"We're on in five. Take your places everyone," a stagehand said amid the chaos backstage.

Producers, cameramen, stylists, and the team from Big Hit scrambled to get Jungkook, Jimin, and Yeonjun ready for the big interview. Lights were adjusted to the perfect level while cameras were angled around the studio. A constant diluge of conversations overlapped, creating a rather frantic environment.

Amongst the craziness, Namjoon spoke to his mentee, encouraging Yeonjun with soft and kind words. Yoongi was prepping Jimin, a hand on the younger's shoulder to stop the boy from pacing back and forth.

And Taehyung, standing off to the side with Jungkook, fought every urge to kiss his boyfriend full on for good luck.

"You'll be amazing, Kook," he said. "Just be yourself. And if they ask anything you're not comfortable with, it's okay to deflect. You don't owe them anything."

Jungkook smiled at him. "I'll try to remember that."

When no one was paying them any particular attention, Taehyung intertwined his fingers with the younger's. He squeezed, silently sending reassurance.

"Go get them," he murmured. "Show them what you've got."

Jungkook winked before heading to his spot on the stage, joining Yeonjun who'd just been sent there by Namjoon.

Taehyung walked closer to the filming area, stopping just short of Yoongi and Jimin. He heard his producer speaking in an uncharacteristically gentle tone and subtly shifted closer to eavesdrop.

"Jimin, listen to me. You are ready for this. You've worked hard and improved so much. Anyone could see how talented you are. So don't put this pressure on yourself, okay?"

"But what if I mess up? What if my voice cracks or I forget a move?" Jimin asked, wildly looking around at the camera setups.

The producer put his other hand on his shoulder. "Don't think like that."

Jimin shook his head, unable to accept his advice. "But Suga -"

"Yoongi," the producer corrected, speaking softly but with great emphasis. "Call me Yoongi."

"But you said to never call you that," Jimin defended, finally looking at the slim male in front of him.

Yoongi sighed. "Nevermind that. You call me Yoongi, yeah?"

Jimin nodded his head.

"I'll be right here, Jimin. If you get nervous, just look at me."

Yoongi let go of his mentee and nodded his head toward the stage. Jimin sent him one last fleeting look before going to his seat next to Jungkook.

"That was cute," Taehyung laughed, watching as his producer followed Jimin with his eyes. "You didn't let me call you by Yoongi for two whole years."

"And I'll revoke that right if you keep yammering away," Yoongi declared, not removing his attention from his mentee.

Taehyung bit his lip in amusement. The last time he'd seen Yoongi act like this was when he first started dating Hoseok. The producer wasn't known to be an affectionate or tender man. Usually, he'd exhibit this silent intensity that intimated people from getting too close to him. But with those he cared for, he'd show an unexpected sweet side that still managed to surprise Taehyung.

"Shut up," Yoongi muttered to him.

Taehyung rose his eyebrows. "I didn't say anything."

"Yeah, well, I could tell you were thinking it."

Taehyung let out a loud bark of a laugh as the producers hushed the room, counting down until the live show began. Joowon, the show's host and the man whom Taehyung loathed, took his spot on stage, sitting right next to Jungkook. The younger smiled at the older man, straightening his back as soon as the cameras started recording.

The interviews started off well enough. Each mentee had the opportunity to talk about their home lives and how they came to audition for the mentorship program. Any nerves they started out with soon vanished as they settled into a comfortable conversation with Joowon.

When the interview portion was close to wrapping up, Joowon turned towards Jungkook.

"So, Jungkook. Your mentor is the notoriously conceited and amoral V. He's known by the world to be an obnoxious artist whom the industry hates to work with. I can't imagine that he's taking this program seriously or giving you any actual advice to succeed as a musician. Do you find yourself wishing you could have worked with RM or Suga directly instead?"

Taehyung's fists clenched and he unconsciously took a step forward. A hand on his shoulder - Namjoon's - prevented him from stalking onstage to confront the host personally.

He wasn't upset about the things said against him. They were completely true about the person he used to be. But he was angry with the way Joowon sprung this on Jungkook; this interview was supposed to be about the younger's experiences and not about Taehyung's image.

"Working with V has been more than I could have hoped for," Jungkook answered strongly, a hint of irritation lacing his voice.

Jungkook was shocked when the host started bashing Taehyung. He'd known the rocky past between the two; Taehyung had filled him in on his first interview with Joowon and how it ended. But even still, Jungkook didn't expect this level of animosity.

Joowon rolled his eyes, probably thinking it'd come off as playful but Jungkook could see the annoyance. "I bet they instructed you to say that, right? Come on, Jungkook. The public wants to hear all the lurid details."

Jungkook took a deep breath to calm himself. "I'm being honest. V has helped me write original lyrics and worked tirelessly to teach me some complex dances. He's been by my side this entire process."

"By your side, huh?" Joowon repeated with a sneer. "Judging from all the tabloid pictures of people he's slept with, I imagine he's trying to work his way into your bed. Have you had to turn him down yet? Or, perhaps, have you taken advantage of his loose morals?"

"This fucking douche," Yoongi hissed next to Taehyung.

Namjoon angrily walked up to a producer and whisper-shouted to shut the interview down, but no one listened to him.

"I know what you're implying," Jungkook started, his voice heavy with irritation, "and I'm embarrassed for you. Instead of asking creative questions that work to uncover the musical ingenuity of V, you are focusing on slander reserved for the trashiest of tabloids. But lucky for you, I will answer the questions you failed to ask."

Taehyung's heart swelled in his chest. Never before had someone come to his defense like this. He'd never had anyone stick up for him and defend his name. It made him appreciate and care for Jungkook even more.

The younger positioned his body away from Joowon and towards the main camera. "V was not what I expected him to be. I came into this program with many of the preconceived notions our host here believes in. But I was so happily surprised to see the person V really is. He is a hard worker who is dedicated to his craft. His whole world is his music; it is the most important thing to him and he strives to produce better and better output for his fans. He is someone I am proud to call my mentor and I hope to reach his level of dedication and ability one day."

Joowon sat in stunned silence as Jungkook finished. A producer signaled the cameras to cut to a break, hushed murmurs sounding once they were off air for the time being. The host practically ran off the stage in a flurry of anger and embarrassment.

Jungkook followed suit, abandoning his seat and approaching Taehyung with a pissed look on his face. Once he was in front of the elder, his expression neutralized and his shoulders slumped.

They were still surrounded by onlookers, so Taehyung looked towards Yoongi. "I'm going to go talk to him privately. Is that okay?"

Yoongi nodded, allowing the two boys to leave to huddle in a concealed corner.

"I'm sorry, Tae," Jungkook breathed once they were out of earshot. "I tried to keep my cool but that idiot made me so livid. He had no right to say those things."

Taehyung secured his hands on Jungkook's waist and looked at him with adoration. "You shouldn't have had to deal with questions about me. This was supposed to be about you, so I'm sorry for that. But . . . thank you, Kook. Everything you said . . . it means the world you'd say that about me on live television. "

Jungkook stepped closer to him. "It was all true, Tae. Every single word of it."

"Not every single word, Kook," Taehyung murmured. "You are my whole world. You are the most important thing to me."

The air around them grew still as Taehyung smiled at the younger.

"I love you so much, Jungkook."