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Yoongi really shouldn’t be surprised when he goes to put one of his socks on that morning and finds a little acorn waiting for him at the bottom. He shouldn’t be surprised because the same thing had happened yesterday, and then the day before… and then two days before that, as well.
Grumbling insensibly to himself, he locates a pair of acorn-free socks and finishes getting dressed.
“Hoseok,” Yoongi starts, stepping out of the bedroom, “ why was there another acorn in my sock?”
Hoseok, who’s busy in the kitchen trying to make some breakfast, turns around to look at Yoongi, his eyes wide and blinking quickly. “Because!” He says. His cheeks look suspiciously full, Yoongi thinks.
“Because why?” He’s trying to look serious, but Hoseok is just standing there, his fluffy, brown ears all perked up and his even fluffier tail just swaying slightly from side to side. He looks so cute , and Yoongi is kind of hopelessly endeared by everything that his squirrel-hybrid boyfriend does. Even when it might involve painful, or confusing, encounters with acorns hidden away inside Yoongi’s clothes.
Hoseok pouts at him. Or, tries to, but his stuffed cheeks make that a bit difficult. “Because it’s the perfect hiding spot!”
“Oh?” Yoongi’s finding it hard not to laugh now. “Except, they’re my socks, so eventually I’m going to find them.”
He steps around Hoseok towards the cupboard to grab a mug for himself, except Hoseok intercepts him, pushing a steaming mug of fresh coffee into Yoongi’s hands. Cute and knows what Yoongi wants first thing in the morning.
“Well, yes,” Hoseok agrees, and begins to busy himself about the kitchen again now that he knows Yoongi isn’t actually annoyed, “but you don’t want to steal my acorns, so that’s okay. No one else is going to find them in your socks!”
Yoongi tries to hide his laughter behind his mug, he really does, but he knows he fails when Hoseok turns around and flashes a bright, beaming grin his way.
“I guess your logic is sound,” he agrees, taking a seat at their small kitchen table. “But, darling, could you maybe stop hiding them in my socks please?”
“Okay, sure.”
Yoongi busies himself with sipping away at his coffee, slowly allowing himself to wake up and watching Hoseok do...whatever it is he’s actually doing. Yoongi thinks he’s trying to make pancakes, but Hoseok has a habit of making even the most simple thing look like it’s very busy work, so Yoongi can’t always tell.
After about ten minutes he finds out that it is pancakes, or an attempt, at least. They smell good though and Yoongi looks up at Hoseok with a smile when he’s presented with the results. “Thank you.”
Hoseok, beaming and looking pleased with himself, leans in towards Yoongi. He knows what Hoseok wants.
“Nope,” Yoongi says, making a start on cutting his misshapen pancakes.
Hoseok pouts at him.
Yoongi pops a piece of sweet pancake into his mouth, chewing slowly.
Hoseok’s pout intensifies.
Yoongi ignores him.
Hoseok whines, his tail flicking quickly now in frustration.
“You know what,” Yoongi reminds him calmly.
There’s a huff, some more tail-flicking, and finally a loud gulp. “Okay. Now?”
When Yoongi glances up - and really he was looking away because he knew he’d just laugh and coo at how cute Hoseok was looking - it’s to see Hoseok’s cheeks are now no longer stuffed.
“Good boy,” Yoongi teases. Doesn’t miss the flush of colour on Hoseok’s cheeks as he leans in to finally give his boyfriend what he wants. Both his good-morning kiss and his thank-you kiss, all wrapped tenderly into one sweet kiss on the lips. “Thank you for breakfast,” Yoongi says, before pressing another kiss to Hoseok’s lips.
When he pulls back there’s a thoughtful look on his face. He glances down at his breakfast, and then back up at Hoseok. “Those were the nuts meant for the pancakes, weren’t they?”
Hoseok stands up straight, tail flicking to attention. “Oh, no, no no, not those nuts. Those nuts weren’t very good, and I didn’t want to give you the bad ones, so I just decided to eat them and get rid of them instead.”
This time Yoongi doesn’t even try to hide it as he finally dissolves into laughter. There’s absolutely never a boring morning - never a boring moment - when it comes to life with Hoseok.
**
It’s only been about six months since Yoongi and Hoseok moved in together, although they’ve been dating for longer than that. Only six months and Yoongi finds himself feeling a strange mixture of having always lived with Hoseok, and that every day brings them something new together. He likes that, though. Loves it really. When Yoongi had first met Hoseok, three years ago, he’d never have imagined this for the both of them. Hoseok almost never stopped moving and had talked miles-a-minute, chittering away excitedly as soon as something he was interested in was mentioned. Yoongi had thought that he would find Hoseok’s energy tiring.
In the end, he finds it invigorating. Hoseok’s energy ends up energising him . His cheerful nature, his curiosity, his excited chattering. His soft support and encouragement, his easy affection. And through time, Yoongi had learnt that there was so, so much more to Hoseok than his first impressions. He is bright and cheerful, but he can be so very soft and is serious when he needs to be. Can even be quiet sometimes, too.
They’d ended up becoming fast friends, eventually growing together into something more.
And that something more has led them here, in the bed they share together, in the home they’re making together.
Yoongi’s coming home later than he’d imagined - a drink with Seokjin and Jungkook had turned into drinks with Seokjin and Jungkook, followed by snacks and street food. He’d been texting Hoseok to keep him updated though, because he hadn’t wanted Hoseok to start to worry when Yoongi didn’t show up when he’d thought he would.
Hoseok had just sent back cheerful messages telling Yoongi to stop texting and enjoy himself! And not to worry because Namjoon had come over to watch a movie with him, and Namjoon’s a really nice friend like that isn’t he, Yoongi hyung?
He bought me acorns!!!!! had been the excited message, after Namjoon had arrived. (Seokjin had teased him pretty mercilessly for smiling so stupidly at his phone like that).
Hoseok hadn’t replied to Yoongi’s last message though, which had been a text to tell him he was on his way back. So he’s not surprised when he gets home and pushes open the bedroom door to find Hoseok fast asleep in their bed.
There’s just enough light seeping in through from the hallway for Yoongi to see by, but not enough to wake Hoseok up. He’s so peaceful when he’s asleep, Yoongi thinks, all relaxed and at ease. So still and quiet. Yoongi wonders if Hoseok keeps all that energy and brightness stored up in his cheeks - when he’s not hiding food there.
He’s all curled up in the middle of the bed. The bed itself looks ridiculous, honestly, with the amount of cushions and pillows and soft, huggable toys that are scattered about on it. Right now they’re all just kind of surrounding Hoseok, as if he’s burrowed - or nested - himself within the centre of all that softness. Maybe he is, Yoongi realises. Maybe this is Hoseok’s version of a little squirrel den.
For some reason there’s something about that that makes Yoongi’s heart both ache and bloom. Their bed is his nest, his safe place.
Yoongi quietly goes about getting changed, only pauses briefly to smile ruefully to himself when he folds his clothes away and finds some acorns lined up neatly along the bottom of the drawer. In another five minutes he’s ready for bed, teeth brushed, lights switched off around the rest of the apartment, and finally slipping into bed beside Hoseok.
His wriggling to pull out a soft toy - one of the purple pony toys that Hoseok seems so fond of - from where it’s lodged uncomfortably beneath him seems enough to make Hoseok stir.
“Hmm?” He says, blinking one eye open and peering at Yoongi in the darkness. “Yoongi hyung?”
“Who else?” Yoongi says, shuffling closer. “Sorry for waking you, sweet, go back to sleep.”
Hoseok makes little grabby hands at him until Yoongi’s actually in his arms and settling into place beside him. Yoongi winds an arm around Hoseok’s waist, his fingers stroking lightly through the fur of his tail. It’s so big and bushy and soft. Yoongi loves brushing his fingers through it, and it’s a motion that Hoseok seems to enjoy also. Yoongi can feel it, that moment where Hoseok’s body goes truly loose, truly relaxed, as they settle into each other’s arms.
“Did you have fun tonight?” Hoseok asks, voice still slurred with sleep. Yoongi smiles to himself; he can’t help it, everything about Hoseok is just always, endlessly, endearingly cute .
“Yeah, lots of fun,” he answers. “Seokjin hyung and Jungkook say ‘hi’.”
“Hi, hyung, hi, Kook,” Hoseok replies, joking.
Laughing softly, Yoongi leans in and presses a soft kiss to one of Hoseok’s eternally round cheeks. “How was your evening with Namjoon?”
“Great! He bought me acorns.”
Yoongi pretends this is the first time that he’s heard this exciting news. “Wow! He knows you well, what a great gift.”
“Mhmm.”
Both of Hoseok’s eyes have closed again, and Yoongi is almost certain that he’s about to slip back off into sleep in a moment. He can always tell when Hoseok’s teetering on that verge between awake and asleep, his breaths coming out in soft little puffs, his tail relaxing beneath Yoongi’s stroking fingers.
“Sleep,” Yoongi murmurs.
“Kiss first.”
Ah, not quite asleep yet then. Yoongi has to stop himself from chuckling, because his boyfriend can be adorably predictable sometimes. It’s not a request he ever says no to, however - never wants to say no to - so he presses a soft, lingering goodnight kiss to Hoseok’s lips.
“Love you,” Hoseok mumbles, now truly falling asleep.
Yoongi tucks himself within Hoseok’s arms, settling now into the little nest their bed seems to have become. “Love you, Seok.”
**
“Oh, hyung!” Hoseok calls out. “Come look at this!”
When Yoongi turns he sees Hoseok standing still, bouncing on the balls of his feet, tail swaying slightly in excitement. He’s in constant motion, Yoongi thinks, except for when he’s sleeping. Always moving to the beat of some inner rhythm. Yoongi finds it just as captivating today as he always does.
He walks over, eyes following where Hoseok’s excitedly pointing at a squirrel shaped lamp. The base is the squirrel, holding an acorn, and the lampshade is kind of old-fashioned but kind of cute, with little acorns decorating it.
Yoongi can’t help but laugh at the find.
“It’s me!” Hoseok says, grinning widely.
Yoongi pretends to assess the lamp before turning his attention to Hoseok himself. Paints a thoughtful expression across his face. Even goes as far as to hold his chin between his fingers in a ‘thinking’ pose. Eventually, in the face of Hoseok practically buzzing on the spot waiting for a response, he says, “You’re much cuter.”
Hoseok’s laughter is loud and bright and Yoongi feels that same low swoop in his belly that he always feels when Hoseok laughs so openly like that because of something that he said. He’d be embarrassed at all of his reactions and thoughts to absolutely anything that Hoseok does, honestly, but they’ve been together too long now for Yoongi to even try and bother anymore. He’s soft for this man, whipped, endeared, won over; whatever phrase you wish to use, Yoongi is that and then some.
“Of course,” Hoseok concedes, jokingly, “but we gotta buy this now.”
“I thought we were looking for a present for Jungkook, not for you?”
“This is a present for us!”
Yoongi just looks at him.
“A present for the flat?” Hoseok tries.
“Oh, of course. That’s the one that makes the most sense.” He’s teasing though, and Hoseok can tell that he’s teasing. Of course, if Hoseok wants the silly squirrel lamp, then they’ll get the silly squirrel lamp.
“We do need to find something for Jungkook though,” Yoongi reminds him, now carrying the lamp.
“We will!”
They continue exploring the antique shop, which is less actually valuable items and more interesting and unusual finds from across all decades. Watching Hoseok’s curiosity spark at any and every little thing is entertaining in itself. They can spend a long time in places like this, especially when Yoongi also comes across items he finds intriguing. It’s the perfect way for them to while away a rainy afternoon honestly, laughing and exploring the musty depths of the old shop.
It’s Hoseok who eventually spots something that might do as an interesting gift for Jungkook. “Wow, look at this,” he says, pointing at the object. Yoongi can practically see the way that Hoseok’s internally reminding himself to look with his eyes and not with his curious little hands.
The ‘this’ in question is an old looking folding camera. Not pioneer-old, but definitely something from several decades behind them now.
Yoongi’s own interest is piqued. Jungkook and Taehyung are the ones in their friends group with the real penchant for photography, but Yoongi’s always had an interest in things that have a history.
“This is pretty cool,” he says, after leaning in to look the camera over.
Hoseok turns to him, ears perked up straight and eyes wide. “Yeah?” He asks. “Think Kook would like it? Think it still works?”
“No idea about it working,” Yoongi answers, “but pretty sure Jungkook will find this interesting. Let’s get it for him?”
When they eventually leave the shop it’s with the camera, the squirrel lamp, and now some vinyl records too that Yoongi had found.
“A successful expedition, I’d say,” Hoseok says cheerfully, as they wander about looking for somewhere to stop for food.
“The flat will be especially happy with its new present,” Yoongi teases.
Hoseok turns and cheekily sticks his tongue out at Yoongi.
And Yoongi can only bring himself to smile softly in return, gums and all.
(Jungkook ends up really loving his present, too, so their little ‘expedition’ had been more than successful, in Yoongi’s opinion).
**
The acorn thing might be a bit of a problem, Yoongi begins to think, after another two weeks of coming across the nuts quite literally squirreled away in all sorts of odd places in their flat. Almost every time Hoseok goes to pull something out of one of his own pockets a couple of nuts will tumble out. He’ll laugh a little, quickly pick them up and put them back, and Yoongi will just shake his head, quietly amused and softly endeared.
There’s been no more in his socks, at least, Hoseok has kept good on his promise there. But he finds some stuffed within his pillowcase one afternoon - that one he finds out the, uh, painful way. There’s more in their drawers of clothes, beneath Hoseok’s sweaters. There’s a neat little row of them all lined up in the back of one of their kitchen cupboards, behind packets of ramen and cans of food. Yoongi was digging down the side of the couch the other evening, looking for his phone, and was met with a handful of nuts there instead.
He’s even found them in the pockets of his own clothes too. At work he’d gone to pull a pen out only to give a colleague a small handful of acorns. He’d taken an umbrella with him one day too, and when he’d opened it outside he’d been met with a small rain of nuts.
And today. Well, when he pushes open the door and steps inside the apartment he’s met with the sight of Hoseok dancing around the open plan dining/living/kitchen area dancing and humming along to some upbeat music as he cleans. And it’s impossible to be even a little bit annoyed in the face of that big, bushy tail dancing around as Hoseok sings to himself. Even if the small bump on his head tries to remind him still of that earlier irritation.
“Seok?” Yoongi calls out over the music.
Hoseok still shrieks in surprise, dropping the duster he’d been holding and zigzagging to hide behind the couch. Moments later his face peeks up over the top, his cheeks red with embarrassment.
Laughing to himself, Yoongi walks over and turns the music down to a level where they can actually hear each other. When he looks up a moment later he’s met with a face full of smiling Hoseok, before his wriggling mass is trying to leap into Yoongi’s unexpecting arms.
Yoongi grunts, reacting quickly and grabbing Hoseok before he can fall. He thinks about the little pocketful of acorns he was going to talk to Hoseok about and ask him why they had to be hidden inside the hood of his favourite sweatshirt. Had been planning to ask why he’d had to find out the hard way, when he’d tugged his hood up and felt acorns raining on him, again.
But in the face of Hoseok’s happy chattering and affectionate kisses, Yoongi finds that he kind of doesn’t care, at least not right now. Not when he has a happy squirrel-hybrid boyfriend to hold in his arms and smother in kisses.
Yoongi does ask about the concerningly growing pile of acorns and nuts hidden around their flat later though, when they’re relaxing in bed.
“Oh well, winter’s coming soon,” Hoseok says, so matter-of-factly, as if Yoongi’s silly for even asking.
“You know that’s not enough nuts to keep even just yourself fed all winter long, right?”
When Hoseok’s face falls a little Yoongi feels bad and quickly changes tact. “I’m sorry, it’s fine,” he says, brushing his fingers through Hoseok’s soft brown hair. “But I’m curious, why so many, in so many different places?”
Hoseok’s face smooths out again and Yoongi can breathe easy. He doesn’t ever want to make Hoseok feel bad for just being himself. He loves every single aspect of Hoseok, the person, the hybrid, all of it, without question. He doesn’t want to be like the kids Hoseok talks about sometimes, who picked on him when he was young for any of his squirrel-hybrid tendencies. Yoongi thinks every single thing Hoseok does is cute, or sweet, or funny, even if it does result in finding nuts in strange places.
“Well, I have to keep them organised,” Hoseok answers. He rolls over onto his side, one arm splaying loosely over Yoongi’s tummy. His fingers fiddle lightly with the hem of Yoongi’s shirt.
“Organised?” Yoongi asks, curious and confused. He’s never actually thought of asking Hoseok about this, and then he finds himself wondering why not. He’s interested in everything that Hoseok does, after all. He supposes he’d just assumed ‘oh it’s a squirrel thing’.
“Yeah! By type, and by quality. So I know where all the best nuts are.”
Now that Hoseok mentions it, Yoongi realises that all the little stashes he’s found have been very neatly sorted. It makes sense as well, Hoseok’s organised about almost everything, so why not his little caches too.
“So, what’s the best nut?”
Yoongi turns his face, all of his attention focused on Hoseok now, his phone forgotten by his side. The book Hoseok was reading gets discarded too; it’s so easy for them to lose focus on anything but each other.
“Walnuts,” Hoseok says easily. “The tastiest, and the best. They’re like a nice treat.”
“Walnuts huh?”
Hoseok nods. They just look at each other for a few, long breaths. Yoongi’s so easily captured by Hoseok’s face. So pretty, soft and sharp and delicate all at once. And his soft, fluffy ears are always looking to be stroked. He finds himself reaching out and doing just that, fingers tingling, same as always, as they brush through Hoseok’s brown fur. Hoseok’s grip tightens on Yoongi’s shirt.
“Can I ask for one favour though, darling?” Yoongi doesn’t remember shuffling this close to Hoseok, but somehow he has, or they both have, because they’re only moments apart from each other now.
“Anything,” Hoseok breathes back, eyes unwavering as he just takes in Yoongi’s face.
“Could you maybe stop leaving them - any of the nuts - in my clothes, please?”
Hoseok’s giggles fill the room, as they fill Yoongi’s heart.
**
It’s one of those days in autumn that feels as if it were forgotten by the summer. Balmy and pleasant, open blue skies and only the barest whisper of a cooler breeze.
Yoongi’s enjoying the nice weather, settled comfortably in the shade of a large tree. Only the tips of its leaves are showing that it’s not actually the middle of the summer right now. He’s meant to be reading something on his phone, enjoying the day, but more often he finds his eyes sliding away from the words on the screen, and instead looking upon the happy figure of Hoseok, perched on a low-hanging branch in his own favourite tree.
Part of Yoongi’s distraction comes from the fact that his attention always just naturally drifts towards Hoseok, and part of it is this innate sense of worry whenever he sees him climbing up trees. Yoongi finds it difficult still to wrap his mind around the fact that Hoseok, who is scared of almost everything , is absolutely not afraid of climbing trees and sitting on branches that don’t really look like they’re made for the weight of an entire person.
Hoseok looks happy though, his legs swinging gently through the air, his tail swaying back and forth, his ears relaxed. There was a small face off with an actual squirrel earlier, when Hoseok had first sat down on the tree branch, the little animal’s curiosity taking over and watching the much bigger not-quite-squirrel that was Hoseok.
Yoongi had watched quietly as Hoseok had pulled an acorn from his pocket (always some stashed in his pockets) and silently offered it to the tiny creature. The squirrel had seemed suspicious but also thoroughly interested in the nut, until it seemed to build up the bravery to cross the small space. It had quickly snatched the acorn up before scampering away, disappearing into a hole that Yoongi couldn’t see.
“Nice of you to share,” Yoongi had called out.
When Hoseok had turned back to him, the smile that lit up his face was brighter than any Yoongi had ever seen before. The sun paled in comparison. “Well, she needs it more than I do.”
These outings to the park are one of their favourite things to do together, have been since they started dating. Hoseok enjoys being outside, soaking up the warm sun and the good weather, running into dogs in the park, sharing a picnic and snacks with Yoongi. And Yoongi enjoys whatever makes Hoseok happy. They won’t get many more days like this, where they can sprawl across the grass together, share food, and enjoy warm weather. Not when autumn so steadily marches towards the cold winter months.
It’ll be their first winter together in their flat, Yoongi realises, since they moved in together just after his birthday. That will be nice, he thinks, having Hoseok to keep him warm and happy through the cold, dark months that loom upon the horizon. Not having to say goodbye for now when it was time for one of them to go home. No nights sitting in the cold, dark emptiness of his tiny old flat and wishing for Hoseok to always be there. To always fill it with his natural warmth and brightness, just as he always fills Yoongi’s heart.
“What’s got you smiling all goofy like that?” Hoseok asks, voice bright and clear. His head is tilted to the side as he observes Yoongi.
It’s then that he feels his own face and realises, to his embarrassment that yeah, he had been smiling, all goofy and shit. He hopes Hoseok doesn’t see the flush of colour that’s suddenly risen in his cheeks.
“Thinking about that time you knocked Seokjin hyung over with your tail.”
Hoseok’s mouth falls open. “Hyung, that was an accident, and I apologised! A thousand times! You know I’m normally really careful!”
Which is true, Hoseok’s aware of how large his big, fluffy tail is and how much space it occupies, and he’s especially careful of this when they’re out and about, walking through crowded streets or shops.
“You are,” he agrees, grinning wider now as he remembers. “But the look on his face was hilarious.”
There’s a moment, and then Hoseok’s face transforms and he grins at Yoongi as if they’re conspiring on something together. “Yeah, it kind of was.”
Eventually, as much as he enjoys it, the distance between them seems to get to Hoseok and he leaps - as does Yoongi’s heart for a moment, right up into his throat - from the tree, falls easily to the ground, and comes back over to join Yoongi on their big, tatty picnic blanket.
Yoongi’s secretly relieved once Hoseok is nestled up close beside him again, because it feels like Hoseok’s back where he belongs, by his side and with their fingers loosely entwined.
Even if, only moments later, the return to his side is revealed to be more about the food that Hoseok starts to eat and less about the Yoongi that was quietly missing him.
“I see how it is,” Yoongi grumbles. There’s no edge to it at all however, it’s the softest complaint in the entire world. “Food comes first. Greedy little thing.”
Hoseok, cheeks round and stuffed with snacks, tries to look indignant and pouty. It’s so ridiculous and adorable that Yoongi has to bite the inside of his cheek so as not to laugh out loud.
“Actually,” Hoseok says, trying to sound dignified and offended, “it goes kisses, food, and then you.”
Yoongi raises an eyebrow at him. Despite the faux-annoyance Hoseok hasn’t released Yoongi’s hand from his own. “Okay, but how do you get those all-important kisses if I’m at the bottom of that list?”
Hoseok blinks, momentarily stumped by this. “Maybe the list needs a little re-working,” he eventually admits.
“Maybe.” Yoongi can’t hold his laughter in anymore though and soon Hoseok joins in, until they’re both just laughing together. Enjoying the moment, enjoying the day, and enjoying each other.
“Okay,” Hoseok says eventually, after their laughter has died down. “I got it now. It’s gotta be food, kisses and then you.”
Yoongi blinks at him. “You’re something else.”
Hoseok grins at him, seemingly pleased by that. “Yeah, I am.” Then, with the least amount of shame possible following the conversation, he tilts his head up at Yoongi and says, “Kiss?”
And because Yoongi is stupid in love, he leans in to give Hoseok exactly what he wants. (After Hoseok empties his cheeks, of course, the one rule Yoongi actually has and sticks to).
**
It’s been one of those days that feels like an entire week, so Yoongi’s a little more tired than usual when he gets home that evening. “Hey,” he calls out, divesting himself of his coat, shoes and bag before stepping into the flat proper.
He sees Hoseok sitting on the couch, quietly reading a book. Well, Hoseok’s being quiet, but there’s some nice music playing, filling out the silence and the space of the apartment. One of Hoseok’s legs jiggles in time with the music.
“Hi,” he says, marking the spot in his book before closing it and setting it aside. The smile that lights up his face at the mere sight of Yoongi is enough to help smooth away some of Yoongi’s disgruntled mood. Hoseok is the best medicine for all ailments, he thinks.
He waves Yoongi over, and who is he to resist such a call. Merely a man, in love with this sweet boyfriend of his. Yoongi drops himself down on the couch beside Hoseok, who immediately reaches out and starts to brush his fingers through Yoongi’s hair.
“How are you?” Hoseok asks, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Yoongi’s cheek. “How was your day?”
“Ugh,” Yoongi starts, “not so great, really.” In the past he would have smoothed over any bad days like this, would wave them away as inconsequential, pointless, nothing for Hoseok to worry about. Until Hoseok had gotten upset and angry with Yoongi over it one day, telling him that it felt as if Yoongi wasn’t being emotionally open with him. He remembers how Hoseok had said something about how brushing his own problems aside had felt like Yoongi was brushing Hoseok and his concerns aside, not trusting him with his own feelings, and that had hurt and made Yoongi feel awful.
So he’s learned how to be more open about it, because whenever Hoseok asks it’s because he’s genuinely interested in hearing about it. And if it’s the kind of day where Yoongi just doesn’t want to talk about it all, all he has to do is say so and Hoseok will wait for Yoongi to want to open up.
Today wasn’t one of those days, though, so Yoongi finds it easy now to tell Hoseok about it. About the building frustration of his day, the way it feels like work just keeps piling up and up on him, and how he can’t wait for his manager to come back from some training seminar. Hoseok can’t help, can’t fix anything for Yoongi, but he listens quietly, empathises with him, and the hand running comfortingly through his hair does wonders. Eventually Yoongi’s mood feels less like it’s falling through the floor and has at least risen back to about his waist, which is a vast improvement honestly.
“Come here, baby,” Hoseok says, after Yoongi’s unburdened himself.
Yoongi falls easily into Hoseok’s arms. Falls easily into the kisses that Hoseok spreads across his face. Kisses to his cheeks; cute , Hoseok coos at him. Kisses to his nose, to his forehead. And when Yoongi’s just about to whine and demand a different kind of kiss, Hoseok gives him that one too. A soft, tender kiss to the lips. Yoongi melts into it easily, kissing Hoseok back just as softly, lips soon parting to deepen the gentle kisses into something else entirely.
Hoseok’s tail is so, so soft beneath Yoongi’s fingers as he strokes one hand along the curve of it. Hoseok hums happily at the touch, arching up against Yoongi. His other hand slides slowly down Hoseok’s side, palm coming to rest against his hip.
There’s a cheeky little nip of teeth against Yoongi’s lower lip, enough to pull a soft sound from the back of his throat and have his fingers tighten their grip around Hoseok’s hip.
“Hyung.”
“Mm?”
The words are less actual words and more the suggestion of sounds, since they seem unable to stop kissing each other for long enough to actually speak. Which is perfectly okay as far as Yoongi’s concerned. It’s very difficult to stop kissing Hoseok once they start in earnest. So easy to lose himself in how nice it feels to hold Hoseok so close, have him surrounding and filling all of Yoongi’s senses.
A hand wraps around the back of Yoongi’s neck, pulling him in closer, kissing him deeper. Yoongi’s thoughts are already beginning to race ahead, thinking about tugging Hoseok over towards their bed. About spreading him out across it, naked and beautiful and wanting, and Yoongi there, entire being ready to just give Hoseok whatever he could possibly ask for.
The bright, musical melody of their doorbell is an unwelcome, and sharp , interruption to the heat that is building up between them. A sudden and unexpected damper on the growing situation.
Hoseok shrieks in fear, startled by the sudden sound, and between one blink and the next Yoongi sees a flash of a rigid, bushy tail as it vanishes behind the couch. His ears are still ringing with the piercing sound of Hoseok’s scream and his head is all out of sorts, having to go so quickly from a budding passion to sudden must protect Hoseok mode.
“It’s just the doorbell,” Yoongi tells the couch as he slowly climbs up to go and answer it. He finds himself wondering if there’s a quieter type of doorbell they could maybe get, although it kind of defeats the purpose of being able to hear it. But no matter how many times it’s been rung throughout the last six months, Hoseok always startles and hides behind the couch anyway.
When he answers the door - just before the visitor can ring it again - it’s to see the smiling face of one of their neighbors, Jimin.
“It’s Jiminie,” Yoongi calls out. “Hi,” he says this time to Jimin.
“Hi, hyung,” Jimin says brightly, stepping inside when Yoongi gestures for him to do so. After he’s slipped off his shoes and come further inside Hoseok can be seen peering curiously from around the arm of the couch.
There’s another shout this time, though this one is a sound of excitement instead of fear. “Treats!” Hoseok says excitedly, dashing out from behind the couch now. He reaches for the box held in Jimin’s hands, and Jimin only laughs as he gives it over to Hoseok. “Thanks, Jiminie!”
Yoongi shakes his head - fondly, always fondly - as Hoseok immediately rips into the box of chocolate and in seconds his cheeks are stuffed, round and full and happy.
“What brings you over?” Yoongi asks, turning his attention back towards Jimin. He’s relieved that he wasn’t worked up enough yet for it to be an issue, honestly, and that he can stand here and talk, almost relaxed, with Jimin. He does however make a mental note to see if Hoseok wants to make Yoongi’s earlier thoughts reality later, when they’re alone again.
“Haven’t seen you guys for awhile, just wanted to say hi, see how you were doing,” he answers, giving them both a warm smile. “Missed my favourite neighbors.”
“What, I thought your favourite was Mean Judgemental Guy from across the way?” Hoseok says, somehow managing to talk around his stuffed cheeks.
“Oh yes,” Jimin says, going along with it. “I meant my second favourite neighbors. Me and Mean Guy hung out yesterday, had a nice chat in the stairwell about disrespectful teenagers these days.”
Yoongi rolls his eyes at that; he knows well about the less-than-nice neighbor they share, though he can’t be bothered to waste any time or energy on the guy himself. He’s an ass. He was always an ass, but even more so after that time he’d made fun of Hoseok right in front of Yoongi. He tries not to think about it, practices that ‘zen thinking’ that Namjoon had told him about at the time.
They lead Jimin through into the living room, Yoongi offering snacks and drinks, before they all go to settle on the couch. Jimin will probably hang out for a couple of hours or so, especially since Hoseok’s already setting their Switch up and chattering away excitedly about something he wants to show Jimin.
When Jimin goes to sit down against one arm of the couch he lets out a loud sound of surprise and pain. “Oh!” He says, jumping back up again. “What on earth...?” He leans down, lifting up the cushion that he’d tried to sit down on. Beneath it they all see the neat little row of acorns lined up as if they belong there.
Yoongi shoots Hoseok a look as Jimin dissolves into soft giggles.
Hoseok just glances between them, cheeks still stuffed with chocolate. “Oops?” He offers.
Once the acorns are stored away somewhere else secretly and safely they end up having a fun evening together, ordering in take-out when they start getting hungry. Between Hoseok and Jimin, Yoongi has forgotten about the bad day, now left far behind him in the wake of their company.
(And, he definitely does manage to make his earlier, less innocent thoughts come true later that night, when they’re alone again. And Hoseok looks even more beautiful than Yoongi ever manages to imagine him to be, bare skin and softly swaying tail inviting Yoongi to give him everything that he wants).
**
The weather, without a doubt, has definitely turned now. Autumn has bled so slowly into winter that the chilly wind that winds about the flat outside takes them almost by surprise. It means lots of evenings spent snuggling close together for warmth, at Yoongi’s insistence, because he hates feeling cold. It means the smell of peppermint or cinnamon teas filling their space. It means cold feet pressing up against his own in bed at night, Yoongi whining until Hoseok kisses him quiet again.
There’s one last little gift Yoongi has left for Hoseok though, on this cusp of the season’s merging. Something to make him smile again, as the days shorten and grow darker.
“Got something for you,” Yoongi says, holding a small box out for Hoseok. It says it so casually, as if it’s nothing really, though he’s always like that with gifts. Tries to make them out to be less than they are.
Hoseok’s eyes light up with excitement as he meets Yoongi in the kitchen and takes the box. He’s so curious about it, and Yoongi loves seeing that expression on Hoseok’s face, endlessly endeared.
When Hoseok gets the box open he stares down into it for a moment before looking up at Yoongi again. Honestly, it is a small present, nothing really, just a little something because Hoseok was on his mind (is always on his mind, really) while Yoongi had been passing by a small grocery store.
But the smile on Hoseok’s face is as if it’s something so much more. Maybe it is to Hoseok, and Yoongi’s not going to disregard that possibility.
“Walnuts,” Hoseok says softly. “You remembered.”
Yoongi ducks his head, though he can’t quite hide his own smile. He remembers everything Hoseok tells him. “Yeah,” he admits quietly.
When he looks up again it’s to see Hoseok just standing there, still smiling dopily at him. And it’s sweet, it really is, but Yoongi’s always hoping for...well, hoping for another kind of ‘thank you’ right now as well. Hoseok doesn’t make a move towards it though, and Yoongi lets out a soft huff.
“What?” Hoseok asks, ears twitching and head tilting a little. There’s a gleam in his eye that seems to say he knows what he’s doing, and knows what Yoongi wants. Cheeky little thing, Yoongi thinks.
Yoongi huffs.
“Hm? What, I can’t read your mind, hyung,” Hoseok teases.
Yoongi huffs again. Then taps one finger to his lips - and yes, okay, he is pouting a little, what of it. “Kiss?” He finds himself saying, a mirror of Hoseok whenever he’s requesting sweet kisses from Yoongi - kisses that he can never deny Hoseok of.
Hoseok laughs, bright and happy and fond. Just as fond of Yoongi as Yoongi is of him, which is some kind of miracle in his book because Hoseok is Hoseok , and Yoongi is only Yoongi after all. But, again, who is he to disregard Hoseok’s judgement on the matter.
“Cute,” Hoseok coos. He puts the box of walnuts down on the counter before stepping lightly over towards Yoongi. He reaches out, pokes one of Yoongi’s cheeks gently. “You sure you aren’t part squirrel, hyung? With cheeks like these,” he jokes, and it’s not for the first time.
Before Yoongi can huff another time and try to stomp away in a terrible show of faked irritation, Hoseok takes Yoongi’s chin between his fingers and leans in.
“Kiss,” he says, softly pressing their lips together.
And honestly, Yoongi’s never been happier.