He fiddles with his fingers, avoiding the question-filled gaze on him. Jimin clicks his tongue and leans back on the sofa, staring at the mop of brown hair faced towards the floor.

"Are you going to keep being silent or will you actually tell me why on earth you're in a dating scandal with your boss?"

Jungkook shakes his head, whining a little. "Hyung," he looks up. "It's all edited." Lie. "Nothing's happening between me and Mr Kim." Another lie. He flickers his gaze onto the floor again, speaking in a mumble. "You know I'm not..I'm not gay." Something inside Jungkook twists when his heart tells him that that too is a lie.

Jimin stares at him for a moment, silently, eyes watchful.

"Okay," he finally sighs out. "But why would someone edit a picture of you kissing your boss?!"

Jungkook shrugs, pulling his lips under his teeth and nibbling on the tender skin. "Dunno. Probably some rival company."

Jimin sighs and shakes his head as he reaches out his hands. He places a warm palm on the top of the boy's head and ruffles the soft locks. "Be careful kookie, I don't want you getting attacked by the public. Okay?"

Jungkook gulps and nods, feeling a small pool swirl in his gut. "Y-Yeah, okay."

~

Namjoon stares at his brother, a clear grimace on his features as he watches the younger roll a cigarette between his lips.

"Tae, I've told you to stop doing that, haven't I?" He scolds gently while shaking his head.

Taehyung shrugs and continues to take a puff from the burning stick. "My choice."

Namjoon sighs heavily. "I know. Everything is. You've been stubborn even in diapers."

Taehyung snorts at that, shaking his head in mild amusement. "And look where it got me."

Namjoon laughs out of his nose and then straightens his expression once again. "No no, you're trying to distract me again. This isn't what I came here for. Tell me Tae, are those articles about you and Jungkook true?"

Taehyung sighs and stretches over to crush his cigarette onto the ash tray. "Hyung, you out of all people should know me best. You know me. I don't do dating or relationships."

Namjoon scoffs, "so what, you kiss all your employees goodbye? Why don't you give me a kiss too, Tae," the man says as he puckers his lips exaggeratedly.

Taehyung winces and pushes his brother's head away, rolling his eyes amusedly at the way the older laughs. "The kiss...it was just a kiss. I dunno. He's just my secretary and I'm just his boss and sometimes...we kiss I guess." And sometimes we fuck against the office window, but Taehyung opts to leave that minor detail out.

Namjoon stares at his brother carefully. "Do you... do you like him?"

Taehyung's eyes widen by the slightest fraction before he's furrowing his brows and shaking his head. "I don't do the whole 'liking people' thing, Hyung."

Namjoon frowns. "Tae, how long are you gonna keep this up? You know, I was kind of happy when I saw that article cause I thought you finally found someone. You're close to your thirtees now, Tae. Don't you think it's time to settle down."

Taehyung scoffs. "You're one to speak, I don't see you dating or settling down. You're the older child," he huffs out.

Namjoon shakes his head. "This isn't about me right now, Tae. I'm not actively avoiding relationships like you. If I find someone I like, I'll settle down."

Taehyung groans. "I've told you before, hyung. I don't do relationships, or dating, or anything like that. I don't...I don't want to deal with love. It's a deceivingly painful emotion masked as glee. I don't want that."

Namjoon stares at the younger man, eyebrows furrowed. "Just because you lost someone you love doesn't mean you'll loose everyone in your life."

Taehyung chuckles, tone void of any real amusement. "I love three people in my life Hyung. One of them is you. The other two are dead. So don't tell me I won't loose everyone because one day I will. One day you'll be gone to."

"So what, you're going to live the rest of your life alone? Avoid relationships out of fear?" Namjoon asks, aspirated.

"Yeah. That's my plan."

Namjoon shakes his head. "I don't get you sometimes, Tae. You know, I lost them too, they were my parents too. But I'm not letting that influence all my life choices. If dad was with us right now, imagine what he'd say to you being this way. He's always dreamt of seeing us grow older and start our own families."

Taehyung pauses in his trail towards the door, throat tightening. "If dad was still here, Hyung. I wouldn't be wearing this fucking suit."

~

The lens of the cameras glare at him as he tries to maneuverer his way through the crowd of reporters. They're still there, perched in front of the building, waiting for either him or Taehyung to come out and make a statement. Neither of them do. They simply have nothing to say because they themselves wouldn't be able to confirm what exactly they are. Somewhere between professionalism and intimacy, between being straight and being undeniably not, the lines have blurred and neither of them really delve into their minds to establish what exactly they are.

But it's getting old, the reporters that is. Can't they move onto some other news article, focus on something more significant like global warming? No, instead they have their camera's pointed at the face of the famous and wealthy, trying to conjure up some trivial career-shaking scandal.

Jungkook is sick of it. And his frustration must be evident on his face as he trots into the office with a frown.

"What's with the frown, bun?" Taehyung asks as runs his gaze over the boy's gloomy expression.

"They're still here," the younger replies, voice small, matching how he feels when being suffocated in those crowds. "They ask me weird questions."

Taehyung chuckles. He gestures for the boy to come stand next to him and Jungkook does so. "What do they ask?" he tilts his head as he gently prompts the boy to sit on the edge of the desk.

Jungkook blushes a tinge. "W-Well, one of them asked if you -um- you're good in bed."

Taehyung raises his eyebrows and lets out a chortle. "They really like to stretch things, don't they? They're getting all this from a blurry photo of us kissing."

Jungkook nods and fiddles with his fingers. "It's getting annoying a-and kind of scary. One of them followed me to my house the other day."

Jungkook notices how Taehyung's amused expression instantly drops at that and how his jaw visibly tightens. "They did what?" his voice wavers into a low growl.

Jungkook looks at the man, slightly wary. "Yeah..."

Taehyung stands up while cursing. "They always take things too fucking far," he says while grabbing his phone.

Jungkook watches with big eyes as the man hastily dials up a number and calls them.

"Hey, yeah, it's me. Could you up the security at the front of the building and kick out all the reporters from the property... yeah yeah I know...mhm...today would be good, thanks." Taehyung looks up at Jungkook as he speaks. "Make sure none of them follow any of our employees around. Got it? Thanks, yeah."

Jungkook watches as the man chucks the phone aside and runs a hand through his hair, brushing it away from his forehead. "Hopefully that helps a bit although I doubt it. Those pesky reporters have no sense of privacy." He then looks over at the smaller and sighs before walking closer to him. He stands between the boy's legs and drops his face into the crevice of his neck.

"I'm sorry, Bun. I should have this under control by now but this is my first dating scandal in...in forever. They might be here for a few days longer."

Jungkook nods and hesitantly places his hand on the older's head. "It's okay, hyung."'

Taehyung freezes for a moment before he chuckles against the boy's neck. He shakes his head and gently nips at the younger's tender skin. "I don't know if you're just teasing me or if you've finally decided to drop the formalities."

Jungkook smiles a little and shrugs. Taehyung looks at him, his eyes fond. He continues to observe the younger in silence for a while; Eyes tracing his small imperfections, his tiny scars and even tinier moles, his slightly furrowed brows and the glimpse of peach fuzz across his pale skin. He nuzzles his nose against the younger's cheek before pulling back.

"Do you ever just want to get away from all this, Koo? From all the reporters and the files and the meetings?"

Jungkook ponders for a moment before nodding. "I like working but it gets a bit much sometimes. Especially with all this media attention lately."

Taehyung smiles at this. "Well then..." he swipes a stray hair out of the boy's face before meeting his honey eyes once again. "What do you we say do it?"

Jungkook tilts his head, doe eyes blinking with curiosity? "We..?"

The older smiles.. or perhaps it's a smirk? Jungkook finds it hard to distinguish between the two when the action is blindingly attractive. "...We run away for a bit. Away from this mess."

~

Jungkook feels ridiculous wearing a ski mask and enormous puffer jacket but he keeps it on because according to Taehyung, this is the only way. Only way to escape the hungry eyes of the media for a bit. He trots through the snowy streets, trying to find the car the older had instructed him to get into after he maneuverers through several random streets in order to distract any followers. As if the ski suit wasn't enough.

Jungkook's eyes light up once he spots the black car, not their usual company car, but still oozing with that essence of wealth. He waddles over to it and hesitantly opens the door. Another ski-masked face greets him and he grins a little as he hastily steps in and closes the door.

"You sure this is going to work?" Jungkook asks, voice muffled by the mask as he speaks.

Taehyung turns the ignition on and nods. "I mean, if anything, we look more like criminals than ourselves so if anyone's going to follow us, it would most likely be the cops." Jungkook giggles at that.

"Where are we going?" the younger finally asks as the car starts drifting through the streets.

Taehyung lifts his mask off his face, messing up his hair into a tousled delight in the process. "Not sure yet," he smirks. "Just somewhere far from here."

Jungkook also pulls his mask off, frowning at the way the freezing air instantly wraps around his face. He looks at the older, slightly curious and somewhat wary. He's not exactly sure why on earth he's decided to be here, driving away to god-knows-where with his boss rather than at his desk, working. But despite himself, and despite the freezing weather, a comforting warmth tingles in his gut, making the wariness melt into a pool of bliss.

~

He stirs in his sleep as a cool sensation tingles against his face. A moment passes. Then there it is again, that icy breeze fanning against his face. He opens his eyes, feeling slightly disoriented as he looks around with his bleary vision. He blinks and stares at Taehyung who hovers over him with a grin on his face.

"Finally, you're up. We're here, bun."

Jungkook rubs his eyes and looks past the older who's standing in front of the car door. He wonders to himself how long he must have been sleeping for the once bright skies to have dimmed into a pool of golden orange hues.

"Where is this?" He mumbles while stumbling out of the car, grimacing at the way his joints crack loudly.

Taehyung smiles and gestures to the edge of the cliff. "See for yourself."

Jungkook warily stares at the cliff-edge before looking up at the older with hesitant eyes. Taehyung rolls his eyes playfully at the younger's apprehension and grabs onto his hand gently before pulling him towards the cliff's edge himself.

"Don't go too close to the edg... woah," Jungkook cuts himself off upon seeing the view down below.

The liquid gold from the setting sun melting into the opaque blue waters of the ocean reflect simple rays of light into Jungkook's eyes, making them widen slightly. He gapes at the sight, driven into awe by the glistening snow that replaces the sand and the blue waters that cradle the gentle breeze as they push small foamy waves onto the shore.

Even as a kid, Jungkook's adored the seaside. The thick scent of the salty air, the cool wet breeze that would graze his watchful face, the gentle sun tingling against his pale skin; The seaside to him is a fond memory, one that brings a smile to his face. And so he smiles as that promising memory enters his mind, looking gleeful as he stares out into the view.

Taehyung stares down at him, smiling too. Not because of any particular fond memory, but because of the younger's endearing expression. Maybe this, seeing the boy smile with the golden spectrum of sunlight lighting his features, maybe this is Taehyung's soon to be fond memory.

"It's beautiful," Jungkook muses.

Taehyung nods, turning his head to take a good look at the view. It is indeed beautiful. But after moments, he finds himself turning back to face the younger, finding greater beauty in his placated expression. "It is, isn't it."

Jungkook shivers as a cold breeze passes him and then sighs. "If only it was summer." He wraps his arms around himself, searching for the warmth that his body is rapidly losing. "We could have gone swimming."

"Well not exactly," Taehyung says while wrapping his scarf around the boy. "You could have gone but I would have still continued to just stare at the view."

Jungkook tilts his head while appreciatively snuggling into the fabric. "Why so?"

"Don't like the water," Taehyung sighs, pulling the younger in close to wrap his arms around the boy, back-hugging him.

Jungkook peeks up at the older from under his lashes. "Why not?" he asks, frowning.

Taehyung smiles seeing the younger's frown. He reaches down and pinches the boy's pink cheek. "Dunno," he says, rubbing the now redder spot on the younger's face. "Just not fond of the water."

Junkook pouts, from the sting on his cheek and at the older's revelation. "It's a shame." He looks back at the water, eyes filling with awe and excitement upon seeing the view once again. "It's fun."

"I guess it is. I mean, I used to love the water as a kid," the older digs his face into the crevice of the younger's neck, listening to the his gentle pulse that thuds against his skin.

"What changed?" Jungkook says while staring at the landscape, eyes glittering as the enriched golden light of the sunset filters onto his face.

Taehyung muses for a moment, letting a breath of silence settle between them.

"I used to come here with my family," he starts, voice ever so quiet yet his whisper still managing to ease into Jungkook's perked ears. "Me, Eomma, Appa and Hyung."

He points his hand towards a certain spot in the snowy sand. "Eomma would sit right there on her beach chair, wearing that obnoxiously large hat of hers with an even larger pair of sunglasses." He smiles, eyes nostalgic. "Appa would come play with me and Hyung in the water. He'd pretend to be a sea monster and would chase us all around. When he would get tired, he would walk over to mum and try hug her dry body. She would cause such a fuss when he did that," he chuckles.

He then pauses, smile slowly slipping off his face and eyes drooping.

"But then after dad died and mum took her own life..."

Jungkook gasps at the revelation, having not known exactly how Taehyung's mother had passed. He gulps and looks up at the man, eyes filled with worry and sadness.

Taehyung continues, voice harbouring a tone of apathy, of numbness that sends chills down the younger's back. "Things weren't the same then. There were no more family trips to the seaside. It would just be me coming here, alone, staring at the expanse of the sea and wondering how everything I loved was suddenly gone."

He looks down at the younger, a soft smile slipping onto his face upon seeing the boy's big worried eyes. "I started to resent the sea after that," he says as he strokes the boy's soft cheeks. "It reminded me of everything I once loved that I no longer had."

Jungkook gulps, feeling a lump form in his throat at the older's words. "I-I..." he stops himself from speaking, not knowing what words to say that could possibly comfort a heart aching from grief. He instead opts to settle his head on the older's chest, letting the heavy weight of it silently comfort the dull thud of the man's heart.

Taehyung smiles at this, finding the younger's warmth, his pacifying presence, comforting. He looks out at the sea, at the darkening skies blossoming with stars and the crashing waves, and for once he feels solace. With the younger in his arms and the beauty of the seaside alongside him, he feels content, the clawing darkness within him ceasing to exist for just this moment.

But it was just that, just a passing moment in which he felt relief. Because as soon as he finds peace, he feels wary. Because peace and solace and temporary. Warmth is temporary. He looks down at the younger, snuggled against his chest.

People too, are temporary, aren't they? And Taehyung of all people would know this.

~

"Come on, bun, we should get going now, it's getting late. It takes a few hours to drive back as well."

Jungkook pouts, forcing himself to look away from the pretty sight of the stars and sea. "Okay," he mumbles, wishing that the day could stretch on a bit longer so he could indulge in this tranquility for a moment more. They both trudge over to the car and get in, shivering as they sit on the cold seats. Jungkook leans back and closes his eyes, not wishing to witness the long miserable ride back to work, back to all the press and nosy people who are desperate to weasel their way into his personal life.

Taehyung sighs and starts to turn the ignition on but a quick glance at the younger makes him sigh. The boy lays in his seat, eyes closed and seatbelt no where in sight. Taehyung clicks off his own seatbelt and leans over to pull the seatbelt over the younger. At the sudden movement and the sense of the other's body closer to his, Jungkook opens his eyes, finding Taehyung hovering over him. The older looks down at him, eyebrows quirked and a small smirk on his face.

"Forgot to put your seatbelt on, bun," he clicks his tongues in mock-disapproval.

Jungkook just gulps as the man's proximity as he stares up at his tanned face. It's times like this, staring at the man's golden skin under shy peaks of moonlight does he realise just how ethereal Mr Kim is.

Taehyung chuckles, "do I have something on my fac..."

Jungkook doesn't let him finish, he gives in to his temptation and leans up to kiss the man. Taehyung stills for a moment, taken aback by the younger's sudden boldness before he also gives in and kisses the younger back just as eagerly.

Their lips push into one another, craving for a taste of each other. Strawberry chapstick mixes with the faded touch of peppermint as their lips crash against each other like the silent waves of the sea. As minutes pass, the shared kiss becomes more desperate, more needy, tongues clashing and teeth nibbling, the embrace becomes feverish.