Snowflakes & Fireweeds

12. Strings Attached

Yeontan finished the last crumbs of his food when Jungkook decided to check his messages before looking for Taehyung.
Maybe the older had laid down for a nap.
Jungkook returned to his room and scrolled through his messages.
Jin had send him pictures of him and Namjoon shopping, demanding shots of Jungkook and 'his hottie' in return.
Yoongi had send him some tracks to listen to and asked for his well-being.
Jungkook answered them by sending Jin photos of landscapes and Yoongi by giving him his honest opinion about the tracks and a short 'I'm ok'.
Then there were around 20 messages from Laura. He didn't read them, just quickly typed out that he was sorry, but he needed space. He debated whether to include the information about seeing someone else, but he decided against it. He knew Laura and he already knew she would just demand more answers. In the end he would probably have to tell it to her face for her to understand.
And then it dawned on him that he didn't even know what Taehyung and he were. Were they boyfriends? On the way there? Or did he misinterpret everything?
He decided that the last point was impossible. But he still had to make clear what they were.
Jungkook had always been a honest and straightforward person, so it was no surprise that he decided to just look for Taehyung and ask him to be his boyfriend. He got up from his bed and went to look for the older.
He found him in his studio upstairs. Jungkook had knocked three times, but no one had answered, so he risked to take a peek.

Taehyung was sitting with his back to the door when he heard the creaking noise of it opening. He didn't know how long he had sat there, trying to come up with a painting for the orphanage.
He quickly turned around and smiled at the photographer.
"Here you are," Jungkook smiled and came into the room.
Taehyung returned his smile, his heart already picking up speed at seeing the other.
"Yes, I'm trying to paint."
"Ah, sorry. I better leave you alone then."
Jungkook was already turning around to leave, so Taehyung quickly jumped up and caught his arm.
"No. Stay. I can't seem to find anything worth painting in my head. Maybe you've got an idea?"
Jungkook smiled and nodded.
"I can try."
Taehyung sat back down on his stool and looked around. He suddenly realized there was nothing for the younger to sit on, so he jumped up again.
"Ah.. There's no other chair. I quickly get one from downstairs."
"No," the younger stopped him. "I can get the chair. Or you just sit on my lap."
The last part had been clearly said as a joke as Jungkook chuckled. However, Taehyung liked the idea.
"Uhm... Okay."
The chuckle was quickly gone from Jungkook's face, his features now morphed into a look of utter surprise, eyes even bigger than normally.
"Wh-what?"
Now it was Taehyung's turn to let out a chuckle.
"If it's okay with you, I would like to sit in your lap."
Jungkook opened and closed his mouth like a fish. His cheeks were wearing an intense blush now and he just stood there, frozen.
Taehyung didn't know where he got the courage and what had made him so witty, but he faintly remembered that this had been his personality before all that shit had happened.
He decided to follow his feeling and tugged on Jungkook's sleeve to make him sit down. The younger, clearly still awestruck, let himself be guided and planted his butt on the stool. Taehyung sat down in his lap, leaning back and putting his head on Jungkook's  shoulder. This way his body was connected from his thighs to the neck to the other. He closed his eyes.
Taheyumg felt arms sneak around his waist and hold him close, and he exhaled a deep breath he didn't know he had been holding. This was heaven.
"I think now I might find some inspiration."
He whispered as there was no need to speak loudly due to their proximity.
He felt Jungkook relax under him, his rapid breathing slowing down. Taehyung could only imagine how his cheeks were probably an intense red now, and it was the best feeling in the world that he was the cause of the younger's excitement.
"I'm glad I can help."
It had been a really low whisper, but Taehyung caught it nonetheless.
After they sat in silence for some minutes, the younger spoke again.
"So, what do you have to paint and whom for?"
He had hooked his chin on Taehyung's shoulder, pressing him to his body even more.
Taehyung leaned his head sideways on Jungkook's before answering his question.
"It's for an orphanage down in the city. Jimin used to do volunteer work there. It burned down last year. They've rebuilt it now and Jimin wants to give them a present to motivate them. He wants something flowery with strong colors that can give them strengh. They're official reopening is in two weeks. And as you can see, I have nothing."
"But I saw some flower paintings around the house. I thought they were yours?"
"They are. But they are all in very decent colors. And recently I don't focus on single flowers anymore and rather paint bigger pictures with the whole landscape."
Jungkook was quiet for a while.
Taehyung relaxed completely, the other's proximity being a source of calmness and warmth for him. He was on the verge of drifting to sleep, when Jungkook spoke again.
"Do you know fireweeds?"
Taehyung opened his eyes and blinked.
"Fireweeds? No? What is that?"
"If there is a forest fire they're the first flowers to appear at the site of destruction. They actually need the heat for germination. And they're an intense magenta color. Wouldn't that be a nice symbol? The flowers that arise from the destruction?"
Taehyung's eyes became wide. This was perfect. He turned to Jungkook, smiling at him brightly. Jungkook returned the happy gaze.
And then it clicked. They suddenly both realized their proximity, their lips just mere inches away from each other.
Taehyung felt the heat spreading in his cheeks when he saw the younger's gaze flicking to his lips.
His heart was running a mile a minute, he was afraid Jungkook could hear it as it was about to jump out of his chest.
It was only a second though that Taehyung needed to know that he wanted this. He wanted to kiss Jungkook, to be held by him, to get lost in him completely.
The painter hadn't kissed anybody for the past six years, he never let anyone come close enough. And although he had his fair share of boyfriends when he was younger, he had pretty much forgotten how kissing felt. And he hadn't missed it.
But this man right in front of him changed his mind. He made him  want to remember the feeling.
They looked at each other, savoring the other's features in detail.
Jungkook seemed to hesitate, to draw back a little, as if he was scared that he had overstepped a boundary. And that's when Taehyung leaned closer, not letting Jungkook escape.
He heard the younger's breath hitch just before their lips touched.
It was an explosion of sparkles that run through his body while the touch of Jungkook's lips was the softest he could imagine. This was what heaven must feel like, with the softness of the clouds and the gold running hot through your veins.
Taehyung's confidence was soon crumbling though, after he realized how inexperienced he was. He was about to draw back when Jungkook put his hand on his shoulder, turning him sideways, so Taehyung was now sitting sideways on the photographer's lap. 
They never broke the kiss and Taehyung couldn't stop the giggle that bubbled up in him.
He felt Jungkook smile at the sound. His hand wandered to Taehyung's neck, making goosebumps appear under its touch.
Jungkook deepened the kiss, asking for access by licking lightly over Taehyung's lower lip. He granted his wish immediately, reaching another level of bliss when their tongues touched.
Butterflies were going off erratically in Taehyung's stomach, his body becoming hot and tingly.
After some time they both had to pull away to catch their breaths.
When Taehyung opened his eyes he was greeted by Jungkook's sparkling brown orbs, a bunny grin and the cutest crunch of his nose he had ever seen.
Taehyung smiled. He felt light and safe in Jungkook's arms, he never wanted to let go again. So he put his arms around Jungkook's waist and cuddled up to him, pressing his nose into the younger's neck. Jungkook's arms immediately locked around him and he let out a content sigh.
"Feeling good," the younger whispered.
"Heavenly."
That brought out a giggle from Jungkook and Taehyung enjoyed the vibration this giggle had caused in his body.
"Then we should repeat that as soon as possible."
"Yes, please."