The dorm felt heavier than usual that night. The others had retreated to their rooms, each of them carrying their own thoughts, leaving Taehyung and Jungkook in the shared living room. The television was on, muted, the glow casting shadows across the couch where they sat side by side.
Neither of them spoke at first. The silence was thick, almost suffocating. Jungkook kept fiddling with the hem of his hoodie, pulling at the threads like they might unravel his anxiety. Taehyung leaned back, stretching his long legs out, looking calm but not relaxed.
"You're too quiet," Taehyung finally said, turning his head slightly. His voice wasn't teasing; it was soft, almost careful.
Jungkook's jaw tightened. "What do you want me to say? Everyone saw it. The photo. The comments. Hyung's right—the company will get on us about this."
Taehyung tilted his head, his gummy smile flickering briefly. "So what? We were holding hands. Big deal."
"It is a big deal," Jungkook muttered, his tone sharper than intended. He glanced at Taehyung, guilt flickering in his eyes. "If this gets worse, it won't just be about us. It'll affect the group. Everything we've worked for."
For a moment, Taehyung stayed quiet. His gaze softened as he studied Jungkook, who now looked like a storm bottled into human form. He reached out, gently prying Jungkook's hand away from the abused hoodie hem.
"Look at me," Taehyung said.
Jungkook hesitated, then slowly lifted his eyes. Taehyung's expression wasn't careless, not the playful mask he wore with the others. It was serious, steady.
"We don't have to explain ourselves to anyone," Taehyung continued. "Not the fans, not the company, not even the others. They can think what they want. But you—" he tightened his hold on Jungkook's hand "—you need to stop punishing yourself for something that isn't wrong."
Jungkook felt his throat close up. His chest ached with the weight of words he couldn't voice. He wanted to argue, to list every risk, every possible consequence, but Taehyung's grip and his quiet certainty disarmed him.
He exhaled shakily. "You make it sound so easy."
"It's not easy," Taehyung admitted. His smile returned, smaller this time, more real. "But it's simple. Either we let fear control us, or we don't. I'm choosing not to."
The simplicity of it broke something inside Jungkook. He leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes, letting the words settle. Taehyung didn't let go of his hand, didn't flinch at the closeness, didn't fill the silence with meaningless comfort. He stayed, steady and sure.
And for the first time that day, Jungkook felt the weight in his chest ease.
"You're stubborn," Jungkook said quietly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Taehyung chuckled, resting his head against Jungkook's shoulder. "So are you. That's why this works."
They stayed like that for a while, the muted TV flickering in the background, the world outside buzzing with rumors they couldn't control.
But here, in this quiet space, it was theirs.
And for tonight, that was enough.