♢ fire on fire

There's only her. Jennie. There's only this. Now.

He takes a few minutes to straighten himself out, thinking about what he needs and what can stay in the car. Sadly, the laptop will have to come inside otherwise he'll be thinking about it all night — though, the jacket, beanie, are placed in the passenger seat. Once ready, he heads out and for her door, not wanting to waste any more time.

Knock, knock, knock. By the time Jennie opens the door, his features are smoothed into something more sure of himself. His eyes are darker, short, blonde hair messy, and there's that easy smile of his playing on plush lips, dimples hinted at the corners.

her eyes fall to the laptop, and she's tempted to ask if he's going to move in or use her apartment as a studio to get inspiration, but her eyes landed on those dimples, the hair, those damn features that could make her purr.

once that message came in, jennie still took her time in responding. purposely taking her time to respond and to head downstairs.

Chris' lips twitch at the offer of him going over, a smirk forming in the way that shows he's pleased by it. "I'm on my way." He doesn't rush to move, not wanting to sound like he's desperate for it, for her. "I'll see you shortly."

Once the phone is hung up, the man packs up the studio. Laptop slipped into it's bag, phone placed in his pocket, keys in hand as he grabs his jacket off the back of the chair. You wouldn't know that he's heading to meet up with someone — the ease in which he walks looks like he's heading home. The black beanie covers his ears, black tank top and shorts makes the weather seem warmer than it is, more like summer than a chilly spring night.

Not that it's ever bothered him.

jennie hums as she washes her mug along with miscellaneous dishes that sat in the sink. taking her time washing, drying, then placing them in their correct spot before she moved on. hair was already straightened, outfit wasn't too revealing. black crop top paired with her shorts should be fine. and if the night went her way, then no need for any of it.

"Doing something that's important and can't be put off for something fun." There's a shift in his tone, more teasing, playful, like this is a regular thing for them, but there's an undercurrent of tension that he cannot shake.

"You were, huh?" An arm rests on top of his head, bicep flexing at the movement, while he stares at a space on ceiling like it's suddenly interesting. "Funny that, I was thinking about you tonight."

"possibly" her dimple creased on her cheek as her teasing voice tried to mimic his. "oh were you? how funny. in what way did i cross your mind?" she leans back into her chair, arm crossing over her chest. her imagination already painting a vivid image like this was a done deal.

Exactly 2 hours after... Hannam-dong, Seoul

A sleek black car awaiting at the curb, completely aware who exactly is for. Door already opened. A quiet efficiency with no questions asked, anticipating only for its rightful passenger.

Once inside, everything is immaculate. Soft plush leather, dim ambient lighting, the faintest trace of something obviously expensive and clean in the air. The seat is warm, yes, but that's hardly the point... Resting neatly in the center console: a chilled bottle, already opened, a single flute beside it. A small card tucked underneath, unmistakable strokes of the host's handwriting.

Presidential Suite. 29th Floor.

the night doesn't call for sunglasses, but still, jennie slips them on as she walks at her steady pace towards the car. her pace carrying a rush of excitement as she slips in. the idol takes the card, a smile already playing on her lips as she reads it.

jennie: spoiling me this much will reward you a tight hug and kisses xoxo

── 「 ✦ STARTER ✦ 」 for @jnnekims

SUGGESTIVE UNDER CUT

she sighed, running her fingers through her hair as she contemplated the rest of her night. wondering it best to watch a show she's been putting off, maybe go shopping. her tongue clicked to the roof of her mouth when her phone vibrated in her palm. a phone call of a number she forgot she had saved forever ago.

the quick thought of declining the call did run through her mind. honestly, it might be funny to answer then hang up, but for one reason or another, she answers.

The chair scraping once more, closer this time, until his breath cut through the space she'd left between them. Fingers sliding up the column of her throat, splaying lightly against warmth of delicate skin. Feeling the pulse trembling once, perhaps from his breath, perhaps from hers. Tilting and leaning in, lips finding that tender slope just beneath her jaw, where heartbeat meets skin. The kiss wasn't soft. It lingers, a slow press that edges into a bite—enough to bloom a faint shade of red in its wake.

Small and hidden to everyone but them.

Unless... she lets it get caught by the light.

jennie leaned in, voice low enough to make him lean closer without realizing it. "you think i’m that easy to rattle?" she asked, the question more of a challenge than a curiosity. her tone carried that familiar sweetness. the kind that burned if you stayed too long.

she stood, unhurried, her shadow falling over him as her gaze dragged downward, deliberate and assessing. "you should know better, eunwoo. i get bored easily." the corner of her mouth tugged into something like a smirk, slow and knowing. her fingertip ran along his chest, eyes darting down as if they tried to look through the fabric of his shirt. envisioning those hidden lines of his hardworking time in the military. a question tickled the tip of her tongue on whether she could ask him for a private viewing.

a pause came instead. the kind that stretches just long enough to make him wonder what she’ll do next. her fingers dragged up, curling just behind his neck.

Time changes everything. He had heard those same words plenty of times while growing up, while chasing the fame he now had. It had been the elders way of telling him to be patient as he chased his dreams, a kind way of promising something different, something better. And now, Taehyung knew fully well that with time things changed, people changed. And he was witnessing it in that exact moment. His eyes had found her as soon as he steppend into the place, something he should no longer do yet habits die hard and despite being gone for two years it seemed like being back was as if he had played play on his life once more and had started right where he had left in many things, including her.

Moving on was easier when you didn't have to see the person, when he was busy with his drills and training but seeing her again was a throwback, a painful one, to what had been and could no longer be. He had moved on, he reminded himself, it had been two years and the relationship was nothing more than a memory. Not the happily ever after he was after. Taehyung couldn't help but chuckle at the irony, he was dressed as a prince, having always been a hopeless romantic, yet his life had none of it. Empty. Lonely. He could only tell himself that someone out there was meant for him, he just had to find them.

"taehyung," she said his name softly, like it might burn if she said it any louder. her tone tried to hold steady, but it came out thinner than she wanted. there was no rehearsing for this kind of thing. no guide for when the ghost you tried to bury decided to walk back into the same room as you.

his question caught her off guard, though maybe it shouldn’t have. he’d always been good at pretending things were casual when they weren’t. her gaze flickered, just for a moment, to where his eyes had lingered earlier. “i wasn't aware that you noticed." she spoke quick and sharp. the words hung between them, something sour and unspoken just beneath. she should’ve left it at that, but old habits were stubborn, and so was she.