Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jungkook is in a bad mood, and he has been for a few days now. He’s been short with Taehyung and curt with others. He’s been glaring for so long that it’s like he’s trying to win the Guinness World record, and it hasn’t changed despite Taehyung’s efforts. Half the time, Taehyung isn’t sure if Jungkook even hears a word he says but he keeps trying because Jungkook usually needs talking when something is on his mind. 

Yet, as obvious as it is that something is wrong, Jungkook denies it.

“You’ve been quiet lately. Anything on your mind?”

“I’m fine.”

Taehyung leans over the back of the couch where Jungkook sits and pretends to watch television. He rubs a hand over Jungkook’s chest and uses the other to try and get Jungkook to look at him. Gentle caresses over his jaw and neck, playful tugs of his ear, a boop on the nose. Jungkook shifts and finally, with a sigh, tilts his head back when Taehyung pinches his chin to guide him. 

At least his expression softens when their eyes meet. Taehyung doesn’t think Jungkook’s busy brain has anything to do with him, but if it does, it’s even more important for Jungkook to get out whatever is bothering him. 

It’s been a few days, and Jungkook has been quiet, distant. He seems as if he’s just in his own head, but Taehyung isn’t used to seeing him so closed off. Not with him, not with his best friends who he hasn’t seen in some time.

He didn’t even react much when Taehyung showed him the new pictures Seojoon sent of his daughter, and Jungkook loves her more than anyone else in the world. 

“Hm?” Taehyung runs his finger over Jungkook’s bottom lip. “I don’t think so.”

Jungkook furrows his brows, lips pushing out to kiss Taehyung’s thumb. “I am.”

Taehyung smiles softly and kisses Jungkook’s forehead. “Love, you got sauce on your shirt today and turned into the fucking Hulk.”

It’s a bit of an exaggeration. Jungkook hadn’t been angry, but he was so frustrated that he stained his shirt even though he has plenty of the exact same ones in their closet. But he has been angry over the past few days. Snapping the mechanic’s head off the day before over something inconsequential, chucking his phone off the bed for a reason he didn’t explain but he slept curled in on himself with his back facing Taehyung.

He even got into it with Yoongi and Hoseok, though he also didn’t go into detail about that. Taehyung wasn’t aware at all until Jimin called him and asked what Jungkook’s deal was. 

Even now, Taehyung is concerned by Jungkook’s different behavior when he speaks teasingly, which usually gets him an eye roll or a retort but Jungkook just turns his face away instead. 

With a sigh, Taehyung lets him go to hop over the back of the couch to be beside him again. He’s insistent on cuddling, throwing a thigh over Jungkook’s lap and curling into him all with the same teasing look. He scratches his fingers through Jungkook’s hair to hold him close as he nuzzles his face into his cheek. 

He thinks it might work when Jungkook side eyes him and the corner of his mouth twitches. 

“Tell me,” Taehyung whispers. He kisses Jungkook’s jaw next, rubbing at the hinge on the opposite side because the muscle there is so tense he’s afraid it will be sore once Jungkook releases it. “Or else.”

Jungkook pulls away from him, but barely. Head tilting to the side, but his body remains still beneath him. There’s a hint of a whine in his tone when he starts to tell Taehyung he’s okay, but Taehyung is quick to cut him off.

He centers his mouth to Jungkook’s throat and blows.

Jungkook’s shoulder jerks up towards his chin protectively. His body moves with it, nearly tossing Taehyung from his lap. Taehyung chuckles, holding on tighter to blow another raspberry against his skin.

“Taehyung, I’m fine.”

Taehyung ignores him, holding on tightly to blow again. 

“Ah, stop -”

“Kisses or raspberries?”

Jungkook groans, tilting his head back to shield Taehyung’s mouth from his neck. There’s an actual glint in his eyes for the first time today, and while Taehyung is known for winning difficult and impossible court cases, he’s never felt so victorious. “If I ever say no to kisses, rush me to the hospital.”

Taehyung relaxes against him. He’s relieved that he can get something out of Jungkook, even if it’s tiny. “Tell me what is making your eyebrows work so hard.”

He rubs at the wrinkles between them to explain, grinning wider when Jungkook widens his eyes to force his eyebrows apart. 

“It’s just work,” Jungkook responds softly as he rubs the spit from his neck. “Just a little stressed about it.”

A little is a little bit of an understatement. Even when Jungkook has worked long days and Taehyung had to rummage through stacks and stacks of paperwork in his office to find him, Jungkook hasn’t looked like this. Even when he’s come home ranting and raving about shitty people and his mother, he got it out and was fine afterwards. 

But Taehyung knows that sometimes it can be too much. Having a handle on things doesn’t mean it doesn’t build up and up over time. 

“Talk to me about it,” Taehyung offers. “Maybe I can help, and if I can’t, just get it out.”

Jungkook closes off again. He runs his hand up Taehyung’s thigh to squeeze it gently before he shifts out of his grasp. As much as Taehyung doesn’t want to, he pulls his limbs back to himself and tenses when Jungkook slides across the cushions and puts space between them. 

It’s weird being on their couch and not touching. Taehyung looks at the space like it’s miles long and wonders if maybe it i s something to do with him. 

“I don’t really want to right now, babe.”

Taehyung rubs at his neck and looks away, focusing on the television for a moment. Part of him wants to push, to get Jungkook to talk, because that’s usually what Jungkook needs. Sometimes, Taehyung has to remind him and assure him that he can always, that there will be very little he could ever say that would ever come between them.

But he’s never seen Jungkook want space and silence, and if he does need it, Taehyung is more than happy to give it to him. He just feels a bit stuck and unsure.

It’s not a feeling he often has, especially with Jungkook, and he’s definitely not a fan because he can’t quite the thoughts that it isn’t because he needs space but he needs space from him . 

“Okay. Is there something I can do?”

Jungkook shakes his head as he hangs it to watch himself pluck at his stained shirt. “No, I’m fine. Really.”

“Love -“

“We acquired a new brand,” Jungkook blurts. He side eyes him again, but this time, he makes a point to look somewhere else afterwards. “My mother put me in charge of the takeover. She said she trusts me to make things go smoothly.”

Taehyung closes his fingers over his mouth, waiting for Jungkook to continue. Bae Hotels already has a handful of brands. It’s rare for them to go anywhere and not find multiple. Taehyung always feels pride when he stays at one, looking at the tiny name beneath the brand label as if it reads Jeon instead of his mother in law’s name.

“The company had a huge foot in the foreign market, but the management fucked themselves getting involved with high crime shit. They were forced to sell to us and settle with only shares, and they’re not happy about it.”

Taehyung kicks his foot out tentatively and wiggles it closer to Jungkook. If Jungkook notices it’s purposeful, he can’t tell, but Jungkook does wrap a hand around Taehyung’s ankle to settle it in his lap.

He circles his thumb over Taehyung’s ankle bone, quiet again like he’s lost in his own head. 

“If they’re an issue, I’ll bury them,” Taehyung says casually. “I’m sure there’s a handful of other crimes that haven’t been exposed.”

Another lip twitch. “Is that your go to? Threaten everyone for me?”

Taehyung nods firmly. “Absolutely.”

Jungkook’s lip twitch turns into a smile. It’s small, but it shows in his eyes. “I’m not worried about that. I’m worried because the global headquarters is stationed in Osaka.”

Oh. Taehyung touches his mouth, keeping it from doing anything that might look like a reaction when Jungkook finally looks at him. “She’s making you relocate.”

Jungkook swallows so thickly Taehyung can see it. “I’ve put up a bit of a fight.”

Taehyung chews on his bottom lip as he watches Jungkook. “I’m sure it won’t be permanent.”

With a shrug, Jungkook stops touching him. “It could be. I was thinking we should talk about the possibility of us moving -”

“I can’t.”

Jungkook falls silent, body tensing. He pushes Taehyung’s foot off of him and stands up without a word. 

Shit. Taehyung scrambles after him though he doesn’t move fast. He doesn’t make it very far before Taehyung has his forearm in his hand. 

“Jungkook -”

“I was going to say,” Jungkook says as he whips around, sounding upset. “I was going to say, I was thinking we should talk about the possibility of us moving, but I already know you won’t come.”

Taehyung stares at him. His voice gets quieter with each word, his brows furrowing more until those wrinkles come back. “It’s not that I ‘won’t’ come. I wouldn’t be able to. Not for a stretch of time.”

Jungkook just nods. He pulls his arm away, and Taehyung has to let him go because he’s stuck. He doesn’t understand Jungkook’s sudden reaction because there’s been plenty of times where one of them has had to be away for weeks at a time because of work.

And they’ve been fine. Taehyung’s missed Jungkook like an unbearable ache in his bones, but they had made it work. 

But now Jungkook is taking off towards the part of their house that was supposed to be his side when they first got married but he never utilized it really. And he rarely goes there unless it’s to the gym. 

Taehyung follows after him without pause, concern filling him. Jungkook isn’t the type to walk away from conversations either. He usually starts them and can get pretty stubborn about having them. “Hey, love -”

Jungkook turns and steps forward so suddenly that their bodies knock into each other. He recovers quickly, but Taehyung doesn’t as Jungkook captures his face into his hands and molds their lips together.

It’s soft, gentle. Taehyung parts his lips like a habit and slowly lifts his hands to plant them to Jungkook’s chest. He trails them up to Jungkook’s neck, feeling over his pulse to find how hard it’s beating.

When Jungkook breaks the quick kiss, he looks just upset as he has been the last few days.

“I don’t want to fight,” Jungkook whispers. “Just forget it.”

Fight? That’s not something they do. They argue, they bicker. Usually over shit that doesn’t really matter, they’re just both hot headed and like to argue. When it is over stuff that matters, it doesn’t escalate because Jungkook is a talker and they understand each other. Whether they’re tired and biting out words or it’s a misunderstanding, they work it out and meet in the middle. 

As far as Taehyung’s concerned, there’s never been anything close to anger between the two of them for it to be a real fight. Frustration, annoyance, exhaustion, but it’s always been quick and very easy to shut down. 

“We’re not going to fight about it,” Taehyung tells him, fingers twisting in Jungkook’s shirt to keep him in place. “Unless you feel like fighting.”

Jungkook bobs up and down from the way he shakes his legs, eyes diverted again like he is refusing to look at Taehyung. “You won’t even consider working on it so we don’t have to be apart. Like no question, whatsoever. You can’t come with me. There would be no point talking about it more or it will just be a fight.”

Oh. Taehyung falters, arms sinking between them but he holds onto Jungkook. He always will, no matter what. “Osaka isn’t that far, Jungkook. You own a jet.”

Jungkook forces Taehyung to let go as he yanks back. His glare has returned, and this time, Taehyung knows it is meant to be directed at him. “Fuel emissions, Taehyung.”

Taehyung throws his hands in the air. “When have you cared about that? Even if we get another house in another city, I’ll still have to leave for work. I have cases all throughout the country, and my office is here. If we go to Japan, I’ll be using that jet to come back and forth here all the same.”

There are cases outside of the country too that Taehyung has considered. Taehyung hasn’t told Jungkook how many really good opportunities he has turned down because it would take him too far for too long. And he doesn’t mind turning them down, it doesn’t hurt him any. 

“I’ll be gone for a few weeks at the end of the summer because of court. This isn’t anything new, Jungkook.”

Jungkook hangs his head and looks at the ground he toes over. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m tired of it. We talk about wanting to start a family one day, but every year, it’s more of ‘we have to be apart’. No question, no hesitation. That’s how it is. Just like now, you didn’t consider any way we could get around it, you just went right to ‘I can’t.’”

Taehyung cups a hand over his face and holds it there. He breathes in slowly, not used to this tightness in his chest. Not with Jungkook. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was bothering you.”

“Of course it does,” Jungkook retorts, words coming out harshly. He looks at Taehyung as if he’s absolutely ludicrous. “We’re already apart enough. This move, we’ll practically never be together.”

“Then say no,” Taehyung shoots back, though he is trying to get a handle on his tone. He thinks the feeling inside of him is panic, and it will lead to a fight like Jungkook thought it would if he doesn’t calm it down. “What’s your mother going to do? Bae Hotels is yours. She isn’t going to take that away from you over this.”

Jungkook’s nostrils flare as he lets out a noise of frustration. “It’s not about that. You’re missing the point.”

“Then tell me the point. Explain it to me if I’m not understanding.”

“I just did. I didn’t think I’d have to further explain why I hate being away from you for so long.”

Okay. Taehyung turns around and inhales slowly. He’s the one to walk off this time, leaving Jungkook in the hallway because he’s in a bad mood, already irritable, and furthering this conversation at that state would be a bad idea.

He’s pretty level headed, able to stay calm in tense situations. Even when he’s been upset or overly annoyed and snapped, he’s been careful. He doesn’t cross the line too much, doesn’t get himself into deep shit if he does care about the consequences. 

But this? There’s whispers in Taehyung’s mind, assumptions as to where Jungkook is going with this, that has him feel as if he’ll completely blow the conversation to a place it doesn’t need to go if he doesn’t shut them up.

Taehyung pinches the bridge of his nose once he’s back in the living room and sits there. He replays Jungkook’s words in his head, thinks about them. He is right that he didn’t question it because they do it so often that he didn’t realize it was bothering Jungkook to this point.

A pause is needed, but the moment he replays Jungkook’s last words and he worries Jungkook said it as if he doesn’t feel the same, he twists back and strides quick and long until he’s back to Jungkook in record time.

Taehyung finds him pacing around in what used to be his living room, arms crossed over his chest and face hurt. Not angry, not glaring, Pained.

“I fucking hate being away from you, first of all,” Taehyung snaps, frustrated. “So of course, I understand that. But it’s only ever for a short time, never too far that it’s hard to visit each other. Just like this.”

Jungkook squeezes himself more tightly. “And after I go here, what if Eomma decides to ship me off to the states? They have over three hundred hotels there. We just opened one of our own global headquarters there. Somewhere near New York. The possibility that I would have to move is there, Taehyung.”

Oh. “I would go with you.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “You’re just saying that.”

Taehyung laughs, but it isn’t amused. “When do I ever say things just to say them? Just to appease people?”

Jungkook runs his hand through his hair to tug on the strands until they stand straight up. “I’m not just people.”

“Exactly.” Taehyung closes the space between them and cups his hands around Jungkook’s cheeks, making him look at him and not the empty air. “Are you upset about Japan or worrying about being even farther? Even if it’s just a possibility and not certain.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose. “It really upset you when your parents fought all the time because your father worked so much.”

Taehyung hugs his arms around Jungkook next, needing it for himself as well. The pressure of their chests against each other, the smell of Jungkook when he inhales. The fingers tickling over his waist before the slip beneath his sweater to just hold him in return. “My father had an entire secret family, and she didn’t believe he was just working. That’s a bit different, baby.” 

Jungkook pinches him gently. “I just mean, I know you wouldn’t come with me. I wouldn’t want you to, either. You were really excited to open up the firm with Seojoon and make a name for yourself that’s separate from your father’s.”

Silence falls between them, and only because Taehyung is a bit speechless. Jungkook looks defeated, tired, broken down. “I told you I’d come with you.”

Jungkook slips his hands down and moves them away so slowly that Taehyung thinks he means not to draw attention to it but Taehyung can’t focus on anything else. It’s a bad sign, one that feeds to the whispers until they get a little louder. 

“And what are you going to do? Like you said, you’re leaving at the end of the summer. It’s too late and would look bad if you suddenly told your client you had to drop him.”

Taehyung glares at him. “I thought this was only a possibility. Are you planning on moving in a few months? I’ve never taken over a business, but I do know it doesn’t happen over night.”

Jungkook narrows his eyes at him. “No, Taehyung. It’s called an example.”

Another laugh nearly leaves Taehyung, and not because he thinks any of this is funny. He thinks it’s incredibly ridiculous, and he’s not used to having a conversation spiral to the point he doesn’t know what to say. “It sounds like you do want to fight, Jungkook. I would open a home office in the states if I had to. Seems to me you’re the one here that’s resistant to there being opinions so we can work it out.”

Jungkook shakes his head, eyes falling closed. “I’m just in a bad place tonight, Taehyung. I need to go to bed.”

Taehyung lets him go. “I think so too. Maybe you’ll stop throwing accusations at me and talk since you’re claiming that’s what I won’t do.”

He needs to stop. He needs to close his mouth and not say a word, but the tension has his hands shaking, his body hollow. He wants to hold onto Jungkook to ease it all, but the reminder that Jungkook keeps pulling away from him makes it ten times worse. 

“And if I remember correctly, talks about a family were also only hypothetical. We both agreed we’re not ready, and that we would talk about it later. If that has changed, tell me.”

Taehyung means it when he says he needs Jungkook to tell him if it has, but that will have to be a conversation for another time. When they’re not worked up, when it isn’t tense.

Because Taehyung will have to tell Jungkook that he isn’t ready yet, and he needs them both to be in a state that they understand each other. 

Jungkook works his jaw over, not saying a word as he once again walks past Taehyung. Taehyung knows he’ll scream in frustration if Jungkook walks off once more. “It wouldn’t matter, anyway. It wouldn’t work.”

Just like that. Matter of fact. Taehyung is confused and his brain hurts, but he reminds himself that Jungkook is just in a bad place. He’ll be easy to set off, to not make sense. Space and silence is what they both need.

But Taehyung kind of wants to scream when Jungkook walks through their living room and doesn’t head to the bedroom, but where his coat hangs beside the front door. 

“Nope. You don’t start an argument and leave,” Taehyung snaps, arms crossed tightly over his chest. If Jungkook leaves, his worries are going to fucking spiral. And over nothing. There must be something else, something underlying. Something Taehyung isn’t seeing but is desperate to. “You can’t.”

Jungkook pulls on his thin jacket, his back to Taehyung. “I’m just going for a walk. I shouldn’t talk anymore, I’m getting myself upset.”

Taehyung runs his hands through his hair, wishing to pull every strand out. He thinks only minutes have passed, if that. Minutes between Jungkook just being silent and brooding to this. Whatever the hell it is. “You’re not giving me a chance to listen, Jungkook.” 

Jungkook grabs the door and presses his face against it. “Because I don’t know what I’m trying to say. I’m just - I’ll be back.”

Tension surges through Taehyung, his body frozen. His heart hammers though, beats and bangs at his sternum like it’s trying to escape and attach itself to Jungkook. “I don’t want you to leave.”

Jungkook looks only sad when he turns around. “I never want you to, either.” 

He doesn’t say anything else. Neither does Taehyung. He watches Jungkook fiddle with the doorknob before he opens it and steps outside.

Taehyung falls to the couch the moment the door shuts. He taps his fingers hard against his knees, staring at the door as if he’s waiting for it to open. Maybe he is because this isn’t anything they do. Ever.

Not running after Jungkook feels wrong, but doing so might be too. Taehyung isn’t cool with this, time passing with this between them even if it could be better just to wait for a time when they’re both in a place to be rational. 

Part of him doesn’t even care if it takes a fight to pass this. He tries to remind himself that it’s just a moment, but the thought there’s something else, that this is leading somewhere Taehyung doesn’t want to go, is overbearing. It drowns out everything else.

They don’t fight. Taehyung is unsettled to the point he isn’t sure if his thoughts are paranoid or not.

He can’t sit still.

Time passes and Taehyung keeps staring at the door. He doesn’t know how long because each second feels like a lifetime.

He takes out his phone because that feels like the best option. It gives Jungkook the ability to choose if he wants to read his message now or later. Taehyung hopes now, and he doesn’t realize exactly what is making him so upset until he types it.

Please don’t sleep anywhere else tonight. We don’t have to talk until you want to, but please at least come home. 

Taehyung’s stomach twists. He’s not sure how to get it across in a message actually, that he’s so worried Jungkook is the kind of upset that will make him not want to be home, to not sleep in bed together. 

That would mean it’s more than just irritability and frustration. There’s been plenty of times he’s fallen asleep at Yoongi’s, but that was different. Not after a fight and not on purpose. 

He’s not the type to worry, and he’s thankful for that because he does not handle it well at all .

Only a minute passes of Taehyung waiting to see the bubbles that indicate typing to pop up, but it feels like a century. He tosses his phone just to pick it up again, typing out another message that he ends up deleting.

He repeats the process multiple times, unable to find anything to say that isn’t pushy or overbearing or a result of impatience and emotion. He wants to write it all out just so Jungkook will know how much he loves him, how much he hates the times they’re apart. He hates sleeping in an empty bed, though it’s only Jungkook he wants to fall asleep beside and wake up next to.

But it all comes out tense and too much.

Taehyung flies up from the couch, body on autopilot as he slips on his own shoes and pulls on a coat. Jungkook said he was just going for a walk, and that means he could be anywhere, but he hesitates when he finds the keys aren’t hanging by the door.

He hadn’t seen Jungkook hang them back up when they returned from lunch. Maybe he’s been planning on leaving all day.

Taehyung shakes his head. His rationale is leaving him, his thoughts controlled by emotion and fear more than anything else. He dials Jungkook’s number and sinks into the couch, a bout of anxiety falling upon him that Jungkook won’t answer. That he won’t come home.

He squeezes his eyes closed and bites his tongue when the phone stops ringing and Jungkook answers with a quiet, ‘hey.’

Taehyung swallows, but it does little to relieve the pressure there. He hadn’t planned on what to say, he was more concerned with whether Jungkook would answer or not. “I’m sorry, I just - if I’m asleep when you come home, please just wake me and let me know you’re there.”

Please come home.

There was never a time Taehyung ever thought that would be a worry. He shouldn’t even be now, but he can’t help it. He can get through a fight if he knows it will be like it always is. They’ll be fine. 

“Okay.”

“Are you coming home?”

He hears Jungkook exhale, but he talks so quietly that Taehyung strains to hear him. “Of course I am.”

It doesn’t make Taehyung feel better. “Okay. Okay. I am not - I wasn’t sure - I really don’t know what just happened, you just never leave and I -“

“I’m coming home, Tae.”

“Okay.”

Neither one of them hangs up even when silence follows. He can’t hear Jungkook breathing, and he checks the phone screen a few times to see if the call is still up.

A few different things run through his mind to say. He isn’t good with just being silent when words hang between them, but he has to swallow them down for a later time. When they’re both calm because he’s worried he’ll come off accusing and Jungkook’s defenses will rise.

When they first were married, Taehyung made that mistake often. They both had their defenses up, it was all new, and quite a few times he sparked Jungkook until they skyrocketed. Together, they broke those barriers, but Jungkook still has the tendency when it comes to some people, but not him anymore. 

“If you do want to go somewhere,” Taehyung starts, but he retracts. He’s frustrated with himself because he’s never been so tongue tied, but he doesn’t want to make Jungkook feel like he has to be here if he doesn’t want to be. “I think you’re the only person to ever make me speechless.”

It’s meant to be a joke, but it’s a weak attempt. He regrets it the moment he says it, and even more so when Jungkook doesn’t react.

“Sorry, I just. I don’t know. I wasn’t expecting you to leave.” 

“I didn’t leave,” Jungkook finally says. “I’m on the steps.”

Taehyung can’t move fast enough. He flies from the couch and only slows when he opens the front door and indeed finds Jungkook sitting on their front steps. He only half way turns when the light from inside floods over him, his shoulders drooping from leaning onto his thighs.

“I don’t actually want to go anywhere else.” Jungkook laughs under his breath, but it’s quiet. “I’m sorry. Made it this far and have been trying to come back in.”

Slowly, Taehyung walks up to him and sits beside him. He’s never felt so hesitant around anyone, not even when they first met and had to learn each other. Not when their defenses were both up, and they made mistakes. 

“I know you need space and to figure out your thoughts, but I’m kind of going out of my mind, so I’m just going to say one thing and I’ll leave you alone,” Taehyung starts. His heart picks up as he reminds himself that Jungkook never really left, that that means something that could ease his worries. “I love you, and I am committed to you. Anything that I or we need to do to be together, for you to know that, is always something I am one hundred percent willing to do. There isn’t anything we can’t work out to remain together.”

Jungkook turns to look at him, his hands clasped together and cheek resting against them. “Not being together isn’t anything I’ve ever considered. It’s one of the reasons I stepped out because I don’t know what I want to say, but I know I never want to imply that.”

Taehyung exhales out in relief. The knot in his chest loosens, but only some. Jungkook walking out was what made him feel that way, but he doesn’t mention it. He doesn’t want Jungkook to think he can’t have space if he needs it. “When one of us travels for weeks at a time, I hate it. I count down the days until you or I come home. I was thinking after this case, I might remain local only. But this is a big one, and I’ve already signed all the contracts.”

Jungkook rubs his palms down his face. “They always are.”

That’s true. High profile, expensive, good for his career. This one is his first murder case, and they almost fought about it. Jungkook didn’t think it was a good idea until Taehyung reminded him that morals can’t play a part in this. Not always.

But Taehyung has established himself enough that he can afford to just remain local now. It’s now Jungkook’s chance to establish himself more than he already has. 

He says as much, gently. He so desperately wants to close the space between them even if it’s just to rest his head against Jungkook’s shoulder. 

“I don’t really want to,” Jungkook murmurs as he looks out to the dark yard. “It’s different. You get a thrill out of being in court. I’d rather deal with broken boilers than acquisitions. But I have to. Plenty of things in this career I don’t like doing, but it’s steps I have to take to get where I want to be.”

Taehyung shakes his head. “I doubt you have to, lover. Nepotism.”

Jungkook grins. “As someone who has always been told I don’t try hard to amount to much, I’d like to show them I can and shove it up their ass.”

Taehyung does move then, scooching over until his knees are against Jungkook’s. He leans forward to peck Jungkook’s shoulder, remaining silent to give Jungkook time to say more if he needs to.

“I was being unfair,” Jungkook whispers. “You were right. I wasn’t giving you a chance to listen or talk because I assumed what you were going to say. And I was making myself spiral.”

“And I said it,” Taehyung admits with a firm nod. “Which made it seem like I wouldn’t consider changing what we have been doing. But I tell you, my love, I would much prefer to work without having to be apart for so long. That is an option, and we can figure out a way to make it work.”

Jungkook’s head bobs a few times. “I can manage Japan. I can’t manage going to New York. Not for months.”

Taehyung smooths a hand over Jungkook’s thigh and holds on. “I have people there who have requested me as an attorney. I’ve turned them down because I didn’t need it, and it wasn’t worth leaving for so long. Or I could just finally be the stay at home husband I’ve always wanted to be. I don’t need to work.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes, but he smiles. “You always say that joke but both you and I know you love to work. I would never ask you not to.”

With a hum and a bit more confidence, Taehyung widens his legs to slip around Jungkook so they’re pressed together. “I do. But my favorite part of the day is always coming home to you.”

Jungkook leans into him, one hand flat beside Taehyung’s leg to support himself as he presses their foreheads together. “I fought with my mother this morning, when you were in the shower. That put me in an even more pissy mood, and I’m sorry I took it out on you.”

Taehyung rubs his hands up Jungkook’s arms. “I’m here for good moods and bad moods, baby. You just have to talk to me before they spiral.”

“I know, but I still am sorry because it isn’t fair,” Jungkook replies. “I was just saying things, really. I got myself worked up over things I’m not upset about.”

Taehyung isn’t sure if he should mention the comments about a family now or later. He just rubs Jungkook’s thigh and curls his other hand into Jungkook’s shirt as he grazes his lips over Jungkook’s cheek. “If they are on your mind, we can talk about them.”

Jungkook sighs and turns his head until their lips meet. He molds their mouths together and just holds them there, unmoving.

“It really isn’t,” Jungkook says when he pulls away, just enough that he can speak and Taehyung can still feel his breath. “Just an over reaction.”

Taehyung doesn’t push, but he does plan on bringing it up another time because he does think it is on Jungkook’s mind. Kids, having a family, how that would work when they are so busy and absorbed with work.

At the moment, it doesn’t feel like it would, but Taehyung means it when he says they can always figure it out. They’re also still young, been married only a short time, and have plenty of time to make it work. 

“Do you want to come inside or do you need more time out here?” Taehyung asks instead. “I’m cool with whatever.”

Jungkook’s eyes gleam now, lips tugging up. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this not cool before.”

Taehyung’s mouth falls open, and he shoves Jungkook in the shoulder. “Hey, too soon.”

As if he’s worried Taehyung will storm away, Jungkook wraps his arms around him and nearly pulls him into his lap. He buries his face in Taehyung’s neck to kiss him there. “I’m just kidding. Sorry. Trying to break the tension.”

Taehyung does shift himself onto Jungkook’s lap then, one arm curled around the back of his neck and a hand on his cheek. “Just tell me we’re okay. And you’re okay.”

The warmth is back in Jungkook’s face when he looks at him. Taehyung soaks it in, hopes they never have a moment where it isn’t there again. It’s such a small thing, but it’s another reason for the storm of worry inside of him. It’s been so long since Jungkook’s looked at him without it.  

He tells himself even if it does happen again, they’ll get through it. Anything.

“We’re okay, and I’m okay,” Jungkook promises. “Why would you ever think we weren’t?”

Taehyung watches his fingers as they trace over Jungkook’s features. He had told Jungkook about his difficulties with his parents fighting, how he couldn’t be at home because of them. He never went into too much detail, but every time his father or mother left the house during a fight, he was afraid they wouldn’t come back.

It’s not until now that he realizes now that that’s what it reminded him of. It is kind of annoying because he’s more than supportive of his parents’ divorce, and if he had known what he knew now, he would have been supportive of it then as well. And the feeling has snuck up on him when he thought he was way past it.

The fact his father is due to be released from prison soon is bothering him, but he’s kept it down deep enough that he can push it aside. He has a bit of a point to prove, not only taking on challenging cases because he likes to but to shove it down his father’s throat that he’s capable as well.

He should probably tackle that if it’s going to come out in bursts when he least expects it. 

“Because people grow and change as they get older. It feels like we’ve been together for a long time, but we really haven’t,” Taehyung whispers. He rolls his eyes at himself, feeling a little ridiculous for how worried he had gotten. He shouldn’t have, but he still can’t get the image of Jungkook leaving out of his head. “You’ve never gotten to the point where you couldn’t talk to me about it and seemed like you just wanted to be somewhere else.”

Jungkook eases Taehyung’s hand from his face to kiss his knuckle, right over the thin band wrapped around his ring finger. “I won’t walk out again.”

“If you need -”

“I won’t,” Jungkook interrupts, voice soft. “I didn’t want to be anywhere else, just each word that left my mouth was frustrating me more and you aren’t the type to back out until a problem is solved.”

Taehyung wrinkles his nose and hugs his knees around Jungkook’s hips. He wants to argue that, but he knows Jungkook is right. He intends to keep his promise that they don’t have to talk right now, but he’s already failed at that. 

“You have your shoes and jacket on,” Jungkook comments, a small smile on his face as he tugs on the lapels of said jacket. “Were you going to walk aimlessly in the dark to find me?”

“Probably.” Definitely. Taehyung groans internally at himself. “Yes. I did stop myself though.”

There is a shine in Jungkook’s eyes now, breaking the tension around them. “I am sorry, babe.”

Before he can say more, Taehyung plants his finger to his lips to quiet him.

“I think you need sleep, and to call out tomorrow. No work, no parents, just you and I. We can talk or just be. But we need to talk soon because I don’t think the mention of a family came out of nowhere, and I don’t want you to bury that again.”

Jungkook doesn’t confirm or deny it. He just moves Taehyung’s hand away from his mouth to hold it in Taehyung’s lap. “Can we talk about work a little? I want to hear you threaten more people on my behalf.”

Taehyung laughs. He cups the back of Jungkook’s head firmly to press the sound against the corner of his mouth. “I love you, Jeon Jungkook. I’ll fight your brain if it ever tells you anything else.” 

He feels Jungkook smile before their lips meet in a brief kiss. “I said threaten others, not me.” 

Taehyung just hums, his grip tightening as he kisses Jungkook harder. He finally relaxes, the stress and worry seeping away from him as Jungkook kisses back without hesitation.

This time, Taehyung is okay with seconds feeling like a lifetime. Their kiss doesn’t last long, but it feels like it until Jungkook breaks it and guides Taehyung to his feet.

“I can say the same to your brain,” Jungkook whispers as he grabs Taehyung’s hands next to guide him inside. “Never worry about that. My love is yours for lifetimes.”

Chapter Text

Mondays are Jungkook’s least favorite day of the week. The mornings are filled with meetings back to back with little to no break in between, and his afternoons are spent catching up on e-mails and phone calls that he’d rather push off to someone else. His mother has yet to grant him an assistant of any sort, but Jungkook’s started to put together a good argument as to why he should have one so hopefully he will. Even if it only makes his day slightly better, he’s desperate for any kind of relief. 

The only good thing about Mondays is that when Jungkook gets home from work, with takeout in one hand and his suitcase in another, Taehyung is there. Usually, he gets out much later than Jungkook, but Mondays are one of the nights each week that they have put aside for each other. It can be difficult juggling two very busy work schedules and a growing relationship, but this is one of the ways they’ve made it work. 

They don’t really do much on those nights. They always make a point to have dinner together and just be . Whether that’s going out or staying in, Jungkook doesn’t care as long as he can have Taehyung all to himself.

He’s eager to get home, speeding through the city streets to make it back as fast as he can because he’s drained. And because Taehyung has been pretty much MIA all day, Jungkook’s also worried. Even when he is busy, Jungkook hears back from him, but it’s been hours with no response. The only reassurance he has that Taehyung isn’t dead somewhere is the notification from their security cameras, but just because he is physically well doesn’t mean he is mentally or emotionally.

So Jungkook drives fast, expecting something to be wrong from Taehyung’s lack of response and how early he arrived home, but he falters when he opens the front door. 

The living room looks as if a clothing store has erupted inside of it. There are piles of clothing everywhere. Strewn over the couch, the chair, folded and piled on every surface. There’s shopping bags covering the floor, receipts stacked on the table. Taehyung’s back is to Jungkook when he enters, and he holds up a small onesie covered in sunflowers.

Without greeting, Taehyung turns around and shows it off to Jungkook. “Look how fucking cute this is.”

Jungkook leans against the door frame, relief flooding through him. “I thought something was wrong.”

Taehyung lifts up another outfit, this one meant to look like a baseball. “I thought this one was cute too, but now I think it may come off as passive aggressive if taken incorrectly. The list of reasons I have to hate my father is quite valid, but my resentment that he never played with me like he did Seojoon is one that I need to work a little harder on.”

Ah. Understanding fills Jungkook. Taehyung’s been acting a bit unlike himself lately. Or, maybe it is perfectly like him but just a side Jungkook’s never seen. There are no children in their life, no babies. Especially related to them, and even that is new. Having a brother is something Taehyung takes very seriously, and apparently part of that is going overboard as an uncle as well. 

“What is all this?” Jungkook slips off his shoes and walks in carefully, not wanting to step on anything. “Did you buy out an entire baby store?”

Taehyung glares at him, lips pursed together. He folds the onesie and stacks it on top of a pile of onesies on the couch. “Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t just shop at one.”

Clearly. Jungkook bites at his smile as he moves through the room and finds that it isn’t just clothes. There’s a stroller tucked to the side with a massive bow on the top of it, and inside of it where the baby would lay, is an assortment of different stuffed animals and plastic toys. Next to it is a stack of unopened boxes of various baby items that Jungkook peeks at curiously, wondering what the hell they’re even for.

Jungkook is quite sure Taehyung bought out an entire store, if not more than one.

“Got word that Manami is in labor,” Taehyung explains. “Seojoon is at the hospital now. I am trying to sort through our gifts because I hate waiting and there is nothing else I can do.”

Jungkook jerks up, attention pulled from the strange items. “Why didn’t you call me?” 

“Because you would have left work for no reason. I tried to keep myself busy by shopping. I think we’re slowly becoming the same person.” Taehyung grabs a pile of clothes and thrusts them into Jungkook’s arms. “Sort these. Some we will keep here, some we will give them. That there is the pile for our house.”

Warmth explodes in Jungkook’s chest. Taehyung’s entire demeanor is focused, down to business. Eyebrows furrowed, the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled into his elbows. There’s even a little sweat over his brow that the light catches on when he pushes his hair back. 

He looks as if he is a store owner trying to prepare their shop for opening day. He hustles around like they’re on a time crunch, like everything needs to be ready before the baby takes their first breath. 

“Baby, I think you went a little overboard.” Jungkook places the clothes down and looks at how small everything is, his heart growing in his chest for a different reason. “Babies grow quickly. They won’t even be able to wear half of these things before they grow out of them.”

Taehyung waves a hand at him. “Nonsense. I bought outfits of various sizes. I’ve been picking up things here and there over the last few weeks.”

Jungkook bites back his laugh. He had seen a few shopping bags tucked away in their closet, but definitely not as much as Taehyung has now. “Have you hidden this from me?”

Taehyung plants his hands to his hips and looks around as if he doesn’t hear him. “Perhaps. But I also went shopping today.”

Before Taehyung can walk off, Jungkook wraps around him from the back and buries his face against the curve of his neck. He kisses him softly there, arms closed around his chest. “You can’t give Seojoon and Manami all of this.”

“I won’t,” Taehyung says stubbornly. “I’ll give it to the baby.”

Jungkook’s cheeks hurt. He presses his smile against Taehyung’s jaw before he lets him go. “I didn’t realize you were this excited.”

Taehyung arches a brow at him. “I am neutral. I’ve simply bought this much because I am rich and I can.”

Jungkook actually struggles not to laugh now. His words come out tight because of it, causing Taehyung to narrow his eyes at him. “So is your brother. I’m sure he has enough already.”

Taehyung throws a tiny pair of pants at him. “I’ve been waiting for you to get home to share this exciting news with you, but you can go.”

The laugh comes out, Jungkook can’t help it. He grabs one of the shirts from the couch and holds it up for Taehyung to read the front.

It says ‘don’t make me call my Uncle!’ in blocky letters.

Taehyung snatches it from him and refolds it, eyes still narrowed. “Are you going to help me or not?”

As soon as his hands are free, Jungkook takes them into his own and pulls Taehyung close until there is only a breath of space between them. Light sparks in Taehyung’s eyes, though he does well trying to keep up the stern look before Jungkook brushes their mouths together. 

“You’re cute,” Jungkook whispers. “But really. I didn’t know you were this excited about the baby?”

Taehyung huffs. “Excited? My stomach is in fucking knots. I haven’t been able to sit still since Seojoon called. The food you brought smells delicious, but I’m too nauseous to eat.”

Jungkook doesn’t know much about giving birth. He knows some obvious things, and others because there have been many nights Taehyung has laid in bed and read up on it. That usually resulted in Jungkook having to take whatever device Taehyung was reading on away because he got himself worked up over some horrific, but very rare disease that occurs in children. 

He can guess why Taehyung is worried, but he suspects asking Taehyung to talk about it will only stress him more and the only thing they can do is wait. So he cups Taehyung’s cheeks and layers one more kiss to his lips before he says, “Alright. Tell me what to do.”

Taehyung jumps into action before Jungkook can fully get the words out. “I’m also sorting by size. Put the cutest things in our pile.” 

Jungkook shakes his head fondly as he gets to sorting. As much as they work, he can’t imagine that the baby will be with them often, but the look in Taehyung’s eye now tells him he’s probably wrong about that. 

“Should we save some for the office?” Jungkook teases. “I’m sure you’ve already set up an entire daycare there.”

Taehyung moves as if he might whip Jungkook with the dress decorated with ducks that he holds, but he stops and purses his lips in consideration. “Actually, not a bad idea. Just in case. I’ll look into buying a playpen for Seojoon’s office, though Heesun has moved in with him to help. I’m sure she will be watching the baby when Manami and Seojoon go back to work. If Manami does. She intends to work from home to be close to the baby.”

Jungkook softens, the teasing leaving him. He watches Taehyung more than he pays attention to the clothes he’s sorting. “Do you think you should call her? Heesun?”

Taehyung makes a face at him over the box he now brings between them. Jungkook’s never seen him so all over the place before, jumping from one task to another without completing any of them. “Why? I’m sure Seojoon is keeping her updated.”

“She’s all alone,” Jungkook replies gently. “Probably just as worried as you.”

Taehyung sucks his bottom lip into his mouth and holds it there. He stays like that for a moment before he sighs, his shoulders sagging with it. “We should go there.”

Jungkook jerks forward like Taehyung’s going to drag him out. “I said ‘call’ Taehyung.”

As much as Jungkook supports Taehyung’s somewhat relationship with his birth mother, it is always incredibly awkward and uncomfortable when they’re around each other. Jungkook has no problem sitting through it for Taehyung’s sake, to be a buffer between him and the woman, but it’s not something he would suggest himself. 

Taehyung is also very back and forth on his feelings about it, and while Jungkook also supports him and understands that as well, it creates a bit of tension. Especially because Taehyung can be quite blunt, even if he is more gentle with her than he is with anyone else. 

And seeing as Taehyung’s confusion and hurt stems from the fact his mother gave him up as soon as he was born, Jungkook’s sure the current events might strum those feelings up from where Taehyung’s tucked them aside in order to get to know her. He’s not sure, he could just be projecting, but he’s very protective of Taehyung. 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Taehyung flicks Jungkook’s chin, his own jerking in question. “Let’s start loading some of this into your car. We’ll probably have to make a few trips. Should we get a larger car? A safer one?”

“Taehyung, no .”

Jungkook accepts the empty shopping bag Taehyung hands him to start packing the outfits as Taehyung blurts out a laugh. He becomes more energetic than he had been as they pack, jumping between different piles of clothes without grabbing any of them. 

He buries his hand into the hair at the back of his head to fluff it constantly, a small sign that he is stressed even when his face does look neutral. 

“It was only a suggestion, Tae.”

Taehyung sighs. He grabs as many bags as he can to hang them from his arms, making him waddle as he heads towards the door. “You’re right, though. She’s alone, and hyung says she is very excited about having her first grandchild.”

Jungkook follows Taehyung out without word and doesn’t speak again until they’ve packed the car with a handful of bags and the stroller filled with toys. He sits in the driver’s seat without starting it, watching Taehyung fidget with his seatbelt even after he’s buckled it in.

“I’ve never seen you so restless.”

Taehyung glares at him, but the corners of his mouth twitch upwards. “Last week, I read about every complication that can happen during delivery.”

Jungkook groans, head knocking against the back of his seat. “Why would you do that?”

Taehyung shrugs. “I wanted to see if there was a way I could get away with suing if anything went wrong.”

Amusement sparks in Jungkook. Typical Taehyung. He reaches over and grabs Taehyung’s hand to hold it tightly. “This makes me wonder what you would be like if it was our baby that was being born.”

Taehyung’s lips rise higher, eyes rolling. “Don’t go there. We said no.”

“We said not yet,” Jungkook corrects quietly. “We might need to revisit that conversation now that I’ve seen how you are about babies.”

Taehyung shakes his head with his laugh. “Shut up and drive. But don’t let go. It’s sexy when you drive with one hand.”

Jungkook grunts out a fake noise of complaint, his fingers spreading but not to let go. Taehyung’s move and slot between his own without pause. “Alright, sure.”

There’s a grumbling from beside him as the car revs. It’s quiet, but not enough to go unheard. “Bet you’ll be the one who cries.”

The car fills with Jungkook’s laugh as he pulls out of his parking space. “Would you put money on that?”

Taehyung hums as he presses his lips to their intertwined fingers. “No. I spent all of it on baby shit. We’re broke now.”

The car jerks forward when Jungkook does. He whips his head to look at Taehyung in alarm, but finds him smiling wide.

The moment Seojoon’s front door opens, Jungkook is even more certain that this was a bad idea. Heesun’s eyes are wide with surprise, her face pale. She looks between them, mouthing opening a few times before Taehyung holds up the bags he carries. 

“We have some things for the baby. If we can come in.”

Heesun pulls herself together and widens the door to let them through. She just moved in with Seojoon a few weeks ago, but Taehyung hasn’t seen her as far as Jungkook knows. He only has a handful of times since they first met, and he didn’t know if that would change now that she lives closer. 

From Heesun’s face, Jungkook suspects she didn’t think that would change or she never expected them to show up now. 

“Yes, yes. It is good to see you, Taehyung. Jungkook.”

Taehyung walks right past her to put the bags down and take off his shoes. Jungkook hesitates to follow, always unsure how to greet Heesun. She has a tendency to look at Taehyung like he’s a ticking time bomb, but sometimes her expression is so soft that Jungkook feels like he’s intruding by seeing it.

He doesn’t think Taehyung has noticed yet. 

“I finished dinner a short time ago. Made too much.” Heesun waves him in, hands out to take the bags from Jungkook’s arm. “I’m a bit restless. Seojoon has called a dozen times. My poor boy is a nervous wreck.”

“So is Taehyung,” Jungkook replies. He catches Taehyung whipping around to send a look his way out of the corner of his eye. “We apologize for showing up without calling first. Where can we put all of this?”

Heesun clasps her hands tightly together as she peers over the bags. “She is going to be so spoiled.”

Taehyung’s eyebrows shoot up towards his hairline. “‘She?’”

“Manami’s belly sits quite high.” Heesun laughs under her breath as she mimes a bump around her ribcage. “With both of my pregnancies, I carried low.” She moves her hand down towards her lower stomach, but she twists her hand into her dress instead and clears her throat. “Um, you can put those in the nursery. It’s beside the master -”

“I know the way,” Taehyung interrupts. He bows his head. “And dinner sounds lovely if you do have enough to share.”

Heesun relaxes, her smile growing. “Yes, of course. It is good to see you, Taehyung.”

Taehyung opens his mouth once before he closes it and bows his head instead. “We will catch up. Let me just put these down.”

He strides through Seojoon’s house with wide steps that get him away from Heesun as quickly as possible. He does know how to get to the nursery, pushing through the half opened door without checking first if they’re in the right place.

One wall is lined with dressers. Taehyung plops the bags of clothes in front of them, hands on his hips as he looks at them as if they’ve offended him. 

Jungkook wants to make a comment about how Seojoon has probably bought double the amount of clothes as they have, but he keeps it quiet for now. 

“That’s just a myth. About the belly. Studies have shown there’s no correlation.”

Jungkook drops his own bags so he can free his arm to wrap around Taehyung’s shoulders and hold him close. “Do you want me to tell her that?”

Taehyung hits Jungkook’s chest, but it’s gentle. “No, no. I’m just saying. In case you were curious.”

Jungkook grins. “I was. Very. Thank you.”

Taehyung tucks his face against his neck. His exhale tickles Jungkook’s skin. “Don’t be a brat.”

“Can’t help it.” Jungkook pulls away, but keeps his arm on Taehyung. “Do you want me to go talk to her while you pretend like you’re not in here hiding?”

Taehyung pinches Jungkook’s chin, his face scolding but his words not. “I’m not hiding. I just forgot she looks at me like I’m my father.”

Oh. Jungkook doesn’t think that’s what goes through Heesun’s mind, but he can’t be sure. Taehyung does look like a young version of the man. “If I catch her doing so, I have no qualms with fighting an old lady.”

He looks like her too, Jungkook thinks when Taehyung’s expression softens. “You are the best husband a man could ever ask for. Please never do that.” 

Jungkook rolls his eyes and pecks Taehyung quickly on the lips. “Thanks. I’ll let my husband know how lucky he is.”

Taehyung’s eyes gleam as he seats Jungkook’s hip as he takes off, anticipating it. “He already knows it.”

Heesun is in the kitchen moving over the pot covered stove and the counter when Jungkook finds her. She hums quietly to herself, a song Jungkook doesn’t recognize and doesn’t want to interrupt. But he does, clearing his throat before entering the kitchen fully.

“I am happy you two stopped by,” Heesun says without greeting. She waves at Jungkook to sit. “I had complications with both pregnancies, and I can’t stop thinking about them. The distraction is very welcomed.”

Jungkook slowly eases himself onto the bench along the kitchen wall. “Complications?”

“Minor,” she quickly corrects. “But they felt very severe at the time. The worried mind of a young mother, you see. I didn’t have anyone to talk to but myself, so I was in my head quite often. I lost my own mother when I was quite young, so - I’m sorry for rambling.”

Jungkook shakes his head. “It’s okay.”

She sighs, turning her back to him again but she remains still. “I just mean I am very happy you stopped by. I know it is still hard for Taehyung.”

“He is strong,” is all Jungkook replies with because it’s not his place to tell her anything about how Taehyung feels, especially because it’s a constant battle that Taehyung is still trying to figure out. 

She smiles, and once again, Jungkook doesn’t think Daehee is on her mind when she looks at Taehyung. “He is. It means so much to Seojoon that they’ve gotten closer.”

Jungkook doesn’t respond as Taehyung enters the kitchen and walks right over to her. He doesn’t say a word as he peers into the pots on the stove, hands coming up a few times before he tucks them into his pockets before turning to her. 

“I heard if you dream of tigers, it means a boy,” Taehyung finally says, posture stiff. He says it very suddenly and awkwardly. “Seojoon told me of a dream Manama had with a tiger.”

Heesun stares at him for a moment before she smiles. “I’ve heard that too. But the only thing that matters is the baby is happy, healthy, and safe.”

Taehyung relaxes, fingers tapping over the counter. “And I’m their favorite uncle.”

He sends Jungkook a look that is a touch smug. Jungkook shakes his head in response, but it’s more fond than disapproving. 

Heesun laughs, gripping Taehyung’s arm lightly before she moves back to the stove to turn it off. Taehyung seems a bit stuck for a moment but quickly regains himself.

“Here, let me get that,” Taehyung offers as he grabs the pot holders. “You should sit. You worked hard.”

As awkward and uncomfortable as it can be with Heesun and Taehyung, it’s always worth it for moments like these. Ones that Jungkook knows Taehyung wants. Whether it’s sometimes or a place he wants to get to in the future. 

Either way, it makes Jungkook’s chest warm and light.

“My hands need to be busy when my brain is.”

Taehyung smiles softly. “Mine as well. Hence the bags of clothes.”

Jungkook searches around for the bowls before he joins them at the table. He doesn’t say anything when he catches Taehyung moving the cushion for him even closer to himself and Taehyung pointedly avoids the look he gives him.

“It makes my heart full seeing how blessed this baby is. I could not provide Seojoon with much,” Heesun says quietly. She clears her throat and smiles. “Anyway, how are you two? Outside of work. Unless you wish to talk about that, though I have been following your cases.”

Taehyung slips his hand over Jungkook’s thigh and keeps it there as soon as he’s seated. He presses his fingers in, holding on tight, until Jungkook clasps his over the top.

“You have?”

Heesun nods, her expression softening. “I always have.”

It’s not new information, but Taehyung shifts against him like he’s hearing it for the first time. His fingers dig in, and he doesn’t release even when Jungkook rubs his knuckles to get him to. 

“We’re good. We’ve renovated the kitchen. Have a talking fridge now,” Taehyung starts, eyes on Jungkook’s face. “We’re considering turning Beomgyu and Taehyun’s living room into a bar once they move out.”

“He has a modeling contract,” Jungkook adds, voice teasing because he knows Taehyung hates when he calls it that. “Gonna be the new face on every magazine.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes and holds up a finger. “One, and it’s for a law magazine. Nothing special.”

Heesun doesn’t touch her food as she listens. Her smile grows, and she asks questions like she’s genuinely interested. To both Jungkook and Taehyung. 

It’s a while after both of their bowls and plates have been emptied that Taehyung seems to realize how long they’ve been sitting there talking back and forth. 

“It’s getting quite late,” Taehyung says, pulling back his sleeve to glance at his watch. “We should get the things from the nursery and go.”

Jungkook glances at him in question. “What?”

“We’re donating it all,” Taehyung whispers as he starts to stand. He cups his warm hands beneath Jungkook’s jaw lovingly before turning to grab the pot of leftover stew. “Thank you for the food, Heesun-ssi.”

She tries to follow up after him, but Jungkook waves her off to clean up the table. “If you’d like to come over for dinner, I cook every day. I enjoy it quite a bit.”

Taehyung plops the pot beside the sink and stuffs his hands into his pockets. “I will try. I should go and call Seojoon and see if there is an update.”

He shifts on his foot and takes off, pulling out his phone before he’s out of the room. The smile on Heesun’s face doesn’t leave when she sighs and shoos Jungkook off to clean up herself. 

They don’t end up leaving until much later, after Seojoon has called and announced the birth of his daughter and assured them all that the delivery went smoothly, and she is healthy.

When they get into bed, Taehyung doesn’t wait until Jungkook is fully beneath the blankets before he’s wrapping around him. He doesn’t say anything, just tucks against him and kisses his throat. Jungkook listens to his soft breathing, fingers trailing up his spine, waiting for him to fall asleep until he does too.

They don’t see the baby for a week. Taehyung keeps up the same excited energy as the days go on. Getting out of work earlier than usual each day, donating everything he bought to various places. The first time Seojoon sends him a picture of his daughter, Sana, Taehyung shows up at Jungkook’s office and pulls him out of a meeting to show him too. 

She’s tiny. Jungkook’s heart feels too big for his chest when he looks at her in Seojoon’s arms. 

Seojoon looks at her the same way Heesun looks at Taehyung. He can tell that just by the picture.

As soon as Seojoon lets them know they can come over, Taehyung stops everything and drags Jungkook out of bed without word. Jungkook watches him with sleepy eyes as he goes through the process of cancelling his appointments for the day and even calling Jungkook’s mother to tell him Jungkook won’t be at work.

Fondness fills Jungkook’s chest when Taehyung makes a mess of their closet. Throwing suits around after he tries each on before picking out the perfect one. He glares at Jungkook when he leans beside the mirror, an amused smile on his face.

“First impressions are important,” is all Taehyung says, chin tilted as he looks at himself in the mirror. “I picked out the gray Armani for you.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I’m not wearing a suit.”

Taehyung frowns at him, and it grows deeper as Jungkook grabs a pair of sweatpants just to mess with him. 

“Do you know how much babies shit?” Jungkook asks with a laugh. “That’s all they do.”

Taehyung crosses his arms over his chest. “Don’t use such crude language when talking about my niece.”

Jungkook keeps on the pants and grabs a random shirt when making his way to Taehyung. He wraps an arm around his waist, wagging his brows until Taehyung’s expression releases. “Our niece.”

The hand on Jungkook’s cheek is gentle, as is the open mouth kiss Taehyung plops against his lips. “I want to say something, but you’ll use it against me for the rest of time.”

Jungkook hums, their lips still brushing. “That means you should tell me.”

Taehyung pinches the skin beneath his chin and tugs teasingly. “Let’s go. I can’t wait to meet our niece.”

It’s still quite early. Jungkook has to convince Taehyung that they should at least get breakfast first, but he regrets it when Taehyung agrees and scarfs down his food so quickly that Jungkook spends most of it worrying he’ll choke.

He wants to tease him, but he likes seeing Taehyung like this. Bouncy, a smile on his face that doesn’t fade even when someone with a camera runs up to them before they can get back in the car. He even encourages Jungkook to drive fast, which he usually hates. 

He’s out of the car before Jungkook can take the key out of the ignition. 

Taehyung fixes the lapels of his coat and runs his fingers through the sides of his slicked back hair before he jumps up the stairs to Seojoon’s front door and knocks. 

The smile is gone now. He looks nervous, of all things. Jungkook bites his cheek and refrains from commenting, only runs his hand up Taehyung’s back until the door opens. 

It’s Seojoon that answers. He looks worn down, bags beneath his eyes and hair sticking up around his head. It’s the first time Jungkook’s ever seen him dressed down, in a stained shirt and sweatpants, contrasting with how prime and proper his brother looks. 

“She’ll be right out,” Seojoon greets. He smiles wide as he claps a hand to Taehyung’s shoulder and squeezes. “She’s perfect.”

Taehyung brings Seojoon into a hug. “Congratulations, hyung. Have another baby, the office has been peaceful without you.”

Seojoon rolls his eyes as he playfully pushes Taehyung’s head to move him aside and pat Jungkook’s arm in greeting next. “I might. I’ve heard you’ve been in the best mood this week. Haven’t bitten anyone’s head off.”

Taehyung seems to ignore him, walking off with his arms out. Jungkook spots Manami entering the living room, and he too leaves Seojoon’s side.

She is tiny. It feels impossible that a human can be so small. She fits in her mother’s arms, eyes opened and unfocused as she mouths at her fingers. Jungkook’s chest warms at the sight of her, and the feeling becomes a bit unbearable when he watches Taehyung.

The nerves are still there at the edge of his expression, but his entire face is bright. He coos as he reaches out to gentle caress a finger over her cheek. The voice he uses is one Jungkook’s never heard come out of Taehyung before, higher pitched and cutesy as he introduces himself.

“I’m your Uncle Taehyung.” Taehyung whispers it like it’s a secret. “That handsome man there is your Uncle Jungkook.”

“You can hold her,” Manami says, moving Sana closer to him. Taehyung’s eyes widen for a moment, his body stiff, but he allows Manami to teach him how to properly hold her in his arms. 

It seems impossible, but Taehyung’s expression brightens even more. The sun that streams through the windows seems dim in comparison. 

Jungkook’s thoughts spiral as Taehyung brings her close to him, their shoulders brushing as he tilts his arms to show her off. Jungkook is a bit nervous himself, afraid to touch her, so he keeps his hands tucked deep into his pockets.

He can’t stop looking at Taehyung. 

“Aren’t you beautiful?” Taehyung whispers as he rocks her in his arms. He holds out a finger for her, tickling her palm until she grabs onto him. “Oh. Strong too. You’re going to break Uncle Taehyung’s finger.”

Her mouth widens, tongue falling out of her mouth as her eyes focus. Jungkook used to think babies were creepy when they were this little with how their eyes dart everywhere and their faces move, but he finds he agrees with Seojoon.

She’s perfect. 

When Jungkook finally musters up the courage to hold her, Taehyung gives him his back and walks off. Seojoon laughs quietly, head shaking as Taehyung just takes off with her. 

“I’m sorry man,” Seojoon says as he grabs the back of Jungkook’s neck. “Think you guys are going to have a conversation soon.”

Jungkook just watches Taehyung with a smile on his face that makes his cheeks hurt. He wouldn’t mind, he realizes. “Soon? I have a feeling he’s about to kidnap her.”

Manami doesn’t find this as funny as Seojoon. She slaps Seojoon’s arm in scolding, telling him to go after Taehyung like she’s worried he might actually do that. Jungkook tries to reassure her, but fails when Taehyung twists from Seojoon and doesn’t let him have her either. He keeps whispering to her, shaking her little hand, like he can’t hear anything else around him. Not even Heesun joining them or Seojoon’s mock threats that sound too humored to be taken seriously. 

It’s not until Sana starts squirming, face crumpling together, that Taehyung jumps forward and offers the baby to Jungkook. There’s warmth in his eyes, but enough mischief that Jungkook understands a second before Seojoon intercepts and takes Sana away.

“Come on, you little poop machine.”

Jungkook glares at Taehyung, but he can’t keep the smile off of his face when Taehyung twists his hands into his shirt and flashes him an innocent smile. 

Over his shoulder, Jungkook notices Heesun watching Taehyung. That same look on her face, the one that was just as bright as Taehyung’s. She looks away when Jungkook catches her, and he silently wishes that she would look at Taehyung that way when he’s paying attention. 

“What? This is Tom Ford. I can’t get shit on me.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “We have some gifts in the car, I’ll go get them.” 

Manami huffs out, gaze pointed but amused. “Who is responsible for the ‘future lawyer’ onesies I found? Seojoon denies knowing about it.”

Taehyung holds his hands up, face blank but Jungkook knows him well enough. He turns to get the things from the car before Manami can see and realize Taehyung is lying. “It wasn’t me.” 

“There are seven different sizes.”

Before Jungkook can get back to the car, Taehyung brushes past him in a rush. He opens up the back seat of the car to grab the bag of goodies they’ve brought, scrambling through it before he pulls out a t-shirt and flings it onto the backseat. 

Jungkook peers through the window at the small, child size t-shirt that says ‘future’ lawyer on it and doesn’t comment. 

“Shut up,” Taehyung says with a smile as he swings the back over his shoulder. He twists his fingers back into Jungkook’s shirt, pulling him close. “She’s so little.”

Jungkook hums. He strokes the corner of Taehyung’s mouth, happy to see it but hoping it doesn’t start to hurt his cheeks soon. There’s a lot he wants to say, to go on about. There’s a lot of feelings in his chest, and they’re nothing that new when it comes to Taehyung. Just a new situation. 

So he just responds with the one thing that can sum it all up.

“I love you, Taehyung.” 

Taehyung kisses Jungkook’s palm, his lips tickling over his skin when he speaks. “And I you, lover.” 

Chapter Text

Taehyung is intelligent. It’s no secret. He’s not cocky about it, it’s just a fact. He’s smart, witty, quick-minded. Most people, other than those who tend to underestimate him or try to put him down, would say he’s one of the brightest of his age. And Taehyung would deserve that title.

But right now, Taehyung feels like the world’s biggest idiot. 

Granted, the fact that Taehyung can’t do this doesn’t mean anything in terms of his intelligence, but he’s frustrated. He hates being frustrated. It’s one of the worst emotions. Useless. He’s already having a hard time, and it’s only making it worse.

“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Kim?”

Taehyung bites the tip of his tongue. He hates frustration because it makes him snippy to the wrong people. He’s been working on it. “No, Butler Park. I’d prefer to do this on my own.”

He’s sure it’s amusement making Butler Park’s eyes bright, and Taehyung looks away with a roll of his own. “I will take it to my grave that I’ve helped you.”

Taehyung sighs as he slumps down onto the bed and falls back. He stares up at the ceiling for a moment, wishing he could roll over and bury his face into the blankets because they smell like his husband. But Butler Park is there, watching him, and he doesn’t really want to give the old man any more ammo to tease him.

And it would be a big hit to his pride if Butler Park could actually help him with this because Taehyung would feel like the old person Jungkook always teases him that he is. 

“I graduated at the top of my class.”

“That’s correct, sir.”

Taehyung peers up at him as he props himself on his elbows. “I have always had high marks throughout school. All my years.”

Butler Park nods and repeats himself, and Taehyung doesn’t miss the way he folds his lips together to suppress his smile when he grabs the book beside him and shakes it in the air with a fist curled around the spine.

“I have no idea what I’m fucking reading. I’ve read it three times.”

Taehyung tosses the book aside and turns to look miserably at the television across from his bed. It’s paused on a screen that tells him he’s died. Again. For the millionth time. Today. 

“Perhaps, this is one of those things that are best learned through experience and practice, sir. I am sure if you play some more, you will get a hang of it in no time.”

That Taehyung has figured. He knows. But he’s as impatient as he is smart. He only has so many days that he’s home while his husband is at work, and each night, he’s disappointed that he hasn’t gotten the hang of it yet to play with him. 

And he really wants to. He enjoys watching Jungkook play by himself, or with whomever he talks to in that headset of his. He is excited, kind of hot when he talks shit, cute when he loses. He really enjoys playing it, and Taehyung wants to be able to do it with him. 

Taehyung’s problem here, if he’s being honest, is he’d probably know how to play the game by now if he paid attention to the television when Jungkook played and not just Jungkook himself. 

But it’s something Jungkook hasn’t done in a while, and he complained earlier in the week that he was impatient for a break from work so he could just play . So Taehyung has to learn before the weekend, at least, because he’s been counting down the days where he can spend a whole proper day with Jungkook, and if Jungkook wants to play games, then they’ll play games.

The problem is the weekend starts tomorrow, and Taehyung still dies only minutes into the game. Every single goddamn time.

“No time,” Taehyung repeats, pointing a finger at Butler Park. “I’m going to learn this game before Jungkook gets home tonight, and I’m going to kick his fucking ass in it.”

Butler Park bows, and Taehyung thinks it’s less out of respect but because he can’t stop smiling and he needs to hide it. It lights up Taehyung's frustration a bit. “As you wish, sir. I do believe there are online forums and these things called cheat codes that you can also find online if you need assistance. If you need me, I’m a call away.”

Taehyung waits for him to leave before he flips onto his stomach and buries his face into the blanket. He breathes in the scent of Jungkook to will his frustration away before he grabs his phone and searches up the game’s name.

There’s a lot. Taehyung loses track of time as he scrolls and reads through different forums. It’s not until he hears the crack of the door that he realizes the sky has darkened, but he’s expecting Butler Park to be the one creeping into his room again to ask what he feels like for dinner.

So he doesn’t turn, not until he realizes that there’s more footsteps than Butler Park usually takes into the room.

Taehyung groans in complaint when he finds Jungkook only a few feet behind him. There’s a small smile on his face, but his brows are crunched in question as he glances between him and the still paused television. 

“What are you doing?” Jungkook cocks his head as he slips his undone tie from the collar and lets it drop to the floor.

“I was playing,” Taehyung says simply as he quickly exits out of the tabs on his phone. If he’s going to kick Jungkook’s ass in this game, he can’t have Jungkook knowing he searched up cheat codes to do so. “And waiting for you to come home.”

There’s a dip in the mattress as Jungkook knees onto it. He undoes the first few buttons of his shirt next, then his cuffs as he moves over Taehyung until he’s practically straddling the bottom of his thighs.

“I’m home.” Jungkook leans over him, forcing Taehyung to twist back into a more comfortable position. Warmth spreads through him as Jungkook’s lips graze over his cheek. “Long day, I’m sleepy. Wanna play with you though.”

Taehyung hides the phone beneath him as Jungkook continues to nuzzle over his jaw before kissing the side of his neck. He gives him enough space for Taehyung to roll over, and he only gets a glimpse of Jungkook’s tired face before Jungkook is leaning down to kiss him properly.

“Sleep now. Play later,” Taehyung whispers against his lips as he runs his fingers over Jungkook’s torso to help him with the rest of his buttons.

Jungkook ignores him to kiss him again, sinking down to his elbows around Taehyung’s head. He tastes like coffee, and Taehyung worries he’s drank so much that as tired as he is, he won’t be able to sleep. He does it all the time, even when Taehyung points out to him that his coffee consumption is the issue.

“No. You’ve made me excited to play now. Want to kick your ass.”

Taehyung bites hard on his tongue. Maybe he can distract Jungkook into forgetting all about the game until he’s learned to play. They will always have another weekend together where they can. He tries once Jungkook’s shirt is done, running his hands over his stomach and lower, arching his own body up to kiss at his pulse.

His nerves spark when Jungkook’s hand wraps lightly around his throat to press him back. There is a grin on his lips that he presses to the corner of his mouth before he yanks up and sits in Taehyung’s lap.

Taehyung prides himself on being intelligent, but the smartest thing he’s ever done is fall in love with Jungkook. It’s always a thought in his mind when he sees him, can get close to him, touch him. He presses up onto a hand, using the other to run over the thigh wrapped around his waist. 

“Have you been playing all day?’

With determination, Taehyung ignores him to palm at his hip. He looks at his touch instead of Jungkook’s face as he runs his thumb over the band of his pants, but his eyes flicker up when Jungkook laughs.

“Afraid you’re going to lose?”

Taehyung glares at him as Jungkook swats his hand away from his belt. Jungkook looks too pleased, knowing. “No, just saw you and decided I wanted to do something else to tire you out.”

Jungkook shakes his head in disapproval as he rolls off Taehyung’s lap to take off his own pants. “I’ll go easy on you, babe.”

“I like it rough.”

Jungkook gets those pants off and tosses them at Taehyung. “Shut up. I’ll get us snacks.”

As soon as he’s pulled on a pair of sweatpants, he leaves to do just that. Taehyung falls back on the bed to cuss up at the ceiling. 

Jungkook is very cocky when he’s good at things. Being the love of Jungkook’s life will do nothing for him when it comes to him shoving it in his face that he’s won, it won’t prevent the relentless teasing. Taehyung knows this, and it’s why he wants to get better before they play together.

Because okay, maybe Taehyung is a bit cocky when he wins too.

Taehyung leaps up from the bed to unplug the game console from the back of the wall. He takes the batteries out of the controllers next, tucking them in his nightstand before he scurries to the edge of the bed when he hears Jungkook coming back.

His arms are full of snacks. He dumps them onto the bed, glancing at the television when Taehyung holds the controller out and sighs out all his frustration from the day.

“Something happened. I think the television broke.”

Jungkook plays along with him. He keeps up the confused look as he takes the controller, and to Taehyung’s dismay, immediately looks if there’s batteries in them.

Taehyung isn’t the only smart one in the house.

“Babe.” Jungkook giggles when he slumps onto the bed. “You’re always so confident about winning, I’ve never seen this side of you. When you know you’ll lose.”

It’s very easy for Jungkook to rile him up, to shit talk him until he’s talking it right back. Sometimes Taehyung falls for it accidentally, like a habit, and sometimes he does it on purpose just to get Jungkook going too.

Now, it’s an accident. He grabs a random packet of cookies and tosses it at him. “I’ve been trying to learn this goddamn game all week so I can play with you, but I keep dying.”

He expects the teasing because Jungkook’s right. Taehyung is always confident about winning. It’s very rare that he’s worried he won’t, and it’s even less frequent that he actually loses at anything. But that’s because Taehyung knows his ability and never takes on things he absolutely has no chance at.

But it isn’t teasing that he gets. “Where did you put the batteries?” 

Taehyung waves a hand at the nightstand. “It’s unplugged too.”

Jungkook presses his lips together and doesn’t say a word, but Taehyung narrows his eyes at the quirked corners of his mouth. He moves quietly, replacing the batteries and plugging in the television before he returns.

“Come here.” Jungkook folds a hand over Taehyung’s arm as the television boots up and slowly guides him back until he’s between his legs.

Taehyung relaxes when he feels Jungkook’s chest against his back. Jungkook’s arms wrap around his middle, the console between the hands he settles over Taehyung’s lap.

“Let me teach you,” Jungkook whispers against his ear, so close that his breath brushes over his skin. “And don’t be so impatient.”

Taehyung pushes his lips out and hums. “I don’t think that’s possible, lover.”

Jungkook’s laugh is a rumble, a vibration in his chest. Taehyung watches on quietly as Jungkook starts, eyes darting between the television and the way his thumbs move over the buttons on the console. Each thing Jungkook does is explained in a whisper against his ear, his arms tighten around him here and there when he presses on a button suddenly or harshly, and Taehyung wants to turn around whenever Jungkook cusses or grunts cockily when he does something good.

Soon, Taehyung realizes, he isn’t paying attention again. He’s focusing on Jungkook like always. But he’s enjoying himself, especially when he runs his fingers up Jungkook’s forearms and makes him do something that has him complaining.

“Don’t distract me. Pay attention.”

Taehyung isn’t, and he isn’t going to pretend he is. He nuzzles back against Jungkook, turning lightly enough to brush his lips against his chin. Jungkook is quick in the way he kisses him, just a peck with his eyes still on the television, hands still moving over the console. 

“You’re so good at this,” Taehyung compliments as he tries to turn more, but Jungkook tightens his arms around him again so he can’t. “Learning so much.”

“Shut up.” Jungkook laughs quietly, head shaking in disapproval. “Don’t distract me, baby. You made me start, now I gotta win.”

“What’s the prize for winning? I’m sure it isn’t as good as me.”

It’s teasing, and Taehyung knows Jungkook is rolling his eyes. He opens his mouth to exhale over Jungkook’s skin, wishing Jungkook would let him go so he could kiss his neck properly. “It’s pride. Much better prize.”

Taehyung pinches the opposite side of Jungkook’s neck in revenge. “You don’t mean that.”

“I don’t,” Jungkook says without hesitation. He cusses again when Taehyung bites down against him, and suddenly he’s moving. Controller thumping somewhere to the side as he pushes Taehyung onto his back and pins him down. 

“You’re a shit,” Jungkook says, but his eyes are blazing with amusement. “Thought you wanted to play with me.”

“There are many games we can play, love.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes and brushes the tips of their noses together. “You are impatient.”

“I know.” Taehyung tilts his head back for a kiss, but Jungkook denies him one. “I don’t like being bad at things.”

“You won’t be. If you just pay attention,” Jungkook reminds him as he lets him go. “Cuddle me again and watch me play. I liked that.”

Taehyung pretends to pout while Jungkook maneuvers him back to their original position. This time however, Jungkook puts the console in Taehyung’s hands and slips his own over the back of them.

He doesn’t unpause the game as he guides Taehyung’s fingers over the different buttons. A lot of what Jungkook instructs him are things he already knows. Which button does what, how to hold it properly, things that make Taehyung aware that he’s not the only one who has looked up cheat codes. But Taehyung nods through it like it’s the first time he’s ever heard it because he likes the way Jungkook talks to him. How he sounds teaching him, the patience in his voice when Taehyung purposefully asks the same questions over and over again.

It’s meant to be playful, but Jungkook changes up his wording each time as if he’s trying to make it easier for Taehyung to understand. It’s the only time Taehyung interrupts because he finds he likes this a lot more, and even if he loses, it wouldn’t be too bad.

But he does interrupt, on accident. The words slip out because whenever he gets this feeling in his chest, he has to say them. It used to be because it was a new thing, he had to adjust to it, and then it became because he realized how much Jungkook likes to hear it.

Now it just feels like Taehyung may suffer a horrific fate if he doesn’t say it every time his heart swells with the love he has for Jungkook.

“I love you.”

Jungkook doesn’t answer at first. His hands move over the console for a few seconds before he finally pauses to pepper a kiss at the hinge of Taehyung’s jaw. “You know I lied earlier, you’re always the best prize.”

Taehyung hums and heavies himself against Jungkook. “I know.”

“I love you too. So much so that I’ll let you beat me.”

Part of Taehyung wants to argue that he’ll be so good that he’ll be able to win without any help, but another part of him is excited. Maybe being the love of Jungkook’s life does have its perks.

He thrusts up from his position and steals the controller from Jungkook. “Let’s go, lover. Prepare for me to kick your ass.”

Jungkook snorts behind him. “As long as you kiss it after.”

As soon as Jungkook’s slipping from the bed to get the second controller, Taehyung nudges him playfully. “You know I will.”

There’s a sparkle in Jungkook’s eyes as he wags his fingers at him. His expression is silly, goofy when he says, “I know. That’s the real reason I love you.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, but bites back his comment as Jungkook sits beside him to play with him. To play badly to let him win.

But he loses. Each time. And he doesn’t care. Even when Jungkook does end up talking shit because he can’t do it without sounding fond. 

Because that feeling in Taehyung’s chest only grows, never subsides. And it never does when he’s with his husband. Each day, each moment, Taehyung learns to love him even more.

Chapter Text

Jungkook peers down at the printed recipe laid out on the counter amongst a handful of others, scratching at his hairline. He doesn’t get which part he’s getting wrong. He’s read every word so many times that he has memorized it by now, yet it keeps coming out wrong. The food burnt or too crunchy, too soft. Too salty, too sweet. He accidentally spilled chili powder in one attempt and nearly lost his tongue trying it. 

What the hell. Frustration seizes hold of him and makes him it’s bitch as he glances at the trays and plates of ruined dishes. He’s on his third recipe, seventh attempt, and he’s gone through enough food to last a week, if not more. 

“I don’t know what the problem is. It tastes just fine. A little salty, but Taehyung won’t mind.”

Jungkook turns that glare to Jimin, who stands with his hip cocked against the counter as he brings a glob of ruined food to his mouth and stuffs his cheeks full with it. He’s been taste testing so much that Jungkook’s sure he won’t have that hard of a time trying to find a place to bring it that isn’t the garbage bin.

“It’s not right,” Jungkook tries to explain. He pulls back from the counter to dig his phone out of his pocket. The sight of a smiling Taehyung on his lock screen only frustrates him more.

The recipe that’s been causing Jungkook hell for the entire day is one they had tried on their honeymoon. A dish Taehyung had talked about for days afterwards and still does. Jungkook wants to make it perfect, but he’s having a rough time trying to do so. 

Especially because he’s been struggling to come up with something for their anniversary for weeks now, and this had been the one he was most excited for. It’s something simple, but he knows it will make Taehyung smile. That’s all he wants, really, and this damn recipe is getting in his way. 

(At the back of his mind, he knows Taehyung will be happy even if it doesn’t come out perfect but he needs it to be.)

“Bro, honestly? Just get him takeout. He likes that one place, you know? Beside the smoothie shop. Thai place.” Jimin takes another bite, appearing a lot calmer than he should be. He agreed to help, and he isn’t. “It’ll mean just as much to him.”

Maybe, but it’s not enough . They eat there all the time. It won’t look as if Jungkook has put any thought into it, and he doesn’t want Taehyung to think it’s something he thought of last minute when in truth, he’s been thinking about this for weeks.

Plus, knowing Taehyung, he’s probably going to knock Jungkook’s pants off with whatever he has planned for the evening. Jungkook doesn’t want to show up with a shitty dinner in return. He wants to be the one knocking off the pants tonight.

“Just tell me what he is doing,” Jungkook says, nearly begging, as he clicks on another recipe for the same dish. He quickly scrolls down to the comments in hopes they will help, though so far he’s had no luck. “I’ll tell you about the time Hoseok drunkenly confessed to Yoongi.”

Jimin rolls his eyes. He twirls his chopsticks through Jungkook’s second attempt at noodles and hovers them in front of his mouth. “Funny of you to think Yoongi hasn’t already told me. Multiple times at that.” 

Ugh. Jungkook curses an innocent Yoongi for ruining his anniversary by sharing things with his partner.

“And I wouldn’t tell you anyway,” Jimin goes on, mouth now full, “Because I don’t know. If you haven’t noticed by now, your husband isn’t much of a sharer.” 

Jungkook cracks his neck from side to side. He’s been snooping, trying to figure it out, but he can’t. Jimin’s right. Taehyung’s good at keeping shit to himself.

“But you’re his best friend,” Jungkook argues. “You gotta -“

He stops himself, exiting out of the web page to pull up his contacts. It’s their first anniversary, and Jungkook has looked to Jimin for help. Surely, Taehyung must have done the same.

But would he have called Yoongi or Hoseok? They both are quite the blabbermouths. If one knows, surely the other does too. It would be understandable if Taehyung suspected Jungkook would be able to get it out of them because he definitely would be able to. 

Jungkook shakes his head, ignoring Jimin’s confused look. It wouldn’t be either of them. They would have told Jimin, and Jimin insists he doesn’t know. 

But there is someone he possibly could have told. Someone he sees every day. 

“Hey, hyung. I need a favor.”

There’s a hum on the other line, followed by the sound of Seojoon’s voice. “If it’s to ask what Taehyung has planned for your anniversary, I’ve been instructed not to tell you.”

Jungkook wrinkles his nose. He should have seen that coming, though he’s surprised Taehyung saw it coming that he would snoop. That he would think to ask Seojoon. “I’ll babysit Sana for a month.” He cringes at himself. “Actually, I can’t do that. Make it a week. After the diaper stage. I’m not fucking with that.”

Seojoon laughs under his breath. “Okay, fine, fine. I’ll give you a hint if you can watch Sana on my anniversary.” 

He would have either way, and he knows Seojoon knows it. He’s quite fond of the baby, though he still gets nervous to hold her because she’s so small. Plus the diaper thing does kind of gross him out as he’s seen Sana literally blow up on Seojoon while he was holding her. “Deal.”

It’s probably on purpose the way Seojoon builds the anticipation by being silent. For what feels like years. Jungkook’s a second away from rushing him when he finally speaks, his amused tone only confirming Jungkook’s suspicions that it was purposeful.

“Okay, the hint is.” Another pause, and Jungkook makes a face at Jimin like he can hear Seojoon too. Jimin just raises his brow in question. “Taehyung came up with the idea himself. Just asked me what I thought. He said you mentioned it before. Have a good night. Our anniversary is in November.” 

Jungkook pinches the bridge of his nose. “That wasn’t a hint.” 

“Technicalities,” Seojoon replies, the smile in his voice before he hangs up the phone.

Absolutely no help.

Jungkook sighs and slides his phone across the counter. He’s not going to give up. He’s determined. He’s stubborn. This dish isn’t going to be the end of him.

“I’m telling you. Go takeout.”

With a huff, Jungkook ignores Jimin and prepares his eighth attempt. 

He will succeed.

After three more attempts, Jungkook finds himself outside of one of his and Taehyung’s favorite restaurants. He ignores Jimin’s teasing comments as he grabs the bag of incredibly greasy food and heads towards the smoothie shop next. 

Dinner isn’t the only thing Jungkook has gotten for Taehyung. He possibly went a little all out with the gifts. From a glass decoration for his desk to a watch he had seen Taehyung eyeing in the store. Their anniversary pictures were ready earlier than expected, so Jungkook had his favorites printed and framed to put up in the hallway. 

And he even got Taehyung a mug that says, ‘I’m a lawyer. Save time and just assume I’m never wrong’ because he saw it and knew he would love it. Plus a set of expensive pens because Taehyung’s extremely picky about them and always complaining when Jin steals his. 

Everything is wrapped already and hidden in their room because he knew Taehyung would be able to get Beomgyu to squeal too if he wanted to snoop as well. Jungkook intends to set up dinner and bring the presents out before Taehyung gets home, but he hesitates when he spots the shoes Taehyung had put on this morning by the door.

“Tae?” Jungkook calls as he shucks off his own and slides his slippers on. “Are you home?”

Taehyung steps quickly from the hallway, his eyes wide with surprise. Jungkook feels the same way at the sight of him. He has his sleeves rolled up into his elbows, his shirt half untucked and tie loose. His hair is sticking up around his ears, and he just looks a mess.

Especially with the smudge of grease across his jaw.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Taehyung says, eyes narrowing at him. Jungkook’s never seen him look so flustered before. “Not yet.”

Confusion fills Jungkook as Taehyung glares at the bags of food in his hand like they’re the biggest offense. “What?”

Taehyung sighs and wipes the back of his hand across his jaw. “Jimin was supposed to keep you longer.”

The little lying jerk. He knew Taehyung’s plan all along. 

“Give me five minutes.” Taehyung comes over and presses a quick kiss to his lips, hands hovering around Jungkook’s shoulders like he doesn’t want to touch him with them. “Please.”

Warmth fills Jungkook’s chest at the soft sound of Taehyung’s plea, at the spices he can taste on his lips.

They had the same plan.

“And don’t eat this,” Taehyung whispers against his mouth before he takes the bags and tray of smoothies from him. He looks at them, an eyebrow cocked. “Takeout? On our anniversary?”

Jungkook glares at him and nearly snatches the bag back, but Taehyung jerks it away so he can’t. He looks even more amused when he takes a sip of the smoothie. “I burnt what I was making. What are you making?”

Taehyung’s eyes gleam. At least he offers Jungkook a sip of the smoothie. It had been difficult not to drink it on the ride home. “Surprise. Be right back.”

And with that, he rushes off.

It’s hard to wait, to keep himself from peeking in on what Taehyung is doing. Whatever he’s making smells good, but Jungkook still has the scent of takeout he had bought in his nose.

He gets impatient quickly because Taehyung definitely takes longer than five minutes, and he’s a step into the hallway before he runs back to sit on the couch like he wasn’t about to snoop when Taehyung calls for him.

This time, his hair is schooled and the grease is off of his face. He’s removed the tie and fixed his shirt, the first few buttons now open and revealing his chest. There’s a small bag in his hands that he hides behind his back when he approaches Jungkook again.

“Okay, ready,” Taehyung murmurs, cupping beneath Jungkook’s chin to kiss him. “I spent the entire day cooking for you, so you better like it.”

Jungkook grins. He snakes an arm around Taehyung’s waist, but Taehyung catches on that he’s trying to get his present and moves it out of reach. Gently, Taehyung nips at Jungkook’s bottom lip and tugs on it with his teeth. Like a punishment, but it makes Jungkook groan. 

“No appreciation for my efforts? Just gifts?”

Planting a hand to the bottom of Taehyung’s spine, Jungkook guides him closer until their bodies are pressed tightly together. “Yes, just gifts.” 

It’s a joke, and Taehyung giggles like he knows it. Jungkook’s just a little overwhelmed, touched, and surprised that Taehyung has spent the day doing the same as him. 

“Brat,” Taehyung whispers, but he moves the bag between them and lets Jungkook take it. “Where’s mine?”

Excitement fills Jungkook as he takes the bag and pretends to peek inside of it. He has zero guesses as to what it could be. Taehyung always outdoes himself. “In a closet. You weren’t supposed to be home yet. Now you’re going to have to wait for them.”

Taehyung doesn’t say anything as he pries the bag open like he’s impatient for Jungkook to see it. He even pulls it out before Jungkook can.

It’s a small box, which seems even tinier in Taehyung’s hand. He teases, lips quirking you as he rubs a thumb over the seam like he’s going to open but doesn’t.

When he does, Jungkook can’t breathe.

It’s a gold plated bracelet. It looks quite simple, but a closer look reveals the engraving across the plate. 

I love you - T

“When I asked to borrow your ring, I was going to get it engraved,” Taehyung explains as he carefully takes the bracelet from the box. “But you refused to take it off.”

Jungkook clenches his hand into a fist defensively. “Last time I took it off, you got weird.”

Taehyung smiles when he grabs Jungkook’s fist and coaxes it to relax. “Weird? How so?”

The look in Taehyung’s eyes tells Jungkook he remembers that night. A little less than a year ago when Taehyung first told him he only wanted him and he only wanted Jungkook to want him in return.

Jungkook still remembers the way Taehyung looked when he said it, the way it felt to finally take that step in their relationship. 

The first step towards being husbands that are boyfriends.

“I don’t know. Showing up in the middle of the night to come and whisk me off my feet,” Jungkook explains as Taehyung wraps the bracelet around his wrist. It’s cool against his skin. “‘Oh, Jungkook, I only want you. You are the one for me.’”

Taehyung snorts and glances up at him for a second before returning his focus to the bracelet. “I don’t believe that is what happened. But I suppose it doesn’t matter if it’s true, does it?”

He kisses Jungkook once he’s finished. Jungkook’s eager to give him his gifts too, but he’s also too curious to know what Taehyung prepared for him. 

“I made dinner,” Taehyung says like he knows. He slips his fingers beneath Jungkook’s shirt to guide him forward, not allowing Jungkook to get his presents. “And dessert.”

Jungkook wiggles a brow at him, eyes raking down Taehyung’s body suggestively. When he brings them up, he hums in appreciation. “You?”

Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Actual food, I mean.”

“No fun,” Jungkook complains, but he’s grinning. “I want you first.”

Taehyung stops him before they can leave the hallway. He hooks his fingers beneath Jungkook’s collar next, yanking him close as he leans up against the wall. “I think there’s a ‘being too full’ innuendo joke here somewhere.”

Amusement fills Jungkook. He rubs his hands down Taehyung’s sides and over his hips. There’s something in his pocket that Jungkook has the urge to take out and see if it’s another gift, but Taehyung grabs his hand and stops him. 

“How do I know the chef didn’t cook for you?” Jungkook asks with a tilt of his head, side eyeing the kitchen. 

Taehyung raises a brow, head tilting back some when Jungkook noses at his jaw. He just wants to take in his cologne for a second because it’s one of his favorite things about being close to Taehyung. He always smells good. “Call him and ask.”

Jungkook brushes a soft kiss that’s more an exhale than anything against Taehyung’s pulse. “Alright Chef Kim, I believe you.”

A quiet laugh leaves Taehyung’s lips. “Table for two, right this way.”

The kitchen is set up elaborately. For claiming Jungkook’s the romantic out of the two, Taehyung’s really outdone himself.

The lights are off but the room is lit up with a soft glow from the dozens of candles placed around the room. He’s moved their table to the center of the kitchen, two new pillows on either side. The food is already placed on it, and Jungkook eyes another present on what he assumes is his plate.

Music plays softly from somewhere, but it’s so quiet that Jungkook can’t quite tell what it is. In another language perhaps. 

Taehyung leads him to the table before he sits across from him. Jungkook doesn’t hesitate to open the box despite Taehyung’s complaints about being impatient. 

It looks like it would be more jewelry, but when he opens it, it’s a plane ticket.

Fuck. Taehyung outdid him. He can’t have that. He’s too competitive. He’ll have to buy him a car or something. Taehyung can’t outdo that . 

He’d probably try and find a way to.

“It’s not until later in the year. You mentioned wanting to go to Universal Studios, so I thought we could go together.”

Jungkook sucks his bottom lip into his mouth. He doesn’t even remember saying that. Not to Taehyung, but he must have because he does want to. “Thank you so much, babe.”

How much it means to him must show on his face because Taehyung looks pleased with himself, the candlelight flickering in his eyes. The glow of it is almost as warm as the way Taehyung always looks at him.

“You’re welcome. Now, eat,” Taehyung instructs. “If it isn’t as good as you expect, be quiet about it. I worked hard.”

Jungkook eyes over the different dishes before he starts to fill his plate. It’s quite similar to the food Jungkook had brought home, like Taehyung was trying to recreate their favorite orders.

But amusement fills him as he tastes it and finds that Taehyung recreated it perfectly . A little too perfect for someone who doesn’t cook. Who probably has never cooked. “You did a good job, baby. Made with love and hard work, I like it better than the restaurant.” 

Taehyung presses his lips together. “Thank you. I’m quite impressed myself. I am happy you like it.”

There’s bullshit in his eyes, but Jungkook doesn’t call him out on the fact he’s quite sure Taehyung’s lying.

And when it’s confirmed the next day, when Jungkook picks up their clothes off the floor and finds the receipt in Taehyung’s pocket, he doesn’t mention that either. 

Chapter Text

Taehyung is supposed to be listening. It’s never this hard for him, not when he’s with a client. 

But today, he is distracted. On edge in a way that he usually isn’t. He just wants to leave, to go home, and tend to his husband.

His very sick husband, who despite being burning to the touch and sounds more like a frog than human, claims that he is fine. 

Jungkook’s just stubborn. Taehyung knows this. He loves it as much as it frustrates him. But he’s even being so with Butler Park, banning him from the house for the day because he probably knows Taehyung has requested him to tend to Jungkook too. 

It’s just, he looked like death and Taehyung can’t shut up his mind. He knows he’s being irrational, it’s probably something that will pass, but he just can’t stop worrying it’s something worse .

“Attorney-nim, are you listening?”

No. Taehyung almost says so. Frustration floods through him, but it’s not directed towards the woman across from him, and he doesn’t want to accidentally make it seem that way. He clears his throat, shifts in his seat, and tries to ignore the urge to walk right out, to call their doctor and insist he make a visit to their home and assure him Jungkook is okay. 

“I’m sorry. You said you were charged with aiding and abetting?” Taehyung tries as he flips through the paperwork presented to him. “Because of, let’s see, your ex-husband?”

The woman nods as she leans in, seemingly relieved she has Taehyung’s attention. She doesn’t. He tries, but his mind wanders. Images of Jungkook suffering, unable to get out of bed, to medicate himself. 

To worse . 

Taehyung pulls his laptop in front of him, a tinge of guilt trying it’s best to overpower his concern instead as he pretends to be taking notes and opens up his email instead. 

to: [email protected] 

from: [email protected]

[9:17]

Love,

I hope you are resting right now. Please update me on your condition when you get a chance.

Sincerely, 

Yours

It’s Taehyung’s intention to patiently wait for a response, but he finds himself refreshing the webpage unnecessarily as his other hand taps furiously over the table. He hums here and there to acknowledge the woman whose case he already knows he’s going to hand off to someone else in the office, but it comes off impatient when Taehyung clicks ‘compose’ a second time.

“Attorney -“

“I’m going to send you over to Attorney Kim Namjoon’s office. You may have heard of him? He handled a case like your own only a few years ago. Quite competent and highly recommended. I’m afraid I’m a bit too close to the case.”

Taehyung rushes the paperwork between them together to slide it in her direction, his guilt growing a little worse when he takes in her startled expression. 

“Your husband and I went to school together,” Taehyung lies, though he does recognize her husband’s name from somewhere. “Attorney Kim will win you your case definitely.”

Maybe he insulted her, Taehyung doesn’t know, but all guilt leaves him as he turns back to his computer and sees that Jungkook has yet to respond.

to: [email protected] 

from: [email protected]

[9:25]

Love,

Don’t be dead 

Taehyung shakes his head and quickly erases the message. Too alarming, but it’s fitting with the actual alarms going off in his head. 

He’s probably sleeping, Taehyung tries to remind himself. He hopes he is at least. As much as possible. But he’s tempted to call Butler Park and have him return or, hell, leave early himself.

Before the thought can even fully pass through his brain, Taehyung is out of his seat. He closes his laptop and hastily stuffs it inside his briefcase before rushing out without his jacket.

“I must get home. Call if there’s an emergency, and emergency only ,” Taehyung instructs firmly as he zooms past the receptionist at the front of the office without waiting for a response.

It isn’t until Taehyung’s shaking his legs anxiously that the rush inside of him finally dies out. He sighs in relief at the sight of Jungkook’s email, but he frowns when he takes in its contents.

to: [email protected] 

from: [email protected]

[9:38]

babey,

took a shot nap was just tire. love u

Jeon Jungkook

Healthest Man alibe

to: [email protected] 

from: [email protected]

[9:38]

Give me a call then.

Taehyung

Liartost Intolerant

Despite Jungkook’s assurances, Taehyung doesn’t head back to his office. He walks through the parking garage with his eyes on his phone, waiting for Jungkook’s call. 

And while normally, he’d be a dangerous mix of fond and amused by how Jungkook gives himself away by texting instead, his worry is too loud. Especially with how riddled with typos Jungkook’s email is. 

love

I’m fine dr. tae 

taehyung 

You looked like death this morning, baby. Ease my mind.

love

tbh thought u be more in to doctr roll play

Taehyung rolls his eyes, lips quirking up as he hooks his phone up to the holder attached to his windshield. He taps at his phone to reply once more before he drives off, surprise filling him when a call comes through.

Jungkook must not expect him to answer so quickly because Taehyung catches him clear his throat before he lets out a very raspy, “See? I’m fine.”

He sounds unrecognizable and like every word causes him pain. 

Decision finalized, Taehyung presses the button to start his car and peels off. “I’m on my way home. I just need to pick up a few things. What are your symptoms? Just in the throat? Fever? Any nausea? Diaherra -“

“Taehyung -“

“Shush. We’re married. So?”

Jungkook groans long and low before the sound turns into a rough cough. “No, no symptoms at all.”

Taehyung’s fingers grip around his steering wheel. “Don’t waste time talking. It’ll make your throat hurt more.”

“You told me to call,” Jungkook argues, but it’s tinted with amusement. “I promise, I’m fine.”

It’s hard not to press on the gas as hard as possible. While Taehyung is confident that he’d be able to talk his way out of a ticket, he doesn’t have time to waste to deal with that. “For proof. See you soon, lover.”

When Taehyung gets home, his arms hurt from the weight of the bags he carries and the handles that dig into his forearms. He stumbles a bit from the weight as he kicks his shoes off, uncaring as to where they go before he heads to the bedroom.

Thankfully, Jungkook is there. And he looks like hell. Flushed and sweaty, though he has what looks like a mountain of blankets on top of himself. His side of the bed is littered with bottles of various drinks, but Taehyung doesn’t see any medicine in sight.

Jungkook flinches when he bursts into the room, but the complaint is all over his face as he eyes the bags Taehyung drops to the opposite side of the bed.

“Now, you’ve complimented how perceptive I am,” Taehyung starts gently as he pulls what he needs out and makes his way to sit beside Jungkook. “What made you think I would notice how sick you are?”

Jungkook keeps up his glare, even when Taehyung presses the back of his hand to his sweltering forehead. “Tae -“

“No bullshit,” Taehyung interrupts, giving his wonderfully stubborn husband a pointed look. “Tell me the truth before I rush the entire hospital here right now.”

For a moment, Jungkook looks like he is debating lying again, but finally, he sighs in defeat. 

If Jungkook is stubborn, Taehyung is ten times worse and they both know it. 

“It’s just a cold,” Jungkook assures him. It doesn’t work. “Sore throat.”

Taehyung taps his bottom lip. “Open up.”

Begrudgingly, Jungkook parts his lips and allows Taehyung to slip the thermometer beneath his tongue. Sweat makes his bangs stick to his forehead, but he grabs tightly onto the blanket when Taehyung tries to strip it off of him.

“If you have a fever, it’s best not to use too many, lover, and you have every blanket in the city on you right now.” 

Taehyung bends down, kissing his fist until he releases his hold. There really are multiple blankets on top of him, more than Taehyung realized they even owned. 

“I have heard sponge baths are helpful,” Taehyung teases, tone light as he pulls the thermometer from Jungkook’s mouth to read it.

It’s high. Taehyung’s stomach twists painfully at the sight of it, his heart skipping over a beat as his anxiety increases. 

“Suddenly I feel so feverish,” Jungkook moans. He squeezes his eyes closed, his expression one of pure agony. “Thank goodness you’re home.”

He tries to get up, but his fake pained look turns to a true one of misery. Concern rattles through Taehyung as he gently coaxes Jungkook back. He wants to keep it light and playful to not stress Jungkook out either, but he doesn’t know how well he will do.

Usually, Taehyung is very good at keeping his emotions at bay, but he’s never seen Jungkook look so deathly before. 

It freaks him out. 

“Rest now,” Taehyung instructs lightly. “I brought you some medicine to hopefully take down the fever. If it lasts though, I’ll call the doctor. See if he can make an in-home visit.”

Jungkook sighs in defeat again. He stays quiet as Taehyung administers his medicine, only groaning low when Taehyung secures a hand behind his neck to bring a bottle of water to his lips.

When he moves back with the intent to get up and change, Jungkook once again grabs for him. It’s gentler this time, his fingers brushing over the back of his hand and pressing into his palm. 

“Stay with me,” Jungkook wheezes, his words coming out rough and so quiet Taehyung strains to hear them. “Until I fall back asleep.”

Warmth fills Taehyung’s chest as if he’s taken all the fever from Jungkook like he wishes he could. He pulls his legs onto the bed and adjusts so he’s laying beside him, careful in the way he tries to rest just enough against him that Jungkook can feel him but not enough to cause him any discomfort. 

But Taehyung flies back when Jungkook tries to push him off. “I’m sorry -“

“No, no. Want you close,” Jungkook mumbles. “But don’t want you to get sick.” 

Taehyung rolls his eyes and pulls Jungkook’s arm so it’s stretched out. He rests his cheek against his forearm so he’s close but far enough away that maybe Jungkook won’t worry.

Heat radiates from him, but Taehyung fights the worry inside of him and focuses on the way Jungkook’s breathing steadily slows and not the interruptions of groans. They’re hard to ignore, as his anxiety, but slowly, Jungkook falls asleep.

Taehyung waits until he’s sure Jungkook won’t wake before he extracts himself from the bed to weasel one more blanket away from him before he leaves to get a compress.

“Stubborn, stubborn,” Taehyung whispers when he returns. He thinks Jungkook feels cooler, but he can’t tell for sure. He might call the doctor anyway, and find a way to make it up to Jungkook because he loathes them. “Don’t make fun of me for worrying so much. Don’t know what I would do without you.”

He knows Jungkook can’t hear him, but he’ll say it again when he can. Because Taehyung knows for sure that Jungkook will tease him about worrying so much over having a cold.

But it is the truth. He hasn’t realized it until now, just how afraid he is of ever losing him.

“I love you,” Taehyung whispers. “But you’re not getting a kiss until you’re better.”

Jungkook doesn’t respond, just sleeps, and maybe Taehyung is a bit of a liar himself because he takes Jungkook’s hand and secures his lips there for a few moments before he curls back up beside him to wait for him to wake.

He feels a little absurd for watching every breath Jungkook takes, analyzing if it sounds too wheezy or strained. And Taehyung doesn’t fall asleep himself until he has one hand resting over Jungkook’s heart, comforted by the way it beats against his palm.