Prompt:
A trip to the beach/grocery store

Requested by:
@FlusteredKarateKid_8

ㅡ 🐯 ㅡ

“Gukkie, gukkie! Wake up! Wake up!” Jeongguk groans when a heavy weight pounces on his front. It’s Saturday morning and he really doesn’t know why Taehyung is this energetic every weekend. Maybe it’s because he’s excited to spend time with his busy boyfriend, after five days of not being able to have his whole attention focused on him. But still, Jeongguk thinks, it’s too early.

Jeongguk isn’t a morning person, but his job requires an early morning shift, and trust me he’s used to it, but weekends, for him, are the only days where he’s allowed to sleep in. But a certain tiger cub makes it a bit hard for him to do so.

“Tae, go back to sleep. It’s still early,” he mumbles, voice raspy. He encircles his arms around his boyfriend’s waist, tight enough to hold him still. It seems to work though because Taehyung immediately stopped bouncing on his torso.

“But it’s Saturday! Aren’t we going grocery shopping, Gukkie?” Taehyung whispers, and fuck, Jeongguk knows that voice. It’s his tactic to make Jeongguk give in, and often times, he wins. (Who is Jeongguk kidding? Taehyung wins every time).

“Baby, I know. And trust me, I didn’t forget about our plan for today but, please please let me sleep some more. We’re gonna go out at around 10-ish,” Jeongguk tries hard to convince the other, his thumb rubbing small circles on Taehyung’s hip to soothe him.

“Silly, Gukkie. It’s almost lunch time.” He can hear the amusement in Taehyung’s voice, and that’s his cue to open his eyes. 

“What did you say?” 

“It’s like 11:30, Guk. We’ve skipped breakfast already. Well, you skipped breakfast. I cooked myself some bacon. Don’t worry, though, I left you some!” Taehyung beams at him.

“My little champ made me breakfast? I’m so honoured! My pretty little cub is so thoughtful,” Jeongguk says, hands now cupping Taehyung’s cheeks. Now the thing about the latter is that, he loves to be praised and appreciated in any way.

Be it when he has done laundry all by himself, or when he sets up the table without dropping any utensils, he lives for Jeongguk’s praises and the younger is quick enough to indulge him.

“Yes! Made breakfast for Gukkie! I love you, Gukkie!” Jeongguk’s heart is about to combust, seeing Taehyung in front of him like this. Cheeks round and warm and all flushed against his palm, his boxy smile in display. Jeongguk can’t help it but to pepper kisses on his face, making Taehyung giggle.

“I love you too, my little champ. Now help Gukkie get up please,” Jeongguk says, earning a whine from the other. He never fails to tease Taehyung in any chance he could because his reactions are the cutest.

“But you’re too heavy, Gukkie!” Taehyung continues to whine, playfully jabbing Jeongguk on the chest. Jeongguk suppresses a chuckle as he continues to tease his boyfriend. This time, he gasps in mock offense.

“I am not! Take it back!” He says, fingers digging on Taehyung’s sides, making the latter squirm. 

“Yes, you are! Stop, it tickles!” Taehyung protests, trying so hard to escape from Jeongguk’s tickles. The younger doesn’t relent, however.

“Gukkie, stop! Okay, you’re not heavy anymore. I take it back!” Taehyung says in between giggles.

Their position changed – Jeongguk now hovering over Taehyung. He stops for a while just to admire the beauty underneath him. Taehyung’s face is flushed, chest heaving up and down from laughing too hard, his eyes sparkling with so much happiness. And seriously, it’s enough to make Jeongguk fall in love all over again.

He doesn’t notice how long he’s been staring until Taehyung brings up his index finger to boop Jeongguk on the nose.

“Boop.” And Jeongguk just laughs heartily. Mornings with Taehyung are, indeed, his favourite.

ㅡ 🐯 ㅡ

Breakfast is uneventful, well, except for the part where Taehyung got whipped cream all over his face (because Jeongguk thought it was a good idea to make waffles) while Jeongguk tried chasing him all around the house just to get the tiger cub to take a shower. Taehyung isn’t that scared of water, but there are days where he’s too lazy to even wash his hair so it’s really a challenge for Jeongguk to get his boyfriend in the shower.

All it really took for Taehyung to get in the shower is to bribe him with strawberry ice cream, and Jeongguk should’ve known. 

As Jeongguk was getting ready on his own, he notices Taehyung fidgeting with his beanie in front of their body length mirror. He takes it off, then puts it on again. And Jeongguk exactly knows what’s bothering him.

He quickly puts on a shirt before approaching his boyfriend, hugging him from behind. He hooks his chin on Taehyung’s shoulder before pressing a little kiss on his nape.

“How about you wear your other beanie for today? The one with the holes for your ears,” Jeongguk suggests, voice soft and encouraging. Taehyung just hums in response but the younger can still clearly see the frown on his boyfriend’s face.

“I-I don’t want to. People will stare at my ears and they’d think it’s weird, but- but this beanie is also making my ears fold and it’s uncomfortable. I hate this, Gukkie,” Taehyung says, voice starting to wobble. Jeongguk knows everything about Taehyung, even his insecurities. 

He knows all the struggles and the discrimination Taehyung had to go through even before the two of them met and got together. 

It’s different now, though, because Jeongguk is present to protect Taehyung. He spins Taehyung around, one hand caressing the latter’s cheek, while his other hand goes up to scratch the back of his ear gently. Taehyung almost purrs at this.

“Hey, I’m here, okay? You don’t have to hide anything because I’m here to protect you. You’re beautiful like this, Tae, and I would readily punch someone in the throat if they'd think otherwise,” Jeongguk assures him, making the other smile a little. Taehyung scoots closer, nose nuzzling Jeongguk’s cheek in appreciation.

“Thank you, Gukkie. Love you,” he whispers. 

“Love you, too, baby. Always,” he responds, pressing a firm kiss on Taehyung’s temple.

ㅡ 🐯 ㅡ

“Gukkie can we get this one, too?” Taehyung asks, hands already reaching out to take a jar of peanut butter. Jeongguk sighs at this, grasping Taehyung’s wrist to stop him from taking another brand of peanut butter.

“Baby, you’ve already put three different brands of peanut butter in the cart,” he reminds him as he interlocks their hands. Taehyung pouts at this.

“But Gukkie!” 

Oh god, he’s acting up again, Jeongguk thinks. 

“Baby, we’ll get more when you finish all of these, okay? Now come on, let’s move on to the next isle.”

However, Taehyung had different plans. His lips start to wobble, eyes starting to get misty and really, Jeongguk should’ve seen this one coming, too. 

The thing about tiger hybrids, is that, they’re so accustomed to throwing tantrums whenever they don’t get what they want. Jeongguk thought he already got everything under control after years of dealing with Taehyung and his tantrums but boy was he wrong.

“Oh, Tae, not here please,” he whispers and pleads to whoever is up there, to stop Taehyung from having another episode of his tantrums.

Taehyung turns his back against him, his free hand now clutching the peanut butter jar tightly against his chest. Jeongguk groans at this.

“Baby, come on. You’ve had enough peanut butter already. It’s already out of our budget, baby. Please put it down,” Jeongguk tries to convince him desperately.

“But- but I want this one too, Gukkie,” he whines, choking out a sob. Jeongguk immediately looks around, checking if they have caused a scene, but all he sees is an older woman on the other side, trying her best not to look at the young couple across her. When their eyes meet, however, Jeongguk sends her an apologetic smile. She gives one back, eyeing Taehyung from time to time.

Taehyung keeps on sniffling so the woman approaches them carefully.

“What seems to be the problem here?” She asks softly, earning a surprised squeal from Taehyung. 

“I- I just want another jar of peanut butter but- but Gukkie doesn’t want another one,” the cub says as he starts to rub his eyes with his sweater. Jeongguk couldn’t do anything but sigh at this. Of course, he’s the bad guy.

The old woman smiles at this, giving Jeongguk a sympathetic look.

“How about I’ll buy this one for you as gift because I’m your friend now?” Jeongguk was about to protest but the woman gives him a stern look. His gaze then shifted towards Taehyung, who’s now beaming at the stranger.

“You will? You really will?” And now he’s starting to bounce a little because of excitement.

“I really will. Now give me that, honey.”

Taehyung didn’t even hesitate to give the jar to her and started to follow her when she starts walking towards the cashier. Jeongguk could only look at them incredulously at the back.

Once they’ve paid for everything, Taehyung was the first to exit the store, running excitedly towards their car. Jeongguk would’ve warned him by now but he doesn’t want to ruin his boyfriend’s excitement any further. Before he can even follow the cub, he turns to look at the woman beside him and bows gratefully. 

“Thank you so much for the peanut butter, ma’am. I would’ve gotten it for him but we’re on a tight budget right now so I really have to control everything and-" the woman hushes him by patting his back.

“You don’t have to justify yourself, sweetheart. I understand you. I have a cat hybrid at home and trust me when I say that her tantrums are worse than his when I don’t give her what she wants,” the woman says, smiling sweetly at him. 

This seems to catch Jeongguk off-guard. It’s not often that he meets someone with a hybrid as a companion or something. Not that he considers Taehyung as his companion or pet. He’s none of those things. He’s Jeongguk’s boyfriend.

“I know what you’re thinking, and no, she’s not just a companion to me. I adopted her from the town’s hybrid shelter when she was still a baby. I’m widowed and I couldn’t have kids so I took her in. She’s my daughter. She’s a precious one,” the woman states fondly, her eyes now focused towards his boyfriend who’s waiting patiently for Guk to open the car. “They all are,” she continues.

Jeongguk stares at his boyfriend fondly too, warmth creeping in his chest. “Yeah… they are.”

ㅡ 🐯 ㅡ

The drive home was comfortably silent. Taehyung humming happy tunes to himself while Jeongguk just listens to him, eyes focused on the road. When they arrive home, Taehyung helps him unload the paper bags and starts to arrange them in the kitchen. Jeongguk just looks at him fondly and when they lock eyes, Taehyung is quick enough to drop everything he’s holding just to run in to Jeongguk’s embrace.

“Did I give you a hard time at the grocery today?” Taehyung asks shyly, hiding his face on Jeongguk’s neck. The younger just hums as he starts to rub Taehyung’s back.

“A little, but it’s okay, baby. It doesn’t really matter,” Jeongguk answers.

“I’m sorry… I always throw tantrums in public places even when I try so hard not to. I always embarrass you and I understand if you don’t want to deal with me anymore, I-“ Now that catches Jeongguk’s attention. He breaks himself free from the embrace to look at Taehyung dead in the eyes.

“Where’s this coming from?” He asks seriously. He hates it when Taehyung would feel insecure, or would doubt his love for him. 

“I just- I feel like I’m always giving you a hard time, Gukkie. I want to be as mature as I can and I’ve been trying to control my emotions especially my tantrums but… It’s my nature, Gukkie. I can’t help it,” Taehyung explains, voice muffled because he starts to nuzzle his whole face on Jeongguk’s neck once more.

“Oh, baby… Since when have you been feeling that way?”

“I don’t really know. I just really want to be good for you, Guk.”

“You are, baby. You’ve always been good for me. I know you have your episodes but it doesn’t really matter to me anymore. I’ve learned how to deal with them for years. You literally taught me how to be patient and understanding. Do you know why I willingly learned all of these things?” Taehyung shakes his head.

“Because I love you. I’m willing to learn anything for you, baby. Anything,” Jeongguk emphasizes, pressing a small kiss on the crown of Taehyung’s head.

“I really don’t deserve you, Gukkie…”

Jeongguk smiles at this.

“That’s where you’re wrong, baby. We deserve each other.”

He could feel Taehyung’s lips stretch into a smile. 

And his work here is done.