Chapter Text
Walking into the Garden is a terrifying experience this time around. As Jungkook holds his hands behind his back and makes his way towards the rose bushes, once more. He always loved coming out here when he was younger, it being the most exciting part of his strenuous training days. But now? There’s just so many other places he would rather be. Which is what grants him the courage to face the shopkeeper without wavering in the slightest, “I would like to know what the protocol is for retiring from the Garden.”
The woman looks appalled at first when she faces him, though her face lights up in amusement as she drops her hedge trimmers and smiles, “I was wondering when this family of yours would interfere with your work. I had my suspicions last week when you were unsuccessful, but the time you took to come back had me wondering if you changed your mind.”
“I’ve been weighing on these thoughts for a long time, even before the incident last week…but last week, more than ever, just made me realize that it’s beyond time for me to part ways from this aspect of my life. I’m not in the same position as I was before.”
She takes a seat on the bench across from him. Eyeing Jungkook from head to toe, before sighing, “You do know we have work that doesn’t involve taking assignments. You’re so well experienced, I think it would be a shame to not utilize your skills. Even in the training aspect.”
Jungkook has thought about it too. If there were other positions he could take within the Garden…but knowing what he knows now, of what a child’s life should be like. He can’t find any justification in aiding the process of raising children the same way that he was. He knows that simply walking away from the Garden won’t stop it from existing, but at least he can remove himself from being complicit in the acts. “I hope you understand, I’m just at a different time in my life. I think the best course of action for me at this time is to remove myself entirely. So I can be there for my husband and daughter the way I should.”
“If this is what you wish for…you’ve done such brilliant work for us, I can’t seem to justify any reason to prevent you from doing so. I can submit your resignation to City Hall—”
“….Actually…I’d like to keep my position at City Hall…if at all possible. I enjoy the work I do there, and I don’t want to be entirely jobless. Of course, I can find other work if necessary.” Her smile is genuine, which is shocking enough, Jungkook truly hadn’t expected this to go over as easily as it has. “I see no reason why you can’t carry on in your position.” He stares blankly at her, just a tiny bit awestruck as he speaks softly, “That’s it? There’s no…I don’t know, procedure I have to follow or…”
“Do you want there to be a procedure to follow? I can certainly make something up, or send you on one last assignment before you go—but I didn’t find that necessary.” The shopkeeper’s voice is soothing, for the first time in all the years he’s known her, when she stands and places both hands on his shoulders, “It’s okay to chase after the things that matter to you. For a long time, doing this job, helping keep our world beautiful—that mattered to you. Now, keeping the world beautiful, has a different meaning to you—and that’s okay too.”
-ˏˋ.ˊˎ-
Working up the energy necessary to have the conversation he needs to have with Seokjin, is proving to be a difficult task. Taehyung’s known for a few days now, that he was going to inquire about other roles within W.I.S.E—if Jungkook is going to take the leap and step away from his title as an assassin for the sake of their family, it only feels fair that he make a similar sacrifice. But he’s struggling to find the right words to say, or how to get his point across without making a mockery of himself right in Seokjin’s face.
The front door opening, catches him off-guard, because Ahyeon is at school and Jungkook should be working—should be—but he isn’t. He’s walking in and his face is glowing and the moment Jungkook has toed his boots off, he’s all over Taehyung. “I went to the Garden today. I finally did it.”
That courage Taehyung was searching for moments ago? Just landed right in his arms. Jungkook’s steady hands slip up into his hair and impossibly soft lips cascade over his own with a breathy little sigh, “It’s like the last weight that’s been holding me down is gone and I’m so happy…I don’t even know what to do with myself.”
Smirking against the fluttery pecks of kisses being pressed against his mouth, Taehyung’s voice is lower than he intended, “I think you’re managing just fine, baby.” It’s as if he can feel the flush spread all over Jungkook’s body. Eyes wide and round as he takes a rushed step backwards, “Oh god, I’m so sorry…I just, jumped on you…I don’t even know why I did that…”
“I’m not complaining, so why are you apologizing?” Taehyung follows his steps, crowding Jungkook against the entry wall and gluing his hands to his trim waist once close enough. “I do have to leave though, I’ve got a meeting at work shortly.”
Taehyung hasn’t gotten to enjoy anywhere near as much of those lips against his own as he would’ve liked to this past week. If anything, they’ve both been so busy doing their best to assure Ahyeon nothing like what happened before will ever happen again, that they haven’t stolen any moments just for themselves since. Which is silly when you consider the only thing separating them at night are their closed bedroom doors but Taehyung doesn’t want to push Jungkook into anything. He’s letting them fall into place on their own—even if the metaphorical distance is beginning to feel burdensome, when there is truly so little distance between them at all. Jungkook may not be feeling entirely as agitated as Taehyung is, but it’s obvious he’s feeling something. When he sags back against the wall with slightly pouted lips, "And here I thought we might have a moment to ourselves for the first time all week.”
Taehyung’s entirely accepted the fact that his ability to remain control of himself, does not exist where Jungkook is involved, because the second those eyes flicker the slightest shade of red, he’s forgotten all about what he said moments ago. Far too busy taking a thigh into his palm and pressing his entire body as close to his husband as he can get. The last of their kisses, days ago, just barely teetered the line of growing dangerous, but not quite. Right now? It’s beyond danger. It’s absolutely lethal the way Jungkook’s mouth parts to accommodate the gentle swiping of Taehyung’s tongue over his lips. How dare he give him access like this?
Access that has Taehyung bursting into flames as their cautious tongues touch for the first time, because Jungkook lets out this terrible noise that goes right to all of the places Taehyung does not need to get fired up right now. And yet he still does nothing to stop it. Lowers Jungkook’s leg from his palm, because something’s got to give to extinguish the blaze that’s filling the space between them and Jungkook doesn’t seem to have any intentions of doing so. Not with the tight way he grips onto Taehyung’s collar pulling him closer and breathing harshly against his lips when they part, “Tae…do, do you want me to stop?”
“Of course I don’t.” Tsking into the kiss, Taehyung could cry, "But I have to. The meeting shouldn’t be long…it really shouldn’t. I’ll be back home soon.” He feels the other nodding rather mindlessly, eyes opening to find that Jungkook’s face and lips are all such a pretty shade of red. How dare this damned job put such a gorgeous spouse right in his palms only to somehow ruin every free chance Taehyung has with him? Jungkook’s voice sounding the slightest bit hoarse, “I need to get started on dinner anyway…I promise Ahyeon I’d make those burgers again.”
Moving his hands to capture Jungkook’s, Taehyung nudges their noses together softly, “You know, you don’t have to make whatever she asks for, right?” A gentle smile makes its way onto Jungkook’s face as he squeezes Taehyung’s hands, “I know, I want to though.” It feels impossible to actually drag himself towards the front door. How is he supposed to justify losing such a glorious opportunity as this one? Eyes falling to Jungkook’s lips against his own volition, Taehyung’s intertwining their fingers and tugging him closer. Leaning with his back touching the closed door as he pulls the other into his space, “I’ll see you in just a little bit. Don’t have too much fun here without me.”
“Of course not.” Gnawing on his bottom lip with a shy smile, head tilting right about the time Taehyung presses their lips together, Jungkook’s voice is a whisper between them, “ Couldn’t possibly have any fun here all by myself.”
Taehyung has absolutely no business thinking the things that he does once he’s forced himself out of their apartment and on the path towards the safe house. But it’s those very thoughts that have him unconsciously adding more pep to his step than he usually would.
Seokjin is waiting patiently. Although, not really, judging by the anxious tapping of his toe when Taehyung enters his office. “Finally, I was getting worried! After last week, I’m not sure what to expect with you anymore!”
“Yeah…well” Removing his hat, Taehyung chuckles awkwardly, “I’ve had a lot on my mind the last week or so, trying to make sense of my thoughts, wants, goals.”
“Speaking of goals…” Seokjin raises a hand in interruption, “You should know that Nightfall submitted a request to be assigned to the revamping of Operation Pere, I’m obviously going to deny the request—but that does leave you and I with much to discuss. Dowon’s backing off is good for us, because after the incident with Suwon, he’s likely going to show himself more often at Evara events, to save face. Questions were already raised by the academy for Suwon’s unaccounted for absence and Dowon had to pay a hefty fine to the police for the child’s endangerment.”
“Why on earth would Nightfall request to be added to the Operation?”
The handler scratches at his neck awkwardly, “I guess word spread that you and the family you formed were separating. After the scene that was made last week. You know these people love to gossip on the rare occasion there is something to gossip about, and she has always been interested in you.”
Taehyung clears his throat, “Well, I would’ve hoped you were correcting any claims of that nature, considering my family is very much in tact and not for the sake of the mission. If we are moving forward with the operation, in regards to infiltrating the academy to get closer to Dowon, I have no problem continuing with it. However that is the extent that my espionage abilities can be utilized, because Operation Pere will be Agent Twilight’s final operation.”
He was expecting some level of shock, anger or disappointment. He was not expecting Seokjin to smile from ear to ear, arms crossing as he stands from his desk. Getting close into Taehyung’s face and eyeing him from head to toe, “Are you…dare I say…taking a step back to become a family man?”
“That is within the realm of possibility, yes.”
Seokjin laughs and clasps onto his shoulders, “I love it. Are we keeping the family name? Because honestly, Taehyung has grown on me and it suits you well.” Glaring at his boss, Taehyung’s nostrils flare with frustration as he shifts his weight from one leg to the other. Trying to hide the burning up the back of his neck, slightly creeping its way towards the tips of his ears. “You’re taking my retirement well.”
The man waves a hand and returns towards his desk, “It’s not as if you’re retiring completely and honestly I could use someone competent in here with me, it’s infuriating sitting around that conference table to map out plans and not a single person other than me has any braincells that are connected properly.” Taehyung hadn’t mentioned his plans of staying on the inside, and the look on Seokjin’s face tells him that the other knows he’s confused. “Was that not your intention? Did you want to step away from W.I.S.E. entirely?”
“No, of course not. That’s precisely what I was hoping for but…”
“But nothing, things don’t need to be more difficult than necessary. I do expect you to carryout Operation Pere to the best of your ability.” Seokjin settles back into his chair and sighs “Are you going to explain to me what your husband has to do with Choi Dowon now or later?”
Taehyung’s jaw ticks as he lets out a displeased noise, “Jungkook and Ahyeon both have nothing to do with the operation going forward, Ahyeon’s responsibilities at school are just that. School. And Jungkook’s only role is being the husband and father that he does a great job at. So I would prefer if we kept any discussions regarding my family away from the agency.”
Chuckling, Seokjin drops his glasses to the desk, “I can’t put things in place to protect them if I don’t know what it is I'm protecting, Taehyung.”
Returning the hat to his head, he can’t help the way he cackles internally. Unconscious smirk spreading on his face, “Jungkook doesn’t need protection and Ahyeon surely doesn’t as long as she has the two of us. I appreciate your concern though, hyung.” He means it when he offers Seokjin a warm smile, “Truly. I’ll be in touch as soon as I get Ahyeon’s next progress report from the academy.”
A phone call from Ahyeon’s school reminding of early dismissal is the only reason Jungkook manages to arrive on time at the bus stop. Though the little girl seems surprised herself to find Jungkook and Bond waiting instead of Taehyung, “Papa, I didn’t know you were coming!”
“Appa had a meeting for work, but he should be home by the time we get there.” Ahyeon climbs onto her dog’s back and happily gives Jungkook the bag from her shoulders. Smile reaching her eyes, “I like when Papa gets me from the bus. We get to walk without quiz time.”
Feeling a tiny bit guilty, Jungkook speaks softly, “You know Appa just wants to keep your brain in tip top shape…”
“I know, I know. It’s okay for us to have fun sometimes Papa, Appa will forgive us—”
Being lifted off of Bond’s back has her screaming and Jungkook’s already lunging forward when the dog barks and Taehyung’s laugh cuts them off, “What will I be forgiving you both for?”
“Tae!” Jungkook lightly punches his shoulder, before stepping into rhythm beside him and loosely holding his wrist, “You can’t scare us like that…you know I’ve been on high alert even more than normal.”
“I know, I’m sorry…I just saw you both walking and couldn’t resist. I’m surprised you didn’t hear me walking up.” Taehyung hoists Ahyeon higher on his hip and feels his chest warming as his other hand slips up to slot his fingers properly between Jungkook’s, “What was in your lesson plans today, Ahyeon-ah?”
The little girl groans, head falling back as her hands fiddle at the back of his neck, “Appa, sometimes we don’t have to talk about school after school time. We can just talk about family stuff like Papa’s yummy burgers.”
“Ah, is that what you two were discussing? How boring I am to talk to?”
“Yes” “Of course not!”
Ahyeon’s bored expression paired with Jungkook’s nervous one just makes Taehyung erupt into laughter as they follow their dog up the stairs to their apartment. “It’s a good thing I love you both so much, otherwise I might actually be offended.”
Listening to Appa and Papa talking in the kitchen while grilling, makes Ahyeon feel so happy she can hardly take it. Muffles her squeal into the side of Bond’s fur before getting comfortable on the sofa just in time for the new weekly episode of spy wars. The dog getting her attention, makes her stomach twist into knots. She’s specifically not looked at any of his thoughts since the vision she saw before. Nervously watching the greyed out image of their apartment packed up in boxes turn back into the home Ahyeon’s grown to love, she can’t help but hug the dog. She knows it’s not really his doing, but she still glances over him at her parents in the kitchen, before squeezing Bond tight and whispering, “Thank you for changing it.”
-ˏˋ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿ˊˎ-
Waking up extra early on a Saturday to surprise his husband and daughter with a day trip to the beach, doesn’t go as smoothly as Taehyung planned. Mostly because Jungkook and Ahyeon are rising far slower than normal.
He’s barely gotten the little girl up and in the bathroom to get ready when he opens the door to Jungkook’s room. Having gotten more comfortable in each other’s spaces, he has no issue sitting at the edge of Jungkook’s bed and brushing fingers through his hair. “Hey, baby, are you planning on waking up sometime soon?”
Jungkook makes a grumbly little noise, before blindly reaching for Taehyung’s shirt and tugging the man a top himself. Arms and legs hooking around him like a koala as he rolls over and buries his face in Taehyung’s neck. “Wanna sleep.”
Taehyung’s lips press to what he can reach of Jungkook’s shoulder as he laughs, “I had plans to take us all to the beach, are you sure you’d rather sleep?”
Sleepy eyes flutter open quickly, Jungkook slowly loosening his tight hold on Taehyung’s body, “Is Ahyeon already up?”
“Mhm, she’s brushing her teeth as we speak.”
Jungkook’s arms stretch above his head with an exaggerated groan of a yawn. Taehyung’s fingers trace the movement unconsciously. Gently caressing the skin all the way until those arms are loosely draped around his shoulders again, “I’ll wake up, just give me a few minutes to get ready. I haven’t had to wear any beach worthy outfits in a while, so I’m not sure what I have.”
“I have plenty if you need something from my closet, just pick out whatever you want.” Taehyung drops a delicate kiss to Jungkook’s lips before hurrying up at the sound of Ahyeon’s excited footsteps rushing back into her bedroom. “I’m gonna go throw a quick breakfast together.” Leaving Jungkook rolling over onto his stomach in an attempt at combatting the vicious swarm of butterflies raging inside of him.
His closet leads him to the realization that he doesn’t really have any beach worthy clothes. Nothing except for some athletic shorts and t-shirts. He very reluctantly takes himself down the hall and into Taehyung’s bedroom. Listening to the sound of Ahyeon asking a million questions about their day and Taehyung doing his best to field them all, has him standing for admittedly too long in the doorway. Stepping forward to the closet he was invited to raid, still feels like he’s breaking some kind of rule.
Although, they’re literally married, it’s more weird that they still remain their separate rooms and closets, than it is for him to help himself to his husband’s clothes. Digging around, it doesn’t take him long to find a suitable tank top and some swimming shorts to wear. Opting to change quickly right here, to ensure they fit. He nearly falls over when Taehyung enters the room. Having hardly gotten the shorts up to his waist, his hands nearly tremble where they hold them, “Turns out, I didn’t have anything suitable for the beach. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course I don’t.” Taehyung steps forward, taking the strings at Jungkook’s shorts into his hands and tugging them until the band cinches properly at his waist. Forcing Jungkook into his space for their lips to brush as he smirks, “Might need to tie them extra tight, just to be safe.”
Jungkook doesn’t even recognize the sultry tone of his own voice when he leans further into the tentative touching of their mouths, “ You can tie them for me, just to be safe .” Taehyung does. Rather swiftly does he tie the strings into a perfect bow at his waist. Palms flattened to glide along the band before cupping onto Jungkook’s hips and kissing him properly, “Come eat, so we can leave. Our chauffeur has already been waiting for quite some time.”
“Is our chauffeur Yoongi?”
Taehyung giggles as he shakes his head, “Not this time, baby.”
Giggling himself, Jungkook reaches to change his shirt. Noticing Taehyung suddenly leaned against the door way with his arms crossed, “Did you need something?”
“I didn’t realize you were still changing, don’t mind me, just ensuring the clothes fit you properly. I’d hate for you to be uncomfortable on a long family outing to the beach with our daughter who is sure to keep us out until the sun sets.”
Dropping the t-shirt he had on prior to the ground, Jungkook’s eyes roll as he takes the tank top into his hands instead, “How lucky I am, to have such a dutiful husband.”
Said dutiful husband is standing right beside him as soon as the new shirt is over his head. What Jungkook was not expecting was the gentle way Taehyung would grasp onto his bicep, thumb brushing lightly against the still healing wound with a soft whisper, “I hate that it’s not gone yet.”
“Bastard who shot me had some lethal bullets in that gun…only a light graze shattered my skin like this.” he was mostly teasing, as if he himself hadn’t contemplated piercing Taehyung’s skull with one of his knifes in that moment. But the man in front of him lets his eyes go miserably round as he leans in to kiss over the soon to be scarred skin repeatedly, “If I knew…I would’ve never…”
“I know. We’ve already gone over this…” Jungkook speaks softly, fingers under Taehyung’s chin to guide those careful kisses up from his arm and onto his lips instead. Only for them to be interrupted by Ahyeon’s fake gagging in the door way, “We’re supposed to be eating breakfast not each other!” They’re both laughing with flushed cheeks as they follow her, though they can’t see the way her smile reaches her eyes as she hops back into her chair excitedly.
Guiding Ahyeon onto this beachfront zipline, is more nerve-wracking than Taehyung anticipated. Sure the thing isn’t that far off the ground, it doesn’t even require a belt and she can jump off of it freely—somehow, she will manage to get hurt the second he looks away. He’s just not entirely sure if he can handle it. Which is why on Ahyeon’s first time gliding along the short rope, he runs along side it, with Bond joining him.
Ahyeon is giggling loudly when she reaches the end and Jungkook’s laughter can be heard from where he is climbing onto the next zipline seat himself. Shortly joining them and nearly falling over when he does, “Why did you chase her like that? What did you think was going to happen?”
Huffing, Taehyung starts walking back towards the beginning, “I’m not sure…you can never be too cautious with contraptions like these that are open to the public and likely not maintenanced regularly.”
“Appa, I wanna ride it again!”
“Go ahead, after watching you and Papa both go, it seems safe enough.”
Ahyeon’s brows raise as she smirks, “I want Appa to go first!”
Jungkook’s hands grab onto Taehyung’s waist and guide him forward, “Go on babe, she wants you to go first.”
There’s a lot he’d like to say right now, but Jungkook is enjoying the teasing and Taehyung is enjoying both his husband and daughter’s smiles too much to argue at all. So he takes his seat and allows them both to send him down he zip line with a large push. The speed at which he zooms, is his terrifying reminder that Jungkook is inhumanely strong. Which Jungkook himself seemed to have forgotten when his nervous face greets Taehyung’s at the end, “I’m so sorry…I wasn’t thinking—”
But Ahyeon is bouncing on the balls of her feet, “No fair! Papa didn’t push me that fast! I want to go super sonic fast too!”
Taehyung and Jungkook share a nervous look, before Taehyung stands onto the wooden seat and guides Ahyeon to stand on the other side with him. Keeping an impossibly secure hold on the little girl, he looks over at Jungkook who is patiently waiting to send them soaring. “Please don’t make me regret this…” but Ahyeon’s excited shout interrupts him, “Send us to the sky, Papa!!”
The sky isn’t exactly where they end up, but the velocity at which they glide along the zip line has them reaching the end so abruptly they are ejected from it. Thankfully, Taehyung’s grip on Ahyeon as they fell, pulled her right into his arms where he could bracket her from the fall. The sand does an okay enough job of absorbing the shock, but Jungkook is still visibly frantic when he and Bond reach them. “I didn’t even push you full force!”
“It’s okay—”
Ahyeon lifts her arms into the air with an obnoxious howl, “That was so much fun! Again! Again!”
“I don’t think so, sweetheart..” Taehyung insists. Shaking his head as he dusts the sand off of her swimsuit dress wrap. “Let’s grab some ice cream and head down by the water. We have a spot reserved for a reason.”
Her hand tight in Jungkook’s as they walk, she doesn’t complain once her other hand is filled by an ice cream cone with far too many scoops. There was no reason for Taehyung to allow her to order one of everything, but he did anyway. So he really shouldn’t be surprised when she’s only gotten halfway down her mountain of ice cream and groans obnoxiously, “Appa, my tummy hurts. It’s too much ice cream.”
“I told you, your eyes are always bigger than your stomach…”
She flops onto his chair. Arm extending the ice cream outwards, that Jungkook grabs with a giggle. Before she makes herself comfortable right on top of Taehyung. He and Jungkook are momentarily discussing where to go for an early dinner when they leave later on—while Ahyeon quickly falls asleep on his chest, as if she wasn’t beaming with excitement to swim minutes ago.
Jungkook’s hand reaches across the short space between their chairs, Taehyung catching it almost instantly with a warm smile, “Are you enjoying yourself so far?”
“Beach day was a great idea.” Jungkook nods, eyes falling down to Ahyeon’s sleeping form before landing back on Taehyung’s, “Thank you for bringing us here.”
Taehyung finds a lump in his throat when he responds tenderly, “Thank you for staying.”
“Papa! I’m serious, it was a shark!! Get me out of here, I’m too little to die! I’m not even a super scholar yet!” Ahyeon is clinging to Jungkook desperately. The depth only reaches their ankles, but he scoops her up anyway. “It wasn’t a shark, sweetheart. It was a fish. Even if it were a shark, all you have to do is punch them in the nose and it will swim away.”
“The killer punch doesn’t work when their killer mouths can eat my whole body!”
Jungkook doesn’t want to laugh at her very real fear, he just can’t help it. She’s so adorable and he loves her and he’s so happy to get to hear all of her silly rants. Even happier when he feels them both being tackled into the water by Taehyung who thought he was being sneaky. But Bond’s loud stomping in the water did nothing to preserve their stealth. Ahyeon’s splashing around and giggling and all but forgotten her momentary fear of sharks. That is until a minnow brushes against her ankle again and she jolts into Taehyung’s arms instantly, “Appa, I think I’m a sand castle builder, not a swimmer!”
Though the sand castle building ends up being her and Jungkook burying Taehyung beneath the sand instead. Covered up to his shoulders just in time for Ahyeon’s excited scream as footsteps approach, “Uncle Scruffy what are you doing here?!”
“I heard it was family beach day, obviously Unc has to be here too.” He kicks a tiny bit of sand at Taehyung’s face and cackles under the menacing glare he receives. “How rude of you not to invite me Taetae.”
“Family. Day. I think the message is clear enough, Yoon.” Jungkook leans closer to Taehyung’s buried form while Ahyeon tells Yoongi everything they’ve done so far. “You look kinda cute, all restrained like this.”
Taehyung’s brows raise as he shakes his head, “Don’t get any ideas, baby. This is not enjoyable for me.”
“Of course not.” Jungkook smirks, dipping down to leave a sweet kiss to the tip of his nose as he whispers, “ But it sure is enjoyable for me.”
Ahyeon was looking forward to spending the whole day and night together with her Appa and Papa, but even building in the sand with Uncle Scruffy can’t stop her from hearing their thoughts. She’s not entirely sure what it is they’re thinking of, but she does know that Appa hoping Papa spends time with him tonight could be important to the family mission! Which is why she gets all round eyed and pouty, “Uncle Scruff we didn’t get to have our sleep over last weekend and play with the new traps you made.”
“That’s right, we didn’t.” Yoongi is intently focused on the moat he’s building around their castle when he finds Ahyeon eyeing him and Bond sitting beside her with his tail wagging excitedly, “You can’t just ask me! Your parents have to say yes first!”
She gets right to helping Papa dig Appa out of his sand prison, before asking frantically, “Can I have my super secret sleepover with Scruffy tonight since I couldn’t last weekend?” Taehyung and Jungkook seem hesitant, looking between each other and their daughter and Yoongi who only shrugs, “Whatever you guys wanna do is cool with me, I just came for the beach but I don’t mind keeping the kid if she wants to sleep over.”
Truthfully, Taehyung would be a liar to say he isn’t slightly excited at the thought of getting some guaranteed alone time with his husband. Especially with the way Jungkook has been driving him crazier day by day. This morning was no exception. He’d kill for the opportunity. but he’s also loving the quality time they’re getting as a family too much to pressure Ahyeon one way or the other. Yoongi has been texting rather frequently since everything that went down, so it’s no secret he’s been a little worried himself. Wary of her decision, Taehyung says, “Are you sure you don’t want to come home with us? I thought we had family spy wars plans?”
Ahyeon’s eyes roll from where she is filling her bucket with sand, “Appa we can just watch spy wars tomorrow when I get home instead!” her eyes fall to Jungkook at the same time as her lips pout, “Papa, please say yes! Appa always agrees if it’s something you want!”
“Hey! That’s not true!” Taehyung scoffs. But his husband’s gorgeous laugh, makes a smile spread on his face. Jungkook leaning forward to dust some sand out of Ahyeon’s pigtails, “I’m okay with the sleepover if you promise to behave. No running away. No dangerous hiding places. Do you understand?”
Taehyung sits back and listens to the excited way Ahyeon asks Yoongi about the new games they will play. Successfully adding additional towers to their sand castle. A single second of removing his leash is all it takes for Bond to go running off down by the water, a worried Jungkook chasing after him. The laughter that rumbles from deep in his belly is probably the loudest laugh Taehyung has ever heard himself let out. If he really lets himself think about it, he’s had all of his loudest laughs with the two of them. So it’s hard to feel anything other than happy on a day like this one. Even a little while later, after they’ve all had lunch and are lounging lazily on their beach chairs. Ahyeon’s long since fallen asleep again, curled on Jungkook and snoring loud enough to disturb the people around them.
Yoongi sits up with an exaggerated yawn, Taehyung can feel the man’s eyes on him as he glances that way, “Something to say hyung?”
“Nope.” he does chuckle though, “Just find it funny that you thought you had any chance of walking away from this, when it’s obvious how much you love them.”
Tsking through the heat flushing his face, Taehyung looks the other way, “You’re just happy the little menace you call a niece isn’t going anywhere.”
“I never pretended I wanted her to.” Yoongi gets up from his chair and sighs “We should all probably head back soon, I don’t feel like getting caught in traffic with her and the dog.”
“You’re going to keep Bond too?”
Chuckling at the dog whose head is comfy in his lap, the older nods, “He’s an important part of our activities and the kid sleeps better when he’s there.”
“Well, let’s get the kid ready to go then.” Taehyung calls for Jungkook’s attention, but when he gets no response, his heart stops before warming entirely at the sight of both of them sleeping. It’s been awhile since they’ve all gotten to just have a fun relaxing day like this. He’s surprised he hasn’t fallen asleep under the heat of the sun himself. Turning back to Yoongi, Taehyung smiles, “You mind getting Bond and our beach bag? I’m going to get these two back to the car.”
Arms slipping around Jungkook’s back and below his knees, it’s easier than he expected it to be, to cradle his husband who is cradling their daughter. The weight is comforting in ways that months ago would have him terrified and dropping them, but now is welcome. In fact, he seeks it. The warmth and the love that comes with having them close. Even when Yoongi snickers behind them, “Aww…look at such a loving Appa and husband, a beautiful sight to behold.” Bond’s bark aiding in the teasing only makes Taehyung roll his eyes harder, “Mouth shut, Yoon. I’ll get you cut off from payroll.”
“I already know about you stepping back after the operation for an office role…your power in the agency is dwindling by the second!”
Head thrown back in quiet laughter, Taehyung has never been so happy to hear words like that in his entire life, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Keep your mouth shut anyway, Jungkook and Ahyeon are trying to sleep.”
Stirring awake inside of a moving vehicle has Jungkook jolting up in a panic. Frantically looking around until he finds Taehyung in the seat beside him. The man’s eyes flickering to his own momentarily before smiling, “You’re awake just in time, we’re almost home.”
“Where’s Ahyeon and Bond?”
“Sleepover with Yoongi, did you forget? You’re the one who gave her permission.”
Jungkook’s face flushes as he sits up right, clearing his throat, “Did I? You didn’t want her to? I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to overstep—”
“You could never overstep, she’s just as much yours as she is mine.” Taehyung’s hand reaches over for his and Jungkook’s stomach flips when their fingers loosely tangle together in his lap. His husband’s voice as gentle and soothing as it always is, “I’m also not complaining about getting to have some time with you to myself. Considering work ruined that the other day.”
Being dropped off in front of their apartment, Jungkook has not had nearly enough time awake to gather his thoughts. Firstly being how he ended up in the car, if he fell asleep on the beach. The knowledge that Taehyung most likely carried him isn’t anything he’s mentally strong enough for, when he’s been hanging by the thinnest thread for so long. Pair that with the sound of their quiet house and beating hearts, he’s surely going to lose his mind. Especially when Taehyung stands closely behind him, palms ghosting his hips, “Did you want to order in for dinner? Or should we take advantage of the evening and go out?”
If he were smart, he’d say to go out. That way he could have time to prepare mentally for all of the things he wants to say and possibly do. But with his shoes off and turning to face his husband, Jungkook’s eyes drift way too quickly to the man’s lips as he speaks softly, “Ordering in sounds nice, I don’t really feel like leaving again now that we’re home.”
“I was kind of thinking the same thing.” Taehyung’s hands drop from his waist and Jungkook can’t believe how much he yearns for the touch to return. Almost begs for it, but Taehyung is already moving into the living room, “What are you hungry for? I’ll call it in now so we don’t have to worry about it later.”
“Anything is fine.” Jungkook focuses so hard on steadying his breathing so that his voice doesn’t crack when he says, “I’m still feeling a bit beachy, do you mind if I shower?”
“Go ahead, I’ll be doing the same after. You and Ahyeon buried me too well, I’ve got sand in places I’ve never considered before.” Jungkook is so grateful for Taehyung taking an opportunity to alleviate some of the thickening tension between them. If he’s going to survive an entire night alone together, it won’t be with that rope tied tightly around their necks, that’s for sure. His hands are trembling when he turns on the shower, dropping his conditioner bottle and barely holding his wash cloth steady. Bangs his head silently against the tile with a soft groan. Why can’t he just be normal about this? Is it really necessary for his heart to flip the way that it does and his stomach to hollow out as well? What is it about suddenly spending alone time with Taehyung that has him losing his mind, when just days ago he was so excited for it, he carelessly flung himself into the man’s arms as if it were their every day behaviors.
Sometimes he wishes they were.
He wishes it were typical for Taehyung to wake him in the morning with a gentle kiss to his lips, but this morning was the first time that’s happened and he doesn’t have his hopes up for it becoming routine. Even if just the thought has swarms of butterflies that could destroy forests rattling his insides. Slowly exiting the bathroom, he’s startled by Taehyung approaching with a towel in one arm and clothes in the other, “The water stopped long ago, I figured you were in your room already, I’m sorry!”
Pretending not to be so affected by merely standing close to each other, Jungkook chirps happily, “Don’t be, I was just getting all of my night time stuff out of the way.”
“I won’t be long but if someone knocks it’s probably our dinner.”
Trapping himself in the bathroom, Taehyung stares for far too long at his reflection. He’s no stranger to intimacy, although intimacy for the sake of keeping up an image is nowhere near the same as intimacy for the sake of loving. Intimacy because the craving is so visceral he’s not sure he can survive another day without at least thinking about it…and Taehyung has done way too much thinking lately. Jungkook does a miserably wonderful job of giving him horrible things to think about. Things like breathy whispers and strong hands and tiny waists and delicate kisses that end with Taehyung bereft and reeling.
He figures typical human relationships probably evolve much differently than theirs has. He doesn’t imagine many people fall desperately in love before ever even sharing a kiss with the object of their desires. Let alone being bound by marriage in the very beginning. But Taehyung and Jungkook also are not typical humans. So it feels unfair to hold themselves to any standards such as those. Cruel to expect these feelings to come easily, when nothing about this has. The only thing that has been easy was the actual falling, because Taehyung had no control over it…but even that was tumultuous in it’s own way as the realization dawned upon him past the point of too late.
Now they’re here.
Alone in their apartment, with their daughter gone for the night and nothing but time to spend together—Taehyung might lose his mind. Jungkook’s busying himself with separating their takeout onto plates and it was his idea to order dinner first. He knows that. But as he joins his husband in the kitchen, it’s impossible to not stand right behind him. Lips ghosting Jungkook’s shoulder with a low complaint, “I may have made a bad call, I’m not really hungry just yet.”
“Oh…I’m sorry, I assumed—” his words break into a gasp when Taehyung’s finger drags the collar of his shirt further out of the way. Lips dragging dangerously against his skin, Jungkook’s head lulling backwards unconsciously, “Tae”
“I’m sorry, Jungkook. Truly, it can’t be helped—I’ve been holding out for so long.” Spinning on his heels Jungkook feels his chest exploding with desire when Taehyung doesn’t move at all. Only steps closer, arms caging him against the counter as he noses up the shape of his neck, lips hot against his jawline, the man’s breathing shutters when their lips brush, "Say the word and I’ll stop.”
"And if I tell you to keep going?” Jungkook’s chest is heaving when those dark eyes lock onto his own. Watching the dilated pupils glisten with excitement as his voice breaks "What happens then?”
Taehyung doesn’t respond to the question. Doesn’t respond because he’s too busy colliding their mouths together hungrily. Takes Jungkook’s bottom lip between his teeth at the same time as he grips his chin and tilts his head down into himself. Optimal angle for mind numbing kisses that have Jungkook’s knees trembling when Taehyung speaks roughly against his lips, “Easy, then I give you every damn thing you ask me for.”
It’s certainly not a good thing, for Taehyung to break him down so easily. Jungkook’s nerves taking over him all at once when he feels himself being lifted to the counter. Because it’s so painfully obvious he finds his husband sexy, but feeling the heat of himself, knowing Taehyung can likely feel it too, is suddenly far too much for his mind to handle. His hands grip the man’s shoulders and torturously puts space between their mouths, Taehyung’s darkened eyes are working overtime in attempts of luring him back in. But Jungkook just needs a minute. “Can…can we, um, can we relax for a bit? I—I’m feeling slightly overwhelmed and—“
Taehyung’s lips brush over his own in a kiss so soft Jungkook almost doesn’t feel it, but he does because its accompanied by the warmth of his words, “Everything you ask for, no matter how much or how little. C’mon, let’s go sit down and have some of this food you plated up.”
The pouting of his lips is as unconscious as the way he reaches for Taehyung’s hands to place them back on his own hips, “But I thought you weren’t hungry.” The gorgeous bastard has the audacity to wink and peck Jungkook’s lips again with a breathy laugh of a whisper, “I guess I changed my mind.”
With a little bit of food and half a glass of wine in his system, Jungkook feels so much more calm than he did before. Taehyung has this fascination with watching the news and while Jungkook isn’t exactly eager to watch it himself, he wouldn’t be watching whatever is on the television anyway. He’s too hyper focused on the languid tracing of Taehyung’s index finger up and down his calf. He tugged Jungkook’s feet into his lap as soon as he finished eating and hasn’t stopped the tingling sensations since. It’s tingling but also calming, because Jungkook feels so unbelievably at ease just lounging with Taehyung like this.
So at ease, that he feels safe to ask, “You never told me how your meeting went at work the other day…was it something important?”
He’s earned himself all of his husband’s attention now. Taehyung turning to face him, with one knee bent up on the sofa, still keeping Jungkook’s feet in his lap, “It was important, but nothing to worry for. I just, realized that if sacrifices are going to be made to keep our family safe, then what kind of husband, or father for that matter, would I be if I wasn’t making any myself.”
“Tae…” Jungkook shakes his head and sits up. Wine glass dangling in his hand, “I wanted to leave the Garden for a long time now. I didn’t do it because of you or Ahyeon. You two were a catalyst…sure, but it wasn’t my sole motive. Please don’t think you have to stop your espionage in order for me to stay.”
The hand that was mindlessly tracing all over his calves and ankles, comes to a stop. Resting warmly on his knee, Taehyung’s lips curl up into a halfway kind of smile, “I know that…but the problem with me, being who I am, is that I’m the first choice for most missions. You obviously know just how frequently it was taking me from home…I’m not sure if I’m okay with that being the rest of my life. Before I didn’t mind, because there was no one waiting for me. You and Ahyeon change that, in a good way, giving up field work is a no brainer if it means getting to spend more evenings like this.”
“You say field work…so does that mean you’ll still be working for your same agency?” Taehyung nods and scoots closer across the sofa, Jungkook’s knees are now bent over his lap as his arms come to rest over them. “The operation that this arrangement was apart of…is still ongoing. Until Dowon is handled, I will still be working but only on matters relating to him. Once he’s apprehended, I’ll be stepping back and doing in house work alongside Seokjin. Which honestly, sounds pretty nice. I didn’t realize how much I enjoy having a routine when it was impossible to manage one.”
Jungkook’s eyes roll as he giggles, “I promise it’s okay to tell me you’re bored of my meal plans. Jimin and Hoseok have agreed to give me many more lessons now that I will have more free time…”
Taehyung’s eyes go all round and wide and so infuriatingly adorable—even if Ahyeon isn’t his child, there’s no way she didn’t pick up that habit from him. The man’s voice dropping to a whiny low octave, “You better not replace the soup, you’ve heard from both of us how much we love it, you can’t get us used to having it and take it away.”
Pretending to be offended Jungkook leans forward and shoves his shoulders, “Only the beef soup? The other six meals can go freely?!” Taehyung erupts into laughter and tugs Jungkook backwards with himself. Paying no mind to the remnants of wine that spill onto the coffee table as the glass barely manages to be placed down— “Of course not, baby, we’d hate to lose out on any of your exquisite delicacies.”
It’s so easy to blame it on the wine, even though Jungkook knows he’s had far below his usual tolerance level. But his cheeks are warm and his fingers are burning with desire as he looks down at Taehyung’s flushed face. The body his knees are on either side of is impossible to ignore, as is the flickering of those warm eyes down to his mouth. With zero control over himself Jungkook is dipping in and pressing their lips together at a frenzied pace. Whatever was holding him back earlier in the kitchen, has seemingly disappeared when Taehyung’s hands trace the shape of his body.
Before he can fully comprehend the feeling of their kiss growing more desperate by the second, Taehyung’s hands are firmly grasped onto his hips. Jungkook isn’t entirely sure what the procession of actions are that follow, but what he does know is the subtle way Taehyung’s hands guide his body to move, creates a delicious friction between them that he had no idea could be so excruciatingly good. Mouth falling open into a desperately wanton moan, that has his entire body trembling with embarrassment, “Why…why does that feel so good—you, when you move…Tae…”
“Because it’s you.” Taehyung’s voice is quiet and rough against his lips. Jungkook can barely keep his attention on the words because he’s too distracted by the heat of Taehyung’s arousal rutting against his own. Each drag of his hips igniting Jungkook’s skin even more than it already was. The husk of Taehyung’s cologne suffocating him as much as the breathy words pressed against his ear, “Everything about you feels so good, make it really difficult to control myself.”
“Don’t.” Jungkook might end up regretting saying this, but he thinks he’ll regret letting space between them even more. “Not when we so rarely have a moment to lose control.” Suddenly Taehyung is standing and Jungkook’s gripping at the tussled blonde strands of hair as the hands on his thighs hoist him up higher against his waist, dark eyes looking right into his own, accompanied by tender words, “Are you sure? Do you promise you’re sure?”
Assuring him is the easiest part of all of this, because Jungkook may not know many things in terms of romance, but he does know, without a shadow of a doubt, that anything involving Taehyung is something he wants to experience. Considering how many nights he’s spent sleeping in this apartment, wondering what it would be like to sleep beside someone, he’s vibrating on excitement alone when he’s pressed into Taehyung’s mattress. The fervent way that mouth moves over every bit of his visible skin, is enough to reduce Jungkook to nothing but a puddle of lust. Everything so much worse when Taehyung is suddenly right above him, nose brushing his own with a shaky exhale, “I’ve wanted you in this bed with me so many times, feels like I’m dreaming looking at you tangled up in my sheets.”
Something about Taehyung makes him feel safe. Jungkook’s never worried much for safety, knowing he’s capable of protecting himself, but Taehyung makes him feel safe in other ways. Safe to moan when a large hand palms at his clothed dick. Safe to arch his back off the bed in search of furthering the friction between their bodies. Safe to run a timid hand down the shape of Taehyung’s torso, before gripping at the hem of his shirt and peeling it away entirely. Safe, so unbelievably safe, to admit through broken breaths, “I’ve got no idea what I’m doing, Taehyung…so I need you to show me.”
The eyes looking into his own blow so wide Jungkook wonders if he ruined it all, but of course he didn’t. Because he’s so safe, in these arms as Taehyung leans in to kiss him delicately, “Whatever you’re comfortable with, I’ll happily guide you through every bit of it. As long as you let me know when enough is enough. There’s no rules between you and I, got that? I meant what I said earlier, as much or as little as you want—I only want you.”
“But I don’t know what all I want…” catching his lip between his teeth as his own shirt is removed from his body. Jungkook feels bold and desperate. “Kind of just want you to show me what I want instead.”
Breaking Jungkook down beneath him is a luxury Taehyung had no idea he was missing out on. Obviously he had his thoughts and his wild imagination and that one super vivid dream, but nothing compares to the absolute awestruck amazement he feels right this very second. Drags his lips down the path from Jungkook’s chest to his stomach Taehyung finding the end of his path by mouthing at the sharp crease of that waist, while working him open gently on his fingers. A miserably little whimper rolls off of Jungkook’s lips at the same time as he rolls his hips down against the pressure of Taehyung’s hand. Earning such a guttural moan from Taehyung himself, he’d be ashamed of it, if he weren’t so unbelievably turned on he can hardly breathe, “You sound absolutely wonderful, baby—hell. I want more of it. Can I give you more? Are you feeling alright?”
Jungkook’s watered over eyes blink open, radiant little pools of scarlet staring right at him as he nods, “Yes, yes—please, give me more. Want it all.” Taehyung takes his time, adding in another finger and ensuring the stretch is precisely where he needs it to be, before moving hastily. Positioning himself against the headboard and lathering his poor aching dick with lube, as Jungkook watches timidly. “Let me.”
“No, no , I just need you to come sit on it. Think that’ll be the best way for both of us right now. I’ll have no choice but to keep still and you’ll be able to take as much of me as you want.” Taehyung extends a hand to guide Jungkook into his lap and sucks in a desperate groan when the weight of his husband is pressing down against his dick. “I’m so lucky…so so lucky…” brings both hands to Jungkook’s ass and finds way too much enjoyment in the feeling of that mouth colliding with his own messily while indulging in copious amounts of groping. “I am.” Jungkook says, all breathy and whiney against his lips. “I love you, Taehyung. I feel so incredibly lucky to love you.”
“Might as well put that knife of yours right through my heart. I love you more than words could ever say. I’ll just have to do everything in my power to keep showing you.” Looking down at where their bodies connect, Taehyung whistles through his exhale, “But right now, I need to show you how to sit on this dick, are you okay with that?”
Jungkook’s fingers are vicious where they tug at the back of Taehyung’s hair, guiding himself up and choking on a gasp when the tip breaches his rim. Fiery eyes clenching shut and reopening with a tear-filled gleam that Taehyung struggles to measure the meaning of. Keeps one hand on Jungkook’s lower back and brings the other to his face, coaxing him down until their lips brush between their broken breaths, “You’re doing so well. Take your time. I’m not going anywhere, all yours.”
“Mine.” Jungkook nods against the kiss. Tears trickling down his face as he takes even more of the length and moans through the stretch, “Mine, you’re just mine, Taehyung. Always. I’ll kill you if you ever try to leave me again.”
Taehyung can’t help the chuckle that comes out between their kiss, thumb delicately brushing the sharpness of Jungkook’s jawline when he finally feels his husband bottoming out on his dick. “All yours, baby. Nothing to worry for, if I ever left you it’d only be to seek out death anyway.”
Jungkook comes to a complete halt atop of him. Taehyung’s entire length buried deep inside of himself as he pouts and brushes their noses together, “I was just …just joking —Taehyung I want us to live a really long life together.”
“We will. I was joking too.” He tilts his chin until their lips are colliding again and brings his hands to guide Jungkook up by the hips. Sliding him right back down and moaning shamelessly against him “Fuuuck. Look at how you take it, made just for it. ‘Course we’re gonna live a long life together, gonna love you for the rest of it.”
Hips rising and falling slowly, Jungkook finally gets the rhythm necessary to have them both rendered speechless. Well, speechless save for their frantic breathing and desperate moans and the bruising grip Taehyung takes of his thighs as he thrusts his hips up off the mattress to meet each of Jungkook’s motions. The line between deliciously languid and excruciatingly frantic is one they keep teetering back and forth on. Until Jungkook brushes all of Taehyung’s hair back to properly look down at his face when he accomplishes the best pace they’ve reached thus far. The eyes that meet his own are swimming with just as much emotion as he feels tugging at his heart when he kisses Taehyung deeply, “Going to love you for the rest of mine too.”
He feels Taehyung tapping at his hips, and he isn’t quite sure what’s the cause for the rushed movements, until his husband pulls back from the kiss, “If you don’t want me inside of you when I finish, I need you to move baby—like now—” One of Taehyung’s hand strokes at Jungkook’s length and his eyes are rolling back and Jungkook doesn’t want to move. He wants everything, so he just backs down against it and takes the length as deep as he possibly can. Moaning against the curse Taehyung breathes into his lips and smiling when he feels the hot warmth spreading inside of him, “Told you I want all of it, Tae. All .”
With no reason to really pay any mind to the amount of time that they spend laying here together, Jungkook catches himself dozing off momentarily under the soothing sensation of Taehyung’s finger tracing all over his body. His own hand mindlessly combing through his husband’s hair, he’s so comfortable. So sated. So unbelievably happy. He truly can’t believe this life is his, rolls over onto his stomach and leans on Taehyung’s chest with pouted lips, “How am I supposed to go back to my lonely room now?”
“Who said you need to?” Taehyung presses kisses all over his face. Earning quiet giggles and Jungkook’s fingers jamming into his sides to stop his attack. “No sense in taking up two bedrooms, you can come into this one, where you belong. Ahyeon’s toys are starting to take over the entire house anyway, she could use a play room and we could use some organization back in the living room.”
Trying to shield the fact that his eyes are pooling with tears, Jungkook laughs softly, “It’s adorable of you to think giving her an extra room will prevent her from dragging all of her toys into the living room anyway.”
They decide to spend the rest of their free evening, doing just that. Moving Jungkook’s things properly into the master bedroom and setting up a proper playroom in the now vacant bedroom. Mattress covered entirely with plushies, that Taehyung doesn’t even remember accumulating so many of. If not for Jungkook giving him a detailed outline of every time Taehyung came home with a new one for her. The most recent one being a giant rainbow shooting star just last week as a reward for Ahyeon earning another stellar star. Taehyung’s mouth latching onto his exposed shoulder again nearly derails their rearranging project, if not for the way Jungkook gasps and not due to the teeth suckling at his skin.
He flips on the lamp on Ahyeon’s desk and brings the journal he caught a glimpse of closer to his face. Taehyung’s concerned brows raising as he hooks a chin over his husband’s shoulder, “What’d you find baby? I’m not sure if I’m a fan of being the kind of parents who snoop on their child’s journals…”
Jungkook scoffs under his breath as he turns around and shoves the notebook into his face, “Well, how do you feel about our child snooping into our minds?” Taehyung visualizes all of the blood leaving his body as he looks through a very haphazardly taken log of thoughts, written by none other than Ahyeon herself.
