Archive of Our Own

✦✧♥✧✦

The sun peeks through the blinds and Taehyung groans. He should have closed them properly last night, but clearly that had been the last thing on his mind back then. Taehyung had been too focused on the pair of cherry lips trailing kisses down his jaw; too focused on the wandering hands that were unbuttoning his shirt with desperation to worry about the blinding light that would enter his room in the early morning.

He cringes at the brightness and turns around, arms searching for another warm body but meeting only empty space and cooling sheets. He groans again, moving to the empty space and burying his face in the pillow that’s covered in the sweet smell of maraschino cherries. He sighs, breathing in the smell that soothes his body, that makes his heart quicken the same way it makes it settle.

He falls asleep once again to the sound of the shower turning on.

Taehyung doesn’t know for how much longer he sleeps, but he’s suddenly being shaken gently awake. The fresh smell of cherries filling his nostrils. He sighs in content, opening his eyes to meet the kind, doe eyes of his mate.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.” His mate greets softly, sweet voice filled with fondness. A smile pulls at his lips and Taehyung wants nothing more than to kiss the little mole under his lips.

“G’mornin’,” Taehyung murmurs, voice hoarse with sleep as he tries blinking himself awake a few times. “What time is it?”

“Seven.” Jeongguk tells him, fingers scratching and playing with Taehyung’s dark curls. “I have to go to work.”

Taehyung almost purrs at the soothing feeling. “Why so early?” He voices out, mouth turning downwards in a pout. “You don’t have to be there until ten.”

Jeongguk’s grin widens at that, looking like a bunny as his front teeth peek out. “I do.” He agrees softly, “But I have to meet an important client today and they were only free this early.” He shrugs.

Taehyung makes a displeased sound at that, pout becoming more evident. “But I wanted to have breakfast with you.” He voices petulantly. “Cancel the meeting?” He finishes hopefully, dark eyes pleading.

His mate giggles at that. “You know I can’t, dummy. But we can go out together for lunch, how about that?”

Instead of responding, Taehyung stares at his mate with wide, pleading eyes pout becoming deeper. They stare at each other for a few seconds, Jeongguk trying not to coo at the alpha throwing a micro tantrum over not getting to have breakfast with his mate.

“I was gonna make pancakes,” Taehyung says in an attempt to make his mate stay and ignore his responsibilities (he knows it won’t work, but it’s still worth the try).

“A sacrifice I must endure,” Jeongguk tells him, doe eyes swimming with mirth. “Somehow I’ll have to survive this meeting without your yummy pancakes.”

Taehyung sighs in defeat, “At least gimme a kiss before you leave.”

A soft giggle leaves his omega’s lips as he leans closer and lets their lips meet in the middle. Taehyung immediately sighs into the kiss, bringing his hand up to pull Jeongguk closer by the nape of his neck. Jeongguk’s hand that had been playing with his hair, moves down his temple to cup his cheek, as the younger melts into the kiss and makes a contented sound from the back of his throat.

When he tries to move away from the kiss Taehyung pulls him closer instead, turning on his back and pulling Jeongguk on top of him, deepening the kiss immediately. Jeongguk laughs, placing his hand by Taehyung’s head to support himself, “Tae, you have morning breath.” He complains.

“Tragic,” Taehyung says, before letting his tongue slip through the younger’s parted lips to kiss him properly.

Taehyung feels the younger’s smile against his lips just as Jeongguk leans further down, his kisses languid and slow and deep, but not any less passionate. Taehyung wraps his arms around his mate and tries to pull him flush against him, feeling himself getting warmer as arousal begins to ignite his blood.

Jeongguk laughs again, “If I stay longer I’ll be late for real.” He says, separating barely an inch from Taheyung’s lips.

“Then stay. Don’t go.”

Another laugh, “You know I can’t do that.” He tells him, pulling away further to look down at the alpha under him. “But be patient, alpha, I’ll be back before you know it.” He teases.

He narrows his eyes at the younger’s playful smile, “you better.”

He will never get tired of seeing the younger’s face light up with his smile. Jeongguk starts peppering his face with kisses, going over his temples, his forehead, his eyelids, his nose, and then finishing up with quick consecutive kisses against his lips. He giggles as he quickly gets off of Taehyung, making sure his suit isn’t wrinkled before looking back at the alpha, who watches him with twinkling eyes and a small smile. 

“I love you, alpha.” Jeongguk says cheekily, winking before turning around to leave.

“I love you, too!” Taehyung shouts after him, watching the tall figure of his mate leave the bedroom with a skip to his step. Taehyung watches after him even when he’s no longer in sight, listening as the other feather’s around the living room and grabs his work bag.

He sighs once he hears the front door click shut, stretching his arms upwards with a yawn. Maybe he can sleep a little longer before getting up and starting his day, he feels zero inspiration to write and that’s what he is supposed to do. Though he is sure if he really tries, feather kisses and cherry lips can easily fill the pages of his journal, just like the hundreds of pages dyed black with the ink of Taehyung's soul.

He turns around enough to fill his lungs with the sweet cherry scent of his mate, letting it sooth his body and calm his mind. Sleep calls to him with undeniable attractiveness and Taehyung allows himself to melt into the sheets and the softness of the mattress; allows himself to be enveloped in the sweetness of his mate and welcomes sleep with open arms. He can write later.

The taste of cherry lingers on his lips and the warmth of love burns through his chest. Taehyung dreams.

✦✧☾✧✦ 

Jeongguk and Taehyung’s love story is anything but a fairy tale. In fact, Taehyung insists, to this day, that the younger hated him with the burning passion of three thousand hells. Jeongguk denies this, saying he just wasn’t open to offering his heart on a silver platter to anyone that would eventually end up spitting on it. He had been tired of entitled alphas treating him as an object and invalidating his feelings.

Back then Jeongguk had cocooned his heart with a protective barrier of the hardest steel, afraid of getting hurt again, and no one had been able to penetrate it. Taehyung never gave up trying to show the younger how much he values and cares for him. And eventually, how much he loves him.

The first time they meet it’s in a club. They are both drunk, sweaty and dancing out the night with friends. Taehyung hadn’t known then, but Jeongguk had been out in search of someone to forget the toxic alpha that had cheated on him, the same one that always insisted Jeongguk drop out of law school because omegas shouldn’t try doing things that weren’t made for them. He always insisted Jeongguk take cooking classes instead, and had given Jeongguk a parenting book for his birthday.

Taehyung remembers that the moment he laid eyes on Jeongguk all oxygen had left his lungs. He remembers watching the younger dance sinfully to the music, moving his hips sensually to the beat. His eyes had been closed as he danced and his then blond hair had been matted to his damp forehead, lips painted an inviting cherry pink. Taehyung remembers the white, flowy blouse the younger had tucked into his skinny black jeans, accentuating his tiny waist. The blouse had an open v neck, showing the younger’s glittery skin.

Taehyung vividly remembers that night, how enchanted he’d been. This is how it went.

He is alluring and Taehyung wants a taste.

It takes Taehyung a few minutes to muster up the courage to walk up to the omega, time in which he manages to down at least two shots of tequila. His eyes stay connected to the omega, as he moves through the dancing crowd, not wanting to lose sight of the ethereal omega. The music resonates through the club and the air is stuffy with all of the different clashing scents, but the closer he gets to the omega the more overpowering the sweet scent of his becomes. The more inviting and hypnotizing it becomes.

The omega’s scent is sweet, reminding Taehyung of the vanilla sweetness of his grandma when she gave him chocolate and strawberry ice cream with cherries on top. Maraschino cherries.

Taehyung slips behind the other, not quite touching him yet but close enough for the younger to get the hint. Jeongguk glances behind him, checking the alpha out before letting his lips pull up in an inviting grin. The omega moves a little closer to Taehyung and the alpha takes that as his cue to place his hands on the other’s waist. Jeongguk melts into him, pushes against his crotch as he continues his sinful movements to the music. He knows what he’s doing, and Taehyung lets him.

“What’s your name, angel?” Taehyung asks.

The omega sighs, “Jeongguk.”

Sweat mats Taehyung’s black, wavy hair to his forehead and the back of his neck, his tan skin glitters with the light shin of sweat that coats it. The place is full of scents but Taehyung is intoxicated by the sweet cherry that permeates the omega before him. Taehyung wraps his arms tighter around Jeongguk’s waist and pulls him closer, letting the younger feel his arousal. The cherry sweetens and Jeongguk places his hands over Taehyung’s arms, leaning his head back against Taehyung’s shoulder and looking up at him with half lidded eyes.

“Do you need help with that, alpha?” The omega says, voice saccharine and making goosebumps rise on Taehyung’s skin. The omega is alluring and Taehyung wants.

The alpha’s lips pull into a smirk, he leans in and whispers with his deep voice. “Only if you think you can handle it.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“I don’t know, is it?” Taehyung throws back.

The omega hums, turning around in his place, Taehyung’s arms still around him. He wraps his own arms around Taehyung’s neck and presses his crotch against Taehyung’s. The alpha swallows in a moan as he feels the other’s hardness, bringing him even closer to himself. Jeongguk studies his face for a few seconds, Taehyung notes how his eyes are wide and innocent looking. He notes how they seemed to shine with the stars of wonder.

Or maybe he’s getting poetic, maybe it’s just the lights of the club, of the dance floor. He doesn’t know, he doesn’t care. The omega in his arms is the most beautiful person he has ever seen, and Taehyung wants.

Jeongguk grins wide and there’s a mole under his lips Taehyung would do anything to kiss. The omega leans in and whispers into his ear, “bet I can handle you and leave you wanting for more.”

Taehyung has never been more aroused in his entire life.

“Let me kiss you.”

Jeongguk looks smug as he connects his lips to the alpha's, the two of them melting into each other, Taehyung moans as there's friction against his crotch and the omega swallows down the sound. Jeongguk tastes of cherry and vodka and Taehyung is intoxicated, but he wants more.

No matter how hard he tries to bring Jeongguk closer to him, they're still separated by their clothes. And no matter how much Taehyung would love to shred the thin fabric they are in the middle of a club.

It's Jeongguk who pulls away, the omega looking at him through half lidded eyes, pupils dilated and soft breaths leaving in puffs through his cherry lips. “Take me home, alpha.”

He is in no position to deny him, Taehyung leaves one arm around the other’s waist and leads him out of the club and into a taxi. He gives the driver directions before he’s dealing with a lapful of omega, cherry lips that taste of vodka meet his own.

They kiss languidly, the omega’s fingers play with his hair and grab at his curls. Taehyung moans which prompts the younger to do it again, he bites at the other’s lower lips and receives a moan from the omega. There is heat growing in the pit of his stomach and Taehyung would do anything to release it, but he’d be damned if he doesn’t pleasure the beautiful omega on top of him like he deserves.

He doesn’t realize when they arrive and they’re out of the taxi, doesn’t realize when they enter the lobby of his apartment building and get in one of the elevators. He’s too immersed in the omega peppering kisses down his jaw to really worry about how they get to his apartment.

When the elevator arrives on their floor, he picks the omega up and Jeongguk moans at his blatant display of strength and wraps his legs around Taehyung. He’s a little heavier than Taehyung expected, packed with muscle, which only serves to arouse Taehyung even more.

Taehyung tries to put in the code to unlock the door, the omega giggling as he struggles. Once he manages to unlock and kick open the door he forgoes taking off his shoes and takes Jeongguk straight to the bedroom.

Things become hectic from there, he drops the omega on his bed, the younger quick to take off his shoes and move back to the top of the bed. Taehyung follows behind him, kicking off his boots and taking off his jacket. He crawls on top of the other, letting their lips meet once again. The kiss tastes of tequila and vodka and so overwhelmingly of cherries, Taehyung wishes he could taste its flavour forever.

The omega’s fingers grab at Taehyung’s shirt, pulling it up to let the alpha know he wants it off. Taehyung moves away enough to take off his shirt, Jeongguk taking off his blouse and leaving the two of them half naked. There's flaming hands on his chest, feeling along his body before bringing him closer and meeting him in a desperate kiss.

He explores the hard expanse of Jeongguk’s chest, feeling the hard muscles shift, the curves of his abs under his palms. He finds the younger’s nipples and moans at the cold feeling of metal between his fingers.

Jeongguk laughs breathlessly against his mouth, “what’s up, alpha? Found something you like?” The omega taunts, a smirk stretching his cherry lips. Taehyung scoffs at that, plays with the omega’s nipples enough to have Jeongguk moaning under him.

Taehyung leans down to whisper in the omega’s ear, “I’m gonna make you feel so good?” His voice is hoarse and deep with arousal.

Jeongguk scoffs, “I’m going to begin thinking you’re all cheap talk and no action.” He taunts. “Show me before I get bored.”

Taehyung smirks at the taunts, doing just as the omega had prompted and taking one of Jeongguk’s nipples into his mouth. The omega sighs at that, fingers burying into Taehyung’s curls and bringing him closer to his chest.

“Maybe you,” Jeongguk gasps after a while. “...know how to use your mouth.” He breathes out. Taehyung smiles, teeth teasing at the other’s pink, hard nipple, tongue lapping over the metal that decorates it.

He plays with the omegas nipples, lapping his tongue over it, fascinated with the groans and moans that leave the other’s lips. Loving the way his fingers run and pull on his hair, the way he squirms under him. Jeongguk takes fistfulls of Taehyung’s hair and has the alpha moaning, the vibration bringing more pleasured sounds out of the younger.

Jeongguk is sensitive and Taehyung loves it.

“Are you gonna keep doing that, or are you gonna fuck me like you promised?” Jeongguk asks breathlessly, bringing his crotch upwards to seek more friction.

Taehyung moans separating from Jeongguk’s nipple and looking down at the flustered omega under him. His blonde hair fans around him, his cheeks and shoulders are colored a light pink, breath coming out in breathless pants even as he looks back defiantly at Taehyung.

And the alpha isn’t used to that, to omegas being so blunt about what they wanted, unafraid to ask to be pleasured like they like to be pleasured. He has never been with an omega that taunts and teases him, one that speaks unapologetically and demands for what they want.

Taehyung likes it. He likes this bossy omega that asks for what he wants and doesn’t take no for an answer. Likes the omega that drags his hands through his body and electrifies his nerves with their heat. Likes the omega that demands to be fucked like he deserves.

“Demanding, aren’t we?” Taehyung says, voice hoarse.

“Are you gonna fuck me or not?” Jeongguk throws back. Taehyung does.

✦✧♥✧✦

Jeongguk arrives just in time for his meeting.

Yerim is waiting for him along with her sister Yeongja, the two of them sit in the small waiting area on the floor where his office is. His chest aches at the burning caramel that permeates the air, trying to let out a few calming pheromones as he approaches the two of them.

“Yerim-ssi, Yeongja-ssi,” he greets them amicably, “how have you been?” The last part was directed specifically towards the petite omega. She definitely looks better than the first time Jeongguk had seen her with a cut on her left cheek and a purple bruise over her eye.

Yerim wears makeup to cover the remnants of the abuse she endured. Jeongguk knows that there's a lot she has to heal from, but getting herself out of the house where she was mistreated had clearly helped her get better. Yerim has regained some color on her cheeks, and has regained the weight she lost after being forced to a single meal a day by her partner.

“I’m…” She hesitates, and Jeongguk waits. In their first meeting, the one thing Jeongguk had asked of her was to tell him the truth. That applied to what she went through and what she wanted or needed as well as to what she was feeling. Jeongguk told her that no matter what she told him he would build the case around what she felt comfortable having on official files, but that he needed to know as much as possible in order to know what to avoid and what to put out there.

“I guess I’m just doing well enough to keep going.” She tells him, voice soft, the burning scent of caramel though still there becomes less overpowering as the omega relaxes a little. “But it’s still a lot… I don’t think I’ve really processed what is happening.”

Jeongguk nods and offers her a small smile. He admires her a lot, the woman had a will of steel and the strength of a million soldiers. Jeongguk doesn’t know what would have happened to him if he had been stuck in a situation similar to hers. He is lucky his alpha loves and respects him as an equal, and would never dare raise a hand to him.

Not everyone is as lucky as him to find a partner that treats them like they deserve, Jeongguk becomes more aware of it every time he takes more and more cases similar to Yerim’s.

“I’m gonna go take some files from my office, and then we can go down to the meeting room together, okay?” The sisters nod to him, Yerim’s sister mouthing out a thanks as he bows slightly and makes his way to his office.

He bows to the receptionist who greets him with a warm smile, before walking up to his office and entering. He goes straight to his desk where he knows he had left the files ready the previous day. He looks over them for a second to check they are as he left them, before closing the folder satisfied. He glances at the picture of Taehyung and himself by his desktop, smiling at the memory of the day, of the cold evening and the happiness and love running through his bloodstream that had warmed his soul when his mate looked at him.

Jeongguk leaves his office with the necessary files, joining his client back in the waiting room and gesturing to them to follow him. He leads them to the elevator and presses the button two floors down where the meeting will be taking place.

“Yerim-ssi,” he calls his client’s attention softly. The omega turns to him with wide eyes, lips pursed nervously and finger fidgeting with her dress shirt. Jeongguk’s eyes soften at that, his voice sweet and gentle as he says, “I already told you you don’t actually have to be there for this negotiation if you don’t want to. So I just wanna make sure you’re okay with seeing him again.”

Yerim breathes in, as she seems to consider what he told her. She looks at her sister, the alpha smiles at her reassuringly and Yerim sighs. “I know, Jeongguk-ssi, but I want to be there. I… I think I need to be there.”

Jeongguk nods in understanding. “Okay.” He says, a sense of seriousness washing over him as he explains what will happen in the meeting. “I will be the one talking, it is possible he will try saying stuff or provoking you. Either of you. So I need you to keep that in mind and if you need to leave to take a breather please do. From what you told me about him it’s possible he will try to make the process difficult, so don’t expect him to comply. I will handle it as best as I can.” He finishes just as the elevator reaches their floor.

The doors open and Jeongguk leads them towards the meeting room they had been assigned. Waiting for them are two other alpha’s, both of them are built strongly, and even from a small distance Jeongguk could tell they were tall. Not that much taller than Jeongguk, though, maybe an inch or two.

He breathes in and has to try not to cringe at the powerful smell of liquor and pepper that permeates the hallway. It wasn’t exactly that Jeongguk disliked the smell (though it definitely wasn’t the kind he preferred, he much rather be shrouded in the scent of pine trees), just that the way the scent saturates the entire place is not only uncomfortable, but also incredibly disrespectful.

It annoys Jeongguk.

Placing the professional mask over his features, Jeongguk walked up to them and extended his hand towards the alphas. “Jeon Jeongguk, I’m Choi Yerim’s lawyer.” He introduces himself with a polite smile. 

The alpha dressed more appropriately for the meeting looks down at his offered hand, eyebrows raised as he studies Jeongguk slowly. Jeongguk just stares at him expectantly, eyes daring. The alpha meets his eyes and scoffs, grabbing his hand and shaking it with more force than necessary. “Lee Donghee,” he says. “I’m the defendant's lawyer.”

Jeongguk smiles, nods to the other alpha in greeting. “Yes, I can tell.” He tells the two of them. He glances at Yerim, who remains behind him trying not to meet her husband’s eyes. “Well, let's get into the meeting room.” He says, gesturing towards the room.

He allows Yerim and her sister to take their seats, before grabbing one himself beside Yerim. The lawyer and Yerim’s husband take their seats across from them.

“You’re late.” Yerim’s husband notes.

Jeongguk knows; he did it on purpose. Told them an earlier hour to give Yerim time to prepare, control on whether she saw her husband or not. Jeongguk feigns checking the hour on his watch before looking up apologetically at the alpha. “Yes, I apologize for my tardiness.” He says half-heartedly.

“Don’t worry, I know something as simple as time and punctuality tends to be a little mind boggling to omegas.” The alpha says condescendingly. Yerim stiffens beside him.

He suppresses the need to roll his eyes and before Jeongguk can answer, the alpha’s lawyer speaks. “You’re here now so we can proceed with the meeting.” He says.

Jeongguk looks at the two alphas before placing the files on the table, and opening them. He takes out some documents and passes them over to Donghee to look at. “Well, we’re here to negotiate some terms of the divorce, who will keep what. Whether you will have shared custody of Haerin, or not-”

“My client hasn’t agreed to the divorce.” Donghee tells him, pushing the documents back over to his side. “We came here in hopes of reminding Yerim of the family she’s trying to break.” Jeongguk feels as Yerim tenses, her hand a tight fist over her lap.

Jeongguk hums at that. “No.” He shrugs. “Heechul-ssi can sign those papers, negotiate the terms and be done with this the easy way, or we can make it longer and go to court.” Jeongguk tells him, tone amicable. Almost cheerful. He turns his gaze towards Heechul, disgust filling his entire being at the sight of the alpha. “I can assure you, if we go to court, you’ll lose everything .”

Heechul scoffs, turning disbelieving eyes to his wife who refuses to meet her husband’s gaze (soon to be ex-husband, if Jeongguk can help it). “You really hired this little bitch and hoped to scare me.” He laughs, loud and booming and mocking.

Jeongguk looks at Donghee with narrowed eyes, expecting the lawyer to reprimand his client in some way but the alpha simply looks at him with a smug twinkle in his eye. “Heechul-ssi,” Jeongguk says, gaining the attention of the alpha. “I will insist you sign those divorce papers and be as collaborative as you possibly can.”

“No.” The alpha says. “I’m not gonna do what some omega bitch tells me to. You should have stayed home waiting for your alpha instead of coming here and pretending you have any business doing an alpha’s job.”

Deep breathes. Jeongguk reminds himself to be patient and take deep breaths, now is not a time to snap.

The room is stuffy with the smell of pepper and liquor and burnt caramel. He smells coffee with something rotten, and feels as Yeongja helps Yerim out of her seat and the two walk out of the meeting room. 

Heechul laughs as the door closes with a click behind Jeongguk. “That omega can’t even behave in a meeting.” He scoffs.

“With all due respect, Heechul-ssi, you can’t blame them for wanting to be somewhere more pleasant than in your company.” Jeongguk tells him with a smile. “Now, will you sign the divorce papers?”

“He will not,” Donghee says.

“Tell you what,” Heechul says, ignoring his lawyer, eyes dark as he looks Jeongguk up and down. “I’ll sign those papers, so long as you do your fucking job as an omega and open your legs for me. Nice and easy, let me remind you your fucking place.”

He hears the other lawyer curse under his breath.

The alpha continues to ignore his lawyer, “maybe then I’ll even recommend your professional services to my friends.” He smiles, wide and condescending and disgusting.

Jeongguk hides his disgust beneath a mask of indifference, thinking instead of how he could use this for this case. Mention how the alpha had been making disrespectful and sexist remarks in their negotiations, use it to help her client leave her abusive relationship once and for all.

He will liberate Yerim from the shackles of her marriage, he knows he can because he’s one of the best family lawyers in Seoul. So he doesnt think too much about the condescending remarks. Because even if they are upsetting he has been dealing with them his entire career.

Instead, Jeongguk smirks, glancing at the alpha’s lawyer before turning his gaze back to the defendant. “No, thank you.” He says politely, taking the files from the table and turning on his heel. Not before saying, “I will be seeing you in court, Heechul-ssi.”

With that he leaves the meeting room. Takes a deep breath when the door closes behind him.

✦✧☾✧✦ 

The second time they meet is a week after they spend the night together. It isn’t expected, for neither Taehyung or Jeongguk; Taehyung would say it was the fates that decided the two of them were meant to meet again. Jeongguk would argue that it was a nice coincidence (though sometimes he does think he was destined to meet Taehyung again one way or another). 

Jeongguk is only starting his shift on a Thursday morning, he had to wake up early despite not having class until the afternoon and he’s tired. He’s normally a morning person, doesn’t really have any issue waking up early to get to class or to work, but stayed up all night finishing a paper he had due that day, barely slept two hours before having to get up to open up the coffee shop. So saying he is cranky and snappish is an understatement.

He feels like he could murder anyone that had the audacity to say the wrong thing to him.

Hoseok is working the early morning shift with him, though the older omega doesn’t seem as dead on his feet as Jeongguk. In fact, Hoseok is as nice and cheerful as always, no matter the hour he can always place a smile on his face that challenges the brightness of the sun.

It’s 8am and patrons are queueing up in the coffee shop, ready to get their early morning dose of caffeine to start the day. Hoseok is working the counter while Jeongguk makes the orders, which is nice since he doesn't feel like having much human interaction.

It would have been great if it wasn’t for the ridiculous order someone made with more sugar than a coffee should legally have. Which is actually annoying to Jeongguk since he has to make sure to put everything listed in the drink. It’s inconvenient and annoying and he’s tired. 

Jeongguk has the intention to tell the customer exactly that, but when he calls out the name the order had and is met with a cheery beta that thanks him happily before going off with her business Jeongguk decides against it. It’s her problem if she somehow becomes poisoned by the excessive amounts of sugar that order had in. Or, maybe Jeongguk is just being dramatic.

He needs a nap.

He sighs as he gets working with another order, it’s simple iced americano. Not something he personally likes, though he tends to order it when he has a specially charged day ahead of him, or when he knows he has to work on some assignment into the late hours of the night. Maybe Jeongguk should get himself one during his break.

“Taehyung,” he calls out, the name feels familiar as it leaves his lips. Though he is not sure exactly why.

“Yeah,” Jeongguk first notices the familiar scent of pine (the one that had reminded him of the summers he spent at his grandparents house in the mountains), and feels his eyes widen when he recognizes the timbre of the voice. “That’s me.” Taehyung says.

Jeongguk smiles politely at Taehyung, forcing the upturn of his lips, passing him over the drink and hoping against all hope that the alpha doesn’t recognize him. He had been drunk, after all. Both of them were.

“Jeongguk,” the alpha says, and all hopes of avoiding the awkwardness of seeing one of his one night stands again are ruined. Taehyung places his hands on the counter and leans onto them. There’s a smirk playing on his lips, teasing, something dark shining in his eyes as he looks over at Jeongguk, doing a show of checking him out before his dark eyes meet his again. “Who would have thought I’d see you again.” He flirts.

A sigh escapes his lips as he considers pretending to not remember the alpha. Will it be believable if he says he’s too sleep deprived to remember anything that happened a week ago? Maybe not, he will try though.

“Who are you?” Jeongguk tries. Feigning obliviousness, and wishing he was anywhere else but there.

Taehyung takes that as a challenge, “Aw, baby, did you forget about me? Maybe we can meet again and refresh your memory.”

The teasing twinkle in the alpha’s eyes ignites something within Jeongguk. He pokes his tongue through his cheek as he glares at the alpha whose gaze challenges and mocks him. The two of them get involved in some sort of staring contest while the alpha radiates charm and Jeongguk becomes even more annoyed.

“So, Jeongguk-ah, what do you say?” Maybe it’s supposed to be charming, maybe it’s supposed to be flirty. Maye Jeongguk is supposed to blush and write his number on the alpha’s cup. Maybe he’s supposed to promise the alpha they’ll see each other again.

But something within Jeongguk snaps. Something hurt and tired, and incredibly disappointed. “I say you can take your drink, and fuck off to your business, Taehyung- ah .” Jeongguk says, voice sickly sweet and smile incredibly polite.

Taehyung’s eyes widen, something like panic and regret flashing over them. He straightens up from where he’s leaning on the counter. “Wait, Jeongguk-ssi-”

“You already have your drink.” Jeongguk says, and then gestures at the few patrons waiting for their orders behind Taehyung. “If you haven’t noticed there’s a line and I have to work.”

Jeongguk doesn’t say more than that as he moves back to finish the orders he had been working on before the alpha had decided he wanted to hit on Jeongguk. He catches Hoseok looking at him with slight worry, he smiles softly at his friend and shakes his head slightly.

“What was that?” Hoseok asks, as he places a couple of cookies into a bag.

“An annoyance.” He shrugs, “nothing I haven’t had to deal with before.” Though something he sometimes wishes he didn't have to deal with. Alpha’s should just stop thinking with their dick and stop hitting on every omega they see every hour of the day.

Hoseok returns to the cashier to take a new order, Jeongguk calls out another name.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” His friend asks when he passes Jeongguk another empty cup with a new order.

Jeongguk sighs. Does he? Does he want to talk about how tired he is not only physically because of lack of sleep but also emotionally? Does he want to talk about how tired he is of dating and going out with alphas that ditch him as soon as they realize Jeongguk won’t give up his studies to become some sort of trophy omega? Does he want to talk about how his last boyfriend reminded him day in and day out how he should stop wasting time pursuing a career he was no good for? Does he want to talk about how tired he is of alphas looking at him only to fuck because he’s pretty and desirable?

Does he want to talk about how he longs for an alpha that looks at him like he’s the sun and the stars and everything in between? How Jeongguk yearns for an alpha that values his happiness as well as his sadness? One that wont tell him to stop studying because it’s not his place as an omega to pursue a professional career? One that tells him to study and grow in every way he possibly wishes to? One that empowers him instead of putting him down?

Does Jeongguk want to talk about how broken and empty all his previous relationships have left him and having an alpha hit on him so shamelessly while he’s working and sleep deprived and so fucking tired , is not something he wants to deal with? Not now, not ever?

Does Jeongguk want to talk about all of that?

If he really thinks about it he does, he does , but opening his heart in that way, even to a friend he’s certain can understand his feelings in all the ways that matter. Taking off every piece of armour he has started wearing to protect his vulnerable heart, is not something he thinks he’s willing to do.

So Jeongguk doesn’t.

✦✧♥✧✦

He realizes Jeongguk is feeling upset before he enters their apartment.

Taehyung’s sitting on the kitchen table, one of the ugly mugs he loves because Jeongguk gave it to him on his birthday filled with steaming tea beside him. His laptop is placed before him, the document where he’s writing his next novel open. The little vertical line blinks mockingly at him on the document, he hasn’t been able to write a single word since he started writing an hour ago. He’s been caught staring at the last paragraph he wrote wondering where the hell he had been going with the scene.

He notices the smell of burning cherries right before the door clicks open and the sounds of his mate taking off his shoes to enter their home travel through the apartment. He hears a sniff and then footsteps, before his omega enters the living room and goes directly to greet Taehyung.

He’s dressed in his work clothes, a white button up and black slacks. Hair combed to the side to reveal his forehead, just like he had left earlier that morning.

A pair of lips meet his own in a chaste kiss, one he returns with haste following after them once they begin to separate. The younger sniffs before smiling at him softly, in that way he does when he wants to reassure Taehyung that he’s fine. An upward turn of lips and a raw softness to his eyes Taehyung knows well. Jeongguk makes his way to their room. The smell of burning cherries, though now a bit appeased, follows after him.

Taehyung waits. He gives his omega enough time to do whatever he needs to do, and knows the last thing he wants is to have his alpha start asking questions about why he’s upset. So Taehyung waits, he gives the other time to settle properly, ignores the mocking document before him and closes his laptop, finishes his tea in a hurry and leaves the mug by the sink.

He waits, fills a glass with water for his omega before finally deciding to walk into their bedroom.

Jeongguk sniffs every now and then, nesting supplies laying messily beside him as he starts placing them where he wants them. He makes no sign to acknowledge his alpha’s presence. Taehyung just watches him, watches his omega place pillows and blankets in a strategic position only he understands. He watches as Jeongguk quickly undresses, leaving only his underwear on, and throws his clothes to a corner of a room. Watches as Jeongguk enters their shared closet and comes back out wearing one of Taehyung’s oversized hoodies and a couple more he places on the bed.

Jeongguk moves a couple of pillows and blankets around a little more, ignoring the presence of his alpha by the door. Once he seems satisfied enough with his work he gets under his fluffiest blanket, one that Taehyung knows the omega has had since before they met. Jeongguk gets under his blanket, it’s quiet and he hears as the omega sighs softly and the scent of burning cherries subsides a little more.

Taehyung can barely see Jeongguk under his nest of pillows and blankets and hoodies.

“Taetae?” His omega calls, finally acknowledging Taehyung’s presence.

Taehyung takes that as his cue to enter the room, he places the glass of water on their bedside table, knowing the younger would ask for it later. “May I come in, Gguk-ah?” Taehyung asks gently. He knows what the answer will be, but he also knows that Jeongguk appreciates being given a choice. 

“Please.” He’s about to get in after Jeongguk when the omega stops him. “Take off your hoodie.” The omega pouts, Taehyung wants nothing more than to kiss it away. “I want to feel you close to me.”

“Of course, love.” Taehyung complies easily, taking off his hoodie and shirt in one go and remaining only in his sweatpants. Jeongguk stares at him expectantly, glances down at his legs momentarily before Taehyung gets the message and takes off his sweatpants as well. Now just in his underwear.

He’s careful not to disrupt any of the pillows and blankets placed around the bed when he slips in after Jeongguk. The omega immediately snuggles up to him, throwing his bare leg over Taehyung’s waist and burying his face in his neck. Taehyung’s arms automatically wrap around his mate, bringing him even closer as he starts rubbing his cheek against his omega.

Jeongguk melts further into him, his small sniffles ebbing away the more Taehyung scents him. The scent of pine and old books covers his omega like a fine blanket of warmth, Taehyung makes sure to scent him until he can barely smell the sweetness of his lover under his own scent.

It’s then that Jeongguk starts rubbing his nose against Taehyung’s scent gland, the sweetness of maraschino cherries takes over him until all Taehyung can smell on himself is Jeongguk, Jeongguk, Jeongguk .

Taehyung adores it.

Adores being so covered in his lover's scent he can smell nothing but him. Adores how the sweetness of cherry wraps up around him and seeps into his skin so naturally it becomes a second skin. Adores how it melts into him and keeps him covered in the protective gentleness of his mate.

It’s warm under Jeongguk’s fluffy blanket that seems to carry all of the scents the omega holds close to his heart. There’s tints of vanilla, and peppermint, and peaches, and wood; but most of all there’s the mix of pine, books and cherries. It’s so warm under the blanket, and Taehyung should be uncomfortable because spring is starting to give way to summer. But he isn’t.

It’s warm under the blanket and Taehyung would have it no other way. 

Jeongguk is pressed against him, shrouded in pine and yellowing pages. His omega’s lips tease the tan skin of his neck and their arms are wrapped around each other and unwilling to let go. The feeling of Jeongguk’s skin against his is familiar; familiar in a way that sends his heart into overdrive, but cradles it against the fire of his love all the same.

Jeongguk is half on top of him, rubbing his scent into him softly. His movements are slowing down and the beating of his heart drums consistently against his ribs. A sigh escapes his lover’s lips and Jeongguk rests his head on Taehyung’s chest. The alpha’s hands immediately find the soft tendrils of Jeongguk’s hair, his long fingers scratching at the omega’s scalp.

“I’m tired,” Jeongguk says. His voice is soft, so soft, Taehyung wouldn't have been able to hear it if they were not so close together.

Taehyung hums. “Do you want to talk about it, darling?” He asks, voice gentle. “Or do you wanna just cuddle and take a nap.”

He feels Jeongguk shake his head softly. “Just wanna sleep for a little bit.”

His fingers play and scratch at the younger’s head, Jeongguk’s breathing slowing down as he falls asleep to the beating of Taehyung's heart.

And it sings. Taehyung’s heart sings with love and warmth and adoration for the man that is cradled against him. It sings a ballad of pain and pleasure, melancholy and euphoria.

He wants to know what made his lover so upset, wants to make whoever or whatever made his omega sad and angry and hurt pay. There’s nothing more Taehyung wishes than to hurt anyone that dares try to do something to his lover. There’s a fire in his nerves that thrums with rage, one Taehyung knows he should quench. Because no matter how much he wishes to protect his mate, to defend him against everything that means to wrong him, he knows Jeongguk is well capable of doing it himself.

Taehyung knows the strength of his lover, he knows it well. Knows that what Jeongguk needs from him is for Taehyung to be there. To be there to comfort him and empower him and give him strength. Jeongguk needs Taehyung to love him, so Taehyung adores him.

He brings his lover closer to his soul and cherishes his heart. Breath puffs softly from the younger’s parted lips, and Taehyung let’s his heart sing. 

It sings of love and Taehyung breathes.

✦✧☾✧✦ 

Something is bound to disturb his peace.

Jeongguk should know this, after all, there hasn’t been any remarkable event to highlight his shift and Jeongguk is very happy about that. The customers have been polite, no one has asked for ridiculous orders with excessive amounts of sugar, no one has tried to hit on him. Everything is good.

It's late morning, there’s not many patrons in the cafe, since the morning rush has long since passed. Jeongguk is quite relieved about that, glad he gets a small reprieve from the stress of a full cafe. He’s by himself, only a few patrons settled in a couple of tables and working on their laptops. He had told Chaeyoung to take her break, since he had taken his already. 

Jeongguk busies himself by cleaning the counter, lost in thought as his body moves automatically. The sound of bells snap him out of his head and he looks up to see the new customer that had entered the coffee shop.

He’s dressed casually, a white shirt and jeans with a cap placed backwards on his head. He shouldn’t look as attractive as he does like that, Jeongguk hates him for it. No matter how much he dislikes the alpha, resents him for proving every conception of alphas Jeongguk had come to create in his mind, he can’t deny how handsome and attractive he finds him.

Taehyung has the looks of a model and the most intoxicating scent Jeongguk has ever perceived and he hates it. He hates that he likes how he looks, how he smells. He hates that he likes the deep baritone of his voice, hates how fresh the night they spent together is in his mind even if it had happened weeks ago. He hates that his omega is clearly infatuated with the alpha, and no matter how hard he tries Jeongguk can’t help feeling attracted to him.

If isn’t the first time Taehyung has come to the cafe after Jeongguk told him to fuck off. In fact, he has tried speaking to Jeongguk, but everytime single time Jeongguk ignores him, making sure not to work the counter and simply make the orders. If he disappears into the break room occasionally Hoseok and Chaeyoung would pretend not to notice.

Now, however, Jeongguk has no other choice but to talk to Taehyung. Taehyung knows it. And Jeongguk knows that he knows that Jeongguk has no other choice. The omega sees it in the other’s dark eyes as soon as they meet his own.

“Hello,” Jeongguk greets drily. “What do you want?”

He waits for the alpha to make an order, he’s noticed that Taehyung always orders something different. From iced americano’s to vanilla latte’s, never one to be exactly loyal to one drink in particular.

But Taehyung isn’t looking at the menu, he’s looking at Jeongguk with a conflicted look in his eyes and Jeongguk can’t help feeling a little awkward under his dark gaze.

“So?” Jeongguk says, and if he sounds a little aggressive compared to his usually sweet demeanor he doesn’t really care.

The alpha takes a deep breath and then, “Jeongguk-ssi.” He tries. 

“What would you like to order?” He insists, hoping that another customer would walk in so that he gets an excuse to ignore Taehyung.

Taehyung sighs, looking a little defeated. “Look, can we talk?”

“We’re talking.”

“No, I mean.” Taehyung makes a frustrated sound, glances back for a second to make sure there’s no one waiting in line. Or maybe that there’s no one to eavesdrop on them. “Look,” he says, “I wanted to apologize about last time.”

Jeongguk raises his eyebrows at that and he scoffs. “About last time? You’d have to be more specific.”

“The other day when I came in and I kept hitting on you. I… that wasn’t cool, and you were right to get mad. You were working, and I didn’t respect that.” He told him. Jeongguk simply stared at him, blinking. “It was wrong of me to assume that you would want anything more after that one time, and I should have respected that as well. So I’m really sorry.” Taehyung cringes a little at that and looks down, there’s pink dusting across his cheeks. “I probably came across like such an asshole.” He says softly.

“You’re.. Sorry?” Jeongguk voices.

Taehyung nods, meets his eyes and looks back down to his feet. “I really am. I’m- I’m not usually like that, I just, I don’t know what came over me.”

“You don’t know.” Jeongguk deadpans. 

A cringe, “I really am sorry, and this probably sounds like a lame apology and I would love to make it up to you in some way or another. Whatever you want. I am really sorry, and I really just wanted to apologize to you. I acted like such an asshole.”

It’s genuine. That’s what surprises Jeongguk the most. He’s not apologizing because Jeongguk thinks he did something wrong, he’s apologizing because he truly regrets acting like a typical entitled alpha. He’s not apologizing because it’s expected of him, he’s apologizing because he truly feels sorry.

And Jeongguk doesn’t know what to do with himself. Has never had an alpha actually apologize for something like that. His ex would have attributed Jeongguk being upset as him being a typical sensitive omega. Hormonal. His ex would have said that as an omega Jeongguk should just take what his alpha gives him and not complain about anything else. His ex would have invalidated all Jeongguk said instead of admitting he had been in the wrong.

So seeing Taehyung walk up to him and own up to his mistakes. Apologizing for something like that so genuinely. And considering Jeongguk’s feelings the way he did… It’s surprising and refreshing and Jeongguk doesn’t know what to do with himself, isn’t quite used to something like that from any alpha. So he just says the first thing he can think of. “You did. Like the biggest asshole.” He says.

Taehyung cringes again, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “Yeah, I did.” He tells him. “I really am sorry I acted like such an asshole. You didn’t deserve that.”

And he’s right, Jeongguk didn’t deserve that. And he doesn’t know what to do about the apology. It’s the first time someone apologizes to him for something like that. He looks around the cafe, no new customers have appeared and Chaeyoung is still on break. He looks down at his hands and frowns slightly, thinking.

“Okay. I accept your apology.” Jeongguk decides, offering the alpha a small smile. “So, what would you like to drink?”

Taehyung stares at him for a second longer, opening his mouth to say something but then thinking better of it. He takes a deep breath and glances upwards at the menu. “Hot chocolate, please.”

Jeongguk types that onto the little screen, “that’s a little different from iced americano.” He says.

Taehyung pouts, actually pouts, looking like a petulant child when he answers. “I hate that thing.”

“Then why would you order it in the first place?” Jeongguk asks, “what size?”

“Umm, medium sized.” Taehyung answers. “And well… people my age are expected to drink iced americanos.”

Jeongguk laughs at that. “People your age? Really? Are you trying to live the life of the typical university student, Taehyung-ssi?” He grabs the medium sized cup and places it aside. “That’s 4000 won.”

Taehyung takes out his wallet and gives him a bill. “Not technically, since I already graduated. Just trying to embody the sleep-deprived writer stereotype, you know.”

Jeongguk snorts at that. “You’re doing a great job then. Absolutely believable with your hot chocolate and all.”

Taehyung narrows his eyes, a smile playing at his lips. “I try.”

Jeongguk smiles gently at that. Setting to work with Taehyung’s hot chocolate just as Chaeyong comes out of the break room. She makes a face at him when she notices Taehyung but Jeongguk shakes his head in reassurance.

He calls Taehyung’s name and the alpha thanks him politely before he leaves with his hot chocolate. Jeongguk sighs.

✦✧♥✧✦

When Jeongguk starts waking up the first thing he notices is the lack of a warm body curled around him. It feels empty, not having Taehyung with him in his nest. However, the alpha’s pine and old book scent is ever present in the warmth of his nest and it covers Jeongguk like a second skin after being thoroughly scented by his alpha. Jeongguk can’t smell his natural sweet scent under his alpha’s scent and he adores it.

He breathes in, letting the fresh pine smell fill his lungs, before he lets out a contented smile and melts back into the sheets. He feels safe and guarded under all his blankets and the soothing scent of his mate, but he wonders where said mate has gone off to. He wants Taehyung back in his nest to cuddle him.

Jeongguk lets out a grunt and allows himself to properly wake, turning around to face the ceiling, noticing how the late afternoon light wanders in through the crevice of the blinds. He sighs, feeling around his nest in search of his phone. He’s certain he left it somewhere around the bed.

A pout pulls at his lips when he doesn't find it, he frowns, sitting up to check his bedside table and finding his phone placed face down and charging. There is a glass of water placed beside it and a Hershey's kiss on top of it. Jeongguk melts a little bit at that.

He grabs the kiss and checks the time, noticing it’s almost seven, surprised he had slept for so long. Taehyung was probably making supper.

Jeongguk frowns. They were supposed to go out for lunch together. He had promised Taehyung and he ruined it.

There’s a lump building in his throat and his sight becomes a little blurry, he sniffs. Before he starts crying he grabs the glass of water and gulps it down. If he drinks water he can’t cry. 

When he’s done he puts the empty glass aside, feeling a little less like he’s about to burst into tears. He grabs the chocolate Taehyung left him and it melts in his mouth, it makes him smile a little, the milky sweetness of it welcome.

He checks his phone again to check that he has no messages he needs to respond before finally getting out of his nest. He doesn’t want to. His nest is warm and comfortable, safe, and it smells so much like his alpha he just wants to stay there forever inhaling the intoxicating scent of pine and old books. Though he leaves, set on finding where Taehyung had gone off to. 

Jeongguk stretches his arms upwards a little, a yawn escaping his mouth as he finally makes his way out of the room in nothing but one of Taehyung's hoodies, his underwear and fluffy socks.

The sight that greets him is a familiar one. There’s Taehyung, wearing nothing but his boxers and an apron with a bunny embroidered in it—the apron is Jeongguk’s, a birthday gift from none other than Jimin. The familiar smell of ramen cooking makes him realize just how hungry he is. He hadn’t eaten anything after his very pitiful breakfast before going to work.

Taehyung looks up just as Jeongguk enters the kitchen, a box-like smile immediately lighting up his features at the sight of the younger. Jeongguk doesn’t say anything, though he is quick to move around the kitchen counter and wrap his arms around his mate from behind. He melts into him, nose pressing against Taehyung’s scent gland as a pleased smile pulls at his lips.

The alpha lets out a breathless laugh at that, putting the spoon he had been using aside and letting his body melt against Jeongguk. “Hello, darling? Did you sleep okay?”

Jeongguk nods, and then buries his nose against Taehyung’s scent gland. Breathing in the fresh pine and old books and unconsciously letting out a purr, he tightens his arms around his lover and allows himself to relax a little.

“I’m sorry.” He mutters against Taehyung’s skin. The alpha stays silent for a second before turning around in Jeongguk’s arms. He has to loosen his grip a little to let Taehyung move freely, though he presses his nose back against Taehyung’s neck once the alpha has turned fully around.

Suddenly he is being lifted, though, he lets out a surprised sound and wraps his legs around Taehyung’s waist just as the older starts carrying him. He’s placed to sit on the kitchen counter, away from where the older had been watching the ramen cook. Jeongguk blinks owlishly at his alpha, doe eyes surprised and confused when he’s met with the older’s narrowed gaze.

“Why are you sorry, darling?” Taehyung asks. Despite his scolding tone, Taehyung’s eyes are soft as they look at Jeongguk. They shine with a tender flame that warms Jeongguk’s insides and make him feel a little bit more guilty for breaking his promise.

Jeongguk frowns. “I promised we could go out for lunch and we didn’t go.” He says.

“Gguk-ah,” Taehyung sighs, there’s such tenderness in his eyes Jeongguk has to look away. Sometimes… sometimes the way Taehyung looks at him overwhelms him. Sometimes he feels like he doesnt deserve the older's love, his adoration. Even if Taehyung tells him time and time again how Jeongguk deserves everything good in the world.

“Darling, look at me.” Taehyung says gently, and Jeongguk struggles a little to meet Taehyung’s earnest gaze. “I’m not mad. I could never be mad at you for something like that.” Jeongguk pouts at that, feeling the urge to cry. “We can have lunch dates any other time, baby.”

“Still,” Jeongguk shrugs. He sniffs, internally scolding himself for being so sensitive. “I promised. I’m sorry.”

Taehyung cups his face like it's the most fragile thing in the world, his eyes glitter with earnestness. “There’s nothing to apologize about, Gguk-ah. I got to cuddle you in your nest so I physically cannot be mad at you. You can take me out for lunch another time, okay?” Taehyung offers.

Jeongguk nods at that, sniffing a little. Taehyung lets their lips meet in a chaste kiss. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I’m feeling so sensitive today.” He speaks against the older lips and Taehyung bites his lower lip in retaliation. “Tae!”

“It doesn’t matter whether you're sensitive or not, Jeongguk.” Taehyung says, tone firm. “It doesn’t make your feelings any less valid.”

And Jeongguk just stares at the man he learned to love and whose love he came to accept—even if it was still a little hard to believe Taehyung loved him at times. Taehyung was beautiful, from his mismatching eyelids, to the mole on the tip of his nose. He was compassionate and strong and so admirable. Jeongguk couldn’t believe he was the one that got to call him his mate.

“Do you wanna talk about what made you so upset today?” Taehyung prompts. His hands are on Jeongguk’s waist, under the hoodie. They feel feverish against his skin, but Jeongguk is grateful for the grounding touch.

Jeongguk sighs, reminded of the asshole alphas he’d had to deal with in the morning. “I don’t know, some stupid alpha thought it would be amusing to harass me during a meeting today and it just kind of soured my day. Then I had to tell my client that we would have to go to court because her abusive husband refused to sign the papers and she kind of cried out of frustration, and you know I cry when I see people cry and I wanted to cry so hard, but I couldn’t because I have to be professional, you know. No one wants to see their lawyer cry when things aren’t going their way.

“After that when I was on my way home—and I was so excited because we were going to go out for lunch and I love lunch dates with you—but then I saw someone accidentally run over a puppy, and honestly, that was the last straw.” Jeongguk’s lips were set in a pout when he finishes, then he adds as an afterthought. “I also think my heat is due soon, so that doesn’t help.”

Taehyung hums, “you’re not gonna tell me what that alpha did to you, are you?”

“It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary,” Jeongguk explains. “He didn’t touch me or anything, you know I would never keep something like that from you.” Taehyung nods. “Just the typical alpha entitlement, asking why I was working and shit like that. Nothing I haven’t had to deal with.” He shrugs.

“I wish you didn’t have to deal with typical alpha entitlement.” Taehyung says, rubbing circles into Jeongguk’s skin. “You don’t deserve that. You’re the best family lawyer in your firm, that shouldn’t be overlooked because of your rank.”

Jeongguk shrugs. “It’s just the society we live in.”

“It’s a shit society.”

“I never said it wasn’t.”

Jeongguk allows himself to be enveloped by his alpha’s arms after that. Taehyung starts scenting him despite the fact that Jeongguk is already reeking of him. He melts into the embrace and revels in the closeness of his mate, pulling him even closer with his legs.

“Was the puppy okay?” Taehyung asks softly.

Jeongguk whines at that. “It died.”

“Now I’m sad.”

They stay like that for a little longer. Taehyung makes no move to separate from Jeongguk, continuing scenting his mate. Jeongguk lets him, feeling security and love as the pine overtakes everything and covers his natural cherry scent in another protective blanket. Taehyung is thorough and gentle. Kissing his nape and his cheeks and his nose whenever he gets the chance.

Jeongguk giggles a little from his mates tickling kisses and caresses, drunk on his scent and on his love.

It takes him a little to notice the smell of something burning. “Tae, the ramen!”

“Oh shit!”

Taehyung goes to turn off the kitchen. Jeongguk laughs.

✦✧☾✧✦ 

The coffee shop is quite busy the next time Taehyung shows up. Jeongguk is not expecting the alpha’s appearance, he hasn’t seen him for over a week since he apologized to Jeongguk and though Jeongguk won’t admit it, he has been a bit disappointed in not seeing him again. So he is pleasantly surprised when he looks up to see Taehyung entering the cafe.

He wears jeans and a black t-shirt, nothing too extravagant, even though he still manages to look like he belongs on a runway. There is a black beanie hiding his dark hair this time, a pair of black rimmed glasses sitting over his nose and a leather satchel bag strung over his shoulder.

Jeongguk pretends like he is not enthralled by the scent he has come to learn to distinguish from the rest. The one he has learned to pinpoint even over the sea of scents that currently covers the entire cafe.

He pretends that he’s not attracted to the rich, yet not overimposing, scent of pine trees and old books. He watches as Taehyung takes a place on the queue, scrolling mindlessly through his phone as he waits to reach the counter. He’s so immersed in whatever he's looking at in his phone he doesn’t seem to have noticed Jeongguk’s presence.

The omega glances towards the alpha every now and then as he keeps typing in orders and greeting customers. He quickly appeases Hoseok when the older omega subtly asks him if he wants to change places with him, since he noticed that Taehyung had arrived. Jeongguk had told his friend that the other had apologized, but it was no surprise the older one still worries for him.

“I almost thought you would never show your face here again.” Jeongguk says as a form of greeting when it was finally Taehyung’s turn.

The alpha looks up at him, a smile pulling at his lips as he quickly locks his phone and puts it in his pocket. “Jeongguk-ssi,” he says, “you’re working the counter today.” There is mirth dancing in his dark hues and Jeongguk has to keep himself from smiling.

“How observant of you,” Jeongguk says, “as it turns out, there’s no one I wish to avoid anymore.”

“Is that so?” Taehyung says, though he cringes slightly at that. “And why were you avoiding someone before?”

“Because they had been kind of an asshole to me before but I’ve forgiven them so there’s no need to avoid them anymore.”

Taehyung doesn’t say anything to that, simply offers Jeongguk an apologetic smile. Jeongguk looks at him for a second longer, watching as the alpha looks over the menu, dark eyes travelling over all the options available.

He’s pretty , Jeongguk thinks. And it’s of no surprise to him, such a fact. He’s known Taehyung is pretty ever since the alpha approached him at the club—pretty, handsome, attractive. But back then Jeongguk had been wearing the hazy glasses of drunkenness. He’d seen an attractive alpha interested in him, remembered how his ex cheated and thought, this, this is how I forget him .

But then Taehyung, who was supposed to be only a one night stand, someone that was supposed to help him forget his shitty ex for a night, appeared at the cafe and hit on Jeongguk. And he wanted to hate him, wanted to resent him for it. For being such a stereotypical alpha that couldn't control his hormones for a second and act decent. Jeongguk did, for a while. But then Taehyung apologized and it was genuine and Jeongguk forgave him and now Jeongguk can’t ignore how attracted his omega is to him because he has no reason to resent him anymore.

So it’s complicated because now he can’t ignore how fucking pretty he finds Taehyung. Can’t ignore the way his heart skips a small beat when the alpha’s eyes meet his own.

“So…” Jeongguk prompts, “what would you like today?”

Taehyung looks at him again and then back at the menu. The alpha purses his lips and then shrugs a little. “Hot chocolate?”

This time Jeongguk can’t help his smile. “Thought people your age are expected to drink iced americanos.” He says as he types the order in. “Anything to eat?”

“No, nothing,” Taehyung says. “And well, I’m not like people my age. I’m special.”

He chuckles, shaking his head a little at the alpha. “That’d be 4000 won,” he tells Taehyung, unable to keep the small smile off his face. Taehyung gives him the money, thanks Jeongguk and moves aside for the next customer.

Jeongguk watches as Taehyung waits for his drink and instead of leaving—as he often did—he watches as Taehyung settles at a table in a secluded corner of the cafe, taking out a leather bound journal, a pen and writing . And it’s a little surprising, a little intriguing. Jeongguk wonders what the alpha is writing in his journal, and wonders what he has written before.

Taehyung takes a sip of his hot chocolate and continues writing, looking so engrossed in what he is doing that it's almost like he has disconnected from the world. It doesn’t matter that the coffee shop isn’t exactly quiet, it being rush hour and people meeting up and speaking amongst themselves. But Taehyung is writing and his pen hasn’t stopped moving and his tongue peaks from between his lips and Jeongguk can’t help but think he looks adorable.

Someone clears their throat and Jeongguk’s attention snaps to the growing line of customers he has yet to attend. He offers an apologetic smile to the girl before him and asks her for her order. If he steals glances to the table in the corner every now and then as he tends to his customers, no one needs to know.

It’s half an hour later, when the rush hour has passed and Chaeyoung arrives that he realizes his shift is over. And normally, Jeongguk would change, grab his things from the break room and make his way back to his house to work on one assignment or the other. But there’s an alpha writing in a secluded corner of the coffee shop, and Jeongguk can’t help his curiosity.

So if he makes another hot chocolate no one ordered and has Hoseok giving him questioning looks, it’s nobody's business. If he makes a vanilla latte for himself, and makes his way to said table in the secluded corner, it’s nobody’s business.

He puts his backpack on one of the chairs, and clears his throat. Taehyung immediately looks up, pen frozen midword as he stares at Jeongguk with wide questioning eyes. “Jeongguk-ssi?”

“Hi.” Jeongguk says lamely.

“Hi?”

“May I sit?” Jeongguk asks, watching as Taehyung blinks owlishly at him. The alpha’s mouth is parted open as he looks at the omega. “I brought you more hot chocolate.”

“Oh…” Taehyung lets out, he clears his throat. “You didn’t have to…”

Jeongguk smiles. “I know, I wanted to. You’ve been so focused on whatever you’re doing, I thought you could use a little more sustenance.” He shrugs, waits for Taehyung to say something but the alpha is still staring at him with widened eyes. Jeongguk sighs, “so… can I sit?”

“Oh!” Taehyung exclaims, “yes, yes- yeah! You can sit, Jeongguk-ssi.”

He takes a seat in front of the alpha, places his drink before him and takes a sip from his own latte. “You can continue doing what you were doing.” Jeongguk says.

Taehyung nods, grabs his new hot chocolate and takes a sip. A pleased smile pulls at his lips, “thank you, you really didn’t have to.” He tells him.

Jeongguk shakes his head, “It’s fine, really, I wanted to.”

“Thank you, anyway.” Taehyung tells him, and Jeongguk just nods, prompts Taehyung to keep doing whatever he was doing before Jeongguk bothered him.

The alpha doesn’t move though, simply looks at Jeongguk for a little while longer, eyebrows furrowed slightly as he watches the omega. “You’re being so friendly, so suddenly.” Taehyung says.

It’s not an accusation, it’s an observation. Taehyung looks more curious than irritated, as if the fact that Jeongguk is willingly sitting in front of him is not expected. Which is not, and if it had been any other alpha Jeongguk would have simply ignored them and moved on. But there's something about Taehyung… He wants to get to know the other better, learn what he did with his life and what he plans for the future. Jeongguk is simply curious and has no reason not to satisfy his curiosity.

“I know.” Jeongguk says, “I just figured you couldn’t be as bad as I thought you were in the beginning… And well… I’m intrigued by your fat leather bound journal, you haven’t stopped writing since you sat down here.” 

Taehyung chuckles, “so you have been watching me?”

Jeongguk shrugs. “You’re intriguing.” he says honestly.

“So you got me another hot chocolate, came here to interrupt my very fruitful writing session because you were intrigued?” Taehyung asks, something teasing glittering inside his dark eyes.

“I’m very forward when I want something.”

“Oh, I know.”

“So?” Jeongguk insists, “I mean, you don’t have to tell me if you don't want to, obviously, but if you want to share… I’d like to know what’s got you so immersed.”

Taehyung looks at him, considering. Maybe Jeongguk should feel a little uncomfortable, having the alpha's dark gaze on him like that. And though it does make Jeongguk feel a little shy he can’t help but preen at the attention. His omega dancing joyfully at having the alpha it’s attracted to being so focused on him.

There’s a sigh that leaves Taehyung’s lips, a soft chuckle and shaking of his head.

“I wonder what goes on inside your head sometimes.” Taehyung says. Jeongguk raises his eyebrows at that and Taehyung chuckles. “Here, since you’re so intrigued.” He flips a page, turns the leather bound journal and pushes it over to Jeongguk.

Jeongguk sets aside his latte, glancing upwards at Taehyung for a second before his eyes settle against the pages the journal was opened to. The left side is filled with the ink of words, handwriting a little messy but not in a way that is difficult to read. The right page isn’t written in prose like the last one. Instead, there is a poem written carefully onto it. The handwriting neater than the previous page, as if Taehyung had taken his time writing the words onto the page.

Jeongguk reads.

His breath catches. He glances up and sees Taehyung looking at him, lower lip caught between his teeth as he awaits for a reaction from Jeongguk.

“You-” He clears his throat. “You wrote this?”

Taehyung nods. “I’m actually not that good with poetry, though I do enjoy it a lot so I’ve been practicing. I’m better with prose.” He shrugs.

Jeongguk doesn’t know what to say. He meets the alpha’s eyes, then looks back down to the poem. He shakes his head, eyes skimming over the poem again.

i’m sorry, they say.

it was too late

they didn’t mean to betray

there’s blood on my

hands and acid

on my tongue 

i’m sorry, they repeat.

there’s something in

me that feels incomplete

a crack to my

ribs and no air 

to breathe

i’m sorry, they cry.

a shooting star wishes

it wasn’t lie

i fall to my knees

and realize

the blood on my hands is mine

i'm sorry, they tell me.

the day that i die

“ The day that I die …” Jeongguk reads outloud, but his voice isn’t more than a whisper. He looks up at Taehyung again, eyes wide and glittery with wetness. “Taehyung, this…. I…” He doesn’t know what to say. Doesn’t know how to explain the feelings that short poem brings to his chest. So he just says, “Taehyung, this is so beautiful.”

There’s a light pink dusting the alpha’s cheeks, a small smile pulling at his lips as he meets Jeongguk’s eyes hopefully. “You really think so?”

Jeongguk nods, blinks a few tears away that were threatening to fall. “It’s really moving, I don’t even know how to explain…” He shakes his head and manages a smile. “You’re very good at this, I honestly don’t know what I was expecting but this is really pretty.”

“Thank you, Jeongguk.” Taehyung tells him, “That means a lot.” Jeongguk only nods, passes the journal back to the alpha and continues sipping from his latte.

He can see the usual city life through the window, people walking fast as they make their way to some unknown destination. Some are immersed into the screens of their phones or with the device pressed to their ears. Cars pass by and there is the occasional sound of a car horn.

Jeongguk sips from his coffee.

He doesn’t know why reading that poem made him feel the way it did. It reminded him of his past relationships, of being hurt over and over and over again to the point it felt like he was going to shatter if he didn’t protect his heart. It felt like alphas treating him kindly only to turn out to be prejudiced assholes. It felt like crushed hope and fruitless wishes.

Jeongguk wonders what inspired Taehyung to write that poem. If somebody had hurt him before, if he had once felt his soul die.

“How did you start writing?” Jeongguk asks after a while of comfortable silence. 

The alpha looks up at that, eyes wide in question. “Huh?”

“When did you start writing?”

“Oh,” Taehyung voices, puts his pen aside and leans back on his chair. He looks up at the ceiling, thinking. “Well, I’ve always liked books, you know. Since I was a child, and at some point I guess I wanted to write my own stories? I don’t really know exactly when I started writing, but if you must know, there is a lot of unfinished fanfiction on my computer.”

Jeongguk lets out a laugh at that, “really?”

Taehyung smiles, nodding. “One Piece is a very inspiring show.”

“Oh, I bet.”

“It is,” Taehyung repeats. He shrugs then, looking down at his journal shyly before continuing. “I just… reading has always been my escape, and, uh, well, I want to write something that will be someone else’s escape someday, too. Something someone will keep on their shelf or on their desk and when they feel like everything is too much they can just grab my book and disappear from reality for a little while. I want to write something that will warm somebody’s skin and ignite their heart, something that feels like an embrace.”

The alpha shrugs then, “I don’t think I’m good enough to publish something yet though, so I haven’t really tried looking for a publisher.”

“What do you mean not good enough?” Jeongguk shrieks, a few of the patrons in nearby tables turn to look at him. He feels his cheeks heat up as he cringes at his uproar. Taehyung is looking at him with wide eyes, Jeongguk glares at him for a second before speaking, “Taehyung, I may have only just read one of your poems but it was beautiful.” He shakes his head, “You’re more than good enough, and I really hope you consider looking for someone to publish your work because you deserve to be listened to.”

Taehyung seems to consider his words nodding, he smiles softly at Jeongguk. “Thank you for saying that, really. I don’t know, what I write usually comes from a place really close to my heart so I guess I tend to feel insecure about it…”

Jeongguk smiles sympathetically at that. “I understand. It’s hard showing people something you put your heart and soul into when there’s the possibility of it being dismissed.”

“I guess so…”

“But really, Taehyung, you should know that your work is beautiful, and I’m sure I'm not the only person that will think that after reading something you wrote.” Jeongguk told him he needed the older to know. To understand that the ink of his soul that had been pressed into the pages of his journal was beautiful.

The smile that greets him is wide and box shaped and adorable. Jeongguk's heart sings. But just a little.

✦✧♥✧✦

“I like this song.” Jeongguk says, drying the plate and putting it away with the rest. He dances around the kitchen, moving to the beat of the song as he puts the dried dishes in their respective place.

Taehyung hums. “I know,” he says. As he finishes rinsing another one of the plates they had used for dinner. “You were the one that showed it to me.”

“Obviously. My taste in music is simply divine, hyung.” Jeongguk says, taking the plate Taehyung had just finished rinsing and drying it with the damp kitchen rag on his hands. “If I ever show you a song that’s bad you'll know that's not me, that’d be an imposter.”

Taehyung lets out a laugh, the sound prettier than the soft music emanating from his phone. His alpha turns to look at him for a second, shaking his head softly. “Remember when you showed ‘Barbie Girl' to me? Clearly your taste in music is like no other.”

Jeongguk is quick to move the rag on his hand, hitting his alpha on the back with it and making his laughter increase. “I was drunk! And Barbie Girl is an incredibly catchy song, okay?” Jeongguk says, teasingly outraged.

Taehyung closes the tab and gives Jeongguk the last plate, he grabs another rag to dry his hands before leaning back against the counter, watching his mate with a small smile decorating his features. There is fondness in his gaze as he watches the omega close the top compartment and set the rag aside.

When he catches Taehyung’s eyes Jeongguk glares playfully, and the alpha raises his arms slightly feigning innocence. Jeongguk’s glare intensifies. “Dumb alpha,” he says, wrapping his arms around Taehyung’s waist and burying his nose on the crook of his alpha’s neck, scenting him. “ My dumb alpha.”

He’s quick to wrap his arms around Jeongguk too, reciprocating the embrace and leaning down to breathe in the sweet cherry scent of his mate. “Yours.”

Jeongguk hums.

Moving his nose across the expanse of Jeongguk’s neck, he scents the omega softly. Feeling as Jeongguk relaxes in his embrace and tightens his grip around Taehyung, scenting the alpha in turn. There’s a low purr coming from the omega’s chest and Taehyung hums in satisfaction.

Jeongguk turns his head slightly and lets his lips ghost over Taehyung’s jaw, kissing it softly before resting his cheek against his alpha’s shoulder to look at him. He’s once again hit with how incredibly beautiful his mate is, the way he’s delicate in his handsomeness. He studies his long lashes and the little mole under his eye Jeongguk loves to kiss so much. The slope of his nose and the soft curve of his cheeks.

Taehyung is so alluringly beautiful, Jeongguk sometimes isn’t quite sure how the alpha showed even an ounce of interest in him.

He rubs his cheek gently on the alpha’s shoulder, eyes soft and scent sweet. The music changes to a softer song, the melody gentle and the voice of the singer saccharine. “Tae?”

“Yes, darling?”

“I’m craving something sweet.” Jeongguk says softly, only loud enough for the alpha to hear him.

Taehyung seems to think about it for a second, “there’s a chocolate bar somewhere in the fridge. Do you want it?”

But Jeongguk is already shaking his head before the alpha finishes talking. “I want brownies.”

And the look on Taehyung’s face is conflicted, brows furrowing and lips settling into a pout, Jeongguk purses his lips because he knows what’s going through his alpha’s mind. It is almost ten in the evening and most, if not all, bakeries nearby are long since closed.

“I want to bake brownies,” Jeongguk says after a while. Just as soft as when he had spoken before.

The frown on Taehyung’s face deepens, “...you want to bake?” He asks, though it's rhetorical. It’s not something they’ve never done before, Jeongguk has the habit of baking to destress when he has the chance and Taehyung is usually his designated assistant. But it’s been a while since he baked anything, too caught up with work, and he knows that there’s none of the ingredients he needs to make brownies.

“Yeah,” Jeongguk says softly.

“There’s no ingredients, though…” Taehyung tells him, mouth still set in a frown. 

Jeongguk smiles softly, and moves to peck his mate on the lips softly. Hooking his arms around Taehyung’s neck and pressing his body against the alpha’s. “Let’s go buy what we need, then.”

“It’s late.” Taehyung counters against his lips.

“So?”

“You really want to make those brownies?” Taehyung asks and Jeongguk nods. He lets out a sigh, and raises his brows, “what if I don’t feel like going out at this hour?”

The omega rolls his eyes, although he knows that the alpha would do whatever Jeongguk asked of him. He is just teasing. “You’d really make me go out by myself?” He asks, pouting his lips and looking up at Taehyung through his lashes. “All alone? At this hour?”

Taehyung shakes his head, chuckling under his breath in amusement. He pulls Jeongguk impossibly closer by the hold he has on the younger’s waist. “It will cost you,” he tells him, dark gaze on Jeongguk’s cherry tinted lips. 

“Oh?” Jeongguk voices out, lips pulled in a teasing grin. “What will the gentleman’s price be, then?”

Taehyung doesn’t answer, instead, he closes the distance and connects their lips in a searing kiss. Jeongguk returns the kiss immediately, melting into his lover’s embrace and burying his hand into Taehyung curls. The older is soon lifting Jeongguk up, griping under both of his thighs as he places him on the counter. Jeongguk wraps his legs around Taehyung, pulling him closer.

His hands travel through the expanse of Taehyung’s tanned skin, teasing at the older’s nipples and making Taehyung gasp softly, before pulling slightly away. “Still want those brownies?” He asks.

Jeongguk smiles, “very much so. We can continue this afterwards.”

There’s a hum as Taehyung kisses the corner of his mouth, continuing his way down his jaw and across his neck before he starts nosing at his scent gland. Jeongguk sighs at that, allowing his alpha a while before gently pulling him away from his neck. Taehyung’s eyes are dark, lips turn slightly upwards.

“Let’s go?” Jeongguk says.

Taehyung nods. Jeongguk unhooks his legs from around him and allows the alpha to pull away and disappear to their room. He jumps off the counter, stretching upwards before following after Taehyung to put a pair of sweatpants on.

The ride to the grocery store is quick, the atmosphere serene and silent while Taehyung drives with one of his hands placed possessively over Jeongguk’s thigh. Jeongguk busies himself with his phone, checking a few of the emails he had neglected earlier to have an idea of the situation with his clients.

When they arrive, Jeongguk locks his phone and turns to meet Taehyung’s expectant gaze. The alpha’s fingers tap an unknown rhythm on his thigh, soothing in its familiarity. “We’re here,” Taehyung voices.

“So we are,” Jeongguk confirms. “Let’s go.”

Their hands lock unconsciously once they get out of Taehyung’s car and make their way inside, Jeongguk pressing against Taehyung to fight against the chilliness of the night. The doors open then close behind them, and the store is empty save for the few employees doing the night shift.

The two of them make their way easily into one of the aisles, Taehyung having grabbed a basket to put their items in. Eyeing the products displayed as they choose the ingredients they need to make Jeongguk’s urgent brownies. 

They are quiet as they shop, Jeongguk clinging to Taehyung’s arms as he grabs the items and places them on the basket. Taehyung’s fondness grows when Jeongguk grabs snacks and candies they don’t need, and puts them on the basket in what he assumes to be a discreet manner. But Taehyung knows that Jeongguks knows that Taehyung notices the younger sneaking his preferred golosines in.

Taehyung is simply far too in love with Jeongguk to not let him get all the sweets and snacks he wishes to have.

It’s when they come across the aisle displaying baby diapers and shampoos and oils and wipes that Jeongguk pauses. There is an unreadable look in his dark doe eyes as he studies the products, lip trapped in between his front teeth.

There is a pang in his chest, something that feels a lot like longing. As he pictures himself and Taehyung putting those baby products into their cart or basket. Looking at the baby food that might align with their child’s tastes.

He pictures himself going to the toy store with a toddler wearing the boxiest of smiles, doe eyes sparkling in excitement as they choose something to take back home.

Jeongguk takes a deep breath, feeling the alpha’s dark gaze steady on him, not scrutinizing but gentle. Hopeful, even.

“I’ve been thinking about it more often lately.” Jeongguk speaks, he’s quiet, voice barely audible were it not for Taehyung closeness. He doesn’t turn to look at his alpha, eyes pasted to the products before him. “And there’s this painful fluttering in my chest every time I do. Like an emptiness. Like something is missing.”

Taehyung’s breath catches. “Jeongguk…”

“I know,” the younger one says. “I know what I said, back then. I know what I implied, but… I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Even had a talk with Seokjin hyung.” He takes a deep breath, lips twitching in the semblance of a smile as he finally turns to meet Taehyung’s hopeful gaze. “I want to. I know you’ve always wanted children, and I know I told you that I wasn’t sure if I could give them to you, but… I want to. I want us to try.”

Taehyung is barely able to put the basket on the floor before he brings Jeongguk to his chest and squeezes him against his warmth. Jeongguk giggles wetly at the alpha’s embrace, wrapping his own arms around Taehyung immediately and breathing in his alpha’s scent.

“Please tell me you’re not doing this just because it is something I want.” Taehyung says.

The omega shakes his head quickly, simply squeezing the older briefly before moving away enough to meet Taehyung’s eyes properly. “No. This is something I want, too.”

There’s silence. Silence as Taehyung gazes into his mate’s doe eyes that sparkle with want and love and honesty. Silence as he tries to look for any hint of unsureness but finding nothing but pure determination and resolve. Silence as his lips stretch into that huge, box-like smile of his that has had Jeongguk weak on his knees since the first night he met the alpha.

Taehyung pulls Jeongguk in for a kiss, the omega being unable to reciprocate it from the huge smile that pulls at his lips. The huge smile that reflects the glittering happiness he feels in the cradle of his chest.

“I love you,” Taehyung says. And in his voice there’s dedication and adoration; something sweet and bitter, like the taste of love.

“I love you so.”

They’re silent as they take in their words and the implications of what Jeongguk has decided. Hearts full with the hopes of a growing family, of a new little life they can share their love and adoration with in the future. Of innocent doe eyes and wide box-like smiles.

“We can start trying tonight.” Taehyung finally says, a devilish smirk growing on his features. 

Jeongguk hums, eyes glittering teasingly. “Wouldn’t you enjoy that.”

“Very much so.” Taehyung admits, emitting a loud twinkling laugh from Jeongguk. The omega shakes his head, though his eyes speak of volumes of devotion as they land on his mate.

“I still crave those brownies, though.” Jeongguk says.

The alpha picks up the basket and locks his hand with Jeongguk’s once more. He glances towards his mate that gazes at him warmly back and says, “we can’t have that now, can we? You’ll very much need the energy.”

There is joy in the laugh that follows.

✦✧☾✧✦ 

Things between the two of them change. Something akin to friendship blossoms between them, a silent agreement of giving each other company as they work with not one word being exchanged between the two. A newfound familiarity.

Jeongguk goes to work, and if he doesn’t have class after his shift he makes himself a caramel macchiato and joins Taehyung on the table by the window. He places a hot chocolate before the alpha, who looks up at him in gratitude before diving back into his leather bound journal, fully engrossed in his work. Jeongguk takes out his laptop and starts working on whatever assignments he has due.

It puzzles his coworkers, Hoseok especially, since they believed Jeongguk hated Taehyung.

And he did. At some point.

But he doesn’t anymore.

Now what Jeongguk feels for the alpha is warm. A sizzling in his chest that’s addicting; makes him crave the alpha’s company. The scent of pine and old books is soothing and helps him focus on his work. Caramel lingers on his tongue as he makes a review of one law or another, occasionally electrified by the feeling of a dark gaze on him. One he ignores but whose owner he knows well.

They don’t talk. Or at least, not much more than one simple question or another. Sometimes Jeongguk reads a paragraph he wrote out loud so that Taehyung can tell him whether his point is clear enough. Sometimes Taehyung asks him about criminal law. One of the characters in his book is a police officer so he wants to make sure what he’s writing is accurate.

The atmosphere as they work is serene and comfortable.

It makes Jeongguk crave for things he had long resolved to not seek. It makes Jeongguk wonder about things; about what ifs. It makes the sizzling warmth in his chest grow and expand. It brings forth a dangerous sensation, one he knows he should run away from if he doesn't want to give in to the glittering darkness that threatens to swallow him whole.

But Jeongguk is weak, so weak, and too enchanted by the alpha to heed any warnings of his growing feelings.

It’s when Taehyung lets Jeongguk read the first chapter of the book he’s writing—the one he had told Jeongguk that he hopes to publish one day—that he realizes.

He likes Taehyung.

He doesn’t just find him attractive—because the alpha is, unfairly so. 

Jeongguk doesn’t just find comfort in his company—because he does, Taehyung has a very warm and comfortable quality to him that is hard feeling anything but comfort when he is present. Or maybe that’s just Jeongguk.

Jeongguk likes Taehyung. Likes the way he thinks and the way he talks. The way he smiles at Jeongguk when the omega gives him a hot chocolate. The way he helps Jeongguk find better words to explain laws and write his assignments, doing so in a way that doesn’t diminish Jeongguk’s abilities or intelligence. He likes the way he feels when he’s with the other.

And maybe he should be more afraid than he is about the fact. Maybe he should be as cautious as he had promised himself he would be with his feelings. But Taehyung is a magnet Jeongguk can’t help but feel attracted to and he wants more.

He’s greedy like that.

It’s after Jeongguk has finished reading the sixth chapter of Taehyung’s murder mystery—that’s so gripping Jeongguk can’t help but want more—that he finally decides to go for it. To say to hell with his feelings; it might leave him broken once again, perhaps so much so that he can't recover.

If this kills Jeongguk's soul, once and for all, at least he can say he tried.

“Taehyung-hyung.” Jeongguk calls softly. The older has his tongue peeking out from between his lips, hand flying as he writes with vigour onto his journal. It doesn’t seem that he heard Jeongguk.

“Hyung.” He calls again, and this time Taehyung glances up briefly. He finishes writing something before setting his pen aside and slumping back in his seat with a sigh, waiting for Jeongguk to continue. “I want to ask you something.”

Taehyung looks at him with a mixture between curiosity and amusement. “Shoot.” He says.

Jeongguk stares at him for a second or so, tongue poking at the inside of his cheek. “Go out with me.”

Taehyung blinks. “What?”

The omega narrows his eyes, defensive in his nervousness. “Go out with me,” he repeats.

Taehyung is silent. He seems to have frozen on his seat, lips parted and brown eyes widened as he stares at Jeongguk as if the omega had grown another three heads and twenty arms right in front of his eyes.

The breath he takes in as he watches Taehyung stare at him shocked is shaky. Perhaps the older one didn't want anything to do with Jeongguk after all. Not like that at least. Maybe he didn’t see him as more than an omega worth fucking a few times, one that has taken to bothering him as he writes and he just doesnt know how to tell Jeongguk to fuck off. Maybe Jeongguk shouldn't have said anything. Maybe-

“Say that again,” Taehyung says, incredulous.

Jeongguk gulps, for the first time seemingly nervous around Taehyung, a new side of him from his usually forward and bold attitude. “Hyung, look, if you don’t want-”

“No, Gguk-ah, say it again.” Taehyung insists, now sitting upright. Entirely focusing on Jeongguk. “Please, tell me I’m not imagining this.”

He purses his lips as he looks at the older, unsure whether to take Taehyung’s reaction as positive or not. Wanting, hoping that the older one wanted to go out with Jeongguk as much as he did. Jeongguk looks down at his hands, both of them curled up into fists as he musters up the courage to repeat his words. He glances up at the older and sees the dark color of his eyes, the expectant twinkle to it, something Jeongguk is afraid to call hope swirling in them.

“Go out with me?” He asks again. This time sounding unsure, tentative even. He doesn’t look up at Taehyung, doesn’t see the way the older one breaks out into a smile so bright it could have blinded the omega.

“Yes!” Taehyung exclaims, catching the attention of a few nearby tables but completely ignoring it. “I’ll go out with you, however many times you want. I’ll go out with you.”

That’s when Jeongguk looks up, seeing the way the alpha’s face is alight with pure joy, joy at being asked out by Jeongguk. Joy at the notion of having the younger show interest in him in something more than a night spent together. Joy at what Jeongguk’s question could mean.

“You mean that?” Jeongguk asks, feeling a little breathless all of a sudden. 

“Of course I do,” Taehyung looks at him as if he were some kind of wonder of the world. It makes Jeongguk feel shy, soft pink coloring his cheeks as he avoids the alpha’s gaze. “Jeongguk-ah, you have no idea the effect you’ve had on me since that night I met you. Why else do you think I kept coming back? Aside from your delicious hot chocolate, of course... I’ve wanted to get to know you properly and take you out since.”

Jeongguk clears his throat, finally being able to meet Taehyung's eyes again. “Not just because you wanted me in bed again?” He asks because he has to. Because he’s afraid that’s all he’ll ever amount to in an alpha’s eyes. He needs honesty, he needs him to tell him what he wants from him out of self preservation. He’s risking his soul here.

And there’s a new softness to Taehyung’s eyes, something like understanding. “I want more than that.” Taehyung says, and Jeongguk can see nothing but honesty in his eyes. “I want to get to know you more, I want to see everything that makes you you. The good, the bad, the ugly, all of it. If you’ll let me, of course.”

The cards are on the table. “I want that, too.” Jeongguk whispers, his heart beating a hundred miles an hour. 

Taehyung beams.

Jeongguk’s heart flutters.

✦✧♥✧✦

When Jeongguk was little, years away from presenting. When he was a kid with missing front teeth and had scrapes on his knees from playing in the school playground with his friends too roughly. When his eyes twinkled with an innocent mischief so pure his parents used to hope the brightness never faded.

When Jeonggul was little, years away from presenting, his mother taught him how to bake.

Mainly, it was her way of keeping an eye on her hurricane of a son while she baked the cookies, cakes and pastries people ordered from her online page. Years before she got the chance to open her own bakery.

Soon, the time she spent baking with Jeongguk assisting her turned into mother-son quality time. Jeongguk, always having had a sweet tooth, developed a love for making all sorts of sweets, pastries and cakes. Helping his mother out was something he started to look forward to, always eager to get his hands on some cookie batter, to decorate a cake someone ordered for an anniversary.

In high school he used to spend most of his free time in his mother’s newly opened bakery, helping her out when he wasn’t working on his homework. Always eager to start baking a batch of this or that when he didn’t have to cram for midterms or finals. 

When he started university he found himself baking when the pressure was too much, making all sorts of sweets he wouldn't eat because mixing the batter, placing the pan on the oven and decorating afterwards felt like comfort and breathing again, even if he wasn’t hungry.

After dating him for a few weeks Taehyung, too, learns that Jeongguk not only bakes when he is stressed, he makes the most delicious goods one could dream of. Soon he becomes Jeongguk’s very own personal assistant when the younger has the sudden urge to start baking. (Which really, is just him trying to mix the batter while watching, enchanted, Jeongguk flitter around the kitchen in his well loved purple apron his mother had given him before he left Busan for university). 

Because it didn’t matter if it was 3pm in the afternoon or 3am, when Jeongguk decided he needed to bake, he baked.

It was no surprise then, that the omega had made Taehyung take him to the store to buy ingredients so late in the evening. Not when the urge to bake striked. And Taehyung? Taehyung will go anywhere at any time if Jeongguk asks, anyway.

Taehyung will never get tired of seeing the way Jeongguk calms when he starts measuring ingredients, and mixing the batter. Fluor somehow gets on his cheek no matter how neat and careful he is. Jeongguk’s purple apron wrapped around his waist, over the oversized sweater he had stolen from the alpha’s side of the closet, sleeves pulled up to his elbows to keep from getting them dirty.

Taehyung will never get tired of watching Jeongguk content as he dances around the kitchen. Taking bowls and tools and ingredients out, preparing the oven. Taehyung watches him, enamored, eyes softened with an adoration so deep it is painful. Doesn’t really help Jeongguk prepare the brownies. Too enchanted to do anything other than look at him, eyes softened impossibly.

Jeongguk knows Taehyung watches more than helps him when he’s baking; loves the attention he gets from his alpha. He makes sure to be extra cute as he prepares everything. Jeongguk loves being the only person Taehyung sees, the only person that can have his alpha’s gaze for so long without the other getting bored.

Jeongguk’s tongue peaks from between his lips as he carefully pours the darkened batter onto a pan. There is music coming softly from the speaker by the fridge. An old song, something he used to listen to when he was growing up.

He puts the mixing bowl he used by the sink, grabs mittens and puts the pan into the oven with practiced ease. Shuts the oven door, takes off the mittens, sets the timer. Breathes in the calm atmosphere, the smell familiar, like chocolate and pine and Taehyung, Taehyung, Taehyung.

A slight, satisfying smell brightens his face.

He turns and there is his mate, wrapping his arms around his torso and breathing him in. And Jeongguk feels tiny in his arms, despite their similar heights. He feels safe, and warm and so so so at home. 

“So much for having a designated in-house assistant.” Jeongguk sighs.

Taehyung chuckles softly, “I’m sorry, darling.”

Jeongguk shakes his head and melts into the embrace, he lets Taehyung hold the burden of his weight. Feels a purr growing from deep within his chest. A nose ghosts over his neck, Jeongguk tilts his head, let’s Taehyung scent him lazily.

“I wrote something for you,” Taehyung says. His lips are lightly pressed a little under his scent gland, he feels himself shiver.

He blinks his eyes open, straightens a little to turn and looks his alpha in the eye. “You wrote me something?”

A nod.

Warmth wraps around his heart, his chest. “What did you write for me this time?”

Taehyung says nothing for a second. Mahogany eyes taking in Jeongguk’s features like he’s the most entrancing piece of art. They land again on Jeongguk’s doe eyes, soften impossibly more.

“A poem.” He mutters.

Jeongguk raises an eyebrow, lips tugging upwards in a smile. There’s a teasing glint in his eyes, adoration in his heart. “Another one.”

Taehyung smiles. Voice impossibly earnest when he says, “I could write you a million poems and none of them would be enough to explain to you how much you make me feel, Jeongguk-ah.” Taehyung kisses his temple, impossibly sweet. “There simply aren't enough words to describe you.”

And Jeongguk will never get used to this.  Will never get used to the way Taehyung is always there to remind him just how much he loves him, how much his heart flutters when he sees Jeongguk. Will never get used to the way Taehyung kisses him like a man starved, longing for him and his soul and his warmth. Greedy to everything Jeongguk.

Jeongguk is bold and blunt, always ready to say something back. Always, except when it's Taehyung, because when Taheyung looks at Jeongguk and smiles, that sweet box-like smile he could never get enough of,  the words melt in Jeongguk’s tongue and the air escapes his lungs.

So when Taehyung looks at him, and tells him how much he loves him, how much he adores Jeongguk. And Jeongguk doesn’t have the words to tell Taehyung the way he is encrusted into his heart and breathing the air of his soul, he leaps into his alpha’s arms and hopes Taehyung can taste the melted words on his tongue.

So Jeongguk kisses him fervently because he can never get enough of Taehyung, and he can never express just how much Taehyung brightens his life. Taehyung kisses him back, eagerly, lovingly, adoringly. Makes Jeongguk giggle, the way the kiss tastes of brownie batter, Taehyung always manages to dip his fingers into the batter when Jeongguk is not looking yet willingly giving himself away just to have a taste of his mate.

Jeongguk, albeit reluctantly, moves away. Leaves Taehyung chasing after his lips and pouting when he’s met with Jeongguk’s palm instead. He smiles, endeared, nose scrunching and pink dusting his cheeks.

“What’s the poem called then?” He asks.

Taehyung smiles, “Love.”

There is red on Jeongguk’s cheeks, a shyness that only Taehyung could bring out of him. A tender flame blankets his heart that sings, and sings, and sings.

✦✧☾✧✦ 

It’s been three months.

Three months of Jeongguk going out with Taehyung since he asked him out that time in the coffee shop. Three months of going to any and all types of dates from the usual movie and dinner to the time they went paintballing (Jeongguk finds Taehyung is an incredibly accurate shooter, and Taehyung finds Jeongguk is sneaky and incredibly fast when he wants to.)

It’s been three months. Three months in which Jeongguk finds himself looking forward to any planned and unplanned outing he has with Taehyung. Whether it is the bowling date they have planned, or the times they spend working together in the cafe after Jeongguk’s shift is over.

Jeongguk learns everything he can about Taehyung, greedy for any and all information about the older. Learns of Taehyung’s older brother, currently in the second year of his residency in neurosurgery and proving every single bigotted alpha that tries to take away his credibility for being an omega just what a good fucking doctor he is. (Jeongguk loves the way Taehyung’s eyes alight when he speaks of Namjoon, his older brother, the admiration and pride that decorate his features.)

He learns how Taehyung’s friend, Yoongi, makes the alpha help him out with his demos. Learns on one of their dates when they go to Jeongguk’s favorite noraebang, that Taehyung has one of the most beautiful voices he’s ever heard. Starts asking Taehyung to sing for him whenever he can and the alpha indulges him without a complaint.

He tells Taehyung about his own friends, tells him about Hoseok—who Taehyung now knows and gets along with now—and his mate Seokjin. Tells him about his mother and her bakery one day after he gives Taehyung a dozen of the sugar cookies he baked with Jimin when he couldn’t sleep the night before finals.

To Taehyung he feels he can tell everything, feels he can share and share and share. Feels that Taehyung, just like Jeongguk, is greedy to know more and more and more about him.

They are walking out of the cafe after Jeongguk’s shift, Taehyung having insisted he wants to walk Jeongguk home. Jeongguk accepted because he doesn't want to part from Taehyung just yet. 

Jeongguks burrows into his coat, adjusts his beanie before timidly offering his hand to Taehyng The alpha takes it without a moment's hesitation, wraps his warmer hand over Jeongguk and squeezes softly, reassuringly.

It’s cold, so cold Jeongguk can feel the chill in his bones. Wants nothing more than to get home and crawl into his nest in his warmest, most comfortable clothes. But also… he doesn’t want to get home because he doesn’t want to let Taehyung go yet.

He is tired from a full day of classes and then work. Doesn’t think he’ll be able to make his dinner before crawling into his nest to sleep and he doesn’t care. Jeongguk doesn’t even want to think about the early shift he has the next day and the classes he has afterwards, if he does he’s afraid he’ll actually cry.

He is tired and cold, yet there’s warmth around his hand and he can smell the familiarity of pine and he doesn’t want to ever let go.

Jeongguk is caught in between wanting to sleep and staying forever in the cold streets with Taehyung as the alpha walks him home. They don’t talk as they walk, the both of them are too tired to break the comfortable silence that has grown between them. Neither want to break it, anyway.

They walk and walk, Jeongguk leaning into Taehyung’s warmth, his head resting a little sleepily on the alpha’s shoulder as they walk the final block to reach their destination. When they reach Jeongguk’s building neither of them makes any move to let go of the other. They just stand there, stealing warmth from each other and unwilling to separate an inch. 

Jeongguk doesn’t want to part ways with Taehyung yet. He’s greedy, wants more time, wishes his apartment was further away from the cafe. 

He takes a deep breath, “stay?” He asks, hopeful.

He’s never invited Taehyung to his apartment, he knows Taehyung understands what it means for an omega to invite an alpha into their home. The place where their nest is, where they are supposed to always feel safe. Thinks that he can more than trust Taehyung to allow him into his home.

“Are you sure?” Taehyung asks, eyes soft and questioning and so so open.

Jeongguk nods. He’s tired, wants his nest and warmth and if he can cuddle with Taehyung, too, then he hopes the alpha doesn’t mind.

Taehyung’s looks at him for a second longer before he, too, nods and kisses Jeongguk’s forehead. “Okay.”

He doesn’t notice he was holding his breath until he lets out a relieved sigh, his omega preening over Taehyung accepting the invitation to their home. A deep, animalistic part of him hopes Taehyung likes the way his room is arranged, and finds Jeongguk’s very messy nest comfortable. (He is in the middle of finals and having a nest to always come back to after an exam makes him feel better about potentially failing all his courses.)

They take the elevator to the fourth floor, Jeongguk leading him to his apartment door and punching in the code. Realizes his roommate is home after his own shift in the restaurant he works at when he spots his shoes by the door. There’s noise coming from the kitchen, the smell of ramen and the soft indecipherable music that plays softly.

“Jeongguk-ah? That you?” He hears Jimin call, hears a light clinking sound and then footsteps.

Taehyung stiffens when the smell of something fresh and minty and distinguishably alpha reaches him. Somehow he pulls Jeongguk closer towards him, almost puffing his chest up a little. The most alpha-like possessive move Jeongguk has seen from Taehyung.

Where it anyone else Jeongguk would be extremely annoyed, but it’s the first time he’s seen Taehyung act so incredibly alpha and it’s more amusing than annoying.

Jimin appears in the threshold, wearing the incredibly ugly bright yellow apron Jeongguk had gotten him for his birthday over a pair of paint stained sweats and a stretched white t-shirt. Judging from the smell, he’s certain the older one had been cooking before Jeongguk and Taehyung arrived.

He narrows his eyes at Taehyung, making the alpha stand a bit taller as Jimin’s gaze falls over him. Jeongguk’s amusement grows when he sees the way Jimin straightens himself, makes himself look a little taller even if he is rather short in stature, Jeongguk himself having a few inches over him.

“Hello,” Jimin says, narrow gaze studying Taehyung.

“Hi,” Taehyung says, politely yet a little tense.

Jeongguk has spoken about Jimin before, telling Taehyung how the painter was his best friend from Busan. Told him all sorts of stories and stupid things they had done together in their childhood and high school years. Has mentioned Jimin’s extreme aversion towards any type of romantic and sexual relationships, yet how he was one of the warmest, most tender persons Jeongguk knew.

He hadn’t told Taehyung Jimin was an alpha. Was never one to mention another’s secondary gender because he never thought it important. Although… Perhaps it was worth mentioning that his roommate was an alpha.

He snorts lightly, pursing his lips to keep from laughing. Jimin raises his eyebrows at him, eyes questioning. Jeongguk clears his throat, schools his face into a serious expression. Gestures to Jimin with his free hand. “Taehyung hyung, this is Jimin hyung,” he tells Taehyung.

There’s a second before there’s the shadow of recognition in his eyes. Another one before his posture relaxes a little and the firm grip he had in Jeongguk’s hand eases. His lips part, set roundly like an O in realization.

Jeongguk bites down his smile, he looks at Jimin. “Hyung, this is Taehyung. I’ve told you about him.” Jimin is nodding before he finishes, already having recognized the name. “Sorry I didn't tell you I was inviting him in, it was a little spur of the moment.”

Jimin smiles, and there’s a glint in his eye Jeongguk recognizes. He looks at Taehyung. “It’s fine, Jeongguk-ah. Do you want anything to eat? I only made ramen, but there’s enough.”

Jeongguk glances at Taehyung briefly sees him shake his head. “We’re fine, hyung. We’ll be in my room.”

“Maybe some tea?” Jimin tries again. The glint in his eyes insistent. Jeongguk is too tired for this. 

Taehyung squeezes his hand, Jeongguk sighs. “Fine, I’m tired and I want to cuddle so please don’t keep us for too long, hyung.”

They follow Jimin into the kitchen, the two of them taking a seat at the kitchen counter. Jeongguk wants nothing more than to go to his room and change into more comfortable clothes, but he doesn’t want to leave Taehyung alone with the demon he knows Jimin to be.

“I’m sorry,” Jeongguk tells Taehyung then. “I didn’t know he'd be home already.”

Taehyung smiles at him, earnest as he is. “It’s fine, Gguk-ah. I’m sorry for getting a little possessive earlier, I just didn’t know-”

“That I’m an alpha?” Jimin says suddenly, Taehyung’s head snaps towards where Jimin spoke from. Jimin smiles, “Don’t worry, Ggukie has a tendency to forget to mention stuff like that.”

Jeongguk just smiles sheepishly at that before turning to glare daggers at Jimin.

Jimin ignores him and puts a mug in front of Taehyung and a glass of water in front of Jeongguk, one he drinks greedily as Taehyung and Jimin observe each other.

“You’re prettier than I thought you’d be.” Jimin says suddenly, making Taehyung blush slightly. Taken aback by the other alpha’s honesty. “Not to be that person, but some of the alpha’s Gguk has introduced to me before have been rather dull to look at, you know.”

“Jimin!”

“Jeongguk, and I’m sure you’ll agree with me, is far too pretty and smart to date some dull alpha with an overfed ego. You seem rather down to earth, so, tell me, what is it about Jeongguk that keeps making you come back?” Jimin says, straight to the point, leaning over the counter and staring directly at Taehyung. Eyes glinting.

Jeongguk very much wants to go to his room and hide in the warmth of his nest forever. Hopefully with Taehyung cuddling him, but Jimin won't let him.

It wasn’t the first time Jimin took it upon himself to interrogate one of Jeongguk’s dates, and has made a few alpha’s stop talking to Jeongguk altogether after meeting them. Jeongguk was always grateful for Jimin having his back, even if it bordered on overprotectiveness. He knows though, that because of the last serious relationship Jeongguk had and how it ended, that Jimin would be overly protective if Jeongguk decided to bring another alpha home someday.

He just wishes he’d had time to warn Taehyung.

Taehyung blinks a couple of times. “Oh.” He says, the blush still high on his cheeks when he looks towards Jeongguk for a brief moment before answering. “That’s easy. He’s enchanting.” he says, before elaborating further, looking earnest. “Obviously, he’s beautiful, but that’s not the only reason why I like him. He’s bold and outspoken and smart, yet so sweet and so kind. He has the most interesting and fascinating points of view, I can never get enough of his thoughts. And god, I’ve never laughed so much with anyone else. And…”

Jeongguk actually stops listening. He just stops, not because he wants to but because, because, because…

The way that Taehyung speaks of him, the earnestness in his expression, the brightness in his eyes, the little smiles as he tells Jimin something witty Jeongguk had said that not even Jeongguk remembers saying. How he speaks of Jeongguk’s laughter, the softness in his eyes that melts Jeongguk’s heart.

No one has ever spoken about Jeongguk like that. So sincerely, so open, so full of something longing and adoring and tender. 

Jeongguk’s lips part slightly, watching as Taehyung talks and talks and talks about all the things he likes about Jeongguk. As if Jeongguk was his favorite person in the world. As if Jeongguk was one of a kind. As if, to him, Jeongguk was extraordinary.

Jimin glances briefly at Jeongguk, expression surprised then incredibly pleased. He smiles at Jeongguk, a small smile, almost as if he was relieved.

“He is just such a beautiful person, you know.” Taehyung finishes with a smile, eyes almost dreamlike as they stare at Jeongguk.

Jimin smiles, wide wide wide. “I know.”

Before Jimin can say anything else Jeongguk is back up to his feet, clearing his throat. Grabs Taehyung’s hand and pulls him along with him to his room, even though Taehyung hasn’t finished his tea. He doesn’t care, he just doesn’t know how to tell Taehyung that he thinks he’s a beautiful person, too.

His cheeks feel hot, and he feels incredibly giddy and he feels like he wants to drown Taehyung in his care and his kisses and all the affection he can give.

Feels a flower bloom in his chest, so tender and fragile yet promising to grow and grow and grow like the strongest of wildflowers. A garden in his heart that blooms and blooms and blooms and blooms.

He closes the door behind them and lets Taehyung have a taste of the wildflowers blooming in his heart.

✦✧♥✧✦

The oven beeps, Jeongguk rushes over to retrieve the pan and his newly finished brownies. He smiles, satisfied with his work when he sees how rich and fluffy his brownies seem.

He puts the pan over the counter and takes off his mittens, dancing along to the music absentmindedly as he looks for a knife to cut the brownies properly. He hums along to the music as he sets to work, working with practiced ease and then putting the knife on the sink and taking off his apron.

Before he can do anything else he feels someone grab him from behind and twirl him around. He giggles as the music changes into something he recognizes from Taehyung’s playlist.

“You changed my music,” He fakes accusation as he wraps his hands behind Taehyung’s neck and the alpha grins.

“It was my turn, anyway.” Taehyung says, starting to make them rock softly along to the music, the singer’s voice soft and sweet.

“I thought I was the one using the kitchen,” Jeongguk muses.

Taehyung shakes his head, “Nah, you just finished. It was my turn.”

Jeongguk scoffs, rolls his eyes but doesn’t move away. Instead he continues dancing along to the music. Wrapped in his alpha’s pine scent and comforting warmth. He lets his head rest on the alpha’s shoulder, breathes in greedily and closes his eyes.

Taehyung leads, rocking them along to it softly, his head on top of Jeongguk’s as the two of them allow themselves this quiet moment. It is almost midnight, Jeongguk had had a long day. A really long day of dealing with bigotted alphas and crying clients and the helplessness of watching a small animal be run over by some careless driver.

But, as always, it was a day of coming back to Taehyung's firm arms and soft warmth. To the comfort of his home, filled with belated brownies and scenting and cuddles and love, love, love.

Filled with everything he never hoped to have and everything he held dear to his heart.

The song changes, a familiar melody. Jeongguk smiles as Taehyung keeps leading their tiny dance in the middle of the kitchen.

“Sing to me.” Jeongguk mutters against his neck. 

He doesn’t question whether Taehyung heard him or not. Knows he did even if Taehyung doesn’t react or say anything, just keeps rocking them to the sweet music. They had danced to this song in their mating ceremony, maybe it’s cliché, or a little cheesy. Jeongguk doesn’t care, he loves everything cliché when it comes to Taehyung.

“Wise men say~”

Jeongguk melts, eyes closed as his body moves with Taehyung’s. Taehyung’s voice is soft, so incredibly tender as he sings the familiar lyrics to Jeongguk. Only to Jeongguk.

And Jeongguk recalls feeling incredibly frustrated by the handsome alpha’s visits to the cafe he worked at during university. Remembers making Hoseok make his orders until one day Taehyung finally apologized and Jeongguk, weak for the alpha even then, forgave him.

Remembers days after days after days of sitting quietly with the alpha. Both of them so incredibly immersed in their own work, Taehyung writing his first novel (that had done amazingly, people had loved it as much as Jeongguk had told Taehyung they would) and Jeongguk finishing and working on assignments due.

“Darling, so it goes~” He sings, “Some things are meant to be.”

Until one day, Jeongguk couldn't help anymore how his heart fluttered around the alpha and asked him out. And they went to all sorts of dates and dates and dates, and every time a new flower bloomed in Jeongguk’s heart until he knew to call what he was feeling love.

It’s been years. Years since they mated, years since they first met. And instead of their love for each other fading, it has always grown in strength. Shifting and changing in nature along with them, as people often did, but never dwindling in strength. An ever shifting marvel.

They had grown and changed from who they were when they met. But every day since then, Jeongguk has found himself waking up to the person he always falls deeper and deeper in love with. Every day, with Taehyung, the tender flame remains, and a new flower blooms.

And his heart? His heart sings.

“For I can’t help falling in love with you~”

✦✧ fin ✧✦