poltaeroid (ao3)
Taehyung is mad. Jungkook is scared.
But maybe just breathing is all they need to make it through.
--
The front door slams shut, echoing through the quiet house and causing Jungkook to jump out of fright. His breath hitches in his throat as he hears the sound of footsteps stomping into the living room.
He clambers off of the couch, slowly walking towards him. "T-Taehyungie? Is something wrong?"
Taehyung throws his jacket onto the couch and his keys onto the table. "Why? Why did you do that?"
Jungkook's eyebrows knit together in confusion, caught off guard by his sudden tone. "Do what?"
"Call me in the middle of work? We've talked about this so many times," Taehyung stresses, on the verge of shouting.
Oh. That. "I'm sorry, Tae, I just really wanted to tell you about the-"
"That was a very important meeting, Jungkook. You know not to call me when I'm at work. And you did it not once, but twice?!" Taehyung is yelling now, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and frustration.
"I-I really am sorry, hyungie, I-"
"Did I say you could talk?"
Jungkook's mouth shuts immediately at his sharp, reprimanding tone, his eyes shooting down to his feet so the elder doesn't see the tears that threaten to fall.
Taehyung is silent for a moment, pacing back and forth and running his hand through his hair. Jungkook wishes he wasn't so angry with him. After all, he didn't mean to upset him. He knows that what he did was wrong, but he promises he won't do it again.
The real reason he called him was because he was excited. Jungkook had gotten the highest grade in his class on the photography project that the two of them had been working on together for over a month. Taehyung stayed up all night with him despite having work the next morning. Even after Jungkook told him it was okay, that he could finish everything on his own, Taehyung was persistent on helping him no matter what. He was too impatient to wait until he got home to tell him the amazing news - now he has to suffer the consequences.
Taehyung heaves a sigh, tired eyes looking over at his regretful boyfriend. "I was about to get promoted, Jungkook. Just as my boss was discussing giving me a higher position in the company, my phone goes off with a bunch of messages, then calls. He called me unprofessional for leaving my phone on during important meetings and told me that maybe I'm not suitable for the position after all." Taehyung throws himself on the couch, eyebrows furrowing as he chucks his glasses onto the coffee table. "Who knew something so small could cost me one of the best things that could've ever happened to me."
A huge weight of guilt sits on Jungkook's shoulders as he processes all of the elder's words. His thoughtless actions caused the loss of an amazing opportunity for one of the most important people in his life. Now he really wants to cry.
Jungkook's bottom lip quivers as he slowly walks up to the couch, fiddling with the sleeves of his over-sized hoodie. "Taehyungie...please...I'm so sorry. I-I was being stupid and inconsiderate and I'm so sorry." A tear slips down his cheek as he hesitantly sits down next to him. "Please, just..." He reaches over to cup the redhead's cheek, but Taehyung reels back, slapping his hand away.
"Don't touch me. You ruined everything. I don't even want to look at you right now," Taehyung growls, refusing to look up at him. When he makes no move to leave, the elder snaps. "Just get the hell away from me, Jungkook!"
