No Matter What

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/16558112.

Rating: Explicit
Archive Warning: Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Category: M/M
Fandom: | Bangtan Boys | BTS
Relationship: Jeon Jungkook/Kim Taehyung | V
Character: Kim Taehyung | V, Jeon Jungkook, Park Jimin (BTS), Kim Namjoon |
RM, Jung Hoseok | J-Hope, Min Yoongi | Suga, Kim Seokjin | Jin
Additional Tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, ABO, A/B/O, Alpha Jeon Jungkook,
Omega Kim Taehyung | V, Omega Park Jimin, Beta Min Yoongi | Suga,
Beta Kim Seokjin | Jin, Alpha Kim Namjoon | RM, Alpha Jung Hoseok |
J-Hope, Top Jeon Jungkook, Bottom Kim Taehyung | V, Park Jimin Is a
Good Friend, Pack Bonding, Mates, Mating, Claiming, Claiming Bites,
Smut, Friends to Lovers, Rimming, Self-Lubrication, Anal Sex, Prostate
Massage, I Don't Even Know, this fic is a MESS, insert shrugging emoji,
Self-Acceptance, Self-Esteem Issues, Identity Issues, Kim Taehyung |
V-centric, See notes at beginning for trigger warning
Language: English
Collections: Done Reading (Taekookielover), KookV, Omegaverse, Mpreg, TBRead,
stories to reread over and over, Red + Blue = Purple
Stats: Published: 2018-11-12 Words: 29281

No Matter What
by JKDoYouLoveMe

Summary

From the very start, Taehyung had it all figured out.

He and Jeongguk would get together as soon as they had both presented. He as the alpha,
who will protect and love his precious friend and Jeongguk as the omega, who will look up
to and cherish his hyung. This is how the world was always supposed to be: the two of
them together no matter what. Taehyung is sure of it.

That is until his 21st birthday, when the universe decides to go ahead and make Taehyung
an omega. That certainly puts a hole in his plans.

Notes

Hello!

Here's my ABO fic! Honestly, I'm not super satisfied with this one! I actually wrote and
mostly finished it before any of my other fics that I've posted so far. I didn't feel like it was
complete at the time which is why I held onto it. Now that I've finished it, I still don't feel
 super confident, but I know that if I don't post it now I never will. I figure people will either
like it or not like it! Please keep in mind that this was my first fic! Even if it's only been a
short time since I wrote it, my writing has already improved immensely since I did. Even
though I did go through and edit it a bit, it is still not as clean as I'd like to think some of my
present works are. I want to focus my energy on these other fics that I am enjoying, so if I
post this I can forget about it and move on.

Hopefully you at least find it entertaining, if nothing else. Please feel free to leave any sort
of feedback. I'm not sure why I feel the way I do about this fic; maybe I'm just being silly!
But if you think you know why, please feel free to leave me constructive criticism. I want
my other fics to be better and better and I can only make that happen if I improve on my
writing technique.

I want to warn any readers that there is a scene that involves a lot of self-hatred and hints at,
but doesn't explicitly describe, suicidal thoughts. It is still full of a lot of self-deprecation. If
reading about someone else going through a self-hatred episode is something that would
make you uncomfortable, please don't read that section or this fic in general.

Happy reading! <3

See the end of the work for more notes

For twenty-one years, Taehyung has led what he would call a predictable life. Some might call
this a bad thing, but he doesn’t think so. He likes to call it stability, security. He had been raised in
a loving, nurturing household, had always had lots of friends, and had attended a decent high
school where he had achieved decent grades. Even when he started college, the most turbulent time
in a lot of young adults’ lives, he had it easy. He made a group of friends who he was certain would
be around for the rest of his life. He enjoyed his major and he was confident that he was heading
down the right career path. He even had his eyes on someone, someone who he was confident
could be his life partner one day when the time was right.

Well, the universe must have been holding back on him. Eventually something had to go wrong,
right? It was inevitable. But,

Seriously, did it have to happen like this?

This is what Taehyung is thinking to himself as he stands naked in front of a foggy mirror in a tiny
log cabin in the middle of a dense forest, clear fluid dripping out of his ass and coating his thighs.

Yeah.

Because Taehyung had had many plans for the future, but being an omega was not one of them.

He stares in wonder at his own reflection, at the way the skin along his legs glistens as more fluid
trickles down them. The sensation would be maddeningly uncomfortable if he wasn’t so focused
on the heat pooling in his belly.

A conversation flashes into the forefront of his mind, breaking through the heady mist that had
settled around him and he feels something fragile inside of him shatter just a little bit.

--
“Do you think things will change between us once we’ve presented?”

Taehyung props himself up on his elbows, looking over at his best friend who is lying on his back
on the grass of the high school football field, staring at the sky.

“What do you mean?” Taehyung is lying on his stomach, a neat pile of torn-up grass that he had
been working on for quite some time towering in front of him.

“I mean,” Jeongguk turns his head to look at him, his eyes serious, “do you think we’ll still be best
friends? Or will things become awkward?”

“Why would they be awkward?”

“Tae.” Jeongguk rolls his eyes, turning back to the clouds and looking for shapes and patterns in
them. “Stop acting dumb. You know what’s going to happen. Don’t you think things might be…
weird. You know, considering what we are?”

“You think we won’t be friends just because we happen to be an alpha and an omega?”

“No, I just think it will be difficult.”

“Gukkie.” Taehyung sits up, dusting the dirt off of his clothes as he shuffles over to kneel next to
his best friend’s small frame. He’s so adorable, is all he can think as the younger looks up at him
with his worried doe eyes and his soft, pouted lips. Taehyung forces himself to be serious, knowing
how rare it is for Jeongguk to open up about his feelings like this. “Why should anything change?
It’s not like you’re going to become an omega all of a sudden. You’re just presenting as one. But
you’ve been an omega for the entire time I’ve known you and the same is true of myself as an
alpha. We’ve gotten along just fine, why should anything be different?”

“I know that. But we don’t have to deal with heats and ruts right now. We don’t have raging
hormones to deal with.”

“Everyone else seems to manage just fine.” Taehyung fights the urge to cuddle his friend, to
comfort him. Probably just as much an instinctive alpha urge as it is a best friend urge (as well as
a holy-fuck-I’ve-got-a-massive-crush-on-you-please-stop-being-so-loveable urge). He had always
had a strong desire to nurture his little Guk, to protect him. “You don’t see Namjoon trying to fuck
Jimin now that he’s presented.” Jeongguk startles at his crude language, squeezing his eyes shut
and grinning.

“But we’re not Namjoon and Jimin. You and I-” He swallows, like he’s swallowing a sentence
he’s not sure he’s ready to commit to. “We spend a lot of time together. What if we found ourselves
in a compromising position and did something we'd regret later?”

“What’s got you thinking all of this all of a sudden, huh?” Taehyung puts his hand on Jeongguk’s
bicep, secretly appreciating the hint of muscle there. His baby boy has been working out lately, but
he is still so small and chubby-faced that it doesn’t really appear all that obvious to the
untrained eye.

“Well, you’re going to present soon. I’m just nervous.”

“Aish, we still have two years until you do too, Gukkah. Even if things did change, they’re not
going to until both of our true scents are revealed. Not just one. Honestly, it’s not worth stressing
over. Besides, to answer your initial question: Yes, I do think we’ll still be friends. We’ll always be
friends above anything else.”
Jeongguk smiles widely at him then, his words seeming to have quelled his nerves.

“No matter what happens, you’ll look after me, yeah?”

“That’s what an alpha is for, Guk. I’ll be here for you, no matter what.”

--

Taehyung hates being an omega, he decides as he deals with his first heat. It’s a lot harder to
endure than the textbooks made it sound. Clinical, black and white, font size fourteen, Arial letters
don’t quite capture the maddening feeling of needing someone to fuck the living daylights out of
you and fill you with their babies.

He remembers the shocked expressions on everyone’s faces when he had returned home. He
remembers how everything was the same, but it also wasn’t. How Namjoon and Hoseok were just
that tiny bit more standoffish around him. It’s not that they weren’t still friends – of course they
were, they were his hyungs after all – but they were just a little more cautious than before. And
Jeongguk-

Jeongguk had been heartbroken and hadn’t even bothered to hide it.

Taehyung had felt his own heart break a little bit when he saw the younger boy’s expression on
that day. He knew, when their eyes met, that he himself was pulling the exact same face.

We can’t be together.

They have never said it out loud, but of course that’s what they both want. They were best friends
above all else, yes, but there had always been a silent agreement between them, a non-existent
conversation that they had with each other in the dead of the night. Whispers sent via a quick
glance in the lamplight or by the softest brush of a hand against the others’ neck. Everyone knew it
as well, everyone wanted it and now it wasn’t going to happen.

Because two omegas can’t mate. Of course, they can date. No one can stop them from doing that.
But when Taehyung had pictured them together… well he had pictured himself as Jeongguk’s
alpha, strong and protective. As someone who could help the younger when he had no confidence,
help the meek, timid, doe-eyed boy to become a beautiful young man. Now he would just be
holding his best friend back if he were to force him to date him. Not to mention he'd be holding
himself back also. They both deserved to have an alpha, or at least a beta, to mate with.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

That’s what Taehyung had thought as he stared into that foggy mirror a whole two years ago.
That’s what he had thought when he’d reunited with his best friend and silently apologised, ‘I can’t
be the alpha you need.’ That’s what he thought when he bid his best friend farewell with a
lingering hug, telling him to enjoy his presenting as best he could.

“Yeah, I’m really going to enjoy being by myself in the middle of some forest for a week.”

“Hey," Taehyung slaps the younger’s chest and wonders when exactly he had gotten so tall and
broad. He knows that it’s because he hasn’t presented yet. Taehyung had been tall and broad too,
he remembers bitterly. But having all of those new hormones rushing around his body had caused
his cheeks to soften, his waist to curve inward. He stopped growing and Jeongguk had shot up over
the last two years so that now he was just taller than him. "It’s actually a really liberating
experience. It's like you're one with nature and all that.”
“You and I both know that I’m just going to be spending the whole time horny and angry.”

“So, no different than usual.” Taehyung pokes his tongue out, sending a grin up to his irritated-
looking friend. “And trust me, there’s nothing more liberating than the feeling of putting something
in your ass for the first time."

“Oh god, too much information.” Jeongguk shoves him back lightly and Taehyung giggles.
Jeongguk looks uncomfortable, and then, “How do you know that that’s even what’s going to
happen?”

“What do you mean?” Taehyung watches him bend to pick up his bags, his biceps flexing.

“Well, how do you know I’ll be an omega?”

The question makes Taehyung immediately laugh, but it dies down when he catches sight of his
best friend’s face.

“You’re being serious?” Jeongguk nods. “C’mon, Guk, you’re the baby of the group. There’s no
way you’re not an omega. You give off all of the signs." He trails off as he watches the younger
boy grimacing. "Why? Do you not feel that that’s true?”

“I don’t know. I don’t really feel anything. Aren’t I supposed to, though? Shouldn’t I be feeling
those nurturing, caring, bullshit feelings?”

“I didn’t feel them either.” Taehyung shrugs. “At least not like they made it sound like I was going
to. I didn’t realise until after I presented that I- well, I guess I had always felt that way. I thought
that when I wanted to cuddle you it was because I wanted to protect you as an alpha. I didn’t realise
that it was because I was looking for protection myself. I just didn’t know it until it was right under
my nose.” He can tell he’s said a little too much, delved a little too deeply into that topic that they
never address out loud – us, me and you – so he quickly relaxes his shoulders and lightens his tone.
“Trust me, a lot can happen in that week. Your body will go through all sorts of shit as you finally
become what you always were destined to be, and blah, blah, blah.”

“I guess, but still. I just feel strange about this.”

Taehyung is quiet for a moment, biting his lip.

“Do you think… that maybe you’re-”

“A beta?” Jeongguk watches Taehyung’s eyes widen. “Yeah, I’ve been wondering if maybe that’s
the case.”

“But you’re so… omega. It just can’t be true. It can’t be.”

Taehyung must be becoming more emotional than he realises because Jeongguk’s eyes soften and
he immediately steps forward, wrapping his arms around his hyung.

“Hey, it’s alright. Don’t be sad.”

“I’m not sad, I’m just…” Taehyung nuzzles his head into his friends’ chest. God, he already smells
so good. What will his true scent be like? If he’s an omega it will become that neutral smell to
Taehyung, the one that is fine on Jimin but makes him scrunch his nose up to think of it coming
from Jeongguk. But if he’s a beta he will probably smell even better than now, headier, earthier. “I
don’t want to get my hopes up for nothing.”
He whispers the last part. Jeongguk slowly pulls away, his hands remaining on Taehyung’s
shoulders as his eyes pierce into his. They have another silent conversation in that moment,
Taehyung’s eyes saying the words that their mouths can’t.

If you’re a beta we can be together.

It won’t be the same of course. Taehyung needs an alpha to mate with for life. But he can still be
claimed by Jeongguk at the very least. He shivers at the thought. He had never considered that
Jeongguk might be the one doing the claiming, not in the seven years he’s known him. He’s always
been so shy, so quiet. He always had waited for others to make the first move before he did, never
possessing boldness or courage. Just like an omega.

But right now, Taehyung looks at him, truly looks at him. He observes his sharp jaw line that has
become more prominent over the past two years, his dark eyes that seem to hold a confidence in
them that has only recently settled there.

Maybe, just maybe, Jeongguk is right. Maybe he isn’t an omega after all.

“Well, then, you should hurry up and go so that we can find out.” Taehyung pushes the younger
away, towards the door. The tense moment is dispelled and Jeongguk laughs.

“Okay, okay.” He pauses at the door way, turning back to face him. “Hyung?”

“Yes, Gukkie?"

“Best friends no matter what, yeah?”

Taehyung grins widely and Jeongguk smiles before he even answers.

“No matter what.”

--

“I just can’t believe my babies are growing up!” Jimin is crying as he helps Taehyung pack his
bag. The younger man rolls his eyes with a fond smile painted across his lips.

“Relax. It’s not like I’m moving away or anything. I’ll be back in a week.”

“Just… I can’t help it. You know how I’ve been getting all emotional over the smallest things
lately. Don’t judge me. But this isn’t small, this is big. I don’t believe that after all this time, you’re
finally making some steps forward.”

“What are you talking about?” Taehyung knits his eyebrows together, partially motivated by the
struggle to zip his coat up.

“Come on, don’t be coy.” Jimin gives him a wide grin. “I’m talking about you and Jeongguk.”

“What about us?"

“Don’t act dumb. I know how you feel about him.”

“It’s just a little crush, Jimin. Besides, when he presents he might want someone who is-”

“Don’t even finish that stupid sentence. You and I both know exactly what’s going to happen.”
Jimin snaps, but there’s a smirk playing at his lips. “You’re going to go and become the big bad
wolf and then Jeongguk is going to go and become the little soft boy we all know he is and then
you guys are going to release two years of pent-up sexual frustration and hopefully I will be
nowhere near you when the time comes, because, gross,” Taehyung laughs, shoving his friend
lightly, “and then you’ll grow old together and he’ll have your pups and you’ll be a happy little
pack together.”

Taehyung feels something in his stomach flip at the thought of raising pups… with Jeongguk. Little
Jeonggukkie, who he’s known for years and years.

He scoffs to hide his sudden breathlessness.

"You sound pretty sure of yourself.”

“Of course I am. Mark my words, Kim Taehyung. My prediction will come true.”

--

Taehyung had thought the universe hated him. That’s why it had made him an omega. It wants him
to be in pain and misery.

It’s now that he realises that the universe did have good intentions after all and he feels bad for all
of the nights where he sat up crying, overwhelmed by his heat, cursing the stars for making him
this way. Still, he feels like the stars are chanting, ‘It’s just a prank, bro,’ and he can’t say he’s a
big fan.

Because honestly, what the fuck are they thinking? Stringing him around like this? Making him
spend the last two years on an emotional rollercoaster only for the tracks to cut out at the end and
launch him into a freefall?

Or maybe, just maybe, some of this is his fault and he should stop trying to blame the powers that
be.

They had been hanging around at Namjoon’s dorm. Life is better when their group is together.
With Jeongguk gone there is that little extra space that meant they could all cram into the lounge
room and laze around together. It's quieter without Jeongguk. It's not like the youngest member of
their group was known for being loud, but rather that the other six don't feel nearly as enthusiastic
without him around. It just feels strange when one of them is missing, but they make do. Right
now they're enjoying the silence, having finished the dinner that Seokjin cooked them up not long
ago. They are strewn out across the dorm’s living area, all nursing full stomachs.

“I’m ready to sleep forever.” Jimin groans as he falls onto the couch beside a nearly unconscious
Yoongi. The beta grumbles at being disturbed, but Jimin is too full to be intimidated by him right
now. “Joon-hyung, when is Jeonggukkie going to get back? I want to go to bed.”

“How am I supposed to know?” Namjoon is passing dirty dishes to Seokjin and Hoseok in the
kitchenette. “It’s not like he can text me to let me know where he is."

“Ugh, I don’t get why they don’t let you take your phone. What’s the big deal?”

“Higher risk of you calling people to you while you’re vulnerable.” Seokjin answers the
rhetorical question with no hint of impatience in his voice.

“I know, hyung. I'm just complaining. Ugh.” Jimin whines on and on. “I wish he’d hurry up. I want
to go back to our dorm and sleep.”

“He’ll be back any minute now. Stop being a bitch,” Yoongi grumbles and Jimin whacks his thigh.
The always-optimistic Hoseok speaks up. “Hey, on the bright side, this is the last time we’ll have
to go through with this as a group. Look at it that way.” Everyone nods in agreement.

Taehyung has been silent for most of the night. None of them seem to have noticed, except for
Jimin of course, who can read him like an open book. He had been a great friend, making sure to
give him reassuring cuddles whenever he could and tell him, "It won't be much longer, Tae.
Relax." It didn’t calm him down the same way it would have if it had come from an alpha or beta,
but Jimin's cuddles are in a league of their own.

Once the three hyungs finish the dishes – hey, they shouldn't bet on it if they didn't want to do it –
they come to join the others on and around the couch, squeezing in where they can. Taehyung ends
up with Namjoon pressed into his side against the arm of the couch, so that he’s practically sitting
on his lap. He might have been uncomfortable if it were any other alpha, but Namjoon is his
friend above anything else. He wouldn’t ever take advantage of Taehyung and wouldn’t let them
get into an uncomfortable situation. That’s why Tae loves his hyungs; they all know exactly how
to treat him, how to give him the attention he needs as an omega without making him feel inferior.

He feels sleepy, letting his head fall back against the older man’s chest. It’s then, with his head
right near Namjoon’s neck, smelling his alpha pheromones that are only subtle at this point in his
cycle, that he starts thinking about the universe again.

Why couldn’t he have been an alpha? It’s not that he hates who he is. He just wishes he was the
one who could have Namjoon sitting in his lap. Or better yet, Jeongguk. He wishes he could be the
one to lean down and nuzzle an omega’s neck, smell their beautiful scent and feel the need to
protect them. Not to be the one who wants to be protected, not to be the one who needs comforting.

Shouting pulls Taehyung out of his self-deprecation as he turns his attention to his friends. They’re
playing Mario Kart and Jimin is screaming at Hoseok for cheating, who is yelling back that you
can’t cheat at Mario Kart and that Jimin is just unskilled.

Taehyung chuckles at their antics and normally he’d be right there yelling with them, but he’s tired.
So, he goes to tune them out but all of a sudden they seem to stop on their own. In fact, the whole
room goes silent, the only sound being the tinny, tropical music filtering out of the cheap television
speakers. Everyone else has gone still, holding their breath, just waiting.

Because there is a scent that wasn’t there before and it’s so potent that it fills Taehyung’s lungs and
makes him feel like he’s drowning. It’s a mostly unfamiliar scent and it would have made him
jump up in defence if it weren’t for the tinge of smokiness to it that makes his head feel heavy.

Because, despite the way it's changed, he knows that smell.

“I’m back.”

No shit. No shit.

Everyone whips their heads around to see a bemused Jeongguk, bags slung over his shoulder,
standing at the doorway, somehow having entered without anyone noticing. None of them had
heard the door slowly click open over the heated video game argument, Taehyung guesses.

“Jeonggukkie!” It’s Seokjin who stands up from the couch, giving the youngest of the group a
warm smile. But there’s a tenseness to his voice as he murmurs, “Welcome home.”

Jeongguk doesn’t smile. Instead his eyes narrow and flash dangerously. Taehyung’s mind is
working in slow motion, so he doesn’t really understand why his best friend looks so angry,
doesn’t try to. Namjoon seems to be catching up though, because he quickly pushes Taehyung off
of his lap and stands up. Taehyung stumbles from the sudden shifting of gravity. Namjoon
swiftly walks around the couch and puts some distance between the two of them before he clears
his throat.

“So, you’re an alpha then?”

Jeongguk slowly nods as his eyes flicker between Taehyung and Namjoon.

Everyone seems to exhale at that, as though they hadn’t realised it until it was spoken out loud, but
really, how could anyone ignore that scent? It was so strong and heady and so very alpha.

“Holy shit. I never would have guessed.” Yoongi has pulled himself up over the top of the couch to
peer at Jeongguk.

“Me neither.” Hoseok grins, the only one who seems to be oblivious – or immune, one or the other
– to the tension in the room (and damn is it tense in here). “But looking at you now, I can definitely
see it.”

Taehyung internally nods in agreement. Jeongguk had left a young boy and had returned… well, an
alpha.

He is still the same in a lot of ways, but it is the subtle things that really matter. Like the sharpness
of his jaw line or the breadth of his shoulders. His muscles seem slightly more prominent, slightly
more difficult to ignore. His eyes still have that wide-eyed, innocent shine to them, but there is a
darkness in their depths that seems to be fighting to make its way to the foreground. Subtle things
that no one else would notice have changed, but Taehyung can see it. He looks like a man.

Taehyung’s brain feels heavy inside of his head, his insides messy and twisting. He trails his eyes
up and down Jeongguk’s body rather shamelessly, admiring whatever features he can latch onto in
his increasingly feverish state.

He needs to get out of there, he registers dimly.

He glances upwards, meeting Jeongguk’s eyes that have been boring into him since the moment he
had stepped up from the couch.

He needs to get out of there. Fast.

“Uh, well,” he clears his throat, everyone turning to look at him as he swallows away the
scratchiness in his voice. “Since Guk is back now. Shall we go home, Jimin?”

Taehyung holds his hand out to his hyung, a silent plea in his eyes. Jimin gets it, because he’s
Jimin.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

They link arms and head towards the door. Jeongguk doesn’t move and Taehyung lets Jimin take
the lead. He’s just as much an omega as Taehyung is, but he’s more experienced with this sort of
thing and will know what to say to get them out of there safely.

“Shove out of the way, prick.”

Taehyung facepalms.
“Excuse me?”

Jeongguk growls lowly in the back of his throat, that dark shade in his eyes shifting to the front for
a moment. The sound goes straight to Taehyung’s belly and expands, whipping heat around his
body. The need to submit is overwhelming and Jimin must feel it too because he whimpers
slightly.

“Jimin, are you an idiot?” Namjoon comes forward with a sigh and puts himself between Jeongguk
and the two omegas, breaking some tense, invisible thread between them. “You can’t go talking
like that to a new alpha. Right now, Jeongguk is seeing everything like it’s a direct challenge. You
know that he’s going to be all riled up for a while.”

“I’m right here.” Jeongguk crosses his arms. Taehyung tries to ignore the veins in his forearms.
Had Jeongguk been this hot before? Or was it a hormonal thing?

“Sorry, Jeongguk-ah.” Namjoon turns to the younger with what can only be described as a fatherly
smile. “It’s true, though. You’re still figuring everything out, so right now you’re acting a little
wildly. How about you let these boys through? You’re kind of blocking the door.”

Jeongguk glares at him, not budging. Taehyung has taken to short, quick inhales and exhales,
trying to keep his body calm. Until now he had never thought of Jeongguk as someone who could
take on Namjoon but here he is, looking like he could fight him and he could win.

“Jeongguk, it’s not safe for them to stay here right now.” Namjoon tries again and Jeongguk seems
to listen to that, his eyes snapping from the alpha in front of him to Taehyung.

“Right.” He growls again, probably out of instinct, but it still makes Taehyung gasp. He’s getting
fucking turned on, he realises in horror, because of course he is. Any moment now and everyone
would be able to smell it, including Jeongguk.

Jeongguk is about to move, he knows, but Taehyung is desperate so he pushes forward. He shoves
the younger man aside, his hazy mind thinking about how he feels more like a brick wall than he
does a person. He catches him off guard, thankfully, because Jeongguk stumbles out of the way.

Taehyung runs and doesn’t look back.

--

He doesn’t see Jeongguk for a week. It’s for the best.

He remembers his first week after presenting. He had been so emotional and so fucking horny.
Even after the week in the cabin he had still felt an insatiable need for someone to pin him down
and make him theirs. That’s why he had stayed locked up in his room, only Jimin allowed to enter.

He feels awful knowing that Jeongguk has probably had to go through something similar. He
doesn’t know what it feels like for an alpha, but it must be just as frustrating.

He feels something inside of him quaking when his phone buzzes and he sees a familiar contact
name.

Gukkie <3

Tae, I miss you.

 Let’s meet up.

I feel like I haven’t seen you in years.

(#ˊ^ ·̫ ^ˋ#)

Taehyung instantly smiles, a familiar warmth settling in his chest.

“Best friends no matter what, yeah?”

He feels guilty for the way he’s been thinking lately. His best friend has been going through a lot
and he hadn’t even bothered to be there for him. It’s time to make it up to him.

Bun! I miss you too.

Student café in 1 hr?

Gukkie <3

I told you not to call me that. >:(

C u there

Within an hour Taehyung is sitting at the café with a warm mug of hot chocolate in between his
oversized-sweater sleeve clad hands. He’s staring out of the window in a world of his own when
that scent hits him, hard. His grip on his drink tightens and he stares down at it. In the corner of his
eye he can see a figure standing over him. He can’t bring himself to look up.

He hears a sigh and then Jeongguk slumps into the seat opposite him.

“Hyung?”

It’s not the honorific that makes him look over, but rather the tone of Jeongguk’s voice: he sounds
miserable, exhausted. When he glances up and meets his best friend’s eyes he instantly feels that
guilt resurfacing.

Get a hold of yourself, Taehyung.

“Jeonggukkie.” He gives his friend a big grin. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“You mean the place we agreed to meet at?” Jeongguk smirks.

Shit. Why does everything he's doing look sexy now?

“Yeah.” He leans down and takes a deep breath of his hot chocolate. It clears his senses for a
moment so that all he can smell is sweet cocoa instead of Jeongguk, Jeongguk, Jeongguk. “So, how
are you, Mr. Alpha?”

Jeongguk snorts. “I guess I’m alright. It’s been… weird.”

“No shit. I did not see this coming.”

“Not the only one.” Jeongguk taps the table and Taehyung wills the tension to leave his body but
the younger is staring at him so directly that it’s distracting.

“So, you really had no idea?”

“I mean, I sort of did know, I think. Remember that conversation about whether or not I could be a
beta. Well, I didn’t say anything but I was thinking it. I did feel like something wasn’t right, but I
just figured I was being dumb.” He chuckles, looking up at the ceiling. “Should’ve listened to my
instincts.”

“Hindsight.” Taehyung waves his hand in the air. “Anyway, who cares? It’s all done now. How
was your transition? Hard? What happened? I guess you didn’t experience the whole putting-stuff-
up-your-ass thing that I was telling you about.”

Jeongguk laughs. The sound fills Taehyung’s ears with cotton fluff.

“No, I really didn’t feel the need to.”

“So? Tell me!”

“I’m not telling you what I did, oh my god.” Jeongguk’s cheeks tinge pink as he looks away. He
looks a bit more like his old self in that moment.

“I’m just going to assume that you fucked everything that resembled a hole for the whole week
then.”

“Oh my-”

“Did you want anything to drink, sir?”

Taehyung watches with a fond smile on his face as Jeongguk blushes and stutters an order out to
the equally mortified waitress.

Maybe he hadn’t changed so much after all, Taehyung thinks. He’s evidently still the same
awkward Jeongguk. He’s still the best friend Taehyung knew before. The thought makes
something inside of his chest settle, something he hadn’t even realised was out of place until he felt
the sweet relief of it realigning. They were fine, the two of them. No matter what.

“So, do you feel any different?”

“Yes and no. It’s hard to explain.”

“You seemed very different back in the dorm.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow and Jeongguk
immediately looks embarrassed.

“I- I was still trying to figure everything out. I still am.” He shrugs.

“I think you scared the literal shit out of Jimin.” Taehyung chuckles to himself, but Jeongguk
frowns.

“I didn’t appreciate an omega talking to me that way.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? What way?”

“You wouldn’t understand, Tae. It’s just… an alpha thing.”

“Ah, of course, I forgot that being an asshole to your best friends is completely normal and
acceptable if you’re an alpha. After all you are an expert on all things alpha-related. Sorry, my
mistake.”

“Taehyung.” Jeongguk sounds hurt and Taehyung sighs, not sure why he feels so bitter all of a
sudden. Or maybe he does know why, and that’s the problem.

“Sorry. You just… were a bit scary, that’s all.”

“I’m sorry, Taehyung. I’m still trying to get used to all of this. You know that.”

Taehyung stares down at his nearly empty drink, frowning to himself, when a hand sliding over his
makes him jump. Jeongguk pulls his hand towards him, clasping it in his own.

“Taehyung, I’m really sorry.” His eyes are wide and sincere, his lips pouting slightly.

After a moment, Taehyung softens.

“It’s okay. You’re still my little bun, alpha or not.” He grins, squinting his eyes as he pulls the hand
out of his friend’s grasp to ruffle his hair with it.

“Stop calling me that.” Jeongguk crinkles his nose, reaching up to push Taehyung’s hand away.
His eyes widen and he freezes. He immediately clasps a hand around Taehyung’s forearm.

“What-” Taehyung cuts himself off with a choked gasp when Jeongguk abruptly tugs his hand
towards him, yanking him so that he has to lean over the table, pulling his wrist up until it’s right
under his nose. Jeongguk inhales deeply, closing his eyes. Taehyung feels his heart-rate picking up
and he tries to pull his hand back, but Jeongguk’s grip is unyielding.

“You smell so good.” Jeongguk rasps and the sound makes Taehyung squirm in his seat.

“Jeongguk!” He whisper-yells, mindful of the people all around them. His desperate voice makes
something in Jeongguk snap and the younger suddenly opens his eyes and pushes Taehyung’s arm
away like it was burning him.

“Sorry, I- I got carried away.” Jeongguk is blushing again, but so is Taehyung.

“What? What was that?”

“Ah, it’s this stupid hormonal shit.” Jeongguk looks angry and it takes everything inside of
Taehyung not to get turned on. He doesn’t often see Jeongguk angry like this and he guess it’s the
alpha side of him fighting for dominance. Something about it makes Taehyung’s omega side
quiver. “You just smell really nice- ah, you smelt good before of course but it’s different now.
Stronger.”

“I, uh- you too.”

“Hm?”

“You smell different as well. The same but… a lot stronger. It’s sort of overwhelming, to be
honest.”

“Oh, sorry.”
“No, no, it’s not a bad thing.”

Jeongguk fixes him with an intense look and his eyes are dark and dangerous looking. And
honestly, what happened? Just a moment ago they were round and innocent, but now they are filled
with an authority that makes Taehyung’s skin crawl. He is immensely grateful when the waitress
chooses that moment to reappear with Jeongguk’s drink, breaking the moment. Taehyung’s not
sure he would’ve been able to look away.

They sit in silence for a while as Jeongguk drinks his coffee.

“Hey Jeongguk.” Taehyung stares at his own fingertips that peek out from under his sleeves.

“Yeah?”

“You remember our promise, right?”

There’s a pregnant pause and Taehyung glances up to see the soft gaze Jeongguk has fixed him
with.

“No matter what, right?”

Taehyung grins, big and wide.

“Right. So are we, you know, back to normal now?”

Jeongguk scoffs. “Have we ever been normal?”

“I suppose not.”

“Want to come back to mine and Joonie-hyung’s to play some video games?”

“I don’t know, are you sure your alpha ass can handle an omega beating him?” Taehyung gives
him a mock-concerned look and Jeongguk rolls his eyes.

“I don’t think that’s going to be an issue.”

He ends up being right.

--

Taehyung is so relieved at how normal things are that he doesn’t think that there might be
something wrong with that. It’s Jimin – of course – who makes him think twice.

He’s going through his heat and it’s a rough one. Jimin has been giving him space for the day so
far, but after Taehyung has spent hours alone in his room fucking himself with a vibrator and
picturing someone above him – no one in particular, of course – he feels the wave of heat being
replaced with the usual intense neediness. As though he can sense it (which he probably can
considering that he had been through enough of his own heats by now) Jimin knocks almost
immediately after Taehyung’s cleaned himself up and enters the room.

“How are you doing?” His voice is knowingly sympathetic, trailing his fingertips over Taehyung's
shoulder. Taehyung whimpers and he would be embarrassed if it were anyone else, but he trusts
Jimin with his life. He knows the other would never judge him or treat him unfairly. Besides,
Taehyung has been there for him when he’s on his heat, so he never hesitates to repay him and
vice versa. They know, being omegas, what the other needs to get through their heat as safely and
securely as possible.
“Shit.” Taehyung wipes his forehead and then snuggles into his bed. The room probably stinks of
sweat and slick, but Jimin doesn’t react. Taehyung reaches his hands up and makes grabby motions
in his friend’s direction. “Jimin. Cuddles. Please?”

Jimin chuckles as he walks forward, hopping into the bed and wrapping his arms around Taehyung.
He’s ever-so-slightly smaller than him and his build is too soft, too slender, but it’s better than
nothing. Still, Taehyung can’t help but imagine what it might feel like to have someone large and
solid pulling him against them, whispering into his hair and comforting him… and then he feels a
rush of self-hatred. God, and he’d thought he was meant to be an alpha? How long had he been this
pathetic for? Was it just because of the hormones that had moved in and laid claim over his body?
Or had he always been this way? Always been this needy, clingy, emotional?

“What are you thinking about?” Jimin resumes Taehyung’s earlier attempts at pushing his sweaty
hair off of his forehead. All Taehyung can think of is how his hands are so small and his touch is
too light.

“About how much I want a dick in my ass.”

“Besides that, asshole.” Jimin smacks his chest and then quickly begins caressing it when the
younger boy flinches away. In the state he’s in, anything but physical affection makes him anxious
and it's difficult to locate the line between sincerity and joking. He had paid attention in his heat
lessons, no matter how much it had pissed him off that he needed to do so. He knows all about
his omega side, how it's at its strongest when he's on his heat and how his most primitive needs
become the dominant ones. It's one of the worst parts about being an omega, he thinks. Deep down
he knows, he knows that he's fine, safe and wrapped up in his bedroom with his best friend. Of
course he is. But his mind is hazy, whether he likes it or not. He has that annoying, whiny voice in
his head that begs for attention and love and affection and doesn't really understand rationality or
logic. If Jimin hits him, he's going to wonder what he did wrong. Jimin should know that and he
quickly realises because he flashes him a sincere look. “Sorry."

Taehyung bites his lip, considering lying to Jimin. He decides that it'd be suicidal to do so,
knowing Jimin will find out somehow. He sighs and pours his heart out instead. He can’t really
help it when his emotions are running so wildly. “I just- I just hate this so much. I hate being an
omega. I feel like someone, somewhere, messed up when they were making me. Like, I was
supposed to be something else and they fucked up and now I’m stuck with two identities.”

“Oh Tae.” Jimin smiles softly down at him. “You know that’s not how it is. You were born an
omega.”

“I wish I wasn’t though.” Taehyung dons a petulant pout. “I don’t want to be the one being
comforted, I want to do the comforting.”

“You can still comfort other people as an omega. Some might argue we’re the more comforting
ones.”

“You know that’s not what I mean. I mean in moments like this. I should be the one holding onto
my omega, telling them it’ll be okay. You know, all that shit.”

Jimin regards him in silence for a moment as he slows his petting hand.

“Are you sure that that’s what this is about? Wanting to comfort others? Or is it about wanting to
comfort someone in particular?”

Taehyung squints at him, saying, “I don’t know what you’re implying, but you’re wrong."
“Come on, Taehyung. Talk to me, baby.” When Taehyung remains silent he sighs. “This is about
Jeongguk.”

“No, it’s not.”

“It is.”

“It’s not.”

“Taehyung-”

“What does this have to do with him? Why does he always need to be brought up whenever we get
onto this topic?”

Jimin rolls his eyes and pulls his hand away. Taehyung feels something ugly and needy inside of
him protesting at the lost, wanting to reach out and pull Jimin's hand back, but he resists that urge.

“Do you really want me to spell it out for you, Taehyung?”

“No, not really.”

“You and Jeongguk want to be together. You know it. He knows it. We all know it. You’ve had
the biggest crushes on each other since, like, day one. You were all set up, you guys were pretty
much ready to get together. But then you came back an omega and it’s like all of your plans were
just cancelled. I don’t get it.”

“What plans?” Taehyung spits out. “There were no plans. We never made any arrangements to get
together.”

“Maybe not out loud. But we all knew that that’s what was going to happen. You were supposed to
be the alpha and he was supposed to be the omega and you were supposed to look after him
because he was your little baby, right? That was the plan?”

“I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

“You can’t keep running away, Tae. I get it, you didn’t want to be an omega. I understood, at first.
We all understood how heartbroken you were when you came back as an omega because we knew
that it meant you and Guk couldn't be together. Because we all were so sure that Jeongguk was
going to be an omega too, which was stupid, by the way. We should have known better after what
happened with you." Jimin laughs dryly, leaning back. "I get all of that, Tae. But what I don't
understand is why now, now that you know that Jeongguk is an alpha and that you two
can definitely be together, you suddenly don’t seem to want it? Just because you don’t get to be the
one in control? Are you for real?"

Taehyung's brows pinch together as he presses into the pillows, craving Jimin's hand back in his
hair. “I don't- It’s not about control.”

“Then what is it about? Because I don’t think you understand that Jeongguk is just waiting, waiting
for you to decide what you want.” Taehyung’s eyes widen and Jimin must notice because he
regards him with a flat expression. “You know he loves you, right?”

“Uh…”

“Are you going to make up your mind soon? Or are you going to wait until he gives up and thinks
you just want to be friends? Is that what you want, Taehyung? Do you just want him to be your
friend forever? Are you seriously letting some stupid hormones get in the way of something you’ve
been waiting for for seven years? Are you going to wait until he gives up and moves onto an
omega who doesn’t have a weird identity crisis?” Jimin has pulled away, sitting up and it feels like
he’s towering over Taehyung, who stares up at him with wide eyes. Jimin's voice starts to become
louder, his words more venomous, as though he's been holding this back for quite some time. By
the way his voice strains, it sounds like he has been. “So, you don’t like being an omega? Okay,
that’s fine. But if you keep letting that be the thing that stops you from getting together with
Jeongguk then you’re an idiot, Tae. You’re holding the both of you back. It makes everything
awkward for everyone else too, watching how upset Jeongguk is when you keep your distance
from him, knowing we can't do anything!”

Taehyung is too shocked to cry and Jimin is so furious that he doesn’t notice the way he trembles
when he roughly wrestles his way out of the sheets. Either that or he chooses to ignore it. He
doesn’t even turn around when he leaves, slamming the door behind him, the sound rattling
through Taehyung's bones.

Taehyung spends the rest of the night staring at the ceiling, too upset to deal with the pain as the
last of his heatwaves come around. Something hurt and masochistic decides he'll endure instead,
his insides cramping up as he sits through wave after wave of pain.

He feels like that’s what he’s been doing for a while now. Not dealing with his issues and trying to
endure them instead.

He knows that Jimin is right about everything. He loves Jeongguk. He really does. So why are they
just friends? Why have they continued skirting around this… thing between them? Why can’t they
just get together?

Is Taehyung really holding them back?

--

Taehyung avoids Jimin like he’s got six types of STDs, sneaking out of their dorm early in the
morning and spending the night at Jeongguk’s instead. At least the man in question doesn’t know
about the turmoil going on in Taehyung’s head. Things between them are normal. They’re best
friends. Just like before. Just like neither of them want.

Whatever. Taehyung is a good actor. He can ignore this.

They play video games during the day. Jeongguk doesn’t question Taehyung has been spending
most of his time with him for the last few weeks, seeming to be happy that he’s even there.
He beats him several times in several different games before Taehyung gives up and suggests they
watch a movie together.

They sit on either side of the couch and it’s not fucking awkward at all. Nope. Not when all
Taehyung can think about is how they used to sit, curled up against each other, completely carefree
and craving the other’s touch.

At some point Jeongguk stretches and puts his arm around the back of the couch, the move sending
a wave of his scent towards Taehyung, who shudders.

“Can you please…” He trails off, not even knowing what he wants to ask.

Can you please stop smelling so delicious? Can you please get away from me? Can you please
come closer?
“What?”

“Never mind.”

Jeongguk frowns at him. Taehyung stares resolutely at the TV, not seeing whatever is on the
screen.

“You seem... off.”

“How?”

“I don’t know, like I’ve pissed you off or something.”

“You haven’t done anything.” Taehyung speaks in a monotone, his mouth set in a flat line as
he barely spares him a hardened glance. “Why would you have pissed me off? You’ve done
literally nothing wrong. I’m the one who fucks things up. Not you. You’re the perfect one,
remember?”

Jeongguk blinks at him a few times, lips parted and eyes wide.

“Are you sure I haven’t pissed you off?”

“Positive.”

Jeongguk doesn’t push any further but Taehyung can see his furrowed brow out of the corner of his
eye. It doesn’t smooth out, even as the credits roll.

Taehyung’s being a bitch, he knows, but at this point he's nothing but a ticking time-bomb. The
longer he spends next to Jeongguk but not next to him, the louder the roaring of blood in his ears,
the tighter the muscles in his back become.

Am I really holding him back?

When the television goes black and Jeongguk doesn't move or say anything, Taehyung is about
ready to explode. His fists have clenched and his jaw is locked. He hears nothing but Jimin's voice
in his head. Soon, the worried and sad thoughts in his mind morph, transforming into something
more volatile and indignant.

Why is Jeongguk the victim here? Why is Taehyung the bad guy? Okay, so he hadn’t made any
moves yet, but he doesn’t see Jeongguk making any indication that he wants more and he’s the
fucking alpha. That’s what he’s supposed to do, isn’t he? Taehyung isn’t supposed to be the one
chasing.

“Tae…” Jeongguk’s hand on his shoulder makes him jump. He swirls around to face him and he
must look rather wild because Jeongguk immediately pulls his hand back and stares at him with
wary eyes. “Talk to me. What’s going on? What have I done?”

“Like I said," Taehyung's lips pull up into a sardonic smile, "you couldn’t possibly have done
anything wrong. So, stop asking that.” Taehyung stands up from the couch, pocketing his phone.

“Why do you keep saying that?” Jeongguk starts to look angry as well, finally becoming tired of
Taehyung’s attitude. Finally becoming tired of Taehyung.

Are you going to wait until he gives up and moves onto an omega who doesn’t have a weird
identity crisis?
“Well, it’s true isn’t it? You can’t do anything wrong because you’re the flawless, young alpha.
You’re the one who has to wait for me, not the other way around. Well I’m sorry, but not everyone
has the luxury of knowing what they want and how to get it. Some of us get fucked in life, okay
Jeongguk? Some of us aren’t naturally talented at everything and we have to make up for that with
actual effort and hard work. But then that’s not good enough anyway, is it?”

Taehyung laughs somewhat hysterically, feels the tears pricking at his eyes and pushes them away.
Not now, please.

“Tae-hyung, I honestly have no clue what you’re talking about. But I want to make it better.”
Jeongguk’s voice is soft, like he’s speaking to a shaking kitten. “Tell me how I can fix it.”

“It’s not your problem to fix, right? This is all my fault. It doesn’t matter what I do, it won’t
change.” Taehyung wants to smash his head against the nearest wall, wants to punch his fist
through a window and watch his fingers bleeding. He'd do anything, endure any amount of pain, to
get rid of this wretched helplessness inside of him. There's a swirling, undulating mass of dark,
bitter energy that manifested in his stomach as Jimin spoke to him and now has spread throughout
his body like cancer, making his bones brittle and sapping the life from his eyes.

Taehyung is distantly aware of the fact that he's being overly dramatic, of the fact that Yoongi and
Namjoon can undoubtedly hear this entire conversation from their rooms. He doesn’t care. He’s
angry and needs to get rid of this tension that has been hanging around him ever since his heat,
ever since his bedroom door slammed on him and his best friend pushed him away.

“I- I can’t do this anymore. What are we, Jeongguk?”

Jeongguk’s eyes widen further and he looks a little like he just developed whiplash.

“What? What do you mean?”

“You love me, right?” Taehyung watches the other’s reaction desperately, watches how his eyes
flicker with terror and then confusion.

“I don’t- I don’t understand what’s happening right now. You need to calm down, Taehyung.”

“Do you not love me?” His voice cracks. “Are we just friends, is that it? Of course, that’s what we
are. That’s what we’ve always been. So, this is fine right? What we’ve been doing, it's okay? We
can just be friends and there’s nothing wrong with that, right? Tell me I'm right, Jeongguk, please.”
Taehyung is pacing, his muscles twitchy, his legs itching to run.

“Taehyung, calm down.” Jeongguk’s usually meek voice is unexpectedly firm and authoritative
and Taehyung immediately stills. He feels two hands coming down on his shoulders and pulling
him to face the alpha. His insides quiver and quake. “What is all of this about? I'd think you were
drunk but you smell fine. Talk to me Tae. You’re not acting like yourself.”

Taehyung stares at him, at his sharp jawline and his piercing eyes. When he's like this, when his
brow bone is showing under his fringe and his eyes are intense, he doesn't seem like the same boy
Taehyung had babied throughout high school. He doesn't look innocent anymore, he doesn't look
like he needs Taehyung to take care of him, to shield him from the world. He likes look an adult,
like an alpha.

The rational part of Taehyung's brain has long since shut off, Jeongguk's narrowed eyes on him
making him restless. He leans forward and presses his lips to Jeongguk’s, because it's the only
thing he can think of doing in that moment.
The other man freezes, his entire body stiffening in shock. Taehyung whimpers and presses harder,
steps closer. After a moment Jeongguk reacts, except it’s not how Taehyung had pictured it might
be.

Taehyung can’t deny the pain that lashes through him when Jeongguk wrenches away, pushing
him back. The sting of him refusing to kiss back hurts, yes, but honestly, that’s not the problem
here. Jeongguk’s reaction is totally expected, warranted even. Taehyung wouldn’t kiss someone
who was rambling the way he was, even if he did love them.

But there are some things in life that you just don’t do.

He can hear his professors voice in his head, talking about how important it is that you never let
anyone near you when you're on your heat, no unless you trust them with your life.

Because, you don’t push away an omega who’s on their heat, you just don’t. If you’re present
during that time it means they trust you with their whole being. If they trust you and have opened
up that part of themselves to you, to abuse them, yell at them, or physically hurt them is a huge
betrayal of that trust and it can be detrimental, catastrophic even.

Jimin had already hurt Taehyung and he was an anxious wreck because of it. All he could think
about was how angry his best friend had looked, how exasperated.

I was getting in the way, Taehyung’s swamp-filled mind says, despite the fact that he had been in
his own bedroom at the time. It doesn't matter if it doesn't make sense. It's that same whiny,
illogical voice he gets when he's on his heat, only this time it won't go away. Normally it stops
when the last heatwave subsides, fading away into something more manageable as the heat cycle
starts all over again. For some reason, though, it has followed him, whispering in Taehyung's ear
like a devil on his shoulder.

I was an inconvenience to Jimin. I made Jimin angry. I should just get out of his way, out of
everyone’s way.

Since the moment he sat down on the couch next to Jeongguk, he had been fighting this voice,
wrestling with his own sub-conscious. He had known that he had been making things between
Jeongguk and himself tense for no reason, had been aware of how feral he had been acting. But that
voice was so much louder. Because everyone knows that a hurt omega is hard to separate from
their human selves, just waiting for praise, for reassurance that, ‘No baby, you would never get in
the way. I love you, everyone loves you.’

If he had thought he was being dramatic earlier, nothing could have prepared him for when
Jeongguk pushed him away. He stumbles and falls to his knees, gasping. He can feel something
inside of him tearing, so painful that he swears in the silence of the dorm he can hear it, hear the
grating sound of tearing flesh. He heaves and clutches at his chest, wishing he could reach inside
and take whatever was broken out, stick it together and put it back shiny and new.

Jeongguk is frozen, his hand on his chest, his breath coming in broken pants. “Taehyung, I…” He
trails off. The voice fills in the blanks for him.

I hate you. I can’t be around you anymore. I don’t want to be your alpha.

Taehyung chokes on a sob and then, rising on unsteady legs, pushes passed him.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’ll just get out of your way.” He ducks his lead low as he avoids looking at
a bewildered Jeongguk.
He sprints for the door, using every last ounce of his energy to get to it before Jeongguk can react.
He runs and runs and runs, calling on all of his strength to make it as far as he can, to put as much
distance as he can between himself and Jeongguk. He knows he must look crazy to all of the
students that he passes by on the campus, to all of the pedestrians in the city that he shoves his way
passed.

It isn’t until his legs feel like jelly and his lungs like they might implode if he takes one more
breath, that he collapses in a heap.

He has no clue where he is, some inner suburban area with cute little middle-class dreamhouses
and a high school nearby. Taehyung sits down against a chain link fence and looks up at the young
teenagers frolicking in the school yard. He feels an unjust hatred towards all of them. They don’t
know how lucky they are, enjoying life at its most uncomplicated phase. Free to love whoever they
want, to act however they like. No societal expectations on how they should and shouldn’t behave.
No rules about how an alpha should always speak this way and an omega should never act this
way. Taehyung looks down at his shoes and studies every individual scuff mark on them until
they’re all blurred together and he can’t see anything anymore. Then he gives up and openly sobs,
sitting there in the middle of some 1950s housewife’s dream world, crying his eyes out and
probably making everyone around him want nothing to do with him. He’s good at that, he thinks.

No one has followed him, he dimly observes as he pushes himself up from the ground after a good
amount of bawling. He had maybe secretly wished that Jeongguk would come after him, find him,
make sure he’s safe, tell him that he’s worried about him, tell him he loves him and he would
never reject him as his omega, kiss him and make everything better.

Taehyung angrily kicks at the fence, huffing. Of course, none of that happened, nor will it.
Jeongguk doesn’t love him, it was clearly written all over his face. Even if it hadn’t have been, he
would never reject his omega like that if he did. Jeongguk would never cause pain to someone he
loves, unlike Taehyung. He laughs bitterly to himself as he walks away from the fence, heading in
the general direction that his instincts tell him to go.

He has always been a ball of barely restrained energy, destroying everything in its path and leaving
those who are nearby in a daze. He had liked to think that he is interesting, fun and different. He
realises now that he is destructive and hurtful. His only friends, the people he was convinced
would be around for his whole life, don’t want anything to do with him. He can’t do anything right.
He can’t even present right, something every other wolf in the world does naturally. Because
honestly, who ever spent this long denying their own identity? Trying to convince themselves that
they weren’t the label they had been presented with?

Taehyung is an omega. He admits it to himself. He doesn’t like that fact, but he can’t change it. He
just has to accept it. He’s weak, needy. Wild, hoping that a brave alpha will be willing to follow in
his path and clean up all the messes he leaves behind. Now, he’s a rejected omega, having been
physically torn from Jeongguk’s pack. It’s not like he was officially a part of it anyway,
considering that Jeongguk is way too young to actually look after a pack and Namjoon is the one
who everyone expects to ask them all to join his pack one day. But when you spend so much time
around an alpha, you start to fall into their life by accident and become packmates in a unique way,
instincts making invisible bonds grow, love making them strong.

When Jeongguk had pushed him away, he had severed that connection, a connection that they had
been building for almost a decade. Taehyung hadn’t realised that that energy had been inside of
him for years and years until it had been ripped away from him. It wasn't something he ever really
thought about, the constant thrumming energy of Jeongguk in his mind. Now that it's gone and his
mind plays nothing but radio silence, he realises that he ruined the one thing in his life that had
been constant for so long.

Now he is alone.

The way it should be.

--

He endures what is undoubtedly the most depressing walk home in the history of the world. The
spends the whole time thinking nothing but self-deprecating thoughts and it only gets worse the
longer he spends in his own mind. He ran so far that by the time he's back on the lamppost-lit
campus, the voice has started saying some pretty awful things. His primitive self is broken and
seeing how his regular self isn't doing too much better, it's easy for them to agree: we should both
just give up.

He’s exhausted when he enters his dorm, doing his best to be silent. He really doesn’t want to see
Jimin, see the disgust on his face, how much he must hate Taehyung now.

Well, as he’s already established by now, the universe hates him because Jimin is the first thing he
lays his eyes on once he’s closed the front door. He is curled up in a ball not a few feet from the
threshold, fast asleep on the floor. Taehyung stares at him with wide eyes, takes in his dishevelled
state, his body surrounded by balls of used tissues. He sighs because he knows there is no way he
can get around him without waking him up.

Jimin immediately stirs at the noise. “Wha-”

He blinks his eyes open, looking around the room before he settles on Taehyung. For a moment he
looks at him with crusty, half-lidded eyes and Taehyung stiffens, trying to mentally prepare himself
for whatever he’s going to say. Is he going to kick Taehyung out of the dorm? He won’t blame
him. Now that they aren’t friends all of Taehyung’s annoying qualities will be unbearable as a
roommate. Jimin won't tell him how cute he is for constantly knocking things over and clumsily
dropping things. He'll yell at him instead, irritated by how careless he can be. He will no longer
cook him dinners, why should he? Taehyung should be able to cook for himself. Jimin shouldn't be
obligated to provide for him, to carry him on his shoulders. Taehyung watches Jimin’s eyes widen,
like he’s only just then woken up, knowing he's probably about to tell him to get out and never
come back.

“Tae- Taehyung?” His voice is crackling, barely above a whisper. Taehyung isn’t really sure what
to do, so he moves to turn back towards the door. Jimin jumps up at lightning speed and lunges at
him, arms wrapping around him and clinging tight. Taehyung stumbles and falls back against the
wood, holding both of their weights. “Taehyung!” Jimin wails. “Oh my god- Taehyung, I’m so
sorry. I’m so sorry, I’m sorry.”

Taehyung gapes down at his sobbing friend, watches him shake in his arms and pat at his chest like
he can't believe that he's real. The tickling sensation of a tear slipping down his own cheek
distracts Taehyung, but he forces himself to stay calm. Jimin isn’t sorry, he hates Taehyung.

“I’m sorry, Taehyung. Please forgive me, I should never have treated you like that. I didn't even
realise until Jeongguk- Oh god, I’ve been so worried, where were you? I can’t believe I talked to
you like that, I should never have- And it took me so long to realise. Oh god, I’m sorry. Are you
okay? Are you hurt? Oh- oh, shit, I need to tell everyone. Everyone is looking for you everywhere.
You scared me, where the fuck did you go? Don’t ever do that to me again.”

Jimin cries profusely into his shirt, his grip iron tight on Taehyung’s biceps as his whole body
trembles. Taehyung can only watch him, not quite believing that this is happening and certainly not
understanding why.

Everyone is looking for him? He said that, right? What for? No one cares about him. Maybe...
maybe they hate him so much that they want to hurt him? Maybe that's why they're looking for
him, because they want to beat him. It's the only logical answer, Taehyung decides.

Jimin pulls back, looking uncharacteristically ugly with his blotchy face and snotty nose, shaking
Taehyung and then seeming to think twice before he takes to petting his arms instead.

“Why did you run like that? You should have- you should have come to me. I can look after you. I
love you. I promise.”

“No you don’t.” Taehyung shakes his head and pulls Jimin’s arms away.

“I do, Taehyung. I love you so much. You’re my best friend.”

“No.” Taehyung would walk away if he wasn't trapped against the door. He settles for crossing his
arms, forming a protective wall. “No, you don’t, you don’t want me around. No one does. No one
should, I just get in the way.”

Jimin, frowning, raises his hand. Taehyung flinches. The other hesitates, fingers faltering in the air
before freezing entirely.

“Fuck." His mouth opens and closes a few times. "Oh fuck, Taehyung. Oh fuck, I didn’t think-” He
looks at him with wide eyes as he seems to understand something. Taehyung doesn’t really get it,
but he watches impassively as Jimin stumbles away, grabbing his phone off of the floor, babbling
to himself. “Shit, shit, shit. Okay, calm down, Jimin. We can fix this. Just call Namjoon, he’ll
know what to do.”

Taehyung decides that Jimin must have given up on lying to him, on telling him that he loves him.
Why had he even tried in the first place? To make him feel better? To get him to leave faster? Well
it worked; Taehyung really doesn’t want to stay here wishing that those words might be true.

They’re not. He hears a resolute voice inside of his head. Jimin wouldn’t hurt you if he loved you.
He wouldn’t have said those things to you. He hates you, that's why he did that. Jeongguk hates
you, that's why he broke your bond.

The words are more grating than ever, sharp like blades within his mind. He has to get away from
them, from the voice, from the words. He moves to open the door, ready to run even though his
body feels like it's on the verge of caving in, but Jimin’s sudden yelp stops him.

“Wait, Taehyung. Don’t go anywhere, it’s not safe.” He rushes forward, phone in hand and screen
showing an outgoing call. “What's wrong with you? Don't you understand how dangerous it is for
you to be out there? It’s a wonder you weren’t attacked already! Honestly, what were you- no wait,
wait, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be saying that." Tae stares at him, confused by his behaviour. When
Jimin speaks again, his voice is quiet and lilting, almost singing as he says, "Listen, Taehyung. I
need you to stay here with me. Just stay, please. For me?”

Taehyung blinks at him a few times, barely processing half of what he says and not even
registering the other half as actual words. Only one part actually makes it into his mind.

For me?

For Jimin? For Jimin… Taehyung will do anything. Even if he hates him, he’ll still try to protect
him. Even if he doesn’t want anything to do with Taehyung, Taehyung will try to preserve the
other’s soft heart, to promote his wide smile and squinting eyes. He knew from very early on in
their friendship that Jimin deserves the world and that Taehyung would make sure that he got it
one day.

He nods and then watches Jimin slump in relief as Taehyung walks over and collapses onto the
couch. His head feels so heavy as he lets it fall onto the arm of the chair, the world in front of him
spinning, shifting and tilting. Had it been doing that before, or did it just start when he sat down?
Were there insects crawling all over the walls and ceiling while Jimin was talking earlier, or did
they just start doing that now? He tilts his head back so that he can stare at the ceiling, watching in
awe as a particularly large centipede crawls along the ceiling in circles, before it fades away,
disappearing into the realm it came from.

“Shit- Namjoon-hyung? Sorry, I was- No, it’s fine, I just found him. He’s here. At our dorm. He
just walked in.” Taehyung closes his eyes, listening to Jimin’s voice but not understanding his
speech. Why isn't Jimin freaking out about all of the bugs all over everything? “Uh, not really. No,
he’s not... he's fucked up, hyung. I don’t think he’s…” A long silence, then: “Fuck. Do you think
that might be what happened? Jeongguk did say- oh shit, okay, okay, just get here fast, okay?
Please? Okay, good. Thanks, hyung.”

There’s a clatter and Taehyung flinches when he feels something touching his arm. He turns
towards the feeling, but his eyes had closed at some point. He opens his eyes to see Jimin looking
down at him with a sad expression. He's got bugs crawling through his hair, on his skin and over
his face, but he doesn't seem worried by that.

“Taehyungie? It’s me Jimin.” Taehyung frowns, head lolling on the couch, because no shit it’s
Jimin. “Can I please touch you? I promise I won’t hurt you.”

Taehyung stares blankly. Would Jimin hurt him? He used to think that he wouldn’t, used to think
that if there was anyone in the world who would never hurt him it would be Jimin. But he did, he
did hurt him and now he has no reason not to do it again. He doesn’t love Taehyung. Taehyung
doesn't love Taehyung. Jimin can hurt him all he likes, he doesn't mind.

Jimin takes his silence as an okay and slowly reaches his hand out. Taehyung watches it come
closer and when his hand finally touches his forehead he jerks away instinctively. But Jimin
presses forward, moving with him. He starts patting Taehyung’s hair down, threading his fingers
through the ashen locks and untangling them as he shushes him. Taehyung didn’t even realise he’d
been making any noise, but then he hears a whimper and realises it’s coming from him. He can’t
help it. He hadn’t had anyone show him affection in what feels like an eternity. He’s been lonely,
so lonely. It feels so nice to be touched. Jimin smiles at him as he pushes weakly into the touch,
savouring the feeling before it’s inevitably torn away.

He’s crying again, he realises. Silent tears that escape his eyes trickle down across his face as he
lies there. He’s not sure how much time passes. At some point he lifts a hand in front of his face to
stare at it. It doesn't look like he own hand, doesn't feel like it either. He reaches forwards, clasps at
it with his right hand, using his left to trace along the skin. He can't feel his own touch and he
doesn't remember his hands being so small, but it must be his hand so he just lets it go with what
might be a giggle, might be a sob. He feels like his mind is floating further and further away. He
feels something touching him all over, touching his shoulders, softly at first and then shaking him.
He feels something tapping his forehead and something jabbing into his side.

He just wants to sleep.

And then-
“Taehyung? Hyung, it’s me.” He feels a hand on his forehead and a spark of electricity across his
skin and he gasps. He feels his eyes flying open even though they had never been closed, or at least
he thought so. His vision swims and bends and then rapidly clears. He can see faces, people leaning
over him. “Tae? Tae- fuck, why is he like this? How do we fix it, hyung? Please.”

There are sounds coming from everywhere. His skin doesn't feel so thick and fuzzy like before,
Taehyung recognising with sudden clarity that there are hands touching him, his head, his back, his
arms.

“Give him space. He’s coming down now and it’s going to be nasty.”

That’s Namjoon’s voice, Taehyung thinks. Full of authority. An alpha. He whines, reaching his
hands out but letting them fall limply by his side as he realises that he has no clue what he’s
looking to hold.

“Jeongguk, you need to do this for him, okay? It needs to be you.”

Taehyung wants to open his mouth and tell his hyung that Jeongguk isn’t here, wouldn’t want to be
anywhere near him. He swallows the words when he feels strong arms wrapping around him and
he shivers, moving towards the touch. He’s being picked up and his primal self can recognise that
it’s an alpha from the immediate comfort that spreads through his gut.

The world spins and then he’s sitting in someone’s lap, firm thighs beneath his own, a warm chest
pressed against him and those same, strong arms holding him in place. He feels secure, safe. He
snuggles into the warmth and practically purrs when he feels someone stroking his hair.

The more time passes, the more his mind clears. He starts to remember things that he hadn’t even
realised he’d forgotten: walking back from the suburbs, seeing Jimin, seeing his friends file in one
by one with worried expressions. He hears words being spoken around him and starts to understand
them again, starts to make out sentences as he realises that there are people, his friends, talking
about him, to him.

He gradually stops making noises as his rationality returns to him, the voice in his head finally
ceasing, finally leaving him alone.

He’s in his dorm. He knew that already. He’s sat on his couch, or rather he’s sat on someone who
is sat on his couch. He’s got his face tucked into their neck, but he knows by the smell that it’s
Jeongguk. He pulls away slowly and looks around the room. He sees six pairs of eyes staring back
at him with various expressions, but all tinged with the same look of concern.

He inhales sharply and it feels like the first time he’s breathed in a while. He jumps up, scrambling
out of Jeongguk’s hold and tumbling onto the floor. He sees everyone lunge towards him, some of
them stopping themselves, some of them making it to him on the floor but not touching him. Only
Jeongguk actually grabs him, steadying him. Taehyung shoves his hands away and notes the flash
of hurt in his eyes, but he has bigger things to worry about.

“What-” His voice comes out raspy and he clears his throat. He presses a hand to his head, feeling a
dull throb beating against his skull. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Taehyung, you’re okay. You’re in your dorm and you’re safe.” Namjoon steps forward, looking
down at him with a serious expression. “You were going through a disconnect. It looks like you’ve
come out of it, but you were gone for a long time. How do you feel?”

Taehyung gapes at him.

He looks down at his hands. He can hear that same professors voice again, teaching each of
them about the importance of always acknowledging your two selves and to never let one take over
the other. He remembers articles of disconnected omegas who killed themselves, of disconnected
alphas who kill other people. Was that what had happened? Had his omega side taken over his true
self? Is that why the past few hours are disappearing from his working memory, like a dream he’d
just woken up from? Is that why he feels so shitty right now?

“A disconnect?”

“Yes. It’s our fault, not yours.” Taehyung blinks and goes to argue automatically but Namjoon
holds a hand up and shakes his head. “I know what you’re going to say, Taehyung. Just don’t.
You’ve done nothing wrong. We’ve all been terrible friends. All of us.” He looks around at
everyone and they all show the same guilty expression, except for Jimin who is sobbing and
Jeongguk who is pale and shaking. Taehyung’s heart aches. He doesn’t believe his hyung. How is
this not his fault? How is it not his fault that Jimin is crying right now, that everyone looks so
unhappy? Namjoon continues, “We all should have recognised what was happening and given you
the affection you need as an omega. I’m sorry that none of us did that. I myself am especially
sorry. I should have known better. I heard… I knew there were some things going on but I chose to
leave them be and I shouldn’t have. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“I-”

“I know that you weren’t exactly in your right mind, Taehyung, but if you ever feel like you’re
starting to go through a disconnect again, you can’t run away like that. Without a mate it’s nearly
impossible to locate you and with your hormones running wild like that, it’s a wonder you weren’t
attacked. Who knows what might have happened?”

“I don’t understand, I… why would anyone attack me?”

“When you’re in that state, your true self isn’t conscious." Namjoon stops for a moment, thinking
of how to phrase it so that it's easier to understand. "You’re basically sleep-walking. Your most
raw, primitive side takes over and directs you. Do you remember hearing a voice telling you
things, telling you how you should feel?”

Taehyung shivers as he remembers something inside of him telling him to give up. He can
remember the stabbing in his mind, the grating in his ears, the sound of teeth grinding and bones
breaking.

"Yes. There was- there was a voice."

“When you're disconnected from your true self, you’re at your most vulnerable because your
omega is looking for an alpha to comfort them. Anyone could come along and pretend to do that
and then take advantage of you." Namjoon's voice changes as he finishes lecturing. He leans
forward, softly but firmly telling Taehyung, "Next time you feel stressed, please stay in a safe
location. We were really scared.”

“I- sorry.” He looks down and blinks back tears, still feeling lost and now on top of that, ashamed.
He hears Namjoon sigh and when he looks up he’s rubbing his tired eyes.

“It’s okay, Taehyung. Really. We’re all sorry too. But I promise, as the leader I promise, I’m going
to try my hardest to make sure something like this never happens again.”

The others nod their agreement and Taehyung watches them with wide eyes.
“Now, you need to sleep, Taehyungie.” Hoseok speaks up and Taehyung whips his head over to
face him. He’s smiling softly and the look in his eyes makes Taehyung's insides warm. “You
haven’t rested in a while. You’re exhausted.”

Taehyung nods, not bothering to deny it, and then pushes himself up from the floor. They all watch
him like he could fall and shatter, but he ignores them. He still has some pride left that he would
like to preserve.

“Thank you, hyungs,” he whispers as he walks towards his room. They all hear him and he doesn’t
look for their reactions. He just heads to his bed and collapses onto it. He’s out like a light within
moments.

--

In the morning he hobbles out into the kitchenette in their dorm to see Jimin slaving over the
stovetop. He turns the moment Taehyung enters the room and gasps.

“Tae,” he breathes out. “You’re up. Do you want breakfast? I cooked this but I can make you
anything you like. I’m not very good, but I tried. Are you even hungry? I should have asked that
first.”

Taehyung smiles a little at Jimin’s rambling, but then his expression rearranges to one of horror
when he sees his Jimin’s face crumple abruptly.

“What’s wrong, Jimin?”

Jimin makes an awful noise as his hands flying to cover his face.

“I’m sorry, Taehyung." His shoulders shake as he speaks through his sobs. "All of this was my
fault. I should never have brought up such a serious subject when you were on your heat. I
should’ve known. I shouldn’t have pushed you away like that. I’m a fucking omega, I should’ve
realised what I was doing. But I was so stupidly angry that I didn’t even check and you almost
died! Because of me.”

Taehyung's eyes had widened further and further as Jimin spoke, but they bulge at the last part.
“Jimin, I didn’t almost die. I was fine.”

“You could have died! Or worse. You could have been attacked, raped, anything. And it would
have been my fault.”

“Well, I’m here and I’m fine now. So, calm down, please.” Taehyung swallows down a nauseous
feeling. Jimin is feeling guilty because of him.

“You’re not fine though, you think we hate you.” Taehyung blanches, not realising how transparent
he was. Jimin peaks at his expression through his fingers, nodding. “I mistreated you and
traumatised you. I’m so-s-sorry.”

Taehyung's gut twists. He steps forward and wraps his arms around Jimin. He is just as much an
omega as he is; physical affection is much more effective than just words. So Taehyung does
precisely what he would want done to him. He pulls Jimin towards the couch and sits him down on
his lap, mirroring his position with Jeongguk last night.

“Sh, it’s okay, Jiminie.” He strokes the older man's hair just the way he knows that he likes. “I’m
alive and not traumatised. I promise.”
“You flinched any time someone tried to touch you yesterday,” Jimin says sadly into his neck.

Taehyung pulls away slightly, says calmly, “I was scared that someone would hurt me. But I know
you all love me, I do know that. I just might need you to keep reminding me of that over the next
few days, okay? I know you would never hurt someone who you love, not on purpose.”

“But I did hurt you already.” Jimin's mouth twists into a grimace. "I hurt you, Tae."

“But you’ve apologised and I know now that you really care about me. You’re my best friend,
Jimin. Please don’t beat yourself up about this. I need you in my life."

“Are you sure? Taehyung, I did one of the worst things I could’ve done to you.”

“And Jeongguk severed our bond and Namjoon refused to talk to me about it even though he knew
it happened. You aren't the only person who messed up. But I’m not angry, I promise. I just want
things to go back to normal."

There’s silence and then:

“He did what?” Jimin screams. His previously sullen expression is suddenly vicious. “What the-
What the fuck? Why would Jeongguk do that? It doesn’t make sense.”

“I don’t know, Jimin, but you were right. I was holding him back and I think it’s better-”

Jimin slaps a hand over Taehyung’s mouth.

“Don’t you dare say that, Tae.” He looks furious, shaking, face red. Taehyung’s eyes widen. “First
of all, I was bullshitting when I said that. I was just mad, okay? You don’t hold Jeongguk
back. He’s the alpha, if anyone is holding back it’s him and even then, it’s not my place to
comment on your relationship like that. Only you two know what you need.”

Taehyung nods slowly, grimacing under Jimin’s palm.

“Second, don’t you dare give up. Jeongguk loves you, he isn’t going to get anyone better than
you.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Taehyung pulls away and starts to pace. Jimin looks so very confused, so
Taehyung sighs and starts from the beginning, telling him everything he can remember.

“Oh. You kissed him. Holy… fuck.” Jimin looks hilarious with his mouth hung open, but
Taehyung doesn’t laugh.

“Yeah and he didn’t kiss back, he severed our bond instead. I don’t know about you, but that
doesn’t sound very much like something someone in love would do."

“But he is in love with you, Taehyung, he’s just a dumb, shy idiot.” Jimin clenches and unclenches
his fist. “I would talk some sense into him about it but he quickly loses all confidence when you
aren’t around and if I went and yelled at him he’d probably just cry. Besides, I literally just told
you I would stay out of your business and I’m already failing, oh my gosh, what the fuck is wrong
with me?”

Taehyung giggles then, walking up to him and pressing his head against his. The other stills and
watches him laughing before grinning himself.

“You’re my best friend, Jimin. I need you in my business. Otherwise, I’d go crazy. You were right,
even if you think you weren’t. I have been stupid lately, about everything. About being an omega,
about Jeongguk. I need you to slap some sense into me sometimes, just maybe not literally and
definitely not while I’m on my heat, okay?”

Jimin blushes but nods. “Okay, I can do that.” He stops to think and then hesitantly asks, “So…
you’re okay with being an omega?”

Taehyung shrugs. “It's not like I like that I am. But I realised yesterday that I can’t lie to myself
anymore. The whole time that I was by myself, all I wanted was an alpha to follow me and look
after me. If that doesn’t scream omega, then what does?”

Jimin coos and pats his head.

“I’m proud of you, Tae. Things will get better, I promise. One day I bet you’ll be proud to tell
everyone that you’re an omega."

Taehyung just smiles weakly. He hopes that Jimin is right.

“Hey Taehyung.”

“Hm?”

“I love you. A lot.”

“I know you do, Jimin.”

--

He doesn’t see Jeongguk for a week.

He goes through his heat like normal, Jimin hovering over him the whole time he's in-between
waves, making an obvious but not unappreciated effort to pamper Taehyung and carefully avoiding
the topic of Jeongguk during the ordeal. That doesn’t stop Taehyung from thinking about him
though. Bond or not, he loves Jeongguk. He can’t feel his energy anymore, that invisible
connection that they had fostered together, but that doesn’t mean he can’t remember what he looks
like. He shamelessly jacks off to the thought of him and when the heat passes he can’t deny the
emptiness inside of him.

It drives him crazy and he decides that he can’t wait any longer.

He heads over to Jeongguk’s dorm on a sunny afternoon with butterflies in his stomach.

He knocks on the front door and expects Namjoon to answer. His breath hitches when Jeongguk
opens the door. The younger’s eyes widen and he visibly freezes up.

“Jeongguk,” he breathes out. Every word he’d planned on saying disappears into thin air. Jeongguk
looks even more enticing in person.

“Taehyung.” The other sounds equally as breathless before he rearranges his facial features into a
carefully blank expression. “Can I help you?”

Taehyung raises an eyebrow, not buying the coldness for a second. He knows Jeongguk like the
back of his hand.

“Yes, you can. I want my best fucking friend back.”

Jeongguk’s expression immediately slips back into one of shock and Taehyung rolls his eyes.

“Maybe… maybe we shouldn’t…” Jeongguk whispers and Taehyung flinches.

“What?” He immediately reaches a hand to his chest, clutching at the spot, the spot where there
used to be something and now there isn't. “You don’t want to be friends?”

“No, wait.” Jeongguk looks panicked and quickly grabs him by the wrist. “I don’t want that, I
don’t want to not be friends. Taehyung, please don’t run away again.”

Taehyung winces as the grip on his wrist tightens and tightens until he lets out a strained yelp and
Jeongguk gasps and pulls away, staring at his own hand.

“Oh god, oh god. I keep hurting you.” With zero warning, he collapses onto the floor and
Taehyung stares in utter confusion. He’s never seen Jeongguk so vulnerable, especially not since
he’d presented. But right now he’s crying on the ground and Taehyung feels miserable that he’s the
reason he’s like that. He hadn’t thought about the fact that Jeongguk might have been going
through his own shit this whole time. Who had been here for him? He knows Jeongguk; there’s no
way he would have admitted to his hyungs that he wasn’t feeling right. He has clearly been bottling
it all up until this moment, but he can't hold it in any longer and Taehyung feels empathetic. He
knows what that's like.

“Hey,” he speaks softly as he leans down and hesitantly places a hand on the younger’s shoulder,
“don’t talk like that.”

Jeongguk shudders, sniffling, refusing to look up as Taehyung kneels beside him.

“It’s true though. I just keep fucking things up between us. I broke our bond, Taehyung, I didn’t
even mean to do it. It just happened and now we can’t go back.”

“Back to what? We can’t bond again?”

Jeongguk shakes his head and wipes at his tears.

“You can’t reform a bond, you know that. They disappear, forever.”

“Okay, well,” Taehyung takes a deep shuddery breath, but tries his best to stay composed for
Jeongguk’s sake, “fine. But you don’t hate me, right?”

Jeongguk’s head whips up and he immediately grabs Taehyung by the shoulders, his touch
surprisingly gentle where his eyes are wild.

“Of course not, of course not, Tae. I could never ever hate you. Please don’t think that.”

“Relax. I don’t think that. I know you wouldn’t throw our whole friendship away for something so
silly.”

“Are you sure? Because if you ever got hurt by me…” Taehyung brings his hands up to caress
Jeongguk’s cheeks, going by instincts. The younger leans into his touch.

“Jeongguk, it’s alright. We’ve hurt each other before and we’ll undoubtedly do it again. But that’s
okay. What matters is that we always come right back to each other, yeah?”

Jeongguk nods.

“No matter what?” His voice cracks and his cheeks colour. Taehyung is once again reminded of
the fact that Jeongguk is two years younger than him. Alpha or not, he's not an emotional brick
wall. He's a sensitive guy and he needs reassurances just like Taehyung does.

“Yeah.”

Jeongguk seems to visibly relax before he chuckles, sniffing and wiping his nose.

“What?” Taehyung cocks his head.

“Nothing, it’s just… don’t you think it’s funny? Here I am, crying like an omega and you’re
comforting me like an alpha.”

Taehyung isn’t sure he does find it funny, but he smiles anyway. When Jeongguk stands up,
Taehyung pushes forward and wraps his arms around him. Jeongguk stumbles back, clearly not
expecting the sudden affection, before he returns the gesture. Taehyung sighs in relief as he feels
those strong arms caging him, Jeongguk’s head on his shoulder and breathing against him.

“But I’m not an alpha.” Taehyung whispers, his breath travelling over Jeongguk’s ear. “I’m an
omega, Jeongguk. Nothing feels more right than having you look after me like this, like you did
last week. I feel like I’m home.” His cheeks burn as he admits this, but it’s true and he’s sick of
hiding things from Jeongguk.

Taehyung can see from up close the way Jeongguk’s skin erupts with goosebumps and feel his
muscles tighten around him. Taehyung lets out a pleased little noise at the feeling of being secure
and Jeongguk groans.

“So, now what do we do?” Jeongguk pulls back and looks deeply into his eyes. Taehyung is
reminded of their kiss, but quickly forces himself to focus on something else. It's not as pleasant of
a memory as he'd like it to be.

“We form a new bond.” He shrugs like it’s obvious, not like he’d spent days trying to think of this
solution that he's only sort of satisfied with.

“It won’t be the same,” Jeongguk speaks softly, tracing his thumb over the skin of Taehyung’s
cheek. “I know that we’re still friends the same way, but we’ll never feel that connection the same
way. It’ll be different.”

“Is that such a bad thing?” Taehyung says, voice quiet, eye cast down to the ground. There’s a
heavy silence.

What if they need this? What if the connection they had had been built on the wrong foundation?
What if their bond was formed around the idea of alpha Taehyung looking after omega Jeongguk
and not around appreciating the other for what they are as people, not as labels? What if their bond
had been unhealthy to begin with?

Taehyung wants to say this out loud, but it seems that he doesn’t need to. Jeongguk searches his
eyes, seeming to look into his soul and Taehyung can only stare back into his doe eyes with poorly-
concealed infatuation.

“Maybe it’s not.” He whispers the words, then brings his thumb down to Taehyung’s lips, tracing
it across the bottom one. Taehyung’s lips part automatically, his breath coming in shallow gasps.
Jeongguk leans forward.

“Ah, shit.”
They split apart faster than lightning, both panting far too heavily considering the fact that they
were doing literally nothing. Taehyung whips around to see Namjoon and Yoongi standing in the
hall outside the dorm, both looking extremely regretful.

“Uh, hi,” Taehyung says, pretending as though they hadn’t just been caught in an intimate moment.
Jeongguk doesn’t have the same social finesse apparently.

“You two have the fucking worst timing.” He growls and Taehyung glances back to see his fists
clenched and shaking.

“Don’t try to fuck your omega at the open front door if you don’t want to be interrupted.” Yoongi
is completely unapologetic as he brushes past Taehyung, who turns scarlet. Namjoon looks like he
wants to die. Taehyung doesn’t want to see Jeongguk’s face. He’s not sure if he’s more
embarrassed by the idea of them fucking (not that he hasn't thought of that before, but it's different
when he standing right next to the guy he's picturing) or Yoongi referring to him as Jeongguk’s
omega. Is that what he is? Is that what he could be? With their severed bond it’s harder than ever
to picture, but Taehyung realises how much he loves the sound of that. To belong to Jeongguk… to
be Jeongguk’s only one and to have him as his alpha… it sends chills down his spine.

It doesn't matter now. The atmosphere has been tainted with awkwardness. Taehyung clears his
throat, stuttering out, “I- I should go. I’ll see you guys around.”

He darts back out of the dorm and quickly trots down the hall to the elevator. He stares down the
corridor as he waits for the door to close, but no one appears. The doors slide closed and the
elevator jolts. Taehyung sighs as he collapses back against the metal walls.

Jeongguk didn't follow him.

Why doesn’t he ever follow me?

He mentally kicks himself for his pathetic line of thoughts. He’s not a princess. He doesn’t need
Jeongguk to look after him. He’s a strong, independent young man. He has needs, yes. He needs an
alpha who will be there for him and he needs Jeongguk, god does he need him so bad and- where
was he going with this again?

He shakes his head as the elevator chimes and the doors slide open.

He takes one step forward and then freezes.

Jeongguk is panting at the parted doors, looking like he just ran three flights of stairs in under
twenty seconds, probably because that's exactly what he did and Taehyung is stuck to the spot,
unable to form words. Even as Jeongguk steps into the elevator and pushes him back until he’s
pressed into the corner, he can’t really react, even as he hears the doors slide shut and then
Jeongguk’s lips crash into his, making his teeth press up uncomfortably against his own mouth.

It’s only when he feels the jolt of the elevator and the vibrations against his back as it starts moving
that his brain catches up and he melts into Jeongguk’s embrace. He whines in the back of his throat
as he kisses him back.

His lips are so soft, Taehyung thinks, despite the intensity of the kiss. He has imagined this
moment so many times in so many different scenarios, but it was nothing compared to the real
thing, the real warmth of Jeongguk’s lips pressing desperately onto his own. Jeongguk holds
Taehyung’s jaw, keeping his head where he wants it as he angles his mouth over his, pressing their
lips together, pulling away and then kissing him again, harder. His other hand is braced against the
wall beside Taehyung. Taehyung’s own hands aren’t nearly as stationary, flying to Jeongguk’s
chest at first before sliding up to his shoulders, tugging at them in a vain effort to bring their bodies
closer together. Then he slides them up further into his hair, threading his fingers through the thick,
dark strands and tugging. Jeongguk’s chest rumbles as he growls in response. The sound travels
through Taehyung, spreads all over his body.

He feels Jeongguk’s tongue swiping over his bottom lip and he opens his mouth just as the elevator
dings and-

“Are you kidding me? The front door didn’t work so you tried the elevator instead?” They rip
apart, Taehyung’s vision blurry for a moment as he brings his head back to reality. Yoongi looks so
many levels of disgusted that Taehyung almost feels ashamed, but Jeongguk’s hand slides down to
his waist to hold him and he can only feel joy instead. Pure, unadulterated joy because fucking
finally.

“Fuck off,” Jeongguk says eloquently, grinning.

“Have you ever heard of a bedroom? They’re great for this kind of thing.” Yoongi sighs as he steps
into the elevator and presses the ground floor button. He gives Jeongguk a pointed look and the
younger pouts before walking out of the doors.

“You and I both know we’d get interrupted in there as well.” He says and then looks at Taehyung.
His cheeks are flushed and he has a stupid smile on his face that makes him look like the 13-year-
old that Taehyung had remembered thinking was adorable when they were first introduced. He
knows he doesn’t look any better, feels like he’s been teleported back in time as well, back to when
they were younger and carefree, a silent promise hanging between them. Only now things are
different, so different.

The doors closing is what breaks their gazes and Taehyung takes a deep breath, a hand
automatically coming up to his lips.

He hears a grunt and remembers that Yoongi is in the elevator with him. Taehyung can’t even be
bothered to be embarrassed, smiling instead.

“Congratulations, I guess.” Taehyung looks over at his friend as they exit the elevator. He makes it
sound like he would rather have had his teeth removed sans anaesthetic than have said that to him
and Taehyung just laughs.

“Thanks, hyung.”

Yoongi grins, a big gummy smile spreading over his face and betraying his feigned nonchalance.

--

You might not be surprised to hear that things don’t just magically turn out all right. Because, of
course, they don’t. Taehyung and Jeongguk still have healing to do. They can’t just automatically
get together, as perfect as that might sound. They have no bond to connect them. The only way
they could form one at such short notice would be to mate and they can’t do that, because…

Well, there’s really no good reason.

“I still don’t get it.” Jimin says over dinner. Taehyung has been more open, venting all of his
frustrations to him lately. Jimin promises he doesn’t mind but promises to be brutally honest at the
same time (they just know to never broach the topic during either of their heats).
“I know you don’t. It’s complicated.”

“No, it’s not. It’s not complicated at all. You,” he gestures towards him with his chopsticks and
Taehyung scowls, “are the complicated one.”

“I thought we talked about this.”

“I know, I know. I’m not saying it’s all your fault. Jeongguk is just as stupid as you, don’t worry.
But I’m talking to you right now, not him, so I’m telling you that you are the one complicating
things.”

Taehyung pouts and shoves some noodles in his mouth.

“Come on, Tae. Use your brain, I know you have one somewhere under that sexy mullet. Two
people have been in love for years, are both single and available, are compatible and able to mate
and have already made out with each other. Should they get together, or no?”

Taehyung chews his food and stares out the window because he doesn’t have a good argument.

“Tae?” Jimin sounds upset and he glances back to see his frustrated expression. “Can you just be
honest with me? You ask me for my advice but won’t tell me what your real thoughts are.
Sometimes, I feel like you’re the most extraverted guy in the room with the least amount of trust in
people.”

Taehyung blinks a few times before sighing.

“I’m sorry, Jiminie. I-I just feel stupid admitting this stuff out loud.”

“You know I’d never judge you, though.”

“I know.” He swallows and stares down at his nearly empty bowl. “I just… I'm scared. Terrified.
Something I’ve wanted for so long is available to me. What if it’s not what I think it’s going to be?
What if we’re not supposed to be together? So many people get married only to realise that they
aren’t compatible in some way. I don’t want to lose him as a friend.

“And there are so many things that can go wrong. What if we’re not sexually compatible? What
about that? I think about that a lot. Even if things worked romantically, what if we found things too
awkward? I’m also terrified about mating. That’s for life. If we do that and then things don’t work
out… well then, we really are fucked, aren’t we? And what if I’m not the omega he needs. He
likes me maybe but what if my omega side isn’t right for him? What if I’m not a good parent?
What if I can’t raise his pups? What if-”

“Okay, okay, calm down, Tae.” Jimin reaches over the tiny table to grab his trembling hand.
“Geez, I understand why you never say this stuff out loud now. But dude, you needed to do this
because it’s clearly weighing you down."

Taehyung knows that he’s right. Even saying it out loud just the once has taken a barely noticeable
weight off of his chest.

“Okay, first off, you and Jeongguk have been best friends for a decade, Taehyung. A decade. You
would know if you weren’t compatible. You’ve surely talked about anything and everything by
now. And yeah, you haven’t had sex yet, but I know you jerked him off that one time in high
school- don’t look at me like that, everyone knew about that. You weren’t exactly subtle. So, you
have clearly always had a sexual connection. Not to mention the fact that you two eye fuck each
other every time you walk into the same room. I thought you were going to come in your pants last
week when he was doing shirtless push-ups at our game night. Again, don’t look at me like that.
Everyone could smell-”

“I’m leaving,” Taehyung interrupts, standing up so fast his chair falls over and Jimin bursts into
laughter.

“Okay! I’m sorry, I’ll stop teasing you! It’s true though, you guys are clearly attracted to each
other. It’s not just you embarrassing yourself.” He pauses, looking up at the ceiling and seeming to
mull something over before nodding to himself and continuing with, “I guess you don’t know
about what happened with Jeongguk a couple of weeks ago when you were out with your drama
club friends?”

Taehyung tilts his head to the side and gives him a look of confusion. Jimin dons an evil grin.

“Oh, you are going to love this. Well, you know, he didn’t know you were out. He wanted to
surprise you so he came over to the dorm and went into your room. Well, you’d left everything in a
total mess after your heat, which seriously asshole, we need to have a talk about because I’m
getting sick of washing your soaking pyjamas. Anyway, you’d left your… instruments, just lying
on your bed and-”

“I’m not sure I want to hear the rest of this story.”

“It was so fucking funny though, Tae. I walked in on him holding your vibrator and-”

“I’m going to throw up.”

“He had the biggest boner – and yes when I say big, I mean, wow, I'll make sure to congratulate
future Tae – and he looked so lost, like he desperately wanted to jerk off but he was trying so hard
not to and I bet if I had have walked in five minutes later he would’ve been humping your sheets, I
swear.”

“Jimin!”

“He looked like he was going to cry, seriously, he was so embarrassed. I've never had an alpha
begging me on their knees before. "Please don't tell Tae! Please!" God, It was so cute.”

“I’m moving to Canada.”

Jimin has to stop his storytelling so he can roll around on the floor crying with laughter and
Taehyung laughs despite himself. That explains Jeongguk’s weird mood swings a couple of weeks
ago. Taehyung had figured he was getting close to his rut or something.

“Anyway, the point is,” Jimin grabs their empty bowls and takes them to the sink as he talks, “I’m
confident that you two would have no problems in the bedroom. Besides, that’s what heats and ruts
are for. If you decide to share that part of yourself with him then instincts would take over. You’d
be fine. Speaking of which," he turns around to point again, "you have got to stop worrying about
your omega side. There is no right or wrong way to be an omega, Taehyung. The stereotypical
omega is exaggerated so that horny storywriters can entice forty-year-old women to buy their shitty
books or watch their shitty movies. I’ve never met an omega who acted the way they make them
sound. We’re all different and that’s fine.

“As for pups, you really don’t need to worry about that kind of thing. That is years away for you,
no doubt, and when the time comes I’m sure you’ll be perfect at it. Jeongguk would be proud to say
that you were the one who carried his pups. God, I can just picture him bragging to everyone about
it. He probably won’t shut up. I can’t wait." Jimin huffs, turning back to the sink as he waits
for Taehyung to catch up with his long speech. He clarifies, "That was sarcasm by the way. I can
wait.”

Jimin jumps when Taehyung appears behind him and wraps his arms around his waist, setting his
head on his shoulder.

“You’re the most amazing person I know, Jimin. You’re the best listener and give amazing advice.
Thank you for always putting up with me.”

He kisses his cheek and Jimin wriggles out of his grasp immediately.

“Jah, what’s this? What’s wrong with you? Geez, you’re so inappropriate!” He giggles as he rubs
his cheek, his words losing any bite that might have been intended thanks to his fierce blush. He
softens and puts his hand on Taehyung’s shoulder. “You know I’d do anything for you, Tae.”

“I know. So, can you do me a solid and make sure my vibrators aren’t out in the open if anyone
ever comes over unexpectedly.”

“Can you put them away when you’re finished with them?”

“I’ll try.”

“You’re the worst.”

“Love you."

“Love you too, asshole.”

--

Remember that thing about the universe hating Taehyung?

Yeah, it hasn’t forgotten about him.

It all happens at their game night – because of course it has to happen right in front of everyone.

Ever since his talk with Jimin, Taehyung has felt much more bold. He lets himself do what his
instincts tell him to, trying not to overthink every little move. He is so sick of this stagnation, of not
knowing how to act. He decides it's time to move forward. Now that their bond has been broken,
there is no sense in trying to preserve their past friendship like it's some precious artefact that needs
to protected. It's time to progress, Taehyung decides, and so he starts making little moves, little
tests of the waters.

Like when he and Jeongguk went out for coffee together and Jeongguk had held the door open for
him.

“Oh wow, what a gentleman. It’s definitely not because you want to stare at my ass.”

Jeongguk had giggled and not denied it, so when Taehyung walked passed him and a devilish idea
struck him, he decided to go through with it for once. He waited until he was right in front of
Jeongguk and then dropped his wallet.

“Aish, so clumsy,” he muttered to himself before slowly bending at the hips, reaching down for the
wallet. No normal person would ever choose to pick something up this way, except for Jimin
maybe with his freakish flexibility, but that’s not the point. The point was that Taehyung’s ass was
on full display, within a foot of Jeongguk’s crotch.
He’d looked around and been extremely satisfied to see Jeongguk’s face tinged pink and his lips
parted.

“Guk, are you okay? You look a little… strained.” Taehyung dons a concerned expression and has
to call on his best acting skills to stop himself from laughing when the younger just pushes passed
him and orders a strong coffee as though it’s a shot of alcohol.

Or during the night that Jeongguk had come to hang out with Jimin. They both admitted they didn’t
do enough of that and had made a date. Taehyung had locked himself in his room and stayed out of
their way until there had been a knock on the door and an invitation to join them for a movie.

“You two lovebirds sure you’ve had enough alone time?” Taehyung had said as he walked into the
room. “Because I really don’t feel like third wheeling.”

“Why did we invite him again? I forgot how annoying he is.” Jeongguk side-eyed him with a
smirk.

Taehyung gave him an outraged look before jumping over the top of the couch he was on and
landing on top of him with zero grace.

“Ow- fuck, Tae.” Jeongguk laughed breathlessly as Taehyung’s knee dug into his chest. “Get off of
me, you’re so fat.”

Taehyung let himself fall limp on top of him, pressing up against him.

“Nope, I think I’m going to stay right here. You’re so comfy, Jeonggukkie.”

Jeongguk had frozen and Taehyung realised that he was pretty much straddling his friend for no
reason but decided he was going to get him back for calling him fat and so wiggled his hips ever so
slightly.

Jeongguk gasped and shoved him off so fast that Taehyung fell to the floor with a loud thud.

A few desperate apologies later and one annoyed grumbling from Jimin – something about a third
wheel again – and they were laying together on the couch in a much less intimate position.

If Taehyung’s heart had skipped a beat when Jimin later texted him a photo of the two of them, fast
asleep and spooning on the small couch, no one needed to know.

If he saved the photo, no one needed to know that either.

So yes, you could say that Taehyung had been feeling much more brave lately. The problem was
that he was having a little too much fun teasing Guk, watching him become flustered like he used
to get when they were back in high school. The problem is that, apparently, while Taehyung had
been laughing the incidents off, Jeongguk had been growing more and more tense.

It starts off innocently enough, with Jeongguk crammed against his side on their tiny couch. Their
bodies are pressed together where they had been shoved into the corner of the loveseat that
definitely isn’t supposed to fit seven people. Taehyung can see that there is a small amount of
space between Jeongguk and Yoongi that he could easily slide into but decides not to say anything.
He enjoys the warmth that spreads from Jeongguk’s meaty thigh to his own softer one.

Jeongguk is concentrating on the video game, his competitive side coming out as he plays against
Hoseok. Taehyung takes the opportunity to watch him, a small smile on his face as he observes his
unblinking eyes and his parted lips. He’s just too adorable when he’s like this and Taehyung can’t
resist teasing him. He puts an arm around him to start with, nothing too intense. Jeongguk barely
reacts, the only sign that he even noticed being his sub-conscious leaning back into Taehyung’s
side. Then he slowly strokes the skin of Jeongguk’s neck with the fingers that curl around him. He
does this rather absent-mindedly so Jeongguk doesn’t get too worried, concentrating on the close
match that’s going on.

Taehyung reaches around his other side and brushes his fingertips up the side of his ribs. Jeongguk
breath hitches and the sound sends a little spark running through Taehyung’s veins. He should
definitely stop, he decides, letting his hands still. Jeongguk's muscles remain stiff under his touch,
but his fingers still move over the controller. When Taehyung glances at his face he can see a
hardness that wasn’t there before. His eyes are dark and sharp and his jaw is clenched.

He takes it too far, which isn't out of the ordinary for Taehyung. He waits until it looks like
Jeongguk’s focus is back on the game and everyone has started yelling, jeering and laughter heard
all around them as the two alphas draw near to the finish of their match. Taehyung’s hands, which
had been resting right where he’d left them against Jeongguk’s shirt, continue their work from
earlier. His left one caresses Jeongguk’s left bicep while his right one drags up the side of his
ribcage. He hears the little breath that Jeongguk takes and it sends blood straight to his crotch.

So, he pinches Jeongguk’s nipple.

It was supposed to be a playful move, honestly. How the hell was he supposed to know how
sensitive Jeongguk was? A decade’s worth of conversations and Jeongguk had never told him that
he had sensitive nipples. Well, he knows now, because one moment he was pressed against the arm
of the couch, watching his best friend poised to win an intense video game match and the next he
was pressed into said couch with an angry alpha holding on top of him, holding him in place,
controller falling to the ground as Hoseok wins the match.

Everyone in the room freezes, except for Jeongguk, who doesn’t seem to care that they’re on
display.

“You want to try that again, Kim?” He glares down at him, watches the way Taehyung’s breath
quickens and he stares helplessly up at Jeongguk.

He'd known that his heat was due soon, he just didn’t know how soon, but the slick that
immediately comes forward to coat his thighs is a pretty good indicator that it’s soon.

If everyone had been frozen before, then they are like concrete now.

The three alphas in the room all lock up as the sweet scent hits them. There is no time for hunched
shoulders and supportive best friends to carry him away, no time for reassurances and the usual
heat procedure that they all know like the back of their hand now. This one is much more sudden.
It’s not the first time it’s happened to Taehyung. His heats having been a lot less predictable lately,
probably thanks to his hanging out around a sexually-frustrated alpha. But it's the first time it's
come on when he's with everyone, with three alphas all around him and one on top of him,
undoubtedly the trigger that had set him off.

Taehyung can already feel a heatwave starting, can already feel his mind growing hazy and he
whimpers. The sound seems to wake everyone up, making everyone spring into action in one way
or another.

Yoongi launches to his feet (Taehyung has never seen him move so fast before) and is dragging
Jimin towards the door. Jimin stares worriedly at Taehyung, nodding at whatever Yoongi instructs
him before running out into the corridor. Seokjin is just as quick as Yoongi. He runs over to the
older beta and they say something to each other before they disappear into the hallway as well.

Namjoon has the most self-control. He stands up as fast as Yoongi had and starts walking away,
putting as much distance between himself and Taehyung as he possibly can. Every step looks like
an effort for him as the odour permeates the room. They had all been crammed onto the same
couch and smelling each other’s scents for years. They were more than used to each other, but this
is different. Everyone knows how enticing the smell gets when you're at the peak of your
cycle. Namjoon had clearly never witnessed a heat come on so suddenly, had never had to deal
with the thought that one of his best friends could smell so tasty.

Friendships and relationships don't matter to your primal self, after all; the smell is all that matters,
the scent of an omega in heat enough to send any alpha into a frenzy if they let themselves cross
over.

Hoseok is much less in control than Namjoon. He hasn’t moved from his spot on the couch, his fist
clenching the controller so hard that the plastic creaks and snaps underneath his hold. He drops the
controller onto the ground. When it tumbles away, he has no outlet and if there hadn’t have been a
huge, growling obstacle between himself and the omega, he may have done something stupid like
jump Taehyung.

Jeongguk is the youngest alpha, the most headstrong with the least experience. He's been strung
out lately, stressed and exhausted, so the moment Taehyung whimpers he snaps over to alpha mode
without any hesitation and the two older boys know that there’s no bringing him back, not while
Taehyung is underneath him. To remove him would be suicidal for just the two of them to attempt.

Taehyung’s eyes flicker from Hoseok to Namjoon then to Jeongguk. His last shred of
consciousness is all that keeps him from pulling Jeongguk down by the hips. He’s hot all over, his
skin tingling where Jeongguk is pressed against him. He doesn't know where the others went, he
doesn't know why Hoseok is looking at him like he's a meal and he doesn't know why Jeongguk
keeps growling. All he knows is that he’s fucked and that he wants to be fucked. By who, is the
only question. A stupid question really, because as he thinks it Jeongguk ruts down into him and
Taehyung can feel his erection pressing against his own.

He immediately moans loudly, pressing his head back into the couch and exposing his neck.

Both of the older alphas seem to wake up all of a sudden. The moment Jeongguk had pressed his
lips to Taehyung's throat, the temptation is removed. This omega is already being claimed, they
realise, and it brings them back to their more rational sides.

Taehyung may have noticed the way the two men looked at the situation with new eyes if he hadn't
already slipped over into his omega headspace.

Taehyung may have registered Hoseok and Namjoon’s voices suddenly calling out had Jeongguk’s
moan not been ringing in his own ears.

“We need to stop this.”

“Ah- Shit, you’re right.”

He may have felt the hands shoving and pulling at him had he not been so focussed on the feeling
of Jeongguk’s cock pressed against his own, separated by a few flimsy layers of fabric.

It’s only when Jeongguk is torn away from him that he opens his eyes and registers these things in
his mind. He gasps for air, wanting nothing more than to grab Jeongguk and ride him until he’s
satisfied, but Jeongguk is currently being restrained by numerous men, young guys that Taehyung
might have recognised as their neighbours if he wasn’t so hazy-minded right then. They’re wearing
facemasks - to avoid smelling him, probably.

Taehyung slumps back into the couch, exhausted, watching with heavily-lidded eyes as Namjoon
and Hoseok put their own masks on before each grabbing one of Jeongguk’s flailing limbs. The
heat is pooling in Taehyung's belly as he watches his best friend thrashing and growling. His sober
mind tries to communicate, tell him that he would never want to take advantage of Gukkie while
he’s like this, would never let himself be taken advantage of, but his body protests, more fluid
rushing out of him to wet his cheeks, slicking up his inner thighs. Jeongguk snarls, grabbing at the
nearest limb and there’s suddenly blood and some yelling and someone has their arm around
Jeongguk’s neck and Taehyung feels distress rising inside of him.

His vision is obscured and he sees his little Jimin standing in front of him.

“Hey, Taehyungie." His voice is soft and cooing and even in his current state Taehyung recognises
it immediately after spending month after month with the older omega looking after him. "I’ve got
somewhere I can take you that will make you feel amazing. Somewhere that smells like heaven.
Do you want to come see?”

His heart is racing uncomfortably in his chest and he wants to tell Jimin to fuck off and get out of
the way because he can hear Jeongguk roaring and he’s worried about him. Now more than ever
he wishes that Jeongguk was his mate so he could feel a bond between them, could feel his
feelings. The thought jolts him to consciousness a little bit and he nods dumbly at Jimin, knowing
that he’s trying to help him.

“Good boy. Here.” He holds his hand out and quickly pulls him up when Taehyung grabs it.
“Don’t worry about Jeongguk, Taehyung. He’s just throwing a tantrum. I would too if someone so
beautiful was being taken away from me. He’ll be fine once he’s in his space. He’s going to go
somewhere like you, somewhere that smells like heaven.”

Taehyung whines as a response, hears an immediate crash and a yelp behind him and Jimin is
yanking him forward, their previous slow pace being replaced by a run. Taehyung doesn’t like it
but Jimin seems nervous so he matches his pace. He's confused when he is abruptly stopped and
then pushed into a room, Jimin yanking the door closed and shutting him in.

“Jimin, get back, quickly!” There’s a loud banging sound that rattles the walls, followed by a series
of clatters against the floor. Taehyung can hear Jeongguk snarling, right near the door and
Taehyung whimpers, pressing himself against the wood and wishing that Jeongguk was here and
could fuck him against the wall. But now that there is something between them it does wonders for
his clarity of mind and he starts to realise that he shouldn’t be near Jeongguk right now.

“Taehyungie,” he hears Jimin’s voice carry through the door and realises that Jeongguk’s snarls
have abruptly stopped, “I’m sorry for pushing you just now. Please know that I would never hurt
you. I just wanted to make sure you were safe in this room. Does it smell good?”

Taehyung takes a deep breath in and realises that fuck, it does smell good, it smells so good
everywhere. A heady, intoxicating, slightly musky scent that screams Jeongguk is everywhere, on
everything, and Taehyung vaguely registers that he’s in Jeongguk’s bedroom.

“You’re going to spend the night in there, okay baby? I know it’s strange but you can snuggle into
Jeongguk’s sheets. Make them smell like you, I bet he’d like that. Don’t worry about him either,
we’ll take care of him for you, okay? We’re going to take him to your room so that he can do the
same thing.”
There are some whispers and quiet words that Taehyung can’t make out and then Jimin is shouting
his farewell through the wall.

In the silence, Taehyung feels the full force of his heat returning to him and he shudders, quickly
hopping onto Jeongguk’s bed. He goes to spread himself over it when something digs into his
stomach. He reaches down and his fingers wrap around his own vibrator, one he’d recognise
anywhere and that he’s certain Jeongguk has no use for. He doesn’t even bother to consider why it
might be here in Jeongguk’s room, instead crawling under his best friend’s blankets and taking the
vibrator with him.

--

Taehyung refuses to see anyone at first, mortified. Definitely not Namjoon and Hoseok who can
barely look him in the eyes and definitely not Jeongguk, who hasn’t even visited to do so.

He’s not upset that Jeongguk is avoiding him because he’s doing the same. He can’t believe he let
something like that happen in front of everyone. Yes, his heat had come unexpectedly and he can’t
really help that, but he had been the one creating sexual tension and provoking his own, confused
body. He knows, deep down that it’s his fault.

On top of the embarrassment and shame, he feels guilty as well. If it’s his fault that he’d lost
control, then it’s his fault that Jeongguk had lost control too. Just thinking of how feral his best
friend had become makes him physically hurt on the inside. Whether Jeongguk realised it or not,
he was under so much stress in that moment, his alpha side taking him over and his own self being
left behind. Taehyung knows what that feels like and he doesn’t think anyone should be forced to
experience such a thing. They’re lucky that Jeongguk hadn’t gone through a disconnect of his own.
They’d been close enough as it was. So yes, Taehyung feels guilty enough to lock himself in his
room and mope.

Six days after the incident Jimin tries to talk some sense into him and coax him out of his room and
into the fresh air. Taehyung doesn’t listen, choosing to wallow in his own self-loathing instead.
After trying and trying, Jimin becomes furious with him and storms out, reminiscent of that time all
those months ago, except this time Taehyung isn’t on his heat and is able to rationalise with
himself. Jimin will forgive him. He is only mad right now, but at some point in the future they’ll
be okay. Taehyung is being pretty frustrating, to be fair. He knows that Jimin is sick of hearing
him complain about how badly he wants Jeongguk before promptly refusing to do anything about
it. That doesn’t mean he likes fighting with his best friends, though, and it’s just another shitty
thing to add to the pile of shitty things that send him down his self-pitying spiral.

After he stomps away, Taehyung doesn’t see or hear from Jimin for a whole twenty-four hours. It’s
getting close to four in the afternoon when Taehyung decides to leave his dorm and face the great
outdoors. It’s been a week and even he can tell how bad his room smells. He doesn’t make it far
though, because when he opens the door it’s to see Namjoon and Hoseok. They both reach for him
before he can process what’s going on.

“Sorry, Taehyung.”

“We’re sorry. You’ll thank us later.”

Jimin appears behind them as they start dragging him out of his room. He’s so lost that he walks
with them.

“What’s going on?” He stumbles as they guide him along, looking around in confusion as they
leave his dorm.
“Sorry Taehyung,” Jimin’s voice comes from behind him, “but we can’t sit by and do nothing.
You and Jeongguk are starting to affect the people around you. We can’t have any more incidents
like last week. That was way too close for both of you. You could’ve been mated against your will,
or one of us might have hurt Jeongguk. Or he could’ve hurt one of us instead of that poor dude who
was just lending a hand.” Taehyung’s mouth drops as he twists his head to see Jimin’s apologetic
expression. “Sorry, Taehyungie. I decided that enough was enough. I hope you can forgive me.”

Taehyung stares at Jimin as he disappears behind closing elevator doors.

“Where are we going?” He asks, stumbling as the two older men pick up the pace once they’ve left
the elevator, both of them holding an arm. They’re nowhere near as gentle as Jeongguk is when he
touches him, their skin not as smooth, and Taehyung misses him not for the first time in the last
week.

“To see Jeongguk.”

Taehyung’s eyes widen and he falters as he finally catches on.

“I don’t want to see him right now.”

“We know.” Hoseok turns his head and flashes a sadistic grin at him.

Taehyung starts struggling, but he knows he stands no chance against the two older men.

“I’ll scream if you don’t let me go,” he warns, aware that he sounds like a toddler throwing a
tantrum in the middle of a supermarket.

“Go for it.” Namjoon says. “The five of us all agreed that this is the best course of action. I know
that it’s not conventional, but you two are driving us crazy.”

"I can’t take another day hearing Jeongguk singing sad versions of Justin Bieber songs, I just
can’t,” Hoseok grunts.

“Honestly, I didn’t know the lyrics to Sorry were so depressing until I heard him crying them in his
room the other day.”

“I- what is this? I don’t understand. Let go of me.” Taehyung tries digging his shoes into the
ground, but it only makes him trip and graze his knees on the concrete. They stop, which is an
improvement, so Taehyung decides to employ his acting skills. “Ah, fuck. That hurts.” He clutches
his knee, wincing.

They don’t look convinced. Taehyung realises this pretty quickly. Plan B then.

“Oh my gosh, look, it’s Jeongguk!” He screams and points behind them. Neither of them reacts in
any way and he pouts.

“Cute, Taehyung-ah.” Namjoon leans down and gathers the smaller boy into his arms. He gasps
and wraps his arms around his neck as the ground disappears from underneath him. “Jeongguk
hasn’t left his room in about three days. Nice try though.”

Taehyung attempts thrashing around again, but Namjoon lets out a low growl that immediately has
him stilling, eyes going wide. Left with no other options, he can only stay helplessly clinging onto
him as they enter their dorm block, heading into the elevator. No one blinks twice at the sight,
probably used to the antics that go on in this particular dormitory by now. Taehyung feels his heart
speeding up as the elevator ascends and his palms start to sweat. He really can’t see Jeongguk, not
after what happened. He’ll probably die of embarrassment. Or worse, cry.

Before he can come up with any more master plans though, they’re in the dorm, Yoongi standing
by the door with his arms crossed, looking solemn.

“Sorry kid. You two were annoying the fuck out of us.”

Taehyung just stares with wide eyes as Hoseok opens the door to Jeongguk’s room. He hears the
other make a noise but then he hears his breath hitch as Namjoon enters the room with Taehyung
in his arms. When he looks at Jeongguk it’s to see his brows furrowed and a murderous expression
directed towards Namjoon, who immediately rolls his eyes.

“Relax, Jeongguk. I’m bringing him to you.” He unceremoniously drops Taehyung onto the bed
next to the alpha, and Taehyung immediately scrambles away. Hoseok is blocking the door, so
there’s no point trying to escape, but he can still put as much distance between them as possible.

“We’re going out bar hopping.”

“You shits have driven us to drinking, so thanks for that,” Yoongi interrupts Namjoon, who doesn’t
deny the claim.

“Then we’re going to stay at Seokjin's. We’ll come back tomorrow morning, probably around
noon. If you two really haven’t sorted out your issues by then, well we’ll give up. But we couldn’t
stand by and let this unhealthy relationship continue between you. People are getting hurt.”

Jeongguk’s eyes widen as Namjoon speaks, glancing from Taehyung and back to the leader. “I-
What?”

“I’m not worried. I’m sure you two can figure this out.”

“It’s pretty simple. The dick goes in the hole,” Yoongi deadpans. Hoseok giggles while Taehyung
blushes right down to his roots. Meanwhile Jeongguk doesn't really seem to have understood what's
happening as Hoseok starts heading out of the room.

“Have fun! See you tomorrow.”

With that the three young men are obscured from view as the door clicks closed. Then there’s the
sound of wood scraping against wood and a couple of thuds that make the walls shudder, then it’s
quiet.

Taehyung doesn’t look at Jeongguk, doesn’t need to. He is undoubtedly still sitting on his bed with
his trademarked 'shook' expression. Taehyung wanders over to the door and indeed, it doesn’t
move an inch. He puts all of his weight into it, but he knows it’s useless.

He sighs and then turns back to Jeongguk. He immediately blushes, not because of the young man
on the bed but because of the bed, because the last time he was here he was fucking himself with a
vibrator, spilling his slick all over the sheets. There was no way Jeongguk hadn’t smelt that, even
after a wash.

“So,” he decides to break the silence, “the jury is still out on whether or not we have assholes for
friends, or angels.”

Jeongguk gulps, but he smiles.

“Both.”
“Yeah, both. Can I sit with you?”

“Yeah.” Jeongguk scoots back so that he’s sitting against his headboard. Taehyung sits down on
the end of the bed, shoulders tense. He traces a finger along one of the patterns on the quilt because
there’s not much else to do. The distance between them is tangible.

For a long time it's silent. Taehyung is okay with it. Jeongguk and he used to spend hours together
every day, lying in the grass at their high school and staring at the sky. There had been plenty of
long silences back then and it had been nice, comfortable. Taehyung was not always the most quiet
person, but even he has times when he appreciates peace.

As he pictures those days he thinks about how different he and Jeongguk really are. Because
Taehyung has always been a ball of energy and Jeongguk has always been quieter, more reserved,
an observer. He is capable of being the life of the party when he wants to be, but more often than
not Jeongguk is happy to stand on the edges of the crowd and look inward. It’s a wonder that they
had been so close their whole lives, really.

“What are you thinking about?”

Jeongguk’s curious tone breaks the stillness. He must be able to tell from Taehyung’s expression
that he’s actually thinking of something meaningful for once and not just zoning out.

“I was just wondering… Why do you think we get along so well?” Jeongguk raises an eyebrow
when Taehyung twists to face him. “Aren’t we so different? Yet we’ve been so close for all of
these years. We’ve been through so much shit together and yet, here we are.”

“I don’t know.” Jeongguk shrugs. “It is pretty weird. Sometimes…”

Taehyung waits for him to speak, watching the way his eyes wander down to look at something in
the corner of the room, his way of showing that he’s thinking hard. “Sometimes, I think you’re
everything I’m not, you know?" He pauses to think, then continues, "I used to be really jealous of
you when we were young. You're so passionate, Taehyung. You always put your everything into
the things you love, but I could never pick one thing. I'm so arrogant. I want to be good at
everything and can't settle. You're amazing at what you do and meanwhile I struggle with
everything you're good at. You're perfect at everything I’m not.”

Taehyung snorts, finally relaxing back onto the bed, resting on his elbows.

“That’s rich coming from our golden maknae. You won every track and field event in our last year,
remember? Except for the 100 metre sprint when you slipped on that puddle at the starting line.
You still got second place, even then.”

“I don’t mean physically." Jeongguk shakes his head. "I meant like, socially. You’ve never had
problems making friends, making small talk, making other people happy. Everyone looks at you,
pays attention to you. You were beautiful right from the start.” Taehyung feels his heart pick up at
that. “But I was so awkward. My nose was too big, my eyes were buggy. My teeth stuck out too
much."

“I hate to break it to you, but all of that is still true.” Taehyung grins wide and Jeongguk pitches a
pillow at his face, frowning. Taehyung catches it with a giggle. “Relax, I’m just kidding. You’ve
grown into all of those things and now people all over the campus stop to stare at you when we
walk past them. Talk about a glow up.”

Jeongguk snorts, but his cheeks look slightly redder than before.
Note to self, compliment Jeongguk more often.

“Anyway, you were pretty much the perfect student. You're just so..." Jeongguk won't look at him,
but he waves his hand in his direction, "You're so popular. You get along with everyone. People
see you and instantly want to know you, want to be your friend. But I was… am so awkward. I was
shocked that you ever bothered to hang out with me. I had no idea what to talk about for like a
whole year of our friendship.”

“Silly, Guk." Taehyung tilts his head towards him, eyes crinkling as he laughs, endeared. "People
love you as well. You’re just quiet. You make it harder to get to know you with that resting bitch
face.”

“But that’s the thing.” Jeongguk sits up, leaning forward as he talks. “You say that like you aren’t
hard to get to know. But it took me three years to realise that there were only a handful of people
who knew the true you and only one who saw that person regularly. That was me.”

Taehyung nods slowly. He’s right. Taehyung has parts of him that he doesn't share with anyone, or
at least he did until he’d started hanging out with Jeongguk. The small, vulnerable, shy boy had so
quickly wormed his way into his heart and Taehyung was terrified that he actually wanted to tell
him, tell him about the bad things, the things that no one else knew were happening in his life. It
was easy to give his trademark grin and tell people he was having a great day, even on the days
where it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“You’re just special, I guess.”

“I think we draw energy from each other. I need someone like you around. Otherwise I’d probably
still be the shy, awkward kid from Busan who cried during his first PowerPoint presentation. I
think you need someone like me too, to keep your energy in check. Otherwise you might go
stomping through the city tearing buildings down.”

Taehyung laughs and lies down fully, his arms behind his head as a makeshift pillow. He feels his
shirt pull up as he moves. He knows Jeongguk stares at the new skin that’s revealed, can feel the
heat of his gaze, and for a brief moment he considers leaving it like that. Then he thinks twice and
pulls the shirt back down.

“I guess opposites really do attract, then?” Taehyung says finally.

“We’re not opposites. We’re just different.”

“Hm. You know I was just kidding earlier about the nose and bunny teeth comment, right?”

Jeongguk wrinkles his nose. “I’m not that sensitive.”

“You’re like the sexiest person I know.” Taehyung rolls over onto his stomach and props his head
atop his fist. “I’m actually glad that you didn’t lose the bunny teeth over time. Or the nose or the
big eyes. They’re your best features and they make it easier to handle how hot you are.”

“Okay.” Jeongguk clearly wants to end the conversation, not enjoying being the subject, but
Taehyung has realised how little he voices his opinions on Jeongguk and feels bad about this, so he
presses onward.

“Okay, first of all the nose. It used to stick out so much on your face but now that your jaw is all
sharp and defined it works, it actually divides your face perfectly and makes you look more
angular and more dominating. I don’t know if that makes sense, but that’s something I’ve thought
before. The eyes on the other hand, holy fuck, you have the most beautiful eyes, Guk. I’m not sure
you realise. I love your eyes more than anything.” Taehyung tilts his head to the side, still resting it
in his hands. Jeongguk is staring back at him with his mouth open.

“Okay, sometimes, like right now. They go big and round and they definitely look like doe eyes. So
many people would kill for your eyes; they're just so big. But then sometimes when you’re… well,
sometimes they go really dark and narrow and scary- in a good way. It’s amazing how they
change.” Jeongguk just blinks, the dusting of red over the top of his nose making him look extra
innocent. “And your bunny teeth are adorable, everyone agrees with me on that one. They’re not
noticeable until you smile really big and you just transform from plain old cute to holy hell I’m
going to drown in feelings, who is this perfect angel, I want to adopt him.” Jeongguk bursts into
laughter and Taehyung giggles into the palm of his hand, happy to see said teeth on full display.

“Can you stop now? I get it, you think I’m adorable.”

“A lot of people think you’re adorable. I think you’re beautiful,” Taehyung corrects.

Jeongguk really does blush then, looking away with a frown. Taehyung sighs letting his arms drop
and resting his head on Jeongguk’s quilt. It smells just like him and Taehyung wants to take some
deep breaths but it feels dumb when the real thing is sitting right in front of him, so he holds back.

“So, we should probably talk about what happened, hey?” Taehyung says and Jeongguk sighs.

“Yeah. Why have you been avoiding me?”

Taehyung raises his eyebrows.

“I assume for the same reason you’ve been avoiding me. I was mortified. Am mortified. I can’t
believe any of that happened.”

“It’s not like you could help it. It was totally natural. I was the one who couldn’t control myself."
Jeongguk grimaces. "I almost broke someone’s arm.”

“That was so hot,” Taehyung groans, face burying into the sheets.

“Huh? You like broken limbs?”

“No. I meant, just you in general. They needed like six other guys to keep you still. You’re so
strong, Guk, you need to stop hitting the gym, seriously.”

Jeongguk chuckles and shakes his head.

“Anyway, I’m sorry that I lost it like that, even if it did turn you on.” He smirks and Taehyung
shrugs.

“I didn’t blame you. I was more worried about you than me. I wouldn’t like to do anything with
you when you’re like that and have you regret it.”

“It was only because Namjoon-hyung and Hobi-hyung were there. I can’t stand it when you’re
around other alphas.” He levels an intense gaze on him that makes it hard to breathe. “I can just
barely tolerate those two because they’re our hyungs and I love them. But it’s still hard to watch
you being close to them.”

“Why don't you claim me then?”

Jeongguk chokes on the air, spluttering and wheezing. Taehyung watches him, amused.
“I- what the fuck, Tae? You can’t just say stuff like that. It’s not something to joke about.”

“Not joking. I want you to do it. I want to claim you too. I’m not nearly as possessive as you, but I
still don’t like the idea that people out there can just freely talk to you and flirt with you without
realising that you belong to me.”

Taehyung has no idea where this boldness has come from all of a sudden, but he means every word
and he makes sure to give Jeongguk the most honest gaze that he can.

Jeongguk looks shell-shocked, one hand clutching the sheets below him, almost like he's looking
for stability.

“I- I don’t know what to say,” he mutters, squeezing his eyes shut. “I… want to do that, I just… I
don’t want to hurt you.”

He whispers the last part and Taehyung frowns immediately. “What are you talking about?”

“Taehyung," Jeongguk pauses to swallow, "I’ve already hurt you so many times. I broke our bond,
I caused you to go through a disconnect which could have killed you, I almost fucking raped you
like a week ago. I just can’t do anything right. I’m scared that I’m going to hurt you again.”

Taehyung gapes at Jeongguk. He had no idea that he thought this way. But of course, just like the
last time they had a big argument, Taehyung was back in his own dorm ranting to Jimin and
moping with him, while Jeongguk was here by himself, bottling all of his emotions as per usual.
Thinking no one else wanted to deal with them. Fuck, how could Taehyung have been so selfish?

“Jeonggukkie. I’ve said this to you before, but I’ll say it again. We’ve both hurt each other in the
past and we’ll definitely hurt each other in the future. But you and I… I think we were meant to be
together.” Taehyung smiles to himself. “We’ve gone through all of this and yet I still want you and
I assume you still want me.”

“More than anything,” Jeongguk breathes out.

“Tell me you love me.”

“What?” Jeongguk inhales too fast again and fights off a wave of coughs. He jumps off of the bed
then, embarrassed, standing up and threading his hands through his hair. “Why are you being so
forward? I can’t take this."

“Jeongguk.” Taehyung lets his voice come out in the smallest whine he can manage and the
younger turns to see his expression, the sudden vulnerability that is undoubtedly painted across his
face. "Please."

Finally, something seems to click into place for Jeongguk, his shoulders squaring and his jaw
tensing. He strides over to Taehyung who immediately starts to feel a lot less brave when he stands
over him.

“Turn over,” he demands. Taehyung quickly flips himself, no hesitation in his actions. Now lying
on his back, he looks at Jeongguk standing at the edge of the bed and towering over him. Jeongguk
doesn’t look like the cute little kid he did just five minutes ago. Now he looks… edible.

Taehyung’s whole body trembles with anticipation. If Jeongguk notices he doesn’t say anything.
He finally moves, crawling atop Taehyung so that he’s caging him down against the bed, one leg
in-between his parted thighs.
“Kim Taehyung. I have been in love with you since we were seventeen. There hasn’t been a single
day since then that I have doubted that fact.” Taehyung immediately feels like crying,
overwhelmed with so many emotions. Jeongguk gives him a soft look, hand caressing his cheek.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, then laughs deep in his chest. “You think I’m beautiful
Taehyung, you don’t even realise how perfect you are. Trust me, I’ve tried to find anyone who
even compares to you, but not once have I met someone who looks so angelic.” Jeongguk traces his
knuckles along the line of Taehyung’s jaw. “I love everything about you. You’re so pretty.”

Taehyung arches his back, hands coming up to wrap around Jeongguk’s shoulders.

“Please kiss me.”

Jeongguk does so.

Taehyung sighs, relaxing back into the sheets as Jeongguk follows him down, pressing against him
everywhere he can, aligning their bodies perfectly.

Jeongguk slots their lips together and moves rather languidly, until Taehyung starts whimpering
and tugging at his collar. That’s when Jeongguk stops pretending like he hasn’t been waiting since
that elevator kiss for this moment. He pushes his tongue forward, licking into Taehyung’s already
open mouth. The other emits a whine that makes Jeongguk tremble. The feeling of his tongue
sliding against his own makes Taehyung weak at the knees and he’s immediately glad that they’re
lying down.

As time passes, the kiss grows more urgent, Jeongguk curling his tongue against Taehyung’s. It
sends hot sparks over Taehyung’s skin, making him throw his head back and moan. Jeongguk is an
opportunist so he immediately leaves Taehyung’s mouth behind in order to kiss along his neck. He
melts into the sheets, gasping as Jeongguk nibbles his skin, sucking at the crook of his neck, under
his jaw and all along his collarbones.

“Jeongguk,” Taehyung moans his name, something he’s only ever done in the privacy of his
bedroom, but now he’s here underneath Jeongguk, squirming because of his lips and tongue and
teeth. “Jeongguk, I love you.”

Jeongguk pauses, sitting back and looking at Taehyung with wide eyes, dilated pupils. He smiles a
big stupid smile that makes Taehyung’s stomach fuzzy.

“I love you too. So much.” He leans down and kisses him, softer and more sincerely. “I’ve
dreamed of this for so long.”

“Me too.” Taehyung gasps when Jeongguk kisses down his neck again, sucking the skin between
his teeth and becoming harsher as Taehyung’s pants become louder. “I thought about you every
time I had my heat. I wished you were there every time. Every time I used a toy I imagined it was
you.” He’s not embarrassed to admit these things, wanting Jeongguk to know how badly he needs
him.

Jeongguk growls. Taehyung gasps, the noise sending a wave of heat all the way down to his toes.
He shifts his hips, feels Jeongguk’s half-hard cock against his own rapidly hardening erection and
whimpers. Jeongguk grinds down onto him and he moans, hands wrapping around the back of
Jeongguk’s head, threading through his hair and pulling his lips back to connect with his own. He
doesn’t miss the way Jeongguk shudders when he tugs at his hair.

“Taehyung, I- Shit.” Jeongguk rolls his hips forwards again and they both pant and gasp, the room
heating up around them. He stops and pulls away and Taehyung yelps at the sudden loss.
“Why did you stop?” He pouts.

“Come here, baby.” Jeongguk holds his hand out and Taehyung already feels flustered for so many
reasons, but the pet name instantly overwhelms him. His hand is trembling when he slides it into
Jeongguk’s. He pulls Taehyung up to stand, but the older boy’s legs are like jelly and he falls
against him, clinging onto him. Jeongguk wraps an arm around his waist and easily holds him up.
“Let’s get these clothes off.”

Taehyung nods but doesn’t move, still clinging onto Jeongguk’s shirt to keep himself steady.
Jeongguk chuckles and kisses him again, tongue now sliding into his mouth with confidence as
though they’ve been doing it their whole lives. Taehyung feels tugging at his shirt and then it’s
being slid over his head, his arms reluctantly letting go of his-

He gasps as Jeongguk throws his shirt off to the side.

“Jeongguk." He yanks at the fabric of Jeongguk's shirt, making him pause. "Are we boyfriends
now?”

Jeongguk blinks, face blank, before he quickly nods.

“Yeah. I mean, if that’s what you want.” He pulls his own t-shirt over his head and Taehyung
immediately stares shamelessly at his boyfriend’s abs.

“Yeah, idiot. I want that.”

“Hey.” Jeongguk scolds, but laughs, pulling him closer again and nuzzling his face into his neck,
breathing deeply.

“Jeongguk.” Taehyung whines, feeling impatient. He reaches forward and unbuttons Jeongguk’s
pants, fiddling with the zipper, and then shoving them down. Jeongguk helps him, stepping out of
them and kicking them aside. Taehyung openly stares at the bulge in his briefs and his mouth
waters. It’s then that he feels the first rush of slick trickling down his thighs.

Jeongguk’s eyes darken and his lips part. Taehyung blushes, knowing he’s scenting him, but it also
turns him on so much that he whimpers. Jeongguk growls again and pushes Taehyung back,
making him fall onto the mattress. He quickly yanks Taehyung’s own pants off, kissing along his
chest while he works, making sure to suck the skin into his mouth at every opportunity he can find.
Taehyung isn’t sure if he’s marking him out of possessiveness or just for fun at this point, but it
feels so nice that he doesn’t care.

His lips latch around one of Taehyung’s nipples and he hisses, back arching ever-so-slightly. He
can feel his tongue flickering over the hardened tip and then teeth gently biting down. Taehyung
lets his hands fly back to Jeongguk’s hair, tugging at it hard and making Jeongguk groan.

“You like that, babe?” He asks, voice thick. Jeongguk groans and nods while he quickly switches
over to Taehyung’s other nipple. His shaking hands finally get Tae's pants all the way down his
legs and he throws them to another random location in the room.

“Jeongguk, let me…” Taehyung wants to flip them over, but Jeongguk is pinning him to the
mattress. He notices that Jeongguk hesitates, so he looks up at him with wide eyes. “Please, I want
to touch you. Please, alpha.”

At that Jeongguk squeezes his eyes closed and shivers. Taehyung would laugh if he wasn’t so
turned on, ever mindful of the slick that is now continuously dripping from him. He doesn’t often
get this wet when he’s not on his heat and he forgot how maddeningly uncomfortable it can be
without all of the extra hormones to distract him.

Jeongguk’s hold on him slackens and he lets Taehyung flip them over, straddling him. He settles
right on top of Jeongguk’s cock, feels it press up against the soaked fabric of his underwear through
Jeongguk’s own briefs. He hears Jeongguk gasp, not seeing it because his head is thrown back
towards the ceiling as he gets some friction back on his own cock for a moment.

Jeongguk hisses through his teeth when Taehyung’s hand snakes up his chest and starts to circle
one of his nipples.

“I can’t believe you never told me you have sensitive nipples. I feel so betrayed.”

“It- ah, fuck. It never came up.”

“We talked about sex plenty.” Taehyung pinches lightly, rolling the point between his fingers and
Jeongguk bucks his hips in response, making Taehyung choke on his own breath. “Fuck, you look
good like this, Gukkie. I like seeing you beneath me.”

Jeongguk raises an eyebrow but lets him have his moment. Taehyung has a feeling that might come
back to haunt him later though. Taehyung decides to prove himself by leaning down and copying
Jeongguk’s earlier actions, flickering his tongue over Jeongguk’s nipple whilst pinching the other.

Jeongguk moans earnestly and Taehyung is certain that he will never hear another sound as
beautiful for the rest of his life. He gets a bit carried away, teasing Jeongguk until he’s strung out.
He lightly nibbles at one nibble only to pull back and blow cold air across it. He gets away with it
for a minute, until Jeongguk loses patience. He sits up, pushing Taehyung back and once again
flipping them, but he doesn’t get on top of him.

Taehyung pouts. “I wanted to suck you off though.” Jeongguk eyes broaden and he has to look
away from Taehyung’s gaze.

“Fuck. Later, baby. We have plenty of time.”

Jeongguk then grabs him by the hips and pulls him down the mattress. He gasps, watching
Jeongguk’s devious expression and feeling nervous.

“Roll over, Tae.” He gives him the instruction as he peels his underwear away from his skin.
Taehyung’s cock springs free, leaking already and rock hard. Jeongguk can’t resist reaching out
and tracing a finger along his length. Taehyung freezes and whimpers.

“Jeongguk, please, don’t tease me.”

“I believe I gave you some instructions.” Jeongguk smirks and Taehyung opens his eyes and senses
the shift in mood when he speaks, like there’s no room for arguing. Taehyung does as he’s told
then, flipping over and looking back. Jeongguk is staring at his ass and Taehyung shifts, gasping
when his cock rubs against the sheets. He wants to do it again, but then he feels hands sliding up
his thighs until they come to rest just below the curve of his ass. He lets his head fall back onto the
bed, about to question Jeongguk, when he feels the hands snake around and under, gripping his
thighs. He pulls and Taehyung yelps, hands clawing at the sheets uselessly as he’s moved, as
though he weighs nothing, towards a kneeling Jeongguk.

“Ah, wait- what are you doing?”

“You have such a beautiful ass.” Jeongguk groans, pulling him further until Taehyung’s hips are
lifted completely off of the bed, being held up by Jeongguk alone. He blushes, embarrassed,
helpless.

“Jeongguk-” He yelps as Jeongguk finally lets Taehyung’s hips go. But before he can pull away,
Jeongguk’s hands return, this time sliding up all the way to his ass and he kneads the soft flesh.

“I should’ve known you’d have a perfect ass.” He leans down and kisses the skin of his cheeks and
Taehyung gasps, squirming. “Hold still.” Jeongguk says authoritatively. Taehyung does what he’s
told and then Jeongguk whispers, “Good boy.”

He lets his head fall onto his forearm as he feels Jeongguk’s hands spreading his cheeks apart. He
buries his face into the sheets, feeling flushed. Jeongguk growls and Taehyung knows he’s looking
at his most intimate area.

He hears Jeongguk inhaling deeply and his cock twitches.

“You smell so good, baby. So wet for me, aren’t you?” When Taehyung doesn’t respond he
squeezes down on his cheeks hard. “Can’t hear you.”

“Ah! Yes," he hisses.

“Yes what?” Taehyung moans, not believing this situation he’s currently in. Jeongguk holding him
up, looking at his asshole and teasing him.

“I’m wet for you, Jeongguk. So wet. Please, do something,” he whines, voice muffled by the
sheets. Jeongguk seems satisfied enough and he leans down to blow cool air across Taehyung’s
hole, watching as it flutters in response and moaning at the sight. Taehyung waits with his breath
held, not really grasping what’s happening until he feels a kiss right at the cleft of his ass.

“Jeongguk! Fuck.”

“Just relax, baby.” Taehyung hears the muttered words and then gasps when he feels Jeongguk’s
tongue swiping along his ass, collecting slick as it slides along his perineum. Taehyung murmurs
some gibberish to himself, mortified, but he can hear Jeongguk groaning in delight.

“You taste so fucking good, Taehyung. Fuck.”

Taehyung sobs into the mattress while Jeongguk’s tongue slowly traces its way upward until it
finally flickers over his hole. He nearly collapses, the strength in his arms immediately dissipating.
Jeongguk quickly lets his ass go, letting him slide back down onto the mattress. He grabs his hips
and lifts them up so that his cock is hanging in the air, receiving zero friction.

Jeongguk resumes where he left off, large hands spreading Taehyung’s cheeks apart again and
wasting no time in delving back in, tongue pressing flat against the ring of muscle, wiggling side to
side. Taehyung chokes on a sob, eyes closed and senses overloaded. Jeongguk points his tongue
and circles around the rim, first just tracing the outside before swirling in so his tongue flickers
directly inside of his entrance, still not pushing in. The slick continues coating his tongue,
Jeongguk happily lapping it up as Taehyung cries out.

“Fuck, Jeongguk. Feels so good. Please don’t stop.”

Jeongguk moans and wants to pull back to tell him he doesn’t plan to stop, not now, not ever, but
opts for pressing his tongue forward instead. Actions speak louder than words. His tongue easily
slides into his warm, slick hole, the tight ring fluttering and squeezing around the wet muscle.
Jeongguk groans, listening to Taehyung’s overwhelmed cried and feeling his body’s most primal
responses around his tongue is almost enough to make Jeongguk come in his pants. He slowly
pumps his tongue in and out of the hole, sometimes pulling back to flicker against the outside rim
again, sometimes spearing it deep and sharp just to hear Taehyung's shocked cries.

Jeongguk pulls back and quickly slides his forefinger in, meeting almost no resistance thanks to the
efforts of his tongue combined with the obscene amount of lubricant that his body is producing.
Taehyung emits a low, broken whine and pushes back against the digit. Jeongguk leans back down
and continues flickering his tongue around the entrance of his hole, listening for the spots that
make Taehyung cry out the most. Within moments he decides Taehyung is ready for more and
slides another finger in. The stretch is delicious, but Taehyung is growing impatient. He fucked
himself with a vibrator pretty recently while crying out Jeongguk’s name, for fucks sake. He
is more than ready for his cock and he opens his mouth to tell him so when suddenly he feels the
pads of Jeongguk’s fingers rubbing against his prostate and he throws his head back.

“There you go, gorgeous,” Jeongguk coos and then inserts a third finger and hones in on that spot,
fingers firm and unrelenting. Taehyung starts crying out and then doesn’t stop, moans interrupted
by moans when Jeongguk’s tongue returns to slide up against the sensitive, stretched out rim.

“Jeongguk! J-ah. Ah fuck. Oh fuck. Jeongguk, feels so good.” Taehyung can feel his orgasm
approaching rapidly and he grips the sheets so tight his knuckles turn white. “Jeongguk, I think-”

Jeongguk presses all three fingers against that spot and rubs them back and forth mercilessly,
causing Taehyung’s warning to be cut off by a desperate wail and a myriad of curses. He comes so
hard that he suddenly understands what people mean when they talk about seeing stars, only he
sees whole galaxies exploding behind his eyelids.

Jeongguk pulls his fingers out, letting his tongue linger a little longer as Taehyung’s hole twitches
with the leftover tremors, his cries turning into desperate mewls as he tries to pull away, but
Jeongguk doesn’t want to just yet. He does pull back to allow his tongue to rest, replacing it with
the tip of a finger that gathers up some slick and slowly traces the ring of muscle in maddeningly
slow circles.

“Naughty boy, not warning me when you’re about to come. I should punish you.” Taehyung feels a
chill travel up his spine and his body stiffens. Jeongguk chuckles from behind him. “Not today
though. How are you feeling, Taehyung? Do you think you can recover in time for me to fuck
you?"

Taehyung moans at the wording and then suddenly he’s being flipped over again. He blinks up at
Jeongguk as he crawls back on top of him.

“Wha-”

“Wanted to see your beautiful face when I fill you with my cock,” Jeongguk whispers as he kisses
Taehyung.

“I- Fuck, I didn’t peg you as the dirty talk type.” Jeongguk shrugs.

“I just like watching your reactions. Your face is so expressive, I love seeing how affected you
are.”

Taehyung must show some sort of dramatic reaction to that because Jeongguk groans and then
scoots back, ripping his briefs off. He reaches over to the bedside table, grabbing a condom
and, right, Taehyung definitely isn’t ready to have kids so he’s happy Jeongguk remembered
because he certainly wouldn’t have. He watches, feeling pure lust as Jeongguk slides the condom
over his cock and then lines up against Taehyung’s sopping hole.
“Ready, babe?”

“Please just fuck me already, Jeongguk. I’ve been ready for years.” Taehyung’s cock is already
twitching, threatening to harden again. He has five years’ worth of sexual frustration to thank for
that.

Jeongguk hisses and then presses forward, watching with rapt attention as Taehyung’s hole
stretches over the head of his cock, enveloping him in tight, wet heat. He forces himself to keep his
eyes open, watching Taehyung. Taehyung, whose eyes have rolled into the back of his head, mouth
open in a silent cry as he stretches to accommodate Jeongguk’s thick length. The slick makes
everything easier and Taehyung finally lets the moan that had been building up fall from his mouth
when Jeongguk bottoms out.

“Holy fuck, Tae. Fuck, you feel so, so good. So warm.” Taehyung whimpers and whines, unable to
concentrate on anything but the point where their bodies connect. “Taehyung?” Jeongguk’s
concerned voice breaks him out of his trance and he looks back at his boyfriend’s dark eyes and
sobs out a moan. “How do you feel? Is it okay?”

“It’s amazing, Guk, fuck. Why did we wait for this?”

Jeongguk chuckles at his desperate voice. “Beats me. But we’re here now.”

“Yeah, so can you fucking move, please? I can take it, Jeongguk so give it to me.” He thrust his
hips down as best he can to emphasise his point and Jeongguk growls fiercely, before moving
finally.

Taehyung tries to hold his cries back, but he’s been waiting for this moment for years and years,
has imagined it so many times. It’s actually happening now and it’s overwhelming. It feels just as
good as he imagined, even better. Mostly because it’s Jeongguk and he’s such a fast learner, paying
attention to the angle he’s at when Taehyung lets out a yelp that he can’t hold back, redoubling his
efforts there and making sure he drives every sound from Tae’s mouth that he can manage.

When he hits his prostate dead-on, Taehyung’s hands fly to cover his mouth out of reflex.
Jeongguk instantly halts, causing a panic inside of him.

“Don’t stop,” he groans in frustration, but Jeongguk only smiles softly as he grabs Taehyung’s
hands and pulls them up above him, using one large hand to trap them down against the mattress.

“I can’t have you covering that pretty mouth of yours. I want to hear you screaming my name.”
With that Jeongguk resumes his thrusting, focussing on making Taehyung lose it and doing very
well. Taehyung has lost his ability to form coherent sentences, each thrust making him squeeze his
eyes shut or throw his head back, gasps and moans being stolen from his throat.

“Oh- oh, Jeongguk,” he wails his name and Jeongguk is glad the other is too distracted to see his
pathetic reaction, almost coming right then and there. He sucks in a breath instead and then leans
forward to kiss Taehyung. The older does his best to reciprocate, but as Jeongguk’s pace quickens
instead of slowing he loses track of his own lips, less kissing Jeongguk back and more letting
himself be kissed, loving the feeling but not being able to return it.

Jeongguk sits back so that he’s kneeling again, pulling Taehyung with him so that they never break
contact. Once he’s upright, he continues fucking mercilessly into Taehyung, whose moans have
turned into sobbing cries as he clutches at his shoulders, trying to get a strong hold so that he’s not
being impaled, but it doesn’t work as he feels Jeongguk’s hitting him even deeper than before. He
has no control over this situation, being ravished completely, and he’s quite okay with that.
“Jeongguk. Jeonggukkie, I’m close. Fuck, I want you to- Jeon-”

“I know baby, be patient.” Jeongguk knows what Taehyung is trying to say. He’s so wrecked, his
eyes flickering closed with each thrust but snapping open every time Jeongguk’s cock hits his
prostate dead-on. He can’t form his sentences anymore and Jeongguk is overjoyed that he’s the
one who has done that to him.

He’s the only one who will ever do that to him, he decides.

He waits until Taehyung has tensed up completely, his eyes closing and his moans becoming
consistently louder, before he freezes, wound up and ready to explode. That’s when Jeongguk
quickly leans down and attaches his lips to his neck, sinking his teeth into the perfect spot for the
world to see.

Taehyung sees white for a moment as pleasure erupts all over him. He’s vaguely aware of his
surrounds as he cries out, hot ropes of fluid shooting across his stomach before slowly petering out.
Taehyung moans and moans the whole time, not stopping as Jeongguk keeps thrusting into him
until he becomes overly sensitive and has to push him off.

He quickly sinks down in front of Jeongguk, as though he’s on autopilot, and works the condom
off before leaning forward and wrapping his lips around his cock. Jeongguk swears and jerks, hips
thrusting involuntarily before settling. He’s certainly not complaining as the warmth of Taehyung’s
tongue swirls around the tip.

Jeongguk quickly reaches the edge and taps Taehyung’s shoulder. Taehyung pulls himself up and
jerks Jeongguk off as his teeth sink instinctively into Jeongguk’s neck. The younger lets a low,
deeply-resonating groan escape him and he paints his own stomach and Taehyung’s hand with his
cum.

It’s only once he’s come down from his high that he feels it.

It’s not like their old bond, that distinct humming energy that had always been in the background.
It’s more like a whisper in his mind, Jeongguk is mine. It’s in the distance but if he focusses he can
hear it, can feel that Jeongguk hears it as well. They’re not bound to each other’s souls yet, but
they’re connected to each other in a physical way. No one in their right mind would touch either of
them now, smelling their intermingled scents until the claiming fades.

Taehyung collapses onto Jeongguk’s bed then, completely sated. The younger giggles and crawls
on top of him, nuzzling into his neck and taking a deep breath.

“You smell like me.” He can’t help the goofy grin on his face and Taehyung returns it, reaching up
and poking at his rounded cheeks.

“Good.” He reaches us up and pulls Jeongguk down, connecting their lips and kissing him slowly
and seriously. He doesn’t mean for it to be such an intimate kiss, but somehow, they have an entire
conversation in that moment.

I’m sorry for everything I’ve ever done.

I’m sorry for what I might do in the future.

I love you so much.

Please stay by my side, no matter what.

Taehyung can feel all of the thoughts in his mind, faint little whispers. They don’t feel like words,
but rather emotions, balls of colour and light that he can feel in his mind. It’s like hearing
Jeongguk’s voice over a shitty phone connection, little crackles coming through the white noise
just enough for him to make out his tone but not enough to hear his thoughts.

If they decided to mate, what would this feel like?

Taehyung decides not to worry about that right now, rather focussing on the pleasant feeling of
having something that was missing replaced. It’s not the same as before, but it’s sort of like a
promise that one day there will be something better.

“I love you. No matter what,” he whispers and watches Jeongguk’s eyes light up. That coupled
with the burst of light in his mind make his heart swell and he can’t help the tears that escape his
eyes. He’s truly happy in that moment.

--

"You know, you owe me money."

Jimin's voice coming from behind him makes Taehyung jump, wincing as he does. He's sore as
hell after spending the weekend helping Jeongguk through a rut.

"What are you talking about? Also, can you knock next time?"

Jimin comes up behind him, wrapping his arms around him and trailing them over his shirtless
chest. Anyone else might think it strange, but Taehyung knows Jimin only has the most pure
thoughts on his mind.

"Do you remember when you were packing to leave, getting ready for your presenting? I helped
you pack and I was telling you my predictions."

Taehyung has to think pretty hard to remember his presenting in general, let alone a conversation
from that day. It was a long time ago, after all.

"I guess I sort of recall."

"You were all worried, so I told you that you and Jeongguk would end up together, happily ever
after and all that shit."

Some brief memories flash before Taehyung's mind and he sighs, feeling emotional. He doesn't
miss the confusion and helplessness he felt in those years, but he can't say that it was all bad. He
looks back on that time with nothing but fondness nowadays. He wouldn't be here with a soul mark
on his neck if he hadn't gone through all of that.

"But we never agreed to money. Also, you thought I was an alpha back then."

"Details, details. The point is that I was right and I want to hear you say it."

Taehyung opens his mouth, Jimin is looking expectantly at him one moment, and then the next
he's disappearing with a shriek.

"How's my baby doing?"

Taehyung rolls his eyes as Jeongguk moves up behind him, occupying the space that Jimin did
only moments before. The other man grumbles something about Jeongguk's possessiveness as he
 slinks out of the room.

"I'm fine. Do you have to be so mean all the time, Mr. Alpha?" He reaches back to poke the firm
stomach behind him. "Poor Jimin was just being affectionate."

"Just messing with him, Tae. Besides, I wasn't asking about you." Jeongguk trails his hands down
over Taehyung's chest, over the swell of his belly as he nuzzles his nose into Taehyung's neck,
right over his mark.

"We're both fine, Guk. That marks about thirty minutes since you last asked by the way."

"Cut me some slack, okay? I'm nervous."

Taehyung is about to laugh, but he can feel how much Jeongguk's hands are shaking. He sighs,
pulling him over with him to the hospital bed. They crawl underneath the thin sheet together.
Jeongguk looks so small and innocent when he's like this, so much like he did when they were
stupid teenagers lying in grass fields together and dreaming of the future. Now they're expecting a
child any day now.

"Thanks for taking care of me, Tae." Jeongguk smiles, eyes warm and shiny as he looks into
Taehyung's. "I'm glad things turned out the way they did."

Taehyung smiles, but doesn't respond. Jeongguk doesn't need him to, his feelings shining loud and
clear over their bond.

I'm glad too.

End Notes

So what did you think? Like I said, I'm not super proud of this one. ;( But it's still a fic
either way, one I spent precious time on. I would love to know if you did like it! Please feel
free to leave me a short comment <3

Much love xx

Please drop by the archive and comment to let the author know if you enjoyed their work!