Watched Masterlist

Watched Masterlist

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Teaser; let the games begin. (rewriting progress - 90%)

↪ where the story begins

Chapter one; never say goodbye.

↪ where you foolishly believe that after everything you can leave him behind and start afresh, when he is the one that made you who you are today.

Chapter two; captivated by you (coming soon)

↪ (coming soon, stay tuned!)

Taglist: @nonameyoon @jxngh @mwitsmejk @articpup @raynom @mageprincess7 @douknowbts @agustdboyoongie @bunnybearrjj @nissss @darkuni63

ghoul. — (intoxication)

[FOURTH (4) INSTALMENT OF GHOUL SERIES : INTOXICATION]

“Familiarity. That was what Taehyung felt.”

or

Rosé couldn't celebrate your successful solo mission with you, so she invited Taehyung to celebrate with you.

pairing : taehyung x reader

rating : M

genre : tokyo ghoul au, soulmate au

disclaimer : this story is a work of fiction. descriptions of the BTS members in this story does not reflect nor portray them in real life. everything in this story only fits in imagination and does not apply outside of imagination.

warning : nothing.

word count : 6.3k+

lexicon & profiles | masterpost | masterlist | navigation

note from winter 💌 :

i have no notes for this... except for i love oc and tae's interaction during the dinner so much. and I have an obsession for someone taking candid photos of me, its a kink atp HAHA also, smut on the next part just telling y'all ;))))

💌 what is winter listening to? : bambi by baekhyun

📝 if you want to know more about this au, you can refer to lexicon & profiles. any other questions you can refer to me !!

dedication : to my sleep demon pt.2

             The sun marked the beginning and end of the day.

             When it rose, sunrise, marked the beginning of a new day. And when it set, sunset, it signified the end of the day. The silky, smooth collusions of sky burst red and yellow washed and painted itself over the colourless, milky white building of KCCG.

             It was the end of the working hour for most office workers in Korea including KCCG. The road was packed with cars and motorbikes. The sidewalk was not any less crowded than the road; People were walking back to their homes. 

             “Rosie,” you whined. Locking your arms with your friend’s one. The two of you had passed the entrance gate, now on your way to the main door to exit the building. 

             “(Y/N),” Rosé mimicked. A light chuckle followed shortly after. 

             Clinging hard on her arm, you let your cheek be squashed against her arm. Not quite reaching her shoulder due to her model-like height. “You promised a celebration dinner with me…” 

             “I’m sorry,” Rosé sighed regretfully. “Something came up in 10th ward… I really wanted to celebrate with you but if I don’t check on the 10th ward ASAP, Jay will kill me.”

             Rosé worked under the control of Jay or Jung Hoseok, the Chief Director of Division 2. She was a Special Class investigator and also the leader of R Squad. Every Special Class investigator was required to form their own Squad with adequate members in range 3 to 4 excluding themselves. A group of 5 or 6, only then the team could be registered as a squad. 

             Why didn’t Director Kim station you in her squad instead… 

             You understood or at least you tried to be professional, but you couldn’t help to pout. It was your first solo successful mission in Q Squad. In every squad, the members including the leader were obligated to carry out solo missions that were designated for them. These missions were often put on the hardest difficulty, not everyone could pass on the first try. 

             Unlocking her arm from you, she turned her body to face you. “Don’t pout or I’ll kiss you,” her hands cupped your cheeks. 

             You pouted even harder to tease her. She chuckled before her thumb reached out to play with your lips.

             Her eyes flickered to look up and behind you. Recognising someone, she called out. “Oh, V!”

             V?

             You craned your neck to look at the said person.

             Kim Taehyung. God’s favourite.

             You had almost forgotten the name he used in KCCG as you always go for his government name. Taehyung was a charming yet mysterious man. He was the epitome of perfection. From his perfect and symmetrical facial proportions to his well-built body. Like Jimin, Taehyung has enough muscle at the right place, and like Rosé, they shared almost the same height, the model-like height.

             “Going home?” Your friend asked in a friendly manner. You reached for her hands that had been cupping your face to put them down.

             “Yes,” his baritone voice was honey to your ears. You wouldn’t admit it, but you have a big fat crush on him or maybe you were just attracted to him. Could you blame yourself? Almost everyone in KCCG was attracted to or even openly admitted to having a crush on him. “What about you? I heard there’s a commotion at ward 10.”

             Rosé nodded unenthusiastically. “I swear it was clear yesterday. The ghouls can’t give us a break for God’s sake.” Her hand unconsciously found yours as she held onto your hand. You let her. 

             At least it made you feel included.

             “What can you expect? 10th ward’s ghouls are vigorous, I can’t lie.” He said, followed by a deep chuckle.

             God, the chuckle. You’re so damned.

             “Very true,” she agreed eagerly. “You’re in charge of ward 8, right?”

             V nodded.

             Smirking, she asked, “Want to switch up by the end of this week?” Her eyebrows wiggled. 

             “No, thank you.” He was quick to turn her down. “I can assure you ward 8 is not any better than 10.”

             Rosé playfully rolled her eyes. You couldn’t help but smile at her behaviour. She was the epitome of the real social butterfly; she could get along with anyone and knew almost everyone in KCCG. As if finally remembering something, she looked at you before she directed her attention back to the male investigator. “Oh, V, what are you having for dinner?”

             “Good question,” he hummed, cupping his chin. “I have yet to decide.”

             Rosé eyes shone. “How about a dinner with (Y/N)?”

             “Huh–” You stared at her in shock.

             “Huh?” V didn’t expect that question, too, it seemed.

             Clapping her hands together keenly, she began to explain. “We were supposed to celebrate (Y/N)’s successful solo mission, but, well, something came up, like I said.”

             After a long pause, she blurted out. “Can you go in my place?” 

             Shocked, you quickly intervened. “T–There’s no need!” 

             Although you liked the idea of getting to stare and listen to Taehyung for a longer time, you would not want to be in the awkward situation of two people, that barely knew each other, having dinner. “We were just planning to drink– Not a proper dinner at all!”

             You were literally begging her to reconsider by giving excuses. “Plus, I can still celebrate it with you tomorrow…”

             Rosé frowned. “Eh, that restaurant near this building, what its name? The First? They offer proper dinner though.”

             That was the only thing that got through her head.

             “Yeah, I guess, but–” You tried to come up with another reason because you knew damn well that the restaurant does serve proper dinner in the menu option. You were a regular there.

             Completely dismissing you, she went ahead to ask the male investigator. “So, V? Are you down for some drinking?” She playfully winked at him with a drinking gesture. 

             “Wait–” You gripped her sleeves, trying to hold her back desperately. “I’m pretty sure Investigator V has something better to do than drinking–”

             You would rather have 5 hours training session with The Min Yoongi or maybe Jimin than have dinner with Taehyung. Not because he was a horrible man or anything akin, – the two were definitely not the lesser evil though – it was just that… If it was a dinner with V and Rosé, then yes, you would be fine with it.

             “Sure,” he cut you off. With a shrug, he added. “I don’t mind actually.”

             “You don’t need to!” You quickly told him with a shake of head. “Uhm, I can ask Minghao or Sunoo…?”

             “I mean V agreed to go,” Rosé frowned but didn’t relent to try convincing you. Why do you even need to be convinced? “Plus, don’t you have like a cr–”

             Your eyes widened. You knew she would babble her mouth about your folders. Cutting her off with a high-pitched ‘okay’, you quickly pushed your hand to cup over her mouth. Instantly agreeing with her idea. “I think 10th ward is calling for you!”

             “Gosh, okay. Okay,” she pulled away your hand from her mouth. Her eyes scrutinised your figure before she asked, “Did you bring your camera?”

             “Of course,” a frown found its place on your temple. “Why did you ask…?”

             Rosé mimicked the pose of a photographer – except that she was exaggerating – and subtly pointing at V. Your eyes immediately widened at her signal and quickly pushed her away. You waited until she was out of your vision before you turned to V.

             You would hate to admit that you liked to take pictures of him.

             Both secretly and openly.

             Secretly, when you would see him around KCCG, and like a beautiful flower in the garden, you couldn’t fight the urge to capture its beauty, it was the same for Taehyung. Openly, when you were assigned to do a meeting report or any reports in general that required you to include pictures of the related event, or when the magazine companies would like to feature KCCG as the front page, KCCG would – most of the time – send Taehyung and Jimin for it.

             “Let’s go…?” This was going down to your history book of the most awkward situation.

             The charming smile of his sent your heart to drum fast in your chest and butterfly wilding in your stomach.

             “After you.” Gentleman.

             “Table for two, please.” You told the waitress with a polite smile.

             She led you and Taehyung to a table. You noted how redness covered her cheeks and ears. Assuming it must’ve been because of Taehyung, you could only laugh to yourself. She probably has a crush on the male investigator with the way she was openly gawking at him with a dreamy look while taking the order. Taehyung was popular in Korea due to his career and his look. He received attention everywhere he went.  

             An order of Samgyeopsal and Jokbal was placed, and the girl took her leave to the kitchen. You took off your long white coat and draped it over the chair next to you. Taehyung had chosen to sit on the opposite side, facing you. 

             As if that didn’t add up to your nervousness that has already reached its peak.

             You were left in KCCG formal innerwear: a turtleneck shirt, cargo pants, and platform boots, all in jet black. KCCG was very monotonous. You noticed Taehyung seemed to have taken off his coat as well. His innerwear was nothing different from yours except that he was wearing a pair of patent leather boots.

             This was the first time you had seen him without his coat.

             You have always seen him in that white coat. Given that he was under Director Jung’s division, you didn’t bump into him frequently – or else you would’ve had the chance to witness him in mission state. Rosé, however, was under the same division as him which explained her friendliness towards him.

             Come to think of it, this was the first time you were having a meal with Taehyung. Just the two of you. Of course, you have had dinners with him, but they were joined by your colleagues as well. Most of the time, it was just company dinners or some other celebrations. That, too, you never really try to talk to him during those occasions because you would either be with Jimin or your squad members.

             Squad was a very essential thing in KCCG, and it was divided into two categories, operation squad and mentoring squad. Operation squads usually consisted of powerful and strongest investigators derived from Special Cases, Associate Special Cases, and First Classes. This kind of squad was liable for disbandment as it was not a permanent group. Operation squads could exist due to any calling for it from the higher-ups and cease when the operation was finished, not subject to success or failure. 

             Mentoring squad was a permanent squad. Once a person earned the title of ghoul investigator after graduating from the training academy, he or she would be sorted into a squad. Squad sorting would be determined by the division directors’ evaluations. Once sorted into a squad, one was bound to stick in it forever unless changes were made. In any KCCG function, the seating plan was according to squads. It was a rare case for a squad to have changing members because if there were to be any problem, it was to be solved within the squad itself, according to the leader’s orders and commands.

             It was also a rare case for the higher-ups to be involved in the matter of squad and you happened to be one of the rare cases.

             “I heard Namjoon removed you from Jimin’s squad.”

             You looked at him with wide eyes, unsure as to how to reply to him.

             If that’s what you heard, then you aren’t wrong, was what you wanted to reply with but decided against it.

             Avoiding eye contact, you forced out a nod. Way too many people have come to you and asked that. You were getting sick of it. Most of them would continue to pin you as the problem. You didn’t have the heart to tell the truth… Just because. Taehyung only hummed as he leaned back into his seat with arms crossed on his chest. You squirmed in your seat uncomfortably under his gaze.

             “Jimin is my soulmate.” He announced suddenly. The charming, gentlemanly aura was long gone as it was now replaced with a cold, aloof character.

             His sudden disclosure about Jimin was met with a puzzled look on your face. “I… See?”

             It was his turn to look astounded. A hint of annoyance was evident in his voice as he continued. “I’m glad you are not in his squad anymore. You’re way too close to him for a childhood friend.”

             Blinking, you were very much confused but slowly, you asked, “Are you jealous…?”

             “What– Of course not!” He quickly retorted. “As if someone like you could make me jealous.”

             You badly wanted to roll your eyes but decided against it as you sighed. “I hope you’re not getting the wrong idea, but I have no desire for Investigator Park. I don’t have any feelings for him if that’s what you’re mad for…”

             “And I didn’t know you and Investigator Park are soulmates,” you awkwardly added as your hands fidgeted under the table. Never in your life would want to make someone feel insecure or be a threat to someone’s sacred bond and you most definitely didn’t want to be a homewrecker.

             You liked Taehyung, and you have a crush on him, but would you even call it a crush? You liked pretty things and he happened to be one of the world’s wonders.

             “I like pretty things.”

             “And? Why are you telling me that?”

             Because I feel the need to assure you in whatever way possible.

             You sighed. “Investigator Park is majestically pretty and so are you. It’s just a silly attraction, but I promise you I don’t have any romantic feelings for the two of you.”

             “Do you have a soulmate?” He suddenly asked.

             Taken aback, you blinked at him, “No.”

             The subtle look of shock didn’t go unnoticed by you, but he was quick to be apathetic. “Therefore, I don’t trust you.”

             “Up to you…” You looked away defeatedly with yet another sigh.

             You didn’t blame him for not trusting, honestly. You completely understood where he was coming from, but you would very much want to justify yourself with the fact that you’ve been with Jimin since kids and that if you have feelings for him, you would’ve been rejected before you could even confess. 

             Maybe that was why you didn’t justify yourself. Your reasons were not helpful to the situation at all.

             The Samgyeopsal and Jokbal you had ordered finally arrived along with a few bottles of Soju. The worker set up the grill and you immediately began to prepare to cook the meats. When the grill finally reached the desirable heat, you carefully placed each piece on top of the hot grill pan. Taehyung quietly helped you along as he got himself a pair of tongs.

             “You like photography?” He broke the silence with the sudden question.

             He seemed like the type of person that couldn’t handle quietness. You cast a side eye at him. He gave you a bored face as he jutted out his chin at the camera bag next to you. You slowly nodded but then you continued to cook up the meats when Taehyung fell silent again.

             “Show me your skill.” He finally spoke again after moments of silence.

             “What…” You gave him a dirty look. If it was someone else, you would’ve complied immediately, not questions. If it was anyone else, you wouldn’t have dared to do so, but Taehyung stopped wearing his gentleman mask. If he found no reason to be a gentleman around you, you surely should not have any reason to keep up with your good-girl image around him.

             Or at least that was what you told yourself.

             You got that unfamiliar sense of comfort around him. Although he was very much hostile towards you when he told you about Jimin, other than that, he treated you normally. You found yourself to be more expressive and open to him. It wasn’t Investigator V that was present here with you.

             It was Kim Taehyung.

             “My camera is full of your soulmate.”

             “You take pictures of me too.”

             “Is that a statement?”

             “Yes.”

             Surrendering, you put down your tongs. Your camera bag on your right was dark, hueless; black with your signature, and a small Lotus next to it, embedded in the fabric. It was given by Minghao as a birthday present for you. Taking the camera out of its shelter, you turned it on and searched for some pictures of him. 

             Truthfully, there were quite a number of his pictures in the camera. You thought you had transferred it to your computer. They were pictures of the latest photoshoot for KCCG weekly magazine. This week, Taehyung and his squad were featured in the magazine so, as you have been doing religiously, you attended the photoshoot. 

             You showed him the pictures. He casually took the camera away from your grasp. Well, he looked like he was experienced in holding a camera, so you didn’t panic. You picked up your tongs again as you continued cooking the meat and putting the cooked ones in your bowl and Taehyung’s as he mindlessly went through your camera’s gallery. 

             “Not bad,” Taehyung mumbled with a playful smirk tugging on his lips.

             Heat crept up to your face as you felt your face getting warm. Although that didn’t sound like a genuine compliment, it was the first feedback you ever received from someone that viewed your pictures. You let Jimin look through your gallery occasionally, but he never said anything about the pictures.

             Taehyung was intrigued. He was amazed by the pictures you have taken of him. Glancing at you through his lashes, he saw you smiling. An endearing smile as your eyes shone with a gleam of adoration. He caught himself smiling together with you but quickly wiped it away as he continued going through your camera until the end. There were pictures of Jimin's solo shoot for the 2nd Ward monthly magazine. 

             He always thought his soulmate would make a good model but after seeing your photos, maybe it was better Jimin wasn’t a model. The modelling industry would be under his feet instantly. Your pictures of him proved how majestically beautiful Jimin was. 

             Click!

             He heard a shot was taken. “What are you doing?”

             “Taking pictures of the food…?” You replied.

             He frowned as if you did something very offensive towards him. “Shouldn’t you include the person you’re eating with too?”

             Are you serious? “Whose rule is that?”

             “Mine.”

             Rolling your eyes, you continued to snap more pictures. “Shut up and eat before they get cold.”

             Taehyung brought the camera to his eye level. You were still busy trying to get the perfect angle and lighting for the pictures, and he silently clicked a photo.

             You looked perfectly flawless – or maybe it was just his skill or the camera.

             He slowly angled the camera to his eye level again as he intended to take another picture but as he was looking through the camera lens, you were already staring at him with a boring look. “Taking my pictures now?”

             “Jokes on you, I was taking pictures of the food.”

             “Jokes on you, do you think I’m stupid?” You retorted but couldn’t help the small laugh that followed shortly after. “Give that here.”

             He gave you puppy eyes, but you quickly turned him down as you narrowed your eyes at him. Surprisingly, he surrendered with a pout. He looked like a sad puppy as he picked up his chopsticks to himself some meats. 

             Bringing the camera to your eye, you prompted him. “Look here.” 

             Click!

             A picture of him munching on the meat, luscious lips pouting. The flavour of the meat burst in his mouth as he savoured the food, eyes widened in pleasure.

             You couldn’t contain your laugh as you reviewed the picture you just took. “You look cute.”

             If you weren’t so busy with the camera, you would’ve seen the way his eyes widened as blood rushed to his face, cheeks flushed from your compliment. He didn’t know why he reacted in such a way but something about you complimenting him so nonchalantly must’ve caught him off guard.

             The two of you continued bickering from him urging you to delete the pictures to you nagging about the foods getting cold because of the never-ending bickering and Taehyung that doesn’t seem to want to stop. You shoved pieces of meat together with lettuce into his mouth to shut him up. But as if that stopped him. He continued to babble to the point he drifted into some random topic. You only listened to him while you cook up more meats for him. 

             It was as if the two of you were close friends.

             Taehyung fed you meats in between his random speech and having food offered right in front of you, who wouldn’t open their mouth automatically? Surely not you, hence your lips parted every time food was offered to you by Taehyung. Sometimes, you would pick up the meat off the grill and immediately offer it to him after blowing away some steam. 

             It felt so natural.

             For him to feed you. For you to feed him. For you to listen to him as he went through from KCCG matter to some personal stories and random thoughts. 

             It naturally happened. 

             It naturally happened to the point you found yourself downing bottles of Soju mindlessly, definitely going over your drinking limit. You were a light drinker, but you didn’t care as you let the alcoholic drink continue to enter your system. 

             Taehyung looked at you. He was far from being drunk, for whatever reason. But he has the decency to remind you as he took away the bottle of Soju from your hand. “I think that’s enough of Soju for you, (Y/N).”

             You could only whine in response, grumpily picking up your chopsticks again and shoving a few leftover slices of meat into your mouth. 

             “Aigo, (Y/N),” a soft voice cooed. 

             Taehyung and you simultaneously turned towards the voice – even though you were not exactly functioning well, your sense was surprisingly still functioning and able to pick up your surroundings.

             You seemed to recognise the lady as you whined in response. “Ajumma…”

             It was probably the restaurant’s owner.

             “Let’s stop here, okay?” The old lady came next to you as she caressed your shoulders gently. You mumbled something inaudible for her old hearing as you put down your utensils. 

             The lady looked at Taehyung as she asked. “Are you her boyfriend?”

             “No, I’m her colleag–”

             “He’s my friend!” You exclaimed; your head whipped so fast as you looked at the lady next to you, index finger shushing over your lips. “Ajumma, he’ll get maaad if you call him my boyfriend. He already has a soulmate!” You whispered – more like trying to – the last sentence in her ears.

             “Pull yourself together, (Y/N).” Taehyung shook his head as he heaved a heavy sigh.

             “It’s not often I get to see her like this.” She told him after chuckling softly. “You must be a special friend to her.”

             “Special?” He repeated with pure confusion.

             This was the first time you and he were having dinner together. 

             “When she comes here with her friends, she never gets drunk.” She remembered the times when you would not drink even a sip of those alcoholic beverages as you stuck with your usual Cola. Even when one of your friends offered you to drink, the invitation was politely refused by you and for sure you must’ve felt really bad for rejecting it. “So, for her to get drunk in front of you, she must’ve really trusted you a lot.”

             Your arms found their way as you circled the old lady’s figure. “Ajumma, I want a soulmate, too…” The sound of melancholy was apparent in your voice and certainly didn’t go unnoticed by the lady and even Taehyung. 

             Sighing pitifully, she caressed your head, “You’ll meet the one soon, honey.”

             You must’ve been so lonely, she thought.

             Finding a soulmate in today’s world is very crucial, but not everyone would find one. They would make one. In a world where the ghouls roamed around and blended in with the humans, one out of ten ghouls would have human as their soulmates and ghoul soulmates as the humans’, but not everyone was willing and ready to commit to someone who was not of their kind or more like they could not risk it.

             There was a reason for the establishment of both CCG and KCCG, after all.

             They were an anti-ghoul organisation. 

             Humans were not to get along with ghouls as they were considered monsters and existed for nothing but to cause chaos. CCG and KCCG made it their main purpose to exterminate the whole existence of ghouls as per their motto, to create a better world for humans, free from any danger. 

             That was why some people make their own soulmates. Modern technology and medicine paved the way for people who wanted to choose their own soulmates or run away from the ill-fated soulbond. Although some people still preferred the traditional way and pain-free because the alternative way was said to be painful and time-consuming as one must go through many procedures in order for a new desired soul bond to be established. 

             Expensive too. 

             Your eyes closed as you mumbled with sorrow. “What if I already meet them? But I don’t feel any connection with Mingyu and Minghao, but I love them, and they love me.”

             The old lady tried to recall the guys you mentioned, and it clicked rather quickly given the number of times she had seen you with them. Indeed, you were very close to them. They treated you earnestly, lovingly, and caringly to the point she had thought they were your destined lovers, but you had explained before that they weren’t.

             It was hard for even the lady to fathom the fact that they weren’t your soulmates too because she knew for a fact that your relationship with them was definitely not a normal one.

             How could three souls be very loving and inseparable but not soulmates?

             The three of you were one piece that was separated into three.

             “They have to be my soulmates…” 

             Taehyung’s eyebrow twitched at your last sentence. The unexplainable urge to shut your mouth was clouding his mind, but at least you passed out now. He was not really a fan of the whole soulmate system although he already has his own soulmates. He liked to be free. Free from commitments. His soulmates gave him the freedom he wanted, of course, but at the end of the day, he was still in a relationship that required his commitment.

             Or at least that was what he thought.

             What was it that had you desiring soulmates so badly? 

             Couldn’t you just wait for them to naturally come to you?

             You looked so desperate and pathetic.

             “Poor kid,” the lady kindly supported your head that was resting on her. The soft and gentle caresses on the side of your head never ceased and it irked Kim Taehyung. He has the urge to push away that hand and replace it with his but for his own good sake, he held himself back. “Young man, you can go home if you want to, I can handle her.”

             Her free hand went beneath her apron as she rummaged through her pocket for something. “Let me try to call Mingyu or Minghao…”

             God, if Taehyung wasn’t so close to pushing that old woman off you.

             Does she think he wouldn’t have the least amount of decency to bring her back home after having dinner with you?

             Does she not trust him even though she mentioned him being a special someone for you?

             Of course not.

             He just had dinner with you.

             For the first time.

             And it was the first time the owner had seen you with someone other than Mingyu and Minghao. Even if there were someone else, she would’ve recognised.

             She doesn’t trust him.

             But then again, he doesn’t trust the old lady as well.

             “No, it’s fine,” Taehyung said with his box smile, fighting back a snarl. “I can get her home.” He doesn’t need to justify himself as his aura spoke for him. He rounded the table to get to your side and practically snatched you from the lady’s hold. 

             His voice held finality as well as his action.

             Taehyung gently manoeuvred you into wearing your coat. Outside was cold and windy, he wouldn’t want you to freeze to death before you could even reach your home. When he was done keeping you warm securely, he carefully carried you on his back. Luckily neither you nor Taehyung brought own Quinque because it would’ve been a pain in the neck to carry it along at this moment. 

             There was one thing that was still a problem.

             He didn’t know where you live.

             The night was cold as Taehyung carried you on his back. Wind marched into the chilly picture blowing like a sneezing monster, peeling off the brown cadaverous leaves from the strangled tree branches. The night would chill anyone down to the bone, but Taehyung remained unfazed as he strode in the cold weather.

             The cold night breeze blew on your face, making you nuzzle into Taehyung’s neck in search of some warmth. Your body had picked up the spine-chilling temperature despite your mind being hazy from the alcohol. After some more snuggling, failure in search of perfect warmth, your eyes fluttered open. 

             Taehyung has very acute senses, you have come to notice that. Perhaps it was due to his years of being a ghoul investigator, but it still didn’t fail to amaze you as he spoke the second your eyes blinked open. 

             “You’re so heavy.”

             Processing his word, you narrowed your eyes at him – although he couldn’t see you or if his peripheral vision was wide enough to see you, “Literally no one asked you to carry me!” You chided.

             “I’ll let you fall,” he voiced with a minatory voice and that shut you up immediately.

             “Put me down properly, dude,” you finally spoke again after minutes of silence. You’d rather walk than be carried by him knowing the fact that he could drop you off anytime. The thought of falling was very much not entertaining at this moment. Taehyung didn’t hesitate to let you down. “That gentleman image was just for show, was it?”

             “I’m glad you’ve realised,” he brushed you off as he continued walking, leaving you behind.

             One time he was bearable, another time he was nothing but an arsehole.

             You rolled your eyes, “Ever since you told me Investigator Park is your soulmate,” and caught up with him. You didn’t notice how Taehyung had already slowed down his pace as now he was sauntering. He was waiting for you to at least walk next to him instead of getting out of breath with just a few quick steps. A smug grin paint itself on his face as he heard you whining and maffling.

             It was only today and just now that Taehyung finally has a moment with you. Alone. He would occasionally see you with Rosé after the working hour or maybe he actually noticed you during the photoshoots but didn’t bring himself to give extra care about you. 

             Telling you that Jimin was his soulmate was just an excuse. Heck, even the whole dinner was just an excuse. He never wanted to have dinner with you, he would not want to. He had agreed to Rosé because he saw it as an opportunity: a chance to push you away from Jimin. You were the problem in Jimin’s squad. A hindrance. He was nothing but glad and elated when Namjoon had done him a favour of removing you from Jimin’s squad – not quite directly but the complaints were very helpful, and he was very thankful to whoever filed those complaints against you.

             But a dinner with you was fun.

             He hated to admit that.

             You felt like a friend to him.

             “Look, if you don’t want to carry me, let me at least cling on your arm for some support.” You huffed; arms crossed.

             A scoff escaped his lips as he gave you a side glance, “You sure are something when you’re drunk, (Y/N),” but he still offered you his arm.

             He shouldn’t have done that, right? He should yank his arm away from you.

             But that moment never came. He didn’t feel the supposed emotion of anger or hatred bubbling when he was with you. Not even during the dinner just now. He told himself he was supposed to piss you off, embarrass you, and watch as you run out of the restaurant crying your heart out, be it tears of anger, humiliation, or even grief for the broken heart.

             He wanted you away from his soulmate and him.

             You should just be with your alleged soulmate.

             Maybe your bond was broken.

             Maybe you were soulless.

             But why did all those thoughts stir uneasiness in him?

             “How come you’re not drunk in the slightest?” You asked. The question had come out as slurring.

             “Because who will take care of you when you’re drunk.” That came out as a natural response, he didn’t even think of constructing some believable lies.

             You loured. “Lies. You don’t care whether or not I get drunk, and you certainly don’t care about the aftermath. You simply don’t get drunk.” 

             For one you were definitely sharp, he thought.

             Shrugging, he said in a boring tone. “Whatever makes you sleep at night.”

             You heard his tone, of course. So, you took it as a cue to shut your drunk self. Your tired eyes travelled down to the ground, watching as your steps matched with Taehyung’s. He definitely slowed down his pace. A small smile involuntarily tugged on your lips. Taehyung was soft despite the cold persona he had presented to you when he told you about Jimin. He was a guy overflowing with emotions but didn’t have a way to express them or at least had trouble doing so, hence he opted to suppress those emotions.

             Heaviness started to gather on your eyelids as you struggle to keep your eyes open. Your pace was becoming slower, and Taehyung noticed the drag. He slightly turned to look at you only to see you sleeping. Eyes closed, your eyelashes lay like veils upon your cheeks, lips slightly parted, and regulated and calm pattern on breathing. 

             You look divine.

             And if people were to pass by, they would think Taehyung was in love.

             “(Y/N)?” A voice thick with an accent called, drawing only Taehyung’s attention as you passed out again. A blondie. 

             Another voice jumped in, sounding very excited. “It’s really you!” A brunette. 

             Japanese?

             “Ah, she’s drunk,” The brunette said.

             The first voice that had called you turned to Taehyung, giving a slight bow, “Oh, sorry,” she apologised. “Are you (Y/N)’s boyfriend…?”

             You mumbled something gibberish and clung even harder to Taehyung’s arm, going as far as burying and hiding your face. Probably protecting your face from the harsh and cold wind. 

             “…n – not my boyfriend… I have boyfriends – Mhmph…” You were mumbling in Japanese as if your brain picked up the surroundings but not really functioning accordingly. He heard you clearly albeit it might sound gibberish to the others.

             “Ming…yuuu,” you slurred.

             And Taehyung decided he had enough of your shit.

             His hands immediately found the back of your knees as he scooped you into his arms causing a yelp to escape your throat but despite the sudden force, you still didn’t come to your sense, mind was still heavy and clouded by the bottles of Soju you just had. 

             He made a mental note to not let you drink anymore.

             Anymore?

             Would there be a next time? Was he hoping for another dinner with just you?

             “I apologise but she’s really out of it today,” pardoning on your behalf, the foreign language was fluent on Taehyung’s tongue as he put on his gentleman mask. “Are you perhaps her friends?”

             “Yes,” she answered enthusiastically. “I’ve never seen (Y/N) this drunk!”

             For a fact, this brunette looked really fascinated by you.

             The elegant-looking blondie pulled back her thrilled friend by her shoulder, whispering something that made the brunette’s eyes widen like plates. She backed a few steps from you and Taehyung but still, a sweet smile plastered on her face.

             The blonde cleared her throat, “We do not wish to hold you back any longer,” she said with the greatest formality and politeness she could muster. It sounded extremely formal in the language they were conversing in: Japanese.

             “We’ll meet again, Investigator V,” she bowed slightly, her smile wore the softest smile, but Taehyung could never overlook the mischievousness that shone in her eyes that was quick to disappear as fast as it had appeared. The girls then walked past Taehyung and you, heading towards the opposite way of where he was planning to head.

             Once your friends were completely out of the radar, Taehyung looked down at your sleeping face and then up ahead. He stood there for a solid two minutes before his lips slowly tugged into a smirk. “So, I wasn’t wrong…”

             “They are the transferred investigators.” He mused to himself.

             Namjoon had mentioned that CCG will station a few of their investigators at KCCG. He didn’t expect to have met them informally like that, but he most definitely didn’t expect them to blow their cover like that. He was grateful for his sharp sense.

             “What a shocking information, (Y/N),” he muttered under his breath. “You’re friends with ghouls.” 

             CCG has no reason to station ghouls in KCCG.

All rights reserved © 2022 kthyg. Do not copy, translate, modify or repost without permission. Feedback is very much appreciated. It keeps me motivated! Send me an ask !!

ill post tmrw morning bcs tumblr sleeps during this hour ig byee *cries

ghoul. — (lexicon & profiles)

(LEXICON) & (PROFILES)

— contents: profiles of featured characters (as of latest) in ghoul, including side characters.

; profile of each character is subject to change according to the chapters released.

oc.

birth name: jeon (y/n) or (y/n) kishou or jeon (y/n) kishou

alias: (y/n)

species: human

clan: jeon clan (current), kishou clan (ceased)

debut: folders

soulmate: deemed to be soulless/broken bond (refer: intoxication)

relatives: jeon jungkook (adoptive family)

occupation: ghoul investigator: associate investigator of special class (ii)

rating: unrelated

rc type: unrelated

quinque: primary: Aus (S+, rinkaku), secondary: Ifraft and Abksol (B, rinkaku)

affiliation: Q squad (current), X squad (former), Supreme squad S2

ward: 4th ward

division: I (kim namjoon, chief director kim/RM)

jimin.

birth name: park jimin

alias: jimin or jimin park

species: half-ghoul (refer: intoxicated)

clan: park clan

debut: folders

soulmate: min yoongi (refer: folders) jeon jungkook (refer: folders) kim taehyung (refer: folders)

relatives: park rosé (younger sister)

occupation: ghoul investigator: investigator of special class (i)

rating: undetermined

rc type: rinkaku

quinque: primary: IXA (S+, koukaku)

affiliation: X squad (leader), Supreme squad S2

ward: 1st ward

division: I (kim namjoon, chief director kim/RM)

jungkook.

birth name: jeon jungkook

alias: jungkook or jk or kook

species: human

clan: jeon clan

debut: folders (mentioned) training (official)

soulmate: park jimin (refer: folders)

relatives: jeon (y/n) kishou (adopted younger sister)

occupation: ghoul investigator: branch director of 2nd ward (special case)

rating: unrelated

rc type: unrelated

quinque: primary: Angel Beat (SS, ukaku)

affiliation: Supreme squad S2

ward: 2nd ward

division: I (kim namjoon, chief director kim/RM)

jin.

birth name: kim seokjin

alias: jin or seokjin

species: half-human (refer: intoxicated)

clan: kim clan

debut: folders (mentioned) training (official)

soulmate: unknown

relatives: kim taehyung (younger brother) kim namjoon (???) kim mingyu (paternal half-brother) kim jisoo (younger sister)

occupation: ghoul investigator: associate investigator of special class (ii)

rating: unrelated

rc types: unrelated

quinque: primary: Narukami (S+, ukaku)

affiliation: Q squad, Supreme squad S2

ward: 4th ward

division: I (kim namjoon, chief director kim/RM)

hoseok.

birth name: jung hoseok

alias: jay or hope or hoseok

species: human

clan: jung clan

debut: folders (mentioned)

soulmate: unknown

relatives: unknown

occupation: kccg chief director of division II

rating: unrelated

rc types: unrelated

quinque: primary: Owl (SSS, ukaku: kakuja)

affiliation: unknown

ward: 7th ward (main) 2nd ward, 7th ward, 8th ward, 9th ward, 10th ward, 11th ward, 12th ward, 13th ward, 17th ward, 18th ward, 19th ward, 20th ward (division II)

division: II

taehyung.

birth name: kim taehyung

alias: v or taehyung or tae

species: ghoul (refer: intoxicated)

clan: kim clan

debut: folders (mentioned) intoxication (official)

soulmate: park jimin (refer: folders)

relatives: kim seokjin (older brother) kim namjoon (???) kim mingyu (paternal half-brother) kim sunoo (???) kim jisoo (younger sister)

occupation: ghoul investigator: investigator of special class (i)

rating: undetermined

rc types: rinkaku

quinque: unknown

affiliation: V squad (leader)

ward: 8th ward

division: II (jung hoseok, chief director jung/jay)

yoongi.

birth name: min yoongi

alias: yoongi or SUGA

species: half-ghoul (refer: consign)

clan: min clan

debut: folders (mentioned) training (official)

soulmate: park jimin (refer: folders)

relatives: xu minghao (branch family)

occupation: ghoul investigator: investigator of special class (i)

rating: unrelated

rc types: unrelated

quinque: primary: 13’s Jason (S+, rinkaku)

affiliation: Q squad (leader), Supreme squad S2

ward: 4th ward

division: I (kim namjoon, chief director kim/RM)

namjoon.

birth name: kim namjoon

alias: namjoon or RM or joon

species: human

clan: kim clan

debut: folders (mentioned) addition (official)

soulmate: unknown

relatives: kim seokjin (???) kim taehyung (???) kim mingyu (???) kim sunoo (???) kim jisoo (???)

occupation: kccg chief director of division I

rating: unrelated

rc types: unrelated

quinque: unknown

affiliation: unknown

ward: 1st ward (main) 1st ward, 3rd ward, 4th ward, 5th ward, 6th ward, 14th ward, 15th ward, 16th ward, 21st ward, 22nd ward, 23rd ward, 24th ward, 25th ward (division I)

division: I

mingyu.

birth name: kim mingyu

alias: mingyu or gyu

species: half-human (refer: intoxicated)

clan: kim clan

debut: folders (mentioned) training (official)

soulmate: unknown

relatives: kim seokjin (paternal half-brother) kim taehyung (paternal half-brother) kim namjoon (???) kim sunoo (???) kim jisoo (paternal half-sister)

occupation: ghoul investigator: investigator of special class (i)

rating: unrelated

rc types: unrelated

quinque: unknown

affiliation: K squad (leader)

ward: unknown

division: unknown

minghao.

birth name: xu minghao

alias: minghao or ming

species: human

clan: min clan

debut: folders (mentioned) training (mentioned)

soulmate: unknown

relatives: min yoongi (branch family)

occupation: ghoul investigator: first class investigator (iii)

rating: unrelated

rc types: unrelated

quinque: unknown

affiliation: K squad

ward: unknown

division: unknown

rosé.

birth name: park chaeyoung or park roseanne

alias: rosé or rosie or chaeyoung or roseanne

species: half-human (refer: intoxicated)

clan: park clan

debut: folders (mentioned) intoxication (official)

soulmate: unknown

relatives: park jimin (older brother)

occupation: ghoul investigator: investigator of special class (i)

rating: unrelated

rc types: unrelated

quinque: unknown

affiliation: R squad (leader)

ward: 10th ward

division: II (jung hoseok, chief director jung/jay)

lisa.

birth name: lalisa manoban

alias: lalisa or lisa or lili

species: human

clan: unknown

debut: folders (mentioned)

soulmate: unknown

relatives: unknown

occupation: ghoul investigator: first class investigator (iii)

rating: unrelated

rc types: unrelated

quinque: unknown

affiliation: Q squad

ward: 4th ward

division: I (kim namjoon, chief director kim/RM)

sunoo.

birth name: kim seon woo

alias: sunoo

species: human

clan: kim clan

debut: folders (mentioned)

soulmate: unknown

relatives: kim seokjin (???) kim taehyung (???) kim namjoon (???) kim mingyu (???) kim jisoo (???)

occupation: ghoul investigator: first class investigator (iii)

rating: unrelated

rc types: unrelated

quinque: unknown

affiliation: unknown

ward: unknown

division: unknown

jisoo.

birth name: kim jisoo

alias: jisoo

species: half-human (refer: intoxicated)

clan: kim clan

debut: addition (mentioned)

soulmate: unknown

relatives: kim seokjin (older brother) kim taehyung (older brother) kim namjoon (???) kim mingyu (paternal half-brother) kim sunoo (???)

occupation: ghoul investigator: first class investigator (iii)

rating: unrelated

rc type(s): unrelated

quinque: unknown

affiliation: Q squad

ward: 4th ward

division: I (kim namjoon, chief director kim/RM)

more to come; constantly updating.

All rights reserved © 2022-2023 kthyg. Do not copy, translate, modify or repost without permission. Feedback is always appreciated! It keeps me motivated and helps me improve myself. Send me an ask !!

ghoul. — (intoxication)

[FOURTH (4) INSTALMENT OF GHOUL SERIES : INTOXICATION]

“Familiarity. That was what Taehyung felt.”

or

Rosé couldn't celebrate your successful solo mission with you, so she invited Taehyung to celebrate with you.

pairing : taehyung x reader

rating : M

genre : tokyo ghoul au, soulmate au

disclaimer : this story is a work of fiction. descriptions of the BTS members in this story does not reflect nor portray them in real life. everything in this story only fits in imagination and does not apply outside of imagination.

warning : nothing.

word count : 6.3k+

lexicon & profiles | masterpost | masterlist | navigation

note from winter 💌 :

i have no notes for this... except for i love oc and tae's interaction during the dinner so much. and I have an obsession for someone taking candid photos of me, its a kink atp HAHA also, smut on the next part just telling y'all ;))))

💌 what is winter listening to? : bambi by baekhyun

📝 if you want to know more about this au, you can refer to lexicon & profiles. any other questions you can refer to me !!

dedication : to my sleep demon pt.2

             The sun marked the beginning and end of the day.

             When it rose, sunrise, marked the beginning of a new day. And when it set, sunset, it signified the end of the day. The silky, smooth collusions of sky burst red and yellow washed and painted itself over the colourless, milky white building of KCCG.

             It was the end of the working hour for most office workers in Korea including KCCG. The road was packed with cars and motorbikes. The sidewalk was not any less crowded than the road; People were walking back to their homes. 

             “Rosie,” you whined. Locking your arms with your friend’s one. The two of you had passed the entrance gate, now on your way to the main door to exit the building. 

             “(Y/N),” Rosé mimicked. A light chuckle followed shortly after. 

             Clinging hard on her arm, you let your cheek be squashed against her arm. Not quite reaching her shoulder due to her model-like height. “You promised a celebration dinner with me…” 

             “I’m sorry,” Rosé sighed regretfully. “Something came up in 10th ward… I really wanted to celebrate with you but if I don’t check on the 10th ward ASAP, Jay will kill me.”

             Rosé worked under the control of Jay or Jung Hoseok, the Chief Director of Division 2. She was a Special Class investigator and also the leader of R Squad. Every Special Class investigator was required to form their own Squad with adequate members in range 3 to 4 excluding themselves. A group of 5 or 6, only then the team could be registered as a squad. 

             Why didn’t Director Kim station you in her squad instead… 

             You understood or at least you tried to be professional, but you couldn’t help to pout. It was your first solo successful mission in Q Squad. In every squad, the members including the leader were obligated to carry out solo missions that were designated for them. These missions were often put on the hardest difficulty, not everyone could pass on the first try. 

             Unlocking her arm from you, she turned her body to face you. “Don’t pout or I’ll kiss you,” her hands cupped your cheeks. 

             You pouted even harder to tease her. She chuckled before her thumb reached out to play with your lips.

             Her eyes flickered to look up and behind you. Recognising someone, she called out. “Oh, V!”

             V?

             You craned your neck to look at the said person.

             Kim Taehyung. God’s favourite.

             You had almost forgotten the name he used in KCCG as you always go for his government name. Taehyung was a charming yet mysterious man. He was the epitome of perfection. From his perfect and symmetrical facial proportions to his well-built body. Like Jimin, Taehyung has enough muscle at the right place, and like Rosé, they shared almost the same height, the model-like height.

             “Going home?” Your friend asked in a friendly manner. You reached for her hands that had been cupping your face to put them down.

             “Yes,” his baritone voice was honey to your ears. You wouldn’t admit it, but you have a big fat crush on him or maybe you were just attracted to him. Could you blame yourself? Almost everyone in KCCG was attracted to or even openly admitted to having a crush on him. “What about you? I heard there’s a commotion at ward 10.”

             Rosé nodded unenthusiastically. “I swear it was clear yesterday. The ghouls can’t give us a break for God’s sake.” Her hand unconsciously found yours as she held onto your hand. You let her. 

             At least it made you feel included.

             “What can you expect? 10th ward’s ghouls are vigorous, I can’t lie.” He said, followed by a deep chuckle.

             God, the chuckle. You’re so damned.

             “Very true,” she agreed eagerly. “You’re in charge of ward 8, right?”

             V nodded.

             Smirking, she asked, “Want to switch up by the end of this week?” Her eyebrows wiggled. 

             “No, thank you.” He was quick to turn her down. “I can assure you ward 8 is not any better than 10.”

             Rosé playfully rolled her eyes. You couldn’t help but smile at her behaviour. She was the epitome of the real social butterfly; she could get along with anyone and knew almost everyone in KCCG. As if finally remembering something, she looked at you before she directed her attention back to the male investigator. “Oh, V, what are you having for dinner?”

             “Good question,” he hummed, cupping his chin. “I have yet to decide.”

             Rosé eyes shone. “How about a dinner with (Y/N)?”

             “Huh–” You stared at her in shock.

             “Huh?” V didn’t expect that question, too, it seemed.

             Clapping her hands together keenly, she began to explain. “We were supposed to celebrate (Y/N)’s successful solo mission, but, well, something came up, like I said.”

             After a long pause, she blurted out. “Can you go in my place?” 

             Shocked, you quickly intervened. “T–There’s no need!” 

             Although you liked the idea of getting to stare and listen to Taehyung for a longer time, you would not want to be in the awkward situation of two people, that barely knew each other, having dinner. “We were just planning to drink– Not a proper dinner at all!”

             You were literally begging her to reconsider by giving excuses. “Plus, I can still celebrate it with you tomorrow…”

             Rosé frowned. “Eh, that restaurant near this building, what its name? The First? They offer proper dinner though.”

             That was the only thing that got through her head.

             “Yeah, I guess, but–” You tried to come up with another reason because you knew damn well that the restaurant does serve proper dinner in the menu option. You were a regular there.

             Completely dismissing you, she went ahead to ask the male investigator. “So, V? Are you down for some drinking?” She playfully winked at him with a drinking gesture. 

             “Wait–” You gripped her sleeves, trying to hold her back desperately. “I’m pretty sure Investigator V has something better to do than drinking–”

             You would rather have 5 hours training session with The Min Yoongi or maybe Jimin than have dinner with Taehyung. Not because he was a horrible man or anything akin, – the two were definitely not the lesser evil though – it was just that… If it was a dinner with V and Rosé, then yes, you would be fine with it.

             “Sure,” he cut you off. With a shrug, he added. “I don’t mind actually.”

             “You don’t need to!” You quickly told him with a shake of head. “Uhm, I can ask Minghao or Sunoo…?”

             “I mean V agreed to go,” Rosé frowned but didn’t relent to try convincing you. Why do you even need to be convinced? “Plus, don’t you have like a cr–”

             Your eyes widened. You knew she would babble her mouth about your folders. Cutting her off with a high-pitched ‘okay’, you quickly pushed your hand to cup over her mouth. Instantly agreeing with her idea. “I think 10th ward is calling for you!”

             “Gosh, okay. Okay,” she pulled away your hand from her mouth. Her eyes scrutinised your figure before she asked, “Did you bring your camera?”

             “Of course,” a frown found its place on your temple. “Why did you ask…?”

             Rosé mimicked the pose of a photographer – except that she was exaggerating – and subtly pointing at V. Your eyes immediately widened at her signal and quickly pushed her away. You waited until she was out of your vision before you turned to V.

             You would hate to admit that you liked to take pictures of him.

             Both secretly and openly.

             Secretly, when you would see him around KCCG, and like a beautiful flower in the garden, you couldn’t fight the urge to capture its beauty, it was the same for Taehyung. Openly, when you were assigned to do a meeting report or any reports in general that required you to include pictures of the related event, or when the magazine companies would like to feature KCCG as the front page, KCCG would – most of the time – send Taehyung and Jimin for it.

             “Let’s go…?” This was going down to your history book of the most awkward situation.

             The charming smile of his sent your heart to drum fast in your chest and butterfly wilding in your stomach.

             “After you.” Gentleman.

             “Table for two, please.” You told the waitress with a polite smile.

             She led you and Taehyung to a table. You noted how redness covered her cheeks and ears. Assuming it must’ve been because of Taehyung, you could only laugh to yourself. She probably has a crush on the male investigator with the way she was openly gawking at him with a dreamy look while taking the order. Taehyung was popular in Korea due to his career and his look. He received attention everywhere he went.  

             An order of Samgyeopsal and Jokbal was placed, and the girl took her leave to the kitchen. You took off your long white coat and draped it over the chair next to you. Taehyung had chosen to sit on the opposite side, facing you. 

             As if that didn’t add up to your nervousness that has already reached its peak.

             You were left in KCCG formal innerwear: a turtleneck shirt, cargo pants, and platform boots, all in jet black. KCCG was very monotonous. You noticed Taehyung seemed to have taken off his coat as well. His innerwear was nothing different from yours except that he was wearing a pair of patent leather boots.

             This was the first time you had seen him without his coat.

             You have always seen him in that white coat. Given that he was under Director Jung’s division, you didn’t bump into him frequently – or else you would’ve had the chance to witness him in mission state. Rosé, however, was under the same division as him which explained her friendliness towards him.

             Come to think of it, this was the first time you were having a meal with Taehyung. Just the two of you. Of course, you have had dinners with him, but they were joined by your colleagues as well. Most of the time, it was just company dinners or some other celebrations. That, too, you never really try to talk to him during those occasions because you would either be with Jimin or your squad members.

             Squad was a very essential thing in KCCG, and it was divided into two categories, operation squad and mentoring squad. Operation squads usually consisted of powerful and strongest investigators derived from Special Cases, Associate Special Cases, and First Classes. This kind of squad was liable for disbandment as it was not a permanent group. Operation squads could exist due to any calling for it from the higher-ups and cease when the operation was finished, not subject to success or failure. 

             Mentoring squad was a permanent squad. Once a person earned the title of ghoul investigator after graduating from the training academy, he or she would be sorted into a squad. Squad sorting would be determined by the division directors’ evaluations. Once sorted into a squad, one was bound to stick in it forever unless changes were made. In any KCCG function, the seating plan was according to squads. It was a rare case for a squad to have changing members because if there were to be any problem, it was to be solved within the squad itself, according to the leader’s orders and commands.

             It was also a rare case for the higher-ups to be involved in the matter of squad and you happened to be one of the rare cases.

             “I heard Namjoon removed you from Jimin’s squad.”

             You looked at him with wide eyes, unsure as to how to reply to him.

             If that’s what you heard, then you aren’t wrong, was what you wanted to reply with but decided against it.

             Avoiding eye contact, you forced out a nod. Way too many people have come to you and asked that. You were getting sick of it. Most of them would continue to pin you as the problem. You didn’t have the heart to tell the truth… Just because. Taehyung only hummed as he leaned back into his seat with arms crossed on his chest. You squirmed in your seat uncomfortably under his gaze.

             “Jimin is my soulmate.” He announced suddenly. The charming, gentlemanly aura was long gone as it was now replaced with a cold, aloof character.

             His sudden disclosure about Jimin was met with a puzzled look on your face. “I… See?”

             It was his turn to look astounded. A hint of annoyance was evident in his voice as he continued. “I’m glad you are not in his squad anymore. You’re way too close to him for a childhood friend.”

             Blinking, you were very much confused but slowly, you asked, “Are you jealous…?”

             “What– Of course not!” He quickly retorted. “As if someone like you could make me jealous.”

             You badly wanted to roll your eyes but decided against it as you sighed. “I hope you’re not getting the wrong idea, but I have no desire for Investigator Park. I don’t have any feelings for him if that’s what you’re mad for…”

             “And I didn’t know you and Investigator Park are soulmates,” you awkwardly added as your hands fidgeted under the table. Never in your life would want to make someone feel insecure or be a threat to someone’s sacred bond and you most definitely didn’t want to be a homewrecker.

             You liked Taehyung, and you have a crush on him, but would you even call it a crush? You liked pretty things and he happened to be one of the world’s wonders.

             “I like pretty things.”

             “And? Why are you telling me that?”

             Because I feel the need to assure you in whatever way possible.

             You sighed. “Investigator Park is majestically pretty and so are you. It’s just a silly attraction, but I promise you I don’t have any romantic feelings for the two of you.”

             “Do you have a soulmate?” He suddenly asked.

             Taken aback, you blinked at him, “No.”

             The subtle look of shock didn’t go unnoticed by you, but he was quick to be apathetic. “Therefore, I don’t trust you.”

             “Up to you…” You looked away defeatedly with yet another sigh.

             You didn’t blame him for not trusting, honestly. You completely understood where he was coming from, but you would very much want to justify yourself with the fact that you’ve been with Jimin since kids and that if you have feelings for him, you would’ve been rejected before you could even confess. 

             Maybe that was why you didn’t justify yourself. Your reasons were not helpful to the situation at all.

             The Samgyeopsal and Jokbal you had ordered finally arrived along with a few bottles of Soju. The worker set up the grill and you immediately began to prepare to cook the meats. When the grill finally reached the desirable heat, you carefully placed each piece on top of the hot grill pan. Taehyung quietly helped you along as he got himself a pair of tongs.

             “You like photography?” He broke the silence with the sudden question.

             He seemed like the type of person that couldn’t handle quietness. You cast a side eye at him. He gave you a bored face as he jutted out his chin at the camera bag next to you. You slowly nodded but then you continued to cook up the meats when Taehyung fell silent again.

             “Show me your skill.” He finally spoke again after moments of silence.

             “What…” You gave him a dirty look. If it was someone else, you would’ve complied immediately, not questions. If it was anyone else, you wouldn’t have dared to do so, but Taehyung stopped wearing his gentleman mask. If he found no reason to be a gentleman around you, you surely should not have any reason to keep up with your good-girl image around him.

             Or at least that was what you told yourself.

             You got that unfamiliar sense of comfort around him. Although he was very much hostile towards you when he told you about Jimin, other than that, he treated you normally. You found yourself to be more expressive and open to him. It wasn’t Investigator V that was present here with you.

             It was Kim Taehyung.

             “My camera is full of your soulmate.”

             “You take pictures of me too.”

             “Is that a statement?”

             “Yes.”

             Surrendering, you put down your tongs. Your camera bag on your right was dark, hueless; black with your signature, and a small Lotus next to it, embedded in the fabric. It was given by Minghao as a birthday present for you. Taking the camera out of its shelter, you turned it on and searched for some pictures of him. 

             Truthfully, there were quite a number of his pictures in the camera. You thought you had transferred it to your computer. They were pictures of the latest photoshoot for KCCG weekly magazine. This week, Taehyung and his squad were featured in the magazine so, as you have been doing religiously, you attended the photoshoot. 

             You showed him the pictures. He casually took the camera away from your grasp. Well, he looked like he was experienced in holding a camera, so you didn’t panic. You picked up your tongs again as you continued cooking the meat and putting the cooked ones in your bowl and Taehyung’s as he mindlessly went through your camera’s gallery. 

             “Not bad,” Taehyung mumbled with a playful smirk tugging on his lips.

             Heat crept up to your face as you felt your face getting warm. Although that didn’t sound like a genuine compliment, it was the first feedback you ever received from someone that viewed your pictures. You let Jimin look through your gallery occasionally, but he never said anything about the pictures.

             Taehyung was intrigued. He was amazed by the pictures you have taken of him. Glancing at you through his lashes, he saw you smiling. An endearing smile as your eyes shone with a gleam of adoration. He caught himself smiling together with you but quickly wiped it away as he continued going through your camera until the end. There were pictures of Jimin's solo shoot for the 2nd Ward monthly magazine. 

             He always thought his soulmate would make a good model but after seeing your photos, maybe it was better Jimin wasn’t a model. The modelling industry would be under his feet instantly. Your pictures of him proved how majestically beautiful Jimin was. 

             Click!

             He heard a shot was taken. “What are you doing?”

             “Taking pictures of the food…?” You replied.

             He frowned as if you did something very offensive towards him. “Shouldn’t you include the person you’re eating with too?”

             Are you serious? “Whose rule is that?”

             “Mine.”

             Rolling your eyes, you continued to snap more pictures. “Shut up and eat before they get cold.”

             Taehyung brought the camera to his eye level. You were still busy trying to get the perfect angle and lighting for the pictures, and he silently clicked a photo.

             You looked perfectly flawless – or maybe it was just his skill or the camera.

             He slowly angled the camera to his eye level again as he intended to take another picture but as he was looking through the camera lens, you were already staring at him with a boring look. “Taking my pictures now?”

             “Jokes on you, I was taking pictures of the food.”

             “Jokes on you, do you think I’m stupid?” You retorted but couldn’t help the small laugh that followed shortly after. “Give that here.”

             He gave you puppy eyes, but you quickly turned him down as you narrowed your eyes at him. Surprisingly, he surrendered with a pout. He looked like a sad puppy as he picked up his chopsticks to himself some meats. 

             Bringing the camera to your eye, you prompted him. “Look here.” 

             Click!

             A picture of him munching on the meat, luscious lips pouting. The flavour of the meat burst in his mouth as he savoured the food, eyes widened in pleasure.

             You couldn’t contain your laugh as you reviewed the picture you just took. “You look cute.”

             If you weren’t so busy with the camera, you would’ve seen the way his eyes widened as blood rushed to his face, cheeks flushed from your compliment. He didn’t know why he reacted in such a way but something about you complimenting him so nonchalantly must’ve caught him off guard.

             The two of you continued bickering from him urging you to delete the pictures to you nagging about the foods getting cold because of the never-ending bickering and Taehyung that doesn’t seem to want to stop. You shoved pieces of meat together with lettuce into his mouth to shut him up. But as if that stopped him. He continued to babble to the point he drifted into some random topic. You only listened to him while you cook up more meats for him. 

             It was as if the two of you were close friends.

             Taehyung fed you meats in between his random speech and having food offered right in front of you, who wouldn’t open their mouth automatically? Surely not you, hence your lips parted every time food was offered to you by Taehyung. Sometimes, you would pick up the meat off the grill and immediately offer it to him after blowing away some steam. 

             It felt so natural.

             For him to feed you. For you to feed him. For you to listen to him as he went through from KCCG matter to some personal stories and random thoughts. 

             It naturally happened. 

             It naturally happened to the point you found yourself downing bottles of Soju mindlessly, definitely going over your drinking limit. You were a light drinker, but you didn’t care as you let the alcoholic drink continue to enter your system. 

             Taehyung looked at you. He was far from being drunk, for whatever reason. But he has the decency to remind you as he took away the bottle of Soju from your hand. “I think that’s enough of Soju for you, (Y/N).”

             You could only whine in response, grumpily picking up your chopsticks again and shoving a few leftover slices of meat into your mouth. 

             “Aigo, (Y/N),” a soft voice cooed. 

             Taehyung and you simultaneously turned towards the voice – even though you were not exactly functioning well, your sense was surprisingly still functioning and able to pick up your surroundings.

             You seemed to recognise the lady as you whined in response. “Ajumma…”

             It was probably the restaurant’s owner.

             “Let’s stop here, okay?” The old lady came next to you as she caressed your shoulders gently. You mumbled something inaudible for her old hearing as you put down your utensils. 

             The lady looked at Taehyung as she asked. “Are you her boyfriend?”

             “No, I’m her colleag–”

             “He’s my friend!” You exclaimed; your head whipped so fast as you looked at the lady next to you, index finger shushing over your lips. “Ajumma, he’ll get maaad if you call him my boyfriend. He already has a soulmate!” You whispered – more like trying to – the last sentence in her ears.

             “Pull yourself together, (Y/N).” Taehyung shook his head as he heaved a heavy sigh.

             “It’s not often I get to see her like this.” She told him after chuckling softly. “You must be a special friend to her.”

             “Special?” He repeated with pure confusion.

             This was the first time you and he were having dinner together. 

             “When she comes here with her friends, she never gets drunk.” She remembered the times when you would not drink even a sip of those alcoholic beverages as you stuck with your usual Cola. Even when one of your friends offered you to drink, the invitation was politely refused by you and for sure you must’ve felt really bad for rejecting it. “So, for her to get drunk in front of you, she must’ve really trusted you a lot.”

             Your arms found their way as you circled the old lady’s figure. “Ajumma, I want a soulmate, too…” The sound of melancholy was apparent in your voice and certainly didn’t go unnoticed by the lady and even Taehyung. 

             Sighing pitifully, she caressed your head, “You’ll meet the one soon, honey.”

             You must’ve been so lonely, she thought.

             Finding a soulmate in today’s world is very crucial, but not everyone would find one. They would make one. In a world where the ghouls roamed around and blended in with the humans, one out of ten ghouls would have human as their soulmates and ghoul soulmates as the humans’, but not everyone was willing and ready to commit to someone who was not of their kind or more like they could not risk it.

             There was a reason for the establishment of both CCG and KCCG, after all.

             They were an anti-ghoul organisation. 

             Humans were not to get along with ghouls as they were considered monsters and existed for nothing but to cause chaos. CCG and KCCG made it their main purpose to exterminate the whole existence of ghouls as per their motto, to create a better world for humans, free from any danger. 

             That was why some people make their own soulmates. Modern technology and medicine paved the way for people who wanted to choose their own soulmates or run away from the ill-fated soulbond. Although some people still preferred the traditional way and pain-free because the alternative way was said to be painful and time-consuming as one must go through many procedures in order for a new desired soul bond to be established. 

             Expensive too. 

             Your eyes closed as you mumbled with sorrow. “What if I already meet them? But I don’t feel any connection with Mingyu and Minghao, but I love them, and they love me.”

             The old lady tried to recall the guys you mentioned, and it clicked rather quickly given the number of times she had seen you with them. Indeed, you were very close to them. They treated you earnestly, lovingly, and caringly to the point she had thought they were your destined lovers, but you had explained before that they weren’t.

             It was hard for even the lady to fathom the fact that they weren’t your soulmates too because she knew for a fact that your relationship with them was definitely not a normal one.

             How could three souls be very loving and inseparable but not soulmates?

             The three of you were one piece that was separated into three.

             “They have to be my soulmates…” 

             Taehyung’s eyebrow twitched at your last sentence. The unexplainable urge to shut your mouth was clouding his mind, but at least you passed out now. He was not really a fan of the whole soulmate system although he already has his own soulmates. He liked to be free. Free from commitments. His soulmates gave him the freedom he wanted, of course, but at the end of the day, he was still in a relationship that required his commitment.

             Or at least that was what he thought.

             What was it that had you desiring soulmates so badly? 

             Couldn’t you just wait for them to naturally come to you?

             You looked so desperate and pathetic.

             “Poor kid,” the lady kindly supported your head that was resting on her. The soft and gentle caresses on the side of your head never ceased and it irked Kim Taehyung. He has the urge to push away that hand and replace it with his but for his own good sake, he held himself back. “Young man, you can go home if you want to, I can handle her.”

             Her free hand went beneath her apron as she rummaged through her pocket for something. “Let me try to call Mingyu or Minghao…”

             God, if Taehyung wasn’t so close to pushing that old woman off you.

             Does she think he wouldn’t have the least amount of decency to bring her back home after having dinner with you?

             Does she not trust him even though she mentioned him being a special someone for you?

             Of course not.

             He just had dinner with you.

             For the first time.

             And it was the first time the owner had seen you with someone other than Mingyu and Minghao. Even if there were someone else, she would’ve recognised.

             She doesn’t trust him.

             But then again, he doesn’t trust the old lady as well.

             “No, it’s fine,” Taehyung said with his box smile, fighting back a snarl. “I can get her home.” He doesn’t need to justify himself as his aura spoke for him. He rounded the table to get to your side and practically snatched you from the lady’s hold. 

             His voice held finality as well as his action.

             Taehyung gently manoeuvred you into wearing your coat. Outside was cold and windy, he wouldn’t want you to freeze to death before you could even reach your home. When he was done keeping you warm securely, he carefully carried you on his back. Luckily neither you nor Taehyung brought own Quinque because it would’ve been a pain in the neck to carry it along at this moment. 

             There was one thing that was still a problem.

             He didn’t know where you live.

             The night was cold as Taehyung carried you on his back. Wind marched into the chilly picture blowing like a sneezing monster, peeling off the brown cadaverous leaves from the strangled tree branches. The night would chill anyone down to the bone, but Taehyung remained unfazed as he strode in the cold weather.

             The cold night breeze blew on your face, making you nuzzle into Taehyung’s neck in search of some warmth. Your body had picked up the spine-chilling temperature despite your mind being hazy from the alcohol. After some more snuggling, failure in search of perfect warmth, your eyes fluttered open. 

             Taehyung has very acute senses, you have come to notice that. Perhaps it was due to his years of being a ghoul investigator, but it still didn’t fail to amaze you as he spoke the second your eyes blinked open. 

             “You’re so heavy.”

             Processing his word, you narrowed your eyes at him – although he couldn’t see you or if his peripheral vision was wide enough to see you, “Literally no one asked you to carry me!” You chided.

             “I’ll let you fall,” he voiced with a minatory voice and that shut you up immediately.

             “Put me down properly, dude,” you finally spoke again after minutes of silence. You’d rather walk than be carried by him knowing the fact that he could drop you off anytime. The thought of falling was very much not entertaining at this moment. Taehyung didn’t hesitate to let you down. “That gentleman image was just for show, was it?”

             “I’m glad you’ve realised,” he brushed you off as he continued walking, leaving you behind.

             One time he was bearable, another time he was nothing but an arsehole.

             You rolled your eyes, “Ever since you told me Investigator Park is your soulmate,” and caught up with him. You didn’t notice how Taehyung had already slowed down his pace as now he was sauntering. He was waiting for you to at least walk next to him instead of getting out of breath with just a few quick steps. A smug grin paint itself on his face as he heard you whining and maffling.

             It was only today and just now that Taehyung finally has a moment with you. Alone. He would occasionally see you with Rosé after the working hour or maybe he actually noticed you during the photoshoots but didn’t bring himself to give extra care about you. 

             Telling you that Jimin was his soulmate was just an excuse. Heck, even the whole dinner was just an excuse. He never wanted to have dinner with you, he would not want to. He had agreed to Rosé because he saw it as an opportunity: a chance to push you away from Jimin. You were the problem in Jimin’s squad. A hindrance. He was nothing but glad and elated when Namjoon had done him a favour of removing you from Jimin’s squad – not quite directly but the complaints were very helpful, and he was very thankful to whoever filed those complaints against you.

             But a dinner with you was fun.

             He hated to admit that.

             You felt like a friend to him.

             “Look, if you don’t want to carry me, let me at least cling on your arm for some support.” You huffed; arms crossed.

             A scoff escaped his lips as he gave you a side glance, “You sure are something when you’re drunk, (Y/N),” but he still offered you his arm.

             He shouldn’t have done that, right? He should yank his arm away from you.

             But that moment never came. He didn’t feel the supposed emotion of anger or hatred bubbling when he was with you. Not even during the dinner just now. He told himself he was supposed to piss you off, embarrass you, and watch as you run out of the restaurant crying your heart out, be it tears of anger, humiliation, or even grief for the broken heart.

             He wanted you away from his soulmate and him.

             You should just be with your alleged soulmate.

             Maybe your bond was broken.

             Maybe you were soulless.

             But why did all those thoughts stir uneasiness in him?

             “How come you’re not drunk in the slightest?” You asked. The question had come out as slurring.

             “Because who will take care of you when you’re drunk.” That came out as a natural response, he didn’t even think of constructing some believable lies.

             You loured. “Lies. You don’t care whether or not I get drunk, and you certainly don’t care about the aftermath. You simply don’t get drunk.” 

             For one you were definitely sharp, he thought.

             Shrugging, he said in a boring tone. “Whatever makes you sleep at night.”

             You heard his tone, of course. So, you took it as a cue to shut your drunk self. Your tired eyes travelled down to the ground, watching as your steps matched with Taehyung’s. He definitely slowed down his pace. A small smile involuntarily tugged on your lips. Taehyung was soft despite the cold persona he had presented to you when he told you about Jimin. He was a guy overflowing with emotions but didn’t have a way to express them or at least had trouble doing so, hence he opted to suppress those emotions.

             Heaviness started to gather on your eyelids as you struggle to keep your eyes open. Your pace was becoming slower, and Taehyung noticed the drag. He slightly turned to look at you only to see you sleeping. Eyes closed, your eyelashes lay like veils upon your cheeks, lips slightly parted, and regulated and calm pattern on breathing. 

             You look divine.

             And if people were to pass by, they would think Taehyung was in love.

             “(Y/N)?” A voice thick with an accent called, drawing only Taehyung’s attention as you passed out again. A blondie. 

             Another voice jumped in, sounding very excited. “It’s really you!” A brunette. 

             Japanese?

             “Ah, she’s drunk,” The brunette said.

             The first voice that had called you turned to Taehyung, giving a slight bow, “Oh, sorry,” she apologised. “Are you (Y/N)’s boyfriend…?”

             You mumbled something gibberish and clung even harder to Taehyung’s arm, going as far as burying and hiding your face. Probably protecting your face from the harsh and cold wind. 

             “…n – not my boyfriend… I have boyfriends – Mhmph…” You were mumbling in Japanese as if your brain picked up the surroundings but not really functioning accordingly. He heard you clearly albeit it might sound gibberish to the others.

             “Ming…yuuu,” you slurred.

             And Taehyung decided he had enough of your shit.

             His hands immediately found the back of your knees as he scooped you into his arms causing a yelp to escape your throat but despite the sudden force, you still didn’t come to your sense, mind was still heavy and clouded by the bottles of Soju you just had. 

             He made a mental note to not let you drink anymore.

             Anymore?

             Would there be a next time? Was he hoping for another dinner with just you?

             “I apologise but she’s really out of it today,” pardoning on your behalf, the foreign language was fluent on Taehyung’s tongue as he put on his gentleman mask. “Are you perhaps her friends?”

             “Yes,” she answered enthusiastically. “I’ve never seen (Y/N) this drunk!”

             For a fact, this brunette looked really fascinated by you.

             The elegant-looking blondie pulled back her thrilled friend by her shoulder, whispering something that made the brunette’s eyes widen like plates. She backed a few steps from you and Taehyung but still, a sweet smile plastered on her face.

             The blonde cleared her throat, “We do not wish to hold you back any longer,” she said with the greatest formality and politeness she could muster. It sounded extremely formal in the language they were conversing in: Japanese.

             “We’ll meet again, Investigator V,” she bowed slightly, her smile wore the softest smile, but Taehyung could never overlook the mischievousness that shone in her eyes that was quick to disappear as fast as it had appeared. The girls then walked past Taehyung and you, heading towards the opposite way of where he was planning to head.

             Once your friends were completely out of the radar, Taehyung looked down at your sleeping face and then up ahead. He stood there for a solid two minutes before his lips slowly tugged into a smirk. “So, I wasn’t wrong…”

             “They are the transferred investigators.” He mused to himself.

             Namjoon had mentioned that CCG will station a few of their investigators at KCCG. He didn’t expect to have met them informally like that, but he most definitely didn’t expect them to blow their cover like that. He was grateful for his sharp sense.

             “What a shocking information, (Y/N),” he muttered under his breath. “You’re friends with ghouls.” 

             CCG has no reason to station ghouls in KCCG.

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talk to me when i get tired of ditto. im so sick i’ve been putting this on since 7 am and probably until tomorrow and the end of this week