Chapter Text
Taehyung wakes to the feeling of long, shapely fingers running through his hair. His first instinct is to press deeper into the gentle warmth against his back, the steady heartbeat and measured rise and fall that he has come to know so intimately. But then the big, strong hand that had been contentedly tracing its way up and down his thigh falters. The hand resumes its caresses immediately; it’s only the faintest of tremors—but it’s enough. Taehyung swallows, now wide awake. “Jeonggukie, I told you not to let me sleep.”
Jeongguk’s deep chuckle vibrates against Taehyung’s back as Jeongguk presses his smiling lips against Taehyung’s neck. “And I’ve told you many times, give it up already. If I never let you sleep, then I would never be able to see your vulnerable sleeping face.” Jeongguk leans in to place another kiss, right underneath Taehyung’s ear. “Or hear all the cute sounds you make in your sleep.”
Taehyung makes a mildly indignant noise in the back of his throat but doesn’t push the subject any further. Jeongguk’s right—the two of them had held this argument many times over. Instead, Taehyung shifts a little in Jeongguk’s arms, flicking his eyes up to the now blank TV screen. He pouts, “And I was really looking forward to watching that movie, too.”
Jeongguk grins, slowly rising to a sitting position and easily sliding Taehyung into his lap. “We can watch it later, if you want. It was really good, so I don’t mind seeing it again.
“Sure, rub it in some more why don’t you,” Taehyung turns in Jeongguk’s lap to face him, frowning down at him cutely. Taehyung thinks Jeongguk looks perfect like this, his very own piece of Heaven on Earth clad in a worn white t-shirt and black sweatpants. The light peeking in through the crack in their living room curtains dusts Jeongguk’s skin a pastel gold, and Taehyung thinks he would love nothing more to run his hands all over Jeongguk’s gorgeously muscled arms. And the sheer fondness shining in Jeongguk’s eyes as he looks up at Taehyung—it almost keeps Taehyung’s eyes from flicking down to the deep, dark bags under Jeongguk’s eyes. Almost.
The two of them admire each other for a while in a state of peaceful silence, until Taehyung closes his eyes and leans his forehead against Jeongguk’s. “What time is it?” Taehyung asks, voice barely above a whisper.
“Probably around 6:30.”
Taehyung lets out a huge yawn, stretching his arms out before letting them fall to Jeongguk’s shoulders, where he laces his fingers together behind Jeongguk’s neck. Taehyung smiles his signature box smile. “Good morning, Gukkie.”
Jeongguk kisses the tip of Taehyung’s nose. “Morning, babe.”
---
“Are you finished packing, Jeonggukie?” Taehyung calls from where he’s preparing their breakfast in the kitchen.
“Almost,” comes Jeongguk’s reply from their bedroom upstairs. He moves the final stack of neatly folded t-shirts and shorts from the floor into his suitcase before rising and heading to his dresser to gather his accessories. Stifling a yawn, Jeongguk grabs a couple pairs of earrings and a few rings off the dresser’s wooden top. As he looks up into the mirror hanging above the dresser, he tries not to sigh. His skin looks pale and sickly, and his face is visibly gaunt with exhaustion. Eyes downcast, Jeongguk turns to place the trinkets in his suitcase.
Then it hits him.
“Jeonggukie, do you want sausages or bacon?” Taehyung smiles to himself, already reaching into the fridge to pull both out. When the emphatic response of “Both!” fails to come, Taehyung pauses. “Hey Gukkie?”
No response.
Taehyung sprints towards the stairs.
---
Taehyung hears him before he sees him—the sharp, broken gasps tearing through the air stab into Taehyung’s chest, making his heart pound even faster. Racing down the hall, he does his best to keep the panic out of his voice as he calls out, “Jeongguk, I’m coming!”
When Taehyung pushes through the open door of their bedroom, he finds Jeongguk lying on his side on the floor, his body curled up tightly. Taehyung immediately drops down to the floor beside him and pulls Jeongguk’s shaking form flush against his chest, one arm wrapping firmly around Jeongguk’s middle and the other reaching out to find one of Jeongguk’s hands. “Jeonggukie, it’s me, I’m here.” Taehyung speaks softly, gently rocking the pair of them side to side.
Jeongguk leans his head against Taehyung’s shoulder, trying to focus on engulfing himself in Taehyung’s presence. Taehyung leans over to press a kiss to the top of Jeongguk’s head. “Do you want me to sing?” he asks. Jeongguk manages a nod. “Alright, I’ll sing.”
“I put my heart into your hands, here's my soul to keep…” Taehyung croons, knowing the song to be one of Jeongguk’s favorites. By the time Taehyung reaches the final verse, Jeongguk’s breathing has evened out. Jeongguk turns his head to look up at Taehyung, and they finish the song in unison, both smiling and staring deeply into the other’s eyes as they sing, “Oh, you are my everything,” and hoping that the other can hear the sincerity behind the words.
The two sit in silence for a moment. Then Jeongguk tilts his head up to kiss Taehyung’s jaw. “Thank you.”
Taehyung responds with a smile, squeezing Jeongguk’s hand.
Jeongguk stands up, gathering the rings and earrings that had fallen to the floor and tucking them into his suitcase. He turns to look at Taehyung as he says, “Both, by the way.” He offers Taehyung his hand. “I want both.”
Taehyung grins, letting Jeongguk pull him up and lacing their fingers together. Feigning disgust, Taehyung crinkles his nose and replies, “You’re such a pig, Jeonggukie.”
Jeongguk laughs, “Oh am I?”
Taehyung nods fervently before saying, “Yep. Disgusting.”
“That’s it,” Jeongguk huffs. He grabs Taehyung’s squirming form and throws it over his shoulder, carrying and tickling him the rest of the way to the kitchen. And Taehyung, laughing all the while, can’t bring himself to mind at all.