The club was different from Jungkook's booth.
Below him, the world was noise. Up here, everything was still.
Yoongi sat beside him, sipping something dark that didn't match his gentle expression. His eyes followed the crowd the way a cat tracked movement—lazy but aware.
"That one's trouble," Yoongi murmured.
Jungkook didn't need to ask who. His gaze had already found Taehyung again—the tall boy with honey-brown hair and a gaze that cut sharper than he realized.
"Which part?" Jungkook replied.
"The part where he looks at everything like he wants to fight it," Yoongi said.
A pause.
"Or the part where he doesn't look away from you."
Jungkook's mouth tilted at the corner.
He hadn't planned on noticing anyone tonight—he was here on business, not pleasure—but the boy in the bomber jacket pulled his attention like a magnet.
Not because he was loud.
Not because he was trying.
But because he was trying not to look.
A rare thing.
Down on the dance floor, Jimin twirled under a light beam, laughing with that bright, unfiltered joy Yoongi pretended not to stare at. Jungkook caught the softening in his friend's eyes and nudged him lightly.
"You're staring," Jungkook muttered.
Yoongi clicked his tongue. "You're one to talk."
Fair enough.
The music shifted, a lower, slower bass rolling through the room like thunder. When Taehyung stumbled slightly—just a small, tired misstep—Jungkook stood without thinking.
Yoongi raised a brow. "You're going down there?"
Jungkook didn't answer. His feet were already moving.
Taehyung wasn't drunk, but he had just enough alcohol warming his blood to slow the world around him. When the crowd parted for a second, he saw him again—closer now.
He walked like something dangerous dressed in human skin.
People moved out of his way without a word.
Taehyung's heart thumped painfully.
The stranger stopped right in front of him.
"Watch your step," the man said, voice low enough that Taehyung felt it in his ribs.
Taehyung bristled. "I'm fine."
A lie. His pulse was racing, his breath too shallow.
The man tilted his head slightly, studying him. "Didn't say you weren't. Just said to watch your step."
Taehyung hated how warm his cheeks felt.
"Why do you care?"
The man's lips curved—barely.
"Maybe I don't."
Before Taehyung could snap back, Jimin popped up between them like a sunbeam.
"Hello??" Jimin chirped, smiling too brightly.
"I'm Jimin!"
The stranger simply nodded. "Jimin."
No introduction from him.
But there didn't need to be one.
Taehyung exhaled shakily, his voice coming out rougher than he intended.
"What's your name?"
A pause. Too long. Too deliberate.
Then—
"Jungkook."
The name felt heavy, like something Taehyung should recognize but didn't.
Not yet.
As they stared at each other, smoke curled between them, carrying the violet glow of the lights with it. For a moment, the entire club fell away.
Jungkook broke the moment first.
"Enjoy your night," he said softly, eyes lingering on Taehyung for a beat too long.
Then he turned and disappeared back toward the shadowed booth.
Taehyung stood frozen.
Jimin grabbed his arm. "Tae? You good?"
Taehyung swallowed.
"No. I mean—yeah. I'm fine."
But he wasn't.
Not even close.
He felt something sparking beneath his skin—something he didn't understand and wasn't sure he wanted to.
As they left the club, Taehyung looked back one last time.
Jungkook was watching him go.
And Taehyung knew—without knowing why—that this wasn't the last time their paths would cross.
Not even close.