Us, Against The World | Taekook

12. Snow Fight.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.

"I can't believe I stood here for almost an hour waiting for you-an hour! Sixty minutes!!!" Taehyung exclaimed, his voice rising with each word as he glared at Jungkook. The younger boy stared back with wide, guilty eyes, looking every bit like a deer caught in headlights.

Jungkook blinked, fumbling over his words. "Ah... sorry. I was dancing and lost track of time... I didn't mean to... just, sorry, hyung."

Taehyung held his glare for a moment longer before his frustration melted away with a sigh. His shoulders dropped, and a small pout tugged at his lips as he mumbled, "It's okay."

Jungkook shifted on his feet, glancing around before speaking again, his voice small. "So... can we go to the sauna now?"

Taehyung let out an exasperated groan, shaking his head as he started walking. "That's the whole reason I've been standing out here in the freezing cold, you brat!" He adjusted the strap of his bag higher on his shoulder and marched ahead, muttering under his breath.

As Taehyung trudged forward, Jungkook jogged up to his side, clutching his own bag and peering at the older boy with a sheepish grin.

"You didn't have to wait for me, you know," Jungkook said softly, glancing down at his feet as they walked.

Taehyung scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, and then what? Let you wander into the cold all alone like a lost puppy? No way. I promised,Didn't I?"

Jungkook's grin widened, his earlier guilt replaced by warmth. "Hyung, you're really nice sometimes."

"Sometimes?" Taehyung stopped mid-step, spinning on his heel to glare at him, though his tone betrayed a hint of playfulness. "Only sometimes? I stood here freezing for an hour, and I just get 'sometimes'?"

Jungkook bit back a laugh and nudged Taehyung's shoulder lightly. "Okay, okay. All the time."

"That's better," Taehyung mumbled, a small smile creeping onto his face as they resumed walking side by side.

The cold night air stung their cheeks, but the warmth of their shared banter made it bearable. As they neared the sauna, Jungkook broke the silence again.

"Hyung?"

"Hmm?"

"You are really nice... Thank you for taking me"

Taehyung glanced at him, startled by the sudden confession, but his lips quirked into a smile. "Yeah? Well, don't make me wait an hour next time, and maybe I'll keep taking you."

"Deal," Jungkook said with a grin, and for a moment, the night didn't feel so cold anymore.

After signing in and collecting their towels, Taehyung and Jungkook headed to the changing room. They turned their backs to each other as they changed, slipping into shorts beneath their towels. A second towel rested around their shoulders as they finished up.

That's when it hit Jungkook. While he'd managed to shed some of his shyness over time, there were still things that made him hesitate. Sure, he could now change clothes in front of his hyungs-well, with his back turned-and he always did it quickly. But now, he was about to sit in a sauna room with Taehyung. Shirtless.

It wasn't just anyone. It was Taehyung-the same person who'd helped him overcome some of his insecurities. Taehyung had been the one to gently push him out of his habit of late-night showers, pointing out how they affected his health and vocals. We're family, Taehyung had said. It's okay to shower with the members around. Take your time. Jungkook remembered those words and how they'd slowly chipped away at his reluctance.