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"So that's it then."
Closing his eyes to ignore the pitiful sight Jungkook makes, to ignore how the way he's sitting all twisted up and hunched shoulders tugs at Hoseok's heartstrings and makes him think- but no, no, he's going to be strong. He isn't going to give in to a sad, pretty face. Not this time, not like how he's done ever other time, giving in and giving in and giving in until there's nothing left. He can't do it again.
Hoseok takes an unsteady breath.
Nods. "Yeah. That's it, then."
"I... guess I'll call Jimin. You think he and Namjoon-hyung will let me sleep in their room?"
I think they'd let you do anything, Hoseok thinks helplessly. I know I would. His mouth twitches, trying to break through the solemn rigidity of his face, and Hoseok smooths it over with his shaking hand. Don't break now. Not while he's still here. "Probably," he offers after it's been far too long. But Hoseok's voice is steady, and he'll be proud of the little victories while he can get them.
Jungkook's shoulders shake. Hoseok very nearly cracks again, wanting to rush to him. Hold him tight and laugh.
But there are just some things that cannot be forgiven.
"I'm sorry, Jungkook. I just. Think it's time we spend some time apart."
"Okay," Jungkook chokes out. "I'll just. Go, then."
Jungkook pauses in the doorway. Like he's gathering himself, trying to catch his breath. Like he's waiting for Hoseok to give in and call him back.
Hoseok looks at his beautiful boy, the most beautiful boy in the whole world. Jungkook's eyes are wide, his mouth parted and sweet, and Hoseok's heart is a temple crumbling into the sea, trying to impress upon his memory the first time they kissed and all of the nights they laid tangled together. The light from the hallway highlights his jaw and the bow of his lower lip, and Hoseok knows he could just reach out and this would all be over.
He closes his eyes.
The door closes behind Jungkook, and Hoseok crumples over himself and tries to remember how to breathe.
A knock comes barely a few minutes later, and Jungkook must have passed off his room key because Jimin wastes no time getting in. "Hyung!' Jimin yells, skidding into the room. "Hyung, are you alright? Do you need a hug? Don't worry, your Jiminie is here to make it all better."
Hoseok blinks up at him, peeling off his sheet mask.
Jimin squints. He's halfway to shucking his shirt, which is... Interesting. Well, since he's going to get a good view, Hoseok leans back and gently rubs the moisturizer in, eyes flicking from Jimin's torso and belly to the growing suspicion on his face. Finally, Jimin says, "You aren't crying."
"Well no." Hoseok cocks his head to the side. "Are you going to keep taking off your shirt? You could. You know I always love a half naked man coming to give me a hug."
"I don't know if you deserve hugs anymore." Jimin, obligingly, does remove his shirt the rest of the way, and Hoseok coos appreciatively. "Why aren't you crying?"
"I don't need to cry?" Hoseok cocks his head to the other side. "Just what did Jungkookie tell you when he came over? Yah, Jungkook-ah!" he shouts as the door opens again and Jungkook shuffles in. "Why is Jimin asking if I cried?"
Jungkook shrugs, his whole face confused and lovely and handsome. "I dunno. He ran out of the room while I was explaining what happened. He must have missed something." Jungkook sits on the bed and Hoseok immediately swings himself into Jungkook's lap. "Are you trying to seduce my husband, Jimin-hyung? Is that what's going on?"
"I thought-" Jimin sputters. "Husband??"
"We're not actually married, Jimin-ah," Hoseok soothes. "You know I would never get married without telling you."
"I don't know anything anymore! I thought you two had broken up!"
Hoseok pauses, bookmarking how nice and warm and big Jungkook's hands feel where they're cupping his ass and upper thighs, twisting to stare at Jimin. "Why the fuck did you think that?"
Jimin's jaw drops. "He called me to ask me if he could sleep in our room instead. It's two in the morning, and we have a concert tomorrow. Neither of you would say what was wrong, and I'm supposed to just know that you guys aren't breaking up?"
"Why would I ever break up with my Jungkookie? Hmm?" Hoseok goes all screechy and baby voiced, fussing with Jungkook's cheeks and hair, Jungkook's scrunched up smile igniting the same warmth in his stomach as it did years ago. Hoseok's ass gets squeezed too, which is always a bonus. "My Jungkookie~ is the perfect boy when he's not spitting his nasty toothpaste water all over me~! Isn't that right, Jungkook-ah!"
"Hyung," Jungkook whines, "I told you it was an accident!"
Hoseok squishes Jungkook's cheeks together. "An accident that wouldn't have happened if someone had been paying attention to traffic rules!"
Jungkook's pout is somehow even more pronounced when Hoseok has him between his hands like this, and he giggles at the expression. "Are you really saying you had right of way to spit your toothpaste out before I did?"
"Yes! I brushed my teeth the right amount of time and you skimped, and we both know it!"
"You wouldn't kiss me until after I spit!"
"Of course I wouldn't! I don't want your gross mouth germs~!"
"Can you quit it with the aegyo? I'm getting mixed signals here," says Jimin. He rubs his forehead. "So you two aren't actually breaking up, you just had a play fight because Jungkook spit on you on accident?"
"It was a very serious fight, Jimin-ah," Hoseok insists, but he can feel the laughter bubbling up out of him and he's too weak to stop it this time, falling forward into the strong curve of Jungkook's neck. "Ah, I'm sorry, baby, hyung was just teasing."
"I'll give you right of way next time, don't worry."
"Please do." And Hoseok kisses Jungkook again and again, and ignores the way Jimin mutters something unflattering underneath his breath and leaves in favor of bearing Jungkook down to the mattress and kissing him until the mint flavor of toothpaste fades from their mouths.