The Arrangement

48

A loud ringing noise pulled Taehyung and Jungkook out of a deep sleep. It was the communication system security used when visitors wanted to come up.

"What time is it?" Jungkook groaned, burying his face into the crook of the elder's neck.

"Too early," Taehyung huffed, grabbing his cell phone and seeing it was just after ten in the morning. He also noticed he had several unread texts and missed calls. Made sense, since many probably wanted to congratulate him on his mentee getting signed to Big Hit.

When the ringing ceased to stop, Taehyung reluctantly got out of bed and made his way to the buzzer. His feet dragged slowly, exhaustion still heavy in his limbs. The two boys had stayed out into the wee hours of the morning, celebrating with their friends and families. By the time they got home, both collapsed into bed and fell instantly asleep.

"Yes?" Taehyung mumbled into the receiver.

"I have a Kim Namjoon and Min Yoongi here for you, sir. Should I let them up?"

He heard Yoongi's voice in the background saying Taehyung better let them up before Namjoon shushed him.

It was definitely too early to deal with them. "Yeah, yeah. Send them up."

He went to the front door and unlocked it, absentmindedly realizing his two producers had never been to his apartment before. It'd be nice to show them around and maybe enjoy breakfast on the balcony.

A little too late, he also remembered how Namjoon and Yoongi didn't know Jungkook was living with him.

The door swung open, revealing the two producers with stoic faces.

"Hey, guys!" Taehyung smiled cheerfully, the excitement of the showcase coming back to him despite his sleepiness. He prayed this would be quick and that Jungkook would stay in their bedroom. "Why are you here so early?"

Namjoon sighed, running a hand through his platinum hair. "Sit down, Tae."

Taehyung arched a brow but listened to the order. "Is everything alright?"

The two elders stayed standing, looking down at their artist with a mix of disappointment and anger.

Yoongi, his hands behind his back, spoke first in a deadly calm tone. "Where is he?"

Taehyung's heart skipped a beat. "Where is who?"

The older producer whipped his hands out, slapping down a magazine onto the coffee table. When Taehyung saw the cover, his heart started hammering away in his chest.

Because a picture of Jungkook and him kissing last night backstage was displayed in clear and exact detail.

The headline below it read Secretive Manipulations? How V Promised Success to Mentee in Exchange for Affair.

A tagline was written under that, attributing the juicy details to none other than the scum of the earth - Joowon. Taehyung swore lowly. The interviewer must have been hiding in the shadows, waiting for any piece of information he could get his hands on.

To Joowon, this was probably revenge.

"Tae, is Jungkook here with you right now?" Namjoon repeated Yoongi's question while staring down at him.

Taehyung was saved from answering.

"Yeah, I'm here," Jungkook stated, walking into the living room and sitting next to Taehyung. Without hesitation, he took hold of the elder's hand.

Both producers saw the action and frowned.

"Did I not warn you," Yoongi began, looking straight at Taehyung, "that the next time you appeared in a tabloid like this, you'd lose your contract?"