Work Text:
Taehyung's ribs hurt from laughter and his throat burns from soju, but he can't stop laughing. Who knows how long he and Jimin have been giggling at this point— it feels like forever in a mere moment. He's not drunk, but rather he’s just tiptoeing on that perfect balance between tipsy and buzzed. When Jimin finally gathers himself enough to slide off the bed and shuffle to the fridge, he offers to get Taehyung a beer, but he declines; he doesn't want to trip over that edge and risk forgetting the fantastic night he's having with his best friend.
Instead, Jimin brings him a water bottle, which Taehyung catches easily with one hand despite his intoxicated state. The bed bounces as Jimin flings himself back onto it, returning to his spot and sitting cross-legged. They're both in their pajamas, with a bit soju splashed on Jimin's shirt and cheese dust stained on the thigh of Taehyung's sweatpants thanks to fact they've both been using it as a napkin.
"Ready?" Taehyung asks once Jimin's leaning against his shoulder again. His blonde hair tickles Taehyung's ear when he nods, but Taehyung just smiles and pulls the laptop closer to resume their marathon of funny internet videos. They fall in place together naturally, with Jimin resting against Taeehyung's side, and Taeehyung's arm draped across his shoulders.
That is, until about 47 seconds later, when Jimin bursts into laughter again at some ridiculous meme. As he flings himself forward and doubles over, Taehyung's hand slips down his back and trails along his spine, fingertips dancing across his shirt with an adoring smile. When he starts laughing, it's not because of the video, but because Jimin's giggles are infectious and Taehyung lives to see him happy.
He watches with the fondest eyes as Jimin pulls himself up into a proper sitting position and tosses his head back. Taehyung's hand comes up right away to brush his bangs out of his face, and hiccupping chuckles leave Jimin's lungs as he curls up against his best friend's side again. They keep watching, laughing here and there, before another video that makes them both lose it every single time comes up and they have to pause because they're on the verge of tears.
Taehyung recovers first, while Jimin still hides his face behind his small hands like he always does when he laughs. Taehyung has always found it cute, but in the back of his head, he always has the same thought— that he wishes Jimin didn't hide it. Taehyung thinks that Jimin has the most beautiful smile he's ever seen; but the purest, rawest, most unfiltered smiles of his are always hidden behind pretty fingers and sweaterpaws.
Like always, the thought comes to mind as Taehyung watches him cry with laughter. But this time, the alcohol in Taehyung's system is louder than his shy adoration. Before he can even think about it, he reaches out on instinct when Jimin sits back up, and grabs him gently by the wrists. He's leaning in as he pulls them away from Jimin's face, revealing his bright red cheeks, tear-wet lashes and vibrant, sparkling eyes, all of which make Taehyung's heart throb with loving desire in his ribcage.
"Hey," Taehyung says and Jimin blinks. He stops laughing and his lips form into a small slack-jawed expression of surprise, turned to confusion when his eyebrows furrow. Jimin’s hands go limp as Taehyung's hold his wrists, and he just looks at him, bewildered.
"Don't do that, baby— I mean, Jimin-ah—" He mutters, his own face red as he catches himself. Jimin's eyes widen at the slip of Taehyung's tongue, but the corners of his mouth begin to curl upwards with excited curiosity.
"D-Don't do what? Don’t laugh!? This isn't a no laughing challenge!" He immediately snickers again, and Taehyung's heart melts in his chest. He can feel the warm, gooey remnants of it dripping down into his stomach and setting his body ablaze.
"No, silly! Don't— Don't hide your smile like that," Taehyung explains. Jimin suddenly looks shy, and it's at this moment that Taehyung realizes he's still holding his wrists in mid-air. He brings their arms down to rest against their legs, and loosens his hold to the point that Jimin could easily break out of it if he wants to. But Taehyung doesn't let go, and Jimin doesn't pull away.
In fact, Jimin's hands turn over and hold Taehyung's forearms in return, squeezing them gently.
"Huh? Why?" He asks, and Taehyung is jittering with nerves. He chews on his lower lip, lashes fluttering as he glances to the side. Finally, his shifty eyes make their way back to Jimin's face.
"Just... Y-You have the prettiest smile." Taehyung finally confesses. For the first time that night, he's not loud or overflowing with hysterical joy or uncontrollable laughter; it escapes his lips as barely a whisper.
Jimin leans in closer to hear it. And then he leans in even closer.
"You think so, Taehyungie?" He whispers back and Taehyung's heart is really thumping like crazy in his chest. He can't tell if it's the proximity or the alcohol that's making him feel dizzy. Maybe it's the fact Jimin is so, so close to Taehyung's face, and he can't stop staring at his lips.
Taehyung nods shyly after a moment, working his lower lip between his teeth. Jimin's lips spread into a huge smile— a pure, raw, unfiltered smile. A smile all for Taehyung, and only for Taehyung.
Taehyung can't tell if he's spiraling or ascending, but either way, his head is spinning and his heart is pounding and it's all because he's desperately in love with his best friend who is leaning in so close that he can feel his hot breaths fanning across the tip of his nose. And Taehyung wants more.
"Y-Yeah, I think it's— it's the most beautiful smile in the whole world," He mumbles, too overloaded to even attempt to lie or tone down the massive crush he has on Park Jimin. The massive crush he has had on Park Jimin, that has only grown stronger and stronger since the day they met. When Jimin speaks, Taehyung can tell by the tone in his voice that Jimin knows how Taehyung feels, too— the second Taehyung stops trying to hide it, Jimin knows. He always knows.
"I like your smile," Jimin confesses, and their noses brush together. Taehyung's hands slip into Jimin's and promptly hold them, warm shy skin against warm shy skin. Before Taehyung can ask if Jimin really means it, Jimin is already nodding, and a swell of confidence flows through him.
"Jimin," Taehyung breathes, their lips barely apart from each other. It's difficult at such a close range, but Taehyung does the best he can to look into Jimin's eyes as their foreheads press together. He's left momentarily breathless by how gorgeous they look in the low light of his bedroom lamp. "I think we should put our smiles together."
"I think so too." Jimin says, and in an instant, their lips connect. Their hands grip each other before breaking apart in favor of wrapping their arms around each other's waist, and their noses slot side-by-side as they share the softest, shyest, sweetest kiss either has ever had.
They smile the entire time. Pure, raw, unfiltered smiles.