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They haven’t left .
Jungkook stays as still as possible, trying not to break this perfect, miraculous moment.
They haven’t left .
Jimin’s still hugging him from behind, Taehyung from the front. Hoseok, curled across Jungkook’s legs, Namjoon at the foot of the bed, leaning against the bed post with a hand curled loosely over Jungkook’s ankle. Seokjin and Yoongi, kneeling on the floor beside the bunk, heads pillowed on the mattress and holding one of Jungkook’s hands each.
If Jungkook were a cat, he’d definitely be purring right now.
It’s so warm and cozy and safe that Jungkook very nearly falls back asleep, but then their shared digital clock alarm is ringing, a sharp, annoyingly familiar beep, beep, beep - and everyone stirs.
Which actually brings Jungkook to a shocking discovery:
He woke up before the alarm.
What.
And…
He feels well-rested.
No seriously. What.
Well-rested. Like, energy one hundred percent. He slept for 3 hours. Somehow, he slept well for 3 whole hours . And somehow those 3 hours have managed to recharge him completely.
Since when?!
As the realization sinks in, Jungkook perks up, a sunny grin spreading across his face. He rocks himself from side to side, jostling Taehyung and Jimin as the alarm continues to beep. “Hyungs,” the maknae murmurs. The soulmates simply grumble incoherently in sync, snuggling closer to Jungkook, squeezing him tighter. A giggle bursts out of Jungkook, warmth and giddiness exploding like fireworks in his chest. God , it’s so nice to be touched like this again. “Hyungs, time to get up!”
Jimin finally seems to come to, stirring a bit more. “Hnngh?”
Okay, maybe not completely conscious yet, but still. It’s a start.
“Time to wake up,” Jungkook reiterates, jostling him and Taehyung again. He dislodges his hands from Yoongi’s and Seokjin’s holds in the process, and over Taehyung’s shoulder he sees his two eldest hyungs raise their heads from the mattress.
Jimin gives a sleepy hum of mild agreement while Taehyung just grumbles again.
Thankfully, Namjoon steps in. “Boys, dance practice is in 30 minutes. Wake up.” Their leader’s voice is low and a little rough from sleep, and Jungkook melts a little at the familiarity of it, even as he turns his head to face him. The youth’s still grinning brightly, still thrumming with the realization that he’s made his fantastical world of warmth and touch a reality.
Namjoon smiles back, and Jungkook has to resist the urge to poke his finger into one of his dimples and see just how far it sinks in.
Hoseok sits up and yawns just as Yoongi gets up to turn off the alarm, and Taehyung finally opens his eyes. He’s facing Jungkook, so the first thing he sees is the maknae’s round, shining eyes staring back at him, and immediately breaks into a boxy (albeit still very sleepy and probably not entirely conscious) grin.
“G’morning, Kook-ah,” Taehyung slurs out, leaning forwards to tenderly nuzzle his and Jungkook’s noses together. “Did’ya sleep well?”
Jungkook blushes at the nuzzle, but still manages to not stutter, “Yeah, hyung. Really well.” Then, heartened by everyone’s unabashed tactile affection, the maknae leans closer to Taehyung and nuzzles him in turn. His hyung makes a cute, happy, wordless sound, squeezing Jungkook tighter.
Eventually, everyone does get off of Jungkook and off the bed, and soon Jungkook finds himself in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing his teeth. With a bonus and very welcome Hoseok clinging to his back, arms wrapped around his waist.
The time it takes Jungkook to brush his teeth mostly passes in comfortable silence, although it’s certainly not an uneventful one. Everytime Jungkook glances up to his and Hoseok’s reflection in the mirror, Hoseok gives him a smile, or a wink, or a funny face, and Jungkook has to quickly look back into the sink to avoid choking on toothpaste.
When it’s Hoseok’s turn to brush his teeth and Jungkook turns to leave and go find clean clothes to change into, his hyung catches his arm before he can step out of the bathroom. “Kookie-ah. Thank you.”
Jungkook tilts his head, confused. “Thank you?”
“For trusting us. For telling us.” He doesn’t have to specify. Jungkook smiles.
“Hyung, I should be thanking you guys. For not judging, for indulging me instead.”
Hoseok’s smile gains a sheen of something playful, knowing. “Trust me, Jungkook-ah. You’re indulging us as well.”
And then Hoseok’s turning back to the sink, loading up his own toothbrush with toothpaste, and Jungkook has no choice but to walk out, back towards the bedroom.
Hoseok’s words still ring through his head though, and they make a small smile return to Jungkook’s lips, and a much bigger warmth spread through his chest.
~~~
Jungkook picks out some new clothes, just a loose black t-shirt and some jeans. Seokjin and Namjoon are already in the kitchen, fully dressed and washed up, Seokjin probably cooking something indulgently fatty that their managers would not approve of because he’s an amazing hyung like that, and Namjoon probably going through plans for the day, or maybe some song lyrics.
That leaves Hoseok in the bathroom and Yoongi, Jimin, and Taehyung in the bedroom with Jungkook, all three of whom are currently changing.
Usually Jungkook would awkwardly stare at his bed until they left then scramble into his clothes for the day, but today…
Not so scary anymore.
He doesn’t have anything to fear, really.
So warm, so cozy, so safe .
Yeah. Nothing to hide.
It’s hard to get over the initial shyness, still, and as Jungkook pulls his pajama shirt over his head and reaches for his clean t-shirt, he senses a couple startled looks thrown his way, but nobody says anything.
They respectfully don’t stare, and everyone finishes changing without fanfare.
It’s relieving, to let go of another one of his inhibitions.
They really didn’t judge, Jungkook still feels fully safe with them.
Somehow, that thought spreads more warmth through Jungkook’s chest as well.
~~~
Jungkook’s good mood lasts only until he realizes they’re going to have dance practice in 5 minutes.
Their choreographer’s words still sting, still constantly ring through Jungkook’s head despite his hyungs’ earlier insistences to not listen to them.
Jungkook really does not want to go face him again.
“Stop slacking off!”
“Seriously, Jungkook, you’re so incompetent, why are you even here?!”
“I’m this close to telling them to kick you out, I swear to fu-”
“Jungkookie?”
Jungkook glances up from his feet as Taehyung’s voice draws him from his spiraling thoughts. They’re all walking through the company halls right now, heading towards the dreaded dance practice room.
Taehyung’s expression softens in understanding as their eyes meet. “It’s okay, now that you’ve slept a little better, you should have the energy to do your best, right?”
“And,” Jimin chimes in, speeding up a little to walk with them on Jungkook’s other side. “If choreographer-nim starts being an as-”
“Language, Jiminie!” Seokjin calls from a few paces ahead of them. Jimin pouts at the retribution but otherwise continues like nothing had happened. “And if choreographer-nim starts being an absolute meanie stupid poopyhead again-” There are giggles from everyone else but Jimin continues with dignity, “-we’ll teach him a lesson and make him shut up, alright?”
Jungkook’s still giggling, but he manages to speak, “Alright, hyung.”
The warmth in his chest spreads, intensifies.
Already, he’s a little less scared, and when they finally do reach the dance studio, Jungkook walks through the door with his head held high, eyes bright and free of dark circles.
Choreographer-nim is already there.
When he looks up from the laptop that’s connected to the speakers, his eyes find Jungkook immediately, and he sends him a very pointed, disgusted look.
Jungkook shrinks back just the tiniest bit, confidence wavering slightly, but then Jimin is stepping not-so-subtly in front of the maknae, blocking the choreographer’s line of sight.
There’s a frozen, slightly tense moment, but then the dance instructor lets out a small scoff, standing up and pretending like nothing had happened. “We’ll be reviewing yesterday’s choreography today, and if we have time we’ll start on the chorus of the new one.”
“Alright,” Namjoon agrees, and it might just be Jungkook’s wishful thinking, but it seems like there’s something tight, warning , in Namjoon’s voice, palpable even from just that one word.
Protective , Jungkook’s brain supplies.
(Jungkook files that little notion away for further future investigation, preferably during a time when no one can see him blushing.)
“Let’s start from the top,” the choreographer waits a couple seconds while everyone obediently gets into position, facing the wall-length mirror. Then he presses play, moving towards the front of the room and surveying them closely as the music begins.
Jungkook can immediately feel the difference of a good night’s sleep. He can easily catch the first beat and come in on time half a second later, and the memories of everything he learned yesterday are clear in his mind.
The maknae can feel the instructor’s gaze burning into him, but he doesn’t look towards him, just focuses on the dance.
As expected, within thirty seconds choreographer-nim already has something to say about Jungkook’s inferior dance skills.
“Jungkook, you’re supposed to be further up- ”
“No, he’s supposed to be in the same line as me,” Hoseok interrupts without pausing his dance. “And that’s exactly where he is.”
Jungkook very pointedly doesn’t say anything, just keeps dancing along with everyone else, brows furrowed a bit in concentration.
During the bridge, when the choreo has simplified and calmed down, Jungkook sneaks a glance towards the instructor.
He’s met with direct eye contact and a death glare; it makes sense that the choreographer has still not looked away from Jungkook, if he wants to catch any mistakes.
But, Jungkook reasons. That means he’s been looking the entire time, and hasn’t found anything to call him out on.
Ha. Take that, meanie stupid poopyhead.
The choreography speeds up again for the final verse, but before it can warrant all of Jungkook’s attention and energy again, he spares a second to shoot the choreographer a shadow of a smug smile.
The enraged look on the instructor’s face is priceless, even if Jungkook only manages to catch a glimpse of it.
Jungkook makes sure to give the finale his all, just like the rest of the dance, showing off just a teensy bit with some extra hard hard stops and pops that he hadn’t been able to pull off before, with his insomnia-induced limited energy.
When the music ends, Jungkook’s hyungs immediately converge towards him. “Good job, Kookie.” Namjoon compliments.
“Told ‘ya,” Taehyung whispers.
Jungkook beams.
“What next, choreographer-nim?” Yoongi prompts, faux-politely. “Do we need to review this choreo some more or can we move on to the next one?”
It takes a moment for their instructor to process the question, as he’s too busy glaring at Jungkook.
Jimin rolls his eyes, snapping his fingers to catch the instructor’s attention. When he snaps his attention back towards the trainee, Jimin points to Yoongi, prompting him to repeat his question. “Do we need to review again or can we move on?”
“Oh. Yeah, we can move on, I guess. Wait a second, lemme just…” the instructor fumbles a little as he hurries back over to the laptop, visibly flustered at being caught not paying attention. Jimin snickers not-so-quietly.
The rest of dance practice passes without fanfare, surprisingly. Jungkook learns the new choreo faster than everyone and the only correction he needs and receives is caught by Hoseok, who adjusts his form before their choreographer can even open his mouth.
Said choreographer continues sending Jungkook dirty, mildly incredulous looks, but in retaliation Jungkook’s hyungs shoot plenty right back, until eventually the instructor has no choice but to just ignore Jungkook.
It’s wonderfully satisfying, and the maknae can’t help but grin the whole way through.
Jungkook’s still grinning, when they step out of the dance studio two hours later.
And he somehow manages to grin even wider when Taehyung wraps him up in a backhug while they’re walking back, uncaring of the sweat on either of them. He doesn’t let go, either, forcing the two of them to awkwardly waddle after the others, but none of them really mind.
And then Yoongi slows down a little to walk beside them, reaching out to entwine his fingers with Jungkook’s.
It’s a soft and sweet gesture, one Jungkook can’t remember when he last received, and the maknae looks up at Yoongi in surprise, even as he continues waddling along with Tae clinging to his back.
Yoongi gives him a pretty smile, squeezing his hand once. Then, he says, “I’m proud of you, Kookie.” And the warmth in Jungkook’s chest blooms even brighter, spreads even further.
Yeah. Everything will be okay.
~~~
Things keep getting better.
After just three more days, out of some stroke of sheer luck, their choreographer gets assigned to another group, and another, infinitely nicer dance instructor takes his place.
Over the next two weeks, Jungkook grows increasingly comfortable with the rest of Bangtan; there’s always at least one hyung cuddling him to sleep every night, he’s no longer shy about changing clothes in front of them or showering in the same dorm as them, he’s dropped almost all his other inhibitions at an almost staggering rate and now often finds himself laughing and joking and smiling with them freely.
Best of all, they don’t share tactile affection only when they’re sleeping.
Instead, Namjoon places his hand between Jungkook’s shoulder blades to guide him or simply when he’s walking around him, Seokjin keeps carding his long fingers through his hair, Jimin and Taehyung regularly barrel into him from behind and cling there until the others chastise them and tell him to ‘let Kookie breathe’ , Yoongi silently holds his hand, Hoseok nuzzles his cheek or nape or nose whenever they’re close enough.
And then there’s the nicknames, Kookie , Kook , Jungkookie , and also bunny , even though he blushes and hides his face with his hands whenever they call him that. His hyungs seem to know him well enough to understand he doesn’t really dislike the nickname, though.
(It’s actually secretly his favorite.)
Today, they have a rare free day; their managers saying they’ve worked hard enough to earn one. Instead of choosing to go out, however, they’ve unanimously agreed to just stay in the dorm, eat food, and best of all, sleep in.
Jungkook wakes up to Namjoon spooning him gently, and blinks blearily at the digital alarm clock on the far side of the room.
11:37 a.m.
Damn.
When was the last time any of them slept past 7?
Some quick math brings Jungkook to the conclusion that he’s just slept well for a solid 13 hours.
God. Damn.
Jungkook knows he’s not the first one up, though, because he can hear Seokjin’s footsteps and Jimin’s voice in the kitchen.
The maknae carefully pries himself from Namjoon’s hold, trying not to wake his leader. He’s unsuccessful, though, and Namjoon stirs with a soft hum.
“Kookie?”
Jungkook turns around, still half laying down, smiling at the sight of his hyung’s groggy expression as he rubs his eyes. “Hmm?”
Namjoon opens his eyes when he finishes rubbing them, blinking at Jungkook for a half-awake second before he's smiling, dimples popping. “You’re awake.”
“And you’re about halfway there,” Jungkook quips fondly. Namjoon chuckles, the sound low and grumbly and comforting, even more so with sleep.
“Hmm, more like a third of the way there. What time is it anyway? I feel like I haven’t slept this well in millennia.”
“11:40,” Jungkook supplies, sitting up and stretching with a yawn.
Namjoon sits up as well. “Man, it feels great to sleep in for once.”
Jungkook hums in agreement. “We should wake the others, though. It won’t do us any good to mess up our sleep schedule.”
“What sleep schedule,” his hyung mutters, and Jungkook giggles.
They do wake Taehyung and Hoseok up, though. They rise without fanfare, and then everyone leaves Jungkook to deal with Yoongi because ‘you’re the only one he won’t murder on the spot for waking him up.’
Jungkook walks up to Yoongi’s bottom bunk without further ado, climbing on and flopping down beside his slumbering hyung. “Hyunggg,” the maknae sings. “Time to get uppp.”
“Murfulble,” Yoongi manages, like the intellectual he is. Jungkook gives a fond sigh and tries again, tugging at the blankets and pulling them down to his hyung’s waist. “C’mon, Yoongi-hyung, it’s already almost noon.”
“Hngh.”
Jungkook sighs again. Alright. Time to bring out the big guns.
The maknae rises back into a sitting position, then promptly launches himself on top of Yoongi, making him bear his full weight, then wraps his arms around him tightly. “Wake uppp,” Jungkook whines, rocking them both from side to side. Yoongi gives a soft oof at the sudden weight, and finally opens his eyes to a disgruntled squint.
“Kookie?” He slurs. Jungkook grins down at his sleepy hyung, and stops rocking them from side to side, still straddling Yoongi. “Hi, hyung. Did’ya sleep well?”
Yoongi grumbles. “I’d sleep better if you actually let me.”
“You’ve already slept for 13 hours, hyung,” Jungkook reminds. His hyung just grumbles again, closing his eyes once more. Jungkook huffs in protest, bouncing once in place and making Yoongi’s eyes fly open again as half the wind is knocked out of him. “Heavy,” he complains, voice almost a wheeze. Jungkook snickers.
“I’ll only get off when you promise me you’ll get out of bed now.”
Yoongi gives him a frankly adorable straight face, mouth set in a straight line and eyes so incredibly done with Jungkook, and the maknae giggles. “C’mon, hyung, you gotta choose; asphyxiation or getting out of bed?”
They hold eye contact for a moment, Yoongi with the straight face and Jungkook with the bunny grin, before Yoongi heaves a sigh and shoves at Jungkook lightly. “Getting out of bed, I guess.”
Jungkook giggles again, nose scrunching cutely, obligingly moving off of his hyung and letting him breathe properly.
“Brat,” Yoongi accuses, but he’s smiling.
They have a delectable brunch, (courtesy of Seokjin’s cooking skills), and then Taehyung and Jimin suggest a movie day, so Namjoon brings out his laptop and sets it on their living room coffee table, Seokjin and Yoongi make some hot drinks and finger food, and Hoseok and the maknae line gather up a bunch of pillows and blankets from everyone’s bunks, setting up a little nest of sorts in front of the coffee table.
It’s nice and cozy, if a bit cramped, when all of Jungkook’s hyungs settle themselves inside the pile of blankets, leaning against each other or a pillow or two.
Everyone’s touching Jungkook, in one way or another, and it feels so nice to be cuddled from all sides like this.
So much so that Jungkook finds his attention slipping from the movie to every point of contact from his hyungs instead.
So warm, so cozy, so safe .
He’s so happy, too. To be here, with them.
They’re so nice, Jungkook muses with a soft smile. So sweet, so caring. He-
He really, really likes his hyungs.
They make him feel warm and cozy and safe and happy .
Jungkook really, really likes his hyungs.
Wait, that’s not right.
Oh.
Jungkook loves his hyungs.
Yeah, that’s what it is.
I love them.
It feels right , thinking that. Thinking that makes that warmth bloom further in his chest, makes it burst and spread until it reaches the very tips of his hair and toes. Jungkook is suddenly struck with just how right it feels, thinking that. How warm it feels. How lucky he is, how happy he is, to be able to think that and know it’s true.
I love them.
He belongs here, with his hyungs. And he’ll stay here, he won’t ever leave. They won't ever leave, either.
I love them.
That phrase, that feeling of love , is suddenly so strong that Jungkook can’t keep it to himself.
Not so scary anymore.
And especially not scary now , because somehow Jungkook just knows that if he says it right now everything will just get happier, warmer.
“Hyungs?”
“Hmm?” Everyone’s attention is immediately on him. There’s warmth in their eyes.
“I love you.”
Jungkook’s hyungs’ eyes widen, almost comically in sync, but Jungkook doesn’t waver, keeps looking at them. Their eyes are warm. They’re warm. They make him feel so warm, so loved.
There’s a moment where everyone stays still, the shocked silence filled with the background hum of the movie still playing from Namjoon’s laptop, just the seven of them sitting amidst a cozy little nest made of a mix of everyone’s softest bedding in a cramped living room with a coffee table.
Then-
The moment is broken when Jungkook’s hyungs smile, so bright, so warm, snuggling closer, squeezing tighter.
“I love you too.”
And oh , those words are the most beautiful things Jungkook’s ever heard. He smiles back, nuzzling into them.
There’s the soft press of lips against Jungkook’s forehead, making him gasp softly in delight. Then there’s another, then another, six of them pressed to his forehead, the tip of his nose, his cheeks, the crown of his head, then six more, until Jungkook is giggling into their arms, nose scrunching up with his smile, feeling like he just might burst from all the love he’s feeling, all the warmth.
Jungkook never knew love could be so warm.
The movie is forgotten for the next several minutes. Or maybe an entire hour passes, Jungkook doesn’t know and he doesn’t care.
All he can feel is his hyungs’ touches, their soft kisses, all he can see is their faces and pretty smiles, all he can hear is their laughs, the ‘I love you’ s that continue to be exchanged.
Yeah, this is right. Loving them. Being here, staying here, with them. Never leaving.
And somehow, no matter how many times they say and hear that phrase, it never loses its meaning; if anything, it just feels warmer every time.
“I love you.”
~Fin~