him | taekook

chapter 12

04:39 a.m

"What are you doing up?" Jungkook's voice is a caress in the middle of the night, a soft whisper that catches Taehyung completely off guard. He doesn't turn around, doesn't trust himself to stare at the younger's soft, vulnerable, barely awake eyes and not melt to the floor. He has as little self-control as he used to back in high school, regardless of how he feels about Jungkook right now (a big, fat ball of messy, jumbled up emotions he can't even begin to comprehend).

"Jimin and Yoongi are outside," he replies, eyes narrowed towards the window. The beach looks windy from the inside, the air moving the trees, making their leaves and branches sway to the sweet rhythm of a silent song that holds a thousand unspoken promises. And there, right in the middle of such a peaceful scene are his best friend and that other boy sitting down; two shadows amongst shadows, their voices carrying through the night sky.

"But it's cold out there...what are they doing?" Jungkook asks, his voice nigher now. Tae pretends he can't feel the warmth emanating from his body, pretends he can't imagine how much closer the other is, pretends the intimacy of the moment doesn't rise goosebumps on his arms.

"Talking," he shrugs, wanting to end the conversation already. But then, almost as an afterthought he adds, "I hope I did well in telling him about Jimin..."

He doesn't know why he voices a fear like that, so easily as if they were old friends. In a way, they are. Taehyung used to tell Jungkook a lot of things.

They were in the library. Even after high school had ended, they'd still found another library in their college to see each other. Taehyung pretended he went every Monday night just to study, but he actually did because he knew Jungkook would be there (he'd seen him once passing by and then the following week, nose buried deep in a book as he studied). And Jungkook would invite Taehyung over to his table every time. After a while, it became a bit of a routine for both; to meet up there, to find solace in one another as they opened their books but read only a few sentences before one struck up some sort of conversation. The library used to be deserted by ten p.m, and that's when they would find themselves whispering and laughing and talking about anything at all.

"What is it you love about Law so much, anyway?" Taehyung asked once when Jungkook was sitting right beside him, cheek pressed against the table. He was sleepy, eyes blinking slowly, and it was the cutest thing Tae had ever seen.

"Justice is just so..." he yawned, and it was adorable. Or perhaps Taehyung was a bit biased. "I don't know, it feels right? To defend people and make sure things that should be a given are done correctly..." he closed his eyes then, eyelashes soft against his cheekbones. "...it's also so relaxing, all the laws..."

"Laws relax you?" Taehyung laughed, surprised as he leaned against the table just like Jungkook, feeling brave since the younger wasn't able to see him. They were so close he could smell his perfume.

Jungkook smiled then, lazily. "They control things. I like control."

"Guess you do have a point there," he whispered back, eyes shutting close as well as he too relaxed, Jungkook's voice soothing and calm as they both fell asleep.

"You probably did," Jungkook says now, bringing Taehyung out of his stupor. He turns to find the younger already standing by his side, voice so much closer to his ears. His eyes aren't focused in the window quite like Taehyung's though. "Are you okay?"

"Sure. Why are you awake?"

"Heard sounds."

"Right."

"Want some hot cocoa?"

Taehyung turns fully around then, letting his eyes travel through Jungkook, drinking him in. He is wearing a loose white shirt and dark sweatpants, hair a bit ruffled and eyes slightly shiny. He looks absolutely adorable and Tae has the sudden urge to kiss his tender cheeks.