Chapter Text
Taehyung places a hand on Jungkook’s thigh as it jitters about, an attempt to calm his boyfriend as they sit in the back of the car on their way to Tottenham. When Tae’s alarm sounded earlier, he laughed at the complaints coming from the busker, who makes no secret of his dislike for the bird that awakens them loudly, then he watched as his whole demeanour changed when it dawned on him what their plans were for the day. The temperature in the shower they shared was definitely hot as they washed each other and made out, both turned on as they lathered up the other’s body. That was something else that the CEO hadn’t really had with anyone before, the ability to have such a level of intimacy where both parties simply enjoy touching each other without it leading to sex. He didn’t know if it was something that Jungkook was used to with his previous partners but it was certainly something that they shared, his thoughts taking him to the times they’d spent kissing in his car and on one of their couches. It made Tae feel like their connection was definitely about more than sex, there was a depth of attraction and affection on both sides that was another first for him and secretly he started hoping it was his last.
“Sorry.” Jungkook says, placing a hand over the one on his thigh.
Tae chuckles, “I am unsure as to what it is you are apologising for but apology accepted.”
“For not keeping still?” it was only a suggestion because he didn’t know why he apologised.
Tae leans across and places his warm moist lips to his boyfriend’s cheek, “You haven’t anything to apologise for.”
The busker swallows deeply, he is unsure as to whether he is super excited or super nervous but his stomach is alive with the most intense fluttery feeling and he feels nauseous. He has researched the stadium to death and he knows all of the first team player's names, the actual realisation that he will get to see them play is causing his stomach to flip constantly. He has trouble keeping still at the best of times but when he’s nervous it is so much worse. The heat from Tae’s palm warms his thigh and he attempts to make that a focus to ground himself as the car comes to a stop he holds his breath. He probably should’ve listened to his boyfriend and eaten something before they left the hotel but the nausea prevented him from doing so. The only time he'd been distracted from his thoughts this morning is when they were in the shower and that was a level of intimacy he wasn't ready to address just yet.
Taehyung climbs out of the car first as the door is opened for him and stands to the side as Jungkook joins him. The busker looks around him, the large road is busy with shops and various food establishments lining it, there is a public house, mini supermarket and a place called the 'Hotspur cafe'. There’s also a few market stalls being set up with giant Tottenham flags blowing gently in the breeze and there is already a buzz floating around in the air. The stalls have scarves, hats, t-shirts and so much other stuff, people working fast to get the merch out for when Jungkook can only presume the street is brimming with football fans.
“This way.” Tae says, taking his boyfriend’s hand as they walk.
Jungkook doesn’t have to wait long before the Tottenham Hotspur stadium comes into view and it’s everything that he’d imagined from the pictures he’d seen online. It was sleek and beautiful, a curved glass structure that rises up from the ground in the most magnificent way. He wants to pinch himself to prove that he’s really here and it isn’t a dream but he doesn’t want to let go of Tae’s hand and he has his phone poised in the other. They go to a huge glass door where they are greeted by a man dressed in a suit that has the Tottenham badge on the breast of the suit jacket and Tae enters into conversation with him, not all of which Jungkook understands. The man shows them through and points to a large reception desk on the other side of security so that is where they head to, walking through the large metal detectors as they go. Jungkook turns sideways so he can look around the huge area around him, watching as people walk past and can't help but look in. There are many security guards and staff in suits around them, all chatting and distinguishable by the Tottenham lanyards hanging around their necks. He hears Tae give his name to the lady and wishes now that his English was better so that he could fully understand everything, even though he would be lying if he said that hearing his boyfriend converse in a different language wasn't a huge turn on, whether he understood what was being said or not.
The next thing he knows is that his hand is being held and he looks at Tae who is smiling at him. He was impressed when Tae told him he'd bought navy blue trousers and a white polo shirt for today so he could wear the colours of the team. Jungkook noted the navy boat style shoes and wracked his brains trying to remember if he'd seen his boyfriend in anything less than smart shoes, something in the back of his mind told him he had but he couldn't be sure. He told Tae that he wanted to buy a Spurs shirt in the shop and hoped they'd have enough time to do so before the game so he could really feel like a proper fan, his smile had faltered slightly when Tae squished his cheeks and said he was adorable… that wasn't amusing.
"We need to go over there and get the elevator to the next level to start the tour." Tae says to his boyfriend.
"Okay." He doesn't really know what else to say because he can't quite take it all in.
Whilst in the elevator, Tae lets go of Jungkook’s hand and places it on his waist, not missing the opportunity to kiss him on the cheek and whisper in his ear, "Are you okay?"
Jungkook turns his head to look at his boyfriend, pecking him on the lips and whispering back, "I hope that's not a serious question."
The CEO grins, "I really hope the tour guide is knowledgeable."
"I expect they all are..." Jungkook never in his wildest dreams expected to be doing a tour, let alone a tour on match day… let alone actually attending a match, let alone being in London, let alone Tottenham! "... I think you'd have to know absolutely everything there is to know about the building and maybe the club too."
The elevator doors open and they step out, the member of staff leads them down a corridor and into an area with seating and a view out onto the street below before instructing them to wait and going back the way they came. Jungkook is looking out of the huge window when Tae nudges him and he turns around, “What is it?” he asks, looking at the CEO.
Taehyung checks the time on his watch and smiles, “the tour guide is punctual.”
Jungkook frowns, “They are? But I ca…” and then he doesn’t say anything else because Son Heung-Min walks into view and he’s totally and utterly star struck.
His complete and utter disbelief escalates further when his boyfriend… the man he thought he'd got to know relatively well in however long it's been… the man he's been intimate with and who has shared so much of himself… that man… his boyfriend… takes two strides towards his soccer hero and embraces him… he blinks furiously and his mouth is starting to dry out from where it remains open as he is almost positive he hears the word 'friend'... he thinks he may pass out.
After greeting Heung Min, Tae turns to Jungkook and is unsure whether to laugh or panic when he sees the complete shock on his face. He decides that this isn't the appropriate time to make an enemy out of his boyfriend so opts for a big smile and concern as he hurries to him. Tae stands right in front of Jungkook and takes his face in his hands, "Are you okay? Kookie?"
The busker takes a second then his eyes meet Tae’s, "You know him?"
Now Tae laughs, just a small chuckle, kissing him quickly on the lips, "Should I introduce you?"
Jungkook’s face blazes red, "I look like an idiot."
The CEO holds his face more firmly and kisses him again, "No, you don't. Would you like me to talk to Sonny and give you a minute?"
"Erm… no… I think I'm good… you know him?"
"Yes, I did tell you that I did. Let me introduce you."
Jungkook was about to argue the point because there wasn't any way at all that he'd have forgotten that piece of information, when Tae let go of his face and stood beside him. He stares at Heung Min who is giving him the biggest smile and he feels faint again. He's followed him throughout his career so far and even hoped to see him play in Germany when he played for Bayer Leverkusen before he came to London and now he doesn't know what to say.
"Sonny, this is Jungkook, I hope your tour skills are on par with your football skills." Tae says jokingly.
Heung-Min steps forwards and bows then offers his hand to Jungkook, "It's really good to meet you, Jungkook. Anyone that makes this one smile that like must be special."
Jungkook looks at Tae, then back to Heung-Min, "It's good to meet you too. I'm sorry, I'm not usually so speechless."
The CEO laughs, "That is highly accurate." the reply earns him a scowl from his boyfriend.
"Let me show you around. I am told you are a big football fan?"
Jungkook’s heart is in his throat and he is definitely going to faint. He nods and follows Heung-Min, walking a bit faster to walk by his side, "Yes I am. I watch all the national games and keep up with Tottenham too."
Taehyung walks beside his boyfriend, he listens mostly, taking in everything Heung-Min is saying but mainly enjoying how animatedly his boyfriend talks in response. Every now and again he will add something to the conversation but he is happy to just be there and to have been able to do this for Jungkook.
The stadium is huge and there is so much to take in and he returns the smile to Jungkook when his boyfriend realises where they are going next. Heung-Min has explained that they didn’t have too much time left for the tour, he needed to return to his team mates for their pre match briefing and lunch. He goes on to tell Jungkook that there are two more places he’d like to show him as they head towards the home team dressing room.
When they walk through the door of the dressing room, Jungkook’s eyes nearly pop out of his head when he sees all the shirts hanging up, players names and numbers proudly on display. He scans each one and looks around the room as Heung-Min tells him some stories of what goes on between the players here. He shows Jungkook the wireless charging pads on the units where each player sits as they get changed and wait for their team talk. As they are talking, the door opens and three players walk in, Jungkook is star struck once more and Tae reaches for his hand when he sees the look on his face. The players greet Heung-Min and make comments about his dress sense which is always a topic for banter amongst them.
"That's Bale, Hojbjerg and Kane, right?" Tae whispers in Jungkook’s ear, taking the brief opportunity to kiss the corner of his jaw as he speaks. He knows of Hojbjerg because one of his clients is Danish and they'd spoken about football. He thinks that most people know Gareth Bale even if they aren't into the sport and likewise for Harry Kane.
The busker nods and turns his head, leaving the briefest kiss on Tae's lips before he responds, "Yeah… wait… you don't know them too?"
Tae stifles the giggle in his throat, "No, no I don't. I know of them."
Jungkook suddenly feels his face redden as it clicks into place, he squeezes his boyfriend’s hand and groans under his breath, “I hate you.” he whispers, turning so his lips can’t be read by anyone else in the room but thankful that they are all still talking. Even if it dawned on him afterwards that it would only be Son who would've understood since the three players were Danish, Welsh and English.
Tae isn’t sure he heard his boyfriend correctly and looks at him with a quirked eyebrow, “I’m sorry?”
“So you should be.” Jungkook says quietly.
“I actually wasn’t apologising.”
“I know.” He says almost through gritted teeth. There's an element of playfulness there as well as an exasperated tone as realisation hits him piece by piece.
Tae looks amused and confused at the same time, “What have I done to warrant hatred?”
“I remembered that when I mentioned Son, you said you knew him… you actually meant that you knew him.”
The CEO is definitely more amused than anything else right now, he remembers the conversation and knew exactly what he’d said at the time, “Yes, like I said earlier, I did tell you that I knew him.”
Jungkook wants to face palm, it hadn’t occurred to him at the time that his boyfriend was speaking literally and as much as he feels like a bit of an idiot, he can’t take any of this away from Tae who has made his dream come true in a way he’d never expected.
“I’m sorry, I don’t hate you, not really.” he wants to clarify because the one thing he is not, is ungrateful and he doesn’t want to come across like that.
“That’s reassuring… I still love you.” he doesn’t want to say it too often, he understands it may be too soon for Jungkook to return it and by saying it he doesn’t want him to feel that he should. It’s a horrible circumstance but Tae’s feelings grow stronger each day and he wants Jungkook to know every once in a while.
“I know you do… thank you.” there’s always a feeling of sadness that comes from the place where he feels that Tae deserves to hear it reciprocated but he isn’t ready. He’s been so overwhelmed today that he could quite easily say those three words to his boyfriend and mean it but there’s still a way to go before he can make that leap.
Taehyung is pleased that Jungkook accepts his feelings, even if he can’t say it back. For now, just being safe in the knowledge that his love is received and that his boyfriend is still here, is enough. He kisses him quickly on the cheek as he hears Heung-Min say his name, “Yes, Sonny?” he says.
“I’ll do the introductions then we can do the last thing, okay?” Heung-Min’s smile is always so bright as he speaks.
Tae and Jungkook take a few steps towards the four footballers, the room really is huge, with seating around the walls below the shirts. They walk hand in hand, Jungkook needing the contact to ground himself and Tae in denial that it has anything to do with the four fit athletes in the room that his boyfriend admires.
They stand and chat for several minutes, it’s quite plain sailing given the language barriers but Jungkook is grinning from ear to ear so Taehyung is happy. The three footballers bid their farewell after asking where Tae and Jungkook are sitting for the game and say that they will look out for them. Jungkook isn’t surprised that they are in an executive box but on this occasion he had an idea that they would be because the seats were all sold out. He is anticipating that they will be leaving the dressing room and taking a good look around one more time when Tae and Heung-Min start speaking about something.
The footballer walks over to his section of the room and picks his shirt off the hanger on the wall to reveal a second shirt underneath which has Jungkook squeezing Tae’s hand really hard because for the millionth time today, he is sure that he’s going to pass out.
“They are both for you. I have signed my shirt and that one is a gift.” Heung-Min says to a wide eyed Jungkook.
The shirt hanging on the wall has ‘Jungkook 7’ printed on the back. At the time of discussing printing with Son, he hadn’t known what to get done and settled on a first name along with Son’s squad number, since he was his hero. He’d been dreading this moment, nervous that Jungkook would think it was silly or that he’d have wanted his surname on there instead and now after what he’d told him at The Shard, he hoped the gift would be accepted.
Jungkook finally let go of his boyfriend and went to take the shirt from Heung-Min, bowing and thanking him repeatedly. The signature on the back of the shirt, along with ‘Son’ and the number 7 was everything and he is astounded by the gift, let alone the one being taken off the wall to be handed to him also. The only shirt he’s owned was the South Korean soccer team shirt that his brother had bought him for his birthday the year his mother was married. He was so pleased with it, proudly wearing it with Son’s name on the back but he didn’t pack it when he left his family, he left it hanging in his closet because he found out that Ryan had given his brother the money and the idea as a way to win him over. The shirt stayed behind along with the majority of Jungkook’s belongings, his family and the person he was.
As they walked back to the main reception area, Heung-Min leaving them at the elevator, Jungkook was quiet, the breaths he was taking were deep as he clutched the shirts in his hand. Once at reception they were told to return to this point at a certain time when they would be shown to their box and food would be served.
“Would you like to visit the shop? It’s the biggest in Europe apparently.” Tae feels awkward, he wants to ask about the shirt but also doesn’t in case he sees disappointment in Jungkook’s face.
“That would be great.”
A member of staff points them in the right direction and it isn’t long before Jungkook’s eyes are blown wide as they look around the ginormous shop that seems to stock everything you could possibly imagine with the Spurs logo on. It had been his intention to purchase a shirt but he had two shirts now so didn’t need one and it was an enjoyable experience to look around. He’d been lost in his head since the dressing room, overwhelmed by the few hours spent at the stadium already. There’s a huge part of him that is still scared to death that if he allows himself to believe that this is all real and it turns out it isn’t, he’s right back where he was after he left his family. He can’t quite get his head around it and as they pass the changing rooms in the shop he thinks about the shirts in his hands.
“Is it okay if we stop here so I can change?” he pauses nearby, facing Tae, who he realises has been quite quiet.
“If that is what you would like to do, then of course.”
Jungkook can’t quite read the look on his boyfriend’s face so he takes his hand, “Will you come in with me?”
Tae gives Jungkook a small smile, “Sure.” he doesn’t question why Jungkook wants him to accompany him into the changing room but assumes it is because he could be presented with a situation where someone may talk to him and Tae could translate.
Jungkook walks through the entrance, finds an empty room and closes the door, ensuring it is locked. He thinks about how busy the shop must get just before a game and he’s thankful it is still relatively quiet. He stands directly in front of his boyfriend, he places the shirts on the chair in the room and allows their fingertips to connect.
“Are you okay?” he asks the man looking back at him with big brown eyes.
“I am. It was good to see Sonny and to see the stadium. I enjoyed it.”
Jungkook smiles, unable to hide his thoughts on the day so far, moving in to press his lips to Tae’s and slide his tongue out to tease Tae's bottom lip. The CEO melts into the kiss, opening his mouth and allowing their tongues to meet languidly. His fingers hook around Jungkook’s fingers and hold on as they lose themselves in each other for a minute or two, the hustle and bustle of the shop creating a dim buzz in the background.
“Thank you.” Jungkook says when they part.
“For the kiss?” Tae says with a smirk.
The busker pecks him on the lips, “No, not for the kiss. Thank you for everything so far and the shirts… I don’t know what to say.”
“So the kiss wasn’t good enough to be thanked for but the shirts are?”
“Tae! The kiss was amazing as always… but I want you to know that I am so grateful for everything. You know how much I wanted a shirt and to have two is overwhelming…” he wants Tae to know that he is still trying, that he still wants to give him as much of himself as he can so he continues, “... I have only ever owned one shirt and it was a National soccer team shirt. I was so happy to receive it, it had Son on the back…" he sighs, even after last night it feels strange to speak about his past, "... my brother gave it to me but, but then I overheard them talking and Ryan commented that he hoped it worked to get me back in line and on the right path. I didn't wear it again after that."
Tae wraps his arms around Jungkook, he presses his lips to his forehead and pulls back to look him in the eyes, "Thank you for telling me that. I've been quite worried that you wouldn't like the shirt. It caused me some unsettled nights because I was in two minds as to whether to get it printed. Sonny suggested giving you his shirt and we will get it framed but I had already put the wheels in motion for the other one. After what you told me last night, I was concerned that you'd think I was taking your choice away and that certainly was not my intention. You don't have to wear it, you can go out there and buy one of your choosing, I won't be offended."
Jungkook’s eyes fill, then his face flushes because he doesn't know why there's so much pressure behind his eyes. Perhaps it's because Tae appears to have a degree of understanding and that alone means the world to him. He's surprised that some printing on a shirt caused the powerful businessman some unsettled nights, that was a lot of information to take in on its own. He wants to get lost in a kiss and pour his feelings into that but Tae is looking at him with such tenderness and concern that he decides he should say something first.
“What is wrong with the printing? It’s my name and the squad number of my sporting hero… the one that my boyfriend happens to know and I just met… which I’m definitely not over.”
Tae smiles, the way Jungkook wrinkles his nose sometimes when he grins is something else he loves about him, “I wasn’t sure if you would want your surname on the back… I did toy with the idea of ‘Kookie Monster’ but I thought pleasing the best friend of my boyfriend wasn’t an intelligent move.”
Jungkook raises his eyebrows, “That would have been a very dumb move. I think the shirt is perfect, really perfect and I have no desire to go out there and buy another one. This one is special because you chose it and I don’t feel that you’ve taken away my choice at all.”
Tae breathes a sigh of relief, it’s certainly rocky at times, he feels like he’s walking on eggshells quite often but now that Jungkook is opening up he hopes that he doesn’t have to feel that way any more. The more he learns about his boyfriend, the more he wants to take care of him and protect him but he is painfully aware that Jeon Jungkook is quite capable of protecting himself. “I am relieved, to be honest.”
Jungkook reaches up to his boyfriend’s face and cups his jaw in each hand, he pulls him in and takes his top lip between his own and sucks gently. He opens his eyes briefly and stares momentarily at the CEO who has his eyes closed, he slots their lips together, his bottom lip fits perfectly between Tae’s like they were made that way. As their tongues tangle, Jungkook closes his eyes and lets the sensuality of the kiss lead him. He is surely dreaming? This day, this man, the life he’s living… surely it’s all a dream?
'DE JA VU?' the niggling doubt in his head echoes around his brain. He's still teetering on the edge, bungee cord attached, not quite ready to jump just yet. He knows it's not the same circumstances but it does feel too familiar at times, he's even considered the possibility that Tae knows Ryan and has been put up to this… but then he wonders what THIS is? He goes around and around in circles then he shuts his brain down because it all gets too much and the evidence he has, goes against his fears, he knows that… but there's always that little doubt, the one that keeps him on his toes and prevents him from giving himself completely. He wants wholeheartedly to believe that Taehyung is as genuine and amazing as he appears but he thought that about the people in his past, including his own family so he can't let himself be fooled again… but he's falling for this man.