Smoke Song

Epilogue: Mission Accomplished

"Tae."

"Yeah?"

"Tae."
"Yeah?"

"Tae."

"Yeah--" Taehyung spun around, eyes going wide as he saw Jungkook. "Kook!"

Jungkook grinned, wrapping his arms around Taehyung. "Tae," he repeated.

Taehyung relaxed, laughing. "Is this your idea of celebrating the truce?" he teased. "Giving me a heart attack?"

"Tae," Jungkook said, laughing and shaking Taehyung. "Tae. Tae. Tae."

"Jeon Jungkook, you will be the death of me!"

Jungkook just laughed and shook his head, resting it against Taehyung's back. Enough people had gotten angry when the music was broadcast that things started to change, slowly but surely. The antis, though still a very real threat, were no longer authorized by the government. Many of them already faced punishment for their crimes, including Soomin. Jungkook was in a very good mood, and being able to pronounce Taehyung's name was just adding to it.

He swayed back and forth as Taehyung struggled to work on his song, laughing and vocalizing to himself. Taehyung didn't question it-- it was routine, after all, one of the things Jungkook always did when they weren't asking him to sing something for a new song. Jungkook played absently with Taehyung's earring, poking him in the back of the head a couple times.

"What, do you want to go out?" Taehyung asked, sweeping an arm over Jungkook's head so he could turn and look at him. "I'm almost finished with this one, I promise."

Jungkook shook his head, smiling to disguise his nerves. He had been hoping he could say one other thing, the phrase he'd been working hard on all week. When Taehyung turned back, he fidgeted, vocalizing a few more bars of the song, and laid his head on Taehyung's back.

"Is something wrong?" Taehyung asked softly.

Jungkook stiffened.

"Sorry," Taehyung said quickly. "You're just... you're acting a little off. Did you have a flashback? Nightmare? Are you feeling sick?"

"No!" Jungkook buried his face in the back of Taehyung's neck, making the older man laugh.

"Alright!" he said. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Love you," Jungkook mumbled.

Taehyung paused. "What?"

"Wuv--Love you!" Jungkook yelped, turning bright red. Why did he have to mess up? He tightened his grip on Taehyung, refusing to move when the elder tried to turn around.

"Hey, let me see you," Taehyung said, gently tapping Jungkook's arms. "I wanna see your face."

Jungkook groaned, shaking his head.

"It's okay if you're embarrassed!" Taehyung said. "Come on. Let me look you in the eyes."

"Love you," Jungkook said, shifting his head so his chin rested on Taehyung's shoulder.

"I love you," Taehyung mumbled back, reaching up and running a hand through Jungkook's hair.

They sat there, swaying back and forth, for a long time. Then Taehyung chuckled, patting Jungkook's hands.

"You really did plan to give me a heart attack!"

"Tae!" Jungkook whined.

"What?" Taehyung groaned in mock exasperation, taking one of Jungkook's hands and placing it on his chest. "Do you feel that? I'm gonna go crazy!"

Jungkook laughed, burying his face in Taehyung's neck. Taehyung's pulse hammered against his fingers, and his heartbeat raced to catch up with it. "Love you," Jungkook said, laughing harder when Taehyung huffed, gently smacking the top of his head.

"I love you more," Taehyung grumbled.

"Tae!" Jungkook shook Taehyung, making vague angry noises into his shoulder. It wasn't fair. Taehyung knew he couldn't manage words he hadn't practiced. Why hadn't he seen this coming?

"Don't fight it," Taehyung said.

"Hmph!" Jungkook poked Taehyung in the sides. "T-ty--try-- try--"

"Try what?" Taehyung turned around, eyes sparkling with laughter.

Jungkook sighed, rolled his eyes, and gave up.