Archive of Our Own ^beta

Jimin didn’t get it.

No matter how close they slept, how many limbs they tangled, fingers they locked together, how they draped on top of each other, they always woke up on opposite sides of the bed.

Pillows strewn about, blankets either hogged by one of them, or thrown off the bed all together.

One time, he woke up screaming because he thought Taehyung’s face had melted off. It was actually just Taehyung’s pajama covered ass, but the lack of light had been playing tricks. For the rest of that night, Jimin had kissed every crevice of Taehyung’s face, lingering on his lips and forehead.

But it was getting old.

Sometimes, Jimin just wanted to wake up in Taehyung’s arms, or with Taehyung in his arms, without having to crawl across the bed. Sometimes, Jimin wanted to wake up in the middle of the night and find Taehyung snuggled into his chest and feel unbearably fond. Sometimes, Jimin just wanted to wake up knowing he’d been held through the whole night by his soulmate, the person he loved the most.

Taehyung felt the same way.

“So we both agree? This has to stop?” Jimin asked, the two sitting on opposite sides of the dining table as though at an important meeting. Taehyung even had on his ridiculous “thinking glasses”, which he used exclusively to look like a sexy librarian that scrutinised everyone by peeking over the rims.

“Yes, I want to hold my precious Jiminie all night.” Taehyung nodded along, his fingers pressed together in front of his face. Jimin’s face squished into something shy and flattered, “And I want to hold my precious Taehyungie.” Jimin shot back, voice dripped in honey. Taehyung didn’t bother fighting his smile.

“So.. what if we get rid of the blankets? Maybe we move so much because we get too warm cuddling?” Jimin suggested, looking down to read the “notes” taehyung had thrown together.

“Or we could-...” Jimin paused, “Taetae, why is the next suggestion to sleep completely naked?” Jimin’s face fell completely flat as he looked up to meet the eyes of a widely grinning Taehyung. “Well, Jiminie, skinship happens to be very important in any relationship, but specifically ones like ours. I think our clothes are restricting us, so we move around because we’re subconsciously trying to take them off.” Taehyung explained slowly, his voice sounding breathy and like he didn’t quite believe the words.

Jimin’s face remains unimpressed, “Taehyung-ah, every time we sleep naked we end up having sex.”

“I still see no downside.”

“No.”

Taehyung seemed to physically deflate, “But that was the most fun option!” Taehyung whined, sinking further down in his chair.

“Taehyung-ssi, Taehyung-ah, my precious Taetae. I love you, completely and truly, but even on those nights, we still end up pushing each other apart. Our pajamas are not the problem.” Jimin soothed. Taehyung still let out a puff, pushing himself to sit upright. “Fine.” Taehyung mumbled.

“Okay, so tonight we’ll get rid of the blankets?”

“Sure, Jimin-ah.”

“Thank you, Taetae.”

༄

It didn’t work.

Jimin had jerked awake first thing in the morning, his mind anticipating before he could even recall what for. He was grimly reminded when he woke with his head at the foot of the mattress, his back to an upright but shriveled up Taehyung. Jimin frowned, now disappointed and cold.

Slipping from the bed, he grabbed their comforter from the chair they’d thrown it on, and spread it across the mattress. It gently fell over Taehyung’s legs, and Jimin slipped in behind him, his arm coming to circle around Taehyung’s waist. Slowly, Taehyung’s body uncoiled itself with the warmth from the comforter and Jimin.

Jimin ran his hands up along Taehyung’s chest, feeling the press of his skin beneath the fabric. Jimin tugged on it lightly, liking the way Taehyung’s shirt moved to shape against the rise and fall of his breathing. Jimin began to press slow and open-mouthed kisses to the side of Taehyung’s neck, following the juncture of his shoulder all the way up to his jawline. There were playful bites, drags of teeth, gentle sucks, and soft pecks. Jimin took special care with areas he knew Taehyung was especially fond of, running his tongue along them in smooth motions.

Taehyung let out little pleased breaths as he slowly stirred into wakefulness. Taehyung let out a soft grunt, “Did it work?” Taehyung’s voice was groggy with sleep, faltering more when Jimin hit a place he liked. “No,” Jimin breathed into Taehyung’s neck. Taehyung let out a small disgusted noise, eyes fluttering shut once again when Jimin dipped back down to tease a particularly sensitive spot on Taehyung’s neck.

Jimin hummed against Taehyung through his kisses, “Can try something again tonight,” Jimin whispered, slowly being lulled back to sleep. Taehyung hummed in agreement, already halfway gone.

༄

“I like being woken up like that,” Taehyung said, absently rubbing at the spots on his neck Jimin had sucked on.

“You also said that when I woke you up by biting your arm.” Jimin casted Taehyung a challenging glance. Taehyung’s lips simply twitched in response, making way for a momentary smirk, “Exactly,”

“Taetae, you’re gross, you know that?” Jimin sighed, the two once again back to opposite ends of the dinner table, once again pretending they’re in some sort of serious meeting. “You love it,” Taehyung shot back.

Jimin pretended not to hear it, “Okay, so, next method.. bondage?” Jimin almost looked genuinely angry when he slammed his palm on the table and looked up to meet Taehyung’s cheerful gaze. Almost.

“Aish, Jimin-ah, you’re so dirty,” Taehyung reprimanded playfully, “Not that kind of bondage, just something to bind us together. I was thinking we could use the strings of a bathrobe to tie our waists together?” Taehyung suggested, starting to doodle on his page. Jimin’s brows peaked a bit, “Oh,” Jimin said.

“That actually doesn’t sound like a bad idea.” Jimin grinned lightly.

“Yeah, I was thinking we hug each other and then wrap the string around both of us.” Taehyung explained.

Jimin giggled, “That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.”

Taehyung returned the light laughter, smile wide and boxy, “That’s the fun part.”

“Well, then, I guess we’ll try that tonight then, Taetae.”

“I’d be honoured, Chimchim.”

༄

Jimin laughed so hard he started to lean into Taehyung. Taehyung wasn’t doing much better, his smile gorgeously overwhelmed and fond, “Yah, Jimin-ah, we’re going to fall! Don’t lean into me too much!” Taehyung’s words were littered with laughter, his giggly panic only making Jimin laugh harder.

The two were currently in the bathroom just off their bedroom, the bathrobe string securely tying them so tightly that there was hardly room to breathe between them.

“Taehyung-ah,” Another giggle, “we look ridiculous.” Jimin said, his laughter finally calming down, a smile still wide on his face as he examined their reflection. Their bellies were completely flush, and then some. Balancing was a bit of an odd task, their postures a bit off from where their hips met to where their shoulder blades drew back so they could actually face each other.

“We look lovely.” Taehyung corrected, meeting Jimin’s eyes in their reflection. Jimin scrunched his face, “We’re doing something ridiculously stupid, this is no time for cheese.”

“Have I told you how lovely you are lately?” Taehyung dropped his voice to a gentle whisper, his gaze in the reflection matching his tone.

“Taehyung-ah,” Jimin whined, burying his face in Taehyung’s chest. “Because I think you’re the loveliest soulmate anyone could dream of.” Taehyung planted a gentle kiss to the top of Jimin’s head after he finished speaking.

“Taetae,”

“Chimchim,”

“I love you.”

“I know.”

Jimin sighed into Taehyung’s chest, his hands intertwined behind Taehyung’s back, holding him close even though they couldn’t get closer if they tried.

“Now… how are we supposed to get to the bed?” Jimin asked, looking up, chin pressed against Taehyung’s chest, making an awkward angle for Taehyung to look down at, but he did it anyway.

“Lots of shuffling, possibly suffering.” Taehyung said, voice completely serious. The two stared at each other before once again breaking into laughter, stumbling about the bathroom with awkward steps and playful shouting.

༄

Getting into bed had been a process. There was lots of squeaky laughter, chuckles, and tumbling. At one point, Taehyung had been laying perfectly on top of Jimin, enjoying dipping down to annoyingly peck Jimin’s lips mid-sentence. Jimin pretended to be annoyed, not-so-secretly reveling in the random bouts of affection.

Nevertheless, the plan didn’t work.

Jimin didn’t even understand how the plan didn’t work. The bathrobe string hadn’t been much longer than they had tied it. It would have been understandable if it came untied and didn’t work because of that. So Jimin didn’t understand how the hell it was sitting perfectly tied like a bow in the center of the bed; meanwhile Jimin layed buried in the pillows by the headboard, and Taehyung’s torso hung halfway off the side of the mattress. The comforter was completely off the bed, and Taehyung was slowly sliding further off the bed.

Jimin let out an annoyed noise, shoving his face into a pillow, not bothering to save Taehyung. He’d fallen off the bed a million times, he’d survive one more.

There was a thump, followed by a guttural yelp from Taehyung as he jerked awake on the floor. Jimin couldn’t help the laughing fit that followed, Taehyung’s laughter floating up from the floor and joining his.

༄

“Couples shirts?” Jimin asked, brows quirked and confused.

“Hear me out,” Taehyung started, “I’m not talking about regular, boring, matching couples shirts. I mean the huge t-shirts that are made for two people to fit in one shirt.”

Jimin stared for a long moment, meeting Taehyung’s eyes, who was clearly trying hard not to burst out laughing.

“Absolutely not.” Jimin answered.

“Jimin-ah!” Taehyung pleaded.

“Tete, I could barely keep a straight face with the bathrobe string. If we wear a massive t-shirt, I’ll cry laughing the whole night and we won’t sleep at all.” Jimin argued. Taehyung sighed, rolling his eyes, “Fine,” Taehyung conceded.

Taehyung hummed, tapping the back of his pen against the table. Jimin eyed him, practically able to see the dots as they connected in Taehyung’s head. It was in their telepathy…. something about blankets.

“What if we cocoon ourselves in the comforter?”

Comforter, blankets, same thing.

“I mean… I guess it might work. Aren’t you a bit claustrophobic though?” Jimin asked, a genuine curiosity on his face. Taehyung hesitated for a split second, “No.. no, I grew out of that years ago. I’ll be fine.” Taehyung assured.

Jimin narrowed his eyes, watching Taehyung’s body twitch in different places as Jimin scrutinised him. “If you say so,” Jimin shrugged, and Taehyung seemed relieved.

༄

“This might not have been such a good idea.” Taehyung said, slight panic edging into his voice, legs shifting uncomfortably. Jimin and Taehyung lay, once again pressed together and facing each other, this time wrapped up in their comforter. Jimin shuffled his arms a bit, managing to gain more wiggle room, and raised his hands to run through Taehyung’s hair and against his cheek. Jimin could practically see Taehyung’s relief as he melted into the touches.

“It’s okay, Taetae. You can still breathe. Can get out whenever you want, we’re not stuck.” Jimin whispered, fingers carefully cupping Taehyung’s cheek, his thumb gently smoothing over Taehyung’s cheek bones.

Taehyung let out a breath, eyes closed, “I know.”

“Do you want to get out?” Jimin asked carefully, still watching Taehyung with gentle eyes. Taehyung’s brow scrunched a bit as he thought, eyes still closed. Jimin felt Taehyung’s limbs shifting a bit, pulling the fabric of the comforter so it loosened its hold on them.

Taehyung hummed, eyes flickering open to meet Jimin’s, “No, think I’ll be fine… Jus’ want it a bit looser.” Taehyung said quietly. Jimin nodded, sitting up a bit, tugging at the comforter until it was loose enough to feel like it was just draped over them. Jimin scooted back down into the comforter. Taehyung wrapped his arms around Jimin’s waist as he scooted down to lay beside him, pressing his hands up under Jimin’s shirt to feel his skin.

Jimin was finally laying beside Taehyung, and recognised the look in his eyes, the way Taehyung’s hands were dancing across his skin, giving a light drag to his nails. “Taehyung-ah,” Jimin said in warning. Taehyung paused, “You don’t want to?”

Jimin groaned, “When have I ever not wanted to have sex with you?”

“Well, there was that one time-“

“We were at my cousin’s wedding and you wanted to give me a blowjob in the bathroom.. during the ceremony!”

“... It still counts,” Taehyung mumbled, hands working down Jimin’s back, slipping under the elastic of his pants and underwear until his hands firmly grabbed Jimin’s ass.

Jimin sighed, “But it’s gonna get messy, and I don’t feel like getting the lube and having to clean up..” Jimin breathed, eyes fluttering shut as Taehyung began kneading at his ass.

Taehyung hummed again, “Won’t need any of that for what I wanna do.” Taehyung leaned forward and began pressing kisses to the exposed skin of Jimin’s neck. Jimin’s hands grabbed onto Taehyung’s biceps, digging into the skin as his hips twitched forward. Jimin let out a noise, Taehyung’s hands still dragging over the skin of his ass. “You sure?” Jimin questioned, knowing even if the answer changed, he wouldn’t stop.

Taehyung considered it, slowing his kisses at the corner of Jimin’s jaw, leaning up to whisper into Jimin’s ear, “Might get a little messy.” Jimin’s hips canted forward at the words, meeting Taehyung’s. Taehyung let out a small curse. Jimin sighed, “I don’t care, just get on with it.”

Taehyung laughed, making Jimin smile, before they continued on for the night.

༄

Taehyung was right, things did get a little messy. They ended up having to wash their sheets and comforter, and switch them out for clean ones. Jimin complained the whole time he was cleaning up, while Taehyung just laughed, teasing Jimin for liking it.

They’d still slept loosely wrapped in their new, clean comforter, but it still didn’t work.

When Jimin woke up, he and Taehyung were on opposite sides of the bed, their backs facing each other. It sent a little pang to Jimin’s heart- it made him feel like they were in the middle of an argument. Like maybe Jimin had done something wrong.

Instead of dwelling on it, Jimin stood and walked around the bed. He nudged Taehyung away from the edge of the bed, Taehyung groaning in protest, until Jimin layed down, backing himself into Taehyung’s arms. Taehyung now laid behind Jimin, just barely awake. Taehyung wrapped his arms tightly around Jimin, pressing his legs up to meet the backs of Jimin’s so their bodies were completely flush.

Jimin let out a breath, one of his hands supporting his head, the other holding Taehyung’s that was tucked against his stomach. Jimin wished they’d woken up like this in the first place.

“We’ll figure it out, Jimin-ah,” Taehyung said groggily, voice gravelly with sleep. Jimin hummed, “We will.”

༄

“Maybe if we go to sleep on opposite sides of the bed, we’ll end up cuddling when we wake up? Like all those dramas?” Taehyung suggested, drawing bored circles on his paper.

Jimin frowned, “I don’t even want to try that one. The point is to fall asleep together and wake up together. I don’t want to sacrifice one for the other.” Jimin stated, pouting and taking a sip of water.

Taehyung nodded along, looking back down to his bullet point list. “You think Namjoon hyung could help?” Taehyung asked, starting to draw lopsided hearts with faces. Jimin shrugged, “I mean.. sure, he’s a counselor, but I think our problem is more physical than psychological.” Jimin said.

Taehyung paused for a moment, “I don’t know. I think we really should explore that. We may be unconscious in our sleep, but we still experience thoughts and emotions. That’s what dreams are,” Taehyung started, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. “I mean, just think about it. Even tying ourselves together didn’t work. We still got out, so maybe.. Maybe we have some thoughts we aren’t really certain about?” Taehyung posed the last bit slightly unsure, meeting Jimin’s eyes carefully.

Jimin pressed his lips into a line, “I don’t know, Taetae…”

“It can’t hurt to try,” Taehyung encouraged.

“I just-… I don’t.. like it.” Jimin hesitated.

“Don’t like what, Jimin-ah?” Taehyung asked, ever-so-gentle.

“I don’t like the idea.. that we need help. That we need to go to someone else… I don’t like feeling like I’m not good enough to solve our own issues.” Jimin explained, eyes firmly on his paper now. Taehyung stood up carefully, slipping around the table to crouch next to Jimin’s chair.

“Come to the couch with me?” Taehyung asked quietly, offering his hand. Jimin nodded, slipping his hand into Taehyung’s larger one, letting himself be guided to the couch. Taehyung sat first, laid back, then pulled Jimin to lay over him. The two stacked cozily on top of one another, the two facing each other, Jimin leaning further into the back of the couch.

“You know I love you, right?” Taehyung asked. Jimin nodded in confirmation.

“You know that you’re my whole world?”

Another nod.

“That I knew I was going to fall in love with you the first time I saw you smile?”

Jimin’s cheeks were dusted a light pink, and he nodded again.

“Okay, good. Glad we’re both on the same page,” Taehyung pressed a kiss to the top of Jimin’s head, “Now, I need you to understand that Namjoon hyung would never ever judge us, especially not for something like this. And this.. whatever it is, is I think the stupidest problem we could have as a couple. Namjoonie hyung will probably giggle for ten minutes if we go to him because he won’t even really see a problem to be fixed.” Taehyung smiled as Jimin let out a humoured breath through his nose.

“And this isn’t the type of thing you should feel bad about not being able to fix. It’s… quite frankly, Jimin-ah, this issue we’re having is ridiculous.”

Jimin chuckled shyly into Taehyung’s chest.

“So, what do you say, hm? We don’t even have to ask Namjoon hyung in a professional way, we can ask him as a friend.” Taehyung asked, running his fingers over Jimin’s hair and straightening it out.

Jimin let out a long breath, “Okay, Taetae, we can ask Joonie hyung.” Jimin said quietly. Taehyung’s lips curved into a gentle smile, “Okay, let's do it.”

༄

Taehyung was right.

When Taehyung and Jimin approached Namjoon for help, he was fully prepared for a serious problem.

When Jimin told Namjoon what it was, he stayed straight faced for only a few seconds before bursting out laughing, and apologizing profusely while Jimin slapped his arms.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Namjoon raised his arms to defend himself against Jimin’s hits. “I just… You two are so attached at the hip, every issue you guys have had, I’ve heard about as a friend, but you two always resolved them perfectly. I never thought you guys would come to me, and especially not over something like.. like this.” Namjoon gestured between them, the three gathered in Namjoon’s kitchen.

Taehyung was raiding the cabinets while listening, and Jimin sat on one of the countertops with his legs dangling off.

“I told you he’d laugh,” Taehyung said to Jimin as he popped open Namjoon’s fridge, beginning to push things around.

Namjoon sighed, “Taehyung-ah, Seokjin and Yoongi hyung don’t like when things are out of place in the fridge.”

“I know,” Taehyung acknowledged, proceeding to switch the place of six different items, “That’s why I’m doing it.” Taehyung finished.

Namjoon grabbed his head and tried to chase off a budding headache.

“Can you help, Joonie?” Jimin asked, flashing a pout.

Namjoon looked up to meet Jimin’s eyes, glancing away and hesitating, “I don’t know… I usually deal more with the conscious side, helping to facilitate communication, conversation… This… I’m going to be honest, I haven’t met anyone with this problem before.”

Jimin deflated, slouching into Taehyung as Taehyung came back, holding a can of Yoongi’s favourite soda. Namjoon pretended not to notice.

“I’ve heard of people getting less restful sleep because their partner or partners wake them up in the middle of the night… The body itself is a restless thing though, especially since you two seem to be moving around so much throughout the night.” Namjoon scratched at the back of his neck, brows furrowed.

“What about you? Don’t you sleep with Yoongi and Seokjin hyung in one bed?” Jimin asked.

“Ah,” Namjoon said, his eyes lighting up a bit with light laughter, “Well, yeah. Yoongi and Seokjin hyung don’t move around too much though. Yoongi hyung pretty much stays in the same place he fell asleep in, and the most Seokjin hyung will do is adjust his arms or flip over.”

Jimin huffed, “But don’t you guys cuddle?”

“Of course we do, but usually we let go of each other to actually fall asleep.” Namjoon shrugged, “Some people don’t like cuddling while they sleep because they feel trapped- scared of waking up their partner if they need to move. Do either of you feel like that?” Namjoon asked, shuffling to grab himself a glass of water.

Jimin and Taehyung looked to each other, back to Namjoon, and at the same time said, “No.”

Namjoon paused, looking at them both, “Okay then..” Namjoon went back to grabbing a cup from the cupboard.

“Jiminie never wakes up unless he’s decided to. A car could crash through our bedroom and he wouldn’t care until his alarm went off or he woke up himself.” Taehyung said, smiling when Jimin bumps him with his shoulder.

“Taehyungie isn't really a light sleeper, and even if he does wake up, he can fall back asleep with no problem.” Jimin shrugged.

Namjoon took a sip from his water, “Maybe you guys just have a shitty mattress.”

Taehyung and Jimin stared at Namjoon for a moment. The two then turned to look at each other, “Have we ever bought a new mattress?” Jimin asked. Taehyung squints in thought, “You brought it with you when you moved in, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, because I had the bigger bed so we decided to just use mine.”

“How long have you had that mattress?”

Jimin’s voice grew surprised as he thought about it, “I’m pretty sure that’s the same mattress I’ve had since middle school.”

Taehyung and Jimin stared at each other.

“Oh my god, we need a new mattress.” Jimin said for them both.

And so, the rest of their visit to Namjoon’s eventually devolved into mattress hunting. When Seokjin and Yoongi came back, they’d brought food, and helped finalise which mattress Taehyung and Jimin would buy. Seokjin had even convinced them to choose a new bed frame.

༄

Jimin stared at the new mattress with his hands on his hips. It was already situated in their bedroom, even with the new fancy canopied bed frame to compliment it. Taehyung had left to grab sheets, and Jimin heard him step back through the door.

“You’re staring at the mattress like it kicked you in the nuts,” Taehyung commented, tossing the clean sheet over the bed before beginning to tuck in a corner. Jimin grunted, letting out a sigh as he moved to help tuck in the opposite corner. “We had so many good memories on our old mattress.” Jimin whined, tugging at the sheets to pull the third corner on.

Taehyung looked up to eye Jimin with an unamused expression, simply being met with an exaggerated pout. Taehyung sighed, “Wow, really, Jimin-ah? What could we possibly do to fix that, I wonder?” Taehyung played along, scrunching his brow in faux concern, tucking the last corner of the sheet successfully.

Jimin hummed, leaning against the mattress, “I mean, certainly we have to.. break it in first.. use it a bit, before we sleep on it… make sure it’s not too firm.” Jimin said breathily, eyeing Taehyung as he began pressing his fingers along his lips.

Taehyung turned away, grabbing their pillows and setting them at the head of the bed. “Oh, of course.. but I’m afraid I don’t quite follow, Jimin-ah… What is it that you want to do?” Taehyung glanced up, hands still resting on his pillow.

Jimin bit his lip, teetering on the edge of the mattress, leaning closer but not close enough for Taehyung to touch.

“You.” Jimin answered simply. Taehyung inhaled a bit, “Jimin-ah, you’re gross, you know that?” Taehyung asked, a large smile on his face. Jimin flashed a matching one, “You love it.”

“Yeah, I do.”

༄

Jimin woke up, and there was something warm along his back and legs, a warm arm wrapped around his waist. Jimin groggily got up, in a bit of a rush and not really awake yet. He had to pee.

He ran to the bathroom, used it, washed his hands, and began trudging his way back to bed, then paused as he was about to climb back in.

Jimin’s eyes shot open and glanced at the clock, it was almost 7am, as in morning, as in they’d slept all night. As in Jimin woke up warm, a hand around his waist, barely moved from where he fell asleep in Taehyung’s arms.

Jimin let out a shout, immediately jumping on top of Taehyung, straddling Taehyung’s hips and beginning to shower his face in kisses. Taehyung started with a jump, halfway sitting up, panicking for a moment before he recognised the kisses being peppered across his cheeks and forehead and lips.

“Jimin-ah, I thought you’d been murdered.” Taehyung groaned, heart slowly calming down again. “Taetae, Taehyung-ah, Tete,” Jimin whispered, Taehyung’s face now held in both his hands, “Tete, it worked.”

Taehyung looked confused for a moment, brows furrowed, hardly visible in the early morning light. Then he remembered, and his face lit up, “It worked?”

“It worked!” Jimin said again. Taehyung began laughing excitedly, Jimin following as Taehyung yanked Jimin into a hug, falling back onto their new mattress and pulling Jimin on top of him.

“It worked!”

“It worked!”

“It worked,”

Each sentence punctuated by kisses, tickles, and shoves, until the two calmed down, just looking at each other.

Jimin was curled up, hands tucked under his head as he laid across from Taehyung, hardly any space between the two. Fondness oozed from Jimin’s eyes, leaking like honey. Taehyung returned the look, a shy boxy smile making his cheeks puff up, his eyes tilted downward, embarrassed by the way Jimin looked at him.

“Can I hold you tonight?” Jimin asked quietly.

Taehyung’s lips fell into a gentle closed smile, eyes looking up to meet Jimin’s.

“Hold me tight?” Taehyung asked just as softly.

Jimin smiled wide, “Always.”