... And Other Ships

JungHope: Loved

Hoseok wasn't the happiest person, even though he always seemed like he was. It took years to build up that front, giving everyone the illusion that he was perfectly happy and carefree. In fact, his front was perfected to the point where even his closest friends couldn't tell if he was faking or not. 

But Hoseok was always a faker. 

The last time he was truly happy was so long ago that he couldn't remember. Despair had been his friend for so long that it crowded out all of his happy memories. 

And Jungkook knew that; he knew his favorite person in the universe wasn't happy. 

No one cared about Hoseok enough to look, really look, into his eyes and see the sadness swimming in his dark-brown irises. No one but Jungkook, actually. 

Jungkook saw every tear, every scar, every ounce of misery on Hoseok every single day. Whenever people got close enough to see those things, they always abandoned Hoseok. 

Years ago, when they first met, Jungkook silently vowed to make the older boy feel loved by him and him only. 

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"Hyungie!" Jungkook giggled, tugging Hoseok along the strip mall to a certain store.

It sold many types of flower crowns, both fake and real. There weren't many people in the store, but those who wandered about turned their heads the minute the pair walked through the door; Hoseok didn't blame them. 

Anyone who laid eyes on Jungkook instantly fell in love with him. He was tall and muscular, and if Hoseok stood behind him, covered his frame completely. Jungkook was wearing a light-colored shirt that showed off his tattoos and large biceps, the front of his slightly-long hair put up in a little ponytail to keep his bangs out of his face. He practically glowed. 

But then there was Hoseok next to him. His hair fell in front of his eyes, hiding his misery from the strangers in the shop. He wore long sleeves and pants, covering the many scars that littered his body. He didn't glow like his taller counterpart did; why would anyone waste their time on him? 

Then again, why did someone as beautiful as Jungkook waste his time on him? 

He didn't dwell on that fact, not when Jungkook picked out a flower crown for Hoseok to wear. It was one of the fake ones, but that wasn't important; what was important was that it had sunflowers on it, which meant adoration. 

The smile that stretched across Jungkook's face was almost too big; his eyes disappeared and his bunny teeth were on display, blinding the older boy as he set the flower crown on his head. 

"Sunflowers for my sunflower," Jungkook stated happily, adjusting it so it wasn't lop-sided, "I adore you, Hobi-hyung. You're so amazing." 

No, I'm not. You shouldn't even be friends with someone like me. I'm just a liar, Hoseok thought to himself, but was soon ripped from those thoughts when he was pulled into a hug. 

"I promise you're amazing, no matter what you might think." 

Hoseok managed to let a tiny grin slip as he buried his face in Jungkook's neck, heartbeat speeding up to where the thought it might pound right out of his chest. 

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"Hyung, can you help me cook dinner? I mean, I can totally cook by myself, but I... it's fun when you help me." Jungkook was blushing, playing with his fingers as he stood in the living room. 

The way he looked like a frightened woodland creature mixed with his sweater paws made Hoseok coo internally, and he couldn't find it in himself to say no.