Snowflakes & Fireweeds

10. Safe Place

The pasta had been delicious. Jungkook was really a talented cook, and Taehyung had enjoyed every single bite of it.
Now they were sitting on the couch again, the fire in the fireplace blazing gently, Yeontan on Taehyung's lap and a deck of cards between them. Jungkook had found the cards in one of the drawers in the guestroom, probably left there by Jimin or Hoseok.
They were on their third round of rummy, both had already won one of the previous rounds.
It was Taehyung's turn now, and he knew that he would win this round as well. He had only two cards in his hand, and he could lay off both of them onto the existing melds. So it didn't matter which card he would pick up now, as he could throw it away anyway.
He picked up a card, immediately threw it on the discard pile, layed off his remaining two cards and grinned at Jungkook. He showed him his empty hands and wiggled his fingers in victory.
The younger opened his mouth to protest, and closed it again, without saying a tone. Taehyung giggled at the adorable sight.
Now Jungkook was pouting, but Taehyung saw that he had difficulties to suppress a laugh.
"Aaaah, Kookie, I beat you!"
"I know Tae," Jungkook giggled. The sound making Taehyung's heart skip a beat.
They started to collect the cards, putting them back in the box.
After they were done, they looked at each other, no one saying a word. The silence went on for some minutes, both staring down at their laps, fumbling wit their hands.
The both felt the sudden awkwardness between them and didn't know where it was coming from.
Finally Jungkook cleared his throat.
"So... Is this just a one-time thing or can we talk more again? I really like talking to you and it was really lonely the last days..."
The younger raised his eyes, looking at Taehyung with a hopeful gaze.
A light smile appeared on Taehyung's lips.
"I wanna talk some more to you again as well. I... It's just that it might be hard. I'm not used to having someone around constantly. And I might not open up as fast at you would like, and then..."
Jungkook reached forward and put his hand on the older's mouth, shutting him off completely. To say that Taehyung's eyes became wide was an understatement. He held his breath and was sure that his eyes would pop out of his head any second now, that's how surprised he was.
Jungkook giggled at the sight.
"Please stop dragging yourself down, Tae. We will work it out. I won't push you. At least not too much. I just wanna get to know you better. If it goes nowhere, it's fine. As long as you feel content anything's fine for me! If you want to stop, just say a word, and I will step back."
Taehyung nodded, his lips still sealed by the younger's hand. He wasn't sure what Jungkook meant exactly, whether he was talking about a friendship only or about something more. But his curiosity, that he thought has been long lost, kicked in and he became all giddy, imagining what might happen. He nodded some more to show Jungkook that he really meant it.
The younger smiled brightly but didn't remove the hand.
"Now... Can I hug you?"
Taehyung's hectic nodding stopped immediately, his head snapping to a sudden halt. He didn't believe it was possible, but he was sure his eyes had just become bigger. Butterflies went off inside of him and his cheeks became warm as he nodded, now shyly.
Jungkook smiled happily, his cheeks  tinted in a light red. He pulled his hand back from Taehyung's mouth and let it fall to the other's waist. His fingers wandered to Taehyung's back and tugged at his shirt, signaling for him to get closer.
Taehyung slid closer to him and was soon encircled by two strong arms, pulling him into a warm chest. Jungkook's hold felt safe. And warm. Like a blanket tugged around Taehyung, pouring it's warmth into him.
Although Taehyung was tense at first, he quickly relaxed, allowing his head to nuzzle into Jungkook's neck and his body to fit just perfectly into Jungkook's.
They stayed cuddling like this for a while, neither of them wanting to get away from the other.
Jungkook had his eyes closed, drinking in the softness of Taehyung's body. Over the last days that Jungkook had feed him, the older had gained a little weight. His cheeks were a little chubbier now, his skin shining in a healthy color, and Jungkook admired this so much. He had his eyes closed, imagining to cuddle Taehyung forever, when he heard a soft whisper.
"Kookie..."
The younger wasn't sure if he had heard his name or if it was just the wind blowing outside.
"Kookie."
This time it was a little louder and he was sure that the man in his arms had spoken. He started to lean away, so he could look at him and ask him what was up.
"No, no, no!!!" Taehyung's arms, that had loosened due to the movement, locked themselves back around Jungkook's body.
"Don't go, please... No..."
Jungkook couldn't help the grin that spread on his lips as the older was whining for him to stay. He quickly moved back, putting his chin on Taehyung's shoulder.
"Ok, ok. I'm not going anywhere Tae. What did you want to say?"
He heard the older exhale as if he had dodged a bullet. He smiled.
"I'm sleepy and I... Well... I was... I thought maybe... Uhm.. So... Kookie... Uhm..."
"Sssh....calm down first Tae. I'm here and whatever you want, I won't be mad. You can ask me anything."
He stroked Taehyung's hair while whispering into his ear and soon felt the other relax again.
After another deep breath he continued.
"I was wondering if... if... ifwecouldgotobedbecauseimsleepyandifyoucouldstaywithmetonight."
Jungkook's breath hitched. He had understood it perfectly fine, so it was no wonder his heart was doing somersaults now. How adorable was Tae to speed talk because he was so nervous? How wonderful was it that he wanted him to stay with him for the night?
The grin returned on Jungkook's face and was followed by a giggle.
He turned his head slightly, so his lips were almost touching the older's ear and then he whispered.
"Of course I will stay with you tonight, Taehyung. Anything you want."
He had whispered it in a low voice, bordering on suggestive. It didn't miss it's target as he felt Taehyung tense up in his arms.
"Uhm... I. I didn't mean it in this way... I..."
Jungkook laughed.
"I know Tae. I just wanted to tease you."
Now Jungkook really leaned back, Taehyung still too shocked to stop him, and looked at the older.
He was a blushing mess and looked down quickly when he felt Jungkook's eyes on him.
Jungkook leaned forward and put his forehead on the other's, making Taehyung lift his head and look at him. The close proximity just intensified the color on Taehyung's face, but he didn't pull away, and Jungkook was incredibly grateful for that. The last thing he wanted was to scare him away, now that he was so close.
He felt his own cheeks heating up, but he didn't do anything about it. Taehyung should be able to see what he did to him. He looked into his eyes and smiled.
"Tae Tae, I really would love to stay with you tonight. And with that I mean stay NEXT to you, holding your hand or cuddling, but only if YOU want it. Nothing more, I promise. I am so grateful that I can be this close to you. I just wanna feel that you are there and that you WANT to be there."
The olders's eyes started to water, but he quickly composed himself by closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
"Thank you, Kookie. Thank you so much."
It was short and Jungkook would have been disappointed if anyone else would have given him such a small reaction for his little speech, but this was Taehyung, and Jungkook knew that opening up so much, accepting whatever they have, was already a huge step for him.
He angled his head up, brushed Taehyung's hair away and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. When he leaned back, the other was looking at him, eyes big like saucers with an intense red tinge on his cheeks.
Jungkook giggled.
"Let's go to bed. And please stop getting redder, I don't want you to explode."
Taehyung pouted.
"Who's fault do you think this is?"
Jungkook giggled some more and stood up. He didn't answer, just took Taehyung's hand, pulled him up and walked towards the older's bedroom.