Work Text:
One thing always leads to another, when it comes to Taehyung.
At first, it was him whining from the studio that he left his water cup in the kitchen and needed Seokjin to bring it to him. So, like a good boyfriend, Seokjin did— and he gave Taehyung a kiss at the crown of his head, because he simply had to.
Then, it was that Taehyung needed him to help fix his hair. Apparently the brown locks were falling loose from the tiny, sprout-like ponytail he tied the rest of it up in and it was bothering him incessantly while he tried to focus on painting. So Seokjin pulled his hair loose, carefully wrapped the tie around it again, and retrieved some hair clips from the pocket of a smock to pin back his bangs. The way Taehyung hummed and sat still in his stool for it made Seokjin’s heart melt, and another kiss was placed; this time, on the shell of his ear.
After that, it was Taehyung’s eruption of whining that he didn’t want to be alone the second Seokjin had tried to turn around and return to his home office. There was a long moment where they narrowed their eyes at each other across the room, in a silent contest of seriousness; but the artist won by a pout and Seokjin couldn’t resist. So, Seokjin stayed, curling up on the well-worn couch in his painting room.
Or at least, Seokjin stays there until Taehyung starts huffing that he needs help with his palette. Seokjin can see the developing frown on Taehyung’s lips, the furrowing of his brows and the tension in his shoulders that give away his frustration. He sets his phone aside and goes over to join his boyfriend right away, draping arms around his frame from behind and resting his cheek against Taehyung’s as he looks over his shoulder at the canvas.
It’s far from finished, and Seokjin thinks it’s beautiful. It’s from a photograph Taehyung took of a busy street in Tokyo from their last trip together, and even without looking at the printed photo pinned to the easel beside it, Seokjin easily recognizes it. Right now, it’s merely shapes, bold brushstrokes and penciled lines that create the foundations of a city. Neither of them speak, but Seokjin begins to smooth his palm up and down over the side of Taehyung’s ribs, and he can feel his shoulders begin to relax against his chest.
“What’s the matter, baby?”
“I... I don’t know.” Taehyung admits, and Seokjin can hear the embarrassment in his voice. He reaches out and takes the brush balanced in Taehyung’s hovering but immobile hand, and carefully sets it bristles-upwards in a nearby jar.
“Well, it looks beautiful,” Seokjin murmurs. A breathless laugh flutters through Taehyung’s chest, and it makes Seokjin’s brows pinch together in concern. “Yah, do you not believe me?”
“I’ve barely even started it, Hyung!” He grumbles back, crossing his arms and pouting as Seokjin takes his palette and sets it aside too. A rumbling rolls through Seokjin’s chest as he murmurs in disbelief, fingers poking into Taehyung’s side to try and make him laugh.
“I can’t believe you’re disrespecting me like this,” Seokjin scoffs, and when he sees the confused look on Taehyung’s face, he breaks into laughter before he can explain himself. By the time he gathers his composure, Taehyung’s face is still confused, but significantly more pouty. “I think it’s beautiful, so if you disagree with me… Well, that’s obviously disrespecting my tastes which I can’t stand for!”
Taehyung cracks a smile at that, even though it’s clear he’s trying not to. One hand goes up over his mouth, but once Seokjin wraps him up in a bear hug from behind and tickles at his sides, Taehyung is defeated in a wave of giggles.
“You know what I mean,” he finally whines, and Seokjin presses kisses over one of his soft little cheeks. Seokjin does know what he means— but that doesn’t mean he agrees.
“Just because something is incomplete doesn’t mean it’s not beautiful.” Seokjin’s voice comes out in a gentle whisper, and it’s like the air stills. They simply both pause, Seokjin’s arms locked around Taehyung’s waist and Taehyung’s hands holding the backs of his, thinking together in the silence. Seokjin doesn’t need to see the expression on Taehyung’s face to know that he’s ruminating over the thought, and so instead, he lets his chin rest in the crook of his lover’s neck. They’re both silent until Taehyung properly takes it in, and he speaks softly.
“Like how a plant can be pretty before it’s done growing?”
“Exactly!” Seokjin says, smiling so widely that his teeth graze Taehyung’s neck. It makes him shiver in Seokjin’s arms, but he doesn’t comment on it. He would let him live… this time.
“And like how piano notes are still pretty before they’re put into a song…” Taehyung murmurs, and Seokjin nods as he rises to his full height and kisses the top of Taehyung’s head. He takes a second to flick at the little ponytail with the tip of his nose, squeezing his boyfriend in his arms.
“Like how you’re still beautiful even though you’re not done growing,” He mumbles, and the cheesiness of it all makes even his cheeks burn. For a brief second, he wonders if Taehyung will whine in confusion and try to defend his adulthood— but he doesn’t. Taehyung just smiles as he tips his head back, eyes half-open as he looks upwards into the loving warmth of Seokjin’s.
And in that moment, Seokjin knows that Taehyung understands what he means. He knows that Taehyung understands that he’s looking forward to every way in which Taehyung may change and grow in the future, and that Seokjin wants to change and grow right alongside him. That just as they’re not the same people they were in the past, they won’t be the same people in the future— and that the fact their journey is incomplete is where the beauty of it lies.
One of Taehyung’s hands gently brings Seokjin’s up to his face, and he presses tender kisses to the knuckles along each of his fingers as dark lashes fan across his cheeks. If Seokjin had any doubt that Taehyung didn’t understand, it’s immediately cast away when he opens those deep, enthralling eyes again and speaks.
“You’re beautiful too, Hyung— and you’re not done growing yet.”
The reassurance takes Seokjin by surprise, and maybe that’s why it impacts him so hard. The comfort tugs at his heartstrings and suddenly his cheeks burn again as he looks down at Taehyung. At Taehyung, who he has always considered to be a fresh star; one so full of potential and with so much light to shine. Especially compared to his own vibrancy, that he always fears is fading.
“A-Ah,” he exhales, blinking and swallowing thickly. He flashes a smile back down at Taehyung, and laughter that starts as slightly nervous quickly becomes genuine as he flicks at the little ponytail on the top of his head. “You always say the most— somehow, the most… existentially enigmatic shit at the times that throw me off the most, Taehyungie.”
Taehyung’s eyes fold into crescents as he laughs brightly, and Seokjin playfully slaps his hand against his boyfriend’s bicep. As he’s shifting to sit up properly, Seokjin moves his hands down to rub slightly at Taehyung’s shoulderblades and clicks his tongue before teasing.
“Yah, you should focus on your painting instead of making me have an existential crisis, sprout.”
Taehyung scrunches up his nose as he looks at the canvas in front of him, but Seokjin can tell that expression was meant for him and not the painting.
“It just seemed like something you needed to hear,” Taehyung begins, but Seokjin cuts him off.
“Maybe what I need to hear is some beautiful silence—”
“—Hyyyyyung, no! Stay with me!” Taehyung pleads dramatically as soon as Seokjin playfully threatens to walk out the door. He reaches out and catches his wrist before he can march too far away, but Seokjin momentarily forgets that Taehyung is perched on a stool. The little tug-of-war game he starts quickly turns into a catch-Taehyung-before-he-faceplants game, for which Seokjin has never been more grateful to be a victor.
Once they scramble to place Taehyung on his stool properly again, Seokjin can finally breathe, and mumbles an apology as his partner laughs. They find themselves with their roles reversed in a way; now Taehyung clings to Seokjin, face stuffed against his chest and thighs hugging his hips. He can even feel Taehyung’s pout pressed into his tummy.
“Yah, I’m sorry, baby— will you ever forgive me?” Seokjin teases as he gently scritches along Taehyung’s scalp. His other hand smooths over his shoulders, and his heart seems lighter as Taehyung’s lips curve into a grin. He lifts his face after a moment and looks up at Seokjin, something devious in his eyes.
“Yes, if you make it up to me.”
Seokjin looks down at him suspiciously, and clicks his tongue as if in thought. “...What is it?”
“Stay here with me while I work?” Taehyung hums. The look in his eyes is absolutely adorable, like a begging puppy, and the tone of his voice is so sweet and pleading— there’s no way Seokjin would have stood a chance if he wanted to say no. Luckily, he never did want to say no.
“Fine,” He huffs, puffing out his chest and keeping up the charade. Taehyung immediately brightens, and Seokjin has to whine to get his attention properly before he continues, “But, you have to tell me— why do you want me in here so bad anyways, huh? If I remember correctly, last time a certain artist got all up in arms and whiny that I was distracting!”
Taehyung rolls his eyes as he tugs Seokjin in closer, hugs him tighter. “Well, it wasn’t you as much as the fact that you were playing your game really loud and the noises kept on distracting me. That, and you were shirtless.” Taehyung points out. Seokjin is about to toss back some flirtatious rebuttal, but suddenly Taehyung’s tone drops to something more serious and he’s looking up at him again with those magnetizing eyes.
“But… Really, it’s because you inspire me, Hyung,” Taehyung admits, and something rushes through Seokjin that makes his knees feel weak and ears feel hot. “I dunno, I know it may not make a ton of sense, but… Just having you around makes it easier for me to be artistic. You’re my muse! It’s like— it’s like a star, and I can’t paint without your light.”
It’s a very rare happenstance for Kim Seokjin to be left speechless. But time and time again, Taehyung manages to do just that.
He’s not sure what to say to that; he’s touched, and he feels Taehyung’s words and wants to return them with his own, but Seokjin isn’t quite sure how. Luckily, he doesn’t have to, because Taehyung has never needed words in order to understand him.
“So, stay here, and I’ll forgive you, hm? Shine your starlight on my painting so I can make it grow into a melody,” Taehyung purrs, flashing a bright smile up at him. The way he says it both charms and delights Seokjin, and smiling back down at Taehyung is the easiest thing in the world. Comfort settles in the air around them both as Seokjin nods in return, and those fingers that Taehyung loves to kiss so much fiddle with his hair.
“I’ll stay, Taehyungie. Any time that you need it.”
“Good,” Taehyung says, sitting up a little straighter so he can press his ear to Seokjin’s chest as they embrace, “I’ll always need it.”