4
Yoongi hasn't seen Taehyung in the last two weeks.
Since that night the younger hasn't been visiting his father at the office. He also hasn't tried to contact Yoongi in any other way. Not that the elder has expected him to. Okay, he did expect him to but the radio silence from Taehyung could only mean one thing. And that thing is that the younger is the most honest and sincere Dom Yoongi has ever encountered.
Over the past two years that Yoongi has continued visiting Sense a lot of Doms have propositioned him. He met a lot of different people at that time. There were female Doms and male Doms alike that tried to win him over but Yoongi had always declined. Most people took his reaction great, after all, a lot of people get rejected in clubs. Propositioning a Sub in a club like Sense is most likely going to end up as nothing more than a one night stand. If that's not the case then the other most likely outcome is a rejection.
Doms and Subs connect in clubs designed for trying to match a Dom with a suitable Sub. There are parties where people who look for long term relationships meet up and try to find someone to their taste and their dynamic.
Sense, on the other hand, might also offer such parties but it is a club where people with the same interests go to have fun and go clubbing while being themselves. Yoongi likes Sense because of that, the only thing he doesn't like are the persistent Doms.
Even though the majority of the people that Yoongi rejects react completely appropriate and sometimes even stay to have a friendly chat with him or something – there are still the ones that don't get it. Like in every other club or bar there are always the people who don't understand the concept of a 'no'.
When it comes to those particular Doms it's very hard for a Sub to deny them, to stand their ground against them. Those Doms think they have a right to get every Sub they want to have because they are Doms. They feel entitled, they don't view Subs like a person with the same rights as them, with the same worth as them. In their minds, the Doms are the ones who stand above the Subs. The ones who have control over them at all times and who are better than them.
They are the ones who can't take a simple 'no', a simple rejection.
Yoongi actually only came to Sense this evening because he needed to take the edge off again. Gone is the relaxed atmosphere. Gone is the gentle simmer of nerves under his skin, gone is the Yoongi of the night with Taehyung. That's why he went back.
That's why he went back to Sense, to the familiar purple lights flashing around him, the familiar smell of sweat and alcohol and sin. The loud bass, thumping in his chest like a second heartbeat. He only wanted to let loose a little. He wanted to enjoy an evening surrounded by familiar things, in a familiar scene and with people that think like him.
He didn't come here to be pestered by a guy who for once doesn't understand the concept of personal space. And second, also seems to have a lack of understanding the simple meaning of the sentence 'Not interested.'
His gaze drops back down to his half filled glass. It's heavy between his fingers but so much more interesting than the guy in front of him. He swirls the liquid in his glass. The whiskey looks like molten gold and it reflects the purple lights flashing around him.
There's a churning feeling in his stomach, anxiety clawing at his heart. And fear is already gripping tight at his throat. Annoyance is simmering under his skin but the man in front of him is still talking. He is not taking a hint. The Dom is leaning on his right elbow against the bar, his dark brown eyes uncomfortably sweep over Yoongi's body. He feels exposed under his gaze. There's something predatory in the other's dark eyes.
Yoongi stares at the one ring adorning the other's middle finger. A golden snake slithers around it, red stones as the eyes. There's dirt under his fingernails, a scratch on the back of his hand. Yoongi glances up at the other's face again. There's this weird smirk on his lips like he owns the place.
The man is attractive. There's no denying it but not only is he not Yoongi's type but he's also not listening to him. "Come on, doll," The man drawls and Yoongi's eyes get caught on the gold necklace dangling from his neck. "You look so lonely."
It's one of the many cringey pick-up lines he already said to Yoongi. And frankly, he is not only annoyed by now but also pretty angry. He's trying so hard to stay polite with the other because he's the better person, he's above all this but the other is testing his patience. "I'm not lonely and I'm not a doll," Yoongi hisses through his teeth, "I'm also not interested. Nothing changed in the last five minutes that you annoyed me."
The man snorts, leaning back in his chair as he pushes his dark hair away from his forehead. A strand catches on his ring. "You should be glad that I'm giving you attention –"
What happens next is the very thing Yoongi has feared since the guy sat down in front of him and refused to leave him alone. The anxiousness under his skin has Yoongi feeling more restless than usual. The tension is high in every single fiber of his muscles and the second the man in front of him reaches out, long fingers wrapping around the very top of Yoongi's thigh tightly, a spark of electricity surges through his body.
Yoongi reacts before he could even process anything happening around him. The only thing he feels is the anxiety gripping tightly at his throat and the intense warmth of the other man's hand on his thigh. His grip so tight, so claiming that it makes Yoongi sick to the stomach.
He's off his chair in seconds, the spilled glass of whiskey forgotten as the liquidized gold drops from the counter. The eyes of the man widen at the sudden movement of Yoongi and to his horror he's also getting up, reaching out again.
Before his fingers could touch Yoongi anywhere again, he has already pushed the other man back. He stumbles, trying to catch himself on the bar and the expression on his face morphs into one of anger. Yoongi feels his stomach twist at the way the other man's eyes darken.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" He grits through his teeth and his hand curls around the front of Yoongi's crisp, purple dress shirt. His heart is almost beating out of his chest at the sudden close proximity. As the panic washes over him Yoongi acts on instinct alone.
His hand moves faster than his brain could be able to keep up. The other man doubles over in pain as he clutches his stomach from where Yoongi just hit him with all his panic induced might.
"Don't fucking touch me." His heart is pounding violently in panic, adrenaline shooting through his veins as he pants, trying to calm himself down again. The skin on his upper thigh is still burning, burning from the touch of the other male. As if the other's hand has imprinted itself on his skin. Like a mark that he's never going to get off again.
The Dom is not done with him yet. If all, he looks even more furious than before. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" He yells and Yoongi quickly steps back, getting the chair he'd been sitting on before between them. His fingernails press into the palm of his hand. The pain distracts him a little from the still rising level of anxiety inside of him.
"I should be asking you that! You fucking asshole!" He retorts and takes another step back as the man attempts to come around the chair.
And suddenly, suddenly Sense turned from his safe haven to his own personal nightmare. His gaze jumps from left to right, looking for someone, anyone to help him. Why is it exactly now that none of the security guards are around to help him?
It's not like Yoongi is helpless. It's not like he couldn't fight, couldn't stand up for himself – all that is not the case. But even though he could fight and he could take the other Dom in a fight, he is scared. The fear inside of his stomach is eating him alive, no matter how hard he fights against it. He hates the feeling of paralyzing fear gripping at his lungs and heart, squeezing tight enough to make him gasp for air. It makes him feel like he's going to die.
He hates it when someone makes him feel all small, all weak, like an animal caught in a corner, with no way to escape.
It's threatening, predatory – the way the other man is stalking towards him with this expression on his face. "I don't think that this is any way to speak to –"
"To what?" Yoongi stumbles against a broad chest behind him, flinching away from the physical contact as soon as possible. Before he could even register the familiar deep voice. Yoongi glances up and his heart skips a beat at the grim expression on Taehyung's face behind him. How did the younger always manage to surface in the right moments?
The other man seems to have lost most of his fight now that Taehyung, who has a couple centimeters on him, arrived. Yoongi has to admit, he would be scared of Taehyung's intimidating aura too.
"Why isn't that any way to speak to creep that won't stop harassing someone? Huh? Well, I have to agree, he should have just decked you in the face. Maybe broken your nose too. You can be glad it was just your stomach and not something else."
Yoongi is still staring up at the younger male. He looks – ethereal. His brown eyes are piercing as he stares at the other Dom. His lips are set in a thin line, his jaw clenched and he looks like he's ready to completely demolish someone. There's a dark purple cloth wrapped around his neck, the ends trailing over his exposed collar bones. The black dress shirt he wears is opened enough to almost expose his chest and the sparkling stones on it create a captivating pattern.
The purple lights give Taehyung's hair a beautiful glow and Yoongi doesn't think he could take his eyes away from it. God, he missed him. He missed him so much. He is not sure if he's feeling like this because he's still shaken up from what happened but it doesn't really matter.
Everything that Yoongi wants to do right now is being held by Taehyung, surrounded by his arms and buried in his chest. Away from all the noise, the lights, the touches.
He just wants Taehyung to touch him and make the pressure go away again.
"What do you even want?" The other Dom spits but he seems to at least be a little intimidated by Taehyung. But he's still getting up all in Taehyung's space. Yoongi didn't even notice when the younger has stepped in front of him, shielding him from the other. Normally, Yoongi wouldn't like the way Taehyung is fighting his battles. But right now he couldn't be more thankful. Taehyung makes him feel safe rather than small. It doesn't feel like Taehyung is doing this because he thinks Yoongi is too weak to defend himself and that is what the elder appreciates.
"You're not his Dom, he isn't collared so I'm allowed to –" Taehyung cuts the other off with a sharp laugh. It only lasts for a second and the corners of his mouth immediately drop to a frown again.
"You're allowed to proposition him and then respect his answer and he obviously gave you one." Taehyung pushes against his shoulder and Yoongi finally sees one of the security guards from the corner of his eyes. "Now get lost."
The Dom is about to say something stupid. Something that will definitely get himself punched in the face by Taehyung. Yoongi could see it. Yoongi could see it in the sneer on his face but then his eyes jump to the left, catching on the security guard which is eyeing them. "Asshole." Yoongi watches the other man leave with bated breath. Yoongi holds his breath until the man's back has vanished in the crowd. Until then he presses his fingernails painfully hard into the palm of his hand.
"Thanks." The word leaves his lips with a shuddering breath and he leans back. Leans back a little further until he feels Taehyung's broad chest against his back. Feels the other man stiffen slightly before he shifts to accommodate Yoongi's weight against him.
"No problem." Taehyung's words rumble in his chest, vibrating against Yoongi's back as he leans further against the younger. He is nodding at the hesitant hands that move around his sides to hold him. For now, he doesn't care about the other people around them, doesn't care about who could see them like this or why he even wants to be close to the other.
Okay, he does know that. He wants to try his luck with Taehyung. He wants to try and date Taehyung and yes, he knows that Taehyung offered him to be his Dom. And Yoongi wants to accept. He wants to accept so badly, no matter how scared he is. But at first, he has to see if the thing he wants is the same thing Taehyung wants. Because if that is not the case... then he will have to drop him. He will have to forget about their night, about every little thing he feels whenever he thinks about Taehyung.
"I could have handled him alone too, though," Yoongi pouts and he pushes away from Taehyung again. The warmth leaves his body quickly but the feeling of safety stays even as he sits down in front of the other.
Taehyung smiles down at him as he takes the seat opposite. "I didn't think you couldn't. I mean I saw how you punched him. I know you're not helpless," The younger shrugs, averting his eyes from him as he bends down to pick up the now empty glass Yoongi has been priorly drinking from. "Just thought I could speed this thing up."
Yoongi nods in agreement. His eyes follow the movement of Taehyung's hand as he wipes the whiskey off the counter and the floor with one of the napkins from the bar. It feels strange. It feels so strange and so familiar because once again Taehyung is cleaning up after him, taking care of him without the obvious expectation of getting something in return.
It's been a long time since Yoongi met someone who was interested in him but acted completely decent about it. Taehyung isn't making it obvious, he's not suddenly rude to him because Yoongi rejected him. He doesn't treat him as someone with lesser value or lesser assertiveness just because he's a Sub. Taehyung treats him like a normal human being even though he's seen almost every side of him by now, especially the ugly ones.
Taehyung has seen him break down, he's seen him crying, he's seen him annoyed, scared, angry, tied up – he's seen a lot of him already. Yoongi leans back against the counter, purple lights reflecting in Taehyung's eyes. And somehow Yoongi feels like he traveled back in time. They might not be where they met the last time but Yoongi certainly feels like they are.
He feels exactly like the last time he encountered the younger male in Sense. Maybe not exactly but he knows the same kinds of feelings are involved, the same kind of thoughts like last time. The only difference now is that their roles are reversed.
This time it is Yoongi who wants to proposition Taehyung and not the other way around. This time it is Yoongi who is scared of rejection, who is scared of asking Taehyung if he wants a relationship with him. He's the one being scared.
"Hey, are you – uhm – okay?"
The sudden question surprises him. Yoongi snaps his head up from where he's been staring at his own hands which have been anxiously pulling at his own sleeves. For a second he racks his brain for what Taehyung meant with his question. Did he look this frazzled? Is he asking because of the guy not leaving him alone?
Certainly not. Not when he saw him punch him. Not when Yoongi is more than capable of fending for himself. Not when they didn't have any kind of contact since Yoongi left Taehyung's apartment the next morning after he had one of the worst mental breakdowns in the last year.
He takes a deep breath, hands clenching on his thigh as he searches for Taehyung's gaze. "You mean if I had another breakdown since – yeah?" Taehyung nods at his awkward attempt of addressing what happened without actually saying it. "I didn't... I – thanks. For that night too I didn't – I didn't know how much I needed that..." Yoongi trails off, averting his gaze again.
It's strange how it could feel like they're the only two people in the whole world at the moment while sitting in the middle of a busy club. The purple lights are flashing around them, the music thumping through both of their bodies every second and a crowd of people around them.
And Yoongi still feels like he's only looking at Taehyung, only being here with one single person.
Taehyung most likely hasn't averted his gaze from him. His eyes are burning on Yoongi's skin, the intensity making goosebumps rise on his arms. "I meant it when I told you I'd be down to help you. I still mean it."
This is it. This could be his chance. His chance to ask Taehyung to elaborate on his offer, to ask him if his offer includes everything Yoongi also wants from the other. But instead of doing that, instead of saying exactly what he wants to ask the other Yoongi lets his insecurities talk.
"Tae – I don't know if it's such a good idea... You're the son of my boss." As soon as the words leave his mouth he drops his head, eyes wide and staring at his clenched fists. He focuses on the pain in his palms. His teeth clamp down on his bottom lip and he hopes that Taehyung won't be able to tell that he's panicking right now.
Why couldn't he just say what's literally at the tip of his tongue?
"So? We don't work together, you don't gain anything from this relationship – workwise," Taehyung smiles. Yoongi doesn't dare to look up at him directly, too afraid to fall for his charms all too easily. That smile of his is oh so captivating. "There's nothing that would forbid this from happening apart from your own conscience."
If it weren't for the loud club around them they would be engulfed in silence. But apart from Yoongi's quietness everything around them remains as loud as before. The music. The people. Even his own breathing seems to be too loud for Yoongi's ears.
When he glances up, Taehyung is already looking at him. His brown eyes seem warm, despite their general darkness because of the lightning of the club. Yoongi sees the way the other is eyeing his clenched fists and he knows what it means. Ignoring the spike in his heartbeat, Yoongi uncurls his fists. The palms of his hands facing upwards as he nods at Taehyung's questioning gaze.
"You need me," The younger says. His hands curl around Yoongi's slowly. So very slowly and carefully, as if he wants to do things as slow as possible to give Yoongi a chance to pull away again. But he doesn't. He accepts the gentle pressure around his hands with bated breath and a racing heart. Taehyung's words echo in his head.
"You need me and you know it."
The thing is... Yoongi does know that. God, he knows it. He needs Taehyung. But this need has already evolved into something more. Into something that scares him even more than just basically needing someone. He wants Taehyung. He not only wants Taehyung in his life – He wants to spend his life with him.
He's not talking about marriage or something like this. No. What he means is that he wants Taehyung to take care of him, to love him, to ground him when he needs him to and to dominate him when he needs him to. He wants Taehyung in his life and this want is way scarier than any need could ever be. Because a need is something that can be justified without your conscious decision to do something. A want is something you decide to have in your life. Something you decide to need in your life and Yoongi is just scared that in the end, he'll end up feeling more than Taehyung.
Yoongi sighs, biting his bottom lip harshly before he lifts his head again. "If we are gonna do this I need it to be exclusive," He says, stressing the part about being exclusive. "I need to be the only one you're seeing and sexually interacting with."
"I expect the same from you."
"I want to be collared," Yoongi continues to work down his mental list of things he needs to have clear before he would get involved with Taehyung. He knows that he shouldn't feel ashamed for what he wants from him. That he shouldn't feel embarrassed because he doesn't want a simple D/S relationship but he can't help but fear that this would end up with him being rejected.
He couldn't help but fear that maybe Taehyung won't see him as more than another Sub. That he would see him as some kind of toy to play with during scenes and forget about as soon as they're over. His conscience might tell him that Taehyung is definitely not like that – having proven himself already before. But he couldn't help the worry clouding his mind.
He hasn't even noticed that his heart has started racing again and that he's been playing with Taehyung's fingers during his short silence. When he risks a peek at the other's expression he doesn't find anything else than kindness, gentleness and something that just screams safety at him.
It's enough for him to move his lips again. "I want to be owned and if you aren't able to be this committed then this won't work. I don't want to be another temporary Sub, I don't want a strictly session oriented relationship. I need to be owned, claimed, collared –" He squeezes his eyes shut, afraid of the other's reaction to his words. "– loved. Otherwise, I would look for a temporary Dom. But I'm not. I want to be dating. Or well, try to date – you."
The silence following his words is deafening. Yoongi couldn't even really hear the loud music which is still playing in the background. He couldn't even really focus on the fact that they are still in the middle of Sense because Taehyung still hasn't said anything. Why didn't he say anything? Why isn't he saying something?
Taehyung still hasn't let his hands go – that has to be a good sign right? Or maybe he just doesn't know how to let him down gently? Maybe Taehyung is overwhelmed by what Yoongi just said to him? Maybe it was too much and he doesn't know how to react to what he said – how to turn him down?
It seems like Taehyung is able to figure out that he's overthinking everything again because the next thing he knows is that there's a warm breath brushing against his ear. Yoongi's eyes snap open but the only thing he sees is Taehyung's brown hair right in front of him. "Then we seem to be on the same page." The other's deep voice sends shivers down Yoongi's spine and he unconsciously leans closer to him, squeezing his fingers tight. "Can you imagine yourself dating me?"
"Can you?" Taehyung leans back at his question, a teasing smile on his pinkish lips.
"Imagine me dating myself?"
"No, dating me," Yoongi laughs. The anxious and tense atmosphere around them vanishes with a simple joke like this and Yoongi feels his shoulders relax again. Especially when Taehyung starts gently stroking his thumb over the back of his hand in a comforting manner.
"Well, I didn't try to chat you up for four years because I'm not interested in you," Taehyung laughs and it's not only his laugh that makes Yoongi's stomach drop. Did he hear that correctly? Did Taehyung actually flirt with him for the past four years and all he ever thought of the younger was that he is pretty annoying? He can't believe it. "But are you interested in me?"
That's an easy question. At least in one part. "Physically? Yes. But I don't know you as a person. I don't really know much about you – who you are."
Taehyung nods and he squeezes his hands once before letting go again. "That's what dating is for, right?" He says leaning on the counter as he pushes his hair away from his forehead. Yoongi's eyes are glued to the movement, fascinated by the way the strands fall back perfectly in place. "I don't know you either but I know that I want to get to know you."
The anxiety that has started to boil in his stomach is simmering down again. He fights against the smile that threatens to break out of on his lips. Taehyung is willing – Taehyung is willing to try everything with him that Yoongi wants. "Okay..." Yoongi says a little breathless. He's not sure if his voice could be heard over the sound of the club around him. "Let's do this."
Taehyung nods and he gets up. "I'm proud of you."
The whole sentence throws Yoongi off. He is proud of him? Why is he proud of him? It doesn't add up. It doesn't make any sense.
Taehyung must have seen the confused expression on his face because now he's giggling. "I see you, you're not as discreet about your inability to take care of yourself as you think you are. You so desperately try to control everything around you that you can't relax and I, I will help you with that."
~
The last time Yoongi actually went out to look at paintings or any other art installation anywhere was when he was in middle school in Daegu. It wasn't an art gallery that displayed the modern work of artists of this decade. It was a museum – a museum filled with painting after painting of royals and naked women and men and of fields and forests and castles and animals with weird facial expressions and body proportions.
Art has never been something that spoke to him the way it does to other people. That time in middle school had been the last time where he really came in contact with art and he found it more than boring.
He never thought that he would go back to any kind of establishment that displayed art but now he is standing here. On a Saturday morning, around 11 am in front of the JT Gallery. Why did Taehyung insist on meeting here?
Yoongi taps his foot as he waits inside of the entrance. He's not sure if he's maybe too early or Taehyung is running late or if he should go inside without him or not. The security guard next to the doors is eyeing him a little strange and he gulps. Is he acting too suspicious? How does someone act suspiciously in the entrance hall of an art gallery?
Of course, Yoongi researched the gallery beforehand. He always has to know exactly what to expect from the place he's going to. JT Gallery exhibits newcomers and people who've been in the street art scene for longer. The art installations Yoongi has seen online actually look more interesting than what he's seen in art museums before.
He sighs, looking down at the watch around his wrist. He is not late. He is not early either. He is exactly on time and Taehyung is not here which means that he is late and that means that – a sudden small giggle right next to his ear makes him jump.
Is it possible to look like this on a daily basis?
Yoongi has always wondered how Taehyung manages to look this effortlessly beautiful whatever he wears and whatever the occasion is. The younger is still silently laughing at his shocked expression and the way his lips curl into a rectangular smile and his nose scrunches all cutely makes Yoongi's heart skip a beat.
Taehyung is so beautiful.
His brown hair has slight curls in it, parted a bit over his forehead and exposing his strong eyebrows. Right now his chocolate eyes are hidden because of his smile but it makes his face just this more endearing. He's wearing black pants, black wide pants flowing down his endless legs and making them look even longer than they actually are. A soft looking pink turtle neck hugs his chest tightly and a thin beige coat hangs from his shoulders. He wears a long earring on the right side, the flower at the bottom catching the light coming from outside.
It is unfair how easily Taehyung manages to take his breath away with the simple choice of his clothing.
Just when the younger has stopped smiling so wide Yoongi realizes that he still hasn't said anything to him. His own lips wobble in an insecure smile as he averts his eyes from the intense gaze of Taehyung.
"Hey," Yoongi whispers, pulling the sleeves of his jacket over his fingers as he bites his bottom lip.
"Hyung." He looks up at the gentle rumble of Taehyung's voice to find the younger male looking at him with the most gentle gaze in his eyes. "Can I hug you hello?"
The question throws him off. It must show on his face because for a few seconds Yoongi forgets how to basically do anything else than staring right ahead. His mouth is slightly open, eyes gaping and he's sure even his heart stopped beating for a second there.
How did Taehyung know that?
Well, there might have been a few indicators for Yoongi's problem with physical contact sometimes but he never outright stated it for the other. And yeah, Taehyung never really touched him without his permission, always waited for Yoongi to make the first move but he couldn't have possible known.
It takes him a lot of time to open up to people enough to explain to them why he'd rather not be touched but Taehyung caught onto it so quickly. And not only that. Instead of just not touching him he is casually asking him if it's okay to touch him. He is not making a big deal out of it. Apart from his parents and his friends Yoongi never had anyone who actually went through the ordeal of asking all the time and staying nice throughout it all.
He feels goosebumps rising all over his arms and he nervously runs his own hands up and down his sleeves, trying to get rid of the prickling feeling. Does he want Taehyung to hug him? Hugging is something very intimate with a lot of physical contact and even though Yoongi liked hugging the younger the few times he already did – today doesn't feel so right.
"Next time, maybe," He replies shakily. No matter how often he tells himself that he has nothing to worry about, that it is his right to refuse physical contact he could never stop worrying about offending someone. But Taehyung just keeps beaming at him as if nothing happened.
"Okay," He claps his hands together shortly before gesturing towards the entrance to the exhibition halls. "I'm so glad we met like this. What a coincidence."
"It is not a coincidence. You asked me to come. You invited me here," Yoongi laughs at the other's silliness. "Come to think about it – why an art gallery?"
"You've never been here before." That... uhm, that is not the answer Yoongi expected? He's not sure if Taehyung is serious or if he's just joking. Whatever it is, it makes him break out in a chuckle again.
"And that didn't sound stalkerish at all," He laughs, slightly bumping his own shoulder against Taehyung's as they continue to walk towards the counter where you buy your tickets. Even the counter looks as elegant as the rest of the gallery, modern but somehow vintage too. Yoongi is sure if he knew more about art and design he would be able to describe everything a little bit better but he can't.
The woman sitting behind the counter is smiling at them, not making any move to get ready and let them buy tickets. It confuses Yoongi a bit. But it gets only more confusing when Taehyung gently pushes him from behind, a feathery touch which doesn't even last a second. Yoongi isn't even sure if he didn't just imagine it.
Anyway, his confusion only gets worse when Taehyung simply steers them past the counter and right into the first exhibition hall without getting them tickets. Before he could ask him about it, Taehyung is talking again.
"Well, I would have known if someone as pretty as you would have been here before," Taehyung says with a teasing smirk.
"Still not stalkerish at all."
"I thought it would be a good place to meet because around this time not a lot of visitors come in. And you have the day off and I don't have any meetings this Saturday," Taehyung says and just when Yoongi starts wondering about the fact that the younger knows his schedule for today and when the gallery is less filled another part of the sentence catches his attention.
"Meetings?" He asks a little confused. Why should Taehyung have meetings? He doesn't work, right? That's the only bad point about him. The fact that he's leeching off his father's money like every other rich boy. Like the typical stereotype.
Taehyung abruptly stops walking at his question. The smile slips from his face and is replaced by a slight frown. "Wait – You still believe that I don't have a real job?"
"Well – no?" Yoongi gulps, feeling trapped in the other's intense gaze. He tries to distract himself but apart from them the hallway they're in is completely empty. "I mean, why should you? You have your father's money. You're just – a spoiled rich kid. No offense though. You've been born rich, that's just that."
"Wow. Wow." Yoongi flinches slightly and squeezes his eyes shut at the other's reaction. Oh god – Why can't he just talk about some things like a normal person? Why is he always so insensitive about sensitive topics?
Taehyung huffs and Yoongi doesn't even want to imagine the expression on his face right now. "How am I not supposed to be offended by that?"
"I just – that's just what you are, right?" Yeah, Yoongi thinks, keep making everything worse. How about just shutting up for a moment and not destroying everything with that stupid mouth of his? "I mean, you run around dripping in Gucci, you look so aloof and so – as if you don't really care and I just... yeah. I can't imagine any kind of job that lets you make so much money with this seemingly lazy attitude."
"I'm not a rich daddy's boy," Taehyung snaps but his voice gets quickly soft again. Yoongi risks a peek at the other and finds him with a neutral expression on his face. That is not completely bad, right?
"The money I have – I earned it all myself. I worked for everything I own and I am completely independent of my father and everything associated with him. We don't – We don't really share the same beliefs on most things and I – We don't have the best kind of relationship because I've never been afraid of speaking up for the things I believe in and since I refused to take over his company things have gone even icier between us. But we're working on our relationship."
Well – Now Yoongi just feels bad.
"Uhm, so you – I – sorry," He trips over his guilt-ridden apology hastily. He wants to fucking cry. Why the hell has he been so judging before? He should have listened to his friends when they told him that he's being shallow but no. Of course, not. Of course, Yoongi is just ruining everything again – like he always does. "I'm sorry for judging you based on stereotypes. I shouldn't have done that. That was wrong and I'm – really sorry."
"S'okay," Taehyung shrugs and the blinding rectangular smile from before is back on his face. It's like getting a whiplash – the drastic change in the other's mood. "Not the first time that happened to me."
But instead of lingering on Taehyung's mood, Yoongi decides to find out more about his job. At least now he can show him that he's interested in what he does. "So, how are you this rich then? What do you work as?"
It seems to be the right strategy because Taehyung starts slowly walking again and his eyes get their sparkle back. Like this, he looks like a little kid on Christmas. "Oh, instead of studying what my father wanted I chose my two passions," He says, "Biology and art. I am the curator and co-owner of this gallery. I'm the T of JT Gallery. I oversee every art installation displayed here while my friend is managing most of the finances and keeps an eye out for new artists."
"That's – so cool!" Yoongi can't believe it. This is Taehyung's gallery? Oh god – he's been so rude while Taehyung literally owns this prestigious gallery. It's unbelievable but if he thinks about it now – somehow, as weird as that sounds, it makes sense. Taehyung himself is like an art gallery of its own and this time it has nothing to do with his undeniably handsome face.
"Really?"
"Yeah." Yoongi can't believe that he would ever hear Taehyung sounding shy, sounding so unsure and – insecure of something. Especially when this something is his successful art gallery. God damn, he finds out something different about him every time they meet and it always blows his mind. "Maybe you're not as bad as I originally thought."
"Been trying to tell you that for the last four years," Taehyung snorts and gently knocks their shoulders together. "But hey – at least you finally start to realize that."
"Don't get ahead of yourself now, brat," Yoongi laughs, leaning against him a little to support himself. He acts like he doesn't notice the endeared look in Taehyung's eyes as he snuggles against him. Just thinking about him makes him blush and he doesn't want that. Doesn't want Taehyung to see what kind of effect he has on him.
"Feisty," Taehyung smiles, a teasing lilt to his voice. "It's why I've taken an interest in you."
"You have?" This time it is Yoongi who abruptly stops in the middle of the hallway with confusion clouding his face. "I mean, before – you know?"
"Of course," Taehyung says as if it's the most obvious thing in the entire world – which it is not. "That's why I always rile you up – you look cute as hell when you're annoyed, especially when you're annoyed with me."
"You're unbelievable," Yoongi gasps but he also can't help the smile on his lips. He can't believe that the other has only been this annoying because he was interested in him! If someone had given him a hint about that he would have laughed and never believed them. Not in a million years.
"Wanna go and enjoy our date now?" Taehyung eventually asks and Yoongi splutters again.
"Date?"
A date-date? Like, he knew that this was a kinda date but not a date-date. Well, he should have figured but still.
Taehyung laughs at his shocked expression. "Wasn't I clear enough?"
"You were," Yoongi coughs, trying to hide that he's extremely embarrassed – again.
"I'm glad then –"
"Tae!" A voice suddenly shouts from somewhere behind them. It's accompanied by loud footsteps running in their direction. When Yoongi turns around he catches sight of a boy – a young man with the face of a baby.
His dark, messy hair is hidden under a red beanie which has a lot of colorful splotches of what presumably is paint on it. An equally colorful soiled face mask is tucked under his chin and bounces with every single one of his steps. He's dressed casually – completely out of place for such a pristine and elegant location. The brown timberlands he wears are dirty and also have the remains of different paints on them. He wears wide and washed out grey sweatpants and over that an oversized pastel blue sweater which also isn't void of any paint. At first glance, it seems like that but the bottom of his sleeves look like he used them to either wipe over different kinds of paint or often leaned down on freshly painted surfaces.
The guy looks about Taehyung's age – maybe even a tad younger. He has wide brown eyes which sparkle with a kind of childishness Yoongi only sometimes catches sight of whenever Taehyung teases him. As he comes to a stop in front of them he's panting a little but there's still a smile on his lips. It exposed his front teeth which make him look like a bunny.
Taehyung seems to be a little confused by Bunny Boy's sudden appearance. "Oh – hey, we didn't have a meeting today?"
At the questioning tone of his voice, Bunny Boy laughs again, adjusting the strap of his backpack. Something inside clutters. It sounds a little like metal hitting metal. Yoongi wonders what might be inside. "I know – I've been speaking to Jimin-hyung about next week and he told me I should check in with you. I was just going to text you but you're here," He says with a wide smile.
"Yeah but I'm kinda busy?" The questioning undertone still hasn't left Taehyung's voice. A fond warmth spreads through Yoongi's chest because of what Taehyung said. He's busy with him. That's right. They're on their kinda date. Date-date.
"Oh, I'm sorry – that was pretty rude," Bunny Boy apologizes suddenly and he even bows in Yoongi's direction. "I'm Busan," He introduces himself and offers the perplexed looking Yoongi his hand to shake. The sudden thought of having to shake the other's hand pushes away the confusion about his name. Yoongi stares down at the hand, feeling himself start to blush because of embarrassment and shame, sweat starting to collect at his hairline.
There's a splotch of pink paint on the other's thumb. Before Yoongi could panic further about shaking a strangers hand so suddenly Taehyung steps forward, creating some kind of wall between them as he gently lowers Busan's hand with an effortless smile.
"That's Min Yoongi. Jungkook is - " The boy makes a distressed noise.
"Sorry," Taehyung laughs. "Busan is his alias. He takes that very serious so don't tell anyone that his real name is Jeon Jungkook."
"Hyung!" Busan - Jungkook whines but Taehyung only pats his head as if he were a little child throwing a tantrum. Busan being an alias makes much more sense than it being the actual name of a person.
"Anyway, he is the artist of our exhibition next week," Taehyung explains after turning back to face him with an encouraging look in his eyes. Yoongi hopes the gratitude could be read on his face because Taehyung just saved him from a very uncomfortable situation. "He's a very fast raising street artist and is already selling pieces in the thousands."
"Ah," Yoongi nods but if he's being honest he didn't really listen all that much. There's still blood rushing in his ears and he only dares to slightly peek up at the street artist in front of him. Jungkook doesn't look that weirded out by him.
"Anyway," Taehyung interrupts his train of thought and Yoongi jumps slightly at his voice. "If Jimin approved then I don't have a problem with anything," The younger addresses Jungkook who nods in response.
"Gotcha," He yells over his shoulders, shooting them finger guns before he takes off running again. His backpack is still making this cluttering noise but it doesn't seem to bother Taehyung as much as it bothers Yoongi. He pulls his gaze away from the retreating brunet and lets his gaze travel over the white walls again. If he looks a little further ahead he could see the opening to a filled exhibition hall. The colorful artworks attract his attention even from this distance.
"He seems..." Yoongi is searching for the right words to describe Jungkook. Taehyung seems to get his struggle with said goal and just gently pushes him again so that they keep walking down the hallway.
"Childish? Frazzled?" He offers and Yoongi nods at both descriptions. If he didn't know any better he would bet that Jungkook is an overwhelmed student majoring in art and running on exactly three minutes of sleep and like ten red bulls.
Still, the other male seems to be nice. A little weird maybe but that just makes him even more endearing and interesting. It doesn't feel like a burden when Yoongi thinks about eventually seeing him again somewhere.
"Jungkook is still young – I think he recently turned twenty-three – but he's really good. And even though he keeps beating me at video games I'm glad Jimin bailed him out," Taehyung says to no one in particular. His lips curl into a fond smile as his eyes seem to stare at nothing, maybe recalling a happy memory.
Still, his words only manage to encourage Yoongi's curiosity regarding Jeon Jungkook. Now he's been in jail or what? And who even is that Jimin guy both of them kept talking about?
Yoongi bites his bottom lip, pulling at the annoying loose thread of his right sleeve. He's not sure if it would be okay if he asked about all of this. It should be, right? After all, this is a date and he's here to get to know Taehyung and that includes getting to know the people he surrounds himself with, right?
"Who's Jimin and why did he bail him out?" He eventually asks, voice a little lower and quieter than normal but since they're currently the only ones in the hallway Taehyung is able to hear him just fine.
"Park Jimin," He says as if that name alone should ring a bell in Yoongi's head. And maybe he's heard his boss mention the name Park before but there are a lot of people called Park. Thankfully Taehyung is willing to elaborate. "He's my best friend and the other owner of the gallery. The cops caught Jungkook spraying a whole train in the middle of the night but he's talented so Jimin got him out of jail and since then we've been promoting him and giving him open spots in our gallery. Next week is his first exhibition where he's the only artist. He's very nervous because of it. Afraid that people might not come if he's the only exhibited artist."
Before Yoongi could reply with anything though, Taehyung interrupts him again. "Which reminds me!" Yoongi flinches at his loud voice, ducking his head as it alerts the attention of the other few people who are lingering in the exhibition section they have just entered. He doesn't like the way everyone suddenly turns to stare at them. "I would like to take you there," Taehyung eventually says with an excited expression on his face and for a second it looks like he's about to grab Yoongi's hands but he refrains himself from doing it in the last second.
"To the exhibition?"
Taehyung nods enthusiastically. "Yeah, you can also bring a friend if you want to."
Yoongi doesn't even have to think long about it. The excited expression on Taehyung's face is more than convincement enough to get him to agree instantly. "Okay," He says with an equally bright smile on his face and he could swear that Taehyung just squealed.
It's funny but even though they haven't even spent half an hour together he has already seen another facet of Taehyung again. There's the teasing and flirting Taehyung visiting him at the office, there's the intimidating Taehyung which sat in the lounge at Sense. Then there's the gentle Taehyung, the one that took him home, dried his tears and washed his hair, let him play with his fingers. And there is the Taehyung that tied him up, the dominant aura, the demanding gaze, and unforgiving hands.
And Yoongi has liked every single part of the younger and now he sees another one. The Taehyung that gets excited like a little child, so different from what he usually looks like. So different from the designer clothes, the face of a model and the expensiveness which practically drips off him.
Yoongi smiles to himself and shyly links their pinkies together, ignoring his and Taehyung's blush that starts coloring both their cheeks red.
~
Yoongi's heart is pounding in his chest violently. It's knocking against his ribcage like it wants to break out of it with all of its might. Taehyung is smiling down at him, his lips exposing rows of beautiful white teeth and Yoongi feels like he's looking at an angel out of this world.
His breath comes in short pants. His palms get sweaty and he hopes that Taehyung won't notice them. Just like he hopes that Taehyung wouldn't be able to hear his pounding heart.
The other's fingers tighten momentarily around his own and Yoongi has to bite the inside of his cheek to not break out in a silly grin. They've been standing in front of his apartment entrance for quite some time now, just – staring at each other without either of them moving or talking. Taehyung's thumb strokes over the back of his hand as he breaks the comfortable silence between them.
"I guess this is it," Taehyung whispers. Like it's a secret between just the two of them, a secret from the rest of the unimportant world around them. "I hope you enjoyed it."
Is that real? Is the Kim Taehyung seriously blushing in front of him now? Yoongi couldn't suppress the embarrassing giggle escaping his lips red blush on Taehyung's cheeks which is slowly spreading even up to his ears.
Yoongi squeezes the other's hands reassuringly. "I liked it a lot. Thank you for today."
"I have to thank you. For giving me a chance – Giving us a chance to make your life better," Taehyung smiles. And his smile. God, his freaking smile is what kills Yoongi and he feels his heart skip a beat again, his legs feel like jelly as he continues to stare up at Taehyung.
"I will contact you regarding the contract soon," The younger says and for a second his voice dips back into professionalism.
"Okay."
Neither of them makes a move to leave or even let go of the other's hand. If Yoongi could decide then they would be standing in front of his apartment complex until the sun would set, as long as their hands stay intertwined. But he knows Taehyung has to leave and he also knows that once he reaches his apartment that there are two files which need to be complete until Monday morning.
But he doesn't want to let Taehyung go. How did he get so easily from denying Taehyung, denying his attraction towards him and his need to have him to wishing he could spend the next few hours just holding his hand? Maybe doing a little bit more...
His mind wanders back to the previous words of the younger. The contract. He can't wait for them to go over the contract and then starting their relationship completely. Now that he's so close to having what he denied himself for the past two years he can't really wait for it to happen. The fear is still there, of course. It's still simmering low in his stomach, hiding in the crevices of his soul but Yoongi ignores it. He pushes it down every time it tries to resurface again.
Taehyung is different.
Taehyung will treat him right.
Taehyung is perfect and up until now, he has done everything and more to prove himself to Yoongi. To prove himself and his good intentions and Yoongi is already trusting him. It might be fast, it might be irresponsible of him but he can't help it. The second he's been in the close vicinity of Taehyung today he felt safe, he felt relaxed and he craves that feeling. He wants to experience it more and he wants Taehyung to give him this experience. He wants Taehyung by his side from now on.
"Well, then," Taehyung interrupts his thoughts and squeezes his hands. "This is goodbye."
"Would – " Yoongi cuts himself off again but he wonders why. With a shake of his head, he lets go of his insecurities for a second and raises himself on his tiptoes, eyes staring at Taehyung's pinkish lips. "Would you mind a kiss?"
"If you don't mind..."
"I don't."
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