Quiet between heartbeats
Pairings: jeongin x fem!reader
Genre: friends to lovers, fluff
Summary: On a quiet rooftop after midnight, two hearts move carefully toward each other. In the stillness of the city, small gestures, shared silence, and unspoken feelings slowly turn into something warm and real. With Jeongin, love doesnβt rush. It arrives softly, step by step, exactly when itβs meant to.
The city always felt quieter after midnight.
Not silent, never truly silent, but softer, like it was holding its breath. The distant hum of traffic blended with the occasional laughter echoing down empty streets, neon signs blinking lazily as if even they were tired. It was your favorite time of night. When everything slowed down enough for thoughts to feel lighter.
That was how you ended up here.
On the rooftop of a small apartment building, legs dangling over the edge, wrapped in a cardigan that was a little too big for you.
Jeongin sat beside you, close enough that your shoulders brushed whenever the wind shifted, yet far enough that neither of you dared to acknowledge it. He leaned back on his hands, gaze fixed on the sky like he was trying to memorize the way the stars hid behind city lights.
For a while, neither of you spoke.
And somehow, that felt perfect.
Jeongin had always been like thisβquiet in a way that wasnβt awkward, gentle without trying. The kind of presence that didnβt demand attention but earned it naturally. His black hair fell softly around his face, slightly messy from the wind, framing eyes that always seemed to smile even when his lips didnβt.
You stole a glance at him.
He was beautiful. Not in a loud, overwhelming wayβbut in the way a soft song plays in the background and slowly becomes your favorite without you realizing when it happened.
βYouβre staring,β he said suddenly, voice low and amused.
Jeongin turned his head toward you, a small grin tugging at his lips. βYou were.β
Heat crept up your neck. βOkay, maybe a little.β
He laughed quietly, the sound warm and breathy, like it wasnβt meant to travel far. βItβs okay. I donβt mind.β
That made your heart stumble.
The night breeze picked up, cool against your skin. Without thinking, Jeongin shifted closer and gently pulled the cardigan tighter around your shoulders, his fingers brushing your arm for just a second too long.
Neither of you moved after that.
βYou cold?β he asked.
βNot anymore,β you replied, softly.
Another pause. The kind that felt heavy with something unspokenβbut not uncomfortable. Justβ¦ delicate. Like stepping around fragile glass.
And lately⦠things had been different.
He lingered longer. Walked you home even when it was out of his way. Texted you late at night just to say he saw something that reminded him of you. Always subtle. Always careful. Like he was afraid of scaring you away.
βDo you ever feel likeβ¦β Jeongin started, then stopped.
You turned to him. βLike what?β
He exhaled, gaze dropping to his hands. βLike some moments are too quiet. Like if you move too fast, theyβll disappear.β
βYeah,β you whispered. βAll the time.β
His lips curved into a shy smile, eyes still downcast. βI thought so.β
The city lights reflected in his eyes when he finally looked at you again. There was something vulnerable there, something honest. It made your heart ache in the softest way.
Jeongin shifted, knees brushing yours now. βCan I tell you something?β he asked.
βIβm really bad atβ¦ saying things directly.β A nervous laugh escaped him. βSo I usually donβt. But with you, I feel like if I donβt say it now, I might regret it.β
βI like you,β he said simply. βA lot.β
The words werenβt loud. They didnβt need to be.
For a moment, everything stilledβthe city, the wind, even your thoughts.
βI like you too,β you said.
Jeongin blinked. βReally?β
You laughed softly. βReally.β
The relief on his face was immediate, his shoulders relaxing as he let out a breath heβd clearly been holding for a long time. His smile grew wider, brighter, like the night had suddenly gotten warmer.
He hesitated, then slowly reached out, his fingers brushing yoursβtesting, asking.
You laced your fingers with his.
Jeongin squeezed gently, thumb tracing small circles over your skin like he was afraid to stop touching you. βThis feelsβ¦ nice,β he murmured.
βIt does,β you agreed.
You stayed like that, hands intertwined, shoulders touching, hearts beating just a little too fast. No rush. No pressure.
Just the quiet happiness of being exactly where you were supposed to be.
Jeongin leaned closer, his head resting lightly against yours. βCan we stay like this for a bit?β he asked.
βAs long as you want,β you replied.
The city continued to breathe around you, unaware of the way something soft and sweet had just begunβstep by careful step.