Stuck With You [Taekook ff]

53 | Wherever That Might Be

A/N:
Thanks for 8K! After this chapter, there are around 13 more to go!

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The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains of their villa in Santorini, the slight breeze also visiting, causing the fragrance of the candles the two had lit at the pool the night before to fill the small space.

Taehyung woke first, his body still relaxed from the night they had shared. He glanced over at Jungkook, who lay peacefully beside him, his dark hair tousled against the white pillow, his now—permanent scar resting on his left cheek. It should have felt like a perfect moment—a continuation of the intimacy they'd experienced just hours ago. Instead, it felt like a fragile pause, a brief moment of peace before the weight of reality set in again.

Taehyung sat up quietly, careful not to wake Jungkook, his mind already racing. Last night had been beautiful, a reminder of what they were, but it was tinged with a bittersweet undercurrent. They had both learned that they weren't legally married—a revelation that had shaken the foundation of what Taehyung thought could turn into something.

Now, in the morning light, the question that hung between them was impossible to ignore: What would happen after all of this? Would they still want to be together or would they decide to go separate ways? He rubbed his eyes, trying to push the thought away, but it lingered, making his chest feel tight.

Jungkook stirred beside him, blinking against the sunlight. When their eyes met, there was a moment of unspoken understanding. Both of them knew they couldn't just pretend everything was fine. Jungkook offered a small smile, the kind that didn't quite reach his eyes, before sitting up as well. "Morning," he said softly, his voice still raspy from sleep.

"Morning," Taehyung replied, his smile equally tentative. "Did the cream and the aspirin help? You're not in any pain are you?"

Rubbing his eyes, Jungkook responded. "I feel okay. Usually, my ass feels broken and my back hurts, but I guess the painkillers and the ointment worked." This conversation felt out of place somehow.

The room felt different—emptier, despite their closeness. As they got out of bed, the playful banter that usually filled their mornings was absent, replaced by a quiet efficiency. They had only indulged themselves in small talk. It was as though they had slipped into business mode as if last night had been a dream they were now waking from.

Taehyung watched as Jungkook moved around the room, pulling on clothes and checking his phone. The easy intimacy they'd shared only hours ago felt distant, overshadowed by the uncertainty of their future. But he couldn't help but recite their declarations in his head from some time ago.

You know I'm falling for you, right? Married or not.

Good, because I've already fallen for you.

Taehyung didn't bring it up but wondered if Jungkook was thinking the same things. Was he also perplexed about their future? He'd find out at a later date. This morning, they had business to tend to. They were expecting a delivery.

They both knew they had things to deal with—Gerard Benson's files to sort through, secrets to uncover—but in the back of their minds, the question of "us" loomed larger than ever. Would they stay together once all the drama was over? Could they rebuild what had been broken by the fake marriage, or was this just a fleeting moment in an otherwise complicated story? Neither of them had the answer, but the weight of those questions hung between them like a shadow, coloring everything they did. But they had to move forward.

Taehyung silently thanked God for AmazonGlobal. Yoongi had ordered a couple of desktop computers for them before they even got on the plane to Santorini. And they were all set to be delivered. The computers would be essential for going through Gerard's files stored on the external drives.