The Arrangement

1

"I can't believe you're making me do this," Kim Taehyung, better known as V, muttered to the two older boys. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"You're joking, right?" Kim Namjoon responded, throwing down a tabloid in front of him. "After we explicitly tell you to be careful, this is what you go out and do?"

Taehyung rolled his eyes, but still reached out for the glossy magazine. He had yet to see this one. His picture was taking up most of the cover, blue hair wildly out of place and emotionless eyes looking directly back at him. He had his arms slung over a male and female, both of whom were looking up adoringly at his face.

He looked like shit and he knew it, though that didn't stop the cocky smile from spreading across his lips. "Not my fault the paparazzi can't get enough of me."

Namjoon, who was known as RM in the music industry, ran a weary hand through his platinum hair. "They can't get enough of you because you keep giving them stories to write about. Every day there is something new. Old bosses speaking out against you. Estranged family selling their concerns to the press. And don't get me started about your ex-lovers detailing your sleepless nights."

Taehyung peered down at the magazine, quickly skimming the headlines. There was no mention of his music or the album he was about to drop. Everything revolved around his social life.

"We warned you the last time," a new voice said. It belonged to Min Yoongi. "We told you there would be consequences if there was one more negative story about you."

"You think this story is negative?" Taehyung asked, incredulous. "That's funny, coming from you Suga."

"It's not me on the cover, Tae," Yoongi said, his voice raising. "It's not me they care about. If I have a threesome, cool, good for me. But if it's you . . . your fans don't support that shit."

The blue haired boy looked back to the tabloid cover, reading the bold headlines. World Superstar V: Fulfilling His Threesome Fantasies - With Another Man?

"This is rubbish," he said to the older boys. "You can't tell me you believe this?"

"I don't care if it's the furthest thing from the truth, Tae," Namjoon started. "But people believe it. Your past antics would make them believe pretty much anything about you now."

Yoongi stood up from the table they were all seated at. "Are you just so starved for attention that you'll risk ruining your reputation?"

Taehyung stared blankly at the older boy. "You're free to cut ties with me at any point. See if I care."

The two elders shook their heads, disappointed in the younger. Namjoon got up and approached him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Tae, come on. You know we love you. We want what's best for you. But if we're going to keep working as a team, you need to pull it together."

Silence settled around the three as they all looked at each other. Taehyung, unknowingly to the older boys, was still reeling from Yoongi's comment about being starved for attention. It hurt. It made him want to lash out.

He'd deny it until the day he reached his grave, but it was true.

He was so lonely.

As easy as it would be to blame his occupation or celebrity status, he could only blame himself for how alone he felt. After two traumatic childhood experiences had left him heartbroken and abandoned, he vowed to never let anyone close to him again. The risk of all that pain was not worth it.

Not anymore.

But just because he surrounded himself with people, with strangers, that didn't mean the stories about him were true.

"We don't want your behavior to affect your career in the future, Tae," Namjoon continued. "Your fans are already starting to pull back. We want to help change your public image so you can continue to be as successful as possible."

Taehyung sighed. "And you really think me mentoring some wannabe star will help my image?"

"We were all new to this at one point. The public will eat it up when they see you genuinely trying to help someone with their career," Yoongi said. "There will be several rounds of auditions before the candidates get to you, and then the three of us will decide which lucky person gets to work with us."

Taehyung felt a smile forming on his lips as he thought of something. "Fine. But I have two conditions."

"Of course he does," Namjoon muttered.

"First, only I get to choose who becomes my mentee." Taehyung stated, pausing as he waited for the two elders to accept.

Begrudgingly, they nodded. The preliminary auditions would be tough, so only the best of the best would get through. They didn't need to worry about the boy choosing someone who lacked talent just to spite them.

"And second," he continued, "if I have to do this, so do you. I want each of you to mentor someone as well."

Yoongi's jaw dropped. "You are out of your mind."

Taehyung smiled widely, feeling happy for the first time today. "I think it's a fabulous idea. And in the spirit of mentorship, isn't it much better for us to work with three people as opposed to one? That way the company looks good in addition to me."

"Give us a moment," Namjoon said, pulling Yoongi into the hallway. Taehyung watched as the door closed and left him alone in the room.

He picked up the tabloid again, staring at his picture. God, could no one see how tired he looked? Did no one care that he rarely smiled anymore? He understood the industry he was in. Truly, he did. But sometimes it would feel nice to be treated as a person, rather than an object everyone owned. It would be nice to have just one person understand how he felt. To have one person who valued him for him, not for his celebrity status.

Years back he thought he had a person like that.

But that was a lifetime ago.

His two producers walked back into the room. Yoongi had a scowl on his face, which he directed at Taehyung. Namjoon looked as exhausted as the younger felt.

"Fine," Yoongi breathed. "Joon and I will act as mentors in addition to you."

Taehyung bit his lip to refrain from smiling in victory. "Glad we're agreed."

Namjoon plopped down in a plush chair. "But we're warning you now, Tae. You need to take this seriously. Whoever you work with is going to look up to you. Don't let them down. Don't let your fans down."

"Okay, okay," the youngest grumbled. "When do we start?"

Yoongi grinned. "Tomorrow."