"How can you love me, Jungkook..." Yoongi voices, eyes glassy as he continues to stare at his wringing hands in his lap.

"Why don't you believe me when I tell you I love you?" Jungkook hisses, anger resurfacing. "You have always doubted what I feel. It's maddening! Is it because I'm younger than you? You don't think I know what love is?"

Yoongi's eyes snap up. "It has nothing to do with thinking you don't know what love is. Or with your age. At least, not in that context..."

Jungkook's brows crash together. "But my age does bother you."

"Not- no! It's just-" Yoongi scrambles for the words. "You've always been so good, Jungkook. So handsome and bright and funny. Everyone adores you. Yes, you're young, but it just adds to your charm. You are such a special person with a bright future. I felt- I feel- like I drag you down. You don't need someone like me; a tired shut-in clinging to his schedule and routines."

"What are you talking about?" Jungkook snaps, voice strained with emotion. "I loved you! You aren't any of those things. You were perfect for me. You are perfect for me! And you know I don't care what other people think about me. Whether they like me or don't.

"I care what my friends and family think about me. That they're proud of me. I especially care about what you think of me," Jungkook frowns. "Do you really believe that you were dragging me down?"

Yoongi doesn't know how to answer.

He knows it's ridiculous, this intricate web of doubts he's spun in his mind.

It's not hard for one little tug on a frayed edge– on a string linked to his insecurity and self doubt– to have it all crash down around him.

"Yes..." he mumbles honestly.

Jungkook seems to deflate, slumping in on himself, looking smaller than he has any right to.

The silence that follows is tense and uncomfortable as neither of them speak.

They don't know what else to say.

Yoongi doesn't have anything useful to offer as way of explanation because he knows the break up had everything to do with himself and his problems and little to do with anything Jungkook did.

"I didn't feel worthy of your love so I broke up with you so you could go find someone who did deserve it..." Yoongi whispers, so quietly he hopes Jungkook doesn't hear him. But he does.

He stares at Yoongi with wide, tearful eyes.

Jungkook knows Yoongi gets insecure. Gets down on himself sometimes but even so, that doesn't make his thinking make sense.

Doesn't excuse why he did what he did.

"Why won't you accept that you're the only one I want? The only one I'll ever want... Why won't you let me love you?" Jungkook asks and even though the words are quiet, soft, Yoongi still flinches.

He lets out a long exhale through his nose, eyes fixed on Jungkook's chest, avoiding his piercing, inquisitive gaze.

"Because you scare me."

Jungkook continues to stare and Yoongi knows he understands, not fully, but he knows enough about Yoongi's insecurities to get it.

"You don't need to be scared of me," he answers.

He goes quiet again and Yoongi sees his fingers twitch, the tips of his middle finger and thumb grazing.

Yoongi watches in silence and anticipation as Jungkook reaches for his hands. Yoongi doesn't pull away or resist the touch, allowing Jungkook to take his hand.

"I know that. I promise I do," Yoongi sniffles. "I don't feel this way because of anything you've done. It has everything to do with me. With my insecurities and anxieties."

With a slow nod of his head, Jungkook sighs.

He purses his lips and Yoongi can see the wheels turning in his head as he runs his thumb across the back of Yoongi's hand in slow, soft circles.

"What do you want from me, hyung? I'll do whatever you want. Give you whatever you want. All you have to do is ask."

Tears burn his eyes as he peers at the younger man. His heart clenching at the tenderness in his voice.

"I love you, Jungkook. So fucking much," Yoongi breathes shakily.

"And I love you," Jungkook's lip twitches but he doesn't smile as he looks up at Yoongi. "But that doesn't answer my question."

Yoongi shakes his head, acknowledging that no, that doesn't answer Jungkook's question.

"What do you want?" He asks instead of answering.

Jungkook does smile this time. A small, sad smile.

"You still don't know?" he asks. "I want to be with you. I want to be with you always, taking care of you and loving you. Teaching you how to see and love yourself the way I love you."

Yoongi blinks. He can't be hearing him right.

After everything he's done. Everything he's put Jungkook through, why would he still want him?

Jungkook must read the turmoil and mounting questions on Yoongi's face as he speaks again.

"Look," Jungkook begins, adjusting his posture but not letting go of Yoongi's hand. "I know that you have doubts. I know that you've let them eat at you and let them dictate the decisions that lead to our break up. I know I made some mistakes too but hyung, I miss you. I miss you so much it hurts and I don't want to be without you. If you are willing to try again, I will too."

Yoongi shifts as well, eyes fixated on the depth of the stars shining in Jungkook's eyes.

"I want to, but-"

"But you're scared," Jungkook interjects gently and Yoongi nods.

Tears burn behind his eyes as the same sad smile from before pulls at Jungkook's lips.

Closing the distance between them, Jungkook pulls Yoongi into his arms.

Yoongi nuzzles against his chest, sniffling and wrapping his arms around his thin waist.

"Hyung," Jungkook begins, "from the moment I sat down at that table tonight all I could think about was you." He rests his cheek against the crown of Yoongi's head. "I wanted it to be you. I always want it to be you. No one else," he whispers.

Yoongi doesn't either. There isn't anyone else, but, and he doesn't want to, but what if he ruins it again.

"What if I fuck everything up again?" Yoongi lifts his head, meeting teary, worried eyes with Jungkook's fond gaze.

Jungkook squeezes him tighter. "We can start slowly. We can make sure to talk anytime you feel anxious or get too caught up in your head and I can make sure to let you know if something's bothering me as well. If there's anything I'm having trouble sympathizing with or understanding."

"Slowly." Yoongi repeats.

Jungkook nods with a hesitant smile. "We've spent a lot of time not talking, which was fun, don't get me wrong, and I don't regret the nights I've spent with you, hyung. That said, we should start communicating. Get to know each other as partners again."

"We can do what you said you wanted earlier..." Yoongi mumbles, cheeks warming. "We can go on dates. You can take me to dinner and I'll take you out too."

"Dates," Jungkook's nose scrunches, smiling in content. "I like the sound of that."

They smile at each other, happy but a little shy.

There's a lot more they need to talk about. Months of hurt and misunderstandings to work through.

Loads of insecurities and self depreciation to overcome on Yoongi's part, but they can do it.

They want to do it. Want to work through all of it together because they love each other.

It's scary to think about the future and the times when things get hard, but right now feels hopeful. They feel more at ease and like they're finally on the same page after all this time.

Jungkook leans forward, brushes his nose with Yoongi's as he brings the hand not holding Yoongi's up to cup his cheek.

Yoongi's eyes flutter closed just as their lips meet.

It's sweet, gentle and so incredibly different from the scourching kisses they've shared since they started having their "drunken" hook-ups.

Yoongi glides his hand over Jungkook's shoulder to the side of his neck, pulling him in to deepen the kiss.

They lean more into each other, Jungkook releasing Yoongi's hand with the one not currently on the back of Yoongi's neck to wrap around his slim waist, pressing their bodies more firmly together as their lips continue to pick up speed.

The kiss feels amazing, the feelings and emotions being heightened knowing they are both completely present.

That they aren't pretending to be in any mind set besides in love and wanting the man before them with all their heart.

Yoongi pulls back and smiles, leaning to rest his forehead against Jungkook's.

There's a fever heating his skin. An itch only Jungkook can scratch. A craving only he can satisfy.

His wanting is mirrored in Jungkook's eyes when the younger's darkened stare meets his.

"I know we said we'd go slow," Yoongi sputters, more short of breath than he realized. "But do you still-"

"God yes," Jungkook blurts out, voice almost a whimper, before he's on his feet, pulling Yoongi off the couch behind him.

He leans down, lifting Yoongi into his arms by the back of his legs and presses their mouths together again, hungry and desperate.

Yoongi wraps his arms and legs around him, latching his lips onto Jungkook's neck as Jungkook breaks the kiss to watch where he's walking as he takes them to Yoongi's bedroom.

Yoongi's lips brush across his jaw to the shell of Jungkook's ear.

"I missed being able to not pretend," Yoongi murmurs. "Missed knowing I had all of you and you have all of me."

Jungkook squeezes him tightly. "I missed it too, baby."

Yoongi's heart clenches and he grips Jungkook more tightly.

He whines when Jungkook lowers him to the mattress once they make it to his room, confused and worried when Jungkook doesn't follow him down, instead just staring at him.

His panic dissipates immediately when Jungkook speaks.

"I want you to feel how precious you are to me. Want you to feel every emotion I have for you and you only."

Yoongi smiles, loving and fond and happy– so fucking happy– as he stares up at him.

At the man he loves.

Jungkook leans down then, pushing Yoongi back onto the bed so he's laying flat with gentle hands as he climbs over him.

Yoongi grips the hem of his shirt with shaking hands as Jungkook cups his cheek, running the pad of his thumb across his cheekbone as he softly brings their lips together.

It's so different, unfamiliar yet nostalgic at the same time. Yoongi can feel Jungkook's emotions. The care and adoration Jungkook has for him.

It makes him want to cry and whine and beg for more and it's overwhelming.

He feels so cared for, so safe, in Jungkook's embrace.

He's wanted this to be real between them for so long and now that's it's happening, it feels like a dream.

"Baby," Jungkook calls gently, pecking Yoongi's lips softly before pulling away to look at him. "Is this okay? We can stop if it's too much."

Yoongi doesn't understand why Jungkook looks so concerned, blinking at him in confusion.

Then he feels it, the wet tears clinging to his lashes when they fan across the tops of his cheeks.

"Oh. I didn't realize- I'm sorry," he whispers.

"You don't have to apologize," Jungkook murmurs, stroking Yoongi's cheek as a tear slips out.

His voice is so sweet as he cradles Yoongi's cheek. He leans down, pressing a kiss where the tear had been before placing another on his other cheek, his nose, his chin then finally his lips.

When he pulls away to look at him, Yoongi's breath hitches, more tears threatening to spill.

Jungkook's eyes are showing so much emotion. More than Yoongi's ever seen them filled with over the last months of them sleeping together.

He's seen glimpses here and there when Jungkook's let his façade slip, but never this clear and for this long.

Love that was hidden under pain, regret and anger. It's so clear now, the love, in the depths of Jungkook's shining brown eyes.

Yoongi licks his lips, staring into those eyes.

"It's just a lot. I'm feeling a lot," he whispers, voice shaky and thick with emotion.

"It is," Jungkook agrees, stroking Yoongi cheeks softly. "We don't have to do anything more than cuddle if you don't want to. As long as I'm close to you that's all I care about."

"I'm okay," Yoongi assures. "Please don't stop."