051221. jungkook & taehyung.

[lovestrippedbare]

true to his word, jungkook shows up ten minutes later, a little sweaty and breathless but otherwise no worse for wear. he peeks inside the train car. tries to catch tae's attention with a wave.

sitting up in the corner of the car, curled up instead of clinging to namjoon like normal. he looks up and waves a little.

hi

how are two syllables so shaky, even when he's whispering them? ugh.

he's tempted to climb in and give tae a hug. but. namjoon's in the car as well, and somehow jungkook thinks that might be making tae swallow down more of his sadness, and it feels like it'd be easier to let it all out in the open air. so he whispers instead.

come out here?

he nods and clambers as quietly as he can from the mattress, looking back at namjoon for just for a moment before he exits the car, closing the door as much as he can without making too much noise.

hi

hey.

tae's the taller of the two, but right now he feels - small. jungkook doesn't hesitate, instead smoothly reaching out with both arms to pull into a hug.

he leans his head against jungkook's, returning the hug instantly because it's what he needed. he soaks in it, draws it out, and takes in, lets out a relieved sigh.

there are moments when the air feels charged between them. tense. they never really talked about the way they shifted after yoongi's return. but right now, jungkook pushes past that, pressing a kiss to tae's temple and lifting one hand to massage his fingertips against tae's head.

it's gonna be okay.

this feels better. not perfect, but better. he closes his eyes and lingers, the hug tightening before he just leans into jungkook entirely.

he wants to cry. to say 'no, it's not.'

yeah.

there's a certain irreverence in the way that tae carries himself sometimes, but jungkook knows better. knows that taehyung is much more likely to care too much, rather than too little. as soon as jungkook feels taehyung brace his weight wholly against him, jungkook wraps his arms more tightly around his hyung.

it's hard to know what to say, so jungkook remains silent, fingers gently carding through taehyung's hair.

he laughs, softly, before untangling himself from jungkook, gaze sliding off to the side. he reaches out with one hand to take gguk's, and just tugs lightly.

...stay for a bit? or we can go out?

jungkook's gaze follows taehyung's out of instinct, then drops down to their hands, where he gives taehyung's a reassuring squeeze.

yeah, i'll stay. mm... somewhere you wanna go? or we can tag more around the back of the car.

let's just. gestures i don't want to go far.

though jungkook made the offer, something tells him that taehyung's probably not in the best frame of mind to be creative. so instead of rounding the train car, jungkook tugs him slightly towards the tracks, hopping onto one of the rails and grasping taehyung's hand more tightly to balance himself.

where do you think these tracks go?

he lets jungkook lead him, not even really noticing that they're not going toward the back and holding onto his hand as he walks. he's running on autopilot anyway.

mm. i dunno. probably nowhere anyone wants to go. since the car's always here.

sometimes those are the best places, though. just forgotten.

jungkook peers at taehyung while continuing to walk the rail, then hops off and brushes his free hand idly through taehyung's hair.

sometimes. sometimes they're supposed to stay gone. just depends on the place.

he shrugs, but tilts his head for jungkook's hand, humming

i'm your hyung but you're hyung-ing.

jungkook smiles, wide and playful.

you're still taller than me, though. ruins the illusion.

he pushes himself up onto his toes, sweeping fingers through taehyung's hair, slow and steady.

one day you may be taller than me! and then you'll really look like my hyung.

he watches him fondly, tilting his head.

i wish it was simple for me like it is for you.

jungkook meets taehyung's gaze for a moment, then lowers his own, lingering instead on the birth mark on taehyung's nose.

only being with one person?

he nods. doesn't miss the way jungkook is staring at his nose, but knows better than to say.

mmhm.

is it simpler? probably. but for some reason, jungkook's chest aches.

sometimes i wish i was more like hyung, though.

jungkookie always wants to be more like one of his hyungs. but you're doing fine yourself, you know.

he smiles a little. runs his hand through jungkook's hair like he did to him.

jungkook closes his eyes, focusing on the feel of taehyung's fingers.

mm. i'm just saying... tae's perfect the way you are.

that just makes him laugh

jungkook opens his eyes, lower lip pouting with a frown.

ah. don't.

he taps jungkook's chin lightly.

i.. thanks for coming.

jungkook shakes his head. there's no need to thank him.

you're my best friend.

because you have good taste!

he brightens again and tugs jungkook's hand.

don't you leave either.

either? jungkook files that thought away for later, letting taehyung lead him along.

as if i would. you'd have to work to get rid of me.

some days i want to try hard! but not tonight. tonight i would have been sad without jungkookie.

some days you want to - yah.

jungkook picks up the pace, closing the distance between them with a couple large steps, and drapes himself all over tae's shoulders. not unlike an octopus.

ah! see? this is why! how am i supposed to get you off??

he laughs despite himself, hands going up to jungkook's forearms as if he's going to try and move him. but he doesn't.

he hops, bracketing tae's hips with his knees and giving himself enough lift to lean in and bite the shell of taehyung's ear.

hyung's strong enough to carry me. you've got all those arm muscles from carrying dubu around.

taehyung's hands immediately go under jungkook's knees to keep him steady and he makes a point of staggering - which doesn't take too much pretending. he grimaces dramatically at the bite, letting out an anguished sound even though he isn't actually trying to get jungkook off his back.

i'm strong. but jungkookie is getting big! and i don't carry dubu as much as you..

now that he's fully in piggyback, jungkook hooks his chin on tae's shoulder, relaxing against his hyung. he'll probably have to get off soon. tae doesn't work out as much as he does.

you're dubu's dad! how are you not the one who carries him the most?

because he walks!

he scoots jungkook up his back and starts walking down the middle of the tracks.

if we end up in some backwater town like hobos, this wasn't my idea.

but he's so cute, and sometimes he looks at you like he just wants to be carried and cuddled...

jungkook nudges his nose against taehyung's neck.

we'd be the hottest hobos in town.

i think that's what you want.

he laughs, jumping a little to shimmy jungkook up his back to make his point.

do you think people would give us money? because we're hot?

you like cuddles too! all those times i woke up with you sprawled all over me.

he narrows his eyes, contemplating.

...we're probably too young for handouts, hot or not. they'd probably yell at us to go to school.

but not being carried!

he shifts jungkook on his back. god, he's getting big.

we went to school! and we're also exceptionally good looking. and your eyes get all round and hopeful, who could say no?

bullshit. want me to carry you instead? see for yourself if you like it.

he shimmies, urging taehyung to let him down.

if our good looks were that powerful, the teachers wouldn't've given us such a hard time. especially hyung. your eyes are the biggest.

yes. my arms are falling off.

he lets go of jungkook's legs unceremoniously and leans so he can slide down his back.

they are. but they don't get me out of trouble!

probably because you're better at looking like you want to get people into trouble.

once on the ground, jungkook turns around and crouches, gesturing for taehyung to hop on.

trouble is more fun.

he jumps up, flinging his arms and legs around jungkook without waiting.

with a small grunt, jungkook quickly grabs hold, then straightens and makes a little hop to shift taehyung fully into place.

with you, maybe.

he turns around again, following the tracks.

of course with me. getting into trouble with jungkookie is some of the most fun.

he laughs a little, then leans in to blow a raspberry against the back of jungkook's neck.

aish!

jungkook's shoulders hunch up around his ears, but he doesn't let go - if anything, he holds more tightly onto taehyung, making sure not to drop him.

...yeah. getting into trouble with tae is the best.

he smiles, pulling one hand slightly away to give taehyung a sharp spank.

taehyung jumps, then cackles, wrapping himself around jungkook more tightly and pressing his forehead to the back of his neck.

i'm in a perfect position to choke you, you know.

he keeps his steps light and bouncy, grinning as he goes.

breathplay? i hadn't pegged you for the type.

but you thought i'd be into spanking?

taehyung snickers, resting his chin on jungkook's shoulder.

he considers for a moment, brows raising as he purses his lips.

yes.

what makes you think-

he just giggles more, pressing his forehead to the side of jungkook's hair, nose pressed to his cheekbone.

well. you'll never know!

this answer is a simple one.

park jimin-ssi. duh.

jungkook glances to the side with a grin.

i'd know if you just told me. or is all this now considered tmi?

um, anyone would like spanking if they were with park jimin. and that's not getting spanked.

he grins, though the expression falters just a hint at the question, his tone still light.

nothing is tmi. it's you.

he notices the change in expression. it makes his chest ache, and the smile on his lips sobers a touch.

good.

mm.

he should say something. they should talk about it.

...what is it with you and chim's ass, anyway?

laughing is easier.

jungkook narrows his eyes, cheeks puffing slightly.

ever since jimin hyung told me i had no ass...

you have an ass! i like your ass.

he pokes one of jungkook's cheeks when he puffs them out, laughing and leaning more heavily on jungkook's shoulders.

is this why you work out? and that was so long ago..

but you like jimin's ass better, right?

jungkook spits air out between his lips as tae pokes, then chuckles in response to tae's laughter. he's always liked it when taehyung laughs like this.

and nah, i work out because... it feels good to tire my body out, i guess. to push myself to my limits and see how far i can go.

i have eyes, jeon jungkook.

taehyung looks down toward his thighs where jungkook is holding to keep him up.

like if you can carry me all the way to busan?

jungkook shakes his head.

and you wonder why i have an ass complex.

he looks over his shoulder, smiling again.

you wanna go to busan with me?

i'd go to busan with your flat ass.

he snorts. for a few seconds, there's silence.

tae?

hm.

you know how you say that jimin hyung's your soulmate?

mmhm.

i used to be really jealous of that, before yoongi. and then i think i started to understand. it's like - no matter what happens, no matter how we're reborn, you're meant to be together, right? you just... fit.

he nods, leaning his head over jungkook's shoulder a little more to watch him.

but no, he isn't getting down.

jungkook almost turns to look at taehyung. almost.

but when i talked to namjoon hyung about love... he talked how sometimes it's just different, how you love people. you can't really compare them. when they were gone, i thought a lot about that.

he tilts his head, brow furrowing.

and then i realized, tae's just as important to me. when i'm with you, i feel glad that i was born as jeon jungkook. because it means i got to meet you.

taehyung stays quiet for a moment. lets that sink in. he smiles, then reaches up to stroke jungkook's hair before mussing it fondly.

i love you too, jungkookie.

jungkook beams - nose scrunched, breathless laughter. not many people get to see him like this.

love you more.

because everything's a competition.

taehyung is lucky. he sees this all the time, and it's one of favorite things about jungkook. not that he'd ever tell. instead, he groans, rolling his eyes and starting to wrap his arm around jungkook's neck as he holds back laughter.

take it back!

for the moment, at least, he's forgotten why jungkook came to see him in the first place.

with an exaggerated stagger, jungkook feigns being choked and leans back, as though threatening to drop taehyung.

never!

he yells in heavily accented english. just 'cause.

taehyung's shoulders hunch and he just grips around jungkook more tightly when he leans, his play yell dissolving into laughter.

yahyahyah don't drop me-

baring his teeth, jungkook leans a little further and jiggles his body - but straightens himself shortly after, grunting as he hefts taehyung back into place with a hop.

you're lucky we're not by the water.

you would do that to me in the middle of the night, aigoo.

he rests his chin on jungkook's shoulder once things have settled and hums.

jungkook raises his chin in the air.

need i remind you that you were the one choking me?

he glances over at taehyung as best he can, craning his neck to press a peck to the tip of taehyung's nose.

choking is temporary. being wet is all night.

he makes a face, but then scrunches his nose to hold back a smile at the peck.

i'd lend you my hoodie. and the weather's warm.