TAEKOOK IS NOT REAL (Right?) (18+) COMPLETE

PART 3

Taehyung washes himself under the hot shower without a single conscious thought, he just focuses on the slide of his hands over the planes of his body.

It's like his mind has frozen in a panic somewhere between writing music and that look Jungkook gave him.

Then, Jimin's soft words ring in his mind over and over: everyone already knows.

The words are happily dancing around all his worries, teasing to say it's no big deal, do what you like, who cares! But Taehyung knows it's a bloody big deal. They can't be together, no matter what people think is already happening.

Just when his hand slides up the inside of his thigh, spreading the clouds of shower gel, Taehyung wonders how it would feel to be with Jungkook. He is perfectly aware that Jungkook is the most gorgeous man on the planet but that doesn't mean he'd consider having sex with hi...

When Taehyung realises that he's thinking about sex and Jungkook in the same, messy conversation in his head, he immediately jumps out of the shower and polishes himself dry in ruthless rubs.

He will not go there.

He will not be thinking about this any further. In fact, he is going to tell Jungkook that this whole song thing was a stupid idea and that they should just do something else or even give up on the subunit. It's only going to end in tears, whichever way you look at it.

"Shower's free." He announces needlessly without looking at Jungkook.

He adjusts the towel wrapped around his head and then the other around his body while he walks over to the slim, old wardrobe full of clothes from both him and Jungkook, which they both use freely. The clothes are still here because they've always been the two out of the seven who have spent most time at the dorms after they officially moved out.

He searches through to find the biggest clothes possible and settles on a pair of Jungkook's soft cotton shorts and a tee.

"Thanks."

When Jungkook answers, a little quiet and distant, Taehyung immediately glances over in concern. All he catches are wide, naked shoulders and an enviably slender waist already passing through the doorway.

This feels awkward. He has never felt this with Jungkook and he already hates it.

Taehyung can't remember when it happened, must have been years ago, but the side of the bed closest to the window is "his", even though this is Jungkook's old room.

Jungkook always sleeps on the side of the room, opposite to the door because he always needs to see the way out. Taehyung doesn't mind because he feels safer hiding behind Jungkook's back, it's only annoying when he has to crawl over the sleeping lump when he's always the first to get up.

Tonight, he faces away from the door and pulls the covers up to his ears. There is too much silence to be able to think straight.

Don't think about it. Don't think about the fact that Jungkook always sleeps practically naked, just in his shorts. He burns too hot to consider wearing clothes -besides, why would he need to? They're supposed to be just friends.

Suddenly, it feels like Taehyung is lying, like he's somehow cheating, breaking the rules of their friendship by bringing in feelings that don't belong there.

Everyone already knows... Help him out... Everyone already knows... Help him out... The words repeat endlessly, flying around in his head.