Chapter Text
The sun shines softly through the curtains of their bedroom. They’re all warm and sleepy, cuddling in Seokjin’s bed, happy. They rent a big flat with three bedrooms, because it’s hard to find a bed big enough for seven grown men and they need the space.
They all always end up sleeping in Seokjin’s bed anyway, squished together and slowly losing sensation in their limbs.
None of them has ever slept better.
Jungkook searches around for Seokjin’s hand but one of them is entwined with Namjoon’s and the other one is stroking Hobi’s hair, the red strings around his finger almost invisible. Jimin whines beside him and he settles for taking his small hand, smiling at how it disappears in his. He’s the youngest, but it always makes him laugh how Jimin has to look up now.
It wasn’t always like that. During the four years where Jimin and Jungkook chased after each other, Jungkook felt like their two years age difference like it was two decades.
He was too shy and content with admiring Jimin from afar, running away each time the elder got too close.
Jimin was okay with waiting for his soulmate to gather the courage.
Jungkook knows that it used to drive Seokjin crazy, that tiny distance between the two strings, but they understand the other’s hesitation.
They were afraid, they’re not anymore. He looks at his soulmate and lover, who’s whispering sweet nothings into Taehyung’s hair now, the younger man lying on top of him with a smile so wide it has to hurt.
Seokjin catches Jungkook staring and smiles, his cheeks pink from the warmth radiating from his soulmates’ bodies, his eyes sparkling, and Kook is so happy he could cry. Jimin snuggles closer, sighing blissfully, Yoongi kisses the small blonde’s cheek, and Jungkook lets go.
Jimin has been his whole world since he was eleven, even if it was from afar. He’s still his whole world. He just got five other parts of him back.
A few tears escape his eyes and he bites back a sob. At Seokjin’s worried frown, he shakes his head and mouths “I’m just happy.”
Seokjin smiles softly in understanding. Jungkook doesn’t know how but suddenly there are six men cradling him and telling him not to cry, that they love him, that they’re here and “oh god Kookie please stop you know Yoongi hyung will cry too if you cry” and he’s laughing because Namjoon didn’t just say that. Yoongi looks like he’s ready to fight and that what he does, grabbing the closest pillow and smashing it into Namjoon’s face without even looking, as the other man lets out a fakely scandalized scream and tries to use Hoseok as a human shield, who holds onto Taehyung with inhuman screeches. Seokjin silently gives a pillow to Jimin and winks at Jungkook before tackling Yoongi.
It quickly degenerates into a full-blown pillow fight, red everywhere as always when they’re all together, their strings a mess, and after a few minutes of loud yelling and general chaos, it merges into soft lovemaking.
--
Sometimes he loves them and wants to touch them so bad it hurts. He’s taking pictures of Taehyung and Jimin, gorgeous under the setting sun. It’s his favorite light to work with.
Taehyung takes this photoshoot very seriously as always, and Jungkook can feel the air get knocked out of his lungs every time the elder glances down at the camera with his bedroom eyes. Jimin jumps and dances around him, playful and so ethereal Jungkook feels like giving up trying to catch his beauty with a camera.
Suddenly, Tae snatches his camera and moves a few feet back. “Kookie, your turn.” Jimin crouches down by Tae.
“But-” Jungkook stutters, suddenly feeling very shy.
“Please? I want pictures of you too.” Puppy eyes. Damn Taehyung and Jimin and their way to always get what they want. He huffs and turns around, trying to forget about the camera and hoping that the faux candid shots will look somewhat okay.
They don’t look somewhat okay.
They’re gorgeous, Jungkook finds himself speechless as he looks at the pictures Taehyung took. He knows he has a cute face, and that his body has nice proportions because of all the training he does. But this is something else. He looks elegant, bold, and maybe even delicate. All at once.
“How did you do that?”
“I didn’t do anything, it’s just you, Kookie~”
“Is it… is it how you see me, hyung?” he asks, blushing.
Taehyung flashes him his brightest smile. Jimin tells him he’s beautiful.
Jungkook kisses them both until the sky turns black.
--
“Hey, baby. What are you doing?”
Jungkook is sprawled out on the floor, sheets of paper everywhere around him. With finals around the corner, he has spent so much time on this floor that it feels like his new bed.
He lifts his eyes and meets Hoseok’s, the older man looking at him with a frown on his face. Oh-oh.
“Kookie, what did we say about staying up the whole night for studying?” Hoseok looks worried and Jungkook feels bad. He hates seeing his soulmate with anything else than a happy expression on his face.
Jungkook whines, his head hitting the floor with a thump as he lets the tiredness overcome him. Hobi sighs, crouches down beside him and strokes his hair.
“Wanna take a bath with me and Seokjin hyung?” He nods, always eager to spend time with them. He squeals as Hoseok lifts him suddenly from the floor and carries him to the bathroom, blowing raspberries against his neck, which makes him laugh. Seokjin is already in the bath, arms on his side, legs parted, and suddenly Jungkook feels much more awake, stunned once again by the beauty of his soulmate.
“Baby, you look exhausted. Come here.” Seokjin’s voice is soft and Jungkook needs a hug.
They quickly undress and join him, splashing water everywhere as they try to find a comfortable position in the too small bath. It makes Seokjin laugh and Jungkook feels all giddy with fondness. He ends up lying against Seokjin’s broad torso with Hoseok’s facing him, the elder’s head on his shoulder. They share kisses until the water is cold and Kookie is falling asleep between his hyungs.
--
Jungkook has watched Yoongi and Namjoon compose since they all found each other, but he’ll never get tired of watching them make music. He’s sitting with Yoongi at the piano now, Yoongi is playing the pieces he knows Jungkook enjoys the most, and Namjoon is on the couch behind them, his feet kicking the air in rhythm.
They stay like this for a while, Yoongi going through his repertoire and the two other content with listening to him.
Yoongi pauses, his fingers hovering above the keys, and softly, he asks:
“Joon… What about that piece you composed last week? Can I show it to Kookie? Will you sing?”
Namjoon hesitates visibly.
“I don’t know, hyung…”
“It’s okay, I don’t have to listen if you’re uncomfortable” Kook quickly says, the discomfort on Joon’s face too much for him to handle.
“It’s not that. Can we maybe wait for everyone to be home?” Namjoon breathes, biting his lips. He and Yoongi share a look, and silently, Yoongi takes Jungkook by the hand and pulls him to the couch. They lie with Namjoon and the three of them cuddle until their soulmates arrive.
“It’s something I wrote after Seokjin hyung explained what he felt when he was alone.”
Namjoon has his eyes fixed on the floor, and Seokjin reaches for his hand. It makes him laugh, high and short, and Yoongi smiles knowingly. “I’m not a singer, but…”
Namjoon lets out a breath and nods at Yoongi. Soft notes stars playing in their living room, the five of them gathered around the piano, holding their breath.
It’s sad, it’s blue, it’s full of love and hope. It squeezes Jungkook’s heart in all the right ways after a few notes already. And then Joon starts singing, his deep voice so fragile for once, but still soft like it sounds when he whispers to them in the middle of the night.
Let’s only walk on flower paths
I can’t say that
Let’s only see good things
I can’t say that
Only good things will happen now
It won’t hurt anymore
I can’t say those things
I can’t say those lies
They are all crying, five grown men holding onto each other and crying like babies, trying to stay quiet, Namjoon and Yoongi only holding back for the sake of finishing the song.
So thanks for believing in me
For handling these tears and scars
So thanks for being my light
For being a flower in the most beautiful moment of life
Joon smiles at Hoseok while singing now, and Jungkook can see how he holds Seokjin’s hand, like it’s the only thing keeping him from sobbing. Yoongi has his eyes closed as he plays with all his heart.
It’s alright, now count 1, 2, 3 and forget
Erase all sad memories
Hold my hand and smile
It’s alright, now count 1, 2, 3 and forget
Erase all sad memories
The song ends on a trembling note, from both Namjoon and Yoongi.
Jungkook takes a big breath and moves to hug Seokjin but just like the first time they met, it’s a mess.
They're all speaking at the same time and trying to touch as many bodies as they can,
“We’re so sorry for leaving you alone”
“You know we searched for you…”
“Joonie why would you do that to me you know I hate crying”
“You said it’s for Seokjin hyung but it’s for you too right? Don’t try to make it look like it’s not what you felt too, hyung!”
“I love you, I love you so much…”
“I love you all, you punks, you’re not getting rid of me ever”
“I’m so happy”,
and Jungkook is so in love his heart feels too big for his chest. He smiles at Jimin. Jimin kisses him breathless.
He doesn’t know what the future is made of. But he knows he will always have his soulmates and that’s all he cares about.