Fateful Alliance ∞

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That evening, Jungkook sat cross-legged on the couch in the living room, his laptop balanced on his knees as he worked on his latest story. The soft clacking of the keyboard filled the quiet space, blending with the faint hum of the TV in the background where Beomgyu lounged, flipping through channels.

The sudden chime of the doorbell broke the stillness. Jungkook's fingers paused mid-sentence, and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, a warmth spreading through his chest. He knew who it was. Setting his laptop aside, he quickly rose to his feet, his excitement evident in the way he nearly tripped over the coffee table on his way to the door.

Beomgyu glanced over, smirking. "Wow, you're like a puppy waiting for its owner to come home."

Jungkook shot him a playful glare but didn't respond, his focus already on the door. Pulling it open, his heart fluttered at the sight of Taehyung standing there, his tie slightly loosened, his hair slightly tousled from the day. Despite the long hours, Taehyung's face lit up the moment their eyes met.

"Hey," Taehyung murmured, his voice soft and warm.

"Hey," Jungkook replied, his shy smile blooming as his cheeks turned pink.

For a moment, they just stood there, drinking each other in. Jungkook's hand lingered on the doorknob as Taehyung stepped forward, bridging the small gap between them.

"You didn't have to wait by the door," Taehyung teased, though his eyes gleamed with affection.

"I wasn't waiting," Jungkook mumbled, though the slight pink on his cheeks gave him away. He stepped aside to let Taehyung in, his fingers brushing lightly against Taehyung's arm as he passed. The simple touch sent a soft warmth through both of them, though neither said anything about it.

As they walked into the living room, Jungkook turned to him, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear. "Are you hungry?"

Taehyung shook his head, his lips curling into a faint smile. "Not really. Just tired."

"Okay," Jungkook murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

After a quick trip to freshen up, Taehyung returned, his tie gone and his shirt sleeves rolled up. He settled onto the couch beside Jungkook, the space between them small but deliberate. Beomgyu was still sprawled on the other end, engrossed in the movie playing on the screen. Taehyung tried to follow along, his gaze flickering to the TV, but his hand gravitated naturally toward Jungkook's.

Jungkook, meanwhile, was typing away on his laptop, the glow of the screen reflecting in his eyes. His fingers paused mid-sentence, aware of Taehyung's presence and the proximity of their hands. His heart did a little flip, but he didn't look up, afraid his face would betray just how much he noticed Taehyung's closeness.

Without thinking too much, Taehyung shifted slightly, letting his pinky brush lightly against Jungkook's. It was subtle, tentative, but intentional. Jungkook stilled for a moment before his lips curved into a small, shy smile. He didn't pull away. Instead, he let his pinky curl around Taehyung's in a quiet acknowledgment of the gesture.

Time passed, and Jungkook remained absorbed in his story, fingers typing away, while his pinky stayed gently entwined with Taehyung's. The comfort of their closeness settled between them like a quiet promise, unspoken but understood.

Then, the sound of footsteps approached from the hallway. Jungkook looked up just in time to see Taehyung's father and grandmother enter the living room, both greeting them with warm smiles.

Jungkook's heart skipped a beat, and he felt the familiar rush of shyness flooding his chest. His fingers immediately began to pull away from Taehyung's, but Taehyung's grip tightened ever so slightly, keeping their hands together.