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The blue light of the phone cast a soft glow on Taehyung’s face, illuminating the subtle curve of his smile as he spoke to the camera. It was late, well past midnight in Seoul, and the world outside his window was hushed, save for the occasional distant hum of traffic. He was propped up in bed, the pillows a comfortable nest behind him, his voice a low, soothing murmur as he talked about the Purple Ribbon Project, his recent thoughts, and how much he missed ARMY.
His eyes, usually so bright and expressive, held a hint of weariness, a lingering restlessness that had kept him from sleep. It was why he'd decided to go live, a habit he often fell into when his thoughts wouldn't quiet down. The comments scrolled by, a comforting cascade of purple hearts and excited greetings, a familiar anchor in the quiet of the night.
"And so, I really hope we can all work together on this," he said, his brows furrowing slightly in earnestness. Just then, a soft, rhythmic sound, a deep, steady exhalation, cut through the quietness of the dimly lit room. It wasn't loud, not jarring, but distinct enough to make a few sharp-eared fans in the comments start typing furiously. Did you hear that? Is someone else there? Is it Jungkook?
Taehyung's gaze flickered, a near-imperceptible twitch to his right. He caught himself, bringing his eyes back to the lens, his smile holding steady, though a faint blush crept up his neck. He cleared his throat lightly, continuing his sentence as if nothing had happened. He really didn't care if people speculated. They always did. But tonight, he was tired, and the thought of another viral moment about his personal life just wasn't appealing. He just wanted to connect with ARMY, even if only for a little while.
He spoke for another ten minutes, sharing anecdotes, answering questions, his voice occasionally dropping to a near-whisper as the late hour seemed to pull at him. Each time that soft, measured breathing echoed, a warmth spread through him, a private comfort only he and the silent presence beside him knew. He kept the camera close, his face filling the frame, creating an intimate bubble that excluded everything else in the dimly lit room.
"Okay, ARMY, it's really late now," he finally said, a soft sigh escaping him. "You should all get some rest. Thank you for staying up with me. Good night." He blew a kiss to the camera, his signature gesture, before his thumb hovered over the "End Live" button.
As soon as the screen went dark, a soft groan rippled through the bed beside him. A hand stretched out, fumbling blindly for a moment before finding Taehyung's arm.
"Hyungie?" a sleepy, gravelly voice mumbled, thick with sleep.
Taehyung’s heart swelled. He turned, the phone now forgotten on the covers, his gaze softening completely. Jungkook was stirring, his hair a delightful mess, his eyes still mostly shut. The rhythmic breathing had stopped, replaced by the soft sounds of a boyfriend waking up.
"Hey, Jungkook-ah," Taehyung whispered, leaning in, his nose brushing against Jungkook's warm cheek. Jungkook's lips, soft and slightly parted from sleep, pursed just a fraction, a silent, sleepy request. Taehyung didn't hesitate, pressing a tender, lingering kiss to them. He nuzzled closer, inhaling the familiar scent of sleep and something uniquely Jungkook. "Did I wake you?"
Jungkook hummed, a low, pleased sound, burrowing deeper into the pillow and then, instinctively, closer to Taehyung. He opened his eyes just enough to offer a sweet, half-asleep peck to Taehyung's jawline. "Too loud," he mumbled against Taehyung's shoulder, a sleepy pout in his voice. "Couldn't sleep, hyung?"
"Couldn't sleep," Taehyung confirmed, wrapping an arm around Jungkook's waist, pulling him flush against his chest. He pressed a soft kiss to Jungkook's temple, then his rumpled hair, then the curve of his ear. "Sorry, for waking you, baby."
"It's okay," Jungkook mumbled, already drifting back to sleep, his breath evening out against Taehyung's skin. "Just… come here." He tightened his hold, a sleepy, possessive squeeze.
Taehyung chuckled softly, a quiet, contented sound. He adjusted them both, settling deeper into the bed, Jungkook's head now nestled perfectly beneath his chin. The restless energy that had plagued him moments before on the live seemed to dissipate, replaced by a profound sense of peace. He closed his eyes, holding his boyfriend close, the silence of the room now filled with nothing but their synchronized breathing. Sleep, he realized, wouldn't be far behind.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, a stark contrast to the previous night's soft glow. Jungkook was already awake, scrolling lazily through his phone, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
"You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" Jungkook's voice was bright, teasing. He turned the phone to show Taehyung a short clip from the Weverse Live last night, magnified and with the sound enhanced, titled “DID YOU HEAR THAT?!” in big bold letters. The clip zoomed in on Taehyung's face, while a clear, deep, non-Taehyung breathing sound echoed through the speakers. The comments beneath it were a riot of "OMG THE BREATHING!" and "TAEKOOK IS REAL!" and "They're trying to figure out if it's me."
Taehyung groaned, pulling a pillow over his face. "Kook-ah, turn that off!"
He emerged, a sheepish grin spreading across his features as he saw Jungkook's amused expression. He shrugged, trying to look innocent. "It's not my fault. You breathe too loud, Bunny." He punctuated his playful accusation with a soft, affectionate peck on Jungkook's nose, making Jungkook scrunch it up in mock annoyance before giggling.
"My fault for sleeping too soundly then," Jungkook countered, though his eyes were twinkling. He put his phone down, wrapping his arms around Taehyung, pulling him into a tighter embrace. "Next time, just wake me up, hyung. I'll join you."
Taehyung just hummed, burying his face in Jungkook's neck, the warmth of his boyfriend a far more comforting presence than any phone screen. "Maybe," he whispered, a smile hidden against Jungkook's skin. He was already thinking of their next late-night live, and how much harder he'd try to keep his secret just that – a secret. Or maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't try at all.