The room was quiet—too quiet.

Rain tapped softly against the windows of the Jeon residence, a rhythmic whisper that filled the otherwise empty space. A pale figure lay curled under a thin blanket on the couch, trembling. Taehyung’s lips were slightly parted, his breath shallow, skin flushed with a feverish glow. His eyes fluttered open now and then, searching the dimly lit room, but there was no sign of the man he longed to see.

He lifted his phone with shaking fingers and stared at the last message.

“I’ll be home late. Big meeting. Love you, baby.”

—Jungkook. 5:02 PM.

It was now past 11.

Taehyung sighed soundlessly. His throat hurt. His body hurt. His head throbbed. But the ache that weighed the most was the one in his chest.

He didn’t need words to show pain. His silence screamed louder than a voice ever could.

_________________

Jungkook kicked off his shoes by the door, drenched and tired, cursing the storm and the late meeting that dragged on. His tie hung loose around his neck, and his briefcase slipped from his fingers. He glanced at the clock.

11:38 PM.

“Taehyung?” he called softly, dropping his coat. “Baby, I’m home.”

No response.

A cold chill ran down his spine.

He moved quickly through the hallway, past the kitchen, into the living room-and there he saw him.

His Taehyung. Curled up like a fragile petal, cheeks flushed with fever, body trembling even in his sleep.

“Oh my God…” Jungkook rushed to him, dropping to his knees.

“Baby, why didn’t you call me-why didn’t you…?” He stopped himself.

Of course, he didn’t. He couldn’t.

Jungkook cursed under his breath, guilt choking him. His husband was sick, alone, suffering-and he hadn’t even noticed.

He gently touched Taehyung’s cheek. Burning.

Taehyung stirred at the touch, eyes barely open, lips trembling but no sound escaping.

“I’m here now, baby.... I’m so sorry,” Jungkook whispered, his voice breaking. “You should’ve texted. I should’ve checked. I should’ve been here.”

He scooped Taehyung into his arms, bridal style, and carried him to their bedroom. The sheets were cool, and he quickly laid Taehyung down, wrapping him gently in soft blankets.

He grabbed the thermometer—102.6°F.

His hands trembled slightly as he wiped Taehyung’s face with a damp cloth, murmuring soothing words.

Jungkook gave him medicine, slowly helping him sip water, then crawled into bed beside him, pulling Taehyung into his arms carefully.

Taehyung blinked up at him with glossy eyes, then gently raised his fingers.

“Why… late?”

Jungkook’s chest caved at the shaky sign language. He caught Taehyung’s hand and kissed it.

“Work,” Jungkook murmured.

Taehyung’s lower lip wobbled.

“I missed you,” Jungkook added.

Taehyung nuzzled into his chest with a soft, relieved breath. The warmth of Jungkook’s embrace melted the fever’s cruelty a little.

“I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere,” Jungkook whispered against his soft hair.

They lay there, just breathing, hearts speaking in the quiet where words failed.

__________________________

The next morning, sunlight peeked in through the curtains.

Taehyung blinked slowly awake, still tucked into Jungkook’s arms, who had been watching him the whole time.

“Good morning, my angel,” Jungkook whispered.

Taehyung smiled- a tiny, weak smile but it reached his eyes.

“You look better,” Jungkook said, brushing hair from Taehyung’s forehead. “Fever’s gone down. You scared me last night.”

Taehyung reached up and traced letters on Jungkook’s palm.

“Stay?”

Jungkook caught his hand and kissed it again. “Always.”

He cupped Taehyung’s face and leaned down, placing a tender kiss on his lips.

And in the quiet that followed, there was no sound.

But there was love.

Loud, endless, wordless love.

Jeon Jungkook didn’t usually visit the photoshoot floors during working hours. He was a CEO, always wrapped in meetings, contracts, and impossible deadlines. But today- something had drawn him in. A strange tug in his chest.

He stepped off the elevator onto the 12th floor of Jeon Elite Media, the modeling division of his empire. The lights above buzzed as makeup artists and stylists scurried about. But amid the blur of activity, one presence held his gaze like gravity itself.

Kim Taehyung.

The beautiful model. Enigmatic. Elegant. All angles and art. But behind those captivating eyes, Jungkook always sensed a sadness. Like silence carved into bone.

He leaned quietly near the glass, watching Taehyung pose in front of the camera- until he saw it.

A man-older and taller approached Taehyung from the side. The director. His hand gripped Taehyung’s wrist too tightly, dragging him out of frame.

“You call this posing? What are you, a doll? Or just some pretty face with no brain?” he hissed. “You think your looks are enough to keep you here? I've seen hundreds like you.”

Jungkook’s jaw clenched.

Taehyung tried to pull away gently, but the man tightened his grip, his voice low and poisonous. “Don’t act smart. I made models like you. I can ruin you just as fast.”

That’s when Jungkook moved.

Storming across the floor, he didn’t care that eyes turned to him. He didn’t care about anyone . All he saw was him- touching what was his.

Jungkook’s hand grabbed the man’s shoulder, yanking him back with force. The director stumbled, wide-eyed, into the CEO’s icy glare.

“What the hell-Mr. Jeon-”

“You just made the biggest mistake of your career.” Jungkook’s voice was low, lethal. “Touching someone in my company. Threatening someone under my protection.”

Taehyung stood frozen, stunned. No one had ever defended him like that.

Jungkook turned to him, gaze softening only for him. “Are you okay?”

Taehyung nodded slowly, though his heart thudded in his chest.

The director tried again, “It was a misunderstanding, I—”

“I don’t want a single explanation,” Jungkook cut him off. “You’re fired. And if I hear you’ve touched another model again, you’ll never work in this industry.”

Silence. The man fled. The staff looked away.

Jungkook’s hand slightly, reached for Taehyung’s. “Come with me.”

_______________________

In the private lounge on the top floor, Jungkook gently handed him a glass of warm tea. He looked… softer now.

“I’m sorry,” Jungkook said, quietly. “That you had to go through that. No one deserves that kind of treatment. Especially not you.”

Taehyung looked at him, eyes wide. “You didn’t have to—”

“I did,” Jungkook interrupted, more fiercely than he meant. Then softer, “Because I couldn’t stand seeing someone hurt you.”

Taehyung stared down at his tea, lips quivering. “Why?”

Jungkook smiled faintly. “Because... I care. Maybe more than I should.”

The confession hung in the air like a spark waiting to catch flame.

Taehyung met his eyes, heart hammering. No one had ever looked at him like that-like he was worth protecting. Worth everything.

His voice was small, trembling. “My heart skipped... when you did that.”

Jungkook leaned closer. “Then let me be the reason it skips again—every day.”

Taehyung smiled, eyes shining with emotion.

_________________________

Weeks Later…

Taehyung walked the runway in Paris, stunning the world with every step. Cameras flashed. Crowds cheered.

Backstage, he ran into Jungkook’s arms, now openly his boyfriend. The CEO no longer hid how proud he was.

“Did you see me?” Taehyung whispered.

“Every second,” Jungkook murmured, brushing a kiss to his forehead. “You were beautiful.”

Taehyung’s heart skipped again.

And this time, it felt like the beginning of forever.

The living room was a warzone of plush toys, rattles, pacifiers, and tiny socks. Taehyung sat on the couch, eyes swollen, arms trembling as he rocked his two tiny babies in his arms.

Junie, their little alpha son, was wailing uncontrollably, his tiny gums red, cheeks burning from the heat of his first teething pain. His cry was loud, deep, full of frustration and discomfort.

Beside him, Jiyun, his twin omega sister, cried too- not from pain, but from emotional panic. The sounds of her brother’s tears frightened her, and she wanted to be held and soothed.

But Taehyung-

He was at his limit.

He had tried everything. Frozen teething rings. Rubbing Junie’s gums with a cold spoon. Rocking. Humming. Talking softly. But Junie kept crying. And Jiyun didn’t stop either.

Taehyung's head pounded. His heart raced.

His throat was tight. Hands shaking. Breaths short and shallow.

The panic crawled in slowly, then all at once.

His vision blurred. He clutched both babies close to his chest, whispering, “Please stop crying, please, please… Appa’s here…”

He didn’t even hear the front door unlock.

Didn’t hear the boots hit the floor.

Didn’t hear the familiar deep voice call, “Tae? I’m home-”

Until he saw Jungkook rush into the room, eyes wide with horror.

“Tae?”

Taehyung looked up, tear-stained cheeks, lips trembling. “J-Jungkook… I… I can’t… I-” His voice cracked, a sob escaping. “Junie won’t stop and Jiyun is scared and I don’t know what to do I-I...I can’t—” Taehyung breathed heavily.

Jungkook’s chest ached.

He immediately took the crying twins from Taehyung’s arms, holding them securely against his broad chest. His touch was calm, instinctive-he had been trained to deal with chaos, but nothing hurt like seeing his soulmate unravel.

He sat down beside Taehyung who is now shaking violently.

Jungkook wrapped one arm around Taehyung, pulling him close, voice steady and soft. “Shh, baby… I’m here. You’re okay. You’re not alone, love. Breathe with me, yeah?”

“I—I tried—”

“I know you did. You did so well, Tae. But it’s okay now. I’ve got them. I’ve got you.”

He kissed the side of Taehyung’s head, hand running through his soft hair as Taehyung gripped his shirt and cried into his chest.

Meanwhile, Junie’s cries softened in Jungkook’s arms as the pacifier soothed his teething gums. Jiyun whimpered but began to calm, sensing the safety and warmth of both her parents now together.

Ten minutes later, silence filled the room.

Jungkook carefully placed both babies in their crib, side by side, checking their foreheads and blankets before returning to the couch-where Taehyung sat curled up, exhausted.

Jungkook dropped to his knees in front of him. “You’re allowed to break down, love. You’re human. You’re doing this all day, every day. And you’re incredible.”

Taehyung sniffled. “They needed me and I couldn’t help them.”

“You helped them the best you could,” Jungkook whispered, cupping his cheek. “And then I came home—so I could help you.”

Taehyung nodded slowly, finally letting out a soft breath.

Jungkook leaned in to press a kiss to Taehyung’s lips-slow, tender, and full of love.

They stayed like that, forehead to forehead, letting the quiet surround them like a lullaby.

_________________

Later that night...

The twins slept peacefully in their shared crib, small fingers accidentally touching each other in dreams.

Taehyung lay in bed, wrapped in Jungkook’s arms.

“Tomorrow,” Jungkook whispered, “we’ll take turns. I’ll take the day shift with the pups, you can sleep in, and we’ll finally use that baby massage oil your mom sent.”

Taehyung smiled sleepily. “I love you.”

“I love you more,” Jungkook murmured against his hair. “Always.”