Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“You look great,” Yoongi breathed, thoroughly taken aback by how amazing the omega looked. His omega, if he managed not to fuck things up. He’d always been under the impression that designer fashion was too overly ostentatious, but Taehyung managed to pull off the Gucci shirt he’d bought him effortlessly.

“You think so?” Taehyung grinned, doing a small turn so Yoongi could take in the full effect. His hair was fluffy, lifting in the air slightly as he turned, long pink and blonde strands falling to softly frame his face.

“You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen,” Yoongi said honestly, endeared by the pink dusting of Taehyung’s cheeks at the words.

“Ah hyung,” Taehyung mumbled, embarrassed but pleased, “you’re too much.”

Yoongi grinned shyly, shrugging, “I’ve been ignoring my feelings for a while now, I’m trying to start being honest with you, which will probably involve telling you how amazing you are at least once a day. I hope you don’t mind?”

Taehyung tapped a finger to his lips, playful pout in place as he pretended to mull it over. “Hmm, a gorgeous beta that I’ve been in love with for years showering me in compliments daily?” he let out a put upon sigh, the act belied by the wide grin that split his face, “somehow I think I’ll be able to manage.”

Yoongi huffed out a laugh, shaking his head as he remembered to hand Taehyung the hot chocolate he’d brought him, toes curling involuntarily at the low moan Taehyung let out at the smell, hands cupping around the drink gently.

“Thanks, hyung.”

He was nervous, a feeling that hadn’t quite managed to settle despite this being their fourth date. Namjoon was always quick to tease him about how utterly, and thoroughly whipped he was for the man before him.

It was difficult, finally confronting the depths of his feelings. Now that he’d successfully torn down his mental walls that had precluded him from recognizing how he felt for the omega for so long, it was like a dam had been broken, the flood of emotions filling him completely whenever he was in the other’s presence.

“Thank you,” Taehyung giggled, leaning in and placing a soft kiss on the center of Yoongi’s mouth. The beta’s eyes fluttered at the brief contact, tongue darting out to taste the faint traces of Taehyung’s strawberry chapstick that lingered when he moved back.

Yoongi grinned, “thank you.”

Taehyung laughed again, “Are you really thanking me for kisses?”

Yoongi smiled, reaching out and lacing their fingers together. Yoongi wasn’t someone to take intimacy slowly, his past relationships, whether casual or serious, were usually fast to initiate physical contact. But with Taehyung, things had been relatively slow, slower than they’d been with Jimin even. But, unexpectedly, he hadn’t minded. Hand holding had quickly risen to the top of his list of favorite things, unable to stop the grin spreading across his face even if he wanted, the feel of the younger man’s warm hand in his enough to brighten his mood for an entire day.

“So, where are we going?” Taehyung asked, falling into step with Yoongi as he began to lead them away from the front of Taehyung’s apartment.  

“It’s a surprise.”

Taehyung leveled his best pout at him, Yoongi looking steadfastly ahead as Taehyung whined “But hyung.”

A smirk. “No buts, we’ll be there soon, promise.”

Taehyung pouted for a second longer, before his excitement won out, a bounce to his step as he restlessly played with Yoongi’s fingers.

“You know,” Yoongi said, distracting Taehyung with conversation as they walked, “I walked in on Jungkook and Hoseok wrestling yesterday. Some alpha thing about proving they were stronger. But they were shirtless, and between that, the pheromones and the sounds they were making, it was the most sexual nonsexual thing I’ve ever seen.”

Taehyung snorted into his cup, “A shame Jimin wasn’t there then. He probably would have gone into heat.”

“Yeah, probably.”

There was a long beat of silence, then-

“Speaking of heats hyung,” Taehyung said carefully, slowing his steps so that Yoongi turned to face him, “mine is coming up at the end of the month and I was wondering . . .”

Yoongi waited patiently, eyebrows raising slightly when Taehyung bit his lip nervously, not continuing, “Okay?”

Taehyung huffed, teeth releasing his lip, blood rushing to it and making it look full and red from where he’d bitten it. “I was wondering if you’d spend it with me?”

Yoongi felt his heart leap, the thud hard, and he had to fight against the urge to rub his chest, breath stuttering in his throat.

“You want to spend your heat with me?” he asked, though he’d heard the omega loud and clear the first time, voice coming out an octave higher than his normal low grumble.

Taehyung’s face was positively flaming by now, but he nodded, resolute. He’d thought about it hard, even going so far as to consult Jimin. Naturally, Jimin’s advice had been to jump into bed as soon as possible, considering it’d barely been a couple of weeks before he’d gotten into bed with Hoseok. But, he supposed he couldn’t judge, having invited Yoongi in during his heat when he was already courting his best friend. The memory still embarrassed him. But Yoongi had smelt so good.

“Are you sure?” Yoongi asked, surprised. It’d been about a month since he’d confessed, and while they talked daily and spent the same amount of time together as they had before, they’d still had only gone on a handful of dates, Yoongi having planned each meticulously.

Taehyung visibly deflated, shoulders slumping as he had difficulty meeting his hyung’s eyes, “Yeah, I’m sure. But if you don’t want to, if you think it’s too soon, I understand. I know you went through the same thing with Jimin and-”

“You’re not Jimin,” Yoongi said resolutely. And it was true, he’d hesitated with Jimin because he hadn’t been certain it was a good idea, if he was comfortable being compared. With Taehyung, the only thing he felt was desire. The nerves were there, but not for the same reasons as before.

The omega nodded, corners of his mouth kicking up in a small smile, “True, but still, I understand if you think it’s too soon.”

He had agonized about asking for days, even going so far as to approach Jin for a second opinion. Jin had been ecstatic but concerned when Yoongi had begun courting Taehyung, fiercely protective in his desire to not see Taehyung get hurt again. He had thoroughly harangued the beta, threatening him with soft words and interrogating him over a bottle of soju to ensure that he had well and truly gotten his act together, not willing to risk disaster.

Even still, Taehyung had been hesitant to approach the older omega for advice after that phone call weeks ago, so it was a surprise to both Namjoon and Jin when he’d shown up at their doorstep with takeout, asking if they could talk. Namjoon had kindly taken the proffered noodles and headed to their bedroom, leaving the two men in private to talk.

Jin had beamed, happy to finally have made it back into Taehyung’s good graces, apologizing for his previous behavior. Taehyung had accepted good naturedly, more than happy to make peace. Conversation had been hesitant as they ate, until Taehyung had finally given in, the dam breaking as a flood of words left him.

~~

“Is it too soon hyung?”

Jin had sighed, leaning back against the couch, legs stretched out beneath the coffee table as they sat on the floor to eat their food.

“Well,” Jin said, stretching the word like taffy, “you have been in love with him for quite a while. And he’s head over heels for you, any idiot can see that now. Is this what you want?”

Taehyung squirmed, setting his plate aside. “I do, but I’m afraid it’s too fast, you know? It’s only been about a month, and what if I look easy or something.”

Jin snorted, “you could have spread your legs on the first date and Yoongi would have ripped anyone that had the nerve to call you that’s throat out with his teeth. There’s no way he’d think you’re easy. And, even if you theoretically were, so what? Who gives a shit about ‘normal’ pacing in relationships? It’s all subjective. No one knows you or what you’re ready for but you, and anyone that judges you for it can take my foot up their ass.”

Taehyung laughed in surprise, not used to the other being so blunt.

“Anyway, Joonie and I mated before the season even ended, about two months into it I think. It only took eight weeks for me to decide that I was ready to commit the rest of my life to this person, and trust me everyone had something to say about it at the time. But I haven’t regretted it once. My wolf and myself feel more at peace with each other than ever, and I’ve never been happier.”

Taehyung shook his head at just how amazing that was. He wanted that, but- “I’m hardly asking him to mate with me right now. I mean, it’s what I’ve always wanted, and still want, but I want to enjoy the rest of the season, it’s nice being courted.”

Jin grinned, leaning back against the base of the couch and lacing his fingers over his full stomach, “it is, isn’t it?”

Taehyung nodded, flushing, “It is, which is why I don’t want to mess it up by asking him to help with my heat so early into it.”

Jin laughed, ruffling his hair. “I don’t think it’ll mess up anything. But I understand your hesitance. Look Tae,” he said, leaning forward, “if this is what you want, go for it. Fuck anyone else that judges you. And who’s opinion matters enough to affect you anyway? Last I checked, your six best friends wouldn’t dream of it, and would deal with any other asshole that would. We’ve got three alphas here, and Jimin and Yoongi could definitely take anyone on that dared to mess with you. Not to mention that these broad shoulders of mine are here for more than just looking good. Hyung’s got your back.”

Taehyung giggled at Jin’s over exaggerated wink, sinking back more comfortably against the couch next to him. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m being silly, aren’t I?”

A shrug. “I don’t think you’re being silly; your feelings are valid, your insecurities are normal. But honestly, if it’s what you want, I really don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Now,” Jin said, standing abruptly, “this occasion calls for soju! You’re being courted Tae, let’s celebrate!”

The younger omega’s mouth stretched into a boxy smile, Taehyung standing too, “sounds good hyung.”

~~

“I don’t think it’s too soon,” Yoongi said calmly, distracting Taehyung from the memory.

He gently linked their fingers together, Taehyung not having realized that they’d let go when they stopped. Slowly, they started walking again.

“You don’t?” Taehyung prompted once the silence had resumed.

“No,” Yoongi murmured, and it was then that Taehyung saw that the tips of his ears were scarlet, “I’d love to actually. It’s just been a while, and I don’t want to mess anything up.”

Taehyung squeezed his hands, “if it’s with you, it’ll be perfect.”

Yoongi chuckled, squeezing back, “Anything would be perfect with you Tae. I just want to make sure it’s great, I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.”

Yoongi swallowed, nodding. He knew helping an omega with their heat wasn’t that big of a deal, he’d done it before. But this was Taehyung. He wanted to make it special. Though, with how delirious heats could make omegas, as long as he could provide a knot he was sure to be sufficient. But Taehyung deserved the best, and he was eager to try. Not to mention the thought of fucking Taehyung had his spine tingling and stomach pooling with heat at the thought.

“I’d love to help you Tae,” he said, “if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure.”

Yoongi smiled, tentative and shy, slightly overwhelmed with the prospect but eager nonetheless, the heat pooling in the pit of his stomach spreading to warm the rest of his body.

Taehyung chuckled, startling the beta out of his thoughts, “from the smell of it, you’d really love to help, huh hyung?”

Yoongi flushed, eyes widening as he looked at Taehyung in alarm, unaware that the scent of his arousal was so clearly present in the air.

“Fuck.”

Humiliation heated his cheeks as Taehyung doubled over in laughter, making Yoongi shift uncomfortably, playfully rolling his eyes when Taehyung nudged his shoulder, making clear that he had no intention of judging him, cheeks flushed rosy with mirth.

Fucked is what he was. Yoongi was so utterly, and completely fucked with how far gone he was for the man.

“Don’t worry hyung,” Taehyung said, ducking his head, hiding his smile, “I’m excited too.”

He released the breath he had been holding, happy it wasn’t entirely one sided as they started walking once again, the feel of the omega’s hand firm in his own.

Fifteen minutes later Yoongi stopped them, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a silk blindfold. Taehyung cocked an eyebrow.

“My heat’s still a few weeks away hyung, it’s a bit early for the kinky stuff.”

“Shut up,” Yoongi huffed, offering up the material in question, “I told you it’s a surprise. So, you have to wear this so you can be surprised.”

Dark eyes turned to crescents with the force of Taehyung’s smile, moving into place in front of Yoongi to allow him to place the blindfold over his face.

The beta had to reach up slightly to sit it comfortably over Taehyung’s eyes, tying it off. “Too tight?”

“It’s perfect,” Taehyung said, reaching out blindly for Yoongi’s hand, disconcerted at being in total darkness in the middle of the day.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” Yoongi murmured, placing an arm around his waist.

Taehyung leaned into the contact, body pressed against Yoongi’s firm chest as he let the older man lead him.

The ground changed beneath them, the smooth pavement giving way to soft grass beneath his feet the further they walked. Yoongi tightened his grip, guiding him carefully on the uneven surface.

It was strange, the amount of trust he so effortlessly placed in his hyung. His arm just as steady as his affection for the omega. Taehyung could get used to it.

The sensation was new, being so utterly and completely cared for. Of course, all of his hyungs and friends cared for and loved him unconditionally. But he’d never had this. The feeling of safety that came from the knowledge that someone would do anything to ensure his wellbeing, his comfort, his happiness. Perhaps this was what having a mate felt like? His body warmed at the thought.

“Okay,” Yoongi murmured, drawing out the word as he came to a stop behind Taehyung. “Ready?”

Taehyung was jittery with anticipation as he felt Yoongi come close behind him, warm breath on his neck as he reached up to undo the tie.

The material fell away easily, Yoongi holding his breath as he grasped the cloth in his hand, white knuckled as he waited for Taehyung’s response.

“Woah,” Taehyung said, a bit dumbstruck.

“Do you like it?” Yoongi asked nervously, scratching the back of his head.

“Hyung,” Taehyung said, walking further into the little clearing, eyes wide as he took in the site.

Looking around he realized they were in a park, or, the outskirts of one, secluded within a cozy area with trees overhead and soft grass underfoot. But what really caught his eye, was in the very center.

It was a picnic, charming in the quilted blanket and quaint basket, but grand in the sheer amount of food spread out. At least a dozen different dishes sat before them, nicely wrapped to prevent bugs with carefully placed candles encased to give it a romantic touch as well as ward off the area from other critters.

A soft glow lit up the shaded area, fairy lights strung on the trees around them, making Taehyung wonder just how Yoongi had gotten so high up to hang them.

“Hyung,” he repeated again, surprised, “how much did this cost?” He walked closer, noting all his favorite dishes, the smell making his stomach clench in hunger.

“Not much,” Yoongi said, self-consciously. “I borrowed the quilt from Namjoon and the basket from Jin hyung. Hobi had the fairy lights. All I really had to pay for was the ingredients.”

Taehyung blinked, astonished, “You cooked all of this?”

“Aish, I can cook,” Yoongi said, mock affronted.

“I know,” Taehyung said, spreading his arms out, “but this is so much! This is so much food!”

Yoongi shrugged, not quite wanting to explain how his wolf had gotten a bit out of hand in the preparation process, constantly urging him to show off that he could provide food for a mate. What had started out as a single dish and dessert, had quickly gotten carried away as he had remembered various dishes Taehyung liked while at the store.

Taehyung smirked, leaning into Yoongi a bit as he eyed him in amusement, “Is this like Jungkook and the deer?”

Yoongi groaned, it was silly to think Taehyung wouldn’t realize.

“It wasn’t intentionally. And at least it’s not rotten.” A pause. “Do you like it?”

“I love it, hyung,” Taehyung said earnestly, grabbing his hand and leading him over to sit on one of the pillows Yoongi had carefully laid out.

His body instantly relaxed, unaware that he’d been holding it so tense with anxiety as he waited for Taehyung’s reaction.

Taehyung opened the basket, pulling out the plates and chopsticks and passing them to Yoongi before setting a set before him. He busied himself pouring them both drinks, hot chocolate finished and abandoned beside him. He hummed to himself as Yoongi watched him fondly, a pleasant heat sitting in his chest at the feeling of the other’s gaze on him.

“I don’t know what to eat first,” Taehyung chuckled, filling his plate with japchae and tteokbokki. He paused, wondering if he should fill Yoongi’s plate first, flashing back to the day he’d initially started his courtship, remembering how keen he had been to prove he was a good omega at the time.

Noticing his hesitance, Yoongi began filling his own plate, smiling at him reassuringly. “Tae,” he said quietly, eyes on the food, “you’re a perfect omega just as you are, please don’t worry so much about needing to do traditional omega things like serving me or cooking or whatever.” He looked up, smile soft just as his heart was soft for the man, “If you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly the pillar of traditional status behavior, you’ve got nothing to prove to me. You’re a great omega.”

A bit dumbstruck, Taehyung began filling his plate once more, focusing on the task to make sure the prick he felt behind his eyes didn’t turn into full-fledged tears at the words.

After his plate was thoroughly full of a little bit of everything, he looked up. Yoongi was staring at him patiently, his own plate full as he looked at Taehyung, waiting quietly as he gathered his thoughts.

“Thank you,” Taehyung said softly, separating his chopsticks and beginning to gather a bite of noodles, “That means a lot. I just-” he struggled to find the words, stuffing his mouth with food and chewing thoroughly as he thought through what he wanted to say. “This is amazing hyung,” he said sincerely, going for another bite.

Yoongi’s wolf preened at the compliment, but the slight slump to Taehyung’s shoulders concerned him. “It’s just what?”

“Ah, it’s stupid,” Taehyung said, chewing on a bit of kimchi. “It’s just, growing up my mom would always scold me that I was being too loud, played too rough for an omega. And then growing up and with the whole courtship thing . . .” he shrugged helplessly. “I guess I’ve just never felt like a proper omega. Like, I don’t know. It’s not that I want to be anything else, I’m happy with myself, I’m content with my wolf and feel like an omega, I have all the silly urges to roll over and show my belly and be knotted and take care of my mate and all that stuff, but that’s not all I am. And, even if it was, no one sees me that way. I just never really felt like I fit.”

Yoongi nodded, taking in the words as he absently twirled his chopsticks between his fingers.

“Like I said, I know it’s stupid.”

“It’s not,” Yoongi said, voice solid. “But I’m sorry you feel that it is, and I’m sorry you’ve been made to feel inadequate. But Taehyung, like I said, you’re perfect. You’re a great omega, in the traditional sense with how you take care of everyone sure, but also just because you’re you. You could be asking to mount me and challenging strangers to matches on the subway and you’d still be a perfect omega.”

Taehyung snorted, picturing himself challenging some knothead alpha to a fight.

Yoongi grinned, “I mean it though, I said it to you back in the diner ages ago, there’s no one way to be an omega, fuck anyone that says there is.”

“Ah, hyung, stop,” Taehyung muttered, pleased and comforted nonetheless, “this is a date, you can’t make me cry.”

“I guess I’m terrible at this courting thing after all,” Yoongi chuckled, smile widening as Taehyung rolled his eyes.

“Don’t fish for compliments hyung,” he chastised, stuffing his mouth full again, motioning towards Yoongi’s own plate. “Now eat, my future mate just cooked me a feast, I’m sure as hell going to enjoy it before it gets cold.”

“Fuck,” Yoongi breathed, heart thudding against his chest at Taehyung referring to him as his future mate. Of course that was the goal, but it was the most plainly and solidly it had been stated between them.

Taehyung smirked knowingly, seemingly well aware of the effect his words had had on his hyung. “Well, that is the whole point of this hyung.” He reached over and snagged a piece of tteokbokki off of his plate, having already finished the serving on his own. His grin widened, “Now, eat!”

-x-x-x-

“Someone looks happy,” Jimin sing-songed as Taehyung walked through the door, unwinding the scarf from around his neck.

He didn’t even try to hide his grin as he slipped out of his shoes and flopped onto the couch, landing on Jimin’s legs. He ignored the squawk and flailing arms as he happily made himself comfortable. “That’s because I am.”

“So Yoongi hyung’s treating you right then?” Jimin asked, shoving Taehyung backwards but still letting him rest his legs over his lap.

“He is,” Taehyung hummed, wiggling his toes at Jimin until the other swatted him away.

“Good, I’m glad. You deserve- hey!”

Taehyung laughed as he retracted his foot from where he’d shoved it in Jimin’s face. “No more insisting I deserve the best,” Taehyung whined, grinning in spite himself. Since Yoongi and his talk, Jimin had been insistently telling him how he deserved the world and spoiling him with attention. It was sweet, Jimin’s special way of apologizing without outright saying it and making things awkward. Taehyung preferred it that way, quite honestly. Between Jin, Jimin and Yoongi, he was assured more than ever that his friends valued him and felt terrible for how they’d acted. But the message had definitely been conveyed, and now he just wanted to return to a period of relative normalcy.

“Anyway,” Taehyung huffed, still amused but trying to hide it, “I asked hyung to help with my heat.”

Jimin’s eyes widened, indignation at having a foot shoved in his face forgotten, “Really? What’d he say?”

“He said yes!” The initial plan he’d walked in with of remaining nonchalant when he revealed the news went out the window with his large smile, still buzzing with happiness.

“I’m so excited for you!” Jimin said, launching himself at the younger omega. “It’s about time you’ve properly been dicked down! You need to tell me all about his kno-”

“So!” Taehyung said, hand firmly planted over his best friend’s mouth, “now that I’ve shared my news, tell me all about the race between Kook and Hobi hyung. The season’s winding down.”

Jimin looked at him petulantly, brows twitching with the desire to continue his previous comments but also tell all about the latest developments of his courtship.

“Fine,” Tae groaned, giving in, “I’m excited, and I’m sure hyung’s knot will feel amazing,” he said, forging on despite the hot flush to his cheeks, “but that’s as much as I’ll say on the matter! I’ve got to keep something to the imagination.”

Jimin huffed, “please, I showed you how to use an enema and a bought you your first knot dildo to help with your heats, nothing’s been left to the imagination.”

Taehyung made a dying sound in the back of his throat, ears flaming as he got up and made his way to the kitchen to make tea.

“You can’t run from this Tae!” Jimin yelled, laugh following him from the living room.

“Watch me!”

It was quiet for a few minutes, Taehyung busying himself with the kettle and two cups. He’d long since mastered the art of preparing two cups anytime he wanted tea with Jimin home. No matter how often Jimin insisted he didn’t need a cup when Taehyung asked, it was inevitable that he would make grabby hands for a sip whenever it was within reach.

“I’ll finish Tae,” Jimin hummed from behind him, gently nudging him out of the way as he started to dry the cups Taehyung had been washing over the sink, deftly moving the kettle off the burner once it started whistling.

“So,” Taehyung prodded from his perch on the counter, feet swinging back and forth as his eyes trained critically on Jimin’s turned back. “How is the courting going?”

Jimin tensed, and Taehyung nodded to himself. So, he’d been right. Jimin had seemed like a tightly wound ball of electricity the minute Taehyung had sat down- eyes wide and hands fidgety. And now in their tiny kitchen, Jimin’s hands hurriedly preparing the tea, cursing under his breath when a splash of water from the kettle landed on his hand, Taehyung could see just how jumpy the man was.

After a beat of silence where Jimin stirred a spoonful of sugar into Taehyung’s cup, just how he liked it, his shoulders slumped. Turning to face Taehyung, he wordlessly handed him his mug, leaning back against the counter adjacent to him.

“I don’t know what to do,” Jimin sighed, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth as he worried it. “I love them both.”

Taehyung nodded, blowing on his tea as he waited for Jimin to continue.

Jimin glanced at him, hands warm around his mug before he took a cautious sip of his own.

He cleared his throat. “I’m in love with them both.”

Taehyung nodded once again. It didn’t seem to be the desired response judging from the purse of Jimin’s lips.

“That must be a tough choice,” Taehyung said, trying to help.

“I’m in love with them both as in . . .” Jimin sighed, looking like he’d swallowed a lemon as he wrestled with the words he wanted to say. “As in I don’t want to choose. Like, ever.”

“Well, there’s no rule that you have to choose by the end of February, its just the end of the season. I’m sure they’d wait as long as you’d like.”

“No,” Jimin groaned, head thumping against the wall behind him, “I mean I want them both. I’ll never feel right about choosing, because I love them both the same.”

“Oh,” Taehyung said, befuddled, before his eyes widened in realization. “Oh,” he breathed, finally letting the words sink in. “Well, why not talk to them about it?”

“And say what. Hey, thanks for all the time and effort you’ve put into this to win me over, but I can’t pick because I’m selfish and in love with both of you.”

Taehyung screwed up his face at that, “being in love with both of them doesn’t make you selfish. Trying to force them both into something based on their feelings for you would be, but you haven’t even asked them how they feel. They’ve always been close. I mean, they live together. I’m not trying to give you any false hope or anything, but you won’t ever know unless you talk to them.”

“And if they say no?”

“Then they say no. But you all will still be friends. You all love each other too much to not be.”

“Even if they say yes though, it’ll be hard.”

Taehyung shrugged, “Relationships are hard. But if they do say yes, well, then, you’ll talk. And you’ll negotiate, and you’ll find something that works for you. But you’re jumping a bit far here, take it slow.”

“Jumping a bit far huh,” Jimin smiled, “as if we’re not all taking the span of a few months to decide on who we want to spend the rest of our lives with.”

Taehyung grinned, lifting his cup in an ironic toast. “You’ve got me there. But sometimes you’ve just got to trust your heart, and your wolf. I think,” he mused, eyes unfocusing just a bit as he thinks of how certain his wolf had been about Yoongi, for years, even before he’d made up his mind. “I think when those two agree, it’s a really beautiful thing. And if my family’s anything to go by, you should trust them.”

Jimin rolled his eyes, “Because your parents and grandparents are practically perfect. They’re like a walking Valentine’s Day special.”

“Yeah, they are,” Taehyung said fondly, shaking his head at the nostalgia that threatened to distract him. “But they fight too. No one’s perfect. But what I’m trying to say is-”

“I know, I know,” Jimin chuckled. “Society’s weird and if it wasn’t because of some primordial evolutionary love instinct or whatever other science words I’m just making up, all of this would be utterly absurd but as it stands our wolves are smarter than we are when it comes to love so we can trust them blah blah. You’re right. Okay?”

Taehyung snorted, laughing into his cup, “Hardly. I was gonna say read a textbook or something. The ones they handed out in that tenth-year health and wellness course had a pretty good explanation.”

“You suck,” Jimin muttered petulantly.

“Only for hyung though, if I have any say in it.”

“Nasty,” Jimin said, ignoring how he’d been asking for details of their future sex life not even twenty minutes prior.

Taehyung smirked, “I hope so.”

“I’ve created a monster.”

A shrug. “But really,” he continued, smile softening into something a little more sincere, “There are people that don’t care about courting at all. I think we’re all a bit of romantics at heart, so we all do it. And if our wolves and hearts are actually in sync, I think it tends to usually work out. But if you’re feeling pressured, there’s nothing wrong with taking a step back and going at your own pace too. I want to mate with hyung, I’m pretty sure of that. But I don’t think it’ll happen until after the season ends. I want to enjoy this process for a little longer.”

“Well, you did get a bit shortchanged,” Jimin said bashfully.

“But I’m here now. And happier than I’ve been in a while.”

“I’m glad Tae,” Jimin said, setting his cup aside and walking over to hug him. The angle was a bit weird, Taehyung having to fold in half from his place on the counter to properly wrap his arms around his friend, teacup held precariously in one hand.

“Whatever you decide. Whenever you decide. Talk to them. Okay?”

Jimin sighed but nodded into the crook of his neck. With one last tight squeeze they parted, both downing the rest of their tea before Jimin collected their cups to place in the sink.

“Wanna watch a movie?” Taehyung asked, hoping it would help ease a bit of both of their pent-up energy.

Jimin grinned, shoulders sagging with the release of tension, “I’d love to.”

-x-x-x-

“Is this really necessary hyung?” Taehyung asked, legs crossed on his bed as he watched Jin rummage through his closet.

“Is this necessary?” Jin gasped, throwing another top onto the mounting pile of clothes beside Taehyung. “Is this necessary?”

“It’s apparently very necessary,” Namjoon sighed, shaking his head at his mate’s antics.

“This is the first time in months that things have been relatively calm. Jungkook and Hoseok aren’t measuring their dicks daily, Yoongi’s got his head out of his ass and is finally courting you, and you’re no longer pining over him like a lovesick puppy. I’d say that calls for a celebration, wouldn’t you?”

Taehyung, while reluctant, couldn’t help agreeing. Their last Sunday dinner had been relatively normal, a first since the courting season had happened. There’d been no jealousy or resentment from Taehyung, and Jin had positively cooed when Yoongi had doted on him. Jungkook and Hoseok had somewhat quieted their competitive spirit, no longer displaying unbridled aggression, but instead directing their efforts into who could serve, and then eventually feed, Jimin the most food. For his part, Jimin looked absolutely thrilled as he allowed himself to be stuffed with all the food Jin had prepared for the group. It had been nice. Perhaps the recent turn in events did warrant a celebration.

“Okay, but I’m no longer trying to seduce Yoongi hyung, so why are you picking out my outfit?”

“Because,” Jin tsked, tossing a shirt high overhead, Taehyung watching the arc of it with fascination until it unceremoniously landed on his head, “I’m obviously going to look amazing, Joonie won’t let me dress him, and you have a great wardrobe to work with. How could I pass up this opportunity?”

“Fine,” Taehyung groaned, no real dread in it. While he was no longer courting Yoongi, he still wanted to look good, and the little boost of confidence he got whenever Yoongi’s eyes obviously roamed over his figure with want was always nice. “I guess you dressing me wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”

Jin rolled his eyes, not too thrilled with the less than stellar acceptance, but threw a pair of pants at Taehyung regardless.

“Alright, stand up and strip,” Jin said, flopping onto the bed and scooting back towards the headboard until he was seated between his mate and Taehyung, elbowing Taehyung until he fell off the bed with an ‘oof’.

“I was getting up,” Taehyung whined, begrudgingly taking hold of the pair of pants and shirt Jin pushed towards him.

“I’m not wearing this,” Taehyung said, scandalized as he held up the ripped pants with fishnets where the holes were. “This was for my cabaret costume two years ago. And this shirt barely goes to my waist. It’s way too tight.”

A single, elegant eyebrow arched, “That’s the point.”

Taehyung huffed, holding it out in front of him with distaste. “I’m also fairly sure this is Jimin’s.”

Jin shrugged, entirely unconcerned.

“Hyung,” Taehyung pleaded, struggling halfway into the shirt before giving up and tossing it to the side, picking up the jeans to shimmy into them instead. “Okay, bargain time. I’ll wear the jeans and will let you put eyeliner on me, but I get to pick the shirt.”

Hazel eyes narrowed, “eyeliner and glitter.”

Taehyung’s arms crossed, widening his stance in an attempt to affect one of those power poses Hoseok had eagerly showed him a video of. “Eyeliner and eye shadow, neutral colors.”

“Eyeliner, neutral eyeshadow, and lipgloss.”

Taehyung raised both brows, pursing his lips in a silent show of resolve.

“Ah!” Jin sighed, throwing his hands up, “fine, fine, I concede. But at least let me curl your hair.”

Taehyung smirked. He had won.

“Won’t it just curl from the sweat and humidity anyway?” Namjoon asked, easing a little now that the stand-off had ended.

“I’ll use hairspray,” Jin scoffed, “not to mention its all about the initial effect. He just needs to stun on the entrance.”

Taehyung nodded in agreement, slipping into a loose fitting, thin black shirt that he tucked into his pants, ignoring Jin’s whining that his ‘cute little stomach’ wouldn’t be shown off. It was wide enough around the collar that it slid off his shoulder when he moved, the effect drastic enough that Jin begrudgingly agreed he was showing enough skin.

“Should I be jealous?” Namjoon asked, side eyeing his mate. “You seem to be very invested in showing off his figure.”

“Never babe,” Jin said, taking the alpha’s face in hand and squeezing until his lips puckered to a suitable level for a kiss.

“Ahem,” Taehyung coughed when the kiss got a little too involved for his liking, effectively breaking it up. “Can we focus on me now?”

“Oh, now he wants my attention,” Jin scoffed, but pushed himself off the bed to walk to the adjoining bathroom. “Get ready my dear TaeTae,” he called, the sound of hair gels, combs, and curlers being pulled from various drawers muffling his words somewhat, “when I’m done with you, little Yoongles won’t know what hit him.”

-x-x-x-

Yoongi choked on his drink. Actually, honest to God, choked like some ridiculous character in a romantic comedy. If asked, he’d say he swallowed ice. But the sheer, humiliating truth of the matter was he’d gasped mid-swallow when he saw Taehyung walking towards the table. The result – an embarrassing amount of whiskey dribbling down his chin that he was hastily trying to wipe away, much to Hoseok’s amusement.

“Not a fucking word,” he muttered, happy that it at least looked like Taehyung hadn’t noticed.

“I’ll get a round of drinks!” Jin announced as soon as they reached the table, bumping Taehyung into the booth beside Yoongi before heading over to the bar with Namjoon.

“You look great Tae,” Jimin said, yelling to be heard over the music.

Taehyung grinned, flush rising to his cheeks as Jungkook and Hoseok cast a cursory glance in his direction, nodding in agreement before turning to pull Jimin back into whatever they’d been talking about before the three’s arrival. He didn’t know what the nature of the conversation was, but it certainly had the older omega giggling between every sentence.

“They’re right,” Yoongi said, pulling Taehyung’s focus back to him, “you look great.”

Taehyung hummed, leaning forward to lick teasingly at Yoongi’s chin, nose scrunching cutely as he tasted the bitter hint of whiskey left there.

Yoongi flushed; so, he had noticed. It didn’t stop his gaze from darkening as he watched Taehyung’s tongue dart back into his mouth, wanting nothing more than to yank him into a kiss, and perhaps into his lap. Fuck. It hadn’t even been five minutes.

“You look nice too hyung,” Taehyung said, running appreciative eyes over his form.

He scoffed, his black jacket and blue jeans were hardly new to Taehyung, both more than a little worn, but he was happy Taehyung always seemed to like the look on him.

“I mean it,” Taehyung laughed, then paused to look at Yoongi, puckering his lips slightly.

The beta flushed, refusing to check and see if Hoseok was looking, knowing the other would just tease him anyway, before leaning over to kiss Taehyung softly. It was cute, Taehyung having recently gotten bolder in asking for certain types of affection plainly, and Yoongi couldn’t deny that he was so, so fond of the man.

It was endearing, how he’d lean in for a hug or pout for a kiss whenever they saw each other, and he was always more than happy to oblige.

“Are we gonna dance tonight hyung?” Taehyung asked, leaning into his side as his eyes were already looking out to appraise the state of the dance floor.

Yoongi hesitated, remembering the last time Taehyung had talked him into it. How he’d narrowly been saved by Jimin’s interruption from Taehyung realizing just how unintentionally hard he had gotten him.

Wait.

Hazel eyes narrowed as he glanced at Taehyung, widening with the very obvious realization. “You were trying to seduce me the last time we were here!”

Taehyung flushed to his roots, wondering just how it was possible to get so heated so quickly.

The words had been said loudly, garnering a curious glance from Jungkook who was sitting the closest to them.

“Hyung,” he hissed, clearly flustered.

“You were,” Yoongi said accusingly, clearly astonished by just how long he’d been, and to what lengths he had gone when, courting him.

“Yes, okay yes, I was trying to ‘seduce’ you,” Taehyung said, putting quotes around the word seduce. Humiliated. “I didn’t know how to get you to look at me in a way that wasn’t your dongsaeng. I was trying to nudge you in the right direction.”

“Nudge?” Yoongi chuckled, shaking his head incredulously. No wonder everyone thought he was an idiot. “You were basically riding me on the dance floor.”

“Oh my God,” Taehyung groaned, burying his head in his hands. “How else was I gonna get you interested. It’s not like it even worked,” he pouted.

Yoongi smirked, “it definitely worked. I was too into it, I thought you could tell.”

Taehyung flushed, “it was a bit hard to focus on seeing if you were hard when I was trying to control my slick.”

Yoongi felt a bit dizzy, remembering that time, and when he’d smelt Taehyung during his heat those months ago. His scent was heady and utterly intoxicating, like thick honey dripping off the comb. He could feel himself growing flustered, thinking about licking it out of his omega as he whined during his heat.

Fuck. He kept doing that. Casually thinking of Taehyung as his omega already.  It was exciting, something he’d never experienced before, and his wolf was practically preening at the thought.

“Drinks!” Jin cheered, setting a tray of shots on the table with a thud, some of the liquid spilling over the sides.

“Sounds great!” Taehyung cheered, taking a shot and downing it, more than ready to distract himself from his embarrassment.

Eyebrows rose and silence fell around the table as everyone stared, more than a bit surprised.

“That’s the spirit Taehyung!” Jin said jovially, taking a shot himself, smacking his lips as it went down. “Everyone, lets party!”

The shock dissipated as quickly as it came as everyone reached for a shot, taking them to a chorus of cheers from Jin.

Conversation resumed, and Taehyung felt his earlier embarrassment melt away, leaning comfortably into Yoongi’s side as the alcohol warmed him from the inside out.

His breath hitched as he felt lips nudge just behind his ear, breath ghosting over his neck as Yoongi murmured, “Do you still want to dance?”

Taehyung bit his lip at the hand casually placed on his thigh. Not high enough to be scandalous, but firm enough to make his thoughts race with the possibilities.

He glanced at the beta, surprised by his forwardness but thrilled to dance with his hyung.

“Let’s go,” he said, standing and tugging Yoongi to his feet. He reached for a shot from the table, handing Yoongi one as well. “Cheers,” he grinned, downing it with a grimace as Yoongi took his with ease.

Jimin had already managed to drag Hoseok onto the dance floor, and Taehyung was surprised to see that Jungkook was just watching. No jealousy on his face, just interest, and a bit of desire if Taehyung was accurately reading the looks he kept casting at the two. Maybe there was hope yet.

Yoongi took the lead, pulling him effortlessly to the center, navigating alphas deftly as he kept Taehyung close.

Taehyung laughed as the music switched to something light and bouncy, immediately starting to jump in place, grabbing both of Yoongi’s hands in his own and inviting the elder to do the same.

The beta had never quite been able to resist him, jumping up and down with him in time to the music.

Taehyung was smitten, smile widening so much it hurt, but completely worth it if it meant getting to see the large, gummy smile Yoongi was currently displaying. The next three songs went by quickly, the two dancing in the same manner, until the music switched to something slower, allowing them to slow down and breathlessly take in large gulps of humid air.

“This is fun,” Taehyung said, draping his arms over Yoongi’s shoulders and swaying to the music.

“Yeah, it is,” Yoongi agreed, pulling Taehyung just a bit closer, feeling his chest fill with warmth as the other nuzzled into the side of his face.

“I’m really happy hyung,” Taehyung said honestly, giggling when Yoongi ran his hands up his sides, before sliding back down to squeeze at his waist.

“Good,” he said, placing a kiss to the crown of Taehyung’s head, happy he had leant down enough for him to do so. “I am too. I want to keep making you happy.”

Taehyung pulled back to look at him, really look at him, taking in his sweaty hair, rosy cheeks and tender smile. He licked his lips, Yoongi zeroing in on the movement, unconsciously leaning a bit closer.

Taehyung felt the familiar feeling of butterflies in his stomach, a feeling that still managed to catch him no matter how many kisses they’d now shared, but pushed them aside as he moved the rest of the way to press their lips together. He wanted. Badly.

The kiss was less soft than the usual ones shared between them. Wet and hot with just the tiniest bit of teeth. Taehyung groaned deep in his chest as Yoongi suckled on his tongue, pulling it into his own mouth as his arms wrapped even tighter around him, hands sliding down to rest just above the curve of his ass.

His breath hitched as Yoongi brought his bottom lip between his teeth, pulling and managing to draw a whine out of him.

“Fuck,” Taehyung muttered, hands tangling into his hair as he tugged, smirking against Yoongi’s lips in satisfaction from the breathy sound he let out. So, Yoongi really did have a thing for hairpulling. He’d make sure to explore that more later.

A low growl escaped the beta as Taehyung experimentally tugged again, Yoongi’s hands going even further down to grip his ass in retaliation.

“Shit,” Taehyung hissed, feeling himself slicking up. “We should stop.”

“Why?” Yoongi asked, pulling Taehyung flush against him.

He could feel how hard Yoongi was in his jeans, the same situation clear as day in his own as they moved against each other, the music’s new pace giving the paper thin illusion that they were dancing, instead of unapologetically grinding against each other like they were.

Yoongi’s question was quickly forgotten as he angled his hips just right, giving Taehyung a taste of the delicious friction he so desperately wanted.

His whine was quickly swallowed by another kiss, Yoongi’s lips insistent against his own as he bit and licked at him, the kiss more a mess of teeth and tongue than an actual meeting of lips.

Hot kisses trailed down his throat, biting and marking the flesh until he felt Yoongi pause over the spot on his neck where a claim mark would be made, before sucking, teeth teasing at the area before licking.

Taehyung’s knees felt week, shaking like a leaf in the other’s grip as he felt the first hints of slick trickle between his cheeks and start to pool in his underwear.

“Yoongi,” Taehyung breathed, arms around him like a vice as he felt his vision swim when Yoongi licked the spot again, teeth trailing in his tongue’s wake.

Yoongi didn’t think he’d ever been so aroused in his life, feeling himself desperately rut against Taehyung in an effort to give himself some relief, positively aching in his jeans.

His wolf pressed at the edges of his consciousness the longer he spent teasing Taehyung, begging him to just bite like he so desperately wanted.

Taehyung’s hands in his hair was intoxicating as he pulled, needy little whines and whimpers falling from his throat at Yoongi’s ministrations.

He tenses suddenly, his wolf no longer demanding to claim, and instead alerting him to a threat. Yoongi forced himself to move back, eyes a curious blend of brown and gold as he looked past Tae’s blissed out expression at the three alphas more than a little interested in the scent of Taehyung’s slick.

They were too close for comfort, and it was a wonder Yoongi only noticed now. For his part, Taehyung hadn’t sensed the encroachment, trying to bring Yoongi into another kiss, drunk with arousal.

“Tae, baby,” Yoongi murmured into his cheek, eyes narrowing at the alpha’s who were clearly sizing him up, “we should stop, lets go back to the table.”

“What?” Taehyung said, eyes struggling to focus as he looked at Yoongi in shock, “You can’t be serious,” he licked his lips, taking in Yoongi’s hesitant expression, “oh my God you’re serious. Hyung, no, please we ca-”

“You’re right, you should go back to the table beta,” the alpha in the center spoke, making Taehyung jump as he realized they weren’t actually in their own little bubble. “We’ll take good care of pretty here.”

Yoongi’s nose wrinkled. What kind of movie villain line even was that?

“Thanks, but we’re fine here,” he said, gently pushing Taehyung off of him and maneuvering so he was standing slightly in front of the younger man.

“I don’t know,” the man said, affecting what probably would have been a charming smile if not for the red lining his pupils and overbearing smell of smoke and pheromones radiating off of him. “From the smell of it, he’s a bit caught up, I think the three of us can handle it though. You’re a bit out of your element, you see, omegas need a real knot, and you can’t exactly provide.”

Yoongi’s cheeks reddened at the insinuation, straightening in an attempt to look bigger. He cast a glance to the side, gauging Taehyung’s reactions from the comment.

The omega snorted, shocking the three alphas and Yoongi equally as he quipped, “Trust me, hyung can more than take care of me. I wouldn’t let you knotheads get anywhere near me. So please, fuck off.”

“Is that so,” the leader said darkly, stepping forward just a bit. Yoongi resisted the urge to retreat.

“You heard him,” he snapped, “leave us the fuck alone.”

Any semblance of a smile vanished from the man’s face as he took in the words, clearly seeing them as a challenge.

They needed to get out of there, Yoongi knew that much. It was near impossible to reason with alphas that thought more with their wolves and their dicks than their actual human side.

He might have been in and won his fair share of fights, and on a good day could maybe take on an alpha, but three against one was a losing battle.

“Look-” he said, attempting to imbue his voice with as much authority as he could muster, feeling Taehyung tense behind him as the other two began flanking them, boxing them in.

Yoongi swallowed, looking around for a way out. The exit was too far, behind them somewhere, and the people around them didn’t seem to notice anything out of place. This close, the scents were almost unbearable, but to everyone else they were just another jumble of pheromones blending into the club with all the other scents rising from horny patrons.

He could call for help. It’d be a blow to his ego, but he could smell the sharp beginnings of anxiety coming from Taehyung. There was a rather tall alpha woman a few feet away from them with a group of male betas, and he opened his mouth to call out to her when three people stepped into the little cluster.

“I think they said to leave, yeah?” Hoseok said, coming to stand at Yoongi’s side as Namjoon stood on his other, Jungkook standing menacingly behind Taehyung and glaring daggers over their shoulder.

“And who the fuck are you?”

Hoseok smiled cheerily, the effect even more eerie and intimidating than the looks he was met with. “We’re they’re friends. And we’re gonna kick your ass if you don’t leave them alone. Simple.”

The two alphas that had flanked them shared a look, before glancing at their leader, waiting for instruction.

“Leave,” Namjoon said firmly, striking Taehyung once again with the realization of just how strong of an alpha his hyung could be when we wanted to.

“Back the fuck off,” Jungkook growled, loud enough that it piqued the interest of a few of the surrounding people.

A derisive laugh. “Look at this kid,” red eyes narrowed, “Practically an omega with how pretty you look. You gonna make me, pup?”

“Talk like that to him again I’ll break your fucking neck,” Hoseok said, no traces of the fake geniality in his voice left, snuffed out like a candle.

Something in Hoseok’s gaze must have shaken the alpha because he stiffened, giving one last look at Taehyung before shaking his head.

“You know what,” he said, motioning for his friends to join him, “this bitch isn’t even worth it, probably be a terrible fuck anyway, let’s go.”

“Yeah, you do that,” Namjoon said, eyes narrowed.

The alpha made to speak, obviously used to getting the last word, but something in Hoseok’s gaze made him think better of it, shaking his head once more before disappearing back into the crowd.

Five sets of shoulders collectively slumped with relief as they watched the men leave, waiting until they were sufficiently far out of sight before turning to one another.

“Are you both okay?” Namjoon asked seriously, “we saw you from the table, we came as soon as we could tell something was wrong.”

“Did they touch you?” Jungkook asked, looking at Yoongi, before turning to inspect Taehyung.

“No, we’re okay,” Yoongi said, squeezing the hand that Taehyung had slipped into his own.

“Thank you,” Taehyung said, the words a bit shaky before he cleared his throat. He looked at Yoongi, making sure to hold the other’s gaze before repeating, “thank you.”

Yoongi raised his eyebrows, taken aback. “For what? I didn’t do anything. They were gonna beat my ass,” he muttered, feeling more than useless.

"Good thing you have such great friends then, right hyung?” Hoseok said before Taehyung could respond, a bit of cheer back in his voice. “Now, come on, Jin hyung and Minnie are back at the table worried, lets go back, get a drink, and head out. Sound good?”

Everyone nodded in agreement, Hoseok confidently leading them back through the crowd, Namjoon and Jungkook bringing up the rear.

Yoongi held in a sigh. Things had certainly not gone as planned. He just hoped this wouldn’t set them back, still self-conscious that Taehyung would realize he wanted an alpha that could actually protect him after all.

He flinched when he felt a flick to the back of his head, turning around to see Namjoon raising an unimpressed eyebrow at him.

He huffed, having been friends with the man long enough to know that he was telling him to stop his line of thinking immediately. They really did know each other too well. But it was nice, and what Yoongi needed as he offered a tentative smile and nod before turning back around.

“That was so scary!” Jimin said, leaping up to pull Taehyung into a hug. “And hot, I mean, wow, big dom energy from all of you,” he said, to which Jin avidly nodded, looking at Namjoon with a wide smile.

“It was definitely impressive,” the older omega agreed. “The whole display of alphaness was fascinating to watch. But if you all hadn’t been all in your alpha ‘lets protect them’ mode, I’m positive the four of us could have kicked their asses. Have you seen Jimin’s abs. We would have had them running in no time.”

Taehyung nodded avidly. His head was swimming quite frankly, his emotions and body both having run the gamut of arousal, embarrassment, fear, and relief in the last twenty minutes. “Definitely,” he said, cupping his hands around the blue drink Jimin was sliding in front of him. “But thank you all for steeping in. Alphas can be such huge dicks.”

That startled a laugh out of Namjoon, “Well then I’m glad we can be walking exceptions.”

“I don’t know about that,” Jungkook said slyly, “I for one have a very large d-”

“Ah, ah ah!” Jin said, shoving a cup at Jungkook, “you’re still the baby here, don’t start with something I won’t be able to unhear.”

Taehyung laughed, Jimin’s eyes wide with interest as they locked gazes.

‘Holy shit’, Jimin mouthed, and Taehyung had to hide his smile behind his cup as he took a long sip.

It was clear everyone was trying to keep things lighthearted, the group joking and laughing as they finished off their drinks.

“I’ve got the tab,” Jin said once everyone had finished, a comfortable silence falling over the table. He got up, swayed a little, smiling appreciatively at the steadying hand Namjoon placed on his waist.

Taehyung cooed at the couple, leaning his weight heavily against his seat as he took Yoongi’s hand, smiling.

“Walk me home hyung?” he asked, meeting Yoongi’s eyes. “Please?”

“Of course,” Yoongi said, offering a tiny little relieved smile. “Whenever you’re ready.”

They bid their goodbyes to the group, thanking Jin for the night out when they passed him on the way.

“Ah, it wasn’t exactly as I planned, but I still hope you had fun? You really do look great.”

“It was still a great idea hyung,” Taehyung said, pulling the other omega into a hug, “and it was fun. We’ll have to do it again sometime.”

Jin smiled, the guilty feeling he’d been carrying with him since the confrontation visibly releasing him.

“Get home safe you two,” he said, giving Taehyung another hug then turning to give Yoongi one as well before sending them off.

Taehyung sighed as soon as the night air hit his sweaty skin, making goosebumps rise on his arms. It was refreshing, being able to breathe without being overwhelmed by the smells and humidity of the club.

“Did you have fun?” Taehyung asked, lacing their fingers together as they began walking in the direction of his apartment.

There was a lengthy pause as Yoongi mulled over his answer before finally nodding. “Yeah, I did.”

Taehyung glanced at him, bringing a finger up to gently pull Yoongi’s bottom lip from where the beta was currently worrying it between his teeth.

“Hey,” he said, bringing them to a stop in the middle of the empty sidewalk, forcing Yoongi to look at him. “I’m only gonna say this once, so listen carefully please.”

Yoongi nodded, eyes widening at the seriousness of his tone.

Taehyung huffed out a laugh at the look of utter panic on his face, reaching out to grab his other hand so he was holding both.

He took a deep breath.

“I don’t want an alpha. I don’t need an alpha. And I don’t need a knot, even though I know you can and I’m very much looking forward to yours during my heat.”

Yoongi flushed, feeling his face warm at how unabashedly the words had been spoken.

Taehyung could feel his own ears heating, surprised by his own bluntness, but pushed ahead.

“You always tell me that I’m perfect the way I am. And you are too. I need you to know that you’re enough for me, and that you’re exactly who I want, just as you are.”

“I couldn’t protect you.” Yoongi said weakly, feeling tears start to form at the back of his eyes, praying that they wouldn’t fall.

Taehyung squeezed his hands.

“You could have and you did. Even if you couldn’t fight them, which doesn’t really matter because no one could take on three alphas on their own, that’s fucking ridiculous, you were still going to call for help. It takes a lot of courage to do that. I would have, but I was kind of scared shitless if I’m being honest. I feel safe with you, always. Please know that hyung.”

Yoongi swallowed thickly, the words caressing and heavy as he took them in.

He licked his lips. “Thank you.”

Taehyung grinned, leaning in to pull him in to a gentle kiss. It was sweet, nothing like the frenzied kisses they’d shared earlier in the night. Slow and sweet like syrup.

Yoongi pulled away first, resting his forehead against Taehyung’s as he looked up to meet his soft gaze.

“I love you,” he said, words ringing with a sincerity that went throughout the whole of his being.

The response to his words were his favorite boxy smile and a whispered, heartfelt, “I love you too.”

-x-x-x-

“I thought you were busy today?”

Yoongi grinned sheepishly, quietly filling each of their respective paper plates with the take-out he’d ordered.

“I am, these projects are draining my will to live, but I also wanted to take you out on a date. I hope this is a good compromise?”

Taehyung hummed, leaning back on his hands as he stretched his legs out beside the low coffee table in Yoongi’s studio, back resting against the couch. “The best compromise, I get to eat free food and take a break from the two hundred pages I have to finish reading by the end of the week.”

Yoongi feigned a pout, “So you’re here for the food, gotcha.”

“Well, as long as we’re clear,” he laughed, taking a sip of the coke the beta handed him.

“I guess there are worse things to be used for,” Yoongi mused, popping a fry into his mouth.

Taehyung winked, nudging his socked foot against Yoongi’s, tapping him playfully as he ate.

“Are you playing footsie with me?”

He shrugged, concentrating on finishing the handful of fries he’d taken. Yoongi’s text inviting him to his studio couldn’t have come at a better time. When his phone buzzed, he was surprised to see that he’d spent a good five hours in the library, not having eaten since that morning. It was a wonder his hunger hadn’t managed to break his concentration.

Yoongi raised a brow as the foot that had been tentatively bumping against his own began slowly running up his calf, creeping dangerously close to his upper thigh.

He paused, fry in hand as he glanced at Taehyung, who was in the process of reaching for another.

His breath hitched as the omega’s foot slid further up, just resting – maddeningly- right next to his crotch.

“Taehyung?” he asked, his voice just a tad breathy, raspy as he tried to control the heated swooping of his stomach.

“Yes hyung?” Taehyung asked innocently. So infuriatingly innocent, that Yoongi for a second almost believed he wasn’t aware of just how his actions were affecting his hyung. Almost. The small smirk Taehyung tried to hide behind the rim of his cup told him otherwise.

Yoongi hissed as the foot boldly brushed over his zipper, Yoongi’s hand balling into a fist in an effort to maintain composure.

For Taehyung’s part, he feigned nonchalance fairly well, but the rising flush to his ears let Yoongi know just how uncertain he actually was.

Yoongi brought his arm up, settling his weight against the side of his desk as he gently caressed Taehyung’s dainty ankle. It was slender and pale given Taehyung’s inability to go barefoot during the cold months, but was soft from the lotion and fuzzy socks he always insisted on wearing at night.

His fingers traced carefully over the knob of it, teasing in their feather-light touch. Taehyung’s movements froze as Yoongi circled his ankle, thumb rubbing firmly on the skin just above as he slowly brought his eyes up to meet his intended mate’s.

Taehyung put his cup down, just in time as Yoongi took a firmer grasp of his calf and tugged him forward. Taehyung shivered at the display of strength, going forward easily enough until his legs formed a v-shape around Yoongi’s crossed ones, effectively trapping him. Yoongi smirked, exactly where he wanted to be as he leant forward and placed his arms beneath Taehyung’s thighs, lifting him until he was raising to his knees, and then tugging with a bit of maneuvering until Taehyung was sitting comfortably in his lap.

“Are you trying to tease me, pup?” Yoongi asked playfully, looking up to meet Taehyung’s embarrassed, but heavy-lidded gaze.

He shivered at the nickname, wondering why he found the playful jibe as arousing as he did.

In all honesty, Taehyung had been trying, but now that he was so close to the older man, ass unabashedly resting against his crotch, he wasn’t quite sure where to go from here.

Ever since he’d asked Yoongi to help with his heat, and even more so since that notorious night at the club the week prior, he’d thought increasingly of what it’d be like to touch Yoongi in that way. To have his hyung’s hands run over his body, to have all his senses flooded by the beta. He wanted to know what it felt like before his heat, when he would inevitably be too blissed out and knot-hungry to properly savor it.

“And if I am?” Taehyung murmured, not drawing his gaze away from Yoongi’s.

Dark eyes flashed gold, just for a second, but not fast enough for Taehyung to miss the signs of his wolf waking up.

Yoongi licked his lips, Taehyung tracking the movement carefully, leaning in just a bit closer.

He huffed out a little laugh of disbelief, hands resting like a comforting weight on Taehyung’s waist.

“Then I’d say,” he murmured, running his nose along the line of Taehyung’s throat before stopping just behind his ear, “that if you wanted to fuck in my studio you could have just asked.”

Taehyung swallowed audibly, eyes widening, not having expected to get this far. Yoongi had never hidden how he viewed his studio as a sacred place, he didn’t expect the other to actually entertain him.

Yoongi leant back, gaze a bit more scrutinizing as he regarded Taehyung who seemed to be lost for words.

“We don’t have-”

“No, I want to,” Taehyung said, steamrolling over whatever Yoongi was going to say with sheer will. The redness of his ears was starting to bleed into his cheeks, but he forced himself not to look anywhere but Yoongi. “I really, really want to, trust me. I just-” he chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck in an attempt to calm himself, “didn’t exactly expect you to say yes?” he finished weakly, the words coming out more of a question than statement.

“Oh?” Yoongi asked, raising an eyebrow.

Taehyung groaned, realizing that he’d actually have to explain himself. “Well, your studio is like your baby,” he said, finally letting his eyes roam around, too embarrassed to keep meeting Yoongi’s gaze. “Didn’t think you’d want to get it messy.”

“So, you just wanted to try and get me hot and bothered by rubbing your foot against my cock, eat your food, and go back to studying in the library.”

“Hyung,” Taehyung groaned, thoroughly flustered as he buried his face in the crook of his neck. He felt Yoongi’s chest move before he heard the warm chuckle, the elder running his fingers affectionately through his hair before moving it down to rest comfortingly on the back of his neck.

Taehyung shifted, the large hand both calming yet exciting as his wolf whined, one embarrassing second away from rolling over and showing its belly. Yoongi always had that effect on him.

“What do you want Tae-ah?” Yoongi asked patiently, rubbing his hand along the back of his neck, fully aware of the effect it was having.

Pink lips parted as Taehyung took in a breath, feeling deprived for oxygen as the cool air of the room warmed between them.

“I want,” Taehyung started, choking a bit as Yoongi pressed a kiss beneath his ear, mouth stretching into a smile as he trailed his lips further down. “I want you to fuck me.”

As soon as he said it, he realized just how true it was, and just how much he’d been craving it these past few days. He sat a bit more rigid, biting his lip as his cheeks clinched in an attempt to keep in the slick that he could now clearly feel building.

“Now, in my beautiful studio?” Yoongi teased, biting a bit at the junction of his neck and shoulder, right where a claim mark would be.

“Well, if it’s really too messy . . .” Taehyung said, leaning back to look at Yoongi uncertainly.

“I won’t knot you,” Yoongi murmured, “even if I’m not an alpha it would still take a while to clean, if that’s okay? But I’d be lying if I said I’d never dreamt about this.”

Taehyung sighed, eyes fluttering closed as the other shifted beneath him, the subsequent friction doing something to Taehyung’s rapidly awakening arousal.

Yoongi held in a groan, eyes appreciatively raking over Taehyung’s form as he unconsciously wriggled on his lap. He brought a hand up, palm cupping Taehyung’s strong jaw as his thumb caressed his bottom lip, tugging it down gently before releasing, watching as it moved back in place, quickly caught between the omega’s teeth.

Long arms wrapped around his neck, Taehyung letting out a frustrated little huff before he was pulling Yoongi forward into a kiss. Tentative at first, Taehyung prodded at the seam of his lips, eagerly tracing the line of his gums and roof of his mouth when the beta parted his lips accommodatingly.

He was like a man starved, and he supposed he was with how long he’d been waiting. Wanting.

It was dizzying, the way pale, veiny hands slipped under his shirt and smoothed up his sides, his skin warm beneath cold fingers. Years of childhood crushes, months of stumbling courtship, and weeks of finally, finally having access to Yoongi in the way he’d always wanted left him desperate. Sounds slipped from his mouth unbidden as he clutched at Yoongi, hoping to pull him as close as possible.

“Shit,” Yoongi murmured between kisses, nails lightly digging into Taehyung’s side as the omega insistently rolled their hips together.

His hands slid until they brushed the waistband of Taehyung’s loose pants, slipping beneath it and his boxers to cup his ass. The sound Taehyung made as he kneaded the flesh there, pulling apart his cheeks, had Yoongi momentarily worried just how soundproof the tiny studio was, hoping the person in the neighboring one wasn’t in today.

It was too much -the clothes, too many getting in the way of proper skin to skin contact for Taehyung’s liking. A small, annoyed growl was the only warning Yoongi got before his shirt was being yanked up and off of him, torso now exposed to the cool air.

Taehyung’s hands were warm on his skin, reverently running down the expanse of his chest before reaching his belt, attempting to unfasten it, forcing himself to slow his movements and concentrate on the task.

Yoongi clicked his tongue, the annoyed pout to Taehyung’s lips adorable as he gently pushed the man back and undid the buckle himself.

He didn’t give Taehyung the chance to touch, though, reaching up instead to wrestle him out of his sweater and tossing it in the general direction of his desk chair. His eyes trailed over miles of honeyed skin, intoxicated as he leant forward to pepper kisses along the top of his chest.

“Hyung,” Taehyung breathed, hands clutching his hair to press him closer as Yoongi licked and sucked, coming down to gently take the bud of his nipple in his mouth.

Taehyung hissed, the sensation new and so good as Yoongi lapped at it, gasping as it hardened under his hot tongue.

Blunt nails raked down Yoongi’s back making him shiver as his hands once again found their way under Taehyung’s pants. Long fingers trailed down, slipping between his cheeks to tease at the slick beginning to pool between them.

Taehyung gasped as the pad of Yoongi’s index finger teased at his hole, the angle awkward for his wrist, but more than worth it from the way Taehyung writhed against him.

“Couch,” Yoongi breathed into the hollow of his throat, swirling his tongue in the divet for a second before breaking away, pupils dilated as he took in Taehyung’s equally aroused state.

It was clumsy work, but Taehyung somehow managed to scramble off of Yoongi’s lap, struggling to tug his pants down as he made his way to the couch.

“Stop smiling,” Taehyung huffed, petulant as Yoongi watched him struggle in fond amusement.

He laughed, “it’s just cute, I had no idea these pants had so many ties at the top,” he said, watching as Taehyung quickly tried to undo the wide bands helping the loose legged pants cling to his waist.

“Its fashion,” Taehyung mumbled, biting his lips as Yoongi sank to his knees in front of him, hands hovering over his waist.

“May I?”

A jerky nod was all he managed before Yoongi was expertly undoing the ties, helping Taehyung slip out of both his pants, and underwear, tossing them off to the side.

The thought that he should fold the pants, not wanting the pleats to wrinkle, briefly flashed across his mind, but was quickly obliterated as Yoongi took his ankles in each hand, and moved to hook his thighs over either of his shoulders.

“What’re yo-” Taehyung started, but was cut off as his cheeks were spread and a wet tongue was flattening over his hole.

The groan he let out was guttural, his stomach clenching tightly as Yoongi licked up his slick, tip of his tongue pressing teasingly at his rim.

It was like nothing he’d ever felt before, his entrance fluttering as warm breath washed over it.

“Ah!” His hole squeezed around Yoongi’s tongue as it breached the first ring of muscle, forcing more slick out, dribbling down Yoongi’s chin.

“Fuck baby,” the beta said, sitting up and wiping his face on the back of his hand, eyes dark and intent, “didn’t know you’d be so wet for me?”

“Oh my God,” Taehyung said, mortified, but not embarrassed enough to get Yoongi to stop. He’d probably allow a lot of things if it meant Yoongi would keep calling him baby and making him unravel as thoroughly as he was.

A teasing finger circled his entrance, slipping in before moving out just as quickly, Yoongi’s gaze fixed on him.

It was addicting, the taste of slick, Taehyung’s tight heat around his fingers, and the sight of rosy lips parting around stuttered breath. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough. Slowly, he inserted another finger beside the first, groaning as Taehyung clenched around him, hard.

He sucked in a breath, knowing he’d be buried to the hilt in that same heat soon enough, the thought a bit dizzying.

“Hyung,” Taehyung whined, guiding his hips back against Yoongi’s fingers with each tentative thrust, encouraging him to speed up. It was wet, absurdly so, the sound of Yoongi’s fingers sliding in and out of him, slick trickling down his hand, and then wrist with each loud squelch that filled the room.

A mess was slowly forming on Taehyung’s lower stomach, milky precum falling from his tip as the pads of Yoongi’s fingers ghosted over his prostate. He shuddered, toes curling and stomach clenching in an attempt to stave of an orgasm that felt startlingly close.

“Hyung,” he gasped again, bringing a shaking hand to wrap around Yoongi’s wrist once three fingers were effectively working their way inside him, stilling his movement.

“Are you okay? Am I hurting you?” Yoongi asked, worried, fixated on the rapid rise and fall of Taehyung’s chest.

“No, it’s just,” Taehyung mumbled, partially hiding his face in the couch’s cushion, “Just gonna cum soon if you keep going.”

Yoongi smirked, more than okay with that, but acquiesced and slowly pulled his fingers out, watching in fascination as strings of slick connected them to Taehyung’s fluttering hole.

Taehyung groaned as he watched Yoongi lick the excess slick off his fingers, biting his lip at how ridiculously erotic the sight was.

The beta stood, pulling his jeans down as Taehyung laid down, making himself comfortable before spreading his legs, blush creeping up his features from how exposed he was.

“You’re beautiful,” Yoongi said, sincerity lacing his words as he leaned down to kiss Taehyung’s forehead, gaining a nervous smile from the man.

“You are too,” Taehyung breathed, meaning it.

Yoongi smiled, a bit shy from the complement, looking away as he quickly shed his underwear. The view from Taehyung’s perspective was amazing, eyes darkening at the sight of Yoongi’s thick length erect and heavy between his thighs. Slowly, he climbed onto the couch, making himself comfortable between the omega’s legs, hovering over him.

“You’re sure?” Yoongi asked, nose brushing against Taehyung’s.

Taehyung scoffed, “Did you forget who did the seducing here?”

“It’s important to check.”

An eyeroll, “Yes, I know, and I love that you do. So yes, yes, yes I’m sure.”

He smiled, pecking Taehyung’s nose and watching it cutely scrunch up.

“Hyung don’t ruin the moment.”

Yoongi laughed outright, completely smitten as he brought Taehyung into a proper kiss.

Carefully, he guided himself to Taehyung’s entrance, teasingly rubbing his head across his hole.

Taehyung’s breath hitched, anticipation running through his veins as he waited, trembling at being touched but not filled like he so desperately needed. It was maddening, but before he could open his mouth to snap at Yoongi to just fucking get in him, Yoongi was pushing into him, opening him up slowly as his length breached his rim, sinking into him at a torturous pace.

His breath left Taehyung in a whoosh when Yoongi bottomed out, nails gripping tightly at Yoongi’s shoulders as he struggled to adjust to the sudden fulness in him.

Yoongi groaned, burying his face in the side of Taehyung’s neck, struggling to control his breathing as he fought off the temptation to just move. It was hot, unbearably so, Taehyung clenching around him like a vice, threatening to wrench an orgasm from him before he even started. It’d be embarrassing, but so, so good. Still, he fought to keep from moving, effort feeling Herculean as he waited for Taehyung to adjust.

“Hyung,” Taehyung breathed out, experimentally rolling his hips down, choking a stuttered groan from Yoongi, “fuck me, please.”

“So polite,” Yoongi chuckled, biting at Taehyung’s pulse point lightly before he slowly pulled out, before carefully guiding his hips forward, testing.

“I won’t break hyung,” Taehyung teased, a hand running down to the small of his back, urging him deeper.

“Yeah but I might,” Yoongi muttered.

Whatever response Taehyung had been preparing to say was cut off by a startled moan as Yoongi pulled out and snapped his hips forward, thighs flush against his ass.

“Oh!” Taehyung breathed out as Yoongi lifted his legs higher, the angle sliding him that much deeper into him.

It was filthy, the sounds they were making. The wet smack of his hips against Taehyung, slick easing his way, the breathless moans and whispered curses between them, and the creak of the couch sliding against his floor, sure to leave marks, filling the small studio.

Yoongi thought his heart might beat right out of his chest, the exertion from moving and trying to stave off his climax making his head swim, the blissed out look on Taehyung’s face stealing his breath away.

“Fuck,” Taehyung groaned, nails digging so tightly into Yoongi’s back that he almost felt bad, but the angle Yoongi was now unapologetically striking his prostate at had him feeling too amazing to care.

Teeth sank into his neck, not enough to break the skin but enough to trigger his wolf’s reaction as Taehyung’s entire body arched into Yoongi, gripping onto him almost desperately as he keened.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he whined, “Yoongi,” the words were long and drawn out, slurred as slick gushed out of him, the slide obscene as Taehyung constricted around him.

Yoongi wedged a hand between them, taking Taehyung’s cock in hand, thumb running over the slit and smearing the beads of precum leaking from it down its length. The slide and warmth of his hand was too much. Yoongi’s fingers were tight around him, and Taehyung’s body fought with the desire to fuck up into his fist or move to meet each thrust that had him jostling like a ragdoll. Any thought of being quiet was nonexistent as moans and keens spilled from his lips unfiltered, Yoongi’s low groans in his ear like music.

Taehyung’s body quaked with the effort to slow down the inevitable. His attempt was impressive, but not enough as a hard, quick thrust coupled with Yoongi’s finger digging unmercifully into his slit had him spilling over the other’s hand, adding to the mess already on his stomach.

Yoongi was equally far gone, Taehyung’s walls seizing around him, the omega’s startled cry and face contorted in pleasure the final push to send him over the edge. His orgasm ripped through him, white filling his vision as he came harder than he could ever remember.

His arms gave out, collapsing onto Taehyung as the two fought for air. Slowly, the ringing in his ears faded, his heart calming to match the steady beat of Taehyung’s, the room silent save for their heavy breaths.

“That was . . .” Yoongi began, unable to find the words to express just how amazing it had been. No adjectives coming close.

“Yeah,” Taehyung said, equally at a loss for words, smile stretching wide across his flushed cheeks.

“Why the fuck did we wait so long?”

“Because we’re not heathens, we were getting to know each other.”

Yoongi chuckled, placing a kiss in the hollow of Taehyung’s throat, “We’ve known each other for over a decade.”

“Romantically hyung,” Taehyung said, running his fingers through Yoongi’s sweaty hair. Perhaps the next time they had sex he’d pull even harder, having been too distracted this time to thoroughly explore what made Yoongi ache with need.

Comfortable silence settled around them like a blanket, the stickiness of sweat, slick and cum clinging to them making itself known, but both too content in the other’s arms to do anything about it.

“Hyung,” Taehyung said after a while, quiet so as not to disturb the moment.

“Mmm?”

“I love you.”

Yoongi looked up, throat tightening at the soft gaze Taehyung was regarding him with, that one that said ‘I love you, I love you, I love you’ so quietly but confidently it never failed to leave Yoongi breathless.

If it hadn’t been clear since that dreaded talk with Hoseok in his apartment all those weeks ago, Yoongi knew without a shadow of a doubt that he’d rearrange all the stars in the sky if it meant getting to protect the heart Taehyung was so clearly trusting him with. He vowed then, that no matter what it took, he’d never be so careless with it again.

He smiled.

“I love you too, so much.”

He meant it.