Chapter 2

🎵 Moondust-Stripped by Jaymes Young

It's Wednesday night, and Namjoon is writing his research paper after getting home from work. The books Jungkook got for him are scattered all over his desk when he receives a message from Jungkook asking if he wants to watch a movie.

Namjoon is dead tired, and in reality, he should get started with his school work, but he doesn't have the willpower to refuse him, besides, he can admit that seeing Jungkook after a long day would be nice. Cuddling on the sofa with a warm blanket, a movie, and wine sounds excellent.

He hears his doorbell ring just when he gets the wine open. He places the wine on the counter, shouting, "Coming!" Suddenly, feeling giddy with the anticipation of seeing his favorite person, his stomach somersaults as he walks towards the door.

He laughs at how ridiculous he's being. Still, as soon as he goes to pull the door open, his breath is immediately stolen by the beautiful man standing before him. His heart beats fast, wanting to find an escape route right out of his chest.

Jungkook stands there with a toothy grin on display, hands in his pockets, and starry eyes, gazing right back at Namjoon. Namjoon's stomach swoops down to his toes. He smiles back because, of course, he does. Namjoon can't help but mirror Jungkook's beautiful smile, even if he might look like an idiot while doing it.

Jungkook always looks beautiful, even in black sweats and an oversized hoodie. His damp hair is hidden under the hood of his sweater. Namjoon notices how long it's gotten, curled past his cheekbones now. He has the urge to run his hands through it but stays put.

Jungkook has his black camera bag strapped across his body, ready to snap his pictures when inspiration strikes. Namjoon clears his throat and tries to act nonchalantly.

"Hey! Just come from the gym?" He moves aside to let Jungkook in and tries to steady his racing heart, taking slow, shallow breaths.

Jungkook puts a hand on Namjoon's waist before he walks past him and into the apartment. He lets his warm hand linger there before he gives a little squeeze and moves to go inside, leaving Namjoon's breath caught in his throat. The booming of his heart feels so loud to his ears. He hopes Jungkook can't hear it.

"Hey, hyung," Jungkook greets him. "I did, but I went home after to take a shower and grab my camera," he points to the bag. "Wanted to get a couple of shots on my way over for my class project. How was work?"

Jungkook puts his bag next to the sofa and strolls straight into the kitchen to scavenge for snacks.

Namjoon's apartment has an open floor plan, so he can see his kitchen and living room from the entrance. He goes to the living room to set up Netflix on his TV and makes the crucial mistake of looking up from the screen towards the kitchen.

At that moment, Jungkook unknowingly almost gives Namjoon a heart attack. He watches as Jungkook takes off his hoodie and throws it haphazardly onto the breakfast bar, making his shirt rise enough to show off his lean abs in all their glory, the thin line of his happy trail leading down to–

Namjoon gulps loudly and quickly looks away. He tries to will his face to stop the blush that threatens to bloom, but he already feels his face warming up.

He knows he's harbored feelings for Jungkook since they met, but he feels like it's morphed into something more lately. Something in his chest fighting to be let out, to be exposed to the sun that is Jungkook.

He's still a little out of it as the hurricane of emotions swirls inside him. He tries to make sense of what he's feeling. Everything from who Jungkook is to how he went out of his way to do something good for Namjoon, taking time out of his day to ensure he got what he needed.

The accumulation of a year's worth of Jeon Jungkook around him gives life to the tiny seed planted inside his chest, the one rapidly sprouting for Jungkook. He can feel it threatening to grow into something more, something too big to be able to stomp down.

Namjoon's been trying to hold back for so long, but everything feels like it's coming at him in full force and simultaneously. Waiting to burst out of his chest and into a Jungkook-shaped flower in his heart.

Something that feels like lo–

"Hyung?" Jungkook calls out, breaking him out of his internal crisis. Jungkook is standing in the kitchen, head cocked to the side and arms full of his found treasures, waiting for a response.

He stares at Namjoon, but Namjoon is frozen in place, trying to wrap his head around his thoughts, head spinning and heart still thundering in his chest. He looks at Jungkook's face, his eyebrows raised, eyes wide and expectant.

"Huh?"

"Work...how was it?" Jungkook chuckles. "Are you okay?"

He really needs to get a hold of himself.

"Oh, uh f-fine. It was fine...work is fine, everything is fine," Namjoon stammers, still trying to process the surge of new—not-so-new—emotion running through him.

And the realization smacks him right in the face.

Fuck.

For the first time, he's afraid he won't be able to contain all his feelings for Jungkook anymore. Feelings he's kept locked up for so long—trying to keep them from blooming, spouting into something more.

Jungkook shakes his head, snickering at Namjoon. His eyes snap back to hungrily eye all the snacks he grabbed from the cabinet Namjoon keeps stocked just for this occasion. Impromptu movie nights have been a regular occurrence in their friendship, and Namjoon has learned to keep snacks stocked up in his house just for this.

Namjoon gets startled out of his thoughts when he sees Jungkook heading his way, arms full of treats, and he can't help but huff out a laugh. "You're lucky you work out with all the junk you're about to put into your body."

He steps up to the coffee table and opens his arms over it to let the snacks fall with a grin, like a kid on Christmas morning. "Hyung, I'm always hungry. This is why I work out." His eyes hold a mischievous gleam as he flexes his arms before plopping down onto the mustard-colored sofa to sort through his snack pile.

And Namjoon—Namjoon can't help himself. He stares at Jungkook's muscled arms, wondering how it would feel to have them wrapped around him.

Jungkook looks up slowly, meeting Namjoon's eyes, eyebrows raised, and questioning why Namjoon is still standing there, control in hand, and gawking at him. Namjoon tries really hard to get himself out of his daze, shaking his head to clear his mind.

"Uh– want anything to drink? I just opened a bottle of wine." Namjoon puts down the control on the coffee table and quickly heads to the kitchen, needing a breather. He needs to get a grip. He can't keep ogling his friend like this.

"Sure, that sounds nice," Jungkook smirks.

Namjoon gets two glasses from his cabinet and pours white wine into them. He looks at his filled glass before he picks it up, chugs all of it down, and then refills again, feeling a little better.

Jungkook is in the middle of searching for movies and munching away when Namjoon sets down the glasses on his coffee table and gets comfortable on the sofa, close enough for their thighs to touch. Namjoon looks down and thinks about moving away to have space between them. They've cuddled before, but now it feels...different, somehow.

Namjoon looks over at Jungkook munching on a chocolate bar, humming and making noises of approval, and lets out a breathy laugh when he sees the frown line form between his eyebrows.

"What's so funny?" Jungkook asks mid-chew, a confused smile on his chocolate-covered lips. Namjoon tries his absolute best to restrain himself from using his thumb to wipe it away.

"You have this habit of frowning when you're really enjoying your food," Namjoon tells him, gaining enough composure to look away from his lips. "It's cute. Always looks like you're aggressively eating."

Jungkook whines, and his ears immediately turn red, making Namjoon reach up to lightly pull, laughter bubbling out of him as his heart grows fonder for his friend.

"Ugh, I'm not cute," he complains, scrunching up his nose and pulling away from Namjoon's hand, looking precisely that–

Cute.

Namjoon looks at him and sees his neck blush pink, and he can't help but love it every time Jungkook gets embarrassed. He wants to keep making him flush so prettily and feel the warmth of his skin when he does.

"Sure. If you say so, Kookie," he snickers. At this point, Jungkook's face is beet red, and Namjoon decides to cut him some slack before he combusts. "Anyway, I wanted to thank you again for the books," Namjoon says sheepishly. "You really didn't have to."

Jungkook puts his chocolate bar down on the coffee table and smiles bashfully. He picks up his glass of wine and looks down at it, too shy to look at Namjoon.

"It was no problem," he murmurs. "Anything I could do to make things easy for you...you know I would." Out of nervousness, he rubs his thumb up and down the glass, making it squeak with every stroke. "I believe in you. You're working so hard, and one day you're going to make an incredible Captain Planet," he says cheekily. "You're going to help save the world with that huge brain of yours."

Namjoon laughs, trying not to blush. His heart flutters in his chest, making him feel warm and tingly.

Jungkook makes him warm and tingly.

And Namjoon feels that blooming in his chest once again. He rubs the area above his heart, willing it down, but his heart has other plans, and something stirs in his chest.

Being cared for by Jungkook feels really good, and he appreciates him so much that he only hopes that he can be a little helpful to Jungkook as well.

He takes Jungkook's fidgeting hand in both of his and squeezes it, instantly calming him. "Okay then... What movie do you want to watch?"

Jungkook gives him the most blinding smile, which renders Namjoon speechless, wiggles his eyebrows, and says, "Guess." Namjoon throws his head back, closes his eyes, and gives a loud, disparaging groan.

🎵Bloom by RHODES

Almost two and a half hours later, Jungkook's fast asleep, head leaning on Namjoon's shoulder and snoring softly. Namjoon had dozed off a couple of times, having been forced by Jungkook to see The Avengers again for the nth time—but it was his favorite, so he couldn't refuse him.

They ordered pizza because Jungkook was still hungry. Apparently, stuffing his face full of junk and anything he could find in the fridge wasn't enough for Jungkook, and he was still hungry. He looks over to see a half-eaten slice left in the open box next to the empty wine bottle.

Namjoon looks down at Jungkook, and he looks so peaceful that he regrets needing to wake him, but it's pretty late, and they have class the next day. He sighs because he feels so comfortable with Jungkook's weight on him. He wants to be selfish and keep him there.

The room is dark save for the dim light from the TV, casting a light glow on Jungkook's face. His hair is tickling Namjoon's neck, and he can pick up hints of vanilla, Jungkook's favorite perfume, wafting off him. He always smells so good and warm. After a year of smelling the scent on him, it reminds him of home.

He runs his hand through his hair, and Jungkook begins to stir. Namjoon straightens himself, his hand falling to Jungkook's thigh, where he gives him a light squeeze to get his attention.

"Hey," Namjoon whispers.

"Hyung?" Jungkook's voice comes out raspy with sleep. He looks at Namjoon with sleepy eyes and gives him a little smile, realizing what happened. "Mm...sorry I fell asleep," he yawns. He raises his arms and stretches his body, loudly groaning, then slumps back down on the sofa, his head dropping back onto Namjoon's shoulder with a sigh.

Namjoon chuckles before he can feel Jungkook's nose and warm breath tickling his neck, and he stills the moment he hears Jungkook take a breath in.

"You smell good, hyung," he says quietly.

Namjoon suppresses a shiver and lifts his hand again to run it through Jungkook's hair, gently scratching his scalp. "Thanks," Namjoon giggles nervously. He rolls his eyes at himself and thinks how ironic it is that now he's the one getting flustered by Jungkook.

He tries to control his breathing because having Jungkook's nose skimming his neck is doing things to him, making him break out in goosebumps. "You too," he whispers, not wanting his voice to falter and disturb the calm bubble they're shrouded in.

Jungkook lifts his head and smiles at Namjoon. And Jungkook is like the sun—too bright and radiant to look straight at. Slowly, his smile disappears, and there's a glint of something in his eyes. Everything feels like it goes into slow motion, their gaze still on the other, the air suddenly feeling warm around them.

Bloom. Bloom. Bloom.

He feels a heavy weight where his heart is. It's his heart trying to bloom, begging him to let that feeling grow and sprout into–

There's a quiet stillness surrounding them when Namjoon looks down at Jungkook's pouty lips and then up into his captivating eyes. He sees Jungkook's tongue dart out to lick his lips. His eyes flit down to Namjoon's. They're so close now that he can feel Jungkook's warm breath fan over his face. His heart picks up speed when he sees Jungkook start to lean in and–

They hear the blaring sound of a car honking its horn through the open window. The sudden noise makes them jump apart, clutching their chests. Startled and breathless, they try to regain their composure.

Just like that, the tension is broken, and Namjoon lets out a nervous and confused laugh because what the fuck was happening?

"Jesus! That scared the hell out of me." Jungkook bursts out laughing, hand still on his chest. Namjoon huffs out a laugh but doesn't know whether to feel disappointment or relief for the sudden interruption.

Deep down, he knows that giving in to his desires isn't a good idea because Jungkook is like the sun, too pure and warm for Namjoon.

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