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His tie is crooked.
Taehyung slips a finger into the knot and tugs it loose for the hundredth time that night. He places his hands on the vanity table, head hanging low as he heaves a long sigh.
He’s been trying to fix his tie for the past twenty minutes but to no avail. It rests around his neck, crumpled and suffocating. An appropriate metaphor to everything that has happened in his life so far. He muses with irony.
“Taehyung-ah,” a low voice shakes him out of his daze as he meets a pair of kind eyes through the mirror.
“Jimin-ah,” he smiles faintly.
“You were supposed to be ready ages ago.” The omega’s bright orange cupcake scent swirls around them as he urges Taehyung to turn and let him handle his mini crisis with the tie.
“Sorry.” Taehyung pulls his lower lip between his teeth.
Jimin tucks the tie under his collar and smooths out the fabric of his coat over his shoulders. “You look great.”
Taehyung laughs. He can tell his best friend is being polite. He knows he’s pale from lack of sleep and the bags under his eyes are only hidden under layers and layers of makeup. “You know you don’t have to lie to me.”
Jimin huffs out a sigh. “I know. I just wish you’d lean on me and hyung a little more.”
Taehyung tucks himself into the other omega’s embrace despite his taller frame, taking comfort in the sweet orange layered with the fresh pine scent of Jimin’s alpha. “I’ll be fine, Jimin-ah.”
“We worry about you, you know.” Jimin grips his wrists tightly, his full lips pursing when he notes the burnt notes in Taehyung’s caramel apple scent.
Taehyung clenches his jaw as he disentangles himself from Jimin. He knows that. He can tell by the the covert glances and the bitter notes in their scents when they catch him staring off into space.
Even after months of dealing with the fallout of his marriage and picking up the jagged pieces of himself, he still feels a little frayed at the edges, bruised and vulnerable. He’s been trying to find his own footing and move forward.
“I know, but I have to stand on my own eventually.” He says ruefully.
Taehyung knows they’re being very careful with what they say when they’re with him, walking on eggshells, and treating him like cracked glass. He’s been grateful for everything they’ve done to support him. But he can’t rely on them for emotional support for too long. Not when they’re in the midst of preparing to start a life together.
“But—”
“Let’s go, hmm?” Taehyung tilts his head toward the door. “I want to see the book launch you worked so hard on.”
“Jin-hyung and I pulled everything together. I really hope you’ll love it.” Jimin’s dazzling smile melts away the lines of concern on his face.
Taehyung brightens at the mention of his literary agent and friend, Seokjin. Kim Seokjin, who’s been with him since he signed that contract for enough funding and support for ten children’s books under Hwanggeum Corporation.
“I’m sure I will,” he nods resolutely.
The book launch is Jimin’s idea, claiming responsibility as the illustrator. In hindsight, Taehyung probably should not have been so cynical about it. With him moving to a new apartment, signing under a new publishing company, and releasing a new book, Seokjin and Jimin’s intentions were clear. They’re giving him a symbolic fresh start as a newly-divorced omega.
They may have strong-armed him into agreeing to it but he can’t say he regrets it.
This book is his twenty-fifth to be published. It’s also the first one he has written when he finally shed the shadow of his manipulative family and high-handed in-laws.
He supposes he can allow himself a few hours to revel in this newfound freedom tonight.
Only…
Taehyung can immediately tell something is wrong when he and Jimin enter the bookstore.
It’s not an extravagant affair by any means. Signing under Serendipity, Inc., a much smaller company, is not the most strategic decision he and Seokjin have made for his career, but it put him at ease the most.
They’ve set up the launch in a small locally-owned bookstore. There’s a corner where the children are waiting for him to give them the first glimpse of his new book, The Moon Fairy. There’s a table with stacks of his books for signing when they’re done with the reading.
It all looks warm and inviting. Except for the evident dismay on Seokjin’s face.
Two seconds later, his stomach drops to the floor as his eyes collide with his ex-husband’s.
Jimin is upset, his orange scent turning sour. “What is he doing here? Why the fuck is he here? We didn’t invite him, I swear, Tae—”
By the look on Seokjin’s face, he didn’t know Jeon Jeongguk would be here either. Taehyung is comforted by their shock and outrage. He’s cut ties with Hwanggeum completely so he’s just as confused as to what his ex-husband is doing here.
His foolishness in misinterpreting any kindness his ex-husband had ever shown him was entirely his fault. Taehyung’s fingers curl around his own neck, conscious of the fact that it doesn’t bear an alpha’s mark. Jeongguk did not touch him or mark him even though his scent must have told the alpha how much he’d wanted to be his omega, in truth, not just on paper.
In the end, he’s still the illegitimate child of Seo Industries. Expendable, but apparently valuable enough to be married off to the young alpha CEO of Hwanggeum Corporation as collateral for the debt his family owed.
The only constant he’s ever had is his love for writing, creating stories children loved to read. He’s done letting people dampen that passion.
“It’s…it’s alright.” It isn’t. Not really. His heart is hammering so hard against his ribs, it almost hurts. “Let’s just get on with it. I’ll just ignore him.”
Taehyung likes to think he does a good job of keeping his gaze from straying to where his ex-husband is standing, stoic and still as intimidating as the first day he laid eyes on him.
He’s kept a steady voice as he reads to the children. His smile doesn’t wobble—too much—as he mingles with the parents and the publishers. He even kind of forgets the alpha’s daunting presence as he sits to scribble down his signature on the pages of his new book for the children who came to see the launch.
Until the bookstore owner decides to call the alpha up for an impromptu speech after Taehyung has signed the last book.
The edges of his smile turn stiff as the enticing scent of mulled wine drapes over him and he tamps down on the urge to flee as his ex-husband comes up beside him. Beside the table. With only a meager number of books in a haphazard pile separating them.
The difference between how calm Jeongguk seems to be and Taehyung’s inner turmoil is frustrating. How can the alpha look just as handsome as when they were—wait, did he just say handsome?
He meant obnoxious, of course. Taehyung digs his nails into his palms, hands firmly on his lap and hidden from view.
“I’ve loved reading Vante-ssi’s books since I found ‘Hyeon and the Purple Stone’. It was why I personally pushed for the contract and publication…”
Uh. What?
Taehyung suddenly feels like there’s cotton in his ears.
Hyeon and the Purple Stone is his first book, born from days of ridicule from people whom he called family and nights of loneliness when he realized he did not have anyone on his side in that house. He’d self-published it years before he’d signed with Hwanggeum.
“Tae. Taehyung-ah. Taehyung-ah.”
He’s shaken out of his daze by Seokjin’s prodding.
Jeongguk has clearly finished his speech and is, along with everyone else, staring at him expectantly.
Oh, shit.
“Uhm, yes,” Taehyung pushes to his feet. “Thank you so much for coming today. Each of my books holds a special place in my heart and I hope The Moon Fairy is as much a source of comfort to you as it is to me.”
He wraps the event up neatly with a few more words of gratitude, proud that his voice doesn’t falter, but doesn’t wait until everyone leaves before bolting out of the bookstore.
He isn’t even really sure how he gets home but as he lays in bed in his favorite plaid pajamas staring at the ceiling, he comes to a singular decision.
He needs to talk to his ex-husband.
Taehyung throws the covers off and rolls out of bed, feet dangling off the side as he scrolls to Seokjin’s number.
“Are you okay, Taehyung-ah? I’ve been worried about you.” Seokjin’s concern carries over the line.
“Hyung, did you know?” Taehyung whispers.
“Are you talking about what Jeongguk said earlier?” Seokjin asks. “No. No, I didn't."
Taehyung finds himself letting go of the breath he unwittingly held.
“I always went through the process, Taehyung-ah, submitted the draft and waited for the final approval from the publishing department," Seokjin continues.
If Seokjin didn’t know, and Jeongguk wasn’t lying…
“I need to see him, to talk to him.” He says. The urgency in his tone must have prompted Seokjin to head to his study as Taehyung hears papers rustling and a lot of other things clanking.
“I’ll call Joonie and Hob-ah, okay? They’re not home yet so they might still be working overtime. Do you need to see him immediately?”
He hears the real question Seokjin is asking. Will you be able to handle seeing him tonight?
“I-I don’t know. Maybe?” He hesitates.
┅
Taehyung stands outside Jeon Jeongguk’s office not thirty minutes later, heart in his throat.
“I’ll go in alone.” He tells Seokjin, whose fresh-baked bread scent is scorched with apprehension.
“Are you sure?” Seokjin fusses.
Taehyung nods. It’s a conversation he and his ex-husband probably should have had a long time ago. The door opens before he even lifts his hand to knock. Jung Hoseok, on the other side of it, looks at him with something close to sympathy.
“Both of you, out.” Jeongguk barks from the depths of the office.
Kim Namjoon, Jeongguk’s other administrative manager, breezes past them with a light tap on Taehyung’s shoulder.
“He’s in a fairly good mood, I promise.” Hoseok murmurs with a wink as he quickly follows Namjoon.
Taehyung breathes in deeply. If Jeongguk is willing to meet him even in the late hour, it must count for something, right?
He steps into Jeongguk’s office slowly, eyes flitting around. He’s never been here before. There was never any need.
There are diplomas, a few trophies and figurines, and photos of nature and of family. It’s rather cozy and not at all like the dark expression on his ex-husband’s face when he finally musters up the courage to look at him.
“Why did you come back, omega?” Jeongguk asks, his voice laced with steel but tempered with something Taehyung’s hopeful heart could have sworn is sadness. “I thought you said there was nothing left for you here.”
The alpha is leaning against his desk, hands in his pockets, ankles crossed. If Taehyung hadn’t been looking so intensely, he’d have missed the tousled hair and the tense lines around his lips.
Taehyung squares his shoulders. “Were you lying when you said you were the one who pushed for my contract and the publishing of my books?”
“No.” Jeongguk answers slowly, keeping his gaze steady on Taehyung.
“You knew who I was when we got married?” Taehyung frowns, confused.
He’s always written under his pseudonym, Vante. While he did not try to hide it from publishers, he’d always kept it a secret from his family. He could have sworn his contract with the publishing department of Hwanggeum and his marriage to Jeongguk was just a curious coincidence.
“I had a hunch.” Jeongguk shifts a little bit, carding a hand through his hair. “I wasn’t sure until The Winter Bear.”
Taehyung blinks in surprise. The Winter Bear is his seventh book and the first one published under Hwanggeum. It was published a couple of years before he married Jeongguk.
“But… Why would you do that? Why would you give me your support?” Taehyung frowns, unsettled.
Jeongguk knew his family background and knew he writes as Vante, and still chose to push through with the marriage and admits to supporting his career as a children’s book author. He’s never given Taehyung any indication that he knew or was ever interested in what he did before and that’s what confuses him.
Theirs was a marriage only in name, a desperate bid to clear the debt his family owed Hwanggeum. Jeongguk didn’t need to support his career. They were to divorce after two years as their contract stated, and Taehyung has always felt like he only had himself to blame for falling in love with his own husband.
“I thought that would be obvious.” Jeongguk’s brow furrows.
“Tell me. I want to hear you say it.” Taehyung takes a step forward, head spinning, heart fluttering wildly, wanting to see the alpha more closely.
“I did it for you.” Jeongguk says, the weight of his words settling over Taehyung’s shoulders.
“You could have left me alone. Jin-hyung is more than capable of taking care of the logistics. I don’t understand why you’d do that for me and not tell me.” Taehyung huffs out an exasperated sigh.
“You were my husband, my omega. It was the right thing to do, and also because I wanted to.” Jeongguk looks torn. “But I guess it didn’t matter. What use is it—”
“What if I tell you I’m not done loving you?”
Jeongguk steps closer, stopping within arm’s reach, his scent instantly melting like warm mulled wine sloshing around in a large cup. Taehyung swears he could almost taste the spices in the air between them.
“Omega—”
“Taehyung. If you’re going to confess, I should hear you say my name.” Taehyung’s hands flail, words tumbling from his lips as his breaths become shallow. “You are confessing, right? You like me too, right? Am I reading into it too much? Please tell me because I am done being the only one with these feelings—mmph!”
Their lips collide and Taehyung sees stars. Jeongguk’s hands splay against his back, his touch burning through his shirt. The scent of wine and spices wraps around him like a warm coat in winter. It feels like home.
“Seo Taehyung…”
“Kim. Kim Taehyung.” Taehyung murmurs against the alpha’s lips. By marrying Jeongguk, he fulfilled the filial duty he’d been forced to take on. When the divorce was finalized, he decided to take his mother’s name as he had nothing more to do with Seo Industries. He would live as a free omega, unshackled by overbearing family members and a loveless marriage.
A marriage that, in retrospect, might not have been as desolate as he thought.
“Kim Taehyung,” Jeongguk says, the intensity in his eyes filling Taehyung’s heart with the warmth he fiercely yearned but dared not hope for. “I’m sorry it’s taken me too long to come to my senses and I’m sorry I ever made you feel like you were alone. I’ve wanted you as my omega for a long time. It’s you. It’s always been you. Please marry me again. I’d do anything for another chance to prove my feelings for you.”
“I suppose I can consider marriage again.” Taehyung murmurs thoughtfully.
“What?” The alarm and confusion on the streaking across the alpha’s face made him appear much younger and much more vulnerable than Taehyung has ever seen him. It’s endearing. “But you said you still love me.”
“I want to be courted, alpha.” Taehyung pats Jeongguk’s chest lightly, which prompts a low growl from the alpha. “Show me how much you want me to trust you with my heart.”
Jeongguk nods, his eyes sliding to the smooth, unmarked skin peeking from Taehyung’s low collar. “I can do that. I’ll do anything.”
Heat creeps up his cheeks when he notices Jeongguk’s stare. He’s thought about it before, of course, in the early days of their marriage. His alpha is tall, handsome, well-dressed, and fit. But Jeongguk’s apparent disinterest had put a swift end to those thoughts. As the alpha’s gaze lingers on his neck, Taehyung thinks he might be able to allow himself to dream a little bit more again.
“If we’re married again, I’d also like to have date night at least once a week.” He clears his throat, lifting his chin, as if expecting the alpha to argue. He’s spent too many nights alone in that penthouse apartment and unlike the impersonal, practically non-existent relationship between them before, they’re both now aware of each other’s feelings.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think you would want to spend time with me because of how your family forced you to marry me.” Jeongguk’s apologetic smile then quirks mischievously. “But, hyung… Thinking of marrying me again already?”
“I didn’t want the divorce. I signed the papers because I thought—”
“You were lying when you said there was nothing left for you here?” Jeongguk cups Taehyung’s face in his hands.
“Huh? Obviously. You never said anything or told me how you really felt.” Taehyung elbows Jeongguk in the abdomen, a little awkward as they’re tangled in each other’s arms, but he hits a sensitive spot as the alpha folds over with a grunt, his forehead dropping to Taehyung’s chest. “You let me sign the papers!”
“I deserve that.” Jeongguk says solemnly. “I thought it was better if I let you leave.”
“You need to talk to me, Jeongguk-ah. We need to talk about decisions that involve both of us.” Taehyung states, a plea in his voice. A lot of what happened could have very well been prevented if they had just learned to communicate with each other.
Jeongguk clasps Taehyung’s nape gently, pressing a kiss at the corner of his mouth. “I won’t let that happen again, I promise.”
“Good,” Taehyung beams, cheeks painted crimson again when he notices the distance between them and how easy it had seemed to reach out to each other. “Now, kiss me again, please.”
“Already? Before our first date, hyung?” Jeongguk chuckles, his scent curling around Taehyung.
“I even asked nicely.” His lower lip juts out.
“Don’t tempt me.” Jeongguk’s voice drops to a growl, sending a warm shiver down Taehyung’s spine.
“Are you, though? Tempted?”
“Kim Taehyung!”
Taehyung’s laugh is punched from his chest, airy, overjoyed. He loves the shock and amusement warring on Jeongguk’s face. He loves how the alpha’s arms tighten around him. And most of all, he loves how his name sounds on Jeongguk’s lips.
“What are you thinking?” Jeongguk brushes his thumb across his cheek when his laughter quiets down.
“Just wondering when you’ll ask me out on a date.” He quips.
“How about now?” Jeongguk suddenly swoops down and hooks an arm under Taehyung’s knees, sweeping him into his arms.
“Are you kidding me? Yah! It’s past midnight. I’m in sweatpants. Jeon Jeongguk!” He wriggles and kicks his feet half-heartedly as Jeongguk carries him out the door.
Taehyung sure he’ll agree to marrying Jeongguk again now that he knows his ex-husband has feelings for him too, but he’ll look forward to seeing his alpha court him. It is a future he dared not envision for himself. He had no one, nothing.
Now… He’s found the place where he belongs, a home, and a future.
╸fin ╸