“Are you dating my brother?” Taehyung asked Namjoon three weeks later, as they were recording the final harmonies needed for V’s new album.

Namjoon quirked a brow. “You have a brother?”

Taehyung had yet to tell his producers the gory details of his past, but he nonetheless made sure they saw the change in him. “I’m talking about Jin.”

“He’s not your brother,” Namjoon replied.

“To me he is, but that’s besides the point. Are you two dating?”

The producer looked everywhere but Taehyung’s eyes. “No.”

Taehyung smirked as the desire to tease the truth out of his friend took over every conscious thought. “You’ve been out with him eight times over the last three weeks.”

It was true. After the first time Jin and Namjoon went out, Jin had been by the company at least twice per week to pick up the producer.

“Those weren’t dates, Tae. Now let’s wrap this up.”

“So are you guys friends, then?” The younger asked, refusing to put his headphones back on.

Namjoon shook his head, taking a long swig of the piping hot tea he kept next to him. It burned his tongue.

“So you’re not dating and you’re not friends . . . ah! I get it. You’re fuck buddies.”

"Taehyung," Namjoon said in frustration, "it's none of your business what Jin and I are doing."

The younger rose his hands up in defeat. "Okay, okay. Jeez."

"Can we get back to work now?" The producer asked, pointing to the forgotten headphones.

Taehyung nodded, placing them over his ears. "You got it, boss. But just so you know, I fully support anything going on between you two. Jin is one of the best people I know. You are too."

An hour later, Namjoon finally declared that they recorded all the audio files they needed. The producer was working tirelessly to finish V’s upcoming album, which Taehyung appreciated tenfold. More than half of the reason he was so successful was because of his talented and dedicated team.

“Are you going to join us for the interview tomorrow?” Namjoon questioned after turning off all the recording equipment. “It’s not necessary, given your history with the show’s host.”

Taehyung suppressed a groan. The last time Taehyung had been on this particular show, he had been rather unpleasant to the host. The guy was probing too much into his personal life, asking too many questions that were aimed to uncover his life before becoming a celebrity. His defense mechanisms kicked into gear and he went off on the interviewer, insulting the man on live television.

He knew he was in the wrong and he deserved every bad piece of press that came out afterwards.

But the interview tomorrow was a big deal.

The three mentees were all appearing on the show to talk about the mentorship program and their experiences thus far. It was the first time the public was going to see the potential stars, so it was important for them to make a good impression. Jungkook, Jimin, and Yeonjun all would be given a couple minutes to preview their talents before they'd partake in some small games.

Taehyung had no desire to return to this show, but he wanted to be there to support Jungkook.

"I told Kook I'd be there, so I'm going," he responded.

He didn't miss the odd look Namjoon shot his way, but he chose to ignore it.

"Alright, then," the producer remarked, "just be on your best behavior."

Taehyung was about to leave when the door to the studio slammed open. Yoongi was revealed, holding up a glossy magazine and wearing an undeniably pissed off expression.

He slapped the magazine down in front of Taehyung. "What the hell is this?"

The cover sported Taehyung reclining on a velvet couch with a disheveled man wrapped around his waist. It was a photo taken from the day Jungkook had followed and confronted him. With everything going on the last month, he'd completely forgotten about the remaining images waiting to be published.

He quickly skimmed the photos inside the magazine and sighed when he saw them all. These were the last of the fake publicity photos he took and the last ones that would ever be released.

It was nerve wracking to be done with this facade. Taehyung speculated that the paparazzi would start really trailing him now, trying to get a story since he was finished providing them with false ones.

"I promise you, you will never see a picture like this again," Taehyung swore to his producers. He shoved the tabloid away. "I'm done with that part of my life."

"You've said all that before, Tae. What makes this time any different? Why should we believe you?" Yoongi asked, his temper rising.

Taehyung looked up at him wide vulnerable eyes. "It's the truth, Yoongi. I don't want to be that person anymore. I really am trying to rebuild my image."

"This is terrible timing," Namjoon muttered to himself, thinking about the interviews tomorrow. "Should we have him make a statement, Yoongi?"

The older producer shook his head. "No. I think that'd cause more trouble than it's worth."

"I'm sorry," Taehyung said genuinely. "But I promise you. You won't read anymore articles like this. It's over."

"I'm giving you a pass, Tae," Yoongi said lowly, but intensely. "You've shown a lot of promise these past few weeks and that's the only reason I'm letting this slide. Next time I read about a hookup of yours . . ."

He didn't have to finish - the younger perfectly understood the warning.

Taehyung's contract would be dropped.

"He won't mess up again," Namjoon stated, shooting Taehyung a stern look. "Right?"

"Right," Taehyung promised.

"We'll see you tomorrow, Tae," Namjoon dismissed him with a wave.

Yoongi's eyes followed him out the door, but made no additional comments.

When Taehyung met Jungkook at the car, he noticed the younger was unusually quiet. He stared off into space as his tongue poked his cheek. Assuming he was just tired, Taehyung resolved to leave him be during the length of their ride home.

Back at the apartment, Jungkook stalked inside without saying anything to the elder. He headed straight for his bathroom and turned on the shower.

Taehyung was confused. There had never been a time when Jungkook acted like this. He wondered if something happened or if he was perhaps nervous for the interview tomorrow. It left him unsettled as he changed into striped pajamas and stretched out on his bed.

His eyes were closing in exhaustion as his bedroom door opened swiftly. Jungkook stood there, hair dripping wet and wearing nothing but low hanging sweatpants.

"Kook?" Taehyung asked groggily.

The younger prowled over to him and hopped up on the bed. He grabbed Taehyung's wrists and held them over the elder's head.

"What's going on, Kook? You barely say two words to me before and now you're suddenly frisky?"

Jungkook straddled his waist and lowered his face down to Taehyung's. "I never want to see a picture of you with anyone else ever again."

Taehyung peered into Jungkook's eyes, an amused smile splitting his face. "You're jealous!"

The younger leaned down further to latch his mouth to Taehyung's neck. He sucked the skin roughly into his mouth, causing the boy beneath him to let out a strangled moan.

"Kookie, you know all of that is fake. It's not real," Taehyung said as he tilted his head to the side.

Jungkook licked the mark he created before pulling back just far enough to study the elder's face. "Kim Taehyung, you are mine. V is mine. And if you ever decide to go by another alias, know that that person is mine as well."

Despite Jungkook's seriousness, Taehyung couldn't help giggling. "Yes, Jungkookie. I'm yours."

The intensity slowly left the younger's eyes, leaving in its place a look of deep yearning. "Be mine, Tae," he said softly.

Taehyung shook his hands free and circled his arms around Jungkook's neck. "Is this your way of asking me to be your boyfriend?"

"Yes. Will you?"

"I want to hear you ask properly," Taehyung pouted, slowly pulling down Jungkook's head.

"Taehyung, I don't want anyone else but you. Will you please fulfill my six year long dream of becoming my boyfriend?"

The elder pulled down Jungkook the rest of the way, connecting their lips in a soft kiss. This had been the seventeen year old Taehyung's greatest dream as well, a dream he never thought would come true.

Jungkook smiled against his mouth. "I'm going to assume that's a yes."

"It's a yes, Kook," Taehyung broke away to tell him. "I don't know how you do it, but you continue to make me more and more happy each and every day."

Jungkook cuddled into Taehyung's side, placing his head on the elder's chest.

"Get used to it, Tae. You're my number one priority now."

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》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《