A Rose Between Thorns

Chapter 11: The Second

We stayed there for a few minutes as Taehyung slowly began to calm down. Eventually he looked up at me, his eyes red and puffy with tear stains down his cheeks. I can only give him a soft smile, gently wiping away his tears with my thumb.

"How about we cuddle as much as you like while we watch the movie? Will that help?" I ask, as I can feel some sort of motherly instinct come in. Or I've already been influenced by Jin, who knows.

Taehyung nods, doing his best to give me a smile in return. "I'd like that very much," his voice cracks as he speaks, and I lean down to give him a tender kiss on the forehead.

As I do, I feel this familiar warmth flowing through me, though I won't say I don't like it. It's like when you're really cold and are suddenly given a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate, before sitting in front of a fireplace.

It's a pleasant feeling, and I see Taehyung's smile get wider as he gently loosens his hold. "May I carry you then?" he asks quietly, which takes me by surprise. Before he never asked, but I guess since both of us are in a sentimental mood he doesn't want to ruin it.

"If you'd like to," I respond, and his signature box smile got bigger and brighter. This time he gently raised me into his arms, as if jostling me too much would somehow break me.

I wrap my arms around his neck, holding on as we walk back into the living room. The rest of the guys had the movie set up, and I see Yoongi sitting on the floor with his arms crossed, head down as if deep in thought.

"Well now that everyone is here, shall we start the movie?" Hoseok suggests, seeing us come in with a knowing smile. I raise a brow at him in confusion, but choose to ignore it.

Everyone nods and looks at us while Taehyung takes a seat in the armchair. Settling me in his lap, my legs drape over the arm of the chair with my left side to his chest. I remove my arms from around his neck, leaving them in my lap while Taehyung keeps his arms around my waist.

It was Jin who noticed first, as he scanned our faces to see what might have gone on. "Wait a second, Taehyung what's that on your arm?" he asks, as he is seated on the couch in the spot closest to us.

Taehyung gives him a look of confusion, before looking over at his right arm. Jin pulls a small mirror out of his pocket and holds it up to him, since Taehyung is wearing a tank top it makes what Jin found incredibly visible.

"Holy- Taylor!" Taehyung says with a wide box grin, and I look up to see him wiggling with excitement. I turn my head around to look in the mirror and sure enough, high on his right arm, almost to his shoulder is my fox tattoo in black ink.

I stare at the mirror, dumbfounded as the rest of the guys congratulate Taehyung happily. Except for Yoongi, who doesn't bother to look our way.

"But...when?" Namjoon asked us, confusion spreading over his features.

Taehyung and I look at each other before it finally clicks. "We had talked in the kitchen while you all were getting the movie ready," he starts, turning a bit red from embarrassment. "It must have been then."

I recall the warm feeling I had while I held Taehyung in my embrace. That makes sense... I had the same feeling when Yoongi and I bonded, I think to myself, smiling slightly at the memory.

Taehyung then squeals in excitement, and begins examining my arms and even my collar, searching frantically for his own tattoo. To his dismay, he doesn't find it, and his smile falls a little. "Where is mine?" he asks softly as his eyes gaze into my own.

"It might be in a place under her clothes, TaeTae," Jimin pipes up from his spot beneath us. We all nod in agreement, and I reach up to boop Taehyung's nose.