Happiness, as it turned out, was an exceptionally good look for him.
The number of compliments he was suddenly receiving was directly correlated to the number of smiles he was handing out. So freely and easily and readily. Despite the way it was would fade, his entire face turning serious the moment friendliness turned into flirtation. Because he belonged to someone, a knowledge that he held within every single fiber of his being.
He belonged to someone. To Jungkook. And the proof of it was embedded as deeply into his heart as it was into his skin.
Occasionally someone would comment on his swollen lip. On how painful it looked. And it was always followed with the inquiry as to how it happened. And somewhere along the way he had decided to tell as many different stories as he could. One about walking into a door and another about getting into a fight and yet one more about being the most clumsy human being who had ever walked the face of the earth and it being a cooking accident.
And the truth. Just once. Just to a guy who was being particularly pushy. Who couldn't seem to get it through his thick head that he was exceptionally taken. And that the person he was taken by fucked him so incredibly well that the proof was literally written on his face.
Each moment seemed to either fly or crawl by. There was no in between. Once he looked at the clock expecting that it had been hours, only to mind that only minutes had passed. And another he thought it was going to still be early evening, only to find that his shift was almost over. Closing seemed like a monumental task that he was certain he had the energy left to complete. But he and Hoseok were like a whirlwind meeting a tornado when they came together, moving through the space so quickly and with so much force that everyone knew to simply get out of their way. Had all of the chairs up and the floor swept and the bottles in the trash by the time everyone else was finished with their task. High fived and leaned on each other as they walked out, with Seokjin calling out that he would be by the next day to pick up his car. Because he was definitely far too tired to actually take on the task of first riding half way across the city and then driving back.
Especially when he could so clearly make out the sight of Jungkook's SUV parked in his normal place, the black practically blending in with the darkness. It gave him just enough energy to drag himself up the stairs, practically crawling with the heaviness he felt in his own limbs. Typed in the code and slipped inside and instantly felt like he could breathe again.
"Welcome home babe." There were flowers, bright and colorful sitting in a large vase on the edge of the low coffee table where Jungkook sat, hands wrapped around a controller as his focus was torn between the scenes currently playing on the television and the vision that had just walked through the door.
He could get so used to this. Used to the way that voice was like a soothing balm, spreading across his frayed nerves. The way his tiny little space seemed to suddenly be filled with warmth and life instead of cold emptiness. To the way Jungkook barely even hesitated, backing out of whatever he had been doing and taking it back to the title screen, all so he could welcome him properly.
Those arms felt like they were filled with a strength he didn't have, and he practically collasped into them, feet far too sore to continue to stand on, legs too weak to to continue to hold his own weight. Felt himself lay his head against the place where the other's heart beat so strongly, lulled into some strange sense of serenity by the sound alone.
Felt those hands skimming down over his body, formulating a path so entirely familiar he was certain the sensation was buried in his very bones. Felt them squeeze his thighs once, twice in warning before he was being lifted, those same legs parting, wrapping around a narrow waist. Arms wrapped around strong shoulders and sighed at the way the muscles flexed beneath his touch, so strong and steady and capable.
Was held against the radiating heat of the other's body for so long that he forgot everything else. Forgot about the deep aches of his own, how sore and painful and tender he was. Forgot about the way his throat stung, the deep imprints of nails and teeth no longer allowing the rub of the fabric he wore. Sighed as he felt them moving, as he felt himself being lowered, down, down, down, so suddenly unsure that there was going to be anything there to catch him.
But he trusted Jungkook. And it was in that moment that he realized that fundamental truth for the first time. He trusted Jungkook. Had some sort of supreme faith in this one man when everything had tried to break it. When all the signs had said that he was dangerous. A threat. Someone who should not be allowed too close. Should not be allowed inside. Should not be trusted.
But he trusted him anyway. Loved him anyway. Despite how he knew each and every single day that this could be the end. That this could be their last day together. Their last moment. Any second Jungkook could end it and he would trust him still.
Would love him still.
