Work Text:
Jungkook sighed from the heat. It was a hot summer afternoon. The cicadas’ chant filled the air. Sun flooded every corner with light. Its warmth was suffocating. Jungkook got out of his car. He wiped his sweaty forehead, and put on his hat. He was finally released from the military, a day prior. He spent the first free hours traveling back home. And there he stood, in front of the very same home he left four years ago. The house was still the same, yet different. Ivy spread on the porch railing. Jasmine invaded the rest. It seemed as if the green vegetation was fighting to conquer the small house. In the front yard littered colorful flowers. It was an organized mess, a lively one. Its sweet scent rose in the air and twirled with the symphony of the season.
Jungkook stepped towards the small portal. His hand reached for white wood. It was in a better state than he left it in. He recalled his wish to repair it. He never had time. He enrolled in the military too young, too soon. He left for too long, too fast.
He took a deep breath. His hand pushed the small gate. It creaked, protested the movement, but opened nonetheless. Jungkook smiled seeing the familiar name on the letterbox. Jeon. He was home. He wanted to cry. He was shell-shocked to be there, finally.
His footsteps echoed in the quiet surrounding. It was a soft sound that lingered gently, then faded. His hand brushed over the flowers as he walked. He noticed the little details that made the house. The red front door, he remembered it to be green, a decaying one. He recalled the path leading to it muddy, now sturdy stones paved the way. The porch steps remained silent as he climbed them. So much changed, yet nothing did, really.
Jungkook looked down at himself. His deep blue uniform was impeccable, not a speck of dust. His medals caught the light. They glimmered proudly in the shade. They screamed pride and courage. Their golden color accompanied the soft shades of the awards. He was young, too young to have his chest so heavy with honors. Those were bad memories, and a few rare good ones. His hand instinctively brushed overt his unit insignia. He needed courage to knock on the door. He chuckled softly. It felt akin to going to combat all over again, another sort.
Jungkook took another deep breath. He took off his cap and gently tucked it under his arm. He stood straight. His hand finally knocked on the crimson door, twice. He counted them. He shuddered. His breath hitched. His hand trembled.
The knock echoed on the other side of the door. It was followed by a soft padding of steps. Someone was lazily walking towards the door. He heard a groan then the lock opened, then the door.
Jungkook frowned not recognizing the man. He was tall; soft curls and a bright smile greeted him. Jungkook’s heart sank for a fleeting moment. Perhaps, he was at the wrong address, after so long people moved away, moved on too. The last thought poisoned his mind. Suddenly, the man stepped aside. Jungkook heard his deep voice but he couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening. His heart hammered in his chest. Where was….there he was. Taehyung appeared next to the unknown man.
Jungkook smiled.
Taehyung’s stopped breathing for a moment. His legs almost gave up under him. He leant against the door taking in the newcomer’s appearance. His throat knotted. It seemed as if words escaped his mind. Yet they ran wild. He couldn’t utter a word, a sentence. Nothing came out of his lips no matter how much he tried. A soft sob finally reached Jungkook’s ears.
Taehyung finally recovered from the shock. He threw himself against Jungkook’s solid form. He couldn’t talk still, but it did not matter. Jungkook was there. They did not need words. Tears rushed down his cheeks. Soft cries escaped his lips. His arms wrapped tight, too tight, around Jungkook. The latter returned the embrace.
Jungkook lifted Taehyung up. There was not enough contact, although they were close, too close, not even able to breathe properly. Their body seemed to fuse as one. Both hearts hammered painfully. Lungs filled with fire instead of the sweet summer scent. Taehyung hiccupped burying his face in the crook of Jungkook’s neck. His legs wrapped around Jungkook’s waist as soon they left the solid ground. He couldn’t stand anyway.
Jungkook did not know when or where to the stranger left. But, he was grateful for the privacy. He stepped inside the house. He walked towards the living room, and sat on the couch with Taehyung still wrapped tight around him. He did not mind the proximity. God, he craved it. It was never enough.
It took a moment, or perhaps an eternity to finally breathe again. Jungkook pulled his head away, chuckling softly. Taehyung rested his forehead against Jungkook’s instantly.
“I am home,” Jungkook finally whispered. His voice was hoarse. It hurt to talk. His throat was too knotted. His chest heaved. There was not enough air, not enough of Taehyung, not enough of them. There was not enough, yet it was all too overwhelming to be there. Every detail was vivid; Taehyung’s chapped lips, the bags under his eyes, the tears glistening on his round cheeks, the soft hair locks falling over Taehyung’s eyes. Beautiful. Jungkook couldn’t find another word to describe his lover.
They met too early, too young to understand the intense feeling that wrapped around them. They went different paths too early to fully enjoy what they had. They promised each other a future that was truly uncertain. They uttered dangerous words into the rainy night four years ago, almost five now.
I will wait for you.
Don’t be stupid, four years is a long time. You should live your life.
You’re the stupid one, if you think that I will ever forget you.
Jungkook could recite those words by heart. He repeated them over and over during the previous years. He could have sworn that they were inked on his skin, and not just his soul.
“Welcome home,” Taehyung whispered back without missing a beat. His lips reached towards Jungkook’s. The same galvanizing feeling ignited in both their hearts. It fed into the growing twirl of emotions that swept over their souls.
The end