Archive of Our Own

Taehyung is sitting on the couch with his arms crossed, a pout on his lips and between his eyebrows. The fresh springtime breeze is blowing through their open living room windows and kicking up the sheer curtains, bringing in the smell of the freshly planted flowers in their window boxes. 

But Taehyung can’t even enjoy the warm, cloudless spring day because he’s busy glaring at his phone on the coffee table, trying to manifest the screen lighting up with a call or even a text from Jungkook. But the screen remains asleep.

It’s only been a full day since Jungkook had to go out of town, but Taehyung hates it. And it’s felt like longer because he spent the whole week leading up to him leaving pouting, just as he’s doing now. The two haven’t gone a single day without seeing each other since they got together, even if it was just coming home after a long, busy day to find the other in bed.

They’ve spent days apart – time away from each other to run errands or hangout with friends or simply spend some quiet time alone – but they’ve never spent days and nights apart. And Taehyung is not happy about it.

They’re not codependent; they don’t have to spend every second of every day together, and they don’t. Taehyung is perfectly happy and functional without Jungkook there. He’s always been someone who loves his alone time, but he just misses his best friend. He misses hanging out and laughing and having fun, even though it’s just been one single day. 

He rolls his eyes at himself for being so dramatic, as if it’s been months apart and not twenty-four hours. But then he allows himself to feel what he needs to feel without having any thoughts about it. 

Jungkook had to go out of town for work – a photo project across the country, the company offering too much money for the esteemed photography prodigy Jeon Jungkook that they couldn’t turn it down, even if it meant being apart for a week.

“Wanna go for a walk?” Taehyung yells, his voice traveling down the house to their sleeping dogs. Just a few seconds later he can hear the sound of their nails against the wood floor before Bam slams into him and Yeontan starts scratching at his legs. “Okay, okay, jeez,” Taehyung says, laughing as he grabs their leashes.

They step outside into the fresh air, and Taehyung takes a deep inhale. He can hear the sound of the leaves on their trees rustling, but he’s brought out of his reverie when he hears splashing water and turns to find Bam jumping in a puddle, then drinking the rainwater. 

“Bam! No,” he yells, yanking on his leash.

They start their walk, and the occasional breeze still has the lingering scent of last night’s springtime shower. He admires everyone’s houses on their street – some freshly painted different colors, some with new flowers planted or old tulips returning for another lovely season.

Taehyung is quietly humming to himself and a small smile blooms on his face, thinking of how Jungkook always tells him it’s adorable. And when he insists that he doesn’t do it intentionally, Jungkook says he’s even more adorable because he’s adorable without trying.

As if his thoughts of Jungkook were finally acknowledged by the universe, Taehyung’s phone vibrates in his pocket, and he nearly drops it when he sees Jungkook’s contact photo on the screen.

He quickly answers the call and says, “Hi, I love you, I miss you,” and Jungkook’s laughter is no less beautiful when heard through the phone, miles away.

“Hi, my baby,” Jungkook says, his voice sounding so fond. “I love and miss you too. What are you up to?”

“Taking the dogs for a walk. Wish you were here and I was holding your hand.”

Jungkook sighs. “Me too, Tae.” He sounds just as unhappy about being apart as Taehyung does, which makes him feel a little better about being so dramatic. “Where are you on the walk? Wanna imagine it.”

“Just about to turn off our street by the yellow house on the corner. They planted pink flowers out front this year and it’s really pretty. I like it. What are you doing?”

“We’re taking a ten minute break,” Jungkook says, and Taehyung smiles to himself that Jungkook is using it to call him so they can talk.

“How’s everything going over there?”

“It’s fine. Pretty fun, actually. Everyone is really nice.”

“That’s good, bun. I’m happy you’re having a good time.”

Taehyung can hear someone’s voice in the background of the call, then Jungkook says, “I have to go now, baby,” and Taehyung can hear the pout in his voice. “I’ll call you again as soon as I can. I miss you, pretty. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Kookie. We’ll talk soon. Bye, love.”

“Bye, Tae.”

Taehyung sighs when he hangs up, then snaps a photo of the house to send to Jungkook.

Taehyung

see!!!

Jungkook
oooo yes i like it. maybe we should plant some of those too
gotta go now :(

miss you

Taehyung stops in the middle of the sidewalk to stare at his phone, Yeontan and Bam sniffing the grass around them. Jungkook is so beautiful. He misses their walks together. Misses commenting on everybody's houses, saying hi to their neighbors. It’s not the same when their hands aren’t swinging between them. He gets annoyed with himself again because it’s only been a day and he’s acting like he’s in mourning. If he’s like this after a day, he doesn’t even want to imagine how he’ll survive several more.

Taehyung
oh my bunny
pretty pretty pretty
miss you more

Taehyung sighs and pockets his phone, then continues his walk.

- ✿ -

Taehyung rolls over in bed for what must be the hundredth time since he lied down, unable to find sleep. He looks at the clock on their bedside table, and it reads 2:53 AM.

He doesn’t know how he used to fall asleep every night without the safety and warmth of being wrapped in Jungkook’s arms, hearing his steady heartbeat with his head on his chest.

He closes his eyes and counts to one hundred in his head but is still very much awake by the time he reaches it, so he starts to count to two hundred. When he’s on number one hundred and thirty-five, his phone vibrates on the nightstand. He opens his eyes and checks the clock again. He's confused, as no one they know is ever up this late other than Yoongi sometimes, and if he is it’s because he got a burst of inspiration and wouldn’t be texting Taehyung.

He picks up his phone and turns the brightness down, then his eyes widen when he sees a notification from Jungkook. He quickly opens it, an excited grin spreading across his face.

Jungkook
are you awake darling?

Without bothering to reply, Taehyung immediately hits the call button. After a couple rings, Jungkook says, “Hi, Taehyungie.”

Taehyung nearly melts into the bed at the sound of his voice. “Hi, Kookie.”

“Why are you awake?”

“Can’t sleep without you…”

“Tae,” he says, his voice sounding sad. “It’s so late, baby. You’re going to be so tired for work tomorrow.”

Taehyung shrugs even though Jungkook can’t see him. “Why are you awake?”

“Couldn’t sleep without you,” Jungkook says, making Taehyung let out a sad-sounding laugh.

“Do you want to video call?” he asks, perking up at the idea.

Jungkook doesn’t reply, and Taehyung immediately gets a video call. He switches on the bedside lamp and accepts the call, but the video is so grainy and laggy that he can’t even make out Jungkook’s face. And when Jungkook starts to talk, the audio doesn’t come through clearly either.

His project is in a more remote location, so the service there must be too bad for it. Taehyung pouts and sighs, then hangs up and calls him back.

“I think the reception here is too bad for video calling to work,” Jungkook says when he answers.

“Yeah,” Taehyung says, his voice quiet.

After a few silent moments, Jungkook says, “God, I miss you, Tae. I know it’s only been two days, but I hate it. I miss you.”

Taehyung starts to tear up. He hasn’t been telling Jungkook just how much he misses him as often as he thinks about it because he doesn’t want to come off as sad or clingy, even though he knows Jungkook would never think that about him. So to hear that Jungkook feels the same both makes him feel better and hurt even more.

“Me too, Kookie. Fuck, I miss you so much.”

He sniffles, and Jungkook says, “Nooo, you’re not allowed to cry if I’m not there to hold you. It’s a rule. Stop crying, no crying.”

Taehyung laughs, and he can hear Jungkook exhale through the phone. “Okay, no crying.”

“You should go to sleep, hyung,” Jungkook says when he hears Taehyung yawn.

“No,” he says, but it doesn’t hold much weight with how audibly sleepy it sounds. “Wanna talk to you.”

“What if we both try to sleep but stay on the phone?”

Taehyung nods, then remembers Jungkook can’t see him. “Yeah, okay.”

“Saturday will be here before you know it,” Jungkook says, and Taehyung bites back a bitter laugh thinking about how slowly the days will pass until he can see Jungkook again. “Go to sleep now, baby.”

“‘Kay,” Taehyung says, his eyes slowly blinking closed. “G’night. Love you.”

“Goodnight, sweetheart. Love you too.”

A little while later when Taehyung is just about to cross the bridge between waking and sleep, he thinks he hears somewhere Jungkook’s voice saying, “Miss you,” quietly.

- ✿ -

It's a couple days later when Taehyung wakes up late to a few texts and a missed call from Jungkook.

Jungkook
good morning! 
i tried calling you but you must be sleeping
i didn’t have much time to talk anyway, so it’s okay 🖤
have a good day
i love you

Taehyung pouts, his chest hurting. They have only been able to talk for ten minutes at most, and he missed it today. He tries calling Jungkook back but it just rings through to voicemail as he expected. Something about Jungkook’s messages feels… off. Nothing's different, nothing sounds weird. They look just like any of his other messages, but Taehyung has a strange feeling. But he sets his phone down and tells himself that he’s not going to waste the whole day moping around just because he and Jungkook didn’t get to talk. 

He gets out of bed and gets ready, pretending like he doesn’t keep glancing at his phone to see if it lights up. He tries to think about what to do that day but keeps coming up empty. He’s not in the mood to hangout with anybody. He’s not in the mood to go on a walk, he’s not in the mood to go to the park, and then he remembers that the farmer’s market is in town today.

He chooses to walk, deciding that he could use the fresh air and time to think. He thinks about walking to the farmer’s market with Jungkook every week, then he remembers before that when he hadn’t met Jungkook yet, he would walk there alone – just like now. He walks past the same houses, turns on the same streets, the same walk that he’s done as so many different versions of himself.

With each step his mood lifts, and he feels lighter and lighter. He still can’t shake the strange feeling, though, and it’s not just because Jungkook is miles away and they didn’t get to talk this morning. Maybe he’s just having an off day. That’s okay, he tells himself. He knows how to take care of himself, how to love himself a little more gently on days like this.

He looks around to try to get out of his head. Beneath him are a few chalk drawings, a hopscotch course that’s several houses long. He passes the mailman tucking a pile of envelopes into someone’s mailbox, and he gives him a warm smile and a wave, making a little more of Taehyung’s sadness float away. He pulls a leaf from a tree he passes and absentmindedly turns it into little pieces of confetti, dropping them as he walks like a trail of breadcrumbs.

The town square and the market come into view, and Taehyung goes to grab his phone from his pocket to take a picture to send to Jungkook, knowing he likes little daily updates the same that Taehyung does – even when the two are in the same town. But he pats down his pockets and it isn’t there, then he remembers it’s sitting at home on the charger.

He sighs and thinks about turning back, but he decides against it. Jungkook is working anyway, and unplugging for a few hours sounds nice.

He enters the market and stops at the lemonade stand, a tradition of his that he’s had since the first day that he started coming. 

He browses the fruit stand as he sips on his drink, picking a carton of strawberries and a few apples. He grows almost every vegetable they eat in his own garden, but he’s lacking in fruit plants back home. He passes the gardening stand with packets upon packets of different kinds of fruit seeds to plant and considers whether he should grab a few, but he decides against it because then he wouldn’t have much to get from the market each week, and he likes supporting the community.

He passes the stand of gourmet dog treats and smiles to himself, remembering his and Jungkook’s first date when he was off talking to Jimin, apologizing if he ever acted coldly towards him since he thought he was dating Jungkook, meanwhile Jungkook was buying every dog treat offered for Yeontan. 

He stops there and buys two for Bam and Tan, then stops by the bakers stand and gets a fresh loaf of bread. 

Once he’s got just as much as he can carry, he sets off back home. As he turns off the town square onto a street of homes, he realizes that no one stopped him to talk. The farmer’s market is almost always at least a two-hour affair since it brings the town together, and it’s a chance for everyone to see one another and stop to catch up. He thinks that he must be giving off some very gloomy energy if people knew to leave him alone.

But he’s grateful for it, grateful that he lives in a community that looks out for each other, that knows him enough to know if he’s having a day where he doesn’t want to talk much.

He closes his eyes and listens around him, focusing on the sounds to pull himself out of his head again. He can hear his canvas tote bag brushing against his jeans, a pebble rolling across the sidewalk when he accidentally kicks it, birds chirping as they fly overhead. And as if he can sense it, he opens his eyes right when he reaches their home.

He sets the bags on the counter and walks to their room to check his phone and sees a missed call and a few texts from earlier while he was out.

Jungkook
hi my baby
guess we keep missing each other 
in more ways than one
was just calling while on my break
miss talking to you
i hope you’re having a good day and doin fun stuff 🖤

Taehyung sighs and bites the inside of his cheek, his eyebrows furrowing. Again, nothing is inherently strange about his texts, but he has an uneasy feeling. He’s not worried. Doesn’t think Jungkook is hurt or in trouble or anything like that. Maybe missing Jungkook is just starting to get to him after a few days.

Taehyung
hi kookie
i went to the farmer’s market
i miss you lots

Taehyung wipes a fallen teardrop away, trying to ignore how much he really does miss him. He sighs again and sets his phone down. He pulls the covers back and gets in bed, then closes his eyes. 

- ✿ -

He wakes up a few hours later as the sun is setting, still tired. He checks his phone and sees texts from Jungkook, knowing they missed each other again. He doesn’t feel sad about it, just a little numb and tired, which he knows is worse.

Jungkook
i miss you too 🖤

Taehyung
are you okay bun?
you sound off

Taehyung clicks the call button, not expecting for Jungkook to answer, and he doesn’t. Taehyung just sighs and sets his phone down, not bothering to text because somehow Jungkook will be able to sense how he’s feeling from just a few words on the screen, same as Taehyung thinks he can with him.

He thinks about getting up to make dinner, but he decides against it and just closes his eyes again. 

He doesn’t know how much longer later, but he’s hovering just between awake and asleep, and he can hear his phone vibrating. By the time he realizes what’s happening, though, it stops. 

He sees a missed call from Jungkook and quickly calls him back, hoping he’ll pick up since it’s been just a minute since he missed it, but it rings through to voicemail.

“God,” Taehyung says, scaring himself with how it comes out as a yell in the quiet room. Then tears start to appear, and before he knows it, he’s crying curled up in bed.

Then his phone starts vibrating again and he quickly accepts it.

“Kookie? Are you okay?”

It’s silent for a second, then, “Hi, Tae.”

Taehyung sighs, feeling some of the day’s hurt and stress lift away. “Hi, baby,” he says. Even though it sounds sad, Jungkook’s voice is so soft, so warm and soothing and full of so much love that it feels like a hug. And he and Taehyung both know he doesn’t sound okay, but Taehyung doesn’t push him. “What’d you do today?”

Jungkook tells Taehyung about his day – about the coast they were on for the morning, about how they had to sit in their cars for a while when rain passed overhead (when Jungkook tried calling him), about editing a bit once he got back to the cabin. 

“What’d you do today?”

Taehyung shrugs even though Jungkook can’t see it. “Not much… Just went to the farmer’s market. Then took a nap.”

“That sounds nice. Wish I was there with you.”

“Me too,” Taehyung says quietly, then he hears Jungkook sniffle. “Do you want to talk about it, bun?”

“Not much to talk about,” he says, and Taehyung can hear a little bit of shuffling through the phone, and he knows that Jungkook probably shrugged. “I just miss you. Just woke up feeling a little bit sad.”

“Just one of those days?”

“Yeah, kind of. I really miss you,” he says again.

“I miss you, Jungkook. And I’m sorry, bun. I wish today could have been easier for you. Next time you have one of those days, I’ll be there to hold you through it,” Taehyung says, wishing he was there to wrap Jungkook up in his arms. Jungkook has days like this sometimes. Where he just wakes up sad, where everything feels a little impossible for no reason. And he knows it’s probably so much harder when they have been missing each other so much too. 

“I know you will… Being apart from you is hard."

“Yeah,” Taehyung says, his voice sad. “I don’t like it.”

“Neither do I.”

It silent for a little while, both of them thinking of each other, lying on their sides in bed miles apart.

“What did you buy from the market?” Jungkook asks.

Taehyung thinks about what he has in the bags that he set on the kitchen counter, trying to remember, but his brain is a little fuzzy as he tries to piece together the day that he seemed to have just floated through, separate from himself. He realizes that’s why he was feeling a little off today. Even from here, Taehyung was able to sense that something was wrong with Jungkook. 

“Just some fruit and stuff,” Taehyung says, and Jungkook yawns. “You should go to sleep, Kookie. You’ve had a busy day.”

“Wanna talk to you.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow. Promise. Sleep.”

“Will you stay on the phone?”

Taehyung smiles to himself – the action feeling weird after not having done it all day, he realizes.

“Of course.”

“Okay. Goodnight, Tae. I love you so much. Miss you so much.”

The butterflies are subtle, too exhausted to flutter, but they’re there. “I love you too, Kookie. I’m always thinking about you. Goodnight, love.”

“Night.”

Taehyung closes his eyes but stays awake, listening to the soft, even breath on the other side of the phone until it lulls him to sleep.

- ✿ -

Taehyung is at his bookshop, and thankfully it’s been a busy day. He has barely had a second of downtime between helping customers find books, recommending some, ringing people up. It’s kept him occupied, and he loves getting to talk to all of the regulars who come in.

He’s listening to his neighbor a few houses down, Donghyun, tell him his favorite books so he can pick out some that might interest him when he feels his phone vibrate. 

He knows it’s Jungkook because the only other person who calls him is Jimin, and with a glance out the window he can see that Jimin is still at the park with Yoongi and Hoseok. 

The two talked this morning for a little bit, and almost all traces of Jungkook’s gloomy mood were gone and he was back to normal Jungkookie – still a little sad, as is Taehyung, just from missing each other. But thankfully he was feeling okay, assuring Taehyung over and over and over again that he was okay now, that it was just an off day and that Taehyung has absolutely nothing to worry about. They talked and laughed and everything felt normal – as much as it can being apart. 

Taehyung listens to Donghyun, and he would never cut someone off to take a call, so he feels it ring and ring until it stops.

After pulling out a few books from the shelves to give to him to look over, Taehyung walks to the back room and pulls out his phone to see a missed call from Jungkook, as he expected.

He calls him back, and after several rings, Jungkook finally picks up.

“Hi, baby, I’m sorry,” Taehyung says. “I’m at the shop and was helping someone and couldn’t take your call.”

“It’s okay, love. But I can’t really talk right now anymore because we had to get back to work.”

“Oh… That’s okay. At least I got to hear your voice. And we can talk tonight.”

“That’s part of why I called earlier,” Jungkook says, sounding sad. “We’re doing an overnight shoot, so I won’t be able to sleep on the phone with you again…”

“Oh… That’s okay,” Taehyung says again. “Um, good luck with that tonight!” He tries to make himself sound happy and bubbly to hide the fact that he wants to cry. “I know you’ll do great. I’ll let you get back to work.”

Taehyung can hear Jungkook say something to someone in the background. He hears a bit of shuffling, then finally Jungkook’s voice much clearer, like he stepped away from everything. “I’m sorry, Tae,” he says. “I’ll make it up to you soon.”

“You don’t have to make anything up, bun. It’s just life; I understand. I’m not upset. I’m so happy that you’re getting opportunities like this. My talented little Jungkookie who everybody wants to work with. I’m so proud of you, baby.”

Taehyung knows that if he could see Jungkook he’d find him blushing from his cheeks to the tips of his ears. “Thank you, Tae. Only ever wanna be someone you’d be proud to be with.”

“You do that without even trying.”

Taehyung can hear someone call Jungkook’s name in the background, and he knows he has to get back out front again too.

“I have to go now,” Jungkook reluctantly says.

“It’s okay. I should go too. I’ll talk to you, um, tomorrow?”

“Of course. Talk to you tomorrow, beautiful. I love you.”

“I love you too. Bye, Jungkookie.”

“Bye, Tae.”

Taehyung hangs up with a heavy sigh.

Taehyung

miss u

Jungkook
🥺🥺🥺
taetae 
the cutest boy ever

my view right now and you’re still the prettiest

Taehyung blushes and smiles down at his phone.

Taehyung
gross
get back to work

Jungkook
don’t pretend like you’re not giggling down at your phone rn
ok i really do have to go now
miss u my baby
i love you

Taehyung
i love and miss you too bun ♥️

Taehyung sighs and walks back out to the shop, apologizing to the few customers who were waiting to checkout.

“Where’s Jungkook?” Eunjeong, the woman who lives next to Namjoon and Seokjin, asks. “He’s always here when I am.”

“Ah, he’s out of town,” Taehyung says, sticking the receipt and a bookmark behind the front cover of the book she purchased.

She steps aside so the next person can check out, and they both ask about what Jungkook is up to. With pride, Taehyung tells them that Jungkook is at a photography shoot across the country, and maybe he name-drops a few people who are there too. They live in a small town where everyone prefers the simpler things in life, so no one really knows just how well-known Jungkook is to someone who’d, say, live in the city. He’s not famous, but he’s certainly a name that most people in the creative world might recognize. And thankfully, because of that, Jungkook can live in their small, adorable town in their cozy home with a garden and not have to live in the city he grew to hate to try to make a name for himself.

Taehyung passes the rest of the day like that: talking to his neighbors, shelving books, reading one on his downtime, missing Jungkook.

It’s time to lock up once night falls, and as he's turning the key on the door and double checks that it's locked, he decides to leave his car parked where it is and walk home. It’s a nice night, Yoongi came over during the day to let their dogs out, and he doesn’t want to go home quite yet.

He decides to take the long way, go down streets he usually doesn’t walk down because they’re out of the way. No one is out since he took his time closing up and it's pretty late, so it's just him. It's nice.

He hums as he walks, as he seems to do a lot, and he likes the way the warm air wraps around him. He likes the change of scenery of houses he only really sees sometimes. Likes how everything is so quiet except for the sound of his footsteps.

Until it’s not only the sound of his footsteps anymore.

He can hear someone walking a little bit away behind him. He’s not alarmed or anything since he passes people sometimes on his night walks. But it's late. He's walking at a very slow, leisurely pace, and whoever it is behind him isn’t passing him. He’s walking way slower than the average person walks, so they should have passed him by now.

Unless they want to stay behind him.

Taehyung tells himself he’s being silly. Nothing ever happens in their town. Everybody knows everybody, and even if he doesn’t personally know someone, he definitely knows their face and sometimes their name. They’re a community; he has no reason to be scared of anybody.

Unless it’s someone who doesn’t live there.

Taehyung starts to get nervous but tamps it down, tells himself that he’s already clouded with negative thoughts because of how much he misses Jungkook so he’s immediately jumping to the worst conclusion. To reassure himself, he stops walking and bends down to pretend to tie his shoelace.

But when his footsteps stop, so do the ones behind him.

He doesn’t want to turn and look at them even though he knows he should, but he’s nervous that something might happen if he shows that he knows.

He tries to swallow down his fear and stands back up, then continues walking with slightly shaky knees. He walks more quickly without walking too quickly and being obvious about it, and when he gets to the corner of the street he’s on, he turns towards their house.

Once he turns onto the different street, he looks at whoever is behind him. It's a tall, broad man wearing a black zip-up sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, looking at the ground and casting his face in shadows. Bigger than Taehyung, and seemingly trying to keep his face hidden from his view. 

Taehyung tells himself that everything is fine, that if the man also turns the next corner he reaches, then he’s allowed to worry.

And to his dismay, he can hear footsteps behind him again.

He’s still a few blocks away from their street, and he’s afraid of what might happen if he starts outright running. 

With trembling hands, he pulls out his phone and calls Jungkook. Jungkook obviously can’t do anything because he’s miles away, but maybe if the man sees that he’s talking to someone on the phone – that someone is listening to him and looking out for him and would know if anything happened – he’ll be okay.

It rings for a while. Taehyung is just about to hang up and call someone else to come pick him up, but then Jungkook answers. 

“Hi, sweetheart, I’m so sorry, but I really can’t talk right now,” Jungkook says, sounding so apologetic, and Taehyung forgot that he was going to be busy all night.

“Oh, um, y-yeah. Yeah, um, sorry, I forgot, that’s–that’s okay–”

“Wait, Tae? What’s wrong, baby? Are you okay?”

Taehyung tries to even out his voice to hide the tremor in it. “Yeah, e-everything’s fine, Kookie. Just missed you.”

“No, Tae,” Jungkook says, sounding worried. Taehyung can hear some movement, then Jungkook calling out that he’s taking a quick break. Then Jungkook says, “Tell me what’s happening, baby.”

“I’m–” he starts, but he has to swallow a few times to get the words out. He continues quietly so the man behind him can’t hear, “I’m walking home from w-work, and I–and I went the long way, and I think someone is f-following me.”

“How far from home are you?” Jungkook asks, his voice firm. Jungkook knows that Taehyung wouldn’t call him and say something like this until he truly believed that something was wrong. Knows that Taehyung would have gone through every possible explanation because he doesn’t want to ever make assumptions about anybody or worry anybody, especially not Jungkook when he's so far away.

“A few blocks,” he says as he’s crossing the street, and he can hear the man behind him cross the street too. He’s still about four houses behind him, hasn’t gotten closer or farther this whole time. “Should I call someone to come get me?” That’s what he should have done, he realizes, because there’s nothing Jungkook can do.

“No,” Jungkook says. “Stay on the phone with me. I’m texting everyone to see who can come. Keep talking, love.” He makes his voice softer, the way it always sounds when he talks to Taehyung. “What’d you do today?”

Taehyung tries to think back on his day, but it’s hard when all he can focus on is wishing he was safe at home with Jungkook. “I, um, I woke up–”

“You did?” Jungkook says, and it makes Taehyung let out a weak laugh.

“Shut up,” he says. “I woke up, and then I m-made tea and drank it while r-reading my–my book before I had to leave.”

“Sounds nice, Tae. Can you tell me where exactly you are, baby? Namjoon-hyung is going to come get you.”

Taehyung squints at the next street sign a few houses away to try to read it and tells Jungkook, who says Namjoon will be there soon.

“And what did you do after that, pretty?” Jungkook asks, but then the man behind Taehyung starts to run.

Taehyung lets out a whimper, frozen in place as the heavy footsteps get faster and closer. “Tae? Taehyung, what’s–”

The man gets closer and Taehyung finally turns to look because if something happens, at least he’ll know what the person looks like.

But the man abruptly stops just a few feet away.

“Tae?” Namjoon says, the streetlight illuminating his confused and concerned face, still partially shadowed by the hood. “Wait, where is he?” Namjoon spins around, looking everywhere to try to spot someone who might have been following him.

“Taehyung, tell me what’s going on,” Jungkook says, his voice frantic.

“It’s okay; I’m okay, Jungkook. Everything’s okay.”

It seems to finally dawn on Namjoon that he was the person following Taehyung. His eyes go wide, and Taehyung just starts to loudly laugh, both at the situation and because he feels so happy and grateful that everything is okay.

“It was Namjoon-hyung,” Taehyung says to Jungkook on the phone. “The man following behind me.”

It’s silent for a few moments, then Jungkook says, “Fucking Namjoon.”

“Why the fuck were you matching my footsteps?” Taehyung asks, punching Namjoon in the arm. “And why’d you stop when I stopped?!”

“I wasn’t doing it on purpose! I wasn’t paying attention!” Namjoon says, rubbing his arm. “And I didn’t know you stopped! I stopped because I was taking a picture of the moon!”

Taehyung and Jungkook both groan. Fucking Namjoon.

“Why did you start running?!”

“I was running to where Jungkook said you were! I think you got confused because you said you were a street over, so I was running to come find you.”

Taehyung wants to keep yelling at him even though he did nothing wrong, and he was going to run to come to Taehyung’s rescue. 

“Fuck, Tae,” Jungkook says. “I think I lost a few years off my life.”

“Yeah, me too,” Taehyung says, glaring at Namjoon who looks apologetic even though he’s getting blamed for no reason.

“God. I just–jesus. That scared me so bad, Tae. I–” he says, and Taehyung’s eyes soften and fill with tears when he can hear Jungkook trying to hold his own back. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you, Tae.”

He and Namjoon are still standing in the middle of the sidewalk, lit by everybody’s front porch lights. The night no longer feels scary, just feels peaceful again. He turns to Namjoon, then rolls his eyes with a silent chuckle when he sees him looking up at the moon again.

“I’m here, Kookie. I’m not goin’ anywhere. Nothing is going to happen to me, love. Everything is okay. I’m still here.”

Jungkook sniffles, and Taehyung would give anything to be there so he could wrap him in his arms so he could see that everything really is okay.

“I’m gonna tell everybody to fuck off for the night so I can go back to my cabin and keep talking to you.”

“No you’re not,” Taehyung says with a small laugh. “I’m okay, baby. Namjoon-hyung is going to walk me home.” Namjoon looks away from the moon and nods with a gentle, reassuring smile. “And you’re going to go back to everybody and keep doing what you love and not tell everybody to fuck off. And then we’ll talk tomorrow.”

After a few moments of silence, Jungkook says, “Fine.”

“Don’t give me that attitude,” Taehyung says.

“I don’t have an attitude,” Jungkook mumbles, making Taehyung laugh.

“Get back to work now. I’ll text you when I’m home.”

“Can you, um, keep texting me?” Jungkook asks, sounding shy. “I won’t be able to respond, but I’ll be able to read all of them once I’m finally in bed later. Just, like… what you’re doin’ and stuff.”

“Of course, Kookie,” Taehyung says, his voice wrapped in fondness. He knows it’s going to take a lot to make Jungkook feel reassured again that Taehyung really is okay. “Be prepared to receive five hundred thousand texts of every stupid little thought I have.”

“Can’t wait,” Jungkook says. “And your thoughts are not stupid.”

“Go back to work, Kookie. I’ll text you when I’m back, and then I’ll keep texting you. Bye, baby. I love you.”

“I love you too, hyung. Bye.”

Taehyung puts his phone back in his pocket, then says, “Ready?” to Namjoon, who nods.

They start walking to his and Jungkook’s place, and Namjoon says, “I’m so sorry for scaring you, Tae. I barely even realized there was someone ahead of me because I was so lost in thought and I had my headphones in.”

“It’s okay, hyung,” Taehyung says, bumping their shoulders together. “Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Namjoon doesn’t look convinced, so Taehyung says, “Really, hyung. You didn’t do anything!”

“Fine, fine,” Namjoon says when Taehyung elbows him. They walk for a while in comfortable silence, just listening to the sounds of the night around them. A pair of shadows paint the sidewalk in front of them, and it's nice. Being beside Namjoon, walking through the peaceful night. And Namjoon must be thinking the same thing, because he says, “We should take night walks together sometimes, Taehyung-ah. This is nice.”

Taehyung smiles. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

“I’m working on a track with Yoongi-hyung for this one artist, and I’ve been really stuck lately. And I look up to hyung so much and don’t want to disappoint him, so I was hoping a walk might give me some inspiration.”

Taehyung bites back a laugh because he doesn’t want Namjoon to think he’s laughing at him. “Yoongi-hyung said the same thing about you, hyung. He always talks about how much he admires you. How much he learns from you.”

“He–no he didn’t,” Namjoon says, scoffing.

“Yes he did, hyung,” Taehyung says, laughing. “Many times. So I think you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. And, um… I’m sorry if I ruined your inspiration walk…”

“Hey, no you didn’t,” Namjoon says. “Not at all. And I would always come running if you needed me at all, for anything. I hope you know that.”

Taehyung smiles, trying to blink away the tears that are appearing in his eyes. “Yeah, I know, hyung. And the same goes for you. For anything.”

“I know, Tae.”

They arrive at his and Jungkook’s home, and it feels like the most beautiful safe haven. Even though everything is okay and he knows that their town in a safe, warm place, he’s still a little shaken up from everything.

“Do you want me to stay?” Namjoon asks.

“That’s okay,” Taehyung says, wrapping his arms around his wide shoulders in a hug. “Thank you, hyung. You’re one of the best people I know.”

“Ah, stop that,” Namjoon says, looking away to hide his shyness. “You’re great too, Tae. Text me if you need anything. Have a good night! I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow,” Taehyung says, both of them working at the bookshop because it’s always one of their busier days. 

Before heading inside, he snaps a quick picture.

Taehyung

the dumb moon that was the cause of all my fear tonight 🙄
nvm i don’t mean that. the moon’s not dumb 😔
anyway i’m homeeeee. safe n sound
now i am going to play with bam and yeontan for a little while
they told me to tell you that they miss you. i’m serious
now i’m gonna go take a showerrrrrr
ugh i wish we were showering together 😔
i’ve been so focused on missing you that i haven’t even thought about missing your dick
wish we were showering together so i could drop to my knees and suck you off
wrap my lips around your big cokc
nvm it’s not sexy anymore with a typo
okay brb gonna shower
i am out of the shower and drying my hair
now i’m in bed!!!

wearing your sweatshirt because i miss u 😞
every time we’ve ever turned off the lights at night i smile to myself when i see the glow in the dark stars we put up
now wait a minute……….
JUNGKOOK
i can’t believe i’m making this discovery while you’re not here and i have to cry alone
you were so picky that day we were putting them up and kept telling me EXACTLY where i had to put the ones i was holding
i assumed you were just being You and listened and let you do ur thing
that was so long ago and i didn’t realize until Just now that it’s capricorn and virgo
god. fuck
why aren’t you here right now
i miss you so much bun
i hope you’re having a reeeeeally amazing time rn
i’m so proud of you kookie. i love thinking about you out there, getting to do what you love
we kinda lucked out on our life huh
you’re a famous photographer (i just heard you say “i’m not FAMOUS hyung” while you roll your eyes)
i own a bookshop
we have a cute home. it’s quiet, away from the city and the loud crazy life you used to have over there
we live next door to our best friends
down the street from the rest of our best friends
we’re really lucky
i’m really lucky
i love you so much
ugh shut up i can’t be sappy if i have to get emotional all alone
tomorrow after work i am going to go grocery shopping and finally bring the gd sweater i’ve been meaning to return to the stupid post office
it’s like. 4 months after the return window they gave me but if i send it to them i feel like they’re gonna give me my money back anyway
what are they gonna do just keep it and then they stole my sweater and i just gave them free money?? i’ll sue them
ugh yeontan is whining to be let out AGAIN after i JUST let them out 😡
i’m standing on the back deck and it’s so warm out. we should hang the hammock back up when you get back
that is something i could do myself i just like doing things with u
i am back in bed!!!
i’ve been sleeping on your side of the bed because it smells like you
ah i just remembered
i noticed yesterday that my favorite sweatshirt that i wear every single day at home and Never wash (meaning it smells a lot like me) was just miraculously missing even though when i take it off i always hang it up in the same spot
wonder where it went
hehe
i bet you look really hot rn out in the forest holding your camera, directing people, bein the boss in charge
no one there knows what a sweet baby bunny you are because they think you’re Jeon Jungkook™
they don’t know Kookie who does puzzles and steals my fuzzy socks and picks dandelions to wish on when we go on walks
at least they know that Jeon Jungkook™ is taken 😤
i don’t trust some of the people there around my hot fiance but i’m not namin names
i wonder if there are like articles saying like Who is Jeon Jungkook’s Mystery Fiance with photos of every person you’ve ever been in the same room with
“i’m not THAT famous hyung” maybe not but i’ve seen a fair share of things about you in different places!!! thank god you’re not a drama actor or something and only some people care abuot famous artists
no o ffense
im gettin sleep y now
we need t buy laundyr detergent dont let me forget tomorrow wen we talk
im gnonna g t teh aapsnb
i lvoe imss u kkoei
,gnkgj
,7-),
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

- ✿ -

Taehyung wakes up the next morning to the gentle sunlight falling across their bed because he forgot to close the curtains last night. He takes his time coming back from his dreams, then reaches for his phone while he rubs his eyes and sees a message, a missed call, and a voicemail from Jungkook.

Jungkook
i’m going to call you so i can leave a voicemail 🖤

Taehyung smiles to himself, then clicks the voicemail notification.

“Hi, baby,” Jungkook’s sweet, warm voice says. “I’m walking back to my cabin right now.” Taehyung can hear the sound of his footsteps on dirt, the shuffling of leaves or the snap of twigs. “The shoot went well, but I’m so tired now. I think the sun is going to rise soon. Remember that one day a couple summers ago when we stayed up to watch the sunrise? And it was a little cold since it was so early even though it was the summer. And you kept falling asleep on my shoulder and I had to keep shaking you awake, and you got mad at me and called me annoying because you were in a bad mood because you had to wake up so early even though it was your idea, and you stormed inside and said you were going back to sleep. And then a little while later you came back out and straddled my lap and wrapped a blanket around us, and you apologized and said you loved me.”

If Taehyung could see Jungkook right now, he knows he would have the same far-away smile he gets when he remembers stories – the same dreamy look he saw a lot when they were in the Maldives.

“Ugh, god, I miss you. I was really stressed and shaken up the rest of the night after you called even though I knew you were okay, and I yelled at a few people on set. I feel bad about it now, after I read all your cute texts and saw you were okay. I’ll apologize tomorrow. It was so hard hearing all of that and not being able to do anything at all.”

Taehyung wishes more than anything that he could wrap Jungkook up in his arms, assure him that it’s okay. He sounds so sad and broken, and Taehyung understands. More than almost anything other than Taehyung himself, all he cares about is making sure Taehyung is safe and comfortable and happy and okay. And to hear that he wasn’t feeling any of those things, that he was scared and in possible danger and Jungkook couldn’t do anything about it… It probably kills him. He's probably blaming himself, even though that makes absolutely no sense. But he knows Jungkook.

He wants to call him back, but it’s still a bit early and Jungkook didn’t get back until sunrise, so he lets him sleep.

“I’m so happy you’re okay, Tae. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you in any way, for whatever reason. And, hey, what if next time I have to go out of town for work, you could come with? It would be nice to be there with you. We can explore the town wherever we are, and I get to show my adorable, sweet, angelic fiancé off to everybody and make them jealous. And maybe we’ll be husbands by the next time I have to go out of town since I barely ever have to.”

Taehyung smiles to himself, still wrapped up and cozy in bed. He thinks of getting to introduce each other like that to people.

“This is my husband Jungkook.”

“This is my husband Taehyung.”

And he would love to see Jungkook in action too. He sees him doing photography projects all the time, having his camera out in town. But he mostly does editing these days, since he gets to live in their town. He’d love to see Jungkook in his element, running the set, working on a real, high-profile project. 

“Oh, and buy laundry detergent! Don’t forget.”

Taehyung hears a door open and close over the phone, then a few creaky floorboards, then Jungkook’s heavy sigh as he falls into bed.

“I’m back now and I’m about to fall asleep any second, so I’m gonna go now.”

Since he’s back at his cabin and the service is bad, he says something, but it cuts out and Taehyung can’t make out what it is. Probably just telling Taehyung that he misses him.

“Good morning, baby. I hope you have a good day. I miss you so much, and I love you more than anything in the world. Bye.”

Taehyung sighs and holds the phone to his chest, full of so much love. He decides against even texting Jungkook in case it wakes him, so he’ll wait for Jungkook to reach out.

- ✿ -

Hours pass, and Taehyung hasn't heard anything from Jungkook.

He ignores it, assuming Jungkook is just asleep. But so many hours go by that there’s no way he’s still sleeping, even for him. He checks his phone again but only sees the texts he sent several hours ago. One of which was a selca, and it’s strange for him not to have responded to that.

Jungkook

hi bun 💕
how’s your day been?

He knows Jungkook is busy, but even so, he’s always texted him good morning every day.

He ignores it and continues on with his day. He doesn’t have to go into the shop today because Namjoon assured him that he's got it, probably thinking Taehyung is still a little shaken up from the night before, so he distracts himself with deep cleaning their house – something he planned on doing soon anyway.

He loves cleaning. Loves the routine of it, putting on music or a podcast as he gets lost in the rhythm of what he’s doing. 

He’s currently putting their sheets and blankets in the washing machine and checks his phone again, still to nothing from Jungkook. He’s getting a little worried now.

He doesn’t personally have any social media accounts, but he goes to one of their websites to search Jungkook’s name. He’s not well-known enough that there would be paparazzi photos or anything like that, but maybe someone who knows him or is part of the photography world spotted him or posted about him.

He enters "Jeon Jungkook" into the search bar, and to his surprise, several posts and photos pop up.

He’s in the city a couple hours away from where they’re shooting, since they’ve been out in a secluded spot the whole time. Many people have recognized him and asked to take photos with him, saying where they saw him. At a coffee shop, at a few stores, at a restaurant, and now that it's almost nighttime, at a club.

Jungkook is allowed to go out, of course. Taehyung isn’t upset about that at all, and he’s happy that it seems like he gets to have a free day. But he can’t help but feel a little hurt that Jungkook didn’t respond to his texts he sent throughout the day, or his missed call.

Especially since Jungkook was talking about how much he misses him. And especially since they have a free day today, he would have assumed he would have called him to talk just for a little while. 

But it’s okay, he’s not going to get sad or clingy. He’s been that way this whole time, anyway. Maybe a little too much. All of their friends' partners have to go out of town from time to time – especially Yoongi, leaving Jimin alone – and none of them react the way he has been, as if it’s the end of the world. He’s been a little annoying, even he can admit that.

And at least Jungkook looks like he’s having fun. Going out, going clubbing, revisiting the life he used to live. Maybe he needed that. Maybe his life in their slow town got a little too boring and he needed a break, needed a bit of excitement.

Taehyung just wishes he would have called, or at least texted. Just to say hi. But it’s okay. He doesn’t need to hear from Jungkook every single day. He’s sure they’ll talk tomorrow.

But… didn’t Jungkook want to talk to him?

He shakes his head as if clearing the thoughts away.

He does a few more chores, but an hour or so later, he can’t help but search Jungkook’s name again. He isn’t being a crazy, obsessive boyfriend. He’s just curious.

A few photos come up of him, posted by who he assumes are his friends. And there are a lot of Jungkook hanging off of some guy Taehyung doesn’t recognize, his arm wrapped around him while his eyes are closed and his head is on his shoulder, the guy’s arm wrapped around Jungkook’s waist.

But it’s fine. Taehyung is very aware of how clingy Jungkook gets when he’s drunk, and judging by his flushed cheeks and slightly disheveled hair, Jungkook is definitely drunk.

There’s a video, and in it Jungkook is looking down at his phone in his hand, clearly texting someone. Taehyung closes the video and checks his phone, and there aren’t any texts from him.

Taehyung immediately closes out the website and tells himself he won’t check anymore. Then he pulls up their group chat.

best friends club

Jimin
Yoongi stop at the grocery store we’re out of bread

Namjoon
You know this is the group chat, right?

Jimin
Yeah what about it

Taehyung
hey 
does anyone want to hangout?

Jimin
Taaaeeeeeeeeeee
Ugh I’m not home rn I wanna hangout 🥺

Seokjin
Sorry, Joon and I are out to dinner :(

Hoseok
noooooooooo
i have a dance class to teach in a few minutes
😣😣😣

Taehyung
that’s ok
no worries

Yoongi
I’m on my way home but have to stop at the store as you can see, but I’ll be back soon
You can go over if you want
The key is taped under the mailbox

Hoseok
that is the worst place to hide the key wtf

Seokjin
Yeah that was stupid

Yoongi
No one asked for your opinions
I’ll be there soon

Taehyung smiles to himself because Yoongi seems to know that something is wrong and invited him over even though he's not there, trying to get him out of the house even if it’s only to come next door.

Taehyung puts on some shoes and decides to leave his phone at home, then heads over to Yoongi and Jimin’s house.

He finds the key under the mailbox and lets himself inside, taking comfort in the way he’s wrapped in Yoongi and Jimin’s combined scents.

He looks through the pantry to grab some snacks, then gets himself cozy on the couch and finds a movie to watch on TV. 

Yoongi gets home around fifteen minutes later, holding a loaf of bread.

“Hey,” he says.

“Hi,” Taehyung says.

“What’s wrong?” Yoongi asks, getting right to it as he sits down on the couch, setting the loaf of bread on the coffee table. “Missing Jungkook?”

“Well, yeah, but…” Taehyung tells him the whole story. About Jungkook not contacting him all day, about seeing that he went out, about seeing him hanging off of some guy. And he makes sure to mention over and over again that he’s not jealous or suspicious, because he’s not. Not at all. Especially after the whole misunderstanding about Aera – their friend now – he knows without a doubt that Jungkook would never, ever do anything. Would never even look at someone. It just gave him a strange feeling.

“I know I’m just being weird,” he says. “Just miss him, I guess. It’s just weird that he didn’t text or anything all day, or respond to me. But whatever.”

Yoongi hums and nods his head, taking a moment to think. Then he pulls out his phone and types something, then puts it back in his pocket.

“It is pretty out of character of him to not talk to you.”

“Yeah,” Taehyung says quietly. “But it’s okay. We don’t need to talk every second of every day.”

Yoongi nods, then says, “Want to help me make dinner?”

Taehyung passes the rest of the night like that, Jimin eventually getting home and wrapping his arms around Taehyung from behind, refusing to let him go for several long minutes.

The three of them watch a couple movies, and eventually Taehyung is unable to keep his eyes open any longer and says that he’s going home.

Jimin hugs Taehyung for a long time as if he’s not going to see him tomorrow probably, and Yoongi even hugs him too.

Then he walks across their yard and immediately gets in bed. Even though he was on the verge of falling asleep earlier, he can’t seem to get there anymore. He wonders if he should call Jungkook and ask him to stay on the phone with him until he falls asleep. He wonders if Jungkook would even answer, if he’s still out with his friends.

After thinking about it for a while more, trying to fall asleep to no avail, he reaches over and grabs his phone. And to his surprise, there are texts upon texts and missed calls and voicemails from Jungkook.

Just as he’s about to read through everything, the screen shows Jungkook’s contact photo as he gets another call from him. His phone was on do not disturb the whole time, so he didn’t know he was trying to reach him. 

He answers it. “Hello?”

“Tae?” Jungkook lets out a deep sigh. “Hi, baby. Why weren’t you picking up? I got a text from Yoongi a few hours ago. Are you okay? What’s wrong?” 

Taehyung is unable to hold a sob back, feeling so relieved and sad and happy to hear Jungkook.

“Tae? Sweetheart? Why are you crying? What’s wrong, love? Please tell me, darling. Are you okay?”

Taehyung can’t just tell Jungkook that he was searching him on the internet, essentially stalking him because he couldn’t handle not talking to him for a single day.

“Um, n-nothing’s wrong. I’m okay; everything’s okay,” Taehyung says, but he’s clearly not okay since the words are wrapped in another sob.

“Please, Tae. Please talk to me. What’s–”

Taehyung just hangs up, not knowing what to do. He can’t tell Jungkook what’s wrong because it’ll make him sound crazy. But he was only searching his name because he was worried! He was scared that maybe something happened, maybe Jungkook got hurt, that there was a reason why he was unable to reach him. He wasn’t being insane or clingy or obsessive.

The screen lights up again with another call, but Taehyung promptly ignores it, then he turns off his phone.

A few minutes later, someone is pounding on his door. Confused, Taehyung gets out of bed to peek out the window and sees Jimin there.

“Jimin?” Taehyung says when he opens the door. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

Jimin’s eyes go wide when he sees the tear tracks on Taehyung’s face. “Tae, baby, why are you crying?” he says, inviting himself inside and leading Taehyung to his bed, immediately getting in and pulling Taehyung to him.

Yoongi must not have told Jimin everything Taehyung told him earlier.

So through his tears, Taehyung tells Jimin everything that happened, everything he was feeling. How he was worried and scared, and now even more so when he found out that Jungkook was simply ignoring him. That maybe he was being too clingy this whole time, that he acts like the world is ending because Jungkook went out of town and he’s embarrassed with himself.

“Oh, Tae. It’s okay, baby. I go insane when Yoongi goes out of town too. You just never see it. It’s okay to miss him; it’s okay to worry. I’m sure there was a reason for it. You should call him, Tae.”

Taehyung shakes his head and says he doesn’t want to.

“Will you let me text him, then? Just so I can tell him you’re okay? He’s really worried.”

“Okay…” Taehyung says. He doesn’t want to stress Jungkook out further, especially after what happened with Namjoon.

Jimin looks at his phone, then his eyes flit to Taehyung. “Tae, please don’t hate me. But Jungkook called me freaking out, asking me to go check on you. But when I saw you crying I immediately forgot about everything and wanted to see what was wrong and help you, so I forgot to end the call… So, um… Jungkook is still on the call and probably heard everything…”

Taehyung’s stomach drops, all the color draining from his face. He wasn’t going to tell Jungkook everything. Was just going to tell him that he was worried about him. Fuck, now Jungkook is going to think he’s crazy and insane and–

“Will you talk to him, Tae?” Jimin says, holding the phone out to him.

“Um, I’ll call him myself,” Taehyung says. “You can go.”

“Okay,” Jimin says, knowing Taehyung wants to be alone to talk to him. “I’m not leaving until I see you actually call him though.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, and Jimin ends his call with Jungkook. Taehyung sighs and grabs his phone. He turns it on and Jungkook answers on the first ring.

“Tae…” Jungkook says, and his voice sounds so, so sad that Taehyung starts to cry again.

Jimin gets out of bed and kisses Taehyung on the top of his head, then sees himself out.

“Um, hi…” Taehyung says, his voice so weak that it’s barely there. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for? Don’t apologize. You–”

“I was being crazy,” Taehyung says, interrupting him.

“You weren’t, Tae,” Jungkook says, his voice so firm that it makes Taehyung’s eyes go wide, and he shuts his mouth when he was about to continue. “You were worried, and you were smart for thinking of that. And I wasn’t ignoring you, Tae.”

“But–”

“Shh,” Jungkook shushes him gently. “Can you listen to what I have to say?”

“Sorry…”

“Don’t apologize, darling.” Jungkook takes a deep breath. “I wasn’t ignoring you, baby. In fact, I thought you were ignoring me.”

“But–” Taehyung tries to interrupt again, then receives another shush.

“Just listen, Tae,” Jungkook says, laughing a bit. “The next morning after I had to stay up all night, I was sitting outside. There’s a river right next to my cabin. I walked down to it and was taking a photo so I could send it to you, and then I dropped it in the river and the stream carried it away.” Jungkook’s voice sounds embarrassed, and it makes Taehyung giggle. “I mentioned last night on the phone that we were going to go out tonight because we had a free day, but I think the service might have cut out. Was gonna spend the morning talking to you until it was time to go. It’s one of the editor’s birthday, so we were going to celebrate. But I couldn’t talk to you all morning because I didn’t have a phone. Once we all met up, I asked if I could use somebody’s phone in the meantime before I’d go and get a new one.

“I guess I didn’t have your number memorized correctly because I was one number off. I texted you to let you know what happened, and that I was going to get a new phone later, and that we were going to go out that night and I’d text you when I get back so we could hopefully talk if you weren’t already asleep.

“You didn’t respond, and I texted you a few more times from his phone throughout the day. I assumed you were just busy. I got a new phone, but I still was one number off. Which means that some random person got hundreds of drunk texts from an unknown number. Really embarrassing ones too.” The grimace is audible in Jungkook’s voice, and it makes Taehyung smile again.

“It wasn’t until I got back to the cabin and could restore my phone from the backup on my laptop that I realized my mistake. I got texts and missed calls from you, then a text from Yoongi-hyung saying, ‘You better call Tae as soon as you see this.' I freaked out because I realized everything that happened, that you probably thought I was ignoring you all day. And, god, hearing you talk to Jimin and you thought that I was just blowing you off and going out partying or something. I called and texted a bunch, but I know now that you were with Yoongi-hyung and Jimin. Then I finally got a hold of you and you were sobbing and hung up and wouldn’t answer again and I wanted to die a little bit, so I called Jimin asking him to go check on you. And now here we are.”

Taehyung is silent, taking everything in. He can’t believe he let his thoughts spiral out of hand. Of course Jungkook would never ignore him.

“And I didn’t even want to go to the stupid club. It was terrible and I hated it. I wanted to just lie in bed and talk to you, but they forced me.”

Again, Taehyung can’t believe that even for a second he thought that Jungkook might be bored with his – their – life and would want to go out to get some excitement. Jungkook hates going out. Hates clubs. But it’s so easy to believe every bad thought when he’s doubting himself.

“I love you so much, Tae. Not talking to you all day was the worst. I missed you so much.”

“Oh,” Taehyung says, relief washing over him so warmly that he wants to cry again, but he holds it back to not distress Jungkook even further.

“God, I miss you. You were so smart for thinking of searching my name. I would have too if you were as famous as me,” Jungkook says, making his voice sound as pretentious as possible to make Taehyung laugh, because Jungkook always insists that he is in no way famous. “I missed the sound of your laugh.”

“I miss you too, Kookie,” Taehyung says quietly. “I’m sorry for all of this…”

“Really, Tae. Do not apologize. You weren’t overreacting. You weren’t being crazy. And you’re not being clingy because you miss me, because I miss you just as much.”

Taehyung smiles, cuddling further into bed at how Jungkook knows exactly what to say because he knows exactly what his thoughts are.

“I miss lying in bed together,” Taehyung says. “Just touching you.”

Whenever something happens that stresses Taehyung out, Jungkook always asks if he wants to cockwarm him because of how it instantly seems to make him feel better. But he can’t do that right now, and it’s making him feel a little empty – in more ways than one.

“Me too. Wish you were sitting in my lap, keeping me warm.”

Taehyung smiles again, closing his eyes and feeling so lucky again that Jungkook just somehow knows.

“Me too. Feels so good when your cock is in me. Stretching me apart, reaching so deep.”

He’s not trying to dirty talk or anything, just wistfully thinking of cockwarming Jungkook in a completely innocent way. But by the way Jungkook’s breath hitches on the other side of the phone, it had an effect on him.

“And then eventually both of us get a little impatient,” Taehyung continues with a small smirk on his face. “And you subtly start to pretend you’re just adjusting and getting more comfortable when you just want to thrust a little bit, push your cock in a little deeper.”

“Fuck,” Taehyung quietly hears on the other side of the phone.

“Then you just flip us over and start taking me however you want. Love it when you just bend me over the table, slamming inside of me while my hard cock just hangs between my legs.”

“Shit, Tae. Can I touch myself?” 

Taehyung’s eyes go wide because Jungkook is asking him. “Yeah, go ahead, baby. Touch your cock for me.”

He hears some shuffling on the other side of the phone, Jungkook adjusting so he can pull his cock out.

“Fuck,” he says when he wraps his hand around it. “You too.”

Taehyung pulls his cock out of his panties, a small moan tumbling from his lips when he sees that he’s already wet. Something about doing this over the phone is driving him crazy. They’ve masturbated for each other a couple other times since their vacation, and he loves it. Loves watching Jungkook jerk off because he’s turned on by him. But not being able to see it this time is just as good.

“What else would we do if I were there?” Jungkook asks.

“Maybe I would fuck you,” Taehyung says, and Jungkook whimpers. “Fuck you into the mattress. Only a little bit of lube because you like it dry, like feeling every inch of me.”

“Yeah, yeah, want that,” Jungkook says, and Taehyung can hear the wet movement of Jungkook’s hand stroking up and down his cock.

“Tell me how you’re feeling, Kookie. What does your cock feel like?”

“It’s–it’s hard… Dripping. My fingers are wet just from the sound of your voice.”

“I miss your cock, baby. Miss sucking on it, licking every drop of precum and you give me. Just swirling my tongue around the head like a lollipop.”

“God, Tae, fuck. Wish it was my hand wrapped around your cock. My fingers don’t even wrap around it all the way, so fucking big. So thick and long.”

Taehyung moans, already losing the upper hand because of how easily he gives himself over to Jungkook.

“Put your phone on speaker, baby," Jungkook says. "Want you to move your hand faster, want you to squeeze your balls with the other one. Can you do that, baby boy?”

Taehyung nods even though Jungkook can’t see him and immediately puts his phone on speaker, doing exactly what he says.

“Oh, shit,” Taehyung says, squeezing his balls hard. He loves getting his balls played with, loves when Jungkook treats them a little roughly. 

“I know you’re leaking so much cum. Can you feel it dripping down to your little hole?”

“Yeah, yeah, ‘s a lot,” Taehyung says, moving his hand faster. He can hear the sound of Jungkook’s fist every time it hits his stomach on the downstroke. 

“Get on your knees for me now, baby. Sit back on your heels.”

Taehyung quickly throws the blanket off of himself and gets on his knees.

“Now fuck your hand, Tae.”

Taehyung starts thrusting his pelvis up into his hand, his head falling back as he lets out a moan, and he sees their constellations in the glow in the dark stars on the ceiling.

“I bet you look so sexy. Are you pretending it’s me? Thinking of fucking my tight ass?”

Visions of Jungkook on his knees in front of him fill his mind. The way Jungkook is so warm, the sound of his hips slapping against Jungkook’s ass while moans fill the room.

“Yes, yes, love how… love how big ‘n strong you are… looking like that and–and bottoming for me…”

Jungkook lets out a quiet moan, sounding a little more wrecked as they keep going, the sound of his balls hitting his thighs each time he tugs on his cock.

“Yeah?” Jungkook says. “Like the thought of my baby boy fucking me? Me with all my tattoos and piercings and muscles, and my sweet, soft baby boy is fucking me in the ass.” 

“God, fuck, I’m gonna come, Kookie? Can I? Please?”

“Yeah, darling, come for me. Wanna hear you come. Your pretty little moans. You’re so beautiful, Tae. Come, sweetheart. Love you so much.” 

Jungkook’s sweet words make Taehyung’s orgasm wash over him. “Kookie,” he moans out, cum shooting out of his cock onto their freshly-washed sheets. “Kookie–love you, ahh.” His orgasm feels never ending as he squeezes all the come out of his cock, emptying his balls.

“Fuck, sound so pretty, Tae. ‘m close.”

Taehyung collapses back onto the bed and listens to Jungkook orgasm, a deep moan of his name as he imagines Jungkook coming all over his chest. He loves rubbing it into his skin when that happens, then licking it off of his fingers.

“Shit,” Jungkook sighs once he’s done riding it out. “Still there, baby?”

“Yeah, ‘m still here,” he says, already feeling sleepy.

“You should sleep now. We’ll stay on the phone. I’ll sleep with you.”

“‘kay,” Taehyung says, his eyes already falling shut. “Love you, Kookie. Miss you. Only a few more days.”

“Love you too, Taetae. Can’t wait to kiss you again. Goodnight, love.”

“G’night.”

And Taehyung falls asleep, sinking into the mattress beneath the stars on their ceiling.

- ✿ -

Taehyung sleeps through the morning into the afternoon, much later than he usually sleeps. But he was exhausted from such an emotional day, and he and Jungkook must have stayed on the phone until almost the early morning.

He grabs his phone to text Jungkook, but he sees that the call is still going.

“Kookie?” he says into it, a bit confused.

“Oh, yay! Hi!”

“What’s–why–”

Taehyung can hear talking in the background, and Jungkook says, “We’re shooting, but I wanted to be here when you woke up so I’ve had one of my headphones in.”

He can hear the click of his camera through the phone, and he all but melts into the mattress.

“Was wondering when you were gonna wake up, jeez.”

“Hey,” Taehyung says. “You kept me up late.”

Jungkook hums. “I did,” he says, and Taehyung blushes. “What’s on your agenda for today?”

“Jungkook, hang up and focus on work. You’re crazy.”

“Wanna talk to you a little bit longer.”

Taehyung smiles to himself. “Going into the shop a little later to work until close. But I guess that’ll be soon since I slept so late.”

Jungkook hums again. “Hope it’s a slow night so you can just sit and read.”

They shouldn’t really wish it’s a slow night since it’s his business, but they do okay and it’s nice to just spend time alone in his quiet, cozy, empty bookstore some nights.

Taehyung hears someone talking again, then Jungkook sighs and says, “I have to go now.”

“Okay. I love you, baby.”

“I love you too, Tae. Bye.”

“Bye, bun.”

Taehyung sighs, so overwhelmingly filled with love and affection because of his adorable fiancé. He realizes that he went fully under the covers as he talked to Jungkook, both to get out of the bright sun and to focus on feeling wrapped up in his voice.

Taehyung

LOVE YOU MISS YOU

Jungkook
CUTIE
STOP IT I’M TRYING TO WORK
LOVE YOU MISS YOU TOO

Taehyung gets dressed and starts his walk to work since he left his car there when he decided to walk home the other night.

It’s another beautiful day, and spring is just about ready to bloom into summer. The sun is high in the sky, only a few puffy clouds scattered about. The air smells like fresh cut grass and all of the flowers that everyone in their neighborhood has been planting.

He nods and waves to a few of his neighbors, stopping for small talk when it's obvious they want him to. He grabs another leaf from a tree, letting pieces of it float behind him as he lets them go. 

He finally arrives at his shop and sends Namjoon home, and it is a slow day – everyone opting to have a day in the park since the weather is so beautiful, rather than spending it anywhere inside. So Taehyung decides to use the day to get some things done that he’s been meaning to but has been too busy for, and when night falls he’ll just relax and read.

His shop sells new books, but there is a small section in one of the back corners that is “take a book, leave a book.” The shelves are full of used books that people drop off, then take one that catches their eye. It’s free, just a way to share and bring the community together. He just asks that everyone who takes a book or leaves a book writes their name in the front or back cover so people can see who it has travelled to all over town.

He was a bit nervous when he first started it, scared that people might abuse it and essentially steal, or that it might take business away from him. But that has proven to not be true in the slightest, which he should have known with how kind their town is. People who come in to visit that section almost always buy a book from him as well, sometimes those books getting added to the shelves.

The section gets a little messy sometimes since there’s really no rhyme or reason to it, so he’s been meaning to organize it for a while now. And today feels like the perfect day to do so.

He puts on a soft but upbeat playlist, then heads to that section.

He starts pulling books out to try to organize them by genre, looking inside the covers on some of his favorite books to see whose hands it’s been in. And he giggles to himself when he sees Namjoon’s name in almost every single book.

He’s on the stool trying to reach some of the dusty ones at the top when his phone vibrates.

Jungkook

we’re shooting in the forest right now!!
what are you doing baby?

Taehyung smiles down at his phone at the adorable update, then he steps back to take a photo.

Taehyung
ooooh pretty

finally organizing the used section!!

Jungkook
oh nice
you’ve been wanting to do that for a while
i’m sure everyone will appreciate it since it’s always so chaotic over there 🦬
that emoji was an accident

Taehyung laughs, then decides to take a break – a little tired after going up and down the stool and ladder so many times with stacks of books.

Taehyung

im takin a break rn
miss u bun 🥺😣💗

Jungkook
oh there’s my pretty baby
i miss you too 🖤
so much
i have to get back now but ill talk to you soon
love you tae 🖤🖤🖤

Taehyung
hehe
love you kookie 🤍🤍🤍

Taehyung sighs and gets back up, feeling light and happy. He feels good, still close to Jungkook even though he’s so far away. Maybe this time apart is good for them. They’ve learned a lot from it, have grown a lot from it. He thinks that it just hit so hard because they’ve never been apart for this long. They’re not used to it and had to learn how to adjust to that. But it’s been good for them. He’s never had to miss Jungkook before, and the feeling is kind of sweet. Makes him feel warm, to have something to look forward to, to have someone to miss at all.

He gets lost in the task and feels pride in the way it’s slowly coming together. And he’s been rediscovering so many books that he hasn’t thought of in forever, flipping through a few pages to revisit them.

A little while later he's finally all done. All of the shelves are neat and clean, free of dust with defined sections of each genre – making it easier for people to find books they’d be interested in. And no one came in the whole shift, letting him fixate on the task and find comfort in it.

He’s surprised to find that the sky has darkened outside and several hours had passed without him realizing. He grabs his phone to check the time and sees a couple texts from Jungkook.

Jungkook

we’re done for the day and a few friends came back to the cabin with me and we started a little fire!! 
did you finish what you were doing?

Taehyung
aw that sounds fun!! i’m happy you’re having a good time 🥹💗💫
and you’re the cutest boy in the world ugh wow
yes i finished!!

He snaps a quick photo to send to Jungkook.

Jungkook
oh nice!!! looks amazing tae

Taehyung
hehe thank u 😌
go spend time with your friends!!!
i’m gonna start closing up now anyway

Jungkook
fine 🙄
gonna be thinking about you the whole time
can you text me when you’re home?

Taehyung smiles, knowing Jungkook is going to request things like that from now on to make sure he’s okay and safe, even though they genuinely don’t have anything to worry about in their little town. Just like yesterday when he let his bad thoughts get the best of him when he thought Jungkook was ignoring him, his sad mood made him jump to the worst case scenario when normally he wouldn’t have worried at all, knowing there was some explanation for it.

Taehyung
of course bun 🤍

He pockets his phone and starts on his closing duties. He counts the register, puts in an order, shelves the books on the cart so it’ll be easier on Namjoon and he’ll be able to just enjoy his morning without having much to do. He sweeps the floor and even cleans the windows, finding peace in these little tasks. He takes the pillows from the comfy chairs to bring home and wash, as he does a few times a week. He remembers he bought new scented wax melts – apple cinnamon – and sets them out for the morning. He’d like to be able to light candles, but he of course doesn’t for both practical reasons – they are in a bookshop full of paper after all – and also because Namjoon works there, so it’s for the best.

Once everything is clean and ready for the morning, he locks up and walks to his car.

“Hey, Tae-oppa!” he hears a familiar voice say, and turns to find Aera walking down the street.

“Oh, hey Aer!” he says, smiling as she gets closer. “What are you up to?”

He can’t believe he ever once disliked Aera, since she’s one of the sweetest people he’s ever met. The two of them quickly became close friends, finding out that they have a lot in common once all of the misunderstandings and bad feelings were brushed away. 

“Just taking a walk. What about you?”

As usual, he admires her outfit since it’s something he’d wear himself. She’s wearing a brown sleeveless turtleneck, tucked into cream-colored shorts. She always looks like she belongs in a library, which, to him, is a high compliment.

“Just closed up the shop. Do you have anywhere to be?” She shakes her head. “Want to come over and hangout for a bit?”

“Yeah, sure!” she says with a smile.

They drive home in comfortable silence – something he loves about Aera. She's quite pensive, he's come to find. She sometimes descends into bouts of silence when something crosses her mind and she wants to linger on the thought for a while before she's back to her talkative, bubbly self.  

Once they get home just a few short minutes later, Taehyung texts Jungkook to let him know he’s safe and sound, then he makes a cup of tea for Aera and himself before they sit around the table talking in the warm, dim light to create a cozy mood.

“How’s school going?” Taehyung asks. Aera has slowly but surely been working towards a masters degree in architecture while she still has a normal job. She wants to do little things around town once she's finished with her degree like maybe expand the gardens or help restore some of the old, crumbling buildings that really need it. And Taehyung knows that she'd never modernize the neighborhood. She'd never propose sleek, cold designs, but would simply restore the original architecture or expand in their same charming style. 

“It’s been good! Tiring and a lot of work, but I really love it, so it barely feels that way. What about you? How’s life been? Oh, and where’s Jungkook-oppa?” she says, looking around as she finally realized he wasn’t there.

“He’s out of town,” Taehyung says, surprising himself that there isn’t a pout in his voice. He thinks again that this was really good for the two of them. “He’ll be back at the end of the week. And life has been good! Same as usual, meaning everything has been good.”

Taehyung’s phone vibrates on the table, and he’d normally ignore it since he’s with a friend, but she says, “Go ahead,” and pulls out her phone too – most likely to text her girlfriend, Iseul. Taehyung smiles to himself thinking of the two of them, how happy he was that she fell in love with a girl as wonderful as she is, how she told him that she feels part of the community even more now. Like she finally settled in when she found a reason to stay.

Jungkook
hey baby
everyone just left
wanna call? miss your voice

Taehyung
i would love to, but aera is over right now!!
sorry 🥺😣

Jungkook
oh that’s okay!
have fun and tell her i said hi 😊

Taehyung delivers the message, and the two talk for several hours. The time once again passes without Taehyung realizing because he’s just having a fun, peaceful time. Eventually Aera starts to yawn, and Taehyung’s eyes go wide when he checks the time and sees that it’s 12:14 AM.

They decide to call it a night, and Taehyung insists on driving her home. She only lives about three minutes away by car, in an adorable red house where her white and black cat Nari is always napping in the window. 

Once they pull up outside of her house, the two already make plans to see each other next week, and they wish each other a good night and Taehyung drives home. When he gets back he throws the pillows he brought home into the washer, then falls into bed and pulls up his chat with Jungkook.

Taehyung
aera just left because we didn’t realize how late it was!!

He’s typing more just to tell him goodnight and that he loves him when he sees the three dots appear, signaling that Jungkook is typing too.

Jungkook
i’m glad you had a nice time ☺️🖤

Taehyung
jeon jungkook why in the world are you awake

Jungkook
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

He’s still typing, but Taehyung clicks the call button.

“Hi, cutie,” Jungkook’s gentle, sweet voice says.

“Hi, bunny. How are you? How was your day today?”

Time gets away from Taehyung once again, and the two talk for longer than he thought, into the quiet hours of the night. Just the two of them lying in bed in their dark bedrooms, talking quietly with their phones pressed to their ear while they tell each other about their day, their words subtly wrapped up in longing. 

Without realizing, Taehyung finally falls asleep after the long day catches up to him. And miles away Jungkook smiles softly to himself, hearing Taehyung quiet, even breaths. He whispers an “I love you, Tae” to the sleeping boy, then closes his eyes too.  

- ✿ -

Taehyung slowly starts to wake up as the sun shines onto his bed like it does so many mornings.

It takes a few moments to really notice the body pressed against his back and the soft, warm breaths against his nape, since it’s something he’s so used to. But then he realizes that it’s something he hasn’t felt in days.

His eyes go wide and he quickly rolls over, receiving a displeased groan.

Then he watches Jungkook as his deep, dark, lovely doe eyes start to slowly blink awake.

“What?” Taehyung says quietly, his eyes traveling all over his face, disbelieving.

“Hi, Tae,” Jungkook says just as quietly, looking at him so, so softly.

“Why are you here?” Taehyung asks. He rests one of his hands on the side of Jungkook’s face, stroking his thumb across his cheekbone, and Jungkook sleepily nuzzles his cheek against his palm. Jungkook wasn’t supposed to be back for a couple more days.

“We finished early,” he says.

“I missed you so much,” Taehyung sighs, then he leans forward to finally, after days of thinking about it, press his lips to Jungkook’s.

The kiss lasts for several long seconds, and Jungkook holds onto Taehyung’s wrist just to touch and keep his hand there while their lips part and meet again. Slow, sweet morning kisses after so many nights apart.

Jungkook smiles at him and kisses the tip of his nose, then rolls onto his back and pulls Taehyung into his side. Taehyung rests his head on Jungkook’s chest, then moves his hand beneath his shirt to touch his warm, bare skin.

He feels so, so calm. Held by the love of his life, listening to his heart beat in his chest. 

“Missed this,” Jungkook says, nuzzling his nose in Taehyung’s hair then leaving a kiss there.

“Me too,” Taehyung says, drawing abstract shapes on Jungkook’s chest with his finger. “I’m proud of us.”

Jungkook laughs and holds Taehyung tighter. “So am I.”

Jungkook’s stomach rumbles loudly, and he hides his face in Taehyung’s hair while Taehyung giggles at him. “Want to go out for breakfast?” he asks.

Jungkook nods, and the two get out of bed. They brush their teeth, try to tame their messy hair, then get dressed.

The weather is just as beautiful as it’s been the entire week, so Taehyung says, “Want to walk there?” 

He loves how every place they’d ever want or need to go to is within walking distance, allowing them to be outside and not rush their days – just enjoy a slow, calm way of life.

Jungkook says yes and takes Taehyung’s hand, and, god, Taehyung has missed this. Walking down the street, their hands swinging between them, the sound of Jungkook’s footsteps and not just his own. The way Jungkook’s beautiful profile looks lit up by the sun.

Jungkook catches Taehyung looking at him and says, “You’re so pretty, hyung,” and, yeah, Taehyung missed that too.

Taehyung is sure that if Jungkook had come home just a couple days earlier, he would have broken down sobbing and refused to let go of him or leave their bed. But they grew as a couple, learned how to miss each other, and were okay. And there are no tears, just overwhelming contentment. Walking to the diner rather than wrapped around each other in bed. Happiness rather than relief.

"Those flowers are new," Jungkook says, pointing out orange lilies planted in front of the home on the end of their street.

Taehyung nods. "They planted them a few days ago."

They make little comments here and there – about their neighbors' houses, about the weather, about Taehyung's garden. And Taehyung is happy to walk with their light, easy words filling the air again. He's missed the little things.

They enjoy the rest of their walk in comfortable, quiet peace, just happy to be beside each other again.

They arrive at their favorite diner and manage to find a booth right away despite how busy it always is.

It’s a cozy, family-owned place – as is every place in their town. The wall are painted a (charmingly faded) light blue and decorated with photos of people who have visited through the years, crayon drawings made by kids, old license plates that people bring in. Coffee cups always rest on the table, someone coming to fill it right away if it’s flipped up.

Their server – Dasum, who's worked there since it opened years and years ago - comes over to greet them and take their orders.

“How’d the shoot go?” Taehyung says when it’s just the two of them. He takes Jungkook’s hand, then kisses each of his knuckles and entwines their fingers, resting their hands on top of the table.

Jungkook is so beautiful. His dark hair, parted on the side and brushed back from his forehead, showing off his eyebrow piercing and not hiding any part of his shining eyes. His pretty lips that he already wants to press his own to again. His new septum piercing on his adorable nose. 

“It was really, really good," Jungkook says. "I think you’ll like it. I’m proud of it.”

“I’m proud of you. And I’m sure I’ll love it.”

“What do you want to do today, baby?”

They sit back when Dasum brings their plates out – another reason why they both love this place so much: the food is ready almost as soon as the words are out of their mouths.

“Hmm…” Taehyung thinks while he takes a bite of his food. “I want to head back home and get Bammie and Tannie, then go to our meadow. And then when we get home I want to cockwarm you for a really long time.”

Jungkook’s eyes go wide and he quickly glances around, checking if anybody heard them, then he gently kicks Taehyung beneath the table. “God, Tae,” he says, then, “I would love that.”

- ✿ -

The family of four are in the car on the way to the meadow, Bam in the back with his head out the window sniffing the air, Yeontan doing the same but from the front on Taehyung’s lap.

They park on the side of the road, and Jungkook holds Taehyung’s hand as he helps him step down a slight ravine. He keeps holding onto Yeontan while Bam runs ahead of them.

They walk through the forest, the sunlight making the place glow where it reaches them through the branches, lighting up the ground beneath them. It’s quiet except for the sound of their footsteps stepping on the grass, the occasional snapping of a twig here and there. The rustling of leaves on the branches of the trees. Bam loudly panting as he circles back around to them.

Taehyung walks across the same fallen log as always, Jungkook hovering his arms around his waist in case he falls, as always.

"I'm not a baby, Jungkook," Taehyung says, slapping his hands away.

Jungkook huffs. "One day you're going to break your ankle and I'm going to feel responsible for that."

"That's your own problem."

Taehyung hops off the log back onto the ground, then gives Jungkook a loud kiss on the cheek – same as he always does.

They finally get to where the trees part, and Taehyung finds the same beautiful meadow, seemingly untouched and forgotten by everybody but them. It’s their first time going since it became warm enough to do so, since everything was finally back in full bloom, and he’s always a little nervous that maybe someone found it and it didn’t look the same. Or maybe that it wasn’t there at all – too perfect and dreamlike that it’s sometimes hard to believe he didn’t make it up.

But it’s there in all its magic. A vast meadow sprinkled with wildflowers. Yellow dandelions and wish-making dandelions, the clearing encased by forest – the place like a secret.

They walk through the grass as it tickles their ankles, Bam excitedly running around the whole space and sniffing every inch of it.

They reach their spot – the same place they spread their blanket on their very first date, and Jungkook pulls the very same blanket from his backpack and lets the breeze kick it up before it settles down onto the ground.

Taehyung reaches in and grabs the metal stake that twists into the ground, then he attaches the long leash to it, the other side clipping onto Yeontan’s collar. Neither of their dogs will run away, so they’re not worried about letting Bam roam on his own, and they’d let Yeontan do the same but he’s just so small that they’re afraid they might lose him in the sea of tall grass. The leash is long enough though that he can reach nearly the whole expanse of the meadow in every direction.

As soon as he’s set down, Yeontan takes off across the field towards Bam. Bam jumps and runs when he sees Yeontan sprinting towards him, and Taehyung laughs as he watches them chase each other around.

Taehyung looks down when Jungkook tugs on his hand and sees him lying down on his back, trying to pull him down with him.

He lies down beside him, both of them watching the few clouds very slowly drift across the sky. He loves it here. Loves how beautiful and peaceful it is, how it feels like it’s theirs. Loves how there’s always a blue sky above them, the sunlight falling over them, hearing the bell on Yeontan’s collar off in the distance. Loves just quietly existing beside the love of his life.

Jungkook takes Taehyung’s hand that was resting on his stomach, holds it in his own, and rests them on his stomach. 

No words spoken, just lying together watching the sky, holding hands. 

Time passes, Taehyung knows, but it almost doesn’t feel like it. It feels like they’ve found a place where nothing else exists. Time, work, the rest of the world. They found a little pocket in the universe – a blooming meadow where they lie in the grass.

Taehyung turns on his side, making Jungkook turn too so they’re facing each other.

Jungkook is so pretty, sometimes he can’t believe it. It amazes him how he can look so soft and sweet while still looking hot and sexy. From certain angles, all he can see are his adorable cheeks, his round nose, his pout – looking exactly like the soft baby he is. And then when he turns his head, he can see the sharp cut of his jaw, his facial piercings, his dark eyes – which just at first glance look intimidating, but with a lingering look their soft gaze, how big and round they are, how there are always stars reflected in them start to show.

Jungkook is adorable and hot and cute and sexy and pretty and handsome and beautiful. He’s so many things, but mostly, he’s Taehyung’s. 

“Missed you,” Jungkook says.

“Missed you too, Kookie.” He scooches forward so their bodies are closer together and Taehyung’s lips can meet Jungkook’s. Sweet, gentle kisses beneath the sun. Taehyung kisses Jungkook’s top lip, then his bottom one, then playfully bites on it to make Jungkook smile.

“Tell me more about your week,” Taehyung says, stroking Jungkook’s knuckles with his thumb.

“Hmm,” Jungkook says, his eyes roaming all around Taehyung’s face as if he’s still taking him in. “It was really busy. Which you obviously know, since we couldn’t talk much. But a good type of busy. Being back in the swing of things.”

“Do you ever miss it?” Taehyung asks. Jungkook used to be a fully-booked photographer. On busy, lively sets or out in nature or a city with a journalist. He’s not in that environment anymore, isn’t around all the action and the lights.

“It was nice,” Jungkook says, “but I don’t know how I used to survive like that. Just after the first day I was dead, and then I had to keep going. All I thought about the whole time was how much I wish I was back home with you. It was nice for a couple days, but I love my life now way more than I ever have before.”

Even after being reassured time and time again, Taehyung is still nervous sometimes that he might be holding Jungkook back in some way. It’s not out of insecurity; he just wants Jungkook to be happy, and he doesn’t want to be something that stands in the way of that.

“I’m happy you’re happy,” Taehyung says, and Jungkook moves forward to leave a long, lingering kiss on his forehead. “How was your cabin?”

“Oh, Tae, it was amazing. I’m not even joking, baby, I think we need to get a cabin. I’m serious!” he says when Taehyung starts laughing at his enthusiasm. “It was so beautiful there, just out in the middle of the forest. It would be so nice to have a place to go to if we want to be away from everything for a while.”

“Yeah, that sounds nice,” Taehyung says, although he doesn’t think it’s somewhere they would escape to very often, because they love their town, their home, their life. But sometimes, despite all of that being true, everything can still start to feel like it’s a lot, usually for no reason. So getting a change of scenery in a secluded cabin somewhere sounds better and better the more Taehyung thinks about it.

“Did you have fun when you went out for your friend’s birthday?”

Jungkook has said it about him before, but sometimes Taehyung can’t help but believe the sun was made just to fall across Jungkook. He looks ethereal when it lights up his face, highlighting his cheekbones and the sparkles in his eyes. He also thinks sometimes the moon is for him too. The way the light is so faint that it shadows parts of his face, the way the night brings out a soft, vulnerable part of him that’s always there, but a little braver than when the sky is bright. And maybe the sky is for him, letting Taehyung see his beautiful profile as he looks up at the clouds. He remembers a poem he read when he was flipping through pages of books in his shop one sunny morning. He can’t recall much of it, just the last few lines. His favorite of them, “love is the sky and i am for you.” He’s reminded of it every time they’re at their meadow. That love is like the sky they hold hands beneath – vast, immeasurable, limitless. Love is the sky because each time Taehyung looks up at it, he remembers the days spent lying beneath it in his backyard with Jungkook, falling more and more in love as each cloud gently passed by. 

Love is the sky, and he is for Jungkook. Love is the sky, and Jungkook is for him. Love is the sky, and they belong to each other. 

love is the sky and i am for you

“Yeah, it was fun, I guess,” Jungkook says, pulling Taehyung out of his musings that maybe the world was created for them to find each other on. “I was tired by, like, 10 PM and we stayed out until, like, 2 AM. And it was very loud and there were a lot of sweaty bodies. And being drunk without you there turned out to be not very fun, because all I thought about the entire time was how much I wanted to hug and kiss you. Well, I always think that. But it was different because I was sure I was going to die if I didn’t kiss your cheek. And I couldn’t even talk to you because I typed in the wrong number in my phone so I was just drunk texting into the void.” He groans, and Taehyung smiles.

“Do you still have the messages on your phone?”

Jungkook turns sheepish and lets out a forced laugh that he tries to make sound casual, but just sounds nervous instead. “Haha, no, I deleted them when I realized. Anyway, so–”

“Give me your phone.”

“What?”

Taehyung sits up and holds his hand out. “Give me your phone.”

“Why?”

“I just want to see it.”

“I, um, forgot it at home.”

“You had it connected to the radio in the car.”

“Oh, I forgot it in the car.”

Taehyung quickly straddles Jungkook and starts tickling his sides, tickling him harder to keep him down when Jungkook tries to squirm away.

“Tae! S-stop! I left it at home! I mean in the car!”

“Give it to me, Jungkook!”

Jungkook has tears in his eyes, trying to be mad and serious when all he can do is giggle.

“Fine! Fine! Just stop!”

Taehyung stops but stays on top of him, smiling and so in love as he watches Jungkook try to catch his breath.

“You’re a demon,” Jungkook says, then he reaches for his backpack to grab his phone. He hands it to Taehyung, who gets off of him, and Jungkook sits up to watch him unlock it and click the messages icon.

Taehyung finds the chat thread with the number that is one number off from his own and opens it.

Jungkook
good morning my beautiful baby
or good afternoon i guess
you’re not allowed to make fun of me
i woke up this morning and was sitting on the deck at my cabin and the river was really pretty so i went to take a picture of it to send to you and then i dropped my phone in it 😐
and so i had to go out and buy a new phone but i’m so sad because i had the morning off and i wanted to spend it talking to you 🥺 miss the sound of your voice
your sleepy morning voice
😣
anyway
if you’ve texted me i’m so sorry that i couldn’t text you until now 😞 so i didn’t see any of your messages
i love you angel
anyway tonight we are going out for one of the editor’s bday like i mentioned 😔 so i won’t be able to talk much tonight. but we’re just going shopping and getting coffee and stuff right now, so whenever you’re not busy we can call 🖤

love u taetae 

“God, you’re a cutie,” Taehyung says, staring down at the photo.

“Stop,” Jungkook mumbles. He adjusts so he’s sitting behind Taehyung, who’s in between his legs. Taehyung leans back against his chest, and Jungkook wraps his arms around his waist and rests his chin on Taehyung’s shoulder when he goes back to the messages.

Jungkook
taaaaae
miss my baby

love u

are you okay?
not being clingy or annoying or anything!! it’s just getting late and we haven’t talked at all
it’s okay tho i hope you’re having a good day love 🖤

Taehyung leans back against Jungkook more and turns his head to the side, signaling that he wants a kiss on his cheek, and he feels the press of Jungkook’s lips there not a second later.

“You were worried about me when you realized you had the wrong number and knew I probably thought you were ignoring me,” Taehyung says, “but you were thinking the same thing too, Kookie.” An intense wave of sadness washes over Taehyung, thinking of Jungkook out there checking his phone for a notification from him every few minutes when it never came, thinking he was simply ignoring him.

“It’s okay, Tae,” Jungkook says, and there’s really nothing more to be said. Just a misunderstanding, the two of them feeling the exact same things miles and miles away.

Jungkook

going out now

Taehyung groans loudly, and the sound travels across the meadow and makes Yeontan – hidden in a patch of long, overgrown grass sprinkled with wildflowers – perk his ears up, then he goes back to scouting out the area.

“You’re so adorable, Jungkookie, jesus. Your eyes, oh my god. Do you see them?” He pushes the phone into Jungkook’s face to make him look. “They literally twinkle! God.” He brings the phone back in front of him to look some more. Sometimes the wires in his brain get mixed up a little bit, his overwhelming love translating into anger. Sometimes it just makes him mad how beautiful Jungkook is, how much he loves his galaxy eyes.

He goes back to reading the messages before he starts yelling at him.

Jungkook
ugh this sucks tae
how did i ever used to go out every other night
it’s so loud and sticky. everyone’s sweaty and i took a break from being on the dancefloor and a strand of someone’s hair was on my arm
i took a few shot s when we got here so i could survive bettter and theyre all hitting me now i think
ttaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
🗣 taettaeeeeaeaaaeaeaeeee
miss u so much my bab y
wish u we’re here
actually nvm you would ha te it too
wish i wsa there :(((((((
Just…..layin on th couch wiht u
my head on ur chest whille u play wiht my hair
n we wathhc a movie
 id let u choose!!!!!
and i cann leane up and kiss u whenver i want
if u were wondernig why i was gone for so long jus t now
i threw up 😌
ugh hteyre making me put my phone aaway and stop pouting 🙄
i loooooooooooooove youuuuuu
im in the bthroom again bc i threwup again but also bc i cna be sneaky sneaky on my phonne 😈😈😈😈😈
tatae answer my calallllllllll i wanna hear ur voice pelase :((((((((((((((
i love u tae i hope everything is okay 
wnana hold ur hand 😔
i threw up agagain so now were going back 😌

in the car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
okay now its nap time love yuo my baby

Taehyung lets out a deep sigh and closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Jeon Jungkook…” he says quietly. “I… am going… to scream. Are you fucking kidding me? Oh my god.” He stares at the photo, then immediately sends it to himself. “Oh my god. Jungkook! I think I might start crying. I’m not even joking. It is physically hurting my heart right now how adorable you are. Oh my god.”

“Taaaaaae,” Jungkook keeps whining, hiding his face in Taehyung’s neck. “Stop it, please. You’re gonna kill me.” 

Taehyung stares at it a little longer but finally gives Jungkook a break and goes back to the message thread, but the messages end there.

“I was pretty much sober by the time we got back to the cabins,” Jungkook says, “because I had food before we got in the car and it was such a long drive, and so I plugged my phone into my laptop and did all of that. Then I got the missed calls and texts from you, and the text from Yoongi.”

Taehyung sets Jungkook’s phone aside, then turns around so they’re facing each other and sitting between each other’s legs.

“You’re a cutie,” Taehyung says, poking the tip of his nose. “Wish your texts were actually going to me. I would have loved to text drunk Jungkookie.”

“I think that is the one good thing that came out of this,” Jungkook says, still embarrassed, and Taehyung can’t imagine how much more he’d be embarrassed if they could have actually had a conversation.

Taehyung connects their lips, letting his linger on Jungkook’s. He places his hands on Jungkook’s cheeks, and Jungkook’s hands find Taehyung’s waist. Taehyung gets lost in the slow, gentle rhythm of their kisses. Touching, parting, then meeting again. Jungkook’s tongue licks across Taehyung’s bottom lip, but Taehyung softly smiles as he doesn’t open his mouth for Jungkook.

Jungkook does it again, but Taehyung’s lips remain pressed together and against Jungkook’s. Jungkook lets out a small whine, and it makes Taehyung’s boxy smile appear with a giggle. Jungkook can never help but smile if Taehyung is too, so Jungkook’s own bunny smile appears, and the two laugh against each other’s lips beneath the neverending sky, their love just the same.

“Stop laughing and kiss me,” Taehyung says, wrapping his arms around Jungkook’s neck to pull him closer.

“You started it!” Jungkook says, his smile shining.

“Nuh uh,” Taehyung says, kissing the sides of Jungkook’s lips, then his cheek and down his jaw to leave sweet, small kisses on his neck. “Jungkooooook,” he whines in between them. “Kiss me.”

“Okay, okay,” Jungkook says. “C’mere, baby.”

Taehyung sits back and looks at beautiful, beautiful Jungkook. He runs his fingers through his hair, strokes one of his eyebrows with his thumb. “Pretty boy.”

“That’s you, hyung,” Jungkook says, his gaze as soft as the sunlight shining down on them.

“Nuh uh,” Taehyung says again.

“I thought you wanted me to kiss you,” Jungkook says as Taehyung makes no move to lean in, just lets his eyes take their time admiring every part of the boy in front of him.

“Yeah, I don’t see you doing anything about it,” he says, finally meeting his eyes.

Jungkook holds Taehyung’s cheeks in his palms the same way Taehyung was doing to him earlier, and he gently guides him closer so they can meet in the middle.

I love you, Taehyung thinks when their lips touch. I love you, I love you, I love you, again and again and again with each press of a kiss.

He hopes Jungkook can feel it, hopes he can feel the love that’s pouring out of him, hopes he can feel the gravity of it all.

And when Jungkook holds him a little firmer – his touch still so gentle as he runs his thumb across one of his cheekbones – while the kisses remain tenderly slow, he thinks maybe he can.

“I love you,” Taehyung mumbles under his breath between one kiss and another. 

One of Jungkook’s hands lift from his cheek to hold onto his nape, as if to keep him there, as if Taehyung would ever want to leave. “I love you,” a kiss, “Tae,” he whispers back.

Jungkook strokes his thumb on his cheek again, wiping away a fallen tear that Taehyung wasn’t even aware was there. He doesn’t break the string of kisses, just brushes away the ones that continue to fall.

He gently pulls his head back, gently shushing a whine from Taehyung, then kisses the tears off his cheeks. “Is there a reason why you’re crying, my love?” Jungkook asks.

He just… loves Jungkook so much. The way Jungkook asks if there’s a reason, gently reminding him that he doesn’t need one. But if there is one, if he wants to talk about it, maybe he can help.

“Not really,” Taehyung says quietly. “Just love you a lot.”

“My sweet baby boy,” Jungkook says, drying away the last few tears.

“Will you kiss me again?”

“Didn’t even have to ask,” Jungkook says, already leaning in.

And they kiss and kiss beneath the sky, surrounded by grass and wildflowers and the endless love floating around them like dandelion seeds blowing in the wind, on their way to make a wish come true.

- ✿ -

“Taehyung,” Jungkook says, his voice whiny and hurt over the phone. “We just got to stop missing each other. Come hooooooome. Please?”

“Jungkook, it’s been, like, half an hour,” Taehyung says, laughing as he gets in his car – as if he isn’t missing Jungkook too. He bites back a whimper when he sits down, sore from cockwarming Jungkook from the time night fell yesterday to when they woke up in the morning.

“I don’t like secrets. Why couldn’t I come with you? Are you cheating on me?”

“Yeah, I had to run over to my other boyfriend really quick. He forgot something at our house, sorry. I’m on my way home now though!”

“Shut up,” Jungkook mumbles. “Get home really, really quick. Not too quick though that it’s dangerous. Okay?”

“Okay, Jungkook.” He clicks his seatbelt in place and starts the car. “I’ll be home in a moderately quick amount of time.”

“Wait, I don’t know what that means though. I don’t know where you ar–”

“Bye, Kookie, my beautiful baby. I’ll see you soon. I love you so much, bun.”

“But–”

“Bye!”

Taehyung hangs up and pulls onto the street, laughing to himself when his phone starts vibrating again. He ignores it and rolls down his windows, enjoying the warm breeze that passes through.

Jungkook got back only yesterday, and Taehyung would have loved nothing more than basking in the feeling of waking up in his arms again. But he received a voicemail from earlier in the morning, so Taehyung left the warmth of their bed and Jungkook behind. Jungkook whined, then whined some more when Taehyung told him he wasn’t allowed to come.

Taehyung nearly caved at the sight of Jungkook’s hurt, confused face, but he powered through – assuring him that he would be back before he knew it.

He pulls up in front of their home and gets out of the car, then the sound of his laughter fills their tree-lined street when he sees Jungkook standing on the front porch, his arms crossed as he looks at Taehyung with a mix of a pout and a glare.

“Hi, baby bunny,” Taehyung says, stopping in front of the front steps and looking up at Jungkook.

“You hurt my feelings,” Jungkook says, and Taehyung musters all of his strength to not laugh again. Jungkook takes offense when Taehyung claims that he’s the baby of the relationship, but nevertheless, there Jungkook stood: pouting and refusing to let Taehyung inside because he had the audacity to leave him alone for thirty minutes.

“I’m sorry, Kookie. I’m here now, and I’m not leaving again. No plans, nowhere to be. Just yours.”

“Why couldn’t I come with you?”

“I really have to pee, Jungkookie, can I please go inside?” He doesn’t have to, but it’s the only way he could think of to divert the question.

“What’s the password?”

Taehyung laughs and rolls his eyes, and Jungkook is trying as hard as he can to keep the pout on his lips and the glare in his eyes.

Taehyung thinks for a few moments. All of their memories, all of their “things,” all of their details and days and nights. He watches a glossary start to be written full of words that mean something to them. Ordinary words that hold tiny universes because of the two of them.

Then Taehyung pouts his lips and looks up at Jungkook expectantly. And Jungkook’s glare disappears without a trace, and he leans down to press his lips to Taehyung’s.

“Access granted,” Jungkook says, then he steps aside and motions his arm to the door to welcome him inside.

“Thank you,” Taehyung says, bowing to him when he walks past, butterflies following him inside at the sound of Jungkook’s laugh.

Once Taehyung takes his shoes off and sets his things down, he stands in the bathroom for a couple minutes to gather himself. When he returns, he turns to Jungkook and says, “Wanna go lay in the grass in the backyard?”

Jungkook smiles and kisses his cheek. “I’d love to.”

They head out back to their favorite spot in the sun. The grass is permanently a little matted down, never growing quite like the rest because of the days and years they’ve spent in that spot, watching the sky together. Like handprints pressed into wet cement, but gentler.

There are only a few clouds above them, lazily floating and enjoying the beautiful day themselves. Taehyung can hear the rustling of the trees around them as the breeze sometimes passes through. He can hear children on their bikes passing their house on the street. He can hear an occasional duet of birdsongs.

He can feel the warmth of the sun caressing his face. He can feel the week’s worth of longing slowly lifting away. He can feel Jungkook beside him.

He can see the beautiful blue sky, the same as it always is most summer days. And when he closes his eyes, he can see him and Jungkook in the very same spot they’re in now. He can see them years ago, watches himself allowing his gaze to linger when he thinks Jungkook isn’t looking, because he’s too scared that if Jungkook catches him, he won’t have time to hide the feelings painted across his face, the love swimming in his eyes. 

He can see them sitting in front of each other and talking, Jungkook absentmindedly ripping shreds of grass one by one from the lawn and creating a pile on Taehyung’s knee, then pouting when a gentle gust of wind blows it away.

He can see them sharing kiss after kiss, their hands finally held together. Small, mindless touches – Taehyung brushing his fingers through Jungkook’s hair to fix it after the breeze did the same, Jungkook absentmindedly drawing circles on Taehyung’s leg with his thumb. 

He opens his eyes, and he sees the same sky. He turns his head and he sees Jungkook already looking at him, a soft smile on his lips.

“Can you stand up, Kookie?”

Without asking why, Jungkook stands, and Taehyung does too.

“I love you,” Taehyung says quietly, taking Jungkook’s hand to kiss his knuckles while Jungkook says the same beautiful three words back. Then without looking away from his eyes or letting go of Jungkook’s hand, Taehyung slowly gets down on one knee.

“Oh my god,” Jungkook whispers, his eyes wide while he looks down at Taehyung.

“Kookie…” Taehyung starts. “My sweet baby bunny. I’ve loved you for so long.” 

A tear is already sliding down his cheek, but a gentle summer rainshower is falling from Jungkook’s beautiful eyes.

“I… I’ve been trying to figure out, almost since the day I first realized that I fell in love with you, whether I think we met by fate or by chance. Whether I was put on this earth to find you, and if you were put here to find me too. Or whether somehow, just by complete luck, we started living next to each other in this random small town that’s kind of difficult to happen upon, and we became friends and fell in love.

“And I think that we met by chance this time. That we stumbled upon each other. I think this is our first time loving each other, and it’s just the start. I think it was luck this time, but I think in all of our other lifetimes and all of our other universes, we’ll have been put there to find each other. Because this is the first time I get to love you. I can feel that, feel how beautiful and new everything is. How it feels like we discovered this. But it’s just our beginning. Just the first page. And we’ll find each other again and again and again. Even though I think we met by chance, I was supposed to love you. And I’m going to, for the rest of our lives.

“I love you so much, Jungkook,” he says, tears cascading down both of their cheeks and falling into the sea of grass beneath them. Jungkook’s eyes are round and dark and looking down at him in disbelief while his lips have been parted in awe. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Taehyung says. “You make my life so beautiful, and I’ll do everything I can to make that true for you too, for the rest of all of our lives. Jeon Jungkook, my love…" He reaches in his pocket and grabs a small black velvet box, then flips open the lid. "Will you please, please marry me?”

Jungkook just looks at him for a few moments longer, then he drops Taehyung’s hand and lets out a sob. He covers his face with his hands and sinks to his knees in front of him, falling into Taehyung’s arms that beckon him in. 

Jungkook cries into Taehyung’s chest while Taehyung buries his face in Jungkook’s neck and does the same. Jungkook keeps trying to talk but only sobs come out, and if Taehyung didn’t know Jungkook better, he would be scared by this kind of reaction. But he’s not.

Finally and slowly, their breathing starts to return to normal while the sun dries the tears from their cheeks, and Jungkook sits back to look at him.

His eyes are rimmed red, matching the tip of his nose, and Taehyung is sure that his own face is puffy. Taehyung reaches forward and dries away the last of the tears, leaving gentle kisses behind.

He sits back again and finds Jungkook still just looking at him.

“Of course I will marry you, Taehyungie,” Jungkook says, taking his hand. “Yes. Please.”

The “please” makes Taehyung laugh, the sound dancing around their backyard with Jungkook’s as its partner.

He finds the box he dropped on the ground in favor of holding Jungkook, then opens the top again. He shakily takes the ring out and slides it on Jungkook’s finger, his hand trembling just as much. 

Jungkook brings it closer to his face and has a soft smile. It’s just a simple black band, but it has the same swirling vines subtly etched in to match Taehyung’s. The leaves are silver, making the pattern shyly stand out and match Taehyung’s more.

Jungkook takes Taehyung’s hand and holds it in his, and they look at their rings side by side.

Then Jungkook lies down on his back and pulls Taehyung with him, and Taehyung rests his head on Jungkook’s chest.

“You’re forgiven for abandoning me this morning,” Jungkook says, trailing his hand up and down Taehyung’s spine.

“Thank you,” Taehyung says with a laugh, and he can hear Jungkook’s heart beat just a little faster.

“And it’s about time that I finally got a ring too,” he says, and Taehyung was waiting for that. He honestly can’t believe Jungkook never said anything sooner.

“Hey,” Taehyung says, offended as he leans back to glare at Jungkook with angry eyebrows. “You know just as well as I do about Jangmi.” 

Jangmi is the ajumma who owns the jewelry shop in town. She’s been there for years, has sold – or made – almost everybody in town’s wedding rings or jewelry for special occasions, or just any jewelry at all. 

One of her older children had recently fallen ill (and thankfully has pulled through and is perfectly healthy now), so Jangmi had been out of town for a few months taking care of her.

Taehyung would never go out of town to some other jewelry store and get Jungkook’s ring from some stranger. He’d never not support Jangmi, especially since he wanted it to be custom-made. 

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Jungkook says. “Figured that’s why you hadn’t gotten me one yet.”

Taehyung looks down at their joined hands, both of them adorned with rings to show everyone that they belong to someone, that they belong to each other.

- ✿ -

Taehyung and Jungkook are in bed, Jungkook straddling Taehyung and licking inside of his mouth with more fervor than Taehyung thinks he’s ever seen from him, and he knows it’s because of how excited he is for what they’re going to do.

Earlier as they were making out and things started to heat up, Jungkook pulled back. Taehyung could tell that he wanted to ask for something but was feeling a little too shy to get there on his own.

“Is there something you want to try, bun?” Taehyung asked, moving his hand up and down Jungkook’s arm in a soothing manner.

Jungkook nods. “Um… y’know the vibrator we bought? The one that stays inside, not the dildo?” Taehyung hums and nods. “I want to have it in me while I fuck you…”

Taehyung immediately felt heat pooling in his stomach. The thought of Jungkook having a vibrator snug against his prostate, having to still focus on fucking Taehyung when Taehyung knows how difficult it is for Jungkook to think of almost anything while Taehyung fucks him. But the one thing he can focus on is making sure Taehyung is okay, that he feels good.

“Yeah, yeah, I want that,” Taehyung said, and Jungkook leaned down and started licking into Taehyung’s mouth.

Without disconnecting their lips, Taehyung reaches over and grabs the bottle of lube and applies some to his finger, then reaches behind Jungkook to circle it around his rim.

Jungkook lets out a small breath and bites on Taehyung’s bottom lip. Taehyung pushes one finger inside, sinking it all the way in. He moves it in and out a few times, dragging it along his walls. He doesn’t need to stretch him much; the vibrator is pretty small, not designed to make him feel full, just to have a constant vibration against his prostate.

Taehyung leans back, giving Jungkook a quick peck to cut off his whine, and adds some lube to the pink vibrator – Taehyung having insisted on the pink one when they bought it rather than the black one Jungkook wanted to get.

Taehyung pushes it inside, and Jungkook clenches around it to pull it deeper. “Comfortable?” Taehyung asks, and Jungkook nods. “I’ll turn it on once you’re inside me.”

Taehyung spreads his legs and pulls them to his chest, and Jungkook lines his cock up to his hole and slowly sinks in.

Taehyung sighs and closes his eyes, in love with the feeling of Jungkook’s thick cock inside of him. “So good,” he says quietly, and he opens his eyes to Jungkook looking down at him with a fond smile. “Gonna turn it on now.” Taehyung reaches behind him and pushes the button that’s connected to the part on the outside.

And Jungkook immediately collapses forward onto Taehyung – his arms giving out as he just plops right down onto him. 

“Oof,” Taehyung says as he sinks down into the mattress, then he wraps his arms and legs around Jungkook and starts laughing.

Jungkook is letting out moan after moan where his head is tucked into Taehyung’s neck, almost shaking from the assault on his prostate.

“Jungkook,” Taehyung says through his laughter, “you still have to fuck me!”

“Can’t,” Jungkook says, his breath hot against Taehyung’s neck as he whimpers there.

Taehyung reaches behind him and turns the vibrator off. “Hey,” Jungkook says, pulling back to look at him, offended.

“As cozy as this is,” Taehyung says, holding onto Jungkook tighter, “you have to fuck me too, baby.”

“Oh,” Jungkook says, finally thinking clearly and realizing what Taehyung said earlier now that he can focus on just one type of pleasure with his cock deep and snug in Taehyung. “Sorry.”

Taehyung giggles at the way he sounds embarrassed. “Don’t be sorry. That was one of the cutest things ever.”

“I’ll fuck you,” Jungkook says resolutely to mostly himself.

“I know you can do it,” Taehyung says, squeezing his arms.

Jungkook nods to himself again then moves back onto his knees.

“Gonna turn it on again now,” Taehyung says, and Jungkook nods. Taehyung reaches around and turns the vibrator on, and he can tell that it’s taking everything in Jungkook to not fall forward again. “You can do it, baby.” Taehyung’s holding back his laughter at the war Jungkook is visibly fighting against himself – wanting to feel good, but always wanting more than anything to make Taehyung feel good.

Jungkook takes a deep, shaky breath, almost looking pained from how good he feels. He slowly pulls his cock almost all the way out, then sinks back inside Taehyung again.

“Fuck,” Taehyung sighs. Jungkook keeps up a slow, even pace – most likely physically unable to go faster, which makes Taehyung want to giggle again. But it’s okay; he loves it when it’s slow.

“I–I feel so good, Tae,” Jungkook says, and Taehyung thinks he can feel his heart crack open.

He runs his fingers through Jungkook’s hair while Jungkook continues thrusting into him and says, “Good.” He pulls Jungkook down for a sweet kiss. “Want you to feel good, always.”

Jungkook seems to have gotten used to the dual stimulation a little bit because he starts thrusting into Taehyung quicker, harder. He is so in love with the look of pure, unbridled pleasure written across Jungkook’s face, so happy knowing that Jungkook feels good.

Just to see what happens, he kicks the vibrator up a notch, and Jungkook once again collapses down onto Taehyung.

“Kookie!” Taehyung laughs, a wide, boxy smile on his face.

“I know, Tae! I’m t-trying!” Jungkook yells, his forehead resting on Taehyung’s collarbone. 

Jungkook takes a deep breath, and Taehyung knows that he’s gathering himself to sit up and try again. So just to be mean, Taehyung turns the vibrator up to the last and highest setting, and Taehyung has never heard such a noise come out of Jungkook.

Through his laughter at Jungkook’s moaning and twitching – it being difficult to laugh because Jungkook is absolute dead weight on top of him and not letting his chest expand very much – Taehyung says in a faux-hurt, pouty tone, “Jungkookie, don’t you care about making me feel good? What about me, bun? Don’t you want me to feel good?”

“Not–” Jungkook starts but interrupts himself with another moan, his grip on Taehyung’s nape surely leaving finger-shaped bruises behind, “n-not when you’re b-being a demon.”

Taehyung shows mercy and turns the vibrator off again, and Jungkook sighs in relief, sinking further onto Taehyung. 

“You’re so mean,” Jungkook mumbles, dragging his nose up and down Taehyung's neck, leaving tiny kisses behind.

“You’re so cute,” Taehyung says, still giggling while he scratches Jungkook’s head, making him hum. Taehyung wraps his arms and legs around Jungkook, hugging him tight. “I love you so much,” he mumbles.

He can feel Jungkook smile against his neck, then he leaves ticklish kisses up his neck to his jaw to his ear, where he whispers, “I love you too, pretty.” He takes a deep breath then sits back. “Okay, I’m ready. I’m gonna do it this time.”

Taehyung smiles at him, so, so fond. “I believe in you, baby. Wanna start fucking me first?”

Jungkook smirks, and Taehyung is confused. But before he can ask, Jungkook slides almost all the way out, then slams inside Taehyung, immediately setting a fast, punishing pace.

Taehyung screams, throwing his head back and giving Jungkook space to leave marks behind on his neck. 

Jungkook chuckles smugly in his ear, so Taehyung reaches behind Jungkook and turns the vibrator on to the middle setting.

Jungkook freezes for a second, and Taehyung yells, “Jungkook!”

“Stop! I’m going!” 

They’re both laughing, and Jungkook successfully pulls his hips back and thrusts forward. The sounds coming from them are a mix between giggles and moans, and Taehyung is so happy.

“I’m doing it!” Jungkook says, his eyes lit up, and the situation is so absolutely ridiculous and adorable, Jungkook so genuinely proud of himself, that Taehyung can’t believe such a wonderful, beautiful life is possible.

“I’m proud of you, bun,” Taehyung says, through a laugh.

Jungkook adjusts, and the next time he thrusts inside the head of his cock nudges his prostate, and the smile melts from Taehyung’s face as his mouth drops opening, a deep moan falling from his lips.

“So pretty, Taetae,” Jungkook says, leaning down to bite Taehyung’s bottom lip and gently pull.

“Faster, Kookie, harder,” Taehyung says, his eyes pleading as he holds onto Jungkook.

Jungkook reaches behind and turns the vibrator up himself to the highest setting, and without faltering starts slamming in and out of Taehyung.

“Oh, god, fuck,” he moans, his hands shaky where they grip Taehyung’s thighs. Jungkook is fucking Taehyung faster than he ever has, driven by the constant vibration against his prostate, and Taehyung is losing his mind.

Jungkook’s slamming into him, hitting his bundle of nerves without pause, and Taehyung is unable to even moan. His head is thrown back and mouth is open but no sounds come out, and Jungkook bites down onto his neck.

“K-kiss me, Tae,” Jungkook says, and Taehyung crashes their lips together. Jungkook sinks in as deep as he can go and stays there, just grinding into him, and Taehyung sobs.

“Jungkook,” he’s panting as Jungkook’s cock massages his prostate, then he pulls back and starts fucking him again. Taehyung opens his mouth again, this time not in a soundless moan, and looks at Jungkook expectantly.

“Fuck,” Jungkook mutters. He leans back a little more, then spits into Taehyung’s mouth. Taehyung watches the long strings of saliva fall from Jungkook’s lips before he feels them slide down his tongue, down his throat. 

Taehyung closes his mouth and swallows with a moan, and Jungkook says, “I’m gonna come soon, Tae.”

Taehyung tightens around him, and Jungkook immediately comes. He lets out a surprised, loud moan as he slams hard into Taehyung to ride his orgasm, pushing Taehyung up the mattress with each thrust. Jungkook comes and comes while the vibrator continues to stimulate his prostate, and once he can feel him start to twitch and can hear his quiet whimpers, Taehyung turns it off.

“Oh, fuck,” Jungkook breathes, still shaking from the aftershock while he pants. Taehyung wraps his arms and legs around him and pulls him down, holding him tight.

“Did so well, bun. So, so good. ‘m so proud of you.”

Jungkook nuzzles their cheeks together, and his hums feels like purrs against his chest. “Just gimme a sec ‘n I’ll make you come.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Nuh uh. Want you to feel good too.”

“I felt so good, baby,” Taehyung says, then he manages to just barely snake a hand between their stomachs, then brings his finger up and forces it into Jungkook’s mouth.

Jungkook's tongue automatically wraps around it, then he moans as he pops off of it. “You came?”

Taehyung nods. “Mhm. You were so sexy, baby. Made me feel so good, loved watching you feel good.”

Jungkook just hums again, then using the last of his strength, he holds onto Taehyung and rolls on his back while his cock stays inside.

Taehyung lies on his chest and rests his forehead on his neck, subtly moving with the rise and fall of Jungkook’s breaths.

Taehyung tries to think of any words he could possibly say to describe to Jungkook how he feels. How much fun he just had with him. Laughing and making fun of him in a loving, playful way during sex. Giggling together one moment and Jungkook spitting in his mouth the next. 

“You make me happy, Taehyung,” Jungkook says right when Taehyung was about to say the same to him.

“You make me happy too,” he says. “I like hanging out with you.”

He can feel Jungkook smile, and he holds him tighter.

“Do you like your ring?” Taehyung asks.

Jungkook holds his hand out to look at it and says, “I love it, Tae. It’s perfect. And I love that it matches yours. Like friendship rings.”

It makes Taehyung laugh and smile while Jungkook kisses his temple and squeezes his shoulder. “Wanna take a shower and then go grocery shopping? We have no food.” Taehyung says.

“Shower, yes. Grocery shopping, no.”

“Kookieeeee, there really isn’t anything here. And you normally love grocery shopping!” 

“Don’t wanna share you with anyone yet,” he says.

“We’ll be together the whole time!”
 
“No grocery shopping. Let’s get delivery.”

“Fine,” Taehyung huffs. “But we’re going tomorrow.”

They get out of bed and Taehyung turns on the shower – their rain shower, which Jungkook installed just like Taehyung requested when they got back from the Maldives. And just like requested as well, once they’re clean and free of any cum, they go out back and lie in their hammock.

They’re both half-lying half-sitting in the hammock, their upper bodies held by it with their legs hanging over the side – Taehyung with his feet on the ground to gently swing them. He pulls out his phone and opens the delivery app, then holds it in front of them as he scrolls.

They decide on Jungkook’s favorite place in town – the one with the good samgyeopsal, which Taehyung knew they would end up getting. Once it’s ordered, Taehyung sets his phone aside and turns to look at Jungkook, who’s looking up at the sky. The branches and leaves of the two trees in their backyard that the hammock is tied to don’t quite reach each other above them, allowing them to still watch the sky. Taehyung thinks they’ll probably overlap next summer as they grow over the seasons, but for now, he can see the neverending sea of blue, not a cloud to be found.

Jungkook turns his head to the side and asks, “Are you thinking about whether we won’t be able to see the sky from here next summer?”

Taehyung turns his head to the side with wide eyes, then a just as wide, boxy smile. “Yes,” he says, amazed at how in tune Jungkook always is with every part of him.

“We can trim the branches when it happens if you want?”

“Hmm. Maybe.” He turns his head and looks back up through the trees. “We can figure it out next year.”

“Yeah,” Jungkook says, looking back up at the sky too. “We’ve got time.”

Taehyung remembers another part of the poem, the final half of the last stanza.

—time is a tree(this life one leaf)
but love is the sky and i am for you
just so long and long enough

He thinks about what he said when he asked Jungkook to marry him. That this is their first time loving each other, and that every life hereafter will be spent finding each other again, loving each other again. He looks at the trees, at all the leaves.

He thinks of finding each other again and again and again, falling in love again and again and again. All of their different love stories shown through the leaves of the trees they’ll have in every lifetime. He wonders if they’ll remember each other, if when they meet again, they’ll have a small moment of recognition.

He turns back to Jungkook and kisses his cheek. Jungkook turns to him with a small smile, and Taehyung has to kiss that too.

And as their lips press together, Taehyung knows they’ll recognize each other. Somehow, in some way, they’ll be able to tell that they’ve loved each other before. Taehyung will remember the way Jungkook’s lips feel against his own. The way his voice sounds, the way it feels to have Jungkook’s hand in his. And he knows Jungkook will remember too. 

He’ll think about it more later, maybe in some other life.

Because right now, Jungkook is beside him.

Because right now, Jungkook squeezes his hand and says, “I think the food’s here.”

Because right now, they stand up, and Jungkook bends down and wraps his arms around Taehyung's knees and throws him over his shoulder.

“Jungkook!” Taehyung yells, slapping his ass while Jungkook laughs and walks them across the yard. “I hate it when you do this!”

Because right now, they’re here and in love. Taehyung can hear the rustling of leaves while the gentle breeze passes through, but he can also hear the sound of their giggling as Jungkook carries him inside.