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On nights like tonight, where the moon shines a little brighter and the fiery orange of Taehyung’s hair rivals that of the fire in his heart, Jeongguk wishes he was just an average guy who is allowed to be with the one person in the whole world that understands him. Him with all his shortcomings and his strengths, his weak moments and his prouder ones. He wishes that he could reach out and take the hand of his partner in crime, initiate the contact himself and have it mean something more than just fascination and something exciting to Taehyung.
He wants it to mean some sort of eternal promise, a bond that they will be together for a long time (he hopes) and that he’s into his crime stopping buddy in a less than platonic way. Because that’s how Tae sees him, as just a platonic buddy with whom he kicks crime’s ass. Simple romantic things such as hand holding, wrapping his arm around Taehyung’s waist and stargazing together are nothing but new experiences that the extraterrestrial finds fascinating.
He studies Gguk’s hands whenever their fingers become interlaced, his green eyes bright with curiosity and awe, no matter how many times their fingers become linked. The fiery haired male is always marvelling at how his hands are larger than his partner’s, flashing his boxy smile and telling Jeongguk that;
“My hands are so big so that I can hold my happiness in them!” before he cups Jeongguk’s face in his palms. If Gguk paid a little more attention, he would have noticed the adoration and the absolute devotion in the man’s eyes. It was infinitely more than platonic affection. But to Jeongguk, it was just Taehyung’s kind and caring nature making its appearance.
His personality off the battlefield, away from the bad people that want to harm the inhabitants of the city, is a complete contrast to when he’s blasting at bad guys and flying high in the sky with Jeongguk in his arms despite the man’s protests. He was childlike, easily amused, pure hearted and curious about everything around him. He didn’t quite understand many things and got easily upset when there was injustice, becoming quiet and burrowing into Jeongguk to hide from the unfair world.
Taehyung was extraordinary and completely out of this world (literally) so it was no surprise that Jeongguk fell head over heels in love with the prince from the nebulas.
Which leads them to this moment.
They were atop one of the highest towers, looking down at the sleepless city, the moon shimmering above them, the stars especially bright. Jeongguk watches the frown on Taehyung’s lips become more prominent, unable to look away as his heart clenches. A lone tear forms at the corner of the prince’s eye and before Jeongguk can really process his actions, there’s wetness on his thumb and Taehyung’s cheek in his palm.
The male stares at him solemnly for a moment before he nuzzles into the touch, his hand coming up to cradle Jeongguk’s hand to him as if it’s his most prized possession.
“I miss my planet.” Taehyung says simply, lips ghosting over the human’s pulse point, resting his pouty lips against the throbbing vein. Jeongguk’s heart rate spikes but he wills it to slow, hoping to hide what his heart is ready to betray.
“I’m sorry Taetae,” Gguk whispers, gently prying his hand away, chuckling fondly at the petulant whine the action pulled from the man in front of him. He pulls Tae into his chest, protecting him from the world, trying to emulate the warmth of home to the exiled prince.
“It is okay, Jeongguk. You cannot apologize for something that you did not do, but I appreciate the sentiment.” The male laughs, tipping his head back. His mask was pushed up, being used as a hairband. His Taehyung was fair, innocently so and Jeongguk was...he was him . How would he even deserve the ethereal being?
“You’re free to call earth your home as long as you want.” Jeongguk murmurs later. They’re rearranged now, Taehyung sitting between Jeongguk’s legs, back resting against the man’s chest as his orange tufts kiss Jeongguk’s lips.
“Hmm..” Tae hums in affirmation. “Jeongguk,” he whispers, tipping his head back to look at Gguk. The male looks down at him.
“Yes?”
“I was watching a movie the other night. It had a man and a woman and they pressed their lips together. But then the man got mad when that woman pressed her lips against someone else’s. They said you are supposed to do that with someone you love.” Jeongguk’s heart sinks, he has an idea of where this conversation is going. “Why do we not ever do that? Do you not love me?” The uncertainty in his eyes is something that Jeongguk wants to erase, lock away so that it never sees the light of day. Such a heartbreaking emotion is not befitting of the exiled prince.
“Tae-ah,” Jeongguk begins softly, “they didn’t mean ‘love’ as something between friends. We’re friends, we aren’t supposed to be doing that.” No sooner had he finished his sentence that Taehyung is out of his arms, floating in front of him, arms crossed over his chest and eyes eerily blank.
“Friends? We are friends?” Taehyung asks, a steely edge that he never dons with Jeongguk, present. “I was under the impression I was a special friend, Jeongguk-ah. I hold your hand, I cuddle you, I tell you everything . I have told you I loved you many times. I am a little hurt that you think I meant it as friends. You are not a friend to me. You are my person, my home. If you do not feel that way about me, I will not burden you with my presence much longer.” Jeongguk stares at the levitating male like a fish out of water.
The male fidgets slightly, cheeks as bright as his hair, not used to having his partner staring at him like that.
“Could you maybe say that again? The part where you told me I’m your person and you love me? I feel like I’m dreaming,” Jeongguk mumbles. The fiery haired male laughs before floating closer to his raven haired partner.
“You silly human, I am quite stupidly in love with you. The way you walk, the way you talk, the way you make me feel inside, it’s in your touch, it’s in your eyes, I love you saviour of the city, Nightwing and even more so, I love you Jeon Jeongguk.” Taehyung confesses.
A shrill squeal leaves the floating male’s lips as hands on his waist pull him into his partner’s lap and flush against him. “I love you. In case you needed to be told. I love you a lot.” The male whispers, leaning closer to the prince, pressing their foreheads together.
“Jeongguk–”
“Why is it always Jeongguk and not something cute?”
“Baby?”
“...please go back to Jeongguk, my heart cannot handle that–”
“Silly human,” Taehyung laughs fondly, “anyways, I was wondering...maybe you should teach me about this thing you humans call a kiss.”
“Gladly.”