Work Text:
Their friends always joked that Jungkook was a laundry fairy because it was a task he was very particular about. And Jungkook really liked to do it. Even when the group of friends traveled together. Their friends knew he did it because he was very sensitive about smells, and, although they joked about it, it was always very light and respectful.
What they probably didn’t know was that every time Jungkook’s heat approached, his necessity to do the laundry reached other peaks because it needed to be perfect to build the perfect nest.
Jungkook was a late bloomer and his first heat came when he was already dating Namjoon, around 5 years ago, when they were close to being together for 1 year.
Namjoon would never forget that weekend. They had agreed to spend it together watching all of Jungkook’s favorite movies because he had had a bad week. Jungkook had piled up blankets and pillows and they were comfortably laying in the middle of it when he got incredibly restless and had a big crisis about how everything was wrong aside from Namjoon’s scent.
After a lot of tears and a couple of rounds of doing the laundry because Jungkook insisted the sheets smelt wrong, they found some sort of equilibrium between Jungkook’s wishes and reality, and Namjoon took care of him until his heat subsided.
With time, the couple learned how to work through Jungkook’s heats every six months. There were still bumps in the road from time to time, but it was mostly smooth now.
Jungkook didn’t feel very horny in his heats usually. He loved to nest, cuddle, and be pampered the most. So Namjoon always prepared in advance to have days off to spend with him. He stocked their kitchen with plenty of Jungkook’s favorite snacks, and meals ready to be heated since Namjoon wasn’t the best of cooks.
Namjoon was at work when a call from Jungkook came. He sadly had to decline it, because he was in a meeting. But when his boyfriend called for the third time in succession, Namjoon excused himself and went outside to answer him.
“Jungkookie? I’m sorry, I’m in a meeting-”
“Hyung~” Jungkook cried out and Namjoon shut up.
He wasn’t like that. Jungkook was certainly sensitive and vulnerable at moments, but he wasn’t whiny. Something must be wrong.
“I’m here, Kookie. What is it?”
“I messed it up! I messed everything up! Hyung! I’m sorry!”
Was it Jungkook’s heat? No. Namjoon was sure it shouldn’t come for another month. It couldn’t be early, could it?
“Babe.” He didn’t know what to say. “Where are you?”
“Home.” Jungkook sniffed. “Sorry I messed up, hyung.”
“What did you mess up, babe?” He didn’t believe Jungkook had done anything wrong, but he felt it was best to play along for now.
“The nest, hyung.” Jungkook hiccuped. “It’s wrong, and I stained some sheets. I messed up big, hyung, I’m sorry!”
Jungkook was nesting. That was pretty normal. But he had never had a crisis outside of pre-heat or heat, even when he liked to nest almost all the time. Namjoon’s suspicion of him being early grew tons and he was worried now. Jungkook shouldn’t be alone when he was so vulnerable. But Namjoon couldn’t convince himself to call one of their omega friends to keep him company. He needed to go home.
“Babe, listen to me.” Namjoon could hear Jungkook sniff. “Are you listening, Jungkookie?”
“Yes, hyung.”
“I’ll go home. I’m going home to help you. I just need to finish something first.” Jungkook hummed. “While you wait, why don’t you take a long shower and dress in my sleeping clothes, hm? I just used them last night.”
“Okay, hyung.” His tone got lighter, and Namjoon felt a little relieved.
“I’ll be home very soon, babe.”
“Okay, hyung.”
“I love you, Jungkook.”
“I love you too.”
Namjoon waited for Jungkook to hang up and rushed back to his meeting, finishing it quickly. On the way home, he stopped to buy a few things.
Namjoon arrived home and heard a humming coming from the kitchen. He also heard their laundry machine working. Jungkook seemed to be calmer. Namjoon turned there and saw him preparing hot cocoa, dressed in Namjoon’s clothes, and with his hair still damp from the shower. Jungkook sniffed the air and turned around.
“Hyung! You’re home!” He opened a bright smile that showed his bunny teeth and wrinkled his eyes.
“I am.” Namjoon opened his arms to welcome Jungkook in a tight hug. “Are you feeling better?” He asked as he scented him on the neck, kissing Jungkook’s scent gland lightly.
“A little.” Jungkook tilted his head to give Namjoon more space. “Putting on your clothes helped.” He turned his head to kiss his boyfriend. “I don’t know what got into me earlier. I got so stressed like I was in heat.”
“Did anything happen that could trigger it, babe? Your scent is sweeter than usual.”
Namjoon looked at him attentively.
“I don’t think so.” Jungkook scrunched his nose as he got closer to scent Namjoon. “Can you take a shower, hyung? You stink.”
Namjoon giggled.
“Of course, Kookie.”
He pecked Jungkook’s lips and went to their room. Namjoon stopped at the door, astonished by the mess in there. There were blankets spread everywhere, and he noticed one of their winter comforters was also out. It was slightly pink now, but Namjoon remembered it being white before.
“NAMJOON HYUNG, DON’T LOOK!”
Jungkook ran inside and crashed into his back. Namjoon knew the calm would be gone now if he didn’t do anything to appease his boyfriend. He turned and hugged the younger one.
“You work so hard to make the best nests, Jungkookie. You know I love every single one of them, right?”
“You do?” Jungkook’s voice wavered.
“Yes. You know why?” The other shook his head. “Because you do them. And I love you.” He said simply.
Namjoon loved the blush that arose in Jungkook’s cheeks when he got flustered and shy like now.
“Hyung~” He whined and hid his face under Namjoon’s chin.
“Do you want me to clear the room so you can start fresh while I shower?”
Jungkook sighed and took another minute scenting Namjoon to steady himself.
“No need, hyung. I can do it.”
Namjoon kissed the crown of his head, then his forehead, then he peppered kisses on Jungkook’s face until he reached his mouth, where Namjoon took his time. He savored Jungkook’s lips, worshiped his tongue. Jungkook was pliant in Namjoon’s arms by the time they stopped to breathe.
“Should I go now?” Namjoon asked softly.
Jungkook only nodded and let his hands fall from Namjoon’s neck.
“I’ll be quick.”
Namjoon pecked him on the lips again and let him go. He rushed to the bathroom and quickly washed off the smells from outside. When he was gathering his clothes to put in the laundry basket, his cellphone fell off and a notification caught his attention. He dressed in clean sweats and walked out to find Jungkook fussing with the blankets, finishing the nest. It was a sturdy and inviting structure that mixed their softer blankets and some of Namjoon’s clothes and Namjoon was sure it would be very cozy and comfortable.
While he waited for Jungkook to finish it, he went to the kitchen where he gathered the snacks he had bought and water bottles. That way they could spend hours together without having to leave the nest or the bedroom.
He checked on the laundry machine and saw that it was settled for drying too, so it would be a long cycle. He would come back to check on it later.
Namjoon went back to their room and found Jungkook in the middle of the nest, fluffing the last pillow. The floor was clean aside from the stained comforter. It was discarded in a corner of the room. He concealed a giggle and placed their snacks on the bedside table together with Jungkook’s forgotten hot cocoa — now lukewarm, for sure.
“What do you think, hyung?” Jungkook looked at him with those big brown and sparkly eyes.
“Perfect.” Jungkook beamed at his words. “You’re perfect, Jungkookie. So is everything you do.”
“Hyung~~!”
“Will you invite me in?” Namjoon asked, smirking.
“Yes!” Jungkook slid to the side, opening space for him. “Come on in, Namjoon hyung.”
Namjoon climbed the bed carefully, so he wouldn’t disturb the structure of the nest. He sat with his back on the headboard and passed a hand in Jungkook’s arm until he held his hand, pulling the younger toward himself. Jungkook sat between his legs and leaned into Namjoon, chest to chest, nuzzling at his neck. Namjoon slid his hands on Jungkook’s back in a soothing motion.
“Did you go out today, babe?”
“Yes. I had a class in the morning, and after it, I met with Taehyung hyung and Hobi hyung.” Jungkook said lazily.
“Was it good?” Namjoon knew Jungkook loved to meet with their friends whenever he could.
“Yes. Tae and Jimin hyung are going to mate.” Jungkook shily licked Namjoon’s scent gland.
Namjoon noticed that his scent spiked at the last word. He had a guess of the reason that sent Jungkook into a pre-heat-nesting state. Jimin had sent him a message about his mating and that gave him a clue. Now Namjoon was more certain about it.
“Ah, that’s great.” He nuzzled at Jungkook’s neck.
“Tae hyung is very excited. They made big plans.” Jungkook snuggled into Namjoon’s chest and he tightened his hold on the younger.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. They will travel to a special place, all romantic and dreamy.” Jungkook mumbled, feeling a little sleepy.
“Would you like something like that for our mating?” Namjoon dropped the question like it was nothing out of the ordinary.
Jungkook shot his head up, supporting his body in his arms and looking directly into Namjoon’s eyes. Eye wide and searching.
“What?”
“Would you like to plan something elaborated for our mating or-”
“Hyung? You want to mate with me?” Jungkook seemed like he didn’t believe that.
“Jungkook, of course! I love you! I want to be with you. Forever.” Namjoon took Jungkook’s hair out of his face and cupped his cheeks. “I don’t mean we need to mate now, I’ll wait for how long you need. I want to wait until you’re ready.”
“I’m ready!”
“Jungkook-ah...”
“I mean it, Namjoon hyung!” Jungkook smiled widely. “I dream of being mated with you.”
“Really?”
Jungkook nodded fast. Namjoon felt his scent spike again and scented Jungkook deeply on the neck, scraping his teeth in his scent gland. He felt the other shiver hard.
“I think all this talk about mating triggered your heat, Kook-ah.”
That made Jungkook frown and try to concentrate, assessing his own body and feelings.
“I think you’re right, hyung. I feel like I'm in heat.” He said and snuggled into Namjoon. “Will it be difficult for you to take days off since it is out of schedule?”
“No, babe. It will be okay. Don’t worry about it, I won’t leave you alone.” Namjoon kissed Jungkook’s forehead. “What do you want to do?”
“Hm... Just hold me tight, hyung.” Jungkook said after a little while.
Namjoon tightened his arms around him and nuzzled his hair. Soon Jungkook was humming in delight and Namjoon smiled, glad he had been able to take his boyfriend out of a crisis and make him content.
With him distracted, Namjoon thought again about their mating. He decided to talk about it with Jungkook again in another moment — when he was out of the heat and with his head clearer. For now, Namjoon would just cuddle him how much Jungkook wanted and feed him with the snacks he had bought.
“Hyung?” Jungkook slurred out, almost asleep.
“Hm?”
“I don’t know if I can clean the stain in the comforter.”
Namjoon chuckled. Jungkook was really a laundry fairy.
“Don’t worry, Kook-ah. We can buy a new one later.”
Jungkook nodded and buried his nose in Namjoon’s neck. Feeling safe and happy, he soon fell asleep, and Namjoon followed him later.