Work Text:
There was a box sitting in the hallway as you opened the front door.
Your eyes stayed on in for a moment longer before you fully entered the flat and turned the key in the lock behind you, slipping out of your shoes.
The frame a little further down the halfway that your flatmate usually occupied at this time, leaning against it with an easy smile and welcoming you back home, was empty.
Upon peeking under the lid of the box you discovered your plates sitting in it, neatly piled and the spaces between them stuffed with newspaper.
They were so out of place here that you needed a moment until your brain caught up to what you were seeing.
“Tae?”
The lid of the box eased down on its own and you turned to pick up the bag with groceries you’d picked up after work.
“’M here.” Came the answer, from the direction of the kitchen.
Sunlight flooded the room and reached into the hallway as you approached.
“There you are. Why are the p- Oh.”
The ends of his dark blue, almost black hair were dipped in gold, giving him a halo in the late afternoon sun shining through the window.
It caught on the fraying ends of the old grey shirt you had worn while painting the living room, only now it was Taehyung in it, the old thing hanging off his body.
The way the sleeves were too long and slipped down even with him having rolled the hem up didn’t seem to matter as he ran a brush with white paint down the front of the old cabinet you’d gotten at a yard sale last month. It had been beautiful, if not a little shabby, on its own, but now your eyes ran over it appreciatively, taking in the work he’d gotten done.
“It looks like a whole different shelf.” You smiled, even though Tae was too focused on the task at hand to turn his head. He dipped the brush in the can of paint and absentmindedly rubbed an itch on his nose.
You began to unpack the groceries, and as a glass of olives hit the cold surface of the stove, the bright sound seemed to finally pull the other back to reality. You glanced at him after he’d let out a small gasp and saw how his eyes stayed glued to the very evenly painted surface, before he turned his head and looked at you with big eyes.
“You’re back.” He stated, voice turning up at the end.
“Yeah. Hey, Tae.” Happiness spread through you, now that you finally had his attention.
He dropped the brush in an old, empty bean can with water before closing the space between you and looping his arms around your middle, leaving no space to seperate you any longer.
His chin dropped to your shoulder as he observed the things you’d bought and already pulled out of the bag.
“I got you something.” You said quietly, leaning back into his embrace and cherishing the moment of calm after a stressing workweek. The hybrid behind you hummed.
“What did you bring me?” His lips were close to your ear now that he had lifted his head with interest, and he pressed soft, sweet kisses to the part of your face he could reach from his position.
You reached down into the bag with some difficulties since Taehyung had no mind of letting you out of his hug, but managed to pull out a paper bag as long as your arm. He kept silent and unmoving, leaving the unwrapping to you, but you knew once he recognized the thick, green leaves that appeared from within.
His fingers tightened into your hips and he dropped his chin again, kissing your shoulder before putting his cheek on the bone there and tightening his hug.
“You got me Aloe! We can make lemonade tomorrow!”
“Exactly.” You smiled and rubbed the exposed skin of his lower arms.
“Thank you. How was work?”
He finally peeled himself off you and picked the brush up to properly clean it in the sink before coming to help you put the perishables into the fridge.
You rolled your eyes and sighed at his question. “Busy. We had a leak under the bar and then our kitchen sink backed up and... It took ages for the plumber to arrive. Midday Peak was hell.”
Taehyung hummed again, inspecting a package of meat that you handed him before placing it in its box.
“That’s for lunch tomorrow. You were occupied after work?” The humour is audible in your words and he nods, unbridled pride flashing over his features.
“Yes! There was a bit of paint peeling off of it, and then some more peeled off after I pulled at it, and then I thought I could just sand it down and put some colour on it. And I also fixed the handle of our balcony door. Our birdfeeder fell off its hook and broke, I thought maybe we could repair it tomorrow, together. And while we’re at that, you still haven’t said anything about my idea of finally building a shelf for our DVDs.”
The fridge door shut and Taehyung turned to lean against it with crossed arms. Before you could answer him, a flash of green in the wind caught your eyes, just outside the glass that still had warm rays streaming through it.
In wonder you stepped up to the windowsill.
“Since when do we have flower pots in front of this window? And a- herb garden in it?”
Your flatmate let out a low grumble at your dismissal of his questions like that but approached none the less. Stood beside you and looking outside as well, the light catches on the short little feathers lining his hairline over his neck and behind his ears.
“I did that yesterday, but you didn’t see that because it was dark when you came home.” He admitted, almost sheepish.
“Tae you know you don’t have to do this much housework, right? You can enjoy your time off after getting out of work, too.”
He flexed his neck in discomfort before his eyes found yours and he calmed. “I know. But, you know spring is approaching and I can’t- If I don’t keep myself busy like this, I can’t relax, and...”
He trailed off, a pout stealing on his lips. You quietly admired his glowing face a heartbeat longer, golden hour kissing his features and making him look otherworldly. Then you gently elbow his side.
“’S okay. As long as you don’t overwork yourself.”
He shook his head and let out a content sigh as you continued to take in how much more colour the basil, rosemary and thyme added to the outside world, by just being there.
-
The herbs got put to good use as you cooked spaghetti with Teahyung for dinner.
With two empty plates and full bellies you lounged on the couch, two episodes of the TV show that’s reserved for Friday nights done.
“Do you want to go out and date this year?” You took a sip of your soda before placing the glass on the table. Then you settled back down, with your head in Tae’s lap, and he returned to carding his fingers through your hair and studying your face.
“Don’t know. No, probably not.” He didn’t look too bothered by it.
“Why?”
He took a sip of his own sparkling water, pushing it around his mouth and stared off into space for a moment before his eyes focused back on yours.
“I have everything I could want with you.”
He licked a drop of water from his lips and ran the tip of his finger over the rim of the glass, looking unabashedly into your face without a hint of smug or sarcasm.
“Really? You don’t even wanna try and see if there’s someone-“ You broke off and purse your lips in search for an appropriate phrase. “-Someone else? Someone like you, maybe?”
His eyes alternated looking between yours, his lashes reaching long over his cheeks.
“No. I’m happy with you, here. With what we have. I never thought about being in a quasi platonic relationship with someone, especially a human, but now...” He shrugged, then smiled. “I really enjoy it. Feels good.”
You could have told him you loved him then, so so much, but the words somehow don’t make it past your throat as you stare up at him from where you’re lying. Your whole body feels heavy, heavy with food and exhaustion and love for your flatmate.
You roll on your side with a small groan to lean your face into his stomach and half hug an arm around his waist.
His nimble fingers brush back the hair so he can lean down and tip his nose to your temples.
“I love you, too.” He mumbles, and your heart is suddenly fluttering in your chest.