Maybe we can be(each other's company)

Chapter 3

Someone is in their apartment.

He's only half awake, turning over sleepily to blink the sleep out of his eyes, wondering who in the hell Jimin called over at this hour as he tries to remember when his bed suddenly changed fucking shape. He opens his mouth to shout something, probably a slew of curse words that Jimin will kick his ass for later, but he stops when his vision finally clears, his surroundings somewhat familiar.

He blinks again just to be sure, sweeping his eyes over his surroundings without moving so that it looks like he's still sleeping. It's Jeongguk's couch that he's laying on, he's sure, the skyline windows open and revealing that it must still be well into the night, or at least, very early in the morning. The memories of the previous night of Jeongguk and him falling asleep rushes back, Jeongguk tugging him down and into him, succumbing and falling asleep again in the safety of his arms. He hears a quiet voice somewhere behind him, closer towards the front door, and he strains his ears to listen.

"—old you this was a bad idea. Why don't you listen to me and Namjoon so you don't get your ass roasted by our boss?" An unfamiliar voice hisses, quiet.

"Listen, I've been following your rules for two years, all right? Can't you see how unhappy I am? Seriously, Seokjin, I can't have one goddamn friend?" That's Jeongguk's voice, the soft, frantic edge to his voice sending a chill down Taehyung's spine.

What he thinks is Seokjin pauses. "I know you're unhappy. And I really, really wish it wasn't like this. But you don't have a normal life, Jeongguk. You don't have a normal life because this is what you chose. I wish you could have a friend who wouldn't use you because you're an idol, but Jeongguk, he's got a fansign page of you. Haven't you ever thought he might just be trying to get close to get inside information on you?"

Jeongguk pauses for a long time. Taehyung's heart is pounding in his ears, and he wants to jump up and shout no, you've got it all wrong, but Jeongguk is speaking again. "When was the last time he posted something?"

He can hear Seokjin blow out a breath, "About a week and a half ago. But that's not the point, Kook. The point is, he's got an amazing opportunity to potentially sabotage you—"

"Seokjin," Jeongguk's sharp voice cuts through the air like a blade, cold and full of steel, "Look at me. I know you're looking out for me, okay? You always have, but let me make my own decision for once, just once. If things go to hell, then I only have myself to blame. But they won't, I'm telling you, they won't. He wouldn't do that, hyung, I already know it, so just let me do this. I don't—I'm not going to give this up, not this time."

There's a rustling noise, and what sounds like someone patting someone's shoulder, "You're well past being an adult, but sometimes I forget. Just be careful. Be careful, and know me and Namjoon will be looking out for you."

"Thanks, hyung. Really," Jeongguk mumbles, and there's the soft clicking sound of Jeongguk's door opening and closing. Taehyung stays in place on the couch, frozen and unsure of what to do before he hears Jeongguk's footsteps padding over to where he is laying.

Before he can shut his eyes and relax to pretend like he's sleeping, Jeongguk says, "I know you're awake, Tae."

He sighs, defeated, rubbing at his eyes and burrows deeper in the blanket that he faintly remembers Jeongguk throwing over him, the faint, heady smell of Jeongguk's cologne swirling in his head. He swallows the nervous taste in his throat, Jeongguk walking around the couch, his legs first appearing in Taehyung's view before he kneels down to meet his eyes. Jeongguk's soft gaze has guilt swirling in his chest.

"I can explain—"

"You don't need to."

Taehyung blinks and Jeongguk reaches out a tentative hand to brush his hair out of his eyes, the pads of his fingers trailing over the skin above his eyebrow, the faint scar he has, gentle and almost curious. His stomach flutters with something he can't quite place, eyes wide.