"Oh how I've missed your damn cooking, hyung," Hoseok moaned, eyes closed in rapture as he sucked in a big gulp of the tantalizing smells wafting from Namjoon and Jin's small kitchen. Frying pork belly and rich spices and onions sizzling in butter saturated the air, filling the cramped but cozy house with warmth and comfort and everything good in the world. All seven men stood mingling about the multicolored living room, laughing and catching up on stories kept silent too long -- with the exception of Seokjin, who was far too happily frolicking about in his kitchen, tracking little green herb bits from countertop to countertop.

"Hey, Yoongi's a good cook!" Jimin protested, lips pouting quizzically. Yoongi appeared utterly unconcerned at his side, hands stuffed into his pockets and watching the scene play out with mild amusement.

"Yeah but he cooks for you, not for me. One time I got home late from work and there was nothing but a quarter of a cabbage and half-empty bottle of hot sauce in the house!"

Jimin stifled his giggle.

"Oops, sorry hyung. Just helping you keep your slim form!"

Hoseok scoffed.

"Yeah right, just like the time you literally walked out and left me stranded at the studio for three hours-"

"Hey, that was totally an accident!" Jimin whined, eyes growing wide. "I said sorry! And I came back to get you. And then bought you chocolate - which was expensive, thank you very much - cause' I felt bad!"

Jungkook's stomach ached from laughing and he clutched at it weakly as his friends' conversations continued. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd smiled this much - so much that his cheeks were beginning to hurt along with his stomach. It was like a version of the happiness he felt around Taehyung, intensified even more by everybody else's joy. Speaking of Taehyung - Jungkook's gaze shifted almost subconsciously to where the silver boy sat perched on the edge of a stuffy gray sofa, face split by a smile far too wide for his face and eyes curled into cute little crescents that sparkled when he laughed. He'd wanted to wear the silky blue shirt they'd gotten last week, and back home when he changed and then presented himself to Jungkook with an extravagant "Ta-Daaaa!", necklace glimmering around his neck and cheeks flushed and glowing and really just looking a little too beautiful, Jungkook nearly keeled over and knocked himself cold. Almost.

It was a lot to feel all at once - this thick, slow beating of his heart like insects trapped in honey that seemed to be his ever-present state of existing whenever Tae entered his mind. Which was to say: all the time.

Taehyung glanced back at Jungkook. Their eyes met, and suddenly the honey in his chest was transformed into a river, flooding over its banks to wash away everything in its path.

Tae made a heart with his hands (he'd learned that from Jimin).

Jungkook's pretty sure he blushed in response.

He didn't really know exactly when his feelings about Taehyung changed. Or if they even had at all. He knew he liked being around Tae; liked answering his innocent questions, liked watching him pick flowers and chase butterflies and get adorably frustrated at chopsticks. He knew his mind stopped its never-ending turmoil whenever Taehyung walked in the room, because his smile could probably freeze time itself, and that the nights spent reading by only the fading embers of the hearth with just the two of them curled on his chair were what he looked forward to above all else during the day. He also knew how all his friends looked at them; like there was something visible from the outside in that he just couldn't quite perceive yet.

"Alright everybody!" Jin's loud announcement interrupted Jungkook's brief ponderings and, startled, he shoved them aside to join everybody else in crowding around the way-too-small-for-seven-grown-men dining table. Jin's delighted smile (and the smells of cooking food, of course) put everyone into a good mood. Even Yoongi - as ever brooding and drowsy as he seemed to constantly be - looked relaxed and happy. Across the table Jimin met Jungkook's gaze and winked, grinning stupidly afterwards.

"Namjoonie said I should make a speech, even though he knows I'm totally shit at making speeches-" next to him, Namjoon shook his head in exasperation "-but here it goes, I guess." He pursed his lips. "First, welcome home Jimin and Hoseok, of course, It's been lonely without you. Second: Yoongi and Taehyung, we're incredibly happy to have you with us, too. Plus-" he looked right at Taehyung as he spoke "-Jungkookie's totally obsessed with you and you like my muffins, so a win-win!"

Absolutely mortified and positive his face was showcasing the exact color of a particularly ripe cherry tomato in the middle of summer, Jungkook coughed lightly and glanced at Taehyung on his left to gauge the other's reaction to Jin's little statement. Thankfully, however, Tae seemed oblivious - he beamed at Jin's words like he'd just been handed a golden ticket to the world's fortune. And maybe, in a way, he had.

Calmed, Jungkook took a moment to tune back into the conversation.

".... uhhh ... yeah and that's pretty much it see Joon I told you you should have been the one to give the speech damnit." He paused a moment. "All this food took a long time to cook so if you all don't appreciate it all I swear to god I will personally beat each and every one of you with a rolling pin in one hand and a spatula in the other. Enjoy!"

With that blunt and not entirely unexpected ending, the oldest hyung took a tiny mocking bow and breathed out, nodding appreciatively at a little shoulder-pat from Namjoon.

"PORK BUUNNS!"

"Jimin, NO-"

"JIMIN YES!"

And in the blink of an eye, the dining room was descended into chaos of the best kind. Seokjin's lovingly-prepared kimchi passed hands enough times and with such frequency that it probably never even touched the table once from the moment it was picked up. Everybody spoke over one another and reached across plates for different plates and traded dishes and accidentally - or not - poked neighbors with chopsticks, yet they worked together like a machine, only slightly rusty from such a long time spent apart. Yoongi and Taehyung integrated so quickly it was like they'd been there for years. Jungkook laughed at bad jokes and ate so much he thought he would burst, yet there was always more food so who was he to say no?

"Okay okay - tell us about what you did back in Seoul, Yoongi-hyung," Namjoon mumbled around a mouthful of rice, quickly knocking it back with a swig of water.

"Yah, it's not that interesting-" Yoongi replied plainly, lowering his own much smaller bite of chicken away from his mouth.

"Well I literally bake and babysit Jungkook for a living, so I'm sure it's more interesting than that," Jin intersected, tossing a scowling Jungkook an evil look as he did so.

"Well," Yoongi began, now placing down his utensils entirely to intertwine his fingers and rest his chin on top of them, "I'm an artist."

A chorus of "ooh's" circled the room; Jimin's rather excessively loud.

"I... paint. And draw. And sometimes play string instruments and sing, but I'm not that great at it."

"Yes he is - he sang for me one day, it was really beautiful!" Jimin cooed, eyes crinkling lovingly at his boyfriend's shy smile that followed.

"Thanks, baby," Yoongi mumbled gruffly, then evidently got shy and tried to hide his blush by coughing into his fist and quickly picking up a glass of water, sipping on it lightly.

"See what I mean," Hoseok whined, poking at Taehyung. "They're totally gross, I've had to deal with them being in love for, like, months, so now you all get to share in my misery too."

Hoseok's words seemed scathing but his eyes were fond as he stuck his tongue out at pink-haired Jimin.

"Well I think you guys are cute," Namjoon said brightly, clinging to Jin's arm and shaking it slightly. "Remember when that was us, Jinnie? Except I totally hated you for, like, two years cause I thought you were annoying," he snickered.

"And I thought you were a boring egghead, so the feeling is mutual," Seokjin replied, laughing at the memory.

"Hey Jungkook?"

Taehyung's whisper reached Jungkook's ear very quietly, and the younger tuned out the continuation of the previous conversation as he leaned towards Tae. The silver boy leaned over as well, shoulder almost brushing Jungkook's. He opened his mouth for a few seconds and then closed it, eyes someplace far away as he seemingly deliberated an unspoken question.

"I-"

"Are you okay?" Jungkook questioned quickly, worry seeping into his bones. "Is it too loud? Does your stomach hurt or something? We can leave if you want to."

"No no, I'm okay!" Taehyung told him, beaming widely for reassurance. Jungkook visibly relaxed. "I'm just... I'm really happy, Jungkookie," he whispered, like it was a secret that needed to be bottled up and stored somewhere very high where it couldn't ever escape.

B o o m. b o o m.

Jungkook's heart was beating too slowly. He searched Taehyung's face, where all he found was joy - etched into every long eyelash, every curve of his contagious smile and every twinkle in those curious eyes.

"I'm really happy. And I like when you smile, Kookie. I like it a lot."

B o o m. b o o m. B o o m. b o o m.

Sweeter than honey, thicker than molasses, sharper than glass. It was constant; the sticky, magnetic sensation in his chest telling him - urging him - to reach out and pull Taehyung into his arms and hold him and never, ever let go until the days turned brown and the world fell silent.

"I like when you smile too, Tae."

B o o m. b o o m. B o o m. b o o m. B o o m. b o o m.

The boy from the moon only grinned even wider, box smile showcashing all his cute teeth, and leaned forward as if he wanted to add something more - but didn't, and rather giggled gleefully.

"That's good then. More smiling!"

"Mhmm," Jungkook agreed, far too heavily focused on all the things about Taehyung he really should not be focused on to pay attention to the words coming from his mouth.

"Jungkookiieeeee," Jin's voice broke through Jungkook's transient haze and he shook his head. "I think it's time to break open the you-know-what." The older's eyebrows wiggled suggestively.

"Uhhh..." Jungkook stammered, still foggy. "The... watermelon?"

"The waterm- what?" Seokjin questioned, momentarily taken aback. "Why would we be breaking open- you know what, never mind. No, my dear Kook, it is high time for me to absolutely destroy you in drinking games."

Now Jungkook was paying attention.

"Oh, so you're going to be the one destroying me, huh? I do seem to recall me winning... oh, let me see... every single game last time we played?" he posed saucily.

"Which is exactly why I'm going to destroy you today!" Jin replied aggressively, already pushing his chair away from the table to stand up. "Sweet, sweet redemption! Namjoon, my love, could you be a dear and clear these dishes while I gather our ammunition?"

Namjoon rolled his eyes but began cleaning regardless, stacking plates and bowls to transport to the kitchen sink. Everybody else stood to help too, fully aware of Namjoon's clumsy tendencies and the high probability he would drop and shatter most of the dishes before they even reached the kitchen threshold. By the time Jin returned, three large bottles of unopened soju and a big box of sweet pastries jumbled in his arms, all that remained on the dining table were a couple crumbs and dewy glass cups. The eldest crouched over to spread his goods across the tablecloth - one bottle nearly rolling off the edge to shatter on the floor before Yoongi caught it - and then jumped up with glee, patting the seat next to him to motion Jungkook to sit.

"They do this every single time we're together," Hoseok whispered to Taehyung at his left. "Jungkook wins, like, 75% of the time though, and then sometimes they both throw up and we banish the both of them outside for the rest of the night." He snickered affectionately.

"What is... so-ju?" Taehyung questioned, head at a near-90 degree angle as he slowly sounded out the label of the glass bottle nearest him, still lying on its side. Jungkook was teaching him to read and upon properly pronouncing the word he looked up, pleased.

"You've... never had Soju before?" Hoseok asked disbelievingly, raising an eyebrow.

"No. It is a funny word, Jungkook has said it before," the younger replied happily.

"Huh. It's a kind of alcohol - guess I never thought I'd meet somebody our age who's never drunk before. Hey, how old are you, anyways? When's your birthday?" Hoseok narrowed his eyes as he spoke, sizing Tae up. "I'd guess like probably the same age as Jimin, right?"

Taehyung frowned in surprise.

"I - my birthday? What is a bir-"

"CHEATING! Jungkook is CHEATING!" Seokjin screamed. Clearly, quite a substantial amount of alcohol had already reached his bodily systems.

"I absolutely am not cheating you old man! You're just mad you lost! Again!" Jungkook yelled back, slamming a small empty glass onto the table.

The birthday question was quickly forgotten as the room descended into a tumultuous mess of tipsy men, flaming shots, and a (very) short- lived pastry fight.

At the end of it all, Jungkook had won (arguably) six times, and Jin (arguably) five.

"You d-don't know what you're talking about," Seokjin hiccuped, leaning heavily on a snickering Namjoon. "Also I looooovee you Namjoonieee my baby," he exclaimed enthusiastically, booping his partner on the nose and then giggling when Namjoon's eyes crossed slightly.

"I deeefinitely do know what I'm talking about, hyung, and you - you taught me everything I know so if I didn't then that would be your fault!" Jungkook replied airily.

Jin fell completely silent at that sentence, fuzzy brain bewildered by the logic.

Jimin cleared his throat. "Um... perhaps we should all move to the living room! I think Jin-hyung could definitely benefit from sitting down for a bit!" he suggested cheerfully, beginning to usher the group in that direction before even hearing their responses.

Jungkook wobbled very slightly as he stood, one arm snapping out to steady himself against the table in case he fell, but he got his bearings quickly and trotted over to where Jimin was arranging Jin on the couch. Generally, despite being the youngest, he held his alcohol better than anybody except Hoseok, and currently all he was feeling was a very slight instability in bodily functions and a brain half-blurred over at the edges. Hopefully he wouldn't say anything stupid. Jin always told him he got bold when drunk, but what good is Jin's opinion when he's about ready to keel over himself?

"I really don't understand you guys' need to do this every time we're together," Namjoon sighed, sinking down beside Jin where the latter immediately drooped over to rest his head on Namjoon's shoulder.

Nobody answered Namjoon's half-posed statement.

Languid chatter commenced, tired voices lapping over one another to form a half-lattice of mingled conversation. It was so easy, the way their little family blended into one. It'd only been a day and already Jungkook couldn't imagine life without them again - without Jimin's contagious smile and Hoseok's boisterous laughter and the sly grin that flickered in and out of Yoongi's kind eyes like fire on a windy night. Next to him, Taehyung shifted from where he'd been leaning on the arm of the couch to press into Jungkook's side, hand twining around his waist to tug himself that much closer, chasing the intimate closeness Jungkook had grown so accustomed to. He tilted in to the silver boy, right arm fidgeting in a brief inner battle dictating whether or not he should bury his fingers in Tae's hair - but he opted to simply circle it around his shoulders instead, fear getting the better of him. The low humming in his ear signified Taehyung's contentedness, and a quick glance to the side showed the boy's half-lidded eyes and drooping chin, face glazed over with something between rapture and exhaustion.

"Tae Tae?"

"Mmm"

I think I love you.
"I'm glad you came."

"Me too, Kookie. Thank you."

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.
Jungkook's world glowed.

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AN EXTRA EXTRA LONGGGG CHAPTER IM SO SORRY IM SHIT AT UPDATING PLEASE ENJOY I LOVE ALL OF YOU SO MUCHHH

- Kiki <3