Truth Between Us ??

✦ ⊹ ꙳ ⁺ ‧ ⨯. ⁺ ✦ ⊹ . * ꙳ ✦ ⊹

The breakfast table was unusually quiet, save for the faint clinking of cutlery against porcelain. Jungkook sat slouched in his chair, idly poking at his scrambled eggs with his fork. His gaze kept darting to the side, stealing glances at Taehyung, who stood by the wall with his usual composed posture. Taehyung's face was unreadable, his eyes fixed somewhere beyond Jungkook.

Jungkook could feel the tension radiating from Taehyung since their last interaction. The air around him seemed heavier, sharper. He hadn't said a single word directly to Jungkook since yesterday, but the stony silence said enough. Jungkook didn't need to hear him to know; the Captain was pissed. This won't do, Jungkook thought, frustrated.

His mind wandered back to his conversation with Jimin from the night before.

"First focus?" Jimin had said, leaning closer to his camera as if imparting a profound secret. "Your goal should not be to get him to sleep with you right away, Kook. Before that. The hardest part is getting him to risk his career for even wanting that. That's the milestone."

Jungkook had scoffed at the thought. "Can't believe I have to jump through hoops just to get someone into bed. I never even have to ask! People come to me!"

Yoongi had chuckled from his side of the call. "Maybe you're just looking for excuses to get laid with him. Admit it, Jungkook—you're all bark, no bite."

Mock-offended, Jungkook had thrown a pillow at the screen. "It's not just that!" he had argued. "It's killing two birds with one stone. I teach my dad a lesson and I get a good lay. And let's not pretend Captain Stoic doesn't look like he knows what he's doing. It'd be a waste to kick him out without a test drive."

Yoongi had groaned, muttering, "Why is my friend so horny?"

Now, back at the breakfast table, Jungkook suppressed a grin at the memory, his thoughts shifting back to the plan. Step one, as Jimin had said: build trust. Make Taehyung believe he's not just some spoiled brat.

Jungkook cleared his throat, the sound abrupt in the silence. He fiddled with his fork, refusing to meet Taehyung's eyes as he spoke. "I'm sorry."

Taehyung's brows furrowed slightly. His voice, when it came, was calm but laced with confusion. "Are you... saying something to me, sir?"

Jungkook sighed, forcing himself to continue. "I said I'm sorry," he repeated, still not looking up. "For yesterday."

Taehyung's expression didn't shift, but his silence urged Jungkook to keep going.

"It was... inappropriate of me," Jungkook admitted, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his hair. "I guess I just... wanted to get back at you somehow. I was angry, but..." He hesitated, forcing himself to add the next part, though it grated against his pride. "...You were right. You were just doing your job."

For the first time, Taehyung's eyes flickered with something—was it surprise? Jungkook couldn't tell, but it was enough to spur him on.

"I acted like a brat," Jungkook continued, his tone softer now. "And you didn't deserve that."

Taehyung regarded him silently for a moment, his gaze sharp and assessing. "You don't need to apologize to me, sir," he finally said, his voice as even as ever. "I've dealt with far worse."

Jungkook bristled slightly at that. "Wow, thanks for making me feel better," he muttered under his breath.

But then, for the briefest moment, Jungkook thought he saw the corner of Taehyung's lips twitch—was that almost a smile? It disappeared as quickly as it came, replaced by Taehyung's usual stoicism.