The A.I

Chapter 3

"Welcome home Jeonggukie." Taehyung feels a wide smile spread as he takes in the smile the taller sends. It's one of his favorite smiles, the one that causes his nose to scrunch up and creates lines at the corner of his beautiful eyes. It's always a loss when the lines don't stay for more than a couple seconds before smoothing out once again, leaving no trace.

"Are you alright?" Taehyung looks up from Jeongguk's chest, taking in the questioning gaze. He can feel his head buzzing, just a low hum reminding him of a buzzing bee. It's pleasant almost, pushing out previous worries laying heavy on his mind. The white-blue rings in his eyes are hypnotic, almost as if they're beckoning him with promises of comfort and warmth and an undercurrent of something he can't place. It takes a moment to realize Jeongguk is still talking, arms loosening their hold.

The warm arms pull back and Taehyung mourns their loss as the cold of the lab creeps under his clothes. "Tae? Did you two have a fight again?" At that, Taehyung shifts his gaze, embarrassment and upset heating his face.

"How'd you guess?" Taehyung pulls away with a sigh, staring over Jeongguk's shoulder to watch their friends. Jimin has Yoongi laying down with his forearm exposed, tinkling with some wires while Seokjin is sitting on the couch, probably drinking his favorite tea, while Hoseok takes notes on his tablet.

"I heard you on the phone." As much as he wants to be upset at the invasion of privacy, he can't.

"Ah, yes. Your super hearing." Jeongguk looks sheepish, hand coming up to tug on his hair. An odd gesture he's picked up from Jimin whenever he's nervous or frustrated. Taehyung shifts his gaze, watching the way his synthetic muscles shift and bulge in his bicep.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. Honestly." Taehyung doesn't say anything. The slight ache behind his temple is coming back from this morning. He hates this. Hates fighting with Chris, being the one to constantly instigate him. Maybe he should ditch the party tonight. Or maybe he can attend for an hour and then leave after showing his face. The hand not holding his phone comes up to rub his temple, hoping to soothe the pain.

"It's okay. I know you can't help it." He feels Jeongguk's fingers run through his hair and he almost falls into his chest at the soothing touch. Taehyung's eyes flutter shut at the pleasant feeling of strong fingers gently removing the knots in his hair. He's almost purring, content sighs leaving his lips. The slight ache is pushed back, easing until it's all but gone from his brain and after the stressful day he's had, he's content to stand like this for a long time. However, the content feeling is soon replaced with disappointment. In himself. He's running away again. Using his time at the lab as an excuse to avoid dealing with his relationship.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Taehyung opens his mouth, the words on the tip of his tongue but he stops. He really should stop worrying others with his problems. Shaking his head, he regretfully pulls away from the soothing touch, taking a few steps back.

"No, it's nothing. I messed up and upset Chris. But I'll make it up to him. I always do." The ocean blue eyes darken slightly, irises almost flashing with what Taehyung doesn't know. But the look passes so fast Taehyung's pretty sure he imagined it. He must be more tired than he thought. Taehyung steps past Jeongguk, only to stop when his hand is gently caught. He looks towards the taller in confusion and waits. Jeongguk looks like he wants to say something, but eventually just shakes his head and lets go. Sending a puzzled glance his way, Taehyung walks over to his desk, waiting for him to jump up on the operating table.

There's a peaceful silence between them, with Jeongguk watching Taehyung set everything up. The brunette double checks all the wires are connected properly and the fuel processor is finished rendering before turning around to ask Jeongguk to remove his turtle neck only to see him already shirtless. No matter how many times he's seen his body, it always makes him nervous. There's really no reason for the feelings, especially considering he helped built the sturdy form. And yet his eyes linger. What can he say, Taehyung is a sucker for defined bodies and defined is definitely what Jeongguk is. For a machine Jeongguk is hott, all of the pipers are.