strawberries and permission

Morning light spilled through the curtains, soft and golden.

Tae stirred first.

He blinked lazily, stretched… and then remembered.

He was hungry.

Without hesitation, he crawled across the bed and settled directly on Jungkook’s lower torso, straddling him like it was the most natural thing in the world. His oversized shirt slipped up slightly as he adjusted, hair messy, lips still swollen from sleep.

He bounced once.

“kookoo…” he whined softly, voice small and needy. “I’m hungry.”

Jungkook woke instantly.

His hands came up on instinct, landing on tae’s hips. Not rough. Not gentle either.

Tae bounced again. Slow. Impatient.

“I want strawberry cake,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. “Or strawberries. Or both. I deserve both.”

The movement pressed down again.

Jungkook inhaled sharply.

“tae.”

The tone had changed.

Tae didn’t seem to notice. He leaned forward slightly, palms resting on Jungkook’s chest now, their faces closer. “Why are you saying my name like that?”

Another shift of his hips.

That was a mistake.

Jungkook’s grip tightened, fingers digging in just enough to stop him completely. His jaw clenched. His breathing grew heavier, slower, like he was deliberately trying to control it.

“Stop moving.”

The command was low. Controlled. Almost strained.

Tae blinked down at him with wide eyes. “But I’m just—”

He tried to bounce again.

Jungkook sat up suddenly, dragging tae down with him. In one smooth motion, he rolled them just enough so tae was pressed back against the mattress, Jungkook hovering over him, one knee between tae’s legs, hands still locked around his waist.

Not crushing.

Just firm enough to make a point.

The shift knocked the breath out of tae for a second.

Their faces were inches apart now.

“Do you have any idea,” Jungkook murmured, voice rougher than before, “what you’re doing?”

Tae’s lips parted. His chest rose and fell under Jungkook’s shadow.

“I’m just hungry,” he said softly.

The innocence in his tone was almost unfair.

Jungkook’s thumb flexed slightly against Ray’s hip. His breathing brushed warm against tae’s mouth. For a second just one second it looked like he might lean in.

His control thinned.

"Don't sit on my lower abdomen like that in the early morning my little beautiful husband,” Jungkook said quietly, the warning buried deep in his voice. “Or I won’t stop next time.”

Silence.

Heavy. Charged.

Tae held his gaze wide, trusting eyes… and for the briefest flicker, something sharp glinted there.

Then he smiled softly.

“Strawberries,” he whispered again.

Jungkook exhaled through his teeth, pulling away abruptly as if distance was the only thing saving him. He stood up, running a hand through his hair, trying to steady himself.

“ strawberries? Ah Yes, your strawberries

I’ll get them My little beautiful husband.”

He kissed tae's forehead before

He walked out before he could change his mind.

Behind him, tae slowly sat up, touching the place on his waist where Jungkook’s fingers had held him.

And this time, his smile wasn’t innocent at all.

----

Jungkook was in his study when tae walked in.

Soft footsteps. Hesitant.

“kookie…” tae’s voice was small.

Jungkook look up immediately. “Hmm?”

Tae stepped closer to the desk, fingers playing with the hem of his sleeve. “Can I ask you something?”

That made Jungkook glance up more.

Tae only used that tone when he wanted something.

“What is it?”

“There’s… a birthday party,” tae said carefully. “My friend’s.”

Jungkook’s expression didn’t change. “No.”

Tae blinked. “You didn’t even let me finish.”

“Parties are for adults,” Jungkook said calmly, leaning back in his chair. “Not for babies who pout when they’re hungry.”

Tae’s cheeks flushed. “I’m not a baby.”

Jungkook’s gaze darkened slightly. “oh really?”

Tae crossed his arms, frowning. “It’s just a small party. Only close friends.”

“If you go,” Jungkook said evenly, “I’ll come with you.”

Tae’s eyes widened. “No!”

The reaction was immediate.

Jungkook’s eyebrow lifted.

“It’s only for close friends,” tae said quickly, stepping closer to the desk. “They won’t let anyone else in.”

“And I’m not close?” Jungkook asked quietly.

Tae hesitated. That wasn’t the point.

“It’s different,” he muttered, pouting slightly. “It’s just… us.”

Jungkook studied him.

The way tae shifted from foot to foot. The slight anger in his eyes. The stubborn little crease between his brows.

“You don’t like the idea of me not being there,” Jungkook said.

Tae looked away.

“please kookie try to understand,” he whispered. “Please.” pouted.

He walked around the desk now, stopping beside Jungkook’s chair. He placed his hands lightly on Jungkook’s arm, almost like a child asking for candy.

“Please?” tae repeated softly. “I’ll behave. I’ll be good. I promise.”

Jungkook’s jaw tightened.

He didn’t like it.

Didn’t like the thought of strangers looking at tae. Didn’t like loud music. Didn’t like alcohol near him.

“You’ll be home by ten or else I'll come there myself,” Jungkook said finally.

Tae’s eyes lit up.

“You answer my calls.”

“I will!”

“And if I hear anything I don’t like,” Jungkook added, voice lowering slightly, “you won’t be asking permission next time.”

Tae nodded quickly. “Okay!”

Jungkook grabbed his wrist gently before he could run off.

“One more thing.”

Tae looked down at him.

“You belong to me,” Jungkook said quietly. “Don’t forget that while you’re there.”

A small smile tugged at tae’s lips.

“I won’t.”

And for once, it wasn’t innocent.

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