Fire On Fire [TK]

(7) Never want to go home

"Driving in your car
I never, never want to go home
Because I haven't got one
Anymore"

— There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, The Smiths

❀

— V —

Taehyung stood barefoot in the living room, a bucket full of freshly laundered clothes parked by his feet, their drying rack placed right next to the open windows, the thin curtains fluttering as February exhaled its last breath and March gently stepped in, carrying with it the promise of spring. The air was cool, sharp enough to wake the senses, gentle enough to feel kind. "I wonder if anyone else will join our dorm," Taehyung clipped a damp pair of pants to the rack, humming under his breath. "Jeongguka, do you think—"

"All the time, I am a good thinker hyung," Jeongguk cut in, not even glancing up as he threaded a shirt onto one of the rods.

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Pabo, that's not what I meant. Do you think—"

"Yes I do."

"Will you stop that?" Taehyung clicked his tongue. "I am trying to ask you something."

"Ask away."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He sighed, long and patient. "Okay, so do you think—"

"I do."

Taehyung stared at him, his eyes boring into the smug face of the younger, whose lips were pressed into a line, shoulders suspiciously still, eyes focused very intently on the laundry rack, but the corners of his mouth twitched, betraying him.

Taehyung was simply not amused.

He picked a pair of boxers and lobbed it at Jeongguk's head who ducked effortlessly, the fabric sailing harmlessly past him.

“Ah, hyung,” Jeongguk sighed, straightening. “Such terrible aim.”

Taehyung felt his ears heat. He turned on his heel with a huff, marching toward the door, only to feel warm fingers curl around his wrist, tugging him to a stop mid-stride.

"Hyungnim," Jeongguk chuckled, his eyes crinkling.

"Hajima," Taehyung protested, trying to swat him, though Jeongguk dodged easily but did not let go.

Taehyung tried to focus on being annoyed. On pulling his arm away. On not noticing the warmth of Jeongguk’s grip, or how it sent an unreasonable tingling through his chest, down his spine, pooling somewhere low and dizzying.

“I was just kidding,” Jeongguk said, still holding on.

“No,” Taehyung snapped. “Let go.”

And he had to let Taehyung go, because Jeongguk's grip was getting tighter, and for some unspeakable reason Taehyung's heart was beating faster and it made no sense because Jeongguk was holding on to him for fun and Taehyung's stomach was swaying like the Black Pearl caught in an Atlantic storm and that was boggling his mind enough to cause a fucking headache.

Taehyung was not above using expletives, he was about to be adult.

"Ah Hyungie," Jeongguk whined softly, making Taehyung stop in his tracks. "Mianhae."

Dear God, how was he supposed to say no to those eyes?

"Ani." Taehyung was braver than he let on.

"Ah, hyung, don't be mad, I'll do whatever you want."