"Jiiiiiin, pleaaase," Taehyung hears as he steps into the Queen with his laptop case tucked under his arm. He's a little sweaty from standing out in the sun for the past 20 minutes, which he'd spent talking himself into entering the coffee shop.

("It'll be weirder if you don't go," Jin had told him the night prior.)

"Look, Jimin," Jin sighs, setting down his mug on the countertop. "As an independent consultant, I'm the face of my own brand. Personally? I love drag. But some of the owners of the restaurants I work with are uberconservative assholes who would take their business elsewhere if they saw it."

Jimin pouts, clearing away Jin's empty cup, and moving to stand back behind the counter. As he moves, his eyes catch Taehyung's, and his brows twitch upwards almost imperceptibly. Jin follows his gaze and gestures to Taehyung. "Do it with Taehyung!"

There is a beat of silence where Taehyung and Jimin just look at each other. "Uh, do what?" Taehyung asks as lightly as he can.

"Jimin needs a new face to paint on his YouTube channel."

"You do?" Taehyung asks curiously, thinking back to some of the videos he'd seen.

Jimin shrugs nonchalantly and very clearly tried to busy himself with work. "I just uh, wanted to do another drag transformation video. They're really popular, and I've done them for everyone else already."

"I mean... I'll do it. If you want me to," Taehyung tells him gently.

"Oh, you don't have to," Jimin dismisses him quickly, looking extremely embarrassed. "I don't want to like pressure you into anything."

The way he says it makes it feel like he's talking about a little bit more than just the video.

Taehyung sighs, because this is not how he wants it to be between them. "Okay let me rephrase. Would it be helpful to you if I did it?"

"I mean... yeah," Jimin allows reluctantly.

"Then I wanna do it," Taehyung insists with a smile. "I want to help. Hey, maybe it'll even be better. I mean some people even argue that I'm hotter than Jin, so-"

"Nobody argues that," Jin interrupts.

"You can never once just let me have that, can you?" Taehyung asks, and Jin just shrugs as he takes a delicate sip of coffee.

"You sure, Tae?"

"Positive," Taehyung confirms aggressively. He's going to make this fucking work. "What are friends for?"

Taehyung has been over to Jimin's place several times before, but somehow this time he feels like an intruder when he steps through the door. Jimin greets him with a tight 'hey,' which Taehyung returns quietly.

"Uh. Thanks again for doing this," Jimin says as he leads him into his main room, which is currently set up as a very legitimate looking studio setup. There is a prescribed distance between them and an uncertainty in the air that has never been there before, not even when they were practically strangers. "These are my most popular videos, by far. I'm truly blessed to be surrounded by pretty boys. Yoongi's video broke 2 million."

"Really??"

"He's got kind of a following now. Weirdly, lots of schoolgirl fanart. Probably because of the wig."

"Hot."

They catch each other's eyes for a quick moment, and an ensuing awkwardness follows as they both just kind of stand there, scrambling for their next move.

"Here, hop up," Jimin says, gesturing to a stool surrounded by makeup in the middle of the room. "Do you need to pee? Eat? Drink? Anything other than breathe for the next few hours?"

"I have no immediate plans for any of those things, but I also have no means of predicting my body's needs and demands."

"Fair. Here, wipe down your face with one of these, then we can go ahead and start recording." Jimin pulls a cleansing wipe from a pretty packet and hands it to him, then heads over to tinker with the camera while Taehyung cleans his face. "Ready?"

"Super ready. Just tell me when we're about to record so I can fart real quick before we start."

Jimin glances back at him with an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "My finger pressed record as soon as I said 'ready.'"

"What is wrong with you?? That's like knocking as you walk into a room," Taehyung despairs, whining. "You'll edit that part out, right?"

"I don't edit my videos. Kook does," Jimin says lightly as he moves back towards Taehyung. "But you could probably bribe him with a jar of protein powder or a candid shot of Joon's left dimple." He shoots an impish look at the camera and does the 'watching you' gesture with a weird smirk.

"How is that working out, by the way? Those two?" Taehyung inquires.

Jimin scoffs. "How do you think that's working out? Have you met our friend group? Everybody is totally in love with each other and absolutely ridiculously dumb about it." He seems to realize who he's talking to approximately two seconds after he's already said it, and his ears burn in response. "Anyway. Just, follow my lead, okay?"

"Yep," Taehyung says quietly, wiggling on the stool as he adjusts his posture and shakes his hair back.

Jimin moves to stand beside him and faces the camera, plastering an almost-convincing smile on his face as he addresses the camera. "Hey everybody, it's Minnie here, and I'm back with another drag transformation for you," Jimin says, still managing to beam at the camera even as he speaks, and Taehyung wonders exactly how many of his viewers are in love with him. "Today I have my friend Tae with us, and I've been dying to paint him since I first met him, because, well, look at his face." Taehyung flushes hot, and Jimin catches his eye before glancing away shyly. "Questions or concerns before we start?"

Taehyung's spine straightens slightly. "Yes. Why did you ask Jin to do this before you asked me? Do you think he's hotter than me?" Taehyung demands, playing it up a little for the camera.

Jimin tap his chin gently with a makeup brush. "Objectively speaking.... yes. But subjectively speaking..... yes."

Taehyung gently shoves him as Jimin collapses into giggles. "I hate you!"

"I'm just kidding. You know I think you're hotter than Jin." Jimin maintains his light, casual laughter, but his ears remain tinged the loveliest red as he turns back to the camera. "So, have you ever worn makeup before?" Jimin asks him as he turns to his makeup kit and grabs a gluestick.

"Uh, well, yes. I used to wear a lot of eyeliner, but I did not wear it well. It was an ill-advised scene phase."

Jimin must have been ready, waiting to pounce. "Actually, anticipating that statement, Jin has actually provided me with some pictures that Kook will be editing into the video right... here," Jimin points to his left, where there is currently nothing but dead space.

"What?? Let me see!" Taehyung demands, peeking around Jimin.

"They're going to be superimposed onto the screen, dummy."

"I'm suing for... libel."

"It's not libel, you big baby, it's your actual fucking face. You can't sue me for showing your actual fucking face."

Taehyung's lip curls in a pout, and Jimin laughs delightedly. "Can we just get started now?"

"Fine, fine. So first I have to glue down your brows. Is that okay?" Jimin asks, sliding Taehyungs hair up into a hairband, and Taehyung really does try his best not to lean into the feeling of small, gentle fingers in his hair.

"Whatever you need to do, boss," Taehyung assures him.

"It's almost a shame. God these brows are something else. Why don't you wear your hair off your forehead more often?"

"Don't want to stir up the crowds into a frenzy. It's fine though, do whatever you need to them," he says, closing his eyes docilely.

When his lids flutter open several seconds later he is just barely able to swallow the startled squeak threatening to erupt from his chest, because Jimin is mere inches from his face, glue stick poised in his hand. For a split second, Taehyung's eyes dart down to his lips on instinct, but then he is closing his eyes again in his panic.

"You don't have to close your eyes for this part, you know," Jimin teases him, pressing the glue stick to his left eyebrow and resting his other hand on the side of Taehyung's face. "You can open them if you want."

"I'm... sleepy," Taehyung lies, ignoring how soft Jimin's hands feel on his skin. Opening his eyes would definitely not be a good idea right now, especially as he feels Jimin's proximity through the gentle puffs of breath on his face.

"Don't you dare fall asleep on me and make me skewer your eyeball with an eyeliner pencil," Jimin admonishes him softly, still dabbing his brows with the sticky glue.

"Yes sir," Taehyung smiles, though his eyes remain firmly closed.

"What kind of drag look are we going for, by the way?"

"Hmm, well. I was thinking something like... hot indie pop queen frequenting a sex dungeon."

Jimin's hands pause on his face for a moment, and Taehyung peeks an eyelid open. "It's so specific but somehow I can visualize it with striking clarity. I'll let you choose your outfit and wig when I'm done, okay?"

"Okay!" Taehyung agrees, and he can't pretend he's not excited.

"So Tae, tell the viewers a little about yourself. Or about me. Mostly about me. Tell them how we met."

"Uh, it was like... 4 months ago?" Taehyung struggles to remember, eyes still glued shut. "I thought you were a hot girl and I came onto you."

Jimin gives a self-satisfied little huff, turning to the camera. "Eat your heart out Violet Chachki, there's a new... fish in... the..... sea- nope I mixed idioms, cut that part, Kook." He continues to dab the gluestick gently around Taehyung's browbone. "Your skin is flawless, you ass," Jimin mumbles fondly as he sets the little stick on the countertop with a small clunk. "And what kills me is your skin routine consists of you falling asleep with your face in a bag of flaming hot cheetos every night."

Taehyung cracks an eye open in indignation. "That was one time and you didn't have to put it on your snap story! And I also wash my face, thank you very much. With real soap."

"What kind of soap?"

"I dunno, it's blue and it had a cute little baby seal on the bottle."

Jimin's hands still on his face. "Kim Taehyung, you do not wash your face with fucking Dawn Dish Soap."

Taehyung goes into a weird headspace for much of the process. He is simultaneously hyperaware of Jimin's hands on his skin and also weirdly removed from the situation, dwelling in a safe part of his brain that's not allowing him to experience time as it is actually happening.

All he knows about what's happening, he learns from what he hears and feels. Because he adamantly refuses to open his eyes.

Primer, Taehyung supposes, serves a very real function, but all he knows it's that Jimin's small fingers are so soft and gentle on his skin, that they linger slightly on his cheek when he had finished rubbing the cream into his face.

It's less gentle when Jimin breaks out the contour, blending it into specific areas of his skin, but Taehyung can't be bothered to mind when Jimin is gripping his chin with firm fingers, tilting his head this way and that as he checks his own work.

And Jimin's doing something to his eyebrows, but Taehyung can only register the way that he rests his hand on Taehyung's knee for balance, the way Jimin's warm fingers sprawl around his thigh when he shifts his hand up to lean closer for a better look. Taehyung swallows thickly and resists the urge to peek out from between his eyelids.

When it comes time to do his eyes, though... eyes are a different story.

"You have to open your eyes, Tae. I have to see how it looks," Jimin prods him gently.

Taehyung tries to gulp as quietly as it is possible to gulp, hoping to Jesus that Jimin can't hear the noise as he slowly, slowly pries his eyes open. And of course Jimin's right there, smiling an eye-crinkling smile as Taehyung rejoins the works of the seeing.

"Thank you."

Jimin grabs a tiny brush and small black pot from the table and leans in close, closer than Taehyung has ever been. This close, he can see every eyelash, can appreciate the way that Jimin's lovely eyes are perfectly asymmetrical. Within seconds, however, his gaze has meandered down and down, resting heavily on his lips, which are plump and pink and look wonderfully well-moisturized. Taehyung gulps again then looks away, only to find his eyes drawn back almost immediately.

"Up, Tae, look up," Jimin commands softly, dragging the tiny brush up from the outside corner of his eye. Taehyung startles a little, feeling caught, and he forces his eyes upward, rolling them up to look at the ceiling. Jimin tuts his tongue. "Not that much just like... look straight ahead."

This is easier said than done, because Jimin's eyes are essentially level with his, maybe a foot from his face. Taehyung drags his eyes slowly down and, terrifyingly, locks eyes directly with Jimin. And he can tell from the weight of the space between them that Jimin isn't just looking at his makeup.

After a moment of tense staring, Jimin tears his eyes away to focus on the careful line of Taehyung's eye. His hand slips and he withdraws abruptly, grabbing a makeup removing wipe and cursing quietly. "You fucked it up."

Taehyung scoffs with false bravado. "You fucked it up."

"Shut up."

It's another 15 minutes and a couple of rounds of setting spray later until Jimin sets down his tools and takes a step back to get the full picture.

"Holy... wow," Jimin breathes, gaze sliding over Taehyung's face and jaw hanging slightly open.

"Is it good?"

Jimin's face colors slightly as he turns to clean up his tools. "It's... fine. Now go choose a wig and outfit from my closet. Shoes you might have to squeeze." He snaps his fingers in realization. "Actually I think I might have a couple of pairs that are too big."

Jimin's closet is less of a closet than it is a room, filled to the brim with neatly hung, brightly colored clothes, as well as an entire wall of wigs.

"Where did you GET all of this shit?" Taehyung marvels loudly, and he hears Jimin chuckle from the other room.

"Subscribers, mostly. They send all kinds of stuff to my P.O. Box."

Taehyung runs his fingers lightly along the hung garments. "You have the closet of an Upper East Side sugar baby."

Jimin just chuckles delightedly again, the sound muffled through the walls.

Taehyung browses and browses, tries things on, tosses them on the floor when they don't work out.

"Oh hey," Jimin calls from the other room after a few minutes. "Do you need me to help you tuck?"

"NO!" Taehyung actually screams, his voice catching and cracking on the word.

It takes a few tries and one very painful slip-up with duct tape, but Taehyung makes it through the tuck. It doesn't make the process any easier that he has to watch Jimin's how-to video and gets half hard in the process.

But once he's tucked, primped, and polished, he wobbles slightly in his chunky, strappy heels as he cautiously peeks out into the hallway before stepping out, tugging down the short mini-pleated skirt of his metallic dress as he scans the room. Jimin sits cross-legged on the couch, carefully reviewing the footage and completely absorbed in the task.

"Uh," Taehyung says quietly to make his presence known. Jimin's head jerks up. "Done?"

Jimin says nothing, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth as he raises his eyebrows, appraising Taehyung carefully. He takes a deep, bracing breath. "Okay."

"How do I look?" He fishes, batting his very heavy, very fake eyelashes as he gives a clunky twirl.

Jimin takes another deep breath through his nose. "Okay."

Taehyung viciously scoffs. "'Okay'? Seriously?" He leans around Jimin to check himself out in the reflection of the mirror. It's easy to see himself, hip popped sassily out to the side, now that darkness has fallen outside. His long lavender hair falls in waves onto his brown faux fur coat, which slips gracefully from one of his shoulders to reveal the plunging neckline of a metallic silvery dress underneath. "I am possibly the hottest person I have ever seen! Besides, well..." He successfully swallows the word 'you.' "Besides everyone else in our friend group."

"Just... Come here and stand in front of the camera, jackoff."

Taehyung wobbles over to him, and Jimin can't help but stifle a chuckle at that. Taehyung just flips his pastel lavender hair confidently and continues his wobble, reaching out for the stool long before it's within his grasp.

Jimin balks slightly when he gets a closer view. "Where did you get that?" he asks, pointing at Taehyung's neck.

"Oh this?" Taehyung asks, tugging a bit at the strap hanging from his neck. "In that black box tucked away in the very top shelf. Cute choker right?"

"Taehyung... that is a leash," Jimin says carefully.

"Oh. I didn't know you had a dog."

"I do not have a dog."

"Oh," Taehyung repeats, delicately drawn eyebrows arching in surprise. "So this is a..."

"Sex leash, yeah," Jimin finishes for him.

"Great. Good." He nods politely then reconsiders, tilting his head. "Can I still...?"

"You still want to?" Jimin can't keep the smirk out of his voice.

"It looks pretty." Taehyung says defensively.

"Um.... Yeah... I guess?" Jimin decides, looking extremely conflicted, the he double-takes at the camera, which is still apparently filming. "Shut your fucking mouth and cut that, Kook." The shift in tone as he addresses the invisible youtube audience once more is striking. "Anyway so here's the finished product!" Jimin says to the camera, gesturing to Taehyung, who strikes a pose. "We should think of a drag name for yo-"

"Becky."

Jimin screws his face up in disgust before asking "What??"

"My drag name is Becky," Taehyung clarifies, checking himself out in the screen, and it's a very strange experience, because he is attracted to the girl he sees there.

"Your drag name cannot be Becky," Jimin insists with a disgusted snarl. "It absolutely cannot."

"Well that's funny, because it is," Taehyung says lightly, primly tugging down the hem of his skirt. "My drag persona is a hot, rich, white barsexual girl named Becky who sells bedazzled sex toys on her Etsy shop, and there's nothing you can fucking do about it."

"Fuck," Jimin struggles, hand resting lightly at his mouth as he appraises Taehyung cautiously. "I think I like it." Then he seems to shake himself out of his reverie and finds the camera once more. "So here we have... Becky. You guys let me know what you think in the comments down below, and don't forget to subscribe!"

"Wow you sound just like one of those youtube people," Taehyung wonders, staring at Jimin in minor awe.

"I am one of those youtube people," Jimin sighs. "And cut, Kook. Cut it here," he says to the camera, but he does not move to turn it off. "Anyway, how do you like it? Your drag?"

"I think I love it," Taehyung replies, leaning to check himself out again.

Jimin scoffs. "Stop looking at yourself. You're not that hot."

"Yes I am," Taehyung says simply.

Jimin heaves a great sigh. "Yeah you are." They're quiet for a few moments before Jimin perks up, his eyes going adorably buggy. "Hey, do you wanna go out tonight?"

Taehyung's stomach swoops a little. "Out as in... Out to a club? Like this?"

"Yeah! Your drag debut. It'd be kind of a shame to let all this flawless makeup go to waste."

"Yeah you're right, it would be a shame to let this flawless natural beauty go to waste," Taehyung challenges him, sounding stunningly bratty as he pulls his phone out from his cleavage just like he's always secretly wanted to do. "Let me just message the guys to let them-"

Jimin gently extends his hand to block him from using his phone. "Let's just go without them. They're probably busy, anyway."

Taehyung swallows nervously, moving to unlock his phone again. "I think Jin might be free and m-"

"Just..." Jimin gently pushes his hand down again. "It could just be the two of us. Please?"

Taehyung feels his ears flush hot and glances away nervously. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Nothing like that, " Jimin insists softly. "I just. I miss you a little"

Taehyung's heart gives an odd little lurch. He fidgets with his skirt. "I'm like... I'm still here. You know that right?"

Jimin hesitates, eyes flicking away nervously. "I mean, kinda. It's just... not like before. You know?"

Taehyung sighs lightly. "I. I can't-"

"I know, I know," Jimin says hastily, waving his hands to keep Taehyung from finishing his sentence. "You can't. Consider me warned. I just... really miss you." He's quiet for a few moments before he drags his gaze up to rest on Taehyung's face. "Just tonight? Please?" And there's no way that Taehyung can resist that face, Jimin's eyes large and asymmetrical and beautiful, delicate hands clasped together anxiously.

"Okay."

They don't go to the Queen. They don't talk about why they don't go to the Queen, but Taehyung thinks that it's probably just understood that the others don't really need to know. Instead they end up in front of the dingy, green-lit barfront, where they always seem to end up when someone is looking to make a questionable decision.

But walking through the door this time, it feels like the first time Taehyung has ever been here. Everything's different. And sure, he's seeing the place from 5 inches higher than he usually does, tottering unsteadily on his platform shoes. He thinks maybe that's why it feels so strange at first. But after a few minutes he realizes that it has to do more with the fact that everyone is fucking staring at him in a way that makes him feel very much like a lamb awaiting inevitable slaughter. When he hears a wolf-whistle, his head jerks towards the sound, eyes large.

Jimin chuckles lowly behind him but places a reassuring hand on his lower back. "Don't worry about them. Femme or Female, assholes are gonna be assholes. Believe me. Come on, let's get some shots."

Of course it's tequila. Taehyung cringes as he knocks it back, startled slightly by the garish red mark his lips leave on the shot glass. It's only after a few panicked seconds during which he thinks he's bleeding from the mouth that he remembers that he's wearing lipstick. He self-consciously moves to wipe at his lips, worried that he's smeared, but Jimin's deftly beat him to it. He slowly drags the pad of his finger below the very bottom of Taehyung's lip, staring intently as he does. Delicate tendrils of arousal curl sweetly in his gut as Jimin's eyes find his.

"Don't worry," Jimin assures him, finger lingering on Taehyung's chin as the other hand curls around the hanging end of the leash and pulls slightly. Taehyung's gut gives another lurch. "Still perfect."

And it's at this moment, at least in his recollection of events to Jin the next day, he will claim that everything went blurry. That he was helplessly awash with alcohol when he let himself be tugged out, leash first, onto the dance floor, that it was all a tequila-induced fog when he openly groped Jimin under the flimsy guise of dancing and was groped in return, when he let Jimin drag his nose up the side of Taehyung's neck, lips ghosting feather-light behind. He figures he'll omit completely the part about how they were both hard, sweaty, heaving, rutting filthily against each other in a thoroughly indecent way, very much facilitated by Taehyung's short skirt. And he'll be damned if he says a word about the wetness of Jimin's mouth on his neck, the delicious suction, the teeth.

He's stone cold sober. He's stone cold sober but absolutely gone, soaking up every detail of Jimin in a way that he couldn't if he was impaired.

Jimin, however, is not stone cold sober. Taehyung pretended he didn't notice when Jimin started sneaking shots between shots, but he is apparently dead-set against being any kind of sober. He's sloppy and uninhibited and utterly irresistible. His hands are purposeful as they skim across the surface of Taehyung's body, coming to a rest on his ass. He groans and squeezes the flesh there, tugging Taehyung's hips forward, as if getting closer was even possible.

"Uh," Taehyung's voice cracks, willing some of the blood back into his brain so that he can think about what I bad idea this is. "Everyone's watching."

"That's because we're fucking hot," Jimin tells him, voice raspy. "You're so fucking hot." He drags his nose asking the column of Taehyung's neck again, and Taehyung grits his teeth in the concerted effort it takes not to groan.

He forces a chuckle instead. "Didn't think boys in drag were your type."

"They're not," Jimin confirms, gently nipping the skin underneath Taehyung's jaw. Jimin omits the obvious 'but you are,' though it's implied.

Even Taehyung's blood-deprived brain sets off warning bells at that. He gently pushes Jimin back, trying to get a proper look at his face. His eyes are glassy, lips swollen, hair damp and mussed. Very not sober.

"Hey, I think we need some air," Taehyung decides, gently pushing Jimin's hands off of him.

"Fuck air," Jimin whines, eyes completely glazed over, trying to tug Taehyung back as he makes to leave the dance floor. "I want you," he adds weakly.

"I'll be right beside you. Come on," Taehyung assures him, entwining their fingers to pull Jimin along behind him. Jimin stares down at where their hands are clasped and reluctantly allows himself to be led. Taehyung stops by the bar for a cup of water on his way out, pressing it into Jimin's hands once he's sure he won't drop it.

The street in front of the bar is mostly deserted, but Taehyung still gets a lewd catcall as they take a seat on the street curb. Taehyung falters a little in his towering heels.

"Drink that," Taehyung instructs him, pointing at the cup in Jimin's hand and he releases the other one. Jimin looks disappointed, pouting into his cup as he raises it to take a sip.

"You have a hickey," Jimin grumbles, eyelids fluttering and heavy as he hiccups into his cup of water.

Taehyung absently moves to rub at the spot on his neck where Jimin's mouth had been busy. "Wonder whose fault that is."

Jimin shrugs. "Had to do something with my mouth. Otherwise would'a kissed you probably." The statement hangs in the air between them, right alongside their puffs of condensed breath. "Fuck I'm drunk."

"Are you okay?" Taehyung asks, and Jimin nods. "Why did you drink so much?"

Jimin exhales a bitter laugh. "So I could pretend that shit wasn't fucking weird with us now." He sets down the cup and smacks his lips lightly. "It's still fucking weird."

Taehyung's heart hurts as he says it, because he knows it's true. He fidgets with the tips of his long lavender wig. "I know. I don't know how to fix it."

Jimin's eyes go more lucid than they've been as he pulls his mouth into a smirk. "Sweetie, there might not be any fixing it," and he sounds like Minnie again as he says it. A layer of separation, detachment. "Just... take me home?"

"Yeah, I'll drop you-"

"Your home," Jimin clarifies, blinking the darkness from his eyes as he innocuously adds, "It's closer."

Taehyung is confused and skeptical and nervous, but he nods affirmatively, because who is he to deny Park Jimin a thing?

They stumble into his entryway 20 minutes later, Taehyung supporting most of Jimin's weight as they trip over the massive pile of shoes at the door. Taehyung guides him gently back to his bed, watching Jimin flop back onto the comforter and shut his eyes, then sighs, half affection, half frustration, as he watches him roll cutely onto his side.

Taehyung nearly scrubs his face raw trying to get all of the makeup off, shedding the dress and wig carefully as he pulls on some sweats. By the time he steps back into his bedroom to switch off the light, Jimin is curled up in a tiny dozing ball. Taehyung kneels by the bed to carefully remove his shoes, and Jimin stirs and groans.

"Do you wanna sleep with your pants on?" Taehyung asks as he straightens Jimin's shoes at the foot of the bed.

"'m not wearing underwear," Jimin helpfully provides for him, rubbing his eyes.

"So yes then," Taehyung gulps, straightening up to leave. A small hand catches his wrist.

"Where are you going?"

"Couch," Taehyung grunts with a very forced gruffness, looking away purposefully. Jimin look so soft and sleepy sprawled out on his bed, lips swollen and clothing slightly askew.

Before he can turn to leave, those fingers are tightening around his wrist, and before he can register what's happening, he's being yanked forcefully down onto the bed, collapsing very much on top of Jimin, who is staring at him with heavy, glazed eyes. "I changed my mind."

Taehyung swallows hard, trying to pull himself away, but Jimin's arms lock in an iron grip around his waist. "About... pants?"

"Well now that you mention it..." Jimin says, easing his knee up so that it's pressing between Taehyung's legs.

Taehyung draws as far back as he's able. "Jimin..."

Jimin pouts before continuing. "Back at the bowling alley. I told you I was glad you didn't fuck me before you straight boy panicked. I changed my mind."

Taehyung doesn't realize he's stopped breathing until his lungs scream for air. "That's.... Um. That sounds like a conversation that I should have with Sober Jimin."

Jimin moves with speed and power, flipping them in a matter of seconds so that he's on top, straddling Taehyung's waist. "Sober Jimin isn't here right now," he mumbles, leaning down to re-trace the mark he'd left on Taehyung's neck with his lips. "But I'll be happy to tell him you said hi."

Jimins slyly reaches for his waistband, but Taehyung's hands gently grab his. Instead of pushing him away, Taehyung entwines their fingers and rests them on his chest instead. "I'll tell him myself. In the morning."

"Just tonight," Jimin pleads softly, tilting his head and leaning closer. Taehyung turns his head away before their lips meet, and Jimin stiffens in his arms. Taehyung strokes Jimin's hand as he slowly turns back to look at him.

"No, Jimin."

"Why?"

"Just... no."

Jimin regards him with glassy eyes, which start to shine brighter as they gradually fill with tears. He bites down hard on his lip, like he's willing himself not to cry. "Fuck."

"Hey it's okay," Taehyung quickly calms him, stroking his hand with his thumb.

"It's not."

"It is," Taehyung assures him quietly.

A couple of stray tears slip down the side of Jimin's small, sharp nose."It was already fucked, but I just fucked it worse."

Taehyung squeezes his hands. "No. Hey, we're still us. Still friends."

Jimin sniffs a little. "I don't think we can just be friends, Tae."

Taehyung feels his own eyes prickle and his throat tighten. "Don't say that."

Jimin shrugs as his lower lip trembles. "I fucked it up."

"Stop... stop saying that. You didn't do anything wrong. Everything's fine," Taehyung insists, shaking him lightly as if to reinforce his point.

Jimin laughs, a bitter, wet sound as he sniffs quietly. "Okay," he says appealingly, and it's clear that he doesn't believe a damn word. They're quiet for a few moments, then Jimin mumbles, "Will you stay at least? For now?"

Taehyung nods and pulls him close so that his Jimin's head is resting on his chest. After a couple of seconds, he can feel tiny little wet rivulets dripping down his chest. It reminds him of the last time he held a crying Jimin, the last time someone had hurt him so badly, and he forces himself to swallow down the sour, bubbling guilt at the thought that he's done exactly the same thing.

The bed rustles and jars him out of his blackness, his eyes stinging with the sudden influx of sunlight. A figure moves at the foot of his bed, hunched over, and Jimin slowly comes into focus. Taehyung sits up, rubbing at his eyes and tugging on his bunched-up sweatshirt. Jimin seems to hear him, spinning around with a hard look.

Taehyung gulps, throat dry from sleep. "Hey."

"I was trying not to wake you," Jimin replies flatly.

"Why?" Taehyung panics, trying to sound as normal as possible. "It's fine. How are you feeling?"

Jimin scoffs lightly at that. "Peachy."

"Hey, we could like, get breakfast or something. If you want to."

Jimin shoots him a wry smile over his shoulder as he bends over to tie his shoes. "Tae, just... stop."

He doesn't clarify further, just refocuses his attention on his shoelaces.

"I..." Taehyung starts quietly. "Stop what?"

Jimin exhales meaningfully, bracing his hands on his thighs as he pushes himself to his feet. "Look, obviously you can still come to the Queen, like, they're your friends too now, but I just need a little space."

"Oh," Taehyung says, tasting the painful sting of it. "Yeah. Sure. I'll... space, yeah. You got it."

"And uh, sorry about last night," Jimin cringes, raising his hand to scratch gingerly at his forehead. "That won't happen again."

Taehyung swallows the lump in his throat and shakes his head. "No big."

Jimin nods tersely and gives him a tense but valiant attempt at a smile. "Right. Well, I'm gonna head into work. See you."

Taehyung's hands are balled into fists under the sheets, but he arranges his facial expression into one of casual sleepiness. "Yeah. See you."

He watches Jimin go, then hears the front door click open, then closed. As soon as he's gone, Taehyung allows himself to plop back onto the bed with the saddest sigh he can heave from his body. He gropes for his phone, which he finds between the sheets towards the bottom of the bed and dials Jin's number.

"Hey. Jerkoff. Bring a family sized tub of cheese balls, your Golden Girls box set, and your cuddling pants."

He wallows.

Oh how he wallows.

The only breaks he takes from his Golden Girls binge session are to watch Jimin's tutorial videos between episodes.

He watches Yoongi's drag video, then Hoseok's, then Namjoon and Jungkook's, and it almost feels like hanging out at the Queen with his friends, despite the fact that he's 4 blankets deep on the couch and hasn't spoken to anyone except Jin and his mom for 3 days.

"What's he doing now?" Jin asks, plopping down into the couch next to him and staring at the television, where one of Jimin's makeup tutorials is pulled up.

"Baking," Taehyung says morosely as he stretches out so that his feet are in Jin's lap. "Not the food kind. He looks silly and adorable."

Screen-Jimin's face is covered in loose white powder, and he makes no effort to shake off the excess.

"Kind of reminds me of that time I planted cocaine on his ex," Taehyung sniffs as a wave of strange nostalgia crashes over him.

"Please tell me that's an out-of-context statement that doesn't sound nearly as illegal when it's told as part of a story."

"Why doesn't he wipe it off?" Taehyung asks, ignoring Jin completely.

"That's the whole point of baking. You let the powder sit on your face so that your body heat can like meld things together and make it stay longer."

Sure enough, the video is fast-forwarding now as Jimin applies the rest of his makeup, letting the powder sit on his face all the while.

"So now when I go and brush it off," Jimin says when the video goes back to normal speed and he finally moves to brush off the excess powder, "I've got a really beautiful finish that's going to last me all day. I know it's a lot of effort, but you get out of something what you put into it. So take the time to do things right!"

Taehyung doesn't know why his throat is suddenly constructing painfully or why his eyes are prickling, but he feels Jin's have squeezing his blanket-covered shin gently which means he must not be reacting as subtly as he had thought.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," Taehyung sniffs. "Just. Doesn't seem right, the way it turned out with us."

"I know," Jin says quietly, patting his leg now. "Hey, why don't we watch the next episode of the Girls instead? It's a good one."

To his credit, Jin is wonderful. He's kind and understanding no matter how ridiculous Taehyung gets.

But even he finally snaps, a week and a half later, when Taehyung, who is ¾ of the way deep in his gigantic container of cheeseballs, throws a handful of the little orange suckers at the television as he screams at Stan to "LEAVE DOROTHY THE FUCK ALONE YOU SLIMEBALL."

"YOU NEVER EVEN DATED HIM," Jin groans in loud exasperation, trying to tug the giant tub of cheeseballs from Taehyung's iron grip. He is unsuccessful.

"YEAH WELL," Taehyung shouts back, bits of processed cheese dust flying everywhere, "That's what makes it so bad! It's better to have boinked and lost than never to have boinked at all. And I never boinked at all! That's not just me being dramatic, Jin, that's a little something called Shakespeare."

"It's a gross misquoting of Tennyson, you cretin," Jin corrects him with a disgusted snarl.

Taehyung sniffs defiantly. "Stop hanging out with Joon. You're much more fun when you're not well-read."

"I actually haven't been at The Queen much lately either," Jin admits, grabbing a handful of cheese balls resignedly. "Shit's still weird with Yoongi."

"That sucks."

"Yeah," Jin agrees then continues in a tone that's much too casual. "I've been hanging out with Hope though..."

Taehyung accidentally bites the inside of his cheek min-chomp. "What?? Like... hanging hanging?"

Jin dusts the orange crumbs from his fingers. "I mean, we haven't, you know..."

"Boinked," Taehyung provides helpfully.

"Yeah, no... boinking yet. But it's definitely more than just friendship. We kind of bonded over Yoongi and then... it just happened. I guess we're kind of doing things the opposite way of how we did with him? Slow and steady? I don't fucking know," Jin sighs. "I really like Hope. But..."

"But you also still like Yoongi."

Jin shoots him a guilty look. "In my defense, I'm pretty sure Hope does too."

"Yeah she definitely does. You guys are a mess."

"Says you."

Taehyung smiles but swallows hard around the near-constant lump in his throat. "Says me."

"No, wait, don't cry again!" Jin pleads, grasping a handful of Taehyung's blanket. "I'm sorry. I know you really like him."

Taehyung waits until the lump in his throat subsides enough for him to say, "I miss him. I hate not seeing him every day."

"Then go to the Queen!" Jin insists like it's the most obvious thing. "He said you could still come by."

"Maybe... It's just gonna be weird. Especially with how we left things."

"Do you want to go together tomorrow?" Jin asks lightly.

"Fuck no!" Taehyung says, hugging the gigantic plastic container to his chest and sinking even further into the couch. "You'd have to pry my cold dead body from this couch to get me within 100 feet of the Queen."

"Hey where are we going anyway? This area looks so familiar." Taehyung says the next day, craning his head to up at the buildings around them.

"You really do just agree to go places without knowing where, don't you?" Jin asks, amused. "We're literally 100 feet from The Queen."

Taehyung's mouth falls open in shock. "You betrayed me!" he utters in disbelief. "Well lucky for me, I still have time to-"

"Taehyungie!" Hope shouts, leaning out the door and waving vigorously, her honey-blonde hair tousled gracefully by the wind. Then she's out the door and barreling towards them, wrapping her arms around Taehyung as soon as he's within distance. "Where have you been????"

Taehyung hugs her back, shooting Jin a conspicuous glare. "Things got a little busy."

"Well don't just drop off the face of the planet like that again," she says, arms locked around him as she not-so-subtly pulls him towards the entrance of the shop. Taehyung knows better than to fight it. "When they found that guy who drowned in the aquarium after he tried to night swim with the dolphins, we thought maybe you died." Taehyung opens his mouth to protest, and Hope cuts him off. "Don't even pretend, bitch."

His face is sheepish as Hope herds him through the door, and once he's inside, he manages to catch Jimin's eyes almost immediately. He drops his gaze and stumbles forward as Hope releases him, straightening his rumpled clothes and looking anywhere but behind the bar.

"You look like you need a coffee, Tae," Jin says gently, nudging him lightly towards the counter, towards Jimin.

"You know actually I'm on kind of a tea kick right now..." Taehyung tries, backing away.

"We have a great new boba tea drink called Balls In Your Mouth," Jungkook tells him as he approaches from the back room.

"It's not called that!" Namjoon shouts from somewhere, his voice cracking around the words. "And that one's not even clever!"

"Go on," Jin urges him, and Taehyung heaves a great breath add he takes a few tentative steps forward. Jimin is very determinedly wiping down some glasses, not looking up until Taehyung is at the bar, clearing his throat.

"Hey!" Taehyung says cheerfully, as he looks anywhere but Jimin.

Jimin raises one rectangular eyebrow and loudly sets down a glass with a jarring clink. "Hey."

Taehyung's eyes scan the chalk-scrawled menu, and he sees several new items that weren't there last time he was in. It reminds him how long it's been. "Uh can I have one... Rainbow Roast Latte?"

Jungkook appears at his elbow within moments. "Good choice! Just got it in yesterday. It's the gayest thing you'll put in your mouth all day unless you suck a-"

"JUNGKOOK," Namjoon bellows from the back room.

"Fuck why is he on my case lately? He never used to care," Jungkook pouts. "Hey Tae, come sit with me when you're done. I have something to show you."

"Uh yeah. Sure thing," Taehyung agrees, turning back to Jimin.

"One Rainbow Roast coming up," Jimin tells him with a tight smile. "I'll bring it to your table if you want."

"Oh." He usually just stays up here and chats with Jimin while he waits for his drink. "Yeah okay. Thanks."

He follows Jungkook to a table in the corner, where a laptop sits open and the contents of a bag are sprawled across the shiny wood.

"So have you seen it yet?" Jungkook asks, settling down in front of his laptop.

"Seen what?" Taehyung says cluelessly, leaning over to see the screen.

"Your video with Jimin," Jungkook tells him with an exasperated sigh. "What else? That shit went huge. 200k in the first few days alone and increasing rapidly."

"Fuck. I forgot all about that," Taehyung says blankly, suppressing a strange wave of fear. "Can I..."

"Go right ahead," Jungkook urges, handing him an earbud and tilting the screen his way.

And anybody with eyes can see it. The tension in their shoulders, the weight of their glances, the fondness in their expressions when they think the other isn't looking. Taehyung can stomach about a minute of it before he can't handle any more. He yanks the earbud out and scoots the computer back towards Jungkook.

"I can't watch," he tells him very seriously, crossing his arms.

"Yeah gross right? Just imagine being someone besides you two and having to watch that shit," Jungkook responds. "Anyway check out these comments," he continues, tilting the screen towards him again.

+253 Wow are they dating? Talk about heart eyes

||+25 no way that is unresolved sexual tension, they have definitely not fucked

|||| +9 their banter is so cute

+298 I want so much more of these two

+150 Is his friend gay?? Most of his friends are gay right?

|| +58 Idk if he's gay but he's definitely into him.

|||| +12 in all fairness everybody's into Minnie

|||||| +25 yeah but when had Minnie ever looked at anyone like THAT

||||||||| +70 I KNEW he looked familiar that's fuckin cheeto boy from Minnie's story. they're definitely fuckin.

+175 dude I've never seen Minnie like this before?? did you see the way he looked him when the dude closed his eyes?

|| +78 what's up with them why aren't they together

|||| + 15 maybe the guy's not gay?

|||||| +7 whatever he is, he's definitely into him. he can't look away from his mouth watch at 5:34 he's so thirsty

||||||| +60 he's not thirsty jackoff he's in love

||||||||| +109 guys... he's thirsty AND in love

|||||||||||| +20 I saw both of them at Pride a few months ago and they're DEFINITELY together

+267 they are literally the two hottest queens ever and if Jimin doesn't date him I will

|| +383 yeah right look at them they're soulmates. Nobody else stands a chance

Taehyung is a little nauseous and extremely red in the face. "Oh."

Jungkook rolls his eyes. "Yeah. Oh. The whole entire world knows that you're in love with each other. Literal strangers know."

"We're not... they don't..." Taehyung struggles. "They don't know the whole story. Look, this is going to be better for everybody in the long run."

Jungkook's jaw muscles tighten, and he sits up straighter in his seat, looking much more intimidating than he did a second ago. "You know... you and that asshole over there are two peas in a pod of dumb."

"Who? Me and Namjoon?"

"Yeah you and Namjoon. You're these like super smart guys who also possess the ability to be incredibly fucking obtuse. Think you know what's best for everyone and you think it's your fucking job to enforce it. It's really insulting actually."

"What??" Taehyung demands, leaning forward now. "Insulting?"

"Yes, like. Extremely," Jungkook confirms with an exaggerated nod. "You both act like me and Jimin are poor little misguided lambs who can't make our own decisions. Kim Namjoon thinks that he's doing me a favor by keeping me at arm's length because he thinks I won't be happy if we're together. But what he's conveniently ignoring is that he's all I want. And even though he thinks he's looking out for me, what he's actually doing is making me miserable." He gives Taehyung a significant look. "Sound familiar?"

Taehyung mulls it over, staring blankly at the wall as he processes the information. "Shit."

"Yeah. Shit. Tae, he really likes you. This has been different for him from the beginning. Why do you think he took so long to make a move? If he'd wanted to, he probably could have had you that first night. He was just giving it time, letting you adjust, letting it happen as it happened so that it would work."

Taehyung stares at him in wonder, tears springing unannounced to his eyes. "He was baking. He was baking us."

Jungkook stares blankly at him. "What?"

"Never mind," Taehyung says quickly, pursing his lips.

Jungkook eyes him strangely for a moment. "No, not never mind. This is not a homosexual Lifetime movie, junior. You cannot say shit like that."

"I'm sorry," Taehyung says, swiping roughly at his eyes. "I've just been having a really hard time and like... watching a lot of his videos to cope."

"Is that all you've been doing the entire time you've been MIA? Just like, binge-watching his tutorial videos while crying and stuffing your face with junk food?"

"No," Taehyung claims with false bravado, before withering under Jungkook's skeptical look and hunching his shoulders in defeat. "I also masturbated to them."

"Well, same," Jungkook agrees, "But look it's one thing to be considerate of his feelings, like there's nothing wrong with that. But it's another to be an ass about it. He's an adult and he's free to make his own decisions and mistakes. You don't know better than him what he wants."

"Shit," Taehyung repeats, startling when Jimin steps out from behind the counter and starts walking towards their table. A few seconds later, he's standing in front of them, gently setting down the coffee cup on the table with a clink.

"What are you guys talking about?" Jimin asks suspiciously, wiping his hands on his lacy apron.

"The economy," Jungkook lies smoothly, just as Taehyung blurts out "The female orgasm."

Jungkook fixes him with a dead expression. "Really? You went with that? With this crowd?"

"I panicked," Taehyung mumbles, reaching forward to scoot his cup closer.

Jimin continues to eye them skeptically. "I don't like this. I don't like you two hanging out."

Jungkook shrugs and busies himself with his computer. "Fine we were talking about Joon okay? Can you chill before he notices?"

"Oh," Jimin utters, his face relaxing. "Sorry. Yeah. As you were." He backs away, shooting an anxious look at Namjoon over shoulder.

"Thanks for that," Taehyung sighs, slumping down into his chair. "So what are you gonna do about the Joon situation?"

Jungkook looks at Taehyung for a moment, huffing through his nose as he closes his laptop determinedly. "I'm gonna tell that bastard what's what."

Taehyung's eyes go wide. "What. When?"

"Right fucking now," he growls, fixing his eyes on Namjoon, who is currently helping a sweet old lady down from one of the bar stools. She smiles kindly up at him as he slowly starts to escort her towards the door. "And you're gonna watch me and be inspired and then you're gonna do the exact same thing. Pinky swear."

"Wha-" Taehyung starts as his hand is forcibly grabbed and pinky forcibly mashed with Jungkook's. "Stop, I'm not agreeing to this right now. Don't-"

"Hey you!" Jungkook shouts then, pointing aggressively at Namjoon, jumping to his feet. "Stop right there."

Namjoon freezes, eyes huge, the old lady's hand still in his. She looks at him too.

Jungkook deflates sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Um sorry. Actually just... like... finish what you were doing but then after that, Stop right there!"

Of course, it takes a comically long time for him to help her to the door, their pace glacial as she shuffles quietly across the floor. When Namjoon opens the door for her, she sweetly cups his cheek before hobbling outside and down the street.

"Okay, so say I changed my mind about this whole thing," Jungkook whispers fiercely to Taehyung.

"I think it's too late for that," Taehyung hisses back, because Namjoon is walking towards them now, brows creased in concern. The shop is empty now except for their group.

"What's up, Kook?" he asks, hands in his pockets.

Jungkook puffs out his chest and takes a deep breath. "I'm... I'm gonna tell you what I want, and for once you're gonna listen, instead of telling me all the ways you think I'm wrong."

"Jungkook..."

"Nope, just listen." He breathes a bracing breath. "I want to be with you."

Namjoon sighs, burying his head in his hands. "Jungkook you don't want-"

"No! Stop telling me what I don't want and listen to what I do want. I wanna... go on dates and hold your hand and talk to you about everything, things you don't talk about with other people. Maybe kiss your forehead and big spoon your big snoring dad-ass to sleep and wake up with your arms around me. I want you to come home from work and complain to me about your day and let me hold you when you need to be held. I want you to hold me too. I just want to fucking love you. What's so wrong with that?"

Namjoon grits his teeth. "There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that... There are things you want..."

"What? Sex?" Jungkook says loudly, and Taehyung is so glad that no one else is here besides him and Jimin. "You think I haven't taken that into consideration? After that asshole you dated? Is that really what you think of me? That I'm going to be like him?"

"No, of course not," Namjoon sighs. "Don't... Don't twist my words."

"Then why? Why can't we try?" Jungkook has worked himself up and sounds on the verge of tears, and Namjoon can't help but step forward and take the boy into his arms. Taehyung has stopped breathing, worried that he'll interrupt the moment.

Namjoon exhales into Jungkook's shoulder and murmurs, "I'm just worried that it's not going to be enough."

Jungkook pulls back abruptly to glare harshly at him. "Fuck you. You're more than enough."

Namjoon laughs at Jungkook's intensity, but his eyes are shining and tight. "Jesus, Kook."

"I like you so much. I don't think you understand how much I like you."

"I'm not doubting you, I never doubted you, Kook," Namjoon insists, rubbing his forehead in frsutration. "I just... I don't know. I don't fucking know."

The determined gleam in Jungkook's eyes is a fearsome thing to behold. "Okay well, since you don't know, let me clarify. I like you a lot, I understand where you stand on the sex thing based on the many multiple open and honest, in-depth conversations that we've had about it, and I just really want to be with you." Jungkook struggles then, biting down on his lower lip. "You mean more to me than sex ever will. So just... stop worrying about me, and tell me what you want," Jungkook says, brows still knit and intense. "What do you want?"

Namjoon mulls it over, scrunching up his lips as the wheels turn in his head. Then he pulls Jungkook back into a tight embrace and smiles into his jacket. "I... I want you, too."

Jungkook goes a little stiff in his arms as Namjoon holds him tight, and after a second he pulls away. "Wait. What?"

"What do you mean what?" Namjoon asks, still beaming a misty grin. "I said I want you, too."

Jungkook tilts his head like a confused puppy, obviously trying to process the information. "You mean... you... we..." The determined tilt of his eyebrows softens. "We can be together?"

Namjoon shakes his shoulders gently. "Yeah, dummy. We can be together."

Jungkook continues to stare for a few moments before he abruptly lets out a wail so loud and unrestrained that it borders on inhuman. He sinks his knees, then collapses into all fours in the middle of the shop, openly sobbing. Namjoon's face falls comically fast as he reaches vaguely towards Jungkook, totally unsure how to proceed.

"Wh-what the fuck?" he stutters, looking utterly lost, "Kook, what's wrong? What the fuck?"

Jungkook wipes a stream of snot from his face and looks up at Namjoon, who crouches beside him. "I'm just... so happy," he manages before he dissolves into another tearful wail. Jimin clicks his tongue and emerges from behind the counter, moving to kneel beside Jungkook too.

"Shh shhh, it's okay Kook," Jimin says kindly, but he's very obviously restraining a laugh. "It's been a long few years buddy, hasn't it?"

Jungkook just nods, sniffling, and launches himself into Jimin's arms. Namjoon just smiles affectionately and lets them hug, eyes finding Taehyung in the corner. He gives a sheepish shrug as if to say 'What can I do?'

"Is he really.... is he-" Jungkook asks vaguely, huge shining eyes looking up at Jimin desperately.

"Yes, baby, he really is. Finally coming to his senses after all this time," Jimin consoles him softly, glaring subtly up at Namjoon.

"I don't... I don't know what to do here," Namjoon says, hovering awkwardly.

"Come get your goddamn boyfriend," Jimin scoffs, motioning him down to the floor, and Namjoon's knees hit the surface within seconds. He pulls Jungkook into his arms, and Jimin looks at them affectionately for a moment before pushing himself to his feet. Taehyung swallows a lump in his throat as he observes them fondly.

Jimin, however, is looking determinedly anywhere but Taehyung, who suddenly feels like an intruder.

"Uh, I'll let you guys..." Taehyung starts, standing up and gesturing to them vaguely rather than finishing the sentence. "See ya."

"Wait!" Jungkook yells, his voice still thick with tears as he extends a hand towards Taehyung. There is still a disconcerting amount of snot on his face, and his eyes are huge and sparkling. "We have to celebrate!"

Jimin rolls his eyes. "Why don't you and Joon celebrate not being total dumbasses anymore in private?"

"I want to celebrate with my friends," Jungkook insists, then with a significant look at Taehyung, "All my friends."

Taehyung shakes his head almost imperceptibly, but Jimin obviously catches the movement, looking away and smiling bitterly.

"I insist," Jungkook says with steely determination, and Taehyung knows there's no fighting it, not now that he's made up his mind.

It's a testament to how much they all love Jungkook and Namjoon that the group even assembles, much less agrees to several hours in a bar with each other. There's an obvious and uncomfortable tension draped thickly over their every interaction, except of course for Jungkook and Namjoon who keep looking at each other with sickeningly sweet smiles.

Jimin wanders off almost as soon as they enter, heading in the general direction of the bar but disappearing into the dense crowd, and Taehyung is instantly grumpy, throwing back whatever drink or shot he's handed with careless abandon.

Yoongi manages to hold out at least slightly longer than Jimin, peeling away from the group with a hard expression when Hope sloshes her drink on Jin's pants and spends and unnecessary amount of time dabbing it clean, the two of them giggling sweetly as she does.

Jin, who has been very convincingly pretending that Yoongi doesn't exist throughout the night, glances up at his retreating figure, betraying just the barest sliver of vulnerability in his gaze before he turns back to Hope.

Taehyung rolls his eyes.

"Hey," Jungkook elbows him sharply as he plops down on the couch next to Taehyung. "I didn't bring you here so you could get lonely drunk. Go do something about Jimin."

"It's too late. He hates me," Taehyung pouts, bringing his cup up to his lips again before he remembers that it's empty. He sighs dramatically.

"Bullshit. You hurt his feelings, but he doesn't hate you. Now go tell him before it really is too late. Hope said he's over by the back bar."

If the heavy, comforting blanket of alcohol wasn't smothering his anxiety, he'd probably be panicking. Instead, however, he takes a deep, bracing breath and grunts, "Fine."

He makes his way to the back bar, pumping himself up, running over his lines, smoothing his shirt, but he's stopped dead in his tracks when he sees a large, grasping hand on a narrow shoulder.

And it hits him then, when he sees them there, that it might really be too late.

They're just standing, standing and laughing and touching and leaning, but the message is clear. And unfortunately Taehyung is much too close to pretend he hasn't seen them, Jimin and the guy he's currently draped over.

"Oh. Hey, Tae," Jimin says with a cautious smile when he catches Taehyung's eyes. "Where is everybody?"

Taehyung tries not to scowl, he really does, but he can feel the tension between his brows, knows they're probably knit in displeasure. "Right where you left them. Like an hour ago."

Jimin's expression tightens. "Right."

The guy next to him has the nerve to clear his throat and extend his hand. "I'm Brad."

"Nice to meet you Chad," Taehyung says loudly, taking the guy's hand and squeezing it obnoxiously hard. "How do you two know each other?"

"Oh, uh, we met just now," Chad says with an affectionate glance at Jimin. "It's my first time here."

"Of course it is, Keith," Taehyung mutters, his careful smile never slipping, and Jimin's spine goes rigid, his eyes stone.

"How do you two know each other?" Keith asks, not deterred in the slightest.

"We're friends," Jimin answers evenly, maintaining eye contact with Taehyung, as if to make a point.

The poor guy must sense the weirdness in the air, because his gaze bounces back and forth between them several times like he's trying to feel out the situation. "That's... great... Friends are good," he says uncertainly.

"Oh fuck off, Todd," Taehyung spits, and Jimin's expression goes from controlled to pissed in a second.

"What the hell is your problem?" Jimin demands, squaring up as he step towards Taehyung.

"My problem?" Taehyung scoffs.

"Yes! Your fucking problem! You're being a dick. Why are you being a dick?"

"I'm just looking out for you. Since you won't do it for yourself."

Jimin's brows crease in skeptical anger. "Oh really? And you're sure you're not looking out for you?"

Taehyung's heart twists fearfully at that. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Jimin rolls his eyes. "It means you have no right. No right at all," he simmers, either unable or unwilling to flesh the thought out fully. "You turned ME down. You don't get a fucking say in what I do."

"You think that's what this is about?" Taehyung scoffs viciously, but it feels like he's taken a physical blow.

"Goddamn right I do!" Jimin spits back, hands curled into small fists at his side.

"And why's that?" Taehyung growls, a dare in his voice as he steps forward towards Jimin, who doesn't back down.

In fact, he takes a step closer, maintaining searing eye contact with Taehyung as he says dangerously, "You were too much of a coward to actually be with me, but now that I'm moving on you're acting like a jealous little bitch. You either take me or you don't, sweetheart, none of this wishy washy will they won't they nonsense. I'm done with assholes like you who don't know what they fuckin want. So. Fucking. Done."

Taehyung's stomach is churning with alcohol and anger. "Fine. You know what? Stay with Chad. Keep doing what you're doing. Maybe if you fuck enough shitty straight boys, one of them will love you someday."

Taehyung feels instant regret. Jimin's face remains stony, but Taehyung can see the hurt in his eyes. "Go to hell."

"Already here," Taehyung grumbles, kicking a nearby stool out of his way and abandoning his mission to get drinks entirely. He turns on heel and stalks through the crowd of dancing people, unapologetically bumping shoulders with several of them.

"Um. Are you okay?" Hope asks, leaning away slightly when he approaches their group once more. "You're radiating some very rageful shit right now."

"I'm fine," Taehyung seethes. "I need to leave. Where's Jin?"

"Yeah, you're clearly not fine, so let me rephrase. Why are you not okay?" Hoseok says in exasperation, then follows Taehyung's eyeline to the bar, where Jimin is recovering with astonishing speed, giggling and throwing himself onto Keith as his eyes dart over to where Taehyung and Hoseok now stand. "Oh. God does he have a type."

Taehyung knows exactly what's going to happen, and it's a vague and horrifying realization as it actually happens. Jimin leans in, laughing again though stiffly this time, and the guy grabs him. Pulls him close. Tilts his head. Leans down. Closes the space.

He feels like he's going to be sick.

He doesn't know exactly where he's going, only that he's getting away, knocking shoulders with strangers as he blindly seeks escape. He finds it in the brisk outside air, in an alleyway between the club and the neighboring building, in the night.

As far as reactions go, it's a bit of an overreaction to slide down the wall into a defeated squat, to bury his hands in his hair, to swallow down the weird sobs that are trying to rip from his chest. It's a bit of an overreaction, but that doesn't mean he's not having it. He's drunk and he's tired and he's hurting, and all he wants to do is cry for a few moments in peace.

"Uh. Whoa."

Taehyung jerks his head up, swiping violently at the snot that he feels hanging from his face. Fucking Yoongi. Taehyung's eyes narrow as he sniffs pathetically.

"Are you... okay?"

"Why are you here?" Taehyung asks thickly, ignoring the question.

Yoongi holds up a small white box. "Just having a smoke. Why are you here?"

He suddenly remembers the reason and is hit with a fresh wave of tears, face crumpling as he looks down at his lap. "It's.... just... a.... beautiful...." -he hiccups- "night..."

"It's... raining."

Taehyung looks up. "Oh."

And now that his lie is exposed, there's nothing to stop him from curling up into a tiny ball on the disgusting ground and ugly-sobbing into his hands.

"Jesus... fuck," Yoongi mutters, looking around to make sure no one's watching them as he tries to pull Taehyung up, "Seriously dude, what's wrong?"

"What do you care?" Taehyung spits, wrenching his arm away from Yoongi.

"Come on, man..."

"I'm fine! I'm just... a huge, massive, undeniable asshole. I... I can't believe I said that to him. You were right about me, I am just like the other guys. No, I'm worse." His lower lip trembles. "But it's fine. He can kiss whoever he wants. I should be there for him, I should support him, because I care about him. I-... I love him." His eyes widen then as his tears subside abruptly. He hiccups again. "I love him. I really love him." He descends violently into a new fit of tears, hands bracing him on the dirty, wet ground.

"Shit," Yoongi curses, whipping out his phone. "I'm calling Jin."

"N-no! I'm fine."

Yoongi ignores him, and a moment later he is mumbling into the phone, "Your brother is drunk and sobbing in the alleyway outside the club. Yep, the one by the laundromat. Okay."

Yoongi turns back to Taehyung but seems at a complete loss as to how to console him. "Uh, hey. It's going to be okay."

"It's not! It felt like I was dying. Like I was watching somebody rip out my insides and step on them. It hurts so much. I love him so much."

Yoongi is looking exceptionally guilty as he pats Taehyung's shoulder with a stiff, uncertain hand. "You... Shit. Hey it's... It'll really be okay. Just... stop crying."

Taehyung just shrugs and cries a little bit more.

"For fuck's sake," he hears Jin say, and he looks up, teary-eyed to find him walking over to squat beside him. Despite his words, his face looks extremely concerned.

"He uh... " Yoongi starts, obviously not wanting to say something to upset him further, "He's upset about-"

"I know what he's upset about," Jin snaps with a sharp glare at Yoongi. "You'd have to be a fucking idiot not to know." He gently strokes Taehyung's hair and then leans in to wrap his arms around him. "Come on, Tae. Let's go home."

Taehyung sniffs and looks up at him with gigantic, sparkling eyes. "Carry me?"

Jin smiles indulgently, standing up and extending his arms towards Taehyung. It's raining in earnest now, and Jin is absolutely drenched. Taehyung's heart contracts. "Hop up."

Taehyung doesn't realize quite how drenched he is until the air conditioning from Jin's apartment hits him like an arctic blast. Jin herds him gently towards the shower, sitting outside the door and talking to him to make sure he doesn't bleed out if he drunkenly slips and busts his face open on a sharp tile corner.

When he's cuddled into Jin's bed, Jin sits down and makes sure he's tucked in properly.

"So... do you want to talk about this now or later?" Jin asks delicately.

"Never," Taehyung says moodily as he yanks the covers over his head.

He hears Jin's sigh, the sound muffled as it passes through his thick covers. "Okay. Get some sleep. There's a bottle of water right here."

In the time that it takes him to settle himself into bed, to let his hiccups die down, he hears hushed voices whispering outside in his main room and wonders who else is here with Jin. He finds out when there is a tentative knock at his door and Yoongi peeks his head in.

"Uh. Hi," he says quietly, shifting his gaze away from Taehyung who sits up slightly in his bed.

"What are you doing here?"

"Jin said I should... I wanted to apologize. Can I come in?"

Taehyung nods thickly, sitting all the way up in bed and scooting over so that there is room for Yoongi, who hesitantly sits.

"So. I feel like a small fraction of this situation may be my fault," Yoongi begins, folding his hands in his lap.

"No," Taehyung sniffs. Yoongi seems to relax a bit at that, but then Taehyung continues. "Like 60% of thing is your fucking fault. At least. We were doing fine before you butted in."

Yoongi sighs. "I know. I'm sorry that I didn't give you a chance. Just... from an outsider's perspective, it seemed like every other fucking time, and I was just so tired of watching him get hurt. Looks like that kind of backfired."

"Yeah," Taehyung manages to say through the tightness in his throat. In his mind he sees a flash of the pain he'd seen on Jimin's face in response to his own words, and he holds back another small surge of tears.

"I know it's a little late now but... I really don't think you're like the other guys."

"I am, though," Taehyung admits, hanging his head. "I couldn't just be his friend. The second he tried to move on, I was terrible to him. I was awful. I said..." He has to stop when his throat constricts painfully.

Yoongi lets the silence steep for a moment before he mumbles, "Do you really love him?"

Taehyung's throat tightens again before he takes a deep breath to relax it. "So much. I love him so much and it hurts so fucking bad."

Yoongi nods quietly. "I'm sorry."

They ruminate in the silence for a few moments, because Taehyung isn't quite ready to say 'that's okay' or 'I forgive you,' but the atmosphere is cordial.

"I'm... I've gotta go," Yoongi says suddenly. "But are you... okay?"

Taehyung considers. "Okay as in emotionally well? No. But okay as in will my body remain here in fit physical condition until someone comes to pry me out of bed? Maybe. Unless heartache can corrode internal organs."

"Good enough," Yoongi decides, pushing himself to his feet. "And Tae, I really am sorry."

Taehyung just smiles weakly and pulls the blanket back above his head.

He never sleeps well when he's drunk. He's gets sleepy of course, and he usually ends up passing out the second his back hits the bed, but it's a restless, uncomfortable sleep, shallow and unsatisfying.

So when he hears the door creak open at some point in the night, he is quickly conscious, listening with his eyes closed. It doesn't sound like Jin, whose step is heavy and shuffling. It's lighter, tentative. He's unsure who it could be, but he's still a little drunk, and his eyes feel like they're glued shut, so he can't really be bothered to check.

It's only when he feels the bed dip behind him, feels small soft hands on his arm, smells the sweet, clean shampoo as it wafts in the air around him, that he knows.

Jimin settles in behind him, wrapping his arms around Taehyung's waist, pulling him closer, burying his nose in the nape of Taehyung's neck.

"Taetae?" He whispers, and it tickles slightly, making him shiver. "Are you awake?"

Taehyung doesn't even turn his head to confirm, just nods into his pillow, relaxing into Jimin's arms, pulling his blanket up around his mouth as he fights back tears. "I'm sorry."

Jimin scoffs against his neck. "You'd better be."

"I'm so sorry. I hate myself. You can hate me too."

"I'd rather not."

"I'm so sorry for what I said."

There's a tinge of bitterness. "It was pretty shitty."

"I'll never forgive myself. I was just hurting so bad and I wanted you to hurt too and I'm so sorry." Taehyung insists as the pillow becomes progressively wetter underneath his skin.

"Mission accomplished. It hurt like fuck. But I forgive you."

"I don't deserve it," Taehyung laments.

"Well you don't get to decide. Why do all you assholes think you get a say in my decisions and feelings?"

"I'm sorry I was rude to Brad," he mumbles into his blankets.

"Don't worry about Kevin," Jimin assures him, exhaling a laugh into Taehyung's hair.

Taehyung doesn't know why, but he feels the tears coming on again. He sniffs valiantly in an attempt to contain them. "I'm sorry for other things, too."

"So am I."

Taehyung sighs and drags his hands up to rest on Jimin's, which are circling his waist. He has no shame. He'll take all the pity cuddles he can get.

"I'm sorry I wouldn't kiss you. You know, that time at the bowling alley."

Jimin sighs behind him. "Not wanting to kiss me is not something you ever have to be sorry about."

"No but... I wanted to. I wanted to so bad. I just need you to know why I didn't do it," and Taehyung is working himself up again, the tears prickling at his eyes. He's glad that Jimin can't see his face. It's definitely easier talk to the darkness.

Jimin shushes him gently, pulling him close. "It's okay. Yoongi told me just now. He came back to the bar to tell me. That's why I'm here. That dick."

"He... oh." Taehyung lets that sink in for a moment. "He was just looking out for you."

"I know. I'm still mad at him, though."

"You're kind of surrounded by dicks."

"If you'd told me with no context when I was 15 that I would one day be surrounded by dicks, I would have been a much less pessimistic kid."

Taehyung laughs weakly before the dread settles in his stomach again. "What did Yoongi tell you?"

"Said he basically pulled the 'dad with a shotgun' card on you. That he told you my history and he was worried it was happening again. That things changed between us after that."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing. Just listen. He also said that he gave you two options. To leave, or to be my friend."

"Yeah, and I fuc-"

"You stayed," Jimin cuts him off, his arms tightening around him. "Guys don't usually stay when..."

He trails off, but Taehyung hums in understanding, gently stroking the soft skin of Jimin's hand. "I still fucked it up. I wanted to do better."

Jimin sighs and locks his arms tighter around Taehyung's waist. 'Let's just... go back to how it was before other people got involved. We were doing okay on our own."

"Okay," Taehyung grins into the soft blanket gathered up by his mouth.

They're quiet for a few moments, and Taehyung can hear the rain pounding against the building, the sound of it echoing around his room.

"I can hear you thinking. What are you thinking about?" Jimin whispers.

Taehyung hesitates, chewing the inside of his cheek. "I think I'm actually glad I didn't kiss you. When we were bowling," he ponders quietly.

"Oh?" Jimin says evenly, breath ghosting lightly across his neck.

"I don't ever want you to think I'm just another like... some poor confused straight boy who needs to be goaded into kissing you with a dare." Taehyung can't feel Jimin's breath on his neck anymore, and he wonders if he's waiting for him to continue. "If I kiss you, I want you to know that I'm doing it because I like you. Because I think you're wonderful and kind and funny, and I really fucking like you. Okay?"

Jimin holds him even closer, and Taehyung thinks he feels the lightest brush of lips on the back of his neck. "Okay."

He hums contentedly, snuggling into Jimin. He pauses for a moment, considering shyly. "Hey... Do you think I could..."

"Shh. I got you," Jimin sighs happily and gently grabs Taehyung's hand, guiding it behind them so that it's within cupping distance of Jimin's butt. "All yours."

He sleeps like a baby.