Ties of Fate

Morning After

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow over the villa. Jungkook stirred, blinking against the gentle brightness as he slowly woke up. For a moment, he was disoriented, unsure of where he was, until he felt a warm body pressed against his side.

Taehyung.

The memories of the previous night came rushing back to him in vivid detail—the soft, slow touches, the quiet intimacy they had shared, the way Taehyung had trusted him so fully. Jungkook turned his head, his gaze falling on Taehyung, who was still asleep beside him, his features peaceful and relaxed.

Jungkook couldn't help but smile. In the early morning light, Taehyung looked impossibly soft, his dark hair tousled and his lips slightly parted. His face was nestled against Jungkook’s chest, his hand resting lightly on Jungkook’s stomach. There was a quiet vulnerability in the way he slept, and for a moment, Jungkook just watched him, feeling a swell of warmth in his chest.

Carefully, not wanting to wake him, Jungkook reached out, his fingers brushing gently across Taehyung’s cheek. His skin was warm, soft under Jungkook’s touch, and Jungkook’s heart fluttered at the sight of Taehyung so peaceful, so close.

Taehyung shifted slightly, his nose brushing against Jungkook’s chest as he let out a soft, sleepy sigh. His eyelashes fluttered before he slowly opened his eyes, blinking up at Jungkook with a drowsy, confused expression.

“Morning,” Jungkook whispered, his voice still thick with sleep.

Taehyung blinked a few more times, his brow furrowing as he processed where he was and who he was with. Then, as the memories of the previous night came back to him, a soft blush crept across his cheeks. He averted his eyes, burying his face slightly against Jungkook’s chest.

“M-Morning,” Taehyung mumbled, his voice muffled by the sheets.

Jungkook chuckled softly, his chest rumbling against Taehyung’s cheek. “Are you shy now?”

Taehyung’s blush deepened, and he let out a small, embarrassed sound. “Stop,” he muttered, still hiding his face.

Jungkook found Taehyung’s shyness endearing. He reached down, his fingers tracing light circles along Taehyung’s arm, and leaned in to press a soft kiss to the top of his head. “You don’t need to be shy,” he murmured against Taehyung’s hair. “Not with me.”

Taehyung peeked up at him then, his eyes still sleepy but filled with warmth. “I just… I’m not used to this,” he admitted quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jungkook smiled softly. “Neither am I,” he confessed, his hand still gently running through Taehyung’s hair. “But I like it. I like waking up like this.”

Taehyung’s eyes softened at that, and he shifted slightly, resting his chin on Jungkook’s chest so he could look up at him properly. “I do too,” he whispered.

For a moment, they just lay there, staring at each other in the soft morning light, the warmth of their shared presence filling the room. It was a quiet moment, but it felt significant in a way neither of them could fully explain.

Eventually, Jungkook broke the silence, his voice light with amusement. “So… about last night.”

Taehyung’s eyes widened slightly, and he quickly buried his face back against Jungkook’s chest, his cheeks burning red. “Do we have to talk about that?”

Jungkook laughed, the sound soft and warm. “We don’t have to. But I think you’re cute when you’re embarrassed.”

Taehyung groaned, his hand coming up to weakly swat at Jungkook’s arm. “Stop teasing me…”

Jungkook grinned, his hand slipping down to Taehyung’s waist, where he gave a gentle squeeze. “I’m not teasing. I’m just saying the truth.”

Taehyung let out another groan, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he sighed, his body relaxing against Jungkook’s once more. “You’re impossible,” he mumbled.

Jungkook’s grin softened into something more tender as he ran his hand up and down Taehyung’s back in slow, soothing strokes. “But you like it,” he teased lightly.

Taehyung huffed, but there was no real bite to it. After a moment, he lifted his head again, his gaze meeting Jungkook’s with a seriousness that hadn’t been there before. “Jungkook… last night… it wasn’t just…”

Jungkook’s expression softened, sensing the shift in Taehyung’s mood. He nodded, his hand coming up to cup Taehyung’s cheek. “I know,” he said quietly, his thumb brushing lightly across Taehyung’s skin. “It wasn’t just for fun. It meant something.”

Taehyung’s eyes searched Jungkook’s for a moment, as if looking for confirmation, before he relaxed, his hand coming up to rest over Jungkook’s. “I’m glad,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “Because it meant a lot to me too.”

Jungkook felt his chest tighten at Taehyung’s words, and without thinking, he leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Taehyung’s lips. It wasn’t rushed or passionate—it was slow, gentle, filled with all the things they hadn’t said yet.

When they pulled back, Taehyung’s cheeks were flushed again, but this time, there was a small, content smile on his lips. He snuggled closer to Jungkook, resting his head against his chest once more, and Jungkook wrapped his arms around him, holding him close.

They stayed like that for a long time, neither of them speaking, content to simply bask in the warmth of each other’s presence. The sunlight continued to filter through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft, golden light, and outside, the sound of the ocean waves provided a soothing backdrop.

For the first time in a long time, Jungkook felt at peace. He didn’t know what the future held for them—whether their relationship would continue to grow or if challenges lay ahead—but in this moment, with Taehyung in his arms, nothing else mattered.

All that mattered was that they were here, together. And that was enough.