There's a kaleidoscope of colours bouncing off the spinning disco ball, blinding, enthralling. Taehyung blinks as he walks through the cloud of rainbow hues.

The smells of cigarettes and alcohol mingle in the air. Beautiful faces everywhere, young and in their primes. Alluring bodies grooving to the 80s pop tune blasting from the speakers by the packed dance floor.

Ooh, baby, do you know what that's worth?
Ooh heaven is a place on earth

Taehyung pushes pass the boisterous crowd, and stops at the bar. "Hey Jackson."

A nod, as two glasses land on the bar counter, "The usual?"

"Yeah."

The glasses are icy in his hands, dark liquid sloshing as he starts walking again. Taehyung dips his head for a sip, feeling the bitterness of the alcohol tingling on his tongue. The music plays on in the background, exuberant and upbeat.

They say in heaven love comes first
We'll make heaven a place on earth

In the back of the bar, besides the worn out Pac-Man machine, he spots the familiar silhouette. Black hoodie, faded blue jeans, head lowered with gold-rimmed specs peeking through.

Taehyung's lips quirk into a smile, and his steps slow down. The same spot every night, same pastel purple neon light flickering and shading the silhouette, yet every time, he inhales deeply and tries to commit every single detail to memory.

Never want to forget.

The figure looks up, bright eyes gleaming with the joy of recognition, "you're late."

"Sorry, had some stuff to do... but now I'm here." Taehyung sits down beside him, and hands him the drink.

Their fingers brush lightly. Jeongguk takes a sip of the drink, "now you're here." Taehyung spots the faint pink dusting his cheeks, and he's mesmerized, can't look away.

They sink into a comfortable silence, watching the clamouring club crowd from afar.

Something inexplicably soothing, to be next to the crowd yet alone, just the two of them.

Eventually Taehyung pipes up again, "you know, this place is perfect, except the damn weak drinks. One day, I wish one day I could take you somewhere to taste the real stuff, yeah?"

Jeongguk hums, and Taehyung turns to catch him glancing at him sweetly, "rum and coke."

"Yes, spiced rum and coke, the superior drink." He lifts the glass towards his nose, and winces, "the scent is there but it's just not right, I can't explain it. Ahh! If only we could go to my favourite joint near my place..."

"Hmm." Jeongguk's voice is in a trance, and Taehyung feels his head leaning onto his shoulder. The motion is gentle and timid, and Taehyung's heart flutters inexplicably so.

They sit side by side, and watch as the world pass them by. Taehyung's shoulders relax and expressions soften. Deadline, panic, they all start to fizzle away slowly, saved for the weight of Jeongguk's head against his shoulder. There's an itch in his heart, faint but insistent, impossible to ignore. Taehyung sucks in a deep breath and averts his gaze, trying hard not to stare at Jeongguk's parted lips.

"Did you paint more?" He asks.

"Yeah."

"Similar stuff?"

"Pretty much." Jeongguk's voice is shy but sweet.

"It's good though. You're good at it, I love the way you paint the sea, tranquil."

"Thanks. It's soothing, I'm used to it."

Taehyung smiles, and gives his arm a tiny nudge, "so about that portrait of me..."

A pause, and Jeongguk responds, "yeah."

Taehyung chuckles, "I was kidding when I said it needs to be like ten feet tall and "gloriously handsome"! I mean, something simple will do, whatever you are ok with drawing, really."

"Well..."

Taehyung spots the hesitation in his eyes and adds, "it's ok, you don't have to, it's no big deal -"

His words are cut short when he feels the tug on his sleeve, and there's a glint of tenderness in Jeongguk's eyes, "I don't mind. Didn't think you were serious because - well because nobody has ever asked me to before..."

Taehyung's gaze softens, hand reaching for Jeongguk's, but brushes by cautiously before falling back onto the bench, "well, I'm asking, because your paintings are amazing. Everything you do is..."

His cheeks flush at the sappiness of it all, but Jeongguk's shy little smile encourages him, making him feel like spewing out sap all night long. Anything to keep that smile blooming.

Fuck.

What's wrong with him.

There's a sudden surge of irritation, of how quickly he's falling into it all, and how scary it is, to care so much about something so surreal. But somehow, Taehyung knows he no longer cares.

He wants to be here, every single night, more than anywhere else in the world. And for whatever reason, he can sense Jeongguk feels the same way too.

It's mutual, the achingly tenderness that shrouds their hearts when they are together. And the moment spent together, is worth any price in the world.

The music changes, into a slow song, some female voice, singing of star crossed love and melancholy, against a pretty little piano tune.

"Wanna dance?"

He expects the apologetic no as always. It's been two months, and the answer has never changed.

"You'll teach me?"

The words take him by surprise, and he stutters in response, "um... yeah of course. Wait, is that a yes?"

Jeongguk's head dips lower, but the answer is gentle and unmistakable, "I think so, if you don't mind."

"Oh Gukkie, of course I don't mind."

The dance floor clears, and Taehyung gestures towards himself awkwardly, "well, its a slow song so maybe put your hands on me a little, if you don't mind-"

Jeongguk leans in stiffly, hands dangling mid-air before finally dropping by his waist. The touch is delicate.

He's so very close, black bangs drooping by his glasses, lips worrying between his teeth in a nervous tic. Carefully, Taehyung reaches in to embrace him, like grasping onto a vision that might disappear at any moment.

He starts to sway to the song, and feels Jeongguk following. So close, the warmth of his skin, the scent of his presence, Taehyung inhales deeply and savours the moment. Their gaze meet, and Jeongguk responds with a tiny grin, as his head leans in to rest by Taehyung's shoulder.

"Does this feel ok?" Taehyung inquires.

"More than ok..." Jeongguk's voice is whisper quiet, but Taehyung hears every word.

The love songs keep drifting in and out, and the disco ball spins languidly in the dark, casting them in a million dazzlingly specks of light.

-

The waves are rhythmic and tranquil under the shimmering moonlight. The sand feels soft and moist between Taehyung's fingers, as he grasps onto it absently.

"It's lovely."

"Yeah." Taehyung concurs, eyes tracing Jeongguk's profile next to him.

"I've seen this so many times, but it feels so - perfect tonight, all of it."

"Did you always live at this house?"

"I think so. My memory is a bit - blurry, you know." Jeongguk grins apologetically, but Taehyung shakes his head and responds, "It's fine, I told you before, you are ok."

"It didn't bother me much before, the not remembering. Everyday is pleasant here, people come and go - visitors, people who move here permanently, it's all a bit of a haze but it's almost easier that way, easier not having to remember."

Taehyung reaches in to smooth out his hair that's ruffled in the balmy night breeze, "it's fine. You're so strong, surviving for so long on your own. But it's ok, I'm here now. And you remember me, that's all that matters."

Jeongguk's eyes gleam with tenderness, "yes, I remember you. Taehyung... Taehyung..." he repeats the name like an enchanting spell, and Taehyung feels himself drowning in those dark orbs. "It's weird to wait for someone, to have hope and anticipate. Scary almost, I'm not used to it."

Taehyung responds, "don't worry, you know I'll always come visit you, whenever I can. It's hard to stay away for long, always miss you, never want to let you wait for too long."

Jeongguk curls into him, "I know, I trust you. One day you'll be here forever, right? I can wait, I'm used to being by myself, it's ok."

A somberness washes over Taehyung, but he tries to keep his tone casual, "yeah, something like that. It's - I dunno, it's so crazy out there right now. But I'll find a way, I'm sure I can find a way, for us to stay together."

Jeongguk smiles, there's a glint of hollowness in his eyes, "if you say so."

They sit in silence for a while, listening to the crashing of the waves next to them, feeling the peaceful night stretching into infinity.

"Tae..." Jeongguk whispers, breaking the silence, "I - I wanted to ask you..."

"Yes?"

Jeongguk licks his lips, head tilted to the side in a nervous tic, "would it be ok - can I - "

He wrings his hands and Taehyung gets a little concerned, "what is it? What's wrong?"

Jeongguk's cheeks flush as he tugs onto his lower lip, "I dunno... I..." the last words dangle by his lips, but he pushes them out, breathlessly, "...can I kiss you?"

At the sound of those words, Taehyung's mind goes blissfully blank.

Time seems to halt when he reaches in to brush Jeongguk's lips with his, heart hammering and breath hitched. Soft, trembling, mixed in with the ocean mist and the silvery moonlight, Taehyung drinks it all in and sinks into the yearning.

Jeongguk's hands reach out for him, grasping, searching, movements clumsy yet instinctive. They dwell in the kiss, hearts beating wayward and lips breathing all the unspoken thoughts into one another.

It all feels like a dream within a dream, yet dizzily, Taehyung feels more alive than he's ever been all his life.