that initiative.

"That's it," Jungkook encourages, his thrusts becoming more erratic as his hand works Taehyung in rhythm with his movements. "Just feel it. Feel me."

Jungkook strokes him steadily, building a rhythm that matches his thrusts perfectly. Each downstroke of his hand syncs with a deep thrust inside, and Taehyung feels himself climbing higher and higher. The pleasure is building, coiling tight in his belly, and he's gasping with each movement.

"God, you're so hard," Jungkook murmurs, his hand working faster now, his thrusts becoming more desperate. "So close, aren't you?"

Taehyung can barely breathe. He's right there, right on the edge, his whole body trembling as he chases his release. His hips are moving on their own, fucking up into Jungkook's grip, and he's so close he can taste it.

And then Jungkook pulls his hand away completely.

What.

One hand goes back to Taehyung's throat, gripping firmly, while the other stays tangled in his hair, pulling his head back hard. The stimulation on his cock vanishes entirely, and Taehyung's eyes go wide with shock and panic.

"No, no, no…" Taehyung gasps, his voice breaking. He's right there, right on the precipice, and suddenly there's nothing. The pleasure is still there, thrumming through his body, but without that crucial friction, he's suspended in agony.

His hips thrust desperately into empty air, seeking friction that isn't there anymore. His cock is aching, desperate, and Taehyung feels like he's going to lose his mind.

"Kook…" His voice is a whimper, completely undone. "Please, I…"

Jungkook feels it, the way Taehyung's body tenses, the way his ass clenches around him, the desperate little sounds he's making. He can see it in the way Taehyung's face flushes, the way his mouth falls open, the way he's right there, teetering on the edge.

And Jungkook loves it.

"Were you about to come?" Jungkook asks, his voice low and teasing against Taehyung's ear.

Taehyung whimpers, unable to form words, and Jungkook laughs with dark, possessive sound.

"Look at you," Jungkook murmurs, and there's pure pride in his voice. "You’re completely falling apart. Who's nervous now, Tae?"

He pulls Taehyung's head back further, forcing him to arch, and leans down to kiss the exposed line of his throat.

"This is what I do to you," Jungkook whispers against his skin. "Look how good I am at this. Look how easily I can wreck you."

Then he moves.

His thrusts become harder, faster, absolutely relentless. The hand on Taehyung's throat applies crushing pressure, cutting off air just enough to make everything spin. The hand in his hair pulls harder, keeping him pinned, keeping him open and vulnerable. There's no mercy, no gentleness, just raw, possessive intensity.

Taehyung's entire body shakes under the onslaught, completely at Jungkook's mercy, and he's never felt more owned in his life.

"I can't…" Taehyung gasps. "Kook, I can't hold on…"

"Then don't." Jungkook's thrusts become harder, faster, losing their rhythm entirely. His breathing is ragged against Taehyung's ear, desperate. "God, Tae, you're so… I can't…"

His movements become frantic, chasing something he can't quite reach, and then.

"Fuck, I love you," Jungkook gasps out, the words torn from his throat.

Taehyung's entire body goes rigid.

What?

But Jungkook doesn't seem to realize what he's said. His thrusts don't stop, if anything, they become more desperate, more intense. "I love you so much," he's saying, the words spilling out like he can't control them anymore. "Always have, always… oh fuck…"

The confession combined with the relentless pleasure is too much. Taehyung's orgasm hits him like a freight train, his whole body convulsing as he comes all over the sheets below him. His ass clenches around Jungkook's cock, and he can hear Jungkook's broken groan behind him.

"Tae… oh god, Taehyung…"

Jungkook's thrusts become desperate, chasing his own release. His fingers tighten in Taehyung's hair, his other hand gripping Taehyung's hip hard enough to leave marks, and then he's coming too, buried deep inside Taehyung. " I love you," he gasps out again as he pulses inside the condom.

They stay like that for a moment, both trembling, both gasping for air. Taehyung's mind is spinning, trying to process what just happened.

Did he just… did he mean…

Then Jungkook carefully pulls out, and the loss of contact seems to break whatever spell he was under. Taehyung collapses onto the bed, completely boneless, and he can hear Jungkook's sharp intake of breath behind him.

"Oh god," Jungkook says, his voice suddenly small. "Did I… did I just…"

Taehyung rolls over to look at him, and Jungkook's face is flushed, not just from exertion, but from mortification. He's frozen in place, the used condom still in his hand, looking like he wants the earth to swallow him whole.

"You said…" Taehyung's voice is wrecked, barely above a whisper. "You said you love me."

"I…" Jungkook's eyes are wide with panic. "I didn't mean… I mean, I did, but I didn't mean to say it like that, I just… it just came out, I couldn't…"

He's rambling now, and Taehyung can see the exact moment he realizes he can't take it back nor pretend it didn't happen.

Jungkook disposes of the condom with shaking hands and then sits on the edge of the bed, not looking at Taehyung. His shoulders are tense, his hands clenched in the sheets.

"I'm sorry," Jungkook says quietly. "I didn't mean to… I know this was just supposed to be teaching, and I ruined it by…"

"Kook." Taehyung sits up, his limbs still feeling like jelly, and touches Jungkook's shoulder. "Look at me."

Jungkook does, reluctantly, and his eyes are bright with unshed tears. "I'm sorry," he says again.

"Did you mean it?" Taehyung asks, and his heart is pounding so hard he's sure Jungkook can hear it.

Jungkook's jaw works for a moment, like he's trying to find the right words. Then he just nods, once, sharp and definitive.

"How long?"

"Years." Jungkook's voice cracks. "I've been in love with you for years, Tae. I thought… when you offered to teach me, I thought maybe if I could show you, if I could make you feel good, you'd finally see me. Really see me."

Oh.

Oh god.

"But you were dating Minjun," Taehyung says, trying to make sense of it all. "You said you wanted to impress him."

"I broke up with him three days ago." Jungkook finally looks at him properly, and there's something raw and vulnerable in his expression. "At first, I really did want to try things with him. I thought my feelings for you weren't mutual, so I needed to move on. Find someone who could actually want me back."

He pauses, his hand coming up to cup Taehyung's face, thumb brushing across Taehyung's cheekbone.

"But then we kissed," Jungkook continues, his voice barely above a whisper. "And I saw what it did to you. You taught me how to observe, remember? How to notice the little things, the way someone's breath catches, the way their pupils dilate, the way they lean in without realizing it." His eyes search Taehyung's face. "I saw all of that in you. And I thought maybe it wasn't hopeless. Maybe you felt something too."

Taehyung's breath catches, and Jungkook's expression crumbles a little.

"I tried to make it work with Minjun," Jungkook says. "I really did. But after that kiss, after seeing your reaction, it just wasn’t the same." His voice breaks. "He's a nice guy, but he's not you. And I realized that no one else could ever be you. So I ended it. Because even if you didn't love me back, even if this was just teaching, I couldn't pretend anymore that anyone else would ever be enough."

"So you didn't lie," Taehyung says slowly, understanding dawning. "Not at first."

"Not at first," Jungkook confirms quietly. "But the longer it went on, the more I realized what I actually wanted. What I've always wanted. And yeah, maybe I should have told you sooner, but I was scared  that if I said it out loud, you'd push me away for good."

Taehyung stares at him, his mind reeling. All those weeks of torture, of watching Jungkook with Minjun, of trying to protect his heart and Jungkook had been in love with him the whole time.

"Say something," Jungkook whispers, and there's fear in his voice. "Please, Tae. Say something."

"You're an idiot," Taehyung says, and then he's pulling Jungkook into a kiss, not heated or desperate like before, but soft and sweet and full of everything he's been holding back. When they break apart, he rests his forehead against Jungkook's. "Fuck, I love you too."

Jungkook's breath catches. "You what?"

"I've been questioning my feelings for you for weeks," Taehyung admits. "Watching you with Minjun was killing me. Teaching you how to touch someone else was torture. But I thought you wanted him, not me."

"It was always you," Jungkook says, and now he's crying for real, tears streaming down his face. "It's always been you, Tae."

And Taehyung who has spent weeks trying to protect his heart, trying to keep his distance, trying to pretend this was just teaching finally lets himself believe it.

The words hang between them, heavy and terrifying. They've known each other since they were five and now he's just confessed to being in love with him. The weight of it settles in Taehyung's chest, a mix of relief and absolute terror.

What if he's ruined this? What if…

But then Jungkook is kissing him, soft and sweet and full of promise, and Taehyung's spiraling thoughts quiet.

Jungkook pulls back just enough to look at him. "And stop looking this scared."

Taehyung wants to argue that he's not scared, but they both know it's a lie. His hands are trembling slightly where they hold Jungkook's face. All these years of friendship, and now this. The fear of losing it, of changing it, of getting it wrong, it's suffocating. But Jungkook is looking at him with such certainty, such love, that Taehyung forces himself to breathe through it.

"Okay," Taehyung says, and for the first time in weeks, he feels like he can breathe. "Okay."

They stay entangled for a while, just looking at each other until they both end up falling asleep, exhausted.

The next morning, Taehyung wakes slowly, awareness filtering in through layers of warmth and contentment. Jungkook's arms are still wrapped around him, one hand splayed possessively across his stomach, the other tucked under Taehyung's pillow. Their legs are tangled together under the sheets, and Jungkook's breath is soft and even against the back of Taehyung's neck.

For a moment, Taehyung just lies there, letting himself feel it. The weight of Jungkook against him. The reality of last night. The confession that still feels too good to be true.

Jungkook stirs behind him, and Taehyung feels the exact moment he wakes up, the way his body tenses slightly, then relaxes when he realizes where he is. Who he's holding.

"Morning," Jungkook murmurs, his voice rough with sleep.

"Morning." Taehyung turns in his arms, and…

Oh.

Gone is the confident, commanding version of Jungkook from last night. The one who'd pinned Taehyung down and fucked him with such devastating precision. This Jungkook is soft and uncertain, his hair mussed from sleep, his eyes wide and vulnerable.

"So," Jungkook says, and then he bites his lip, looking away. "Was I…" He pauses, his cheeks flushing pink. "Was I okay? Last night, I mean. Did you... did you enjoy it?"

Taehyung's heart clenches so hard it physically hurts.

"Fuck, Jungkook," he breathes, reaching up to cup Jungkook's face. "You were perfect. You were… god, you were incredible."

The blush spreads from Jungkook's cheeks down his neck, and he makes this small, embarrassed sound before tucking his face into Taehyung's shoulder, hiding.

"Don't laugh at me," Jungkook mumbles against his skin.

"I'm not laughing." Taehyung's voice is thick with emotion. "I'm just…" He pulls back enough to tilt Jungkook's face up, forcing him to meet his eyes. "You were amazing. You made me feel things I've never felt before. And now you're here, all shy and sweet, asking if you were good, and I…"

His voice breaks, and Jungkook's expression shifts to concern.

"Tae?"

"I love this," Taehyung says fiercely. "I love this version of you too. The one who needs reassurance. The one who blushes and hides. Last night you were so confident, so in control, and it was the hottest thing I've ever experienced. But this…" He brushes his thumb across Jungkook's flushed cheek. "This is just as important. This is the Jungkook I fell in love with."

Jungkook's eyes are shining now, and he buries his face back in Taehyung's neck.

"You can't just say things like that," he mumbles.

"Why not? It's true." Taehyung runs his fingers through Jungkook's hair, soothing. "I love both versions of you. The confident one and the uncertain one. The one who takes charge and the one who needs to be held. All of it. All of you."

Jungkook makes a small, choked sound, and his arms tighten around Taehyung.

"I love you," he whispers. "So much."

"I love you too," Taehyung says, and this time, there's no fear. No hesitation. Just certainty.

They stay like that for a long time, wrapped up in each other, and Taehyung thinks that maybe, just maybe, they're going to be okay.

Better than okay.

Perfect.