lovestrippedbare | 𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕚𝕔𝕠

There are times when Jungkook wonders if he spends too much time thinking of the future, and not enough time in the present, where Yoongi is whole and beautiful and smiling right next to him. To spend too much time thinking about their home and of the beautiful suits Yoongi might don would take attention away from their surroundings now, so Jungkook simply wraps up the thought by leaning in and pressing a kiss to Yoongi's cheek.

"Everything about you makes me happy," Jungkook remarks brightly, holding back a quip about how enthusiasm is practically inevitable when it involves taking off Yoongi's clothes. Not now. They'll have time for such jokes later, when they're back in the hotel room.

For now, Jungkook's gaze turns to fix itself on the end of the street, where a few pillars block off access for motorized vehicles, and the dirt suggests a path that many pedestrians have taken down to the water.

"Think the water's cold?" he asks, picking up the pace.

Months together haven't dimmed the way Yoongi's heart lights up at those words, knowing he makes Jungkook happy. When he's had so many days where it seemed to him that there was hardly any good in him, the idea that he could bring joy to the person he loves best forces him to change his thinking. If Jungkook loves him, if he makes Jungkook happy, then he can't be all that bad.

Might even be pretty good.

"Probably," he says, hurrying up to match Jungkook's pace. They're so close now, and it's been a while since they all went to the beach together, and this is so different from that, but it's a different kind of exciting, too. Looking out at the great blue-grey stretch of water, it's possible to imagine a life full of possibility. The world is big and endless, and so are the opportunities before them. "Should we go in anyway?"

The beach here is different than the ones they've been to before, a sharp contrast between the flat dunes of sand and the high rises behind them. In truth, Jungkook thinks that he might prefer the isolation of the beach they went to as a group — something magical and separate about that location, the quiet enough to convince them that they'd stumbled into a land all their own. But there's something unique about this experience as well, stepping right off of the cusp of so much life and activity, a constant reminder that they're a part of this world, too.

It's wonderful and mundane all at once, a scattering of beach umbrellas stretched across the length of the beach, groups of friends, lovers, and families all meandering along the oceanside.

"At least a little. Up to our calves, or something," Jungkook nods, raising his brows excitedly. He remembers Yoongi wading into the beach they'd visited in the winter, the cool slate blue washing up against pale skin.

He'd never seen something so beautiful.

As they near the start of the dunes, Jungkook nudges himself out of his shoes, picking one of the many scattered umbrellas and placing the pair by its base.

Yoongi's hardly about to be outdone, so if Jungkook wants to wade in, then Yoongi will do so as well. Kicking off his shoes, he sets them down beside Jungkook's. The sand is warm beneath his feet, imparting the heat it's drawn from the sun, but still cooler than Yoongi expected, and only bound to get colder as they near the water.

He reaches out for Jungkook's hand and starts down the shore, picking his way between other visitors, glancing over at Jungkook. "At least," he agrees. Back home, headed to the beach with the others, he remembers watching the younger boys run shouting down the sand, nothing but the seven of them for miles, as far as he could tell. Like the world was finally theirs, the way they always felt it should be, the way adults never let it be. Funny how, here, in the midst of more people, Jungkook is more fully his. He doesn't mind sharing him with their friends, but it's nice to be able to walk down the beach holding his boyfriend's hand without anyone trying to steal him away for something more exciting.

"We can handle a little cold."

It strikes Jungkook again that it might be a little selfish of him to have planned his own dream trip for Yoongi's birthday, though he doesn't doubt that Yoongi's having a wonderful time. He can see the way the weight lifts off of Yoongi's shoulders while they're here, without other obligations to hold them back. Even if people glance at them twice, they're strangers. People they'll probably never run into again, once they make their way back to Seoul. It's a wonderful escape — but it's where Jungkook wanted to go most, and maybe that speaks yet again to how much Yoongi always seems to prioritize Jungkook's happiness over everything else.

Jungkook wonders, if it weren't for his influence, where Yoongi would want to go most.

The things Yoongi wants to see.

He'll have to save up more money, setting aside a little day by day until they're able to go to Vienna. It might be a couple of years out yet, but Jungkook longs to see the expression on Yoongi's face when he's in the midst of so much history and inspiration. How serene he might look, if they were to sit for a concert.

"We can definitely handle the cold, especially if that gets us away from the crowd," Jungkook grins, kicking up a little bit of sand as he walks, shivering when they reach a stretch of beach still damp from the receding tide.

There are enough people around that Yoongi doesn't dare kiss Jungkook the way he wants to, and the idea of getting away from the crowd is an appealing one. This is their little adventure. Other people don't much matter.

Instead, he takes Jungkook by the hand, kicking sand back toward him as they walk. The closer they get, the colder the sand is, though, and he laughs as they near the water. "I might have underestimated the cold," he says, eyeing the waves as they ebb and flow, inching to just before Yoongi's feet. Whether or not he did, though, isn't important. He's not about to back down from the challenge when he's this close. Bending down, he rolls up his jeans as high as he can. "Okay, let's do this."

He takes a few steps forward, a stunned laugh spilling from him as the freezing water edges up around his ankles.

His jeans are too tight to roll up as far as Jungkook would like, but he figures that no one will judge him too much for being a bit wet when they come off the beach, so Jungkook starts to walk further ahead with abandon, lingering only enough to make sure Yoongi's hand is still clasped in his own. He beams, seeing Yoongi overcome with laughter, forgetting to react to the cold on his own. Only seconds later does Jungkook realize that his teeth are chattering just a little.

March is beautiful, but winter's chill clings onto it desperately, with every breeze that rushes past them.

"Cold? You're already cold?" Jungkook teases, ignoring the shiver that runs down his spine when a small wave washes over their calves. "No way, come on. We have to at least get knee-deep. No falling behind, old man."

"You said calves," Yoongi protests, but the cold has him shivering and the shivers turn into laughter, his hand squeezing Jungkook's as they wade further out into the water. "Now it's knees. Are we going swimming now?"

He can barely even pretend to be grouchy about this, though. Jungkook looks too pleased, if cold, and Yoongi quickens his pace so he can wrap his arms around him, grinning, to try and warm him. "Twenty is not old." He has half a mind to knock the pair of them into the water, but the idea of walking back to the hotel completely soaked is unappealing enough to deter him for now.

By now, they're far enough into the water that there isn't really anyone else by their side — if anything, people seem to be glancing skeptically in their direction, most of the tourists here for the view and not yet for swimming. It all works out in Jungkook's favor, though. With the distance between them and the rest of the population, Jungkook feels less self-conscious, less concerned about the two of them being tangled up in one another, arms sliding easily around Yoongi's waist and gripping tight to keep him close.

"Oh, I don't know. Twenty means you're not a teenager anymore. That means I basically have to call you old," Jungkook quips with a snicker, leaning back just enough to get a look at Yoongi's expression, no trace of true irritation there over Jungkook's teasing. If anything, Yoongi looks beautiful in this light, perhaps woken in part by the chill of the water.

Jungkook does his best not to clumsily knock their teeth together when he leans back in, fighting off shivers as he searches for a kiss, one hand raised to cup Yoongi's jaw.

Yoongi smiles against his mouth before he returns the kiss, arms draping over Jungkook's shoulders. They're both shaking from the cold and it's a little ridiculous and he doesn't care at all. There's room to be ridiculous when he's happy like this. "Does that mean I get to call you a brat?" he teases. "You're freezing. Are you sure you want to go any further?"

Because he will, if Jungkook wants it. There's very little Yoongi thinks he wouldn't do if Jungkook wanted it.

Even this, standing in the cold water kissing where anyone might see them. They're far enough from the crowds that he doubts anyone will really notice, but it still sends a thrill of nerves and excitement both through him any time they take this kind of a risk. He's more cautious than Jungkook is, but he doesn't let that stop him now.

"You can call me a brat all you'd like, though I can think of much better ways to scold me," Jungkook teases, looping his arms low around Yoongi's waist, relaxed and pleased with the weight of the other boy against his body, shivers and all. Out in the water, it feels like they're on the edge of the world, that they've run here at full speed until no one else can touch them. It's an experience that Jungkook wants to relive time and time again, and it anchors him, somehow. Gives him a goal that he can easily envision himself working towards.

Wanting to provide a lifetime of happy memories for Yoongi.

"This is far enough for now," he murmurs, one hand rising to brush Yoongi's hair off to the side, though the currents of wind make the effort a futile one. "We'll save the actual swimming for tomorrow. Or some time when I don't have my phone in my pocket."

He laughs, even though the remark isn't all that funny. Laughs, because there's the space to do so now, with blue skies stretching above and blue water all around them, throwing his head back even as his teeth continue to chatter. The air smells nice, slightly salty and alive.

"Best birthday ever?" he asks Yoongi, raising a brow expectantly.

They'd be warmer if they swam now, phone or not, Yoongi knows, if they let themselves get soaked so they could acclimate to the water's frigid temperature. He doesn't care. They can try that tomorrow. For now, he likes this method of staying warm, pulling Jungkook close for another kiss before he answers.

"Best birthday ever," he agrees. It's simple and quiet, just the two of them, but that's all he really needs this year anyway. Being out here, it's like they've escaped from all the pressure and pain of home, and there's nothing left but them and all this freedom. "I'm glad we did this."

Last night with the other boys was great, but Yoongi isn't always one for a lot of fuss. This is better, quieter, a glimpse of how the world could be.

Jungkook giggles, selfishly pleased that he gets to be the one who gives Yoongi this, a day of sheer happiness, no other obligations tying them down. He presses both of his hands to Yoongi's cheeks, squishing them slightly, quick kisses pressed to his forehead, the tip of his nose, doting and fond. He wonders what Yoongi's father would think, if he could see his son like this, so full of life and vibrant in spite of how devoid of love their home is.

What Yoongi's mother would think, to see her son happy again.

"I'm glad we did this, too. Totally worth Jimin chewing me out," Jungkook agrees, swaying them slightly in the water, reminded suddenly of their slow dance, half a year ago. "Next year, we'll have you pick the destination, though. It's only fair, being your birthday and all."

Yoongi rolls his eyes fondly at the idea of Jimin getting angry with Jungkook. As long as one of Jimin's moods isn't turned on him, they're somehow endearing. Maybe it's because they know Jimin loves them anyway.

"I like what you chose," he says, shaking his head. "This is perfect. You know I don't care where we go anyway, but I like this." He would have been happy even if they'd just found a motel somewhere in Seoul. Anything that allows the two of them to be together without worry or interruption is good enough for him. Still, they have a long list of possibilities they want to visit and plenty of time to save up for longer trips to more distant places. It's fun to imagine they might go one day and never come back.

"I guess," Jungkook says, pursing his lips at the suggestion that Yoongi doesn't care where they go. On the one hand, Jungkook knows it's probably true — that there's no way that Yoongi would be disappointed with where they've come, that Yoongi's mind isn't as fixated on travel as Jungkook's has been. For Yoongi, the yearning has always been for love to come back into his home. Jungkook finds himself simply needing to escape.

It's enough that Yoongi can start to take just as much joy away as Jungkook for these trips. That both of them can find greater happiness when they set out together.

"If you see pictures, though. Like, places that look like they might be interesting... we should still add it to our bucket list," he adds, leaning in and pressing a kiss to the tip of Yoongi's nose. "I know Europe's one of the end goals. But anyplace in Korea, too. When things look good to us, let's think about how to get there."

"Okay," Yoongi says, wrinkling his nose in response. There are plenty of places he'd like to visit, if he thinks about it, but sometimes it's outweighed by the desire for a quiet, simple life or his happiness at being exactly where he is. The latter is already remarkable enough to him, the simple fact of being content. Still, there's a lot of world to see, even if they narrow it down just to Korea. "I'll think about it. We've got plenty of time to get ready, right?"

Wherever they go, they'll have to save up for it, after all, and next year may not allow for them to get away quite so easily. Once he's at university, he'll have to look over the schedule and see. Maybe if they plan for the break nearest to his birthday, they can go farther.

"A whole year. And then the year after that. And the year after that..." Jungkook counts off, tilting his head playfully before tugging Yoongi closer again, pressing their foreheads together, peppering Yoongi's lips with quick pecks. It's probably more than a little obnoxious.

Jungkook also doesn't care.

As much as he could spend the next few hours kissing Yoongi, a strong gust of wind brings Jungkook's attention back to the horizon itself, squinting against the sun as he turns fully towards the water. He loops an arm closely around Yoongi's waist, trying to maintain the warmth between them, and lets out a soft sigh at the sight of the endless water, sunlight glittering over the surface.

"It's like we're at the end of the world," Jungkook murmurs.

The sounds from the beach, the chatter of other people, have faded into the background, unimportant, and Yoongi gazes out to the horizon. It seems impossibly far, nothing by sea and sky for unfathomable miles. With an arm draped over Jungkook's shoulder, Yoongi leans his side into him. "Yeah," he says. It almost seems as if they're alone for this. Certainly no one else matters, anyway, the suggestion of other people distant enough to ignore.

He imagines sailing off toward that far off line and never coming back, the pair of them journeying, exploring.

"It's beautiful."

Two days isn't nearly enough for this, Jungkook thinks. But it's more than they've had so far, and maybe occasional trips like this will be able to tide them over until they're finally able to break away and live their own lives, until they're finally able to set off over that ocean and never look back. Maybe Jungkook should feel a greater attachment to the life he's lived, to the people who have supported him, to the experiences and memories worth cherishing.

But right now, all that he can do is think of the future, one hand weaving through Yoongi's hair, carding through the strands and pulling him close.

"Almost as beautiful as you," Jungkook says with a cheesy smile, eyes still fixed on the horizon.

Yoongi laughs, slapping at Jungkook's side. "Yah, you're so ridiculous," he says, glancing over and rolling his eyes. It's too absurd to take as a compliment, and yet, underneath the over-the-top nature of it, it's not like he doesn't believe Jungkook also means it. How lucky they are, that they can make each other laugh so easily.

He rests his head on Jungkook's shoulder, enjoying the way Jungkook touches his hair. There's something absurdly satisfying about having his hair stroked like this. He suspects Jin would have some kind of cat-related comment to make if he ever said as much near the others, though. The waves surge and crash against their shins, the sand shifting under their feet, and Yoongi closes his eyes, letting himself feel like they're drifting away on the tide.

"For what, telling the truth?" Jungkook asks, snorting as Yoongi hits his side and bumping his hip against Yoongi's in retaliation. Maybe the sentiment is more than a little cheesy, but Jungkook knows that he'd trade all the views like this in the world if it only meant that he could spend every second by Yoongi's side, their cares and worries too distant to matter. Still, he's glad for the chance to view the ocean as well, distantly wondering if his father ever came to this same beach.

Looked out over that same horizon.

Wonders, if his father ever brought his mother here on a date.

When the soft weight of Yoongi's head drops down to his shoulder, Jungkook glances over carefully, not wanting to disturb his boyfriend. He smiles at the way Yoongi's eyes fall to a close, expression peaceful and content. With a small shift, he turns to press his lips against Yoongi's forehead.

The soft brush of lips against his forehead draws a smile from Yoongi, his arm wrapping more tightly around Jungkook's waist in a sideways hug. There's such peace out here. They could live somewhere like this, somewhere close to the water. A quiet place where they could visit the ocean whenever they wanted. It's an option, anyway; there are so many possibilities to consider, the future as vast as the ocean before them.

"I love you," he murmurs, lifting his head to kiss Jungkook's cheek before he rests it against his shoulder again. "And I really like this." He can't really fault Jungkook for being cheesy, though. As gorgeous as it is out here, he prefers the sight of Jungkook to the waves; it makes sense the same is true in reverse.

It's hard for Jungkook to stop his mind from running in a million directions — wanting to check if Yoongi really isn't at all interested in a little intimacy on the beach, lamenting the fact that he can't propose to Yoongi right here and now, wondering if the two of them should start making their way back to the hotel, where it can really just be them, only them. But Yoongi looks so at peace that Jungkook can't bring himself to disturb the moment, save for continuing to press kisses to Yoongi's temple once he rests his head back on Jungkook's shoulder.

"I love you more than anything, you know," Jungkook says softly, lips brushing against Yoongi's hair, feeling the strands tickle his cheeks with the wind. "Maybe it gets old, hearing it over and over so many times... but it never feels like I get to say it enough when we're in Seoul."

"It never gets old," Yoongi says, quiet, even solemn. Even having such good friends to turn to, there are so many times when Yoongi has felt alone in the world, unwanted, unloved, or at least unnecessary. How could he ever tire of hearing otherwise from the person he loves most in this world? How could he tire of saying it. Jungkook has a point, though. Far from their own world, there's a freedom they don't usually have except in his room, in their most unguarded moments, when no one else is around, no one to worry will overhear. There's no one to be afraid of in Busan, and while they still can't exactly parade their relationship for anyone to see, there's a greater sense of openness, too.

He lifts his head a little, chin resting on Jungkook's shoulder. "It never could." He craves affection in general, more than he ever wants to admit; with Jungkook, though, it doesn't feel like a confession. Jungkook knows him better than anyone else anyway. And it's his affection Yoongi wants most of all. "I never get tired of saying it either."

Jungkook wrinkles his nose, delighted by how cute Yoongi looks now, with his chin on Jungkook's shoulder. Everything about him is cute, not necessarily small but all of it so contained, so easy to wrap his arms around and hold close. Jungkook tilts his head and it's just enough for him to reach Yoongi's lips, pressing a lingering kiss there, an attempt to convey his love with all the senses.

"I accept it as my role in life to keep saying it until you grow tired of hearing it. Until it's your forever earworm. So that when you're old and wrinkled and gray, if you don't remember anything else, you'll remember that Jeon Jungkook loves you and that's all you need," he chuckles, suddenly filled with half a mind to just tackle Yoongi into the water, phones be damned.

He settles instead for picking Yoongi up and spinning them in a circle, splashing water every which way as they turn.

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