The soft hum of the alarm clock broke the quiet stillness in Taehyung's dorm room. Its persistent beeping drilled into the peace like an unwelcome guest. A muffled groan rose from beneath a pile of blankets before a hand shot out, grabbing the nearest pillow and launching it toward the clock. It landed with a satisfying thud, silencing the noise. From across the room, Jimin let out a dramatic groan of his own as he sat up, his hair a mess of tangles.
"Taehyung," Jimin mumbled groggily, his voice heavy with sleep, "you're gonna miss your flight if you keep acting like this."
A vague mumble came from Taehyung's cocoon of blankets, unintelligible and wholly unmotivated. Jimin sighed, flopping back onto his bed with a resigned expression, only for a sharp knock at the door to jolt him upright again. He rubbed his eyes and shuffled toward the door, muttering under his breath about early risers and inconvenient mornings.
When he opened the door, he wasn't the least bit surprised to find Jungkook standing there, bright-eyed and far too awake for this hour. The boy's neatly styled hair and crisp hoodie made him look like he had been up for hours.
"Morning, Jimin," Jungkook greeted politely, though his eyes quickly darted past him to scan the room. His gaze landed on the lump in Taehyung's bed. "Is he still sleeping?"
Jimin stepped aside with a knowing smirk. "What do you think?"
Jungkook didn't wait for an invitation, stepping inside with purpose. He marched straight to Taehyung's bed, his expression shifting from polite to unimpressed. Without hesitation, he grabbed the edge of the blanket and yanked it off in one swift motion, revealing a very disgruntled Taehyung curled up like a sulking cat.
"Yah, Jungkook!" Taehyung whined, his voice muffled as he buried his face into the pillow. "It's too early for this."
Jungkook crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Too early? Kim Taehyung, do you know what time it is? Our flight is in a few hours, and you're still in bed? Get up!"
From his spot near the door, Jimin leaned against the frame, thoroughly entertained. "Wow," he teased with a smirk. "You sound like a mom trying to drag her kid out of bed for school."
Jungkook threw Jimin a look but didn't respond, his attention fixed on the stubborn figure on the bed. "Taehyung, if you don't get up right now, I'm dragging you out myself."
Taehyung groaned dramatically, sitting up with exaggerated sluggishness. His hair stuck out in all directions, and his bleary eyes glared at Jungkook. "Fine, fine. I'm awake," he muttered, though he clearly wasn't happy about it.
Jungkook nodded, satisfied, before glancing at the cluttered pile of clothes and half-packed luggage on the floor. "Are you even ready?"
Taehyung blinked at the mess as if seeing it for the first time. "Almost," he said vaguely, shrugging.
Jimin snorted loudly. "Translation: not even close."
Jungkook sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before crouching down to inspect the chaos. He began sorting through the mess, folding clothes and placing them neatly into the suitcase. "You're hopeless," he muttered as he zipped up a compartment.
Taehyung huffed, flopping back onto his bed. "You didn't have to do that."
Jungkook straightened up and shot him a pointed look. "Someone has to, or we're going to miss the flight."
Jimin, who had been observing the interaction with barely concealed glee, plopped down beside Taehyung on the bed. His grin was downright mischievous as he nudged the older boy. "So, you're finally going back home with your Jungkook, huh? I bet you're excited."
Taehyung groaned, throwing an arm over his face. "Mimi, can you not?"
"Not what?" Jimin asked, feigning innocence, though his grin only widened. "I'm just saying it's cute how Jungkook is practically your personal travel guide. Look at him, folding your clothes like a good husbandâ"
"Mimi!" Taehyung's face flushed as he shot up, glaring at his friend. "Stop it!"
Jungkook chuckled softly, shaking his head as he stood and dusted off his hands. "I'm more like his babysitter," he quipped, earning a scowl from Taehyung.
Jimin laughed, clearly enjoying how flustered Taehyung was. "You're both impossible," Taehyung grumbled, crossing his arms as he tried to hide the small, embarrassed smile tugging at his lips.
Jungkook glanced at his watch and gestured toward the door. "Alright, enough fooling around. Let's get going. You still have to grab breakfast, and we need to be at the airport on time."
With a resigned sigh, Taehyung nodded and followed Jungkook toward the door. Jimin called after them, his voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Have fun, lovebirds!"
"Mimi!" Taehyung's shout echoed down the hallway, but the grin on his face betrayed his irritation. Jungkook only chuckled, shaking his head as they headed out into the brisk morning air.
________
The cab ride began with Taehyung immediately commandeering the window seat, his phone already in hand as he fiddled with the front camera. The city buzzed by outside, but Taehyung seemed far more interested in perfecting his "airport look" than the sights. His reflection in the window served as his mirror as he adjusted his hair and angled his phone for the best lighting.
"Jungkook, lean in for a selfie," Taehyung declared, holding up his phone with a determined look.
Jungkook, who had been quietly staring out the window, turned to him with an unimpressed expression. "No."
Taehyung huffed dramatically, his lower lip jutting out in a pout. "Come on, Ggukie, just one! It's for memories."
Jungkook glanced at him, raising an eyebrow, before sighing in defeat. "Fine. Just one."
As Jungkook leaned in, Taehyung wasted no time snapping a picture. He lowered the phone to inspect his handiwork, only to burst into laughter. His shoulders shook as he struggled to catch his breath, the sound of his amusement filling the cab.
"You look like a robot," Taehyung teased, flipping the screen toward Jungkook. The photo showed Jungkook with a stiff expression, his eyes staring blankly ahead as if he were being held hostage.
Jungkook smirked, unfazed. "Better than looking like a clown, which is your specialty."
Taehyung gasped in mock offense, clutching his chest. "Excuse me? I am artistic, thank you very much!"
The cab driver, who had been quietly observing their banter through the rearview mirror, chuckled softly. "You two always like this?" he asked, his voice tinged with amusement.
"Pretty much," Jungkook replied dryly, earning a playful shove from Taehyung.
The ride continued with Taehyung switching between adjusting his scarf, critiquing the angle of his selfies, and pestering Jungkook about joining him in yet another photo. Jungkook, however, had firmly declined after the first one, much to Taehyung's chagrin.
As the cab began to weave through the streets closer to the airport, the mood shifted subtly. Taehyung grew quiet, his phone lowering into his lap as he gazed out the window. His fingers idly played with the edge of his sleeve, and his expression softened.
Jungkook, ever attuned to Taehyung's moods, nudged him gently. "Hey," he said, his voice breaking through the silence. "You okay?"
Taehyung glanced at him, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Yeah," he replied after a moment. "Just... thinking about home. It's been a while."
Jungkook studied him, his usual teasing demeanor replaced with something gentler. "It'll be good to be back," he said softly. Then, with a small grin, he added, "And don't worryâI'll make sure you don't get too nostalgic."
Taehyung chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Thanks, Ggukie," he said, his voice warm with gratitude.
Jungkook smiled in return, leaning back in his seat as the airport came into view. Though the bickering had quieted, the easy camaraderie between them remained, unspoken yet undeniable.