The practice room was quieter than usual. Sweat still clung to the air after hours of choreography drills, but the boys were sprawled across the floor, catching their breath. Nobody spoke for a long moment, only the hum of the AC filled the space.
Namjoon leaned back against the mirrored wall, pulling off his cap. His sharp eyes scanned the room, landing briefly on Taehyung and Jungkook. They were sitting a little too close, bodies brushing as they passed a bottle of water back and forth.
Yoongi noticed it too. He didn't say anything, but his gaze lingered before he stretched out on the floor with his eyes half-shut, like he was tuning into every small sound.
"Hyung, you're staring again," Hoseok teased lightly, nudging Yoongi with his foot. His laugh made the room ease up, but there was still an unspoken weight.
Taehyung broke it with his usual warmth. "Let's eat after this. I'm starving." His gummy smile was bright, as if nothing could touch him. The others chuckled, letting the tension roll off. Jungkook gave a small grin, quiet but present. He wasn't as effortless in hiding the weight that sat on his shoulders, but with Taehyung beside him, it softened.
Later, when they headed back to the dorms, the group walked together under the night air. Conversations overlapped—Seokjin complaining about sore feet, Jimin humming a melody he had stuck in his head, Hoseok hyping up some new idea for a dance break. It looked like any other night.
But when they finally settled into the dorm, phones buzzed with notifications. A new post was climbing fast online. Fans had clipped a moment from the last rehearsal footage. It was Taehyung's hand brushing against Jungkook's too naturally, Jungkook's smile too soft in response. It wasn't dramatic, but the fandom already built stories around it.
Namjoon gathered them in the living room. "We need to be careful. This is getting noticed more than before." His voice was calm, but the concern was real.
The group sat in a circle, quiet again. Taehyung didn't hide. "We're fine. Right, Jungkook?" His voice was steady, though his fingers twisted at the hem of his shirt.
Jungkook's answer was soft but sure. "Yeah. We're fine."
The room fell silent. The others exchanged looks, but no one pushed further. The line between their stage lives and their private world grew thinner, and everyone felt it.
Yoongi finally broke the silence with a low sigh. "Then let's focus. We can't let this shake us before the comeback."
Heads nodded. The conversation ended, but the weight lingered in everyone's chest.
That night, when the dorm lights dimmed and each room fell into its own quiet, Taehyung and Jungkook stayed awake a little longer. No words, only the comfort of knowing they weren't alone, even if the world outside was watching closer than ever.