Collision of Verdicts

Comfort and Laughter

The soft glow of the city lights filtered into Jungkook’s penthouse as he and Taehyung sat together in silence. The weight of the day, the threats, and the unspoken fear lingered in the air, thick and suffocating. Taehyung sat on the edge of the bed, his mind racing, replaying the events of the past few days. He tried to distract himself, flipping through case files, but the knot in his chest wouldn’t loosen.

Jungkook could sense the tension in Taehyung’s body, the way his eyes darted between papers and the clock, unable to settle. With a soft sigh, Jungkook sat beside him, his shoulder brushing Taehyung’s gently. “You’re not doing yourself any favors stressing like this,” Jungkook said softly.

Taehyung gave a small, tired smile but didn’t respond. He wasn’t sure what to say—how to explain the tightness in his chest or the constant buzzing in his head. The feeling of being watched, of being in danger, lingered despite the safety of Jungkook’s home.

After a few moments of quiet, Jungkook spoke again, this time more hesitantly. “You know… cuddling helps with anxiety,” he suggested with a playful glint in his eye, his lips quirking into a smile. “I mean, if you’re into that sort of thing.”

Taehyung blinked, taken aback by the suggestion, but then his smile widened as he looked at Jungkook. “You want to cuddle with me, Mr. Tough Lawyer?” There was a light tease in his voice, but there was also a hint of vulnerability beneath it.

Jungkook shrugged, his grin growing wider. “Hey, I’m not against using scientifically proven methods of comfort. Plus, you could use a hug right now.”

Taehyung looked at him for a long moment before giving a small nod. He felt the warmth of Jungkook’s hand reaching out, pulling him closer until they were both lying on the bed, arms wrapped around each other. Jungkook’s chest was solid and reassuring, the steady rise and fall of his breathing providing an unexpected sense of calm.

They lay there for a while, in silence. Taehyung’s head rested against Jungkook’s shoulder, his worries slowly fading in the warmth of the embrace. Jungkook's fingers absentmindedly stroked through Taehyung’s soft hair, and the soothing touch made Taehyung’s eyelids grow heavier.

“You know,” Jungkook began, his voice a gentle murmur in the quiet, “the first time I got a threat on a case, I freaked out.”

Taehyung turned slightly, raising an eyebrow. “You? Freak out? That’s hard to believe.”

Jungkook laughed, a deep, low chuckle that rumbled through his chest. “Oh, trust me. I wasn’t as smooth back then as I am now. I was convinced they were going to come after me the minute I left the office.” He paused, looking up at the ceiling with a grin. “So, what did I do? I decided to stay at the office for three days straight, like some kind of lawyering Superman.”

Taehyung giggled, his fingers clutching Jungkook’s shirt a little tighter. “Wait, for real? You stayed at the office?”

“Yup,” Jungkook said, clearly amused by the memory. “I was convinced that if I just worked non-stop, they wouldn’t have a chance to get me. I had energy drinks stacked up on my desk, and I even brought a sleeping bag.”

Taehyung’s soft laughter filled the room. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I know! It’s totally ridiculous,” Jungkook agreed, laughing along with him. “But the funniest part? My senior attorney found me on the third day and dragged me home like a kid being caught playing video games all night.”

By now, Taehyung was in a fit of giggles, the sound light and melodic. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he buried his face in Jungkook’s chest. “I can’t believe that actually happened.”

Jungkook grinned, his heart swelling at the sound of Taehyung’s laughter. “True story. I thought I was invincible. Turns out, no one’s invincible after three days without sleep and a diet of energy drinks.”

The laughter between them gradually faded, leaving behind a sense of warmth and contentment. Taehyung’s eyes were half-closed now, his body fully relaxed for the first time in days. Jungkook looked down at him, his smile softening. He couldn’t help but feel protective in that moment, knowing how hard Taehyung worked and how much this case had taken from him.

“You feeling better now?” Jungkook asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Taehyung nodded sleepily, his words slurred with exhaustion. “Yeah... thanks, Kook.”

Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat at the way Taehyung said his name, soft and affectionate. He leaned down slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to Taehyung’s forehead. “Goodnight, Tae,” he whispered, his breath warm against Taehyung’s skin. “You’re safe here. I promise.”

With that, Taehyung’s eyes fluttered shut, and within moments, he was fast asleep, the day’s exhaustion finally catching up to him. Jungkook held him close, feeling a sense of peace he hadn’t felt in a long time.

---

The next morning, they arrived at the office together, both feeling oddly refreshed despite the events of the previous night. As they walked through the front doors, arm in arm, they were met with knowing glances from their colleagues.

Jimin, who was standing at the coffee machine, raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Well, well, look who decided to show up together.”

Yoongi, standing beside him, gave a small snort of amusement. “You two look... cozy,” he commented dryly.

Taehyung blushed slightly, but Jungkook just grinned. “What can I say? We had a long night.” He winked, causing Jimin to burst out laughing and Taehyung to playfully shove him.

“Don’t make it sound like something it wasn’t,” Taehyung muttered, though the teasing lilt in his voice gave him away.

Beomgyu and Yeonjun soon joined the conversation, both of them exchanging amused looks. “Oh, this is going to be fun,” Beomgyu whispered to Yeonjun, who nodded in agreement, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

Despite the teasing, neither Jungkook nor Taehyung seemed to mind. In fact, they found themselves smiling more often than not, exchanging glances that carried a new understanding. There was something about the way they had shared the previous night that had shifted things between them, making the teasing feel more like a game than anything serious.

As they settled into their desks and got back to work, Taehyung couldn’t help but glance at Jungkook from time to time, a small smile playing on his lips. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to fall into place.

And despite everything—the threats, the tension, the uncertainty—Taehyung realized that with Jungkook by his side, he felt like he could handle anything.