“what are you even,” jeongguk’s voice trails off, rubbing his eyes and gazing down in bemusement at taehyung settled comfortably in the bottom of the empty cardboard box that had once been filled to the brim with an assortment of cards and gifts from their fans.

there’s a bright green plastic bowl fixed on top of taehyung’s wild disarray of bed hair. and jeongguk can’t help the amused smile tugging up the corners of his lips.

“shh,” taehyung commands, eyes squinting to block out the bright morning sun streaming in through the window over Jeongguk’s shoulder. “you’re disturbing my concentration,” taehyung reaches over the box to tap jeongguk square in the forehead. “silence.”

humoring his hyung, jeongguk squats down to level eyes with taehyung, grasping along the edge of the box and peeping inside.

“and i am disturbing what exactly?” jeongguk grins, lowering his voice and resting his chin along the cardboard.

“you are interfering with the one and only amazing captain taetae’s intergalactic travels through the stars,” taehyung replies with a completely straight face, the bright green bowl slipping down over one eye.

“oh i’m so sorry,” jeongguk whispers, eyes wide with feigned surprise. “i didn’t know you were on such an important mission.”

taehyung shrugs, pushing the bowl back into place on the crown of his head.

“want to join?” he asks, folding his legs up against his chest and scooting closer to the front.

jeongguk raises a brow, wondering how exactly taehyung expects two fully grown boys to fit inside together.

he’s about to question taehyung’s judgment in mass and the laws of physics when taehyung pats the empty space behind him with a warm smile that stretches wide across his cheeks.

and how do you even say no to a smile like that?

without another word, jeongguk straightens back out, only to climb over the edge and delicately fold himself into the questionable, but empty enough, space behind taehyung.

“it’s going to break,” jeongguk carefully wiggles around to find a more comfortable position while still trying to minimize any sudden movements that might rip the cardboard box. he can hear the corners strain against his weight.

“no it won’t,” taehyung gently nudges jeongguk’s feet apart, shifting himself back to fit perfectly in between the maknae’s legs.

and to jeongguk’s surprise, both boys are able to fit nice and snug inside the box.

“huh,” he huffs, leaning forward into taehyung’s back and resting his arms over the elder’s shoulders.

“told you,” taehyung glances back with a triumphant smile, relaxing into jeongguk’s chest. “never question captain taetae, for he is always correct!”

“right, okay,” jeongguk snorts, reaching up and sliding a hand down taehyung’s face.

taehyung splutters in indignation, swatting jeongguk’s hand away.

jeongguk laughs, pulling taehyung back against his chest and snuggling closer.

“so where to, captain taetae?”