Archive of Our Own

Even before Jimin was positive he was in love, he had a list of the things he loved about Taehyung long enough to circle the Earth twice. Since the day they met, Jimin's brain worked on autopilot to diligently and continuously add to the Taehyung folder in his mind.

As time passed, the folder grew into a binder, which transformed into a novel. Soon the list outgrew the pages of the book and upgraded to a drawer. Jimin's list expanded and shortly his Taehyung drawer modified to a Taehyung closet. Then, a Taehyung storage unit. And even still, Jimin thinks that will quickly run out of space.

Maybe he needs a Taehyung vault to hold all of the things he loves about him. He's not exaggerating when he says the list is infinite. Honestly, Jimin could go on and on.

And he does.

After a few drinks, there's almost no stopping him. He gets tipsy then he gets happy, and then he gets sappy. With his cheeks blushed red, Jimin spews out impromptu love letters dedicated to Taehyung and every little thing about him.

Their bandmates playfully tease him. They mock him and the almost helpless way he and Taehyung have fallen in love. With higher-pitched voices and feigning annoyance, they imitate Jimin lovesick rants.

"And Taehyungie this, and Taehyungie that," they mock playfully, and Jimin always shoves their shoulder. He tells them it's not his fault he was able to find his soulmate at sixteen and they were still looking. Jimin always makes sure to roll his eyes and innocently shrug his shoulders as he says it. That usually shuts them up.

But even before Taehyung and Jimin had worked up enough courage to admit to themselves what everyone else already knew, Jimin found himself struck by how fond he was of Taehyung. Little things like the way he holds his chopsticks, and the way he ties his shoes opposite to the way Jimin remembers learning, and the way he rummages through clothing racks in the stores.

Frequently, Jimin finds himself frozen as he observes Taehyung. The rise of his eyebrows when he's curious, the twitch of his nose when he's sleepy, the tilt of the corners of his mouth when he's upset. Everything. Jimin has made it his mission to study Taehyung.

Thinking back, Taehyung's friendliness has always been somewhere at the top of Jimin's list. Because it was precisely that about Taehyung that helped Jimin come out of his shell.

For a while, Taehyung was Jimin's mentor. He helped Jimin become acquainted with the dorms, the everyday routine as a trainee, their new school, and everything in between.

"You'll always have me," Taehyung had told him once when they were young. Drenched with sweat and sitting on the hardwood floor of the practice room, the two of them had pinky promised to forever be there for each other.

It was a fevered commitment, fueled by the uncertainty of their futures. At that moment, it was meant to symbolize that no matter if they were lucky enough to debut or not, they'd still have each other. But as their career blossomed, the promise also blossomed into something more.

Soon, the idea of always having Taehyung took on a different meaning.

It became a habit the way Jimin calls Taehyung his. Most of the time, he doesn't even realize he's doing it. Sometimes he's talking, and it slips right off his tongue.

"I was at the mall and bought this shirt because it reminded me of my Taehyungie..."

"My Taehyungie really likes comics, too..."

It just happens.

He doesn't mean it in a possessive way. Or in a manner that is intended to imply Jimin's ownership over him. Because that's the last thing Jimin would ever want anyone to think.

But when Jimin sits down and attempts to define what Taehying is to him, it begins to get a little tricky. Taehyung is more than a friend, but best friend doesn't quite adequately describe them. They are beyond family, closer than blood would ever make them. And soulmate is most accurate, but even still, there are times when Jimin feels the word is lacking the proper weight needed to do their relationship justice.

So simply put, Taehyung is all of that and more. Jimin's everything, to a degree. But calling Taehyung just by his name won't do for Jimin either. And thus, my Taehyungie became a common occurrence in Jimin's vocabulary.

Somehow, Jimin thinks it begins to encompass everything that Taehyung means to him. And even strangers, who somehow have no idea who Taehyung is, will know that he's special when Jimin talks about him.

✢

It was on Taehyung's nineteenth birthday that Jimin became painfully aware that he wanted to kiss Taehyung.

Something about the atmosphere― leftover Christmas lights mixed with New Years traditional decorations combined with Taehyung's birthday balloons― it was beautiful. They were still at their first dorm, so it was rather small. But they all squeezed into the dining room to sing happy birthday.

The overhead chandelier lights were dimmed, and the wooden table was overstuffed with food and presents and drinks. Pressed shoulder to shoulder, Jimin stood with the rest of their bandmates and staff. They all staggered in oddly to fit in the small room with paper hats on their heads and noisemakers in their hands.

During that time, Jimin thinks maybe he had an out of body type of experience. He remembers feeling like he was floating above everyone, even himself. And he remembers the way his eyes fixed on Taehyung's bright smile; he was delighted to have everyone sing to him.

Hues of burnt yellow and sharp orange danced over Taehyung's face as he hovered over the candles with anticipation.

"Make a wish," someone had told him. Seokjin, Jimin thinks.

And just moments before he blew out the candles, Taehyung's eyes shot up to meet Jimin's.

Instantly, Jimin's list grew: The way Taehyung's eyes glimmer in candlelight, the natural glow he has at all times, his love for all forms of celebration, the way he's able to bring people together...

To this day, Jimin isn't sure about the mechanics of birthday wish-making, but he made one along with Taehyung. He disregarded whether he was supposed to or not. Simultaneously, the two of them closed their eyes and thought a silent prayer into the universe.

He wished to kiss Taehyung before his birthday was over.

The night continued in much of a blur with snapshots of Taehyung burning themselves into Jimin's memory. Hoseok and Taehyung singing purposely off-key during karaoke, Jeongguk piggy-back riding Taehyung in circles in the living room, Namjoon nervously handing Taehyung a plastic cup with a mixed drink inside knowing he's a lightweight, Seokjin urging him to open his presents, Yoongi ruffling Taehyung's hair and playfully telling him he's getting old.

Jimin watched Taehyung jump up and down on the couch, playing air-guitar to an American rock song playing over their speakers. And Jimin watched the way Taehyung got progressively more tipsy as the night went on.

And soon, Jimin found Taehyung in his arms, happily humming a song Jimin was unfamiliar with.

"Are you drunk?" Jimin had asked with a smile.

Taehyung rested with his back pressed onto Jimin's chest, with Jimin's arms wrapped around his midsection. They sat on the carpet in the living room alone; ruckus from the members lingered from the dining room and kitchen areas. But as far as either of them were concerned, they were on a planet of their own.

Cutely, Taehyung squeezed his eyes shut, crinkled his nose, and shook his head.

"No," he had said softly. "Just happy."

Like rapid-fire, Jimin's list expanded: The way Taehyung gets extra cuddly after he's had a drink or two, his love for all types of music, how prettily his eyelashes sit just above his cheekbone, the way his lips glisten even in the moonlight...

With a smile, Jimin had responded, "Liar."

Again, Taehyung shook his head.

"I never lie to you," was his reply. He sounded almost offended that Jimin would even imply that he wasn't telling the truth. 

Jimin felt his heart flutter. He wondered if Taehyung could hear the change in its rhythm. He quickly became self-conscious of his possible give-away, so he shifted Taehyung's weight to have his head lean on his shoulder instead.

"Hi," Taehyung had said playfully, referencing their new position. They were able to see each other's faces without much effort or strain now.

Jimin had giggled.

"Hi, birthday boy," was his answer, playing along. Without meaning to, Jimin's fingers had begun sliding through Taehyung's hair. But Jimin was hyperaware of the way Taehyung leaned just slightly into his touch, wanting more.

Again, Taehyung had closed his eyes.

And again, Jimin had begun to study him.

After a few moments of silence, Jimin had said to Taehyung, "You never told me what you wanted for your birthday."

It made Taehyung giggle. He had opened his eyes dramatically, one at a time, and looked down at the invisible watch on his left wrist.

"My birthday's over."

Jimin checked his real watch.

"We have two minutes left."

Taehyung had shrugged. He closed his eyes again, making himself comfortable in Jimin's arms.

With a small smile making its way across his face, Taehyung had said, "I have everything."

Truthfully, Jimin had felt bad all week. He didn't have any money so he couldn't buy Taehyung anything. But he was determined to give him something.

It was his birthday, it was necessary.

Feeling the seconds literally tick away, Jimin shook Taehyung gently in his arms and urged him. "Come on," he had said. "Tell me."

Taehyung had giggled.

"Gonna teleport to the mall and get me a gift, Jimin-ah?" Taehyung questioned sarcastically, smiling as he did so.

Shrugging, Jimin had said back, "Maybe. If you tell me what you want."

This time, Taehyung was looking at him differently when he opened his eyes. Differently, in a way that Jimin couldn't quite explain. Different like―

"Just want... you," Taehyung decided on softly.

The stars had found a home in Taehyung's eyes that night. They shimmered at Jimin prettily as he spoke.

Immediately, there was a boulder in Jimin's throat. Impossible to swallow, so he didn't even try. By pure reflex, Jimin had cleared his throat.

Jimin's hand had stilled in Taehyung's hair.

"You―you already... have me," Jimin stammered out. Almost instantly, he hated the way his voice quivered.

Taehyung snapped his finger by the side of his head, imitating a lightbulb turning on.

By then, the only way Jimin could describe the look in Taehyung's eyes was loving.

He saw nothing but love in Taehyung's eyes when he responded contently, "Yeah, exactly."

✢

Again, Jimin doesn't know much about birthday wish mechanics, so he's not exactly sure it was fair, but Jimin's wish came true.

Or, well, almost.

Twenty seconds into the day after Taehyung's birthday, Jimin and Taehyung had their first kiss.

And immediately, Jimin's list of things he loved about Taehyung grew and grew and grew.

✢

(The way Taehyung smiled before and during a kiss. The way he's shy to use his tongue at first, but then chases Jimin's when he pulls back. The way he holds the back of Jimin's head when they kiss. And the feeling of his fingers in Jimin's hair. How soft his lips are. The way Jimin can hear and feel him breathing. The extent to which kissing Taehyung makes Jimin happy...)

✢

The only thing better than kissing Taehyung for the first time on his (almost) birthday is being able to kiss him all the time. And by nineteen and a half, Taehyung and Jimin were in full swing of the beginning stages of their relationship.

Dating while becoming more and more popular isn't easy, and because of that, Jimin's love and admiration for Taehyung grew even more. Not that he didn't value it before, but Jimin began to notice Taehyung's maturity more, and began to make an effort to commend it. That aspect of him began to climb Jimin's list of favorite things.

That, along with the fact that Taehyung likes to be the big spoon when they cuddle. But he moves around so much in his sleep that he becomes the little spoon by morning. Jimin likes that Taehyung mumbles his name when he sleeps and finds a lot of comfort in knowing Taehyung dreams about him. Jimin likes the way Taehyung's voice sounds when he first wakes up. He likes that he pets Jimin's fingers under the blanket. And he likes that Taehyung kisses his forehead when they first wake up.

As their relationship reaches benchmarks such as six months and a year, Jimin thinks he'll never have enough room to mentally jot down all of the things he loves about Taehyung.

The way his clothes smell. The way Jimin's clothes have begun to smell like Taehyung because the two of them never separate. Taehyung's smile when he watches Jimin dance. His perseverance. His dedication. His passion.

Jimin and Taehyung have said this since the first day they met― they're puzzle pieces. It still astounds the two of them how perfectly they fit. Their minds complement one another, their hands interlock just right, their bodies slot together perfectly when they lay together, and Taehyung's heart is just the right size to match Jimin's.

To be fair, Jimin knows there's no such thing as perfection.

But also to be fair, Jimin knows he and Taehyung come pretty damn close.

✢

And inevitably, Jimin has come across some of the things about Taehyung he doesn't like.

Nothing too big, because Jimin finds it almost impossible to feel any type of negative emotion in Taehyung's general direction. But maybe, perhaps, he's compiled a few things over the years.

After a while, the pet peeves start adding up. 

By their third year or so of dating, they became more like a married couple. 

✢

Top of Jimin's hate list? Taehyung's damn shoes. 

✢

The sound of a small accident bounces off the hotel walls. 

"Kim Taehyung, I swear to God!"

It doesn't help that Jimin's half-asleep and completely sore from staying late in the dance studio, but Jimin's told him a million and one times. So Jimin refuses to take the blame for the fact that he's now on his hands and knees on the hotel room carpet.

His palms burn from pushing them out to break his fall. His shoulders sting from holding himself up in the position. Dramatically, he stays precisely how he's fallen until Taehyung pokes his head out of the bathroom door.

"Huh?" Taehyung questions, toothbrush hanging from his mouth. Then, his eyes trace the wreckage until he finds Jimin on the floor. Jimin doesn't see it, but he feels Taehyung's facial expression change. He softly follows up with, "Oh."

Jimin reaches blindly for one of Taehyungs shoes and throws it lightly in Taehyung's direction. Intentionally, he misses by a long-shot. Taehyung begins laughing.

"Don't huh me, how many times have a told you to put your shoes away?!" Jimin scolds, only half-joking. He and Taehyung never yell at each other for real, haven't genuinely been in an actual argument, but man this happens so often it makes Jimin want to―

Taehyung walks across the room with his hands out, offering Jimin assistance to stand up. He's got a towel wrapped around his waist, smells like body wash and steam, and he's biting on his toothbrush to keep it in place as he speaks.

"Thought I left them over here," Taehyung responds, wiggling his fingers in Jimin's direction, urging him to take his hands.

Jimin rolls his eyes. "Well, clearly, baby, you didn't."

In a mocking tone, Taehyung replies, "Clearly, baby."

Intentionally, Jimin makes himself deadweight when Taehyung helps him halfway up. Taehyung almost swallows his toothbrush whole trying to adjust. Jimin giggles when Taehyung struggles to keep him from hitting the floor again.

"Carry me," Jimin demands softly, pretending to be a fatigued damsel in distress. He presses the back of his hand to his forehead for an added touch and says, "I'm injured."

Just a little payback.

Truthfully, Jimin's exhausted, and he'd never pass up a chance to be carried to bed, but this time feels explicitly sweet. It tastes like evening the battlefield.

Jimin wraps his arms around Taehyung's neck and makes himself comfortable for his four-second ride. Taehyung pretends to be annoyed at Jimin's act. He tips his chin and intentionally doesn't make eye contact.

He says, "You're lucky I felt bad about you staying late at the studio."

Jimin laughs dryly.

"You're lucky I didn't break anything walking into your death trap," Jimin snaps back. He uses his index finger and thumb to catch Taehyung's chin and force their eye contact. Jimin's eyes squint as he says, "Don't think I have too much pride to sue my own boyfriend. I know how much money you have."

Taehyung drops Jimin abruptly on the bed.

"Yeah, 'cause I spend it all on you."

This time Jimin throws his own shoe. He's too slow, though. Taehyung's laughing like an evil villain as he sprints into the bathroom. He slams the door shut just as Jimin's sneaker makes contact with the wood.

A moment later, Taehyung yells from the other side of the door, "You missed!"

Jimin sits up to fetch his other shoe from his left foot. He unties it frantically just in case Taehyung returns. As he undoes the knot, Jimin yells back, "Yeah? Open the door, coward!"

Taehyung is rummaging in the bathroom, Jimin hears him. Pressing his weight against the door or ridding himself of his toothbrush, maybe. Jimin sits on the edge of the bed with his shoe in position, ready to catapult it forward the second the door opens.

Prompting, Jimin calls in a sing-song type of tone, "Come here, Taehyung."

This time, Taehyung's voice is softer. He asks, "Are you gonna throw the other shoe?"

Jimin tightens his grip on the sneaker, perfecting his aim. He says, "Nope."

Immediately, Taehyung replies with, "I don't believe you."

Unable to hold back his giggle, Jimin says, "I wouldn't throw anything at you."

"You literally just did!"

Jimin stands on the bed now, thinking maybe he'll have a better chance of hitting Taehyung if he's taller. He bounces on the center of the bed with the shoe cocked in his hand. Jimin holds it in the ready position; tunnel vision on the doorknob to see exactly when it begins to open.

From the other side of the door, Jimin hears the water running. Then a moment later, the toilet flushing. To follow suit, a second after, the shower turns back on.

"Taehyung," Jimin calls, knowing he's plotting something. All of that extra sound from the bathroom are decoys, but he isn't sure specifically for what. "Come out. It's late; we should go to bed."

Now, Jimin hears nothing. The entire room and the bathroom is quiet. And Jimin knows they're both playing, but he starts to get anxious for some reason. He always does when Taehyung doesn't answer him.

Again, Jimin calls, "Taehyung?"

But by the time Jimin processes the running water from the sink again, the sound of a shampoo bottle dropping, and the door swiftly swinging open, he's no match.

The steam from the shower acts as a smoke cloud which hides Taehyung's charging silhouette until Jimin feels his arms wrapped around his stomach. The force knocks Jimin off balance, and he falls backward onto the bed, laughing hysterically.

Taehyung pries the shoe from hand and tosses it in the opposite direction like a bomb. The two of them are both giggling now as they playfight on the bed, ruining the perfectly tucked bedding.

Despite being shorter, Jimin's stronger, so soon he's flipped their position and sits triumphantly on Taehyung's lower stomach. Taehyung bucks like a bull, trying to tip Jimin off of his midsection and back onto the bed, but this time, it's Taehyung who's no match. Jimin stays firmly in place.

"Truce?" Jimin offers, holding his hand out for Taehyung to shake. He's still laughing, covering his mouth with his other hand.

Soon enough, Taehyung gives up. He stops squirming under Jimin, lets out an exaggerated deep breath, and then shakes Jimin's head. He pouts a bit as he agrees.

"Truce," Taehyung says.

Jimin bends forward and seals their deal with a kiss.

✢

Jimin tells himself that if it weren't such a common occurrence, he wouldn't hate the overall existence of Taehyung's shoes. But when he allows himself to think, it's been a problem since back when they were trainees.

For years now, Jimin has been stepping on, over, and tripping because of Taehyung's shoes. And one would think after years and years of Jimin telling Taehyung not only to wear his shoes properly when he has them on but also to put them away, that he would've retained that. But no. Not all all. It's been a problem and probably always will.

Flashback to their first date. Their first real one. The date where they made reservations at a fancy restaurant weeks ahead. The date where they both bought black suits, ties, and shiny black shoes.

The date where they ran late because Taehyung couldn't find his shoes.

"You're joking, right?" Jimin remembers asking rhetorically as he sat on the edge of Taehyung's hotel room bed, watching him frantically search his room. He was genuinely annoyed, though.

Taehyung― wholly dressed from head to ankle― had stopped dead in his tracks and responded, "I don't remember where I put them."

Jimin had dropped his head, running his fingers through his hair to calm himself.

In a monotone voice, Jimin reminded him, "You had two hours."

Taehyung pointed in Jimin's direction. "I've been ready for an hour and a half, but you―"

Immediately, Jimin's eyes had perked up.

Sarcastically, he replied back, cutting Taehyung off, "Me? Oh, so you've had your shoes for an hour and a half? Okay, cool, Taehyung lets go then!"

Frustrated, Taehyung dropped both hands at his sides. He took in a deep breath and then said, "You know what I mean."

This time, Jimin said nothing back. Instead, he kicked off his shoes and sat crisscross on the bed. With his elbow resting on his knee and his face resting in his palm, Jimin stayed quiet as Taehyung continued to search.

Minutes passed slowly, and Jimin had to resist looking at his watch every few seconds to keep track. He didn't want to rush Taehyung, but honestly, they were running out of time. If they didn't arrive at the restaurant by 7:30 p.m., they'd give their reservation to someone else.

"Oh!" Taehyung yelled happily from the bathroom, seven minutes (read: seven years) later. He banged cheerfully on the counter and called, "I found them!"

Again, Jimin looked down at his watch. They still had time to drive there and hopefully make it on time. But they'd be cutting it close.

Jimin wanted to be angry, but he couldn't be. The giddiness of going on their first real date took precedence over being petty over misplaced shoes. He smiled in Taehyung's direction, toed back on his own shoes, and said, "Okay, let's go!"

With time and luck on their side, they made it to the restaurant on time. And everything was beautiful; perfect. They both felt as if they were meeting each other for the first time somehow.

They talked about childhood stories they've told each other a million times but somehow felt brand new, they spoke about their musical aspirations, and how they pictured their future with each other.

Not shocking at all, but they stayed there until they were (very politely) told to leave. And when Jimin and Taehyung looked up, besides the workers, they were the last two in the restaurant. It was as if the entire world had vanished figuratively while they had dinner, and then literally while they chatted.

Laughing, Jimin had stood and said, "Well, I guess we should go."

Then Taehyung stood, too. He took one last sip of his water, then offered his hand for Jimin to take.

Together, hand in hand, they walked back to their car.

It was a fantastic first real date; shoe troubles, and all.

✢

Close to the top of Jimin's love list for Taehyung is his infinite amount of talent. Singing, dancing, photography, modeling, painting, drawing...

... and acting, of course.

Just two weeks ago, Taehyung begun shooting for an upcoming drama called Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth. From what Taehyung tells Jimin, his part is as a supporting character, nothing too huge, but the experience is excellent. He talks highly of his cast and the crew there.

Taehyung's got a fantastic memory, another thing on Jimin's love list, and so he memorized his lines in an impressive amount of time. Jimin helped him study and rehearse in their free-time between recording and practicing new choreography.

Another thing Jimin loves about Taehyung is his dedication. Jimin sees first-hand how tough it is for him to be present in both worlds― music, and acting― but he's doing it better than Jimin thinks maybe he would've if their positions were switched somehow.

But what Jimin isn't handling so well on his end is the separation.

Taehyung is gone more often than he's not nowadays and Jimin's finding himself feeling homesick. Because Taehyung has always felt like precisely where he belongs, and so the distance is making Jimin feel lost.

It's late when Taehyung calls, but Jimin doesn't care. Jimin stays up late most nights anyway and would stay awake forever if that meant he'd get to talk to Taehyung.

(Another thing to add to Taehyung's never-ending list: he always remembers to call, no matter how tired he is from shooting all day. Jimin loves knowing he's as much of a priority for Taehyung as Taehyung is to him. Their relationship has always been even; fifty-fifty.)

"How'd it go today?" Jimin asks, smiling already merely because he's proud.

He turns over to lay on his back. He feels like a kid in school, talking to their crush late at night. Jimin attempts to be quiet, conscious of the fact that others are sleeping in both rooms on either side of him.

"It was good," Taehyung tells Jimin vaguely. But he's sleepy, Jimin can hear it in his voice. Addition number one million to Jimin's list: the way Taehyung's voice begins to slur when he's tired. It's cute, and Jimin always finds himself pouting in response when he hears it.

Jimin smiles into his phone.

"I miss you already," Jimin tells him, closing his eyes.

He hears Taehyung laugh a little.

"I've only been gone for four days," is Taehyung's response. Jimin knows that; he's been counting. But four days is the most they've been apart in a very long time. Jimin misses sleeping next to Taehyung every night.

Sighing, Jimin replies, "I know just... doesn't mean it's easy. I miss you, I don't know what else to say."

On the other end, Jimin hears a door closing and then the sound of what must be an air conditioning blasting. Jimin assumes Taehyung's back in his hotel room for the night. The thought of that makes his heart feel content. He can only imagine how exhausted Taehyung feels.

"I miss you all day," Taehyung tells Jimin, but he sounds like he's whining because he's in bed now.

Even a distance away, Jimin can picture the way Taehyung is fighting to keep his eyes open. It makes him smile. He knows they should hang up soon. Keeping Taehyung on the phone is probably bordering on torture.

When Jimin slides his fingers through his hair, he pretends it's Taehyung.

"I'm gonna hang up so you can go to sleep, okay?" Jimin warns softly. But he's met with silence. Well, mostly silence. More persistently, the sound of Taehyung's slow, rhythmic breathing.

Jimin smiles so big it hurts. Taehyung's already asleep.

There's a huge part of Jimin that wants to stay on the line and listen for a while. Because it's been too long since they've slept in the same bed, and right now this seems to be as close as they're going to get. But Jimin knows Taehyung doesn't have his phone charging, so not hanging up would just kill his battery. Jimin couldn't do that to him.

Out of the goodness of his own heart and pure willpower, Jimin says softly into the receiver and into Taehyung's blissfully unconscious ears, "You worked hard today. I love you. Goodnight, baby," and then hangs up.

He misses Taehyung the moment the line goes dead.

✢

They've had dance practice without Taehyung today.

Actually, they've had dance practice without Taehyung all week starting on Sunday. It's now Saturday. Almost a full seven days.

Jimin and Taehyung talk on the phone every day, but it's not the same. The distance both of them still feel is the exact reason they both voted no to being able to handle a long-distance relationship. It's hard; Jimin couldn't imagine if they had to do this all the time. He isn't sure if he's strong enough.

Practice ran long today; they got out about two hours later. For some reason, nothing was clicking today. They were all having trouble. But Hoseok, just as tired as the rest of them, refused to let them go home until they mastered it.

It'd be worth it in the future, but right now Jimin's hating not coming home two hours ago. Mainly because he missed his scheduled nightly calls with Taehyung and now it's too late. It's well after two in the morning. Without a doubt, Taehyung is asleep now.

Jimin's eyes are only half-open, so he fumbles with the room key for much longer than he would've if he'd gotten home hours ago and felt a little more awake. But eventually, he slides his key into the electronic identifying system and lets himself into his hotel room.

The air conditioning is blasting, it's pitch black, and Jimin doesn't think he has the energy to shower before bed although he knows he should. They all power-showered at the studio, but he knows he'll probably feel better if he showered again.

Three steps into the room and―

"Goddamn it, Taehyung!" Jimin yells reflexively, tripping over a pair of shoes in the walkway. His bag flies off his shoulder, and he stumbles blindly into the room.

Jimin holds his hand out for safety and balance. A second later, he's stationary, holding himself up by pressing his hand against the hallway wall.

But then Jimin's mind clears, and his eyes widen, and he calls into the room a little apprehensively, "... TaeTae?"

And like clockwork, Taehyung replies sleepily, "I'm sorry, I thought I put them over there."

In the darkness, he must point to some arbitrary location in the room, but Jimin doesn't care. Immediately, all of his anger washes away and the only thing he can think about doing is jumping into bed so he can hug Taehyung.

Feeling his way into the room, Jimin rambles happily, "I didn't know you were coming back tonight. Did you tell me? I'm sorry, I forgot. Its been a long day―"

Taehyung's lips clumsily connecting with Jimin's shuts him up rather quickly. Happily, Jimin trades finishing his sentence for kissing Taehyung. Together, they find the bed and lay side by side.

When Jimin's rid himself of enough layers to comfortably sleep, Taehyung pulls the blanket over both of them and says, "I didn't tell you. It's a surprise."

Something about being back in Taehyung's presence warms Jimin's body to the core. He feels at home again. His heart matches the rhythm of Taehyung's.

They're both at peace.

Adjusting his head on the pillow, Jimin reaches for Taehyung until their bodies are pressed together. Typically, Jimin is the little spoon, but he's been craving holding Taehyung for almost two weeks straight. He thinks a change up to their routine for the night will be just fine.

Almost instantly, Jimin feels the way Taehyung's body relaxes in his arms. Jimin can't see him, but he knows Taehyung is smiling.

Jimin leans forward and kisses the nape of Taehyung's neck.

"I missed you so much," Jimin tells him. "Thank you for coming home early."

In his mind, Taehyung has a sarcastic comment about Jimin not doing the same and coming home late. But he thinks they can save the married couple bickering for tomorrow when they're both fully awake.

So instead, Taehyung intertwines their fingers and whispers back, "Thank you for being someone I can come home early to."

Jimin kisses Taehyung's neck again, and then the back of his head, and then his ear. It makes Taehyung's smile, but he's too tired to roll over and kiss Jimin back.

But it's at the top of his to-do list for tomorrow.

✢

Currently, Jimin's hatred for Taehyung's shoes has dropped in ranking on Jimin's hate list. Because honestly, the list doesn't exist.

The only emotion Jimin's ever had in his heart for Taehyung is love. And it's precisely for that reason, the list of things he loves about Taehyung will forever go on and on.

Maybe by the time they're thirty, the list will be long enough not just to circle the Earth two times, but three.