CHANGE OF RULES

ABOVE BOARD

Nothing was more sobering then a question out of left field and Taehyung was about ready to make a run for it...
'Hoseok said that you were acting weird because of certain feelings – and mind you, he is anything but subtle when he is drunk.' Namjoon chuckled as Taehyung stayed very alert on his back.
He would catch his hyung for that...
If he survived this particular conversation, that is.
'So I figured that you must have been so out of character in the past two weeks because of a guy.' Namjoon explained, turning a bit to see if Taehyung was awake.
He was of course. How could he not be when Namjoon was that close to the truth?
But what was he trying to accomplish by that question? Did he figure something out? What if he did? What was he going to say to-
'Are you in love?'
That particular question managed to cut right through the dizzying chaos of his thoughts again.
'Why do you ask, hyung?' he asked softly because it was better to tread lightly.
'Because I was worried about you.' Namjoon said sincerely. 'Something in you changed so abruptly and no one would tell me anything...'
Taehyung should have known that his hyung would notice his odd behavior immediately.
'You said it was nothing, yet you seemed horribly troubled... Then everybody else told me that it was not for them to tell.' Namjoon sighed, sounding hurt to be left out and Taehyung bit his lips to stop himself from spilling everything out of guilt.
It was not how he should hear the truth.
'I mean you were so down, and Jin-hyung was fussing over you...' Namjoon rambled, clearly embarrassed and clearly talking more then he would thanks to the lasting effects of the alcohol. 'Then you said those things about your character and there was that faraway look in your eyes... So I thought that maybe you fell for one of the guys and you were depressed over that - I know it's a very stupid idea, because you helped them get together but... Ugh, what am I even saying... Bottom line, I was worried.'
Even in this situation Taehyung couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him, because his hyung was adorable when he was embarrassed.
'I'm going to drop you.' Namjoon warned.
'Sorry.' Taehyung smiled. 'I just never thought you would want to talk about feelings with me.'
'I'm your friend, even if it is horribly embarrassing I want to know if you are down.' Namjoon said, a slight blush visible under the plain lights of the street.
His hyung embarrassed.
Because he was worried about him.
Taehyung's party abused mind was not capable of processing it so he opted to address Namjoon's absurd idea about his love interest to ease the tension.
'Well if you must know, I'm not against ually open relationships, but thankfully nothing even close happened.' Taehyung grinned, shaking his head because how could he even come up with that.
'...why am I not surprised, though.' Namjoon whispered under his nose.
'Rude.'
'Stop calling me rude!' Namjoon laughed, spinning around once and it was punishing enough in Taehyung's current state.
'Hyung...' he pouted, tightening his hold. 'Throwing up is not something I planned for tonight.'
'Sorry.' Namjoon apologized with a soft chuckle, their piggy-back ride turning quiet as they moved through the dimly lit streets.
Taehyung enjoyed the silence, Namjoon's hold on his thighs, the feeling of his strong back against his chest, his scent and the sound of his breathing. Everything.
He loved it...
'I am.' he said softly and Namjoon needed a second to understand that statement.
'Really?' his hyung asked equally softly. 'I don't really know what to say, I just guessed that it was the reason behind your blue mood...'
'It's okay, I'm not exactly sure what to say about it either.' Taehyung smiled weakly, both glad and disappointed that Namjoon's guesswork was not that accurate yet.
'The ever so eloquent Taehyung is without words... Wow, it must be serious.' Namjoon smiled over his shoulder. 'Is he that handsome? Or out of your league – wait that never happened before.'
'And your rudeness is unparalleled as of yet, hyung.' Taehyung mumbled, hiding his face into his shoulder.
'Do you want to talk about it, though?' Namjoon asked carefully, leaning his head back to rest it against Taehyung's. 'Because you don't sound too happy about it and that is not how love should be.'
Hesitation.
Always that hesitation that left no place for the truth...
'...no. Not now.' Taehyung sighed, exhaustion and alcohol induced chaos catching up with him again and he bit his lip in tired frustration.
'Okay, but I'm here if you wanna. You know, just in case no one else is available.' Namjoon said, sounding awkward about it but entirely sweet to offer it up...
Why couldn't he just tell him?
He didn't want to be a coward anymore.
Or scared.
Or empty...
'Don't fall asleep on me now, because I'm not really sure where to go next.' Namjoon chuckled and Taehyung blinked his eyes open again.
'I thought you weren't directionally challenged, hyung...' Taehyung teased in a drowsy voice. 'We are right in front of the dorms.'
'I know.' Namjoon said, rolling his eyes. 'It's more about where to put you, since I'm not sure how the night went for the others... And I'm sure you know what I mean.'
'Oh, right.' Taehyung blinked, understanding the dilemma. 'Yoongi-hyung said he will go to our room with Hoseok-hyung after the party, so it all depends on...' he yawned, resting his cheek against the curve of Namjoon's neck. '...where Jimin and Kookie ended up.'
'Why the past tense?'
'Based on what I saw, there is just no way they wouldn't have arrived here quicker then us.' Taehyung mumbled and Namjoon snorted at the explanation.
'Fine, but I have to tell you I don't plan to cause myself mental scarring by wrongly guessing the empty room.' Namjoon said, shuddering a bit. 'And I know for fact that mine is out of question because Jin-hyung wanted it for himself, so...Where do we go?'
Taehyung had an idea then, but it sounded entirely ridiculous to even offer it up... There were too many implications. But he was feeling like death warmed over and based on Namjoon's ramblings he was no better either...
'I have the keys to the Room.'
'Which one?'
'The Room.'
'Oh, that one... 'Namjoon nodded and Taehyung worried for a moment that he might misunderstand. 'It's fine by me but get off – you seriously can't expect me to climb with you to the upper most floor.'
And like that it was decided that they were sleeping together... Why couldn't he be completely sober to fully enjoy it?
'No way. I'm way too comfortable.' Taehyung whined, clinging onto Namjoon with the last of his strength – he was determined to still get the best out of it. 'Please, hyung.'
Namjoon didn't answer his plea so Taehyung rested his chin on his shoulder with a miserable pout.
'Please.'
'... is there anyone out there who could refuse you?' Namjoon asked with a resigned sigh.
'Yoongi-hyung.'
'Point taken.'
As it turned out, Namjoon did manage to take him all the way up and Taehyung promised to buy breakfast for his efforts – and he absolutely didn't think about scoring a breakfast-date.
Okay, maybe just a little.
Then Namjoon bullied him into brushing his teeth, because he would not sleep next to him if he did not, especially not after everything that he drank. They both looked ridiculous brushing their teeth with their fingers.
Taehyung took a picture of it.
Then as Taehyung washed his face he noticed his hyung leaning against the doorframe, their eyes meeting through the mirror. And Taehyung turned around to ask him what he was doing but he was unable to, his thoughts scattering as his heart stuttered.
Because his hyung looked so good just standing there, relaxed, messily handsome and the glaring lights of the bathroom giving him sharp edges that seemed dangerous and tempting at the same time.
And Taehyung thought that if he could just gaze at him like that, then he would be happy – if he was allowed to still be his friend then he would be happy... He wouldn't have a heart anymore. But he would be happy...
Just how could he love someone that much?
Something in Namjoon's gaze shifted then, thoughts chasing each other in his dark eyes before they disappeared and his hyung stepped over, getting a towel of the rack.
'You are making a mess.' he said softly, brushing the droplets of water off. 'Good thing I checked on you, I thought you fell asleep in here.' he chuckled, ruffling Taehyung's hair up with the towel.
Taehyung could just blink up at him, because he was still under his spell.
'Come on, let's sleep already.'
Then they both just fell into bed, undignified and as graceful as any sobering person would at 4 in the morning.
'Hey.' Namjoon rasped, the sound sending a shiver up Taehyung's back.
'What, hyung?' he asked, gazing at Namjoon's silhouette in the darkness.
'Thank you for telling me.' he whispered and Taehyung smiled sadly.
Because he didn't tell him anything.
'Goodnight.' his hyung whispered.
'Night. Meet you in your dreams.' Taehyung whispered back, earning one last tired chuckle from Namjoon.
And he could just imagine going to sleep every night like that. With Namjoon by his side...
He fell into oblivion with the whish that it would become a possibility.

He didn't know when he woke up, but the sun light felt warm against his skin and as he blinked his eyes open Namjoon was still sleeping beside him, his face mere inches away from his.
They both curled towards each other, distance barely visible but still there and Taehyung couldn't help but smirk at the irony.
But he whished that distance away and reached out to trace the lines of Namjoon's face. The defined lines of his jaw, the proud line of his nose, his ever so expressive eyebrows and his sinfully kissable lips. All soft and warm under his fingers.
'Tae...' Namjoon grumbled, furrowing his brows. 'What are you doing?'
'Contact.' Taehyung smiled, poking his nose.
'What are you? E.T?' Namjoon smiled, still not opening his eyes. 'Your fingers are cold.'
'They are always cold.' Taehyung said, jumping slightly as Namjoon reached up to pull his hand under the blanket, his hyung's hand covering his cold one.
'Well mine are always warm, so let's share.' Namjoon said, opening his eyes to meet his gaze, and it was sharp and tender at the same time and Taehyung felt like exploding as his heart jumped irregularly in his chest.
What was he even doing to him?
'And you dare to call me weird.' Taehyung mumbled, squeezing his eyes shut in a vain attempt to subdue Namjoon's effect on him.
'I dare. Now I think you promised me breakfast and I desperately need that, even though I managed to sleep off any trace of a hangover.' Namjoon said. 'But first let's try to get our rooms back.'
With that he climbed out of bed, leaving Taehyung cold again...
'And how do you plan to do that?' Taehyung asked, turning to see what Namjoon was up to – startled yet again as his hyung gazed down at him from the end of the bed.
'I don't know, but you and me both need a shower and clean clothes.' he grinned, grabbing his ankle and pulled him forward.
'Alright, alright. I'm moving already.' Taehyung whined, jumping up and nearly heading Namjoon in the process. 'But why not just share a shower with me here?'
...
Did he really just ask that?!
Namjoon just laughed, grabbing their coats. 'I don't know if that was an eco-friendly or a ed question, but we would still miss the essential clean clothes so maybe next time.' he teased and Taehyung might have fainted a bit at the next time part.
'Let's meet downstairs in 30, okay?'
'O-okay.'

He took a really, really long breath as the door of his room shut behind himself, because how could he be so, so... So like himself.
Okay, that wasn't a bad thing. But when it caused serious heart problems then his mouth ought to filter itself.
Seriously.
As he took some clothes out for himself, Taehyung noted that it was indeed possible to fit two grown men into their small bed and tried his best not to wake up Hoseok, and especially not Yoongi.
He showered quickly replaying the events of the night in his mind and came to the conclusion that no matter what, his hyung knew that he had feelings for someone... And it wouldn't take too much to arrive to the conclusion that it was him, because there was no other someone to fit the bill...
He couldn't tell if he was horribly nervous or extremely relieved.
He wished his feelings would decide on one side of the spectrum already.
'You are back.' Hoseok greeted as he stepped out. 'Where did you sleep?' he asked, sitting up as Yoongi let out a decidedly unhappy grumble at the loss of contact.
'Don't get up.' Taehyung said, holding his used clothes up as a barrier. 'I know you don't wear anything under that blanket.'
'You've seen me often enough, what's the problem?' Hoseok teased with a smirk as he caressed Yoongi's back.
'That was when you were single. This is different.' Taehyung shook his head – hoping that he managed to divert attention from his lack of answer to Hoseok's question.
'Lies.' Hoseok sang. 'Where did you sleep?'
It would have been too easy.
'In the Room.'
'With who?' Hoseok pressed and Taehyung pouted.
'It's all your fault, hyung.'
'With who?'
'Namjoon-hyung – don't you wiggle your eyebrows! Nothing happened... Hyung stop it.' Taehyung blushed, turning away from the smug smirk to throw his things into the laundry basket. 'Everything is your fault anyway...'
'What is?' Hoseok chuckled, obscenely happy.
'He knows that I love someone! How could you tip him off about that?' he asked. 'Now he will look out for me more...'
'There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.' Hoseok smiled. 'Besides he was really worried, what else should I have done?'
'Asked Yoongi-hyung to keep you in check?' Taehyung sighed, because he knew there was nothing wrong with that... But he was terrified that Namjoon would find him repulsive too...
Old wounds were terrible, terrible things and he was too used to being able to conceal everything about himself.
'I would have probably told him to take care of your maiden heart.' Yoongi said with a smirk, glancing at Taehyung from the cocoon of his blanket. 'Is that really any better?'
'You both are absolutely horrible, you'd better know.'
'We know.' Yoongi answered, yawning into his pillow.
'Tae, are you ready?' Namjoon's voice filtered through the door and Taehyung motioned for his hyung's to cease the smirking.
'Breakfast after sleeping together... Well isn't that nice?' Hoseok whispered and brushed away imagined tears.
'Enjoy it while you can, because the play is gonna eat your time up.' Yoongi didn't bother to whisper.
Taehyung hated that he was probably right.
'Yeah, I'm coming!' he exclaimed, rolling his eyes at the chuckles that wording received. 'Not like that... Wow, I taught you too well.' he whispered to the two on the bed.
With that he grabbed his backpack and marched out the door.
'Whoa, something wrong? You seem flustered?' Namjoon asked as Taehyung shut the door firmly behind himself.
'Don't ask.' Taehyung sighed, running a hand through his slightly damp hair.
'There are a lot of things I shouldn't ask about...' Namjoon noted, grinning as Taehyung held up a finger to silence him.
'You are officially my favorite hyung, everyone else just managed to fall out my graces.' Taehyung explained with a pout, making Namjoon laugh.
'That bad, huh. Do I even want to know?' Namjoon asked with a raised brow.
'Let's just go.' Taehyung pleaded, and Namjoon smiled in answer as he reached out to smooth out the mess he made of his hair, making his heart skip several beats.
'Lead the way, Tae.'
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Oho, just how much did you figure out Namjoon? Not telling? Then we'll see~ :D

Ps. I love you, my busy bee for putting up with me~ I hope your exam went well! >3<