TAEKOOK | HOPE

• 18 asscrack of dawn

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Just an other filler
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Compared to the night before, their last day in LA is largely uneventful. They sleep late, grab breakfast, and then head to a private beach that one of the producers on Taehyung's show said they could use. The weather is gorgeous, clear blue sky and a gentle breeze, but even so the beach isn't overly crowded. They sprawl out across a colorful array of beach towels and chairs and soak in the sun, chatting aimlessly as the hours pass by.

Neither he nor Taehyung bring up their conversation from the night before, but Jeongguk thinks he can sense a shift in how they're acting towards each other. There's something a little gentler in their interactions, a little less guarded, more like how they used to be. It's refreshing.

Now if Jeongguk can just get himself to stop ogling the way Taehyung's bare chest seems to glow golden in the afternoon sunlight, everything will be just fine.

Taehyung takes them out for dinner again that night, but this time it's to a little hole in the wall ramen place, and Jeongguk instantly feels more comfortable than he had the night before. They show up dressed in sweats and baseball caps, tucking themselves into a corner and sipping sodas out of plastic cups while they wait for their food to come out. It reminds Jeongguk of their early days as a band, when they could go out without attracting mass attention and everything was so much more casual.

Jeongguk and Jimin's flight is early the next morning, so they head straight home after dinner and snuggle in on the couch in Taehyung's game room to watch a movie. As usual, Jimin knocks out about halfway through the movie, but Jeongguk and Taehyung make it to the end, trading stupid commentary about the plot and characters. When it ends, Taehyung looks over at him, his head resting on the back of the couch. Jimin is still snoring gently on his left.

"Guess I can't interest you in playing Overwatch, since your flight is so early tomorrow," Taehyung says, blinking at him innocently.

Jeongguk snorts. "You may not know this about me, but I have a bad habit of sacrificing sleep to play video games."

Taehyung laughs, tossing a controller at him. "Can't imagine who you picked that up from."

They play until sleep tugs traitorously at Jeongguk's eyelids, and the next thing he knows, Taehyung is slipping an arm around his waist, hoisting him up off the couch.

"Alright, up you go," Taehyung murmurs, slinging Jeongguk's arm over his shoulders and holding him upright. "C'mon, Jeonggukie, time for bed."

Only half awake, Jeongguk grumbles in protest, turning his face into Taehyung's shoulder and grabbing a fistful of his shirt. He's always been inclined to clinginess when he's tired.

Taehyung laughs softly, his breath tickling Jeongguk's ear. Jeongguk's half conscious mind wants to stay here forever, tucked warm and safe into Taehyung's side. He settles for clinging to him more tightly, sagging heavy against his body as Taehyung supports him down the hall to the guest room. When they get there, Jeongguk promptly faceplants onto his bed, moaning a little in satisfaction as he sinks into the mattress.

He hears Taehyung laugh again, and it's such a nice sound, the nicest sound in the whole world maybe. Then he's being jostled around slightly as Taehyung pulls the duvet over him.