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The sharp tip of the pencil breaking with a snap is it for Jeongguk. An almost feral growl escapes his mouth, which then evolves into a shrill scream, causing him to screech his chair backwards and slam his head down in the desk, amongst the mess of papers.
He thinks he's been on with the piling assignments for the past like, three days, with close to only five hours of sleep in total and a shit ton of coffee probably enough to feed a whole city. At this point he's not even sleepy anymore, the complicated terminologies and definitions in his textbook having knocked that out of him. If he's honest with himself, he just really wants a form of comfort before he breaks down completely, preferably familiar arms keeping him close, but he won't admit it to anyone else.
He doesn't waste a second longer, and pats spots on his desk to hunt for his phone while letting his head loll on the wooden surface, and unlocks the device with his fingerprint once he finds it. He glances upwards, pressing on the first contact in favourites, and puts it on speaker.
Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb blasts as the caller tune, and the choice of song makes Jeongguk’s lips twitch only slightly, and it would have definitely been a full on grin if he wasn't so dead.
The song abruptly stops and there's muffled giggling on the other end before the voice clearly speaks, “ Kookie! How are yo- you're awake yet?”
Jeongguk licks his lips, body slumping down in utmost relaxation as the voice flowing out of the speaker is an immediate balm to him, warmth seeping in his veins and the headache he carried simmering down at a fast speed.
He glances at the small table clock before replying, it's 12:30 am.
“Where are you Tae? It's so late, are you gonna come home?”
Taehyung doesn't miss how tired Jeongguk sounds, voice strained and sleepy, and he remembers how Jeongguk doesn't seem to have slept in the past few days at all. Maybe a few naps here and there, but other than that, he's found the younger awake at odd times in the middle of the night at the desk with a dim light and hundred papers, dismissing Taehyung’s worried questions saying he'll nap later.
“Are you okay, Guk?” They don't answer any questions the other asks, only responding in more questions. “Have you even slept! I know you've got deadlines but I can't have you collapse in fucking class, Jeongguk.”
“Taehyung,” Jeongguk tries to sound completely cheerful now, the task being a task in itself. “I'm fine. A little tired but coffee will do the trick. You don't worry.”
There's silence.
“You sure?”
“Yup.”
“Fine- I'm at Chim’s, we had that group project thing I told you about, but you forgot I guess. Anyway, don't exhaust yourself and just go to sleep, promise? I'll be there in the morning”
“Hm.”
“I love you.”
“Bye.”
It's cold, Jeongguk knows it and so does Taehyung, when the younger hangs up without his usual string (comparatively shorter) of endearments, I love you’s and little kissy sounds. Taehyung stares at his phone for the next minute or so, a long sigh causing his body to deflate.
“What's got the life out of you?” Jimin exits the bathroom, drying his hands with a towel.
“Jimothy,” Taehyung whines, flashing his phone screen in the other’s face, Jeongguk’s contact on display. “Kookie needs me.”
Jimin smiles wide knowingly, eyes crinkling down to small lines. “You go, shoo. We only have like the finishing touches left anyway.”
“Love you man.” Taehyung squeezes Jimin to almost death before collecting all his stuff and getting out of the apartment, hailing a cab back to his own while his knee doesn't stop shaking in worry that his stupid boyfriend has probably drowned himself in exhaustion and actual death.
Almost on the other side of town, Jeongguk lies on the empty cold bed, knees pulled up to his chest in a fetal position, bones, joints and muscles aching, head blasting and eyes stinging with forthcoming tears. He attempts to push himself further into the soft mattress, wanting to be invisible. He stares at his phone lying on the floor (thankfully not sustaining any scratches), that he tossed there after he hung up on Taehyung. He feels bad yes, but he just wants the other there with him more than anything, everything else be damned.
The next some minutes are unbearable and annoying, as Jeongguk only wishes that time would skip to morning and he'd get to see Taehyung again. He wonders if his prayer has been answered when he hears the soft click of the bedroom door, but then glances at the window only to come across a stark black night with a scarcity of stars.
That's okay though.
Because a second later there's familiar long, thin arms looping around his torso, holding close and soft fingers drawing odd patterns on the skin by his collarbone. There's warmth in the crook of his neck, and then a pair of lips pressing down.
“Baby,” Jeongguk shuts his eyes at the expression, body melting under the hold. His heart picks up when there's multiple kisses peppered all across his skin, then behind his ear, moving down to his collarbone, and Jeongguk finds himself locked down under Taehyung’s hold. The kisses burn, but instead of giving into them, his body slumps down further and the exhaustion kicks in again, eyes ready to gush with tears. “It's okay.”
Jeongguk breaks down because really, it's not.
He doesn't remember the last time in three days he's had a chance to actually spend even five minutes with Taehyung like this, or even a minute only just to savour or hold or kiss the older properly. Even their embraces were rushed, and goodbyes quick, I love you’s unheard, and even though Jeongguk knows it's because they're both immensely busy with finals nearing, he missed Taehyung so much.
So it's not okay, and so a fresh bucket of tears rolls down his cheeks and he can't seem to stop at all. He buries his face in Taehyung’s chest, ranting and babbling out nonsense, venting all his frustration out.
“-so tired Tae, I can't- there's so much to do and I'm scared I'm gonna fail or something and it's just never ending and why the fuck did I take up law out of everything-”
“Keep going.”
A warm hand brushes Jeongguk’s bangs off his forehead, the space now being scattered with featherlight kisses and while Jeongguk continues his mindless rambling, he remembers how Taehyung’s gestures are better than the best balm or massage in the world.
By the end of it, tears are dry marks on his cheeks and his chest is now breathing evenly, one arm looped around Taehyung’s waist and the other playing with the older’s soft brown locks while his head rests on Jeongguk’s shoulder, moving up and down with Jeongguk’s breaths.
When Jeongguk’s words finally take a stop, Taehyung cranes his head up and rests his chin on the other’s chest.
“Better?”
“Much.”
Taehyung grins his boxy smile and Jeongguk marvels at the human in his arms. That's when he notices that Taehyung looks tired too, eyes a little droopy and dark under them, cheeks duller and lips paler. He sighs, feeling slightly selfish about only going on and on about his shitty day, and Taehyung seems to have caught on, so he only raises a hand and palms Jeongguk’s cheek. It's warm.
“Good.”
Jeongguk tilts the other’s chin with a finger, slightly hoisting him up and then meshes their lips together. Taehyung’s hands rest on Jeongguk’s chest, one palm fisting against his two day old shirt. Their mouths move in sync and Jeongguk’s palm subconsciously sits under Taehyung’s ear on the neck, caressing the supple skin with his thumb. It's slow, sleepy making out after Jeongguk swipes his tongue across the other’s bottom lips and Taehyung let's him in, and more small, tired butterfly kisses on his jaw, descending down to his neck, where Jeongguk eyes the faint purple mark he's created when Taehyung pulls away with half shut, bleary eyes.
“Sleepy.”
His head lolls on Jeongguk’s chest and the younger’s fingers tangle themselves back into Taehyung’s hair, slowly massaging. Jeongguk falls asleep first, the slow rhythm of playing with soft hair putting him into much needed peaceful slumber, and then Taehyung cranes his head up again to look at the most peaceful sight he'll ever see, Jeongguk having fallen asleep with the faintest smile on his lips.
Taehyung manages a grin and goes back to placing his head on the younger’s chest, arm snaking around his torso tighter, rapidly falling asleep to the stable rhythm of heartbeat.