Work Text:
Taehyung could hear the clock ticking away on the nightstand beside him, the water running loudly in the bathroom, the TV humming out in the living room. He looked up from his laptop with a sigh. For some reason, the apartment sounded noisier than it usually was in the evening and Taehyung was having trouble staying focused. He closed his laptop and swung his legs over the side of the big double bed, feet missing his slippers and landing on the equally soft red carpet.
“Not even Jeongguk can argue that this carpet wasn’t a good idea,” Taehyung mused, squishing his toes into the fuzziness.
He glanced over at the bathroom where his boyfriend was, judging from the sounds and the way steam was seeping through the door cracks, taking a very warm bath. Taehyung wanted to join him so badly; their bedroom was dark and cold and far from comforting when Jeongguk wasn’t there, even if he was just in the bathroom. But Taehyung still had to finish his draft plans for his new album and he wasn’t even halfway done yet. Still, he had to see Jeongguk at least once before he got back to work. Shivering, he pulled a blanket off the bed and threw it over his shoulders before moving to the bathroom door, knocking softly, and then opening it.
Jeongguk, sitting in waist deep water and batting a rubber duckie back and forth, jumped, splashing water onto the mat next to the tub. He spun around to face Taehyung, eyes wide and dark hair still fluffy and barely even damp.
“Holy shit, Taehyung! You scared me!” He exclaimed, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes as the rubber duck floated off freely.
Taehyung smiled, shuffling across the room to the side of the tub. He leaned down, pressing an apology kiss to Jeongguk’s lips before settling down in the corner of the tub and wall, snuggled up in the blanket. Jeongguk turned to face him, resting his chin on the edge of the tub.
“You don’t want to join me?” He murmured, reaching out a hand to comb through Taehyung’s tangled curls.
Taehyung shook his head, not caring that his hair was getting wet. “I do. But I still have to finish the drafts,” he sighed.
Jeongguk frowned, his hand moving to cup Taehyung’s cheek. “You’re working too much, Tae.” He rubbed a thumb under Taehyung’s eye, softly. “Look at you, baby. You’re exhausted.”
“But our comeback-“
“Comebacks can wait. Yoongi-hyung doesn’t get back for another three weeks. You have time,” Jeongguk interrupted. “Take breaks more often.”
Taehyung closed his eyes, leaning against Jeongguk’s hand and listening to the apartment getting louder again, humming and ticking and running.
“You left the TV on, Guk,” he remarked, quietly.
“Hm. I know. It’s recording a show.” Jeongguk glanced at Taehyung, looking worried. “Is it bothering you? You can go ahead and turn it off if you want.”
Taehyung caught the younger boy’s hand in his and squeezed, gently. “No. It’s okay. I think I will take a break.”
Jeongguk smiled. “Good. Now go get something to eat. I’ll be out in five minutes, okay?”
Now it was Taehyung’s turn to frown. “You mean I can’t join you?”
“Nope. You need food, cuddles, and sleep.”
“Fine.”
Taehyung reluctantly dragged himself out of the bathroom and wandered into the kitchen. Glancing at his reflection in the microwave, he had to agree with Jeongguk that he did look exhausted. As he was digging through the refrigerator, he heard familiar footsteps behind him. He looked up to see Jeongguk walking into the kitchen, fluffing his hair with a towel and wearing one of Taehyung’s hoodies. That was a usual for them, wearing each other’s clothes on a daily basis but it always gave Taehyung fuzzy warm feelings seeing his clothes on his boyfriend.
“Why aren’t you eating anything, Tae?” Jeongguk asked, crossing the kitchen floor and wrapping his arms around Taehyung’s waist.
“I was just…hey! Put me down!” Taehyung protested when Jeongguk picked him up and placed him on the counter.
Jeongguk ignored his outburst, smiling all the while. “You sit there and I’ll find you something.”
Taehyung shrugged. He didn’t usually let Jeongguk baby him but tonight, he was just too tired to care.
“I feel like a five year old,” he pouted, swinging his feet.
Jeongguk glanced over at him. “And I’m going to put you to bed early like a five year old too.”
Taehyung let out a loud dramatic sigh. “Yes, Daddy.”
Jeongguk whipped around from the refrigerator, cheeks flaming red, and smacked Taehyung’s leg with the towel.
“Ouch!” Taehyung yelped, flinching and rubbing his leg.
“Serves you right, Mr. Dirty Mind,” Jeongguk grumbled, pulling out a few containers from the fridge.
“I’m sorry! I couldn’t not say it,” Taehyung remarked, frowning.
Jeongguk only huffed in response. He handed Taehyung a Chinese food container and put the rest of the food back in the fridge. Taehyung didn’t bother to open the container and simply waited until Jeongguk had closed the fridge and was turning back around to face him.
“Jeongguk,” Taehyung started.
“Hm?”
“This is yours.”
Jeongguk glanced at the container and nodded. “Yeah.”
“You don’t want it?”
“They got my order wrong. I never was going to eat it.”
Taehyung gaped at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?!”
Jeongguk shrugged. He shuffled over closer to the counter and took the container from Taehyung. Opening it, he took the chopsticks, picked up a bite of noodles, looked up at Taehyung, expectantly, then frowned.
“Damn, you’re tall sitting up there,” he remarked, looking a bit disoriented, and Taehyung chuckled.
Jeongguk smiled too and, putting the food down, held out his hands. Taehyung took them and hopped off the counter but, instead of just letting go of Jeongguk’s hands, he pulled the younger boy into a hug, burying his face in Jeongguk’s shoulder. Jeongguk nuzzled his hair, pulling him closer.
“You aren’t hungry, are you, Tae?” Jeongguk asked, softly.
Taehyung shook his head. Jeongguk somehow always knew things like that. “Sorry, Gukie. I just don’t feel like eating anything right now.”
Jeongguk hummed. “No. Don’t apologize. If you aren’t hungry, you shouldn’t force yourself to eat.” He pulled back, much to Taehyung’s disappointment, and cupped Taehyung’s face in his hands. “But I do wish you’d take better care of yourself when it comes to working. You know I love taking care of you but what if I’m not here? What then?”
“When would you not be here?” Taehyung asked, staring at Jeongguk, wide eyed.
“Well, like the military. You came back and you were here alone for two weeks before I came back,” Jeongguk remarked.
“But military is over, Guk…” Taehyung stated, voice trailing off.
“Thank God it is,” Jeongguk sighed, pulling Taehyung into another warm hug.
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other’s arms. Again, Taehyung could hear everything. The buzz of the TV, the clocks ticking, the faucet dripping in the sink, the comforting sounds of Jeongguk’s heartbeat, his breathing. It was like a lullaby. Taehyung could feel himself dozing off. He breathed in, sighed, and shook himself awake, looking at Jeongguk.
“I really am exhausted.”
Jeongguk laughed and nodded. “Let’s get you to bed then, baby bear.”
Taehyung complied. He let Jeongguk help him through his nightly routine and tuck him into bed with a soft kiss. The moment Taehyung snuggled down under the covers, he began to drift off.
“I love you, Taetae,” was the last thing he heard.
And Taehyung wanted to say it back but he was already asleep.
Album cover submission.
And just like that, Taehyung was up again two hours later, clicking away on his computer while Jeongguk slept curled up beside him, one arm over his waist, and unaware of what Taehyung was doing. Taehyung felt guilty for working when he promised Jeongguk he’d take a break but the album cover design draft was due for review at midnight and he had to get it done. How long could it possibly take?
Another two hours later and Taehyung could barely keep his eyes open. The list of songs on the cover was blurry. Was that How Are You or Who Are You? What was the name of the song about ‘knowing’? I Don’t Know You? I Don’t Know Me? I Don’t Know Anything? Taehyung had to add whatever it was to the cover. But how could he? He was asleep again.
————
The alarm clock blared.
“Jeonggukie…can you turn that off?” Taehyung mumbled, rolling over on the bed.
BLEEP…BLEEP…BLEEP…
“…Gukie…”
Taehyung forced himself to sit up, blurry eyed and still sleepy, and attempted to reach over Jeongguk to turn the alarm off. Instead he found himself toppling over onto a hard wooden floor. He yelped, instantly awake, and scrambled to get up. His eyes widened when he saw just where he was. His parents’ house. In the bedroom he used to sleep in before he became part of BTS. His first question was, "Where was Jeongguk?”
There was a knock on the door. Taehyung jumped to his feet and flew across the hard floor to answer it. It must be Jeongguk. I probably forgot we were here to visit…right? But the person who greeted him at the door was not his boyfriend.
“Eomma?” He gasped.
His mother looked confused then started to speak. “I’ve never seen you up so fast. Get ready to go. You have classes today, remember?”
Taehyung was bewildered. “Classes?” He echoed.
“Oh, honey. Stop messing with your old mother. Your college classes? At Yonsei?” His mother laughed, handing Taehyung a box lunch. “Go on now. Hurry up.”
Yonsei? That was the university Taehyung had planned to attend before he’d joined BigHit. He stared at his mother in confusion. Just what was going on and where the hell was Jeongguk? His mother paused in the doorway and placed a hand on Taehyung’s forehead.
“Are you feeling okay?” She asked, anxiously.
“Eomma, what about my band?” Taehyung inquired, almost afraid to ask.
“Your band? What band?”
Taehyung gaped at his mother in shock. She had been the first one to congratulate him on getting into BTS. She had tried to make it to every concert and she was the only girl Taehyung looked forward to seeing at those noisy fanmeets. She had brought gifts for every one of the members and won all their hearts. How could she forget?
“My band, BTS. Eomma, you love us. Don’t you remember the concerts?” Taehyung asked, beginning to get a bit scared now.
“Honey, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please just get ready to go,” his mother just sighed and left the doorway.
Taehyung shut the door and spun around to face his room. It seemed very empty since the last time Taehyung had visited. He couldn’t quite place a finger on it. The pictures. All the pictures he had put up of the band were gone. The merchandise he had gotten to decorate his room, to remind himself of what he lived for everyday. All the ‘Cooky’ dolls he had, all the album covers, everything BTS related was gone. Taehyung spun around and ran out into the living room in a panic.
“Eomma, where’s all my stuff?!” He demanded to know.
His mother looked up from the stove, startled. “It’s…it’s all there, honey. Why? Is something missing?”
“All my BTS stuff!”
“Honey, I’ve never heard of BTS. Have you, dear?”
Taehyung turned to where his father was sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper. His father, who had welcomed all the members as part of their family, had treated everyone like his own sons, had been right there along with Taehyung’s mother for every concert.
Please say yes. Please tell Eomma she’s wrong. Say you know them, Taehyung was silently pleading.
“Nope. Never heard of them.”
Taehyung’s heart sank. His mother gave him a worried look. Taehyung couldn’t take it. He bolted out of the house, ignoring his mother’s frantic calls to come back and get his lunch. But Taehyung wasn’t going back. He had to find Jeongguk.
He took a taxi and rode all the way back to his and Jeongguk’s apartment. He wasn’t sure how he got to his parents’ house but he knew Jeongguk must be worried by now. It was the middle of the morning after all. He couldn’t wait to collapse into his boyfriend’s arms and forget everything that had happened. But when he reached their apartment and dug into his pocket to find his keys, they were gone. Must’ve left them at the house, Taehyung assumed. So he knocked instead, waiting for the door to fly open and for Jeongguk to pull him into a warm hug.
“Hello?”
The face that greeted Taehyung was far from familiar. He frowned at the old lady standing in the doorway. “Are you one of Jeongguk’s relatives?” He asked.
“Jeongguk? No. I live here. You must have the wrong address, young man,” the lady responded, kindly.
“But-“
The door slammed in Taehyung’s face, signaling the official start of his panic. He ran up and down the complex, frantically, knocking on all the doors, searching and searching and turning up empty handed. He couldn’t even find the number he had saved as ‘Bunny’ in his contacts. Jeongguk had disappeared. Taehyung called everyone he could, even his dentist, but for some reason, even the numbers of his closest friends, the rest of the members, were gone. Frantic, Taehyung headed into the heart of the city.
An hour later an the police were no help. Taehyung had nothing to prove that he was in any way associated with Jeon Jeongguk and without that, the police refused to offer their assistance. When Taehyung burst into the BigHit office to ask about the band, BTS, they called him a crazy person. When he went knocking on the door of their manager, he was met with a drunk man who barely resembled the kind and funny person who had helped Taehyung and the members to greatness. Hopeless and distraught and clueless on what to do next, Taehyung was just leaving the office of the other managers after getting yelled at for the third time that day when he suddenly saw him. A flood of relief washed over Taehyung when he spotted Jeongguk coming out of a nearby shop. He practically flew across the sidewalk and collided with the startled younger boy, hugging him tightly.
“Oh my fucking God, Jeongguk! You scared the hell out of me!” Taehyung exclaimed, breathlessly, pulling away.
But Jeongguk just stared at him, blankly. He glanced over Taehyung’s shoulder then looked around, as if expecting something or someone to be there with Taehyung. Taehyung, on the other hand, was finding that Jeongguk somehow looked different. He couldn’t exactly place what it was that was making his boyfriend look so alien and unfamiliar but it was making Taehyung nervous.
“Did Jimin send you?” Jeongguk finally asked, coolly, and even his voice sounded unusual.
“Jimin? What are you talking about? Jimin is probably at home waiting for Yoongi-hyung to come back. I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Taehyung explained, confused.
Jeongguk seemed to tense up when Taehyung mentioned Yoongi. He slowly turned to face Taehyung, eyes wide and glassy. He looked sad for some reason. Taehyung reached out a hand to grab Jeongguk’s hand but the younger boy smacked it away, startling Taehyung. Finally Jeongguk spoke.
“Who are you?”
Those three words sent a chill down Taehyung’s spine. His eyes widened but Jeongguk just continued to glare at him. Someone is playing a massive joke on me and Jeongguk must’ve been in on it. That’s what’s going on, Taehyung decided. He laughed, nervously.
“Okay, knock it off, Guk. You got me. That was a good prank,” he remarked. “Don’t know how you got our manager and the whole staff in on it but that was impressive.”
“What? Mister, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jeongguk snapped, clenching his fists. “Did you know Yoongi-hyung or something? Is that what this is all about?”
Taehyung shook his head, actually starting to get a bit frightened by the way Jeongguk was acting. “No. I mean, yes, I know Yoongi-hyung. He’s one of my best friends. One of our best friends. What do you mean ‘knew’? I know him.”
Jeongguk scoffed. “You must not have heard then. Yoongi-hyung…he…” Suddenly Jeongguk got really quiet and looked away. “…he was killed…in action. Two months ago.”
Again, the same ice cold chill ran through Taehyung’s body. He gaped at Jeongguk in horror. “That’s not possible! I just talked to Yoongi-hyung a week or so ago! He sounded fine!”
“Well it must’ve been fake or an actor because Yoongi-hyung is gone! Or maybe you’re a fake! Maybe you came just to rub it in!” Jeongguk shouted, tears in his eyes, hands clenching the fabric of his hoodie.
The same hoodie I have at home, Taehyung noticed, sorrowfully. Looking into Jeongguk’s tear filled eyes, Taehyung could tell there was only pain and heartbreak left. No trace of recognition or acting or anything that told Taehyung the old Jeongguk was still there somewhere. He took a step back, tears starting to prick at and sting his own eyes as he tried to grasp just what had happened to his sweet boyfriend who had been, just hours before, trying to feed him his leftover Chinese food and complaining that Taehyung was too tall when he sat on the counter. Jeongguk was gone.
Taehyung couldn’t accept that. He grabbed Jeongguk’s arm, pulling him closer. “Don’t you remember the concerts? What about when you tucked me into bed last night and said you loved me? Tell me you remember that, Jeonggukie! Plea-“
Jeongguk cut him off, once again pushing Taehyung’s hand away. “ Don’t call me Jeonggukie. I don’t even know you.”
It stung. Every word was like needles in Taehyung’s heart. He hated needles. Jeongguk had always been there to hold his hand at the doctor’s office. Now he was the one causing the pricking stabbing pain that made Taehyung want to die. What had happened? Where was Jeongguk? This wasn’t him. But yet it was.
A bell rang as someone stepped out of the store. Taehyung’s eyes widened when he saw Jimin walking over with an arm full of grocery bags. Then, to Taehyung’s utter horror, Jimin, his very best friend in the whole world and Yoongi-hyung’s own boyfriend, took Jeongguk’s arm, kissed his cheek, then turned to stare at Taehyung with a look that seemed to be mocking him.
“Who’s this, babe?” Jimin asked, cocking his head at Taehyung.
Jeongguk frowned. “He says he’s a friend of Yoongi-hyung’s.”
Jimin stiffened then swallowed hard, his hold on Jeongguk’s arm tightening. Taehyung had never wanted to rip two people away from each other more than he did then and with the way Jimin was looking at him, it was like he knew exactly what Taehyung was thinking.
“Yes,” Taehyung finally managed to get out, a stray tear worming down his cheek. “Yoongi-hyung. Jiminie, he’s your boyfriend! I’m your best friend! What happened?”
Jimin looked startled. “What? We never dated and I don’t know who you are although, if you knew Yoongi, well, I’m sure Jeonggukie has told you by now. I’m sorry if you’re just now hearing this,” he said, quietly. Then he turned to Jeongguk and smiled. “We should get home, babe.”
“Yeah.” Jeongguk shot Taehyung a long look then turned away, arm in arm with
Jimin.
Taehyung panicked, choking on his tears. “Wait!” He called after them as their figures blurred into the distance. “Don’t leave me like this! What happened to you?!” He was crying now, running after them, stumbling on everything. “Please don’t leave me! I don’t know what’s happening! Why are you like this?!”
He fell onto the pavement, sobbing as the shadows of his best friend, the love of his life, faded away. His cheek stung from the impact of his fall and his whole body ached. The world spun violently around him and he didn’t bother getting up. Instead he curled up into a ball and tried to wish himself away. Tried to cry himself to sleep so he could forget about this.
“Jeonggukie…why did you forget me?” He whimpered as his eyes closed.
In the dark, the only sound he heard was that of his heart breaking.
————
Taehyung snapped up off the pillows, wide awake and cold as ice. Everything came rushing back and he almost collapsed back down from the sheer force with which it hit him. He realized, with a start, that he was back in his apartment, the one he shared, well, used to share with Jeongguk. What happened to the old lady who claimed to own it, Taehyung didn’t know but he was glad to be somewhere familiar. At least that was a good thing aside from the fact that Jeongguk was gone and Taehyung was freezing. His computer still sat on the bed, half open. Was it all a dream? Taehyung wondered. He glanced beside him at the empty bed, shivering, and-
There he was. Sound asleep, breathing softly, and looking so peaceful and happy and familiar that Taehyung wanted to cry all over again. Instead, he swallowed a sob and gingerly crawled closer, reaching out a shaking hand to comb through Jeongguk’s tousled hair, gently. He hesitated, remembering the way Jeongguk had shouted at him earlier, before laying down next to the younger boy, hand cupping his cheek and just stayed there, memorizing every line and curve of his face because Taehyung also remembered how the younger boy had looked so unfamiliar just a while ago and he didn’t want to feel like Jeongguk was unfamiliar ever again. Yet he still wondered which Jeongguk this was. If he woke up now, would he snuggle closer or would he shout and snap at Taehyung for kidnapping him.
As if on cue, Jeongguk’s eyes fluttered open and Taehyung didn’t have any time to jump away or feign being asleep. He could only stare back at Jeongguk, nervously.
“Taehyungie?” Came the familiar sleepy whisper and Taehyung instantly knew he’d been dreaming.
There was no way in hell this beautiful boy with a smile that could light up the world and who had the cutest sleepy voice of anybody ever, could snap and yell at Taehyung. Only in Taehyung’s worst nightmares could that happen. He felt a hand on his face, wiping his cheek, softly.
“Taehyungie hyungie…why are you crying?”
Only then did Taehyung realize the tears that were steadily slipping down his cheeks and he just started crying even more hearing a nickname he hadn’t heard from Jeongguk since their earlier concert days. Without a word, Jeongguk sat up and slid off the bed. Through his tears, Taehyung could see him filling a glass with water from the bathroom. Taehyung scrambled to sit up as well, swiping a hand across his eyes and trying to stop crying. The blankets rustled beside him and Jeongguk was suddenly back again, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling Taehyung against his chest, hugging him tightly.
“Shhhh…it’s okay…damn, you’re so cold! What the hell?!” Taehyung heard Jeongguk exclaim, sounding anxious and cuddling Taehyung closer.
Taehyung sniffled, shuddering, then melting into the warm embrace of the younger boy.
Again, he heard Jeongguk’s voice, this time murmuring a soft, “You’re okay, baby. You’re okay.”
Suddenly, Taehyung felt such an overwhelming rush of relief that he couldn’t breath. He was so relieved, so unimaginably glad that Jeongguk was still his loving boyfriend, was still there for him, and still remembered him. He threw his arms around the younger boy and pulled him closer, burying his face in his hoodie. Jeongguk just hugged him tighter, stroking his hair, gently, and murmuring over and over again, “You’re okay…you’re okay.” It was more than comforting and reminded Taehyung of when the younger boy had whispered, “I love you,” when he had tucked Taehyung into bed earlier that night.
“Guk…” he started.
“Hmm?”
“I love you,” Taehyung murmured in reply, voice shaking a little. “I love you, I love you, I love you. So, so much.”
He pulled himself into Jeongguk’s lap, wrapping his legs around Jeongguk’s waist and relaxing against the younger boy’s chest with a shuddering sigh as he rested his head on Jeongguk’s shoulder. He needed to be close, to be as close as possible, just to make sure the Jeongguk holding him now was his Jeongguk, the Jeongguk he loved, the Jeongguk who he knew loved him. Jeongguk’s hand came up then, pressing against Taehyung’s cheek and wiping away the last stray tears before tilting Taehyung’s chin up until they were face to face. Jeongguk smiled, brushing strands of hair from Taehyung’s face.
“Better now, baby?” He asked, gently.
Taehyung could only nod in response, feeling a bit guilty now that he had woken Jeongguk up. Jeongguk just looked relieved and cuddled Taehyung closer, tangling his fingers in Taehyung’s hair. Taehyung buried his head into the crook of Jeongguk’s neck and focused on trying to control his breathing, still petrified beyond words that maybe having Jeongguk as his boyfriend was the real dream and the nightmare was real life. He planned to make sure later but for now, he was enjoying just being with Jeongguk, the cold long forgotten.
“Why aren’t you always this clingy?” Jeongguk sighed before admitting, “I’m kind of really loving it.”
“I guess I should start having more nightmares then,” Taehyung smiled, bitterly.
“I thought that was what happened,” Jeongguk said, simply. “You want to talk about it or something?”
“Not now. Sorry I woke you up,” Taehyung apologized in a quiet voice.
Jeongguk shook his head. “You didn’t. I just had a feeling you needed me.”
This time, Taehyung’s smile was real and genuine. “I do,” he whispered.
“Hey. Look at me, Tae.”
Taehyung tilted his head up to look at Jeongguk then inhaled sharply when he was met by familiar soft lips on his own. It took a few seconds for Taehyung to return the kiss as he was too startled to function properly; Jeongguk’s kisses were always breathtakers. But when Taehyung finally did manage to reciprocate, it was to deepen the kiss, to press himself infinitely closer to Jeongguk, wrapping his arms loosely around the younger boy’s neck, and to drink in the taste of his lips. Always so effortlessly sweet and warm. This was real. Taehyung’s wildest dreams could never make this up. Even before they started dating, Taehyung had tried and failed to imagine what it would be like to kiss Jeongguk. Only when Jeongguk had unabashedly proclaimed his feelings and later kissed Taehyung like he had never been kissed before, did Taehyung finally find out what kissing Jeongguk felt like. And it was sweet. Too sweet for Taehyung to take in all at once.
He broke away, leaving the both of them breathless from the intensity of their own kiss. Jeongguk touched his forehead against Taehyung’s, softly, holding him close. Taehyung pecked the younger boy’s nose and he giggled, the sound being quite possibly the cutest thing Taehyung had ever heard. So he cupped Jeongguk’s face in his hands and gave him more little kisses, pressing them to the younger boy’s cheeks and the corners of his lips until Jeongguk was blushing and laughing, telling Taehyung to cut it out. But Taehyung knew he liked it. This was the Jeongguk he knew. The one with the adorable giggles and who blushed when Taehyung gave him too many kisses. The one who seemed to know when Taehyung was hurting whether it be physically or mentally. Taehyung still didn’t understand how he knew.
“You aren’t cold anymore, Taehyungie,” Jeongguk remarked, squeezing Taehyung’s hand.
Taehyung smiled, pulling his boyfriend in for another tight hug and nuzzling the soft skin of his neck. “I’m so glad you remember me,” he breathed.
“I didn’t remember you? In your nightmare?” Jeongguk asked, curiously.
“No. You didn’t. You said you didn’t know me. And you were dating Jimin,” Taehyung finally explained, quietly.
At that, Jeongguk laughed and stood up. Taehyung watched him as he climbed onto the bed, pulled the covers up, and patted the space next to him. Taehyung made his way over, snuggling down against Jeongguk’s side as he wrapped an arm around Taehyung’s waist. Once again they were laying side by side, face to face, just as close as before.
Taehyung reached over, playing with the strings of Jeongguk’s hoodie. “You were dating Jimin,” he repeated then went on. “And…and you yelled at me…and told me Yoongi-hyung was…well…killed…in action…in the military.”
Jeongguk’s hand found Taehyung’s in the dark and laced their fingers together. “You know I would never yell at you, right?” He asked, gently.
“I know,” Taehyung replied, firmly. “It was very real though. Nobody remembered BTS. Our manager was a drunk dude. I was supposed to be going to Yonsei. It was like BTS never existed. I was panicking through the whole dream.”
Jeongguk squeezed his hand, comfortingly. “You’re okay now though, right?”
“Yes…well…” Taehyung hesitated, thinking about just how okay he was. “I’m kind of scared to sleep now, Gukie. I…I know it isn’t, but I’m scared this, us, might be the real dream.”
“That’s understandable, not wanting to sleep after a nightmare, I mean. But, Taetae, I promise you aren’t dreaming. This”- Jeongguk brought their intertwined hands up for Taehyung to see -“isn’t a dream.” He leaned forward and kissed Taehyung softly. “That’s not a dream either.”
He turned, grabbing his phone off the nightstand and showing Taehyung the screen. It was a picture of their whole group, smiling, happy, very real looking. Taehyung remembered that picture well. Jeongguk pulled up another one and another.
“See? Look how many pictures I have. If this was a dream, you wouldn’t be able to remember all these. There are just too many.” He paused, placing his phone back down. “You remember all those photos though so they must be real.” Taehyung nodded, slowly. Jeongguk smiled, brushing through Taehyung’s hair with his fingers.
“So you just get some more sleep, okay?” Jeongguk murmured, pulling Taehyung closer. “I‘ll still be here when you wake up.”
Taehyung tucked his head into the crook of Jeongguk’s neck, wrapping his arms around the younger boy’s waist. “Okay,” he agreed in a quiet voice.
“Okay,” Jeongguk repeated, nuzzling Taehyung’s hair with his chin.
The room fell silent. But it was a peaceful silence, one Taehyung welcomed. He didn’t focus on sounds this time. Instead he focused on how warm he was in Jeongguk’s arms, how safe he felt. This was real. He was okay. Everything was okay. He was just dozing off when Jeongguk suddenly spoke.
“Taehyungie? Is that your computer?”
“Uh…”
“Taehyung! Were you up last night working?!”
“Maybe?”
“Taehyunggg!”