Work Text:
jeon jeongguk knows nothing about love.
he used to think of it as something cheesy and superficial and often misleading, a waste of time that would be better spent doing something productive, like defeating the next raid boss in kingdom hearts or catching up on the latest episode of that new action-packed anime.
even though he used to constantly tell himself he'd never fall in love, never be a victim to that kind of torture, it only took a man with kind eyes and an impossibly wide smile to slowly but steadily break down the walls he built around his heart so many years ago.
jeongguk doesn't know a single thing about love, but he knows that every time he looks at taehyung, every time the older man laces their fingers together with a grin stretching over his features, every time he places a kiss to jeongguk's clammy forehead with sinfully pretty and plump lips, his heart is soaring and fluttering and his cheeks are burning.
he knows that every time the other man's eyes meet his, he wants to drown in those pools, wants them to pull him under so far he feels as if he's drowning, and most of the time, he can actually feel the burn in his lungs.
he knows that every time taehyung reaches out for him, every time he touches him, jeongguk only wants him closer, closer, and even when there's nothing separating their bodies except for a thin coat of sweat, it still feels as if they can't seem to get close enough.
he knows that out of the seven of them, out of everyone he's closest to, taehyung is the only one he would truly take a bullet for, the one he would follow to the ends of the earth if he really wanted him to. jeongguk cares for his friends, his hyungs, his brothers, more than anything, admires every one of them and would probably hide a dead body for any of them if they batted their lashes and asked nicely, but there's something about taehyung's existence that makes him sick to his stomach at the thought of the two of them ever being torn apart.
he knows that the twisting in his gut and the small jump in his chest and the racing of his pulse can only ever be caused by taehyung. he doesn't get this overwhelming feeling when he looks at yoongi or jimin or anyone else he's ever laid eyes on. it's always been taehyung. he sees any other man, any other woman, any other person as a friend, as family, but taehyung lights a fire so bright inside of him, consuming him to the very core. he truly believes he'll die inside, be utterly devastated, if that fire is ever put out.
the older man knows this, too. taehyung has never been oblivious to jeongguk's desiring gazes or his subtle way of saying i'm here by brushing his fingers across the curve of his shoulder, or the meat of his thigh, or the nape of his neck, in passing. he's never not noticed how jeongguk's hands tremble slightly when he winds his arms around his waist and he's never not felt the upturned shape of his grin through the fabric of his shirt as jeongguk buries his face into his shoulder and exhales shakily, happily, as if he's thinking wow, this is real, you're here, with me.
taehyung knows that his bed is the only one jeongguk comes to warm in the middle of the night when he crawls under the covers and holds him close to his own body because he's having trouble falling asleep. he knows that jeongguk only has eyes for him, that they only ever look at each other this way, with fond eyes and gentle smiles and wandering hands.
he knows that he's the only one who gets to see jeongguk like that, completely wrecked and wanting and so, so beautiful above him as their fingers twist around each other and they chase the ecstasy of release together. he knows that his shoulders are the only ones being kissed lazily in the mornings by the youngest, with that adorable bunny-like grin and whispered words that sound both so caring and seductive that it leaves taehyung even more breathless than being held down underneath him does.
they both know that even when they're seething internally because someone else is holding the other close, nothing short of friendly, it's all in good fun, because everyone knows, they know that taehyung and jeongguk are a thing, because who wouldn't, when they're always so close and so shit at hiding the lingering eyes and comforting touches.
even so, it usually takes seconds, minutes even, before they falter and regain their senses because really, when did we get so possessive over each other, but it doesn't stop them from being extra clingy hours later, the intensity of their kisses heating quicker and clothes shedding faster as if they need to be sure that they're still here together, because i wish they wouldn't touch you like that, i can't help it, you're mine, baby.
jeongguk knows that even though the matching bands they wear on their index fingers aren't a promise of engagement or marriage or forever, they're still a promise. a promise of unconditional affection and loyalty and a million other things that have jeongguk's heart stuttering and throat drying at the thought, because fuck, he and taehyung have been through so much together and he's so unbelievably thankful for whatever moment in his life had the universe and his lucky stars deciding that he deserves the chance to be this close to someone as gorgeous and radiant as kim taehyung.
he knows that even if he's complete shit at this whole love thing, even if it does more harm than good because he's too inexperienced and awkward and weird at times, even if it takes him forever to grow out of the habit of taking things too personally and painfully knocking their teeth together when they kiss because the butterflies are dancing in his stomach and his chest is burning in nervousness, taehyung won't let him slip through his long pretty fingers that easily.
jeon jeongguk doesn't know the first damn thing about love but every time taehyung whispers those three little words to him, wearing that adorable boxy grin and one of his sweaters, he's reduced to a soft puddle of goo at the older male's combat boot-clad feet, and he wouldn't rather be anywhere else.
i love you, too.