Work Text
It’s been a long day and Taehyung just wants to go home.. He wants to strip out of his sweaty work clothes and be away from the constant chatter, wants to find every blanket and pillow in his dorm and build a massive cocoon of warmth and self-pity.He usually likes work, likes the change of scenery it provides from his usual college schedule. Likes the constant hubbub of people going in and out of the museum, likes teaching the genuinely curious ones about a piece that caught their eye, likes overhearing thoughtful musings.But today, his head is pounding and his skin feels clammy. The cold he had thought he’d fought off with exorbitant amounts of chamomile tea and vitamin C tablets had returned with a vengeance, pressing against his skull and sucking away his energy.So when the mild voice over the speakers finally announced that the museum would be closing in fifteen minutes, Taehyung almost cried in relief. And then there was the usually quick bus ride from work back to campus that seemed to take forever, the uncomfortable press of people around him and ceaseless noise making his head pound harder.Thank god, quiet greeted him when he opened the door to the dorm. All the lights were off telling him Jimin had yet to return from his study session at the library and Taehyung didn’t bother to turn them on, the quiet darkness soothing.He was too tired to busy himself with the blanket cocoon he’d been dreaming about at work, too tired to even fully change out of his work clothes. It was easier to just collapse onto the worn couch once he had struggled out of his jacket and shoes, collecting all the pillows that were in his immediate line of vision to tuck around his body.-It was closing in on 9pm when Jimin returned from the library. He never wanted to look at his chemistry notes ever again, but there was a satisfyingly thick stack of index cards with green check marks on them and only a few left to memorize. Buzzing with unused energy after sitting all day, Jimin wondered if Taehyung would want to go out tonight, maybe try the new ice cream place that everyone was raving about ….The lights were off.Jimin had been sure Taehyung would be back already, a tiny pout forming on his lips at the thought of spending the night alone as he flicked on the lights and began tugging off his shoes. He froze mid-tug when he heard a faint whimper coming from the pile of pillows on the couch.“Tae? Is that you?”There was another muffled noise and Jimin quickly finished removing his shoes and shed his coat, creeping over to the couch.His roommate was barely visible under the scattered pillows, just the top of his messy brown hair poking out. Jimin gently moved the top pillow away, revealing an ashen face and too-bright eyes, the boy curled into semi-fetal position on the narrow couch.Taehyung blinked miserably up at him.“Oh, baby,” Jimin soothed, kneeling down be to him. “What happened?”“Dunno,” Taehyung said after a moment, voice rough. “Wasn’t feeling well all day and when I came home I just…”He paused, looking around.“What time is it even?”“Just after nine.”“Oh.”Taehyung blinked once more before tugging the pillow Jimin had moved back over his head.“I’m okay,” he said from under the pillow. “Jus’ tired. I think I’ll sleep here tonight.”“Like hell you will.”Jimin tugged the pillow away again and Taehyung threw a weak hand over his eyes, curling into himself more.“C’mon, Taetae,” Jimin said softly. “Wouldn’t it be nicer if you were all clean and comfy in your bed, with some medicine and something to eat?”“Can’t move and don’ wanna eat. M’feel sick.”“I think you are sick, baby,” Jimin said, voice as gentle as he can make it.Taehyung didn’t often get sick. He had an immune system of steel and was honestly too stubborn to fall ill most of the time, but Jimin had felt it coming. With finals coming up and Taehyung putting in extra hours at the museum to save up for Christmas gifts, with his commitments to tutor at the Learning Center and his insistence on going out on that miserably cold night to get pancake mix (“I said I would make you an awesome pancake breakfast to celebrate acing your project and you are getting an awesome pancake breakfast, Jiminie!”), it was bound to happen.And Jimin also knew that Taehyung hated being sick. Hated feeling sluggish and weak and hated feeling like he needed to be taken care of, no matter how much Jimin knew he craved it.So when he extricated Taehyung from the couch pillows, he distracted him by talking lightly about his day, helped him sit up, feeling the cold sweat covering the back of his shirt as he recounted his study session success.Jimin led Taehyung into their shared bathroom, settling his down on the closed toilet seat as he started fiddling with the buttons of his shirt.“It’s okay,” Taehyung said, looking down. “I can take it from here.”“Tae…”“Really!” Taehyung protested. “I’ll - I’ll just clean up quickly and go to bed. You don’t need to trouble yourself.”He wasn’t really meeting Jimin’s eye and Jimin could tell he was a hair's breadth away from tears, the way his whole body was a little hunched and his hands curled tightly, everything in him telling Jimin to please stay besides for his voice.So Jimin ran a tender hand through Taehyung’s messy hair, combing it back from his face and Taehyung leaned into the touch unconsciously.“It’s no trouble, Taehyungie,” Jimin murmured. “You’ve been working so hard haven’t you? In school and at work, trying to make sure everyone is happy. But now you’re feeling like crap, huh?”He felt Taehyung nod against his hand, and Jimin titled up Taehyung’s chin, brushing a little wetness away from the corner of his eye.“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Jimin said, bending so he could pull Taehyung into a hug, feeling the other boy sink against him. “Let me take care of you, okay?”He nodded again, head tucked against his shoulder, and they stayed like that for a moment before Jimin drew back. Taehyung looked small and worn sitting on top of the toilet, all pretense of being fine gone as he watched Jimin start the bath and drip in a little of his favorite lavender oil, the fragrant aroma filling the small room.And he didn’t protest when Jimin helped him out of his wrinkled work clothes, letting the dirty clothes fall to the floor as he stepped gingerly out of them and into the warm bath. Jimin quickly soaped up a washcloth, working it over Taehyung’s back and down his arms, adjusting his limbs to make sure the job was thorough, and there was the faintest blush painted prettily on Taehyung’s cheeks but he didn’t stop the ministrations. Just let his eyes flutter shut as Jimin lathered shampoo into his hair. Lips loosely parted when Jimin washed the suds away, hands lingering to gently massage the tension out of his neck and shoulders.Jimin wrapped him in their fluffiest towel when he was done, a massive blue thing that they found on sale on their last Target shopping spree.“I’ll be right back,” Jimin said once he was sure Taehyung was securely wrapped.He rushed to Taehyung’s room, digging through the other boy’s dresser until he found the fuzzy pajama set that Taehyung reserved for stressful nights and grabbed it along with a pair of thick, woolen socks before rushing back to the bathroom.Taehyung was just where he left him, clutching the towel around him, wet hair laying haphazardly and his eyes large and expectant as Jimin reentered. And god, if he didn’t look like the most precious thing in the world just standing there.“Ah, Tae,” Jimin cooed, setting the pajamas down. “You look so cute.”“I feel like shit.”“A little better though?”Taehyung let the towel around him drop and Jimin helped him into his pajamas, letting the taller boy lean on him for balance.“A little,” Taehyung conceded as Jimin sat him down on the closed toilet seat so he could pull on the socks. And then in a lighter voice, “Thanks, Jiminie.”Jimin pressed a tiny kiss to Taehyung’s temple in response before rubbing his hair semi-dry with a smaller towel.The exhaustion was starting to set in again as they shuffled from the bathroom, but Taehyung obediently ate the toast and a small bowl of broth Jimin made for him. And once Jimin had deemed that he had ate enough, he popped two Advil without complaint, eyelids drooping.“You ready for bed, Taetae?”Taehyung nodded, getting up from the table, and Jimin was there in an instant with a hand wrapped firmly around his waist.He wanted to object, to say that he could well manage the short walk from the kitchen to his bed, but it felt nice to have Jimin’s warm arm pressed against him and once he was able to swallow his pride, it felt nice to be doted on a little bit, to be treated so carefully. So he stayed silent, just tucked himself a little more firmly against Jimin as they made the short trip to the bedroom.And it was so much nicer, Taehyung thought, to be curled up in his bed in his comfiest pajamas, clean and stomach settled, his headache slowly fading. So much nicer than being clammy on the couch. There was the rustling of clothes and then Jimin slid in behind him, stripped down to his undershirt and boxers, shuffling until Taehyung’s body was flush with his, his arm hanging over Taehyung’s chest.The weight of his body against his back was solid and warm, and Taehyung interlaced his fingers with the hand that Jimin had draped over his body, leaning down a little to press a kiss against his fingers.“Thank you,” he murmured against Jimin’s fingers, pressing them to his lips again.“M’always here for you, Taehyungie,” Jimin said, breath puffing against the back of Taehyung’s neck. “Just have to let me.”“Okay.”There was a moment of silence and Taehyung felt sleep steal over him, managing to say one final thing before he was completely out.“Love you, Jiminie.”“Love you too.” And he could hear the fondness in Jimin’s answer just as he fell asleep, the sweetest smile playing on his lips.