Archive of Our Own

It wasn’t a good day for Jungkook, who felt like every little sound leaving him in the booth was wrong, just not it. 

“Hyung, let’s go again, I don’t think I got it right this time either,” he kept telling Yoongi, who would only give him the look—one with which the younger was too familiar—and then just nod, pressing the record button. 

Jungkook asked again, and again, and again, and he sang, and sang, and sang until he felt like his voice wasn’t his anymore.

It was frustrating, more than that even, but he needed to get it done. He had been working on his project for far too long, and this was one of the songs that he couldn’t just go easy on (not that he’d ever go easy on any song, ever). 

“Come here,” the older man said into his mic before Jungkook had another chance to ask him to go again. “Let’s listen to what we have for now, yeah? Your voice needs rest.”

Chewing on his bottom lip, the younger agreed. He took the headphones off and put them up in their place, stretching his neck a bit as it felt stiff. “I don’t think anything will sound right,” he croaked as he opened the glass door to walk out of the cabin.

“You haven’t even given yourself a chance to listen to any of the takes before asking me to go again,” Yoongi told him and motioned at the small couch behind him. Jungkook quickly made his way to it, sat down and took a deep breath as his leg immediately started bouncing.

With the way the older lolled into his chair the moment Jungkook’s voice rang through the speakers, eyes closed and head bobbing gently, let the younger know that he was enjoying it. But despite it, Jungkook didn’t feel relieved like he usually would, because, to him, the sound was still off and he wasn’t sure whether it was the melody or his voice, or both . All he knew was that it lacked something and that something was putting him through hell.

Yoongi hummed as the track came to an end, turning his chair to face Jungkook, who’d been nervously chewing down on his bottom lip. “It’s very good, I don’t know why you’re stressing over it. Is it something in particular that you don’t like about it?”

The younger male shook his head. “It’s not that I don’t like it. It just feels-,” he tried finding the right words before his shoulders lowered, “I don’t know, it’s as if it was lacking, it’s not perfect .” 

“It doesn’t have to be perfect, you know?” Yoongi rolled his chair closer to Jungkook and his hand reached out to rub his knee. “That’s not really what music is about.”

“I know, but… It sounds so plain and,” he looked down at his hands, “not memorable at all. It’s like one of those songs that come on shuffle — it’s nice, but not good enough for you to care about what song it is, who sings it, or to bother adding it into one of your playlists. It sounds like one of those you hear once and that’s it, you go on with your life not even remembering you’ve ever listened to it.” 

“Not all good songs make it to the top, some stay underrated but it doesn’t mean any of them are worse than those doing well.”

“Hyung, it’s not about the charts, you know me,” he looked into his hyung’s eyes. “It just doesn’t feel right.”

“Oh, I see,” the older man said, and the look on his face let Jungkook know that he understood where he was coming from. If anything, Yoongi was one of those who polished the sounds of his solo works until they felt right. Not always perfect, but right. So, he knew what Jungkook felt at the moment, thus why he didn’t try pushing it more. “Let it rest for a week. The song I mean. Then come back to it with a fresh mind. We are always overanalyzing it when it comes to something we make on our own, especially if we stay focused on it for hours and even days. Take a break.”

“I’ve been working on it for weeks, months ,” he groaned. “I’m just frustrated because I don’t get why it won’t sound right.”

“Good things take time to make, or sometimes it takes you time to realize something you’ve created is actually good. You know how I left Telepathy behind, thinking it would never see the light?” Yoongi asked with a soft smile on his face. “Sometime later I went back and realized it was good enough to propose it for the album. So just give it more time.”

“I guess, you’re right,” Jungkook sighed as he got up. “Thank you and, I’ll tell you when I need your help again, yeah? If you don’t mind.”

“Of course,” the older one flashed him a gummy smile, and just as the other was about to walk out, hand already on the handle, he called his name again: “Jungkook-ah.”

“Hm?” The younger one turned around, eyebrows perked up.

“If there’s something on your mind lately that you need to talk about, you can come to me, you know that, right?” 

The corners of Jungkook’s lips were curled up. “Of course I do, hyung. But I’m okay, really.”

“Well, if you say so,” Yoongi’s lips tugged into a thin line. “But you know where to find me, yeah?”

The younger one only replied with a weak nod.

✿

Hoseok hummed a melody into his phone not to forget it later on just as he approached the door of Yoongi’s studio, eyebrows furrowing as he heard two familiar voices speaking at the same time as the door beeped, meaning it opened. 

“ Oh, and your piercing looks cool ,” he heard Yoongi say as Jungkook stepped out, his back facing him.

“Makes me look like a bad boy huh?” He said and from the side it seemed like he had a smile on, his cheeks scrunched up.

“Everyone knows you’re far from one.” 

“Hey! I can be one, don’t get fooled by how soft I sometimes get. I’ll see you- oh, Hobi hyung?” The younger one noticed him from the side and a soft smile spread across his face as he turned around.

“Hi, Jungkook-ah,” Hoseok beamed. “Successful studio time with Yoongi hyung?”

Jungkook’s smile fell and his teeth pierced through his bottom lip. “I guess it was- fine . As usual. I uhm- I need to go.”

“You okay?” 

“Sure,” he looked up at his hyung. “Are you going in?” He asked and the older one noticed how his hands were still holding the door.

“Oh, yeah! I’ll come to see you later, okay?” His hyung spoke softly, and Jungkook only bowed slightly before leaving.

“Hey,” Yoongi greeted Hoseok as he entered. 

“Is it just me, or was Jungkook a little bit out of it?”

The older sighed. “He’s being too much of a perfectionist, and today it was…” He rubbed his face. “I don’t know, it seems like there’s something on his mind. Something he’s not ready to talk about yet, so it’s messing with him a little.”

“Oh,” Hoseok’s eyes landed on the floor, eyebrows knitting together before he looked back up. “I just hope he’s not doing this thing again, where he stays alone with his worries.”

“I’m sure he’ll come around when he’s ready,” Yoongi stretched his arms. “Namjoon said you wanted to show me something?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ve got this demo I let him listen to, and he told me to come to show you as well,” he took his phone out. “Said we could work with it for our unit song but wanted your opinion as well.”

“Let’s see.”

✿

Jungkook tapped the tip of his fingers against his thigh as his body laid relaxed on top of his bed, music bouncing off the walls of his room. The rest of the day, after his studio session with Yoongi, his mind was stuck in a circle of “ should I keep figuring out how to make this sound good or just not make this song at all, leave it out as I did with many others? ”. 

With that being the only thing on his mind through all the other things he did that day, he barely noticed how the night fell again, and the stars came out. 

A light knock on the door had him opening one of his eyes, nose scrunching as the lamp beside him seemed a little too bright. “Come in.”

“Hey,” Hoseok nearly whispered, a small smile lingering on his face, as he stepped in and carefully closed the door before walking further into the room. 

“Hi, Hobi hyung,” Jungkook replied with a sleepy voice (he was surprised at how he still hadn’t fallen asleep, now that he’d realized it).

“Did I wake you?”

“Not at all. I was waiting since you said you’d come. Sit,” the younger patted the side of his bed. “Is there something you wanted?”

“Actually,” his hyung threw a glance around the dim room as he sat down, palms rubbing his thighs, “I wanted to ask if you would be up for a little trip.”

Jungkook frowned. “Right now?” 

“Yes.”

“When it’s already approaching midnight? Can’t we wait until the morning?”

Hoseok cracked his knuckles, his expression seeming a little hesitant. “I might’ve lied, it’s not a small trip and if we go now we’ll arrive by the morning. But you don’t have to worry, I’ll drive there. You seem tired so you can sleep through it.”

The younger one sat up and cleared his throat. “But why so suddenly?”

“A change of scenery could be good.”

“Did,” he paused, “did Yoongi hyung say something?” 

The older male shook his head. “Not more than what was already pretty obvious. Plus he didn’t have to, your eyes tell.”

“Hyung, you don’t have to-”

“Shush,” his hyung placed his palm on his knee, caressing it softly. “First off, I want to, second, I could use a change, too. It’ll be good for the two of us. So, are you in? Or are you going to let your hyung go all alone?” 

“I can’t do that, can I? '' Jungkook clicked his tongue, a playful smile across his face. “Cause what if someone kidnaps my favorite hyung, right?”

“Exactly,” Hoseok put on a serious expression, his eyebrows making it look a little exaggerated. “Need that black belt in taekwondo of yours with me, for protection.”

“In such a case,” he got to his knees on the bed and bowed, “I must accompany you and swear to protect you from all evil.” 

The older slapped his back lightly, both of them breaking into laughter. “Pack your backpack with necessities and come meet me in the parking lot, yeah?” The older one got up.

“I hope you packed snacks!” He exclaimed right before the door closed and heard the quiet laugh that rolled off his hyung’s lips. 

✿

“I can still drive, you know?” Jungkook said as he put his seatbelt on. “I don’t mind,” he mumbled and suddenly couldn’t resist yawning, blush immediately spreading across his cheeks, making the other chuckle. 

“Don’t worry, Jungkook-ah,” Hoseok placed his coffee into the cup holder and ruffled the younger’s hair, the latter easing into the touch, “hyung can do it.”

“If you say so,” he mumbled, taking his phone out. “Can I put some music on?”

“ Please, ” Hoseok whined as he started the car. “Something that won’t lull me, though.”

“On it,” Jungkook chirped as he connected his phone to the player, choosing one of his private playlists. “This okay?” 

The older one only nodded, focused on the road. “Get comfortable, it’s a long ride, better to sleep through it.”

“Mhm,” the younger male hummed, body melting into the seat.

Jungkook kept his eyes closed for barely a full minute before he opened them again, his gaze landing on Hoseok’s face. The older looked beautiful — his skin smooth and shiny, reflecting the street lights that they would pass by in the car. He must’ve done his skincare right before we went out, the younger thought (his hyung never missed a day, unlike Jungkook, who often drifted off to sleep before even thinking of it).

A placid smile crept onto his face and giddy feelings twirled in Jungkook’s stomach — that was how he had been feeling lately just from laying his eyes on his hyung.

He didn’t realize how he’d started to fall until it was already a little too late. 

Because when Jungkook looked at him one night—Hoseok’s lips getting shiny as he licked the remains of soju off them after yet another shot—and suddenly thought about how badly he wanted to kiss him, to devour him, he didn’t think much of it. That’s all there was to it — just a hazed desire , he had immediately told himself. 

So Jungkook had shaken it off that night, and the following morning once again convinced himself that it was okay — these things were sometimes bound to happen between long-term friends (Right?). His hyung was attractive, so it was normal. 

Except that it didn’t stop there. Because Jungkook’s mind had become his biggest enemy, and never stopped wondering: what would his lips taste like? Would they feel as soft as a set of silk pillows? Would his hyung let himself be pulled close and let Jungkook have a taste? Would he mind holding hands while everyone was around, and would he let Jungkook drag their locked hands up to his lips so that he could press a kiss onto the back of his palm? And, most importantly, could Hoseok ever see him as something more than just a bandmate and a friend? 

So there he was: body lolled back in the comfortable seat of the older man’s car as his eyes sleepily wavered from the tip of Hoseok’s nose, that he found so pretty — down to his lips, where his favorite little spot was.

When taking a turn, Hoseok noticed how the younger’s sleepy eyes bored into him and a gentle smile spread across his face. “Have you been staring at me the whole time we’ve been driving?” 

A nod. “Maybe.”

“Why?” He asked, and the younger only shrugged lazily.

“Why not?” 

 “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“You’re pretty,” Jungkook mumbled, making the other giggle. 

“Me being pretty is keeping you up? Just close your eyes.”

“No, really,” his sleepy voice spoke gently again, lips barely parting to speak as he felt himself falling asleep, but trying his best not to just so that he could continue staring at the beautiful sight before him, “the prettiest, Hobi hyung.” He smacked his lips together a couple of times, making almost silent little sounds. “Mmm…could look at you forever.” 

And just as Hoseok threw another glance at him and thought he’d fallen asleep, the younger one spoke again, his eyes closed: “I love the little mole on your top lip, wish I could peck it.”

“Ahhh, our Jungkookie is so silly when he’s sleepy,” the older chuckled, his free hand traveling to pet Jungkook’s hair. 

And, maybe, if the latter’s eyes hadn’t been closed and his mind hadn’t already fully drifted away into the dreamland, he would’ve noticed that the red tint on Hoseok’s cheeks wasn’t at all the reflection of the street lights. 

✿

Through his sleep, Jungkook felt something tickling his face. His nose wrinkled at the sensation while one of his hands traveled up to rub at his face, lips making soft smacking noises. 

“Jungkook-ah, wake up,” Hoseok called with a giggle and the younger once again felt the tickle, which finally made him crook his eyes open with a groan. He noticed his hyung holding up a small barley that he kept twirling in between his fingers near Jungkook’s face, while a wide smile lingered on his own. 

“Good morning, Hobi hyung,” he mumbled with a small smile and rubbed his eyes — he was barely awake but already felt the energy and inexplicable and sudden joy spreading through him as the small rays of sunshine, that peaked from the side of the car window, caressed the exposed skin of his cheeks, making them take in some color with the warmth. 

But it wasn’t only the doing of the sun that had just gone up the horizon that had Jungkook feeling that way.

It was also Hoseok.

Hoseok was the sun.

He was that little light that found its way through a lazily closed curtain in the early morning. And not the type to make one grumble their way to the window to properly close it and go back to sleep, but the long-awaited one after days on days of the sky being gray and gloomy because it had been raining non stop, overfilling the surroundings with melancholy.  So the only reaction that small peak of light could get out of someone — was a tender feeling of relief.

And on some days, it was more than that. On some days, Hoseok radiated so much light that only the sun could compete with it when at its highest point in the sky with no clouds around. Though the difference would be that one could get tired of the actual sun and it could make them sick, make them burn if they forgot to wear sunscreen — whereas Hoseok radiated the type of light that could never be too much, one that kept one’s heart warm and racing, and never allowed their smile to fade. 

In short, Hoseok was the one who always made the younger’s days warmer and brighter, filled with laughter. And his presence always left a lingering feeling of peace in Jungkook’s chest. So seeing him first thing in the morning, staring down at him from where he was crouching down next to the car window with the sweetest of smiles on his face, was what had Jungkook’s cheeks looking like sun-blushed apples at-

“7 AM?!” The younger one suddenly exclaimed when he saw the time on the screen. “Hyung, why~?” He whined, not yet taking in the surroundings outside the car. 

“Because we’ve arrived and I already set everything up so it’s time to enjoy,” he was told, which sent him into confusion.

Jungkook sat up straight and stretched his body before opening the door and stepping out of the car. “What do you mean? Set what up?  We’re in the middle of- oh ,” he stopped when he approached the older man, who had his hands on his sides, a proud smile lingering on his face, as he looked ahead. 

“Pretty, isn’t it?” He threw a glance towards Jungkook, whose eyes never once looked past Hoseok. The man’s skin glowed under the sunlight and the light morning wind had strands of hair falling onto his face, but the older one made sure to brush it back with his hand right away.

“Yeah,” he whispered, though he did not mean the view his hyung was showing him, “it’s beautiful.”

But then Hoseok turned his head and Jungkook startled, quickly averting his gaze from the older. “Woah,” he breathed out when his eyes finally landed on the scenery before them: a huge field of, what seemed like, lavender and poppies. The colors of the flowers blended in together, creating a beautiful pattern.

“Took you long enough to react,” Hoseok chuckled. “That’s the Hani lavender farm. They’re still closed but I figured we should just stay here throughout the day unless we want people to recognize us.”

“Isn’t that in-”

“Goseong,” he nodded. “And before you say anything else… Yes, I drove us all the way here so we could spend the day on top of a slope.” 

Jungkook chuckled. “It’s a nice slope.”

“Don’t make fun of your hyung.”

“I’m not!” He raised his hands in front of himself to protest. “I was being genuine, it’s nice here. But,” the younger then frowned, “what did you mean when you said you set everything up?” 

“Oh, this,” the older male stepped to the side so that the other could see the blankets he’d thrown onto the grass, not far from where some wild barleys pushed out of the ground, letting the wind sway them from side to side. 

“Aww, hyung,” Jungkook cooed and let his lips tug into a smirk, “are we having a picnic date?”

Hoseok scoffed. “Sure, though not the aesthetic type you see people posting around social media, because while they’re having sparkly wine and strawberry sandwiches — we have this ,” he got down to grab the items, “your favorite kombucha and instant hot pots.”

“Love it,” the younger couldn’t hold back the giggles that escaped him, but just a moment later his face softened as he looked down at his hyung who had his knees down on the blankets. “Thank you, hyung,” he whispered.

“Sit,” Hoseok patted the space in front of him, and Jungkook immediately complied, plopping himself down, legs crossed. “You don’t need to thank me,” he started and the younger’s eyes followed the movements of his hands. Hoseok took a small tube of sunscreen out of a small bag the other failed to notice earlier, and got some on his hand which then traveled up to Jungkook’s face. “Hold your hair back for me? Mhm, just like that,” he hummed as he started applying it onto the younger’s skin. “I just thought a little change could do us some good,” he shrugged with a smile, his fingers gentle around Jungkook’s eyebrow piercing. “Still don’t get how you could get it, or all of your tattoos.”

“You don’t like them?” The younger’s eyebrows perked up, lips starting to form a pout.

“Oh no, I love it all. It’s just,” he grimaced, “you know me. The simple thought of a needle anywhere near me, especially my face, makes me ahhh ,” he gritted his teeth, making Jungkook break into laughter. 

“It’s not that bad.” 

“You’ve done bungee jumping upside down. You jumped with your head down , Jungkook,” Hoseok shook his head when the memory came back to him, fingertips gently tapping the skin of his own face to spread the sunscreen well. “ Of course it’s not that bad for you.” 

Jungkook suddenly felt embarrassed. “Aish, hyung...”

“I’m just teasing,” the older man raffled his hair before pulling him a little closer, lip balm in his free hand. “Lean in a bit,” Hoseok told the younger, and the latter complied, his eyes dropping down to his hyung’s lips that puckered up just a bit at the same moment as the tip of the lip balm touched Jungkook’s lower lip.

He blinked and mentally told himself how he shouldn’t be caught staring at Hoseok’s lips. So the moment the latter withdrew his hands and the younger noticed his eyes going up — he startled, head snapping to the side and hand flying to cover his mouth as he started coughing. 

“You okay?” The older asked in a concerned tone, getting a thumbs-up from a still coughing Jungkook, whose hand then grabbed onto the bottle of kombucha he was handed to take a sip. 

“My throat felt tickly all of the sudden, sorry,” the younger said as he wiped his mouth with the back of his palm, becoming aware of the tears that had formed in his eyes while he coughed when his hyung reached out to wipe them away. 

“Thank you,” Jungkook mumbled sheepishly afterward, and the other only flashed him a small smile as he moved forward to lay down on his stomach, face in palms.

Hoseok didn’t miss the way the younger’s eyes never once left him but decided not to mention it. Instead, he took a deep breath and then let it out with a pleased groan. “I can smell the lavender all the way up here,” he stated, head tilting to the side to lock eyes with Jungkook, who was in the same position as before. “You’re not lying down?” 

Without a word, the younger quickly took off his sweater, leaving him in just a T-shirt, and moved closer to lie down next to his hyung, but unlike the latter, Jungkook chose to lie down on his back with his hands behind his head. “This is nice,” he mumbled, heaving a sigh. “I think it’s only now that I realize how much I needed this.”

The older looked at him, lips pressed into a thin line. He seemed hesitant, but the question rolled off his lips regardless: “Is there something on your mind lately?” 

“Apart from music?” Jungkook smiled at Hoseok’s weak nod, his head turning back to face the sky. “There’s… someone. ”

“Oh?” The older’s eyebrows rose in curiosity. “Someone special?” 

“Yeah,” the younger threw a glance at his hyung, “someone really precious.” 

“Is it… do you like them? As in, do you have feelings for them?” Hoseok bit down on his lower lip and a hint of genuine curiosity was present in his expression. “If you don’t mind talking about it, of course.” 

Jungkook closed his eyes and let out a breath. “I think… I think I might be falling in love with them.”

Hoseok breathed in sharply and it almost made the younger wonder why. “Is- is that what’s been bothering you lately?”

“If you’re talking about yesterday — it’s mostly me being frustrated because of the song I’ve been trying to record for months now. I can’t get it to sound right so it stresses me out and, I guess, it adds up to the whole catching feelings situation. Although, it hasn’t been bothering me,” he laughed. “It’s been driving me crazy. Mostly because it all happened out of nowhere.” 

“Really?” A nod. “How so?” 

The younger shrugged, a silly grin spreading across his face. “It’s just like in Taehyungie hyung’s song: one day I woke up feeling more.”

“I see,” Hoseok grinned, too. “Have you talked to them about it?” 

“I want to, but,” he paused, then sighed. “I don’t know. I think I’m a little scared. What if they haven’t even thought of me that way before?”

“But what if they have?” The elder clicked his tongue. “What if they’re thinking about you that way right now?”

Jungkook opened his eyes to squint at his hyung before he let out a breathy chuckle. “I really doubt it.” 

“Why?”

“Because if it was the case,” his gaze fell down to the mole on Hoseok’s upper lip, “we’d probably be kissing right now.”

The older male’s lips parted, cheeks suddenly flushing as he caught himself lowering his own gaze to steal a peek at the younger’s rosy lips while he spoke. When he realized that they were no longer moving and that he’d spend a moment too long staring at his lips, his eyes widened and he whipped his head to the side, clearing his throat. He felt his ears going red and at that point he wasn’t sure what to do with himself so he just changed his previous position and sat up, legs crossed under. 

“Hyung,” Jungkook’s voice trailed, “did you perhaps just think about kissing me? Is that why you seem so flustered?” He asked, arching one of his eyebrows, and even though he did have a cocky expression across his face, his heart was pounding loud in his chest.  Because did he? Did Hoseok just stare down at his lips and wonder what it would feel like to have them pressed against his own? Maybe, he even wondered what they would taste like?  Or was it simply Jungkook’s imagination and his hyung’s eyes never lowered past his eyes, to begin with? 

“I- uh-”

“You know I’m just teasing, right?” Jungkook reached one of his hands out to place it on the older’s thigh, intending to squeeze in reassuringly like he sometimes did, but Hoseok caught his hand midway, wrapping his fingers around the wrist. “Wha-”

“Shh, don’t move,” his eyes kept following something around, somewhere above Jungkook’s head, “you’ll scare it away.”

When the younger tried looking up without moving his head up, he failed to see whatever there was that had his hyung’s attention. “I can’t see,” he pouted.

“There’s a butterfly and I think it wants to get on your hair,” but just as he said so, the little creature found its way to Jungkook’s nose, getting cozy at the very tip of it. “Oh my God , please don’t move. I have to take a picture,” he whispered as to not scare it away and while he was getting his phone out, the younger tried his best not to sneeze.

“It’s ticklish,” he said with as little mouth movement as possible, nose scrunching the moment Hoseok started snapping pictures with an endearing smile on his face. He sneezed then, scaring it away. It was then that he saw it — pretty fire-like orange wings with a little bit of blue and red, that almost seemed like they reflected the sunlight. He smiled, seeing its gentle wings carry it away from them. “Did you get it?” He asked as his eyes found his hyung again. 

“A few… Ahhhhh so cute,” Hoseok giggled as he scrolled through the pictures he had just taken. “It must’ve mistaken you for a flower.”

Jungkook tilted his head to the side. “Do I look like one?”

“Mmm, I think so, yeah,” the older male hummed, finally meeting his eyes.

“Really?” He sat up. “What flower do I look like then?”

Hoseok clicked his tongue in thought and then turned around, trying to see if there were any pretty ones nearby. “Oh my! This is perfect,” he chirped as he got up, returning with a bunch of blue flowers in hand. “Didn’t think there would be any left at this time.” 

“Forget-me-nots? Did you pick them because I’ve had blue hair recently?” 

“Partially,” Hoseok said with a light chuckle as he plopped back down, his knees touching Jungkook’s as he faced him. “But also because I think they have a cute meaning.” 

“How do you know what they mean?” 

“I might’ve gotten a little too curious about flowers after that one Run episode where we made bouquets,” he smiled, “and spent some time reading about them.”

“So, why do you think I’d be one?” 

“Firstly,” the older started, “I think that its meanings altogether are somewhat a mix of what you’re like. They’re supposed to represent true love, fidelity, and a long-lasting connection and I feel like… When you care about someone, when you love them, it is always genuine and you always keep them in your thoughts, no matter if they’re miles away or in the same room as you,” there was now a sheepish smile lingering on his face. “You cherish everyone, and no matter what happens between you — you’ll always remember them for the good things.”

“Oh,” Jungkook breathed out and that’s when Hoseok’s hand traveled up to tug some hair behind the younger’s ear, thinking about how fast it grew. 

“And,” he looked into his eyes, seeing that little twinkle in them while Jungkook stared back, almost scared to breathe, “the name itself forget-me-not reminds me of you. Because everything about you is just so… When one lands their eyes on you for the first time and they see your big bright eyes — it’s like they’re screaming “forget me not” at them, so they don’t, ever . Because how could someone forget such beautiful eyes?” He smiled. “And when one hears your laughter for the first time — it’s as if its melody is singing and asking “forget me not” and, of course , they don’t. Again, who could ever forget a laugh as pretty as yours?” He chuckled and then noticed how Jungkook’s lips were parted and it was as if his breathing had fastened. He blushed, looking down at the flowers in his hands. “I’m rambling now, aren’t I?” 

“You… you really think so?” 

“Of course I do,” Hoseok smiled. “Anything you do, no matter how small, has a huge impact on people’s lives. They’ll always remember you and your name, just like one always remembers the name of forget-me-nots. The same way people will associate spring with this flower, the same way they’ll associate you with a beautiful moment in their lives. That’s why I think you could be one if…” he frowned, “…if anything I said even made sense. It did in my head.” 

Jungkook breathed out, feeling a little speechless. “It does, I'm just- I didn’t know you thought that way.”

“Come here,” he whispered and, with a soft smile, reached out with the flowers in hand. “They’re also very pretty,” he added, “just like you.” 

Hoseok tucked a few small flowers behind Jungkook’s ear and took in his soft appearance. And that’s when he really looked at him and saw him — staring back at him with his big doe eyes and a blush on his face. Through the years, he’s seen the younger in different ways, but this time it felt as if it was the very first time. It felt as if something changed in the way he saw him, or, maybe, it had always been that way, but Hoseok was just too oblivious to the way he looked at Jungkook. 

And if he had any doubts about his own feelings recently, they were suddenly done out of the window. 

“You’re staring,” Jungkook stated. 

“Am I?” Hoseok smiled and this time he didn’t shy away when the other nodded and just shrugged his shoulders instead. Then Jungkook’s stomach suddenly grumbled and, while he was pouting from embarrassment, Hoseok burst out laughing.

“Come on, we should eat, we still haven't had breakfast,” he said as he reached for the instant hot pots and a water bottle, his every movement followed by the younger’s eyes. “Let’s not mention having a hot pot for breakfast to the others, hm?” 

Jungkook nodded and then, suddenly, it felt as if everything fell into place. Everything felt right. “Hobi hyung,” he called, averting  the other’s attention from the food he was ‘making’. “Thank you.”

“What for?” 

“I think I know now what my song was missing,” he smiled, head tilting to the side. “What would you say if I asked you to record it with me?” 

✿

“He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves not, he lov-”

“Jungkook-ah?” Hoseok called as he knocked on the door before opening it. “What are you d-,” he frowned, looking around the younger’s room. “Why are there so many flower petals all over your room?” 

Jungkook sighed as he lowered his hands in his lap, fingers twirling the half “naked” flower with his eyes on it. “It’s silly,” he chuckled. “I just grabbed one of the flowers we brought back and thought oh, I should do the loves me loves me not thing and I told myself that if it ends with “loves me” then I can confess,” he pouted, “but no matter how I start it always ends up being “loves me not” by the end,” the younger explained before he let his eyes travel up and land on the older. “Hi, by the way,” he smiled ever so softly. 

“Hi,” Hoseok smiled back, the sight of him alone sending warmth to spread through Jungkook’s chest. “Can I?” His hyung asked as he pointed at the bed, and sat down when the younger one nodded. Hoseok’s hand slowly reached up to pick a few petals out of Jungkook’s hair, a fond smile lingering on his face. “You’ve got it all over yourself, too.”

“I’ll clean it all up later,” the younger man mumbled.

“So, is it about the person you’ve told me about the other day?” He asked and couldn’t miss the rosy blush that immediately found its way to Jungkook’s cheeks as he nodded, the corners of his lips tugged up, forming a sheepish smile. “Are they that scary of a person?”

The younger giggled. “Not at all,” he paused before a frown appeared on his face, “though, sometimes he can be pretty intimidating, not for a long time. He’s too soft of a person, the sweetest.”

“So it’s a ‘he’.”

Jungkook’s eyes shot wide in realization. “Ah, hyung~,” he let out a groan out of embarrassment and his hands flew to cover his face at the same moment as he hunched forward. “It is,” he mumbled into his palms and peeked up at the older man through his fingers, “and he’s so, soo pretty.”

“Just pretty?” The corners of Hoseok’s lips quirked up as he reached out to press his hand against the younger’s lower back, right where a bit of the skin was showing because of his position, rubbing gentle circles against his skin. 

“No, no!” Jungkook protested. “There’s so much to him that I wouldn’t even know where to begin. He’s just,” he sat up straight again and smiled to himself, “he’s so dream-like.”

“What if,” the older started hesitantly, earning a curious glance from the other, “I gave you a small piece of advice?” 

“An advice?” Jungkook’s brows perked up, driven by curiosity. “As in, on how to confess?” 

“Mhm,” Hoseok hummed. “That is, if you want one, of course.” 

“I do! I do!” The younger exclaimed, his excitement making his hyung chuckle.

“I think,” he paused and pressed his lips together, in a way that made his small pimples pop out, giving Junkook the desire to poke them, “you should simply go for it.”

“Go for it, as in just,” he frowned, “confess?”

“As in, kiss him,” the words rolled off his lips and echoed in the younger’s mind a little too loud, leaving him frozen on the spot for a bit.

“K-kiss him?” He stuttered out, gulping right after. “Like… on the lips?” 

Hoseok laughed. “Yeah, on the lips.”

“Like… just grab and kiss him? Instead of confessing?” 

“I think the kiss would get your point across.”

“But,” Jungkook hesitated, “what about consent cause like, what if he doesn’t want to kiss me? And like what if I do it and he’ll get disgusted and think I’m weird and-”

“Jungkook-ah,” the older’s voice called softly and his hand traveled to brush through Jungkook’s hair, just the way he knew calmed him down, “if he’s as amazing of a person as you say he is, none of that will happen. Besides,” he poked his cheek, “something is telling me that he will not mind if you kiss him.”

The younger looked down at his hands, his fingers had gotten a little red from how many flowers he had shred apart as anxiety drove him through it. “Do you think that he’ll kiss me back if I do it?”

“Only a fool wouldn’t.”

Jungkook’s eyes widened for a mere moment, lower lip trapped in between his teeth as his gaze fell on his hyung again. “Are you one then, hyung?”

“Hm?”

“A fool, I mean.”

Hoseok’s hand went up and down his own upper arm as he clicked his tongue. “I don’t think I’ve ever taken myself for one, why?”

“So, if I were to kiss you right now, you’d kiss me back?” Jungkook grinned. “Since, y’know, you’re not a fool?”

The red tint that appeared on the older’s cheeks let the younger know that his hyung was affected by his words, and that, maybe, he didn’t read any of it wrong. “I’m- Jungkook-ah, that’s- I just-”

“Hyung, I’m just teasing.”

“Oh,” Hoseok breathed out, his hand falling to his own lap now. “Good to know, yeah… so… I’ll get going then? I came in to check up on you and now I’m probably just taking your ti-”

“Can you do me a little favor before you leave, though?” Jungkook tilted his head to the side, eyes dreamy.

“A favor?” The older man coughed into his fist. “Sure? I guess? What is it?”

“Close your eyes.”

Hoseok frowned. “Close my- What for?” 

“Do you trust me?” A nod. “Close them then? Pretty please?” The younger asked of him, the sweetest of smiles lingering across his face.

“Okay,” he breathed out and blinked a couple of times nervously before closing his eyes.

“A good hyung of mine-,” Jungkook chuckled when the older peaked at him. “Hyung, just keep your eyes closed.”

“Sorry,” he mumbled and shifted a little on the bed.

“So, as I was saying… A good hyung of mine gave me some advice recently,” the younger told him, “ very recently,” he continued with a cheeky tone and Hoseok heard the rustling of the sheets, and could feel Jungkook moving closer.

“And I- I think I want to listen to your advice, Hobi hyung,” the younger said and, suddenly, Hoseok could feel his breath on his skin.

The elder opened his mouth to speak, to ask him what was going on, but the words stuck in his throat when, at the same moment, he opened his eyes and saw just how close Jungkook was, saw his hands traveling up to cup his face, his touch gentle as ever. And the next thing Hoseok knew, a pair of soft lips connected with his own, which remained unmoving.

Not for long, though.

Because when he felt the younger’s hold on his face weaken, and realized that their lips were no longer touching, Hoseok’s hands grasped him by the shirt, pulling him in again. “Do it again, so I can kiss you back,” he whispered into Jungkook’s lips when their eyes met. And the younger only nodded, his hands coming back to cup his face before his lips slid against the older’s once again. And the latter found himself kissing back instantly, the little shock his mind had gone through vanished as the spell (that Jungkook’s lips had him under) did its job. 

And Hoseok’s lips tasted majestic, much better than the younger could ever imagine. And boy , did he imagine. Many, many times. 

“God,” the older one sighed into his mouth right before they pulled away to catch some breath, “I’m so glad I wasn’t wrong about it being me you spoke of.”

Jungkook blinked, leaning back more as his hand let go of his hyung’s face. “How did you know?” 

“What?” He asked with his cheeks flushed, still not fully back to his senses.

“How did you know I was talking about you?” 

“I didn’t,” Hoseok admitted and rubbed at his nape. “But I hoped to have guessed it right.”

“What gave me away?” 

The older man smiled, taking a piece of paper out of his pocket, something familiar to Jungkook’s eyes. “A few things, but the doodle I found was a confirmation,” he said, leaving the younger man’s mind wondering.

Oh. Right, he remembered as blush found its way onto his face, deepening the color of Jungkook’s already red cheeks. The silly doodle he made during a break, where it was Hoseok accepting a flower from him, and a little cloud next to his head that said ‘I like you too’. He must’ve forgotten to throw it away, though he was glad he didn’t. 

“Don’t get shy now,” his hyung’s voice spoke softly, “it’s cute. It's a pity that it almost ended up in the trash, but lucky us.”

“But wait, does it mean you like me?”

“Was the way I kissed you back not enough of an answer?” Hoseok chuckled and placed his hand on the younger's knee. “I do like you, a lot. Maybe, even more than a lot,” he confessed. “But, if I’m being honest, I hadn’t thought about you, about us , that way until not too long ago. And I was still quite confused until recently.”

Jungkook scooted closer and tilted his head to the side. “What made you think of me that way then? Was it when we went to the Hani farm?” 

The older man shook his head. “No, that was when I finally had all my doubts disappear into thin air. But, the first time I thought about the possibility of us being something more was- It’s ridiculous, really,” he laughed. “But it’s because of Jiminie.”

“Jiminie hyung?” A nod. “How so?” 

“We were out one night and I think it was the soju talking, but I was complaining about how I missed kissing, so I was making grabby hands at him, saying he should kiss me,” he had to shove Jungkook lightly as the latter wouldn't stop giggling. “He knew I’d probably feel embarrassed in the morning so he said no and then,” he rolled his eyes, “he mentioned you.”

“What about me?”

“Well, he said ‘ plus if I agree and Jungkookie finds out, he’ll be sad’ , so-“ 

“He what?” Jungkook’s jaw almost dropped. “He… he knew?” 

“I think he knew for the two of us.”

The younger one groaned. “That’s why he kept trying to talk to me about ‘ how cool it could be, and how much everyone would support if two of our members dated ’.” 

“He did?” Hoseok laughed at the other’s almost distressed expression. His hand traveled to the younger’s hair, fingers gently playing with a few loose strands as he bit down on his lower lip. 

“You’re thinking about something,” Jungkook noticed. “What is it?”

“ Let’s go on a date, mhm?”

He blinked at him.”You want to go on a date with me?” 

“Of course I do. Do you? ” Hoseok received a nod followed by laughter as a response. “Should we go shopping together or is it lame?”

“Why?” The younger one smirked. “You already want to pick some couple outfits for us or something? Aren’t we moving too fast, Hobi hyung?” 

“You know what, I’ve changed my mind,” the older man got up, but Jungkook’s hands were quick to grab him by the waist, dragging him backward, which resulted in him toppling on top of the younger. 

“No chance, now you’re stuck with me,” he giggled and then spoke into his hyung’s ear: “And I’d love to go on a shopping date with you, any date. All the dates. ” 

Hoseok laughed as he turned in Jungkook’s hold to face him. “Yeah?”

The younger leaned in, whispering a small “yes” before he fully closed the distance between them. 

✿

Jungkook hummed as his hand slid from Hoseok’s jaw down to his waist, their lips parting lazily as they leaned back.  He opened his eyes and there was another pair already staring right back at him.

“Hi there,” the older smiled, his eyelashes fluttering prettily.

 “You’re so pretty,” Jungkook whispered to his hyung and leaned in to brush their noses together.

“Says you,” Hoseok replied shyly and let his hand travel up to caress the younger’s nape as the latter hid his face in the crook of his neck. “Will this be our special spot now?” He spoke softly as he looked ahead.

“It could be,” Jungkook lifted his head to look at him again. “Would you like that?”

“Yeah, I would,” Hoseok nodded and a wide grin found its way onto his face, “as long as you don’t mind driving seven hours just to spend the day on a slope.”

The younger one laughed. “As long as we have enough free time in between our schedules, I don’t mind.” 

“But the flowers will be gone soon,” the older male pouted. “We should make it a seasonal thing. Like coming here in May and June whenever we can. That way it’s warm enough for us to be outside the whole day and all the flowers will still be there so the view will be nice, too.”

“My view will be nice either way,” Jungkook said in a cocky tone, earning a soft shove from the other. “What? Have you seen yourself?”

“I want to take some pictures,” the elder then stated and looked around for his phone, his movements making it a little obvious that he was trying to hide the fact that he’d blushed.

“Here you go,” the younger handed him the gadget and when their fingers brushed, Hoseok’s blush deepened, making it hard for Jungkook not to coo or tease, but he decided to spare his partner.

The younger not once looked past his hyung as the latter walked around to snap pictures.  Jungkook’s eyes were always on the older man because he couldn’t quite comprehend how a man who carried that much beauty could ever exist, how he could even be real. But Hoseok was. He was real and he was there for Jungkook to admire, for him to kiss, to touch, to love. 

“Hyung,” he called and Hoseok averted his gaze from his phone screen to look back at him with his eyebrows perked up, “remember you said how I could be a forget-me-not if I were to be a flower?” 

“Mhm.”

“I think I also have the potential of being a sunflower.”

“A sunflower?” A nod. “Why?

Jungkook smiled in a way that made his eyes crinkle. “Because I’m always facing the sun.”