Twisted Every Way || Vmin/Yoonmin {Complete}

8 -- Butterfly

 The commute back to Jimin's apartment was a quiet one. They kept to themselves, both resisting the urge to reach for the other's hand as they sat on the subway in the late rush hour crowd. Their eyes flickered to one another and they gave hints of smiles, but otherwise sat in still silence. Taehyung wasn't sure what to expect as they got off of the train and walked into a more residential area. His entire life had been filled with luxury, and he couldn't recall a single time when he had been in the home of someone with lower social standing than himself; thus, he'd always wondered what Jimin's home was like. When Jimin unlocked the door and he stepped in, he found himself pleasantly surprised. It was humble, but felt cozy from his first moment there. The colors of the furniture and decorations were a mix of a warm colors and pastels, which somehow seemed to suit Jimin's personality.

He was grinning as he and Jimin settled in on the couch. For a long while, they just talked, finally allowed to catch up properly. They spoke about Taehyung's adventures abroad, and about Jimin's training to get where he was in his career. They laughed some about the noteworthy clumsy incidents they had each experienced, they reminisced about the past, and they found their fingers reaching out and entwining when they each spoke of the loneliness and longing that they had both felt over the years without one another. In what felt like no time at all, the night grew old. They had slowly been inching toward one another, as though every topic of conversation was closing a gap between them, not only physically, but spiritually. At last, when they sat just millimeters from one another, Jimin leaned his head over to rest it on Taehyung's shoulder and sighed, closing his eyes. Taehyung stroked Jimin's hand with his thumb, leaning his head back on the couch. There was nothing but serenity around them as they sat in silence. Taehyung's mind raced, and yet was empty in its contentment. Finally, when he heard Jimin's breathing slow, he squeezed his hand.

"We should sleep," he suggested, his own voice groggy.

"Mmm..." Jimin nuzzled his face into Taehyung's neck as he groaned. The redhead grinned, squeezing the blond's hand a little tighter. Though reluctantly, Jimin opened his eyes, gazing up at Taehyung before lifting his head, allowing him to be the first to stand. Taehyung helped Jimin to his feet, chuckling as he watched him yawn and rub his eyes like a child. Jimin led him across the apartment in a childlike way, too, holding onto two of his fingers as he stumbled to lead him toward his room. Maybe it was because of this innocence that Taehyung couldn't even begin to think of staying overnight as being an unholy event. Instead, he just felt a warmness in watching Jimin in a light that he hadn't quite seen yet, though he supposed he could thank the boy's sleepiness for it as they readied themselves to turn in.

Taehyung quickly found that Jimin's bed wasn't very big, but they made it work. While it would have been more space effective to spoon, perhaps they were too awkward for that. It seemed more appropriate that they lay facing one another, their foreheads together and eyes locked as they laid in the dark. For a short while they whispered to one another as though they were trying not to get caught by a nonexistent parental figure, but that only lasted for so long. Taehyung watched Jimin close his eyes and not open them again as his breathing grew softer but deeper. He couldn't help but watch him for a while. Perhaps even still his brain was trying to catch up; this all seemed too perfect to be real. Being careful to not disturb him, Taehyung took Jimin's hand in his own.

"I swear to you..." he said softly, even though he knew Jimin couldn't hear him now. "I swear that I'll protect you. Even with my life, if I had to." He kissed his hand and then released him to gingerly push his flaxen hair from his face, letting him better see the peaceful expression he wore as he dreamed. Only then was he able to close his eyes and fall asleep as well.

Morning greeted them kindly. A few rays of sunlight crept through the curtains, just enough to wake them, but not enough to blind them. Taehyung stirred first, but only just barely. His eyes went wide for a moment at the sight of Jimin sleeping beside him--and now half laying on top of him--as though he had forgotten the night before or assumed it was only a dream. When Jimin awoke, just moments later, he found himself smiling and starting to giggle at startled expression on the man across from him.