ʜᴇᴀʟ ʏᴏᴜ | taekook ✓

ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ-ɴɪɴᴇ.

The next morning, the first thing Jungkook becomes aware of is the warmth of the sun against his face. The second is the faint sound of movement from the kitchen, accompanied by the soft clatter of utensils. Blinking himself awake, he notices that Taehyung is no longer beside him.

Sitting up, he rubs his eyes and glances around. The room feels strangely quiet without Taehyung's steady presence, and for a moment, Jungkook wonders if last night had been a dream. But the faint, lingering scent of Taehyung's cologne on the blanket wrapped around him tells him otherwise.

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Jungkook stands and stretches, the oversized t-shirt riding up slightly before falling back into place. Padding toward the living room, conjoined with the kitchen, his steps are hesitant, like he's not sure how to face Taehyung after everything that had passed between them the night before.

When Jungkook rounds the corner, he stops in his tracks. Taehyung is standing by the stove, his back turned, wearing loose sweatpants and a snug black t-shirt that clings to his broad shoulders. His hair is slightly messy, strands curling around his ears, and the early sunlight streaming through the window catches on his profile. He is focused, his hand moving rhythmically as he stirs something in a pot.

Jungkook watches him for a moment, something tightening in his chest. Taehyung has always been attractive - Jungkook has known that for a while - but seeing him like this, bathed in soft morning light, there is something intimate about it. Something that makes Jungkook's pulse quicken.

"Morning" Jungkook finally says, his voice a little hoarse from sleep.

Taehyung startles slightly, turning to look over his shoulder. When he sees Jungkook, a warm smile spreads across his face, his eyes softening. "Good morning. Did you sleep okay?"

"Yeah" Jungkook replies, stepping closer to the counter. "Thanks to you." His voice is quiet, but there is a weight to the words, a silent acknowledgment of everything Taehyung had done for him.

Taehyung's smile lingers, but there's a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, something that makes Jungkook's stomach twist. "I'm glad" Taehyung says softly before turning back to the stove. "I hope you're hungry. I made soup."

"You didn't have to do that" Jungkook says, feeling a sudden, inexplicable rush of guilt. "I could've-"

"Don't." Taehyung cuts him off gently, glancing at him again. "I wanted to." He pauses.
"Besides, I like taking care of you."

The words are spoken so simply, so naturally, but they hit Jungkook like a thunderclap.

Jungkook doesn't know how to respond, so he stays quiet, his fingers curling against the edge of the counter as he watches Taehyung ladle the soup into two bowls. Taehyung moves with practiced ease, but there is a certain tension in his shoulders, a subtle stiffness that Jungkook can't ignore.

When Taehyung sets the bowls on the kitchen island, he gestures for Jungkook to sit on the stool beside him around the corner. "Come on," he says with a small smile, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Eat before it gets cold."

Jungkook slides into the chair. The soup smells amazing, steam curling up in delicate tendrils, but Jungkook barely notices. His focus is entirely on Taehyung, who is stirring his spoon idly, his gaze fixed on the bowl in front of him.

"Hyung," Jungkook says after a moment, his voice tentative. "Are you okay?"

Taehyung's eyes snap up to meet his, wide and startled. "What? Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You just seem... distant," Jungkook says, frowning slightly. "Did I... do something wrong?"

Taehyung shakes his head quickly, his expression softening. "No, Jungkook, you didn't do anything wrong. I just-" He hesitates, his fingers tightening around his spoon. "I was thinking about last night. About... you."