Thread by @outro_roni

#taegi au in which at a new year’s eve party, taehyung gets pulled into a kiss by a stranger, who tries to make her ex jealous — but taehyung is surprised to find that it’s not the girl’s ex who gets jealous.

💚

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re the one trying to make your ex jealous, not me.”

“What do you mean?” Taehyung asks, still confused by the girl who had pulled him into a dull kiss unexpectedly, in the middle of the club.

He thinks that he’d seen her at uni before, but doesn’t know her name.

“That guy hasn’t stopped glaring at me since I pecked you.”

She whisper-shouts into his ear over the loud music, the grin on her lips apparent in the sound of her voice.

She has her hands curled around the silver tinsel boa Taehyung is wearing around his neck, while his own hands are hovering above her waist, not quite touching yet. He’s internally debating with himself.

His first instinct is to push her away, but her comment is intriguing enough for him to halt. Instead of pushing her away, he finds himself craning his neck to find the person she is talking about.

“My ex didn’t even seem to care about the kiss, and she was always jealous.”

She sighs heavily. “Yours is over there.”

She nods to the right discreetly and Taehyung whips his head around, immediately spotting him.

He’s standing by the bar while Namjoon is sitting on a bar stool next to him.

Namjoon seems to be shouting into his hyung’s ear, trying to be heard over the sound of the music.

Yoongi is leaning back, elbows propped up on the bar behind him lazily, a drink in his hand and his eyes fixed on Taehyung and the girl.

Taehyung’s heart does a little flip when he sees that Yoongi is still wearing the silly tie with the sparkly silver ‘2023’ printed on the front that Taehyung brought him for this New Year’s Eve party.

And even though they’re quite far apart, Taehyung can’t help but notice that she’s right. Yoongi seems to be glaring daggers at the two of them from across the room, his eyes never leaving them, not for a second.

“Oh, that’s Yoongi. He’s always looking at me like he bit into something sour or like he wants to rip my head off.”

𝘐𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴.

Taehyung laughs it off, and if there’s a hint of bitterness to his tone, he blames it on the alcohol.

“Hm, I don’t know. Seems like right now, he really wants to rip mine off.”

Taehyung scoffs, turning back to her. “Why would he want to do that?”

“He’s obviously jealous.” It’s her turn to laugh incredulously at Taehyung’s cluelessness.

“Of me?”

“No, sweetie, obviously of me.”

She giggles, sliding a little closer to Taehyung, who doesn’t see how any of this is ‘obvious’.

“I don’t see my ex anymore so I’ll help you, just watch him.” She whispers conspiratorially, turning them around so Taehyung can see Yoongi behind her without having to turn his head.

“Just play along.” She reaches for one of his hands and places it on her waist. “Don’t be as obvious as him.”

Taehyung lets himself be positioned the way she wants to without complaint. They have been pregaming at Seokjin’s before so Taehyung is buzzed.

And he isn’t quite sure what she is hinting at, yet he’s still going along with it. But… she’s going to help him with what, exactly?

He’s not sure, but now that she made him aware of Yoongi’s eyes on them, he can’t help but look.

He tilts his head down so his hair falls into his eyes ㅡ he hopes Yoongi won’t be able to see that they’re trained on him. In the flashing lights of the club, it’s difficult to gauge his reaction, but something in Taehyung’s half-drunken mind hopes that she’s right about him.

He hopes that Yoongi is jealous.

The sudden thought is foreign to him ㅡ he doesn’t think he had ever seen Yoongi be jealous of anyone, and since they are just friends, there’s no reason for him to be jealous of someone kissing Taehyung.

Taehyung doesn’t think he had ever wanted or prompted Yoongi to be jealous either. Taehyung is sure Yoongi doesn’t like him more, or in a different manner than he likes any of their other friends. Strictly platonic.

So the thought that Yoongi might get jealous about someone stealing a kiss from Taehyung makes blood rush to his cheeks.

Taehyung likes Yoongi ㅡ no sense trying to deny it. He often jokingly flirts with him just to get a rise out of Yoongi; an eye-roll, a groan or a rare blush.

Yoongi would push him away and Taehyung would just giggle and turn his attention back to the conversation as if nothing happened. Because nothing ever really happened.

Yoongi never shows anything but deliberately exaggerated pretend annoyance at Taehyung’s flirting.

Jimin thinks it’s fondness.

Taehyung thinks Jimin is just rooting for him to end up with the guy he likes so he’s looking at it through rose-colored glasses. Yoongi’s way of showing his affection generally isn’t as obvious and out-there.

Taehyung understands why Jimin could mistake his actions for something more. He understands why Jimin could think the deadpan teasing is actually Yoongi flirting back.

Taehyung had once wondered about that as well.

But Yoongi never gave him more ㅡ nothing that would imply it was anything but friendly banter, so Taehyung stopped wondering. It was for the better. He still found himself short of breath or fumbling for words in the most ridiculous moments.

When Yoongi did something small that should be insignificant. Like playing with Yeontan and laughing freely or remembering to bring a sweet drink for Taehyung whenever he did coffee runs.

It was always those small acts.

They would seem insignificant to others but they made a flame of longing flare up in Taehyung’s chest, followed by the constricting feeling of knowing that it was all pointless either way. Acting on his desires would make things too complicated.

But hoping that maybe, just maybe Yoongi could possibly reciprocate some of these desires, that he could be a little jealous if Taehyung kissed someone ㅡ well, Taehyung thinks he could at least indulge in that hope, even if it is pointless.

He places both hands on her waist.

“Can you see him?” She asks, stretching up to whisper-shout into his ear. Taehyung hopes Yoongi doesn’t see the way he cringes at her high-pitched scream.

“He’s still watching.” He confirms, chin bumping against her head as they dance.

“So let’s give him something to watch.”

She turns around, her back pressed to his chest, keeping his hands on her hips as she starts to grind against him. Taehyung is... unimpressed, to say the least. Sure, she’s pretty, a good dancer, knows how to move, but it does nothing for Taehyung, whose eyes are on Yoongi.

He is still looking at them, nodding at something Namjoon said. Taehyung feels warm under his searing gaze. It almost seems like Yoongi’s gathering courage when he downs his drink at once, like maybe he would leave his position at the bar.

Taehyung finds himself daydreaming about Yoongi separating him from the girl he’s dancing with, about him pulling Taehyung into his arms, maybe even kissing him senseless, as if they were the leads in a drama.

He feels the blush on his cheeks as he waits in anticipation, his impatience growing ㅡ but before anything like that can happen, Yoongi is interrupted by Jungkook joining the two of them at the bar.

Jungkook is wearing ridiculous sparkly ‘2023’ glasses, the type that probably should have been discontinued after 2009. He still pulls them off somehow, of course. Jungkook leans closer to Yoongi and Yoongi’s eyes flicker away from Taehyung to give Jungkook a quick once-over.

He turns his body slightly to the younger, smiles, and starts talking to him. Taehyung frowns, and the dulling realization hits him that after all he’s not the lead in a romantic drama, and Yoongi is still not secretly in love with him.

In fact, Yoongi isn’t even watching them dance anymore. Taehyung continues to sway with the girl as he stares at the pair at the bar. Yoongi seems invested in his conversation with Jungkook, doesn’t seem to care about the stolen kiss or the dancing after all.

Taehyung must be more buzzed than he first thought, he must have imagined Yoongi’s angry glare after all. He doesn’t look angry or jealous right now at all.

Yoongi is smiling as Jungkook laughs next to him, slapping his arm excitedly. Taehyung looks away.

Something ugly is bubbling in the pit of his stomach, and he tries to ignore it as he continues dancing out of spite. He belts out the lyrics of the song, jumping and dancing and smiling widely.

He dances with her, laughing when others join them and cheer them on as she drops down and straightens back up, winding her arms around Taehyung’s neck, her back against his chest again.

He’s reminded of her words from before. They are giving Yoongi something to watch.

But when he looks up, eyes searching until he spots Yoongi by the bar, he isn’t looking at them anymore, doesn’t seem to be paying attention at all.

Taehyung’s smile falls from his face, his movements becoming a little slower, a little less energetic.

He sighs at last, the drive to make Yoongi jealous has fizzled out, he’s tired from the dancing and not as pleasantly buzzed as before. He needs to get a drink and drown his own misplaced jealousy in it. He leans down to her, slightly defeated.

“Hey, I don’t think-”, he starts, lips against her ear so she could hear him better.

“Oh wow, he’s 𝘴𝘰 mad!” She interrupts immediately, giggling as she turns her head in Taehyung’s direction, looking up excitedly. “I wish my ex was as bothered.”

“What do you me-?” Taehyung is confused, to say the least.

“He was probably trying to be sneaky, stealing glances when he thought you wouldn’t see.” She reaches down to one of Taehyung’s hands on her waist, squeezes it excitedly. “He’s not as stealthy now.”

Taehyung looks up, watching him until Yoongi looks up as well, knowing exactly where Taehyung is even though it looked as if he was disinterested just seconds before. Their eyes finally meet again. Yoongi’s face twists into a frown, jaw clenched.

Taehyung’s heart flutters.

Yoongi’s arms are crossed, biceps bulging, hands curling into fists. Taehyung wouldn’t say he is mad, but he is definitely more tense than before, the corners of his lips pulled down slightly. Jungkook is laughing with Namjoon now. Hm.

“So, what are you gonna do about it?”

She asks, drawing Taehyung’s attention back to her.

“Nothing.” Taehyung replies immediately, a knee-jerk reaction to the question. Jimin had asked that same question countless times before, and Taehyung’s answer remains the same. Nothing. Always nothing.

“What do you mean, nothing? He’s right there, looks like he wants to strangle me for being close to you.” Taehyung wants to argue, but she interrupts him. “Don’t even try to say you don’t want him to jump you and make out with you and rip your clothes off.” She’s clearly drunk.

“I don’t.” He says immediately.

“Okay, fine, you know what?” She turns around until she is facing him again. She manhandles him, hands on his cheeks, pulling his face down until he looks at her again.

“Now please, look me 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 and tell me you don’t like him, that you don’t want him and that you don’t have far-from-platonic feelings for him.”

Taehyung’s eyes flit between hers as he tries to collect his thoughts.

It’s one thing to secretly pine after someone and to want them to be a little jealous, but admitting his feelings out loud is something entirely different. Even admitting them to someone he doesn’t know.

Keeping his secret saves him from being hurt.

Keeping it to himself lets him pretend he is just imagining his crush. It saves him from being rejected or pitied. And if Yoongi doesn’t know about his feelings, Taehyung is free to flirt with him as bluntly as he usually does.

Without Yoongi getting uncomfortable or thinking that Taehyung expects anything more. He hopes, yes, but he never expects anything.

He looks back up at Yoongi. Taehyung smiles fondly when he sees Yoongi rolling his eyes and pouting slightly as Jungkook seems to tease him.

Namjoon just laughs. Yoongi looks exasperated in this calm, endearing way. Taehyung feels warm when Yoongi glances over and their eyes meet again.

“I don’t have feelings for him.” He whispers, unable to look away from Yoongi.

“Well shit, honey”, she laughs, pinching his cheek playfully. “That was nowhere near my eyes.”

💚

“You’re going to burn a hole through him if you don’t stop staring, hyung.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes, averting his gaze from the pair on the dance floor, trying to block out the image of her hands on Taehyung’s cheeks, pulling him down to her, probably into another kiss.

Trying to ignore the burning sensation in his chest. It was probably just the alcohol. Yoongi admits ㅡ he has been staring. But that was mainly because he had never seen Taehyung dance with anyone other than Jimin before.

Yoongi has pegged him as a loud introvert who sticks to the group of friends he knows when they go out. But, to be fair, Yoongi only ever sees him when the seven of them meet up, so maybe his perception is slightly biased.

Well, Yoongi thinks, it certainly must be a little biased as he’d always thought Taehyung only likes men. The fact that he still has his arms basically wrapped around a girl who pulled him into a kiss before and was grinding against him definitely contradicts that perception.

Not that Yoongi cares. Taehyung is free to do whatever he wants, obviously. And with whoever he wants. Make out on the dancefloor or go home with them, whatever. It’s just that Yoongi didn’t really expect… this. But it’s fine, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳. None of his business. Obviously.

“You better catch up, Namjoon-ah. You’re three shots behind.”

He tries to change the subject, motioning to the bartender to pour a new round. Tequila for Yoongi, vodka for Namjoon. Neither drink is a good idea but Yoongi is a little past the point of caring.

He didn’t really feel like going out for New Year’s Eve in the first place, and if he drinks a little more he will be able to begrudgingly admit to himself that seeing Taehyung wrapped around someone else, dancing and kissing is not exactly making his evening any better.

“He’s not the one drowning his sorrows in tequila.” Jungkook teases and Namjoon laughs, patting Yoongi’s shoulder, to which Yoongi just huffs.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” No, Yoongi definitely isn’t trying to drink away any sorrows either.

Yoongi inhales sharply to soothe the burn, unable to stop himself from glancing at Taehyung again. He wonders why he feels so uneasy, looking at Taehyung dancing closely with someone. A second later, he finds himself wondering how Taehyung’s hands would feel on his waist instead.

Yoongi shakes his head adamantly ㅡ that thought came to him out of nowhere, unprovoked, and he curses himself for it. Taehyung is his friend. Yoongi is his hyung and he should not be thinking like that.

Taehyung’s endless flirting is just a little fun between friends, because he likes to rile Yoongi up. He’s not serious and Yoongi should stop feeling hurt or jealous whenever Taehyung’s attention shifts away from him.

He wonders if drinking more would wipe those unbidden thoughts from his mind. There’s no harm in trying, right?

“Oh, come on, hyung”, Jungkook pushes at his shoulder teasingly, grins widely, and Yoongi rolls his eyes. “Denial is not a good look on you.”

“I’m not in denial of anything”, he claims, even though something inside of him says that’s not entirely true.

“Oh yeah? Then answer this. Have you been staring at Taehyung?”

Yoongi grits his teeth, but he doesn’t lie. Entirely.

“I just happened to see him in the crowd a couple of times.”

And then he just happened to not look away for an extended period of time. That’s normal looking. Not staring. Yeah. Exactly.

Still, to emphasize his point, Yoongi decides to turn his back on the dancefloor.

Turn his back on Taehyung. Who is dancing with a girl. A pretty girl who had just kissed him. Who might just be kissing him again right now. Yoongi is not concerned about it, doesn’t care. None. of. his. business.

Jungkook snorts and sips at his virgin mojito.

“Right. You don’t care that the girl he’s still dancing with kissed him?”

“If Taehyung wanted it too, why would I care? He’s free to do whatever he wants.”

Yoongi echoes his thoughts like a tape stuck on repeat and he decides to ignore the incredulous huff coming from Namjoon.

“So you’re not jealous at all?” Jungkooks prods again.

“Of course not! Why would I be jealous, we’re just friends.”

“Hyung, I asked simple yes and no questions and this is the first question you actually answer but it feels like we’re playing two truths one lie.”

“Which I would still totally win by the way. You’re so obvious.” Yoongi doesn’t really follow that logic, but he blames it on the alcohol.

“Jungkook-ah… I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“We’re friends, Taehyung is still dancing with a girl who kissed him and I’m apparently drowning my sorrows in tequila, there’s nothing more to say.” Yoongi makes his point by drinking another shot, grabs the vodka he’d ordered for Namjoon, which is just an altogether bad idea.

He shouldn’t have started mixing liquors, he thinks, cringing at the taste.

“Jungkookie is right, one of these statements is a lie, hyung”, Namjoon says, reaching out for the virgin mojito Jungkook had ordered for himself. “And I feel like you’ll find out which one soon.”

“In the meantime, we’ll go dance.”

Namjoon downs the drink, grimacing slightly at the sweet taste, then grasps Jungkook’s hand, pulling him towards the dance floor. Yoongi thinks he hears Jungkook ask Namjoon since when he likes to dance but he can’t focus on it.

Because when he turns back to the bar, about to call out to the bartender for another drink, he feels a hand gently stroking along his shoulder before someone slides into the empty space next to him.

“Hey, baby.”

Yoongi freezes, turning to the side to face Taehyung. His eyes are sparkling, his smile is a little tame but dangerous all the same. The nickname he uses for Yoongi whenever he wants to tease him usually makes him roll his eyes, but it makes Yoongi’s cheeks burn tonight.

Yoongi has to look away from Taehyung’s lips because his first thought is, as often these days, what it would feel like to kiss them. But – not the time, not the place. Taehyung’s entire body is turned in Yoongi’s direction.

Yoongi thinks he remembers reading that this is a sign of attraction but he also read that the earth is flat before so he doesn’t put too much weight on 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 fleeting thought.

“Hi”, he says a little belatedly, ignoring the ‘baby’ as usual.

He twirls the empty shot glass between his fingers just to do something other than stare at Taehyung.

“Having fun?”

Taehyung chuckles about the way Yoongi avoids engaging with Taehyung’s teasing, as always.

“Yeah, so much fun. The music’s really good!”

Taehyung leans a little closer so Yoongi can hear him over the noise in the club.

“Oh”, Yoongi hadn’t even really noticed the music, too focused on other things. “Yeah, right, it’s not bad.”

Taehyung laughs incredulously, and Yoongi shoots him a quick glance.

He watches as Taehyung tries to flag down the bartender. He looks so good, even while doing the most mundane things. Yoongi is at the point of the evening where he can admit that he is very much fucked. And not in the preferred way.

“You hate charts, hyung, you can’t fool me.”

Taehyung scolds him in good fun. Yoongi feels a little warm, because Taehyung is right and that teasing comment makes him feel so… perceived. Like Taehyung cares to know things about him. Obviously, they’re friends, so Taehyung knows quite a bit about Yoongi.

He’s always very vocal about his musical preferences and about how he dislikes this type of music, so maybe Yoongi’s buzzed brain reads more into it than there really is.

The bartender makes his way over to them, glitter on his cheekbones and a tiny vest covering his bare torso.

He’s attractive – Yoongi is sure he’s made a ton of tips tonight. He wonders if Taehyung finds him hot, too, if he’s Taehyung’s type. But Taehyung’s eyes don’t stray as he orders, entirely focused on the bartender’s face.

“Two whiskey sours”, Taehyung holds up two fingers, making sure to enunciate the order very clearly so the bartender can understand it over the noise, nodding and giving him a thumbs up at the end, and Yoongi catches himself smiling a little at his antics.

He quickly schools his features before Taehyung looks back at him, so he doesn’t notice.

But then Yoongi realizes what Taehyung ordered, and he doesn’t feel like smiling anymore. Two drinks. He must’ve come over to get a drink for the girl he was dancing with. Obviously.

That’s why he wasn’t checking out the bartender back, even when the guy gave him a very blatant, suggestive once-over. Taehyung already found someone else tonight, someone to buy expensive drinks for. It’s actually Yoongi’s favorite whiskey drink, too.

Yoongi is aware that Taehyung doesn’t really like whiskey, so he might be really into her and trying to show off. Yoongi tries not to let this bother him. The sharp pang in his chest is proof enough that he fails.

He focuses on the practiced steps in which the bartender prepares the drinks, just so he doesn’t have to look at Taehyung, lest he decides to talk about the girl or – even worse – their kiss. Yoongi might be a little tipsy but not enough to forget anything Taehyung says to him.

And he really doesn’t want to remember Taehyung gushing over some girl he met at the New Year’s Eve party.

The bartender finishes both drinks in no time and places them on the bar, one in front of Yoongi, one in front of Taehyung, and he says the price before he turns away.

He starts to make the next drinks, giving Taehyung time to get his money.

Instead of reaching for his wallet, Taehyung picks up his glass and turns to Yoongi.

“Well?” Taehyung asks, looking at Yoongi almost expectantly, but Yoongi is not sure what he could be expecting.

“Well what?”

“Aren’t you going to drink? Come on, drink with me, baby, or the ice will melt and we both know you hate watery drinks.” Taehyung takes it upon himself to grab the glass and push it into Yoongi’s unexpecting hands.

He looks up at Taehyung and the teasing glint in his eyes is not lost on Yoongi. But Yoongi is kind of confused and too busy thinking about how Taehyung apparently just bought him a drink – him, instead of the girl he was dancing with.

Yoongi knows this doesn’t have to mean anything but with a couple of drinks down Yoongi’s heart is telling him something else – or maybe it’s his dick. He’s not sure, but he accepts the glass a little dazedly.

And it might be unnecessary, but he lets his fingers slide along Taehyung’s as he takes the glass from his hand. Taehyung doesn’t really seem to mind the contact, though. He just smirks when Yoongi finally accepts the glass.

“Are you trying to get me drunk?”

Yoongi asks, reverting to humor just to tease Taehyung. Yoongi really shouldn’t add whiskey to his mix of vodka and tequila, but Taehyung’s charming smile is too convincing for his own good, and Yoongi has never been able to say no to him.

“What, no, I-”

“I’m just kidding, Taehyung-ah. Hyung will pay for it.” Yoongi gets his card out of his wallet when the bartender comes back to them and he pays before Taehyung can even do as much as reach for his money.

“Aish, Yoongi-hyung. I wanted to buy you a drink.”

Taehyung’s whine has that teasing quality to it that always makes Yoongi feel just a little bit warmer in his clothes and he’s thankful that he’s busy paying and doesn’t have to look into Taehyung’s eyes, because he might just drown in them instead of the booze.

“You can get the next one”, Yoongi just mumbles, even though he knows if they get another drink, he will pay for it as well. Yoongi raises the glass and clinks it against Taehyung’s, eyes lowered as he takes a sip of the drink, all too aware of Taehyung’s burning gaze on him.

“Pretty good”, he says, appreciating the drink despite the lingering aftertaste of vodka and tequila, and he has to suppress a chuckle at Taehyung’s grimace when he sips at his own whiskey sour. 𝘚𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦. Yoongi luckily doesn’t voice this thought out loud.

They stay quiet for a second. Yoongi turns to watch the barman in front of them mix more drinks, while he can feel Taehyung watching him, and just when Taehyung is about to chime up, the music starts to get quieter and the DJ’s voice booms through the speakers.

“5 more minutes until midnight! Make sure you start your new year with a deep kiss ㅡ or an even deeper look into a glass of your poison of choice!”

There’s loud, drunken roars from the other club-goers following the reminder.

Taehyung cringes at the awkward announcement, throwing a judgy side-eye Yoongi’s way, who shakes his head, finishing his drink while the DJ mentions some special offer for shots.

“That was…” Taehyung starts, a little lost for words.

Yoongi chuckles, nodding.

His fingers play with the empty glass. “It was… something for sure. I’d give it a solid 5.2 out of 10 for a promotional ad.”

Taehyung giggles, a dumb smile on his lips as he looks at Yoongi, wondering which option he would prefer. A kiss, or a drink?

Taehyung’s curious, kind of wants to ask. But what if Yoongi would take it as a suggestion? It would be awkward if he thought Taehyung was throwing himself at him. Taehyung flirts with him a lot, sure, but never really like this.

Maybe if he asked, Yoongi would just say he wants a drink. Taehyung isn't sure if a rejection like that would be better or worse. But then he could just buy Yoongi one and they could drink together, maybe that wouldn’t be too awkward. But what if Yoongi says he’d prefer a kiss?

What if he actually has an eye on someone else in the club and wants to make a move? The bartender could be his type, for all Taehyung knows. What if Taehyung is actually keeping him from getting with someone right now?

Maybe he shouldn’t ask, it really seems like either way he would get hurt. Unless of course… Yoongi wants to kiss him. But how high are the chances of that happening? There’s no way, right? Just because he was maybe watching Taehyung before… that doesn’t mean anything, right?

Taehyung is absolutely overthinking this, his tipsy mind thinking of a thousand different scenarios. He should just ask Yoongi, get it out of the way and deal with his reply once he knows what it is. But before Taehyung can even begin to form a question, Yoongi speaks up.

“At least you found someone to start the new year with”, he says and turns around on his stool, his eyes flitting from Taehyung to the dancefloor behind him.

“Huh?” He was so absorbed in his own muddled thoughts that it takes Taehyung a while to understand what Yoongi is saying.

“You know, a kiss to start the new year off.” Yoongi explains without really making his point any clearer. Taehyung isn’t sure how to respond, his buzzed mind unable to make sense of what Yoongi is saying.

“Looked like you two were having fun on the dance floor before.”

When Yoongi adds that, Taehyung realizes what he’s implying.

“Oh! You mean-“

“Yeah”, Yoongi interrupts him right away, not really keen on learning her name. “Looks like she would be a good choice… you know, to start off the new year.”

Yoongi’s voice doesn’t reveal any emotion and all Taehyung can do is stare at Yoongi’s profile, trying to figure him out. Something about the way his lips are pursed into a pout makes Taehyung a little weak.

“Oh. Why do you think that?”

Taehyung asks, leaning with his side against the bar. The movement could be read as innocent, just him shifting his weight, but it brings him closer to Yoongi, right into his line of sight so that Yoongi cannot look past him anymore.

“You looked good together. Kissing. She’s pretty.”

Yoongi’s tone still doesn’t give away anything about his thoughts and Taehyung just can’t help but wonder.

“You think so?” He asks, eyes not straying from Yoongi.

His next question is risky, but the counter on the screens above the stage says there’s only 3 minutes left until midnight, and Taehyung feels like he can probably make one last mistake before the clock strikes 12.

“Are you jealous, hyung?”

The question stems from curiosity more than actual suspicion, but despite the flashing lights, Taehyung can see the color in Yoongi’s cheeks as he scoffs.

“Why would I be jealous of her?”

Oh. Taehyung raises an eyebrow, unable to stop the way his lips stretch into a small smile.

“You said she’s pretty. I thought you’d be jealous of 𝘮𝘦, baby.”

💚

Yoongi looks at him like a deer caught in the headlights, he splutters, redness flooding his cheeks in an instant as he realizes what he just said. That he is jealous of her. For kissing Taehyung. Which implies that-

“Are you, baby? Jealous of her? Jealous that she kissed me?”

Taehyung prods ㅡ Yoongi’s reply pretty much cleared the way for Taehyung to flirt mercilessly again, which is almost second nature to Taehyung anyways, but the alcohol in his system lowers his inhibitions even further, and he’s giddy at the possibility of Yoongi being jealous.

“What? Ye- Wait, no!” Yoongi laughs a little helplessly, scratching the back of his head, a tell-tale sign of his shyness. “That’s not what- I- I mean-”

Taehyung smirks, a little elated when he sees Yoongi finally react to Taehyung’s flirting, trying to come up with an excuse.

“So you are jealous that she kissed me…” Taehyung murmurs, because he just can’t help it, fingertips stroking over his bottom lip as he watches Yoongi in thought, his own heart pounding. There’s still time to make another mistake this year, so he gathers his courage.

“Do 𝘺𝘰𝘶 want to kiss me, baby?”

It’s a question he'd asked himself many times whenever the two of them were in their own personal bubble – when they were sitting next to each other, watching a movie, the couple sharing a kiss in the rain, he wondered: do you want to kiss me?

Or when they were in Yoongi’s car, listening to a popular 90s love song as he drove Taehyung home, and the soft, dreamy voice of the singer repeating words about nighttime kisses was the background music to Yoongi’s even softer voice, Taehyung wondered: do you want to kiss 𝘮𝘦?

And whenever Taehyung flirts with him, and he simply watches Yoongi to see his reaction, and on some rare occasions catches the way Yoongi’s eyes would linger on Taehyung’s smile after Yoongi exaggerates his annoyed eye-roll, he wonders: do you want to kiss 𝘮𝘦, baby?

It has been on his mind for months, and now it hangs in the air between them, maybe a little too heavy for the last minutes of the year, so Taehyung holds his breath. The audacious question makes Yoongi sputter, the alcohol making him trip over his words in his haste to explain.

“What?! Of course not, why would I-”, he looks down at the glass he’s twirling between his fingers.

“We’re friends, it’s not like- I mean I can’t, you can’t-” He takes a deep breath.

“You should stop- stop flirting with me, since you don’t mean it- also 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 call me-”

“Oh? Well, it was just a thought.”

Taehyung decides to save Yoongi from making up another excuse. Yoongi’s words made another question come to the forefront of his mind. Maybe the issue is not if Yoongi 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 to kiss him, but if he 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 himself to want Taehyung?

Taehyung interrupts him only to turn back to the bar. Maybe it’s the alcohol or just his lovesick mind, but he’s in the mood to make another mistake, and he’s happy when he can feel Yoongi’s eyes still on him as he orders those promotional shots the DJ was talking about before.

“But you’re right.”

He continues after paying, and he turns to face Yoongi again. Maybe this is less of a ‘yes or no’ question, and more of a ‘this or that’ decision. Either way, Taehyung’s mind is made up, now it’s up to Yoongi.

“I did find someone to start off the new year.”

“Oh”, Yoongi hums, still a little dumbfounded, wondering about the shift in Taehyung’s tone; maybe he said too much, or the wrong thing.

And then he hears the DJ announce the last 60 seconds before midnight. And Taehyung says he found someone, but he’s still here. With Yoongi.

“Yeah, but 𝘩𝘦 has to choose." While everybody around them starts chanting, Taehyung’s eyes are solely on him. “So… what will it be, hyung?”

Taehyung steps a little closer, until he’s standing between Yoongi’s spread legs, a shot in either hand, eyes flitting between Yoongi’s.

“I- I don’t…”

Yoongi’s a little breathless as he looks up at him, the alcohol is messing with his head and the lack of distance between them is messing with his heart, and both urge him to do the one thing he’s been wanting to do for months. Pull him closer. Kiss him senseless.

“So, a kiss? Or a drink?”

Taehyung’s smooth voice interrupts his inner debate, and Yoongi’s eyes immediately flit to Taehyung’s mouth. Yoongi bites his lip, gulps.

“You can have whichever you want from me, hyung. So, tell me… how would you like to start off the new year?”

Taehyung looks at him expectantly, with the countdown at 30 seconds, and Yoongi’s eyes meet his. Taehyung is gorgeous. He has silver glitter on his eyelids, a pretty blush high on his cheekbones, and the silver tinsel boa contrasts beautifully with the warm tone of his skin.

He’s handsome and pretty and sweet and kind and also kind of perfect, and he makes Yoongi’s palms sweat and his cheeks burn with just a few words, and he makes his heart race each time he calls him baby, even if it’s just to tease him.

And – he apparently wants to kiss Yoongi.

Which Yoongi is still trying to wrap his head around, but he can’t even try to deny it any longer. There’s only one way he’d want to start off the new year.

With new determination, Yoongi looks down at the two shots Taehyung is holding between them, and he acts on autopilot.

He reaches for one shot, takes it out of Taehyung’s hand, and throws it back, drinking it quickly. 20 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴. Then, he reaches for the second one, and does the same, cringing at the taste of the fruity shot as he puts the empty glasses on the bar. 15 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴.

He looks up at Taehyung, who looks at him with confusion, hurt, thinking he made a mistake, Yoongi chose the drink.

But Yoongi reaches out for his boa, one hand wrapping around the two ends until he can tug Taehyung closer, free hand cradling Taehyung’s face. 10 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴.

“With those out of the way… happy new year, Taehyungie.”

He whispers, eyes locked on Taehyung’s lips, and when the club erupts in cheers as the clock strikes midnight, silver and gold confetti floating around them, Yoongi closes his eyes and finally pulls Taehyung into a kiss.

It’s a fleeting touch at first, but then it’s deep, passionate, Taehyung tastes of whiskey sour and he feels like heaven, his fingers sliding into Yoongi’s hair, tilting Yoongi’s head back so he can kiss him harder, deeper, days and weeks and months of longing all poured into it.

It’s electrifying, the push and pull addicting, and it makes their hearts race, steals their breaths.

When they separate after a long while, the music is louder than before, booming, but as everybody around them dances, it’s like they’re in their own little bubble again.

Their foreheads pressed together as Taehyung steals more kisses. Small, tiny pecks, twelve of them in total.

“For each month of the year”, Taehyung whispers between kisses, and Yoongi can’t help himself. He pulls him back into another long, fervent kiss that leaves them panting.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a while”, still in shock, Yoongi confesses quietly, into the small space between them.

“Yeah?” Taehyung’s eyes sparkle brighter than any tinsel ever could, and Yoongi would love nothing more than to drown in them. “I thought I annoyed you.”

“You do”, Yoongi agrees, earning himself a devastating pout that makes him melt. “So much that since nothing else ever worked to stop your incessant teasing, I couldn’t stop thinking about whether kissing you could finally make you shut up.”

“Well, you’re welcome to try, baby.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t mind when Taehyung teases him about his blush, especially when he leans down to press a kiss against Yoongi’s jaw.

“You know what, it’s funny...” Taehyung muses, arms wrapped around the back of Yoongi’s neck, still a little in disbelief.

Yoongi just 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 him. His lips are still tingling from the touch, and he feels giddy, loves the way Yoongi’s hands feel, curled around his waist.

“That girl pecked me earlier to make her ex girlfriend jealous, but turns out she helped make my boyfriend jealous instead.”

While Yoongi’s face soured a little at the reminder of Taehyung’s earlier kiss, he ends up raising his eyebrow in surprise, tugging Taehyung just a little closer, teasing him.

“Your boyfriend, huh?”

It’s Taehyung’s turn to blush now, and Yoongi loves that look on him.

“Oh baby, do you really think I’ll let you get away, now that you finally gave in?” He teases.

Yoongi rolls his eyes, and Taehyung grins widely.

“My flirting will be so much worse now, too, I’m warning you.”

“Aish, you punk”, Yoongi groans, making Taehyung giggle happily.

“Shut up, you love me, baby.” Taehyung teases and Yoongi rolls his eyes.

And turns out Yoongi was right – when he closes the distance between them in another kiss, it does make the both of them happily shut up, at least for a little while, as they ring in the new year together.

💚

happy new year, everyone! thank you for reading and interacting and sharing your love! I hope you have a wonderful 2023, baby 💚

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