A nurturing silence. Wandering, busy hands. The two boys stood not far from each other, each doing their own contributions to cooking up a homemade meal they would soon dine on together.

It hadn't taken Jeongguk long to realize what it was Taehyung—or rather Dot, had wanted to make, since hiding bulgogi meat wasn't an easy feat if one's intentions were to cook it. It seemed the male had merely given up and accepted Jeongguk's help though, which the boy was grateful for. He found himself humming mindless tunes while he prepped the rice cooker to oddly specific settings, ensuring only the best kind of rice for their evening. He took his rice craft quite seriously, after all.

And a few feet behind him, was where Taehyung sliced thin pieces of meat, his eyes peering to peek at the younger boy from time to time. It seemed he was failing terribly at hiding a smile, but how could he stop himself when Jeongguk looked so incredibly adorable bouncing on his feet while humming to whatever tune came to his head?

Despite the fact that the alter didn't speak, the two boys had created their own comfortable silence, crafted a cozy atmosphere to indulge in while they both remained preoccupied with their own tasks. It made Dot's stomach flutter. The stark difference between Jeongguk and, well... anyone else, really, was large, to say the least.

He had heard it all before.

The, 'why are you so quiet?' or 'why don't you speak?' or 'he's weird. don't talk to him'.

Something about speaking in sign language rather than Korean seemed to frighten others his own age back then. It was unthinkable to those kids—why not utilize your tongue and just speak? Why use your hands for words? Words were meant to be spoken out loud.

But Dot didn't quite think so.

He believed words could be spoken in other ways. By tongue, by hands, by a mere gaze.

What he liked about Jeongguk is that he seemed to understand him with only one look. That despite the boy's lack of sign language knowledge, he was able to communicate. That he just knew, without him having to say anything.

He liked his patience, his kindness. His bunny teeth, and cute smile. He liked a lot of things about the boy.

And only a few seconds ago did he realize that he also liked Jeongguk's light humming, and the way his body swayed while he waited for rice to cook.

Truthfully, the boy could get used to such domesticity.

"Is the fire on too strong?" Taehyung's body flinched slightly when Jeongguk had suddenly appeared behind him, watching him cook the meat over a burning pan.

He shook his head sideways, and Jeongguk's brows lowered, hand reaching up to pat at the man's cheeks.

"Your skin's all flushed.." he mumbled, "I hope you're not coming down with something.."

Taehyung's lips parted. He forced himself to concentrate back onto the bulgogi as to not let it char, and ignored the heat he indeed felt settle over his entire body. How was he to tell the boy the true reason he was so flushed? That it was because of him? Because every time he thought about the younger, his heart set itself ablaze?

No, Jeongguk was better off not knowing such things.

Diing!

Jeongguk's head swiveled behind him once the timer for the rice cooker had went off, and he patted a hand over Taehyung's shoulder before dashing off to tend to the rice. Taehyung found himself breathing out a long sigh, left hand wiped a drop of sweat from his forehead before he finished up the meat and collected them all in a plate.

He set his silver tongs down, switched off the fire and heard a sudden clattering of silverware spilling over the countertop.

"Ouch—!" He heard Jeongguk yelp in a screeching voice, and Taehyung was quick to snap his head toward the younger, only to see him clutching his hand, where a string of blood lined up across his index finger.

The man dashed towards him, a concerned expression lacing his eyes while he reached gently to grab Jeongguk's wrist, pulling it toward him to investigate the injury.

Jeongguk looked up at him in slight surprise and let a nervous chuckle slip. "S-Sorry, I was... trying to grab the big spoon but everything else fell over. I didn't realize what I picked up was a blade.."

Taehyung chewed on his lip in frustration, seemingly angry that the boy had gotten hurt, and yet Jeongguk only found himself holding back from cooing sweetly at him.

"I'm okay, Dotie.. It's not a deep wound—"

Taehyung shook his head furiously and took a step back, insisting that the boy stayed where he was. He then quickly disappeared down the hall for mere seconds before he returned with a small box in his hands. Jeongguk blinked at him, watching while the older set down the box he now came to realize was a mini first aid kit, which he placed over the kitchen counter.

He held his hand out, eyes piercing into the boy with fiery determination. Jeongguk giggled quietly, complying by resting his hand over Taehyung's large one.

And then the older got to work.

He damped a cotton ball with disinfectant and carefully tapped it over Jeongguk's open cut. He then laced the injury with a gentle ointment and began to shift through some patterned band-aids inside the box. He settled with a cute bunny pattern, and wrapped the band-aid carefully around Jeongguk's finger.

The younger cracked a small smile while Taehyung straightened his shoulders, face nearing his as their eyes met. Somehow Jeongguk knew exactly what that look meant.

"No, it doesn't hurt.." the boy chuckled. "Thank you... for treating it so quickly."

Taehyung gave a slow nod, and by the expression he still held Jeongguk knew the man was still worried.

It was... cute. Adorable, even.

Jeongguk couldn't look away. Taehyung's handsome face remained unchanged, of course, despite which alter took control of their body. And yet, each of them had a way of wearing different expressions that Jeongguk couldn't quite help but grow addicted toward.

Dot's eyes were nearly the exact opposite of V's.

While V's gaze was like staring into a void, getting swallowed into a vacuum of nothingness, a black hole constricting you whole, not from any means of the vastness in outer space, but from right in front of you; Dot's gaze was like settling into the comfort of your own bed. To lay down upon a field of flowers, and stare into a sunset where you could somehow still see the stars twinkling, readying to shine well into the night.

Really, Jeongguk couldn't dare look away.

Instead he let himself be pulled in by those eyes. That warm, inviting gaze that only seemed to want to nurture him. His uninjured hand placed itself over Taehyung's shoulder, eyes dazed into the man's allure.

The older held his breath. And before either of them could process the next few seconds, their lips gently met. Jeongguk pulled him into a slow kiss, fingers now trailing up Taehyung's neck and brushing carefully over the strands of his wavy hair.

Taehyung's eyes closed, one hand landing to Jeongguk's waist, brows lowering in the shock of it all, in the sparks that shot through his skin, the accelerated beating of his heart. Jeongguk's lips clashed over his own, then pulled back and smooched Taehyung's in a loud smacking noise, only to engage him in another sweet kiss, where the boy pulled their bodies even closer.

And as soon as Taehyung's hip touched the corner of the counter, his eyes fluttered back open, face pulling back to look at Jeongguk who was now gazing at him with his big eyes. The older's face quickly grew a feverish red, and Jeongguk took a quick step back in bewilderment.

"O-Oh, did I-... I'm sorry, did I overstep..?" Jeongguk was quick to apologize, attentive eyes on Taehyung, whose startled expression gradually turned numb.

He watched as the older's gaze fell, brow twitching in somewhat of focus, and then Taehyung blinked twice, peered at the space around them before he returned Jeongguk's gaze once again.

The boy's hand lowered. "Dot..?"

Taehyung dug a hand through his hair and ruffled it, a sheepish smile spreading over his lips. "Hm? Was Dot fronting before me..?"

Jeongguk's mouth parted. "O-Oh.. Taehyung, hey.." He spoke softly.

"Hi, pretty boy."

Jeongguk bit his lip in an attempt to hide his smile at the sound of the mere nickname. "Y-Yeah, uhm... Dot was just here. I think he ran away from me.."

Taehyung blinked again, eyes wide as though he were still trying to get a grasp at the world around him. "Well, what happened? He can be a little scaredy cat, but.. he thinks highly of you, so.."

Jeongguk gave a meek laugh and awkwardly scratched the side of his head. "Um... Well, I k-kissed him.."

Taehyung's eyes somehow became wider. "You did?"

The boy clasped his hands over his face to hide his blushed cheeks. "M'sorry, I didn't know he'd—...." he trailed off, voice muffled over his palms.

"Hey, listen.. Don't worry," Taehyung grasped at Jeongguk's shoulders firmly. "He's just shy, remember? You make him even more self conscious so I'm sure he just got embarrassed and fled.."

Jeongguk groaned into his hands and ran them through his hair. "W-Were... you watching us?"

Taehyung snorted out a small laugh. "No, I wasn't, darling. If I was I wouldn't have asked what happened."

Jeongguk dropped his hands from his face and pouted, making tiny steps back towards the rice cooker.

"Whatever, can-... can we just eat?"

The older watched as Jeongguk fumbled while reaching to grab a bowl, and he couldn't help but grin at the sight.

"Mmn. Whatever you want, baby."

※ ※

Jeongguk chomped on his meal, a cute pout accompanying his puffy cheeks, and Taehyung couldn't help his obvious staring.

"Stop looking at me.." The boy whined softly.

Taehyung tilted his head to the side, nearly swooning at the sight. "Aw, but you look so cute.." he cooed gently, an amused smirk over his face. Jeongguk's frown lowered.

"You're making me really embarrassed, you know that, right?" Jeongguk gave an adoring grunt.

Taehyung lifted his chopsticks, landed a piece of bulgogi to his mouth and returned eye contact. "I don't get what's making you so shy. We used to kiss all the time, and it's not like I was even subconscious just now."

Jeongguk looked down at his food, face bright red. "I'm just worried I made him uncomfortable.."

"You didn't."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know my own alter," Taehyung huffed. "Dot just hasn't kissed anyone in a while. Let alone someone he really really likes."

Jeongguk's body perked up. "Someone he.. likes?"

"No shit," Taehyung chuckled. "All five of us are smitten with you, Jeongguk."

The boy's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Even V?"

"Well, he's—"

"Actually, don't answer that." Jeongguk quickly shook his head dismissively, and continued to eat leisurely. The older watched him a while longer before taking his next bite, and the two fell into a peaceful silence, where Taehyung munched on his food, his attention set firmly on the boy sitting across from him on his dining table.

After a long moment of the two's quiet chewing, Taehyung swallowed the food in his mouth and leaned back against his seat.

"You got hurt?"

Jeongguk looked up at him, then glanced at the band-aid over his finger.

"It was just a small cut.. Dot took care of it for me.." he mumbled.

Taehyung pushed his tongue into the inside of his mouth and nodded, hand settling down beside his plate. "And.. are you still getting those nightmares...?" He asked carefully.

Jeongguk seemed to pause for a moment, upon realizing what the older was referring to. And then, he mustered up a smile and calmly shook his head.

"No... No more nightmares, I.." he paused to swallow his food, "I've been doing a lot better. My body feels... like my body again, so.." He squirmed a bit in his seat, head lowered. "T-Thanks again for that. It's all because of you."

Taehyung let a wide smile spread across his lips. "I didn't do anything. I just reminded you of the truth." He paused, the words clinging to the edge of his tongue before he pushed them out. "That you're beautiful. And your body's no exception to that."

Jeongguk bit his lip, refusing to look the man in his eyes. Because once he did such a thing, he felt his heart would never be able to recover.

"T-Thanks.." he nearly whispered, not trusting himself to say much more than that without his voice wavering. There was another string of silence, a cozy one, before Jeongguk then spoke again, eager to chat more with the older. "How's, um... photography club? Will you be doing more things for the Kang Gallery later on?"

Taehyung chugged down a gulp of sparkling water that had been in a glass cup beside him, then licked his lips and smiled. "I hope so. The gallery was... actually really fun. I wouldn't have done it if Namjoon and Yerin didn't push me to. Plus, I remember you also really wanted me to do it.."

"I did," Jeongguk returned the large smile. "Because, well.. Everyone should see how talented you are. You know, there were also plenty of girls gushing over your work without even knowing you."

The older gently scoffed. "That's lovely. Though I'm far more interested in what you thought about it."

Jeongguk fell silent, his doe eyes blinking back at the man. "I told you before—"

"You told me it was 'really good,' if I remember correctly." Taehyung leaned forward against the table, a teasing grin on his face. "I suppose I'll have to work harder to earn a real compliment from you next time."

"N-No, it was-.." Jeongguk gulped down a breath, a pink flush on his face. "It was magnificent. Breathtaking, in fact.. I've never seen work quite like it before, and you-.. Your theme of poems as titles made it all stand out from the bunch even more. It was ingenious, really. I... really loved it."

Taehyung pursed his lips, those fierce eyes holding the younger captive. He then exhaled gently underneath his breath, quietly brought his chopsticks to his lips, ignored the pumps of his chest.

"That's... well, I'm.. glad you enjoyed it.."

Jeongguk scooted closer to the table and gave a sincere smile. "I really, really did. So promise me you'll do it again!" He laughed softly. "Then we can go and see your work displayed together this time. What do you say?"

Taehyung inevitably returned the boy's laugh, then feigned a conflicted expression on his face. "Hm... I dunno. I'll think about it."

Jeongguk scowled at the older, a playful glint in his eyes. And then Taehyung continued to speak, more assertively this time.

"It'll be more difficult, since... Well, apparently there's to be a theme next season."

The boy's brow rose. "Oh? What's the theme?"

"Love."

The two locked gazes, staring directly at each other though only for a fleeting moment.

"That's-... Yeah, surely that would be a difficult topic to portray, huh.." Jeongguk then mumbled softly.

"I suppose. But that's not really the problem," Taehyung tapped the glass beside him. "Many of the artists can't seem to align on what approach to take. There's two sides to the topic; there's debate on whether or not 'making love' and 'sex' is the same thing."

Jeongguk blinked in silence, letting the words sizzle in his head. He seemed to ponder over it a moment, lips puckered to a focused pout before he gave his thought on the matter.

"Well, are they not the same thing..?" He lowered his chopsticks. "I mean... usually making love in forms of media and whatnot is meant to refer to sex. In a romantic term, yes, but... Sex nonetheless.."

Taehyung stared at him in silence.

Jeongguk proceeded with his theory, "And a-also, when... When I was still with Seojun that's what he'd call it, usually. He'd say making love, rather than sex. I guess it was to try and show me he loved me.."

The room fell quiet once more, and Jeongguk looked up to see Taehyung poking at his plate.

After a while, he finally spoke.

"They're not the same thing.." he muttered, his words rendering Jeongguk silent. "I may not have experienced love myself until just now, but... I've watched V and Yerin for years now. So, yes.. Making love is something completely different than just sex."

Jeongguk grazed his teeth over his bottom lip, confused brows pushing together as he gave the older's words more thought.

Though truthfully, he didn't quite understand. One term was merely an implication of the other, neither meaning an action any different to the latter term. Hence, being the same thing in Jeongguk's head.

Making love merely meant sex. Sex was making love.

But upon fixating his eyes over Taehyung's gaze, he could see the man saw something entirely different than he. Something Jeongguk himself was yet to apprehend.

"I don't get it... Explain it to me.." The boy mumbled slowly, peering at the man who refused to break eye contact.

"It's not something I can explain, bun.." Taehyung then sighed softly, taking in the last bit of rice into his system.

"What do you mean, I-..." Jeongguk paused. "...If you can't prove it, then.. I'm not sure how much truth your argument holds."

Taehyung merely cracked a yearning smile, patiently awaiting the boy to finish his remark. But when he didn't, the man merely exhaled a gentle sigh.

"I can prove it to you, then.. One day." He rested his elbow atop the table, chin settling to the palm of his hand. "One day when I get you to fall for me again.."

Jeongguk's lips parted, gaped eyes blinking at the man seated across from him. He then slowly chewed at his bottom lip again, let himself linger on Taehyung's words.

One day, when Jeongguk held love for him again.

When he could say clearly, that he indeed was in love with him—with Kim Taehyung. Wholeheartedly. Unapologetically.

In love.

Was that what it took to know the difference? Was that some kind of requisite for being bestowed such knowledge of the world? Of making love versus sex, which Jeongguk was coming to realize may not be the same concept. Although—in what way were they different?

Well, for him to know, he would have to be in love again. With someone who loved him back. Two people, mutually in love with each other, would know the difference.

So if that was the case—

"Then, why don't you prove it to me now...?" Jeongguk concluded his thought out loud, eyes nearly burning the passion of his words while he gazed attentively at Taehyung.

The older nearly gaped at him, lips pried open in disbelief while he soaked up the words spoken from the boy's lips.

"Jeongguk, you would have to—"

"It's not accurate to say that you'd have to get me to fall for you.." Jeongguk quickly cut in, wanting to express these feelings to the older before he could convince himself on backing out of them. "I-It's not accurate, because..." He lowered his voice, clammy hands squirming to clasp together beneath the table, over his lap. "B-Because I realize now that I n-never stopped loving you.."

Taehyung opened his mouth to say something, but nothing seemed to come out, his mind taken utterly aback by Jeongguk's sudden confession. Not a single coherent thought could complete itself in his head. No, in fact his mind was crumbling into emptiness. He couldn't think of a single thing other than what Jeongguk was saying to him now.

"I n-never once... stopped loving you. Even before the day I first said those words to you, I—.. I'm full of thoughts of only you, and feelings.. These darn feelings that make me melt in your presence, hyung.. It's unbearable. And now that I know it, I just... I can't pretend like I'm not hopelessly in love with you. It's always been so hard to, which is w-why.. I just had to confess those feelings to you back then, and... It's why I'm confessing them again t-to you n-now.."

Taehyung swallowed his saliva, not daring to interrupt the boy while he continued.

"S-So show me, then.. Show me that making love is something different entirely, because I d-don't think I can come up with any kind of imaginative definition for it, and... I really want to know, so... show me."

The older pressed his lips together, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He finally let out the breath he'd been holding in, pushed his chair back to rise from his seat, his gaze flickering the utmost fondness for the male in front of him.

And with his deep, receptive voice, he answered the boy with the only response he ever could, in that moment.

"I'll show you."

※ ※

It was just like that, then.

Just like that, the two men had found themselves in Taehyung's low-lit bedroom, over Taehyung's bed, Jeongguk plopped atop the mattress while Taehyung himself stood in front of the edge, scrutinizing the seated boy with a kind of indecipherable gaze that wouldn't allow Jeongguk's heart to live in peace.

"H-How long are you going to keep staring..?" He let out in a whispered breath, while Taehyung held onto the shirt he had recently removed from his own torso.

The man slowly turned his head to the side, gaze trailing to the floor while he chewed on his bottom lip.

"Are you really that nervous?"

"I'm not nervous," Taehyung responded firmly, dropping the piece of clothing to the floor. "I just.. want this to be perfect. Want you to feel it, receive it well. And, I'm.. not even sure you're ready to—"

"Hyung.." Jeongguk cut him off softly, rising to sit up on his knees and scoot his body to the edge of the bed. He reached up, placed his hands at either side of Taehyung's face while he insisted eye contact. "I'm ready. I want to do this with you. So, so badly."

Taehyung scanned the look on the younger's face, settled his own hands at the boy's hips in response. He leaned forward, pecked Jeongguk's lips sweetly, then pressed their noses against each other's.

"I won't be fucking you right now, Jeongguk.." he whispered beneath his breath. "I'm going to make love to you. It's different, okay?"

Jeongguk's lips pushed into an innocently content smile. "Okay. Make love to me, then.."

Taehyung chuckled a quiet breath, placed a finger beneath Jeongguk's chin before he pressed their lips together gently, while lifting the younger's head up for easier access. Jeongguk let his own arms wrap around the male's neck, pulled him closer to embrace his musky scent, one that made his head fall dizzy to its charm.

"Mmn!" Jeongguk squealed out once Taehyung had gently pushed him back against the mattress and seamlessly reconnected their lips, hands reaching to pry the boy's shirt up to reveal his naked chest. Jeongguk felt careful fingers slide up his skin, and then remove the clothing off of him, from head to toe, until he became fully nude beneath the older. The boy looked down to watch as Taehyung dipped his head down, placed a kiss over his inner thigh.

"You should know how painful it's been, Jeongguk.." The man whispered against his skin. "Holding back whenever you're around, when all I want to do is cherish you."

Jeongguk remained propped up with his elbows against the mattress, left thigh rested over Taehyung's shoulder. The man reached up, pried himself between the boy's legs only to lean down and kiss below his belly button.

"Cherish you.. and your beautiful skin.. Every single part of you," Taehyung continued, trailed his kisses up Jeongguk's chest until he reached his collarbone. The boy inhaled a sharp breath as the other now smooched repeatedly over his neck, then across his jawline, until he connected their lips once more.

Jeongguk couldn't hold back any longer. He held onto Taehyung's broad shoulders, wrapped his legs around his waist, grasped onto the man's very lips with his own.

Taehyung's hold on him, his kiss, his every breath—it all echoed loud in Jeongguk's veins, rushed his senses, injected themselves deep into every ounce of his body.

The sheets beneath him were warm, enveloped him into a cozy snug, but Jeongguk felt himself moreso melt into the older's arms. The arms that held him so tightly, so protectively, so lovingly.

His heart felt it could burst any second now, while their tongues engaged into a push and pull, a helpless exchange of saliva as their kiss grew in vigorous desire. Jeongguk nearly wanted to scream, the weight of his heart becoming much too heavy to hold it in any longer.

He loved this man. He really loved him.

He felt like an idiot for suppressing this much too familiar emotion, but quite frankly he's never felt such strong passion for anyone like this before. No, not even for Seojun.

Taehyung was different. Much, much different. He was an oasis hidden deep within a desert—his salvation. Jeongguk didn't know he'd been starving until he found Taehyung, and really, how could he possibly live without him now?

"Jeongguk.." Taehyung's hefty breath pushed against the boy's lips, who nearly moaned in response to that husky voice against him. As soon as the man had uttered his name, Jeongguk had fallen completely captive to him.

"H-Hyung.."

Taehyung repeatedly kissed over the boy's pink lips, hands reaching down to rid himself of the pants over his own waist. He pushed off the clothing, along with his boxers; and then it was the two of them, just the two of them, in this confined bedroom, their eager skins and prying eyes, attentive to one another's breaths.

Clothing restricted them no longer. Their bare selves, their bodies, thoughts, became one. When Taehyung penetrated him with his love, Jeongguk couldn't stop himself from throwing his head down over the mattress and gurgling out a choked moan.

His fingers moved mindlessly, scrambling to find him. Once they did Jeongguk clung onto the older, shut his eyes tightly, trembled out breaths of satisfied pleasure. His back arched beneath him, mind plunging into a different state—a feeling that began consuming every inch of him because, yes, there was something different about Taehyung's thrusts today.

Something in the way he plunged unspoken words deep inside him, sparking a flame in the boy's heart. Somehow he felt it, through the slow, careful movements Taehyung prodded into him. It was overwhelming, really, to have such tender emotions rise so feverishly.

At one point Jeongguk took notice of the fact he'd been chanting the older's name over and over in babbling moans, his clouded head far gone in the feeling he was so kindly being given, head lulling loosely to the side. Taehyung took notice of the boy's restlessness, and reached up to pull a pillow down beside them, then gently lifted Jeongguk's head to settle over the much more comfortable cushion.

"Mm, baby.. What's wrong, hm?" he whispered in a quiet moan, pushing the younger's bangs up to reveal his forehead.

Jeongguk clenched his jaw, a huff of pleasure, then let his wandering eyes fixate on the older, whose naked body hovered closely above him.

"T-Tae.." His voice trembled in ecstasy, a quiet whine to his tone as he let himself fall deep into the man's stare, those eyes that he couldn't dare forget.

Jeongguk remembered so very clearly the first time he looked into those bottomless eyes. Like, really looked at them, took a full dive inside the many elements existing past them. He remembered the fire, the stars, the violent waves. Remembered the strength, the fear, the sorrow. How blinding they had been. How he was overcome by them all, was pushed and tossed with the melancholy he'd felt in the split second of it all when he had realized the man was much more complicated than he had thought. That he had some far-reaching story he'd been unaware of back then.

He remembered how that day, Jeongguk had sworn to protect Kim Taehyung.

And perhaps it was in that moment that he had really fallen for the man. When he had become obsessed with his touch—had fallen to the point of no return.

Because, how could he possibly go back after having tasted such raw emotions pouring from the man's entire being? The being that held not one, but five of him?

Jeongguk couldn't. He couldn't possibly, for he had already taken bite of the forbidden apple, had already sealed his fate toward no one but him.

"You're alright, bun.." Taehyung whispered beside his ear, brought Jeongguk right back to reality when he then dug his face to the side of the boy's warm neck. Jeongguk leaned to the side, let the older settle comfortably against his skin while their bodies moved as one.

"Mmn.. Mmm.." Jeongguk moaned carelessly, body rubbing against the mattress at every thrust. "H-Hyung, come-... come here.."

Taehyung huffed out muffled grunts a moment, then pried his head from Jeongguk's shoulder and pecked at the boy's lips once, then twice; only for the younger to hold his face gently in his hands and press their lips together. Taehyung held himself up, one hand beside Jeongguk's head as he carefully slammed his hips all the way in, urging a loud moan from the boy beneath him.

"I love you.." Taehyung's voice shook in ragged, quiet groans. He let himself lower a little, foreheads clashing together gently. "I'm so... in love with you, darling.."

Jeongguk ran his hands down beside Taehyung's neck, settled them at his pecs while he closed his eyes, let the older's deep grunts seep deep into his memory.

"I-I love you too, h-hyung.." The boy managed the words out, a large boyish smile on his face once he fluttered his eyes open to look up at his one and only soulmate.

Taehyung let himself stare at the boy's endearing smile, a flutter jolting in his stomach, his veins rushing with a feeling he couldn't quite describe.

He couldn't help but return the boy's grin, their smiles exchanging vows of their bursting hearts toward one another. And their souls reached none other than one conclusion.

That they finally, finally belonged to no one but each other.

✱