Work Text:
Jungkook cursed as he took another box out of the car, wondering why the hell didn't he accept help from any of his friends. Now, he was stuck moving all his stuff within one day, as he promised to return Hoseok's car the following morning.
'How does such a fancy building have a broken elevator?' Jungkook groans as he opens the door to the lobby, his view obstructed by the box he holds. Suddenly, an unknown force pushes it out of his hold, as he falls to the ground. He can only watch in disbelief as his precious designs scatter on the ground, the frames clashing against each other and the floor shattering.
'What kind of an idiot doesn't look where he's going?! For god's sake, rich people are insufferable and careless! I swear that I-... What the hell?' Jungkook prepares a lengthy monologue in his head, fully ready to scold the unknown stranger before noticing him. Now, Jeon Jungkook never considered himself a religious man, but upon the sight before him, he was prepared to start a new religion, worshipping the man in front of him. He quickly moves his eyes over his figure, observing the ridiculous amount of muscles the other man shows.
' Quite rude to look so amazing in those hideous shorts and a simple shirt? Gods, those shoulders,' Jungkook realises with dread that his jaws dropped, so he quickly closes his mouth. He kneels on his ground, focusing on collecting his things silently. He wants to praise the heavens above for bringing this gorgeous man into his life.
'I'm so sorry that I bumped into you! I was reading through my mail and not watching where I'm going! Is anything damaged permanently? I'll pay for any reparations necessary.' The man joins Jungkook on the ground, helping him pick up the designs.
'Wow, these look amazing! Are they yours? You're really talented!' Jungkook stays silent as he feels blood quickly rushing into his cheeks, turning him into a tomato.
'Ah, tha-thank you! I made them, but they're all okay, don't worry! They were protected by frames, so only the glass is damaged, so it's no problem really,' Jungkook explains, entirely focused on avoiding eye contact with the stranger.
'But I'm truly sorry. By the way, my name's Seokjin, and I live in the penthouse here. Judging by the boxes, are you new here? I don't think I remember seeing you here before.' Thanking his lucky stars for having such a handsome neighbour, Jungkook pretends to clear his throat as he calms down not to appear overeager.
'Ah, yes. My cousin, Hoseok, owns an apartment here, but he moved in with his boyfriends.' He prays Seokjin wouldn't start hating on his cousin because of his orientation, but he has a feeling Hobi wouldn't hide something so important from him.
'Oh, I was wondering, why haven't I been meeting him as often lately,' chuckles Seokjin as he leans against the wall, a single frame in his hands. Jungkook feels blood rushing into his cheeks when he notices the older observing the design.
'This one is impressive, Jungkook-ssi. You have a great talent.' Seokjin hands him the frame back, smiling at him with a soft glow in his eyes.
Jungkook holds out his hand, reaching for the last frame, as Seokjin gives it to him before nodding curtly.
'Well, unfortunately, I can't stay for long because somebody will be very impatient if their apple juice isn't at the right temperature for breakfast. It was lovely meeting you, and I hope we'll run into each other soon.' With that, Seokjin turns around, running up the stairs, leaving Jungkook feeling like he has just finished a marathon.
He stares at the place where Seokjin disappeared, wondering if he just dreamed the entire ordeal. He mindlessly carries the rest of his boxes to his new apartment, focusing on not dropping anything. As soon as he places the last one in the hall, he immediately dials Hoseok's number, aggressively tapping his foot against the floor. He impatiently paces inside the apartment, staring accusatorily at the stuff lying around. The moment Hoseok answers, Jungkook starts a monologue, complaining about not being prepared to face such a godlike creature.
'Slow down, Jungkook. I can't understand a single word you're saying.' The older tries to calm him down, unsuccessfully, as Jungkook ignores him to continue his ranting.
'Hobi, how could you hide the fact that your neighbour is hot as fuck? That's one of the top five anime betrayals! I wasn't prepared,' whines Jungkook into the phone as he complains to Hoseok for almost an hour, animatedly walking around the apartment as he sings praises about the insanely hot neighbour.
'Jungkook, calm down because you're not making any sense right now. The only neighbour that's in an appropriate age category to consider hot is Jin-hyung, and he's not hot, so breathe, please,' explains Hoseok, sounding amused as he listens to Jungkook's unending rambling. That answer seems to awaken something primal in the younger, who doesn't hesitate to jump at Seokjin's defence. He states many reasons why he fulfils every definition of the words attractive, handsome and hot. After almost two hours of scolding coming from turbulent Jungkook, Hoseok promises to treat the younger to a meal as an apology for not being transparent with him.
Jungkook sighs before he decides to start unpacking, leaving less work for tomorrow when their call ends. As much as he tries to control his train of thought, his mind always seems to wander to Seokjin, finding truly peculiar connections to Seokjin in most of the items he owns. His favourite white shirt apparently matches the sleeve length of the one Seokjin wore when they met, his secret plushie has similarly shaped cheeks, and Jungkook's wooden figure of an owl is the same colour as Seokjin's eyes. Cursing his brain for betraying him in his time of need, Jungkook gives up as he wonders whether he could have a chance with his neighbour, as they seem from entirely different leagues.
'Hey, JK, fancy meeting you here again! So, how's the new apartment? Have any trouble settling in?' Seokjin smiles at Jungkook, looking even better than a week ago. The younger starts picking up an ideal venue for their wedding and choosing what dog they will adopt together.
'Summer wedding, so we can both wear white suits, and the ceremony can be held in some fancy garden or maybe in a forest,' muses Jungkook as he crosses things off his mental checklist, but he snaps out of his daydream when Seokjin claps his hands in front of his face.
'You alright there, JK? Kinda zoned out on me. I wasn't boring you, I hope.' Jungkook quickly denies it and hurries to explain himself, stuttering as he watches Seokjin burst out in laughter.
'It's fine. I was just kidding, don't worry.'
'So, Seokjin-ssi, you're uhmm... A fan of jogging?'
'You could say that. Are you interested in joining me, JK? It'd be lovely to have such a cutie accompanying me.' Jungkook nods without a second thought before fully processing what Seokjin just said. He freezes as he realises the older called him a 'cutie'. Ever since Jungkook started bulking up and getting tattoos and piercings, everyone called him hot or sexy. Then suddenly, a very handsome man has just called him cute, and his poor heart couldn't handle something like that.
'Well, I can't leave an old man like yourself without supervision. You might fall and break your back or something,' mumbles Jungkook, making sure to keep his eyes trained on the ground.
'How chivalrous of you to offer help so selflessly. It's decided then. Meet me tomorrow at 6 AM in the lobby. Wear something comfortable and bring enough water since I prefer longer tracks.' Jungkook curses in his mind, swearing never to open his stupid mouth again, but he doesn't intend to back up now. He better set ten alarms and hope his face bears a resemblance to a human in the morning.
Unfortunately, when Jungkook wakes up, the closest thing he resembles is a zombie or a mummy, so he sacrifices breakfast to make himself look half-presentably. He wanders into the hallway, still not fully conscious, just as Seokjin arrives, and for the holy father of gays. If Jungkook thought Seokjin was the hottest thing he has ever seen after running his daily routine, he wasn't fully prepared to see the older in the morning before. His hair is parted in the middle, revealing his forehead, and he looks like he stepped out of a runaway, and Jungkook stops to doubt his blooming feelings. How come an incredible, approachable, handsome man like Seokjin stayed single until he met Jungkook? Either some unknown deity blessed Jungkook's nonexistent sex life or some cursed Seokjin's. He better seizes the chance while it exists, no matter the reason, so Jungkook provokes Seokjin as he gets a headstart on their little race down the stairs. Seokjin catches up to him quickly, even with the unfair headstart, but he never pursues any further, ultimately letting the younger win.
But he doesn't cut Jungkook any slack as they jog through the city, engaging in a lighthearted conversation about the neighbourhood as Seokjin gracefully shares his favourite places, and Jungkook makes sure to remember them all. While Jungkook's workout routine obviously includes cardio exercises, he usually spends more time building muscles, so the long run starts making his calves ache sooner rather than later. He shamefully admits it to Seokjin, who's nothing but understanding as he suggests they return and slowly build up until Jungkook can handle Seokjin's scheduled track.
So they build their little routine of meeting up each morning, always at six, to jog and engage in more serious conversations as time flows. After merely five days of regular running with the older, Jungkook aces the original track, which earns him praises from the older, who admires his form. However, as much as Jungkook enjoys their daily jogging sessions, he starts yearning for some heavy lifting and his typical workout routine, so he brings it out to the elder one morning after finishing their run.
'As much as I enjoy our morning jogs, it's not my preferred method of workout, so I was wondering if there is any chance you could recommend a decent gym in proximity?' Jungkook didn't want to admit that his restraint about kissing the older is thinning with every passing day, and one more day could completely break him.
'I do. I was wondering if all of your muscles just appeared naturally. But lucky for you, you're looking at the VIP member of the Kim-Gym a few blocks from here. I can hook you up with a VIP membership with a hefty discount. We could be gym buddies if you don't mind a company. I sure need a spotting partner sometimes.' Jungkook swears his soul left his body as he imagines working out with Seokjin and even spotting him! What a blessing and a curse at the time, yet he can't imagine refusing, so he finds himself nodding at the proposal. Unfortunately, he can't pretend their schedules don't match, as Seokjin admitted he inherited a fortune after his grandfather and is pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming a worldwide known poet. So the next day, he receives a text message with the location of the gym and a question about their first joined gym workout.
Unwilling to prolong his suffering any longer, Jungkook suggests they go right after his shift ends at the cafe, and while he's at it, he invites the older for tea before working out to get some sugars into their body to keep up energy. Seokjin accepts, and after five hours, he stands at the counter at Jungkook's job, ordering the ice teas to go as he waits for Jungkook to change from his uniform to his regular clothes. Luckily for Jungkook, the gym is nearly packed, so there are many distractions inside, making him focus on anything besides Seokjin's sweating body right beside him. When Seokjin asks whether he prefers they work out or run their morning jog, Jungkook, stupidly in love Jungkook, hurriedly answers both. That's how he and Seokjin become official workout buddies, every day doing something wonderful for their bodies. Jungkook sometimes wonders how he could form such a deep connection with a man he met only two weeks ago. Still, he chooses not to care as he enjoys every second spent with the older, be it planned or spontaneous, like when he finally meets Seokjin's other friends, whom he talks about often. At first, they don't seem to recognise him, but one of them quickly connects the dots after reading his nametag.
'So that's the infamous Jungkook we keep hearing about? This hyung won't shut up about you and your pretty eyes.' Jungkook blushes as he evades Seokjin's eyes, overthinking the meaning of the sentence, as he contains his inner happiness at the possibility that the older spends time thinking about him too.
'Jungkook-ah! What a small world! It seems like we're destined to run into each other all over again.' Jungkook can't fight his smile as he hears Seokjin's voice, his heart beating faster as he turns around, greeting the older, as they both feel as if Seokjin never visited him at work before. He quickly checks around for any signs of the manager before pulling Seokjin into a quick hug, melting into his hold. Seokjin's friends coo at them, and one of them starts wiping away imaginary tears at the sight of their hug.
'Stop embarrassing me, guys. Let poor Jungkook do his job in peace without anyone annoying him.' Seokjin distances himself from the younger, making Jungkook frown at the sudden cold as there's a space between them. Seokjin's friends introduce themselves, as the oldest doesn't appear keen on doing so himself. They all seem very friendly and pleasant, and Jungkook is overjoyed at the prospect of becoming more involved with Seokjin's life. He notices his manager nearing them, so he hurriedly takes their orders and puts a hefty discount on their beverages. He waits until their orders are finished before announcing he's taking his break, as he takes the drinks to their table and joins them.
They connect almost immediately, and Jungkook learns that they are close friends of Hoseok, too, making the youngest wonder how he never met them before, as he promises himself to scold Hoseok once more for hiding them. Taehyung, their fellow neighbour, as it turns out, shares a lot of interests with Jungkook and promises to take him to the next exhibition in the museum he works for, and Jungkook can't express his gratitude enough. As the end of Jungkook's break nears, their conversation still flowing effortlessly, and he prepares to leave their table when Taehyung's boyfriend, Yoongi, stops him.
'Jungkook, we're going to a club next weekend for a Halloween-themed party. Hoseok's coming with us, and it would give us a chance to meet together. You could join us if you want?' There's nothing more that Jungkook would love more than enjoying an excellent party with some friends, but he worries about possibly embarrassing himself in front of Seokjin; however, he decides he can't let his fears control his actions, so he ultimately decides just to risk it.
'Sounds fun, count me in,' answers Jungkook as he makes eye contact with smiling Seokjin, and suddenly, he can't see anything else. The week flies by, and suddenly, a series of impatient knocks sound through his apartment as six older men try to find out if they can hurry him up by creating more noise. Spoiler alert: it doesn't work as Jungkook takes all the time he needs to recreate a typical biker look, his hair gelled and swept off his forehead to show more of it. The amount of work he invested into his appearance pays off as Seokjin's jaw falls when he first sees the younger. Not that Jungkook is faring any better, watching Seokjin's costume of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. He briefly wonders if his own confession about Aragorn being his favourite character played any role in Seokjin's choice, but he doesn't linger on the thought. The entire group jokes on their way to the club, which is located relatively close so they can go on foot, and Jungkook marvels at the luxurious design of the building as they enter. He can't stop his smile as he notices the dance floor overflowing with people wildly dancing with the music blasting through the entire club. Jungkook has always loved dancing, so he immediately joins the dancing mass as he separates from the main group who go order drinks, and Jungkook wordlessly begs Seokjin to bring him something, too. As the older returns with a shot of something brightly pink, Jungkook doesn't hesitate to back it down, asking brazenly for another. Seokjin only smiles before obliging after he finishes his drink. Jungkook's time starts blurring together; the haze of losing himself in the beat mixes with the slight fog of alcohol, making him delirious with joy. He occasionally brings somebody from their friend group to dance with him, but nobody stays long enough, and Seokjin doesn't accept his offer until much, much later.
As Seokjin finally joins him, the music suddenly changes from the upbeat songs that played the entire night to more sultry. Seokjin places his hands on Jungkook's waist as the younger turns around, slowly moving his hips with the rhythm, basically grinding against the older shamelessly. When he uses his grip to control the younger's movements, Jungkook throws his head back, resting it on Seokjin's shoulder, his hands tangling in the older's hair. Seokjin breathes on his neck, the younger's skin erupting in goosebumps as he suppresses, shivering at the sensation. Seokjin grips his hips tightly, pulling him closer, nosing along his neck.
' Hyung, ' whispers Jungkook, his voice barely audible over the loud music blasting at the club. Seokjin's hands wander across Jungkook's abdomen, feeling up his muscles over the slightly dampened material of his shirt. As the music gradually changes into something more primal, igniting a spark inside them, Seokjin's fingers slip under the shirt, his nails teasing the flushed skin.
Jungkook desperately wants to kiss the older, shove him against the wall and not separate from him until the end of time, but his head starts spinning uncomfortably. Seokjin notices and gently takes Jungkook's hand as he leads them both outside, calling an Uber for them. As they wait outside in the clear air, Jungkook starts feeling a bit better as he leans on Seokjin for support, the older warm and cosy, as he pets Jungkook's hair soothingly.
Jungkook doesn't remember much from the evening after that as his consciousness slips away from him sporadically. Seokjin guides him inside the car, telling the driver their address as he holds Jungkook close to his chest. When they arrive, Seokjin takes them both to his apartment, letting the younger take over his bed as he crashes on the couch in the guest room.
Jungkook spends the night wandering in the dreamland, the differences between fantasy and reality blurring together as he thinks about how Seokjin made his life better and what else could change with the older's presence. Hopefully, Jungkook's relationship status as he swears to ask the older out when the right timing comes.
Soon, morning comes, and Jungkook wakes up with a killer headache, promising himself never to touch anything with alcohol again, as a soft knock takes him out of his misery for a second. With a hoarse voice, Jungkook invites the other person inside, uncaring about his appearance as he wishes just to cease to exist for the pain to disappear.
'Hi, Jungkook, I made you soup to reduce the hangover and headache.' Seokjin quietly enters the room, holding a bowl of steaming soup and brings it to the nightstand before he checks Jungkook's temperature.
'I love you, hyung.' Curse his nonexistent brain-to-mouth filter in the morning.
Luckily, Seokjin seems to understand that a sober and fully conscious Jungkook wouldn't say that out loud, so he just coos at the younger as he spoonfeeds him the soup carefully, blowing at the soup to cool down the temperature as Jungkook tries his best to remain upright. Hangover Jungkook doesn't feel shame or embarrassment, so he gladly complies as he eats the soup, thanking Seokjin after he's finished. The older notices his drooping eyes and offers him to stay in bed to rest until he feels like going home.
'Areum is spending the weekend away anyway, so I wouldn't mind the company,' confesses Seokjin as he adjusts the blanker over Jungkook's shoulders before closing the blinds and leaving the younger to rest properly.
As Jungkook wakes up for the second time, his memories come crushing in, quick to remind him of his earlier encounter with Seokjin, and he seriously considers jumping out of the window. Luckily, the older chooses that exact moment to knock on the door before looking inside, holding a change of clothes for Jungkook, who has never felt so grateful in his entire life.
Seokjin leaves the room soon afterwards to give Jungkook the privacy to change before he rushes out of the apartment, apologising as he explains he forgot to pick up the package he has in the post office. Hence, he leaves the younger in his apartment alone, somehow convinced Jungkook wouldn't cause any damage or steal anything, which warms the younger's heart.
As much as Jungkook wants to discover what kind of person Seokjin is (and what better way to get to know somebody than by their home), he doesn't feel comfortable spending time there without the older, so he promptly leaves for his flat. He wonders why Seokjin has awoken the sudden homely feeling within him, as he always feels disconnected from the apartment Hoseok is letting him use temporarily.
After Jungkook showers and orders some unhealthy food, he slumps against the couch, thankful he chose to join Seokjin's friends at the club as he needed some distraction from his usual routine.
He spends the rest of the day binge-watching anime and playing Overwatch as he pointedly ignores any messages from his work, probably his boss demanding he come for an additional shift, despite him already working overtime.
Jungkook doesn't even realise he spent the day wearing Seokjin's clothes until he wants to change into his pyjamas and ultimately decides against it. He could sacrifice one night of hygiene to sleep wrapped in Seokjin's comforting scent, which would lull him to sleep faster than any lullaby.
Jungkook's dreams are filled with a soft undertone of hope and love, and when he opens his eyes the following day, a strike of inspiration comes to him as he jumps out of bed straight into the kitchen. He sings along to the radio as he skips along with the small room, waiting for the cookies to be perfect. He rehearses what he plans on telling the older, each time perfecting the scenario. However, he knows no matter the amount of practice or safe runs, a million things could go off the trail and completely mess up his plan, so in the end, he decides just to wing it.
He climbs up the two flights of stairs, carefully holding the blazingly hot tray as he reaches Seokjin's floor. He opens the door with his elbow before he slowly walks to Seokjin's door, his heart racing rapidly in his chest. He takes a deep breath, calming his heart and thoughts, silently encouraging himself with the potential outcomes, already hoping for the best.
'Hyung, I baked something, and I was thinking of sharing it with you as thanks for taking care of me yesterday!' Jungkook can't knock properly with the tray in his hands, so he rings the bell with his nose and then shouts through the door, hoping the older will hear him. Otherwise, he probably faces a string of complaints from the neighbours uselessly, but luckily, he soon hears some shuffling at the other side of the door. He mentally prepares himself to face the older, as he promises himself to confess over the chocolate pastries.
'Hii, I'm Areum! Are you looking for my Daddy?' Jungkook stares at the little girl, who opens the door, mind completely blank. He suddenly freezes in his tracks, his mouth opened as he tries to form a coherent answer as he looks at the child. Suddenly, everything started making sense: the golden ring on Seokjin's finger, this girl looking exactly like the older. Seokjin is married and has a daughter. Suddenly, the odd pieces of information Seokjin shared with him about making a lunchbox, the morning apple juice, and grade school's math difficulty. Jungkook starts falling into a spiral as he carefully hands the tray to the little girl, assuring she can hold it before he bolts and runs straight to his apartment, tears streaming down his face as he curses himself for hoping despite the many signs.
He holes himself in his apartment, taking a vacation at work as he entirely skips jogs or regular gym workouts, blocking Seokjin on every SNS and even his phone number to avoid pouring salt into his wounds. He starts living on takeout as he completely destroys his supply of ice cream as he watches cheesy rom-com movies on his couch, crying into his plushie. He knows Seokjin while working as a freelance poet, but he still has some duties and a set schedule, so he chooses the necessary trips to the grocery store whenever he's completely sure he won't run into the older. After three days of having his heart broken and his dreams about love shattered, Jungkook leaves his apartment to run a quick sweep for some instant ramen when he almost shoves a little figure into the wall in his hurry. Feeling terrible, he starts to apologise, but he soon realises the figure is nobody else but Seokjin's daughter herself. He quickly scans the surrounding area for the older and luckily doesn't find him, which makes him question what his daughter is doing outside his apartment. He looks at her, tears welling up in his eyes at the resemblance as he starts rummaging through her little bag until she pulls out a piece of paper.
'Did I make you mad? Daddy said you're avoiding him and not responding to his texts or calls. He's been so sad, and I don't want him to lose such a great friend. So I made you this, and I hope you'll forgive me.' Jungkook looks at the piece of paper the young girl is holding, and he can't help but tear up as he notices the painting. He could recognise himself in the picture, holding hands with Seokjin, and beside them, a little girl is sitting as he read a book. The picture looks like things kids draw about their families, and Jungkook swears his heart breaks again as he makes eye contact with Areum. He starts crying at his own stupidity as he kneels down, scooping the crying girl into his arms and hugging her tightly. He doesn't care if his neighbours can see him crying like a baby. He needs to get this horrible feeling out of his chest, the dreadful weight on his heart, crushing it into a powder. He can feel Areum crying into his shirt, and he feels like an asshole for hurting both her and Seokjin, as neither has done anything wrong.
They stay like this for several minutes, maybe a little over an hour, when Seokjin returns from his meeting, taking the stairs as he plans on longingly watching the door of Jungkook's apartment, waiting for them to open. He certainly doesn't expect to find Areum cuddled up in Jungkook's arms as they both sleep in the middle of the hall where anybody can pass by and see them. He can't resist as he quietly snaps a photo or twenty before gently waking them up after years of raising Arem, an expert. He invites Jungkook over as he promises to explain any misunderstanding the younger might have. Setting Areum to bed, Seokjin waits to ensure she's sleeping before he returns to the kitchen, where Jungkook waits as he hands the younger a bottle of soju before sitting down.
'Areum isn't actually my daughter, Jungkook-ah. She's my niece. Her parents died in an accident when she was two, and I took her in afterwards.' Jungkook's eyes widen at the flow of information, as he definitely didn't expect something so tragic. He can't help the immense sadness spreading through his heart, but he still has some unsettled thoughts. Seokjin only silently encourages him to speak his mind, so the younger does just that.
'Why does she refer to you as her dad, though? Does she know...' Jungkook can't bring himself to finish his train of thought, afraid of overstepping some boundary. Seokjin just smiled at him as he squeezes his shoulder reassuringly before explaining the situation.
'Yeah, I told her before she went to school. I also said that people might react poorly if she shares with them, so she can call me dad in front of others as long as she wants to. She allowed me to tell uncle Kookie the truth yesterday, so here I am. You're important to me, and I wouldn't want to lose you over some miscommunication,' admits Seokjin as he sips on his soju. While everything he said warms Jungkook's heart like nothing else, he still can't settle for anything unknown.
'But the ring? You're still married, aren't you?' Even if Areum weren't Seokjin's biological daughter, Seokjin's potential partner would still mean they could never properly be together, and based on the gold band constantly present on Seokjin's ring finger, Jungkook doesn't dare hope.
'Jungkook-ah, you sweet innocent soul. How could you not recognise the ring from Lord of the Rings?' Jungkook's mind starts spinning as he realises how quickly he jumps to certain conclusions without any proof.
'We spend hours arguing who's better suited for being cast as a Korean Legolas, and I dressed up as Aragorn for Halloween, and you don't even recognise it.' Seokjin puts his hand over his heart, feigning being hurt, but Jungkook focuses his sight on the golden band on Seokjin's finger. He notices the familiar engraving as he suddenly feels like an absolute idiot for not realising its origin sooner. Suddenly, an involuntary thought comes to his mind, filling him with hope.
'If the ring is from LOTR, and Areum isn't Seokjin's biological daughter, does that mean hyung's single? Wait?! Was all that flirting? Is he interested? Does he... Does he want me?' Jungkook's mind races faster than he ever experienced, his brain overloading as he tries to make sense of everything happening between the two of them.
'JK, I'll spell it out for you. Do you want to go on a date with me?' Seokjin smiles gently at him, taking his hand gently into his, his thumb rubbing over his knuckles tenderly.
'Honestly, hyung, there's nothing I'd rather do,' whispers Jungkook as he meets Seokjin's eyes while blushing profusely as he realises their closeness.
'It's settled then. Jeon Jungkook, you're about to be swept off your feet.' Seokjin exclaims as he picks up the younger before swinging him around, both loudly laughing as they hug. Before they have a chance to calm down, Areum runs into them, hugging their legs as she starts planning their future together, tripping over her words in her excitement.
Seokjin gently puts Jungkook down as they both lift the little girl, hugging her simultaneously. As Jungkook looks at Seokjin holding his niece close, both smiling widely, he wonders if he always associated happiness with two pairs of soft brown eyes.
Just as Seokjin promised, he starts spoiling the younger the very same day, as he brings him breakfast alongside a kiss, making the younger blush in his half-asleep state. Seokjin stays with Jungkook until his shift begins, walking the younger to the cafe before saying goodbye with a kiss. As Jungkook proceeds with his shift, he shares smiles and a positive mood with everyone, making his colleagues aware of the sudden change in his life. They relentlessly tease him about his boyfriend, and it becomes worse as Seokjin and Areum visit during his break, inviting him to dinner later, which Jungkook gratefully accepts.
He spends the remaining time at his work daydreaming about the older, a soft smile gracing his lips as he thanks whichever power moves the universe for blessing him with meeting Seokjin and somehow managing to enamour the older. It happens much later in the evening when he's heading home early from work that he starts panicking immensely, worried about what to make out from the dinner. He frantically spends almost an hour choosing a perfect outfit, wondering if this is meant to be a date or just a friendly outing, especially considering Areum's presence.
Luckily, he doesn't have much space to spiral into a panicked mode properly, as Areum visits him, bringing him flowers to match the colour scheme. Jungkook chuckles as he thanks her for the gifts while coordinating his outfit with the flowers, finally satisfied with his final look. Areum offers to wait for him so that they can surprise Seokjin together, and Jungkook falls in love with her again, as he curses himself for not loving her at first sight.
Together, they get ready to join Seokjin, who, according to Areum, spent the whole afternoon preparing a whole fest for them. Jungkook laughs when Areum unlocks the door to the apartment, and the wonderful combination of scents immediately attacks them as they enter, proving Areum's words true. Jungkook joins the older in the kitchen, handing him a bottle of wine he remembered to grab before leaving, he offers to help, but Seokjin assures him everything's ready. Still, the younger insists on at least setting the table, and Seokjin sighs before showing him where he can find everything as he seasons the dishes. When Areum peeks into the kitchen, Jungkook is surprised when she hugs his waist as she starts sharing about her day, and Jungkook smiles as he recognises Seokjin in many of her features and mannerisms. As Seokjin serves the dinner, the three of them start engaging in a conversation, and to Jungkook's surprise, Areum seems to absolutely adore him, as she shares her dream of becoming an artist and pleads for his help and advice.
Jungkook, who finds himself falling for both of them helplessly, immediately agrees, swearing on his honour to guide her through the tough journey. After doing the dishes, even despite Seokjin's vehement protests, Jungkook stays for a movie. In the half of the film, he realises he indeed is dating Kim Seokjin, the absolute standard for a perfect man, and he can't thank his lucky stars enough. Their dating doesn't change much from the relationship they built before Jungkook's brief isolation; only now do they hold hands religiously and kiss whenever the occasion arises. As Jungkook starts staying over more and more with the third year of their relationship passing by, Seokjin offers him to move in with him and Areum, which Jungkook gracefully accepts. This time, he doesn't need any help from the moving company as he got himself a strong man determined to bring his stuff to his new home overnight. Jungkook mostly watches in amusement as Seokjin constantly sprints with the boxes, but he steps in when a familiar box catches his eye, and he can't help but tease the older.
'Hyung, handle that carefully! The frames won't survive a second shattering,' warns Jungkook as he watches the older haphazardly lift a box of his graphic designs. Seokjin laughs, moving in closer and kissing the younger on his cheek.
'Don't worry, baby, hyung's got this,' assures him Seokjin, securing his hold on the box. Jungkook smiles, looking at Seokjin's retreating back. He can't believe he's moving in with the love of his life after five beautiful years of a loving relationship. He reaches into his pocket, feeling the weight of the ring box, wondering when exactly the perfect opportunity will arise.
He and Areum picked a perfect ring for Seokjin a few months ago, and both of them were excited to become an official family. The girl started introducing Jungkook as her dad two years after Seokjin and he became a couple. Jungkook never admitted it, but he cried after hearing Areum saying that. Seokjin outright screamed with joy that day, picking them both up and spinning them in the air before complaining of the sore back as he 'forced' the younger to give him a massage later that evening. Afterwards, Jungkook shared his plan with their daughter, who insisted on assisting him as she needed to approve of the ring first. They spent hundreds of hours wandering around jewellery shops before finding the perfect ring for the perfect man.
While Jungkook planned and prepared everything for a thoughtful and romantic proposal, he forgot how often Seokjin insists on doing laundry. He almost bursts into tears when bewildered Seokjin walks into the room with the red velvet box in his hand and softly asks Jungkook about it. In the end, Seokjin accepted, and Jungkook turned the proposal plan into their anniversary celebration, a meaningful event they enjoyed as a freshly engaged couple. Neither of them wanted to waste any time, so they started making plans for the wedding; it seemed like they could agree on most of the things, so the planning, which took over 20 months, seemed to fly in a second, as suddenly Day D arrived.
However, Jungkook's nervousness starts getting the better of him after he puts on his glowing white suit while Jimin adds some finishing touches to his make-up. He attempts to calm down, but it's more complicated without Seokjin or Areum nearby, so when Jimin completes his look, he jumps out of the chair and starts contemplating whether his sanity is worth the piece of paper that symbolises marriage.
'I'm gonna puke, oh god. I can't do this; this is too much,' mutters Jungkook as he paces across the room, his palms sweating. He can't even dry them into his pants, and the white fabric would betray him as Hobi did when he didn't prepare him for Seokjin's goldlike appearance when he first moved in. Speaking of that, maybe he can still move to the shitty one-bedroom apartment he lived in before.
'Jungkook, you've wanted to marry hyung since the day you saw him,' argues Taehyung as he tries to block Jungkook physically, stopping him from climbing out of the window before bolting it shut. Meanwhile, Jungkook starts panicking as he realises summer weddings mean very high temperatures while the groom has like five layers of fabric on himself, almost making him a portable heater.
'Nope, I can't remember anything like that. Couldn't be me, officer,' refuses Jungkook stubbornly, weakly wrestling out of Taehyung's hold. Fortunately, Jimin decides to help him out the older, grabbing Jungkook's arms and forcing him to meet his gaze.
'Listen, here, you little gremlin. You and Seokjin planned this wedding for the better part of the last two years, pouring your souls into it. You love each other, and I won't let your nerves destroy this special day for neither of you,' threatens Jimin, as he roughly fists the front of Jungkook's shirt, making the younger feel smaller than him, a rare occurrence.
'Besides, if you don't go through with this, there are plenty of people outside who would sell their leg and arm to kiss Seokjin, let alone marry him,' quips Taehyung, pouring oil all over Jungkook's anxiety as he watches in satisfaction as it morphs into the fierce determination and jealousy.
'Okay, let's do this, walk me down the aisle, hyungs,' urges Jungkook, suddenly in a hurry to be married to Seokjin, the love of his life. The three of them link arms as Jimin sends a text, and they walk out of the house as a soundtrack to LOTR starts playing through the meadow. Jungkook's nerves return as he passes the dozens of people staring at him and murmuring something, but every thought in his head disappears as he sees Seokjin. Suddenly, he's reminded of the silly water battles and late night cuddles, of the hiking trips with Areum, who stands by the older's side, and at that moment, Jungkook realises he could never give this up. Loving Seokjin and Areum makes him whole, and he can't ever lose those wonderful feelings of embracing his family.
Slowly walking down the aisle, Jungkook doesn't move his eyes from Seokjin, who's staring at him with a softened gaze, something he usually does whenever he feels touched or extremely happy. Jungkook doesn't know which one applies to that moment, but he secretly hopes both. They reach Seokjin, and Jimin, with Taehyung, lets him sit at their places to watch the ceremony. Jungkook stands before his fiance as he whispers a quiet 'hi', which Seokjin almost immediately returns. Namjoon, their ordinand, starts reciting a poem as Jungkook stares at Seokjin, holding his hands gently. He shakes his head when Namjoon asks him to recite his vows as he reaches for the ring from Hobi.
'Hyung, ever since the day we first met, I hoped I would be able to stand here with you. I was enamoured by your looks, and all I wanted was to love you for all of eternity. Over time, I fell in love with your jokes, your caring personality, and the way you unconditionally love and protect Areum. I came to love how you take care of me whenever I need help, how you always try to make the best out of every situation, or how you never get better at Overwatch. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, honey, and I couldn't be happier to spend an eternity with you and Areum, our sweet little girl. No matter what happens, you always make me feel incredibly safe, loved and appreciated, and I can't help but love you for making that happen without doing anything. You're so smart and funny, hyung, and I thank heavens every day for making us fall in love. I'll love you till the end of times, Seokjin-hyung; no matter what fate throws in our paths, I'll stay by your side, loving you.' Jungkook looks into Seokjin's eyes, and suddenly, all his remaining nervousness disappears as he's reminded of how much he loves the older, how safe he feels in his arms. His vows flowed through his mind, clearer than ever, just as did his affection for the older. He smiles when he notices how often Seokjin blinks, something he tends to do when he's pushing back his tears.
'Seokjin, did you prepare your vows?' Namjoon turns to the older, who nods before coughing awkwardly, clearing his throat.
'Jungkook-ah, JK, my precious baby. When we first met, I never dreamed of being this incredibly lucky. The last seven years were the absolute best in my life, mostly because of you. When we first met, I couldn't believe how pretty you looked. I knew you were mad at me, but even through that, I found you so endearing. And every time we ran into each other, I fell for you more and more as I got to know you better. You are so passionate and so incredibly stubborn, and I love how you never give up, no matter what. I still remember seeing you crying with Areum in your arms, and at that moment, I thought nobody could ever love us like you. I sometimes can't believe how competitive you are, even after years of knowing you.
Every day I wake up with you in my arms, I find something new to love and adore about you. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life discovering every little thing about you to love. JK, I love you to the moon and back.' Oh, oh, Jungkook understands people who cry at weddings. The only thing stopping him from tearing up is the image of Jimin threatening to kill him if he runs the make-up. He keeps his eyes wide open as he watches Seokjin slide a ring on his finger, a symbol of their union, and his heart sings in joy. He squeezes Seokjin's hands, mouthing, ' I love you, ' and smiling when the older returns it.
'Ehm, I don't want to interrupt whatever is going on between the two of you, but as I said, you may now kiss the groom. That's usually the main point of the wedding,' Namjoon reminds them gently, as every guest laughs at the surprised looks the two exchange. Jungkook laughs as they lean in, their lips finally meeting, as the room explodes in ovations, Areum the loudest of all.
'I love you, my dear husband,' whispers Seokjin when they separate, his eyes glowing under the golden lights. Jungkook reaches out to touch the flowers tangled into the older's hair, his heart filled with an immense amount of love.
'And I love you, my beloved husband,' returns Jungkook as he feels Areum jumping on his back, giggling into his ear. Jungkook looks around the room, seeing all the people who love him, as he thanks the heavens above for bringing his incredible family together. He never felt so happy.