Collision of Verdicts

Unspoken Support

Months passed, and the bustling energy of Kim’s Law Firm was palpable. Namjoon and Jin had returned from their leave, resuming their roles as managing partners. Everything seemed to be running smoothly; cases were being handled, clients satisfied, and the firm’s reputation growing stronger. But amidst this calm exterior, two of the firm’s brightest attorneys were silently dealing with the weight of their cases.

Jungkook’s team was knee-deep in a complicated political case, one that had been dragging on for weeks, with no clear end in sight. The case consumed his every waking hour, leaving him frustrated and exhausted. Meanwhile, Taehyung, who was usually assigned lighter cases, had been given a schoolgirl’s murder case—one that was initially thought to be a suicide but was now revealing a dark and complex conspiracy. It was the kind of case that usually went to Jungkook, but with him tied up, the responsibility had fallen on Taehyung’s shoulders.

Taehyung’s team—Yeonjun, Jisoo, and Beomgyu—had been working tirelessly. Late nights turned into early mornings, and the pressure was immense. For days, Taehyung hadn’t surfaced from his office, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Jungkook. He hadn't seen Taehyung for nearly a week, and it bothered him more than he cared to admit. There was an inexplicable pull, a need to see Taehyung—to make sure he was alright.

After a conversation with Yoongi, Jungkook learned about the murder case Taehyung was handling. It was intense, involving power, corruption, and the future of a grieving family seeking justice. Jungkook couldn’t shake off the feeling that Taehyung might be overwhelmed. Without overthinking it, he grabbed two cans of diet Pepsi and made his way to Taehyung’s office.

---

Jungkook knocked lightly on Taehyung’s door, and after a few seconds, he heard a faint “Come in.” He stepped inside and was greeted by the sight of a disheveled Taehyung, sitting at his cluttered desk, papers scattered everywhere. His eyes, usually bright and full of life, were tired, and his once perfectly styled hair was now tousled from constant running of fingers through it.

Jungkook raised an eyebrow and walked in with a teasing grin, trying to lighten the mood. “What’s my baby doing?”

Taehyung looked up, startled by the sudden presence and the playful comment. A tired smile appeared on his lips as he saw Jungkook approaching. “Baby? Really, Jungkook?” he said, but his tone lacked its usual sass, betraying how drained he truly was.

Jungkook placed the two cans of Pepsi on the desk, pushing one toward Taehyung. “You look like you could use a break. I brought your favorite.”

Taehyung chuckled softly, his shoulders relaxing for the first time in days. “I needed this,” he admitted, taking a long sip. “Thank you.”

Jungkook sat on the edge of Taehyung’s desk, glancing at the chaos of papers. “So, this is the infamous case, huh?”

“Yeah, it’s… complicated.” Taehyung rubbed his temples. “There’s so much background to this. The girl’s family is convinced it’s a murder, but the school and the authorities are trying to sweep it under the rug as a suicide. There’s pressure from all sides.”

Jungkook’s gaze softened. “It’s new for you, handling something this heavy. Want me to take a look?”

Taehyung hesitated for a second, but then nodded. “Honestly, I could use all the help I can get.”

Jungkook took the stack of papers Taehyung had been working on, his sharp eyes quickly scanning through the details. For the next few hours, they worked side by side, analyzing the evidence, bouncing theories off each other. Jungkook was in his element, dissecting every word, every clause with precision, while Taehyung provided insights that Jungkook wouldn’t have thought of. They made a good team, their strengths complementing each other perfectly.

---

Time flew by, and before they realized it, it was past 11 p.m. Taehyung stretched his arms, groaning at the stiffness in his neck. “I didn’t even realize how late it got.”

Jungkook leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. “Yeah, me neither. You’re heading home?”

Taehyung nodded but then hesitated. “Actually… my place is kind of far, and I’m too exhausted to drive.”

Without missing a beat, Jungkook offered, “Why don’t you crash at my place? It’s just ten minutes from here.”

Taehyung blinked, a bit surprised at the invitation but too tired to refuse. “You sure?”

“Of course. Let’s go,” Jungkook said with a grin. “You can’t say no to my hospitality.”

They packed up quickly and made their way to Jungkook’s car. The ride to his penthouse was mostly quiet, but comfortable. Taehyung, despite his exhaustion, couldn’t help but sneak glances at Jungkook as he drove, his focus on the road, his hand resting casually on the steering wheel. There was something about this side of Jungkook—calm and considerate—that made Taehyung’s heart flutter.

---

When they arrived at Jungkook’s penthouse, Taehyung was greeted by the sleek, modern interior. It was minimalist yet cozy, the perfect reflection of Jungkook’s personality. “Wow, this place is really nice,” Taehyung said, genuinely impressed.

Jungkook smiled, proud but a little nervous. “Let me give you a quick tour.”

He showed Taehyung around—the living room with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, the kitchen that was immaculately organized, and finally his bedroom, where Taehyung would be staying.

“You can take my room tonight,” Jungkook said, grabbing a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt from his closet. “Here, change into these.”

Taehyung took the clothes, his fingers brushing Jungkook’s briefly. “Thanks,” he said softly, heading to the bathroom to freshen up.

As soon as Taehyung was out of sight, Jungkook let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. His heart was racing, and he couldn’t quite figure out why. It was the first time something about tonight felt different. Maybe it was seeing Taehyung so vulnerable, or maybe it was how much he had missed him over the past week.

Taehyung, on the other hand, was having a mini-crisis of his own in the bathroom. As he slipped into Jungkook’s clothes, the faint scent of Jungkook—fresh and masculine—lingered on the fabric, making his heart race. He caught his reflection in the mirror, noticing the flush in his cheeks. “Get it together, Tae,” he muttered to himself, but a giddy smile crept onto his face.

When Taehyung finally emerged, wearing Jungkook’s clothes, Jungkook’s breath hitched. The sight of Taehyung, with his soft hair falling over his eyes and the oversized t-shirt hanging loosely on his frame, was more than he had expected. Taehyung looked… perfect.

“You look good,” Jungkook blurted out before he could stop himself.

Taehyung smirked, feeling a bit more confident now. “Oh, do I? Should I wear your clothes more often?”

Jungkook chuckled, trying to play it cool. “Maybe.”

As Jungkook made a move to head to the guest room, Taehyung called out, “Wait.” Jungkook turned, raising an eyebrow. “Do you mind… staying here with me? I’ve been having these nightmares lately, and… I just don’t want to be alone in a new place.”

Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat. He hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. “Of course.”

They both climbed into Jungkook’s bed, the silence between them comfortable yet charged with something neither of them was ready to name. As they lay side by side, the distance between them small but significant, Jungkook’s heart raced, and Taehyung’s breathing steadied, feeling safer with Jungkook next to him.

The night was quiet, but the tension lingered in the air—both of them aware that something had shifted between them, yet neither willing to break the fragile calm that had settled over them. For now, they were content with the closeness, the quiet comfort of being together, knowing that whatever was happening between them would unfold in its own time.