Taekook/Vkook Oneshots [✔]

Financial Issues

     Jeongguk heard the doorbell ring. He raised an eyebrow, wondering if Jimin, who had left an hour ago, had forgotten something. Surely no one else would've been out and driving in this weather and at this time of night.

     Flurries whistled past his window. He stood from his place on the couch to close the curtains,  pausing the horror movie he was watching. Making his way to the front door, he shivered at the feeling of his bare feet on the cold wood.

     He flicked on his porch lights and leaned over to look out the side windows. To his surprise, it was Taehyung who stood shivering at his front door, hands shoved deep into his pockets, kicking snow off his boots. Jeongguk opened the door, flicking the lights off again. 

     "Tae, what are you doing here?" He asked, pulling the boy inside and closing out the cold.

     He let Taehyung hang onto his arm for balance as he removed his boots.

     "I'm sorry for s-showing up at this time," he said, shivering, "but my p-power went o-out and my car wouldn't st-start and I was so col-ld."

     "You mean you walked here?" Jeongguk asked, removing Taehyung's wet jacket. 

     "It's not that far," Taehyung replied lightly, though clearly still shivering.

     Jeongguk hung the jacket on the coat rack to dry. He clicked his tongue, knowing exactly how far it was.

     "Go grab yourself a pair of pajamas and take a hot shower. I'll be in my room with hot chocolate when you get out," he promised. Taehyung nodded gratefully, though he looked a bit guilty. Before he could disappear upstairs, Jeongguk pulled him close. "And I want to be very clear about something. Don't you ever be afraid to come to me when you need to. I will always be here for you. You understand?"

     Taehyung nodded, a light blush spreading across his cheeks. He gave Jeongguk a quick hug before running upstairs. Jeongguk watched him go.

~

     Jeongguk set a cup of hot chocolate on the nightstand of Taehyung's side of the bed, then the other on his side. He flicked on the fairy lights that lined the bottom of his bed, casting a warm glow across the floor, then flicked off the overhead lights. He sat on his side of the bed to wait for Taehyung's arrival.

     It didn't take long for Taehyung to slip into the room, smiling softly when Jeongguk outstretched his arms. He climbed under the covers, allowing Jeongguk to pull him onto his lap. They sipped their hot chocolate in content silence for a while until Jeongguk set his down again to speak.

     "Taehyung," he said softly, "you know I'll always be here to give you anything you need. You don't need to fight all your battles alone. I want you to feel comfortable asking me for things, I want you to be able to tell me anything. Don't feel like a burden, you aren't. I love you, and I love providing for you."

     Taehyung looked down, letting his mug come to rest in his lap. Jeongguk slipped his arm around Taehyug's waist and took the mug, setting it beside his. 

     "Thank you, Jeongguk. Really. But I don't want to worry you."

     Jeongguk pulled Taehyung into a laying position, putting Taehyung's head against his chest. Four fingers wove through Tae's soft hair, playing with it lightly.

     "I worry anyway, sweetheart."

     Taehyung shifted himself so he was straddling Jeongguk, stretching up to kiss his cheek.

     "Don't be a worrywart," he said with a mischevious smile.

     Jeongguk scoffed playfully, feigning offense, before pulling Taehyung down to snuggle better. He let out a sigh, knowing he couldn't avoid the topic much longer. He'd been wanting to bring up the conversation around Christmas, but as of recent events, he realized he couldn't wait much longer. One thing was for sure; he knew Taehyung's power didn't just 'go out'.

     "Taehyung, we need to talk," he began, sitting up. Taehyung sat up immediately, looking quite worried. Jeongguk rubbed his sides reassuringly. "It's nothing bad." Taehyung nodded, sighing softly and melting back into Jeongguk's touch. "I wanted to wait a little longer to suggest this but I don't think it can wait. I want you to move in with me."

     "What?" Taehyung breathed, bewildered.

     "Baby, we've been dating for three years now. Our relationship is stable, don't you think?" Taehyung nodded slightly, examining Jeongguk's pillow by looking past his ear, getting used to the idea. "I know you want to be independent but it's not working out well. I want you to be warm, safe, and fed. Will you do this for me?"

     Taehyung looked into his eyes again.

     "How did you know?" He asked softly, voice cracking a bit. He quickly took a deep breath to calm himself down.

     "I don't have to look hard to see, darling. I hate to bring this up but it's so hard not to when I have to watch you suffer like this."

     Taehyung dipped his head, trying to hide his face. His eyes burned, tears gathering along the edge of his bottom lid. He felt so embarrassed, so helpless. 

     "I can't," he whispered, "I'd feel like a burden. I'll figure it out on my own, Jeongguk, I just need a little time."

     Jeongguk wiped the tears with his thumbs.

     "Taehyung, you can't keep this up for much longer. You've already got a cold, what if you get sicker? Staying in that apartment makes me worry so much about you, I can't live worrying so much."

     "I'm sorry," Taehyung's voice cracked into a sob. "I'm such a burden, I don't know what to do." He leaned away from Jeongguk's hands to furiously wipe his own tears.

     "No, no, no, no, no," Jeongguk's voice softened into a murmur. He pulled Taehyung into his chest and began to rock side to side, holding him warmly. "You're not a burden sweetheart, okay? I just want you to be happy and healthy. That's all. Sh-sh-shh. Don't cry." He continued until Taehyung stopped crying.

     "I'm sorry," he whispered softly. "I'm so sorry, Jeongguk."

     "You have nothing to be sorry about," Jeongguk told him. "It's perfectly respectable to want to be able to support yourself. You just need to know that it's okay to ask for help."

     Taehyung didn't respond for a minute, perhaps thinking.

     "Okay," he whispered finally.

     "Okay, what?"

     "Okay, I'll move in with you. Only if you really want me to."

     "I do baby," Jeongguk murmured, blinking away his own tears. "Thank you so much." He kissed the top of Taehyung's head and pulled him into a spooning position. "We'll go get your stuff tomorrow, okay?"

     Taehyung let out a shaky, 'okay,' then snuggled backward into Jeongguk's embrace. Jeongguk waited until he heard the soft snores of Taehyung's sleep before pressing a kiss to his shoulder.

     "See? You only snore when you're sick," he scolded Taehyung's sleeping figure lightly. "I'm gonna make chicken soup tomorrow morning, and you'd better eat all of it." Taehyung, still sleeping, rolled over, facing Jeongguk. Jeongguk cooed at him, letting the smaller snuggle further into his chest. Smiling like a lovestruck fool, he tried to tuck a tuft of stray hair behind Taehyung's ear. The tuft, too short to stay, sprung back into its original position. Jeongguk smiled even wider. "Silly boy. You could never be a burden to me." 

     And, finally content, Jeongguk let himself drift off, too.