TAEKOOK | HOPE

• 33 nervous

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Taehyung is nervous. He's so fucking nervous, and no amount of deep breathing or pep talks from Jimin can calm him down. He's been to premieres before, sure, but never for a movie that he's starring in, for fuck's sake. What if people hate it? What if people hate him in it specifically, and say that he ruined the whole movie?

"This isn't a very productive line of thought," Jimin says pragmatically, massaging the back of Taehyung's neck.

"Even if it's garbage, we're still going to love you in it," Seokjin offers, and Hoseok nods encouragingly beside him.

Yoongi rolls his eyes and says, firmly: "It won't be garbage."

He's so glad they're here, even if he is a nervous wreck - after years of performing together, there probably isn't anyone who knows how to handle him better when he's like this. Except for Jeongguk, but Jeongguk isn't coming.

Taehyung hadn't exactly been surprised when Jeongguk responded to his email saying he couldn't come. Disappointed, sure, but not surprised. Jeongguk had said he needed time, and even though it's been almost a year since that conversation, there's been no indication of that coming to an end any time soon. Taehyung hates it, is generally miserable because of it, but after everything he feels like he owes it to Jeongguk to respect what he wants.

Still, he had really been hoping that Jeongguk would come to his premiere. It feels wrong to experience it with all the others but not him.

"Namjoon says he's here," Seokjin announces, looking down at his phone. "Just changing into his suit and then he'll come meet us."

Taehyung settles a little at this - he's always found Namjoon's presence especially comforting.

"Just in time," Hoseok says, glancing down at his watch. "We have to leave soon."

Checking his own watch, Taehyung startles when he realizes the car will be picking them up in fifteen minutes. He's arriving with the other members, but needs to get there early enough to walk the red carpet with his costars as well.

Ten minutes pass, and then a knock comes at the door. Seokjin pulls it open to reveal Namjoon, looking very dapper for someone who just spent twelve hours on a plane.

"Hey," he greets them warmly, a huge, dimply grin on his face. "I brought a surprise."

He steps out of the way, and Taehyung swears that his heart fucking stops. Because there, in the doorway, is Jeongguk.

He looks like a fucking GQ model in his tuxedo, just like he always has, dark hair styled and parted over his forehead. It's been over a year since Taehyung has seen him in person, but he's still so, so handsome and Taehyung wants to die.

The others exclaim happily around him, but Taehyung just stares, wide-eyed, even when Jeongguk catches his eye, even when he flushes and looks down at his feet, hands in his pockets. He just can't believe that Jeongguk is here, in the flesh, that even after their fight and months of silence, Jeongguk had flown halfway around the world just to be here for his premiere. Taehyung's heart is thumping so hard he thinks it might be trying to break out of his chest and fling itself across the room to Jeongguk.

There's a gentle nudge against his shoulder - Jimin, of course - and Taehyung springs into action, leaping to his feet and crossing the room towards where Jeongguk is still standing in the doorway. Everything else fades to gray around him, the hotel room and the other members just a blur. If anyone says anything, he doesn't hear it.

He stops right in front of Jeongguk, and Jeongguk finally looks up at him, his eyes round, expression anxious. Taehyung doesn't say anything, just steps into his space and slips his arms around Jeongguk, burying his face in the side of his neck. It takes a moment for Jeongguk to respond, but then he lets out a shaky breath and folds around him, and all at once it feels like everything in the world is righting itself.

"I can't believe you're here," Taehyung murmurs, hot tears stinging at his eyes. He doesn't even care if he's being too obvious or emotional or clingy - right now, he just needs to be as close to Jeongguk as humanly possible. "Thank you so much."

"Couldn't miss your big day," Jeongguk says quietly, into his hair, and Taehyung nearly dissolves into the floor at the sound of his voice, the slight vibration in his chest when he speaks. He can't believe how long it's been since he heard that voice, since he smelled Jeongguk and felt the press of his body.

God, Taehyung is about ten seconds away from ditching the premiere and pulling Jeongguk into the nearest bed. Not even for sex reasons (well, partly for sex reasons), but just to bathe in the warmth of his presence again.

Someone clears their throat behind them (Yoongi, from the sound of it), and Taehyung steps back, biting his lip shyly, eyes still locked on Jeongguk's. To be honest, he had kind of forgotten the others were even still here.

"Sorry to break up this little reunion, but the car should be here," Hoseok says apologetically. The five of them are watching Taehyung and Jeongguk with impossibly fond expressions on their faces.

"Can't really be late for your own film premiere, Tae," Namjoon chimes in, and Taehyung pulls him in for a hug as well, feeling suddenly guilty (not to mention a little embarrassed) that he had completely bypassed Namjoon to get to Jeongguk. Feelings are a bitch, okay?

"Shit, right, okay," Taehyung says, collecting himself. They grab their things and pile out into the hallway, everyone chattering excitedly. This is the first time the seven of them have been in the same place since Hawaii, and the shift in energy is palpable. As desperately as Taehyung wants to get Jeongguk somewhere alone, he knows he needs to show all of the members how grateful he is that they came.

The trip to the premiere is quick, and before he knows it Taehyung is being swept up in a wave of journalists on the red carpet while the other members are snuck in through the theater's back entrance. It feels odd to be walking such a major red carpet without them, even if Taehyung does love his costars and is happy to be sharing this experience with them. Mostly, he can't stop thinking about the fact that Jeongguk is here, and how it somehow seems wrong to not be soaking up every single precious moment in his presence.

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